Dorothy Must Die Novella #7 by Danielle Paige Read Free Book Online Page A

expression back to its usual unreadability. Lanadel would have preferred he not be in the room. If she was going to humiliate herself, she’d rather he didn’t see it. But she knew better than toask him to leave. Especially after whatever had just happened between him and Mombi. She straightened her spine—something about being around Mombi always made her remember her posture—and waited expectantly for the witch to tell her what to do. And waited. And waited.
    The old witch stared at her silently. A long, awkward moment passed, and then another. Lanadel cleared her throat. And then, just like that, Mombi snapped her fingers and Lanadel jumped. The witch smiled. “You probably think magic is just like that,” she said. “Snap your fingers and miracles happen.” She snapped again and Lanadel gasped. A huge, perfect replica of a lion loomed over her, its mouth bared in a snarl. She knew it wasn’t real but she still threw up her arms in self-defense. Mombi snapped a third time and the lion disappeared.
    â€œI don’t think that at all,” Lanadel said honestly.
    â€œGood,” Mombi said. “Because it looks easy. But the easy part is an illusion. Like anything else worth learning, magic takes hard work. Not everyone can do it. In fact, most people can’t. But Nox sees something in you”—she looked over at where he sat, looking stonily back at her—“and you wouldn’t have made it here in the first place if you didn’t have something more than ordinary courage.”
    Coming from Mombi, that was a compliment. “So how do I—” Lanadel began, but the witch didn’t wait for her to finish her sentence. She leaned forward and grabbed Lanadel’s hands with both of hers, staring deeply into her eyes.
    And suddenly Lanadel wasn’t in the cavern with Mombianymore. They were standing on a surface that was as clear and solid as glass. Blooming clouds of color moved through the ground beneath them like ink expanding in water. More clouds swirled around them in the air, expanding and contracting as if they were living, breathing things. In the distance, a sparkling range of mountains shifted and pulsed like the clouds that surrounded them, changing colors with every beat: pale sunrise rose pink; deep sapphire blue; a vivid blue gray like the sky before a thunderstorm. Just past where she and Mombi stood, a river flowed merrily over the glassy ground, sunlight dancing across its surface. The air was warm and balmy as bathwater. The sky overhead was a clear, flawless blue that served as a gorgeous backdrop to the clouds that moved around them.
    Lanadel gasped. It was the most beautiful place she’d ever been. More beautiful than Glamora’s dazzling banquet hall, more beautiful than anything she’d seen on her long journey to Mount Gillikin—more beautiful, even, than home. Not that she had a home anymore.
    Mombi beamed at her, pleased as punch. “Sky Island,” she said proudly. “Used to be quite the tourist destination, before . . . well, you know. Now it’s one of the last remaining places in Oz that’s truly free.” She waggled an eyebrow. “Of course, that’s because there’s no magic here and no one actually lives here now that the hotel is abandoned and the souvenir store closed, but still. On this single, glittery bangle, we’re completely safe from Dorothy. For now. As long as she doesn’t know we’re here.” Mombi looked suddenly haggard. “So not really all that safeafter all. But you get my drift.”
    â€œI’m assuming we’re not here for a vacation,” Lanadel said when she caught her breath again.
    â€œNo,” Mombi said with a wry grin. “Though Lurline knows we all could use one. I’m afraid vacations aren’t on the agenda for any of us anytime soon. You’re here to learn magic, girl. Or—let me revise that.