Midnight Wonders

7.6.1. The Debts That Remain Unpaid

Walking through the tree was much less unsettling with accompaniment. A light shone in through the open end, almost seeming to glow. Luc was reminded of the door at the end of the corridor. It was closed now. But there were other doors. The lights were on again.

As they neared the exit, a blurry shadow solidified into the figure of a woman standing there. She didn't seem to be doing anything but waiting for them to come out.

"He's here," said Luc.

Kay grabbed Luc's arm and gave him a look like he'd done something wrong for speaking to Symphora.

"I see," said Symphora.

They stopped in front of her. Kay pulled on Luc's arm as if he wanted to continue walking past.

"You were my worst child," Symphora said to Kay. Luc stared horrified at her and wondered if maybe they shouldn't just keep walking.

"Why?" said Kay, lightly.

"Your rude behavior. Your unwillingness to speak when spoken to or silence when silenced. Your tendency to do whatever you wish to the dismay of everyone. Goodness, you said the worst things." Symphora huffed, shaking her head, as if the list of grievances was too long to exhaust.

Kay just looked at her. Then, he said, "I never owed you good behavior. I never owed you kindness. The Rowan itself spoke." He gestured to the tree. "And you, too, never owed me kindness nor sympathy. So all is free between us."

"So you still hold all this hostility towards me?"

"Do you?" Kay said. He shrugged. "I don't owe you forgiveness nor do you me. So be it."

Symphora huffed again. She turned her annoyance on Luc. "And you? What are you doing here?"

"Well, I came to get Kay, and now he's here," said Luc.

"What did you do?" She gestured up at the lights.

"Oh," said Luc, looking up as if he hadn't noticed they were on. They were much dimmer than the light inside the Rowan. Behind the door. Perhaps that was why they had been enough. "I don't know," he said, even though he did. Kind of. He couldn't be certain. It was a feeling. He shrugged. "It worked."

She frowned. "You're both infuriating. You're meant for each other."

"Thank you," said Luc, because that was actually a nice sentiment. If he ignored her first sentence. "Well. We'll be on our way."

"I hope you don't come back," she said.

"It's nice that our actions don't hinge on your hopes," said Luc.

Symphora rolled her eyes. "Go, then."

Kay seemed more than happy to oblige. Luc lingered a bit. "Thank you," he said. Symphora gave him an annoyed look and shooed them off. Satisfied, Luc turned and let Kay drag him off.

As they walked away, there was a loud crack behind them. Luc jolted, turning to look. Kay didn't even react, he just kept walking. So Luc was the only one who saw Symphora violently smash the mask against the tree. Saw the mask crack into pieces and saw Symphora shove them into the ground and bury them with dirt. Saw her beat her hands of dust, then her dress, then step elegantly across the small graveyard she'd made and walk back to the Yew.

—

Luc found Elaine in the garden again. He walked down the path to meet her. The plants looked taller than last time, which didn't make sense because they'd been in darkness since he'd last saw them. Perhaps they'd had a long-overdue growth spurt as soon as the lights turned on.