No Place Like Home

by Erik Schubach

  She had a bitter look on her face as she relayed the memory. “I tried calling her name, but I only barked. That reminded me of my own plight, and I whimpered and whined and I looked at my fur covered body as my own terror rose again.”

  Then Dorothy looked away, shame on her face as her girl shared, “That's when Dot woke up. I didn't notice until she screamed at me, 'Would you shut up with that incessant whining!', and a muzzle twisted out of the air that wound around my face and slammed my jaw shut painfully.”

  “I looked over at Dorothy and whimpered. Had she just done that to me? I admit I was afraid when I looked over at her as she smiled at her hands, her eyes were full of green flame, and she felt...

  wrong. I could almost feel the evil in her, twisting around her mind, reshaping it.”

  A shadow crossed her face, and Dorothy looked as if she were on the verge of tears. “I tried to say anything, but the muzzle stopped me from uttering any sound but whining. Dorothy's eyes snapped to me, and her hand shot out faster than thought, and she grabbed my throat and stood up, dangling me off the ground. I was panicking, not able to breathe as I scrabbled my four paws in the air. I couldn't believe how strong, how tall she was, and she was choking the life out of me.”

  “When her eyes met mine, my soul shuddered, all I could see was pure, unadulterated evil like the eyes of the witch she had killed. But then a glint of recognition sparked in her eyes, and she looked surprised. I could see my Dot buried in there. She asked, 'Toto?' I nodded as I wheezed and whined, trying to get some air.”

  The blonde swallowed. “She loosened her grip a little, and I was able to suck in a little air as I continued to whine. She shook me once, 'Shut up, shut up, shut up!' She pulled me closer to look right into my eyes. 'I need to think. Stop whining, or I'll let the wolves have you like the bitch had said.

  Understand?'”

  “It struck me that she actually meant it, I had no doubt in my mind that the creature holding me by the throat would do it. Dot was locked away behind all the hate and rage, being choked out just like me. I shut up instantly and nodded the best I could.”

  The strain on Toni's face was getting almost frantic now as Dorothy held her close while she spoke,

  “Then she tossed me aside, I landed with a muffled yelp of pain as she waved a hand dismissively,

  between blinks I found myself in a god damn pink dog carrier. She said, 'Take her to the wolves, put her box in the cage with the randiest of them, but don't let them get to her. She needs to be reminded what will happen if she displeases me. I have to figure out what happened to me.' I couldn't believe what she was saying, how cruel she was being. It was as if all her mortality and compassion were stripped from her. And she was doing magic!”

  Then she exhaled like she were happy to be rid of the moment in her mind. “I was frantic when a group of monkeys just flew over to do her bidding and started hoisting the dog carrier with me inside.

  The one called Fenriss hissed out, 'The wicked witch iss dead, long live the new Cardinal Witch!' The monkeys all started screeching and pounding the ground again as they bowed to Dorothy.”

  Then she shrugged. “That's when Baum showed up.”

  She suddenly grunted and closed her eyes tight in strain and rasped out, “I'm sorry, ladies. We'll have to continue this later.” She opened her watering eyes and said in an admonishing tone, “Be good Dot!” Then she stopped straining and then melted into that hellish dog again, her kimono slipping to the ground as she hopped off Dorothy's chair and then shook from head to tail like she was sloughing the magic of the transformation off.

  She sat at her witch's side as Dorothy stood. I could feel the power in the room taking on a dark tone as the woman crouched to hug the dog and kiss the top of its head before looking at us accusingly, that fire in her eyes burning bright. “You used up her eight hours! They were mine! Get out of here now, or you'll find yourselves tied to steaks in the swamplands! We'll continue tomorrow.”

  I started to ask what she meant by Antoinette's eight hours. Could she only stay human that long?

  But the tapestries on the wall behind me started to wrap around me and my mouth. Ella-Marie was there in an instant shredding the fabric from me as Ella growled out to the witch, “What are you...”

  Dorothy's voice echoed with power as she said, “I told you to get out, not keep talking! Cross me again and...”

