CHAPTER SEVEN:
A PROPER WELCOME
The stallion seemed to know exactly where he was going. It didn't stop, not even to take a short rest.
When morning came and the sun broke through the canopy of white trees, Marinette woke with a start. Did I fall asleep? She rubbed her frost-covered eyes. How could I have fallen asleep? Then, a painful thought occurred. How will I find my way back?
She knew it was foolish to try, but someway – somehow – she would find some kind of loophole in the deal, and use it to escape and return to her parents. There was no way she was going to stay away from them forever.
Marinette's eyes darted to the wood around her. She wondered how far the stallion had taken her. Everything seemed so strange and unfamiliar. The trees were as thick as chimneys, and their limbs entwined together along the ground and up into the air like party banners. The branches were coated with so much frost, they looked like sparkling crystals. Not too far away was a frozen lake, clear and untarnished as glass, surrounded by mounds of rock.
If Marinette wasn't so nervous, she might have thought the scenery beautiful.
She let her eyes wander until the stallion brought her to a large gate covered in ice. The doors opened, and Marinette straightened herself in her saddle. Be brave, she told herself as the horse trotted on.
As soon as she laid eyes on the great hedge maze and the looming castle beyond, Marinette realized her father had left out a few details. Despite the obvious neglect and sadness that radiated from the structure, there was no denying the glory of its humongous towers and looming archways. A palace of snow and stone, where everything glistened in the sunlight.
The stallion finally stopped at the bottom of the stone staircase, and Marinette dismounted with her pack. She wondered if she should thank the creature, but it was already trotting away. Probably heading for the stables.
Marinette shivered as she stood alone before the gargantuan stone behemoth. How could something so beautiful be so terrifying? Hopefully, the interior was a lot comelier like her father had said. She winced. No, she could not think about her father right now. If she did, she would turn and run in the other direction, deals be damned. So, Marinette stroked the ivory rose on her jacket for courage. I can do this, she thought as she ascended the steps. I can do this.
She approached the great iron doors, clenched her fist, and knocked. Hard.
It clicked and groaned… and then slid open.
Warmed air instantly kissed her chilled face. Marinette stepped inside cautiously, keeping her eyes peeled for anything lurking in the shadows. Despite the coat of dust on all the furniture and a few cobwebs here and there, the place was well-lit and spacious. Welcoming, even. Marinette's footsteps echoed through the chamber. She looked around stiffly, noting in her head the number of windows and corridors. This place was so lavish and… huge! She found it hard to believe that one beast lived in such a place.
For a moment, Marinette wondered if this Cat Noir knew she was already here. Was he watching her right now, skulking in the shadows like a mountain lion? It made her all the more anxious.
She almost didn't hear the tiny, excited voice coming from somewhere in the room.
"Look, Plagg! A pretty girl!"
Marinette spun around, glancing around for the source. She found nothing.
"I know it's a girl, Tikki," growled another voice, this one raspy and annoyed. "I have twenty-twenty vision, remember?"
"But what if she's the one?"
"Who said that?" Marinette blurted out, her voice reverberating through the hall.
Somebody hissed, and then there was silence.
Marinette tried again. "Hello?" she called. "Who are you?"
The male voice that answered her sent a jolt through her body: "Who are you?"
Marinette faced the grand staircase, her stomach going rigid as she beheld the dark figure standing right between the two deviating stairs.
The top half of him was concealed in the shadow of the second level, while the rest of him was bathed in sunlight. He wore no tattered cloak this time. In fact, his outfit bordered on something like formality. The faded black tunic and pants weren't brand new, but they were undoubtedly elegant. They conveyed a cool, dark sense of regality – like a prince who lived and dwelled in the shadows. But it was his exposed feet and hands that made Marinette grow still: the black fur, the padded toes and fingers, the claws that were as white as snow.
She couldn't quite see his face, but she could make out those tuff-like ears sticking up as the figure cocked his head.
"How did you find this place?" the boy spoke again. Yes. He was a only boy… or a young man. Or a young beast-man, whatever he was.
Marinette swallowed and took a brave step forward. "Are… Are you the one called Cat Noir?" she asked. She was shuddering so hard, it was small wonder why she bothered to have any courage at all.
