Author's Note: Hello dear readers, I'm so sorry this has taken so long to update! We finished performing Hunchback in mid-June, and then I was asked to do another show that is very dance heavy and taking tons of my time and energy. I promise that once this show is over towards the end of this month that I will go back to updating more frequently!

Chapter 7: Hellfire

A decree went out early the next morning.

Elphaba had been charged with public indecency, unlawful entry into the Emerald City, and witchcraft. She was to be arrested immediately, and anyone found harboring her would suffer a similar fate. To his dismay, Fiyero was put in charge of the hunts, with the Wizard joining him for the very first time. The soldiers whispered, for the Wizard hardly ever gave them the time of day, let alone marched beside them. Only Fiyero knew why, his heart hardening at the thought of capturing the woman that had captured his heart.

The Wizard was ruthless. They went through establishment after establishment, barging into any place that had every seen a gypsy step through its doors. They questioned the owners, the patrons, anyone who just so happened to be around, but they always got the same answer; no, Elphaba was not there, and no, they had not seen her in some time. Despite their innocence and their pleas for mercy, every building had been burned to the ground. Leaving piles of ashes and ruined lives in his wake, Fiyero began to grow more and more angry, thoughts of rebellion infiltrating his mind. He was a soldier, and soldiers obey orders, but as he had said to Elphaba, he was not a very good soldier.

Fiyero was forced to patrol the streets, offering everyone and anyone a few pieces of gold for information on the green girl. They had posters put up, detailing her crimes, a bounty placed upon her head. Fiyero helped place the signs, but he put them up in haste, not worrying about if the strong winds that came across the river pulled them down, hurling them into the breeze. Sometimes he would even rip them down himself.

"The wicked shall not go unpunished! No one will mourn the wicked!" the Wizard would exclaim, laughing gleefully at every new lead, turning dark with fury at every new wrong turn. Fiyero often caught the old man muttering to himself, talking to no one in particular. His words would turn frantic, becoming audible, as if he was arguing with himself. The soldiers followed him, but kept themselves at an arm's length away. The rumor going throughout the guard was that the Wizard had completely lost his mind. Fiyero himself believed the man to be possessed haunted by a demon that controlled his every thought and action. The Wizard proclaimed Elphaba to be the demon, but obviously, at least it was obvious to Fiyero, the demon was something else entirely.

This particular mission brought Fiyero and the Gale Force to the Pomme d'Eve, the very tavern the Captain had visited only weeks earlier. Since the night at the tavern, since the night he finally got to share a kiss with the green girl, Fiyero had not seen or heard from her. It was like she was a ghost, vanishing into the dark of the night. He knew it was for her safety and his own good, but he was not happy about it. The Wizard led the charge into the tavern, busting down the door and stomping in with upmost authority. It was the afternoon, and the tavern was mostly empty. The patrons scattered at the sight of the green uniforms, with only the gypsy leader remaining. Boq walked out from behind the bar, his arms at his hips.

"Greetings thou wonderfulness," he said, bowing dramatically. "What do we owe the pleasure of your company?"

"We're looking for Elphaba," the Wizard stated.

"Never heard of her," replied the gypsy. "But if you'd like, we have enough food and drink and women to be of service to you."

Boq caught Fiyero's eyes.

"Ah, and Captain, it's good to see you again," he said, the slightest hint of mischievousness in his voice. The other soldiers stared at the Captain, who found himself growing very hot in the face.

"Is this your place of business?" asked the Wizard.

"Indeed it is, but this place is not for highly esteemed man such as yourself. It might tarnish your golden reputation."

A few Gale Force men reappeared, having searched the tavern.

"She is not here, your grace," replied Avaric, who had recently become very familiar with the rooms upstairs. "There is no one else here."

"Then you must be hiding her somewhere," growled the Wizard. "I have a good contact that swears he saw her here. Where are you hiding her, the gypsy girl with the green skin?"

"Green skin?" Boq laughed. "You cannot be serious, your wonderousness. I have never heard of such a girl."

"Well then, if there is no one else here, then you wouldn't mind if we burned to the ground." The Wizard's face hardened, no emotion left to show, the man's visage turning to stone.

"What?" Boq's charming mask fell, real fear showing in his face for the first time. "You…you can't. You can't do that!"

"I can," said the Wizard, "And I will. Captain!"

Fiyero jumped slightly.

"Light a torch and burn this bastion of sin to the ground!"