  Toto moved in front of Dorothy and growled at her, her ears flat to her skull and her tail out behind her as she showed her fangs. She barked loudly once. The enraged brunette's eyes widened then looked around like she wasn't aware of what she was doing. Then she nodded as she crouched and engulfed the dog in a hug, “Yes, I'm sorry Toto. I was just sad that we'd have no time together tonight.”

  I knew my assumption had been correct then. And I asked timidly to the now meek looking Dorothy, “Where should we go?”

  She shook her head as she stood, looking at the dog forlornly, “I really don't care. Come back when my Antoinette can join us again.” She sounded so broken.

  With an absent wave of her hand, I was stumbling to catch my balance when I found myself standing on a road with emerald spires all around us. What the fuck? I turned to Ella-Marie when she said from beside me, “Bloody hell, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.”

  Chapter 9 – Vermillion

  The people – and umm people like creatures who packed the roads moved away from us, shocked at our sudden appearance.

  Speaking of appearance, Ella was wearing clown shoes again. She followed my gaze and growled as she kicked them off to reveal Peter Pan boots under them. I moaned internally. Those two were going to be in a constant feud while we were stuck in Oz, weren't they?

  Our eyes were drawn skyward when we heard a horrendous hissing screech. We saw a figure diving out of the sky from the direction of the huge central castle of gleaming emerald in the middle of the city.

  Fenriss landed in front of us, his claws scratching on the... well on the yellow bricks we stood on.

  The gathering crowd moved back as he hissed in a circle before facing me. He smiled, showing those sharp fangs of his. I truly think he was trying to be charming. “Missstresss ssent me to inform you that you need just sspeak my name and I will retrieve you to bring you to the casstle when your exssploration of Ozss iss done.”

  I swallowed as Ella-Marie took my hand and nodded at him. “Thank you, that was very gracious of her.”

  He smiled, looking pleased.

  Then he spun on the crowd, they moved back as he pointed at them, eyes scanning, then his eyes landed on someone, and he skittered forward as he said, “You.” He grabbed a young woman's hand, and she didn't look frightened or repulsed like some of the others. Instead, she held his hand and looked at him inquisitively as he led her to us.

  She didn't seem phased that a talking, flying monkey, was dragging her to some strangers. Like it happened every day. Then again, this was Oz, maybe it did? I mean, they had little porcelain people fighting demons here.

  She was so tiny, but proportioned like a shrunk down person, a Munchkin! The little redhead asked him, “Sir monkey?” Her voice was proportional to her size and sounded overly cute to me.

  He offered as he let go of her hand and bowed to her, one arm across his belly, “Fenrisss.”

  She inclined her head, and I realized that she was just slightly taller than he, “Sir Fenriss, what is it you require of me?”

  He shoved her gently next to me and made an ushering motion with his hands as his wings spread wide behind him. “You will esscort the guessts of Dorothy of Ozss. Bring them where the Parker lady wishssess.”

  There were excited murmurs of Dorothy's name in the crowd. It was obvious they loved and respected the volatile woman.

  He dug in a pouch at his waist and pulled out some sort of dead orange rodent and placed it at my feet before he smiled at me again and with a mighty leap, took to the air. Eww... a dead rat! I guess it was sweet of him, he was just trying
to show me he liked me, but eww... dead rat.

  Ella-Marie smiled at me and teased as she toed the rat, “He's sweet on ya Parker. It's your animal magnetism.”

  I rolled my eyes and shook a fist playfully at her as I teased, “Not the first animal to take a liking to me.” Marie's giggle was a delight as she thought to us, “She has you there, mon amour, oui?”

  Eyebrow cocked, Ella said, “You're just lucky yer so adorable, Parker.”

  Then we turned to the small woman standing beside me who was looking between Ella-Marie and me with genuine amusement on her face. I smiled at her and offered a hand. “Where are our manners, I'm sorry. Parker Deveraoux, and this is Ella-Marie uh Smith. We don't need to take up any of your time.”

