9. A storm is coming
6 annuals later …
The Mystic Man was a busy man these days. Now more groups of people were listening to his lectures about Oz and the universe. Citizens from all over the country and beyond came to his theatre in Central City to watch his shows and listen to his wisdom. Cain was once more glad that he had decided to become a Tin Man and work for the Mystic Man's protection detail, but he was suspicious about a group of women and men who kept asking questions about the meaning of life and the old days of the great war and the witches.
Topics like that made him feel sick to the stomach because they reminded him too much of the terrorist attack that had scared the land only 12 years ago. However the Mystic Man assured him that all questions deserved to be answered for those who were willing to seek the truth. Sometimes the Tin Man wasn't sure to which amount he should trust the old man and how much of his wisdom was to be believed.
He earned good money and he needed it because little Jeb was about to go to school in summer. Jeb- his little boy, almost a school kid already. He remembered when Adora had informed him of her pregnancy right after they had left the spring equinox ball and only one day after the Queen had announced her pregnancy with princess D.G. He had been so happy and proud and couldn't have waited to come home to write a letter to Ambrose and express his joy. The advisor had been more than happy and right after the birth of his healthy son Cain had made him the guardian of little Jeb Cain. Now his boy was about to leave the nest for the first time and it scared Cain to see his golden haired kid, with the big bright blue eyes of his father, being confronted with the dangers of the world outside their cabin. More than ever he hoped that the rumors about the return of the witch weren't true and more than once he hoped that he could finally talk some sense into the Mystic Man and his trust in fanatics.
It was a calm day in the middle of May and it was much too hot for the season. Some of Cain's colleagues had left earlier to look after their crops, because for some of them being a Tin Man was only a half-time job. So it happened that Cain was alone at the office with only Rick Zero as his company. Rick was a loner, always trying to impress their boss and to do a good job. People said that he was strange and that bad things might happen if Zero ever got into a bad mood, but Cain liked the silent man. At least he preferred spending a hot drowsy day with Rick Zero than with some of his older colleagues.
Days like this were hard for the young men. The Mystic Man wanted them to do their paperwork, for it wasn't only their job to protect the elderly man, but also to write protocols and inform the Central Station of any little trouble that might have occurred in the past. Cain wished he was outside at the cabin with Adora and his son. In weather like this Jeb loved to play with his dad at the shore of the little lake in front of their house and Cain could hear Adora's crystal clear voice laughing over the actions of 'her boys'. Instead he was sitting in a dark office that seemed to get hotter every minute, and sweating on a tiring protocol underneath his big hands.
"You look like you need some fresh air and some sunshine, mate." Since he barely used to talk or address anyone except the Mystic Man himself, it was a surprise for Cain to suddenly hear Rick speaking to him from the doorway. The man with the tame blonde hair and the stern look, that was now much softer than usual, had left to buy them a coffee but he had been gone for quite a while so Cain hadn't been sure if Rick would ever show up again or not.
"And you look like that fresh air and sunshine worked wonders on you. I can't remember when I've ever seen you smile." And gone was the happy expression on the other man's face, which irritated Cain a bit. He didn't mean to tease Zero, but he didn't know what he could do to show the other that he was trying to be friends with him.
"I met the boss, he wants to speak with you," Zero answered matter of factly as he placed a hot coffee cup on Cain's desk, avoiding any eye contact and signaling the other that their conversation, as short as it had been, was over now.
"Rick, I didn't mean to offend you. Where is he?" Wyatt raised from his chair carefully and wanted to walk closer to Zero's desk but was stopped by the other's raised hand.
"And I'm not your friend so what do you care? It's all right, I'm not offended. He is waiting in his dressing room. The show won't start before six, but you know him." With that he focused on a pile of papers on his desk and made clear that he wouldn't give Cain any other information.
Maybe the people were right and Rick Zero was a strange guy. However Cain knew that he didn't have time to think about his colleague's behavior. The Mystic Man barely asked anyone into his dressing room so it must be important. If he was lucky, Cain would finally get his chance to talk about the fanatics which were now coming to the Mystic Man's shows every night.
O.O.o.o.O.O.o.o.
He knocked three times but entered without waiting for permission, he didn't like the mind games of the old man who thought it was fun to confuse his staff by asking for a secret password before they were allowed to enter.
"Why do you always have to steal the fun, Cain?" said the small man sitting in front of a huge mirror, he was trying to tie his bowtie and he didn't face Cain directly, but the blond could tell by the expression on his face that he was in one of his moods. That wasn't a good sign, either it meant that the Mystic Man was in a cheery mood or it meant the complete opposite and he had had a bad dream again which often enough meant: Another prophecy, horrible things were about to happen, Cain could feel it.
