Wrath of a Wonderfully Wicked Witch (Return to Oz With a Vengeance Book 2)

by Warren Thomas

  She noticed raven-haired Wanda was dressed in a black leather catsuit. Dominatrix came to mind, even thought the witch hat spoiled the whole effect in her mind. Jezebelle proved to be a platinum blonde in a bright blue bikini top and long skirt, slit up both sides. Really, it was the big white wings that Dorothy stared at the most. Winged monkeys were weird enough, but winged people?

  Hundred of fireballs erupted from atop the city walls. Emerald City's brigade of Lesser Witches were finally in the fight. Dorothy's joy was short lived. Neither of the two Wickeds seemed to give the fireballs a thought. The fireballs fizzled on the Wicked Witches' magical shields, reminding Dorothy just how much of a difference in raw power there was between Lesser and Cardinal Witches.

  And then the Wickeds launched their attack on Dorothy and Locasta.

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  Just the force of all those lightning blasts drove Dorothy to her knees. Locasta held up a little better, but she was forced into a crouch. Dorothy heard Wanda's laughter even through the din of magical battle. Then the black-clad Wicked suddenly swooped down, silvery saber held high. Dorothy immediately realized Wanda was going after Locasta, who was concentrating on Jezebelle.

  “No!” Dorothy shouted, leaping up between the two witches.

  She parried Wanda's strike, driven back to one knee by the force of the Witch's attack. Hell, her sword arm ached all the way past her elbow. Still, she had the presence of mind to squeeze off three shots at the Witch's back as she flew up and over. And then came back at her with wild eyes.

  “Oh crap,” she muttered.

  Dorothy rushed back up to her feet, braced herself, and swung her blade with all her might. Wanda turned at the last second, so she missed the Witch, but not her broom. That razor sharp katana whacked through the wooden handle right above where the straw was bound to its end.

  Wanda crashed twenty feet away with a loud, pained grunt.

  “That's how you do it!” Locasta cried. “Quick, chop off her head before she recovers!”

  Dorothy rushed the Wicked Witch, but a lightning bolt exploded between her and the downed Witch. Dirt and rocks pelted her face and body from where it struck the ground, forcing her to stop. A second later Jezebelle swooped down. The tip of a powerful wing slapped Dorothy, even as the Wicked Witch of the East snatched up Wanda and flew away.

  “Dammit, they got away! I wish I had a way to nullify their magic!” Dorothy cried. “This is not over, Wanda!”

  Chapter 10

  Distant thunder echoed through the dark dungeon. Scarecrow smiled.

  “Distraction?” he asked.

  The two Sa'Kor agents nodded.

  “Glinda convinced the Wickeds to attack the city,” Petra said. “They don't know about us, of course.” She slanted a look back at him. “Or else they'd be coming after you.”

  “Let them. I'll sink my fangs…” he stopped, a hand rising to his loosely sewn shut mouth. Petra gave him a warning look, so he dropped his hand. Didn't matter, he could still speak through it well enough. “I'm not afraid of them.”

  “Glinda warned us you were crazy,” Cara said, giving his leash a sharp tug. “Be quiet.”

  The two Sa'Kor moved with a sense of urgency, but continued to walk up the dark dungeon corridor. Other than the sporadic thunder of sorcerous battle far above, the only sound was the clatter of their heels. Scarecrow's eyes dropped to their feet, before rising up to their swaying butts. He so loved the way women's hips swung. Add heels, and the sight was mesmerizing. Scarecrow loved the way they moved with such grace and confidence.

  I'm going to put you both under my thumb, and bang your tight asses all night long. I'm going to fuck the arrogance out of you, he thought. After I put that uppity bitch witch Glinda back in her proper place.

  Then his thoughts turned even darker. A cruel smile spread across his face.

  “I know all the secret passages in the palace,” he said. “Get me out of this dungeon, and I'll lead you straight to Dorothy's bedchamber. Glinda can have me and the Empress today.”

  “That's good to know. Glinda will be pleased,” Petra said. “But Empress Dorothy is not in the palace. She left a month ago to seduce Lion into serving her.”

  Not what he wanted to hear. How did Dorothy always slip through everyone's fingers? Elba, the late Wicked Witch of the West, captured her once. That didn't end well for the Witch. He would be more careful, and subjugate the little twit right away. No languishing in a dungeon cell for Dorothy! No, he would make her his bitch with a quick bite to the neck. Just like he subjugated Glinda.

