Ch-96
On the other side...
A woman wearing a black shawl over her head appeared in front of the high priestess tower, holding a cane. The eyes could not see her body of outsiders. Only her pale hands, which had shades of purple and black, were visible. She wore a tattered dress, and her abnormally thin body made her look like a walking corpse. If anybody saw her like this, they would be scared to their deaths.
Just then Sansa, in her green emerald dress appeared in front of the gate. "The high priestess invites you in," she said.
The woman swaggered inside as she walked but she just gritted her teeth and moved ahead. She wants to live. That's what she chanted.
Soon, they entered the third floor, where Elphaba was. There was another woman with her back facing her eyes.
"What is it, Ophelia?" Elphaba asked.
Ophelia was not surprised that Elphaba recognized her. Her powers have been sucked off, her luck has been sucked off, and she has been raped too many times by that man sent by Azazel Laroch. When the Vampire Race convoy left, they decided to kill her. But she held on with her sheer will. In the eyes of Azazel and others, Ophelia was dead, but she wasn't.
Right now, Ophelia has no will to become a witch. She was fine being a human. But… for that, she has to live. Her only way was with Elphaba. She would do anything and doesn't care about anything right now. In front of death, nothing comes into her view.
"I want to live," Ophelia said as she removed the shawl from her face.
Elphaba's eyes twitched at the sight of her looks. Ophelia looked like a walking corpse. Her skin color was not white like before but a mix of shades of blue, black, and purple. It's as if she went to the gates of hell and returned. "You do realize your time is running out, right?" Elphaba said.
"I will reveal all the plans of Azazel and what he is going to do with Lenora to you," she begged in her shaky voice.
"I can't help you. And how will I be sure that you will tell the truth? So, please see yourself out." Elphaba said.
Elphaba was her last resort. She can't let that go. Ophelia wasn't expecting a refusal from Elphaba. She was sure that she would give in to her words. Then what changed?
Why wasn't Elphaba reacting the way she expected? Doesn't she want to save Lenora? She has given word to Andrea to protect her child.
"Didn't you give Andrea a word to protect her?" Ophelia asked.
"She did," a voice sounded. Soon the woman who had her back faced Ophelia, stood up from her seat, and walked towards her, revealing her exquisite features to her eyes.
Ophelia's sunken eyes widened in shock. How could she be like this? Didn't she die? Then how was she alive?
How are all the dead people coming back alive?
It was Victoria and now it's Andrea.
No wonder Elphaba was sure to reject her. Andrea was the most powerful witch in the entire witch world. With her, no one can harm Lenora or anyone. Only she has the power to spar with the Lich King, Azazel Laroch.
"He knows Lenora is yours," Ophelia said, trying her best to live. She thought they would be scared but no they haven't. They didn't even flinch.
"I know. That is why she was alive. I also know he knew who her father was," Andrea said.
Ophelia doesn't know what to say anymore. All she could do was beg them to save her.
"Save me," she said as she fell to her knees.
"If you want something you need to pay the price," Andrea said after a calculated pause.
Ophelia lifted her head in shock upon hearing her words. She was ready to pay any price in exchange for her life. How could she not?
She was greedy for her every breath.
"I can extend your life for three months," Andrea said. Ophelia looked at her hopefully. Even if she could live for three months, as long as her stolen luck and her power come back, she can live her life like her previous self.
Even though she was ready to live a life like a human, when she saw Andrea she had a feeling that Azazel would be defeated and that she could live normally without hiding among humans.
"I agree! I agree!" she said hurriedly.
"Ophelia, do not forget. Every creature has a purpose on this earth. When they fail to fulfill the purpose, the heavens will pass judgment," Andrea said as she sat back in her seat.
Ophelia shivered to hear her words. It's as if Andrea saw through her soul and knew the answers to the unknown. With a glance, she could see all the dirty secrets. This was why she hated her. Yet she can't help but realize Andrea was right.
How could she not?
Centuries ago, she and Andrea were classmates. While Andrea was the top student in the witch Coven, Ophelia was not even in the top 10 but the one in the last. She wished to have everything that Andrea owned. But with time the gap became wider. To overcome that she chose black magic. Yet she couldn't beat her. That's when she came to know Ophelia marrying the powerful male witch in the coven. She wanted him too! She tried to snatch him.
In the process of snatching him, she came across something so dark that even Andrea wasn't aware, which added to her pride. But then again, her pride was shattered. To save that, she had an affair with Julius Laroch, Andrea's husband, which only pulled her into a deep pit where she could not return.
Maybe this was the time for her to crawl out of the pit. She shouldn't be greedy. A mistake can turn this world upside down. If she is redeemed now, the heavens will forgive her.
"I will not defy the heavens anymore. I will follow fate and do good," Ophelia begged.
"These three months will say," Andrea said.