"Have you seen Theodora?" The Wizard approached King Jol Jemkiph, who was still seated and his mouth full of food. "I don't know, she left only several minutes ago. Do you want me to find her?"
The Wizard shook his head. As he looked around, he saw many of the guests gather their personal belongings, seemingly ready to depart. A Winkie Guard who was playing host then made an announcement at the front of the ballroom. "Thank you everyone for coming for our annual Harvest Moon celebration. We thank you for coming."
The Wizard yawned and checked his pocket watch. Since it was 1AM, he naturally thought the witch went to her bedroom, so he decided to leave the ballroom and walk to his.
The hallways were very quiet as he made his way to his bedroom. Several dim orange lanterns would guide the Wizard as he passed by numerous parlor rooms and the main dining room. The castle was incredibly charming at night, with various paintings, portraits and murals decorating the hallways and rooms. It was a theme throughout Oz to venerate the Faeries who founded and magically enchanted the country in its distant past and Theodora's castle was no stranger to this. While he had never been to the western castle before this visit, Glinda would tell him that her mother, Queen Lurline, resided in the castle along with Gayalette, Lurline's own sister. It was at this castle that her father, King Pastoria, met and wedded Lurline. While they came from the same Faerie bloodline that had founded Oz, they were so distantly related to each other as to not considered to be of the same blood.
The Wizard stopped in front of the door leading to the guest bedroom, which he had previously shut behind him when he dashed to the grand ballroom earlier. He turned and looked at the witch's bedroom. While the door was closed, there was a light emanating from its crevice. What should he do? Should he simply go to sleep or should he knock on the witch's door? He was tired, but he still wanted to make sure the witch was okay.
He knocked on her door, which slightly opened. He was greeted by a glare from a peeved witch.
"Oh. It's you. What do you want?" The scarlet clad brooding witch crossed her arms. The Wizard could tell that something happened and that she was angry.
"I didn't see you in the ballroom after dinner and thought something might have happened. I just wanted to make sure everything is okay." The Wizard expressed concern in his voice.
The witch's tone was ringing with honeyed sarcasm. "You wanted to make sure everything is okay? Well, everything is not okay, Wizard." Her arms still crossed, the witch turned her back to him and slowly proceeded to walk away from the Wizard, moving into the interior of her bedroom.
"What do you mean?", he inquired.
The witch turned around once more, her voice becoming angrier and more confrontational. "What do you mean? What do you mean? Don't give me that, Wizard! You know exactly what I mean!" The young witch glared at him with fiery passion in her tone and anger in her big eyes.
"Theodora, I have no idea what you are talking about." The Wizard placed his hands in the air, genuinely puzzled.
The witch glared at him, her tone bitter and acrimonious. "That woman you were speaking to at the party! You like her, don't you!" Theodora pointed her finger at him as her icy stare penetrated the Wizard's eyes.
The Wizard shot a perplexed look at the irked witch and chuckled. "Is that what this is all about?" He started to approach her as he tilted his head mockingly. "Are you jealous?" The Wizard knew that even though three years had passed, the young witch still had feelings for him. This was evident by the way she looked at him throughout his visit. Even when he was preoccupied, he would always sense that she was gazing at him.
A part of him felt extreme pity and sadness for her, for there was a deep longing in her tender gaze, an emptiness that could not be satiated. Even when she would smile brightly at him or gaze at him lovingly, there was a sense of profound sadness and despair behind her earnestness and compassion.
For a long time, the Wizard did not understand this. Here was an attractive and beautiful witch who had been completely shunned by Ozian society and by any potential male suitors. He knew from Glinda that Theodora had really tried to be good before his arrival to Oz, but her fiery temper kept the exuberant witch incredibly lonely for most of her life.
Still, to the Wizard this didn't make much sense. He knew plenty of men from Kansas who had coupled up with beautiful women who had tempers.
Unfortunately for Theodora, her personal situation was not entirely her fault. It was really a matter of demographics. Because Faeries founded and enchanted Oz, every parent wanted to have a girl. And since Oz was a matriarchal society, having offspring that was female conferred power and good fortune on the family. Over the millennia, the country had far more female births than male births, which created a huge male shortage. As a result, the men were paired off easily, while many lonely women waited their whole lives for a man who never arrived.
And it was even worse for the witches. In a land of beautiful and well-dressed women, what man would take a chance by pairing off with a witch? Yes, witches were venerated throughout Ozian society, but this was because they were incredibly powerful. The Wizard noticed this adoration whenever he was with Glinda. While the Wizard would often be greeted wherever he went by random passerby's, it was Glinda who was treated like she was a God. But this "power" did not translate to finding romantic love.
Of course, this admiration was only done with "good" witches. If a witch was deemed "wicked", they were scorned and cast out of Ozian society. This kind of punishment and ostracism bothered the Wizard.
