Hello all and welcome to chapter 22 of 'Darkness of the Night'. I wrote this and typed this up as fast as I could to make the Sunday deadline I put. I did it in a day! I apologize in advance for any errors because I wanted to get this done on time. This is a very long chapter to make up for the fact that I won't be able to update for a week. I won't say much about it because I don't want to give anything away. All I will say is that there is another special character appearance in this chapter and the setting is at the Palace of the Emerald City. That is all I will say about this. I will be quiet and let you read the chapter. So read and Enjoy!
Nessarose feels a slight uneasiness as she is being escorted down the hall by two, very stoic Gale Force soldiers. She doesn't understand why the Wizard of Oz has asked for an audience with her all of a sudden. The only time has contacted her was when she ascended as the Eminence of Munchkinland and it was a letter sending his congratulations on her ascendance. It was just surprising to see a letter telling her that she was to immediately come to his palace for an important meeting of some kind. She gives a jump when one of the soldiers actually speaks to her after being silent for the entire time she has been here.
"Those are interesting shoes. Where did you get them?"
Nessa blinks her eyes before looking down to her feet. Her ruby red slippers sparkle back up to her, making her heart ache at the sight of these very special shoes. These soldiers don't need to know the real reason but she won't exactly lie either. She will just be vague and hope that it will be enough to satisfy his curiosity.
"They were a gift." The dark haired woman replies with a finality to her voice. The soldier gets the hint and keeps quiet for the rest of the walk until they come to a set of double doors. One of the soldiers opens it up then gestures her to enter the room.
"Thank you." Nessa says softly before she walks in. A chill goes up her spine at the boom of the door closing behind her. Something doesn't feel right here. A slender eyebrow rises up when she sees Gale Force soldiers positioned around, what seems to be a living room. It is decorated with portraits of the Wizard along with green colored sofas. Her heart twists slightly at seeing a bear skinned rug that is between the sofas. That's a horrible sight to see.
"He must be paranoid to have this many guards in this room" She says to herself. Her heart nearly stops beating when Oscar's voice comes from the fireplace where a fire is gently glowing.
"I have to be with this war going on." He answers while he takes his top hat off and sets it onto the mantle. He grabs his emerald staff from the side of the fireplace. Nessa folds her hands in front of her with a soft hmm. She has heard about his crusades against the Animals. She has remained neutral in all of it as she has more important things to deal with in her country. Maybe if she plays dumb she can see what his plans are and if Munchkinland is involved.
"War? What War?" The dark haired woman questions with fake curiosity while she walks towards him but making sure not to step on the bear skin rug. Oscar gives a chuckle as she eyes her sparkling shoes. He remembers that she used to be confined in a wheelchair. How is it that she is walking? He can feel magic coming off these unique shoes in waves. Somebody powerful must have enchanted them to help this woman walk. Why does he have a feeling that Glinda is the one who has done this? Though Oscar will have to ask later because he can't deviate from his plan.
"Come now, the war with the Animals. Surely Elphaba must have told you." He answers while suppressing a smirk at the obvious look of pain on Nessa's face. He knows that she has never heard from the green woman ever since Elphaba has left Shiz to come to meet him all those years ago. The dark haired woman grips her hands tightly at hearing her sister's name out loud. Even after all these years hearing her name being said out loud brings up the immense hurt of losing her. Sure they have never seen eye to eye on many things but it never meant she didn't love her. Nessa regrets that she has never said it enough. Maybe it would have made a difference.
"I…uh…I haven't seen her in years." She tries to keep her voice even to show that what he has said didn't upset her. Oscar's soulful brown eyes sparkle greatly in glee. He cocks his head to the side in fake curiosity.
"She never once tried to visit you?"
Nessa just mutely shakes her head no with a hard swallow. He doesn't know what he is getting at with this. He has to be playing mind games for some political reason. That much she can tell.
"I can take you to her right now. The two of you can have a chat." He reveals his ace in the hole to the dark haired woman. Nessa's eyes go wide as owls at hearing this. Elphaba is here and she can actually see her long lost sister. Nessa tilts her head back to stay her tears before looking to the grinning Wizard. Her mind won't let her process the question on how he got her green skinned sister to be here because her heart just wants to see her sister again.
"Where is she?" She asks. The Wizard points to the door with his cane. He is hoping if he can reunite the two sisters, Nessa could convince Elphaba to have Glinda give up this foolish Animal Resistance fighting. A part of him does want to end it peacefully so he looks better to all the people of Oz and stay in power longer.
"Follow me." Oscar replies as he goes to her before putting an arm around her shoulders. The dark haired woman squirms slightly under his touch but out of respect doesn't move away. With his guidance the two make their way out of the room.
"By the way, where did you get those shoes?"
