CH 15 – Where's Septimus
The now old Marcellus had left Savin to herself in the Chamber of Alchemy, where she started to notice the subtle differences.
'Four hundred years' she reminded herself.
"Septimus? Are you around here?" Savin called out down the chamber that ran below Snake Slipway.
There was no response. Septimus was long gone, and Marcellus was following close behind him in the intercepting tunnel. Once he had finally reached the boy, the gold glittering doors that led to his younger self were swiftly unlocked. Septimus once again, was pulled through the time slip.
Savin obviously had no idea that any of this took place, her head still hurt from the clutter and confusion around her. If she had known Septimus was now in her own treasured time, the news would have terrified her.
The strange difference of the Chambers creeped Savin out more than she would like to admit, even to herself. So when the limping Marcellus stumbled around a corner (looking genuinely exhausted), his yellowing nails curling into claws, Savin screamed.
"Calm yourself Miss Juniper.." Marcellus' appearance had long ago stopped bothering him, but (to his dissatisfaction) this did not change anyone else's views.
He sighed heavily, seeing his younger self not five minutes ago, had not helped his ego at all.
Savin's hand pressed against her chest, trying to physically slow down her racing heart, but to no effect.
"I'm sorry, I just.. You scared me.." Savin felt terrible for her actions, after all, she was talking to Marcellus here. He had been her only friend, a person she trusted. Savin started to wonder if this had changed for him, centuries had pasted Marcellus by without her.
"It's fine believe me. It's the reason I left my old house on Snake Slipway in fact."
"You hav- had sorry, a house in the castle?" Savin had only seen Marcellus stay in the Alchemy Chambers with her and she now assumed this was to keep an eye on her.
"Oh yes, right near the boat yard.." Old memories flashed in his mind but quickly vanished, his memory was fading fast and had been for the past two hundred years.
Savin's recent thoughts on Septimus returned, "have you seen the young boy wandering around here? He said his name was Septimus."
Marcellus' ancient mind was working away with excuses, "I showed him the way out." Marcellus figured it wasn't exactly a lie, just a play of words. There was no possible way he could tell her his real whereabouts without trouble.
"Oh, good.." Savin remembered Septimus' terrified and utterly shattered expression, she assumed Marcellus had shown him through the mirror and back to his own time.
"Would you show me back then as well, to my time?"
Marcellus blinked, he had not known that the Septimus Heap boy told her his time slip situation.
This changed everything, "I.. It can't be done.. Just yet, of course." The ancient Alchemist finally strung the right words together.
"What do you mean?" Savin became immensely suspicious, a stern voice taking over her usually cocky tone.
This Marcellus seemed different to the one she knew back home and she didn't like it. Marcellus scratched his chin with long dirty nails, 'and not nearly as hygienic' Savin plainly observed.
"The glass needs time to gain back it's strength, so to speak." Even though Marvells knew to some extent that this was true, the looking glass did not (at this time) need any rest. But it could definitely not be trusted with precise time travel and the experienced Alchemist and Physician knew better than to risk such a thing.
If Marcellus sent her back through the looking glass, she could turn up in any time frame, ruining his long awaited plan for Septimus.
Savin rubbed her temples, 'something's going on..."
She tried to keep strong, holding in her unstable emotions until a possible escape seemed near. But with every minute Savin found it harder to swallow, a weight slowly settling over her subconscious.
"Fine, but as soon as it's ready, I'm going back. Understood?" For effect, she started talking loudly as if his old ears would fail him.
Marcellus raised a wiry eyebrow, ignoring her strange tone and nodded.
This was indeed a chain of lies, and white lies or not, a lie is a lie. Savin knew something was wrong and Marcellus knew he could not send her back, at least until the working tincture was complete. He would have to wait for the past to catch up with them, a few weeks at best.
For the Tincture Of Eternal Youth was yet to be made four hundred years in the past.