So here it is. The fifth chapter that has previously been written, lost, scribbled by hand in a jotter under the covers at midnight, lost and finally found twenty minutes ago lurking under my pillow.

Summary: Septimus and Jenna accidentally Awake a Something. It/he wants them to set it Free, and can be very persuasive...

DISLAIMER: Septimus Heap belongs to Angie Sage, although the Something belongs to who gave me the idea.

Septimus had tried every spell he and Jenna could think of. He had even done a See just to make sure, but there was apparently nothing the Other Side of the door.

"We've got to get it open." Jenna practically wailed. "Someone's in trouble, I can Feel it. Someone's trapped, and we have to get them out!"

Too right you do, Queeling. Growled an ancient, long-forgotten voice. And your going to get me out Now.

"Where's the Key to the Queen's Room?" asked Septimus. "I could do a temporary spell on it so that it opens almost any door."

"Good idea." Jenna handed over the Key. Septimus pulled a Transformer Charm from his pocket. "This should do the trick." he said.

Key to Keyhole, Lock to Lock

For seventeen hours on the clock.

Let me in and let me out

Let me answer an urgent shout.

"You just made that up as you went along, didn't you?" Jenna realised.

"Yup. Normally works though." Septimus examined the Key, which was shrouded in a purple ether. "Do the honours?"

Jenna took the Key back and placed it against the door where a keyhole would normally be.

The touch of Royalty and Magyk. Perfect. Just what is needed to kick-start the Awakening.

"Did you hear a voice?" asked Septimus.

Yes. You heard me.

"Sep, somebody spoke. Somebody's definitely on the Other Side." Jenna said.

Too right.

Aloud this time, and layered with charisma.

You're going to let me out. Both of you. I'll show you how. Just do what I say.

The first strains of the gravelly, echoing murmur had pierced both Jenna and Septimus like ice-cold daggers, which morphed into tendrils and wrapped themselves tightly around their senses. As one, they turned and all but ran back through the chamber, back up the silver stairs, back through the black door, into the Wizard Tower.

"Marcia, I need you to do some Magyk and quickly." Alther persisted, floating along behind Marcia. "Anti-Darke and Protection at the very least. Seal the black door."

"What black door?" asked Marcia vaguely. She was hardly listening. "If I see another earwig-" "Marcia!" Alther bellowed. "Listen to me!"

Marcia turned around in shock. Alther had never shouted as her. Not since she had been ExtraOridnary, at any rate.

"The black door in the hall. It's been Opened. I think it was Septimus and Jenna."

"Oh my goodness." Marcia sat down heavily and pushed her curly black hair out of her eyes.

"I'm sorry." said Alther urgently. "But we need to make sure they haven't gone down into any of the Chambers, and that Nothing has been let loose."

Marcia nodded, composing herself. She knew only too well what the Opening of the Black Door meant. Alther had told her everything when she was his Apprentice.

"Help me round up all the Wizards. They don't know as much as we do, but they're aware that it must never be opened."

A knock at the door interrupted them. "Come in!" called Maricia weakly.

Septimus stepped into the room, accompanied by Jenna.

"Somebody's trapped." he said. "We need to get a spell from the Library."

"Trapped where?"

"Locked behind a bronze door." explained Jenna. "So can we go get a spell?"

Marcia peered at the Princess confusedly. Jenna stared straight back at her, unblinkingly.

"You two opened the door, didn't you?" realised Marcia. "I didn't want to believe it, but you're the only people that could have."

"The Wizards." Alther remembered. "I'll get a mass Protection spell going." he exited quickly.

"Marcia, we need to go and get a spell, remember?" prompted Septimus. "Let us into the Pyramid Library."

"No-one's trapped." said Marcia. "You probably just heard a Ghost down there. Years ago, people went through the door and never came back. There must be a hundred Ghosts floating around looking for a way out. There can't be anyone alive down there."

"Oh, he's very much alive." said Jenna. Marcia started. This sounded nothing like Jenna. She could detect a hint of derision, a trace of malice. "He's more alive than you could ever realise."
Marcia turned in despair to Septimus.

Green eyes met scarlet.

That was the last she knew.

I know that's a bad place to end, less cliffhanger and more cliffcrumbler, but I have to give this laptop back so I can't add the next bit.

Chapter 6 by monday. I promise. I'll try and make it a decent length, as these have all been relatively short