Only a few more chaps to go! Read on! It's about to get interesting...

Elphaba woke with a start. The hut was pitch black. She waited for her eyes to adjust before looking around. Fiyero was still sleeping beside her. Leina was gone. Elphaba walked over to the crib and looked inside. Leina was sound asleep. Elphaba relaxed a little.

"Fiyero must have put her to bed earlier," she thought.

She returned to bed and tried to fall back asleep. Elphaba laid her arm across Fiyero's stomach and kissed his shoulder. Suddenly, she felt very uneasy. She sat up and looked around again. A dark figure stood at the foot of the bed. A cold fear gripped at Elphaba's sense.

"You are stronger than I thought," the figure said.

"What do you want?" Elphaba hissed.

The figure moved closer. "You," he whispered in her ear. "You have been haunting me since we first met. I toss and turn at night thinking about you. I will not rest until you are mine. I should be the one lying next to you, not him."

Elphaba was dumbfounded. All this time she thought Keahn despised her when he was really in love with her.

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I am happily in love with Fiyero."

Keahn gripped her wrist tightly. "No one refuses me!"

Elphaba straightened her spine. "In case you hadn't noticed I just did."

Keahn dragged her out of the bed. "Listen Darlin', we can do this one of two ways. You're a smart woman, so don't disappoint me," he warned.

Elphaba crossed her arms defiantly. "I am well aware of that which is why you are going to leave and never come back."

Keahn laughed sadistically. "Oh, I don't think so sweetie."

He kissed her fiercely. Elphaba shrieked against his mouth in disgust. She shoved hard against his chest, managing to break free from his embrace. She tried to find something to defend herself with. She found nothing. She ran to the other side of the hut to put some distance between them. Keahn immediately came after her. He backed her up against the wall.

"Don't waste your energy trying to escape me." He captured her hands and held them above her head. His hips pressed against hers, trapping her against the wall. She strained against him, which only aroused him further. He groaned and began an assault of her neck and collarbone. Elphaba shuddered with hatred. Each kiss left a permanent, invisible scar on her skin. An idea came upon her suddenly.

"Keahn, stop! I don't want to do this standing up." She gazed into his eyes seductively. She hoped she was convincing enough.

"I see you have come to your sense. Tell me what you want, love."

"I want to go outside. The moon makes me come alive."

Keahn's lips curved into a lusty grin. He released her, giving her the chance she had hoped for. She ran to the doorway. She had to get help. She stopped abruptly. What if he hurt Fiyero while she was gone? Her second of indecision cost her. Keahn grabbed her and turned her around.

"I admire your cunning, but you are a foolish woman! I know why you stopped. Your concern for your precious lover has made you weak."

Elphaba struggled to break free. Keahn merely laughed at her vain attempts. "I've had enough of this," said Elphaba. She kicked Keahn squarely between the legs. A strangled cry of pain escaped Keahn's throat as he sank to his knees.

Elphaba ran to the crib and picked up Leina. Then, she ran to wake Fiyero and Liir.

"We have to get out of here!" she shouted.

"Fae, what's wrong?"

"Keahn is here! We aren't safe anymore!"

"Did he hurt you?" Fiyero asked her urgently.

"No, but he…he…"

Elphaba was shaking now, unable to speak. Liir took Leina from his mother, so she could calm down. Elphaba collapsed into Fiyero's arms. She was sobbing uncontrollably. She didn't care how much the tears burned. Fiyero held her tightly and whispered encouragements in her ear.

"Sweet Oz! Elphaba, are you all right?" Vidaya entered, carrying a lantern. She rushed to embrace her friend.

"Vidaya? What are you doing here?" asked Elphaba.

"I came to warn you about Keahn, but I see he beat me here. Don't worry. I knocked him unconscious with this on my way in," replied Vidaya, holding up the lantern.

"I'm fine now, but how did you know?"

"Keahn is my husband. He told everyone I had been killed so he would have a reason to go after you."

"But why would he want to kill her if it wasn't for revenge?" asked Fiyero.

Vidaya took a deep breath. "Keahn is the real Wizard of Oz."