Cursed Hearts

Striking a Deal

~The Land of Oz, two weeks prior~

For the third time that week, she had woken up with a blaring headache and a dazed memory. Her hair had come undone during the events of the precious night; she was exhausted, unmotivated, and frankly, unhappy.

That was the problem with alcohol- it worked for a while to numb the anger, all the pain, but it always wore off. Every time she awoke after excessive drinking, Zelena felt the loneliness return, a reminder that she had absolutely nothing but her own rage to fuel her ambitions. The pain worsened with every time too, the same bitter phrase crossing her mind as she stared blackly up at the grand emerald ceiling- it's just not fair.

Clothes scattered across the floor of her bedroom as midmorning sunlight drifted in through one of the windows, letting in an unwanted light. Walsh, the previous ruler of Oz, had been in her control for years- quite honestly she had forgotten just how many; the years seemed to mix together. With her magic, Zelena could make him do whatever she needed him to do, or rather, be whatever she needed him to be.

She allowed him to touch her whenever she wanted, mostly just when her level of loneliness sunk desperately low. Sure it felt good at the time, but like the alcohol, it only left her with a larger void in her heart than before.

Laying on her bed during mornings like these caused her mind to wander, sometimes back to those childish thoughts she always thoroughly contained; what it would be like for her if she were born with the life she had deserved.

"Do you want me to make breakfast?" Walsh asked, his voice thick with sleep.

Zelena didn't move from her position- she didn't feel like doing anything, especially begin another pointless day. They never did anything interesting, anyways, just creating more potions that never ended up being of any relevance. The magical looking glass she had used for many years wasn't of any relevance to her anymore; ever since her dear sister cast the curse, she could no longer track her whereabouts. And that, of course, only made her blood boil even more.

Feeling his lips at the nape of her neck, Zelena instinctively pushed him away and sat up.

"I don't care what you make, as long as you get me something for my head." She grumbled, holding the bedsheet up against her chest, "how much did I drink last night?"

Searching for his clothes, Walsh smirked with his back towards her. "More than usual. You don't remember?"

Zelena let out another moan. She felt absolutely terrible; nothing seemed pleasing to her anymore.

"Not much," she replied soddenly, "but if you don't hurry up with that medication, I'll turn you into a toad."

Her threat caused a scowl to form on the man's face as he got up and started for the front room. As he walked through the halls, Walsh's heart sank once again when he remembered the time before the wicked witch had ruined his life entirely, when he, an average, everyday man, had constructed the palace himself. He remembered the days of power, though nobody truly knew who he was, he was able to give aid to the people of Oz. And, just like that, it was all gone. Zelena had complete control over him, her magic able to transform into any cruel creature of her desire. He truly hated her; she was the most vile woman he had ever encountered.

It was pure torture passing through the shelves of potions, knowing very well that so many of them could be used to end Zelena's life. But he just couldn't do it- so many years had gone by; Walsh had forgotten who he was.

Finally spotting the elixir he needed, he found a cup and poured the liquid into it, filling the cup until it was full before setting it down in its spot amongst the others. She drank more and more frequently as the days went on.