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

  WRATH OF A WONDERFULLY WICKED WITCH

  Return to Oz With a Vengeance #2

  By

  Warren Thomas

  * * * * *

  PUBLISHED BY:

  Rollicking Dragon Press

  Copyright 2019 by Warren Thomas

  Cover by Tony Tzanoukakis

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and locations within either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, or locales is entirely coincidental. All characters in this story are 18 years old or older.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  List of other books by Warren

  About the Author

  Wrath of a Wonderfully Wicked Witch

  Return to Oz With a Vengeance #2

  “Lies!” the little Munchkin man screamed.

  “Your Highness, as you can see he’s as daft as his ugly little donkey,” the wainwright said.

  The four foot all Munchkin bounced up and down in his rage, face beat red. Dorothy had such a hard time taking the merchant JiJi Winkerstank seriously in his blue velvet jacket, pink ruffled shirt, and yellow boots. The red and white vertically striped leggings didn’t help.

  His tall, lean foe, Olly Ollyson, smirked down at him. The Emerald City tradesman acted like he already had Dorothy on his side, and nothing would change that. He, of course, wore head to toe green in an attempt to sway her.

  Dorothy looked at Nick Chopper. “Now I understand why Scarecrow only held Court once a month. They’re driving me crazy.”

  Nick towered over her while she sat upon the Emerald Throne. He stood by Empress Dorothy’s side as her Prime Minister and chief advisor, and looked amazing in his green robes of office. The former Tin Woodman winked at her.

  “Wait until I get you alone and out of that pretty gown,” he whispered. “I’ll drive you crazy in a much better way.”

  A thrill rippled up her back, and Dorothy’s breath whooshed out. “Promises, promises.”

  She turned back to the problem at hand. The merchant accused the wainwright, Olly Ollyson, of knowingly selling him a defective wagon. The wainwright counter-sued the merchant, claiming he failed to pay for the wagon and was in the process of skipping town to avoid that payment.

  Dorothy didn’t need to be a witch to know both were lying their butts off. Yet, she felt woefully inadequate to meting justice so summarily. By Ozian customs, beliefs, and law, as sovereign she was never wrong. Right and wrong could change according to her verdicts.

  She tried so hard to be fair and just, but sometimes neither side was clearly in the right.

  The Empress of Oz stood, gaining everyone’s attention. During public Court, Dorothy only stood to give her decision. She heard a collected intake of breaths.

  She hesitated with a look of uncertainty for a bare second.

  “JiJi Winkerstank, you were trying to run out on your debt to the wainwright,” Dorothy said. “I rule in favor of Mr. Ollyson. He doesn’t have to pay you a single green penny.”

  Olly barked a victorious laugh. She turned cool eyes down on him.

  “Olly Ollyson, I find that you did indeed knowingly sell the merchant a defective wagon,” she continued. “I rule in favor of Mr. Winkerstank in your case against him. He doesn’t have to pay you another penny.”

  Both petitioners gawked up at her. Dorothy stood atop her raised dais and arched a haughty brow down at them. That was her best royal look, besides being decked out in head to toe green silk and lots of sparking jewels.

  Everyone just stared at her. All she wanted to do was run away, but an Empress had to be the epitome of grace and confidence. So Dorothy stood tall, lifted her chin high, before addressing them.

  “And I’m done for the day,” Dorothy declared. “I’ll see the rest of you next week.”

  Dorothy started down the steps before anyone could object or try to stop her. Nick rushed up to offer his arm and together they swept out of the throne room. A deep sense of relief swept through her.

  “Wow, what a relief,” she whispered. “So, shall we retire to the Imperial bedchamber so you can serve me in a much more fun manner? I do recall a certain promise you made back in the throne room.”

  Anticipation filled her belly with butterflies. She barely noticed the opulence of the marble and tapestries. But she could ignore her gorgeously attired subjects who bowed at her approach. It kind of grated on her Midwestern sensibilities, but they looked so happy doing it.

  “What about Scarecrow?” Nick asked. Despite his falling out with the former Wizard of Oz, Nick remained Scarecrow's staunchest supporter in the Imperial Court. “It was the Black Heart you pulled from his chest that made him evil.”

  “Wow. You know how to kill a girl’s romantic mood.”

  Dorothy wanted to believe it, but Scarecrow still had quite a bit of support among the bureaucracy. It wouldn't be hard for him to mount a successful coup d'état. Even though she felt woefully inadequate to the job, she didn't want to be usurped. Bad things happen to overthrown monarchs. Like getting their heads chopped off.

  “I'm trying to keep an open mind, Nick,” she said. “But I think it is too early to consider an Imperial Pardon for our old friend. Have you visited him in the dungeon?” He shook his head.” Well, I have. I think he's off his rocker, crazy as a loon. He would be a danger to society, and most of the people are still terrified of him.”

  “Truly? I'd like to speak to him and see for myself,” he said.

  She nodded and veered toward the stairs up into the residential wing, and her bedchamber. Her mind filled with all kinds of naughty, sexy things she would to for him, and that he’d do to her in return. Then Nick tugged her in a different direction.

