Chapter 4:
Anika watched viciously seeing her three winged pets returned wrung with fear upon seeing her.
''Well what did you three muck up such an easy – I should had done it swift'' said Anika fuming showing her long nails in curve claw motion.
Her dark spirit heart quicken in hot heat in anger flashing dangerous sparks across her fingertips. The three bats chattered in nervous fear.
''What Ratigan oh great double great – Nicholas'' said Anika shouting her brother's name racing up to the throne he sat on.
The three bats calmed down knowing Anika was in deep thought of another interest made them safe as scattered ashes scurried off.
Anika's feet past many who served Ratigan previous now Nicholas in fearing their lives or jobs.
Sitting proud as a king Nicholas sipped on fine pink bubbled champagne corked from the bottle lid.
He spat the foamed liquid from his mouth hearing his sister's loud screech tone. Bolt to a jolt upright Nicholas's body sparked in magical life.
Born of the powers burst freely from the ripped womb their mother bore them. Neither brought her up as both were the still product of a creature of dark craft.
''Something occurs you sister as my powers tell'' said Nicholas grin gently as possible.
''Those bird scatter brain creatures of mine lost yet again to another rodent of mortal blood but not Basil'' said Anika gritting her teeth.
Nicholas pressed himself for the news.
''Ratigan is back but this could be worst'' said Anika noting her brother was listening.
''Could or good as our father of dark magic to our mortal bound mother it was our birthright mine to rule'' said Nicholas thinking up a devilish plan.
Anika sparkled a wicked glee as Nicholas did waiting for him. She knew her brother rightly deserved to rule above those mortal to show their pitiful excuse to hide the magic in fire water death.
Also to cover the world into chaotic harm to mortal rodents punish for their stupidity.
But Ratigan being the smartest rat they ever come across fearing Nicholas's new plan would blow up the smoke flames of hell. She wouldn't deny him watching him flee from the throne with Anika followed behind him.
At river side of The Thames while Ratigan strolled a causal walk keeping a tight close on Ozma in worry something harmed her.
He didn't want to harm from a world he was covering desperate to shield her. The coldness staled the night sky though neither spoke to a tumble down building made into a home.
It wasn't elegant and grand any home a creature of Ratigan's status to live in.
''This so I can never cross another's path still it is a perfect quiet place'' said Ratigan allowing Ozma in before him of an upturn hinge bronze metal door.
The grey stone crumbled building had rickety brown coal chimney. Boarded up windows though some glass spread carpeted over plain uncarpeted grey crumbling stone. The single room had only objects a poor pauper rodent with little money had to thrive.
An old moth beaten oak brown solid desk with splintered away legs. An oak ancient wooden nearly four legged chair.
Tattered battered worn mattress over long thin twigs and limp corn yellow straw.
''It isn't much a king though a heart shouldn't doubt the home'' said Ozma wisely as Ratigan helped her into the chair.
''Yes that is true'' said Ratigan trailing off his words.
Ozma saw he turned physically away from her that he had invisible made a bad smell or disgusted of him.
Ozma knew straight at once it was past events. That he done a great evil no one could agree or accept him to see no wrong.
None could accept him for this evil of murder or some injustice. Ozma wanted Ratigan to open in a manner a great tidal wave lapped against the beach sand.
Ozma saw Ratigan held out caution not to break the music box out to Ozma. It was to exchange it back to her rightfully being hers. Ozma shook her head light showing a smile giving off her rare pure beauty. Something Ratigan found hard to allow in his life.
''It is now yours as I said you were never a monster in my eyes'' said Ozma about to say more when he held his hand for her.
Taking the music box lid open the light tuneful music again. It created a lull echoing the silent room into a collusion sweet tinkling hit the walls.
The room slipped from her mind as Ozma danced to a slight awkward of a waltz best she could in the arms of a stranger. She could hear her father disapproval ling in her ears of such a thing.
Her mother would lecture her for days about meeting someone unknown to her by chance of being rescued. Ozma believed Glinda was truly her mother a part of her told Ozma something else.
The images of a dark haired green skinned woman in black entered her mind every night in her strange nightmares.
Some of her nightmares were dreams of her heart calling out to the woman in pain. A screech of someone on acid roared through her head.
Ozma didn't remember anyone she knew being forced to put on fire without a friendly passing person.
Those near the woman wanted her dead as a ghost of a threat they wanted care of. A threat Ozma didn't see thinking this woman whoever she was more a passing wander wanting more than love.
Ratigan pin picked Ozma's heartache willing to comfort her amidst the music. They turned entwined in and out. Ozma felt absorbed in his presence.
''You are quite a dancer if you were invited to a ball'' said Ratigan seeing Ozma blushed quickly vanished.
''I am not of special as my father or mother'' said Ozma about to start speaking again.
''Ozma, Ozma'' came Basil, Dawson, Olivia and Evan all at once.
They must have come looking for when they were attacked. Ozma felt a fearful twitch in Ratigan's body movement closing the music box slamming shut dying the tune.
''Ratigan don't fret they are friends'' said Ozma noticing the grim look on his face.
''To you yes to me well they only see the wicked I brought to them'' said Ratigan turning his back allowing Ozma to pass outside.
Ozma turned to call him somehow the voices outside caused Ratigan to stay put.
''I will return another time'' said Ozma quietly promising before she rushed out to greet them.
It was odd her not going back for Ratigan thinking they would be pleased to see a fellow rodent who saved her life. Ozma told she not to as Basil ran the quickest to her.
That the enchanted allure Ozma had over him regained in Basil's body. Something of magic came back amongst the group.
Basil gave a cough trying to act natural as any detective he was cutting the rejoice short. Letting Evan hugged Ozma tightly around the waist of a younger brother.
Two long minutes parted as hours as the night sky was darkening.
''Come come it is getting late Ozma must sleep'' said Basil leading her away from the building a dark change to the area.
Ozma turned her head deer wise backward walking the long road back to Baker Street.
''Did any of those creeps touch you'' Basil asked back in his home sipping tea.
''No, no it was scary at first but –'' said Ozma cutting her words before finishing her words.
She sat on the sofa from Basil sat sipping her own tea daintily in her two hands.
''Till what Ozma'' Olivia asked waiting for her to answer.
''I came close to something or someone wondrous or greater ever'' said Ozma grinning to herself.
Dawson was about to ask another question when Basil stopped him. The fire glow embarked the outline of a fiery glowing shown a magic witch glow from it.
''Is Evan back in bed I wish to see him'' Ozma asked wishing to see him.
The small boy mouse had become one of her close friends in this world. Besides her little arrange of friends in Oz.
The thought of the land same name as her father quickened her heart thought of him drawing her back to that world.
Few strands of her hair came fluttering over her face remembering the land those like Basil fit was of make believed. Of a story cocked up by a child gone mad or sick with a fever.
Basil's strong gallant builds of a knight. His wit wouldn't be quite outmatched anyone or he wouldn't allow it.