A/N: Sincere thanks to LillyFae and ElphieIsPopular for your reviews.

Heads up, over the next 2 weeks I'm going to try and update reasonably quickly. As of the 20th I'm starting University so my timetable is going to restrict my writing times.

I'm the Witch 9

Residents of Red Hill reported a thunder crashing down the hill quickly followed by a strong gust of wind. A few people with keen hearing claimed they heard high-pitched screeching from the towers. A moment later a single phrase was heard coherently.

"Fly, my pretties!" As the terrifying phrase was heard, flying monkeys could be seen flying from the highest window of the old castle. Not long after that a strip of midnight blue, declaring the presence of another Witch, could be seen hurtling across the sky. A deeper cackle followed the streak.

In her tower, Elphaba was fuming and about to mentally criticize Jayla for her theatrics, before realizing that might have been slightly hypocritical. She resorted to pacing while the other Witch amused herself. Vaguely the green Witch wondered what the poor Vinkuns far below were thinking. The progression of that thought was deciding the Vinkus was the most colourful area in Oz, with the two vibrant Witches in the tower above Red Hill, the Vinkus was unrivalled. This reverie was shattered when Jayla landed pushing Liir into the room in front of her. The boy was wide-eyed, apparently having enjoyed the thrill of flying. Jayla was looking pleased, apparently with riling Elphaba.

"You've had a busy week." Jayla smirked, much to the other woman's chagrin. "Certainly attended to some unfinished business."

"I did," Elphaba put a sharp point on her tone, "finally attended to the abysmal state of my son's wardrobe. Liir."

Completely ignoring Jayla, the green woman withdrew the parcel of clothes and handed them to Liir, who seemed pleased, if surprised. The clothes didn't appear to be much, though the material was quite expensive, and mostly in black prompting a sardonic comment from a very bemused Auntie Witch.

"Clearly we know whose preferences were in mind." Liir didn't seem to mind, Elphaba sneered at the blue accented woman.

"Thank you Mum!" Liir exclaimed and suddenly wrapped his arms around the tiny waist of his mother, who drew her arms up quickly and froze, unsure at the uncharacteristic demonstration of affection. After a moment she tentatively patted the boys head. He drew away from her eventually and, seeing her discomfort, sobered up. Liir left the room, clothes in hand to take them to his room, with the assurance he'd return soon.

"Why don't you want him to know? He already knows you killed a child for him." Jayla began her interrogation the moment the boy left the room.

"There was a point to that and it was an accident, I was angry and an icicle dropped. This time there was no reason beyond petty revenge."

"That makes murder so much better does it? I was right by the river. Not good, not nice, but right. The Witch."

"There was nothing right about any aspect of the situation. She was dying, there was no need to kill her. Nature would have taken her course within the week."

"No need to kill who?" Elphaba cursed soundly at Liir's chosen time to re-enter the room and the conversation.

"You don't want to teach him bad habits and yet you curse like that?" Re-joined Jayla. Elphaba whirled on the blue Witch, fury turning to glitter in her eyes.

"If you're going to continue your inane commentary, you can return to Munchkinland right now." Elphaba spat before returning to Liir. "My old headmistress died recently."

"You killed her?" Liir guessed, much to his mother's dismay. For a boy she tended to think of as being quite dim, he certainly was good at putting her in difficult situations.

"I was present in the minutes immediately preceding her death and left her house in the moments after. The minutes in between are unclear."

She ensured her tone clearly indicated that the conversation was over. After all, there was no point in discussing an event she couldn't clearly recall. Jayla had pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow, clearly trying to decide if she was being lied to or not. The green woman turned to her, tilted her head to the side and opened her arms out, palms front. Elphaba allowed the exhaustion of the past few days to filter in to her expression. Upon seeing this Jayla relented and the green woman relaxed, before furrowing her eye brows.

"How did you find out about my trip to Shiz?" The green woman asked but Jayla simply dismissed her with a flick of her hand.

"You were seen in the area, some people decided to leave as a result. One of them apparently knew that the old woman was your old headmistress."

Feeling even more uncomfortable than at the start of the conversation, mother took son and left the room. Seeing victory before her, Jayla grinned widely. She began to imagine how much more fun it would be when she had a chance to meet Glinda.