Wow! I know it's been awhile since I've updated but I've been in a rut for quite some time. I can't seem to figure out the intricate details of how I want this story to end. I would really appreciate your feedback! It encourages me to keep going! If you would like to share any ideas about the ending of this story, please PM me! Thanks again!
Chapter Fourteen: Damaged
The moon was bright, illuminating the treetops of the forest as Elphaba flew through the night air, Fae in her arms. She pulled the cloak tighter around Fae as the air became frosty. There was only one place that Elphaba could think of to take her daughter. It was safe, hidden away from everything and everyone. She began her descent from high above the clouds and gently touched down in a small clearing deep in the forest. Elphaba dropped her broom to the ground and adjusted Fae in her arms, shivering slightly.
"What are you doing here?" A voice asked from the shadows.
"There was no where else I could bring her that I knew she would be safe." Elphaba replied.
"And what makes you think that I would take her in?" The voice stepped out from the shadows.
"You have once already." Elphaba looked her son in the eyes. "Please, Liir. She is your family, you wouldn't turn your back on her would you?"
He came closer and looked at his sister. "You did to me." His voice wasn't accusing her of anything, just simply stating a fact.
"I didn't mean to and I'm sorry about that." Elphaba spoke quickly. "You'd have to understand the circumstances, but I don't have time to explain them right now. This isn't about our relationship, it's about Fae, and while she may be involved in the resentment that you have towards me, this isn't about that. She's hurt and I need her to be somewhere I know that she'll be safe. I wouldn't be asking if I didn't truly need your help."
Liir paused for a moment taking in everything his mother had just told him. She was right and he knew it. He could hear the desperation in her voice, the fear.
He reached out and took his sister in his arms, her head falling onto his shoulder.
"Thank you," Elphie sighed gratefully.
"I don't blame you for leaving me when I was young." Liir admitted.
Elphaba picked her broom up from the forest floor and looked back at him.
"We will talk about everything when I return, I promise." Elphie paused. " But if I don't, tell her everything. She has the right to know."
"I will; I'll take care of her." Liir replied and began walking back to his cabin.
For once, Elphaba was at peace with at least one thing. Her daughter was safe; that was really all she cared about. Well, that and saving her best friend. The glow from the City was still visible from this great a distance and as she flew through the air.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Glinda and Aden had finally reached the end of the passageway and stood at a bend of the Vinkus River that ran through the City. Aden was busy concealing the entrance to the tunnel when he heard a ripping sound from behind him. Glinda had begun to tear layers from her ball gown.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Aden was a little shocked. He would've never thought that his mother would do such a thing.
"I won't be able to get around very quickly in this dress now will I." She replied, ripping down to the last layer and throwing the excess fabric into the shrubbery next to them. "I'm hoping it will keep me from being as noticeable, as well." Glinda had to get across the City. She wasn't going to leave Fae there.
"So what now?" Aden had finished his job and walked over to his mother.
Glinda looked away from her son and at the destruction that the mob had caused throughout the City. She didn't have the heart to tell him what had happened. She began walking briskly into the heart of the City, with Aden in tow. She knew that they needed to be cautious but her fear for Fae was beginning to throw all of the logic out her mind. They moved quickly, staying in the less conspicuous parts of town and hiding occasionally behind abandoned vendor carts when mobs passed within close proximity. They had made it safely through the most difficult part of their journey and now Glinda could barely contain herself. The pair was crouched behind a marble statue of the Lurlina, directly across from the alleyway in Glinda's vision.
"It's right there, but I can't see from this position." Glinda huffed aggregately.
"What? What's right there?" Asked Aden, rather confused.
He wasn't met with an answer, however, because his mother was running across the yellow bricks that lined the road into the dark alleyway.
"Mom!" Aden yelled, and quickly followed her.
Glinda was surprisingly fast and Aden didn't catch up to her until she had entered the small, dark space behind the bar. He saw her look around frantically and fall to her knees, hitting the ground with her small fists.
"Damnit! She was supposed to be here! I saw her!" Glinda couldn't contain her anger or worry any longer.
Aden put his hands on her shoulders and faced her. "What are you talking about? Who was supposed to be here?"
Glinda
began to loose control and she couldn't face her son.
"What
is wrong?" Aden asked seriously, but calmly. "Mom?"
He lifted her chin until he could look at her face. She was fighting back tears and he saw fear behind those bright cerulean eyes.
"It was Fae." Glinda began to explain. "She was here. She was the one I saw in my vision. There was a man, he-"
"He what?" Aden searched for some meaning in her eyes. "What happened to her?"
"She was raped." Glinda's voice was barely audible. "Honey, I'm so sorry."
