Glinda drew a steadying breath. The Wizard's office loomed. As if last night hadn't been a lifetime's worth of worry and fear, and with Sarima cackling in her ear no less. Now she'd been summoned, and no question about what.
How could Fiyero just leave? He was injured, for Oz sake. Did he never once think things through?
The clock chimed, now a good quarter hour past time for her meeting, but she refused to fidget. They wanted to unsettle her, as if everything in her life hadn't accomplished that. She reapplied her lipstick with a practiced hand. There. Ready. She smoothed her dress and began cataloguing the updates this room needed.
"Ah, Miss Upland."
She winced at the lack of honorific. How quickly fate could change.
The Wizard gestured her in, and she marched in with head held high. Morrible's gaze was sharp, but Glinda focused on the Wizard. He was her only hope.
She sat primly on his settee, and he steepled his hands. "You understand our concerns."
"Of course, Your Ozness." She let the betrayal and frustration show on her face. It was easy enough. "I can't understand it. He can't have been willing."
"Couldn't he?" Morrible cooed, and Glinda grimaced.
"Tea?" The Wizard offered, and though she didn't dare refuse, she did hesitate. He tilted his head.
"Have you any honey?"
His lips thinned in a smile, but it crinkled his eyes genuinely enough. "Of course." He tipped the kettle. "What I find curious is that he ought to have been protected from her enchantment, a benefit of his medicine."
He passed the cup, and she mimed a sip. The liquid brushed her lips, but she kept them closed.
"Did he not manage the full dose?"
Her brow furrowed. "He did. Every drop."
Morrible scoffed disparagingly.
"True, he refused out of stubborn male pride. Why do men always think they are indestructible?" Glinda mimed another sip. "When he balked, I just slipped it in his tea."
The Wizard barked a laugh. "Did you?" His eyes lit with amused surprise, but then they fell on her cup. "Interesting."
"I'm just distraught. We've got to reschedule his fitting again now."
They shared a look above her head. "Dearie," the Wizard said, setting a hand on her leg. "I think you might want to prepare yourself that there will be no wedding."
"What?" Glinda rounded her eyes. "But, he's just enchanted. Surely you can un-enchant him."
"The Witch has dark powers of which we know little. It might not be possible."
She clutched the Wizard's hands with both hers. "You must! Please!"
He squeezed her hands tight with a sympathetic expression. She could only hope hers came across as genuinely, though they both held the same amount of truth.
Morrible tilted her head. "And if you could help punish the Witch?"
"Of course." Glinda breathed without hesitation. "Anything."
"Anything?"
Glinda tilted her chin up. "She's stolen my fiance. Yes. Anything."
The Wizard beamed. "Wonderful. You'll be quite a help, I'm sure. Just the person for it, really." But Morrible's sharp eyes hadn't softened an edge.
"As if it turns out that your fiance did leave of his own choosing?"
Glinda narrowed her eyes. "He didn't."
Morrible waved a hand. "All the same, if so?"
Glinda drew every hurt feeling to etch her face in fury, the perfect mask of jilted lover that felt far more honest than she'd like to admit. "Then they'll both pay."
Finally, Morrible's stern pucker smoothed into a smile, vicious and calculating but a smile all the same. Glinda nearly sagged with relief, but she wasn't out the door yet.
"Wonderful." The Wizard stood, and she vaulted to her feet beside him. "Tomorrow, then. We have a little something we've been working on."
Glinda clasped her hands. "Should I prepare? My spellwork is not always-"
"I'll handle the spell, dearie," Morrible interrupted. "I'm well aware of your talents. That is my talent, after all."
"Yes, of course." Glinda ducked her head. "Tomorrow then."
The Wizard showed her out, and she kept a measured step until she'd turned the corner. Then she sagged, one hand pressed to her heart.
She'd known it! Something was off about that stuff. Elphie had called it right away. Thank Oz she'd only given him the one dose! Oh, what horrible plan were they hatching now?
At least from their reactions, her acting had slid her under their suspicions for the moment. Thank Lurline she'd been born pretty and blond and endlessly underestimated.
She retreated to her apartment for a much-deserved glass of wine, lunchtime or no. She kicked off her heels and leaned against the closed door with eyes shut. What a day.
"Playing hooky?"
