Uncovered Project: Wonderoz Chapter 5

Chapter Five: The Mad Wizard 

Standing at a mere five feet and seven inches, the Mad Wizard was the unimpressive force that was keeping the Witches of the Four Corners from going to war again. Even though he had fixed his height problem with shoes of his own design and the massive top hat on his head, the ugly truth was still there.

His hair was the color of a tabby cat’s fur. And he himself resembled a feline in many ways, including his appearance and temperament. His main motto in life was simply because he could. It was this cockiness that turned me off to him. Although I will admit he had impressed me more than once with his magic and genius. 

Such as, since my warning had started nagging at the back of his mind, he had started keeping an eye on the supposed outsiders. He had been keeping track of Dorothy in the Tulgey Wood via cameras installed in robotic insects. It had taken him a little while longer to locate Alice within the Giant Garden, but he was now focusing in on her as she sat at the bar with Snap.

Now the Mad Wizard knew Snap, in fact, he would consider the two of them as thick as thieves and best friends. If that’s what you could call the mad pair. It was a well known fact that Snap March would sell his soul to the devil if the price was good enough. Some say he already had. And I wouldn’t be the first to admit that I believed it too. Snap, with his loose idea on morality and loyalty, had even told his friend the Mad Wizard he would drop him like a hat when, and if, someone paid him to. 

To this Mad Wizard replied with a knowing grin, “and I’d believe that too if you weren’t standing here.”

Certainly, it was a surprise that Snap had yet to sell out the Mad Wizard. I’m sure there were buyers. And it is extremely hard to believe Snap would turn them down. But at the same time, the Mad Wizard wasn’t known as the Mad Wizard for nothing. He was the most feared man in all of Wonderoz. Even the witches were afraid to make a move on him when he stepped in the middle of their feud years ago when Ozma disappeared.

People believed it was by his hand the whole upheaval happened. But, of course, there was no evidence to back all this up. Then again, I know the truth of every matter. Especially when one is as mad as this hatter. 

The reason my nagging hint had so bothered him was that he did have something to do with Ozma’s disappearance. He had helped her and her daughters escape to safety along with his father. And now that the daughters were back and in all too possible harm’s way. The Mad Wizard greatly admired and respected Ozma and he wanted to finish his promise to her.

No harm would come to these girls.

“Is everything alright, Maddox?” A voice beckoned to him just beyond his open window.

The Mad Wizard turned and watched as the bubble blew into his room and burst, leaving Glenda standing there with a worried expression on her face.

“So far.” He said and turned back to the screens he had been monitoring religiously for hours now. 

Glenda sighed with relief. “I’m glad she isn’t alone.”

The Mad Wizard‘s brow furrowed and he scratched up under his hat. “Who?”

“Dorothy.” Glenda put her hand on the Mad Wizard’s shoulder and squeezed. She then kissed his cheek and smiled. “My very clever boy. Mother is proud of you.”

“Oh shut it, Ma.” The Mad Wizard huffed, shooing the good witch away. “Its my fault they’re in this situation.”

Glenda frowned and snapped her hands to her hips. “Now what was that, Maddox Carol Hatley?”

The Mad Wizard cringed. “Ma, please.” He huffed. “My spell must of reversed itself somehow and brought them back.”

“Then wouldn’t that mean Ozma would of returned as well?” Glenda asked.

“I have no idea.” The Mad Wizard rubbed at his cheeks and stood back up. “It is all possible she is out there. But-” He bit down on his thumbnail as he stood up and looked out his window. “But something is wrong with it all.” He muttered.

Glenda put her hand on his shoulder tenderly. “Your instincts are never wrong. Go with what you feel and you’ll have your answers.”

“It’s something more than that, Ma.” The Mad Wizard hissed. “I don’t know.”

Glenda tilted her head towards him. “What?”

“Ma…I just…I don’t know.” He clinched his fists tight. “I don’t know what I’m feeling.” He turned and picked up his coat from the back of his chair and storm up to the door sized mirror on the wall.

The Mad Wizard huffed impatiently. “I need to go.”

Glenda folded her hands on the front of her dress and watched her son dissolve into the surface of the mirror.

“You obviously know something.” She hummed, a gentle smile on her face. She then disappeared into a bubble and floated back out the window.

Now, the Mad Wizard had perfected a sort of instantaneous travel. The only glitch was that he could only travel between two places as long as they had reflective surfaces. You know, mirrors and the like? He had made one way of travel via his hat, but he didn’t like the fact he’d have to leave his hat behind when he went, so, it merely served as a way of simple, limitless storage. 

Anyways, with his mirrors he was the only one who could use it with variable forms of success. Although, Catillia had perfected her own form of it by planting secret mirrors anywhere she saw fit for herself to travel to. But the Mad Wizard didn’t know this.

So, he had taken himself to the This Way That Way Cabaret where he came through the bathroom mirror. Luckily, no one was inside. So when he made his entrance, it was all the more wonderful for him. 

“Look what the cat drug in.” Snap laughed, greeting his friend to his table. “You just missed the twins’ act.”

“What a shame.” The Mad Wizard grunted sarcastically. “I need a drink.”

“What bothers the Wonderful Wizard of Wonderoz?”

The Mad Wizard scoffed and tilted his hat over his eyes. “Women.”

Snap’s ears twitched. “Dare say! Repeat yourself because I thought I heard you say you were having women trouble.”

“I am and will be for a long while I’m afraid.” He waved down a waitress and ordered a stiff drink.

Snap grinned impishly. “My dear Wizard, who are these women?”

“Two young ladies and their mother.”

Snap furrowed his brow and opened his mouth slightly. He hesitated. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly.”

Snap threw his head back and laughed. “This is all too much! Who on earth is this family you’ve canoodled your self into?”

