He nodded and quickly got Nessa into her the carriage. I handed him her bag and said, "Nessa's stuff. I'll meet you guys at Shiz."
He frowned and snarled, "Get in the carriage, girl."
I shook my head and he slapped me.
I scanned the surrounding area, and spotted Vlad—he'd delivered Mom and Dad's letter—talking to Mom and Dad, who apparently had decided to surprise me and see me off to Shiz.
"Uncle Vlad! Mom! Dad!" I screamed.
Vlad snapped his head up and saw me screaming. "Elphaba! Hang on!" he yelled, racing to help me.
Dimitri whirled and raced toward me, snarling. Dimitri arrived before Vlad and swung, punching Frex in the face. "Keep your hands off my daughter," Dimitri hissed.
"How can you and your wife possibly love Elphaba? She's green and ugly." Frex snapped.
Dad glared at Father and snapped, "You know nothing about real love. I was a kitchen boy and Anastasia still married me. She didn't have to—she chose to marry me—and she chose to adopt Elphaba—because she wanted Elphaba to have a home, a family, and love."
Frex grabbed Dimitri's arm and spun him around, forcing him to the ground.
"Dad!" I screamed.
"Dimitri!" Mom yelled.
Vlad grabbed Mom and held her—to keep her from getting hurt.
I turned and watched as Mom turned away, struggling not to cry—I knew why—she had almost lost Dad once and she couldn't go through that pain again—Rasputin had almost killed Dad during the fight that had occurred when Mom first rejoined her grandmother—and I hated Rasputin for that. Mom never punished me for being so hateful of Rasputin—in fact, she told me that it was well within my rights to hate the sorcerer.
Dad heard Mom's scream, and reached up, grabbing Frex's arm, and flipped Father onto the ground.
"Don't you ever lay a finger on my daughter, ever again," Dimitri snarled.
Father shook and said, "OK, I won't."