AN: Ummm hey there? Please don't kill me for disappearing! Life has gotten busy with preparations for school in New York, plus the bet I had going with Exotic Peach Blossom, who must now update because I have lol. I have to figure out how to pack for several months into 2 suitcases and a carry on, which is harder than it sounds. Exotic Peach Blossom, thank you so much for agreeing to beta for the rest of the story and I really appreciate the chance I have been given to get to know you better through e-mail and messaging on here! This one is for you!

Oscar paced the floor in his study. It had been two days since Elphaba had been kidnapped, and there hadn't been any sightings of either Frex, or her. Oscar was worried over the fact that there had not been any demands for ransom either.

Melena watched him, worry evident in her dark eyes. Worry for Oscar, for Fiyero, and perhaps most of all, for Elphaba.

"Oscar, you can't keep doing this to yourself! You need to stay strong! Elphaba is going to need you when we bring her home."

At this, Oscar whirled around, his dark eyes, so much like Elphaba's, flashed in anger.

"Oz Dammit Melena! How can I be there for her if she comes home when I couldn't protect her in the first place? I wasn't there for her for the first 16 years of her life and now it seems I can't protect her even now that I have found her! It's my fault! I should have been able to protect her!" Melena did not flinch at his harsh tone.

"You have to keep faith. Trust your men, you know them, and they are loyal to you and love Elphaba dearly! They will do anything for you and her… they'll find her and bring her back safely. No one could have foreseen this. We all thought the issue was done after the ball."

"I SHOULD HAVE! I am her father! And what do fathers do? They protect their daughters and it seems I have failed in that. What if she's hurt? She's probably terrified!" with that, Oscar's strength seemed to fail him and he collapsed to his knees, his hands covering his face as he sobbed out his fear and worry.

Melena rose gracefully from her perch in the window sill and wrapped her arms around him. "Hold on Oscar. They will find her and bring her home. You have to believe that. I know they will! And in the meantime, if Elphaba is anything like her father," she gave Oscar a knowing smirk, "she will do everything she can to get away and back to safety. She will not give up. What do you intend to tell her while she was gone? How you sat around and moped like a child or would you rather show her the strong, fearless father she wants and loves?"

"And what if we don't find her, then what?" At that Melena got truly angry.

"Oscar Gabriel Diggs this is not the man neither Elphaba nor I know and love. That man would not be thinking like that. The man we know would be out there searching right alongside his men and not thinking about his daughter's possible death. That is not going to happen!" With that she hauled him up to his feet and sent a messenger to summon the Captain of the Guard.

Elphaba was not going to just sit there and do nothing while Frex tried to sell her off. After her crying jag, she set to work attempting to undo the rope tied around her wrist. Despite her efforts, the rope stayed tight around her wrist. Elphaba regretted kicking her shoes off when she had said goodnight to Fiyero at her door. If anything, she felt she would have been able to break the heel and saw through the rope. As untying it had not worked, she looked around the room for anything she might be able to use to cut through it. Seeing nothing she muttered in frustration and started to lose hope. She would just have to try and fight through whatever came next. She quickly stifled any sounds she was making when Frex came through the door, talking to the shortest blonde woman Elphaba had ever seen.

"I am so sorry Avaric couldn't make it today Master Frex. He had some other business to attend to and sent me to look over the new merchandise and make sure it is everything he wants. You know, make sure it is 'pure.'" The blonde woman giggled, before elbowing Frex in the side.

Elphaba grew angry at this and gave a low growl of frustration. Though muffled, the sound still reached the woman's ears.

"Oh that is quite all right my dear. I can handle the product for as long as needed. Tell me however, does Master Avaric know when he might be able to personally oversee what he is purchasing?"

"It should be just a few days hence. I need to spend some time alone with the girl. I need to make sure she is everything Avie has been looking for. This one will not be sold to just any man, but will be going to some very interesting clientele. So would you please leave? I can let myself out when I am done." Frex hesitated, before nodding and leaving the room. The woman waited until she heard the front door to the building close before she turned to look at the girl in front of her.

Elphaba studied the petite woman in front of her and saw something flash in her eyes. She could have sworn it was recognition, but it was gone to quickly to be sure. She looked up at the blonde powder puff with fire in her eyes.

"I may be a teenager tied to a wall, but I will overcome whatever it is you and your sick perverted boyfriend have in store for me. I will not make it easy! I will not submit! My father will come for me and then you'll be sorry! I won't let you do this to me! How much of a coward is this boyfriend of yours anyways?" Elphaba sneered at the woman. "To send his girlfriend to do his dirty work?"

"Elphie! Would you please be quiet for a clock tick!" Elphaba blinked, taken aback. She looked at the woman warily. "Why did you call me Elphie?"

"Well your name is Elphaba is it not? Elphie is just perkier!"

"So you would change my name too for these clients?" Elphaba spat at the woman, who simply sighed and shook her head.

"All right. Let me start at the beginning," She paused to collect her thoughts. "My name is Galinda Upland, and I am a friend of your fathers. And I am not here to hurt you." Elphaba raised an eyebrow in response.

"Really? Because that is not what I am hearing with all this talk about clients and being pure! Forgive me if I do not believe you!" spat Elphaba.

"Please be quiet and let me explain. I know who you are. You are the daughter of the Wizard of Oz. I am an undercover agent working for your father and the Gale Force to bust a major child prostitution ring here in the Emerald City. I am posing as the girlfriend to the man we believe is the head of this ring. Please…trust me Elphie…I am not here to harm you. Only to do what I can to help you." At this Elphaba's eyes lit up.

"You're going to get me out of here?"

"Unfortunately, no. I can't do that, not without jeopardizing myself, you and the others involved in this. I can however, let your father know where you are and the Gale Force will take it from there. If I untie you, it will raise Frex's suspicions and you won't be safe until he is caught. I need you to be patient and do whatever you can to not anger either Frex, or Avaric."

At the mention of Avaric, Elphaba looked up at Galinda in fear. "You mean, that wasn't just a lie? He really is going to be coming here to…you know?" Galinda looked at the teenager sadly, wishing with all her heart she could do more to get Elphaba out of this horrendible situation.

"No, that was not a lie. Hopefully, he will not do anything other than look you over. Do whatever you can to obey them and do not make them angry, unless that is your only chance to escape. I am going to give you something to help with the rope though. Do not use it until absolutely necessary." Galinda warned Elphaba in hushed tones.

Elphaba narrowed her eyes at Galinda. "You aren't telling me something." Galinda just looked at her steadily and handed her a small blade that she could easily hide. It wouldn't do any damage to a person but it would help cut through the rope when the time came.

"I must go and hopefully we will not see each other again until this is all over and you are safe. Remember, my warning."

Elphaba looked up at Galinda, determined, and nodded. Galinda smiled at her before leaving and closing the door softly behind her.