Aftermath | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 8

Sebastian POV

I'm walking on clouds around the castle this morning. This is the happiest I've allowed myself to feel in years. I'm eager to see y/n after our time spent together yesterday. I cannot believe how fortunate I am to have her in my life again, to have this relationship with her now.

Relationship?

I realize nothing has been defined between us. I'm eager to speak with her about this, as soon as the right moment presents itself. For now, I'm basking in all that has developed between us.

I'm not exactly surprised. Well, I had to try so hard to get her to even look at me again. But I know now that was more of her guilt than it was ever hating me. We always had something special last year, our friendship was undeniable. We have always understood each other, even within the madness we were both facing.

I'm on such a high from having spent that amazing time with her yesterday, that I don't even realize it's about lunchtime and I haven't seen her yet. Anywhere. Come to think of it, I didn't see her last night either.

The castle is huge, but us being in the same house and having shared classes, I should have seen her by now. Even when she was ignoring me, seeing each other was unavoidable every single day.

Calm down Sebastian. She was late yesterday and was only showering. I decide to head to the Great Hall and ask around. Starting with Imelda, as they share a dormitory. I plop down next to Ominis, playing it cool as I grab an apple and take a bite. Ominis is strangely quiet this morning. Not like his quippy, tight ass self.

"So you and y/n had fun last night?" Imelda says, trying to tease me, but I'm taken back by her question.

"No, wait, what?" I ask her, now entirely confused. And that worry is starting to creep up again.

"Well she was out all night I figured you two were probably off snogging somewhere. Don't think I didn't see you in the halls smiling like idiots with each other. I know you, Sallow. Even when you're being an ass I don't see you that content with yourself." Imelda says, leaning back with her arms folded across her chest, rolling her eyes.

"I wasn't with her at all last night. I didn't even see her." I lean in, "I'm sorry, did you say she didn't come back at all last night?" My anxiety is heightening and I feel my body tense up. Ominis stops eating and puts his fork down.

"Ominis.. you know something." I straighten up, looking directly at him. Even if he can't see me, I know he feels my anger and worry radiating off of me.

"Very well. I bumped into her as she was leaving the common room late last night. She didn't say where she was going. That was it." He shrugged his shoulders, I could tell there was more than what he was leading on.

" I have to go." I say immediately standing up and making my way over to the Gryffindor table.

"Hi Natty." I say, trying to keep my composure. She reciprocates with a smile. No matter what kind of reputation I have around the school, Natty is always kind to me. People are intimidated by my presence at times, I can't help it with how intelligent I am- and my unbeatable skills with spellcasting. Some are just better than others.

"Hello Sebastian, how can I help you?" She says turning and looking up at me.

"I'm sorry if this is quite out of the blue," I say, feeling like I'm making some proclamation to her that I'm seeking out y/n. And I do not know why, we spent so much time together last year. What would it really matter? It just feels different now. "Have you seen y/n yet today?"

She looks as if she's thinking for a second, "Actually, no. She wasn't in class this morning. Is everything alright?" I can hear worry start to creep up in her voice as well. I don't want to cause any commotion before I know what's going on first.

"Yes, uh, I just needed to return a book I borrowed from her." I force out. She smiles and shakes her head, as if she can read right through me. She is pretty brilliant after all. I know she helped y/n in discovering Rankrok's plans last year.

"Perhaps try looking out near the beasts class. She likes to go out there sometimes and tend to them with Poppy." Of course she does, thinking back to the Vivarium. She has such a kind heart towards them.

"Thank you." I say, turning swiftly and making my way out of the Great Hall. In the corner of my peripheral I see Ominis stand up and hold his wand upright. Irritated with him, I pick up my pace as I exit.

I'm practically running as I make it to the beasts class. Of course Poppy is indeed there, using her wand to brush three puffskeins at once.

"Poppy!" I yell out, immediately regretting it as she jumps and turns around.

"What? What is it Sebastian? What's wrong." Poor girl. She's so innocent, me yelling at her probably scared her half to death. "Is it y/n.." Her friends know her so well after all they went through together, she's lucky to have them. I wish I had more like them. I know Ominis cares a great deal for me, even when we bump heads. And Anne.. my sister. Stop Sebastian. I can't get into that right now.

I don't know the appropriate thing to say, I don't want to scare her more. I slowly nod my head yes.

"Is she.. hurt?" She asks.

"I don't know." I answer quietly, honestly. At this point, I really have no clue.

"Come on!" She says, racing up a hill. I don't hesitate to follow her. We stop abruptly and she lets out a loud whistle. "You ever ride a beast before, Sebastian?" I think back to the Vivarium and the Graphorn with y/n.

"Well yeah, but-" I'm cut off when there's a high pitched screech in the sky. A huge Hippogriff flies above us, swooping down to land right before Poppy. "Bow." Poppy says. I remember y/n bowing to the Graphorn. I relax as much as I can, slowly approach her, and bow low. "Sebastian, meet Highwing. If anyone can find y/n as fast as you need to, it's her." I look up at Poppy. "Bring her back safely, please."

I look at her and give her a curt nod. I remember grappling onto the back of the Graphorn, gripping my legs around it and holding onto it tightly with my hands. I do the same with Highwing. But nothing could have prepared me for the flying. Highwing jolts up into the air, spinning in circles. "Woah-woah!" I yell, terrified of falling off. She then straightens out and we're flying faster than I ever have on a broom.

We're both scanning the area below us and I can't help but feel in awe, and grateful for this magnificent beast. It knows y/n by heart, and has some instinct to be on the lookout for her. Highwing let's out another bellowing screech, which I feel is warning me to hold on tight. She veers to the left descending fast towards the ground. As we approach the land beneath us, I feel all the blood drain out of my body.

Highwing lands, and there before me is y/n lying on the ground in front of a tree. She's in another encampment. But this one doesn't look like it's been thrown around. This one is completely shattered into a million splintering pieces.