“I haven’t canoodled anyone.” The Mad Wizard snapped. “And I dare not tell you or you might go out and tattle on me like some common and desperate housewife!”

Snap sighed as he eased his laughter and nodded in agreement. “You’re learning to be careful what you say around me. This is a good quality to have.” He helped the Mad Wizard pour his drink. “But as your friend-”

“Oh shut it with the friend talk.” The Mad Wizard snarled as he took his first drink. “Anyways, it seems I’ve picked myself a fresh bouquet of oopsie-daisy.”

“I am sure it isn’t all that bad.” Snap laid an oyster on the table for the waitress and turned back to his friend. “And no woman can be worth the trouble pimpeling up on your face.” He watched as the Mad Wizard took with must zest finishing off his drink. Snap smirked again. “Speaking of women, the twins paid me to watch this girl I-”

The Mad Wizard jerked. “Yes! The girl!” He belted exuberantly. “Alice! Where did she go?” 

Snap inched back. His ears perked and dropped alternately, unsure of what to make of his friend‘s outburst. “Wait, how did you know-?”

The Mad Wizard grabbed his friend by the lapels of his coat. “Tell me where Alice is, man!”

Snap, taken aback by his friend‘s unexplained behavior, recoiled slightly and curled his lip. “The twins took her on stage and went through the trap door. Why are you so panicked about this girl?”

The Mad Wizard dropped him. “It’s a long story I don’t have time to explain. Just tell me where I can find her.” He gasped hurriedly. 

Snap fixed his collar and smoothed down his coat and adjusted his ears. “They’re taking her to talk to Caterpillar.”

The Mad Wizard dropped in expression and vigor and groaned. “Dammit!”

Snap smiled with cruelty and enjoyment at watching the Mad Wizard squirm this way. “Why are you so afraid of her?”

The Mad Wizard glared at his friend. “I am not afraid of her!” He lashed out and grabbed his collar again.

Snap turned up his nose and shrugged. “Well, there is obviously something about her you don’t like.” He sneered, pulling out of the Mad Wizard’s grip. “So, c’mon. Tell me. What is up with this girl that has you in such a tizzy?”

“The women I mentioned earlier.” The Mad Wizard grumbled. “Alice came here with her older sister Dorothy.” The Mad Wizard was drunk on excitement and curiosity. Normally, he would of never told Snap so much. “These two girls are the lost princesses.” 

Snap’s eyes got wide. The gold rings round his pupils flashed. “Are you saying I was talking to a child of Ozma?” He whispered, easing closer and closed in anticipation and wonder.

“Exactly.” The Mad Wizard shoved Snap’s face away with his palm. “Her big sister, Dorothy, is out there looking for her. She thinks the Queen has somehow gotten her hands on Alice.”

Snap rubbed his face and tweaked his nose. “Well the Gryphon did have her.”

The Mad Wizard balked. “Gyan?” He stood and readied himself to rush into action. “So the Queen does know about the girls.”

“Not necessarily.” Snap hummed. “Even here it is strange to see young ladies falling from the sky. Anyone would take such a falling child as a sign. It doesn’t mean exactly the Queen knows Alice’s true identity.” He then grabbed the Mad Wizard’s hand and pulled him back down into a chair. “And before you jump to even more conclusions, she may not even know about this Dorothy lass.” Snap rubbed his chin contemplatively and watched the Mad Wizard from his peripheral. “Now, who got to Dorothy first?”

“My mother.”

“The lovely Glenda!” Snap clapped his hands. “Then that definitely means the Queen has no clue of her.”

“Yes,” the Mad Wizard sneered. “But you do.”

Snap smirked. “What?” He raised his hands. “Does that mean you’re going to have to kill me now?”

“No.” The Mad Wizard huffed. “I couldn’t do that. But I can buy the information from you.”

Snap arched his brows in hesitance. “You’ve never bought my services before.” He shook his head slightly.

“There are firsts for everything.” The Mad Wizard reached into his pocket and pulled out a green velvet bag. “All this for your silence on all we’ve discussed this evening.” He shook it, making the oysters inside ring with the beautiful song of money Snap loved so much. 

Snap took the bag and weight carefully in his wide palms. He looked up into the Mad Wizard’s eyes and stuffed the bag into the hidden pocket inside of his jacket. 

“I’m am purchased.” He then poked his finger into his ear and twisted. As he pulled his finger back out a small, pearly bead fell out into his palm. He held it out towards the Mad Wizard.

“You know what to do.” The pearl of his knowledge slipped into the Mad Wizard’s hand. “If anything should happen to make you displeased with your purchase, you simply smash it.” Snap added on his deal-making smile.

The Mad Wizard took it and placed it under his hat. “What will happen when I do that?”

Snap shrugged. “I can’t say. No one has ever been dissatisfied with my services before.”

“Noted.” The Mad Wizard sniffed and pulled against the lapels of his coat. 

“Can I ask you something?” Snap asked.

The Mad Wizard turned. “It depends. You can ask, but I may not necessarily answer it. And I am a much more expensive than you.” 

Snap shrugged. “Fair.” He leaned closer to his friend. “So, what do you have at stake here? What do you have to gain from protecting these girls?”

The Mad Wizard frowned. “I bought all your information on Dorothy. You don’t need anymore.”

Snap furrowed his brow. “Dorothy?” He muttered. “But I don’t-”

The Mad Wizard turned and walked away. “I need to go back home and finish some things.”

Snap stood up, attempting to go after him. “I am your friend, you can tell me this in confidence.”

The Mad Wizard stopped and turned to look at Snap. “Nope.” He then put his hand through the mirror at the entrance and dissolved into it. 

Snap stood there alone and rolled his eyes.