The leaves rustled in the night as a cold breeze passed through the air. Septimus looked up at the morning light, seeing the sun break through the horizon. Groaning, he slowly got up from where he had been sleeping. The young Wizard rustled his hands through his hair, pushing the leaves and the dirt out of his curls. He looked around, examining his surroundings.

Since Merrin's capture, Septimus had followed quietly behind as quickly as possible. Looking on the ground for the hoof prints of the horses, he found the pair of the hoof prints on the dirt roads. Septimus quickly picked up his pace, making sure not to make a noise. He had finally found them the night before, right under the shadow of a tall mountain.

Although he was near the Border Mountains now, this specific mountain was much different. As Septimus gazed up its height, he noticed at the very top an array of buildings constructed into the mountain itself.

"Woah," Septimus said, setting off a soft whistle. To think no one lived here.

Septimus looked around, making sure no one was watching him. Silently, Septimus rose from where he lay and marched over to the mountain. The leaves crackling at every step, Septimus picked up his pace all while laying low and making sure he would not be seen. The path soon became more steep and the dirt road transformed into a rocky road. The forests disappeared as Septimus found himself now surrounded by a maze of mountain rocks and crevices. Septimus looked up over him, seeing the array of buildings he saw earlier perched in its place on top of the mountain, unmoved and frozen in its place. Septimus sighed. This was going to be an exhausting walk. But there was no time to waste.

The Castle didn't have much time either.

Rap rap rap

Jenna knocked on Marcellus's door. The Queen stood back as she waited for the old Alchemyst to open the door.

"So how have you and Beetle been doing?" Marcia suddenly piped up.

Jenna looked at her, just barely managing to hold back her shock.

"I believe you would agree," Jenna started after a short pause, in which time she took to compose herself. "That that is an extremely inappropriate question, considering the circumstances, wouldn't you say?"

Marcia looked blankly at Jenna for a second. She looked over to the ground, pondering the question. Finally, she responded.

"Nope, not at all." Marcia said, a small smile etching on her face.

Jenna stared unfazed. "Well it is Marcia and I would've expected better from an Ex-ExtraOrdinary Wizard," Jenna said putting emphasis on the "Ex".

Marcia dropped her smile and moved closer to Jenna. "Jenna, I know it's been hard with Beetle lately. It's just that-"

Suddenly the door opened and Marcellus stepped out. The day thus far had been nothing but dull for the old Alchemist and it was much to his surprise to find the ExtraOrdinary Wizard and the Queen standing on his doorstep.

"Your Majesty," Marcellus spat out, shocked to see Jenna. He then looked over at Marcia. "Marcia," he said through gritted teeth, holding back a barrage of insults.

"Good to see you too, old friend," Marcia said first.

"Can't say the same," Marcellus replied. "I hope you remember-"

"Oh I do well remember that you were the one who-" Marcia began before Jenna stepped in.

"Enough," the Queen commanded before the argument could escalate. She knew Marcia and Marcellus had history but now was the time to bury that hatchet. "There are far more important matters regarding our Castle that we need to discuss."

Marcellus looked inquisitely at Jenna. "What do you mean?"

"That's what we wanted to talk with you." Jenna said, determined to get some answers.

Marcellus looked curiously at the two of them, feigning innocence. He couldn't say no or he would look suspicious. If he were to say yes, he would have to explain his plans. And with Marcia around, his plans wouldn't work out except by some miracle. But he had no time right now.

"Alright, by all means come in." Marcellus said, waving them in.

It would be a long night indeed.

About 14 miles from the Castle that same night, Simon was helping Lucy Gringe pack her bags inside her home.

"I still don't understand why we have to leave," Lucy whined as she put her old cloak inside her bag.

Simon sighed. These last few hours had been difficult for him and Lucy and it didn't help much that Lucy was pregnant with their first child. Simon had returned from Marcellus only last night and had told Lucy that they would have to leave by afternoon. But the young Gringe didn't know why and if she did, she could make the situation worse.

"You just need to trust me, Luce" Simon replied. "I promise you, it's for the best."

Lucy's eyes narrowed. "You said that last time and look where that got you."

Simon remained quiet. A look of shame crossed his face and he looked away.

Lucy realized she hurt him and walked over to him.

"I'm sorry," she said, placing her hand over his cheek and drew her thumb over his eye, remarking on his old injury. She took his hand and placed it over her belly. "I love you and so does he."

Simon looked up a new glow present in his eyes. "He?"

Lucy smiled widely. "Galen was able to use my herbs and tell me."

Simon returned the smile and wrapped his arms around her, bringing her close and kissing her, happy to be with his family. Lucy giggled.

"C'mon," Simon said, picking up his bags. "Let's catch our boat." Lucy smiled to herself as she picked up her own bag and together the two walked out the door.