The figure snorted softly, and his cat-like feet proceeded further down the steps. "Indeed I am," he said.
Marinette's eyes widened as his full face came into view. From appall or from awe, she couldn't say.
He wasn't hideous or terrifying as she imagined, but no less strange. His hair sprouted out in golden spikes, like the decorative leaves on those spring cakes Marinette's mother used to make. His mouth hung open a little, allowing her to see a bit of those sharp, glistening fangs. And those eyes! Green, glowing and cat-like… but they had a sort of reverence to them. Confusion, even. There was no trace of them being feral or threatening, like her father had described.
He was… beyond words.
Cat Noir cocked his head again, as curious as any ordinary cat. "Forgive me," he said, "but you're not the visitor I was expecting."
Visitor? Doesn't he mean debtor? Marinette held back those words and spoke the words she had rehearsed on her the way through the woods. "My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I have come to take my father's place."
Cat Noir blinked and paused on the steps. "Your father?"
"Tom Dupain," Marinette answered for him. "The man who owed you for the rose." She laid a hand on the soft, wilting petals of the flower on her jacket. "This rose."
The creature's eyes fell upon the makeshift brooch, and then returned to gaze back up at Marinette's face. He squinted a bit, as though trying to glaze over every detail. It made her shiver again.
"You're the baker's daughter?" Cat Noir blinked again. He lifted a clawed hand towards the rose. "But he was the one who stole the rose."
"I asked him for it," Marinette stated, making sure he saw the regret and seriousness in her eyes. "I wanted him to bring one back from his trip, so I should be punished for it, not him!"
The castle's owner reached the bottom of the steps, and Marinette unconsciously stepped back at bit. He was slightly taller than her, possibly around her age. His thin, furry tail curled in and out as he considered her.
Then, he asked in a soft, earnest tone, "Are you afraid of me, Marinette?"
There was no point in lying. "Yes."
Cat Noir folded his arms and cocked his head again, this time with a look of distaste. "Then, why have you come here on your father's behalf? Did he ask you go in his stead? Or did he force you to; convince you that it was your fault and therefore you should pay for his mistake?"
The fact that this beast thought so little of her father made Marinette's anger spike up. "No!" she argued, shaking her head. "He did no such thing! He doesn't even know I'm here." She glanced down at the floor. "Although... he's probably read the letter I'd left him, by now." She could already picture her father weeping in despair, and her mother struggling to fight off her guilt. The thought left a sour, gnarly taste in her mouth.
"You… came here willingly?" Cat Noir's exasperated words made her look back up at him. His eyes were wide, his narrow pupils fanning out a bit, and his hands had dropped to their sides. "All by yourself?"
"Yes," Marinette replied, trying and failing to hide the misery in her voice.
"Knowing that you could never leave? That you would never see your family, or your home, again?"
She forced herself to meet his stare. "Yes."
Cat Noir was shaking his head himself, probably in disbelief. "Why?" That single word sounded like a church chorus of whispers in this chamber.
"He's my father," Marinette replied staunchly. Something you wouldn't understand, she added irritably in her head. "I'm willing to pay the price for the rose. All I ask is that you leave my family in peace. Is that fair?"
Cat Noir seemed to be struggling to answer that question. "Yes, it is… but… you should know what you're getting yourself into, Marinette."
"I know full well."
His mouth curled slightly. Then, he prowled over to stand in front of her, quicker than the blink of an eye. Marinette gasped as his face loomed mere inches away from hers, his features set like stone.
"Do you?" he asked softly, his throat vibrating until the words almost sounded like purring.
Marinette swore her heart was vibrating like the final gong of a bell. But she kept her face still – unprovoked, unfeeling.
If he saw through her act, he didn't show it. "Once you agree to stay here," he said, his eyes bearing into hers, "the bargain cannot be undone. Not unless I will it. If you try to run away, the binding magic of this castle will inflict punishment on you. Don't ask me how – I don't know the details. But I guarantee it will not be pretty. Now, that may sound like a threat to you, but it's the truth." His voice softened with a kind of sincerity Marinette had never heard in anyone before. "So, I must ask you again, Marinette: do you wish to take your father's place?"
