Chapter 24

The rumors about Madam Morrible's future release from prison spread through the city faster than a twister the next morning. By the next evening, everyone knew about it. All that was left to do was to sit and wait for the rumors to get to Luke, wherever he was.

The Wizard and Madam Morrible's reunion was sad and emotional. Fiyero, who brought the old man there, was surprised to see the two of them in a way he had never thought about before. Lovers, of all things. It was inconceivable. Yet, looking at them now, whispering to one another with only the metal bars to separate them, how could one think otherwise? They didn't hesitate in expressing their emotions; not anymore. No more secrets, ever. Madam Morrible was shocked to see him at first, and she was full of admiration of Glinda's ability to do a spell out of the Grimmerie.

"Well, it is better late than never. I'm glad that she proved me wrong, eventually," she said.

"You go home, young man, to your little girl," the Wizard told Fiyero, who was still standing there. "I'll wait here… until he comes."

Fiyero still looked skeptic though. "What if he won't?"

"He will," said Madam Morrible. "He has to."

They didn't have to wait long. Luke showed up in Madam Morrible's cell the next evening. "Good evening, mother," he said as he stepped inside.

She raised her head sharply when she heard his voice. He didn't notice the Wizard, who was standing in the shadows behind him. A sigh of relief escaped her. "Luke, you came, at last."

"Of course. I came to confirm what I've heard. Is it true that they are letting you out?" he asked, suspiciously.

"Yes, it is."

He didn't look so convinced. "Why? What caused this sudden change?"

Madam Morrible shook her head, looking as innocent as she possibly could. "I wouldn't know, but I shall be let out by early next week," the lie came out easily.

Luke seemed as if he was considering what he had just heard. "This is good news," he said finally.

"How are you, Luke?" she asked carefully. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"I'm getting along, mother."

"What have you done with her?"

He looked at her innocently. "Who can you possibly mean?"

Madam Morrible sighed, desperate. He was so much like her sometimes. "Luke, please stop with these mind games. Just tell me- is Elphaba still alive?"

Luke nodded. "Yes, she is alive," he said dryly. He couldn't help but notice her sigh of relief. "What is it to you?" he asked suspiciously and looked at her. Suddenly, she looked pale. "Mother, are you feeling all right?' he asked, a little concerned.

"Thank Oz… thank Oz that she is still alive…" was all she could say.

Luke smirked. "Well, she won't be for long, you know. It's just that I haven't decided how to kill her just yet."

She looked horrified. He had to know the truth, the sooner the better. "Luke… let's just… I want to talk with you about something. Will you come and sit here for a moment?" she asked and motioned towards a bench close to the bars. He hesitated, then nodded and approached the bench. "James, come out, please. It's time to tell the truth."

Luke didn't see the person his mother was referring to at first, but when the man walked out of the shadows, he gasped in surprise. "Your Ozness!" he said as the old man set next to him.

"I do not deserve the title, son, James would be enough," said the Wizard quietly.

"What are you doing here?" asked Luke, confused. As far as he could recall, the Wizard went back to that far away place he lived in years before, Glinda made sure it would happen. How did he get back without anyone knowing about it?

"We thought it would be best telling you the truth… before it's too late," said Madam Morrible gently.

"The truth?" Luke repeated.

"Do you remember when you were about seven years old, and you asked me who your father was?" Luke nodded, slowly. He didn't realize the connection just yet; his mind was too busy thinking what the Wizard was doing there. "Well, I told you back than that your father died before you were born." He nodded again. "I wasn't honest with you, son. Your father wasn't dead," said Madam Morrible carefully. She didn't know what reaction to expect from her son. He was so unpredictable sometimes; silence and outburst were equally expected from him.

He stared at her, considering what she had just said. His mind was racing. Not dead? How was it possible? And why hadn't he been there with them all these years? A frightening thought had crossed his mind. "How do you know he isn't dead?" he asked finally, his tone quiet and calm. He didn't give her a chance to answer and just went on, "Can you even know for sure who he was?" he added nastily.