  They think I lost all my magic when Dorothy stole my heart away. But my teeth and fangs are separate. Dorothy and Glinda will be mine!

  “Shhhh,” Cara whispered, holding a hand up. “We can't take you out of the dungeon as easily as we entered. We can't put a glamour on you, so we'll have to fight our way out. I'm going to release your leash, Scarecrow. If you try to run away, I'll put a fireball into your dry straw body.”

  I'm going to put something a lot hotter and stiffer into your hot little body, bitch.

  They stopped when dungeon guards came filing out of an open door. The four men stopped and gawked at the two Sa'Kor. Scarecrow grinned. The four of them out-weighed the two women, and each one of them was a lot stronger. Yet, everyone was terrified of the Sa'Kor, and their fearsome reputation. Truth be told, Scarecrow knew the two Sa'Kor would kill those hapless guards all due to their superior training, and their confidence.

  Petra struck first, lashing out with her bullwhip across the faces of two guards. As they fell back with cries of fear and pain, Cara dropped Scarecrow's leash, pulled her sword, and then threw a fireball at the other two guards. By that time both women were charging their foes. Scarecrow watched Petra chop off one man's left arm, before thrusting her sword through his heart. Cara engaged the other, had a brief clash of blades, before he fell back with a slit throat.

  Petra was already on the first two she attacked with a whip. Scarecrow saw his chance. Ripping the stitches from his mouth, the former Wizard of Oz launched himself at Cara. The Sa'Kor never saw him coming, and he pounced.

  “Ha!” he cried, wrapping his arms and legs around her. Pressed up against the blonde Sa'Kor's back, he sank his fangs into her neck. Cara cried out, back bowing, and then he felt her relax. “Kneel, slave.”

  “Yes, master.”

  “What?” Petra cried, looking at him with a look of fury. “Glinda will burn you alive for that!”

  He wasn’t so sure about that. Glinda could very well still be under his sway. Of course, his control over her was always precarious. Scarecrow knew he never really subjugated her one hundred percent. And she'd become more difficult in recent years.

  “Cara, take Petra down for me,” Scarecrow commanded. “I want her alive.”

  The blonde Sa'Kor didn't hesitate. She charged Petra with a snarl. The two black-clad agents crossed blades in the dim light of the open door. Scarecrow circled them counterclockwise, as they fought and circled each other clockwise. He shouted encouragement to his enslaved beauty, but it quickly became apparent that Petra was the superior fighter.

  As soon as Petra began forcing Cara back toward the wall, Scarecrow saw his opening. He moved up behind the dark-haired Sa'Kor, grabbed her hair, yanked her head to the side, and sank his fangs into her neck.

  “Aaiiee!” Petra cried, knees buckling.

  Scarecrow dropped with her, kneeling behind the brunette to keep his enchanted fangs deep in her warm flesh. Petra trembled with her efforts to fight him. Obviously, she was the more powerful witch of the two, as well. Yet, she was only a Lesser Witch, so his magic quickly subdued her. The Sa'Kor finally relaxed, his slave.

  “You are my slave, Petra.”

  “Yes, master. I am your slave.”

  He looked at Cara. “Remove the collar from around my neck, and place it around your own.”

  The blonde didn't hesitate, despite her exhaustion. Still panting furiously, she sheathed he
r sword, pulled her wand out of its sheath, and tapped the iron collar. It snapped open. Cara pulled the collar off Scarecrow's neck and snapped it around her own. It proved a nice, snug fit.

  “Give me your whip, Petra,” he commanded.

  Glinda's leather-clad agent docilely handed him the coiled bullwhip. It was seven feet of shiny black leather. He tied the end around Petra's slender throat. And then he headed for the dungeon's exit, leading the two subjugated women.

  “Keep your wands ready,” he commanded. “Fireball anyone you see.”

  Most Lesser Witches didn't have the power to throw lightning bolts. Fireballs would be enough for mere men and women, though. And it would let the palace, city, and world know that King Scarecrow was loose!

  Floosh!

  He looked right in time to see Petra's fireball slam into a palace guard. The arcane flames consumed the poor fool in seconds. Scarecrow always wondered if the victims of fireballs lived long enough to feel the agony. He hoped so.

