Max Hamby & the Amethyst Guardian

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Alice hovered several inches off the floor. Her long, dirty nightgown swayed around her ankles like a bell. Her hands were balled into tight fists at her sides and her matted brown hair looked like she had stuck her finger in a light socket. But it was her eyes that made his breath catch in his throat. They were red and glowing. She smirked and they changed to solid black. He’d never seen her do that before. “You will have tea with me.”

He shook his head and backed up. “I can’t, but maybe later.” He tried to take a step, but his feet were stuck to the floor. He growled in frustration, flung the strap of his satchel over his head and called to his magic. The red glow of the Blood Diamond ran down his veins to his fingertips.

“You have gotten stronger,” said Alice. “But, not strong enough.” She reached out and yanked at the air. He slid across the floor to the child-size chair waiting for him. She moved her hand in a downward motion and he plunked down hard onto the small wooden seat. Alice lowered herself to the floor and casually strolled to the table. Her eyes were still black, instead of their normal green and her lips still held that odd smirk. From the first moment they'd, she was creepy. This was a whole new kind of creepy and it made him want to run as far away from her as he could get. He tried lifting himself off the chair, but like his feet, his backside was stuck, too. She’d done this once before, but he didn’t know he had magic then. She picked up the china teapot and poured a brown liquid into the cup in front of him. Steam wafted into the air, bringing with it a mixture of mint and berry. She’d have to force him to drink it, because he wasn’t about to put the cup to his lips on his own.

“One lump or two?” she asked.

There was something sinister in that question. She had screamed and thrown a fit the last time. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. The quicker he could leave, the better. “One,” he said. “Please.”

She reached for the sugar bowl. It had been empty moments ago, but was filled with crystal cubes of sugar now. Her hand paused. “Okay.” He was on the floor before he knew what happened. The side of his head thumped where she had punched him. He gritted his teeth, refusing to let her see that she had caused him any pain. This version of Alice was nastier than the other. She picked up the tongs and dropped a single cube of sugar into his cup, then sat down and sipped her tea. He rolled to his side and struggled to detach himself from the chair that was still stuck to his rear. Her doll crossed the room. Its feet made a tink-tink noise on the wooden floor. It patted his face, then skipped over to Alice. She crooked a finger. He was lifted up, chair and all, and pulled into his original position. His cup slid across the table. He grabbed it before the hot liquid dumped into his lap.

“Let me go. Now,” he said. Anger seeared through him. He wanted to strike her the way she did him, but though Alice was crazy, she was still a woman and he couldn’t do that. He remembered his aunt’s warning about using his magic needlessly and how the Blood Diamond would turn black. There was a possibility it already started when he killed the Faeryn queen’s guard. He didn’t want to further it along.

Alice put her cup down and neatly folded her hands. “Do you know what’s coming, boy?”

Was it his imagination or did her voice get several octaves lower? “Isolde is coming.”

She gave him a half-hearted laugh and shook her head. “Oh, it’s much more than that.”

“What are you talking about? It’s one witch who wants revenge, because she didn’t get the stones,” he said. “They weren’t hers in the first place.”

Alice raised an eyebrow. Light glinted off her black eyes. “What have you done to prepare for this vengeful witch?”

He studied her face. This definitely wasn’t the crazy Alice he knew. This was someone else. “Who are you?”

She pounded her fist on the table and shouted. “What have you done to prepare?”

“I’ve practiced using the magic. I’ve gotten stronger. You said so yourself.” He needed to get away from whoever this was and let his magic seep into the wooden chair.

“That is not enough,” she said, leaning across the table. “I know what the future holds. Merrihaven will be no more and you will be alone.”

“How am I supposed to believe anything you say?” he asked, giving the chair a good shake. It felt loose. “You were the one who said my mother was a mermaid. Remember?” He tipped the chair from side to side. An angry grunt escaped his lips. “I’ve had enough. Let me go.”

Alice sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. His body stiffened and shot up into a standing position, but not of his own doing. The small chair fell away. “You are a stupid, stubborn child. When you come to me for help, make sure it is with more respect and gratitude than what you have shown me today.” She stood up. The bedroom door opened with a wave of her hand.

“Why would I come to you?” he asked.

“Not everything is as it seems. We will meet.” He slid into the hallway. “Soon.” Her bedroom door slammed shut in his face. He bolted down the stairs, but paused on the bottom step to relax his nerves and catch his breath. He exhaled and tried to shake off Alice and her premonitions, then hurried to the Ostium in the dining hall where he placed his hands on its purple painted wood and let his magic flow around its frame. The lock clicked and the door opened. He set a light orb in the air above his head and closed the door behind him.

▪ ▪ ▪

Milly Marietta straightened up with an exasperated huff. “When will these youngins’ learn.” She snapped her fingers and held out her palm. Nothing happened. “Dang it.” She tried again. A small orb of light buzzed above her hand. She brought it to her lips and spoke into it. The orb pulsed yellow with a green center. “Griselda. Go,” she said, throwing the orb across the room. It zipped out the door and disappeared. She snapped her fingers again and ignited the fire in the fireplace, then settled back in her rocking chair. “Blasted kid is going to get himself killed.”

▪ ▪ ▪

“This room is called the Perch,” said Griselda, standing off to the side to let everyone in. “It is the highest part of Merrihaven and perfect for viewing the surrounding landscape.

The room was bare, except for a chair against the wall. It was covered in a thick layer of dust and the padding had worn away long ago. The twins and Basil occupied a spot that looked down on the garden and out past Dunmere tower. “I can almost see Busby Stoop from here,” said Snoop.

Davi whacked him on the arm. “No, you can’t.”

Zeeback and Merna stood beside them. The twins and Basil paid no attention to the goblin and troll, otherwise they would’ve see the concern spread across their faces as they watched shadows move through the trees.

Mrs. Pitt moved to the far side of the room with Nodrik and his brothers. Esther stood beside Griselda to make room for Roanin and Yarlain.

“What was this room used for?” asked the elder dwarf.

“Many years ago, it was a look out; similar to a guard tower,” said Griselda. “It was before the ogres migrated south. Ogre raids don’t happen anymore, but in those days, it was a daily occurrence.” She and Esther glanced at the open door that led to the stairwell.

“Max should see this,” said Snoop.

“Where is he anyway?” asked Basil.

“What is that sound?” whispered Esther. Griselda shook her head and walked to the door. A small golden orb buzzed past her head. It zipped around the room before stopping inches from her nose. She snatched it out of the air and held it in a closed fist. The buzzing stopped and she opened her hand. “I haven’t seen one of these since we were children.” She held it up for the others to see.”

“What is it?” asked Yarlain.

“It’s a scribbin; an old magical form of sending a message, an invitation or a warning,” said Esther.

“Why is it green in the middle?” asked Davi.

“What does that mean?” asked Snoop. “Can I touch it?” He reached out his hand and poked the scribbin. It bounced and buzzed angrily.

“Let’s find out what it says,” said Griselda. She pinched the center of the orb and pulled out the glowing green middle, then let it go. Milly Marietta’s voice filled the room. “Dining hall. Pronto. Got a runner.” It repeated itself twice more before disintegrating. Griselda turned on her heel and ran from the room.