Chapter 16

The

Angel of Darkness

A hard gasp, followed by violent retching filled the empty hallways. Footsteps approached, the sound of heels hitting the limestone marble echoed throughout the chambers. Stopping at the entrance to one of the larger bedrooms, a woman, tall and slender, with short raven hair, and emerald eyes stare wide at the sight before her. Her body trembles, oleander fingers clutch the frame of the doorway, splintering the rock beneath her fingertips, as her emerald eyes shimmer against the tears, bubbling within.

For there, kneeling on her hunches in the center of the room was her Mistress, the emerald Witch; who allowed the Darkness within to consume her whole, sending her soul into a spiral downward plunge into the darkened depths of hell's fire, hunched over retching. Her slender arms wrap loosely around her waist, as a vile, black substance spills forth from her mouth, and splatters to the ground.

Fear gripped tight against Langwidere's heart. Fear for her Mistress, fear for the Darkness slowly consuming her soul, blackening like coal fire, and turning it to ash, awaiting the decrepit wind to sweep past, and be carried off by the whispering winds, the remains scattered amongst the four corners of Oz.

The Great War of Oz had begun but a few weeks prior, and both sides had suffered a heavy loss. The Gnome King and his legion kept to his word, in aiding the emerald witch of the west with his contingent of soldiers, and his magick. And every night, after both sides left the battle field, he returned to his underground kingdom, seeking out the emerald witch.

Approaching the large master bedroom that Elphaba and Langwidere had commandeered as their base of operations, he would stand there, dismissing Langwidere, or most often than not, the guards would be summoned by the great King to literally drag the witch out, binding her to the walls near the door. The punishment for refusing the King's order was to listen to her Mistress's screams of agony, as the King violently raped her night after night, until dawns early light.

The sight was the same as the first time. Langwidere would be released, and trembling, enter the room to find Elphaba, laying twisted on the floor, unconscious, and covered in a sticky, smelly opaque liquid and blood. Fresh bruises lacerations from the whip marred her flesh, mixing with the vile fluids, and turning it a gruesome pink color.

Holding her Mistress in her arms, Langwidere would cradle her head, whilst her nimble fingers gently ran down the length of her slender cheek. Her eyes would tear, as she beheld the pained expression, screaming silently back at her.

Langwidere's heart, cracked little by little as she stared into her Mistress's face, for she knew, the Darkness within her, was slowly killing her. She was dying, little by little, the Light within her, slowly extinguishing beneath the icy breeze of Death, leaving but a hollow shell in its place.
Anger soon flooded Langwidere's heart, eradicating the pain, and stilling her own, for she knew, the violent beginning to this vile nightmare, would not have started, if it had not been for the Prince, and his deceiving harlot, breaking the last restraints that Elphaba had been desperately holding onto in fighting to keep the Darkness at bay. They never knew that from his love, Elphaba fought the Darkness, striving to win back possession over her soul, and dispelling Chaos from her body, and reclaim her life.

But now, none of that mattered, for on that night, seeing her love dance in the sheets with her best friend, shattered the last stand, the final bow had been broken, the magickal seal shattered into millions of crystal pieces. She simply bowed to the Darkness, allowing to once more, swallowing her whole, plunging her soul into the unknown Abyss for all eternity, for there was no reason to fight anymore, not when what she had been striving for, was all for not.

Slowly, long black lashes fluttered; like angelic wings of the Angels above, revealing sparkling ebony to stare empty, back up into Langwidere's glistening emerald. And, out of the corner of her eye, Langwidere watched as slender emerald fingers rose, trembling towards her. Gently, Langwidere laced her fingers with her Mistress's, before bringing their joined hands up to rest against her wet cheek. If the water had caused any pain, Elphaba didn't notice, for everything within her was numb to the frozen abyss sweltering from within.

"My Mistress" whispers Langwidere.

"He betrayed me Langwidere…he betrayed me" whispers Elphaba, her voice weak, and hoarse from screaming. Her throat felt like it was on fire, the skin within, inflamed and torn by the violent acts forced upon it, but mere moments before.

A small stream of blood, dripped out of the corner of her mouth, half staining her pearly teeth, and cresting at her chin, before spilling to the ground.

A small sob, slipped past Langwidere's quivering lips, for she knew all too well, to whom, her Mistress was referring to. Fiyero had been her anchor, the last failsafe at standing against the Darkness, quelling it, before it consumed her whole. And now, because of his betrayal, the Darkness took over, striking her spirit down into the abysmal pits of hell.

