I really never thought I'd die by execution. Maybe a stray bullet, more likely a bullet aimed for me. I used to think I'd burn myself to death cause fire magic was never my forte. I imagined going in a big send off like an explosion or something. Dying as a hero sounded cruel too, even if I was the most wanted criminal on the entire North Continent.

Anyone notice that I said was? Yeah that's a big keyword.

---

I sat in the corner of my cell, drawing new glyphs I wanted to use some day in the dust of the cell. I just finished an extra large one when Mr. Grumpy Pants walked over to my cell door.

"Ms. Hecate," he said in his usual placid voice, "must I remind you that you are in here because of your dealings in magic? I don't advise you to continue drawing your dark symbols."

"Okay, first of all they're glyphs made for big spell that take forever and need ingredients. Second, what do you think I'm gonna do? I have a silencer on," I said, pointing to the thick metal collar wrapped around my neck, "so I can't really do any magic."

"Erase the dark symbols so I may enter."

"Okay, here's a better idea. If I don't erase the glyphs will you not enter?"

His glare deepened.

"Okay, I get it. But, can you like take a picture of them for me? It'd normally take me a few weeks to come up with something this advanced. I've had nothing but free time for the past...how many days have I been in here?"

"Ms. Hecate."

I decided to ignore him and went back to the drawing. I drew the fire glyph in the center of the glyph circle. Honestly, it was a spell that could blow a hole in the side of The City. I would never use something like this but-

I was sprayed with a splash of cold water. My dust glyph was washed away along with my dust.

"You jerk," I said turning back to the man holding a hose. "Do you know how long it's gonna take me to remake that?"

He moved away from my cell to tie the hose back up. When he came back, he was flanked by two more members of the Black Hand. The two on the sides were dressed a bit less regal than the center one who just washed away my dust explosion glyphs.

The side two were wearing blue tailcoats with gold lining. They both wore black pants and shoes and of course, black gloves. The lead man wore a red uniform, decorated with black lining. He hand black pants and boots as well. And for the Black Hand commanding officer, black gloves. All three had pistols strapped to their waists.

"Please step back," one of them said. I'm gonna call him number two since he's on the left side and not the right. I like to believe everyone on the right is more important status wise than anyone set on the left.

"You realize I'm already at the back of the room right? I mean, I'm sitting here shivering in rags and you're still doing all this 'you're a threat' stuff?"

They ignored me. Number One stepped forward with a key to unlock the cell. Even I knew better than to stand now. Number One held the door for Mr. Grumpy Pants who came towards me. No matter how still he acted, I could still see the wariness in the depths of his eyes. He hid it well though, I'll give him that.

Black gloves gripped my wrists as I was cuffed with thick silencing bracelets.

Once Mr. Grumpy Pants was comfortable that I wouldn't ignite his organs, he stood up. His hands went back behind his back.

"Stand," he ordered.

I obeyed, though with a bit of work. My hands were, after all, tied together with metal bracelets that were sucking the magic out of my system.

Next up, Number One and Number Two came in. They each took hold of one of my shoulders and one of my wrists. I was escorted out of the small cell.

"Mind if I ask where we're going, Mr. Grumpy Pants?"

"Silence, dark magician."

"Ooh, name calling. I'm shaking in my pants here."

I got a little chuckle from Number Two. I smiled at my own silliness.

"So, where're we headed?'

"You trial." Number One answered, glaring at Number Two.

"Fun, fun. I didn't know they still did those for people like me?"

As we walked past cell after cell, I could easily pick out who was a magician and who wasn't. The magicians were, first of all, a lot younger than they should be. The youngest magician I'd heard of being killed was a newborn killed by the doctor who birthed her. The doctor was given a medal of honor. The youngest kids here were at least four.

I knew the adult magicians because most of them gave me nods of respect. Otherwise, I had to look for silencers on them. I couldn't feel the normal spark I did with those silencers on.

The rest were non-magic criminals who looked at me with awe.

"By law, everyone is given a trial," Mr. Grumpy Pants said, drawing me back from my thoughts.

"Are we back on speaking terms again?" He ignored me. "Aww, too bad. I was looking forward to a though provoking conversation before I was burned alive for you're enjoyment."

He kept ignoring me and so did the other two. Great, now I was left alone to my thought. That could be a morbid place to be.

---

"Helcate," Mr. Judge said, "queen of magic." He scoffed under his white mustache. "Never thought I'd see the day when you were finally brought into court."

"Well it's a pleasure to be here," I replied, giving him a playful smile.

"I always imagined you'd be older."

"Me too. I really didn't think I'd die at twenty. Fifty sounded like a good time though, if I had to plan it. Fifty- one if I was lucky."

The old man picked up a small stack of papers. "I don't even need to read these to give a list of your crimes against humanity."

The court was stuffed today, filled with people dying to get a look at the famous Queen of Magic. Well, too bad for them that I wasn't much to look at. Just a young woman with pretty good looks.

"Using and possessing illegal magic, making your dark symbols-"

"Glyphs," I corrected.

"-hiding fugitives, protecting magicians, creating illegal potions. Not to mention all your murders."

"Hey, I could've killed a lot more people if I wanted too, you know. I'm not so cruel that I go around happily killing everyone."

