Septimus was at a loss for what to do. No Marcia, no Tower full of people ready to help. He was on his own.
He could think of nothing else to do and go up to Marcia's rooms and...think of what to do.
"This has to be a dream, a really life like totally crazy dream, but a dream," Septimus whispered to himself as he climbed the immobile stairs.
The Tower was cold and dark with out Magyk to power it. Silence hung in the air like a blanket, practically daring him to make a sound. It took fifteen minutes but Septimus finally made it to the twentieth floor, and walked slowly down the hall that led to a large purple door with peeling paint. He gently put his hand on the door and it creaked open.
Septimus inhaled sharply and waited for something to react to the noise.
Nothing. Septimus sighed and entered the room. It looked much the way he remembered it, but there were small differences. The vase that Marcia always kept fresh flowers in was gone, as was the old blanket chest that she'd had since she first came to the Castle.
Septimus eased his way through the room and heading for the firewood bin. He threw a few logs onto the hearth grate and mumbled a quick Light spell. The logs obligingly burst into flames and gave off a warm glow that made the room feel slightly more like home. Septimus leaned back into the dusty sofa and tried to think things over.
It was all too real to be a dream so he tossed that idea. Which meant he needed to find Marcia and Jenna...and Marcellus and Simon...and Beetle and well everyone really. The only thing that troubled Septimus more than where had everyone gone was, what had made everyone disappear.
The purple door which had been left open so as not to make anymore noise slammed shut.
Septimus jumped to his feet, heart in his throat. He looked around the room searching for anything that would give someone away,but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.
The fire died in the grate with a loud Whoooosh.
Septimus stopped and tried not to smile. He and Marcia had laughed at Alther's tale of his brief tenure as Tower poltergeist.
"Get out," whispered a voice in Septimus' ear. He felt the left side of his face freeze with a sudden cold wind. It was obviously Alther affecting his voice to sound scary.
"Leave now," growled a voice this time on his right. Septimus tensed and fought the urge to laugh. He took a deep breath and whispered back, "Why?"
Silence.
He could almost see Alther's baffled face.
"Are you still there Alther?" Septimus asked.
"Yes. Who are you and what are you doing here," the accent was gone and Alther's normal tone had returned. Septimus felt his spirits lift at the familiar voice.
"Are you going to appear to me or am I going to have to continue to talk to thin air?" Septimus asked hoping that the ghost had not changed too much along with the rest of the Castle.
The air before him shimmered for a moment and in front of him stood, or rather floated, good old Alther Mella; from his ponytail and beard to his robes with the blood stains over the heart.
He stood eyebrows raised and arms crossed, "Well?"
"It's me Septimus," he said laughing slightly, "What's happened I went to bed last night and the world was one way and then I wake up this morning to find it turned on its head."
"Septimus? Septimus who?" Alther asked tilting his head to the side and looking the young man up and down appraisingly.
"Septimus Heap, you know Silas and Sarah's seventh son, Marcia's Apprentice," he said all humor draining from his voice.
"The Heaps never had a seventh son, and Marcia never had an Apprentice," Alther said somberly.
"What are you talking about Alther. I have been Apprenticed to Marcia for 6 years now, you've known me since I was ten years old," Septimus said beginning to panic. Alther didn't remember him.
"I was born and then, shortly after, stolen by the Matron Midwife. There was a mistake and I ended up in the Young Army. I found my name and family when I became Marcia's Apprentice, that was the request I made, and you where at my Apprentice supper." Septimus was near frantic. Why was everything so backwards.
Alther shook his head slowly.
Septimus was lost for words.
"Marcia never became ExtraOrdinary Wizard lad. The day I died DomDaniel took over. She's been his pet," Alther spat, "ever since."
"When exactly did DomDaniel take over?"
"Ten years ago today. The very day that the Princess was born, her Mother shot, her Father missing and presumed dead, now she's in a cell somewhere inside the Palace. Well at least that was the way of things the last time I was there." Alther said fading slightly.
"But... how...I mean that's-that's not what happened," Septimus couldn't think. His head was swimming with all the information, he'd never existed, he'd never been born and DomDaniel had won, and now ruled the entire Castle.
