Glinda nodded. She liked it. Qoris was one of the Sa'Kor's finest and most experienced assassins. If the dark desert-bred assassin couldn't kill Dorothy's steel-sheathed protector, then no one could. Of course, Kyra had proven quite exceptional as an assassin, too. The beautiful redhead was a former Lady-in-Waiting, so the Witch knew her quite intimately. The fourth Sa'Kor was Darin, another Lesser Witch who specialized in kidnapping and interrogation.
“I want Scarecrow to go in first and lead, then Oxsana, Qoris, myself, Kyra, and Darin to guard our rear,” Glinda said. “Once we enter the bedchambers, Oxsana, Qoris, and Scarecrow will engage Nick. I'll lead Kyra and Darin in securing Dorothy. Darin, I'll be relying heavily upon your skills.”
The brunette's hands lit up with dark purple fires, which quickly turned into writhing tendrils. “I'm ready, mistress.”
They lined up in that order, but Scarecrow remained with his back to the mound. Glinda crinkled her nose at the moody bastard. Nothing was ever easy with Scarecrow.
“How do we open it?” she asked. “Is there a manual lever?”
He remained silent, staring at her chest. Glinda shook her head. He was too easily distracted, and his dark lusts all-consuming at times. At the moment, she was dressed in a way to fire up his passions. She wore Sa'Kor black leathers to help hide her in the darkness. Of course, he was looking her Sa'Kor witches and assassins over just as hungrily.
“I asked you a question,” Glinda said with steel in her voice.
“Magic,” he said. He tapped two stones, one above the other. “Dorothy stole my magic, so you'll have to use yours to move those two rectangular rocks.”
Glinda squinted at the indicated rocks. She could just make out their outlines in the night shadows. Together, they made a roughly door shape. So she lifted her wand and cast the necessary spell. The uppermost stone shifted slightly, rattled loose from the surrounding soil, and then slowly moved away from the ancient burial mound. The scraping sound made Glinda clench her teeth, despite knowing there wasn't anyone close enough to hear.
A dark tunnel could be seen, so Glinda moved the lower stone away. She stacked them to one side. Once they'd escaped with Dorothy, she'd restore the burial mound to its original state. No one would be able to tell there was anything amiss. And later, they could use that tunnel to capture the city. Hopefully, Scarecrow had many other secret tunnels they could also use in the taking of Emerald City.
Scarecrow turned and rushed inside. The others hurried in to follow. Light crystals scattered haphazardly on the floor, walls, and ceiling lit up as they approached, and faded to black after they passed. It was still enough to see the tunnel was as roughly constructed as she'd ever seen. The wooden beams and supports looked rotted and unstable, covered in spider webs. Rats and mice scampered around underfoot.
I doubt anyone's passed through since its completion.
Glinda estimated the distance between the burial mound and Emerald Palace at around two miles, but it felt like ten in that tunnel. Their passage took forever, with some spots quite tight. Finally, they reached Emerald City's outer wall.
The hole through the thick stone wall proved quite tight. Scarecrow's straw-stuffed body passed through effortlessly. Not so easy for the flesh and blood members of the party. Their skin-tight leather did help them, since it didn't catch on any of the sharp edges and protected them from cuts and scrapes.
“How many of these tunnels did you build?” Glinda asked.
“Twelve,” Scarecrow said. “All coming from the palace. Three have since collapsed, but I know of one other escape tunnel an unknown previous ruler built.”
“Excellent. I'll need you to give my Sa'Kor a detailed map of them all,” she said. “Even the collapsed tunnels. We can restore them if necessary.”
Glinda didn't think they'd have to besiege Emerald City. Once she had Dorothy in her power, then she could use either the Empress or the deposed King Scarecrow to rally support. If necessary, she would marry Dorothy to Scarecrow, install them back on the throne, and rule the Empire through them. At least at first.
“Spider!” Scarecrow cried, and promptly slapped Oxsana's left boob. “Got it.”
The most wicked look of glee spread across Scarecrow's face before the Sa'Kor agent punched him in the face. Even then he laughed.
“That tickled,” Scarecrow said. “Do it again.”
He reached for Oxsana's chest once more, but snatched his hands back when flames erupted around her hands. Glinda noted a tiny spark of fear in his eyes.
