Author's Note: Sorry for the wait guys and gals. Hope you enjoy!
"UNACCEPTABLE!" Another window shattered as Renge screamed in rage. "Hikaru! Kaoru! GET IN HERE NOW!" Identical winged monkeys with ginger fur fluttered into her chamber.
"Yes mistress?" They asked in unison.
"That creature, that girl," she spat, "not only did she escape the Forest completely unscathed according to my scout, but now this!" She thrust a plain wooden box under their noses. "Just listen to it!" Hikaru and Kaoru place their ears against the dark oak. Inside they could make out a faint rhythmic thump. "It's his heart!" Renge shrieked snatching the box back. "She's made it start beating again! If I don't do something she is going take everything from me; the glasses, my power, and his heart. THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN!" She leaned into their faces with a menacing sneer. "Which is why you, my most loyal pets will assemble the others and bring those four to me. I will deal with them myself in the most slow and painful ways I know. NOW FLY!" With that Hikaru and Kaoru took to wing and soared away with the rest of their flock. "Pretty little Haruhi, this ends now." Renge whispered hugging the box tight.
"...So then I said sir you must be mistaken I was just checking your wife's lips for poison!" Lion gave a roaring laugh. "Of course war nearly broke out between our two countries but in hindsight it was quite funny."
"I think you and I might disagree on that." muttered Haruhi. Suddenly Scarecrow halted the group and raised a finger to his painted lips. "What is it?" Haruhi whispered holding onto his arm.
"We're being followed. I've noticed them since we left the thicket this morning." Usa-chan gave a nod from Scarecrow's shoulder.
"What do you think they want?" asked Tinman. Scarecrow pointed at a small grouping of rocks lining the path ahead of them.
"They're waiting till we have to pass through that rock cluster. It'll bottle neck us and make us easy to ambush."
"Is there any way around?" wimpered Lion "I'm more a lover than a fighter you know." Scarecrow nodded.
"When we reach the rocks we split up and run for cover." The other three nodded solemnly. "Wait till I give the signal. Let's keep walking." Linking arms they continued down the Rose Line Road trying to give no sign that they knew about their followers. Suddenly a high pitched battle cry split the sky and a swarm of winged shadows darkened the sky.
"FLYING MONKEYS!" Tinman shouted. "Everyone RUN!" He grabbed Haruhi's hand and sped towards the rocks. But as his hand closed on hers Haruhi could feel two others grasp onto her shoulders and begin to lift her into the air.
"TINMAN!" She cried as Hikaru and Kaoru began to lift her into the air.
"HARUHI!" Her hand slipped from his as with one final tug the Monkeys pulled her away.
"Don't worry," said the Monkey on her right, "your friends will be joining you." finished the Monkey on her left. "See?" they asked in sync. Haruhi craned her next and through her tears she could see Scarecrow, Usa-chan, and Lion flying behind her in the grasps of the other Monkeys.
"Tinman got away," she sighed in relief "thank god."
The Monkeys roughly dumped Haruhi, Lion, Usa, and Scarecrow on the cold chamber floor.
"So glad you four could join me. It has been so terribly long since I've had company." Renge stepped from the shadows holding the wooden box. "Wait!" she called out as the Monkeys began to drift away. "There is only three of them and Glinda's stupid rabbit. Where is the metal one?"
"He got away Mistress." answered Hikaru.
"Then go back out and get him you idiots!" Renge shrieked stamping her foot. "Or so help me I will carve your brother's face while you watch!"
"Yes Mistress." The two Monkeys bowed and flew from the room.
"Now where were we? Ah yes." She snapped her fingers causing ropes to appear and bind their wrists. "Comfy? Now Haruhi dear, you and I have business to discuss. You have something that belongs to me and I want it. How I get it is up to you but make no mistake i will have my sister's glasses." Haruhi glared defiantly up at the Witch.
"Over my dead body." Renge clapped her hands and gave a girlish giggle.
"Oh definitely a possibility but not the first one I will use." She leaned down and took Haruhi's face in her hands. "You see let me tell you how this is going to go down my little hero. The pain will start with your friends, nice and slow so that you have time to savor their suffering. Then one by one I will let them gasp their last, only when that is done will I get to you." She dug her nails into Haruhi's cheek. "Of course it doesn't have to be this way you could just give me the glasses and I'll send you on your way. You can go to that fool wizard, let him send you home, I won't stop you." She stood, dusting off her hands. "I'll give you the night to think it over." Renge snapped her fingers and a group of Monkeys hauled the four to their feet. "Put them in the tower."
Author's Note: Dang evil Renge you scary! Stay tuned for the next Chapter!