Lurline's panties, she'd forgotten Sarima! Glinda peeked up to see that smug grin on the girl's face. She pushed off the doorway and straightened her frock. "How has your afternoon been?"
Sarima arched an eyebrow. "Clearly not as interesting as yours. Red or white?"
Glinda sagged. "White, please."
"A good choice." Sarima slipped into the kitchen. "Red is far too heavy for lunch. Unless you're hiding out all day?"
Glinda bit her lip. The musical clink of glasses and bottles drew her in, but she wasn't sure how much to say.
"Want to talk about it?"
Sarima reappeared with the glasses, and Glinda accepted it graciously. "I don't think so. But thank you."
"I didn't poison it." Sarima nodded toward the stemware twisting idly in Glinda's fingers. She caught the glass and took a sip. "See?"
Glinda softened. The poor girl, beaten and abandoned. She really deserved more of a chance than this. Glinda sipped the wine and rolled its light, fruity flavor over her tongue.
"So then. Tell Auntie Sarima."
"There's a girl I know." She tried to keep the melancholy out of her voice, but her smile faltered. "He loves her so, but I'm not that girl."
"So?" Sarima took a sip. "Never stopped me."
Glinda blinked at her.
"You are talking about Fiyero, right?" She nodded, and Sarima chuckled. "He's a man, and a foolish one at that. He doesn't know what he needs."
Well that much was true. Glinda swirled her glass, the wine as crisp blonde as her hair. "I thought you wanted him for yourself, anyway. Why encourage me?"
Sarima made a face. "I don't. My father does." She brushed a hand over her shorn locks. "You're pretty tolerable. We could share him." She kicked back against the arm of the sofa. "I like you better than him anyhow."
"Thanks, but neither of us has that option since he ran off after Elphaba."
Sarima's eyes narrowed. "Her again?" She rocked to her feet. "I thought she was out of the picture."
Glinda shrugged.
"That's a disappointment." Sarima retreated for the bottle to refill their glasses. "And I suppose that's why he didn't come home last night?"
"Afraid so."
Sarima pressed her lips tight. "Idiot. He's going to bleed to death, and my father's going to kill me for it." She flopped down, and Glinda patted her knee.
"I won't let him."
Sarima flicked her eyebrows up in disagreement, but she buried her criticisms in the wine.
Glinda worried her lip. There was nothing for it. She'd have to take care of things herself. She wasn't going to sit around crying over a man, even an impeccable prince whose smile made her stomach flutter. She'd need to get Biq free first. He was in the castle, if the gossip was right. And if Fiyero had flounced off after Elphaba, that only left her.
She stood. "Thank you for the wine." She held out her hand for the glass, but Sarima shook her head.
"No reason to waste the rest. Zauvignon Blanc doesn't last well, even chilled."
"Suit yourself." Glinda rinsed her glass and set it in the sink. "I'd better get back." She'd have to manufacture a reason, but she felt fairly certain Her Goodness could visit the prisoners easily enough to find him at least.
From there, she could task Mercus if necessary. Or Oz, maybe she'd break him out herself and go gallivanting after them. Fiyero needed more care than Elphaba would offer, that much she was certain.
But even with the thought, she knew she wouldn't. Heels weren't made for running.
Sarima lifted her glass in salute as Glinda waved goodbye. She opened the door, and gasped.
"Your Ozness." She slipped out and shut the door quickly behind her. "What are you doing here?" Her eyes flicked to the soldiers flanking him, and Morrible with her tiktok just beyond.
Oh, no.
The Wizard gave a sad smile and spread his hands wide. "I hope you can understand. We just have to be certain."
Her heart pounded in her ears. What could she say? "They aren't here. I swear."
"Of course. A formality, I'm sure."
And that would be all fine and good, as she really wasn't hiding either fugitive, except that she was hiding another.
She didn't bother with excuses. Numbly, she opened the door. Please, Oz, let Sarima have heard. Let her hide.
Glinda peeked in, and breathed a sigh of relief to find the couch empty. The soldiers filed in first, and then the Wizard. He smirked at the wine. "Not to fear, dear. We all have our little secrets."
Glinda flashed a wobbly smile and hardly dared leave the doorway, save for that tiktok thudding toward her.
The soldiers continued on, one to the bath and one to the bedroom. Glinda flinched at the crashes of her things tossed carelessly. Every toss crept closer to the one that would hit its mark, and Fiyero had clearly bred them to be thorough and efficient. She pressed a hand to her lips.
