Happy Wicked Day!
Elphaba took an agonized glance at her friend through the mist swirling around them. She prepared to put Galinda out with the syringe…
The green girl hesitated. Her eyes focused on the pale vapor through which she was looking. What if it was the mist that was making Galinda's eyes look so suspicious? Elphaba sucked in a deep, steadying breath.
"Ok," she muttered, grudgingly slipping the needle back into her bag. "Lead on." Glinda let out a relieved breath of air. Eager to regain the fractured trust between them she threaded her fingers with the thinner witch's.
Galinda led Elphaba into the hallway, which continued to slope downwards. Eventually it started curling into a spiral, until the green witch was sure they must be underground. She was still somewhat sleepy and this extended walk wasn't helping.
"It's just up ahead," the blonde assured her yawning companion. "We're almost there." True to Galinda's word the next corner they turned led into a large, stone chamber. In its center was a pedestal and on that pedestal, open to a random page near the center, was the Grimmerie.
Pulsing, emerald light radiated from the swirling pages of this ancient tome. Elphaba could feel power oozing from every crease and fold. She stood still, sizing up the intimidating book. Talor hadn't said what they should do when they actually found the Grimmerie. Would it be appropriate, or safe, to simply move forward and begin reading from such an artifact?
"What should we do?" Galinda whispered, shrinking behind her friend.
"I don't know," the green girl admitted. She took a hesitant step forward.
Immediately a great gust of howling wind rent the chamber. Who are you? boomed a disembodied voice.
"I'm Elphaba Thropp," the frightened witch exclaimed. "And this is Galinda Upland."
"Of the Upper Uplands," the blonde added, as though such a title might convince the Grimmerie to go easy on them.
Why are you here?
"My friend had terrible magic done to her brain," Elphaba gulped. "Now part of her memory is gone. We were told a spell from the Grimmerie could fix it."
Such a spell is contained within my pages, the ancient book exclaimed. However, should you truly wish to use my power, you must first prove yourself.
"How?" Elphaba asked plaintively. It was the first time Galinda had ever heard the green witch sound scared.
Step forward Elphaba Thropp. She warily obeyed. It felt as though someone was rifling through her innermost thoughts. Instinctively the girl repelled this foreign presence.
Disembodied laughter shook through her mind. You are a strong, rebellious little one. The Grimmerie's tone indicated that it approved of these traits. You may take another step.
Elphaba moved forward. Who wields the most power over your decisions? the ancient book queried. There was no hesitation in the green girl's answer.
"Me."
Good. Step forward.
The Grimmerie's questionnaire continued and Elphaba's answers were not only consistently truthful, but also consistently acceptable in the eyes of the tome. It wasn't long before she stood a mere arm's width away from the most powerful spellbook in Oz.
There is but one question left, the Grimmerie droned. Answer wisely and truthfully Elphaba Thropp, or your friend will never remember herself. Elphaba nodded her understanding.
If you could have only one thing, which would you choose; love or power?
The witch opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.
Think about this carefully.
However Elphaba knew that this was one question she didn't need to think about at all. "Love," she replied simply, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Immediately tenseness filled the air. In front of her the Grimmerie snapped shut.
Wrong, it hissed. Allegiance to the emotions of the flesh is a sign of debilitating weakness. I cannot allow someone with such a weakness to wield my power. Leave this castle.
"No." Elphaba's eyes were blazing.
What?
"I'm not leaving."
Very well then. Suddenly an unearthly wail of absolute agony ripped from the air behind Elphaba. She turned to see Galinda huddled on the floor, limbs twitching in pain.
In a second the thin witch was beside her friend. "What are you doing to her?" she demanded of the Grimmerie. It seemed totally indifferent.
Don't worry; I would never hurt her body. However pain of the mind can be just as potent.
"Elphie help!" Galinda shrieked. "Make it stop!"
Elphaba yanked the gleaming needle from her bag and jammed it into the blonde's arm. Almost immediately her eyes clouded over. Moments later Galinda went limp, wrapped in painless oblivion.
The green girl smirked at the Grimmerie.
"It's just you and me now," she growled.
