The Wicked Witch of the East: Evanora's Return
[Part 2]
CHAPTER 13: CHOSEN COVEN
-Emerald City-
*~ Evanora ~*
A single knock comes before Locasta's entry, the Good Witch of the North easily gliding across the room with a greeting before taking her usual seat. With a direct gaze and blasé approach, she announces, "In light of your cooperation, Glinda, the Wizard and I have come to an agreement regarding how we shall be proceeding. The first step therein being to answer to an individual most affected by your actions."
Evanora's heart sinks, thoughts racing with possibilities. Countless people have been affected, whether directly or not. More importantly, Locasta said that she will be answering to them, not the rulers of Emerald City. That is to say, should they deem her worth punishing, she cannot fight it lest she risk losing what little favour she has managed to gain. She cannot afford to be complacent now that it has been confirmed her daughter is alive, but neither can she defend herself without coming across as insincere. What does that leave her with? "I understand."
"This will, of course, be a supervised interaction, but feel free to continue as though I'm not here." Locasta motions to the door with her hand, her fingers propping open several locations of a specific book she has brought with her several times already.
Following the hand motion with awareness rather than sight, Evanora realises her oversight just about immediately.
They are not alone.
Her gaze trails along the path of the other witch's indication, but she stops searching nearly right after she starts. Halfway to the bed is a child with ear-length dark brown hair. The attire worn is boyish, but the face is feminine. Evanora hardly needs to stare to recognize the features, but she stares nonetheless because surely she is mistaken. It cannot be, but true it must be, for no two beings born with magic have the exact same presence.
Small shoulders square and Evanora finds herself transfixed as a familiar determination settles over the child's face. Like looking into a mirror and seeing the past. "H-Hello. I'm Firefly."
For one split-moment of uncertainty, she allows herself to look at Locasta, but the younger woman has diverted her attention to the book in her lap. Or rather, putting up an excellent show of pretending to have done so.
Hesitantly, she motions the child closer. The gesture is made awkward by her shaking, but if Firefly notices, she keeps it to herself while closing the distance. "Evanora." Then, remembering Locasta's words, adds with a hint of dismay, "the Wicked Witch."
Firefly nods. "I know."
Well. What is she meant to say in response to that?
Perhaps it is fortunate that Firefly continues, hardly giving Evanora time to linger. "You've hurt a lot of people, but… I decided that maybe that doesn't have to mean that you're a bad person."
She almost cries. Instead, she holds her breath and focuses on keeping her eyes from continuing to grow moist. "You are one of very few then. I hear that you have some questions for me?"
"Yes." This time, it's Firefly who glances at Locasta, but still the witch does nothing to give away that she's paying attention. Taking a deep breath, perhaps to brace herself, Firefly continues. "Why did you become the Wicked Witch?"
Evanora internally winces. This is a complicated and honestly delicate topic. She would prefer not having to discuss it at all, however, "I was looking for someone. My daughter. I believed that turning to wickedness for help was the only way to succeed."
"Did you ask for help before that?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Did you ask Miss Casta or Miss Glinda? Mister Wizard?"
How could she? Even had the Wizard been in Oz at the time, she would not have trusted him. Certainly not with her daughter's life.
She had no leads, aside from the assumption that the fire had been a last attempt at vengeance by her father. Zurline was certainly a suspect, but she couldn't trust Locasta to remain objective or want to pull the witch away from her own search.
As for Glinda. Well. Andahan's death struck all of them. To tell her that she had also lost her niece seemed cruel. At the time, at least. Being assigned to kill King Pastoria changed everything.
"A war was ongoing at the time. Many people lost their loved ones. Locasta and Glinda included. I…" She's being defensive, she realises. She's trying to paint herself as a victim of circumstance when it was her decision to be made. She's omitting her guilt. "No. I did not ask them."
"Why not?"
Fear? Confusion? Grief? She no longer remembers, not fully, but perhaps if she had been braver none of this would have happened. "I suppose that I was a coward." Speaking the words hurt and Evanora has to fight a full-body flinch at the thought of herself being cowardly, but it is the closest to the truth she can manage.
"And a month ago? Were you still looking?"
"Yes."
Not that it was apparently necessary anymore. Now, it was about whether or not she can prove herself to the child standing in front of her. Failing to do so, well… She has failed already. Further failure would only drive home that everything she has done has truly been for naught. Killing King Pastoria, exiling Glinda, hurting Theodora, all of it. All of what she has done will truly be reduced to being without purpose. Pointless. Simple cruelty. Wicked.
-Emerald City-
*~ Firefly ~*
"Yes."
Her mother wanted her. Clearly she's been going about it the wrong way, but she was looking. She wanted Firefly. But, what if… "Are you disappointed now?"
"By what?"
"That I'm not what you thought I would be."
Firefly looks on as shock spreads over her mother's expression, watches as she struggles to respond. She thinks it confirmation, until her mother finally manages to speak over the roar in Firefly's ears.