The Demon Chaos had won. It had gained control of the most powerful sorceress in all of Oz, and wielding her power, it would finally strike down those who stood in its way of total dominion over this realm, and beyond.

Langwidere peered deep into Elphaba's eyes, what she saw, broke her heart, for there was nothing but frozen emptiness staring back at her. She wasn't there; her mind was gone, splintered beneath the waves of Darkness and chaos. The ribbon of insanity slowly tightening its slithery serpent coils around her, breaking it into a thousand pieces.

Gently, Langwidere pressed a gentle kiss to Elphaba's forehead, as she held her tight, silently crying into the abyss.

Galinda stood alone on the veranda, overlooking the City of Emeralds. Billowing clouds of crimson smoke crested over the horizon as screams pierced the night's sky. The fires, half decimated the city, disintegrating the buildings, making them topple over, crushing those unfortunate enough to avoid its path of destruction. The victims within, their screams echoed throughout the city, as they burned within its fiery tentacles.

Galinda, the Wizard, and Morrible had been busy, running throughout the town, extinguishing as many fires as they could, healing the injured, helping to bury the dead, and saving those trapped within smoldering buildings of ash and fire. So many bodies, so many twisted beneath emeralds, metal and stone, some mashed so severely, that they were almost unrecognizable as being once human.

Closing her eyes, Galinda tried to quell the dizzying nausea washing over her trembling body. She had tried to stay strong, but the horrors of this war were starting to take its toll on her, both mentally and physically.

Fiyero and his men searched through the town, saving those who they could save, battling those who swore allegiance to the emerald witch of Darkness, and burying those who had fallen in battle.

This latest raid had been too overwhelming, leaving the Wizard to order his men, and his witch's to remain within the safety of the Emerald Palace. This alone, was what killed the white witch the most, for hearing the screams of her people, pleading, begging for her help, their agonizing screams of pain and horror as they watched their loved ones, their friends, family, burn to death within the fiery flames of hell.

Tears flooded her eyes, turning away, Galinda placed a delicate hand over her heart as a symphony of screams echoed through ought the city. A dangerous wind billowed past her, sending her golden curls to dance behind her, and the ends of her dark blue dress to tangle within the lost embers from the raging flames.

"Galinda?"

Opening her eyes, Galinda stared back into the pained expression of Fiyero, standing at the doorway. His Gale uniform was torn in several places, blood splattered across his chest, and staining his hands. His hair was disheveled, a few pieces of his bangs swept past his eyes, darkening his appearance, and making the sapphire look dull and empty.

"Fiyero" whispers Galinda.

Choking back tears, Galinda ran towards her Prince.

Opening his arms, Fiyero held the blonde close as she trembled violently against his chest. The tears she had tried to keep at bay, spilled down her face, sparkling like crystal stars against pale porcelain.

"This wasn't' how things were supposed to be" cries Galinda.

"What do you mean?" whispers Fiyero, as he gently brushes his lips against Galinda's forehead.

"She's supposed to be here, standing with us, not against us. This was her dream, to be the Wizard's Grand Vizier, making good, and helping the Animals, the people of Oz, not killing them!" stilling her tears, Galinda pulls away, staring almost darkly back at Fiyero. "But now she's destroying everything she used to stand for! Their blood, their souls are on her hands!" screams Galinda.

"Glin" whispers Fiyero.

Gently, Fiyero's fingers rise up, and lithely touch the side of the blonde's face. The soft pads slowly drift down the slender curvature of her jaw line, before stopping to cup her cheek. His thumb, absently wipes away a few tears.

"Why Fiyero…how could we lose her so easily?" cries Galinda as she buries her face once more against his chest.

Folding his arms around the small of her back, Fiyero gently rests his chin on the top of her head, his sapphire eyes stare out into the fires, burning brightly against the empty backdrop of the night's sky, engulfed in smoke and ash.

"I don't know Lin…I don't know" whispers Fiyero.

Inwardly, Fiyero's heart ached for Elphaba. A part of him, a large part, pulsed in sweet agonizing symphony of guilt and remorse. The last words Elphaba had spoken to him, haunted him, day and night, it didn't matter, her words echoed deep within the chasm of his mind, slowly eviscerating the last strands of his soul.

I gave you my heart…and you shattered it!