"For your crimes, I sentence you to burning at the stake."

"Hold on a second," I said. The old man glared at me. "I'm not going against you're judgement or anything, love what you do by the way, but this is my first time in court. Can't I like, see what a witness does or something?"

"You want a witness?"

I nodded.

"Fine. Mr. Zeeli, if you would."

"Your last name's Zeeli?" I asked Mr. Grumpy Pants who was currently scowling in my direction.

He sighed. "Fine, could we please bring Ms. Nelson to the stand?"

"Savanah?" I asked.

For those of you who don't know, Savanah Nelson, formerly known as Inferni, is my best friend. She's been with me for years. She's actually the reason I'm about to be burned alive. She betrayed me, but I don't really blame her. She was always a bit weak willed.

A larger girl with a pink stripe through her brown hair came forward. She refused to make eye contact with me but instead looked at trembling hands.

"Ms. Nelson," Mr. Zeeli said, "is it true that you're been the witness to countless of Hecate's crimes."

"Y-yes," she said into the mic.

"Could you name a few?"

"She's umm, she's murdered, performed magic, made glyphs and potions, and harbored fugitives."

M. Zeeli's eyes went back to the judge who nodded.

"You're dismissed, Ms. Nelson. Thank you for your honesty."

"Happy now?" Mr. Judge asked me.

I nodded eagerly.

"Good. Escort her back to her cell. Her execution is scheduled for tomorrow morning. We'll get this over with as soon as possible. I want her burned in the stadium for everyone to see."

---

"Hey." A small voice called. I turned to see a chubby brown haired girl who could be no older than eight scowling at me.

"Can I help you," twelve-year-old me replied.

"Give me all your money or I'll scorch you."

I laughed.

"Don't make fun of me! I'm serious." Her little hands lit on fire, red and stinging.

"I'm sure you'll try, but I don't think you can beat me."

The little thug scowled at me before throwing a small ball of fire. I smiled, flicking a finger to lift up a small wall of pure magic. The ball of fire, which was no bigger than two inches, made a little thud against the magic before falling and burning out on the concrete ground.

"You're control's good," I said. "But you lack power."

She stared at me, shock just registering in her expression. Her jaw dropped before she turned to run. I lifted a bit of the concrete with a tap of my foot. She tripped, skidding against the stone.

I walked over to her.

"I'm- I'm really sorry. I didn't know. I swear I won't ever do it again."

"It's okay," I said. "But instead of stealing, how about you come with me? I'll teach you how to use your magic." I held my hand out to her.

"Really?"

I nodded, smiling. She gingerly took my hand.

"My name's Savanah."

"You can call me-"

---

Fire burst past my head. I heard the target behind me set on fire. Well, I say heard, but it's more like I sensed it.

"See," sixteen year old me said, "you can do it if you have to."

"Bu-but your hair!"

My hand went to the side of my head where a lit burning feeling was coming from.

"Would you look at that, I'm on fire."

Drawing circles with two fingers, I called on water. It came to me, dropping on the fire.

"I-I'm so sorry!" She shouted, nearly in tears. "I didn't mean to, I swear."

"It's fine, really."

---

"Hecate," a deep voice said, "you are under arrest for countless crimes against the North Continent."

The silencer, being fairly new to me, was still a bit chocking on my neck. It was taking a lot of my strength not to drop into the dirt on my knees.

"I'm sorry," a soft voice said. Behind the man reading me useless words, I could clearly make out Savanah, trembling. Her hands were unbound and she didn't wear any silencers. She was surrounded by Black Hands. That was when I knew she betrayed me. "I'm so sorry."

I smiled. "It's okay. There's nothing to be sorry for."

---

"Hecate," a new voice said.

Another dream? I turned over on the cold ground, facing the cells bars now, I think.

"Hecate," the voice whispered again. "Wake up."

My eyes peeked open to see a black gloved man kneeling in front of me. This man was rather small. He had blond hair which was tied into a ponytail behind his head. This man had pale skin compared the rest. He wore the blue uniform that told me he wasn't really high ranking.

"You're finally awake."

"Can I help you?" I asked, not even sitting up.

He scowled, though I'm not sure at what. "I-I'm here on behalf of a friend...to ask for your help."

"My help?" That interested me. I leaned on my elbows now, looking at the brown eyes man.

"Yes, you. We need to track someone down and...we need a magicians help. A magician as strong as you."

"Okay."

"I realize you-" he looked at me, a little shocked. "What?"

"I said okay, sure, yep. I'll help you find your person."

"That's it? No convincing, no bargaining? Nothing?"

"I'm just assuming, but I'm pretty sure I'll be getting out of here. Whoever's taking me out won't be able to take me back in either, cause they'd be in big trouble too."

He took in a breath as if about to comment, but then stopped. "How do I know we can trust you?"

"I don't know. Your friend sent you to me, right? That has to mean something."

He watched me for a second, not a glare but not friendly either. "Rest up. We move at three, so in four more hours. We're not really expecting you to do much yet, so don't worry about the details."

I nodded. "See you then, friend."

"Don't call me friend."

"Alright, Blackie."

"...friend is fine for now."

I smiled, watching him leave my secluded room for my cell, away from the rest.

Things always seem to work in my favor.