1"Let's start upstairs." Breena spook as soon as the Wizard went into the throne room.

Elphaba fell into step beside her as she started walking. "What's upstairs?"

"The private suites. It's where I would keep the Grimmerie if it was me. There are too many people in and out down here and Morrible wouldn't want to risk anyone finding out she has the book. Not when she and our dear old dad made such a big deal of you having it."

"Makes sense." Elphaba agreed.

"Plus I thought you might want to see Glinda's room."

The green woman tensed. "Why would I want to do that?"

"Because you're not mad at her anymore. You never were. The two of you were arguing over who loves who more for crying out loud. Her for wanting to help you or you for wanting to keep her safe." Breena raised her eyebrows when she felt her sister staring at her. "Tell me I'm wrong and I'll take it back." She held her gaze for a moment before nodding. "That's what I thought." She waited a beat to say, "She wasn't really mad at you either you know."

Elphaba sighed. "Maybe not, but she will be when we get back."

"That's only because she worries about you."

"I know. That's the problem."

"Having someone adore you as much as she does isn't a problem, it's a blessing. Now stop being such a downer. It's not like I won't be there to take some of the heat for you."

"Right." Elphaba's voice dripped with sarcasm as she drew out the word. "You'll be too busy with the wrath of Addena."

Breena chortled. "I'm glad you think so."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means she and Glinda may be sisters, but they're nothing alike. Glinda cares about you. I'm nothing more than an experiment for Addena. She doesn't give a damn about me and she never will."

"That's not true, Bree." Elphaba put her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Give her time."

"I've given her enough." Breena pulled way.

Elphaba wanted to say more but she knew better than to push her sister. Now really wasn't the time anyway. But she had no intention of letting Breena off the hook that easily. They were going to have to have a talk when they got back to the house.

"You know, I never really took the time to appreciate this place when I was here before. I was too…"

"Nervous? Terrified?" Breena gave her a grateful grin as she filled in the blank for her.

"Something like that." She was glad changing the subject worked. She couldn't afford to have Breena in a funk. "I can definitely see why people are so impressed."

"You just like it because if something happens you can blend in with all the green."

She chuckled. "Is that jealousy I hear?"

"Hardly."

The light hearted exchange did little to sooth the butterflies in Elphaba's stomach. She kept her eyes peeled as they started up the staircase. "Is it just me or is it a little too quiet in here?"

"Relax. This isn't the public part of the palace. Besides, unless I've completely lost track of days it's the weekend. All but a few staff members go home to spend time with their families on the weekends, so unless there's some sort of celebration going on the place is pretty dead."

"Can you please not put it like that?"

Breena smirked. "Besides, how in their right mind would want to be around Morrible anyway?"

"True." Elphaba nodded. "Especially if the rumors about her turning on the Merchants Council are true."

"And here we are," Breena spoke as they reached the top of the steps.

Elphaba stared, slack jawed, at the sight before her. The walls were a shimmering green, twinkling like a million stars as the light from the green cast glass chandeliers overhead played along their surface. The soft lighting also enhanced the varying shades of green in the marble floor.

"The marble was a gift from the Winkies. Apparently they have one of the best quarries in Oz." Breena narrated as her sister continued to look around. "And the paint on the walls has emerald powder in it. That's what makes it shine."

"You certainly know your stuff."

"Believe it or not you have to sit through a lecture on the construction of the palace when you join the guard."

"Really?" Elphaba ran her hand along the wall. "It's gorgeous."

"You fit right in."

She grinned. "Don't go getting all soft on me."

Breena smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it. Now can we keep moving or should I be concerned about how much time you're spending with that wall?"

Elphaba gave her a playful nudge as she rejoined her in the middle of the hall. "Where should we start?"

"You pick. The halls form a square so we're going to end up back here eventually. But Glinda's room is the first one on the left that way." She pointed to her left.

"The left it is."

"Somehow I knew you were going to say that."