"No." It's said with fierce certainty. Like she can't imagine ever feeling disappointed. "Enilrul, no. Why would I be disappointed? You're alive! You're here, you…" Her eyes are wet, Firefly notes with surprise. Her mother's crying. "I'm happy. I'm so very happy that you are safe."
She hesitates, not quite sure, but then Firefly squares her shoulders, mind made up. She will be brave. She will face this like she faced Miss Casta all those months ago. Closing the little distance between herself and the bed, Firefly stares at her mother for a moment, courage faltering. "Will you keep hurting people? Now that you know where I am?"
Her mother tries wiping at the tears, but they keep flowing. Her voice shakes as she tries to answer. "I-I cannot promise that I won't make a mistake o-or even that I shan't succumb. However, h-however, I promise that I will not approach anyone with the intent of harm unless it is a returning blow."
That doesn't seem quite right, but Firefly also can't say that there is anything wrong with the response. Miss Casta said self-defence is important and what would she do if the 'returning blow' was in defence of an innocent? Miss Casta has killed to protect. Shouldn't Firefly show some faith in her mother? The same woman who saved Miss Glinda and Mister Wizard?
"Okay then."
"Okay?" Her mother looks bewildered, confused.
Before Firefly can lose her nerve, she climbs onto the bed and crawls up to her mother, arms going around her waist in a hug as she settles into her side. It's nice. Warm. Fuzzy. It never felt like this with Mombi. Not even with Miss Casta. "I believe you." She pauses, then adds uncertainly, "Mother?"
Her mother hugs her back, strong and tight, tears getting lost in her hair. There's a soft gasp, followed by a near immediate, "Yes, dear?"
"Will you stay with me?"
"Yes. Yes, of course. For as long as I am able."
It's not quite the answer she wanted, but its far more honest than one Mombi would have ever given. Firefly didn't think being told the truth is what would solidify her opinion, yet it has. She trusts that her mother, this Wicked Witch named Evanora, will continue to be honest with her despite it being a truth she may not want to hear.
It's an odd reassurance, a strange comfort. Firefly thinks maybe she could get used to this feeling. This warmth. This, possibly, love.
-Emerald City-
*~ Locasta ~*
The reunion is unlike anything Locasta has encountered. Evanora's honest, pure relief at Firefly's well-being is something that seems so basic, and yet, she is struck by its profoundness. The witch has searched for years, committed regicide, all without any certainty that the one she was killing for still lived. Even so, Evanora did not waver.
Obsessive? Potentially. An innate knowing? Possibly.
The point remained that Evanora did not give up, did not allow herself to be slain until she had found her daughter. Not for revenge against the one who separated them, or even the trick played in her distraught state. Everything she did was with the sole intention of being reunited with her child.
She fell, but she did not surrender. She fought and schemed, but she also protected. Regardless of having chosen wickedness, Evanora still stayed true to her purpose and her ideals, if not morality.
The same cannot be said of Theodora.
From what little information Locasta has been able to gather on the youngest Cardinal Witch, Theodora has fallen completely. She kills without hesitation, her fury her strength and her flames her unrestricted passion. Any who disappoint her are burned and those who oppose her are brought to heel.
She is training an army, one that follow her out of fear and kill lest they be killed themselves. Through them, she is steadily taking control of the West. After that, it would only be a matter of time before her true intentions come to light.
In that regard, she has become little different from Zurline herself. The former faerie has no compassion, no empathy, only a set path and a goal she will reach regardless of opposition, consequence or even the people that stand in her way. She has no humanity. To her, everyone and everything is a tool. Should it assist in her ends, Locasta has no doubt that Zurline would even sell her soul. If she hasn't already.
It puts her in stark difference to Evanora, despite their similar circumstances. Of course, Zurline sought out power herself whereas Evanora had been tricked into accepting it. Furthermore, Evanora protected Glinda by banishing her, but Zurline was simply reinforcing her decision by sending away Locasta. All she did was gain another enemy, and unlike Evanora did with Glinda, Zurline certainly seems to have no qualms in fighting her.
That's fine.
Locasta isn't looking to reconcile.
Glancing over her book at the mother and daughter pair conversing quietly, she smiles and her eyes narrow in renewed determination as she considers the situation. King Pastoria was her foster father and teacher. Following Lady Feah's disappearance, Locasta was almost brought up alongside Glinda and Andahan. She knows Evanora and Theodora, accepted them when King Pastoria took them in.
The royal family, Firefly, and she supposes Oz as well if only by extension, they are the ones she owes her life to, the reason she continues to fight. So for them, for Glinda and Evanora, for little Firefly, for King Pastoria and Andahan, for the innocent Theodora of the past and even for the ridiculous false-Wizard who has won Glinda's attention, Locasta shall stand before Zurline unflinchingly and fight for victory.
Because unlike the former faery who abandoned her, Locasta still has something to protect.
That's the chapter!
Apologies for the wait, I had some difficulties getting through this one that stemmed mainly from procrastination and a need for sleep.
Until next we meet.
– L.L.