Chapter 4

Outside a storm started to brew. Thunder could be heard in the distance and lightning followed it. It was not uncommon in the Vinkus at this time of year for the weather to turn quickly. The weather had offered a distraction as dinner conversation had grown quite strained. Elphaba wasn't one for beating around the bush so it was killing her to not just shout out that she wanted to know what was going on. Fiyero had grabbed her hand under the table, knowing his wife all too well. It seemed that the Queen knew that the green woman was antsy as well.

"Glinda, Balfour, it's not that we don't enjoy your company but we're all confused as to why the visit couldn't wait until Isabelle's spring break. Not only that, we found out from Aytac that her Derya is marrying Bartholomew. We didn't even know that they were courting. Aytac and Khalil are happy, do not get us wrong, but they did not expound very much in their letter," Ayla spoke up, forcing the issue. Isabelle looked across the table at Zara and the older girl looked back. The two had been friends almost their entire lives and Zara could read the younger one's face. Suddenly, Isabelle stood up and excused herself, leaving the room before the King permitted her to leave. Elphaba nodded picked her head up slightly and Zara nodded before heading out after the girl.

"Izzy! Wait!" Zara called after the girl, who had broken out into a run in the hallway. Isabelle was a track star and it would be hard to catch her. The younger girl knew this and did not slow down when her friend called out, so Zara started after her.

"Princess! It is not ladylike to…" Havva started as she walked out of her quarters and was almost knocked down by her charge.

"It's Izzy!" Zara responded without slowing down. Havva knew that the younger girl would head to the one place she felt safe and away from everyone which was the garden. That would not be a good spot to be as the rain was pounding the castle and the sound of the thunder grew ever closer.

"Your broom!" Havva called out after her. Zara smirked and snapped her fingers as she continued to run. Her broom had been forbidden to be used in the Palace after a little incident when she was younger where she'd almost gotten herself killed and only her mother was able to stop it. However, if she was going to catch Isabelle before she headed out into the storm, she needed to move faster.

The broom was by her side quickly and she took the moment it needed to hop onto it. Then she pointed it down the long hallway, hoping to catch the younger girl. When she reached the end of the hallway, where the stairs started, she found that Lieutenant Bahram had managed to stop the girl at the bottom of the staircase. He'd had some help from Chistery as well. The two had become friends and could often be found somewhere in the Palace together.

"Izzy, thank Oz," Zara heaved a sigh as she landed at the bottom of the stairs.

"I think she's gotten faster, either that or I've gotten slower," the Lieutenant said.

"You've gotten slower, you old coot," Chistery teased. Bahram feigned hurt and then turned his attention to the younger girl.

"Good thing we stopped you. The weather has taken a turn. We expect some flooding from the river tonight. The safest place to be is inside," he said.

"I don't want anyone's help!" Izzy shot back, some of the first words she'd spoken to anyone since she'd gotten to the Vinkus.

"What's wrong sweetheart? Are you in trouble or something?" Chistery was concerned. He'd taught the two girls sign language after he'd learned how to speak English and he'd look at them as his own children.

"I…" the words stopped and the tears started. Zara climbed off of her broom and wrapped her arms around the younger girl and Isabelle buried her head into her chest.

"Whatever is going on, I'm here for you. So are the Lieutenant and Chistery and everyone else here. Just tell us what is going on so we can help," Zara said.

"You… can't… help… me…" Isabelle managed through her sobs.

"I'm the second most powerful witch in all of Oz, please," the older girl tried to lighten the mood, hoping an old joke they shared would make her smile. It did not.

"Why don't I carry her up to your room and you two can talk in privacy?" Lieutenant Bahram suggested. Zara nodded. Something was really up and she knew that she would do whatever it took to help her friend.

To Be Continued…