Secret Novel Chapter 44: Fucking Beyonders... (Patreon)

The jog back to the groundskeepers was a little more interesting than it was before. The Maze was taking her down all these strange paths, but Madeline still followed. Maybe the Maze was helping her avoid mages that were out in the Maze now. She didn’t know but she still trusted her home. Even if it did take her what felt like at least two hours before she got to where it was leading her.

When she arrived, Madeline entered a decently sized square with a pile of rocks at the center. Also in the square were five groundskeepers. Some of them were standing, and others sitting, but it was also very clear that many of them were injured in some way. Trimmer was missing an arm, Toiler appeared burned in many areas, and they all looked to be in a state somewhere in between those two. None of them had any flowers on them anymore except for the eyes. They didn’t notice her right away, and before she called out to them she noticed one thing. Carver wasn’t there.

“Where’s Carver?” Madeline asked. All the groundskeepers turned to look her way.

“You’ve returned,” Trimmer said. “And safely I hope?”

“Yes, I’m fine. There wasn’t much trouble on my end,” Madeline said, still looking around. Maybe Carver was late or off doing something else at the moment. “It looks like there was on your side.”

Toiler came up to her. “It was a hard fight,” her voice was somber. “There were many mages trying to stop us. More than we had expected…”

“I’m sorry. But at least everyone is alive, if still hurt.” The groundskeepers didn’t speak, but all looked at one another. The silence made the witch’s heart sink.

Finally they turned back to her. “Carver…” Toiler started, and Madeline could hear the sorrow in her voice. “Carver sacrificed himself so that we may all survive.”

“What?” Madeline looked between all of them. She felt tears in her eyes and they only got worse when none of them would meet her gaze.

Toiler bowed her head and knelt before Madeline. “We knew that doing this would lead to us being injured or killed. We all agreed that the risk was worth the risk to free Planter… Carver did not say anything to any of us, but… We all knew that he was not planning on coming back with us. We knew how we were to distract the mages and fight them, but we did not have a plan to escape them if the numbers were too large. Evidently there were far more of them than we expected.”

“They thought you were going to attack their food stores…” Madeline added realizing why so many mages really had gone.

“We had no plan to attack any actual part of their campus, but they could not have known that… When we were in too much trouble, Carver stepped up and handled the mages while we escaped.”

“How?”

“That is a secret for us to keep, little witching flower,” Trimmer spoke up. “I am sorry if you do not understand, but we are not allowed to share all that the Maze allows us to do. The power that it has given us.”

“I am sorry, Madeline,” Toiler said. “But I can tell you that he is with his brother now, and that he took many mages with him.”

Madeline wasn’t sure how to feel. She was hurt, angry, confused, but also a little happy that he didn’t die in vain. She didn’t say anything for a long time as she looked down at her feet. She hadn’t known Carver very well, but it felt like losing Fernaldo all over again. He was her friend… None of the other groundskeepers pushed her to talk. They just waited patiently. Eventually Madeline wiped the tears from her face and looked back up.

“Will all of you be alright? I know you're hurt.”

“We will be fine. Our wounds heal far better than yours do, little witching flower,” Toiler said gently.

“Good.” Madeline paused not knowing what else to say. Then she decided to say, “I would like to go home now, please.” Toiler nodded her response and gently picked Madeline up and placed her on her shoulder.

All the groundskeepers went along to see her home safely, though rarely did any of them speak on the long journey. Madeline knew she was hurt by losing Carver, but after getting a grip on her emotions she realized just how hurt they also were. They hadn’t only lost a friend, but two. They knew the brothers far better than she did, and for far longer. Madeline wasn’t sure how long groundskeepers lived, but she assumed it was long enough for them to have met witches before. She couldn’t imagine having known someone for centuries only to lose them…

The journey was slower this time. There was no rush to get there and get it done like there had been before, and most of them were hurt in some way. Slowly as they went on the sun started to dip lower in the sky and Madeline felt her stomach rumble. She had brought some food with her for the journey home, but honestly, all she wanted right now was to be home and eat one of Victor’s fancy meals. To talk with him for hours before eventually climbing into her soft cozy bed, even if it would be stupidly late.

“We are here,” Toiler said causing Madeline to look up, surprised that they were finally here. They were in the fountain square and Madeline could see all the flowers on top of the hedge that surrounded her home, even though the sun had set long ago. The sun was probably far close to rising than it was setting by now. She was surprised at just how relieved she felt to be home and see that the Maze still allowed there to be flowers on the hedge. Toiler reached up and gently brought her down to the ground.

“Thank you,” Madeline said.

“No, thank you, little witching flower,” Toiler said. “We would not have been able to give Planter his freedom without you.”