Avaric handed Fiyero a torch, his mouth set into a quivering line. Fiyero held the torch in his hand, gripping it so tightly that he could almost not feel it anymore. He leaned it towards the bar, stained and soaked with spilled liquor. Fiyero froze.

"Sir…I…"

"Captain," the words were guttural in the old man's throat. "I command you to burn this wretched hellhole."

Fiyero was unable to move. His body was fully frozen, unmoving, unwavering. He watched the flames dancing from the torch, moving and swaying like the gypsy girl that he could not stop thinking about. He swore he saw her for a moment, her body rotating to the music, her hair floating in the flames

In that moment, The Captain realized that he had to make a choice.

Fiyero took a deep breath, remembering the feeling of Elphaba's lips on his.

"No."

The Wizard's face contorted.

"She's bewitched you as well!" he roared, a knobbed, wrinkled finger jutting forward, pointing accusingly at Fiyero. "She has you under her spell!"

"I may be under her spell," said Fiyero, "but I act of my own accord."

"TRAITOR! GYPSY LOVER! COWARD! You are no longer fit to be Captain! Guards, this man is a traitor to the Emerald City! Arrest him at once!"

The soldiers paused for a moment, unsure, before drawing their swords, aiming it at the man they had followed loyally up until a few seconds ago. Fiyero drew his own sword, tilting his weight back onto his heels.

"Avaric!" commanded the Wizard. "You are now Captain! Take this man down! Do it! Immediately!"

Avaric held his sword in his hands, his face betraying his true feelings. He bit his lip, his eyes sad, not wanting to hurt the man that was not only his superior, but his friend. Fiyero moved his sword, the silver-white metal flashing under the lights of the tavern. After years on the front lines, after many fierce and bloody battles, Fiyero was ready for whatever came his way. If he was to go down in a fight, then he was going to go down swinging.

"No!"

A bright flash, a puff of smoke, and a green girl appeared in front of them. Elphaba held a knife in her own hands, poised and ready to strike. A wicked grin grew over the Wizard's face.

"See? I knew it! I knew she would be here! She is a witch! Bring her down!"

Fiyero flung his head to the side, his mouth falling open.

"Elphaba? What are you doing here?"

"Saving your ass, obviously."

The two were now back to back, their weapons out, no spot in the room uncovered. Fiyero kept his eyes on his men, barely even blinking.

"Elphaba, you should be hiding. You should be somewhere safe!"

"And let the Gale Force continue to burn the city to the ground?" The two spun, with Elphaba now facing the Gale Force. "Not a chance!"

The Gale Force circled around the couple, leaving them not chance to escape. The two continued to spin and around and around, trying to find a weak point in the circle. The soldiers were trained well, and there were no weak spots in their formation to be found.

"Well, it seems like we're screwed," said Fiyero. "I'm sorry, Elphaba. I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess."

"You dragged me into nothing," she replied. "I make my own choices. Besides, it's not like you're actually hunting me for witchcraft."

"What?"

"Oh, didn't the Wizard tell you? He wants me to study with him, at least, that is what he claims. His eyes and his hands tell a different story."

Fiyero's eyes caught the Wizard, standing at the doorway of the tavern, grinning maniacally, his tongue practically hanging out of his mouth. Fiyero was embarrassed when he realized how long it took him to catch on.

"So…so he is making us hunt for you because he…" Fiyero made a small gag noise. "…wants you?"

"Very astute, Captain."

Fiyero sunk lower onto his haunches, the soldiers closing in.

"Then there is no way I'm letting any of them lay a hand on you. I'll take a bullet before I let that happen."

Fiyero didn't end up taking a bullet. Instead, he took a knife in the back.

The soldiers had lunged, grabbing onto the pair, knocking Elphaba's knife from her hand. While the men held onto them, binding Elphaba's hands and feet, the Wizard found his chance at revenge. He crept forward, his hand reaching down, pulling Elphaba's knife off of the ground without as much as a second glance. While Fiyero was distracted, the Wizard, still seeing images of the two kissing in his memory, plunged the knife between the former Captain's shoulder blades. Fiyero cried out, the pain and force sending him falling to the ground.

"Fiyero!"

Elphaba was on the ground, her hands around Fiyero, supporting his head. The Wizard threw the knife to the ground.

"The gypsy stabbed the Captain!" he cried. "You all saw it. You all witnessed it! Arrest her, for she now adds the attempted murder of a Gale Force soldier to her list of crimes!"

