Joleena lit her fist with magic, providing the only light in the small, dark space. They were in what looked like an old tunnel and it was twice as hot as it was in the other tunnel. Alex whimpered in fear and clung to San-Li.
"Can we get out of here?" San-Li huffed, wiping the sweat off her forehead. "This heat is unbearable."
"Right," Joe panted, pulling out The Book. "just let me find the right page..."
"Don't bother," Mad Jack panted. "The Tenebrosi Sanction uses anti time magic fields for their fortresses in order to prevent the Warp Wizard or any time agents from interfering with their work."
"Well isn't that just great!" Joe said slamming The Book shut. "What do we do now?"
"Let's just keep moving. We'll find a way out eventually." Joleena said.
They started walking through the air less, burning hot tunnel and it started getting harder to breath. Alex was the only one of them who wasn't completely gasping and panting for air. San-Li stumbled and reached a hand out to the wall to study herself and found that it was hot to the touch. A wave of nausea washed over her and she had to press her lips together to suppress it. She looked to see Alex staring at her and did her best to smile at him. He blinked slowly and faced straight ahead again, but his grip on her hand tightened.
The heat began to let up as the tunnel started to incline upwards. Mad Jack was watching Joleena intently as she carried his staff, secured on her back with her magic. After walking for what seemed like forever, they came to a winding staircase and at the top they could see a wooden door.
Climbing slowly, everyone seemed to grow tense. The top could either be a way out or lead them right in the middle of the Tenebrosi fortress. Once they reached the top, Joe hesitated for only a moment before pushing open the door and bright light blinded them.
The tunnel had led to a well decorated room with large windows, a fire place, and a large desk and chair. And man with red hair and a curling red beard sat behind the desk and raised an eyebrow at their appearance.
"Well, well, well," the man stood up and spoke in a slow, southern accent. "Look what we have here. If it isn't the intruders, come to pay me a personal visit."
Joe and Joleena's fists lit up with magic and Fina transformed into a snarling tiger. San-Li protectively pulled Alex behind her while Fred stood protectively in front of her.
"Look sir," Joe said staring the man down. "It's six of us and only one of you so I suggest you just sit back down and let us go."
The man clicked his tongue. "No need to be rude son. Besides, I only see two magicians and a shape shifter in that group of yours. Not much of a challenge if you ask me."
"No challenge at all!" Mad Jack yelled snatching his staff off of Joleena's back.
"Hey!" Joleena whirled around but before she could blast Mad Jack, he threw a handful of colored powder in her face, blinding her. "Ah!"
Joe whirled on Mad Jack. "You son of a-"
"Ah, ah, ah dear nephew." Mad Jack pointed his staff at Fred, San-Li, and Alex. "You wouldn't want me to turn your helpless friends to dust do you?"
Joe slowly lowered his fist and continued to glare at Mad Jack as he slowly moved away from them and went towards the man.
"Jack?" The red headed man stared at him. "Crazy Jack, is that you?"
"It's Mad Jack! Mad Jack!" He yelled indignantly. "You never had it right then Brusto, and you still don't have it right now!"
"Well I''ll be darned." Brusto laughed. "What the hell are you doing here? Didn't we kick you out decades ago?"
"Oh, but you'll be glad to let me back in." Mad Jack said smugly.
"Oh really?" Brusto raised an eyebrow. "And just what makes you say that?"
"Because I brought you something special." Mad Jack sneered and gestured with his staff. "The future Warp Wizard before he's reached his potential, and the last living Time Keeper! Delivered right to your doorstep. I've even brought back the time dragon for you."
Fina snarled and lept in front of Joe protectively and San-Li clutched Alex closer to her.
"You jerk!" Fred yelled. "You sold us out!"
"Well what else was I supposed to do? Wait around for my nephew to banish me?" Mad Jack said smugly.
"Well this is special." Brusto smiled at them coldly. "Very special indeed."
His eyes then flashed pure black and several shadow beasts rose out of the floor and surrounded them. Alex made a noise of fear and broke away from San-Li and cowered against the wall next to the open window. San-Li swore and went after him and could see that the window looked outside to an ocean below. It looked like they were stories and stories high.
"You know something," Brusto smiled and stroked his beard. "Even though I work for a pretty nefarious organization, I still like to think of myself as a fair gentleman. So I'll make you kids a deal. While I step out with Mad Jack to discuss his... reinstatement, I'm going unleash these hell hounds on you. Which ever of you survive their vicious nature, I'll let them live as prisoner."
"Excusing of course, you mister Future Warp Wizard and you dragon boy." Brusto continued gesturing to Joe and Alex. "Both of you are going to be kept prisoner anyway. The Tenebrosi could find the two of you very useful."
"Are you sure you want to do this Mad Jack?" Joe said in a low dangerous voice. "Because you do know we will get out of this right?"
Mad Jack paled but he returned Joe's glare. "We'll see about that nephew."
As soon as he and Brusto left the room, the shadow beasts leapt into action. San-Li pressed herself against the wall trying to shield Alex the best she could while everyone else fought. Even Fred manage to get a sword off of a suit of armor and helped Fina fight.
For once in a long long time San-Li felt completely helpless but she couldn't fight and risk getting hurt for the baby's sake. It was actually kind of funny, she had been so focused on Alex that for a while she forgot she was pregnant. She jumped when Alex, who had been clinging to her in terror, suddenly reached up and laid a hand on her stomach.
She stared at him and he stared back. "How did you know..."
"San-Li! Look out!" Joleena screamed.
San-Li's head snapped up and she saw a shadow beast charging directly towards her and Alex, it's fangs opened wide. Without giving it a second thought, San-Li pushed Alex away to safety and stood directly in the beast's path.
"ONEESAN!" Alex screamed.
Suddenly, a blast of magic hit San-Li full force and she felt herself fly right out of the opened window.
As she fell, she looked up at the clear blue sky and found herself smiling with how peaceful it looked. There was the briefest flash of green light then everything went dark.