Do Not Own Keys to The Kingdom

An Unlikely Alliance

Chapter 1 Meeting Arthur

Deep within The Coal Cellar the Lower House was the bitter and envious Denizen known as Saturday who had been sent to mine and shape coal as punishment by Lord Sunday after he realized around a thousand years after breaking the Will that Saturday was plotting to destroy the whole house, so she could invade his domain and kill him before making herself ruler of the house. Lord Sunday's growing pride meant he wouldn't let her best him but he wouldn't lower himself in doing the dirty work, so he coerced the other five Trustees in overpowering her for him. They transformed her into looking like a Piper's Child as an extra touch on Sunday's orders. He wanted to humiliate her and make the opposite of what she believed she was. After that they dumped her in The Coal Cellar, the lowest place they could think off where the sloth known as Monday was supposed keep watch over her but didn't really bother too. Saturday was still more beautiful than any other of Piper Children due to her very high precedence within The House which she was happy about. Her hair was electric blue and her lips were covered by a shade of blue. She had transformed her key from its form of an unassuming quill pen to a more practical miners helmet, so she could see what she is doing. She spent a long time in The Coal Cellar with the time letting all her anger and resentment of Sunday grow even more. On the other hand, the time did let her reflect that her original plan was very stupid as she realized that destroying The House was a foolish move when she could take all seven keys. Then she could become on par with The Architect. She could take her rightful place her successor. Saturday grinned as she worked as most of her fellow Trustees wouldn't be match for her even in this state. Monday couldn't be bothered. Tuesday would be too busy creating stuff. Wednesday would no doubt feel guilty for her betrayal and to all she could to do amends. Friday would likely put up a mostly easy fight. Leaving on Thursday and Sunday himself to deal with. Saturday would more likely be able to deal with them once she had five keys under her command. Then one day after however long she was down there for as she lost track, she caught someone trying to steal a piece of coal from one of her piles. Saturday was annoyed that someone was taking a piece of coal from her pile. She shouted at them with warning in her voice "Stop taking my coal" while wieldy a knife she had summoned. She then saw The Minute Hand in a scared looking boy. Saturday said with a dangerous glint in her eyes "Oh so Mister Monday has finally sent someone to check up on me" The boy stepped back in fear. "So what does Mister Monday want, to make sure I haven't escaped" The boy noticed that Saturday's eyes held some madness and was covered in coal dust.

He asked very nervously "Who are you?"

"I am Superior Saturday" She said proudly. "Mistress of The Upper House and soon be ruler of the house. The boy did not look like he believed her. So, she said "You don't believe me do you, I bet your bosses didn't tell you about me did they"

"Well you are down here" The boy commented.

"They threw me down here when I tried to achieve my rightful place at the top of The House" She said clearly angry. "Forced to collate the coal into piles for good knows how long, it's enough to drive anyone insane"

"I don't want to . . . I don't want to upset you" said the boy clearly not wanting to upset the unbalanced girl in front of him especially since it was the first face he saw down there.

"You didn't upset me" Saturday said as if the thought that he could upset her was funny "Just your bosses"

"I'm Arthur" Arthur said rather insistence 'I have the Key, but I'm not an official of the House. Or a friend of Mister Monday. I'm a mortal, from outside"

"Mortal" Saturday said eyes widening. She muttered to herself "The Rightful Heir to the House" She backed away from him just in case he already had the other keys. Real fear stuck her as she did not want to lose her power.

Arthur asked before she could flee "Before you go, can you tell me . . . or show me . . . where the Old One is down here?"

"Why do you want to see The Old One, he can reduce you to Nothing with no chance of coming back!" Saturday said confused.

"I have to,' said Arthur slowly before saying "I need him to find a way out of here" Saturday looked less like to flee.

"Can't you just leave Mister Heir" Saturday said with her eyes narrowed. Arthur thought it be best to tell Saturday or whoever he was talking too his story.

"My name is Arthur Penhaligon" Arthur started to say. Saturday listened as he said "I'm not really sure why I have the Key. The Will tricked Mister Monday into giving it to me, but now he wants it back and that's why I was put down here, till I agree to hand it over. Only before that the Will said I have to get the Hour Hand and take over the Lower House, because that's the only way that I can get home and stop the plague that the Fetchers brought with them" Saturday looked murderous at the mention of The Will.

She calmed herself down said with a calculating glaze "I will take you to The Old One and if he recognizes you as mortal then we have to have a chat"

"Thank you" said Arthur sincerely as he was glad for the help. Arthur followed Saturday who moved with purpose. Eventually Arthur suddenly caught a glimpse of something that was not illuminated by his Key or Saturday's helmet. It was another light. A blue, shimmering light, as if there was a gas fire somewhere ahead. Arthur was nervous and excited at the same time. Nervous because Dawn and the Commissionaire Sergeants had been genuinely afraid of the Old One. Excited, because he might be able to get food or, even better, find a way out. He had to blink a lot, since it was hard to see in the strange combination of light from the Key and the shimmering blue radiance that bathed the area ahead. Saturday looked uncaring care about him. She was proud of The Architect work on the giant clock with chains connected to manacles on the wrists of The Old One. He was giant man resembling a barbarian hero who was sitting near the numeral six. He seemed to be asleep, though his closed eyes looked kind of strange. The eyelids were raw and red, as if he'd been sunburned. Saturday grinned at his punishment. Arthur went closer not noticing Saturday was hanging back. Saturday turned her glaze to The Architect's real handiwork, the two trapdoors on either side of the central pivot. Well not them but what they contained, The Woodsman and The Corkscrew Woman. The entities who dished out his punishment. One of the only few things that could hurt The Old One.

'Beware!' shouted the Old One suddenly meaning he had noticed Arthur. The Old One in an instant stood up and causing Arthur to trip over some loose bits of coal. "Have you seen enough, Key-bearer?" asked The Old One casually looped a piece of his chain over Arthur's head. Saturday watched as Arthur tried to strike him with the Key. "Did your masters not tell you that nothing of the House can harm me?' growled The Old One 'And nothing of Nothing, save the creatures of this clock, who nightly gnaw and gouge my eyes? But I give you my thanks for the moment of entertainment you shall give me as I rend you limb from limb and consign your essence to the void!" Saturday watched to see if The Old One recognizes him as a mortal or if he had lied.