To even be a good witch in oz was often a double-edged sword. Unless the man was a wizard, no mortal wanted to take a chance by romancing a witch. Unfortunately for the witches who lived in Oz, King Pastoria was the last true wizard who lived in the land. For them, it wasn't that the pickings were slim, but they were impossible to find. Even Glinda, immensely loved by her people, would often feel the same loneliness felt by many of the other witches of Oz. The Wizard would often sense this when she would flash a ghost of a smile to him after their brief relationship did not work out.
As he gazed at the sulking red tempered witch, the Wizard knew that Theodora was lonely. But after being confined to the Emerald City palace for nearly three years, so was he. Since he knew that Theodora wanted to kiss him before, he decided to act. He needed touch.
"Wizard! Don't lie to me! And how dare you try to deflect my question! I know you like her and hmph—" The witch's words became muffled as the Wizard's lips met with hers. At first, her eyes remained open in shock, but as the Wizard maintained the kiss, she began to close her eyes as a soft and soothing feeling came over her. She placed her hand affectionately on the Wizard's cheek. She began to have butterflies in her stomach, but was also taken aback by this sudden and surprising romantic gesture.
As the Wizard's lips slowly parted from hers, he placed both of his hands gently on her cheeks. His eyes remained closed as he nuzzled his nose with hers. She opened her eyes only so slightly as her eyelashes fluttered, she inhaled through her mouth and her breath quickened.
The Wizard smiled at her as the witch opened her eyes fully. "Well, I guess I could be wrong and—" The Wizard aggressively went in for another kiss, the pair closing their eyes once again. The witch placed her other hand on the Wizard's cheek as her red lips met with his. To the witch, the kiss was like a soft and delicate flower on a warm, vibrant spring day. It was beautiful and magical. She loved it. She moaned in delight. Her voice was muffled by the weight of the Wizard's lips pressed against hers.
He then began to use his tongue.
The witch opened her eyes and awkwardly took a step back. "W-w-w-what are you doing?…" The witch had never kissed like that before. In fact, the only time Theodora had ever kissed anyone was when the Wizard kissed her in the field.
The Wizard slowly approached her and placed his hands gently on her cheeks, caressing them with his fingertips. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth in pleasure as her cheeks tingled from the gentle graze of his fingertips. He softly kissed her nose. "If you don't like it, just let me know—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the witch grabbed the back of his head and forcefully met her ruby lips with his. They aggressively kissed each other as they both murmured sounds of passion, their tongues engaging in a soft, sultry and seductive dance. The Wizard's hands caressed her hair, which had been fitted by her servants in a pompadour style, typical among the women of Oz.
"Wait, Wizard…", she broke off their kissing as he began to peck her cheeks in its stead. "Let me take down my hair and…"
She exhaled sharply, arched her back and gasped as the Wizard's lips began to kiss her neck. Her eyes closed as she simply muttered "oh my god Wizard…oh my god Wizard…oh my god…" The witch instinctively grabbed the back of his head and started to move her hand gently through his hair. The Wizard smiled as he mischievously continued to kiss and nuzzle her neck with his cheeks. This caused the witch to cling to him as she shivered from his soft and delicate touch of his cheeks in such an erogenous area of hers. He continued to nuzzle her neck as she let out a quiet moan. He sometimes even playfully used the tip of his tongue on her neck. She bit her lower lip as her desire increased.
His eyes met hers as the Wizard cupped her cheeks with his hands and began to gently kiss the bridge of her nose again. He then caressed the strands of her hair that rested over her forehead.
The witch returned the favor, placing her own hands on his cheeks as they gazed into each other's eyes. His lips reached for hers, but instead of kissing them, he playfully teased her, nuzzling her nose with hers. She closed her eyes as his hands began to brush her hair. Her breathing quickened once more as he started to massage her scalp as the witch arched her back from the sheer pleasure of it all. He then used his fingertips to trace her ears and her cheeks as they slowly made their way down to her neck. She shivered from this sensation as his hands slowly reversed its journey, affectionately touching her from her neck up to and including her hair.
This all made Theodora incredibly relaxed. She yawned, which the Wizard took notice of. "Are you tired?" He smiled as she nodded her head to him. His nose nuzzled hers once more. "Then let's…" Before he could finish, the witch grabbed his hand and led him to her bed. She placed her hands delicately on his chest. "Wait, Wizard, let me change." As she hurriedly ran to her private washroom that was connected by an adjoining room, the Wizard removed his pants and shirt, leaving nothing on his body except his under garments. He then lied on the bed and covered himself with a nearby blanket.
The witch entered her spacious bathroom, which was filled with various scented perfumes. Hanging on a nearby rack in an adjoining walk-in closet were numerous Victorian style outfits, including her outdoors wear and her large red hat. She changed, placing her evening gown onto the rack and placed on one of her many white blouses.
