[Part 1]

Chapter 6: Diverting paths

-Emerald City-

*~Evanora~*

She had – reluctantly – escorted 'the Wizard' from the informal dining hall to view the expanse of the first floor. She included novelties such as the grand library, the formal dining hall, the ballroom, the informal reception hall, the council chamber, the chief advisor's offices and the royal study.

He had revealed a brief fascination for books before she had spirited him off to the grand staircase, preferring he not have the chance to browse any materials she had not approved for his viewing.

They made small talk as she educated him about the business side of the palace. She had hoped the conversation would bore him enough that he would end the tour himself, though her hopes went unanswered. Instead he often made an attempt to inquire about less professional themes and though Evanora was certain to steer him away, he always seemed to find his way back.

"So, you and Theodora... She claims you're quite close."

He was awkward and hesitant and seemed to be weighing his words. She assumes he had been building up to something specific, though why he had yet to ask what exactly it was he wanted, she could not say.

"Do you find that surprising?" While she was curious about his motivations, she was also concerned. There are numerous ideas that Theodora may have placed within his mind and countless others she did not know whether to rule out or latch onto.

"Not surprising, per say, rather unexpected? When I had taken flight from Kansas I hadn't anticipated landing in a foreign country. Some of your customs are quite new to me."

"Few Ozians are born with the ability to use magic and even fewer with siblings who share the gift. If we do not stand together we will be destroyed." She came off harsher than she had intended, but there was no retracting her confession.

All she could do is hope to be proven wrong.

"Oh, so it's for protection." He nodded along as though he understood the depths of what she had said. He couldn't possibly. Not unless he had the ability to read minds. If he did, then certainly, she would be dead by now. "What exactly does the obtaining of this protection pertain?"

Is he attempting to trick her into building her own prison?

"Well, what do you think?"

"Uh, I, uhm..." He fidgeted and kept his gaze well away from her. After an awkward pause, he finally straightened his suit and cleared his throat. "Theodora mentioned you sleep together."

She was so caught off-guard that she miss-stepped and began to slip, preventing herself from falling down the stairs only at the last minute when she twisted her body into a throw against the wall. She didn't realize she had grabbed onto his arm to do so until she felt him move closer, beckoned forward by her self-preservation.

"Are you alright?"

She hadn't previously noticed how broad-shouldered he is. If she had twisted into an alcove, she would be completely blocked in by him. Her chest grew tight. He was looming over her, his build terribly large. He's standing far too close. She can't get out.

"Evanora?"

She released her grip on his arm and was confused when her hand came back stiff and her fingers aching. A glance at his sleeve revealed small tears and just underneath it, a faint red seeping into the under-sleeve.

"I'm fine. Just a slip."

"If you're sure..." He moved away, taking his towering shadow with him.

She drew in a deep breath as the knot in her chest loosened slightly. Her legs were a little numb, likely from shock, but what caught her attention most was the warm sting prickling at the back of her skull. It was growing progressively deeper, evolving into more of a bite and throb. Had she crashed into the wall with her head? She can't recall. "What were you saying?"

"Oh, uhm... Never mind that. Do you want to end the tour?"

Yes, and throw him out the door while she was at it.

"I think you will find something of interest on the third floor." She glided around him, careful to stay out of reach. "Aside from housing the royal family, there are a number of important locations such as the king's private armory and the hall of records. Of course, there will be time for that later."

She led him around to the West Tower, listening to his comments with a fixed smile whiling steering them onto the bridge. Despite the walk from the staircase, her headache hadn't left her.

They had only just fallen into silence when the wizard ruined it. "Thank you for the tour."

"It's my job."

"Giving tours?" He sounded amused.

"Taking care of the king," she corrected.

"Ah, of course. On that note, I was thinking it might be nice if we could have a royal feast, maybe a grand roast or-"

She dearly hoped he wouldn't be staying long enough for that.

"You know my sister has been telling me your magic is really quite powerful."

"Oh, um really? Yes. Boggling to the minds of all who witness."

"Oh, I do so wish I could see it for myself."

"Yes."

This might be her only chance to determine the truth. "Why not show me now?"

"Now?"

"Here." She added quickly, feigning excitement.

There was a pause, "All things in good time. And a good time for all things."

She pushed down her frustration and squashed her dread. She had to turn away to prevent her face from contorting into a scowl. She will draw an answer from him. She will not be refused. "So wise, so true... Well, there is one last room I'd like you to see." She walked ahead of him and took hold of the handles. She took a steadying breath and then glanced over her shoulder. "The royal treasure of Oz."

