Page 67 of There's No Place Like Oz

I drew back my knife, and I plunged it straight into her heart without another second to let her bargain. Blood splashed back, staining my dress and spattering all over my face. “This is for Tobias.” I pulled back again, and I slammed in even harder. More crimson drenched me. “This is for Leon.” Another stab. “For Talos.” One more. “And for Crowe. This is for everything you put them through.”

Eloise choked and gurgled. I watched the light rapidly fading from her eyes, and if I was being honest, I liked it.

Not enough.

Crowe reached down and took my hand. He lifted my fist back to eye level, then he whispered in my ear. “Once more, Dorothy. You’re missing the most important strike of all.” He squeezed my hand gently. “This one is foryou.”

I looked at him wide eyed, and my whole heart warmed at the notion. For me? Yes. This is for me.Not to go back to Kansas or find my old life, nor to become a movie star or get revenge. It was for me to put an end to everyone’s pain and to stand up for myself for once. It was succeeding at something and being the hero of my story instead of the victim. It was for every dream and hope I’d ever had that had been trampled by cynics and fucking assholes.

I slammed the blade in again, again, again, again, AGAIN. I was covered in her blood, and I didn’t remotely fucking care.

“This is for telling me I was nothing when I poured my heart and soul into every word of the performance. This is for making me the quirky best friend because I wasn’t hot enough to be the main character. This is for every rejection, every‘not good enough,’every‘not pretty enough,’not skinny enough, not smart enough or strong enough or talented enough. Every time I got cheated on, cast aside, and forgotten by the people who centered my whole world.” I don’t know when I started crying. I could barely discern the difference between my tears and the blood pouring down my cheeks. “This is for every goddamn time I wasn’tenough.”

I’m enough. I repeated for myself, while I was ugly crying in the middle of the room. Silly affirmations that felt so important now. “I won’t ever let someone tell me how to feel again—not about my friends, my lovers, my dreams, or myself.”

The witch started to shrivel in Tobias’ arms, long dead from the repeated stabbing. The blood started draining down to my shoes, and I could feel my heels getting taller. But my eyes were too blurred by my frustrations to see them darken in color again. I drew back my hand for another swing, and someone caught me mid-air.

“Enough.” Tobias said, sending that word back to me. “Enough, Dorothy.” He held my face between his hands and he pressed his lips to mine, not caring that we both tasted of the vague, cold, metallic flavor of death. “You’re okay.” I dropped the knife, and I closed my eyes. Then I gave myself completely to Tobias.

He pulled away only long enough to drop a fine necklace over my head. The purple gemstones sparkled. The Northern Witch’s magical artifact. “I’m sorry, Dorothy. It’s my fault that you’re here. You never would have had to endure this if not for me.” He kept kissing me. Kept apologizing.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and didn’t let him pull away again.

“No.” I shook my head, then I nibbled at his lower lip. “You’re the reason I never have to feel like a failure again.”

He hugged me tight, and my soul felt lighter. We stayed for moments that could have been hours as my friends coaxed me down from that violent high.

When we started the long journey back to the Emerald City, I was still processing everything that had happened, from my life before Oz, to my arrival in the East, to my journey to all four corners.

It was hard to wrap my head around the fact that the most unpredictable, terrifying, and ruthless place I’d ever existed was where I found the most calm from the anxiety and depression and pain that used to taint my everyday life.

The only fear I held now was knowing, once we made it back to the Wizard, I was going to have to go home.

Chapter 54

We returned to the Emerald City and the attendants eagerly accepted us into the castle. Just like every other time, we were given nice rooms, warm showers, and fine clothing. I stared at the little green slip of an outfit—the ridiculous dress that was more lingerie than day wear—and I threw it back on the dresser to put on my own clothes. Red and green didn’t go together as it was, and I wasn’t going to perform for anyone who didn’t deserve my respect anymore. The Wizard was going to receive the real and true Dorothy, and if that was a problem, we could take our magic trophies and go.

On the day of our audience, I walked proudly into the green throne room, my misfit group of demons at my back, and I waited for the holographic wizard to appear.

“I see you’ve defeated all four witches and returned with all four artifacts.” The voice boomed, while a fireball manifested on the throne. “It is now that I can grant your wishes, fine travelers. Each of you: step forward, and tell me what you desire.”

I nodded to my companions, feeling so proud to have gotten them this far. I hadn’t cowered and given up when they needed me, and now they would all get their ultimate reward.

Leon stepped forward first. “I’ve lost my ability to tap into my beast form. I want my inner lion back.”

“Take your witch’s artifact in hand, and it shall be done.” The flame crackled.

I absolutely did not smirk as I handed Leon Gwen’s old pegging dildo, and he absolutely did not shake his head at my immaturity. He gripped it firmly at the base, while it flopped around in his hand.

“Tap it three times, and chant the line ‘There’s no courage like a lion’s.’” The Wizard insisted.

I tried not to snicker as Leon tapped on the silicone cock, while repeating the phrase “There’s no courage like a lion’s” three times.

The sex toy started to vanish in pearls of light. The magic swirled around him, and his whole body glowed blue. The sparkles absorbed into the Wizard’s holographic flame, and with one final blinding flash of light, Leon was gone, and a lion took his place. He checked his paws, one at a time. He sniffed them. He licked them. He ran around the room, feeling his muscles flex and move.

Then he shifted back into the man I knew with a shit eating grin on his face. “Thank you, Wizard.” Leon could barely speak through his overjoyed tears. “Thank you, Dorothy.” My lion whisked me up into his arms and squeezed me tight with his newly returned strength. He was warm and bursting with joy and vigor, and I loved seeing him like that. His happiness was the kind that radiated into anyone who saw it, and I took in as much as he’d let me.

Talos stepped forward next. I handed him Sasha’s knife, and he looked to the Wizard for his spell.

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