  “What? You promised to ‘drive me crazy’ after Court.”

  Her mind drifted to more pleasant endeavors. Nick excelled at finding new, naughty ways to thrill her. But he killed her mojo instead.

  “We have a meeting with Marshall Picho in the War Room first,” Nick said. “Then we can enjoy a little tryst.”

  Her heart pounded, throat tight. Lord, how she needed a nooner. But it had to wait. Being Empress was a never ending job.

  “Oh joy,” she said. “Picho and his generals just want to fight, fight, fight.” They rounded a corner, spotting the War Room door at the end of the corridor. “But our army has no real defense against Cardinal Witches. Wanda, Jezebelle, and Glinda will slaughter us whole scale, and them snatch my sweet round butt up.”

  Dorothy understood she’d barely snatched victory over Scarecrow by the skin of her t
eeth. Then her enchanted Silver Stilettos vanquished Glinda, sending the powerful Witch far away. She still didn’t understand how the shoes’ magic worked.

  But every Witch in the Lands of Oz wanted her magic shoes. Big mojo going down there. And the Wicked Witches were all willing to kill thousands and thousands to get their hands on her shoes. And get their hands on her.

  “Have any of the Cardinal Witches replied to our summons?”

  Everything would change if even one of the Good Witches accepted her rule. If a Wicked Witch submitted to her rule, it would put enormous pressure on the other to follow suit. As it stood, even the Good Witches seemed to be ignoring her.

  “No,” Nick said. “We haven’t received any replies from any of the four Countries.”

  Dorothy didn’t really think any of the Witches would bend knee to her. She was mundane, after all, with no magical power to back up her army and authority. King Scarecrow didn’t get them to submit until after he proved himself more powerful as a wizard, and as an armed force. He beat them all into submission.

  I’m not in Kansas anymore, she thought. Life was so much simpler on the farm.

  Coming back to Oz allowed her to escape death from old age, but the dire situation left her future in doubt. At the same time, everyone was pushing her into a war she couldn’t possibly win. Even Nick’s eyes lit up at the prospect of war.

  Armed guards threw the double doors open for her. Dorothy released Nick’s arm and stepped ahead of him. She strode into the War Room like a conquering general, sweeping her baby blues around the room. Picho and his generals bowed.

  She moved up to her usual spot. The military men all stood around a large magically conjured map of the Ozian Empire. That included the four Countries: Gillikin, Munchkin, Quadling, and Winkie. The Witches ruling those Countries probably didn’t think she actually ruled over them. They were freed of Imperial Rule with Scarecrow’s ouster.

  Picho had a Lesser Wizard, instead of a witch. Wizards were few and far between in Oz, and no one could explain why to Dorothy’s satisfaction. Ozians didn’t question such things, and would just say: The Land wills it so.

  As soon as Dorothy stepped up to the map, the army wizard started his spells, waving his wand. She watched first the Imperial Grand Army appear, with a miniature Marshall Picho standing tall and defiant in their midst. Then he conjured the Winkie Host with a doll-like figure of Wanda, Wicked Witch of the West rubbing her hands together. Then the Munchkin army appeared, looking more like a rowdy mob of brightly armored and attired nobles. The silver-haired Wicked Witch of the East appeared behind them, wiggling and giggling like an Instagram model back in 21st Century America.

  “Really?” Dorothy asked, giving the wizard a dark look.

  Jezebelle suddenly struck a haughty pose and remained still. Dorothy cut a glance back at the red-faced wizard, but he ignored her to conjure up Glinda and her host down in the far corner of Quadling Country. Glinda stood in what Dorothy thought of a super hero pose: Chin high, chest out, hands on hips, and legs wide. The Witch looked awful smug.

  “Where are North and South?” she demanded when the wizard stopped.

  “They have not mustered their armies, Your Highness,” Picho said. “They may just sit this one out.”

  “We can’t stand alone against the Wickeds and Glinda. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

  The generals stirred. They didn’t appreciate any comments that diminished their vision of themselves and their army.

  “I disagree, Your Highness,” Marshall Picho declared, puffing up proudly. “The Imperial Grand Army is the greatest army ever to march into battle. No army can stand against us!”

  Nick opened his mouth to object, but Dorothy silenced him with a touch to the arm. She studied the map a moment, and then walked around to view it from different angles.

  “Am I looking at actual deployments?”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” the wizard said. “Each little soldier represents a brigade.”

  Most of Wanda’s army stood about a day’s march from the border with Oz. The other units all faced that location, and were represented by walking soldiers. So the Wicked Witch was still mustering her host. Meanwhile, Jezebelle’s army of bickering, overly proud nobles was spread halfway across Munchkin. It looked like she was just getting started gathering her feudal-based army.

  “Why am I not surprised to see Glinda’s army already mustered and ready to march?”

  “Well, um, she’s good,” Picho said.

  “Good?” Nick said. He got a faraway look. “No, Marshall, she’s amazing. And don’t underestimate her.”

