[Part 1]

Chapter 10: Dread

-Glinda's Castle-

*~Glinda~*

Theodora stopped in front of her, magic thick around her. "I will spare the good people of Oz." She leaned closer until there was barely a hairsbreadth between their faces. "If you agree to return to Emerald City on charge of treason."

When put in such a manner it was clear she did not have much of a choice at all, but the consequences of surrender were equally unappealing.

The death penalty may be forbidden, but there was always the chance of someone crossing the line and if so, there would be no one left to protect the land from Evanora. If she were exiled then at least she can still provide aid, but if she were banished from the Land of Oz or cast into the Great Sandy Waste, there was no telling what could happen.

Even so, she cannot allow harm to come to her people.

"You promise you will leave them in peace?"

"Glinda-"

Theodora's head snapped to the Wizard, causing him to fall silent. Glinda watched with growing apprehension as a slow smile spread across the younger witch's face, her eyes alight with dark glee. "I will spare them," Theodora met her eyes, "in exchange for you, but peace?" Her gaze left Glinda's and fell back onto Oz, "That requires something more."

Whatever hope she had had for the Wizard's aid in her absence shattered. The realisation chilled her. Their only hope lay in Theodora, but her anger made it apparent that she had no sympathy to spare.

"Theodora, please, don't take your anger with me out on these people."

It was one of the first sympathetic statements Glinda had heard from the Wizard since meeting him in the Dark Forest. It would likely fall on deaf ears, but it was an unexpected comfort.

"My anger? What would you know of my anger? What would you know of anything I feel? I was blind before, but now your manipulations are clear to me. And I will not allow you to stop me from saving my sister." Theodora snapped her fingers and four guards appeared in swirls of fire, decked in the colours of Emerald City. "Well then? Will you come along peacefully or will I need to get forceful?"

"Please consider what you're doing." There may be no point in it, but perhaps if she could manage just the right thing to say, Theodora will come to see reason. "My people are no threat to you."

"Oh, I'm well aware of that, but you see, I know of your spies in Emerald City – so eager to please you." Theodora was in her face again, her presence suffocating so close up. "They would do anything." She leaned forward over her shoulder, breath hot on her ear. "You poisoned them to be of the same mind, but you see, I will not have them hurt my sister."

Why did all Theodora's statements revert to Evanora? Where had this obsession come from?

"What did she do to you?"

That may well have been one of the most foolish of things she has said in all her life, but by the time her slip had registered it was already too late. Theodora's hand connected with her cheek, hot and stinging where her ring cut skin. The courtyard was quiet, her people startled by the display. Glinda could not fault them, in fact, she felt much the same.

It was the first time that anyone had struck her.

"You have no means of measuring up to being even half the witch she is." Theodora spat the words with such venom it felt like a curse.

It was so sudden and unexpected that when the younger witch wrenched her wand from her fingers, Glinda was helpless to stop her. Although she would have liked to profess confidence that Theodora would not break it, Glinda cannot say she was confident in that at all. The darkness she saw in Theodora's gaze was so stark to the soft kindness previously found there that Glinda could not be certain of anything.

She may be one to believe in the goodness within all, but her conviction had been challenged before and the result had not been in her favour. She had faltered and the wickedness within Evanora had overwhelmed her. Theodora was different. Other wicked witches – though weaker and not near as familiar – have fallen to her wand, put to sleep and exiled for their crimes, but in all that shadow Glinda had never feared being consumed.

"Take them away."

Two Winkie soldiers gripped her arms, restraining her before Theodora's flames invaded her vision, red and orange burning away the image of her horrified people.

-Emerald City-

*~ Evanora ~*

All had not gone well.

The first omen of a day of misfortune presented itself in the form of paralyses when she woke to the inability of movement. She had struggled for half an hour before succumbing to an anxiety attack. She remained bedridden for another mark until at last she became aware of pain prickling throughout her limbs.

Although none had been there to bear witness to her wrestling her body under control, she would deny with her dying breath that she had fallen out of bed and crawled over to her wardrobe because her legs were too weak to support her.

The second omen should have been more obvious, unfortunately she had been blind to it up until she was stood before her bedroom door, staring down at the pile of ash containing three melted wax seals.

With that in mind she was not too startled to find that opening the door was pointless, as she learned quickly, and the lesson was reinforced by the lingering sting in her hand.

Someone – most likely Theodora – had placed a barrier over the entryway. It was designed to keep people from crossing the threshold, which acting as a double headed blade, also meant that she could not leave.

To her fortune it seemed that despite her adventurous nature Theodora had not become acquainted with all the passageways of the palace, and so Evanora was able to slip from her rooms undeterred by the wards.

The third omen became apparent with her wandering.

