CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
She watched as the fairies danced and played together in the sun-bleached garden, their twinkling laughter chiming through the air, making dancing lights glow.
And then, a soft hand entwined with hers.
"You want to go join them?"
She turned to see Adrien smiling at her – the brightest smile she had ever seen him wear. His cat-like eyes were mischievous and playful, and his ears bristled in the breeze, along with his golden hair.
She almost laughed. "I thought you didn't want to ruin their fun?"
Adrien's fingers gave hers a friendly squeeze. "I'm not afraid anymore. I won't hide from them. Or from you."
And just like that, they were back in the ballroom, swaying together among the sparkling fairy lights. Soon, they were both flying up into the night sky – away from the castle, away from all their troubles and fears. A beautiful aurora twirled around them like a ribbon of wind.
Then, the stars vanished, the ribbon faded to dust, and the darkness swept in.
Marinette opened her eyes.
The hand that she had just been holding onto – his hand – was gone. Her fingers clenched around empty air now.
She sat up in her new bed, slowly remembering that this wasn't her room in the castle, but her new room in her parents' manor. It was always so strange, waking up here. Then again, it had only been three days since she arrived back in Villeneuve. She would get used to it.
Wouldn't she?
Marinette sighed. "I need some air," she muttered, throwing off the covers and retrieving her silk robe draped over her chair.
The new placement of furniture took some getting used to as well. Her new wardrobe was more like a closet, and there weren't as many dresses in it. Sabine had promised to order new ones in, but Marinette knew they wouldn't be the ones she had woven and sewn together with her own hands. The only exception was her red gown, which hung alone on the rack like a limp rag.
Marinette spotted the magic mirror lying on her dresser… and paused.
She had used it a couple times already, just to see how Adrien was doing. Each time, he never smiled like he did whenever Marinette was around; like he did in her dreams. Maybe… this time…?
Marinette scooped up the mirror gently. "Show me Adrien," she whispered.
A swirl of magic, and her Cat Noir appeared just as he had over the last three days: staring out into nothingness, his face slack with sadness. It was just like when Marinette had first met Adrien, back when he was all distant and melancholy… only this time, it was worse. That seemingly-vacant expression couldn't hide the layer of grief and dread in his cat-like eyes.
Without meaning to, Marinette pressed her fingers against the glass… but then stopped and sighed at Adrien's image. "Oh, Kitty…"
She felt the urge to take him in her arms, just like she had back in the rose garden. To comfort him and let him know that no matter how bad everything seemed, it was going to be okay. But she couldn't. Adrien would never be able to hear her. He would never again feel her touch, her warmth against his…
Marinette almost slammed the mirror back down, blinking frantically.
She couldn't dwell on the past. Adrien had let her go. He told her to never come back; that he would be fine on his own. Marinette had to respect his wishes. Besides, he'd get over it eventually.
Wouldn't he?
Marinette groaned and rubbed her temples as she exited her room.
She decided to go to the small veranda on the second level, which stuck out of the back of the manor. It was her favourite spot so far. There, she had a perfect view of the forests and mountains beyond.
Making her way quietly through the halls in her bare feet, Marinette was glad the household staff were all asleep. She had tried to make small talk with them over the last few days, hoping to get to know them better. Sadly, most of them were very dutiful and closed off… especially Nathalie the housekeeper. It made Marinette miss Adrien and their fairy friends more and more. They weren't afraid to talk about anything, even if it was only about the weather.
Marinette entered the veranda and smiled from the scent of pine coming off from the woods ahead. There were some comfy lounge chairs and a couple of tables set up, but Marinette didn't feel like sitting.
She went over to the metal railing and peered out towards the wild expanse. Maybe if she looked hard enough, she would find the castle… or perhaps, the place it might be concealed in. If a skilled hunter like Theo Barbot had trouble finding it, Marinette doubted she would have better luck. Still, it couldn't hurt to try.
It was a clear night tonight, and the stars were so distant. Marinette folded her arms and leaned on them, immediately thinking about her dream… and her dance with Adrien. Within seconds, she was humming the melody of Pollen's waltz, her bare feet stepping in and out on their own accord.
