The journey lasted two more peaceful days until they reached the Vinkus. It was a damp land of swamps and marshlands. A strange odor rose from the ground that Isabelle could not place, but it burned her nose and eyes. However, the two of them kept riding through. From the road they could see the castle in the foothills of the mountains ahead. Isabelle's spine quivered at the sight of where her mother had died, but she showed no sign of weakness to Raiden. He watched her like a hawk.
As they neared the castle, they noticed that the village nearby was abandoned. Houses left to ruin, scattered clothing disintegrated to taters with age, and dust covering everything. It seemed suspicious, but neither opinionated their fears. Perhaps the 'Wicked Witch' stories scared them away a long time ago, Isabelle thought to herself. The castle itself was left in array as they discovered. From the outlook of it, it seemed run down and old. Barely pushing the door in opened it.
Raiden and Isabelle quietly stepped inside. The entrance way was dark and dreary. Tapestries hung from the ceiling, covering any sunlight that would otherwise enter the room. Despite being so dark, everything was beautiful to them once their eyes adjusted to the darkness. Artwork draped the walls and added some color to the room. In front of them lay a stairwell leading up to the second floor.
"Do you want me to come up there with you?" Raiden asked.
"Until we reach my mother's room, yes," she replied. "From there, I want to go in alone like we discussed."
"Alright," he said.
Both of them started up the stairs. Isabelle grasped Raiden's hand for security. Each stair that passed added a new fear to her mind. The staircase twisted and wound until it reached the top of a tower. At the top there was a door. For a moment, Isabelle stared at the door in wonder. This was really it, her mother's room. Deep down inside, she could feel it.
"This is it," she sighed as she turned to face Raiden.
"Your mother's room?" Raiden asked.
"Yes, I just know it is," she replied.
"I will wait out here for you," he said.
Isabelle nodded and turned around to face the door again. Her emerald hand was shaking in anticipation as she reached for the doorknob. She twisted the knob and opened the door. Quickly, she slipped inside and shut the door. Once she was inside, she was amazed at the sight before her.
Everywhere there were trinkets and things that belonged to Elphaba. All was in perfect condition. Tears brimmed in the corners of Isabelle's eyes, threatening to fall down her cheeks and burn them, but she did not care. Softly she ran her fingers over every item, wondering if her mother had actually touched it at one time. On a desk there were diagrams, books, and maps of every size shape and origin. Papers were scattered with writing on them. The same handwriting as was on her letter that she received from her mother. Isabelle could not believe the sight before her. It was all real and she could touch it with her own hands.
From the desk, she wandered to the bed. It was neatly made with a few things scattered over it. A small bottle of oil laid on it. She used the same thing I do now for my own skin, Isabelle thought. At the sight of this, she cracked a small smile. However, something caught her eye on the edge of the bed. She picked it up and upon examination, discovered that it was a baby blanket. A small, pink one with embroidery on it. The embroidery was in the corner and read Fabala Nessarose in green letters.
This is my baby blanket. She kept it when she gave me up. It must have been scattered with her other things when the castle was attacked. Still, I cannot believe that this is truly real. My mother cared for me and now I will never meet her.
Isabelle sat on the bed and hugged the baby blanket to her chest. Moments later she laid back onto the bed. She could smell her mother in the pillows and blankets. It was a soft smell of oil and flowers. Isabelle could almost imagine her mother lying there beside her. As she laid there, Isabelle glanced to the corner where she saw a cape and hat hanging on a small rack. Out of curiosity, she got up and walked over to the rack to further investigate these items.
The cape was long and made of black silk. It ran through Isabelle's fingers smoothly. She could see her mother flying high above Oz with it trailing behind her. A faint smile passed Isabelle's lips as she grabbed the cape and draped it over her own shoulders. The cape felt light around her. Her sight then moved to the hat sitting on top the rack. It was a black, pointed hat. Mostly plain and simple for all that it was worth. Gently, she lifted it off the rack and placed it on her head. Slowly, she turned to gaze at herself in a nearby mirror.
Wow, so this is what my mother would have looked like in all this. She must have been taller than me because this cape is a slight bit too long. Still, I feel her in this room and in everything I touch or see.
Isabelle could not help but wish that her mother were right next to her. A sense of longing fell over her as she continued to stare in the mirror. Moments later, she sighed and began taking off her mother's things and placing them back on the rack where she found them. Everything but the black hat went back on the rack. She decided that it would be her item to keep of her mother's. Isabelle began to walk out of the room when a voice startled her.
"Who are you and why are you here?" the voice asked.
A/N: Ok, I am really sorry this wasn't longer. I had to cut it here at the cliffhanger to make the next chapter make sense. Dun dun dun…until next chapter.