A/N: Wishing everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas! :)
Chapter 16
Elphaba made her way to the infirmary, carrying a tray of food. Glinda had offered to spit in said food because she knew it was going to the Wizard but her friend had declined her invitation, surprised that the blonde had said such a thing, and then of course, Glinda offered to enchant it. Again Elphaba declined. Upon passing Fiyero with the tray, he too offered to add a little something extra to the food and she promptly reminded both of them that they needed to be better than their enemy. The two of them nodded in understanding but she wondered if they really meant it. Elphaba knew that they were only looking out for her and in some way it was a sweet gesture despite what it called for.
"So did you spit in it or did you have the blonde whip something up?" Oscar asked as she approached the cell with the food.
"Honestly," Elphaba rolled her eyes as a Palace Guard opened the door. He moved in and quickly aided the prisoner in sitting up before making sure all of the remaining shackles were in place. The green woman placed the tray on his lap and then moved out of the cell before it was locked again. The Wizard noted that all he had was wooden utensils and they would be no help in getting himself free.
"Has he been behaving himself?" Elphaba asked Chistery who had offered to keep an eye on him with the other Guards. The two of them moved out of earshot to have a private conversation.
"So far," the Flying Monkey said.
"How are your brothers?" She wanted to know.
"Free of their spell and quite ashamed. I fear they will not be able to help in the search for Master Fiyero's parents," he heaved a sigh and the witch put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"We have another lead we're going to run down in the morning with Avantador. Do you think that your fellow Monkeys wouldn't mind helping you keep an eye on him?" She jerked her head toward the Wizard.
"Oh they would jump at the chance to restore their honor," Chistery assured her.
"Good," Elphaba nodded and then she moved closer to the cell.
"Now, I want to have a conversation with you but only if you think you can manage the truth," the green girl looked at her father.
"Depends on the truth you want," he played coy. Elphaba heaved a sigh and took a seat in a nearby chair.
"My mother. Did you love her or was she just another notch on your belt? Or worse still, did you take without asking?" She asked.
"Your mother and I had a wonderful relationship. I often asked her to leave her husband but she refused, afraid of his temper, I always assumed, though once she told me that if her husband found out, it could be the death of us both. Perhaps that's why our relationship was so hot and heavy. It was predicated on danger," Oscar told her. Internally, she wanted to gag but she had to ask.
"Frex was well known for his temper, something he often used on me while giving my sister preferential treatment. I had no idea he was not my father until recently and I suppose he always knew that I was the product of an affair," Elphaba told him. It was then that she saw something soften in the Wizard's eyes and she was utterly befuddled by it.
"I am sorry. I did not know that," he said, his tone had changed.
"Nothing to be done about it now. I've dealt with people being mean to me my entire life, a product of my skin color and later because of the power I possess," she shrugged before changing the topic.
"Why would Morrible transfer her power to you? Glinda may have scared you out of the Emerald City but it is quite obvious you did not leave Oz as we had all suspected. What made you stay, I mean despite being unable to return to your world, you could have gone to Ix or other lands."
"The first one, I can't say. I suppose that she hated you enough that she wanted me to become the only person to try and take you down. As for the second one, I thought that maybe someday, after things had cooled down, I might find the woman I had loved in Munchkinland but as I found out, she was gone and she had been for some time. Of course that was before the lightning strike," he admitted.
"Another instance of my father, I'm afraid. Sometimes I wonder if the milkflowers were her punishment for stepping out on him and the unintended death that came with it, allowed him the access to punish me as he saw fit. Without Mother around, there was no one to protect me," Elphaba supposed. Oscar gave her a look,
"He had no proof that you weren't his daughter."
"Oh I think the birth of Nessa gave him enough proof. She and I did not share many of the same physical traits despite being sisters. Not only was she not green but her features were more feminine and she looked more like mother. I seem to take after my real father," she pointed out. To this Oscar only shrugged. They would never have the final answer as Frex was dead.
"Now, while my family is in ruins, Fiyero's does not need to be. Where are Fiyero's parents?" Elphaba asked.
"Oh come on now. I can't tell you that. It's really the only reason to keep me alive isn't it?" Oscar asked.
"Not really. Glinda has sent for the Gale Force. Captain Asli will be here in a matter of days and he will take you back to the Emerald City where you will be put on trial as I said you would," the green woman said.
"You think they will convict? I am the Wonderful Wizard after all," the smirk was back and Elphaba was beginning to wonder if Morrible had done more than just transfer her powers.
"They will now that you've been caught in a lie once, no one will be in a hurry to stand up to you, especially now since the attack on the Vinkus," with that she stood and turned to Chistery.
"If he tries to escape, you have my authority to do whatever you deem necessary," she said.
"Does that include death?" Chistery asked, knowing that if the Wizard got free of his magical cell, it could spell doom for everyone there.
"It does," and with that Elphaba left the room.
To Be Continued…