She pushed the doors open and hurried to the opposite side of the entrance. She placed one hand on her hip and the other over her stomach, though whether it was due to the sudden nausea or a reflex she cannot say. She swept the tail of her dress out of his way at the last minute and watched him goggle at the glittering trinkets within the chamber. "It belongs to whoever is king."

When he turned to her in disbelief, hands clasped over his heart, she knew she had him. "It's alright Wizard. Go and enjoy your riches."

He didn't even bother with the stairs. Simply opened his arms and fell back off the platform. Part of her hoped he would hit his head against one of the statues and kill himself, but it was not to be. "It's mine!" He laughed and threw coins in the air like a child would celebrate having numerous gifts. "Mine! No more second hand suits for you, baby! Nothing but the silks and satins!"

His greed soured her opinion of him further.

"Ali Baba!"

He slid down to the bottom of the chamber, cheering and grinning and laughing all while she bit down the building nausea she felt watching him. If this man ever ascended to the throne, Oz would fall into ruin.

He would care nothing for the people, for Theodora, or the lives destroyed by the Wicked Witch. He will spend frivolously and then tax the people until there was nothing left. He will have no loyalties, fighting and performing for whoever had the deepest coffers.

The Nome King would need to flash but a few crystals before his eyes and the walls of Emerald City would crumble. The Royal Family of EV would need only invite him into their halls and their army would burn all the fields of Munchkinland. The wicked witches and crooked magicians wouldn't even need their curses and hexes.

This man, this wizard, will bring only destruction.

"And one of these things! What- what is this?"

She stepped closer and glanced down at him, bemused. "A chalice."

"A chalice!" Lifting it into the air sent gold spilling out over its rim, raining down around him. "I've always wanted a chalice and now I've got one." He kissed the cup and grinned.

"Well, not quite yet." She knew she was overstepping. Her sister had specifically asked to explain this to him herself, but Evanora needed to disillusion him and quickly. Oz is suffering enough without a tyrant ruler and Theodora's innocence is a fraction away from shattering now that she was becoming a woman. Evanora needs to remove his influence before he can corrupt her sister.

"You see, you only become the king after you defeat the Wicked Witch." She began descending the stairs, gesticulating, "That's the Prophesy. And since you haven't done that yet..." She almost choked, but managed to bite down the sudden impulse. It did nothing to soothe the burning against her collar or the sharp pull beneath her breast, but unless she can keep herself under control, she will be revealing a lethal advantage to her enemy.

"I'm not actually king."

"Not yet, no. You still have to get rid of the Wicked Witch." She hadn't yet reached the bottom of the stairwell, but she had the sense that unless she stopped while she could, her legs would betray her when she couldn't.

"Right." He threw the chalice away sullenly and stalked towards her.

"She's not to be underestimated. Her reach is far and as long as the people continue to fear her than she has power."

"And how do you propose I change that?"

"By showing them that she isn't all-powerful. Gain the trust of the people, help them overcome her. As long as they believe that she can be defeated than she will be."

"That's a lovely sentiment, but I doubt it's going to do much."

She turned to walk back up the stairs, irritation briefly flaring to accompany the tightening knot in her chest. "Well, if you're not interested in being king that's alright with me. We can just forget about the whole thing-"

"I'm interested! I just don't think that's an effective way to fight someone with an army of baboons."

"It's the only way!" She spun around sharply, catching the train of her dress so that she doesn't trip over it. "Belief is the source of her power. Without it her magic weakens, she'll be forced to come out into the open." She drew in a deep breath, fighting not to be overwhelmed. "She will be vulnerable, but not defenseless. We cannot win against her alone. Your magic is the only thing strong enough to destroy her."

"Destroy her?"

"She has been terrorizing Oz for years and it has only grown worse! Nothing else will stop her!" A metal tang slid over her tongue and her eyes stung with the effort of suppressing her pain. She cannot afford to have an attack now. Not in front of the wizard. Not in front of her enemy.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know it was that bad."

She brought her arms around herself, recalling the council's plans. "The people are becoming desperate." It felt like there was a lump in her throat. "The Coven is gone, magic users are flocking to the side of the wicked and our forces aren't enough to protect every city and town. Our numbers aren't enough."

She shook her head, trying to calm the pounding in her head and the rush of blood in her ears. With each beat, every inch of her body hurt just a little more. "Will you help us, or not?"

He seemed indecisive, though at least genuinely concerned. So, not entirely selfish then. Still, she doubted he would be able to love Theodora as she deserves. Finally, he took a coin from beside them and flipped it in the air; for motivation, most likely. "I'm your wizard."