A soft voice interrupted her. "That's a beautiful song."
Marinette inched around to see her mother standing in the veranda doorway. Her face was illuminated by a small candlestick she held. Like her daughter, she too covered herself up with a robe, but she had been the smart one by putting slippers on.
"Did I wake you?" Marinette asked. A sudden thought occurred to her. "Is it Papa? Has his condition changed?"
Sabine stepped outside, holding up a hand in reassurance. "He's fine, dear. Sleeping like a baby. Whoever that Lila girl is, she's a miracle worker." She came over to stand beside her daughter. "Anyway, it's you I'm more worried about."
Marinette smiled awkwardly and leaned back against the railing. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "I'm perfectly fine."
Her mother raised an eyebrow. "You can't keep secrets from me, remember?" she said with a grin. "You haven't been "perfectly fine" since you got here, and I think I know why." Sabine set the candlestick on a nearby table before joining her daughter at the railing. "It's just us now, Marinette. No more secrets. Tell me how you're feeling."
No more secrets…
Marinette sighed. Now that her mother mentioned it, there was something she needed to get off her chest. "Maman," she said, locking eyes with Sabine, "back at the castle, Adrien showed me an enchanted book. I'll spare you the details, but…" She took a deep breath and let it out. "I saw the place where you used to live. In Paris."
Sabine reeled, her silver eyes going round as the moon.
"I saw you and Papa as kids," Marinette continued. "And… my grandfather. I… I saw what he did. What he tried to do." Her voice became thick at the horrible memory, but she shook the feeling away. "That's why you left, isn't it?"
For a moment, Sabine looked like she was about to burst into tears, or faint right there in front of her. But then, in the blink of an eye, she regained her composure and drew in a long, long breath before exhaling with a shudder. Finally, her mother answered, "Yes."
Silence followed, save for the song of the crickets and a few loon calls here and there.
Marinette gave her mother a firm, pleading look. "I'm not a child anymore, Maman. I've seen so much. I don't want to live a sheltered life anymore."
Sabine nodded solemnly and stared out into the wilderness. "I never forgave my father for trying to kill Tom," she said. "The day I left, I told him I wanted nothing more to do with him, or his twisted ideals." She sighed. "But he was always a stubborn man. He wrote every week, begging me to come back, telling me how sorry he was and how he just wanted what was best for me. I ignored each letter; didn't bother opening them after a while. Even after you were born, I refused to acknowledge him. I didn't care if he was sorry. I didn't want him anywhere near you, or Tom. I wanted him to leave us alone."
"Then… the letters stopped coming." Sabine's voice trailed off into something like a mournful whisper. "At first, I thought he'd finally given up. But then, a few days later, a strange man showed up at the bakery, asking for Rowan Cheng's daughter. That's when he told me… when I realized… why the letters no longer came." She hung her head down, and a single tear escaped through her crushed eyelids. "He had taken ill. I didn't know because I hadn't opened the recent letters he'd sent. But by the time I realized it, it was too late. My father… had passed away."
Marinette immediately reached for her mother's hand. "I'm so sorry, Maman."
Sabine sniffled and looked up at her, her lip trembling. "That's why I didn't tell you, Marinette. It wasn't just about what your grandfather did, but what I did, too. Like him, I'd let my anger and my own selfish needs cloud all reason. And because of that, my father died knowing that I still hated him. I never gave him a second chance. And that knowledge… the shame I felt… It almost broke me." She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and took a few more breaths before continuing. "If it weren't for you and your father, I never would've recovered. You always defended me when the other villagers would gossip about my mysterious past. But all these years, I was afraid. Afraid that if you ever found out the truth, you would be ashamed of me, and cast me aside just like I did my father."
Marinette's heart caved in at that, and she quickly embraced her mother. "No, Maman… no," she murmured. "I could never be ashamed of you. Back at the castle, when I was alone in my despair, the memories of you and Papa helped me go on. And now that I finally know the truth, I'm… I'm glad." She pulled away and helped dry Sabine's tears. "I'm glad that you told me; that you finally trust me with this. And you can rest easy now, knowing that I'll always love you no matter what."