“I'll torch you if you touch me again.”
“I'm so scared.” His hand darted back up, squeezing her tit. “Honk.”
All five women cried out angrily, while he swiftly turned away and continued up the tunnel. Oxsana looked back at Glinda with fury in her eyes.
“Don't worry, I'll find a way to punish him appropriately,” the Witch said.
The tunnel widened a bit under the city. They moved quicker, and Glinda felt the anticipation building as they neared the palace. Her heart began racing when they reached the walls of the palace itself.
“Shhh,” Scarecrow said. “We're about to enter the palace. This passage is built into the very walls, so if you speak or bump into anything, it might be heard by someone in the palace.”
Glinda listened intently, and did hear muted conversations. The passage twisted and turned, and they had to climb a ladder to reach the second floor. And then, they were forced to crawl on all fours under the floor, before entering a small hidden chamber.
Scarecrow grinned like an idiot, fidgeting in his excitement. “We've arrived. Listen.”
“Uggh. Uggh. Uggh.”
A feminine voice was grunting? Glinda frowned, and then a banging began. Her eyes lit up when the sounds registered. Nick was banging Dorothy! Perfect. They were distracted, and probably wouldn't completely regain their wits before it's too late.
Scarecrow stepped up upon a wooden box, slid open a secret peephole, and looked inside. They were definitely doing it in the Imperial Bed, because a big bulge swelled up between his legs. Hell, Glinda felt a little breathless and tingly thinking about that huge steel brute fucking that beautiful young thing.
Soon, you'll be warming my bed, Dorothy, Glinda thought. I'm going to train you to be the perfect love slave, for both men and women.
It would be a wonderfully wicked experience for them both.
Glinda quickly got them lined up, with Scarecrow, Oxsana, and Qoris leading the attack. They had to dispatch Nick as quickly and quietly as possible. Ideally, the big steel pimp turned Imperial Advisor would die in bed, while still inside Dorothy. If he died atop her, pinning the young beauty down, it would make capturing and entrancing her so much easier.
“Go,” Glinda whispered.
Scarecrow threw a bronze lever, and a section of wall glided soundlessly aside. He rushed in, and the others followed fast on his heels.
“Kill them all!” Scarecrow shouted.
Glinda cursed. Why did he shout? Silence was imperative. So the second she passed out into the bedchamber, the Witch turned to the door. She drew a series of runes in the air with her wand, muttering the spell at the same time. Light flashed, and the door was sealed shut. The Palace Guards would not interfere.
An enraged roar filled the room. Glinda whirled around, eyes huge. “Lion?”
She immediately remembered how Lion subdued and subjugated Locasta. Not even a Cardinal Witch could resist his pheromones.
“Kill the shifter first!” Glinda cried.
“It's Glinda!” Nick shouted. “Protect Dorothy!”
It went from bad to worse fast. Nick rolled off the bed to the right, while Lion went left. Scarecrow, Oxsana, and Qoris had already committed themselves to an assault on Nick. That left Lion free to engage Darin and Kyra.
Glinda moved between the two fights, straight to the foot of the bed. Dorothy sat there gawking, looking left and right. And then she spotted Glinda, and their eyes locked.
“D
id you really think you were safe in Scarecrow's bed?” Glinda taunted.
The pretty brunette slipped a hand under a pillow, and pulled out a pistol. Glinda felt a moment of panic, having been gunned down before. Twice. Using her wand, she projected a shield against missile weapons.
Pap-pap-pap-pap!
The Witch's breath caught, she froze, but then she smiled. Her arcane shield held. Four little lead bullets clattered to the floor between the two women. Dorothy's eyes briefly widened, before she turned her pistol on Oxsana.
Glinda threw a fireball at Dorothy, forcing her to roll off the bed and drop to the floor. The brunette rolled up on one knee, and then popped off two shots into Scarecrow.
“Leave him alone,” Dorothy shouted.
The former Wizard of Oz turned on her with a snarl. Lion seized Kyra's arm, spun around, and hurled her over Dorothy's head and into Scarecrow's chest. The scarecrow went down, taking out Oxsana as well. Nick shouted in victory as he tore into Qoris with just his fists and feet. The assassin had to give ground to the much larger foe.
