Hello all! Welcome to chapter 3 of "The Darkness of the Night" I won't give much away about this chapter because I want you to read in anticipation on what is going to happen next. It does start off with Elphaba still in the carriage but she soon drifts off into the realm of dreams. That's all I'm going to say about this chapter. Also, the ending I kind of used Mass Effect 3 for inspiration. If you've played the game then you can guess what I mean by that. Anyways, read and enjoy the next installment!
Chapter 3
Elphaba gives a big yawn while her whole body gives a shake. She blinks her weary eyes then rubs them to keep herself awake. She doesn't know how long they have been riding but it feels like days have gone by. She feels bone weary like she has run for hours without stopping. Is this what losing your better half feels like? The green woman wishes there is a spell to take away this pain in her chest. It throbs in a constant sharp pain like a knife is buried deep into her heart and is twisted repeatedly. Elphaba gives another shuddering yawn and sags down in her seat, putting up her feet onto the seating across from her. The gentle rocking of the carriage along with the pitter patter of the rain is making her even more tired. The green woman tips her hat at an angle so it covers her eyes. She holds her black closer to her body for a make shift blanket. Maybe she can escape into the dream world for a little bit. She hopes that it will be better than her horrible real life. With a soft exhale through her nose Elphaba's body gives into exhaustion.
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"Elphie"
Elphaba's eyes move under her eyelids at hearing this melodic voice ringing in her ears. Her eyelids are like lead, keeping her eyes in the dark to whoever is calling out to her. Though she didn't have to open her eyes to know who is saying her name. A part of her didn't want to see because all it will do is bring up the pain and loss of her love.
"Elphie, come on. Wake up already. I don't have much time here." Came a voice with much exasperation as a hand lands on Elphaba's body to shake it. The green woman's eyes slowly open up on hearing what was just said to her. What does it mean there isn't much time? Her heart stops beating for a split second at seeing a flash of golden locks and crystal blue eyes looking down at her. There is a soft giggle and a warm touch on her cheek.
"Elphie."
Elphaba inhales sharply as she juts up into a sitting position with her eyes wide as an owl. She sees Glinda is sitting by her side with a loving smile gracing her face. Tears instantly go to the green woman's eyes at seeing her dead lover before her.
"Glinda."
A green hand reaches forward and the tips of her fingers just brush against the pale skin. Her heart is pounding in her chest when she feels warmth. A part of her feared that her touch would go through the blonde witch's face and all of this is just to mock her of what she use to have, what she has lost
"I know this is a dream but it's really you." Elphaba says breathlessly as she greedily cups the cheek to feel her lover again. Glinda nods her head before leaning forward and gently presses her lips against the trembling, green ones.
"Yes, it's me Elphie." Glinda whispers against the lip before kissing them again. Elphaba feels tears running down her face but thankfully in her dreams they don't burn her. She wants this moment to last; she didn't want to wake up from this wonderful dream. She puts her hands on the slender shoulders and pushes on them slightly to giver herself much needed air but doesn't want to break the contact by keeping their foreheads touching. Elphaba opens her mouth to say something but can't find the right words to express her grief and regrets.
"Glin, I'm so sorry. If it weren't for me leaving you wouldn't have d-"
Elphaba's apology is cut short by a slender finger touching her lips. The green woman gives a shudder at the familiar gesture Glinda would do to shut her up. The blonde woman gives a slight smirk before running her fingers through the thick, raven locks.
"Hush now, Elphie. What happened had to happen." Glinda says as she uses the back of her hand to caress the green cheek with affection. Elphaba breathes softly through and leans into the touch before grabbing hold of the moving appendage. She turns her head towards the hand then places a loving kiss on the fingers. Glinda watches this gesture with her eyes glistening with tears.
"No, it didn't. If I just got on the train with you, you would still be alive and we'd be together. Both happy and in love." Elphaba whispers against the pale flesh before kissing it again. Glinda gives a heavy sigh at hearing this and pulls her hand away to put it on her lap. She grips her hands tightly as her eyes move back and forth in thought.
"It wouldn't have mattered, Elphie. Even if you came back and we stayed together throughout Shiz or beyond it. You still would have left. Your sense of justice is too strong. Something would have happened that would have pulled you away from me. It is always inevitable." Glinda explains how the two of them would always be pulled away from each other no matter the situation. Be it being they would still be in Shiz or married with children of their own, Elphaba would have left to fight the Wizard and the injustice he inflicts on animals. Glinda would always be alone. Elphaba gives a shaky exhale at hearing this hurtful truth and looks away so she can't see the painful look etched on her dead lover's face. She blinks her eyes when she notices a very familiar setting the two of them are in. It's the room they shared in Shiz. The raven haired beauty looks down to see the grey, scratchy bed spread that would always grace her bed during the time she lived on campus. Elphaba picks at one of the gray fuzzies up before looking to the blonde with a confused look.
"Why are we here?" Elphaba questions as she flicks the fuzzy onto the floor. Glinda's eyes soften at the question before looking at the place that held so many good memories for her.
"I wanted our conversation to be in a place that invokes good memories for the both of us." Glinda answers as she locks eyes with her green lover. Brown eyes soften at hearing this and the curves of her green lips go up into a smile. Glinda starts to smile at seeing those luscious lips turn into a smile. She always told the raven haired beauty needs to smile more. It made her heart flutter at seeing the rare gesture being used by the usually stoic woman.
"This place does hold some good memories." Elphaba agrees as she looks around to think of all the times they spent in here. She blinks her eyes and tenses slightly when the door to the room opens up. She is afraid that something bad will come through to ruin this dream she is having with Glinda. Her eyes widen when she a young Glinda stumbling into the room in a fit of giggles before turning towards the open door.
