The Wicked Witch of the East: Evanora's Return
[Part 2]
CHAPTER 2: LOCASTA
-Emerald City-
*~ Oscar ~*
Glinda smiles and sits down, gently placing a key down on the table in front of them. "The key to the Hall of Records – and the history of all of Emerald City."
Oz stares at the small golden thing, astonished by it's importance. "That is-"
"Impeccable timing."
They turn to the entrance and there in the doorway stands Firefly under the arm of a woman draped in blue. She's injured it seems, and Oz comes to his feet, about to call for an attendant.
"Locasta." Glinda breathes out in a surprised whisper, drawing his attention to her. It takes a moment for him to process what she has said and then his eyes widen and he looks back to the woman in the doorway.
The blue-clad witch smiles tightly. "We may yet be able to get to the root of this problem after all."
"That can wait until you've been treated," he insists and looks to Glinda for support.
Her eyes widen momentarily and she rises, bringing out her wand. "Right, of course. My apologies." The room alights with her magic and suddenly Oz feels incredibly stupid. How could he forget that Glinda has healing magic?
"We can do so simultaneously," Locasta counters and sits on the nearest chair with a wince. "You must be the infamous Wizard." She doesn't seem impressed. "I heard you lost your physical form."
He smiles awkwardly and looks to Glinda. She nods her head and he rubs the back of his neck when he sees Locasta's raised brow. "Only the staff and a handful of people know the truth, but since Glinda trusts you I guess it's alright to share." He exhales and closes his eyes, bracing himself. "I'm a carnival magician, not a wizard."
"So, a magicless wizard then?" She seems to be laughing at him. "Who would have thought?"
"You don't have magic?" Wide eyed little Firefly asks.
Oz kneels down to her and reaches into his pocket. "I do as long as you believe." He pulls out his handkerchief and folds it away, 'transforming' it into a dove. Firefly watches the bird flying around the study, awe in her eyes once again.
"So pretty!"
"I suppose you have some redeeming qualities." Locasta's voice draws him back to the situation at hand, but she has a thoughtful expression on her face that makes him feel uneasy.
He clears his throat. "Ughm, right. Thank you."
"Back to the point, I've been tracking someone. A thief." She gasps suddenly, prompting Firefly to abandon her happy observations and rush to her, the girl's face full of concern. Locasta gives a strained smile and runs her hand through the child's hair while Oz clenches his hands at his sides, feeling helpless.
"Please bear with it a moment longer," Glinda asks in a tone Oz hasn't heard before. She must be quite concentrated on this spell.
"Why I'm after them isn't important. Rather, what they have lead me to discover." Locasta leans back in her seat and sighs. "Firefly told you about her past, no? Well, looking into it, I found that Mombi has been corresponding with a witch I am quite familiar with. She has always stayed in the shadows – at least that is what I believed. Apparently she's had her hand in many affairs, including Firefly's transformation."
"That's quite complex magic though, isn't it?" Glinda has been teaching him more about magic, partially to allow him to better keep up his appearance of being the 'Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz', but also to make him aware of what witches and wizards are capable of – and why they are so often feared.
"It is, which is why I was confounded by Mombi's access to it. Zurline's involvement however clears all confusion."
"Zurline? Isn't that a fairy name?" He's certain he's heard it somewhere before.
"She was one, once, but she no longer cares for Oz or it's people. Instead, she's done her best to destroy Emerald City without revealing herself." She sounds tired. "I've heard that you have already encountered the results of one of her inventions: the Apple of Vitiation."
Oz rakes his memory for the name, but nothing comes to mind. Not until the light from Glinda's magic fades and she takes his arm, her voice small and her eyes downcast, "Theodora."
"When I heard what become of her, I knew it must have been Zurline. There is no other way she could have obtained such power and cruelty."
He thinks of the part he played and decides it may be best not to mention it in the presence of the warrior witch who clearly has fond memories of the girl whose heart he broke.
"Originally I thought it was Evanora's doing, but after long consideration I came to the conclusion that it must have been an outside force." Glinda admits, her grip strong around his arm. "If this Zurline is responsible, then I want to bring her to justice."
"I'm afraid it won't be that simple. She's powerful and she has attracted the attention of many wicked witches who desire that power." She sits up straight, expression serious. "In fact, I'm rather certain that she is the ruling force behind the attacks you have been facing."
"A covenant of wicked witches," Glinda shakes her head, face pale. Oz wonders what that means for him. "How are we to defeat them?"
"The same way we did the Wicked Witch." It is meant to be reassuring, but even now Oz does not know the full extent of her confrontation with Evanora. He can only take it that it had been a challenge as Glinda certainly doesn't seem reassured by his words.
"Did you?"
They both turn back to Locasta, who is watching them intently.
"Pardon?"
"Did you truly defeat the Wicked Witch?"
He isn't following. "Evanora was defeated." He glances at Glinda. "Right?"
"Evanora… Well. She was the Wicked Witch of Prophecy. Perhaps." Locasta waves it off as though she were referring to something lesser.
"You…" Glinda falters, her face contorting. "You're saying the true Wicked Witch still remains at large?"
