Wicked: The Witch's Daughter #46

Instructions

Madame Morrible's POV: I waited patiently as the guards marched Elphaba and Fiyero into the room, and the moment I saw them, a smug smile spread across my face. After sixteen years of hiding, they were finally standing before me again. Elphaba looked furious, her eyes fixed on me with barely contained anger, while Fiyero looked just as displeased. "Madame Morrible," Elphaba said coldly. "You." "Yes," I replied with a smile. "Me." I looked at the two of them with satisfaction. "After all these years, I finally have you both." Fiyero stepped forward, but one of the guards stopped him. "You have no right to do this," he said. "I believe we've already had this discussion," I replied. "And yet here you are." Elphaba glared at me. "Where is Kendra?" I smiled. "I'm sure you won't have to wonder for long." I turned toward the guards. "You were ordered to bring Elphaba, Fiyero, and their daughter back to me. Where is the girl?" The room suddenly became quiet. One of the guards exchanged an uneasy glance with another before finally answering. "Madame Morrible... Kendra escaped." My smile disappeared. "She what?" "She escaped during the struggle at the castle." I stared at him. "How did you allow that to happen?" The guard hesitated. "She used magic." My expression hardened. "Magic?" Elphaba remained silent, but I noticed the faintest change in her expression. She knew exactly what had happened. Of course she did. She had been there when Kendra escaped. But I hadn't known. "Explain," I ordered. "She used her powers to move furniture and block the guards. Eventually, one of the guards managed to grab her, but she broke free. She then retrieved a broom and flew out of the castle." "Where?" I demanded. "Toward the Western Forest." I clenched my hands. "And you simply let her fly away?" "We tried to follow her, but she was already gone." I turned toward Elphaba. She was still angry, but now I could see something else in her expression. Relief. She knew her daughter had gotten away. "You knew," I said. Elphaba looked directly at me. "I watched her leave." I narrowed my eyes. "And you didn't tell me." "Why would I?" she replied. I felt my anger rise. "Because your daughter is now alone in the Western Forest." Elphaba's expression hardened. "She's not alone. She's capable of taking care of herself." "She is sixteen." Fiyero stepped forward. "And she's our daughter. We know her better than you do." I ignored him and turned back toward the guards. "How long ago did she leave?" "Not long before we returned." I immediately pointed toward the door. "Then find her." The guards straightened. "Search the area around Kiamo Ko and the Western Forest. Follow any signs you can find. I want her brought back." Elphaba's eyes narrowed. "You won't find her." "Perhaps not immediately," I said. "But eventually, she will have to stop somewhere." Elphaba said nothing. I could tell she was trying to remain calm, but she was clearly worried about her daughter despite knowing Kendra had escaped. That only made me more determined. Kendra had inherited magic from her mother, and now she had disappeared into the Western Forest with Elphaba's broom. I had intended to bring the entire family back to Oz together. Instead, I had captured two of them and lost the third. I turned toward the guards. "Do not return without continuing the search. Find Kendra Thropp." They hurried from the room. I watched them disappear through the doorway before turning back toward Elphaba and Fiyero. My smug expression had completely vanished. "You may have escaped me once," I said to Elphaba, "but your daughter will not remain hidden forever." Elphaba stared back at me without answering. And for the first time since I had seen her brought into the room, I realized that capturing her and Fiyero was only half the battle. Kendra was still free.