Turning away, Fiyero clenched his eyes closed. Instinctively, he tightened his grip around the petite blonde. His heart ached, and tears started to brim within his eyes, tangling within his lashes.

It was true, and he knew it. She had given him her heart, trusted him with her deepest treasure, and he shattered it, raised it high above his head, before throwing it to the ground, watching the pieces spread out before him in a sea of crimson glass and crystal.

Elphaba laid beneath him, the warm chocolate in her eyes sparkled like the stars, such innocence glimmering back at him, it made his heart swell. She looked so lost, so pure, so vulnerable, it almost broke his heart.

"Yero" moans Elphaba.

Slowly, Fiyero lowered his lips down to Elphaba's, and capturing hers lips with his own. He relished in her touch, for her lips felt like Vinkun silk against his flesh, so soft, like rose petals. The taste of her, nearly stole Fiyero's breath away. She tasted exotic, sweet, yet spicy at the same time. Her taste was something he hungered for, yearned for. No one could compare, not even Galinda could sate his thirst.

A low moan slipped past Elphaba's lips at the feel of Fiyero, moving within her, bringing her ever closer to heaven and beyond, her orgasm, cresting just above the horizon.

He pressed another gentle kiss to her lips, before lifting his head. His dark sapphire eyes stared back down at the angel writhing beneath him.

Closing her eyes, Elphaba gently wove her arms around Fiyero's neck, pulling his lips down to nip at the nape of her neck, weakly, Elphaba's slender legs wrapped around Fiyero's waist, allowing the Prince to thrust deeper within her.

"Yero…oh my Yero" moans Elphaba.

That night, when two became one beneath the moonlight, haunted Fiyero the most. It hurt, for he knew that the woman he was making love too, wasn't the demon, it was Elphaba, his Fae. She had regained control of her body, for that moment in time, and that alone, nearly brought the Prince to his knees.

She was so beautiful, like an ethereal angel beneath him, holding him, caressing his skin beneath her fingertips, kissing him with angel wings. Her kisses sent insatiable warmth, to spread across his body, making him feel more alive than he had ever felt before.

His mother had once told him, many years before that when he found his true love, that his heart would meld into hears, beating as one, and that was exactly how it felt, when he and Elphaba made love. His heart touched hers, the two melded, beating as one, and pumping life into both.

When he had made love to Galinda, the feeling, the warmth, was not there. It felt good, he wouldn't deny that, but it wasn't the same. There was no warmth, his heart beat separate from hers. There was not the feeling of being whole, complete, he just felt hollow, empty inside.

After that night, Fiyero left Galinda to sleep beneath the sheets. Kissing her forehead gently, he carefully slid out of bed, and, slipping his robe on, stepped out onto the balcony. Leaning against the edge, Fiyero closed his eyes, as the wind swept past him, tussling his hair, and caressing his skin.

Alone, he enjoyed the quiet solitude only the evening sky could provide. Slowly, he opened his eyes to stare at the Solstice Moon, rising high in the ebony night. A flutter, spread across his heart, as he beheld the pearl of the night sky. A voice, like a whisper on the wind, danced around him, making his heart ache, and his eyes to mist.

It was years ago, back at Shiz. Elphaba and Fiyero were sitting beneath the veranda at a neighboring café near Shiz. The two; as friends, had gone there for supper, and to study. After a great meal, the two sat, looking up at the vast canopy of twinking diamond stars sparkling high in the ebony sky.

"What's with the moon?" asks Fiyero, frowning as he stares up at the pearl of the night, rising high into the sky.

"Yero are you really that brainless? Haven't you learned anything from History?"

"Nope" smirks Fiyero.

"That, is the Solstice Moon, it's when the moon or the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator. In Munchkinland, it's symbolic for it heralds the coming of the Fall, our greatest time for Farming and Celebrations" replies Elphaba, giving Fiyero an incredulous look.

"You throw a celebration in Munchkinland for the Fall Solstice?"

"Yes, our crops are the most profitable then, a lot of our more exotic fruits blossom around this time as well"

"Why celebrate? Fall for us in the Vinkus and other parts around Oz heralds the time when the icy breath of death and snow falls over the land, making all once alive, to sleep beneath the snow, until Spring and things come back to life?" replies Fiyero, confusion flashing across his handsome features.

"We celebrate, because it's another year of life that we survived" answers Elphaba, her voice soft like a rose petal. Slowly, she looks down towards the pavement, sadness sparkling within her eyes.