Elphaba held on tight to Fiyero, the blood from his wound running over her hands and onto the floor. She felt the desperation building, realizing that she needed to act fast or they would never make it out alive. She had to take him away, take them to someplace safe. There was only one safe place that she knew, and she prayed that this would work. Elphaba closed her eyes, focusing on the room, on the plush comforter, the blazing pink sheets, the smell of wood, the almost unearthly view. She focused harder, her magic buzzing, the feeling of power pulsing through her. In an instant, the gypsy and the Captain vanished in a puff of smoke.

Elphaba and Fiyero landed onto the carpeted floor, the impact knocking the air from their legs. They barely had a moment to get their bearings when a high-pitch scream cracked the silence.

"OH MY OZ!"

Glinda was standing in her nightgown, her hair rolled into a bun on the top of her head. Her blue eyes were huge, both hands covering her mouth.

"Oh my…what is..what is going on?...Wait…Elphie? Elphie is that you?"

Elphaba jumped up, pulling the little blonde into her arms.

"Oh Glin, I'm so glad to see you. I didn't know if this would work or not."

"Did you just teleport into my bedroom?" asked the blonde with wonder. "That's absolutely amazing! I'm so jealous of your magic, Elphie, you have no idea—"

Glinda stopped, her eyes fixing on the injured young man on her bedroom floor. It took her a moment to recognize him.

"Captain Fiyero Tygelaar? Why is he with you? Why is he on my carpet? And…is that blood? Is he hurt, Elphie?"

"He is," Elphaba looked her friend, her eyes pleading. "Your father forced him to raid a tavern and burn it down. He refused, and then your father stabbed him. He's hurt, and he needs somewhere safe to rest. I didn't know where else to go."

"My…my father did this?"

Elphaba nodded. "He burnt down half of the city looking for me, and Fiyero got caught in the crossfire."

Glinda was seething, the outrage clouding her angelic features.

"Why does that not surprise me?" she spat. "It seems like my darling father is capable of all sorts of depraved behavior."

Fiyero groaned, the girls' attention returning to the wounded man. They both were at his side.

"Can you help me move him?" asked Glinda. "We can put him on my bed. I've learned some basic healing from my maids. I should be able to do something." Elphaba and Glinda did their best to steady the Captain before lifting him up, wincing at the sound of pain that he let out as they pressed their hands into him. They carefully carried him over the bed, laying him down onto the sea of pink as gently as they could. Glinda helped pull him up into a sitting position, surveying the dark stain that sat between the O and Z embroidered in gold thread.

"We need to get this jacket off," said the blonde, focused on the wound. "We need to get to skin level in order to treat it."

"Glinda…The Wizard's daughter?" Fiyero asked, delirious from the pain. "Aren't you Sarima, from the festival?"

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. "Sarima? Really?"

"Well, yes," admitted the blonde. "I couldn't exactly tell you who I really was, or you would have drug me right back into his Ozforsaken castle."

"You gave the Captain of the Gale Force a fake name so you could sneak out?" Elphaba, despite the situation, chuckled. "I'm impressed."

"Well…you know…" Glinda pulled the Captain's jacket off, discarding it onto the floor. "A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do."

Glinda's manicured hands gripped the crimson-stained tear on Fiyero's shirt, ripping it open with a swift tug. She tilted her head, seemingly nonplussed by the open wound.

"We have some wound cream in the infirmary," she said. "It's the best that gold can buy. They claim it's laced with magic, although, at this point, I highly doubt it. It's supposed to work really well."

"How are we going to get it?" asked the green girl. "I can't go, and honestly, I don't feel safe with you leaving us alone here."

Glinda thought for a moment, then lit up. "I have an idea."

She rolled across the bed, opening a small box that sat at head's height on her wall. She opened the box, revealing a small metal handle. She grabbed the handle and yanked, pulling it from the wall. Elphaba and Fiyero jumped at the loud ringing noise that now enveloped the room.

"What is that?" the Captain asked, covering his ears.

"A small leftover from when this was a bell tower," stated the blonde factually. "Only the tiniest bell remains. I use it for when I desperately need something, and right now seems to be a good time to let it ring."

The bell had just stopped resonating when a knock was heard at Glinda's bedroom door.

"Miss Glinda?" the voice of Victoria flittered through the wood. "Is everything alright?"

