Ali sat on one certain spot on the ground, her body hunched over the tree that had killed her Amirio. She had cried until no tears were left in her body, and red marks streaked across her face. Her eyes were transfixed on his lifeless figure, and they wouldn't move, despite what the rational side of her brain told her to do. She sat there for hours upon hours, and would not move, even with the prodding that Blaise and Fae were giving her.
"It's of no use. She's not going anywhere," Fae said with a sigh after another failed attempt of getting Ali going. "We might as well get our plans in order. I don't think she'll be much help."
Fae had been trying for hours to get Ali to at least stand up, eat something, do anything except sit there and wallow in misery. Fae knew that she was deeply hurt and affected by all of this, but they couldn't just stop living! After all, Amirio had tried to kill them! But none of it seemed to register with her best friend. With a resigned sigh, she moved her body next to Blaise's, put her petite arm around his waist, leaned her head on his shoulder, and tried to formulate a decent plan.
In order to form this plan though, they needed to know where to go. They had to find Glinda and Elphaba, but they had found no clues to their whereabouts the entire time, only gotten themselves into more trouble. Suddenly, the thought occurred to her. The Emerald City! If the Darkness had already hit Quadling Country, surely by now it would be at the capitol. It would only be a logical move.
She figured the journey would take seven days by foot, five by bubble and broom. But with dragging Ali along (which looked to be a likely occurrence) it might take longer. When they made it there, well, then they would see what happened. Right now though they had at lease a semblance of what to do. "Blaise, come on. We're leaving."
The sun began its slow ascent over the horizon; it's golden beams slowly coming out of the shadow of the most southern part of the Great Kells. Though the formation was still over a hundred miles away, Fae could easily spot the tips of the mountain range. They had traveled a considerable amount for only two nights, but there were still many days of travel before they even would be able to see the spires of the Emerald City's green palace.
Several matters impeded their progress, namely Fae having to control both forms of transportation. She was seated on the broom, feeling that if she were to move one inch she would fall to the ground several miles below. Her grip and stance was unsteady, and the broom didn't travel in a straight line, but it was moving quickly. The bubble was following closely, containing Blaise and Ali. As Fae quickly glanced over, she noticed that Ali was staring far over the horizon, as if she saw something that was invisible to the rest of the party. Her gaze was unfocused, and her eyes were still red and puffy, with an occasional single tear falling down her face. Dirt was smeared over her face, and her hair was unkempt, still unbraided like it had been when she had awoken from her sleep to find Desmona and Amirio together.
Ali's thoughts had ground to a halt. She started at some point in the sky that even she couldn't identify, and just lived. She didn't think, she didn't move, she hardly breathed. Her emotions could not be identified in one term, because they weren't one thing. She felt a mix of sadness, grief, anger, and some sense of disbelief. She had seen it happen, and she was through with emotion over it. To actually feel the jumble of the emotions that were in her soul could kill a normal person. However, Ali had learned to harden herself to keep her feelings below the surface. Amirio had been the only one she could confess them to, the only one that would hold her like she needed him to, the only one to truly understand what was below the surface. She could open up to him, no matter what.
But he was gone now, and 'It was my fault,' Ali thought to herself, the only words to run through her brain. Those few, simple words didn't just go through her mind once, but time upon time, burning themselves into her skull like a brand.
Blaise still didn't quite get the plan. His girlfriend didn't have a real knack for explaining things, but then again, he didn't have a real knack for understanding them either. All he knew was they were heading to the Emerald City to find the Grimmerie and get answers about Glinda and Elphaba. However, he wasn't sure if it would happen. With Ali stuck in her emotional rut, they would already be down a person. Blaise knew that the two made a powerful combination, and while they were good on their own, their strength was tenfold as a team. He hoped for the sake of the group that Ali could put the pieces of her life back together again and come to help them.
"Swoop down there!" Blaise yelled at Fae. "It looks like a place where we can stay for now!"
"Looks good," Fae yelled back. Truth be told, she'd be happy with any shelter she could find right now. The broom wasn't a piece of cake to control.
The landing didn't go quite as well as hoped. The bubble had popped too early, causing Ali and Blaise to drop a few feet while Fae fell backwards off the broom. 'That thing would be abolished as a mode of transportation if I had anything to say about it," she muttered miserably under her breath. She was tired, in a bad mood, and most of all, wanted sleep.
They walked inside the inn. Its floors were wood and the smell of Winkie beer seemed to seep from every inch of the place. People were passed out on the floors and a woman in a tattered dress swept around them, kicking them to the side if they were under the tables. Blaise was starting to get a bad feeling about this.
"You better go rent us a room," Fae said quietly, pulling her hood over her head. "They might recognize me."
Blaise walked up to the small desk the woman had whisked herself behind. It had several nicks and places where the paint had worn off, as well as many stains from various food and drinks. "Ma'am?" he asked nonchalantly, trying to show a tough demeanor.
"What'd you want ,kid?" she said. Suddenly she changed her tone, obviously seeing the boy's money pouch. "Oh excuse me for my rude behavior, sir. My temper flares when all these drunkards pass out everywhere," she said, giving one a kick in the stomach. "So, I guess ya'd be interested in a room?"
"Yes please, for three," he said, noting the behavior change.
"Well yes sir I can get you a room. Two of them? You must be rich to afford all that . . . entertainment," she said, and then gave a loud laugh that broke into a cough halfway through. Suddenly one of the men lying out on the floor started to holler for another beer. She walked over and gave him a kick. "Shut up ya bloody fool! We've got good company!"
Fae felt like causing a storm cloud to give a shot of lightening on the old hag, but resisted. "How much is the asking price for one day?" Blaise asked.