Elphaba followed her sister, feeling the need to carry on their conversation to keep her nerves at bay. "So, are all of these occupied?"

"Not even close. They're mostly used for muckety mucks or visiting dignitaries. And of course Glinda was up here because we couldn't have said muckety mucks or dignitaries thinking the ruler of Oz can't afford to live in the lap of luxury."

Her eyes lit up with concern. "Do you think there's anyone up here right now?"

"We'll know if we walk into a room and see someone."

"Bree!"

"What?" Breena half laughed at her sister's exasperated tone. "How am I supposed to know if someone is staying up here?" She rolled her eyes as Elphaba gripped her hand. "So much for keeping you calm."

"I'm calm."

"Right. And I'm the..." Her voice trailed off as she opened the door to Glinda's room. There were ripped clothes and shoes and various pieces of furniture thrown all over the place. She could even make out a piece of the blonde's favorite wand.

"What in Oz happened in here?" Elphaba took in the wreckage too.

"Morrible." Breena hissed.

"Do you think so?"

"I know so." Breena pointed to the only untouched item in the room, the writing desk next to the french doors leading out to the balcony.

"The Grimmerie." Elphaba hurried toward the desk, scooping the book up like it would disappear if she didn't get to it soon enough. "Morrible must have been using this room to try to decipher the text."

"And taking her frustrations out on Glinda's things." Breena shook her head. "This is ridiculous."

"We can't tell Glinda." Elphaba went back to surveying the damage. "It would break her heart to know all of her things have been destroyed."

"Agreed." Breena picked up one of the other books on the desk, perusing the title before picking up another one.

Elphaba furrowed her brow. "What are you doing?"

"These are some really rare books on magic." She continued to look at the books, making a few more selections before picking up what had once been an oversized purse to put them in. "What?" She scowled when she realized her sister was staring at her. "It's not like the old sour puss will miss them. Put the Grimmerie in and let's go."

"Do you realize we didn't work out any kind of signal with the Wizard?" Elphaba asked as she safely tucked the Grimmerie in with the other books and Breena slung the bag over her shoulder. "How are we supposed to let him know we found it?"

"You mean we can't just leave him here?" Breena managed to keep a straight face for a good ten seconds before she smiled. "I'm just kidding. I couldn't do that, even to someone like him."

"Girls!"

They both jumped when they heard someone yelling out in the hallway.

"Girls!! Are you up here?!"

"Speak of the devil and he shows up screaming his head off." Breena led the way out of the room.

"There you are!" The Wizard jogged up to them, putting his hands on his knees and panting for breath once he reached them.

"What are you doing?" Elphaba glared at him. "We're supposed to be keeping a low profile."

"I'm afraid that's not an option." He swallowed hard. "Morrible knew you were with me. She said she could sense you."

"Damned magic anyway." Breena ran her hand threw her hair. "Come on, we'll go to one of the other rooms and..."

"Watch out!" The Wizard knocked her off her feet as he shoved her back toward Glinda's open doorway and grabbed Elphaba just as a shot rang out. He grunted in pain as the bullet tore across his right bicep before lodging in the wall.

"There goes the paint job." Breena picked herself up.

"We found them!"

She turned when she heard the voice, not at all surprised to see Gale Force guards charging up the stairs toward them. "Absentis!" Her spell sent them tumbling down the stairs, giving her a chance to look at her sister. "Elly?"

"I'm fine but he's been shot." Elphaba's face was pale as she supported the Wizard's weight.

"Damn it!" Breena cast another quick spell as she rushed over to them. "Are you still with us old man?"

"Of course." He tried to keep his voice light even though his forehead was creased in pain. "It barely got me." The corner of his mouth turned up. "And it would take more than a bullet to slow me down."

Breena shook her head. "He sounds all right to me."

"Here." Elphaba shoved him toward her sister. "You heal him, I'll handle the guards."

