The path ahead

All tall and pressed together, the people in the standing crowd had created a wall so thick that they'd almost completely blocked the view.

While trailing behind Katherine, Arabella only barely managed to sneak a peek through the few cracks. 

Swishes of red, orange and yellow outlined by a brilliant white and bluish shade rippled through the air and finally rose so high that the barrier before Arabella no longer forced her to twist or crane her neck for a glimpse of the spectacle. 

Were those fire and ice? Impossible! How could such mortal enemies dance in each other's arms so beautifully? 

"We're almost there," Katherine's voice was barely audible with all the ruckus surrounding them. She dragged Arabella behind herself, throwing glances from time to time in order to make sure she still held the right hand. 

Voices roared and applause thundered louder whenever sheets of entwined flames and frost soared up the sky, swirled a number of times only to then descend back down, varnishing everything in their wake. 

Arabella's eyes continued to follow the display, or at least tried to, even after they'd managed to escape the suffocating mob.

Katherine led her down a little more lively street than the first they'd taken to reach the town square. 

There were fewer and fewer creatures the deeper into it they marched. Although the alleys were no longer brightened by lanterns alone.

Indeed, warm light escaped the open storefronts lining the streets; Fresh meat, sweet blood, an apothecary and many such signs singing the virtues of different products sold in the shops.

"Arabella! Arabella! Can you hear me?" Katherine had stopped and turned around to cup Arabella's cheeks between her hands, "Oh! I knew it! I thought I smelled the aphrodisiac!" she hissed.

"Wha…" Arabella's words were cut short as though stolen away before they left her lips. Besides the ridiculous expression she offered, the green of her eyes had turned faint, hardly reflecting anything.

As far as Katherine knew, she needed to hold the young woman down lest the next breeze would sweep her off her light feet. 

From the pouch hidden beneath her coat, the vampire picked a small glass vial, removed its lid and shook it gently right under Arabella's nose. 

"What is happening?" Arabella's eyes widened as her vocal cords slowly recovered their function. 

Within seconds, the murky curtains that had been clouding the green of her gemstones faded gradually.

The young woman's head snapped from left to right, evading the grasp of Katherine only to realize she no longer stood in the town square.

"Witchcraft in Umbraria is very much legal," Katherine cleared her throat, "Here, the term aphrodisiac refers to love potions and not simple foods and while ingestion is a requirement for it to work on most of us Umbrarians, humans are… Well," Katherine looked down, seemingly pondering the correct words.

"Of a much weaker constitution," Arabella muttered.

"I mean no offense, believe me, but yes, inhaling the fumes of such potions is enough to induce side effects in a human," in a soft, quiet tone, Katherine had added. 

"Absolutely none taken," Arabella smiled, "Although I am curious as to what sort of side effects I was subjected to," 

Katherine pushed the shortest of sighs, "Could you tell me what sort of odors you remember smelling since we've entered KasselMoon?"

"Odors?" Arabella's mouth remained agape after that little mutter.

The spinning gears in her mind withheld her means to answer as Katherine's question trotted about behind her eyes. 

It didn't matter how much effort she'd poured into it, Arabella hadn't the inkling of a response. From the very moment they'd stepped out of the carriage, not a single scent had been distinguishable to her. 

Everything blended into this comforting bouquet of perfumes that made her forget her rest. 

"Just what I thought," after a moment of silence, Katherine took Arabella by the hand once more, "Let us move, the shop is right here," 

The vampire led her up three thick, stone stairs and through a large glass door which stood in the center between two display cases that exhibited three magnificent ball gowns on each side.

"Welcome to Kallum's" read the welcome sign at the front.

The store was empty of all souls. Only small candles flickered happily, offering a decent amount of light from the chandeliers. 

The reception hall wasn't a small space by any means, but the number of dresses occupying it gave the opposite impression. 

"The air within and around KasselMoon has been pretty much soaked with many such concoctions. The fumes are especially potent at night where many witches bring their cauldrons out to the square and prepare their potions before their potential customers' bemused eyes," she grimaced, "It is a great selling point for them," 

"So, if a human breathes them, they become… Cracked?" Arabella twirled her fingers together.

