Chapter 8:

"On The Road Again…"

Bretta was quiet. No one wanted to say a word, if they did…!

The team spotted a sign that said,

Badlands Beware!

Septimus shivered, he didn't thought he would never have to go here. He took a deep breath and took the first step into the Badlands, as he did he felt a Darke Wind wash over him. He shivered once more and kept walking.

"I can't go any farther." Athler said. He shook his head knowing that he could only go there, if he went through the Badlands when he was alive. "I'll go see Marcia, to see if she's okay. Good luck." Athler said, he waved, praying that the three kids were prepared.

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"Look, Lucy." Simon called. "My brother came for a visit."

"Which one?" Lucy asked.

"Septimus…" Simon hissed.

"Well. Let's have some fun with him, shall we?" Simon exchanged looks at Lucy, they were both smirking, each having a horrible horrible plan.

"I know a perfect spell. Watch." Simon said.

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"Can't believe you brought, him." Merrin whispered.

"I can hear you. I'm NOT deaf." Septimus snapped.

"I can fix that!" Merrin growled.

"I had to bring him, it's HIS fault." Bretta yelled, pointing to Septimus.

"How is it my fault? Did I unlock a Darke Door with some wacko girl inside? I think not!" Septimus yelled Bretta.

"Oh, im sorry. Did I forget! Your stupid "princess" unlocked it, because YOU didn't protect her." Bretta growled.

"She can take care of her self! I'm not her babysitter!" Septimus replied.

"Maybe, you should tell her to grow up. And stop being so useless." Merrin said coldly.

"She's not useless!" Septimus's face was as red as a tomato.

"Yes she is! And so are you and….and your whole blasted family." Bretta yelled. "the only person in YOUR pathetic family, that doesn't have any stupid issues is SIMON!" Bretta almost lost her voice, he heart beating in her ears, her nails digging into her palm, and her face as red as blood.

Septimus's face went white. Simon. His brother, the one that dreamed his whole life to be in Septimus's position. "How do you know about my brother…" Septimus said. It wasn't really a question.

Bretta took a step back, her green eyes looking at Merrin and Septimus.

"You better answer me…" Septimus eyeing Bretta.

"Don't have to threaten her." Merrin snapped.

"Shut up." Septimus said.

"Septimus, I-" Bretta began to choke. She coughed until she was on her knees.

"Cut it out." Merrin rolled his eyes, he began to cough, it felt as if air never existed. He began to choke as well, his face flaming red.

Septimus looked at each of them, not choking or suffering any pain. The ground began to shake, some dead trees fell over, Septimus lost his balance and fell onto the dirt, looking at a hideous monster that popped out of the ground. It was brown and green, it had five eyes on each head (it had three heads), three long green legs appeared and it had green foaming liquid oozing out of the hole.

"Whoa…" Septimus frowned.

"Hello, brother." a croaky voice said.

Septimus stood up to see, Simon.

"Simon…" he hissed.

"I've heard about, a Darke Spell flowing over the Palace." Simon said. "Guess, I can go home now. How's mom and dad?"

Simon didn't give Septimus time to answer.

"I'm guessing, there under the spell too. So, is our little adoptive sister."

"Get to the point, Simon." Septimus said. He was looking at Bretta and Merrin choke.

"I feel really bad for your friends, Septimus." Simon said. "It's going to be a shame that they are going to die."

"What?" Septimus said. "You wouldn't."

"Wanna bet, little brother?" Simon smirked.

"What do you want?" Septimus said quickly as Bretta fell to the floor motionless.

"Just because I -"

"Tell me." Septimus commanded.

"I want what's rightfully mine. I want my life back." Simon said. "I want to be the Extra-Ordinary Wizard's Apprentice, I want to live in the palace with my family, I would finally live with Lucy in a beautiful home."

Rightfully his? Was this what Septimus had taken from him, his life?

"I didn't know…" Septimus whispered.

"YOU DIDN'T KNOW! You took away everything! Everything I had worked for! It's your fault. Life would have been better off if you weren't born, if only you stayed in that stupid army academy."

Simon spat. "That's why, I want to help find the Book Of Life. So I can go back in time and made sure that no one ever met you."

"What makes you so sure that I'll help you?" Septimus asked, looking at Merrin who was motionless as well.

"You want the world to be Magykal again, right? You want to change Marcia back, don't you? Don't be a fool, be honest, you only have a minute left before your friends have joined the afterlife." Simon said.

Septimus looked at his friends, he thought of Jenna and Silas, Nikko, and the others. Wolf Boy, and the dragon boat, and his best pet, SpitFyre. Catchpole, Beetle, and his favorite drink FrizzFroot.

Would he sacrifice all of this and his amazing adventures with his family? Would he give up such a exciting life, to help his troubled brother?

Septimus took a deep breath. "Yes. I'll help you, get the book."

"You must, swear not to pull any tricks." Simon gave a wave of his hand and a bracelet appeared on Septimus's arm.

"Tell a lie and your friend's will be MY apprentices. Against their own will. Now, if you break your promise then," Simon smiled wickedly. "Your friends will be my servants, I'll rule the whole planet, and you'll be dead in a instant."

Septimus looked at Simon.

"I promise," Septimus began. "I won't pull any tricks. I'll take you right to the book."

"Good." Simon said, releasing Bretta and Merrin off the Choking Spell.

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A/N: Wow…I'm sorry Septimus. What is he going to do now? He can't trick or pull anything with Simon…I guess on Chapter 9 we will find out. Poor Septimus. =(