"For a gentleman like you, I'll give ya a deal," she said. Blaise knew this meant the price just went double. "100 will settle the cost just fine." She leaned on the counter and lit a pipe from the Vinkus. Fae silently hoped she choked on it for the price she was asking for this dump.
"150 if no questions are asked and no one is told we're here."
"'Fraid your wife will catch ya?" she said as she broke into another cackle, "For that price no one will hear a thing! Your . . . escapade is safe with me," and she gave him a wink.
Blaise continued to let her think what she would and paid her the money. The woman, who said her name was Karrlitha, escorted them up the stairs and down a hall to the last room on the right. "Here's the key. Enjoy your stay," and with another laugh of hers she went back down the stairs.
"Thank Oz!" Fae said dramatically and collapsed on one of the beds. "I thought that hag wouldn't let us up here."
Ali walked stoically in the room. Right now, she didn't care to know what had happened in between Blaise and the old woman, since she hadn't been paying attention. All she cared to do was sleep for a thousand years. 'Become yourself again!' part of her mind screamed. But she couldn't, or at least she didn't think she could. She would remain this wisp of a person. That would hurt much less. She also knew she couldn't do that. People needed her, and she couldn't just collapse because of Amirio. She had to keep living, despite how much it might hurt. She would try to resume her normal self tomorrow. But for now, sleep was the only option.
Ali got into the other bed without even undressing or unpacking her things. Fae and Blaise got into the other one. She gently took one of her boyfriend's arms and wrapped it around her. "Thank you," she said and gave him a kiss, before drifting off to sleep feeling safe in his arms.
Meanwhile Karllitha was busy counting her money downstairs. Something about that group just didn't seem right. Renting a room at the break of day? That was almost unheard of for prostitutes. However, who was she to doubt money? The drunkards began to rise; some of them with a pain in their side that they assumed came from when they passed out.
One of the men who looked like they were rising from the grave rubbed his head and gave a weak smile, remembering last night. "Up for another round?" Karllitha hollered at him, always eager for a chance to make money off of someone.
"Why not? Can't hurt before I have to go look for those scruffy kids," he said, pulling on his coat that was assigned to all guards when they joined.
"Kids? Whatcha mean kids?" the woman asked curiously.
"Nerote," he said, before he saw the blank look in the woman's face. All she cared about was money, not news. "You know, Glinda's husband who has taken over since Glinda disappeared? Anyway, he's looking for a group of four kids who are apparently traitors to Oz. How eighteen year olds can be traitors I'll never know, but they are. Rich bounty on their heads too." Karlittha's eyes lit up.
"Now, just what would you say these children look like?" Her mind immediately flashed to the group she had just sold a room to.
"One of them, a girl named Fae, has been described as very petite, with blonde curls. Rumor has it she's Nerote and Glinda's daughter, though he won't say anything about it. The other is tall with long dark hair. She goes by Ali. Then they have two male companions, but no one knows too much about them. Here's some sketches," the guard said as he dug the two pieces of paper from his pocket and showed them to her.
"Sir, I think I have your people," she said while pouring him a shot of whiskey.
"You what?"
"Just go get the rest of your patrol and be here around sunset." The man rose to leave and she hollered out the door, "And don't' forget the money!"
Nerote sat in his throne room, drumming his fingers impatiently. This girl supposedly had 'valuable' information about the runaways, and he wanted it now. His body and soul were restless. He hadn't slept in days. He stared at his drinking glass, and suddenly picked it up and threw it across the room just to hear it shatter. Destruction. That's what it sounded like in his ears. The sound of pain, fear, death. All were things he had grown accustomed to now as the darkness enveloped his soul.
"Your Excellency, the girl is here," a guard said, bowing low to the ground.
"Well then, what are you standing here for? Go and get here before I throw you to the stone too!" said he, laughing inwardly as the guard shuffled off at a much faster pace than the one he had entered with.
A few moments later, a young women carrying a large sack walked into the room. She made her way to the throne, but didn't bow. This caused Nerote's anger to bubble up inside him. "Why aren't you bowing?" he asked, waiting for her to apologize and immediately hit the floor.
"Because, Your Majesty, when you see what I have to show you, it will be you kneeling to me."
The girl yanked something out of the bag. Nerote's eyes widened when he saw what it was. The Grimmerie. He had thought the witches destroyed the only copy when they were captured! "How did you get that?" he asked, getting up and reaching out to touch it to make sure it was real.
"A certain group of teenagers," she said coyly before pulling the book back quickly before his hand could touch it. "A group that I think you would be interested in hearing about."
"Go on," he said, eagerly anticipating what she had to tell.
"You'll be pleased to know that one of the group members was killed, by myself, of course."
"Well, which one? Your stories are beginning to tire me." Desmona realized she was pushing her luck, and began at the beginning, cutting out all the unnecessary details.
"While they were all stunned by the power I had displayed, I quickly picked up the book. No one noticed, and I left." Desmona had left out the part where she had been tossed into the house, but after all, she did bring vital information.
She watched nervously as all Nerote did was strum his fingers on the throne, deep in thought. After what seemed like ages, he finally said, "Desmona, how would you like a vast amount of wealth?"
"I could come to terms with that," she said slowly.
"Well, you find a way to defeat them, and when you do destroy them, I promise you will never have to worry about money again."
"Oh, but Your Majesty, I have just given you your best lead in this whole ordeal. I deserve money now," she said, a fire slowly igniting in her eyes.
Nerote laughed at the girl. She was a brave one. "How about a room instead?" He didn't wait for her reply before summoning the guards. "Take her to the best room in the palace," and as the group walked off he pulled a guard to the side. "Make sure to lock her in."
The group slept deeply, while the guards were waiting outside the door for the cue. "Men, get ready. They may go with a fight." With that, the signal was given and the guards burst in the room, catching the band of teenagers completely off guard, and knocked completely unconscious.