Marinette's eyes felt like they had been sewn shut.

She wrenched them open but immediately regretted it as a shaft of bright sunlight nearly blinded her. She rolled over, pulling her blanket over her head. Why were her curtains wide open?

Wait.

Marinette threw herself out of the bed and fell painfully onto polished floorboards. She wasted no time in scrabbling back to her feet and looking around. She was in a large room dominated by a four poster bed. Dusky pink curtains hung at the corners exposing rucked-up white bedding. A huge window, east-facing judging by the dazzling sun, shone behind a desk sporting only a single sheet of paper. Against one wall was a wardrobe, dark wood with roses decorating the doors. The ceiling was painted with more roses and wildlife, so detailed and delicate it looked like a real host of birds darting and diving through colourful shrubs. There were two doors: one ajar by the bed through which she could see a large bathtub; and another firmly shut.

For the next minute she stood still, taking in her new surroundings. Then she crept over to the closed door, reached out for the handle… but stopped. She had no idea where she was—perhaps finding a weapon or something to defend herself with would be a better idea.

The wardrobe yielded nothing suitable, only several impressive dresses in every colour imaginable. The bed was of little help—she did try to wrestle down the brass bars holding up the curtains but with no success. She approached the desk with the intention of searching the drawers but her attention was diverted by the sheet of paper. Someone had written in a neat, curly hand:

Mademoiselle,

Do not be afraid as no one will harm you in this castle. We have breakfast waiting for you when you wake up. Call for Tikki when you wish to eat.

Marinette read it a few times, trying to make sense of it. A castle would explain the lavish room and expensive dresses. And—she looked down at herself—the equally fancy night dress. But why was she here? How did she get here? And who was Tikki?

Although she knew she wouldn't be able to stomach any food, she wanted answers. Perhaps this Tikki person would be able to explain everything to her.

She read the paper again. Call for Tikki. What did that mean? Stick her head out the door and holler? Or maybe Tikki was waiting outside her room. Feeling a bit silly, but desperate to find out where the heck she was, Marinette pressed her head to the door and said as loudly as she dared, "Tikki?"

There was a flash of pinkish-red light. Marinette pressed herself against the door, hand scrabbling for the handle. The light vanished, and in its place was a floating red ball with huge eyes and long antennae.

Marinette screamed. "A bug! Or, no, a mouse! Bug-mouse!" she yelped, wishing she had something to throw. The creature smiled.

"I'm glad to see you're finally awake, mademoiselle," it squeaked cheerfully. "Would you like breakfast?"

"What are you!?" Marinette yelled. She finally latched onto the door handle, but slipped and fell down. The creature gasped and flew over.

"Are you okay? Please don't be afraid, I won't harm you."

"What are you?" Marinette repeated, scrambling to her feet.

"I am your lady's maid, Tikki," it replied. "Now please, calm down. No one here will hurt you."

"But you're…you…you're…" Marinette swallowed, blinking hard then shook her head. "Am I going crazy? Maybe I hit my head or… Did I die!?"

Suddenly she remembered the forest, the howling wolves, the voice, claws on her shoulders. Those green eyes.

Tikki, to her surprise, laughed. "Oh no, you didn't die. Don't worry."

"But…" Marinette took a deep breath and forced herself to look at the floating creature without screaming. It was actually sort of cute; it had a huge head with three black spots and twinkling blue eyes. Two antennae, soft red, drifted behind it as if perpetually caught in a phantom wind. Once it—or maybe she, judging by the voice—realised Marinette was no longer shrieking, Tikki gave her a kind smile.

"Would you like breakfast, mademoiselle?"

"I, oh. Um. Okay."

"I shall return in just a moment." Tikki disappeared in another flash of pink, only to reappear again within the minute with a tray balanced on her head. Marinette quickly took it and deposited it on the desk.

"How do you do that?" she asked, staring at the spread: thick slices of white bread; pots of butter and jam; wedges of fresh fruit; soft boiled eggs already peeled from their shells; and a small teapot with a matching teacup. Marinette forgot she had asked a question when Tikki replied.