“But we lost Carver…”

“He made a choice, Madeline. He chose to do this. He chose to save us,” she said a little firmer than she had talked about him earlier. “Carver would not have ever been the same without his brother. He knew what was ahead and greeted it with bravery.” She paused. “Do not mourn his loss, celebrate the achievements all of us, including Carver, made today. For the first time in centuries the Maze took a stand against the mages, and you were the key, little witching flower.” Toiler reached a massive hand out and patted Madeline’s head. “Thank you for helping us and the Maze.”

Madeline gave them all a sad smile. “Thank you for asking me to help you. I'm glad we were able to free Planter.”

“We are, too,” Trimmer said.

“If you ever need help again, just ask and I’ll be there,” the witch said with a more genuine smile. Though they had lost someone today, they had still won. They achieved something against the mages, and Madeline was willing to do it all over again to help the Maze.

“We know.” If Toiler had a mouth, Madeline was sure she would be smiling at her.

The groundskeepers started heading back to wherever they called home, and Madeline suddenly felt just how truly tired she was. With a sigh, she turned and walked through the grand illusion. Stepping back into her garden was wonderful. It was so nice to be home. To have a place that you can come back to and call home after a long day. With a smile on her face, Madeline slowly walked through her Garden in the dark. She was home. Finally after a long walk to her door, Madeline walked into her cozy home and felt the warmth of the ever lit fire wash over her.

“There you are,” Victor said, walking out of the study. “I’ve been wondering when you had go—” Madeline cut off her friend by almost leaping at him to hug him tightly. “Well, hello to you, too,” Victor said nervously, clearly not sure what to do. Though they had hugged a few times before, they weren’t really huggers, so she knew this was probably a little jarring for him. Madeline didn't care though. She just wanted to hold onto her friend and let all the feelings out. When she started crying, Victor put all four of his arms around her as well. “Are you okay?” he eventually asked when she calmed down a bit. Unlike the time on her birthday, Madeline still didn’t pull away.

“A lot happened today…”

“Yes, your letter said the groundskeepers need your help with something.”

Madeline nodded into his chest. She liked that with his more natural legs he was this much taller than her. “They needed me to return one of their own to the Maze. His name was Planter, the one I told you about that had been taken by the mages.” Victor growled, and she could feel it rumble from his throat and into his chest, then hers.

“Had they taken him back? Or was he out with the mages like the last time?”

“No, he was in one of the mage campuses.”

Madeline felt Victor stiffen around her. “What?”

“Carver and the others took me there, so I could sneak into the campus.”

“What?!” Victor pushed her away, but only so that he could look her in the eyes. His hands gripped her shoulders, and she almost whimpered at the loss of comfort. “You went to a campus?!” His voice was frantic and mad, but his eyes weren’t. They were filled with worry. “Are you crazy? I know I taught you to fight, but not against a whole campus full of mages!”

“I covered my ears and tail, and the mages I met thought I was just one of them.” She didn’t like him yelling at her. Not after today, and it only caused her to start crying again.

Victor went to say something, but stopped as he thought about what she said. Then he noticed her starting to cry again and his entire visible mood shifted to panic. He pulled her in again, and sighed. “Alright. Tell me what happened. All of it.”

It felt good to be back in his arms. “It was really easy to sneak in. They don’t have protections against humans, because they thought they’re the only humans in the Maze.”

“Okay, that’s mildly thought out enough.” Madeline wasn’t sure whether he was saying it to her or himself.

“I met a mage that was one of the offerings that was accepted from my group.” Madeline felt him growl gently, and found the feeling of the vibrations somewhat pleasant. “She was nice and didn’t suspect anything. In fact I asked her to take me to the groundskeeper, only she thought I meant the groundskeeper for the campus. Well, I said something that gave myself away and he tried to stun me, but thanks to your training I was able to knock him out without getting hurt.” She could feel Victor nod above her, and for some reason she knew there was a small toothy smile on his face. “Well, I got the girl to tell me where Planter was, and then knocked her out. Then I stole all of the groundskeeper’s shoes.”

“You stole his shoes? Why?”

“My boots don’t fit right anymore, and all of Eda’s are too small. But his fit, so I just took them all.”

Victor chuckled. “You could have asked me for shoes that fit. Then again, I actually enjoy that you stole all of his shoes. Even the ones on his feet?” Madeline nodded and Victor laughed harder now.

“I defaced a monument to all the innocent offerings they killed. Crossed out my given name and wrote my real name.”

“Good.”

“Then I found Planter and let the Maze know that Carver and the rest could start a distraction.”

“Lead the mages away, that was good.”

“All but one left, the mage that took me into the Maze in the first place. Apparently he’s been the one hunting me down.” There was another rumble in Victor’s chest. “I may have revealed myself to him and then he attacked me, but it didn’t work. I attacked him back, and it was stupid easy to knock him down. Then he sent Planter after me.” Madeline paused

“And?”

“I burnt Planter fully, with a method that my books call dragon’s breath. Also caught the mage in the blast, but I’m sure he lived, albeit very burned. And I also ended up burning down the professor's laboratory building.”

