Wonderoz Chapter Fifteen: Snap

Not long after Dum‘s little outburst the Mad Wizard and Snap whisked off to the Green City and into the Mad Wizard‘s throne room. Snap took to sitting in the Mad Wizard’s throne while the Mad Wizard flung himself about the room trying to ignore him.

“She’s your fiancée!” Snap laughed haughtily. “You nasty little man, why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“It was never important before.” The Mad Wizard glowered. “Besides, I bought everything you know about Dorothy.  So what does it matter now?”

Snap watched as he friend crossed the room huffishly. “Don’t tell me you’re in love with her. Still? Or have you fallen for her just now?”

The Mad Wizard stiffened. “What about you and Alice? Huh? It’s obvious what’s going on there.”

Snap’s ears twitched and he stood from the Mad Wizard’s throne. “What do you know about it?”

“Its my turn to laugh and smile deridedly now!” The Mad Wizard chuckled. “You forget what a wonderfully mad genius I am.” He thrust his finger against his temple. “Do you know what I did to that little pearl you gave me?”

Snap furrowed his brow and dropped his jaw. He inched forward and off the throne. “What have you done, Maddox?” He glowered.

The Mad Wizard clutched the pearl in his fist. “It’s actually quite simple. But with this little pearl of your knowledge I can tap into your entire knowledge.” He took the pearl and rolled it across the blade of his fingers and down the slope of his thumb and forefinger.

“So basically,” he sighed. “I know everything that you know.” He sneered in sing-song.

Snap grimaced. “You miserable little man.”

The Mad Wizard grinned proudly, crinkling his nose. “Ain’t I?”

Snap folded his arms tightly across his chest. “Is that why I blackout anytime I even try to mention Dorothy?”

The Mad Wizard was pressing the pearl between his two forefingers. “Blackout? What do you mean blackout?”

Snap furrowed his brow. “I tried mentioning her yesterday and I was overwhelmed with a searing pain and I completely blacked out!”

“Well that wasn’t because of me.” The Mad Wizard scoffed. “I may be protective, but I’d never intentionally hurt you.”

Snap cocked his head up. “You positive?”

“Infinitely!” The Mad Wizard pinched the pearl between this thumb and forefinger and eyed it. “Whatever is causing you to blackout must be your evil vomiting internally.”

“That’s what the twins said.” Snap scoffed.

The Mad Wizard threw his head back and laughed. “Good boys.”

“And what about Alice?” Snap frowned. “You aren’t going to do anything to protect her?”

The Mad Wizard shook his head laughing. “Oh, uh-ha, I don’t need to worry about her.”

Snap’s frown deepened.

“I think it’s horrible how you’re toying with her even though you know you like her too.” He ticked the pearl back into his hat. “You even sold her to the twins for dirt cheap! I paid ten times that for Dorothy.”

“What makes you think I like her?”

“You don’t sell out people you like to dangerous hands.” The Mad Wizard said, placing the pearl back underneath his hat. “So either you like Alice or have something weird for the twins.”

Snap turned his nose up in the air. “But I have sold something of Alice to someone other than the Twins. And I have sold you out.”

The Mad Wizard rolled his eyes and blew a raspberry. “For one, the only thing about Alice you’ve sold is her location and the Queen already knew that from Gyan.” He held up two fingers. “And for two, you didn’t sell me out, you dropped my name.” He rubbed his chin and looked up dramatically. “Although, I was surprised by your little episode with Gyan and the King.”

“Why are you taunting me, Maddox?” Snap sighed defeated. “Why drag me here and berate me with your almighty knowledge of things you learned from me? Which by the way I think I should be getting royalties from!”

“I just wanted you to know what was going on.” The Mad Wizard said, his smug smile vanishing. “Us being friends and all.”

“But?” Snap snorted.

The Mad Wizard pulled off his hat. “Wanna meet her?”

Snap furrowed his brow and dropped his arms to his side. “Who?”

“Her.”

It certainly was a shock for Snap to learn that Dorothy was the Mad Wizard’s betrothed. But to actually meet the girl in person? It was too much. Although, it was expert of his friend to pull out all the stops.. So now the Mad Wizard was flaunting his new found power in front of Snap with the most fantastical and wonderful card in his deck. Dorothy, the hidden ace and rightful heir of Wonderoz.

“No.” Snap huffed stepping back.