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Elphaba gives a grunt as she tries to adjust herself in the chair to get comfortable but they tied her arms behind her again. She is in extreme pain after the Wizard beat the shit out of her. It was clear he was trying to intimidate her but all it did was strengthen her resolve. She gives a hiss when bright light fills her cell again. It must be the Wizard coming back for round two of beating her up.
"What one round wasn't good enough for you?" Elphaba asks to the outline of the person standing still in the doorway. The light behind them has cast an overshadow on their face and body so she really can't tell if it's Oscar or not. Her ears twitch when she hears the clicking of heels hitting the stone floor. It's clearly female woman that is with her. It must be Madam Morrible trying to get her to change her mind. This will be fun to see what she will do.
"Elphaba…is that really you?" Nessa asks with her voice thick with emotion when she gets close enough to see the green skin from the light coming from the hallway. She puts a hand to her mouth with tears quickly rolling down her face at seeing her sister in the flesh after all these of absence. Elphaba's mouth opens up while she just stares at her sister, who is no longer confined to a wheelchair and walking no less. She is still beautiful as ever. The years have been kind to Nessa unlike herself.
"Nessa?" The green woman's voice cracks. The Wizard looks at the reunited sisters with a smirk. Things are going as plan. He will give them "alone" time. Oscar snaps his fingers and the unlit torches in the room magically light up.
"I'll be waiting out here." He says as he walks out of the room with the door closing behind him but leaves it open a crack so he can listen in.
Nessarose doesn't know what to say or feel at this moment. So she keeps quiet as she walks closer to her sister. Elphaba is silently crying for she is just happy to see her in the flesh. Maybe she can apologize for all she has done.
"Nessa, I-"
The green woman's speech was caught off by a hard slap to her cheek. She gives a very painful wince at the sting of the slap plus her sister managed to hit a cut given to her by the Wizard. She knows she deserves that hit from her sister and anything that is thrown at her.
"This is how we see each other after all these years, Elphaba. The Wizard had to drag your butt here for me to see you when you had plenty of opportunities in the past 11 years. You abandoned me." Nessarose starts to rant off the speech she has had in her head ever since Glinda came back to Shiz alone. She has never felt so betrayed in her life when the green woman left her like a new born calf. Thank Oz for Glinda being there for her. The two of them never would have made it through these years until Glinda's death supposedly by her sister's hand.
"I know." Elphaba whispers with her eyes casting down to the ground in shame. Everything the dark haired woman has said so far is true. She had many opportunities to see Nessarose but she became paranoid and scared that the Wizard had people following her. If she visited her sister in Munchkinland they would use her as leverage so the green woman just stayed away for Nessa's protection.
"Do you really? The pain you've cause me, the doubt that you ever cared or loved me! I-"
Nessa stops midway when she points her finger at the dejected Elphaba when she noticed blood on her finger from the soft glow of the flames. Her eyebrows knit together as she opens up her hand only to gasp at seeing half of her hand is covered in blood. It must have happened when she slapped her sister. The dark haired woman sharply looks to the green woman and her eyes widen in horror when she sees the damaged to the green colored face. Her bottom lip is swollen with a cut on it. Her right cheek has a three inch cut that is bleeding from her hit along with her left eye is black and blue with a cut going around the eye socket.
"What has he done?" Nessa questions as she quickly goes to her sister's side. Oscar didn't say anything about her looking like this. Elphaba closes her eyes when a sisterly touch cups her non injured cheek. It brings back the memories of all their times together growing up. The two always had each other's back no matter what.
"He beat me up to try and get me change my mind about convincing Glinda to give up in this war." Elphaba replies with a sniffle but she can't stop the tears especially after feeling the touch. Nessa exhales shakily before quickly pulling her hand away when she hears Elphaba saying Glinda's name as if the good witch is alive. She has been mourning her dear friend ever since she has heard the new.
"Glinda…she's alive?" The dark haired woman questions in a wavering voice. This is beginning to be all too much to comprehend. She thought that Glinda has been dead for over a year. Though she never did believe that Elphaba did it like everybody has been saying.
"She is. The Animal Resistance saved her." The raven haired beauty pauses for a second and looks at her with trepidation. Does her sister think she is the killer?
"Please, don't tell me you think I would do something like that to her?"
Nessa gives a soft smile before shaking her head, much to the relief of the green woman. The brown haired woman sits on the edge of the table, with her hands on her lap.
"Of Course not. I knew how devout you were to her and her you." Nessa replies while locking eyes with her beaten up sister. There is so much they need to discuss but she feels like the Wizard won't give all them all the time in the world to resolve their issues.
"It's all his fault. His soldiers were the ones who did it. She almost died to save me. Please don't let him pull the wool over his eyes. He is not as wonderful as everybody thinks he is." Elphaba pleads to her sister, hoping that what is left of their sisterly bond will bring Nessa to their side. The brunette stays silent for what seems like forever before she gets off the table. She bends her knees slightly and puts her hands on the side of the green skinned face. She still has a sense of loyalty to her sister. Something the Wizard will never break even after these years of not seeing her sister.
