by S Cinders
I whipped out of Scarecrow’s arms to face him. He looked more like a hardened cowboy than a prince. His sandy curls had been bleached out by the sun, and his skin held a deep tan despite the almost chill in the air.
Gregory was seated upon his favorite horse. He was the only one that Indy knew still rode horseback.
“Just the royal we wished to see,” I muttered.
“It’s a pleasure to have you here,” his tone related the opposite. “Which twin do I have the honor of addressing?”
“If my sister were here, you would already be covered in boils or something equally charming to fit your lovely personality.”
“Ah,” his eyes brightened, “Bastinda, it has been too long. Might I escort you and Scarecrow inside of my beautiful city for some rest and refreshment? Once we are comfortable, we can discuss what brings you here.”
I hated to take anything from the wanker, but I was hungry.
“That is very kind of you,” I bit off.
Gregory’s eyes danced as if he knew how much those words had cost me.
“I am nothing but kindness,” he replied innocently.
“Yes,” I conceded, “Much like a scorpion or a viper?”
Scarecrow choked while smothering his laugh.
Gregory’s smile widened, “Always such a funny little thing. It’s a shame your magic never really settled in.”
And that is how Prince Gregory ended up with a severe case of gushing hemorrhoids while Scarecrow and I were tossed into the palace dungeon.
I have to admit that I was honestly shocked that my spell had worked. So, a part of me was thrilled when his skin started erupting.
Of course, this was not the way to engender peace, nor a way to get help out of the beggar.
But I did enjoy the horror in Gregory’s screams, so sue me.
Scarecrow and I had been placed in adjacent cells. I could hear him if I called out, but I hated not seeing him.
“So,” he said conversationally, “What now?”
A small smile formed on my face. I loved how Scarecrow took everything in stride, even my crazy, which was on full display today.
“Can you just ‘beast’ up and break out of here?” I asked hopefully.
His barked laugh was quick, “No, Indy, I can’t just—beast up.”
“How does it work?”
I heard him sigh and wondered if I had pressed too much.
“You don’t have to tell me,” I rapidly replied, “I'm just being a nosy bitch.”
“I don’t know how it works,” Scarecrow’s voice drifted over to me. “I have to be feeling extreme emotion, usually the darker, the better. The power must have come from my father, but since he never stuck around, I don’t know what it's called or even what species I could call myself. I've never met anyone remotely like myself, and I have been around for a long time.”
“How did my father find you?” I whispered back to him.
“That’s something that you will have to ask him, Princess.”
“How did you get to Oz?” I blurted out.
There was more silence.
Had I angered him?
“Scarecrow?” I asked hesitantly.
“Yeah,” he responded.
“Is it something that I shouldn’t know?”
“I would tell you anything you wanted to know about me, Indy. But some secrets aren't mine to share.”
CHAPTER 23
I was awakened to a fate worse than death—Glinda.
My baby sister’s perky voice was bordering on screeching as she bellowed, “You had to go and spell him! Of all the dim-witted, idiotic things that you could do, Indy!”
“Linny?” I groggily responded, pushing up on one elbow from my dungeon cot. “Whatever are you doing here?”
She rolled her expressive blue eyes in exasperation, “Saving your ass if you must know. I was in the middle of a massage from Hans, I will have you know. I had to run out having enjoyed only fifteen minutes of his miracle hands!”
Clearly, I was in the middle of a nightmare.
“Do you know how difficult it is to get an appointment with Hans? I won’t see him again for another three weeks! Indy, I could be completely crippled by then!”
“Indy,” Scarecrow barked, “Shut her the hell up!”
Glinda looked like she had been struck, but she did stop talking, so I supposed that I owed Scarecrow for his less than gentlemanly behavior. Her lower lip began to tremble.
Fuck.
“Lin, don’t cry, he didn’t mean it.”
I pulled myself into a standing position, ignoring my aching body. Right now, I wished that I had an appointment with Hans in three weeks, or better yet in an hour.
Glinda’s perfectly oval face was framed by her golden curls as she daintily pushed up the sleeves to her baby pink tracksuit. Her eyes seemed bluer than usual as tears threatened to fall.
I gathered her in an awkward hug, “Thank you, for coming to my rescue.”
She sniffed, and in an authentic martyr’s voice, Glinda replied, “It is the duty of a good sister to come to a sibling in need. Even if they don’t deserve it.”
I dropped my arms. Why did I try?
“So, Greggy-poo called you?”
Glinda rolled her eyes; the tears were gone as quickly as they had appeared.
“Did you have to go with hemorrhoids? Honestly, Indy, it was so ill done of you.”
I personally felt like it was one of the best spells I had ever successfully done. I had meant to hurt him, and I did—mission accomplished.
“Did you put him to rights?” I asked impatiently.
“Yes,” her waspish tone surprised me.
At my glance, she continued, “But not before he dropped his drawers to give me a full view of what you had done. Indy, there are some things that a girl can never get out of her mind!”
I winced, “Fair enough. I am sorry you had to deal with him. And I am grateful you came to my rescue.”