"Magic. All the servants in the household have a small amount of magic. Only enough to transport around the castle."

"Hm? Oh. Oh! Well, isn't that something…" She tore her eyes away from the bread—the sight of the baked goods made her stomach twinge with nausea as she realised her parents were no doubt distraught that she'd never made it home last night. Perhaps they'd found her basket of apples and thread outside the forest and thought she'd been eaten by wolves?

"I expect you have many questions," said Tikki. "Eat first. Then perhaps your head will be clearer. Magical transportation often messes with human minds."

"Magical transportation? Me?"

"Eat, mademoiselle."

Marinette still wasn't sure if she was hungry, but figured if she wanted to leave—or maybe escape—this place she'd need her strength. She sat down at the desk and poured herself some tea from the teapot.

After forcing down a slice of bread with jam and butter, and one of the boiled eggs, she looked over her shoulder at Tikki who was humming quietly near the now neatly-made bed. When the floating servant saw her staring she smiled and floated back over.

"Have you finished, mademoiselle?" she asked.

Marinette gulped the last mouthful of tea and placed the cup on the tray. "Yes, thank you."

Tikki smiled, touched her tiny hand to the tray, and both disappeared. Marinette stood and walked to the window. Outside was a beautiful vista of emerald grass, practically glowing beneath the late morning sun. Hedges, carefully trimmed into various animals, lined a courtyard to the left, and to the right she could see the edge of a marble fountain. In the distance was the dark shadow of a forest.

Was it the same forest?

Marinette certainly felt better for eating and drinking. A new clarity washed through her mind, but with it came the sickening reality of her situation. Kidnapped, taken to a strange castle, with strange floating creatures for servants. And not a word of explanation.

That was about to change.

Not long later, Tikki returned. "Would you like to ask your questions now? Or perhaps you'd prefer a bath and a change of clothes first."

Marinette blinked and frowned. What sort of kidnapping was this? "A...huh?"

"A bath, mademoiselle." Tikki smiled. "We would have offered you one when you came in last night, but we didn't have the heart to wake you."

"No, thank you," she replied sharply.

Tikki shrugged. "Perhaps later."

"Perhaps never," Marinette countered. Now she had eaten, the reality of the situation at hand hit her like a punch to the gut. "I don't know where I am or who you are or why I'm here or anything. And you want me to take a bath?"

"It's just…there are leaves in your hair," Tikki pointed out quietly. "And your clothes are dirty."

"I don't care. I'm sorry, you've been very kind but I really have to be getting home now." Marinette launched herself across the room to the door and grabbed the handle. "If you could just point me in the right direction that would be great."

"Wait! Mademoiselle, wait!" Tikki cried, hurrying after her. "You can't leave."

"Watch me."

Marinette wrenched the door open and stormed through.

The corridor was as grand as the room. Long, wide, and sweeping, it was decorated with lavish tapestries and gleaming suits of armour. Brass chandeliers, each carrying ten candles, hung at regular intervals. She knew from the view out the window that she was several floors up, so the first thing to do was find stairs. Marinette took off down the corridor with Tikki bleating in her ear.

"Please, mademoiselle! Come back to your room! I must explain some things first!"

"Why? I don't plan on staying."

"But you must!"

"Why?"

"Because it's your only chance of getting home."

"Don't you have a front door?"

"It's…complicated…" Tikki's words were delivered with such a sad, melancholy tone that Marinette found herself slowing down. She turned and looked Tikki squarely in the eyes.

"Are you saying I'm trapped here?"

Tikki averted her gaze, uncomfortable, but nodded. "I'm sorry, mademoiselle. Please, come back to your room. Let me prepare you a bath and I guarantee you'll feel better."

Marinette sighed. Trapped. Trapped in a huge castle, with only a magical floating servant for company. How did she go from the baker's daughter who sewed for extra money to a prisoner living like a princess?

"Okay," she murmured. "Maybe a bath will do me good."