"By Oz Elphie, I can't believe you did that." The dream Glinda manages to say through her laughter. Elphaba then sees the young version of herself come strolling in with a mischievous smirk on her face with deep chuckles coming from her lips. The green woman gives a shiver when a warm breath puffs onto her ear.
"I remember this day. You pulled the prank on Madam Morrible. She never found out who put that balloon filled with whipped cream on her chair but that is not why I like to think of this day often." Glinda whispers into the green ear. Elphaba knows what the good witch is talking about with this particular memory. She is just wondering why it is playing before them.
Dream Elphaba closes the door to the room before turning towards dream Glinda with a loving smile.
"Well, I didn't like how she treated you last week. So I gave her a tiny payback." The dream, green woman answers as she reaches forward and affectionately tucks some of the golden curls behind her lover's ear. Dream Glinda's face turns a light pink and gives a girlish giggle at the gesture. The raven haired beauty is never one to be overly affectionate or huge romantic gestures but whenever she gives a touch or buys something she knows the blonde will like, it makes Dream Glinda's heart flutter and her stomach do flips.
"You're too sweet, Elphie." Dream Glinda whispers before she gets closer to her lover and gets on her tippy toes to place a kiss on the green cheek. Instantly, the green skin turns into a deep shade of emerald. Dream Elphaba gives a slight couch into her hand. They have been together for a little over a year and she still blushes whenever the blonde gives her any type of affection. Dream Glinda still enjoys seeing that reaction from the raven haired beauty, it means she still got it. The blonde gives a wink before she starts to walk towards the bathroom to freshen up before they go out.
"Oooh." Dream Glinda says when a tug on her hand stops her from going anywhere. She inhales sharply when she is pulled around and into Dream Elphaba's warm body. The green woman wraps one of her arms around the lithe waist of her blonde lover and her eyes bore deeply into the crystal, blue ones
"Elphie, what is it?" Dream Glinda asks with her eyes moving back and forth in question. This is most unexpected. The green throat constricts at what Dream Elphaba finally has the courage to say to her lover. The green woman gives a shaky exhale and looks down slightly, which makes Dream Glinda tense up. She is worried that this will be a conversation she doesn't want to have.
"Glinda, there has been something on my mind for a while and I can finally say it to you." Dream Elphaba pauses her speech and takes a deep inhale of breath. Her palms start to tingle; she didn't realize how nervous she really is. She locks with nervous looking blue eyes. It is now or never before she chickens out.
"I…this is something I've wanted to tell you but never had the courage to say until now. Glinda, I love you." The green woman finally admits how she truly feels about the woman before her. Dream Glinda's heart jumps up into her throat at hearing the three words that reflect how she feels about Dream Elphaba. Her eyes soften as she reaches up and gently cups a green cheek. Dream Elphaba closes her eyes at the touch and leans into it. She feels a weight being lifted off her shoulders at the admission. The green woman realized this feeling a while ago but to stay it out loud, even though she had a feeling Dream Glinda felt the same thing, scared her. She has never felt this way about anybody before. Dream Elphaba inhales deeply when warm lips are pressed against her own. She pulls the blonde flush against her body and deepens the kiss. Her body gives a shiver when the hand slides past her cheek, brushes under her ear and pushes into her thick, raven locks. Dream Glinda pulls away a tiny bit to keep the intimacy high.
"I love you too, Elphaba." The blonde woman whispers against the green lips before leaning back into a passionate kiss. Elphaba wraps both of her arms around the blonde's waist and lifts her up, earning a muffled surprise squeak. She carries Dream Glinda towards the bed where the real Elphaba and Glinda are sitting. As she gets closer the two women fade away.
Elphaba gives a sniffle and wipes away the tears that have been running down her face. This is just a reminder of what she has lost and will never have again. Glinda gets behind her grieving lover and rests her chin on a shaking shoulder.
"I love you Elphaba. I always will, in life and death." Glinda whispers as she wraps her arms around the skinny body. She closes her eyes and inhales deeply just to smell the sandalwood one more time. The good witch wants this dream to never end but things need to continue on ward. Elphaba needs to wake up.
"Now, listen to me. You need to stay safe and hidden. Don't do anything that will attract attention to you. I know you are an attraction." Glinda says with a soft giggle before kissing the shoulder her head is resting on. Elphaba gives a watery chuckle, the blonde knows her so well.
"Now, you need to wake up.
Elphaba exhales sharply and turns her head towards Glinda. She doesn't want to wake up. She wants to stay in this dream forever, just to stay with the blonde and be with her with nothing standing in her way.
"No! I don't want to. I can stay here with you." The green woman replies desperately but Glinda just shakes her head and cups the raven haired beauty's face. This is not her fate to be stuck in a dream for all eternity. She needs to be read for what is to come.
"You have to wake up. You need to be read for what is to come. Wake up."
Glinda leans forward and kisses the green forehead. Elphaba closes her eyes and inhales slightly. She knows that she has to wake up even though she doesn't want to. She is wondering what the good witch means by 'be prepared for what is to come'. Elphaba feels her mind starting to leave the dream world. She quickly blurts out before they are separated again.
"I love you Glinda"
Then the world goes black. A chest suddenly heaves as they come back to the real world. The eyes slowly open up to reveal crystal, blue eyes.
Oooooh….is Glinda alive? Or am I just teasing you about it. You will have to wait next week to see what the next chapter is going to be about. Muuaahahahaha. Till then, my darlings!
DWK