CHAPTER TWO
"What did you do?" Malaska asked, his confusion evident in his voice. He glanced around, trying to locate the source of the voice, until his eyes landed on a naked woman lying lifeless before him.
Driven by instinct, Malaska rushed to her side and sat on the floor beside her lifeless body. He clasped his hands together, creating a surge of electricity between his palms. Placing his charged hands on her chest, he felt a faint heartbeat stir within her. Determined, he repeated this process three times until finally, the woman gasped for breath and came back to life.
Gently, Malaska inquired, "Who are you?" His voice resonated with an angelic quality, soft and soothing. He looked into the woman's eyes, momentarily distracted by her exposed chest, but quickly averted his gaze.
As he observed her slowly regaining herself, he couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty. Her fair, smooth skin and subtly pale lips were enchanting. He recognized her as a witch, albeit a weak one.
"Samhain," the witch in his arms muttered, leaving him perplexed. He furrowed his brow in confusion. "Why would she call me Samhain, the greatest demon in hell?" he pondered silently, careful not to voice his thoughts aloud in her presence.
"You came, great Samhain. Thank you," she said, her voice fading as she drifted into sleep against his body, leaving him even more bewildered.
Malaska, a weak demon and servant to Samhain, had overheard the incantation used to summon his master and his name repeated throughout. For the first time, he felt a surge of happiness at being summoned by a witch. Seeking permission from his master, he had swiftly journeyed to this realm. It was his first venture beyond the confines of hell, as leaving required a summoning. Yet, here he was, mistaken by the witch for his powerful master. Perhaps she had made a mistake in her incantation. Should he correct her or embrace the name she had bestowed upon him?
Standing up, with the witch cradled in his arms, Malaska made a decision. He would accompany her, at least for now, while he figured out the purpose behind her summoning. He carried her away from the floor uncertain of who this witch was.
Meanwhile, back in Kanji, Elphaba sat upon her throne adorned in regal attire. A smile adorned her face as she listened to Ursula, Drucilla's twin sister,who had taken sides with their grandmother. She claimed she possessed the ability to summon Shaniem as well.
Rising from her throne, Elphaba approached Ursula, extending a hand in friendship. "You have shown great determination and belief in your abilities," she praised. "Remember, the true power lies not in summoning external forces, but in summoning the strength within yourself. Believe in your own magic, and you will conquer any obstacle."
Ursula's eyes locked with her grandmother's extended hand, a gesture of friendship that she knew better than to accept. Ignoring the offering, she maintained her distance, fully aware of the ulterior motives that lurked beneath Elphaba's facade. The room filled with Ursula's melodious voice, tinged with determination as she asserted herself, "I have gone through all the spells thoroughly, and I need to do it before Drucilla does."
Elphaba, undeterred by Ursula's disregard, closed the gap between them, drawing near as if in an embrace. Her tone was hushed, almost intimate, as she whispered directly into Ursula's ear, "I know, so if you mess this up for me, I'll kill you just like your mother."
Ursula's fear fluttered within her, threatening to betray her facade of composure. Yet, she understood that showing weakness to her grandmother, who thrived on others' fear, was a dangerous game. Steeling herself, she met Elphaba's threat with a firm reply, "I won't fail, Grandmother."
Elphaba's anger blazed in her eyes, but she didn't raise her voice. Instead, her words dripped with a chilling calmness as she warned, "The next time you call me grandmother, I'll make sure to slit your throat." Her cool demeanor conveyed that she saw yelling as a sign of weakness, whereas taking swift and decisive action was the mark of strength. Establishing her dominance, Elphaba reminded Ursula of her place, "I am your queen, is that understood?"
Nervously, Ursula nodded, her voice barely a whisper, "Yes, my Queen." The weight of Elphaba's authority bore down on her, and she felt a mixture of fear and trepidation. With a deep bow of her head, Ursula displayed a sign of respect before turning to take her leave.
Ursula stood in the spells room, a place of mystic energy and arcane knowledge. The atmosphere was charged with an electric anticipation as she entered, her loyal servant by her side. The room itself was adorned with ancient symbols and mystical artifacts, each holding its own unique power.
With careful precision, Ursula placed the faire table in the center of the room, ensuring that all the items she had gathered were arranged just so. The table gleamed in the dim light, its polished surface reflecting the flickering glow of nearby candles. The air was heavy with the scent of herbs and incense, creating an otherworldly ambiance.
As Ursula surveyed her preparations, her keen eyes noticed one missing element—the white candles. The very element Drucilla missed. White candles, a symbol of purity and enlightenment, were essential in invoking the higher powers and channeling their energy.
Undeterred by the absence of the candles, Ursula raised her hands, each holding a clay pot. Her voice resounded through the room, filled with a mix of reverence and urgency as she called upon the great demon Samhain. With every word she spoke, her voice grew louder, carrying the weight of her desire to attract the favor of this powerful entity.
The incantation spilled forth from Ursula's lips like a torrent, weaving through the air and filling the room with an ancient language. The words were imbued with purpose and intention, resonating with the hidden forces of the universe. As she chanted, Ursula's voice seemed to blend with the rising wind outside, creating a symphony of supernatural sound.
In the midst of her incantation, Ursula's servant, overwhelmed by the darkness that had engulfed the room, could no longer bear witness to the intense energy and fled, leaving Ursula to face the unknown alone. The room transformed into a realm of shadows, dancing and swaying to the rhythm of Ursula's plea.
The servant waited outside for minutes if not hours, suddenly they heard a huge fall from the room and ran inside the room to check it out.