Victor chuckled a little menacingly. “A little bit of an arsonist, are we?”

Madeline didn’t respond, but she did smile. “Then as I was escaping I ran into Flora…” The beyonder growled and held her just a bit tighter. “She tried to fight me, but apparently sparring with a beyonder makes fighting a student mage look like child’s play.” She paused. “We talked… Didn’t really go well… Not that I expected it to. Though I did scare her with the fact that I had an entire family of beyonders that weren’t chained over for my birthday.”

“Yes, to anyone but you that is probably the most terrifying thing that could ever happen.”

“Also you were right…”

“I often am,” Victor said smugly. “But would you remind me what exactly I am right about?”

“I’m not a murder. I did what I had to do to survive. I defended myself and that’s not murder.” Even though she did believe that now, she couldn’t help but hold onto Victor just a bit tighter.

“I’m glad you finally realize that.”

Madeline nodded and just leaned into the warmth of his body. Victor didn’t say anything and let them stay like that. Eventually Madeline did feel like it was time to pull away because her stomach was in so much pain from being hungry. It didn’t feel good to pull away, but with the increasing growls from her stomach, she really needed food.

“Would you make dinn—Wait! You made it so I can growl?!” Victor looked at her in surprise for a split second then almost keeling over laughing. “Why are you laughing?! It’s not funny!” She said that but she couldn’t help but start laughing a little herself. “I bared my fangs and growled at my sister like you do! This had to be you when you gave me the tail because I know for a fact I would have growled at you so much before if I could have done it!” Victor only laughed harder and she did, too.

“Oh fuck, that was so funny it hurts,” Victor said clutching his stomach. “I wondered when you would find out.”

“So it was you!” Madeline pointed an accusing finger at her friend.

“Yes, though I thought you’d do it at me for the first time. I’m actually a little disappointed I didn’t get to see your face when you would have realized.” Victor shrugged. “Arguably it’s better that you did it to your sister the first time. How truly scared was she?”

“A lot actually. Really took her by surprise.” Madeline couldn’t help but still laugh a little. Looking back it now made her feel good that she scared Flora.

Victor gave a very big toothy grin that showed off his own fangs. “Good.”

Madeline shook her head at him. “Alright, now could we get back to dinner. I’m starving, and all I can think about is one of your stupid fancy meals.”

Victor gave her a more gentle smile. “Alright, I can do that at least.” He started to turn around to go make them food, but stopped and turned back to her with a more serious expression. “But first we are changing our pact, little witch.”

“What?” That genuinely shocked Madeline. Though she was more shocked that she didn’t feel fear at all that Victor wanted to change the pact. She trusted him. “How? When?”

“Right here. Right now. You are letting me out of your garden,” he said as if it was a matter of fact. Now Madeline did feel a little fear. He wanted out of the one real restriction. “I’m not letting you go off again to a mage campus without me.” He grabbed her shoulders again and looked into her eyes. “Do you understand me?”

At first Madeline felt that fear she had before, that he really was a murder happy beyonder, but over the past couple of months she was getting a lot better at reading him. He was so incredibly serious. A hard seriousness that he rarely had, but she could see a crack in it. She could see fear in his eyes. She had never seen Victor afraid before tonight. He was afraid to not be with her while facing mages. He was afraid of what could happen if he wasn’t there to help her. To protect her.

“O-okay,” Madeline said looking back into his eyes. “We can change the pact. You can come with me when I leave my garden.”

“And leave it without you in case of an emergency,” he said so firmly that Madeline couldn’t help but feel the fear behind it.

“Okay. And leave without me in case of an emergency.” She had no idea what an emergency could be or how loose the term 'emergency' could be applied, but she still agreed.

Victor let out a sigh, and Madeline could see the relief in his eyes. “Thank you.”

“Is that it? Is the pact changed now?”

The beyonder smirked at her. “We have to seal the change.”

“How?” Victor’s smirk only grew. Madeline felt her face start to heat up in realization. “Oh, you have to be kidding me.”

“I’m afraid not, little wi—”

Madeline cut him off by kissing him, just like she had done the first time they kissed. She held it just like last time, making sure to seal the changes even if she felt like she didn’t have to actually do that. She also wasn’t sure how she felt about the clenching in her insides. Then she pulled away and before he could say anything, Madeline ducked her head and started towards the bathroom. She didn’t want him to see just how red her face really was now. “I’m going to take a bath while you make dinner.”

As she walked through the door, she heard Victor chuckle and say, “Alright, little witch.”

She closed the door behind her and buried her face in her hands. She was sure her face was as red as Katherine’s. She also realized that she hadn’t brought in a change of clothes, but there was no way in hell she was going back out where Victor could see her face. The worst part was she couldn’t get the kiss out of her mind. That was her first kiss in the right body, and it felt different than the first time they kissed.

“Fucking beyonders...”

[...I couldn't help but make them kiss again.]