Tikki smiled in relief. "Thank you. This way, mademoiselle."

"Please, Tikki. Call me Marinette."

The smile widened. "This way, Marinette."

The bath did do her good. Marinette spent the best part of an hour sitting in a large tin tub, filled to the brim with water that was neither too hot nor too cold, and even after she scrubbed her body clean the water was as clear as when she'd hopped in. Tikki had been right: her hair was tangled with leaves and twigs. Fortunately, the mysterious creature had left an assortment of combs and a few crystal jars of scented oils, which Marinette made good use of.

When she stepped back into her bedroom, wrapped in a soft, cotton towel, she felt worlds better. However, a kernel of despair had anchored itself in her stomach. The guilt at enjoying things in this strange place when her parents were probably worried sick; the anxiety that she would be trapped here forever; the nagging feeling that there was something sinister going on in the castle. But she squashed these down for now.

Tikki had laid out a fresh dress on her bed: a blush-coloured bodice dipping into a darker skirt. Her original outfit – a simple pink dress with a white apron – was nowhere to be seen. The new dress was far too posh for the likes of a baker's daughter, but with no other option Marinette slipped it on. It was soft and silky, refreshingly cool against her skin. The skirt skimmed the ground when she walked, but she had trouble tying up the white ribbon at the back.

"Tikki," Marinette called softly. As before, there was a flash of light and the servant appeared.

"You look lovely, Marinette!" Tikki exclaimed. "Shall I tie the back for you?"

"Yes, please."

Tikki fluttered behind her. "Would you like to ask your questions now?"

"Where am I?"

"In the master's castle."

"Who's the master?"

"Oh, you'll meet him in time. You're here by his invitation." Then, under her breath, "Sort of…"

Marinette furrowed her brow, storing that tid-bit of information to dwell on later. "How did I get here?"

"Magic. A simple transportation spell. Although from outside the castle it used up a lot of magic, all of the extra magic we had…"

Marinette recalled Tikki saying magic often left mortals dazed, hence she'd been disorientated earlier. She glanced through the window again as she thought about her next question. Judging by the sun's position it must be noon. "Why am I here? And why can't I leave?"

Tikki's face fell. "I can't answer those, I'm afraid. It's a complicated matter which would be better explained by the master. Which reminds me!" She zipped back to the wardrobe which sprung open. "You're invited to dinner with him. We must find something suitable for you to wear later! He'll be thrilled to see you!"

"Wait, what's wrong with what I'm wearing now?" Marinette delicately plucked at the front of her skirt. "This is already finer than any dress I own."

"But… that is only a simple dress." Tikki looked round at her, dropping the skirt of deep blue gown. "Hardly suitable for dinner with the master."

"I couldn't. I'm only a peasant," Marinette said. "I can't wear a lady's gown. This is already too much."

Tikki seemed to deliberate this with herself for a while before sighing and shutting the wardrobe. "Very well. You may wear that… I shall bring you lunch shortly. Would you like anything else? Perhaps a book? Or painting materials?"

"No, that's okay. I… I need some time to myself. Thank you, Tikki."

Tikki smiled again, but this time it was tinged with sadness. She nodded and disappeared. Marinette sighed and flopped onto her bed. The kernel of despair in her stomach sprouted and bloomed, filling her entire body with hot anguish.

Her family, gone.

Her friends, gone.

Snatched from her normal life by magic.

Trapped in a castle with some nameless master.

No way back home.

Marinette shut her eyes; her parents' faces swam in the darkness. A single tear leaked through her eyelashes, trembled on her cheek. Then another, and another. And soon she was sobbing into her pillow for everything that had been taken away from her.

Marinette wasn't sure what time Tikki brought lunch. She had shut the curtains of the four-poster bed around her, blocking out the world, and cried several times throughout the afternoon until she was sure she had lost every drop of moisture in her body. When she peeked through the heavy drapes, rubbing her red, puffy eyes, a tray was on the desk.

