The scream seemed to almost cast a spell, as the air was brittle. Every aristocrat attending the extravaganza found themselves with their breath held, every muscle straining to remain still as they stood on eggshells for fear of shattering the very air sitting like glass in their lungs.
The guests large glassy eyes were all trained, fishlike on the woman in the corner, still as stone. Elphaba stood erect and shameless, but cold as stone. Perhaps a malachite statue.
Fiyero found himself shocked and repulsed by her reptilian skin. Yet he found his eyes glued to her with the same morbid curiosity that brought him to stare at the emaciated bodies of those starving in the Runes. The dread in his stomach was cold and heavy, as if he had just swallowed a large stone.
However, he began to notice that Elphaba was not necessarily ugly. Beyond the skin her body could be found desirable, he supposed. Her hair was dark and seemed to suck in light from the air around her. Not a bad face. Her breasts were small and painful looking, but her legs were thin and curved nicely up to. Well.
Fiyero gulped.
It was Frex who broke the silence, with a hiss of air squeezing between tightly pressed lips. Fiyero thought it similar to the angered rush of a steam engine's break. He ushered one word, spitting slightly on his bright purple suit.
"Leave"
Elphaba sneered and quickly exited.
As she left, her lips moved barely. As if ushered under her breath. Yet Fiyero heard it distinctly in his ear from across the room. As if she was not a foot from his right shoulder.
"Adventure beckons." A smirk hidden behind the words. And the ballroom door clicked shut.
Shock washed over the guests. An uncomfortable tension sat in the room as the aristocrats chatted nervously, sipping, birdlike from their champagne glasses.
Galinda smiled at Fiyero from across the room, waving happily. Boq, not far behind, had spilled some drinks on his formal attire. He swooned over the blonde curls before him, blushing obviously.
Frex grinned a counterfit grin as he schmoozed and kissed the asses of those higher in society. He soon waved Galinda over to his circle of discussion, and she happily mingled, flattering the transparent skinned nobles. Fiyero gagged.
He took in Galinda pensively. She was thin, fair. Hair the brightest and rarest of living gold, and despite the poverty of her clothing, her fair and exotic beauty was hypnotic and set a crown of distinction on her head. Her brow was clear, ample. Her blue eyes cloudless and the lips and contours of her face so sensible and sweet that none could look upon her without feeling a sense of her as a distinct species. Of heavenly origin. And she bore a distinct celestial stamp in all her features.
His desire for her was tremendous, no doubt about that. But the more hushed whispers that floated down from dark corners, or perhaps the walls, or library. The more Elphaba's voice was heard, the more troubled he became. He felt empty, as if he was missing a person he'd never before met. And such a thing distressed him greatly.
He blinked blankly, and Galinda blushed, giggling as Frex swept a long finger down the sublime perk of her nose. Fiyero balled his fists, feeling an inexplicable anger erupt inside him. He wondered at the origin: Frex's gesture such a small notion. However, his vision swam with red clouds. But Fiyero found his rage carried him in the opposite direction. His feet, on their own accord it seemed, swiftly pushed from the ballroom and out the elegantly carved doors.
Fiyero dashed through the corridors, his anger pushing him further and further. He stopped by a fellow servant, pushing his drink tray into her protesting arms. Her shrieks were soon fading as he pushed onward through the halls of tapestry and aged portraits. He did not slow until he reached his room. His sweaty suit began to suffocate and cling to him, and he tore it off, revealing the spiraling diamonds under his skin. Dashing to the small lavatory across the hall, he splashed cold water upon his clammy face.
And the feeling of cold water, as if the idea had sprung from the chill itself gave him a new feeling of dread. He hated Frex. He hated him with every fiber in his body for the prison he was trapped in indefinitely. Fiyero paced, wringing his hands and tugging at his dark hair. He growled to himself. He did not want to stay at the Thropp Mansion serving champagne in a ill fitting suit until his skin sags He had to get out by any means possible.
Fiyero promised this to himself, but his anger was halted by a strange music drifting down the hallway.
The song, fantastic in its own, faded his despair. The lyrics alone Fiyero could describe as nothing other than ethereal, and they held an underlying tone of haunting quality Fiyero was entranced, and stumbled in the direction of the floating vocals.
"Fiyero."
He paused. The singing faded and died. A faint sadness, or perhaps emptiness, bubbled up within him. He stared off wistfully in the direction of the diminishing song.
Galinda's face grinned in his, blocking his vision. She took his hands in hers. Her skin was soft, like rose petals.
"I have the greatest, bestest of news!" she grins, flashing a white smile. She delicately bit her lip as if to halfheartedly stifle the blinding grin. After a wistful pause from Fiyero, she began to bounce on her toes. Taking notice, Fiyero cocks an eyebrow. He finally tears his attention from down the endless hallway.
"The Rapture's Grand Council wishes to meet me!" A red light in Fiyero's head went off. His thoughts bounced to Elphaba and her passionate rants about the Rapture.
"I'm allowed to take two guests! I was thinking of you and Boq" She bounced more rapidly, and this irritated him. She beamed, glowing. They stood in silence for a full minute before he realized Galinda was looking for an answer. He rose his heavy head, so his eyes finally met the two celestial orbs that he once found so enticing.
"Sure" He mumbles with heavy lips. Galinda practically shrieks, kissing him full on the mouth in an attack and giggling wildly.
"To the Emerald Runes?"
"To the Emerald Runes." He replied, linking his arm in hers. Together they about faced within the hallway. Galinda skipped all the way back to her dorm.
Fiyero frowned, but reminded himself that this may have been a blessing in disguise.
After all, adventure beckoned.
A/n: Sorry for the slow update, but I took the liberty of writing three chapters this week so expect an update soon!
Opinions and critiques are always welcome.