"Come in, and hurry!" the blonde called. "Close it behind you! No one can see!"

The red head popped into the door and closed it behind her before she saw who was in there. She stopped, her hand grasping at her apron.

"Is..is this the gypsy girl you told us about?" the maid asked tentatively.

"Her name is Elphaba, and yes. This is Elphaba. She's hiding here because my father and the Gale force is after her. But more importantly," Glinda gestured to Fiyero, "this man is injured and needs our help. Apparently my father stabbed him."

Victoria's eyebrows rose so high that they almost ascended into her hairline.

"Your father will not stop digging his own grave, will he?"

Glinda snorted. "Apparently not. We need supplies from the infirmary, but it's not safe to leave. Could you get them for us? It's urgent."

Victoria's eyes settled on the wounded man, her gaze fixed on the blood that still oozed down his white undershirt. She nodded.

"Absolutely, Miss Glinda. I will be back as soon as I can."

Once the maid had exited, Elphaba was at her feet.

"I have to go. I can't stay here."

"What do you mean you can't stay here?" Glinda grabbed onto her friend's hands. "You're safe here. I can keep you hidden. Father is miles away, and my maids know everything that has happened since the festival. They will help us. I can protect you."

"You don't understand," said Elphaba. "If I'm here, then I can't protect you, and I can't protect Fiyero. I'm the one that he's after. Anyone who is found with me is in danger. I have to go."

"But…Elphie…" Glinda sniffed, trying to hold back the tears sparkling in her eyes. "Where will you go? Where will you hide?"

"Here." Elphaba reached around her neck, pulling a necklace over her head. She held out Glinda's hand, dropping the necklace into her palm. The blonde surveyed it. It was a large diamond, woven out of some form of sturdy, rough thread. The thread created a web inside the diamond; an emerald gem sat in the center, with a gray stone cross in the upper left-hand corner.

"When you hold this woven amulet," said the gypsy. "You hold the city in your hand. The cross is the Court of Miracles. That is where the gypsies go to hide and stay safe. That's where I will be. It's infused with magic. Use this if you need to find me."

Elphaba once again wrapped her arms around the blonde. Glinda pulled her in tightly, holding onto her for dear life.

"Please be safe, Elphie. Don't let them find you. I'll take care of Fiyero."

Elphaba kissed the top of the blonde's head.

"Thank you, Glinda. You are the best friend I've ever had."

There was another puff of smoke, and Elphaba was gone.

Glinda barely had a moment to grieve when a voice entered the room.

"Glinda! Miss Glinda! It's Victoria! Open the door!'

Glinda flew to the door, opening it. She jumped back, realizing that Victoria had only told part of the truth. Laverne and Azra were with her as well.

"Is there really a man in here?" asked Azra. "A Gale Force man?"

"Yes, and he's hurt. I promised Elphaba I'd take care of him."

"Where did she go?" asked Victoria. "She was just here."

"She thinks that she's putting us in danger by being here. She left, and she gave me this amulet, saying I should use it to find her if I need her."

Glinda held out the amulet, letting it sway from its chain. The three maids eyed it, their gaze floating back and forth with its motion.

"Use it to find her?" asked Laverne. "What does that even mean?"

Glinda shrugged. "I don't know. She said it was magic, but I'm still not sure."

A male groan shifted the women's focus. Fiyero was used to having groups of women look at him, but not like this. He felt like they were examining him.

"Um…ladies…if you don't mind...I'd rather like to stop bleeding."

The maids surrounded him now, soft hands on his torn skin, tending to his wounds. Glinda rolled her eyes when she saw Fiyero smile, obviously enjoying the womanly attention. She still held the amulet in her hand. She laid it in her palm, running over the threads with her fingers. When her fingers landed on the stone cross, she felt like she had been hit with a zap of static electricity. She was gone, no longer in her room, her mind somewhere else entirely. She stood in a dark place, large stone structures surrounding her. With a chill, she realized she was in a cemetery. A huge mausoleum stood in front of her, a cross jutting into the sky, no name left to bear the person who laid to rest inside. She stepped forward, touching the edifice. She swore she could feel the cold stone under her fingertips. In a moment, she was back, the pink focusing back in. Glinda gasped.

So that's what Elphaba meant by using it to find her.

"GLINDA!"

Everyone in the room froze.

"But…" Glinda's voice shook. "But father is supposed to be in the city! How did he get back so quickly! What do we do?!"