"That is mostly the effect of aphrodisiacs since they're the most popular potions. There's high demand for them and thus witches make sure to parade their talents at making them,"

Arabella's eyes trickled along the golden thread tatting the edges of a red, silk queen worthy gown. 

"Losing the ability to distinguish scents is also on the list of side effects," said Katherine while placing her arm over the wooden counter and getting ready to ring the bell that lay atop it.

"Well, on the bright side, you won't have to worry about no side effects for as long as you stand inside my store," 

As soon as Katherine had finished her sentence, a gruff but quite worn-out masculine voice poached the attention of both women as a short and round old man appeared through the door behind the counter.

Katherine immediately cracked a smile then greeted the old man, "Good evening, Mr Kallum,"

"My dear Katherine! It has been a while since I've seen you in my shop," his eyes then landed on Arabella who offered a timid smile before looking downwards, "I see you've brought a new face along," he paused momentarily before the exclamation came, "And a human at that!"

"Yes," she gave a courteous little laugh, "The next gathering takes place in ten days. The Lady would like something special to be made for Arabella," she nodded, placing a gentle hand on Arabella's back.

From the pocket of the vest topping his white blouse shirt, he picked a small notebook.

Lifting it up, Mr Kallum held it close to his face in one hand and squinted his eyes as he scanned a specific page through his monocle in the other, "Only ten days! Goodness! The Lady wants my death it seems," 

"Oh no, sir! The fact is Arabella's only arrived two days ago to the manor," Katherine held her hands up, shaking them profusely as she explained, "There was no way we could've known," 

Arabella's eyes only fell further down where the possibility of meeting anyone's eyes was reduced to zero. 

Mr Kallum's laugh blared through the entire store, "Well, I suppose since the beautiful miss is my own kind, I can make a little exception," he unlocked the hatch separating the front from the back of the store, "Come. I must take your size first, then we can peruse and pick a suitable design for you," 

However, right as the two were about to cross towards the back, the door to the store opened for a shaggy haired old Lady to come inside. Short and dressed in all black, the pointy hat on her head, the large mole as well as the nose covering most of her face gave her nature away. 

"There she is! I was not mistaken then!" the hoarse voice of the witch filled the room.

"Ah… Elphaba…," grumbled Mr Kallum.

"I've spotted you the instant you entered the square," she pointed at Arabella, "She's as beautiful as a sunny day, isn't she?" she came very close to Arabella, making the young woman lean away.

A foul stench wafted through her rotten teeth, reminding Arabella that she'd recovered her sense of smell.

"She is," with a stern tone, Katherine also drew nearer to Arabella, "What is your business with her?"

The so-called Elphaba stared Arabella up and down and only brought her face even closer, "Hmm…," she hummed in the process, "Shame…," her eyes finally connected with the gemstones of Arabella.

"What?" muttered Arabella.

"Yes… It's such a shame only misery and suffering lay ahead for you," Elphaba tilted her head slowly while maintaining eye contact.

"What in the name of Lord Ambrogio are you spouting, witch?! Step away from her!" Katherine pushed herself between Arabella's trembling figure and Elphaba.

"Now, now…," chuckled the witch, "What is the use in calling upon the Lords? I merely stated a fact," 

"What do you mean?" with a voice as shaky as the hand clenching the fabric that covered her chest, Arabella leaned to the side in order to peek from behind Katherine who'd blocked her view.

"My dear child…," the witch shut her eyes and slowly shook her head, "The path ahead of you only has pain to offer," she reopened her eyes to glare at Arabella, "Tsk, tsk, tsk…So many tears you've yet to shed," 

"What does the future hold for me?" Arabella's words were barely audible.

Elphaba opened her hand and extended it towards Arabella, "For the reasonable price of two gold coins, I shall lay everything out for you and even-"

"Enough!" 

Although Katherine hadn't raised her voice it still reverberated all around them, "How dare you?" 

"I believe it is time for you to exit my property, Elphaba," in a very calm, yet firm tone, Mr Kallum ushered the witch towards the exit door.