SHADOWS OF SORROW [S.S]

26 - In the Shadow of Fire

[slight mature content warning]

The Common Room was dim and noisy as the night continued, Zane still on the lookout for trespassers because they didn't trust the guards who volunteered fully. Of course, it was rather unfair to the students who weren't allowed to attend the party but what were they supposed to do? Drink Fire Whiskey and dance with the first years? They were careless when it came to themselves, drowning in alcohol and the sweaty sting in their noses, Ominis could even dare to say he smelled arousal all around the room. Maybe it was the blood warden that connected his innermost parts to the Slytherin complex or just his increased ability to rely on his sense of smell instead of his vision. He didn't know if other people were able to smell it as well, whether they were aware of everyone's bodies pressed against each other, lips caressing each other and limbs tangling. He never dared to ask. The scent of alcohol was the most prominent and the more Ominis drank, the more he forgot about the sensations his nose captured, the images that wandered his mind fading out like the distant vibration of music in his feet on the marble floor. Adelaide sat down next to him, forcing a sigh out of her lungs as she sank into the sofa with her new cup, watching the people opposite to them as Riva contemplated her choice of Summons, her mind turning and whirling with ideas on how to humiliate the Slytherin boy the wand landed on. As nasty as you can. A challenge and opportunity she wouldn't pass on, no way she would miss it. The question was: Humiliate Sebastian or help Amaya? Could those two options be combined? Riva's fingers tapped a steady rhythm upon the back of her cup as she watched the people a few feet away, dancing and kissing, bodies pressed against each other, the slight disgust vanishing from her brain as soon as an idea popped up. The smirk that started to creep up on her lips, the corners of her mouth twitching with satisfaction, was almost evil, her eyes meeting Sebastian's who raised an eyebrow at the witch, unimpressed.

"Fine. Take another sip for confidence then Sallow. Seven minutes in Heaven with a person of my choice." A gulp forced its way down his throat, went almost unnoticed if Riva weren't watching him so closely, looking for any sign that her request, her dare, made him nervous. Poppy giggled as she watched the scene, Zane carefully snaking their arm around Selyn's waist as she joined the group, standing next to her date who sat upon the emerald-green armrest of the sofa, opposite to Riva and Sebastian. Against his will but rather to actually drink some confidence into himself, Sebastian downed the whole cup, setting it upon the table to meet Riva's gaze again. "Bring it on then, Merrill." The witch smiled, her eyes darting through the room, pretending to search for victims when she already knew who she was gonna propose as an option. "I'll be nice. I'll give you a choice Sallow. Three girls to choose from actually." She looked back at the wizard, the glimmer in his eyes a sign of his curiosity. "Samantha, Adelaide or Amaya?" Ade gasped at her name, shaking her head vehemently, the thought of being an obstacle in Amaya's way forcing her stomach to turn, the burn of her rum shot almost forgotten. "No way... Sorry Sebastian." The Hufflepuff leaned back as the Slytherin wizard laughed, waving her off to signal it was fine. He wouldn't have chosen her anyway. Not that Adelaide Oakes wasn't beautiful but they for some reason just didn't match and his interest in her was particularly nonexistent from the very start.

"Fine, Samantha or Amaya then?" Riva corrected, eyes fixed upon Sebastian as he bit his lip in contemplation, Amaya glaring daggers at her friend even though she didn't know what Seven minutes in Heaven were. It would be foolish to stay in the dark about it when her name was on the list. "What exactly is 'Seven minutes in Heaven'?" Sebastian let out a breath of relief, knowing he had a little more time to contemplate his choices. Of course he would much rather conquer Riva's dare with Amaya at his side but he felt foolish about it. He asked Samantha to the ball after all, everyone thought he might be courting her and his feelings and thoughts for the Slytherin witch, the other half to their representative couple, laid in the dark. He did tell her about his train of thought a few days back. How he would have asked her if the circumstances were to be different but admitting to choosing Amaya for the game instead of Samantha was an important step in their 'relationship'. Little did he know every single soul on these couches already knew about this mind wrenching situation. Knew how Amaya felt and were able to guess how Sebastian did.