Heaven's Darkness (Book 2)

Chapter 19 - Terra

"Okay, I have a plan."

I raised an eyebrow. "Do you, now?"

Jeriah shot me an annoyed glance. "Yes, I do. The next time the guard comes in to take the tray away, I'll knock him out. Then, we can take his clothes and escape this cube."

"You really think that'll work?" I asked, skeptically.

He took a deep breath and stared straight ahead. "Uhh, not really, but it's better than just sitting around doing nothing."

"And what do you think will happen to us if the other guards find out we knocked one out?"

Jeriah cracked his knuckles. "They won't find out. We'll hide him under my cloak."

"That's ridiculous!"

He held a finger to his lips. "Shh! I hear footsteps."

Heavyset footsteps clumped outside the wooden door, followed by a few grunts of protest as the guard fumbled with the keys. As soon as a click sounded and the door swung open, the same guard from before stepped into view.

"I see ya two dopes di'n't eat a t'ing!" He laughed. "Good fer ya's."

When he took one more step, I saw something glisten in the shadows before a huge clang sounded and the guard suddenly collapsed onto the ground, no longer conscious.

Jeriah and I stared at the sleeping man, stunned, not really sure what to make of the situation.

"Well, there went your genius plan," I muttered under my breath, rising to my feet to get a better look at the body.

I saw another glisten from the corner of the room by the doorway and heard a few shuffles from feet or clothing. We weren't alone.

"Who's there?" I called, clenching my hands into fists, even though I couldn't fight from inside the magic-sealing prison.

"What, you don't remember me, kiddies?"

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a light blue, white, and black blend of colors step forth from the shadows in the form of jester's clothing. A hand was pulling the three-pointed jester hat down over his forehead, a smirk hidden under his arm.

"It's your Uncle Jax!" he exclaimed, smiling widely. "I'm here to rescue your sorry asses!"

Jeriah and I stood there in horror. We were at a loss. We had no idea what to do, what to say, or what to believe. This man was supposed to be dead. I saw his body, I went to his funeral, I watched him get buried. How could he possibly be standing before my eyes?

"How...?" Jeriah started.

He waved a dismissive hand. "Nah, now's not the time. It's a story I'd rather you hear from my man, Quint. I don't know what the fuck happens with that crazy shit down there."

After tucking something away on his backside, he stepped up to the cube, tugged his blue glove off, and rested a calloused palm on its magical surface, getting a feel for what it was that entrapped us, his brow furrowed in contemplation. I was impressed that he didn't allow his hand to pass through it and be trapped inside along with us.

"I think I have a solution," the Heaven's Light veteran muttered. He turned on his heel and knelt down beside the overweight, unconscious guard lying peacefully on the floor, a welt forming on his forehead. Jax rested his exposed, pale hand on the clothing of the guard and concentrated, sending off a faint magical pulse.

"Jax, what are you doing?" I asked, still awestruck by his sheer presence.

A smile tugged at his lips. "Well, Terr' Bear, I'm using my crazy form of magic to, maybe, copy the magical properties of this poor soul's Helix clothes into my DNA, so I can enter the cube and do the same for you two."