Her mother smiled through her tears and hugged her daughter once more. "Thank you," she rasped, sniffling so loudly she could wake up the staff.
After a moment, Sabine was the one to pull away this time. She wiped her face and went back to her old self again. "All right – enough of that," she joked. "Now, let's get back to the topic at hand. How are you really feeling, Marinette?"
Marinette suddenly felt her heart sink. "I… I don't know," she admitted, her eyes going downcast. Then, she let out a breath of a laugh and looked back up. "It's funny, actually. On the outside, nothing's changed. But on the inside…"
"You have changed," Sabine finished for her, her words carrying a sense of astonishment and understanding.
Marinette laughed again. "Yes. That's it. I have changed." She gazed up at the stars above. "I'm not the same girl I was when I left home. It's strange… and amazing and weird and scary. But you know something? I don't mind." A bright smile appeared on her face. "The only problem is… I can't figure out why I'm feeling this way."
At that moment, her mother starting snickering into her hand.
Marinette eyed her confusedly. "Maman? What's so funny?"
Sabine shook her head, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, ma petit cherie… You may not be the same Marinette who left three months ago, that much is true. But there are some things about you that will never change. For one thing…" She leaned in closer and whispered, "You're still so oblivious."
"What?" Marinette blurted out.
Her mother giggled again before stroking her daughter's cheek. "Don't think with your head, Marinette," she said as she turned to the doorway. "Think with your heart. It always has the answers… even if you don't yet know it."
The next day, Tom finally got out of bed, completely cured as though my magic.
The rest of the staff and the workers at the bakery were all delighted to have him back, as well as some of the villagers when they heard the big news.
Of course, they were really thrilled about the party Tom and Sabine hosted three days later to celebrate the occasion… and to commemorate Marinette's return.
Marinette decided not to wear her red gown for the event. Instead, she went for one of the pieces her mother lent her: a plush, emerald-green dress sewn up with pearls, opals and golden thread. The colour scheme reminded her of Adrien.
On the night of the party, Marinette stood awkwardly in the clustered crowd. There were people she knew and people she didn't know. There were some nobles, but there were also commoners and old friends of her parents attending in their best (or least threadbare) suits. Even Mayor Bourgeois had shown up, but thankfully, his daughter had excused herself due to being overtaken by a "sudden cold".
Alya and Nino came, looking so sharp and fancy in the clothes Sabine gifted them over the holidays. There was also Alya's father, Otto the innkeeper, and Nathaniel the apprentice librarian. Even Manon and her mother came to visit. The little girl had brought the book Marinette had given her, and surprised her by reading it aloud to her – slowly and awkwardly, of course, but it made Marinette proud.
Caline Bustier was there too, as was her new apprentice Mylene. "She's a sweet thing," Madame Bustier told Marinette after introductions, "and she loves doing flower designs. But there's always plenty of room in the shop for two. Perhaps you can show Mylene a few of your handy tricks once you come back to the shop."
"Oh, that would be wonderful!" Mylene said excitedly. "Madame has told me so much about you, Marinette! I would love to see what you can do!"
Marinette told them she would think about it after she finished settling in. If she ever settled in at all.
But the best – or rather, the worst – was reserved for last.
Marinette was getting herself a fresh glass of pomegranate juice – and thinking about how it looked so much like Tikki's berry-red skin tone – when someone tapped her suddenly on the shoulder and practically yelled, "Marinette!"
The blunette yelped and almost fell right on top of the food table, but a pair of strong, unfamiliar hands grabbed her by the waist and helped her back onto her feet. Marinette went rigid when she looked up into the eyes of her attacker-turned-rescuer.
Theo Barbot looked more handsome and dashing than ever, wearing what appeared to be a grey-and-black army uniform with golden shoulder tassels, black boots and white gloves. He seemed so clean and refreshed, and… was that turpentine Marinette smelled? Already, half the young ladies in the dining hall were watching Theo with longing eyes, but his eyes were focused directly on his latest catch.
