Decision

Her dreams were always the same now. The dark passage, the pulsing beat, the light that beckoned. She had never dared to enter the chamber. Tonight, she found herself wondering what would happen if she did. Maybe the dreams would stop. Maybe she would finally have some answers.

Her heart fluttered like a bird battering itself against a cage, desperate to escape, yet she still moved towards the glow. It was just a dream. Nothing could hurt her in a dream.

She stepped inside the chamber. A web of paths spiralled up and up above her head, too small for any human to use. There was no real exit except from the way she had come. Not that she was thinking of retreat in that moment. At the centre of the chamber, on a dais of knotted wood, some kind of cocoon throbbed and hummed, pulsing with pinkish-red. This was what emanated the light. This was what created the pounding beat. Even now, its siren song drummed through her bones, resonating deeper and deeper as if trying to reach her soul.

"What do you want from me?" she whispered. "Why do you call me here?"

The light pulsed brighter.

She hesitated to get closer. Every hair on her arms and neck shivered. Was it the goddess inside the cocoon? Was it simply where the magic gathered, like a seed of life waiting to burst free? Or was this all just a concoction of her imagination?

No. This wasn't normal. People didn't just dream about being trapped in dead trees every night.

She was so tired of not knowing. She was so tired of being used like a tool.

"Why?" she demanded, balling her hands into fists. "Why do I have to dream about you? What do you want!"

The shout echoed but was soon swallowed up by the resonating beat. It made her feel small. Helpless. She had might as well scrabble at rock with her bare hands.

She let out a frustrated sound and was about to turn away, but then a coil of smoky red emerged from the cocoon. Her eyes widened. It slowly solidified until it was like looking at a woman etched onto stained glass: transparent, translucent, oddly vague. Her eyes were just indentations of glassy red.

"No way," Marinette breathed. "You … you're …"

The goddess tilted her head. "A human?" Her voice was like honey and silk. "Interesting."

Marinette's brow creased.

"You don't know, do you?" the goddess said, and looked Marinette up and down. "I wonder then why you seek to free me."

"It's not me. It's this other god. The god of warriors or—I don't even know what he is. He makes humans into powerful warriors."

"The god of transmission."

Marinette nodded. "Well, he wants to free you, but I don't know why. He's forcing me to heal the tree."

Glassy eyes glinted. "Tell me more."

So Marinette told her everything she knew about Hawkmoth, Cat, and how the true name binding had brought them to this point. It was a relief to get it all out, a relief to think she might get some answers. Surely the goddess of creation would help? The stories about her had been vague, but she had always been known as benevolent.

"Do you know why he would do all of this?" Marinette asked, once finished.

A smile curved the goddess's slit-like lips. "He's a fool."

Marinette blinked.

"Child." She stepped closer, her smile widening so much it looked as if it should crack and shatter her to pieces. "Continue to heal the tree. I will deal with this Hawkmoth for you once I am free."

The hairs on the back of Marinette's neck prickled. She resisted the urge to step back. "I …"

"You think I'm not capable?"

"No … I just …" Marinette swallowed. "How did you even get stuck in the tree?"

"Ah, now that is a long story." She waved her hand in a dismissive manner. "It matters not now."

"But—"

"We are both remnants of creation, child." She smiled and reached out her glassy, translucent hand. "You can trust me."

Marinette's heart thumped faster. She did not accept the proffered hand. "I want to know why you're in this tree."

"Then heal it." The goddess's body began to crumble like a scattering of red stars, turning back to smoke.

"Wait!" Marinette scrambled forward. "Don't leave yet! I still have questions!"

But the smoke had already slipped back into the pulsing cocoon.

oOo

"I don't know what to do," Marinette said, standing with Cat in the courtyard in front of the twisted, old tree.

She had told him everything about the dream. It was a risk since there was always the chance he'd report to his father, but she didn't want to keep secrets from him. Not about this. Fortunately, they still had plenty of hours until Hawkmoth arrived and forced her to heal.

"There is maybe one person who can help," Cat said, though he sounded reluctant.

"Who?

"Mayura."

Knots twisted in Marinette's stomach. "You want to go to her?"

"I know you don't trust her. I don't either. But the fact remains that she no longer has anything to do with my father, and she's tried to warn you before. It's possible she knows about his plan—more than I do. And, unlike me, she's not bound to his bidding. She can actually talk to you."

"But—"

He gripped her shoulders. "I'm not telling you to leave."

"Good, because I don't plan on leaving you."

His expression softened and he moved his hands up to cup her face. "Look, all I'm saying is that Mayura could have the answers you need. That dream, the goddess …" He shook his head. "I don't like it either."

Marinette bit her lip. "I guess it's worth a try."

They were running out of time. Running out of options as well.

"Okay," she said, raising her chin in determination. "I'll do it. I'll call for Mayura."

He brushed his thumb against her cheek. "Then I'll leave you to talk with her."

"But—"

"It's better if I don't hear what Mayura has to say. You're already taking a big enough risk."

Her mouth twisted. She stared into his eyes, torn and frustrated. It wasn't fair that Hawkmoth had so much control over him. It wasn't fair that he couldn't stay at her side. He was so good, so wonderful.

He didn't deserve this.

She grabbed his collar and tugged his lips down to hers, kissing him fiercely. Desperately. "It won't be like this forever," she whispered. "I will find a way to free you."

His only response was to pull her back in for another kiss, but she heard his gratitude in the exchange of pulse-jumping, velvet caresses and silent words. She heard his hope.

oOo

The feather was a little crumpled from where she'd crushed it in her fist, but it was still a silky black, flecked with purple. She held it before her. "Mayura! I call you!"

A faint glow emanated from the feather and it rose up from her hand, floating on its own. Then it vanished.

Marinette stared grimly at the sky. She didn't have to wait long. A creature appeared with silver and teal wings. It almost looked like a peacock, except it was much larger and had horns like a dragon. It landed in front of her.

"Where's Mayura?" Marinette demanded.

The creature lowered its head. Get on, it clearly said.

She threw a frantic glance back at the castle. "No. I don't want to leave. I just—"

But the creature didn't care. It snatched her up with its beak and took off into the air. Marinette was leaving the castle, leaving Cat, whether she liked it or not.