Nessa gave a grunt as she collided with the ground. While being able to go anywhere at anytime was convenient, she didn't appreciate being slammed into the dirt every time. The brunette raised herself up onto her elbows weakly and managed to get into a sitting position. She knew now what had gone wrong: she was still new to her power, and she had tried using too much too soon. She was angry with herself for making such an idiotic mistake, and especially in front of Morrible. The woman's taunting words still haunted the witch, and she slammed a fist into the ground angrily. A few nearby cornstalks withered up and leaned over.

Nessa watched as the dead leaves fell to the ground. So, she too could cause death. Well, she had already known that. After what she had become, what else was left? Elphaba had tried to save lives, and looked where she had ended up. Dead. Liquefied. And if Nessa made any more stupid mistakes, then she'd be following her sister.

"They won't kill me. They can't."


Panic was spreading through the Emerald City like wildfire. Was the witch really still alive? Would she come after the citizens and terrorize them as her sister had? What should they do to protect themselves?

"The people are in a panic. The whole witch business has gotten out of hand! How could you let her escape?"

"She'll be back," the grand vizier answered coolly.

"How can you be so sure?"

"She won't rest until she gets her revenge. As long as we're still alive, she'll try to finish what her sister started."


The wooden door creaked as it opened, and Morrible's footsteps echoed off of the stone walls. The last cell on the right was her destination, and she found what she was looking for in it.

"I don't have time to sugarcoat this, so I'll just lay this out for you nice and simple: I want the witch, and you want your freedom and redemption."

"What makes you think I can find her?"

"She still has feelings for you. You're the one person who ever saw past her crippled beauty and saw the girl within. To be honest, that sort of thing makes me feel ill, but that's how we'll get the witch. All you have to do is get her alone and make her vulnerable. Do we have a deal or not?"

"All right."


Nessa held the rose with her fingertips, watching as it bloomed before her eyes. A few seconds passed, then the rose wilted, its petals falling gently to the ground. Even in death, it was beautiful. Nessa gave a sigh and dropped the flower. She could not say the same for humans. Everything was so gruesome for them. When she died, she hoped it would be in her sleep. Painless, quick, and tragically beautiful. Just like her.

The witch picked up the sound of approaching footsteps. She looked up from her death brooding, and caught a flash of green. Deciding that she did not want to explore the mystery that was death at this point, the witch stood and left the cornfield, disappearing into the nearby forest.

"Nessa."

The witch whipped around, shooting vines forward as she did. They wrapped around the person, immobilizing them.

"Well, you're as charming as ever," Oliver said.

"Oliver? What do you want?"

"Would you believe me if I said I wanted to see you again?"

"Hardly."

"Can't blame you for that. Now… would you let me go?"

"Depends. Are you going to hold me at gunpoint and order me to surrender?"

"Not in the way you'd expect me to."

Nessa rolled her eyes. "Dear Oz…"

The vines released their prisoner, and disappeared back into the ground.

"So, if you're not here to arrest me, then why did you come back? You didn't seem at all happy when you found out that I was the Witch of the East."

"I admit, maybe I overreacted a little."

"A little?"

"Okay, I overreacted a lot. But you have to understand where I'm coming from."

"Oh, I know where you're coming from all right. You're a loyal servant to the Wizard, and I'm the witch who is someone threatening his reign."

"I went to prison for you."

"Oh, please. You didn't do it for me. You got in trouble after telling the Wizard that I was still alive!"

"Look, Nessa, I don't want to fight with you."

"Well, that's too bad, because I'm not exactly in the best of moods right now, so excuse me if I come off as a little bitter!"

The witch turned to leave, but Oliver grabbed her arm. "Nessa, listen to me—"

"Let go of me!" Nessa pushed Oliver away, and a vine rose from the ground threateningly.

"Nessa, I didn't come here to hurt you or turn you in. I came back because… because I love you."

"Don't make me laugh. Someone like you could never love someone like me."

"I know people only used to see your cripple, and they felt sorry for you. You felt sorry for yourself too, but it isn't like that anymore. You have power and confidence."

"Just because you can't see it doesn't mean that I'm not still crippled. Some wounds don't heal. You're young; the world hasn't been cruel to you yet."

"And what did the world ever do to you?"

Nessa glared at him harshly, but didn't reply. "I don't want to traumatize you."

"I never felt sorry for you, Nessa. Do you want to know why? Because when I first saw you, I thought you were beautiful and strong. I saw past your cripple; can you do the same?"

Nessa crossed her arms, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. She hated the way it felt.

"Tell me the truth Nessa: do you still have the feelings you had for me the first day we met?"

"You mean do I love you?" The brunette laughed. "Love is the mask of death. Innocent and pure on the outside… yet it can kill." Nessa looked up at the guard in front of her. "Loving you would be my demise."

"As would loving you, but I'd take that chance."

Oliver approached the witch, and ran a hand through her hair, which came to rest on the back of her neck. Nessa looked up at him, and felt a chill run down her spine.

Her delicate lips touched his once, then again. Nessa knew this was wrong, these feelings would ruin everything and get her killed, but it was too late. Love had drawn her in its fatal trap, and there was no chance of escape now. She was in too deep.

The two broke apart, and Nessa's hands came to rest on Oliver's chest. She couldn't bring herself to look into his hazel eyes for she knew that every time she did, those eyes saw inside of her and pierced her very soul.

Sudden footsteps and voices shattered the moment, and the two looked towards the forest's edge.

"Guards. You must go, quickly," Oliver said, pushing Nessa away slightly. The brunette started to flee, then turned to look back at the guard.

"If this is really love, which I doubt, then meet me at sundown," she said.

"Where?"

"The one place no one will think of looking. I have my doubts… but this is one time I hope to be proven wrong."