Page 35 of The Healing Dragon
My hands slightly shake as I remove it, and the door creaks open. The room has no light, but Jesse is quick to remedy that by creating a flame before us.
“There.” He points at a wagon in the middle of the room. Before I can ask anything, he is across the room removing a cloth covering the top surface of the wagon. “Why does he have it just on this wagon?”
Jesse extends his hand towards the book but nothing happens. “It cannot be picked up with magic,” Jesse says and leans forward to pick up the book. A grunt of exertion comes out of Jesse before he turns over his shoulder. “Did you ever hear anything about the book being heavy?”
I shake my head and step closer. The red velvety cover of the familiar book comes into view. The light of the flame illuminates the space above and around the wagon. It’s a big book, but nothing out of the ordinary.
“How heavy?” I ask.
Jesse attempts to pick the book up with magic but is unsuccessful. “It must only be able to be moved by touch.”
His posture becomes stiff as he leans down and grasps the book with both hands. He takes a deep breath and pulls it up. The book lifts this time. Jesse’s hands are extended in front of him, with the book hanging low. He takes a few steps towards the door with much difficulty.
“We have to leave,” he huffs.
I freeze in place. While I don’t wish to go back, I’m unable to leave without Matias. Not after what he did for me. The only act of kindness a mere stranger has shown me. He didn't want a single thing in return but for me to show that kindness to someone else. Little did he know he would be the one needing that aid in the future.
“Janelle Duelo pays her debts.” I turn to Jesse. “Go to the tree line. I’ll meet you there, but if you hear commotion in the house, you run.”
“Where do you think you are going?” He reaches for me but stumbles with the weight of the book.
“I’m going for Matias. I cannot leave him.”
Jesse puts the book on the ground, then turns to fully face me. “I more than anyone wishes to put a stop to his suffering and take him home, but we have to go now. The book takes precedence.”
“Not for me,” I say, shaking my head as I step closer to the house.
I mean every word with my full chest, knowing very well that my freedom and my magic depend on the delivery of that book.
“Do you understand what you are risking right now?”
“I found my father and helped you get the book. I did my part, Jesse, but now I need to make sure I keep my word to Matias, too.”
“Janelle, do not take another step.”
I have to make amends, and it starts today. Rain starts to fall quickly, drenching me from head to toe. With one last look at Jesse, I run towards the house and head for the side door that leads to the basement. The steps are slippery, but I do my best to keep quiet as I make my way to the wooden door. I press my ear and hear nothing but the soft noises of the prisoners.
“Move aside,” Jesse says behind me.
He is holding the Red Book in his hands, but he sets it down on the ground to place his palm on the lock. Unlike the one in the shed, this lock clicks open instantly. His frown is firmly in place, but he is here. Part of me wants to tell him to go back to the forest and wait for me, but his magic will be useful for this rescue mission.
“Quickly, in and out,” he says.
I nod and focus on the now open door.
We slide inside and allow our eyes to focus on the dark space. Due to the rain outside, the amount of light has decreased to nearly pitch-black darkness. A series of lightning and thunder lights up the room enough for us to see that the prisoners are not the only people in here.
“Hey!” a guard yells from the other side of the room.
He is leaning against the opposite wall in a chair. His disheveled hair and sleepy face gave away the fact that he had been dozing against the wall. The thunder or the door opening must have caused him to wake up.
Before Jesse can react, the man pulls on the bell against the wall. The loud ring seems to echo in the room, then follows outside the basement wall. The thunder that follows doesn’t come from the storm raging outside, but from the dozen feet landing on the old wood floors.
They are coming.
Jesse takes care of the soldier as I open the cell doors. Everyone is up at this point. I run inside the cell as the captives rush out, staying out of my way. They hold on to one another as they stumble out. Instead of running towards the open back door, they coward deeper into the room by the cleaning closet.
We’re about to be outnumbered any minute now, judging by the thundering footsteps in the hallway.