For a moment, Marinette thought that this creature was subtly begging her to say no. What does he expect me to do instead? Go back home and let Papa come like he wanted? And if this so-called binding magic was as powerful as Cat Noir suggested, it made the promise of escape slip further out of Marinette's reach. He seems quite tame for a… cat-creature, she thought as she held his gaze. Maybe he would nullify the bargain out of pity if Marinette guilt-tripped him hard enough… or acted so miserable that he couldn't stand to be in her presence. Either way, once he sees who I truly am, he'll avoid me like the plague… just like everyone else.
Marinette forced air into her lungs and straightened up, ignoring the limited amount of space between her and her new host. "Yes," she answered boldly, "but you must keep your word and never go near my family again."
Cat Noir grinned with devilish charm. "You've got stamina, I'll give you that." When Marinette didn't flinch, he sighed and stepped away. He laid a hand over his heart. "Very well, Milady. I swear on every beastly part of me, I will not lay a hand... or claw, I should say... on your family ever again. You have my word."
But am I exempt? Marinette realized she should've mentioned that little detail, but decided not to tempt fate with that question. "Then I accept," she said almost too quickly.
As though the castle itself was pleased with her answer, a wave of prickly air swept through the entrance hall. The candle flames sputtered only for the barest second before returning to their tranquil forms. Marinette tasted something salty and bitter on her tongue – like iron – but the feeling was gone before she could contemplate it.
"The deal is sealed," Cat Noir said. He then took a step forward and bent over in a regal bow, one arm crossed over his chest and the other swept to the side. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, consider yourself the most honoured guest in the castle of Cat Noir. Ask for whatever you wish, and it's yours."
Marinette was so dumbfounded by the flamboyance of that statement that she couldn't help it. "Whatever I wish?"
"You will have comfort and luxury fit for a princess," her host clarified as he lifted himself up. "Food, bedding, clothing, music, books... anything you desire. Or if you just want some piece and quiet, I can give you that, too."
What I want is to find a way out of this mess and go home. Marinette didn't dare voice those words aloud. She had made her choice, and now she must suffer the consequences. Even if the consequences of being stuck here involved "comfort and luxury", it still meant having to live in the seemingly-haunted residence of a cat-creature.
"That said," Cat Noir continued, "it would be a shame to not give a beautiful young lady a proper welcome." His smile twisted with something like bashfulness. "Would you… perhaps… join me for dinner tonight?"
Marinette almost balked at him. He threatened and insulted her father, forced him to accept some cursed bargain, gave her no choice but to stay in his castle forever in her father's stead… and now he was asking her to have dinner with him?! She gripped the inside of her cloak, twisting the fabric between her fingers to stifle the roiling tension flowing through her. If I refuse him, will he get angry at me? And if I accept, what good will that do? His attempts at flattery won't change anything.
Cat Noir read the expression on Marinette's face as though she were a page of a book, and he glanced away shamefully. His ears drooped a little. "I'll take that as a no. I understand. But if you need anything from me –"
"I don't." Marinette blurted out before she could stop herself. It wasn't until Cat Noir looked at her with pained surprise that she quickly corrected herself. "I mean, I'll be fine on my own. Thank you." She stared down at her feet, her face flushing with both dread and relief.
Cat Noir's voice was low and resigned. "In that case, I'll leave you to your own devices. Feel free to go wherever you please… except the western courtyard."
"Why can't I…?" Marinette began, but then she paused when she saw that coolness in his gaze. It reminded her of Chloe Bourgeois whenever she didn't like what people told her.
"It's my private place," Cat Noir answered, that iciness slowly edging away. "It's mostly storage. You'd find it boring anyway." He waved an idle hand. "Other than that, what's mine is yours. I'll have my friends show you to your room."
Marinette straightened. "Friends?" She suddenly remembered the voices in the shadows, and she felt queasy again. What other manner of creatures lurked within these halls?
"Don't worry, they're nowhere near as… strange as I am," Cat Noir promised, that mischievous light returning to his green eyes. "Although, one of them might need to go on a leash if he annoys you too much."
"He knows I can hear him, right?" the raspy voice from earlier hissed from the shadows, making Marinette jump.