  Dorothy regarded Nick a moment. The way he said ‘amazing’ made her wonder exactly about the nature of his and Glinda’s relationship. She had to agree, though, Glinda excelled wonderfully at everything she did. She remained Dorothy’s number one threat.

  “If I’m calculating the numbers correctly,” Dorothy said, gaining everyone’s undivided attention. “Their three armies combined at about two and a half times the size of the Imperial Grand Army defending Emerald City.”

  “Yes,” Nick said.

  “Good. With Emerald City’s powerful protective wards, and those numbers, we might just have a chance,” she said. “It’ll be purely defensive, Marshall Picho.”

  A senior officer stepped into the room, drawing everyone’s attention before the Marshall could object to her defensive strategy.

  “Diana Sweetwater, Good Witch of the South, begs audience with Her Most Serene Highness.”

  Dorothy cringed at being called “Her Most Serene Highness,” but it was still better than the “Imperial Majesty” they originally wanted to call her. And did Cardinal Witches, Good or Wicked, ever really beg for anything?

  “Wonderful,” Dorothy said. “I will see her now.”

  “In here?” Marshall Picho asked. “She’ll see our deployments and…”

  “I doubt she’d come all this way to declare herself our enemy, Marshall.”

  At least she hoped and prayed so.

  A moment later, an absolutely gorgeous redhead entered the throne room. Diana had an amazing mane of fire-red hair that fell in shimmering waves past her waist. Her emerald eyes locked with Dorothy's baby blues immediately. The Witch wore a splendid, off-the-shoulder gown of brightest red, with a blood-red Cardinal Witch's hat upon her head. She held her all-important wand in her right hand.

  Each witch created her own wand. Dorothy understood it to be arduous spellcasting. So every witch's wand looked similar, yet different/unique. Diana's wand was made of intricately carved grape vine, with a large ruby capping the thickest end. It reminded Dorothy that Quadling Country was renowned for their fine wines.

  “Greetings, Empress Dorothy,” Diana said, with a brief nod.

  She didn't bow or curtsy. Dorothy noticed Nick and others stiffened, taking offense. So she spoke up before someone said the wrong thing.

  “Thank you for coming, Diana,” she said. “A visit by a Good Witch is always welcome, and we have much to discuss. Glinda and the Wickeds are arming for war.”

  The Good Witch walked up to the map and frowned at it a moment.

  “Did you invite Olivia?” Diana asked. “My army is not that large. Without Olivia's Gillikins we cannot hope to prevail.”

  “She did, sister,” Olivia called as she strode into the vast chamber.

  “Olivia Moonstruck, Good Witch of the North, begs…”

  “Yeah, yeah, I'm already inside, my good man,” Olivia spoke over him. She strode purposely towards Dorothy and Diana. “Hello, Empress Dorothy. I must admit, I was worried when I heard you'd returned, but you seem to be a good person. I truly hope it is so.”

  Like Diana, and Cardinal Witches in general, Olivia looked quite youthful. She was an exotic beauty, with long, very dark hair and brown eyes. Her complexion was a little darker, and her features strongly reminded Dorothy of a Eurasian. She wore multiple shades of purple, and carried an ivory wand. And like Diana, she wore
a Cardinal Witch's hat: purple with a lavender band.

  “Welcome, Olivia,” Dorothy said. “Please, join me. We have much to discuss.”

  Dorothy hugged first Diana, and then Olivia. She noticed that act surprised them. And their smiles became warmer afterwards.

  “First things first,” Dorothy said. “We need to level the playing field a little.” That confused the two Witches. “My predecessor named Wanda First Witch of the Witches Council. I understand that took magical power away from Glinda and gave it to Wanda.”

  “Yes. Wanda is now the most powerful witch in Oz, but only by a tiny bit. Glinda is naturally very powerful.”

  “What if I named one of you as First Witch?”

  “Wow,” Diana said. “That would definitely change the power dynamics.” She glanced at Olivia. “My sister here would be the logical choice, and being named First Witch would lift her to near Glinda's level.”

  Dorothy looked at Diana. She didn’t know why it surprised her when a Good Witch proved herself honest and selfless.

  “True. Glinda is naturally the most powerful Witch, followed closely by Wanda. I'm next in raw power, but still not that close. Being elevated to First Witch would magnify my power significantly,” Olivia said. “Just as being crowned ruler of Oz gives you enormous magical power, Empress Dorothy.”

  “I have no magic.”

  “Oh, but you do,” she insisted. “You just lack the training to utilize it.” Then she glanced down at Dorothy's feet. “And the Silver Shoes further magnify your power beyond any other witch or wizard.”

  “She's telling the truth,” Diana said, nodding. “You are as powerful as Scarecrow at the height of his power.”

  “Is magical training difficult? Does it take much time to learn?”

  “It is, and it does,” Olivia said. “Our talent was discovered as babies, and we began our training even as we learned to speak and walk. And even as Cardinal Witches, we never stop striving and learning.”

  Dorothy frowned. It didn't sound like she'd be learning magic. Just being Empress took up every minute of her day.

  “We'll find someone to teach you,” Diana said. “You are starting as an adult, so it'll be harder, take longer, but you are now immortal. You have the time.”