"Healing me can wait." The Wizard interjected. "We need to get out of here before we're caught."

"Get them!"

"Agito!" Elphaba handled the new wave of guards running at them from the other end of the hall. "Where did they come from?"

"There's another staircase." Breena answered as she took out another round of guards on the stairs. "He's right. We need to get out of here."

"Is there a mirror in the room across from Glinda's?"

"There's at least one in each of the rooms." The Wizard answered.

"Contego." Elphaba cast a protection spell as the guards in the hall prepared to open fire. "Go. Get him back to the house. I'll hold them off."

"No way!" Breena growled. "I'm not leaving you here. Presidium." She cast a similar spell as some of the guards on the stairs recovered enough to start shooting as well.

"Bree, one of us has to stay here to make sure the others get away."

"Then I'll do it!"

"No, I'll do it." The Wizard tried to reason with them. "I'm already hurt. What more can they do to me?"

"Kill you." Breena was brutally honest. "Which is exactly why none of us are staying here. Amitto!" She made the guards on the stairs disappear. "We'll do the same to the other guards and…"

"Must you leave so soon girls?"

Elphaba's blood ran cold when she heard the former press secretary's voice. "Morrible."

"Elphaba." The older woman returned her greeting as she appeared behind the guards in the hall. "It is good to see you again. I have to say you look much better than the last time we met."

"Ignore her." Breena supported the Wizard with one arm and used her other hand to pull Elphaba with them as they headed for the room across from Glinda's.

"And you." Morrible switched her gaze to Breena. "I was afraid we might have lost you when you flew out that window."

The Wizard looked at his daughter. "You flew out a window?"

"Now is so not the time." She kicked in the door to the suite.

"I'm afraid I'll have to charge you for damages."

Breena glared at her. "Bite me."

Morrible laughed. "You certainly are a feisty one. It's a shame I have to kill you."

"I'd like to see you try." Elphaba's hands were clinched into fists at her side.

"What did I tell you about ignoring her?" Breena pulled them over the threshold of the room, obscuring Morrible from view. "Let's just cast the spell and get out of here."

"Leno hac itaque illac." They wasted no time saying the words.

"It's rippling." The Wizard commented.

"Then let's..."

"Not so fast dearies." Morrible smiled from the doorway. "I have a little present for you." One of her infamous mini twister's formed in her hand. "To help you on your way."

"Go!" Breena shoved her sister and the Wizard as she turned to try to block the spell but it was already too late. The twister hit her hard, throwing her back into the mirror. She was shocked to hear the glass shattering around her as she fell but what shocked her more was the fact that she didn't hit the wall on the other side. She just kept falling.

And the glass was going with her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Where is it?" Glinda growled as she dug through the closet in her and Elphaba's room. "Any other time the stupid thing would be leaning against the wall. But not today. No, not when I need to it."

"Linny…"

"And I know Elphie didn't have it with her." She emerged from the closet, her blond curls in disarray. "Damn it!"

"Hey." Addena reached for her. "Maybe…"

"Don't you dare say maybe we shouldn't go." Glinda pointed at her. "Because I have to go. I have to be there with Elphie." Tears swam in her eyes. "If anything happens to her…"

Addena pulled her into a hug. "Nothing's going to happen to her."

"But what if it does? They're going to face Morrible. And I yelled at her, Dena. I don't want that to be the last thing she remembers between us."

"It won't be." She rubbed circles on her sister's back. "And I wasn't going to say we shouldn't go. I was going to say maybe we should check upstairs in Breena's room."

"That's a good idea." Glinda pulled out of the embrace, grabbing her sister's hand to drag her along as she practically sprinted out of the room.

Addena was lost in thought as she let her sister lead her down the hallway and up the stairs. She had never seen Glinda so determined to do anything in her life. On second thought, yes she had. Her sister had been equally determined to find the Grimmerie after Morrible attacked them at the manor. Both times her single minded concern stemmed from a need to protect Elphaba. Glinda loved her so much she was willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe. Was that really how she felt about Breena?