Cat Noir snorted and shook his head. "I'll leave you in their tiny, capable hands. Rest up, Milady. Make yourself at home. I'll be…" He paused again, and then quickly shrugged. "I'll see you later." And without a backward glance, he sauntered back up the stairs.
It was an effort not to stare at him until he vanished beyond the steps. Marinette swallowed a hard lump in her throat, suddenly realizing she was now alone with whoever was watching her before. Cat Noir's friends.
As though it had read her thoughts, that hoarse voice spoke out again. "Wow. If I knew he was this lousy at first impressions, I would've given him some cards."
Marinette snapped around just as a miniature black floating… thing slipped out of nowhere and flew up to hover right in front of her. It had a big, bulbous head and a disproportionately-smaller body.
It greeted her with a fanged grin and glowing green eyes. "Hello!" the critter sang.
Marinette let out a scream that bounced along the walls. Faster than a flicker, she reached into her pack, grabbed the first thing she touched – which was a candlestick – and chucked it at the newcomer with all her might.
The shadowy thing turned and let out a startled "AH!" before the candlestick stuck him full in the face and pinned him to the floor.
Marinette reeled back with a gasp, covering her mouth so as to not scream again and alert Cat Noir to the commotion.
"Uhhhgg…" Whatever Marinette had hit now rose up from under the candlestick and gave her a dizzy smile. "Nice throw, sweetheart. You're pretty strong. I find that attractive in a female." He rubbed his forehead with a tiny paw, moaning.
Marinette gaped at him. It looked so much like Cat Noir: the green eyes, the pointy ears, the tail… The only difference other than its size and shape was the soft nose with whiskers sprouting from each side. A cat in appearance, but about the size of a small bird. Or a large insect. "W-W-What…?" Marinette breathed. "What are you?"
The critter blinked up at her as though it were obvious. "I'm Plagg. Nice to meet ya."
Another voice sounded from above, high-pitched and sweet as strawberries. "I told you speaking out like that would scare her, Stinkysock."
Marinette looked up to see another tiny critter floating down towards her, its hands braced on its miniscule hips as it shook its head at its fallen companion. Like the black one, it had a big head, but it was all red and bore four large polka dots and three long antennae… like a ladybug. Its bright blue eyes were gentle and perky, like an excited child. The most curious part of about it was that it had no wings, but was still able to fly. Is that magic? Marinette wondered.
The black critter – Plagg – floated back into the air and brushed himself off. "Wha-at? I was just saying hello! Not my fault she's so jumpy."
The ladybug critter rolled her eyes before turning to face Marinette. "Apologies for my friend's rudeness, Miss Marinette," she said, dipping into a polite curtsy. "My name is Tikki. We're very pleased to meet you."
Marinette knew she shouldn't stare, or gape at them like a fish. They were just so perplexing and so amazing at the same time. And far less frightening than what she imagined. That was a good thing… right?
"Now, as much as I would love to watch you bonk Plagg on the head again," Tikki went on, waving her little nubby hands towards the staircase, "I'm sure you must be exhausted from your long journey. Come – we'll escort you to your room." She flew over to the banister and beckoned the blunette to follow.
Marinette glanced around the entrance hall one last time, wondering if there were any other surprises waiting to jump out at her. When none came, she sighed and climbed the steps on heavy feet, keeping her eyes peeled and her ears sharp.
She didn't trust this castle anymore than she trusted Cat Noir, no matter how welcoming and accommodating it was. A gilded cage was still a cage, after all.
Apparently, Marinette's room was at the top of one of the castle towers, so she had to make a long trek through several hallways and, big surprise, more stairs. By the time they reached the top level, Marinette's calves were burning.
But at least Tikki and Plagg were pleasant company. They didn't chat much, but Tikki would occasionally break the ice by showing Marinette the sights of the castle. There were exotic hallways with intricate golden archways, suits of armour with long poleaxes lined up along the corridors, and massive glass windows that made the floors turn rainbow. The grandness of it all left Marinette speechless.
The trio proceeded outside to a walled bridge that extended to another section of the castle. Snow was stacked between every parapet, and the howling wind blew several icy sparkles amongst the sunny scenery. Beyond the bridge, Marinette could see glimpses of evergreen forests and white mountains. It would have been a spectacular view… if it wasn't so endless; so lonely.