Morrible swept in last. She cast the room with a disapproving eye despite its cleanliness and tasteful decor. Her lips puckered as they continued to search. "Where is the bottle?"
Glinda frowned and pointed at the wine beading condensation on her coffee table.
"Not that, silly girl. His medication."
"Oh. In the bathroom, but it's empty. He took it yesterday morning, and of course, the Doctor didn't bring more since he..." She forced herself to stop rambling and wrung her hands.
Morrible strode toward it anyway, but as she passed the kitchen doorway, she turned back. Her head swiveled to look at the sink, and then the coffee table. She frowned. "Why do you have two glasses?"
"What?"
"There are two glasses."
Glinda thought her heart must be audible to everyone by now, it was thundering so loudly. "I haven't gotten to the dishes yet."
"So it's his?"
Would it be good or bad to say yes? Morrible's eyes were on her, and she had to say something. She nodded.
"Then why is it wet?"
Oh, Lurline. She struggled to breathe.
"Your Ozness!" came a shout, and Glinda's eyes fell shut. Nothing to be done now.
A thud, and Sarima tumbled in the middle of the room, her lip split. The Wizard beamed a slow smile. "Well, well, well. What have we here?"
XXX
Glinda fussed with the bodice. The poofy skirt swirled and draped perfectly, but the neckline slipped lower and lower with no help from the fluttery cap sleeves. She subtly wriggled her hips down as she scrunched the fabric back up.
Morrible's pucker looked especially fish-like, but it was the Wizard's eyes on her cleavage that had Glinda's cheeks flushing. "It's such a shame you didn't get those engagement photos. That is a very lovely dress."
"Thank you, Your Ozness."
"Though it is lacking the proper accessories." Morrible passed her a lacy parasol with a smug smile that twisted Glinda's stomach. Then she turned back to the window with a look somehow both vacant and intense, as if she was staring hard at something miles and miles away.
The raindrops pattered overhead. The sky darkened. Glinda fought to keep her breath even as the howling wind and thunder shook the heavens. A parasol in the face of that? What a joke.
She twisted the handle nervously. "What did you need me to do?"
"Just wait for now, dearie." Morrible's eyes stayed on the window, her blank face sending shivers through Glinda's spine. "We mustn't let that pretty dress get wet, hmm?"
The storm intensified. Hail pounded. Thunder roared with relentless hunger. Rain drenched the windows so the world beyond blurred into indecipherable smears of color. The air felt heavy with tension, and she gripped so tight, her white knuckles ached.
"Madame?"
"Sh!"
The Wizard patted her lap. "Don't fret. It sounds worse than it is."
The wind shrieked in disagreement, and the coach shook. "But you're certain we're safe?"
"Perfectly in hand."
What control could Morrible manage over that monster?
A rumbling like a freight train drew goosebumps on Glinda's skin. The air churned beyond the dripping window. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and she clasped her hands tight to keep quiet as the sky roiled into a twisting cloud, black with fury.
It raged forward, ravaging the countryside. Trees flung up like matchsticks; buildings crumbled to piles. It left a wide swath of destruction that filled Glinda with horror.
"Your Ozness! We have to do something!"
He squeezed her hand a touch more than his reassuring smile suggested. "Hush, dearie. We are."
Her stomach clenched. How naive she had been. Morrible hadn't just caused the storm. This had been their goal, this finger of divine destruction scratching a vengeance over the land.
"Why?" she breathed. Holy Oz, if they sent that after Fiyero and Elphaba, how could they possibly withstand that? All she could do was hope they had as little idea where her friends were as she did.
"Hush, my dear. Wouldn't want her to lose her concentration now, eh?"
The monstrous tornado swirled on a warpath along the ridge where a familiar house stood proud atop the highest peak. The governor's mansion. Glinda realized with a start that they were in Munchkinland. She'd been with Elphaba: just the once, a quick visit, but memorable with the chill she'd felt there.
"You're aiming for Colwen Grounds? Why? Elphaba can't be there. Nessa would never allow it."
Morrible's lips puckered, and the Wizard frowned. "You have to be quiet."
"No! You can't! Stop!"
The Wizard gripped her elbow tight. "Glinda!"
She turned shocked eyes on him at the address.