Madam Morrible looked horrified. For the first time in her life, she felt like slapping him. Luckily, the metal bars separated them, so she couldn't. "How dare you! Of course I knew who your father was, Luke!"

"So why didn't you tell me? And why is it so important for me to hear it quite now?" He didn't have time for useless digging in the past. He had more urgent matters in hand, like a green witch waiting for him to-

"Because I am your father, Luke," said the Wizard gently. Luke couldn't do much but stare at him. The Wizard sighed and went on. "Many years ago, when I have just arrived to Oz, I met your mother in the Emerald City. She was still a student at Shiz University and we were both young and ambitious. We fell in love, these things happen, you know. We were having an affair and no one knew. Just before you were born, I was declared as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. We realized that we had to keep our affair a secret, and we had to keep you a secret as well. Your mother sent you to the best schools outside the Emerald City and she herself became, with time, the headmistress in Shiz. This is it. This is the truth."

Luke set there in shocked silence. He looked stricken. He tried to process everything he had just heard. His parents said nothing. They didn't want to put any pressure on him. They waited for him to speak first. "So Elphaba," he said once he realized what the Wizard… his father… was trying to tell him.

The Wizard slowly nodded. "She is your sister. Half sister, actually, but you are both my children. This is why we wanted to tell you the truth now… before you…" he tried to touch Luke's arm. Luke flinched back. "I'm sorry, I know it must be a shock to hear something like this, Luke, but we must hurry now. Tell me where Elphaba is."

The truth was a burden on Luke's back. He buried his head in his hands when he finally realized the severity of the situation. His own words whirled in his mind. I just thought we couldn't use having fun a little bit… as long as you're mine… It had a horrible meaning now, once he knew the truth.

"How could you keep this a secret?" he asked quietly and looked at both of them, his expression accusing and still a little shocked. "Do you realize that if anything would have happened… it was all your fault?"

"I tried to warn you, Luke, that day when you first came to see me," his mother reminded him.

He turned to look at her. He felt so betrayed all of a sudden. "Well, you should have told me everything just then, didn't you?" There was an unusual bitterness in his voice.

Madam Morrible shook her head in silent admittance. "I guess I should have. I should have told you the truth even before."

"Where is Elphaba?" repeated the Wizard, more urgently.

Luke buried his head in his hands again, defeated. "In a village outside of the city, a two days' journey from here. She is in a deserted cabin by the river."

The Wizard got up. "You'll stay here with your mother," he ordered Luke, who was about to follow. "You have plenty to talk about."

He was gone before Luke had any chance to protest. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes.

"So… are they really letting you out or was that a lie too?"

Madam Morrible sighed. "It was the only way to bring you back here. Luke, please try to understand."

"I'm sorry, mother, but I just can't understand it just yet, nor can I forgive you."

"I'm sorry, Luke. More than you'll ever know," she said honestly.

Luke nodded but said nothing. He was distracted. His thoughts wandered to Elphaba, who was alone in the cabin. He couldn't quite define how he felt about her after everything he has just learned. His sister. Did he hate her less, now that he came to know the truth? Was he sorry for what he had done? Did he pity her? The questions whirled in his mind but he could answer none of them. All he could think of was what could have happened if she hasn't stopped him when he first tried to touch her that first night. He didn't want to think about that.

"How did he even get here?" he asked that other thing that bothered him.

"According to my understanding, Glinda used a spell from a very powerful book to summon him. I'm still amazed that she was able to do it, no one could read this book except for Elphaba." His face fell. She was sorry she mentioned her name.

"I hope he'll get to her on time," he said finally. "Since I came here so quickly I didn't have a chance to check on her." She looked horrible the last time he had seen her, so desperate and defeated. He could only assume that being cold and hungry would worsen her condition. He hoped that the Wizard… their father… wouldn't be too late.