"Sir, you know that I'm a simple Tin Man, with a simple mind. I'm not worth your little games and Rick left me with the impression that you want to see me because of something important, so I didn't mean to waste time," Cain defended himself and made the Mystic Man laugh before he turned around with a weak smile still written on his face.
" I like you, Cain. You're not like those bootlickers, you're honest," the old man responded.
"Thank you, sir." He felt uncomfortable about the compliment but he accepted it. It couldn't harm that your boss liked you.
"Since you've been honest with me, Cain, can I be honest with you now?" The smile vanished from the old man's face and changed into something unreadable, something between anger and fear. It scared the Tin Man because he had never seen him like this.
"Sir?"
" Pack your things and go home, don't come back for a while. Go and see your family, hug your son, kiss your wife and tell them that you love them. Tonight will be the last show. I will take a break after that." The Mystic Man's voice was calm but the words that left his lips confused Cain.
"Is there a problem with my work, have I done something wrong? Did I displease you sir?" He mumbled, not being sure if he had misunderstood his boss or not. But the serious look on his face didn't change, and now he even grabbed Cain's shoulder pressing it lightly.
"Do you love your family? Then don't leave them alone. They need you. I'm old, I can look after myself. After tonight's show I don't want to see you here for a few weeks." He remained cryptic which Cain didn't like in the least.
"Is it because of the people who ask about the witches? I tried to tell you that they are no good, did they threaten you? Mystic Man, I belong to your protection detail. If you, or this place is in danger, I need to know." He knew that it would come to this eventually, if only the old man had listened to him earlier , but he only shook his head which surprised Cain even more.
"It's not them, Cain. You have to leave, I don't want you to question my actions any longer. A storm is coming and I'm only trying to protect you from it, so please stop being stubborn and tell Zero that he should leave as well. The others already know about it so you two are the only ones who need to listen to my orders." The Mystic Man's voice was softer again and now his face looked sad.
A storm is coming, what did he mean by that? Did he really have one of his bad dreams again? Had a prophecy told him to send Cain away? Whatever it was, the Tin Man didn't like to be ordered around like this and it made him angry. However he respected the old man and he feared the consequences of his prophecies. He didn't want anyone... or anything to hurt Adora and Jeb so he nodded, in frustration but Mystic Man's features lightened up and he smiled again.
"One day I will tell you and you might understand, but now you should go. I will see you at the show. This one will be spectacular, believe me, old friend." With a flick of his hand he dismissed Cain before he could even protest or ask any of the questions that were haunting his mind.
He left more angry and confused than he had been before and afterwards he informed Rick that they had to take a holiday for a couple of weeks, he decided it was best to go out into the sunshine like Zero had advised him.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.O.o.O
"And now may I present: The great and powerful … MYSTIC MAN!" The confroncier with the heavy make-up, silly accent and tight suit screamed into the cheering crowd before he bowed in front of them and left the stage to the right.
Green smoke floated over the stage, the lights went out and illusions of lightning and thunder made the crowd stop clapping. Cain knew that the Mystic Man loved this part, when the new unknowing guest didn't know what was going to happen and when the regulars were waiting for their show to start.
The silence was interrupted by the sound of a sudden explosion and some women started to scream. A huge greenish head, well only a projection of it, appeared on the stage. It was bigger than a human and it hovered over the stage like a ghost. It was the face of the Mystic Man, who now addressed the crowd and introduced himself as the great and powerful Mystic Man. After another explosion, the old man appeared in one of his colorful stage costumes (all of them weren't much to Cain's taste) and when he had informed the guests that he was going to answer all their questions, both women and men started to calm down and act more relaxed again.
It was a show like any other and Cain was asking himself why the Mystic Man had spoken of bad things. The bar and viewing area were much more crowded than usual, but apart from that he couldn't sense any bad auras.
Until the Mystic Man lowered his voice and started to stare into the crowd like he had suddenly seen a ghost, his face got pale and his eyes glassy. The visitors went silent in an instant because they thought it was part of the show but Cain knew better. This wasn't a trick, this wasn't some new show act. This was something evil. The lights in the room started flickering and the ground was shaking lightly. Now Cain could see how some of the guests looked uneasy and a bit frightened. Could they sense the sudden change of the atmosphere like Cain?
He felt foolish for not having sensed it before but now it was more than obvious. Something wicked was hanging in the air, making the whole room feel hotter and harder to breathe in. Without losing another second, Cain started to run to the stage in order to get to the Mystic Man and inform the people that it was best to leave and that the show was over. However he was stopped by a heavy blow, like an invisible force, and he crashed into the opposite wall of the room.
As the people saw that a man was being attacked by something they couldn't see they started panicking , some ran out of the theatre, a few desperate hid under the tables, but most could only scream.
The Mystic Man who had been silent all the time suddenly started to speak again, but his voice was scary, deep, and sounded otherworldly.