"Theo…" Marinette cheered half-heartedly through a fake smile. Then, she let out a small squeak when the hunter pulled her into a full embrace, almost burying her face in his chest.
"Oh, Marinette! It's so good to see you!" Theo breathed before finally pulling away. "I've been worried sick! Where have you been all this time? I was afraid something happened to you!"
"I'm fine, Theo, really," Marinette quickly assured him as she pushed off the hunter and brushed herself off. "No need to worry. I just… had to go away for a while."
She still remembered what Alya had told her through the magic mirror about Theo's failed conquests through the forest. To get Marinette back. As though her rejection of his proposal had never happened.
"But where did you go?" Theo asked, his tone bordering on demanding. "Your father said you disappeared, but he never said why."
Marinette looked away with a shrug. "Well, my father does respect my privacy…" she began.
"We both went into the forest to find you, but he gave up after the first search. He just gave up, like a coward."
Marinette's blood heated so suddenly, and all the sounds of the party faded from her ears. What did he just say?
"But I didn't," Theo persisted, placing a hand on her shoulder and staring hard at her face. "I kept trying to get through the woods, because I knew I had to find –"
"To find me?" Marinette asked, her patience with him already reaching an end. "To rescue me from some phantom horror? To be hailed as a conquering hero and win my heart as your reward?" She glared up at him, and was glad to see his face go slack with shock. "Is that all that I really am to you – a reward for you to chase around at your whim? You think that if you keep persisting in this… foolishness, I'll finally open my arms for you and agree to marry you?"
Theo stiffened at her words, but he didn't let go.
So, Marinette removed his hand for him. Her anger sharpened into the point of a needle. "I already told you, Theo – I'm not going to marry you, no matter what you say or do. So, stop hounding after me like a dog over a slab of meat." She got into his face. "And don't you ever," she growled, "call my father a coward again."
She let her words sink in, watching Theo's eyes darken before turning on her heels and shooting for the stairs.
That's when Marinette noticed that some people had listened to the whole conversation, because they immediately gave her a wide berth as though they were afraid she would infect them. Marinette didn't care anymore. Let them look. Let them gossip. She didn't want their opinions anymore.
She accidentally bumped into someone coming down the stairs. It was Lila.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss Marinette!" the physician said, raising her hands up in apology. Her sunset-coloured ballgown shimmered in the light of the chandeliers. "I'm so clumsy. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Lila," Marinette said, curtsying hastily before zipping past the brunette. "Enjoy the party."
She lifted her skirts and hastened up the steps, not stopping until she reached the second-floor veranda. Thankfully, everyone else was downstairs, so she had the whole space to herself. Marinette practically collapsed onto the closest chair, forcing herself to breathe nice and slow, letting the nightly breeze cool down her anger.
This place really hadn't changed at all.
Why? she thought with frustration, tugging at one of the sewn jewels of her dress. Why won't he respect my wishes? Why doesn't he understand?
Marinette wrapped her bare arms around herself, wishing that she had someone else to hold her right now. Someone who could lull her anger to sleep with his purring…
No matter where you go, you will never leave me.
Marinette hard footsteps. She gasped, her eyes opening wide with delight. "Adrien?" she asked, twisting around.
"Nope," said the female figure stepping onto the veranda, "but close enough, I guess."
Marinette let out a sigh-like groan at the sight of her best friend. "Sorry, Alya. I thought…" She turned away, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
Alya came over, her purple dress trailing behind her. Her auburn hair was all done up in a bun of ringlets, exposing her bare neck and shoulders. "I saw what happened with Theo," she said, claiming a chair next to Marinette. "And let me tell you: I have never seen you look so scary before. It was… something else."
Marinette bit her lip. "I didn't mean to upset anyone," she claimed, "it's just… Theo was so…!" She groaned and hung her head down. "I had to tell him to back off. He needs to know that I'm really not interested in him! I never was!"
Alya nodded with understanding. "Well, he certainly knows that now," she said, "but thank goodness he doesn't know the real reason behind it."