Alther felt bad for the young man that stood in front of him a hollow, fearful look in his eyes, "Sit down lad, you look a bit done in," Alther stoked the fire and got it burning again, "Warm up, calm down, and I'll tell you what you seem to be missing," the ghost said gently.
Septimus flopped onto the sofa and stared into the fire. Alther sat down beside him and sighed, "On the day that the Princess was born Marcia and I went to do the Welcoming and the blessing. The Queen looked exhausted but happy. In her arms was her baby girl. When we entered she couldn't hardly take her eyes from the babe and asked 'Isn't she beautiful?'"
"An oily voice from the side door of the room replied, 'Indeed she is your Highness.' DomDaniel raised a pistol and fired directly at the Queen. The baby fell from her arms and Marcia jumped and caught her before she could hit the ground. I managed to get a safe shield around them, however I left myself exposed. I felt the bullet and then heard Marcia scream, and then I died. From that day on DomDaniel has sat on the throne and made the Castle his own."
Septimus ran his hands down his face trying to process all that he'd heard. "That's not what happened, at least not from where I'm from, where ever that is. It's close but things never got nearly this bad. It was an assassin, not DomDaniel, who killed the Queen and you. That sadly hasn't changed. Marcia escaped with the Princess and the Amulet, she became ExtraOrdinary and gave Jenna, the Princess, to the Heaps. I had been born earlier that same day and 'died', but actually DomDaniel had me stolen to become his Apprentice, there was a mix up and I ended up in the Young Army. On our tenth Birthday Jenna, Marcia, Dad, and Nico were on the run, and I was kind of dragged along for the ride."
Alther sat deep in thought, "I have an idea as to what might be behind all of this, but I want you to prove to me that you are in fact Marcia's Apprentice. When she asked you to be her Apprentice did she give you anything?"
Septimus smiled at the memory, "Yes she did, she gave me a pair of silver wings with the words fly free with me. The same charm that you gave her when she became your Apprentice."
Alther smiled, "Well now that that's settled young man, I think I might be able to explain your predicament and you'll be happy to know I don't think you're mad. There is a spell, usually done by a group of Wizards or Witches, that can effectively wipe a person from history. Luckily for you it seems that the casters have made a mistake and you were simply erased from memory. The question remains, however, who would do this?"
Septimus knew, "The Port Witch Coven. They've always supported DomDaniel and recently they've been causing lots of trouble down in the port. They would happily bring him back and join in the power with him. Is there a witch named Pamela in the Palace?"
"I believe so. In order to put things to rights we'll need two powerful wizards, at the very least, to get enough energy for it to work. The wizards from the Tower were removed years ago to the Badlands. I fear they are all dead or worse."
Septimus didn't want to think what had befallen the removed wizards, what ever their fates. "What if Marcia and I did it? She's the rightful ExtraOrdinary, and I'm the seventh son of a seventh son. we could do it together."
Alther shook his head sadly, "If you could get to her maybe you could, but it would be impossible to get into and out of the Palace safely."
Septimus grinned and stood tall, adjusted his cloak and pulled the hood over his extremely short hair (regulation length for a Chief Cadet), "I have an idea. You want to join me, and we'll save Marcia and the Princess?" Septimus said boldly. He would fix this and save the Castle from the rule of the Necromancer.
Alther gave the young man a sad smile, "I wish I could, but after I meddled a bit too much with him, DomDaniel Expelled me from the Palace, I can't go past the gate without getting Returned."
Septimus' confidence deflated slightly, "I have to try, Alther, if not for my sake then for Marcia and Jenna and the whole Castle."
"I understand Septimus, good luck and be safe."
Septimus nodded and turned for the door, "I'm going to rescue them, if the Young Army did nothing else it taught me how think fast in dangerous situations."
The door closed and Alther was left alone in the sitting room, "I hope you're right lad, I hope you're right."
A/N: Gosh didn't think I was gonna get this done this evening. I think I like this chapter, but I'm still kind of iffy about it. Tell me what you think. Next chapter should be good...that is if I can write it properly and not butcher what's in my head.
