Prologue - The Empress Aposte of Oz
Heavy steps were clacking on the wooden floor, clack clack clack, each second getting louder and louder against the eerily silence of the night. I tried to guess, who it is, or rather who they are but it didn't take long for me to have a chance to guess before I heard them, banging on my door. My nanny, unafraid as always answered with a scowl. Two men in their black and gold uniform, rushed inside my small dimly lit cobbled room. I expected this to happen, but I didn't know that it will happen this much sooner.
"Your Highness" the three men kneeled finally breaking the suspense. "It is time" they said matter of factly as they hurried Nanny to carry whatever we have packed the day before.
From the far-off distance of my room, I heard a scream and a loud roar of fire followed enveloping the tower right next to where we stood. Shouts of panic spread as the fire moved from the ground up to engulf the manor. Horses were neighing in terror and men shouting to calm them, but the terror in their own voices made it worse, until the whole plain was alight with a raging blaze and the night swirled with smoke and rang with shouts and screams. The dark-haired man pulled me outside of my room with Nanny and others in tow. We dashed into the night, my thick robe flapping at my legs. The place where we were before blazing up behind us in an inferno of panic. The whole manor was ablaze, sparks pouring up into the dark night sky like fiery fountains.
Out of the flames came two huge horses, jet black against the brightness of the fire. High up, one of the men announced, "The Wizard is dead, long live the Queen!" the announcement was followed by more chants "long live the Queen! long live the empress of OZ!"
This is me, 14 years old, my face pale green as spring leaves and brown eyes wide with fear refusing to tremble, biting my lips so I don't cry out. This is me, conceived by a treacherous wizard and a cheating mother, created in a moment of heat while her husband was away in his outreach to save lost souls. I was raised knowing my skin is a testament to their sin as well as mine. I was raised known as the child of both worlds and trained to use my magic to protect myself. I am destined to fight for my place in the world, to fight for my word against another, born to fight for my name and for the throne that I never wanted. Being the only daughter of the Wizard of Oz, it has fallen on me to be the heir to the kingdom. I am Elphaba Thropp, the Third Thropp Descending, Oz's strongest witch and now the Empress Apostle of Oz.