Marinette turned to her, her brow scrunching. "What are you talking about?"
This time, Alya grinned and leaned closer. "You know what I'm talking about," she drawled. "Your beastly friend, Cat Noir."
Marinette must have gaped at her, because then her friend burst out laughing.
"Oh, come on – it's so obvious! All those times when you talked about him in the mirror, those nice things he did for you…" Alya's smile warmed. "You still haven't told me why you were wearing that fancy red gown when you came back. Did you two… go on a date?"
"I…" Marinette was really to object, but then she realized she would only be kidding herself if she lied. She sighed and smoothed out the folds of her green dress. "We danced together."
Alya gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks. "And…?!"
Marinette sighed, unable to hide her smile.
So, she told her story about that night. All of it, down to the last wonderful detail.
Through it all, Marinette grasped something buried deep inside her heart. A secret she had been keeping from herself the moment she left Adrien alone in her castle bedchamber. A secret her mother had figured out on her own. A secret Alya could see written all over her best friend's face. A secret that always tried to burst free whenever she saw Adrien's sorrowful face in the magic mirror.
Mon Dieu… I'm so stupid.
When she finished her story, Marinette stared down at her shaking hands and said, "Alya… Remember when you told me that when I meet the right guy, I'll know it in my heart?"
Alya's amber eyes gleamed at that. "Mm-hmm," she replied.
"Well…" Marinette rubbed her arms again. "You weren't wrong." She inhaled intensely. "I miss Adrien. A lot. Everyday, I can't help but think about him. Every time I look at him through the mirror, I wish he was right here with me." Her heart rose up, easing some of the pressure. Go on, it seemed to say. "I think… I think I'm feeling something… something more for him than just friendship. But…" She felt her eyes burn. No. I won't cry again. I need to say it. "But I don't know… if he truly feels the same way for me. If he only thinks of me as a friend."
This time, Alya's expression was calm and sincere. She dragged her chair over and took her best friend's hands in hers, their knees touching. "Marinette… as a girl who's been in your shoes before, I completely understand how you're feeling. So, here's some expert advice: stop doubting yourself. Moreover, stop waiting for the answer to appear right in front of you. Take the reins and go after it. If you don't know if Cat… sorry, Adrien… feels the same way about you, what's stopping you from riding on back to the castle and asking him straight out?"
Marinette could barely speak.
It was so bizarre, and yet… so clear to her at the same time.
What was holding her back? Why couldn't she go out there and find out on her own? She had the right to make her own decisions, didn't she?
And if Adrien really did love her… if he also missed her day and night… and he still made the choice to let her go because he couldn't bear to see her heartbroken… Oh, Kitty.
Marinette's face hardened with determination. "You're right, Alya," she said, her voice clear and strong for the first time in a week. "I have to start thinking with my heart." She gazed up resolutely at her friend and gripped her hands in return. "I know what I want now. I know what I want to do."
Alya grinned proudly. "That's the spirit," she said. "Any chance I can come along for the ride?"
Marinette's forehead creased. "It may be dangerous."
"I'd be insulted if it wasn't."
The veranda filled with their unified laughter.
The only one who wasn't laughing was Theo Barbot.
Shortly after Marinette had stormed off, Theo knew he had to apologize for insulting her father. He hadn't meant to say that. It had just… slipped out.
So, he snuck away from the party and went up the stairs to find her.
Her words had stung him to the core. He had never seen her so angry before. Or so direct. It was like… she had changed somehow.
Theo was just about to call Marinette's name when he heard her voice coming from the veranda. Hers and Alya's.
They were talking about someone called… "Cat Noir"? What kind of a name was that? It sounded criminal. Animal, even.
Theo's curiosity got the better of him, so he hid around the corner and listened in on the girls' conversation.
That's when he learned the unbelievable truth:
Marinette had been staying at a castle in the woods… and she had a lover.
Not just any lover, apparently, but some kind of… cat creature. A beast.
Marinette was in love with a beast?!
No… No! That's impossible. There's no way!