"What is it that you want to know?" Marcellus asked Jenna and Marcia. The three all sat at a table with Marcellus facing the two of them.

"Septimus met you a couple days ago." Jenna said, bluntly. "I know, he told me."

Marcellus' eyes widened. Could he have also told her of the weapon? Septimus promised he wouldn't tell, surely his Apprentice would have kept his word? Marcellus quickly changed his expression, however, and feigned innocence. Jenna noticed, nonetheless.

"Yes he did." Marcellus replied.

"What did you discuss?" Jenna responded.

"I can't say."

"You will tell me, I am the Queen."

"You're worries are in the affairs of the Castle. As it so happens, we did not discuss anything that pertains to the Castle."

Jenna hesitated. She knew Marcellus was lying.

"You are on thin ice here, Mr. Pye," Jenna said, slowly and carefully.

Marcellus did not respond for some time. Marcia watched him carefully, wondering what he was indeed thinking about. She was ready for a fight, and not that of words.

"Why do you think the Castle is under attack?" Marcellus finally said.

Jenna looked back quietly. Marcia held her breath.

"I never said it was under attack," Jenna said, slowly again.

Marcellus' eyes widened. He made a mistake. There was no turning back now. He had lied to the Queen.

"I-I didn't?" Marcellus stammered.

Marcia was not sure whether to be amused or worried. While it was hysterical to see Marcellus finally see defeat, she was afraid by what he said. Jenna was right. The Castle is indeed expecting an attack.

Jenna did not flinch.

"Marcellus. I need you to tell me everything you know right now." Marcellus tried to protest but Jenna did not let him. "We will deal with the consequences of your actions later. It is in your best interest to tell us what you know."

Marcellus sighed. He should've told the truth in the beginning.

"I've noticed the Castle has been under attack lately," Marcellus began.

"So I've known," Jenna said, unfazed. "Beetle's shown me all your transcripts sent out and received."

"H-he did?" Marcellus stammered again.

"It took a lot for me to get that information." Jenna said coldly.

"So, yes, you've noticed the Castle being under attack?" Marcia asked.

"Yes," Marcellus started. "It first came to my attention when I ordered some new equipment to be shipped in from the Port. They were meant for some experiments, small stuff. But the shipments never came. Some did, but not everything I needed. Someone had been intercepting them.

"I started to look at all the parts that were missing. They weren't random. They were specific. Each item was cleverly intercepted for the simple purpose of making a weapon. Something Darke. It wasn't anything like I had seen before. It was remarkable, too! My parts that I needed for my experiments were now being use to build a weapon that could attack the Castle? Simple ingenious!"

Jenna and Marcia gave each other unamused looks.

"But anyhow," Marcellus continued. "I brought in an old acquaintance of ours."

"Merrin." Jenna said.

"Yes," Marcellus nodded. "I needed to get to the bottom of this. He confirmed my suspicions and told me the parts that were being stolen could be used to make what he called a Virem. It was in the Darke Index, supposedly and was used in the Old Wars before by Necromancers. It was said it could wipe out whole cities. And I believe whoever is making this has every intention of doing that to the Castle."

Marcellus sat back in his chair, his story finally finished. He had no more to say.

"So that's it then." Marcia said. "We're at war."

Jenna remained quiet, taking it all in. Finally she spoke.

"I don't understand why you didn't tell us before. This is very important information, why hide it?" Jenna asked.

Marcellus sighed. "I was afraid for Simon. I was afraid you would think Simon is behind all this. But the truth is, he is a good person now. One of the best. He needs to come back. To his home. To his family."

Jenna remained quiet, almost tearful. She loved Simon too and sometimes it was hard with him.

"He'll come home." Jenna said. "When all this is over."

"Thank you." Marcellus responded.

Marcia was however not yet finished. "So Marcellus lied to the Queen. Will he put in jail indefinitely?" There was almost a hopeful tone in her voice.

Marcellus balked. "Y-you wouldn't."

Jenna smiled. "You're pardoned." The Queen turned around and head for the door, leaving a relieved Marcellus with a displeased Marcia.

"There's another war I have to worry about," Marcia said before heading out the door as well.

Marcellus let himself a small smile. Life at the Castle could be far worse.

But for the Alchemist, it was just enough.

The wind howled loudly as Septimus finally reached the top of the mountain. He put up his cloak to shield himself from the cold, as he exhaled out cold mists of his breath. Septimus looked up at what was now right in front of him. It was a large building with multiple floors and number of windows running around its premise. A high fence surrounded the building with a chain lock guarding its front gates. Septimus looked through the soft snow falling at the roof of this fortress where he saw smoke rising from what seemed to be its chimneys; he counted three in all. His eyes drew to the ground where he saw the prints of horse shoes implanted fresh in the snow, presumably a number of hours ago. Septimus let out a sigh of relief; he may not be too late.