  She curtsied then shook my offered hand like it were an odd gesture. “Vermillion Chrysanthemum, at your service, milady. It's no trouble at all. Happy to help out guests of the Witch of the Four Cardinal Points of the Compass.” Her eyes were wide with excitement as she asked, “Do you truly know Dorothy of Oz?” She looked as if she were about to hug herself. She added, “She is the savior of Oz, did you know that, milady Parker?”

  Ella-Marie was oddly silent, she had an amused look on her face, and I got the gist of it. She was allowing me to do all the talking, cheeky girl.

  I shook my head, “No I didn't, Vermillion.”

  She beamed at me then said, “You may call me Ver milady.”

  I nodded and inclined my head. “Only if you drop the milady stuff.”

  She nodded and beamed like it was the greatest thing I could have said.

  She looked to be about to share the story with us, then hesitated as she glanced at us and the gleaming city around us. “What would such tall ladies as yourself like to see?”

  I looked at Ella-Marie, who was extremely helpful with her cute look and shrug. I sighed and tuned to Vermillion, realizing that her name described her well. Her brilliant red hair on top of her head certainly looked Vermillion, and the green dress she wore, in contrast, made her look like a flower.

  Smiling at her eager and enthusiastic look, I echoed my love's shoulder shrug and prompted, “It's your city Ver, why don't you just give us a tour of what you think a visitor to your land would like to see?”

  She nodded, full of bubbly energy, “Why yes, of course. I can show you the wonders of the Emerald City.”

  Her enthusiasm was catchy, and I found that Ell and I were grinning at her wide-eyed innocence.

  Movement in the sky caught my attention, and I glanced up as she started to lead us down the crowded lane that reminded me of Downtown Seattle, just before a Seahawks game.

  I saw monkeys flying to and from the central castle in random patterns. Marie was as curious as me as Ella allowed her control and she asked, “Are zee monkeys a common sight? You did not shy from Fenriss, ma chere.”

  Ver's smile dampened but didn't leave her. It had a sad cast to it as her voice lowered to an almost normal tone, “Why would I shy away? They are but Munchkins, cursed in their lands by the Wicked Cardinal Witch of the East in the days before days. They just forget how to be people sometimes.”

  I looked up to the aerial display at the castle. Fenriss was a man? I mean Munchkin? How long had he been like that? The wicked witch had done that to him? To them?

  Then she shook herself, and I swear I heard the jingling of little bells as her curly tresses settled on her shoulders. “I'm sorry, I shouldn't speak of unpleasant times. This way Lady Ella-Marie, Parker.”

  We followed behind, and I almost sighed when Marie grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers and giving a little squeeze before slight vertigo I felt when she ceded control of their body back to Ella.

  I gave a squeeze back, letting her know I understood her even better than before, being trapped inside someone, being what amounted to a shadow unless control was given to you for but a short period of time before you were caged up in their mind again. And she has done this for centuries.

  I have known since I met them that they have grown to be so much alike, two parts of a whole that they were essentially one person now, which is why I call her Ella-Marie instead of just Ella like everyone else does unless one personality was expressing itself. I understood now, and my heart ached for the Marie portion of my girl.

  Ella squeezed my hand, knowing where my mind was and I saw that haunted look of hers, the one she got when she felt as if she had stolen the life of her love as she wore her form. I smiled back and turned my attention back to the excited Munchkin beside us.

  I prompted, “You said Dorothy saved Oz?”

  She nodded enthusiastically as her bright blue eyes widened. She grabbed a beautiful gold scarf from a passing cart, curtsying to the woman pushing it, and the woman beamed smile back and returned the curtsy as Vermillion said, “Thank you,” in a cheery manner, then wrapped the scarf around Ella-Marie's shoulders. “Oh, this brings out the gold in your hair Lady Ella-Marie.”

  While my hard-ass love blushed, I asked as I looked back at the woman pushing the cart of

  gorgeous fabrics, “Don't we need to pay for that?”

  She scrunched up her face in confusion as we passed a fruit cart, and the peddler tossed her three bright fruits that looked like small apples. She curtsied him and squeaked out, “Thank you, sir,” as she deftly juggled the apples in the air and handed one to each of us before taking a big bite of hers and moaning in pleasure. “Why do we need to pay? We offered no offense nor sin? You say the strangest things, like Dorothy and the First Protector of Oz, Lady Antoinette.”