"People of Oz beware of the storm that is coming. No one is going to be spared. No one will be able to hide or escape. Darkness will come over this land and you will all pay a terrible price for it," The bass like voice sounded like a predator and echoed through every corner of the building.
Cain was lifting himself up from where he had crashed against the wall and the voice was hammering in his head, making his heart feel weak and like the darkness was trying to crawl into his body.
Some of the women were crying now, the men trying to comfort them by patting their backs lightly. Suddenly the shaking of the ground stopped, the air got cooler, the lights went on again and the eyes of the Mystic Man rolled back into his head before he fell from his flying carpet and collapsed on the stage.
This was Cain's chance to start a second try and evacuate the building. With determined steps he made his way to the stage, where he observed the Mystic Man with concern, before he turned around and faced the remaining, devastated crowd.
" We have just witnessed something terrible, we can't be sure what just happened and I understand that it was frightening. Nevertheless, it is very important now that we stop panicking. I advise you all to go home calm and slowly. I will promise that I will report tonight's occurrences to the Queen and she will surely know what to do. There is nothing we can do now, though, so please go home and try to get some sleep." He had his hands raised and made smooth gestures of support with them, in the hope that this would make them listen to him. Luckily it seemed to work for the first people came out of their hiding and left the building – still traumatized but without causing another ruckus.
"Thank you," Cain whispered and when the last person had left the building he brought all his attention to the unconscious Mystic Man. The elderly man on the floor knew something, he had seen this whole event coming and he still had wanted to do the show. Was it all for the purpose to warn the people? What were his true intentions? Right now it was important to get the Mystic Man to a place where he would be safe and more comfortable. Cain felt like he had to ignore the man's orders and stay at his side until he would wake up again.
O.O.o.O.O.o.o.O.O.o.O.O.o.o.O.o.o.o.o.O.o.o.o.o
Something old and evil was coming for them, something more powerful than he wanted to imagine was lurking in the darkness and he had only seen glimpses of it during his possession. Something ... someone was going to destroy the life in OZ as it was used to be and the mere thought of it made him shiver in fear.
When he opened his tired eyes he could see that Cain had disobeyed him, for the young man with the striking icy blue eyes was hovering over him, his forehead plastered with wrinkles. He had questions, he didn't blame him, but he didn't know if he was allowed to give him answers.
Before he could say something in defense , before he could tell Cain that some things needed to remain a secret, they heard a knock on the door and when neither of them answered, the dressing room was flooded by palace guards who were followed by the Queen of Oz and her brother Ambrose.
Cain jumped up from his place and so did the Mystic Man. They both wanted to bow but the Queen stopped them by raising her hand in defense.
"You two know that you don't need to bow in front of me," she said quietly. Her voice sounded drenched and usually it would be loud and much clearer.
"What can a simple man like me, do for her majesties at this late hour?" The Mystic Man straightened himself up and now observed both the Queen and the Duke. He knew that they weren't foolish, they had come to him because they knew he might have some answers, but he was still hoping that his visions had fooled him and that they didn't look so pale because something evil and powerful was at their heels.
The Queen didn't answer right away. Ambrose had to steady her and for the first time Cain noticed that the siblings were shivering like a leaf and that something had happened to Ozma's hair, it was much lighter now and stood out in a stark contrast to Ambrose's dark curls. Now there was no more doubt, something was going on. Someone had better start to talk and reveal these mysteries to him or he would get very angry.
"Azkadellia killed D.G. … after we came home from Finaqua. My little girl ... she ... she killed my precious angel." The Queen looked like she was close to fainting, but Ambrose hold her hands tight and rubbed her back with his free hand.
"I brought her back to life with my magic and hid her at a place where Azkadellia won't find her … for now. She is still weak because the dark magic that my daughter used to kill her sister is powerful. I fear that something wicked is going to happen to this country and that D.G. might be the key to save us all in the future. I know that you're a powerful man, old friend, and I ask you to help me with my precious child. Bring her to a place where Azkadellia won't find her," She ended with a sob and now even Ambrose couldn't stop her from sinking on one knee.
She covered her mouth with her gloved hands as if she was trying to hold back a silent scream. Her brother's eyes were red-rimmed and his face looked harsh. He himself was desperately trying to hold back the tears but he gave in eventually.
The pain that hit Cain's heart was hard to describe. This was the second time that he saw his two best friends so lost, so hurt, so desperate and now it was more painful than before. He was a father now and even though he had met the little princess only a few times she had conquered his heart in an instant. Little Azkadellia had always asked to accompany him on adventures and her curious spirit had reminded Cain so much of Ambrose. Now the one had been killed by the other. And although the little princess was still alive, it frightened him that Azkadellia was capable of something so evil. If something like this was even possible, what would await Oz? He feared for the lives of his wife and son and suddenly he wished that he had listened to the Mystic Man's orders.