“And you will pay for the next years’ worth of appointments with Hans,” she added gleefully.
“I’m not that sorry!” I demanded.
Her face fell, “Six months!”
“Three months and that douche had better fit me in as well.”
Glinda beamed because suddenly everything was once again going according to her plans.
“Come along. We must be going,” she turned on her high-heeled sneakers and went to exit the cell.
“Wait a minute,” I exclaimed, grabbing my shoes, and shoving them on. “We can’t leave Scarecrow.”
“He was mean,” Glinda pouted.
“Scarecrow, tell my sister you are sorry.”
“Not a cold day’s chance in hell, Princess.”
He could be such an ass sometimes.
“We need her to get Greggy-poo to release us,” I said through gritted teeth. “Play nicely!”
There was a deafening silence.
“Please!” I all but yelled at him.
He blew out an exasperated breath, “Dear Glinda, I do most humbly hope that you will accept my apology on behalf of all repressed sleepers everywhere. Because the moment you opened your mouth, I am positive that beings throughout the universe were plagued by the ungodly tone of your voice. It is a tragedy for which I and my eardrums are truly sorry.”
Glinda left us to stew there for another half a day. I think she would have gone longer if Prince Gregory hadn’t been bothering her to such a significant degree.
By the time we bathed and were given a change of clothing, it was near for dinner time.
They followed the old rules of society here, and I was given a black sequined gown that fell just above my knees. The bodice was sheer and showed more than it covered.
I loved it.
Slipping on a pair of five-inch stilettos, I glanced into the mirror of the royal guest room bed chamber. Damn, I still had it.
There was a knock on the door, and then my sister rushed in without waiting for my reply.
She p
aused mid-sentence when she saw me.
“Um, are you going out like that?” Glinda motioned to my hair that I had left to dry after showering.
My hands automatically went to my wavy dark locks, “Is there something wrong with it?”
“No,” she rushed to assure me, but her eyes didn’t leave my head.
I hated when she was like this.
“Just tell me,” I demanded.
“It is just that we are dining with royalty,” her nose wrinkled with distaste. “And you haven’t done anything different than when you go to the market or the gym.”
“That’s a lie,” my ears were hot. “I never go to the gym!”
Glinda shook her head sadly, “This is what I am talking about, Indy. Can’t you just try?”
The truth was that I didn’t have a lot of skills when it came to doing my hair. But I didn’t want to admit that to Goody-two-shoes Glinda.
“I am sure no one will notice,” I muttered.
“Of course, they will. I did. Come and sit in front of the mirror and I will try to tame this.”
I drug myself over to the vanity and then sat in front of the mirror as she quickly pulled my hair into a fancy chignon.
I don’t know how she did it. But as I turned my head from side to side. I saw a princess instead of regular old me.
“Thank you,” I breathed in fascination. “It is beautiful!”
Glinda’s cheeks reddened so that they matched her blush-colored strapless gown.
“You are lovely, Indy,” she said quietly. “I only helped to bring that out.”
I felt a rush of affection for my sister. I know that being the youngest of four opinionated witches could not have been easy.
I smiled as I rose, grabbing her arm and looping it through mine.
“I shall have to use you as a shield if Greggy-poo gets too cranky. You are the only one that he seems to like out of all of us.”
Glinda sighed, “His name is Prince Gregory. And he isn’t that bad if you would only give him half of a chance, you would know it for yourself.”
She was delusional.
We argued about this, that, and the other all the way down the hallway to the grand staircase that led to the dining hall. I was about to take the first step down the stairs when something at the bottom caught my eye.
There, standing at the base of the stairs stood Scarecrow in an all-black tuxedo. His curling dark hair had been slicked back, and his dark eyes obliterated the dress that I was wearing until I felt like I was completely naked under his gaze.
His tan looked darker in the candlelight. I couldn’t catch my breath as my heart attempted to break free from its cage.
Scarecrow knew the effect that he was having on me, and it only seemed to heighten the chemistry between us. He took a step up the stairs as if to come and get me.
And then I heard Prince Gregory’s voice, and I was immediately reminded that we were not alone.
Not only had I all but announced to my sister and royal butthead that I was thoroughly whipped, but Scarecrow looked just as dazed as I did.
“Well, well,” the amusement in Gregory’s voice grated on my nerves. “Isn’t this interesting.”
CHAPTER 24
“You are looking much improved from the last time I saw you, Prince Gregory.” My voice syrupy sweet as Glinda pinched the inside of my elbow in warning.
Gregory’s eyes narrowed as a sour expression crossed his face, “You are looking remarkably the same.”
My smile widened, “It must have been your deluxe sleeping accommodations last night. Have you redone the stocks as well?”
Gregory looked ready to chop me into little pieces. “We could always send you out for some quality control testing? I wanted to see if the blade on the guillotine was sharp enough. You don’t mind, do you?”
Insufferable royal pain in the ass.
“Not a bit,” I cooed, fixing to hex him again.
“Well,” Glinda said overly bright, “It is nice to see our families getting along. It’s too bad my other sisters are not here as well.”
Gregory paled for the briefest of moments, “Isn’t it just?”