She ignored the food, as delicious as it smelt, but helped herself to a drink from the pitcher of water. Then she retreated to her dark bed and burrowed under the covers. Plans to escape flashed through her mind. Perhaps she could sneak out at night when everyone was asleep, but then she'd have to struggle through the forest again and likely would be eaten by wolves. Maybe she could create a rope out of bedding and climb down the window in the morning and make a run for it. But the forest probably wasn't much better during the day. She was still in the heart of the impenetrable woods, and it would take hours to make it across on foot.

Marinette fell asleep at some point, and dreamt about breaking into a stable and stealing a horse, which she rode back to her village. Félix came to greet her, but a black wolf with green eyes snatched him where he stood and flew away whilst Tikki tried to force him into a frilly dress. Then Adrien was there and he helped her down from the horse and insisted on going to the village fête with her…

She woke abruptly. The curtains of her bed had been flung apart and Tikki was buzzing around her head.

"Please wake up, Marinette. You're expected at dinner."

"Now?"

"Now!"

Marinette groaned and sat up. It had been such a nice dream…

"Come on! We can't keep the master waiting!"

The master?

Oh.

"I'm up, Tikki," Marinette mumbled, climbing out of bed and stretching. She glanced down at her now-wrinkled dress and tried to smooth it out.

Tikki gave her an incredulous look. "You should have changed into your night dress if you wanted a nap. You can't go to dinner looking like that."

As much as she hated to admit it, Tikki was right. The master was no doubt a lord or a duke or some other member of nobility; she could hardly turn up looking so dishevelled. She lumbered to the wardrobe and began rifling through dresses, trying to blink the tiredness out of her mind.

As she stood there, fingering the fine fabrics, reality caught up with her. Dinner with the master. The man who was holding her here against her will. Who had 'invited' her, though she imagined a more apt word choice would be the man who had ordered her kidnapping. And she had to have dinner with him?

"No!" she cried suddenly. Tikki nearly fell out of the air.

"No?"

"I'm not going to dinner with this 'master', whoever he is."

"But you must!" said Tikki earnestly. "Please, Marinette. This could be our only chance!"

"What?"

"Yours," she quickly corrected herself. "Your only chance. To get home."

Marinette narrowed her eyes. "How will going to dinner get me home?"

"I can't tell you, but you must believe me. Please. If anything, the master can answer questions I can't."

Marinette continued glaring at her for a while longer before sighing heavily and turning back to the wardrobe. "Okay, I'll go," she muttered, plucking a dress from its hanger. Deep purple with draped sleeves and grey ribbons. It was too posh for someone like herself, but she liked the colour.

Tikki insisted on helping her change, which Marinette was thankful for in the end as it was more complicated than it looked. Then, after teasing her dark hair into an elegant up-do and fishing a pair of silver shoes out of the wardrobe, Tikki pronounced Marinette suitable for dinner and led her out of the room.

The castle corridors all looked much the same, and Marinette was glad to have someone to guide her as she would have gotten horribly lost on her own. They didn't meet anyone as they went, though a couple of times she was sure she saw little coloured balls floating in doorways and around corners. Other servants, perhaps?

Tikki stopped outside an impressive oak door. "The master is through here," she whispered. "Wait here. I'll come back to bring you in." She flew straight at the door but instead of crashing into the wood she phased through with a faint pink glow.

Marinette tried to focus on her breathing as she waited and willed her heart to stop beating so fast. It was only dinner; dinner with some stuck up noble. And maybe she would get more information out of him and find out how to get back home.

Soon, Tikki reappeared with a wide, almost cheeky, smile. "In we go!" she chirped as the door creaked open. "Marinette, this is our master."

Marinette wasn't sure what she expected to see exactly. Perhaps an old man with wisps of white hair and a monocle. Or someone tall, dark, brooding with a high collar and a sword at his hip. Or maybe a hooded figure, swathed in black, hunched over a loaded plate.

But she definitely did not expect to walk in and find a huge, green snake perched at the head of the table, a whole fish clamped between long, sharp teeth.