She then went to her sink. Unlike the other areas of her castle, her private shower stall and faucet was fitted with an enhancement that changed the water so that she wouldn't get burned. Even though the substance looked and felt like water, it was still quite different.
Queen Lurline had this installed when Theodora was very little. The witch never understood how this worked and simply said that it was magic. After washing her hands and face, she then sprayed herself with various perfumes.
"Wizard…what do you think?" The witch emerged from the adjoining room, wearing only a white blouse, similar to the one he found her in on the first day he came to Oz. Her hair fell to one side of her face.
The Wizard gestured with his hand and smiled. "Come here." As she approached the bed, he grabbed her hand with hers and pulled her in. He then whispered into her ear. "Take it—"
But the witch interrupted him by placing her finger gently on his mouth. "Wait!" She smiled as she got out of her bed once more. She went over to the various lanterns that kept the room bright and began to blow out the flame. There was only one lantern remaining, one that was near the Wizard. It was a gas lamp, which emitted a faint orange light. She then hurriedly came back to her bed and crawled back in, smiling brightly at her guest. She bit her lower lip as her face came very close to the Wizard's. She closed her eyes and kissed him on the lips.
"Take it off", the Wizard's voice was alluringly seductive as he whispered to her. "Are you sure", the witch responded hesitantly.
The timid witch blushed as he began to raise her white blouse past her shoulders. She lifted up her arms to comply as he tossed it aside. He then lowered her to the bed and slowly wrapped his arms and legs around her. She closed her eyes and moaned as their arms and legs crossed. She shivered uncontrollably as the Wizard's cheeks nuzzled against hers, feeling an electrical shock jolt through her body. To the Wizard, Theodora's perfume smelled like cherry blossoms and fragrant flowers.
"Are you okay?", the Wizard asked, kissing her cheek. She smiled brightly as she opened her eyes and looked at her guest in awe as the Wizard's eyes met hers. "Yes", she whispered to him. The Wizard's fingernails dug into her back as he started to squeeze her again. All the witch could do was close her eyes once more and enjoy every incredible sensation she felt. She craved his touch and the incredible amount of skin-on-skin contact. She needed this so incredibly bad.
Theodora did not know what to make of all the extreme pleasure she felt. Her senses were overloaded as she became incredibly relaxed and happy. She smiled with glee as her eyes remained closed. For once, negative self-talk did not intrude into her thoughts. In fact, her mind went completely blank as she thought of nothing. The Wizard's body being pressed against hers felt so entirely wonderful that she never wanted it to end.
"Move your legs around mine", the Wizard instructed. "Oh. Yes", the witch whispered and smiled once more. As they clung to each other, the pair let out a soft and audible hum. The Wizard would sometimes peek by opening his eyes ever so slightly. He would see a bright smile on his companion's face as her eyes remained shut, seemingly lost in a serene state of bliss.
"Wait…let me turn around", the Wizard murmured. He turned, so his back was now facing the witch. He then placed the back of his head onto her chest as he closed his eyes once more. "Squeeze me", he responded.
"Are you sure?", the witch responded hesitantly. "You're quite fragile for a Wizard…"
"Yes", the Wizard answered confidently. "Do it."
The witch grunted as she tightened her arms and legs around him, but not too hard as to hurt him. "How does this feel…", the Wizard asked. The pair kept their eyes closed as blissful smiles spread across their faces.
"Amazing…", the witch softly responded. "I am in heaven." She then gently kissed the back of his neck and caressed the top of his hair with her hand. While she had obsessively thought about the Wizard ever since she met him down by the river bank those years ago, all of the negative and destructive emotions that she had of him had disappeared entirely. Now, he was the best thing to have ever happen to her and her only thoughts were how amazing he was.
As the Wizard continued to rest his head on the witch's chest, he could hear a soft thumping sound. He smiled. "I can hear your heart beat…"
The witch slowly opened her eyes in confusion. "Oh Wizard…that's simply not possible", she said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"What do you mean?", he quietly replied, his eyes still closed.
The witch responded softly, but bitterly. "I'll never have a heart again after my sister callously took it from me…"
The Wizard continued to smile. "No! But I can feel it!", the Wizard exclaimed as his head rested comfortably on the witch's bare chest. "I can hear your heart beat…" He affectionately nuzzled his head on her chest.
"Oh, Wizard…", the witch responded as she continued to gently caress his hair with her fingers. "You're funny…"
The pair rested in silence until the Wizard finally interjected. "Can I turn off the night lamp?"
Theodora's opened her eyes in fear. "No, Wizard! Please don't turn it off! I'm scared of the dark!" She strengthened her grip on him.