  Scarecrow took off running, his enslaved Sa'Kor close behind. His face lit up. “I'm free!”

  Scarecrow knew the palace better than anyone. Scarecrows didn't sleep, so he explored it in depth at night. He knew all of its secret places, and how to get out quickly.

  “We came in through the tunnel up ahead,” Cara said.

  That secret escape tunnel went to a small copse of trees about a mile outside the city walls. There was a tumbledown hut, and a spring. He actually owned that old farm, before Dorothy usurped him.

  Dark thoughts of the Kansas girl stopped him in his tracks. They said she wasn't in the palace, so there was no reason for him to remain inside, either. The authorities would surely do a thorough search for him within the city, so it was best to get out while he could. Besides, his slaves probably had transportation waiting. Maybe a flying carpet?

  “Excellent, my slave. Let us escape the city,” he said. “And then go hunt down Dorothy Gale.”

  “As you wish, master, but…” Petra said, but he yanked the whip to silence her.

  “Do not 'but' me! I am your master,” he snarled. “You only obey.”

  “Yes, master.”

  “Stupid, arrogant Sa'Kor bitch slave,” Scarecrow sneered. “You strutted into my cell, all high and mighty, and look at you now. Slapped down. Enslaved. My slave.”

  Hearing lots and lots of running feet all around, Scarecrow decided it best to berate and belittle his slaves later. After he escaped. Once far away, and safe, he would really show them who the master was. Oh yes. He would put their fine round butts to work. Just the thought gave him a tingle between his legs.

  Reaching the hidden tunnel, he quickly found the release and opened it. After leading the two slaves inside, he closed the secret door. Small glowing crystals embedded in the ceiling gave a pale greenish light. It was just enough to navigate the twisting, turning tunnel. Cara followed at the end of the leash, with Petra behind her on the longer whip. He gave the leash and whip occasional tugs, just to keep those young beauties off balance.

  It was fun tormenting the helpless.

  The tunnel stretched for miles. It passed through holes chiseled through both the inner and outer city walls. When he passed through the outer walls, Scarecrow knew they were over halfway to the exit. He picked up his pace, humming a jaunty song. His mind filled with all the sick, depraved ways he could make Glinda and Dorothy pay for their crimes against him. He would practice on Cara and Petra.

  Soon, he spotted the end. The door was stone, opened with a spell. He knew the spell, since he was the one to place it upon the big boulder. Since he no longer had magic, he ordered Cara to open it. She pointed her wand, muttered the spell, and the boulder slowly rolled out of the way.

  Sunlight slanted down into the tunnel.

  “Freedom!” Scarecrow shouted as he emerged from the dark and into tree-shaded light. “Watch out Glinda, Dorothy, and the rest of the world. I will have my vengeance!”

  “How cute,” Glinda purred.

  He whirled around as Cara and Petra emerged, moving to either side of him. Glinda sat upon a boulder, legs crossed, and a wicked smirk on her face. Her baby blues cut toward first Petra, and then Cara. Then her eyes narrowed.

  “You bastard,” Glinda snarled, her wand instantly pointing at him. “You bit my Sa'Kor!”

  “Kill her!” Scarecrow commanded.

  Petra and Cara threw themselves at Glinda without hesitation. The Witch scowled, and then shot small bolts through their hearts. Both women fell dead to the ground. Her eyes glowed red fire when they turned on Scarecrow.

  “You bastard, I'll make you pay for that.”

  Scarecrow threw himself at her, but she proved quicker. Glinda cast a spell that wrapped him up in pink tendrils of raw magic energy. Try as he might, he could not break free. And then she slowly dismounted the boulder, walked over to kneel beside him on the ground. She lifted her right hand, and a large needle and cord appeared.

  “These stitches are enchanted, so you won't be able to remove them,” she sneered. The Witch quickly sewed his mouth, leaving the cords loose enough for him to speak through them, but nothing else. But Scarecrow could feel the magic in those insidious bindings. “Scarecrow, you will either serve me loyally, of your own freewill, or you will serve me as a magically bound slave. Decide!”

  “We are going after Dorothy?”

  “We are.”

  “For Dorothy, I'll serve you loyally any way I can.”

  Glinda smiled. “Nice, but I'll not give her to you. I will let you have her for the night, every so often as it amuses me.”