Aden fell from the squatting position he had been in back onto the ground and his face was blank. He couldn't believe it. No. These things don't happen to people like her. She doesn't deserve this! He was quickly brought back to reality by his mother's scream. He looked up, jolted out of his thoughts, and saw a rather strong man who had his mother held fast in his arms. Aden quickly rose and went to punch the captor but another man who had heard the commotion kicked him in the ribs before he had the chance.
"Aden!" Glinda screamed as her son fell to the ground in pain.
"Well, look who it is." The accomplice surveyed Glinda struggling to break free from her captor's hold. "Her Lady Goodness."
The second man came close to her face and she flinched, pulling away from him.
He grabbed her face roughly and forced her to look at him.
"The Master will be pleased. Not exactly what we'd had in mind, but seeing as the girl was no use of us anymore, this will do just fine." He laughed menacingly.
"What did you do with her?" Glinda spat at him, jerking her head out of his grasp.
"Ah, well, you see she was barely alive and it just pained the Master to see her in such a state so we put her out of her misery." He replied chuckling, enjoying her pain.
"No!" Aden tackled him, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious.
Glinda's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't be. No, Glinda refused to believe it. Aden turned to advance on the man holding his mother again when he was blindly shot from behind. It stung. He reached behind his back and pulled a green, fuzzy ended dart from his neck, just before he collapsed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Boq sat in the pub, still, his tin frame glinting in the firelight. His supporters were out doing their jobs, destroying the City but had yet to find their emerald prize. He drained the mug sitting in front of him and through it against the wall, the pent up rage of years of ridicule bubbling dangerously to the surface.
"Sir," A follower knelt at the Tin Man's feet.
"Why are you bothering me?" He did not even look at the smaller man. "This had better be worthwhile."
"Master, the girl," The man was young and unsure of his words. "She was raped by a drunkard in the alley."
Boq snorted at this. "Well, not exactly what I had in mind but all the more reason to piss off the witch. It shouldn't take her long when she finds that out."
The man looked at the floor and spoke uneasily. "That isn't all. Sir, the witch, she came and took her away before we could get our hands on her."
"What?!" Boq shrieked, furious.
"But we did capture Lady Glinda and her son." He replied quickly to hope to quell the anger that would surely be directed at him.
Two guards drug in an unconscious Aden and a struggling Glinda. Boq's anger, as hoped, was quickly lessened when he saw his two new hostages. He smiled and walked over to Glinda.
"We meet again, my sweet." He stood in front of her.
Her eyes were full of hatred and she glared at him, her mouth taped shut. Boq ran his metal fingers through her blonde curls and smirked, while Glinda jerked away as best she could. Boq laughed and motioned to the guards to throw them into the basement. He was pleased and knew that it would only be a matter of time now, before the witch arrived to save her precious friend and he would finally get his revenge on them both.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Liir had returned back to his small cabin and put Fae in his bed. He covered her with a blanket and stepped outside to stoke the small fire that had burnt down in his absence. He sat on a log and watched the crimson ashes float up and disappear into the air as he thought of his unusual childhood. It wasn't long before he heard some commotion from the cabin and got up to investigate. He walked in the door and heard Fae screaming in her sleep. Liir crossed the room and sat on the bed, placing his hand on her chest. She shot upright and coward away from him, trembling.
"It's just me." His eyes held her gaze even in the darkness.
"Liir?" She asked shaken up. "Wh-How did I get here?"
"The witch brought you here." Liir replied.
Fae was extremely confused. "Why would she bring me here? How does she even know about you?"
Liir sighed and look away. "I'm her son."
Fae looked as if he had slapped her across the face. "Wh-What?"
"She is my mother as well." He admitted.
"You are my brother?" Fae really wasn't looking for an answer, just trying to grasp the concept.
Liir nodded.
Fae shook her head. "I don't have time for this. I have to get back to the Emerald City."
"That really isn't such a good idea. You're still too weak." Liir told her.
"I don't care. I have to get back there. They have Glinda and Aden held hostage, I saw them in my sleep. Oz knows what they'll do to them." Fae began to get out of the bed. As she stood, she fell back down and Liir caught her in his arms.
"You're fine?" He asked her again, sarcastically. "And aren't you suppose to have some sort of severe psychological trauma because of what happened?"
Fae pulled herself up again and walked a few steps, shakily, towards the door.
"If I don't get back there and I loose my mother, my godmother, and my boyfriend, I will have severe psychological trauma." She spoke in an aggravated tone.
"How do you know it's not you they are after?" He inquired.
"It doesn't matter if they are or not, I'm not just going to leave Glinda, Mother, and Aden there to die." She was determined.
"If you want to go, that's fine. But I'm coming with you." Liir knew it would be useless arguing with her. She was too much like Elphie, fierce and incredibly stubborn. "I'm not going to let you get yourself killed. She'd never forgive me."
"Really?" Fae was taken aback at getting her way so quickly and genuinely surprised and touched by his gesture.