DISCLAIMER: in the first chapter...

A/N: To my wonderful reviewers!!! I hope this update finds you all well. Please let me know what you think of the road I chose o lead Elphie.

… AND A VERY LONG NIGHT IN THE EMERALD CITY

Pure evil emanated from Morrible as she advanced towards Elphaba and Galinda. They were both paralyzed, like the Wizard had been. Horror was clearly etched upon Galinda's face. Defying Morrible's power and control, Elphaba staggered slightly backwards. That only served to infuriate the older woman further. Her hand flew up and fisted, squeezing her fingers around thin air.

Elphaba doubled over, in horrible pain, hands holding her stomach.

A tiny sob escaped emerald lips before her knees gave way and crashed into the hard floor. No windows or doors were open, yet a heavy wind started circling the room. Again, clearly Morrible's doing. The circle it formed downsized rather quickly and soon surrounded only Elphaba Tiggular, who was leaning forward, hands splayed in front of her body on the floor. Black hair danced in the powerful wind; her face hidden.

"Elphie!!" Galinda screeched.

Elphaba slowly raised her head, face ashen. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Frantic, Galinda started crying. With her last ounce of strength, Elphaba shot Morrible a death glare and then promptly fainted, her body falling sideways.

"Leave her alone!" The Wizard screamed, desperation shinning in his eyes and clear upon his face.

"Oh, why would I do that? Why is this insignificant girl so important to you?" Morrible didn't succeed in hiding her contempt.

"She's… my daughter." Gasps were heard all around. Galinda, her mouth open, stared at the man as if he had grown a second head. His press secretary, on the other hand, smiled evilly, her gaze returning to the unconscious mother to be.

"A child of both worlds. I should have known…" Then, with deliberate slowness, she turned her body completely to face the frozen pair; her face a mask of seriousness. "Now, GAH-linda and Jonathan, I will release you and you will help me carry our little friend here to the Wizard's private quarters. Any call for help or attempts to escape will result in more pain for little, helpless Liir." She paused dramatically, drawing the unborn boy's name. "Are we understood?"

Blonde and gray both nodded, no words uttered.

With difficulty, Galinda and the Wizard carried Elphaba through a long corridor. The blonde girl felt disappointment surge through her when they reached the green double doors that marked their final destination. Jonathon, for his part, had already expected as much. Almost no one was allowed in this part of the castle; better to keep his secrets hidden.

Regret was his only thought.

Elphaba was placed gently on the wide, tall bed. Her skin looked pale next to the shimmering emerald sheets. All through it, she didn't stir. Not when she was laid on the bed, or when Galinda sat next to her. Not even when Morrible shut the doors loudly.

"What have you done to her, Morrible?"

"Oh, nothing permanent…. Yet." She motioned for the old man to sit. He dared not disobey.

The fish like woman practically glided to the other side of the room. From an old looking chest, she withdrew a heavy book bound in leather… The Grimmerie. Holding it as if it was infinitely precious, she brought it closer to the bed where her three hostages waited, eyes fixed on her. With a diminutive move of her hand, Elphaba gasped, her eyes flying open.

At first, she looked around the unfamiliar surroundings. When she registered Morrible and the book she held, she gaze stopped wandering. The older woman looked at her with penetrating malice, a small smirk on the corner of her lips.

"I want you, Miss Elphaba, to cast a little spell for me."

"Absolutely not!" The green girl sat up gingerly, needing the aid of her friend to finally achieve it. "Besides, you know I can't read that."

Morrible shock her head languidly from side to side, her gaze still remaining fixed upon Elphaba. "You and I both know that is not true. You can't fool me, Elphaba. I could feel the power radiating from the Grimmerie the moment you stepped foot in that room." Morrible placed the book gently on the bed. "So, you will cast the spell I want or you will suffer the consequences."

A clenching pain, cutting her belly like a knife, made Elphaba double over; a warning. The mad woman slid the book towards her former student. The dark haired girl hesitated only a second, before grabbing it. A big red ribbon marked the page Morrible wanted her to see.

One look at it, though, was all it took for Elphaba's eyes to become round as saucers and her jaw to drop. "You're mad…"

Another pain pierced through her body and that was all the response she got.

Elphaba breathed in deeply and allowed her lids to fall, wishing it all to be a terrible nightmare. Memories of the future that was no more raced through her mind. Her time, alone in Kiamo Ko… the witch hunters coming up that hill… her elaborated death scene… her final spell. The clouds had gathered around her, power had surged through her like never before and the sight, so clear, of all her regrets enough to drive her insane.

In that field, next to Fiyero, she hadn't really cast a spell. She had simply wished for another chance to make things work, her wish so desperate, that the magic to back it had basically poured out of her.

Spells were unpredictable, magic wasn't.

But the spell Morrible wanted her to perform was an aberration. She couldn't do it. No, just the thought of that retched woman with the power to manipulate anyone she wanted to, with the ability to enshroud anyone's sight at will… It was too horrible to consider.

She wouldn't do it.

Elphaba wasn't really sure how long she spent in quiet contemplation, but it must have been more than Morrible's patience was willing to wait. Another sharp pain hit the green woman in the stomach. Eyes snapped open. Angry gaze settled at the over grown fish in front of her.

"I'm waiting, dearie."

The witch had a retort ready, but the venous words died before they could properly form. A strange flash of red among the overbearing green caught her attention and Elphaba turned to her right, her breath catching at the sight which greeted her.

Liir.

Drenched in blood as he had been the last time she had envisioned him, he stood next to the bed she was lying in. This time, though, he wasn't silently screaming. Just looking at her. After what seemed like an eternity, he reached his tiny hand and touched her arm.

Liir?

Everything faded away after that.