Looking around to make sure no one saw him, Septimus made his way to the building. This was indeed an extremely peculiar location for a large manufacturing building such as this. But it was also a perfect place as there was no way anyone knew about this. Marcellus was right all along.

Septimus finally reached the entrance of the fence, where he saw the locked chain. Septimus brought warmed his hands and then placed them over the lock. He then said the words needed:

Lock and Key I Speak to Thee

In This Moment Be One With Me

That My Purpose May Be Done

When You Two Become One

With that, the locks fell to the ground. Septimus slowly pushed open the gates, trying to remain quiet. However, he could still not stop the heavy metal doors from creaking. Septimus gritted his teeth, hoping no one could hear him. He soon saw that there was a large courtyard that he would have to cross. Septimus took out the old charm Marcia gave him many years ago when they had first met. It could make him invisible and indeed that's what he did now.

And so, invisible, Septimus made his way across the courtyard and to the main entrance. He squinted his eyes, noticing there were no guards at all. In fact, Septimus had not seen a single soul or even heard any voice since he had made his trek. His heart beast as it suddenly dawned on him that maybe this was not the right place at all and the trail he followed may have been a different horse's set of shoe prints. But why would this building be here then? Surely, this was the place, there was no doubt about it.

Septimus looked down at the ground of concrete in the entrance now. There was a soft, thin layer of snow on the ground in which he saw a faint imprint of a horseshoe. He followed the direction of the horseshoe and found more to his left. They led down a narrow hallway, in which Septimus followed the trail. He soon reached the end of the hallway, where the footprints stopped. Septimus heard a whinny to his left and, looking over, found a horse on a leash held to the wall. Well, Septimus was indeed in the right place.

Looking past the horse, Septimus found a staircase that appeared to lead up to a higher floor. Septimus made his way over the stairs and quietly walked up. He soon heard faint voices speaking.

"...and that way we will be able to finally control the Castle," a man was saying. His voice was gruff, and seemed very familiar.

"From its ruins?" A woman's voice could be heard, a voice Septimus knew he heard from somewhere but he couldn't point out. Where had he met these people?

"From its ruins." The man confirmed.

Septimus peeked inside the room. There were two figures, both cloaked in black and their backs turned to him. Suddenly, Septimus saw him. Merrin was tied up with his mouth gagged. Their eyes met Merrin signaled to him what Septimus knew to be relief. Septimus raised a finger to his mouth, and Merrin winked his approval.

"Our plans will soon be finished." The woman said. "Are you sure you can do it? You know what must be done in the end."

The man did not respond for a moments but he soon nodded and replied. "I know. I am ready." He let out a sigh of what sounded like discontent and sadness. Whatever this man had to do would not be easy for him, it was clear.

"Let us go." The woman looked down at Merrin and Merrin looked up. "It is time." The man also looked down at Merrin and a look of understanding seemed to pass between them. Septimus wondered what was going on but he figured Merrin knew what he was doing. The man nodded and the two left the room. Septimus quietly and quickly made his way over to Merrin.

"Merrin, are you okay?" Septimus said, taking out the gag out of his mouth.

"Better than ever, mate." Merrin gave a wide grin. "Took you long enough."

Septimus chuckled to himself. "Well, I guess I wasn't the better one after all," Septimus said as he looked over to free Merrin's hands and noticed something peculiar. His thumb wasn't missing.

"Hey, Merrin, what-" Septimus began before Merrin suddenly grabbed him by the neck with both hands. Septimus choked and Merrin threw Septimus onto the floor. Septimus coughed, trying to regain his breath. Why was Merrin doing this?

"Merrin-" Septimus tried again before getting picked up by someone else. A man now looked at him. This was the man who had spoke before and now Septimus realized why he recognized the voice.

"Milo," Septimus rasped.

Milo Banda looked into Septimus' eyes as the woman came into the room as well. It was Morewenna Mould.

"Well, well, well," Morwenna said, smiling a wide grin. "What an exquisite surprise Septimus Heap."

But Morwenna was the least of Septimus' worries. Why was Milo doing this? What had changed so much in him to go him like this?

"Milo, please." Septimus begged.

"You're in over your head, Sep." Jenna's father said.

Septimus looked past him to find Merrin. But he was gone too. In fact a third person seemed to have taken his place. It was a Metamorpheses. An old familiar face as well.

"You," Septimus said to the third man. "How? Where's Merrin."

DomDaniel looked back at Septimus with his cold eyes. "We knew you would trust that weak fool. He always was so stupid." DomDaniel spat out this last word. The old Necromancer moved closer to Septimus. "Haven't you heard?"

Septimus pondered what he was going on about. DomDaniel moved to the side and motioned with his hands to a fourth person. But this time, this person's body lay on the floor, still and unmoving.

DomDaniel looked back at Septimus with terrible glee.

"Merrin's DEAD."