It wasn't looking good. Glinda pointed her wand at Scarecrow, seized him with magic, and threw him at Dorothy.
“Grab her!”
Dorothy managed to squeeze off another shot before Scarecrow plowed into her. She was driven back against the wall, where Scarecrow pounded a fist into her belly. She gasped, doubled over, and Glinda felt the thrill of success.
“Stupid bastard,” Dorothy croaked out, and then thrust her pistol into Scarecrow's side. “BURN!”
She pulled the trigger. The bullet passed through him, but then a second later he started squealing like a stuck pig, beating frantically at his left side. It took the Witch a moment to realize that Dorothy had somehow set him on fire with the pistol.
The Witch cast a quick spell that killed the fire in Scarecrow's side. He immediately backhanded Dorothy, who lost hold of her pistol and fell back against the wall. Scarecrow quickly pounced, twisting the young brunette's arm behind her back.
“Dorothy is ours!” Glinda cried.
The Kansas girl struggled, but couldn't break free of Scarecrow's grasp. So Glinda looked around to see where she was needed next.
“Got him!” Darin cried. “Quick, Kyra, stab him in the heart!”
Glinda glanced that way. Darin's magic was saving the day. Lion was down, wrapped up in glowing purple tendrils of pure energy. The Lesser Witch's face showed her strain, barely able to restrain the powerful shifter. Kyra rushed across the bedchamber towards them, even as Glinda heard Oxsana cry out in victory.
“Nick Chopper is down!”
Nick lay against the wall. He looked unconscious, while Qoris stood over him looking for a way to finish him off. So Glinda turned to Scarecrow and Dorothy.
“Hold her tight,” Glinda commanded, stepping up to Dorothy. A swirl of her wand produced a shiny silver collar. It was an enchanted piece, which would subjugate Dorothy's will and make her utterly obedient. “Lift her chin so I can – “
Dorothy cried out in rage, and lashed out with a foot. A silver shod foot slammed into Glinda's shin.
“Begone!” Dorothy shouted.
Glinda felt icy cold magic grip her. She didn't even have time to realize what happened, before it pulled her out of the room, through the tunnel at lightning speed, and out of the mound's entrance. The Witch slammed back against a thick tree, her breath exploding out.
She fell to her hands and knees, gasping for breath a split second before Oxsana slammed into the tree above her, followed by Scarecrow, Kyra, Darin, and Qoris. Everyone fell upon Glinda.
“What happened?” Oxsana gasped out. “How did she vanquish us like that? Is she a witch?”
“In a way, yes,” Glinda said, finally able to escape the pile of humanity. She rolled over onto her back, still gasping for air. “She did that to me once before. I've got to get those shoes off her feet!”
A rumbling came from deep in the earth, and then dust spewed out of the tunnel's entrance. She scowled at Emerald City, at the palace rising above all else. They'd just collapsed the tunnel using magic. Was it the shoes? Or Locasta? Either way, they were deprived of a path straight to Dorothy.
“Scarecrow, tell me about the other tunnels,” she said, eyes narrowing. “I'm more determined than ever to put Dorothy Gale under my thumb!”
Chapter 14
Dorothy stood on the balcony. The city looked so peaceful in the pre-dawn light. There was a chill in the air, goose-fleshing her skin. It felt wonderful after a long, exhausting night. With Locasta's help, they'd located a dozen tunnels, and numerous hidden passages within the palace. Locasta collapsed all of the tunnels, and used her magic to seal the hidden passages.
The witch said some of the tunnels outdated Scarecrow by centuries. She would continue the search and destroy efforts while Dorothy was off looking for the Null Stone. Scarecrow was really good at cloaking his tunnels with magic, so she was certain there were more to find.
“You should eat something before you leave, Your Highness,” Locasta said. “It'll be a grueling trek, so you'll need your energy.”
“My stomach is still sour,” Dorothy said. She leaned back on the thick marble balustrade and studied the witch. “I'll eat something in the saddle, but right now I'm more concerned that Glinda's Sa'Kor are in some passage we haven't found yet, either spying on us or waiting for an opportunity to strike.”
Prior to the fight against the Wickeds, Locasta had kept her at arms' distance, at best. Now the witch addressed her quite respectfully, and at times acted as if they'd been friends for life. Did Lion command her to serve her? Or just be respectful and nice? Dorothy found herself amazed at how hard the witch worked to find hidden tunnels and passages. Indeed, she stood before her still flushed and sweaty from her efforts.