But the way Marinette spoke of this creature… her voice soft as velvet and her words carrying such devoted passion…
Theo's own heart filled with hot lead – boiling and bubbling.
Fuming through his teeth, the hunter slipped back downstairs and hastened out of the manor and out into the quiet, open path. There was no one around to see or hear him as he stomped along the gravel, marched through the gate, and headed down the street towards town. He needed a drink. Maybe more than one. Enough to quell his rage. Enough to make him forget what he heard.
But deep down, Theo knew he could never forget it.
Marinette had chosen a beast over him. A strange, abnormal, inhuman… thing… over a civilized, sophisticated hunter who worshipped the ground she walked on.
It made no sense at all. What did Marinette even see in this Cat Noir?! How could any girl in their right mind fall in love with a monster?!
Suddenly, the shadows around him stirred, making hushed, inaudible whispers.
Theo froze, unconsciously reaching behind him for his bow and arrows. But then he remembered he was unarmed. Well, as long as he breathed, he could still fight. No one got the jump on Theo Barbot. "Who goes there?" he called out angrily.
A delicate figure emerged from the shadows. She wore a black cloak with a hood over her head. A beggar? She certainly didn't look like one, given her youthful complexion and innocent green eyes. She didn't feel like one, either. The very air around her prickled like lightning.
"Theo Barbot," the young woman said, her voice thick with worry, "I am a humble traveler in need of your heroic skills. A terrible threat looms over your village."
Theo lowered his fists, but didn't drop his guard. "Speak quickly," he ordered.
"The girl you love in is grave danger," the woman continued, clasping her hands together. "A wretched beast has her in his thrall – a creature calling himself "Cat Noir"."
The hunter's eyes went wide. "What?"
At the same time, though, some part of him knew the woman's words to be true. How could they mean anything else?
The woman nodded and stepped closer. "A few months ago, he captured Tom Dupain and offered to release him in exchange for Marinette. She sacrificed herself to save her father's life. Then, Cat Noir placed her under a dark enchantment, tricking her into loving him so he could make her his queen." The woman shuddered, and her eyes welled up with tears. "It was only by sheer luck that Marinette managed to escape him… but now her will is weakening."
Of course. Now it all made sense.
"So… none of what she feels for him is real?" Theo clenched his fists, his anger transforming into cold, icy rage. "He's been using her all this time?" How dare he!
"No beast can ever learn to love," the traveler said, her face twisting with fear, "and Cat Noir is ruthless and cunning. Rather than come to Villeneuve and claim Marinette himself, he is using dark magic to bewitch her, making her yearn to return to her master. Once he has her back, he will wreak havoc on your entire village… and no other maiden will be safe from him."
Theo slashed a hand through the air. "No, I won't let him!" he declared. "I have to save Marinette!"
His beloved had only acted so hostile towards him at the party because she was under the monster's spell. But once she was set free, she would go back to being the sweet, shy, adorable Marinette he knew and loved.
"Please," Theo said to the traveler, "tell me how to break Cat Noir's spell."
The woman's eyes bore into his, trapping him in place. "There is nothing that can break the spell, save for one thing," she explained. "In order to save your beloved, to save everyone in your village… you must kill Cat Noir. Only with his death will Marinette be free of him. You must kill the beast."
Kill the beast…
Yes. Theo was the greatest hunter in all of Villeneuve. If anyone could face this monster and defeat it, he could.
And for Marinette, he would do it. He would kill the beast.
"How do I get to the castle?" Theo asked, his face darkening with resolve.
The woman smiled at him, and reached for something inside her shadowy robes. "You will need a guide," she answered. "This will help you on your quest."
She withdrew her hand, and when Theo looked down, he wasn't sure if he should be amazed or puzzled to see an old hand mirror.
"Watch," the woman whispered, holding it up to the hunter's face.
It glowed like a soft candle in the darkness, and in its light, Theo saw it all.
And he now knew exactly what to do.
LXP: Now, let me assure you all – Theo's not necessarily evil. He's just got a fuzzy head.
Next up is the climax and the grand finale! Stay tuned!
