Page 27 of Dottie's Forbidden Wizard
Then everything goes dark.
Chapter thirteen
Maddox
"…and I've always valued family above all else because without the people I love supporting me, I wouldn't be where I am today." Jareth Merlin turns to grin at his wife and daughters, who smile at him like he hung the moon.
My father's eye twitches, and he forces a smile for his opponent when the audience claps for the incumbent mayor.
I shake my head slightly. The Merlin family is a stark contrast to the Ozellas. Mother smiles at the audience like a Stepfordwife, while my father's mistress orchestrates an event to make him palatable to the people of Oz.
And me? I sit here daydreaming about a curvy brunette warming my bed tonight.
"Attention, everyone! We will take a five-minute water break before returning for the second half of the debate," Griselda announces, silvery voice slightly strained. She hustles over to my father and gives him a handkerchief to wipe the copious sweat from his brow.
I glance at my mother to see if she registers the way Griselda fusses around my father, but she continues to stare vacantly, a smile plastered on her face as if she didn't hear the call for a break.
The seat to my right is empty, and I pull out my phone to check the time. Gigi is fashionably late, as she always is with anything associated with helping my father.
"Where the fuck is your grandmother?" my father hisses through a toothy grin. The vein bulges at the side of his forehead, and his jaw clenches. He pulls at his tie, which is cutting into the meaty part of his neck in a way that looks painful and grotesque. The entire effect is reminiscent of an abstract art painting:Evil Villain on the Verge of a Heart Attack.
This event is televised, but no matter how much Griselda rehearsed with him today or how many plants she placed in the audience, Frank Ozella is not nearly as poised as Jareth Merlin.
Jareth has charmed the audience and stands firm behind his campaign, despite not having the benefit of knowing the questions in advance. My father flounders, appearing unprepared at worst, and a confused old man at best, neither of which works in his favor. After the first half hour, he's desperate for Grandmother's elixir.
As I pull out my phone again, I notice Gigi slowly walking up the side aisle and onto the stage.
"She's here." I motion to her and stand to get my father a cup of water.
Gigi takes her time crossing to our group, pausing for a moment to chat with Jareth and Viviane Merlin on the other side of the stage. Gigi smiles and compliments his two daughters on their dresses, laughing at something Jareth says, no doubt injecting extra mirth just to piss my father off even more.
When she finally reaches our group, my father steps forward to greet her as if she’s his favorite person in the world.
"Glinda," he says loudly, using my grandmother’s full name, "I can't thank you enough for your unwavering support."
Gigi adjusts the strap of her pink purse and levels him with a cold stare, but allows him to kiss her cheek. There was a time when she wasn’t allowed near my mother, so now she plays nice simply to keep tabs on her. She gazes at her daughter, a brief flicker of sadness in her eyes as she assesses her mannequin-like state.
"Mira, dear. Have you had anything to eat today?"
"Hello, mother. You look lovely." My mom blinks slowly and smiles out at the audience.
Gigi's gaze flicks to me, and she clenches her jaw as she takes a seat on the stage.
My father turns away from the audience, grabbing my upper arm tightly as he hustles me back to the curtain. He whips around and glares at me with his lip raised in a snarl. "Maddox, if you do not get that vial from that fucking bitch, you won't have to worry about finding a wife because they will never find your body."
I swallow hard, handing him the cup of water. "Wait here."
He nods curtly, and Griselda hurries to the wings to apply powder to his red face.
I sit next to Gigi, leaning in close. "Are you ready for this?"
Gigi eyes me, shaking her head no and smiling like I've told her something amusing.
I glance back at my father, who watches us like a hawk. I smile at my grandmother as if I'm charming her into submission. "It's now or never, Gigi."
She places a hand on my cheek before reaching into her pocketbook and pulling out a small vial of glowing, purple liquid. Gigi hesitates and then hands it to me with a side-eye over her shoulder to let my father know she’s resistant to this idea.
I kiss her hand and whisper my thanks.
