Chapter 7
Elphaba was in the attic for what seemed like hours. She skipped lunch and it was almost dinnertime. She was looking through the ancient Grimmerie without really knowing what she was looking for. A spell that might somehow protect them? Was it even possible? She kept having nightmares about Dawn being taken away by the Wizard. Elphaba wondered whether the recurring dream actually meant something, as several other dreams she had had before. If it did, she had to be prepared.
Loud voices from downstairs erupted her silent reading. She closed the book shut and hid it. She was about to leave the room when she heard a rustle of wings. Chistery flew in through the open window.
"Miss Elphaba!" he called. She detected the urgency in his voice instantly. She was still proud of him for being able to learn how to speak, like many other Animals that she and Glinda were able to rescue after her return. Some, like poor Dr. Dillamond, weren't so lucky, but most of the Animals throughout Oz got their chance to live normally again.
"Chistery, for Oz' sake, what is this hustle down there?"
"Something happened," he replied urgently. "You must come down at once!"
She hurried out of the room, her heart pounding in spite of herself. She hoped it was nothing serious, although his tone implied otherwise. "What happened?"
"Something bad."
His tone made Elphaba shudder. She took the stairs two at a time and ran outside. Fiyero, Glinda and Boq stood there. They were staring at something.
On the wall? What in Oz was going on?
"Fiyero? What hap-" her question was replaced with piercing silence when she noticed it. Graffiti, on their castle's wall. Death for the Wicked, screamed its blood-red letters. A gasp escaped her. She didn't even notice when Fiyero wrapped his arms around her waist to support her. Nothing existed that moment except for the words on the wall and the memory of a similar scene, many years back in a classroom at Shiz University.
"Mommy, what's 'wicked'?" Dyre's voice brought reality back. What was he doing out there; he shouldn't see that!
As it appeared, the same thought just crossed Glinda's mind. "Dyre, go back inside," she ordered, stealing a glance at Elphaba, who nodded. Her expression remained frozen, undecipherable.
"No, I won't! I'm six years old, I'm all grown up now!" protested Dyre, who was unaware to the severity of the situation.
"Dyre, I said go back inside this instant!"
Dyre looked at his mother, somewhat scared. She has never used such a stern tone against him. "Yes, mommy," he said in a small voice.
Glinda softened when she saw how scared he was. "Sweetie, we'll be inside in a minute. Go play with Deanne and we'll call you when dinner is ready, alright?" She didn't mean to snap at him, she was just too shocked and confused… "Who would do such a thing?" she half asked, half said, in a whisper, once Dyre was out of sight.
"Someone who surely doesn't want us alive," answered Fiyero.
Glinda turned her gaze from the graffiti to Elphaba, who still looked stunned. "Elphie, are you alright?"
Elphaba hesitated, then nodded. "We have to do something," she said, her expression grave and serious. "Let's go inside. The garden has ears."
"Obviously, something has to be done," Fiyero said once they were out of other people's earshot, in the safety of the castle.
"Yes, but what?" asked Boq.
No one seemed to have an appropriate answer.
Elphaba turned to look at Chistery, who was sitting by the windowsill, on-guard. "Chistery, have you seen something unusual around here lately? Unusual activity?"
Chistery shook his head. "No, nothing unusual, Miss Elphaba."
"Are you sure? No strange people walking where they shouldn't be?"
"Of course not!"
"Fine. Thanks, Chistery. Go upstairs and watch the children until dinner, okay?"
"Yes, Miss Elphaba."
They all watched Chistery as he left the room, and then Glinda shook her head. "The person who did this is courageous. It's not even dark outside yet and this wall can be seen from the tower of the guards. How did he do it without anyone to notice?"
"Whoever it was, we must think of something," said Elphaba. Her mind was racing. Of course, she believed Chistery, but Glinda also made an important point; how did nobody notice the person who did that?
"Maybe we're over-reacting a little," Boq said all of a sudden, which earned him three piercing glares. He raised his arms defensively. "What I mean is, yes, this is alarming, but it's only graffiti on the wall."
"Boq, this is where it always starts," Elphaba said seriously. "Remember Dr. Dillamond. We have to think of something."
Just then, one of the servants came in to announce that dinner was served. Boq went up to bring the children and the others walked silently to the dinning room.