"Survived?"

"Yes" starts Elphaba, slowly she raises her eyes up to stare back at the moon. "When the Great Drought happened, many of the lands were affected, but none more than Munchkinland. When the Drought occurred, many of the Farmers lost their crop, families starved. We had nothing in which to barter from the neighboring lands, no money. Munchkinland was slowly dying, as well as the people.

"So…why celebrate? "asks Fiyero softly.

"We celebrate life Fiyero…not Death, not the sleeping death that falls over the land, but life itself" answers Elphaba.

Fiyero's breath hitched within his throat at the sight of the emerald witch, staring up at the moon, light sparkling within her eyes, a ghost of a smile on her lips. Bathed beneath the silver moonlight, made her skin sparkle. She looked like an ethereal creature, an angel of the night, beautiful, yet haunting.

On that night, his feelings for the green girl, started to blossom within his heart. That was when he knew, that he was falling in love, and that very idea, scared the hell out of him. Never, had Fiyero fell in love with any girl that he had dated, friend or otherwise.

A ghost of smile slide across his lips remembering the smile gracing her slender lips; a smile that reached all the way to her eyes, making them sparkle.

Another month past, and still the war over Oz's future, had yet to still be determined. Several times, Galinda and Fiyero would stand along the invisible line drawn between the City of Emeralds, and the army of Darkness wishing to gain entry. The vast emerald fields became the fierce battlegrounds. The trees once lining the vast forest were all but instinct, decimated for use on firewood, and camps. Blood stained the grass, and massive bodies half decayed, twisted in metal, littered the ground.

Several times, the two would stand alone, facing the emerald witch and her cohorts of Darkness. And every time, both Fiyero's and Galinda's hearts twisted in agony, as their friend, their lover, glared back at them.

It was, during one battle, that Fiyero had managed to make his way over to Elphaba's side. Drawing his sword, Fiyero made his way over, to where Elphaba stood, using her magick to literally tear pieces of a soldiers body apart.

"Elphaba!" roars Fiyero.

Her head snapped in Fiyero's direction, and once her dark, ebony eyes fell upon him, an evil, twisted smile soon graced her lips. With a wave of her hand, Elphaba sent the garroted corpse to fly off into the distance, before turning to face him, her umbrella clutched tight within her emerald hands.

"Hello handsome…come to tango?" asks Elphaba, her voice dark, acidic.

"Don't make me hurt you please…stop this now, before.." starts Fiyero.

But his words are soon silenced. Elphaba, having stormed up to him, reels her umbrella back, before swinging it towards him, smacking him hard across the face. Blinded by pain, Fiyero doubles over, as the sharp tip of her umbrella is jabbed against his chest.

Laughing maniacally, Elphaba spins, before cracking the steel of her umbrella hard against Fiyero's chest, cracking his ribs, and sending him flying half a meter back to slam into the ground.

Pain, agonizing exploded throughout his chest, making even the simplest effort to breath, difficult. His breathes came short, blood filled his mouth, as the pain pounded against his chest, making tear prick at the sides of his eyes.

Sensing someone standing before him, Fiyero weakly cracks an eye open. There, towering before him, in all her glory, was Elphaba. The skirts of her ebony dress billowed out around her, revealing her slender legs. Her long raven hair danced around her, making her look like a true Angel of Darkness. One emerald hand, touched her hip, the other clutched tight to her umbrella now dipped down towards him, the tip, billowing with ebony fire, was but an inch from his face.

"Now…what shall We do with you pretty boy, singe that handsome face off?" asks Elphaba darkly.

"Fae…please" pleads Fiyero.

Roaring, Elphaba cracks Fiyero hard across the face with her umbrella, before shoving the point against his chest, breaking more of his ribs, and piercing his skin.

"Don't call me that!" roars Elphaba. "Your nothing, but a traitor!"

"I'm sorry…I love you Fae"

"You don't anyone but yourself" snarls Elphaba. "You proved it on that night"

"It was a mistake Fae…I…I don't know" starts Fiyero.

"Don't. Don't you dare claim ignorance with me" Snarls Elphaba.

"Fae, please"

"No! You will not betray Us again!" roars Elphaba.

Fiyero watches, as Elphaba pulls back the umbrella, as she does, an ebony blade shoots out of the tip. Glistening in the moonlight, Fiyero's heart stills, as a great roar escapes out of Elphaba's lips.

"Die!"