A Painter & Writer's Magic [Chapter 19]

A/N: Please ignore the horrible quality of my writing, thanks a bunch. :)

Last Line(s): Another rushing sound, and Akol tumbled out to the other side. He grunted as he rolled over and sat up, rubbing his left temple. He jumped up and looked around. The wizards’ world looked a lot like the human one - towering buildings, cars (but they weren’t mechanical, they were magical), people (wizards in this case) walking around, plant life, and the occasional wild animal trotting past the wizards.

It was the second time that he had come to the Wizards’ world. The first time, he had come only because of his great-great grandfathers’ funeral, but after that, he never went again. Didn’t bother to, either.

He took a deep breath. Time to find the palace. 

Chapter 19

Audrey and Will were snoring softly - they had been told to sleep because Obraya had strictly told them that they needed to rest, as Zoya and Obraya were pacing the small space they were in. Obraya kicked at a small pebble in her way and it clanked when it hit the metal bars.

A few more minutes of pacing and the girls could hear loud clompy footsteps approaching them. The guard patrolling the prison looked up at whoever had entered. "Hey, you newbie weirdo, my shift is almost over, so be ready for the night, you got that? Don't let any of them out for anything at all. Especially the Painter and Writer." He nodded over at the couple, still sleeping. “They're going to be Questioned tomorrow at noon.”

“Yes, sir!” a masculine voice exclaimed. More footsteps were heard and then the Angel came into view. Obraya gasped but didn't say anything so she waited for the other guard to leave.

The guard peered into the young man's face. “Get into the sun more, you vampire. You're as pale as a ghost of a ghost.”

The young man nodded his head, gave him a dimpled smile and watched as he left. Once the wooden doors banged shut, he exhaled, relieved.

“Julian!” Obraya squeaked.

“So, who am I going to -” Julian's eyes landed on Zoya. He ruffled the feathers on his wings and tossed her a smile. Zoya's stomach churned and she felt a blush creep up. But she rolled her eyes and looked over at the sleeping couple.

“Audrey, Will, get up, we have someone helping us escape,” she said flatly. She looked over at Julian, not locking her gaze with his and questioned him. “You're Obraya's brother, I'm assuming?”

“Sure am.” His wings gave off a golden glow.

Obraya snorted at her brother's behaviour.

“Wake them two up, and then I’ll tell you guys my plan as soon as we get you guys out of here,” Julian said. “Hey!” he called out to the couple. He held onto the bars and tried to put his head through the little space there was.

Obraya sighed, shoving his face back out. She almost forgot how immature and childish her brother could get. Almost. Most of the time, though, he was a sweetheart, easy to negotiate with, and a great plan-maker. She walked over to the couple and crouched down beside them. “Hey,” she said quietly, nudging Audrey.

“Mm,” Audrey stirred.

“Get up, my brotha’s ‘ere.” She poked Will with the same stick he had poked her with that morning.

Audrey’s eyes snapped open. Will rubbed his forehead with his palm and groaned, getting up in a proper sitting position. He looked up at Obraya, then over her shoulder. He saw Julian standing there. “He looks just like you,” Will commented, his voice hoarse. It had been about a day since they last had water. “But paler.”

Julian pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows. His dimple showed. Zoya glared at it.

Audrey and Will got to their feet, rubbing their eyes and stretching. The four stood at the bars, watching as Julian searched for the keys. They weren’t hanging somewhere close to the doors, like in movies, Will noticed.

“Do you actually work here as a guard?” Will asked.

“I bought a fake costume, cast some charms to make it look but not feel realistic, and walked in to the castle, telling them I was a newbie and King Herschel -” Obraya cringed at her ex-boyfriend’s name being put with ‘King’, “- believed me, and bam, here I am!” Julian turned around, throwing his arms up with an air of confidence.

“Have you found the keys yet?” Zoya asked, ignoring how entertaining Julian seemed to be.

“No, I can’t seem to -” Julian paused. “Oh wait, there’s a closet in that corner. Maybe -” He walked out of sight and soon enough, a cheery woopie! was heard. Julian came back into sight and fiddled with the large amount of keys dangling from one chain.

“Can’t you just magically bring us out of here?” Audrey asked.

“That’s what I was thinking,” Will admitted.

Julian tsk-ed and Zoya rolled her eyes. Obraya stayed focused on what keys her brother had or hadn’t used. “Nah ya already used that ‘ne, check the ‘ne on the left.” Julian obeyed.

