DISCLAMER: None of this Magykal Worlde belongs to me. I can only observe it through books, and dream on.
Thank you to the peeps who have reviewed. I haven't updated for a bit, due to a problem my end, but that changes as from now.
The story so far: Septimus and Jenna have, rather unwisely methinks, opened a door leading to a part of the Wizard Tower that has been shut up for centuries. There is probably a very good reason for that...
The silver steps were slippery; which was hardly surprising as they were so smooth and shiny. They were also very steep, and uneven in places. Twice the stairs changed direction very suddenly, so that Jenna and Septimus walked straight into the wall before they could see the turning. The passage seemed to be getting narrower too, the further they went down.
"I'm not sure I like this, Sep." said Jenna. "Our footsteps don't echo, and we can't hear anything. I's so eerily quiet, apart from our own voices."
"You were so eager for Adventure." Septimus grumbled. His legs were beginning to ache from traipsing down the endless flight of silver steps. He paused for a moment, leaning against the cold wall. Jenna walked straight into him.
"They must go on forever." She decided. "We've been walking for ages."
"I'm sure they stop somewhere." Septimus said. When they had both got their breath back. "I wonder if this place was built at the same time as the big silver staircase in the main Tower. You know, the moving one."
"Pity they didn't make this one move." Jenna grinned. "I think they were made by completely different craftsmen, or whatever. It feels completely different. And the walls and ceiling, too. I wonder why it was built like this."
"I'll tell you what I'm also wondering." replied Septimus. Jenna frowned at him questioningly. "Why it was shut up."
The day had not improved for Marcia Overstrand. After the teapot incident and the spiders, she had shut the hem of her cloak in a door and ripped it, had a run-in with three Ancients and an Ordinary Wizard, all of whom had complaints about something or other, she hadn't really been paying too much attention, and put her hand in a jar of Charms to find yet another of Septimus' pets- a large blur earwig, which was none too please about being disturbed. And the weather was hot.
At last the stairs came to a halt, and led to a silver landing. By then, Septimus and Jenna were too exhausted to appreciate beauty, but the door in front of them was seven feet high and made of highly polished bronze, which contrasted with the silver of the walls. There was no keyhole or handle, and the bronze was carved with many runes and symbols.
Septimus ran a finger down a string of these Ancient letters. "Wish I could read it." he panted.
"Oh never mind that now." Jenna clutched at her returned stitch. "Do we go through, or head back? You planned this expedition, so it's your choice."
Septimus opened his mouth to reply sarcastically, and then shrug off the dispute, but something in the distance saved him the trouble.
This is what the something sounded like: "AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGH!!!" and then a 'flump'.
Septimus and Jenna looked at each other. The light of the Dragon Ring made their faces look pale and worried.
"Do you think someone's been hurt?" whispered Jenna.
"Ssh." Septimus put a finger to his lips. In the distance they could hear calling. "Help. Help!"
"Maybe somebody's been hurt." whispered Septimus. "Someone must have come down before us, or got in another way, or something."
"Then we've got to help them." Jenna stared at the impassive door. "We can't just walk away. We've got to go and help them."
Easier said than done.