Scarecrow had been rather silent, but the light in his eyes told me that he was enjoying himself.
I could hardly take my gaze from his resplendent form. The man was made for evening clothes. You would never guess from his suave appearance that he preferred his beer from a bottle while shooting pool in the bar.
“Indy, I asked you a question!” Glinda’s annoyed tone shaking me from my musing.
“I do apologize,” turning to her I inquired, “What was it?”
She frowned at me, “Prince Gregory had said that you and Scarecrow arrived wanting some information. What were you looking for?”
I straightened immediately, “We are looking for the whereabouts of Dorothy. She is a deranged witch as far as I can tell. The woman seems to be little more than a girl. And yet she has performed the most heinous of crimes. I had news that she might have sought shelter in Sapphire City.”
“I shall have the guards questioned immediately,” Gregory said, motioning for one of his servants to do his bidding. “I doubt she was allowed inside of the gates, but if she were to attempt to enter, my men will know. How is it possible that she came to Oz?”
I glanced at Scarecrow unwittingly, “It is my understanding that she is from a faraway land called, Kansas. But as to how she came or what means she used to bring an entire house with her, I am not sure.”
“What kind of witch is she?” Glinda asked hesitantly. “We have never had another witch outside of the family.”
Gregory raised a brow, “Feeling threatened?”
“Uncertain is all,” she replied, “I don’t like the idea of witches doing bad things. It might give us a reputation.”
“Everyone knows that witches are the kindest, gentlest of creatures,” Gregory extended a hand toward my sister and I wanted to vomit.
I must have made a sound because he turned to glare at me.
“However, present company has given me a reason to question this theory.”
I smirked, “Ah, Greggy-poo, I hadn’t thought you had noticed!”
His face reddened, but before he could respond Scarecrow interjected.
“There are a few ways one can travel in and out of Oz, but it is not an easy task.”
“How?”
I was glad that Glinda had blurted out the question and not me.
“It takes a great deal of magic, which it appears, she may have. But one also must have permission from one of the trustees of Oz.” Scarecrow turned to one of the servants to indicate that his wine glass needed refilling.
“Trustees?” I had never heard this before, “Who are they?”
Scarecrow shrugged, “That would be something to ask your father. It usually takes three magical beings to be powerful enough to keep a place as large as Oz off the map.”
“Are you saying that there is a whole other world just beyond the borders?” I asked incredulously.
He smiled, and my stomach fell into my feet. Scarecrow’s eyes lit as if he knew the effect he was having on me.
“There is nothing beyond our borders,” Glinda replied rashly. “It is impossible for anything to live or even survive out there.”
Scarecrow lifted a brow but didn’t speak.
How could my sister be so stupid? Scarecrow had come from the outside, had she forgotten that?
Shaking my head, I turned to Gregory, “How long before we will know anything from your border patrol?”
“I would imagine sooner rather than later,” he mused, “More creamed corn?”
IT WAS AS DESSERT WAS being served, that Gregory was suddenly called from dinner.
Glinda whipped her head to hiss under her breath, “Why couldn’t they just tell him here? What do you suppose is going on?”
Scarecrow turned his head as if he couldn’t hear her overly loud whisper.
I rolled my eyes, �
�Glinda, why are you whispering?”
“He’s not family!”
Good Lord.
“You can say anything you need to in front of Scarecrow.”
Scarecrow turned to me with a smirk, “I’m touched. "
Glinda looked at me as if to say, 'this is who you are putting your trust in?'
“Scarecrow,” I warned, “Behave. Glinda, I would trust him with your life, and more importantly, I trust him with mine.”
Her brow wrinkled, “Just what is going on between the two of you, anyway?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but Scarecrow beat me to it.
“Your sister is in love with me,” he grinned with a knowing wink. “Not that she is the only one.”
Bastard.
Glinda looked at me in horror, “I knew that you were sleeping with him but in love? Oh, Indy, surely not.”
I huffed, “This is not the time for this conversation.”
“Whatever is Daddy going to say?”
My head whipped around, “You are not allowed to tell Father anything. Do you hear me, Glinda?”
She didn’t look convinced, so I knew I had to bring in the big guns.
“If you squeal, I will tell him about you frolicking naked in the Enchanted Forest.”
My sister paled, “You were just as naked as I was!”
Scarecrow choked on his wine, “When was this?”
My eyes bore into hers, “El will vouch for me that I was nowhere near there. And you know that Father will believe us over you.”
“Again, you were naked when?” Scarecrow tried to get a response, but we were ignoring him.
“I have the evilest sisters imaginable,” Glinda grumbled. “And it was Mombi’s wine that had us all running around naked anyway.”
A small smile graced my lips, “But we weren’t the ones that look those faery boys into the thick part of the woods.”
Scarecrow choked again, “What?”
Glinda was glaring daggers at me, “We promised to never speak of that!”
My sister liked pretending that she was the sheltered sweet one, but truth be told, she had more than her fair share of kink in her.
Both boys had come back with huge ass grins on their faces.
“Did you disappear with anyone?” Scarecrow demanded, his fists clenched by his side.