"Enough."
With a crumble, the mansion imploded in a poof of brick and glass that even from here she could tell would leave no survivors. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
The tornado fizzled and faded, but too late. Oh, Nessa. No matter what she'd done, she didn't deserve this.
"Now. Brighten up. You've got a visitor to go meet, and tears are hardly the message we need to send." He handed her a handkerchief she didn't take.
"You killed her." Glinda stared numbly at the destruction. "Why? To punish Elphaba?"
"We did nothing. Our guest did. But not to fear. I'm sure the Munchkins will be most relieved at their liberation."
That much might be true, but they had no altruistic motives. That much she was certain. Her eyes rounded. "Because of the bottle?"
The Wizard's eyes snapped up, and Morrible's head swung around. A yes, then. They fixed her in an intense gaze that made her squirm, but she shook her head.
"I won't do it. I won't help you in whatever horrible scheme you have. She wasn't even a threat."
"Then imagine what would happen to someone who is," Morrible cooed.
Glinda paled.
The Wizard patted her hand with false sympathy. "I see your kind heart is troubled, but I must remind you of someone who very much hopes she can count on you not to be foolish."
Glinda shut her eyes. Oh, poor Sarima. She shook her head, but opened the door. "What do you need me to say?"
"Simply help our guest find her way to me. The yellow brick road should give time to prepare, and we mustn't seem overeager."
Morrible clutched her wrist with sharp fingers. "And warn her about the Witch. She'll want her vengeance, and you wouldn't want more blood on anyone's hands, would you?"
Glinda narrowed her eyes at her, but said nothing.
"And just to be clear, dearie, if she has any suspicions about our esteemed Wizard, you know who shall bear the consequences."
She opened the door and slid out, the parasol a pathetic prop in her fingers. The sunny day left in the wake of the storm mocked her. Did they mean her to look as if she's just been out for a stroll through a tornado? Ugh.
She trudged up to the ruins, fighting the tears she mustn't show. A little girl dressed in blue gingham with a cuddly little black dog stared around in amazement.
"Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?"
The little girl spun rounded eyes on her and gasped. "Who, me? Why, I'm not a witch at all. I'm Dorothy, from Kansas."
What could those monsters want with this sweet little girl? Glinda took her hand. "Well, Dorothy, from Kansas, I'm afraid you just dropped a house on the Wicked Witch of the East. The Munchkins are grateful for their rescue, but I'm afraid her sister will be quite displeased."
"Oh! I didn't mean to drop a house on anyone!"
"I know, dearie." She patted the girl's hand, feeling as slimy as the Wizard. "But it's done all the same. The sooner you get out of Oz, the better. You'd better go and see the Wizard."
"The Wizard? Is he good or wicked, like the witch?"
Oh, such a perfect question that Glinda longed to answer with all her heart. But not at the cost of Sarima's life. She sighed. "He's nothing like the witch. Nothing at all."
Dorothy slipped a hand in Glinda's. "That's a relief."
The smile felt wan on Glinda's face. "You'd better get going. The Emerald City is a long walk." She glanced down at the girl's shabby little shoes. "Here." Nessa's beautiful shoes sparkled in the sunlight. No sense them going to waste. "Put these on. Don't take them off for anything."
She allowed a spiteful thought that the Wizard would have to deal with the reminder of Nessa stinging his conscience. If he had one, that is.
"Now, follow the Yellow Brick Road. You can't miss it."
"Aren't you coming with me?" asked the little girl with rounded eyes.
Glinda shook her head. "I'm sorry, I can't. I have matters to attend to here." Nessa deserved a proper burial at the very least. She sent the girl on with a wave that she held until the girl skipped out of view.
What could the Wizard want with that poor little thing? The thoughts twisted Glinda's stomach, and she estimated at most two days until little Dorothy found herself knocking on the wolf's door.
Glinda slumped. What could she do in two days? How could she save Biq, Sarima and little Dorothy now, all on her own?
She bit her lip and scooped up a couple flowers. "Oh, Nessa. I'm so sorry." She set a hand on the rubble and let the tears slip free at last. "What are we going to do now?"
AN: Updates might be a bit slower guys. We found out I'm pregnant with our third, and work plus morning sickness is filling up my time. I promise I will finish, sooner or later. Thanks for reading, and especially those who take the time to review. I appreciate it!