She didn't have the strength to feign any reaction other than reality. Her entire being burned and before she knew what was going on she was on her knees, distantly aware of her own screams.

Voices, terrible voices, scraped over her mind leaving her cold. Her chest hurt and her veins were on fire and her skull felt like it was being split open with a rusted ax. There was nothing beyond the suffocating agony that was determined to pull her down into the darkness of the abyss. Shadows crept at the edges of her vision and enveloped her.

-Treasury-

*~Oscar~*

"I'm your wizard."

For the briefest of moments, Evanora's eyes had lightened and then she was suddenly doubling over, screaming as though she'd been cast onto the pyre.

"Evanora!"

He rushed towards her, trying to see what was wrong, but no matter how many times he called out to her, she did not answer.

Her necklace was glowing and one of her hands was raking gashes in her skin in an attempt to tear it from her collar. He assumed it must be the source of her pain and tried to help, but the moment he touched it he had to rip his hand way, blowing on his burning fingers.

Not knowing what else to do, he slipped out of one of the sleeves of his jacket and used it to catch the pendant, but the heat reached through the material and he pulled his hand away with a yelp, surprised that his suit sleeve was undamaged.

She was still screaming, curled up into herself and drawing blood, but there seemed to be nothing he could do to stop whatever was affecting her. He caught her wrist and was startled when he had to pry it away from her neck, her nails nearly catching against his cheek as she struggled.

Perhaps if he hadn't ducked out of the way of her nails, he would not have spotted the purpling veins flowing down her palm and under her sleeve. He held her arm as far away from her as he could, securing the other where it had remained around her waist and redirected his attention to her necklace.

Darkened veins crawled up her neck from a large black patch that spider-webbed outward just above her left breast. Worst of all whatever was in her blood appeared to be spreading. "Help! Guards! Someone! Help!"

If it was poison than there was nothing he could do about it without an antidote and he was afraid that moving her would only increase her torment.

Footsteps and shouts of "Lady Evanora!" preceded the guards' arrival, but before Oz could get a word out they were welcomed with an inhuman shriek. It was a sound unlike anything he had ever heard and it chilled him down to the marrow in his bones. The sound cut off abruptly as Evanora grew still, her entire body falling limp. All sound seemed to disappear.

Oz climbed to his feet when Theodora emerged from her sister's bedchambers, her cheeks marred and eyes wet. "The healer says it's a curse. One of the darkest she's ever seen. She says it's doubtful that Evanora will make it through the night."

"Theodora..."

Her eyes grew hard and cold. He fought the urge to flinch. "This is the Wicked Witch's doing." She turned away, looking out the window. "We used to be friends. She was always so kind to me. I didn't want to believe it when Evanora confronted her about the king's death, but it was true and she was banished. I thought she would learn her lesson, I thought that she would understand what she did is wrong, but instead she began terrorizing Oz."

She shook her head, laughing mirthlessly. "I told Evanora not to go after her. I asked her to be spared if she was ever captured. I thought that perhaps there was still a chance, that maybe we could still bring her back to the light. But I was being naive. Just like Evanora said."

"You remembered who she was. You can't be blamed for wanting to see her like that again."

"She's gone too far."

Against his better judgment, Oz drew on his courage. "What do you want me to do?"

Theodora turned to him, eyes full of fire. "Fulfill the Prophecy. Bring an end to her darkness. Unless..." Suddenly, her face lit with surprise, the fire replaced by hope. "Your magic. You could use your magic to break the curse."

He sighed, trying to be gentle. "I don't think that's going to work."

"Why not? You are the Wizard, you can perform miracles."

"I can't cure a curse I don't know anything about."

Theodora's eyes hardened again, her expression grim. "But she does. Find her. Find out what she did to my sister. Then stop her from hurting anyone else."

He didn't like this. Not one bit. Evanora had laid down an entire plan. She had said the Wicked Witch was too powerful for them to defeat on their own. She had said to rally the people. Theodora's mentioned none of it. "Where would I even start?"

"Evanora tracked her to the Dark Forest. She's hiding somewhere nearby. You'll need to lay a trap and steal her wand."

"Her wand?"

"The source of her magic. All witches have one. We can't access our powers without it."

The coin in his pocket felt heavy, like a mark on his soul.

"Then I suppose I need to prepare for a witch hunt."

Any guesses about what's going on?

Also, please keep in mind that this is not only fanfiction, but an AU. Things will be different, characters will be different. Yes, some things will happen similarly and yes, it may seem like I'm following canon, but only Part 1 of this story follows the movie. Part 2 will be about what happened after.

Read, favorite, follow, review.

I eagerly await to hear from you.

– L.L.