Midnight Wonders

5.2.2. Visitors of the Labyrinth

The door opened, and a man entered. Luc wondered if he should stand, given that this man had to be the King of the Yew, but Emma didn't, and Luc would feel awkward doing it by himself. Though it made sense Emma wouldn't; she was his daughter, after all, and did such manners of etiquette extend to family as well?

"Emma!" the King began as he took a seat across from them. "It's been such a long time—" He glanced over and noticed Luc. "Ah."

"Hello," said Emma. "I know, it's really been a while. I'm sorry about that. It's just—my mother, you know."

The King nodded, glancing at Luc again. "The brother?" he said.

"What?" said Luc, involuntarily.

"Cora's...brother," he said.

"Oh," said Luc. "Yes. I'm—wait—"

"So you've seen her?" said Emma.

The King nodded again, looking at Emma this time. "You know she's here?"

"We've heard," she said. "Rumors spread pretty quickly, especially when they're about Symphora. And because it's nearing Midsummer."

"So is that why you're here?" he said.

Emma winced. "I mean...it's not the only reason."

The King raised his eyebrow. "Is Annabel here?"

"I was with her at the Sycamore too, you know."

"So you've been at the Sycamore?"

"Maybe."

"Where's my sister?" Luc said, not knowing where he got the courage to cut into the conversation. Perhaps it was from being here, at the Yew, so close to Cora. She was here, in the same place that he was, and he was here, but he couldn't do anything.

"Cora," said the King slowly. "Bonnie." Luc frowned at the nickname. It poked at him. Was it the discomfort of having this man refer to Cora so casually, so closely? It didn't feel like that; it wasn't directed towards the King of the Yew. It poked at him. "She's here, but where, I don't know for sure. I assume her room, but..." he glanced at Emma, "your mother, you know."

"I know," Emma said with a sigh.

"I don't know anything," said the King. "It isn't my business. Symphora is dealing with Cora."

Emma frowned. "What do you mean, not your business—"

"She doesn't remember, you know," the King said.

Emma paused. "What?"

"She can't remember anything." The King rubbed his jaw. "She doesn't know anyone."

Cora...couldn't remember anything? She'd lost her memory? What was there to remember? Cora had always had a better memory than Luc. Was the memory of their parents, their past, finally gone for good, lost to the oblivion of the unremembered? Had she forgotten more? Had she forgotten him?

The thought itself felt like being stabbed. She was the only one he had.

"I mean, except for him," said the King, pointing at Luc with his chin. Luc blinked. "She remembers him just fine. Her brother."

Luc didn't know why the King said it like that. Like it was a lie. Like he didn't believe it.

"She was looking for you," the King said. "Like you're looking for her. It's a mutual search; how sweet."

"Don't be so bitter," said Emma.

"I am merely being honest." The King shrugged. "And I said it was sweet. How is that bitter?"