Zoya spoke up. “There’s spells that are cast on every lock on Pluto so the owner of the locks - in our case, Herschel - are the only ones who can unlock it with magic. Or else we’d need keys.”

Audrey and Will ‘oh’ed.

There was a soft click and the metal bar door swung open. “There ya go!” He smiled.

The four of them filed out murmuring about how relieved they were.

“Alright, what’s the plan?” Will asked.

“Hopefully it isn’t as vague as Obraya’s was?” Audrey said. Then she lowered her voice. “Even though it worked somehow.” Will snorted.

Julian looked around. There was a wooden door labeled GUARDS ONLY and he tried the door. It was locked. He grunted. There was complete silence - other than the jingle of the keys - as the Angel tried key after key. Soon enough, the door swung open. “There,” he muttered. He gestured for everyone to go inside. He dropped the keys back in the closet and followed the rest of the group in the GUARDS ONLY room.

“So, first, we’ll do introductions, then we head out with whatever plan this guy’s got,” Zoya offered.

Obraya rested her hand on Julian’s shoulder. “Y’all, this is Julian, my brotha. Julian, this is Zoya, an’ the Painter an’ Writer.”

“Audrey and Will,” Zoya explained.

“Ah, my pleasure,” Julian stuck his hand out to shake Will and Audrey’s and smiled.

“Plan?” Zoya reminded.

Audrey and Will blinked at Julian when he dropped his jaw. “Um…” he trailed off. “Alright, so the first thing we’re going to do is get out of the castle, and then, voila, we go to run to the Portal before sunrise.”

Will wanted to punch him. “Vague much?” he muttered.

Audrey sighed. “Seriously?”

“He’s a great plan-maker,” Obraya said, sagging a bit. She looked at Julian. “You said you had a proper plan?”

“That was to assure you that everything was going to be okay,” Julian said, pursing his lips.

“What happens if Herschel’s guards catch us?” Audrey asked frantically.

“Or if the gates are locked?” Will wondered, eyes wide.

Julian was silent. Then he shrugged and smiled, which looked more like a grimace. “I guess we can hope for the best?”

The rest of them groaned.

Obraya rubbed her forehead. “Let’s go now,” she said, heading out. The couple followed, and the two younger ones took up the rear. They ran across the dungeon hall. Their feet made soft slapping sounds on the stone floor as they jogged around, looking around for a door that could possibly lead outside the castle.

Will perked up when he saw a door locked four times with different types of locks - padlocks, deadbolts, smart lock and chain lock. “I think that’s the door that leads outside!”

“Great, Julian, bring the keys again, and try the deadbolt and padlock.” Zoya walked over to the door. “And I’ll try the smart lock,” she said with pursed lips. She undid the chain lock first. She knelt down to reach the smart lock and ran her finger across her bottom lip, thinking of possible numbers.

Julian brought over the keys and tried the different ones.

The couple and Obraya discussed different ways to outwit the guards if - Lord of Pluto forbid - they found us. Five solid minutes later, it had been decided that they’d just run at the same time, Julian distracting the guard, because there was no time for the couple to do any magic, Zoya didn’t have her wand, and Obraya was still weak from the Pains. Julian was the only one who had powers, but that wouldn’t be enough, although he could use his magic to distract the guards.

“Aha!” Zoya exclaimed. “Got it!” She grinned.

Julian patted her head approvingly like one would to a dog who brought back the frisbee. “Out of my way, now, miss, because I still have about a thousand keys to get through.” He smiled down at her. Zoya’s knees shook as she stood up and she clenched her jaw. She flashed him a mocking smile and stood behind Obraya.

The mood was tense while Julian fiddled with the keys. The others barely had any energy to say anything. It was too tense, anyway.

The locks were unlocked a couple of agonizingly long minutes later. “Finally.” Julian sighed. Everyone else did too. He pushed the door open and the rest filed out silently.

The night was dark and the three moons shone in the darkness, lighting the path for the group. They shuffled to the looming metal gate that was cracked open. Will assumed that Julian had kept it open for their own ease when they would have to get out.

There was a soft crack.

Everyone froze.

There was only five meters until they reached the gate. They tiptoed, quietly, silently, trying to make no noise at all. Julian’s heart beat so fast he thought the whole of Pluto would be able to hear.

Four meters.

His blood in his brain pulsed. A headache was coming on. He was worried. About what? That maybe they would fail their mission, would be taken back to the dungeons, and executed.

Three meters.

There was a pop! and Herschel appeared before them in a shimmer of silver.