“What?” The Mad Wizard was trying as hard as he could to not sound smug.

Snap turned and waved his hand. “Forget it. If it was ever found out that I got to meet one of the Queen’s most wanted, let alone both of them, and not tell her, my head would be gone!”

The Mad Wizard put his hat back on. “What a good boy.”

“What?” Snap huffed. “You gonna tell me this was all some sort of test and give me a chocolate bar of trust or something?”

“No.” The Mad Wizard snipped. “I’m just hoping you’ll use that same judgment in turning down any of the Queen’s future purchases.”

Snap avoided the Mad Wizard’s eyes.

The Mad Wizard put his hand on Snap’s shoulder. “Then let me give you this warning.” He breathed. “Dorothy will have your head, or worse, should she learn you’re the reason her sister is in danger.”

“What can she do?” Snap muttered.

The Mad Wizard smiled. “She has the magic. Duh. And it’s waking up! She can do things the Witch of the East can only dream of. She has North, South, East, West and Center magic all rolled up in one wonderful jellyroll.” He squeezed down on Snap’s shoulder. “Once the magic in her reawakens, not to mention Alice‘s magic, you had better hope you’re on their side.”

Snap stepped aside. “I have no choice at this point. It is either my life or hers. And if I take Alice to the Queen we‘ll both live.”

“Did you not just hear what I said?” The Mad Wizard scoffed.

“Well if they are as powerful as you say they are then they should be able to take care of themselves.” Snap huffed as he turned to leave.

“Wait.” The Mad Wizard called after him. “What you told Gyan and the King…”

“I told them that you bought my knowledge on Dorothy and Alice because I knew they wouldn’t try to confront you about it. The Twins are safe with the pearl on Alice. Besides, their history is tied up enough with the Queen. They don’t need this hanging on them as well.”

“So you know about the twins?” The Mad Wizard rubbed his chin contemplatively.

“Of course I knew!” Snap was inspecting his nails. “I was the one who took them to the Carpenter.”

“So then you must know what’s happened with Jack?” The Mad Wizard pressed.

Snap dropped his hands and rolled his eyes. “If you can know anything I know then why not find that out for yourself?”

The Mad Wizard shook his head and waved his hand dismissively at Snap. “Never mind. The mirror is still open to the cabaret. You can go now.”

Snap frowned and slipped back through the mirror and came out in the men’s room of the cabaret. He groaned and looked down at his feet.

“I’m in the toilet.” He huffed angrily as he stepped out. “Just great.”

Outside, the Caterpillar was just starting her set. Her long black hair was down and covered with flowers. Her skin was powdered green and glittering so that she looked like some sort of praying mantis.

“Pick a bug and stay with it.” Snap growled under his breath as he went back to his table.

“You alright?” He looked up and saw Alice posed above him with a sweetly worried look on her face. “You were in there for a really long time.” She was pointing to the bathroom.

Snap smiled serenely and leaned back into his chair. The chair beside him slide out and he waved his hand for her to take it. “I’m fine. But I’d enjoy some company.”

Alice took the seat and folded her hands atop the table. “Your eyes say something is wrong too.”

Snap touched the corner of his right eye. “You can read these things?”

“Yeah. They’re almost quite obvious.” She replied, half smiling. “Are you not used to people seeing them?”

Snap smoothed his fingers across his temple. “People aren’t supposed to see anything.”

Alice gasped. “Huh? Why?”

“It’s a complicated thing.” Snap murmured softly. “Something a girl like you couldn’t understand or wouldn’t like. I’m sure you’d even hate me if I told you.”

Alice laughed. “I couldn’t hate you.”

Snap looked up in surprise and his face flushed only slightly to where I had to touch my nose to his cheek to make sure it had actually happened.

“How come?” Snap nearly whispered.

Alice shrugged. “I just don’t think I could hate you. Like I could never hate Dorothy or the twins.” She said interlacing her fingers. “I can be disappointed in you or mad. But never hate.”

Snap reached out and took Alice’s hand in his and pulled it up towards his face. Alice’s heart was like a roaring lion it was so loud. But it was a lovely rhythm. Snap bent his head down and kissed the smooth backside of her hand. He then turned her hand over and kissed the center most part of her hand.

“Thank you.” He took her hand and folded it in for her. “No one has ever even really liked me.”

Alice unfolded her hand and held his, interlacing their fingers.