"I would believe you over him any day. You're my sister Elphaba." Nessa whispers before she notices that Elphaba has tears on her face but no visible burn marks. How is this possible? For as long as she has known her sister water always burned the green flesh. It has to be a miracle for this to happen.
"How are your tears not burning you?" The dark haired woman questions as she uses her thumbs to wipe away the tears. The raven haired beauty a wry chuckle at such a question. She is one to talk. Nessa is actually walking and not using a wheelchair.
"You're walking. Care to explain that?" Elphaba shoots back with a crooked smile. Nessa looks down to her feet before standing up. She grabs a portion of her dress and lifts it up to reveal the ruby red slippers. The raven haired beauty looks down to have her brown eyes widen in astoundance at what she sees. Those look like the silver slippers Father gave her sister but these shoes are a beautiful red color.
"You remember the slippers father gave me?"
Elphaba nods her head mutely as she watches the dress fall back to its original place. Their father gave her sister those slippers to her as a gift on their first day at Shiz. How she envied those shoes for the longest time.
"Glinda enchanted them years ago to make me walk." The dark haired woman finishes her answer. The green skinned woman gives a soft smile and shakes her head. Leave it to the good witch to do something like this. She will have to thank Glinda if she makes it out alive. She blinks her eyes slightly because they are digressing from their original topic
"Listen Nessa, I need you to do something." Elphaba begins. She knows if she dies Glinda will be vulnerable again. Her sister would be much help if she took care of the blonde in the wake of her death. Nessa gets closer to her to hear what she has to say.
"What? I can get you out of here if that is what you want. Just let me talk to him." Nessa says as she looks to the partially open door. She will go to the Wizard and use her political title to get the green woman out of here. Then she will bring her aid if need be. Elphaba just shakes her head no at this. Oscar would just come after her sister too. She wants her to stay out of all of this as much as possible. Nessa gives a confused look.
"No, I have accepted my fate. I want you to go back to Munchkinland where you will be safe. Once this is over Glinda will need you. I want you to take care of her, like I know you've done when I left her." Elphaba answer with a lump forming in her throat. She just got reunited with her sister and she will never see her again. The raven haired beauty knows this is the Wizard doing to try and break her down. She has to admit that this really is taking all of her strength not to give in. Nessa shakes her head because she doesn't understand this. It's like Elphaba is thinking she going to die.
"Elphaba, I-"
"Please don't ask. It's better you don't know. Just do what I ask of you." Elphaba interrupts because she thinks the less the dark haired woman knows the better. She swallows hard at the distressed look on her sister's face. It must be like Shiz all over again for her. This is hard for her to do this again but she has to. Nessa uses her finger to brush away the tears from her eyes. She needs to stay strong. She isn't that young, scared woman all those years ago.
"Go. Don't let him twist your mind with lies." The raven haired beauty continues with her voice wavering in its resolve. The dark haired woman nods her reluctantly. She knows that there is no way she could convince her hard headed sister otherwise. Nessa walks to her before she places a loving kiss on top of the dark locks. Elphaba closes her eyes tightly with tears streaming down her face. Why are the gods so cruel to her? She feels her sister's presence slowly leave her side as Nessa walks to the door. The dark haired woman pauses at the door before turning her head around to look at her sister one more time.
"I never stopped loving you." Nessa reveals before she opens the door and slowly walks out with a stiff upper lip. Elphaba watches her disappear with a heavy heart while she keeps herself from yelling her to come back. This is how it has to be. At least she got to see her sister one more time before she dies.
"I must admit you're stronger than I thought. Shame you have to die after just reuniting with your sister." The Wizard appears in the door frame with an arrogant smirk. Elphaba sharply looks to him while gritting her teeth in anger. It she wasn't restrained she would be kicking his ass right now.
"Fuck you." She gives her reply with venom in her voice. Oscar laughs at this before grabbing a hold of the door. He beat her badly and she still has that mouth on her, even after seeing her sister. Shame she has to die but really is happy to do it to bring down Glinda.
"Oh Elphaba, I hope those won't be your last words." He says before he shuts the door, plunging the room back into darkness as the torches go out the second the bang happens. Elphaba hangs her head low while she starts to cry out her despair. Her hope of getting out of here is slowly diminishing. Soon there will be nothing left for her to cling onto anymore and all will be lost.
Thus endeth the chapter. I know Nessa isn't like much like how she is in the book or Musical. I wanted to make her more likeable in this story to show that even after all these years she still loves and cares for Elphaba as a sister. I hope you liked this chapter and thank you again to LuciferOfTheSouthPole for giving me the idea in the first place. I hope you enjoyed it. Anyways I will see you in the next chapter which contains the characters: Rain, Glinda, Chistery, Elphaba and the Wizard. In that order I do believe. I will see you all after I come back. Until then.
DWK