Chapter 2
“Concentrate.” Madame Morrible instructs Elphaba with a stern yet gentle voice. “Focus your magic on the stone, and make it float.”
Elphaba, 9 years old, frowns and squeezes her eyes shut as she focuses on levitating the stone.
“I can’t do it.” She huffs, dropping her hand with a frustrated pout. The Wizard had ordered Madame Morrible to tutor Elphaba in magic so her magic could flourish. Since then, Madame Morrible and Elphaba have met in the library of the Emerald Palace everyday after lunch.
“Yes, you can, dear.” Madame Morrible implores almost gently. “Just try again. This time use your emotions as well.”
Elphaba sighs and tries again, directing her frustration on the stone. The little pebble suddenly shot up into the air and crashed into a nearby bookshelf.
“I did it!” the little green girl gasps excitedly, looking at Madame Morrible.
The older woman smiles fondly at Elphaba. “Good work, my dear. Let’s keep at it. Practice makes perfect.”
As they practice, the Wizard silently enters the library to watch. He stands in the back with a proud smile, watching his beloved little emerald discover her skill in magic.
At the end of the lesson, Elphaba sits on a couch in the library and reads a pop up book about Oz. While she does this, Oscar pulls Madame Morrible to the side so he can speak privately with her.
“How is she coming along?” He questions.
“Quite well,” Madame Morrible responds with her usual formally polite tone. “She is the strongest magic user I've come across in a long time. And she's only 9. I have the utmost confidence that she will only grow more powerful.”
“Powerful enough to read and use the Grimmerie?” The Wizard questions with a raised brow.
“Most likely.” The Gillikin woman nods.
“Well then,” The Wizard claps his hands together and looks at Elphaba. “Let's go test that theory.”
“Now?” Madame Morrible frowns.
“Yes. Now.”
“But- your Ozness!” Madame Morrible protests, “She isn’t ready-”
“We don’t know that for sure,” the Wizard waves her off dismissively, “you are taking things far too slow with her. I refuse to wait any longer than necessary. If she is ready then we can skip the waiting part of my plan, if she is not ready then we will continue as is.”
Ignoring Madame Morrible’s protests, Oscar walks over to where Elphaba is reading on the couch. He sits next to her and gently wraps an arm around her shoulders.
“My darling emerald,” the Wizard says soothingly, gently taking Elphaba’s chin in his hand and turning her head to look at him. “Would you like to see something truly magical?”
Elphaba’s eyes almost sparkle at the idea of seeing something cool and magic. “Sure daddy, what is it?”
“Come with me and I will show you.” the Wizard smiles gently at his daughter. His eyes carry a hint of malice, though not directed at her. Never at her.
The Wizard cradles his nine year old daughter in his arms and leads her to the room that has his large puppet head, Madame Morrible follows closely behind.
They enter the room, the WIzard makes a beeline straight for the Grimmerie. The ancient book sits on a small podium against one of the walls of the room, opposite of the Wizard’s small model of Oz. He gently puts Elphaba down in front of the stand, and hands her the book.
“This is called the Grimmerie.” he explains gently to his daughter. “It’s a spell book, only the most powerful of sorcerers can read it.”
“Like you?” Elphaba asks curiously, holding the book with a surprising amount of reverence for someone her age.
The WIzard chuckles softly and pets her head with an almost condescending feel.
“Not quite, my darling emerald.” he says softly, “You see, I am not yet powerful enough. But you can help me.”
“How?” Elphaba queries.
“Well it’s quite simple, my dear.” the Wizard says smoothly. “You are a powerful child. The Grimmerie should answer you. You simply must ask it for a spell to make someone more powerful, and it will provide you one.”
Oscar quickly continues before Elphaba can ask whatever questions are on her little mind.
“Wouldn’t it be grand for you to do this?” the Wizard asks smoothly, “You’d be helping your father out greatly. Don’t you want to help daddy?”
Elphaba bites her lip almost anxiously as she looks at the Grimmerie in her small green hands. She slowly nods.
“I want to help daddy.” She says quietly, so innocently. The poor girl is unaware of her father’s manipulation.
“Then all you have to do,” the Wizard instructs quietly, kneeling behind her and wrapping his arms around her from behind in a hug. “is focus on the spell you want the Grimmerie to show you, and you will get it.”
Elphaba scrunches her face in concentration. The Wizard can’t help but smile at her adorable expression.
The Grimmerie soon opens to a page covered in a writing Oscar cannot understand. The pages have an illustration of swirls of magic surrounding a person. This is how he knows Elphaba found the right spell.
See, the Wizard was a powerless man. He couldn’t do magic, and the people of Oz would one day find this out. His current plan with distracting them with animals as the enemy wouldn’t last forever. He needed power, and he needed control. His darling Elphaba would be his key to getting that. After he had his own magic, the Wizard wouldn’t have to use Elphaba anymore.
Elphaba looks with uncertainty at her father. Oscar nods encouragingly, still hugging her close. Elphaba slowly starts reading the words. Her voice is choppy and slow at first as her brain takes in the new and foreign information.
Despite her hesitant reading, the spell soon takes place and works perfectly. The WIzard can feel the effect instantly. It starts small, just a tingly sensation in his mind. But it quickly grows and spreads through his whole being. His arms subconsciously tighten around Elphaba. He can feel magic growing in him. But he doesn’t notice Elphaba’s weakening in reading until the spell is done.
The Wizard can sense magic practically seeping from the Grimmerie. And He can feel it radiating from Madame Morrible in the back. The Wizard had expected to feel the same from Elphaba due to how powerful Madame Morrible claimed her to be. But Oscar is surprised to feel nothing.
No magic in Elphaba, his little emerald.
Then realization hits him. Nothing comes from nothing. The spell Elphaba read caused her magic to go into her father. A small part of him feels guilty for tricking Elphaba into giving him her magic, but a larger part feels triumphant and slightly possessive. Now he could protect Elphaba, now she needed him.
The little green girl slumps against the Wizard in exhaustion. Losing her magic must have tired her out. But the Wizard knows she’ll feel better soon. Plenty of creatures function just fine without magic anyhow.
“My little emerald,” he says softly, cradling Elphaba like a princess as he stands. “How do you feel?”
“Sleepy…” Elphaba whispers.
The Wizard gently takes the Grimmerie from her and places it back on the podium. He catches a glimpse of Madame Morrible’s shocked expression. She had just witnessed the whole thing, and could no doubt feel the magic pouring from Oscar now.
“Rest, my dear.” the Wizard instructs his daughter gently. “I’ve got you. I’ll never let you go.”
The tired princess certainly doesn’t need to be told twice. She falls asleep instantly in her father’s arms, her head resting against his chest.
Now that Elphaba is asleep, the Wizard addresses Madame Morrible. He effortlessly holds Elphaba against him, feeling much stronger now with magic.
“I trust you won’t tell anyone of what you’ve witnessed in our time together.” the Wizard says coolly, his threat implied.
“O-of course not, your Ozness.” Madame Morrible bows her head respectfully. Her fear and respect for the Wizard have grown significantly. Especially now that he was more than powerful enough to end her on the spot.
“Excellent.” the Wizard says with a charming smile. “You have been an invaluable help to me, Madame Morrible. Though I do have my magic now, I would like to inform you that this does not mean an end to our partnership. You may return to your home, but know that it is all too likely I will call upon you again.”
Surprised and honored by his words, Madame Morrible simply nods. She turns to leave, but pauses when the Wizard speaks up once more.
“Oh, and don’t forget,” the Wizard gives the Gillikin woman a sinister smile, still tenderly holding a sleeping Elphaba. “I’m always watching.”