Chapter 4. Thanks to lozzakapozza and Sorry to burst your bubble for reviewing so far!
Galinda's mind was now swimming with questions, but before she could ask any of them, the door opened. Galinda stood up quickly, spilling the bowl of water
"Clumsy girl! Clean it up!" her master said. Galinda went out and came back with more rags, which she used to clean up the water.
Elphaba, meanwhile, had stood up as well.
"Are you the man known as Creon?" she asked.
"I am, Green One. What business have you here?"
"I came to discuss one of your slaves, the one known as Galinda."
The blonde froze. What did the green warrior want with her?
"Leave us," Creon said, looking at Galinda. She stood and left the room, but stopped just outside the doorway, out of sight. "Now, what do you want with my slave?"
"Who sold her to you?"
"The queen of Athens."
"Did she give you a reason?"
"She said the girl was troublesome, and she is. I took her off the queen's hands."
"Is that the only reason?"
"Yes."
"Then you won't mind if I take her off your hands?"
"You can't!"
The tone of Creon's voice told Elphaba that he'd been lying.
"You know of her ancestry, don't you? Isn't that why you took her for the queen?" Elphaba said.
"You can't have her. I know that you are working for Enyo, and Ares told me to keep my slave away from you! Now get out!"
Elphaba drew her blades quickly and held them at Creon's neck. "I do not take orders from anyone."
"You wouldn't dare."
"You know who I am, what I've done. What makes you think your life is worth more than all the others I have taken?"
"You will never restore the girl to her place and you will forfeit your life in trying."
"Of all the lives you should be worrying about, mine is not one of them. I ask you one last time; give me the girl."
"Go to hell."
"You first."
One swift move and his head was gone. Galinda let a scream and covered her mouth with her hands and turned away as her master's head rolled across the floor. Elphaba put her blades away and turned to the blonde's hiding spot. She rounded and found Galinda cowering in a corner.
"Stand up," Elphaba said. The blonde did as she was told. Elphaba grabbed her wrist and left the house, dragging Galinda behind her.
"Please don't kill me," the blonde begged.
"Killing you would not be advantageous to me," Elphaba replied as she pulled the blonde along.
"What did he mean when he said you would never restore me to my place?"
"You are the daughter of the king of Athens. Your stepmother sold you into slavery to keep the throne."
"Wha- no. The king's daughter is dead."
"The king's daughter is you."
Galinda's head was swimming. How could she possibly be the king's daughter? She had always been a slave.
"No. I don't believe you. What do you really want with me?" Galinda asked, pulling against the green warrior's strong grip.
"I was tasked by Hera to restore you to your rightful place as princess of Athens."
"I am no princess! Let me go!"
Elphaba turned to the blonde, teeth bared. "Do not make this more difficult than it has to be. Whether you believe me or not is your choice. I am telling you the truth, and the sooner you accept that, the easier this procedure will be."
Elphaba continued walking, dragging a bewildered Galinda along with her.
"So… is it true then?"
"There are many things that are true. Which are you referring to?"
"Did you give up all human emotion to Hera in exchange for the power you have now?"
Elphaba paused. "Yes. It is true. I can no longer feel love or remorse. I find pleasure only in the spilling of blood, and I can only feel pain."
"It sounds awful."
"I am an awful person. If you knew what I had done, you would agree when I say that it is a fitting punishment for my crime."
"No one deserves to be deprived of love."
Elphaba suddenly grabbed the blonde and rolled aside as a fireball hit the ground where they had been standing. Elphaba drew her blades as a fiery chariot flew overhead.
"Feel the power of the sun!" a voice shouted.
"Helios!" Elphaba yelled. His chariot turned and came at her again. Elphaba ducked as he flew over her.
"What is he doing?" Galinda asked.
"Keeping us from leaving. You wait here while I take care of this."
The blonde nodded as Elphaba climbed the nearest building.
"Witness the glory of Helios!" he shouted, coming down again. As he passed, Elphaba threw her blades and latched to the back of his chariot. She soon became airborne and used her blades to climb underneath the chariot. She used one her blades to detach the horses from the chariot. They galloped off into the sky and the chariot crashed to the ground.
Elphaba, who had jumped off the chariot just before it crashed, approached the destroyed vehicle. Helios was lying on the ground in a small puddle of blood. He looked up at the green warrior standing over him.
"Don't do it, Green One. Kill the girl now and spare yourself the pain that will come later," he said.
"What do you care if she is returned to power, Helios?" Elphaba asked.
"Hera will kill her herself if you return the girl to power. She's using you."
"What meaning does Galinda have to Hera that she would want her dead?"
"Have you no idea? Galinda isn't just the daughter of the Athenian king; she is also the daughter of Hera."
"You lie, Helios! I detected no Olympian blood in her!"
"Be blind if you wish; once the girl is returned to power, Hera will dispose of her."
Elphaba gave a yell and put her foot on Helios's head, slamming it into the ground several times. When she finished, he no longer moved. Elphaba noticed the shield on his arm and ripped it off, stowing it away. The green warrior turned and left the scene, returning to the blonde.
"We are done here. We leave for Athens." Elphaba said. Galinda stood up.
"What of Helios?"
"The sun god no longer lives."
"You have the power to kill a god?"
"Olympians overestimate themselves. Trust me, I know that well enough."