"It's okay…", the Wizard reassured her. "I'll protect you if anything should happen…"
Of course, this was mostly an empty promise. If anything, the witch would have to be the one to protect him. Still, his confidence had an effect on Theodora. "Okay, Wizard…", she cooed, her arms loosening her hold on him. He opened his eyes momentarily to blow out the remaining lamp as the room became pitch black.
The witch hurriedly squeezed him from behind once more. "Wizard…", she whispered to him, a fearful tone discernible from her voice.
"Can you sing me a lullaby so I can fall asleep?"
"A lullaby?", the Wizard quizzically asked as he turned around and gazed at her. It was an odd question, especially coming from a grown woman. But judging from the fearful expression on her face, she was serious.
"Yes!", the witch nodded her head as she clung to him tightly once more, wrapping her arms and legs around him again as she pulled him closer to her. "Please Wizard…it will help me fall asleep…" She nuzzled her head onto his chest as she closed her eyes.
The Wizard sighed as he searched his memory, trying to remember any type of lullaby he could sing to her. He finally remembered one that his mother used to sing to him when he was very young. "Yeah", he finally replied as he started to sing. He started to caress her hair with his hands.
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star…how I wonder what you are…up above the world so high…"
As the Wizard began to sing, the witch smiled and hummed as she squeezed him and he continued to caress her hair.
"Like a diamond in the sky. When the blazing sun is gone, when he nothing shines upon, then you show your little light, twinkle, twinkle, all the night…"
The dopey witch cooed and whispered as she smiled. "Yes, my little light…how wonderful…"
The Wizard continued, trying not to laugh at the oddities of it all. "Then the traveler in the dark, thanks you for your tiny spark, he could not see which way to go, if you did not twinkle so…
Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are…"
As he finished singing, she inched up to him so their faces were now inches apart. He kissed her once more on the cheek. "Good night." He closed his eyes and yawned, as sleep beckoned him. His hand loosened his grip on the witch.
"Wizard?", she interjected in hushed tones.
"Yes?", he whispered as his eyes remained closed.
"Can you hold me tighter?"
He squeezed her, but the witch persisted as she gazed at him tenderly. "No, Wizard, I want you to squeeze me even tighter. I want you to squeeze me so tight that you will never let me go…"
The Wizard opened his eyes once more. "Uhhh…okay, I'll try…" He then closed his eyes once more and grunted as he squeezed her as hard as he could.
"That's it?", the witch sighed as she closed her eyes. She smiled. "You are very fragile for a Wizard…"
The Wizard smiled at her nervously in return as he kept his eyes closed. "Good night…"
But the witch simply stared at him, her voice anxious like a small child. "Wizard…"
He sighed. "Yes…", he grumbled.
Her voice was quiet and her tone almost pleading. "Can I squeeze you, instead? I want to make sure you don't disappear during the night."
"Sure." He quickly turned around and she squeezed him once more. He placed his head back on her chest as she wrapped her legs around his. "Now, goodnight", he said to her softly, but with a hint of seriousness in his voice.
She smiled brightly as she kissed his cheek. "Good night, Wizard", she replied sweetly.
Several minutes passed as Theodora kept her eyes open. "Wizard…"
"Yes…"
"This whole leadership thing…how do you know what's good and what's not? What's right and what's wrong? How to react when dealing with the Winkies?"
The Wizard opened his eyes as he rested on her chest. Her arms around him, his hands rubbed hers. "It's not always that simple. I usually go with my gut and it usually tells me what's the right thing to do. Like when I decided to come here and see you." He smiled as the witch looked down and kissed his cheek.
He closed his eyes once again and yawned as the witch continued to think. She then nervously broke the silence. "My sister and father always said I was the wicked one in the family. Do you think I was born wicked?"
"That's ridiculous", the Wizard responded in a gentle, but firm voice. "You are what you do. You can re-create yourself every second of your life."
Theodora had a pensive expression on her face as she thought about what the Wizard told her. "But what if—"
He interrupted her as his eyes remained closed. "You know what is wicked though…"
The witch shook her head. "No. What?"
"Keeping me awake when I'm tired…"
The witch smiled. "You're right. Good night, Wizard…"
"Good night."
As he was about to fall asleep, Theodora suddenly and abruptly rambled on once more. "It's just that all of Oz thinks I'm wicked. All because of my sisters and family and how I was the black sheep and that nobody wants anything to do with me or cares about me because I'm a witch. I want to be good, Wizard. But how am I supposed to figure out what's good and what isn't when all of Oz has already judged me, has judged me and I've been an outcast my entire life?"
"You will", the Wizard replied. "And it's not true that nobody cares about you. I do. I believe in you." He squeezed her hands with his.
The witch gazed at him lovingly. "You do?"
"Yes."
Theodora gazed affectionately and tenderly at him. "Good night." She kissed his cheek for a final time.
"Good night", the Wizard tiredly replied.