  Scarecrow cursed her soundly, bucked and struggled to no avail. Finally, he glowered at her.

  “Fine. I accept your terms, Glinda Upland,” he said. “I am yours to command.”

  Chapter 11

  The crowd cheered, chanting, “Dorothy! Dorothy! Dorothy!” Flowers rained down upon her as she looked around. It wasn't so long ago that they all cursed her name. Now she was their savior. She wondered how fast they would turn on her if the tides of war changed again.

  “Oz, or just old age, is making me cynical,” Dorothy muttered, but she smiled and waved at the crowd. She slanted an amused look back at her companions. “Lion, I bet you never expected to be greeted like this again.”

  “True, but I've dreamed of marching down this street after conquering the city many times.”

  Dorothy led the combined armies to the palace. There, she commanded Marshal Picho to take charge of the army. And then she further ordered him to provide barracks for Lion's army. She knew there were always empty barracks for when armies visited from the far reaches of the Empire. Lion then gave his orders to his second-in-command.

  “Come, my friends. We have much to discuss,” she said, leading Nick and Lion into the palace.

  Courtiers and bureaucrats bowed as she walked through one opulent chamber after another. Rounding a corner, she stopped to see blood on the floor and burn marks on the walls.

  “What happened here?”

  One of the palace guards snapped to attention. “Your Serene Highness, two Sa'Kor snuck inside the palace, broke Scarecrow out, and killed a guardsman with fireballs during their escape.”

  Dorothy stared incredulously at him. “Scarecrow escaped?”

  He looked supremely embarrassed, and nodded. She looked at Nick, who was clutching his hilt and looking all around. Lion had morphed to half-lion, sniffing the air.

  “We have to get you to a secure location, Dorothy,” Nick said. “Quietly. Scarecrow could attack at any second.”

  She looked around warily, glad she had her Uzis hanging off her shoulders. But then, bullets had proved worthless against Scarecrow in the past. Her sword would be better.

  “Nick, get with the Palace Guard Commander-on-Duty and arm all of the guards with torches. Fire kills Scarecrow,” Dorothy said.

  “Um,” the palace guard said.

  “Yes? Speak,” Dorothy snapped.

  “Scarecrow escaped thr
ough a tunnel down the hallway, Your Highness,” he said. He pointed with his spear. “The Palace Guard has already smashed it open, and I think we are following him out the tunnel.”

  Dorothy hurried down the corridor. A few minutes later she found a dozen guardsmen and officers beside an ugly hole in the wall. A dimly lit tunnel slanted down and away to the west. She spoke with the Duty Officer a moment.

  Turning back to Nick and Lion, “He escaped. They've already followed it to an old farm about a mile west of the outer walls. They found two dead Sa'Kor agents. No sign of Scarecrow, and no tracks leading away.”

  “Scarecrow killed his saviors?” Lion asked. “He's crazier than I thought.”

  “No. I was told a Lesser Witch checked them out. The Sa'Kor were killed by lightning strikes,” Dorothy said. “Her best guess was Wanda ambushed them, and took Scarecrow away.”

  “That is not good. Scarecrow knows Emerald City's magical defenses better than anyone. If anyone can crack the city open, it's Scarecrow,” Nick said. “I suspect he's halfway to Winkie Country by now, but he'll be back soon enough. We'd better be ready.”

  “Do you think the Wicked Witch attack was meant to distract the army while Glinda's Sa'Kor broke Scarecrow out?” Lion asked. “That's how she usually operates.”

  If it was true, then Wanda pulled a fast one over on Glinda. Still, they didn't really know who had Scarecrow. If anyone. He was a wily foe.

  “I can't believe Glinda wanted him back,” Nick said. “He treated her like trash. I always suspected Glinda despised him, and only superior magic kept her at his side.”

  “Do you think Glinda is still loyal to Scarecrow?” Dorothy asked. “He doesn't have magic anymore.” She turned to her other companion. “Lion, do you think Locasta can divine the answers to that?”

  He'd morphed back to fully human. “No. Divining isn't a talent most witches possess. But then, she might be able to use her magic to discover where Scarecrow went. I can't promise it'll be quick.”

  “Speak of the devil,” Nick said.

  Dorothy looked past him to find Locasta hurrying toward them. She had an odd look on her face. The witch stopped and bowed to Lion.