"I do hope you weren't too startled back there," Tikki said as she bobbed beside Marinette.
The girl let out an awkward giggle. "Startled? Why would I be startled? I mean, I'm stuck in a castle in the middle of nowhere, and now I'm talking to a flying bugmouse."
Plagg burst out laughing, his whole body hanging over as he wheezed, "Bugmouse!"
Tikki giggled and gave Marinette an adorable smile. "I can see the confusion, but Plagg and I are neither bugs nor mice. We're fairies."
Marinette's eyes widened. "Fairies?"
But… that was impossible. Fairies only existed in children's stories. First half-human cat beasts, and now fairies? What kind of a castle was this?
"Yep," Tikki responded proudly. Her antennae bounced as she danced about in the air. "The Fairies of the Enchanted Castle, born and bred from the magical essence of this land."
"I told you," Plagg groaned over his shoulder, "we need a cooler name than that. Ooh! How about "the Flying Bugmice"?" He snickered into his paws and he proceeded along the bridge.
Tikki frowned with a huff. "Oh, you're soooo mature," she grumbled.
The magical essence of this land… Which meant that these fairies weren't from the castle either. "How long have you two been trapped here?" Marinette asked.
"Trapped?" Plagg glanced back at her. "As if! This is our home sweet home."
Tikki must have sensed Marinette's confusion, because she came over and sat on the girl's shoulder. "We're not prisoners, Marinette," she assured. "We came here about a year ago, and Cat Noir took us in."
"So… you're his servants?" Marinette asked.
Plagg blew a raspberry. "Ha! In his dreams. The only people I serve are me, myself, and I." He licked a paw and used it to shine the top of his head.
"We like to think of ourselves as helpers," said Tikki. "We don't necessarily obey Cat Noir, and he never gives us orders unless it's really important. We simply lend a hand here and there around the castle. Well… all of us except Stinkysock over there."
Plagg turned to Tikki, but his expression was all sighs and smiles. Dreamy and mischievous at the same time. "You know I loooove it when you call me that, right, Sugarcube?"
"Ugh!" Tikki's antennae became zigzags as she glared at him. "And you know I hate it when you call me Sugarcube."
"Only because you can't accept the fact that you find me irresistible."
"All of us?" Marinette repeated, her interest piquing. "Wait… Are there more fairies in this castle?"
Tikki beamed up at her. "Sure! There's seven of us all together. You can meet the others once we get to your room. Word of advice, though? We don't get a lot of visitors, so if they get too excited, just say the word and I'll shoo them away."
"We don't get any visitors, Sugarcube," Plagg corrected lowly. "Curse and all?"
Marinette stopped dead in her tracks. "Curse?!" The word cut through the wind like a knife.
Just like that, Tikki hissed, "Shhh!"
Plagg's eyes bulged a bit before he stammered, "I mean, uh… Curse it all! Because… no visitors! So lonely here. Very dull. Very boring."
Marinette glanced between the two fairies and lifted an eyebrow, like a mother about to scold her two naughty children. "What kind of curse?" she demanded, not unkindly.
Tikki sighed. "Nice going, Stinkysock." She met Marinette's eyes with an apologetic look. "It's nothing you need to worry about, dear. The curse doesn't affect us, or you. It's… well…" She pouted and shook her head. "It's complicated. And a bit of a touchy subject around here. Best to leave it be." She spun in her spot and pointed to the end of the bridge. "Moving on!"
Marinette followed them in silence, her head buzzing with new information.
If there really was a curse, what could it be… and who had cast it? Was it what was keeping Marinette trapped here? And if so, how could she break it? She wanted to inquire further, but then she remembered that Tikki and Plagg were Cat Noir's friends, not hers. If Marinette asked questions, they would report to him, and then he would come asking her questions.
That's when a more morbid thought occurred to Marinette. What if Cat Noir had cast the curse?
She had no answers, and she doubted she would get any very soon. But, if she bided her time, perhaps get Cat Noir to trust her… Maybe I should've said yes to that dinner after all.
Soon, Marinette promised as the fairies led her through the door back into the warm castle. Soon I'll get answers. And if no one will give them to me, I'll find them myself.