Chapter III: Return
Septimus burst into the Manuscriptorium, thoroughly out of breath. Beetle came up to him.
"What's wrong?" He asked. "Want a FizzFroot?"
"No time. Beetle, you have to come with me. I'll explain along the way. It's absolutely urgent!"
Beetle frowned, but followed him. What could be wrong? DomDaniel is dead… forever this time. Septimus, Nikko, and Snorri are back in their own time. The Queste is completed. Syrah is UnPossesed. And Merrin is back with his parents. What could possibly be wrong? He smiled. Fool I am, thinking that life in the Castle could ever be dull. I should be happy. After all, nothing's happened in, what, six-odd years. His thoughts were interrupted by Septimus' voice.
"Beetle, this is no time to be smiling." He turned to face him. "The Castle has a new enemy. He's out in the Farmlands, and he's planning something terrible." And so he told Beetle of what had happened. By the time he was finished Beetle's smile was gone, replaced by a somber countenance.
"He might just be a cranky old man who doesn't like trespassers." But even as he said it, Beetle didn't believe it. He didn't think that someone that immensely powerful and secretive, with traces of an unknown branch of the Other as well, would be doing something normal.
They arrived at the Palace, striding past the old groundskeeper, still trying to get his lizard-powered grass cutter to work right. They paid no attention to the sleeping ghost in the corner, nor the friendly suit of armor in the hall as it saluted them, nor even their friend Maria Marzilla, the cooking maid, as she offered them a hello and a roll. They went straight to the Princess' Room. Septimus knocked on the door and waited. Finally, a disheveled Jenna appeared.
"Couldn't you wait? I was just "
"Jenna, this is important. You have to come with me. We might not have much time."
Jenna sighed. "This better be good."
"It's not good, but it's critical. Come on."
So she followed. The trio immediately ran towards the North Gate as Septimus told Jenna the incidents that had occurred. Jenna dug in her purse and tossed a couple of groats to Gringe, who tried to catch them like they were the Elixir of Life. As they sprinted forward, Septimus noticed that Jenna and Beetle were lagging. He looked back and saw the two staring at each other with dreamy looks in their eyes. He sighed and grabbed both their arms, giving them a boost. They continued for some time until Septimus stopped.
"This is it. Over here." The steeliness was strongest at that spot.
"Ok, here's the plan. A little bit that way is the UnDetectable entrance of the guy's lair. Once we're in, I'll distract him with charms. Jenna, I'm counting on you to get whatever is in his pocket. Use stealth and, if that doesn't work, use force."
Jenna smiled. Everyone in the Castle knew of Jenna's strength and speed. She won most of the Castle's contests and, those she didn't win, she let someone else succeed so she didn't attract jealousy and resentment. She spent a lot of her time in the Palace Workout Room and running through the streets of the Castle, much to the annoyance of many unwary pedestrians.
"Then we'll need you, Beetle, to identify that source of the steeliness. Try to do it as fast as you can."
Beetle flushed with pleasure. Years as the Chief Hermetic Scribe had filled his head with a lot of Magykal information. He often didn't have to direct customers to a book, but just told them the answer himself.
"Now, the ride is a bit…exhilarating. Just walk right here…"
Once again, he felt himself rocketing skyward faster than Alther on a starry night. And then, once again, he plummeted toward the ground and appeared in a dark–and Darke–room.
"I'm back." He said to the silhouette. Suddenly it laughed, a cruel, mirthless laugh that had never seen compassion, as its face came into the light. The face was cold and unforgiving, with sharp eyebrows and a set jaw.
"Of course you are. Predictable doesn't even begin to describe you 'heroes'. Now, if you'll just stop trying to Immobilize, Transfix, Subdue, Silence, Freeze, and, of course, Disable me, we can talk. And let me restrain your lovely adopted sister in her pathetic attempt at stealth."
He deftly scooped up Jenna and twisted her arm behind her back, immobilizing her completely. "Now, sit down and learn your fate." Septimus and Jenna were thrown backward into two conviently placed chairs and held there by an invisible force.
"Well then, let me begin. My name is Maximus Draine. I have been watching you, Septimus, since birth. I saw you when you switched with Merrin. I watched every year you were in the Young Army. I watched as you learned your true family. I watched as you fulfilled your true destiny. I watched through every one of your adventures. I see you have met my hopeless, clueless excuse of a son, DomDaniel. Ha ha ha." He shook his head. "I have watched, and waited. Now, finally, I have perfected my formula. All it needs now is the blood of a seventh son of a seventh son. Which, of course, has come right to me."
He took the stone that eminated the steeliness and a small knife and carefully nicked Septimus. A drop of blood fell on the stone and steamed slightly. "Now, I'm afraid, I must be off."
Suddenly out of a corner jumped Beetle. Maximus' face flashed surprise, then amusement. He grabbed his attacker and slammed him against the wall. Beetle's face went limp.
"Beetle!" yelled Jenna as she strained against her bonds all the more.
"Ha ha ha. How tipical. Young love, always touching. Don't worry, he's still alive. Now as I was saying, goodbye, and imagine your Castle as it's Drained and doomed.
Again, he laughed
1,000 words :)