“I am worried for you while I'm off searching for the Null Stone,” Dorothy said. “You'll be back here in Glinda's crosshairs.”
“I do not know that expression, but I assume it means I'll be Glinda's target,” the witch said. “It is what it is, Your Highness.”
“You don't resent the fact Lion ordered you to stay behind, while he goes off with me?” Dorothy asked. Hell, she asked Lion to lend her his witch, in front of Locasta. So it was in truth Dorothy who commanded the witch stay behind as a decoy. “I'm afraid I've endangered your life even more now.”
Locasta frowned at her, and then shrugged. “Your will is law, Your Highness. Shall I order your bath drawn now?”
That whole “her will was law” thing made Dorothy grimace. No one should have such much raw power. Yet, it might be the only thing keeping her alive at the moment.
“I bathed last night,” she said. It'd been what she thought of as a “whore's bath,” but it would have to do. “Besides, five minutes on the road and I'll be filthy again.”
Dorothy entered the bedchamber and opened one of a dozen elaborately decorated wardrobes. Once she dealt with Glinda and the Wickeds, then she planned to build a true walk-in closet/dressing room.
For once, she got to choose her outfit. Her servants usually put her in what they wanted, though she could reject their outfit and demand something else. Mostly, she accepted their choice in gorgeous gowns. What did it matter what an Empress wore?
Dorothy chose brown leather pants, paired with a long-sleeved white blouse. She buttoned a snug, black leather vest over the blouse. And then she looked down at her shoes.
“Boots would be so much better,” she said. To her astonishment, the Silver Stilettos transformed from silver pumps to silver ankle boots. Stiletto-heeled, lace-up ankle boots, but still better than pumps. Locasta never blinked. Dorothy, though, gawked a long moment. “How did I do that?” She extended a leg, turned the foot to admire the boot. “I'd rather have cowboy boots.”
Nothing happened. She looked at Locasta. “How do I make them turn into what I really want?”
The witch shrugged. “The Silver Shoes were created to be worn by witches. If I was wearing them, I could
make them do anything I wanted. But since you're not trained in magic, I'm not sure you'll ever have much control over them.”
“Can you turn them into cowboy boots for me?”
“No, and I haven't the foggiest idea what a 'cowboy boot' is anyway,” Locasta said. “And as long as you wear them, I cannot make them do anything.”
“I really need to learn magic,” she muttered. “Olivia and Diana mentioned arranging for me to be taught magic. I'll check into that when I return.”
She paused, waiting for Locasta to offer to teach her. The witch remained silent. So she turned to a mirror and put her long, dark hair up in pigtails. Normally, she preferred a ponytail or braid when riding, but she was in a hurry and pigtails were easy. Dorothy tied them off with blue ribbons.
“I'm ready as I'm going to be,” Dorothy said. She buckled her double-holster on around her hips, and then tied the holsters down around her thighs. The katana went across her back. The sword's scabbard was attached to the vest in two places so she didn't have to endure a wide strap pressed between her boobs. Her Uzis were already stowed in her saddlebags. “Let's go.”
“You're supposed to say, 'Attend me,'“ Locasta said. “You really don't have this Empress thing down yet, do you?”
“I'll never get used to it,” she said. “And that's not how we speak where I come from.”
Locasta cast a glamour spell over herself, making it look like she was Dorothy and wearing a shimmering green gown, and lots of diamonds and emeralds. Dorothy stared a moment. It was weird looking at a mirror image of herself like that. The glamour made Locasta look and sound exactly like her. Yeah, it confused her head a little.
“Be careful,” Dorothy said. “Don't let Glinda capture you, thinking you are me. I'm afraid her intentions are not honorable, or decent. I'll try to find the Null Stone as quickly as possible.”
The best Locasta could do was tell them the general region. The Null Stone couldn't be located via magic, since it was anti-magic. Indeed, Locasta wasn't all that positive she was sending them to the right region. It could very well be on the other side of the Empire, deep in Winkie Country, instead of Munchkin Country.
Wrath of a Wonderfully Wicked Witch (Return to Oz With a Vengeance Book 2) Page 9