Her chambers were located on the second floor, but the passage she took had taken her through the palace skeleton and deposited her on the third floor outside the royal wing, forcing her to travel longer and to cover more ground than otherwise necessary.

The halls were emptier than she was accustomed to, corridor after corridor seemingly abandoned. Usually, there would be guards located at every stairwell and gallery with a group of three or five patrolling each floor, a shift change occurring every half hour to keep them alert, but she had met not one.

Absent security was one thing of course, considering her sister's new status, but the lack of servants was alarming.

It wasn't until she descended to the ground floor that she encountered another living being. A servant, hunched and near-drowning in sheets, was scurrying down the steps as though pursued by the hounds of darkness. When Evanora reached out and held her shoulder to stop her, the Quadling woman flinched so sharply that she slipped, only Evanora's swift reaction preventing an unfortunate fall.

The woman coward and would not meet her gaze, preferring to hide behind her hill of laundry whilst stuttering inaudibly.

Even with whispers of her wickedness spreading through the underground, none had ever shown her this kind of fear. At most they were stilled from fulfilling their plans of vengeance because of her magic. This was not the case now and it unnerved her.

"Where are the guards and other servants?"

The Quadling's head shot up at the sound of her voice, an expression of absolute relief breaking out over her features. The servant's shoulders sagged and the sheets nearly fell from her arms, eyes wet with tears as she cried, "Lady Evanora! By Oz it must be a miracle!" She fell to her knees, bowing far lower than decorum demand. "Emerald City has fallen to disaster in the course of but one day! People around the city are being dragged from their homes and place of work! The ministers banished! The council all accused of name sullying! Every hour another citizen is thrown in the dungeon! You must set things right! Please! We beg you!"

"I do hope you were not spreading tales of disorder, Maid." Theodora's voice reverberated before she appeared in a swirl of flames, her eyes cold and set on the woman still knelt at Evanora's feet. Terror drained all blood from the servant's face, her eyes averting and hands shaking as she attempted to stutter her apologies, but Theodora was indifferent, gaze travelling to meet Evanora's and becoming light and concerned as though she had never addressed the Quadling. "You look rather pale. Perhaps you should have remained in bed, Sister."

"I felt better and desired a walk," she fibs easily, angling herself so that the servant was behind her. "I was also under the impression we would have breakfast together in the dining hall, but when I noticed the guards were absent I went in search of you, fearing the worst."

Theodora's eyes softened, her whole stature mellowing as she neared. Evanora was quick to meet her. "I sent them out into the city. I'm sorry I left you alone. I had an errand to run, but I promise we can have breakfast now that I'm back."

"It must have been something quite important to pull you from the palace so early."

Theodora's expression held predatory satisfaction. "And I'm eager to tell you all about it, but first," her eyes snapped to the servant woman, hard and unyielding. "You dare to disturb my sister and weigh her heart with your petty grievances, after I explicitly ordered for her not to be bothered. Are you defiant or simply incompetent?"

"P-please! Forgive me, my lady! I-I did not mean-"

"'Did not mean?' Did you 'not mean' to complain? Did you 'not mean' to place burden on my sister's shoulders? Did you 'not mean' to incite conflict between us? Do you know the punishment for liars? Because I assure you, yours will be much worse."

"Sister," no sooner had the word left her lips than Theodora's eyes were on her, wide and rapt with attention. The sudden adoration visible in her expression made Evanora ill, as though her magic wasn't concerning enough. "Do you not think it dangerous to inflict harm upon those who serve us? Fear is the greatest asset of any wicked witch, to stir it within the palace would be akin to inviting her to feast."

Appearing first startled and then contrite, Theodora nodded slowly in consideration, "I had not thought of that. Forgive me my rashness, Sister. It was not my intention to place you in harm's way." It lasted only a moment before she was again shadowed in grim delight. "Hopefully we can rectify that soon."

A shiver ran down her spine and despite her smile, all Evanora could feel was dread.

-Emerald City-

*~Theodora~*

Breakfast with Evanora was just what she needed to put her back in the best of spirits. It felt like the old days with just the two of them, where she regaled her sister with tales of her most recent exploits and her sister sat and listened attentively, adding a comment every now and again in respond to something truly wondrous.

Now it was different therein that she had Evanora's undivided attention. There was no diplomatic crisis to resolve, no documents to approve or counter propose, no minister to console, no ambassador to flatter, no councilman upset about a woman running Emerald City's affairs, no nobleman caught in a scandal and most importantly, nothing and no one to take up her sister's thoughts aside from Theodora.

First she captured Glinda and then she even managed to snare the so-called Wizard, both of whom are now situated in the deepest, darkest cell she could find in the underground dungeon.

But to be her sister's only focus? That truly was something that filled her heart.

Today would be a great day, she could feel it.

Until next chapter.

– L.L.