"You said it yourself, didn't you? Evanora never had the Silver Whistle. Now Theodora has it, after gaining incredible power."
"You suspect Zurline gave it to her?"
Locasta crosses her arms. "I know she did. Queen Gayelette is known to have lost it to Morella, but Orison never controlled the armies after her defeat. More importantly, how was he strong enough to overcome her?"
"If I recall my father's stories correctly, Orison was always strong."
"But only after defeating Morella." Locasta points out.
"Sorry, I'm falling behind here," he interrupts sheepishly. "I thought Lurline was the queen?"
"After my mother's death, my father remarried." Glinda says quietly. "Queen Gayelette died when I was rather young, but left me her castle in the south."
"Zurline seems to harbour some manner of resentment towards the royals." Locasta admits softly, eyes on Glinda. "As such, though I have no evidence, I suspect Queen Gayelette's death wasn't an accident." A heavy exhale. "And, there is the possibility that she arranged other incidents as well."
"But why?" Distress is clear in her tone and Oz wraps an arm around Glinda's waist, pulling her closer in an attempt to comfort.
"Most of this is speculation," Locasta hastily defends. "I haven't found any concrete evidence, but there are coincidences indicative of it." She runs a hand through her hair, suddenly looking tired. "This is why the rediscovery of the key to the Hall of Records is so incredibly important. By accessing the Great Book of Records, we may be able to learn the truth about all of this."
"Will it work for me too?" Firefly glances up at Locasta, big brown eyes hopeful.
"It should," the witch acknowledges.
The Hall of Records. The Great Book of Records. So one book contains all the history of Oz? Impressive, though probably magical in nature as he doubts one ordinary paperback will be able to hold hundreds-to-thousands of years of history. Unless it's been painfully abridged.
"You should get some rest." Glinda interrupts his thoughts, pulling away from him to approach Locasta and help her up. "We can make a plan when you wake. For now, focus on recovering."
"I still have a thief to catch, you know." Locasta accepts Glinda's hand and rises from her chair, Firefly eagerly bouncing next to her, ready to help in a moment's notice.
"Perhaps we can collaborate." Glinda helps lead Locasta out of the study and Oz watches them depart, shoulders sagging.
There is so much to consider, so many new possibilities to take into account. He sighs, turns and spots the golden key still waiting on the table. He picks it up, expecting it to be heavy, but it's as light as a feather. He observes it for a moment then puts it away in his pocket and sinks back into his desk chair.
There is still much work to be done.
-Emerald City-
*~ Locasta ~*
She sags into the bed once the door closes behind Glinda, every muscle giving out under the strain of her burdens. Closing her eyes, Locasta turns onto her side and toys with her bracelet. Her mind runs wild, the thief's face fresh in her memory.
'Thief' hardly seems the right description. It leaves a sour taste in her mouth and not only because it's decretory to her once-friend. It's difficult to imagine the circumstances that must have led to such desperation.
What was the catalyst? What exactly happened?
The Great Book of Records will know. Just as it will know Zurline's weakness.
Locasta falls into a fitful sleep and wakes up every few minutes either because of pain or her magic flaring in argument at her attempts to suppress it. For the hundredth time, Locasta wishes that she wasn't born with magic. She wishes that she was never granted such power.
Sometimes she also wonders how different things would have been had Lady Feah not taken her in. Would she have died in the cold of the northern mountains? Would Lady Feah still have disappeared? Would Jana's rule have continued?
She doesn't have the answers to that, but perhaps the Great Book of Records will have the answers she needs.
-Emerald City-
*~ Firefly ~*
It's dark. She's sure she went to bed, so is she dreaming?
I think we should choose Firefly.
She turns around at the sound of her name, trying to find the speaker. It's no use. Everything around her is still pitch black, but now it almost feels like she's floating. "Hello?"
Why in the world would we name the baby Firefly?
Another voice, but still no speaker.
But, love! Fireflies are so wonderful!
A nickname then, but please, take this more seriously.
"Hello!" Can't they hear her?
Oh, alright. But how are we supposed to choose when we don't know the gender?
That's why we pick two names, dear.
I have a better idea! Hey, Firefly, what name do you like?
She feels a sudden tickle against her side, but there's nothing there.
Someone laughs and the tickling is replaced by something more soothing. It makes her sleepy and distracts her from what is being said. Eventually, she doesn't hear anything anymore and her eyes close.
"Firefly."
It's her name again.
"Firefly, time to wake up."
She's sleeping? Shouldn't she open her eyes then?
"That's it, dear."
She blinks awake and sits up to rub at her eyes. She sees Glinda sitting on the bed with China Girl in her lap. They're smiling.
"About time, sleepyhead!" China Girl admonishes with a grin.
Firefly smiles back, sheepish. "Sorry."
"It's almost breakfast time. We should get ready, no?" Glinda ushers them from the bed to the washroom and Firefly sleepily trails behind.
Such a strange dream.
Hello! Hope you all have been having a lovely time and that you enjoyed the chapter.
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Until next time.
– L.L.