  Then she seemed to understand my question as she giggled, “There is no cost, no barter for things.

  Things are just things. You take what you need, and offer gratitude. All wish to know their hard work is appreciated. Do people not wish to be appreciated where you come from? Or do giants value things over people?”

  I tried not to grin at her calling us giants. And I thought about her words and was a little ashamed that for a large part we did. I admitted, “Some of us do. It seems that we aren't as enlightened as you, I fear.”

  She waved me off with a smile. “It is no matter, you are in Oz now. What a strange and exotic land you must live in.”

  Strange? Yes. Exotic? Not so much. I smiled back at her as she led on and we tentatively tasted the apples. They were surprisingly sweet with a hint of tartness. She draped a couple scarves over my shoulder as we went, shaking her head, not satisfied and instead draping one over the shoulders of a giant passing ladybug who was walking with a cane, and dropping the other on another cart of finery.

  There was a lot of curtseys and thanks being passed around.

  All the while she told us the tale of Dorothy of the Gale who saved all of Oz in the absence of the Great Wizard of Oz, by uniting all the points of the compass within her. “They were dark days. The Wizard had spoken of his prophecy, that a girl from a far off land would come to unite the compass to stand against those who would destroy Oz. He left us in the hands of the Cardinal Witches while he traveled to this other land to find this girl.”

  She shuddered in memory, “The demons came. The North and South Cardinals of good and

  righteousness stepped forward to stand against the demons. They could barely hold them off, managing to close the doorways at great cost to the people of the four lands.”

  I was mesmerized by the telling as she continued, finally satisfied with a violet scarf she draped on my shoulders, “The Cardinals of the East and West only watched in wicked glee as their sister witches, and the people of Oz suffered. We lost more and more people in every battle, Oz was faltering. The Wicked Witches would only step up to fight if the demons set foot on their lands. For as wicked as they were, they still loved their lands and the people whom they terrorized on them.”

  She nodded sagely. “Whenever the Cardinals worked together, there were fewer casualties of the people of Oz, and they were able to seal the breaches more quickly. But the Wicked cannot abide by the Good.”

 
Her eyes were haunted and a little frightened as she whispered, “And then the Dorothy of the Gale arrived eons after the great Wizard of Oz went searching for her.”

  She shuddered. “In the beginning when she vanquished the two most wicked creatures in Oz and took all that evil into herself for us, there were dark years before Lady Antoinette showed Dorothy her heart. Love is more powerful than any magic. Dorothy was lost in the magics she took into herself to fight the demons, and threatened to be a bigger danger than the demons themselves.”

  Then she showed sorrow that ran bone deep. “The Cardinals for good, understood what would bring balance to Dorothy's mind. Neither could stand against the power of two Cardinals in the girl from a foreign realm, there was too much darkness in the Witch of the Gale for Lady Toto to contain with her love. So the North and the South sacrificed themselves that the Compass would become whole for the first time since the great Wizard had divided it between the four.”

  She whispered in awe, “And Dorothy found herself. She became a force as powerful as the Wizard himself. Her love for Lady Toto id that of legends, and her love for Oz spills out every time she rides out to meet the demons as hell threatens to swallow Oz. Under her leadership, we lose fewer people fighting the beasts as her power is unrivaled. She fights to the doorways between worlds quickly, and she seals them with her power.”

  Then with pride bigger than her diminutive form should be able to hold, she said, “And as the Wizard's prophecy foresaw, Oz now thrives. The demons try again and again to gain a foothold, but our Dorothy fights them without a thought to her own life or safety. We love her for her love of us.”

  Hmm... I wonder how much of that was intentional and how much was happenstance that it turned out that way. From what we have been told by Dorothy and Toni so far, tasers and buildings and accidentally becoming an evil witch don't sound like convincing prophecy to me. But then again, what did I know, I hung around with fairytale princesses and was madly in love with one.