At the raise of the Mystic Man's voice, Cain was distracted from his deep thoughts and he focused on the words that his boss was saying.
"I was afraid that this would happen. I saw a storm coming in one of my dreams and a storm is what we need now. Your majesty, I'm deeply sorry for the loss of your oldest daughter to the darkness but there is still hope. I have studied the universe for centuries and I might know a place where your little D.G. could be safe." The sadness of the Mystic Man and his own fear were crystal clear to Cain, but what did he mean with 'loss to the darkness'? Was it only metaphorical because she had just killed her sister, or was there more again?
"Can you tell us where this place is and how we can get there?" Ambrose spoke up for the first time since their arrival. It sent a shiver down Cain's spine to hear how much suppressed anger there was in this voice.
"Oz is only one land in the wide and complex universe. It's the Outer Zone of more than 20 different zones that all evolve around each other. We can't enter each of those zones, but a few collide with the Outer Zone under special circumstances." The Mystic Man started, but was shortly interrupted by Ambrose.
"Outer Zone….Oz? That's what it all means?" He asked in confusion.
"Yes, makes it all less magical doesn't it? We could refer to it as the O.Z. from now on if you'd like but that should be nothing more than a formality now. There is a land simply called Earth by their inhabitants and Otherside by us but it's so much more than just a planet, it's part of hundreds of worlds. However, this Earth is where your Ahamo is from... and it's the place of my birth as well." The old man made a pause to let the information sink in before he continued.
"Your husband and I we both came here by a storm and this is why the storm of my dreams is so important. Now the vision makes sense. It wants us to send your daughter to the Otherside. You know that I came here as a humbug and that my true nature and the reason for the inhuman extension of my life needs to stay a secret, however I know the spell to cast a storm and the best place for it. Keep your daughter at this secret place for another seven days, make arrangements... your daughter surely needs someone to take care of her. Say your goodbyes but don't make it too hard." Now he walked closer to the Queen and cupped her face in his wrinkled hand.
The Queen looked up at him and some of her fear disappeared. She still looked like a mother who knew that she was about to leave her youngest child to a strange world, but she looked also like a mother who was relieved that her daughter would be safe. She nodded at the words of the Mystic Man and with the help of her brother she stood up.
"When is it best for her to return?" She asked but the Mystic Man hesitated. He turned around to Cain and gave him a weak smile. The Tin Man understood before his boss could even say anything.
"You want me to leave, sir?" He asked without hiding the hurt expression on his face.
"Cain's a friend!" Ambrose protested but he was stopped by the Mystic Man.
" I trust you more than anyone, Cain, but this is something between the Queen and me. You should leave too, your highness. It is for the best when as few people as possible know about these plans, it might save our land one day." He faced the Duke with kindness but his voice was underlined with authority.
Both men stood still for a moment before they gave in and left the room. If it was for the sake of Oz it might be less hard to ignore their pride for a second.
O.O.O.o.O.O.O.O.O.O.o.O.o.O.O.o.o.O. .O.O.o.o.o
"You okay Ambrose?" Cain asked when they were standing in the cold corridor outside the Mystic Man's dressing room.
"Besides the fact that one of my nieces killed the other, that my sister brought her back to life, lost most of her magic and that our country might face a new era?" Ambrose returned cynically, and Cain was shocked by his harsh response. He was used to a lot but not to such behavior from his close seemed to have noticed his mistake as well for he suddenly clapped a hand in front of his mouth and started crying again.
"I'm sorry Cain! You... you shouldn't be the target of my anger. So much happened in the last few days. I ... I'm tired ... maybe I should go..." He tried to get past, Cain but was stopped by the taller man who grabbed his right arm.
"NO! If there is really something evil waiting for the Royal family in the darkness then it's much too dangerous for you to leave without a guard," Cain said softly and before he could say more, Ambrose collapsed against his shoulder.
"I'm scared Cain. I'm not sure if I can handle it," he sobbed and Cain knew how he felt. What if Azkadellia's power grew with her age? What if the attack against her sister wasn't the beginning?
What would the Queen do to stop her own daughter? What would happen to his own family?
Cain had been forced to encounter too many questions in much too short a time and it scared him too. He could imagine how a man who was the brother and the advisor of the Queen, the uncle of Azkadellia and the Duke of the North, must feel right now. He was there to comfort and he would hold Ambrose in his arms for the rest of the night.
"It will all be good. I promise! Believe me, Ambrose. It will all be good," he whispered in a steady rhythm with the hope that this would stop them from thinking about the Storm that was coming for them.
A.N: Any thoughts? Should I change something? Did you like it? Thank you soo much for reading ;)