Fear and anxiety churned in her stomach at the thought. Yes she had been in relationships before but she'd never been in love. At least she didn't think she had. How were you supposed to know what if felt like?

"I'll take the closet, you look under the bed."

Glinda's words barely registered as she continued to contemplate her situation. The moment she laid eyes on Breena she felt a connection. It sounded crazy, but it was true. When she stepped out of her mother's closet and saw Breena standing there her heart skipped a beat and a mass of emotions unlike anything she'd ever felt invaded her senses. It was like having some kind of sickness and the only cure was Breena.

"Got it!" Glinda squealed, furrowing her brow when her sister didn't respond. "Dena?"

"Huh?"

"I found it." Glinda gestured with the broom in her hand. "Now we can… Hey!" She tightened her grip as the broom tried to float out of her hand. "Where do you think you're going?"

Addena frowned. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Not you, the broom."

"The broom?"

Glinda clinched her jaw as the thing tried to slip away again. "Yes, the broom. Apparently it has a mind of its own."

"Brooms don't have minds, Linny."

"Well this one does."

Addena cocked her head as the broom gave another jerk. "Did you do that?"

"No." Glinda put her other hand on the broom stick too. "You better behave or I'll tell Elphie." Her shoulders relaxed when it stopped struggling. "Good…" Was a broom male or female? "Thing."

"I thought you said you knew how to use it."

"I do. Kind of."

"Glinda!"

"But I can get us to the palace." Glinda was quick to reassure her. "I know I can."

Addena shook her head. "If you think I'm getting on that thing you're crazier than I ever gave you credit for."

"But…"

"But nothing." Addena's expression was serious as she looked at her sister. "We're not going to be any good to either of them if we break our necks."

Elphaba and the Wizard chose that moment to walk out of the mirror across the room.

"Someone is breaking necks here too?" The Wizard sat down on the bed. "I'm getting too old for this."

"Elphie!" Glinda launched herself at her lover. "Are you all right?" She pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry about earlier. Say you forgive me!"

Elphaba held her close. "There's nothing to forgive."

Addena saw the blood on the Wizard's sleeve and went to check on him. "What happened?"

"Morrible knew we were there." Elphaba pulled away from Glinda but kept her arm around the blonde's shoulders. "She sent the Gale Force after us and he got shot."

"Shot?" Glinda was shocked.

"I'm fine." The beads of sweat on his brow and paleness of his complexion contradicted his statement.

"I'll be the judge of that." Addena started inspecting his wound.

Glinda held onto Elphie. "Where's Breena?"

Elphaba swallowed hard. "I'm not sure."

Addena's head snapped up. "What do you mean you're not sure?"

"We got separated." The Wizard answered for his daughter. "Morrible showed up as we were about to use the mirror and she shoved Elphaba and I through."

"You mean she's still there? With her?!" The Wizard was forgotten as Addena went to her sister and Elphaba. "We have to do something. We can't just leave her there!"

"Get back!"

All eyes turned toward the mirror when they heard the disembodied voice.

"Breena?" Addena took a step closer to the looking glass.

"No! Get back!!"

"It's her." Glinda tightened her grip on Elphie.

"But why is she telling us to get back?" The Wizard frowned.

It happened so fast none of them could react. Breena came hurtling out of the mirror, slamming into Addena, Glinda and Elphaba as the glass from the palace sliced through the air like daggers. The Wizard used his good arm to cover his head as he threw himself down against the mattress.

"Girls?" He called out from his relatively safe position. "Elpahba? Breena?" He tried again as he pushed himself back up into a sitting position, shards of glass falling to the floor as he moved. "Are you all right?" His heart stopped in his chest when he saw all four of them on the ground, cut and bleeding. "No." The word was barely audible as he climbed to his feet. "Girls?!"

None of them answered.