Consuming Darkness: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 20

**spice warning**

-Sebastian-

    I casted spell after spell needing to clear my head. I had almost forgotten about the pain of losing Anne the last few weeks. But it was Christmas and I didn't know where she was, I hadn't heard from her once since what happened with Solomon. It felt pretty shitty to have to spend Christmas here instead of in Feldcroft with her. I had let myself forget about finding a cure for her and I couldn't help but feel torn for giving up. It had felt freeing to not be spending every waking moment with my nose in a book researching but I also had an immense amount of guilt for stopping my search. In turn, it felt like I had killed my Uncle without cause.

  A barrel exploded after I casted Confringo. I heard the door to the Undercroft open. "Leave me alone..." I called not turning around. I assumed it was Ominis, Ronnie hadn't been to the Undercroft since I walked in on her and Ominis. That was something else that was nagging at my mind.

   "No, I can't let you sit down here in this dark cellar feeling sorry for yourself on Christmas," Ronnie spoke up. I turned to face her quickly. She was wearing a skirt, which was very out of character for her, and a Christmas sweater with a big snowman on it.

   "Very festive," I commented.

   She looked me up and down. I was wearing tan pants and a green Slytherin sweater. "So are you," she smiled.

   "It was unintentional," I grumbled.

   She walked up to me and pushed her body against mine and her hand on my chest. "You can't be so dark and broody on Christmas," she teased.

   "Yes I can," I replied flatly. "I thought you liked how dark and brooding I am."

   "I do..." she said her voice low and tempting. "Now how can I cheer you up?" I moved away slightly so I could see the sly grin that spread across her lips. Despite my self loathing my stomach got butterflies. She was truly amazing. We had shared many secret kisses these last few days and I swear I would never tire of it. But even my sinful thoughts couldn't pull my thoughts away from the guilt that tormented me.

   She noticed my lack of banter and her face turned worried. Usually just being near her was enough to help pull me out of this feeling but it wasn't now. I felt as if I was back to last year where my thoughts became consumed with curing Anne. "Do you want to talk about where your head is at?"

   "Not really..." I admitted.

   "Don't shut me out..." she begged. "I know it's got to be hard without Anne..."

   I moved away from her. What did she know about any of it? She didn't know how I felt truly. She couldn't understand.

   "Have you heard from her at all? Even her whereabouts?"

   "No," I answered harshly. I didn't mean to fight with her, and the look on her face when I snapped at her just made me feel guiltier.

   "Sebastian..."

   "I'm sorry..." I responded and pulled her close to me again, burring my face in her hair, getting lost in the smell of her.

   I kissed her, needing her now more than I had in a while. I didn't know what to do to get rid of this feeling. Where would I even start to look for a cure for Anne again? I'd gone down the route of dark magic because I couldn't find anything else in any other books. Would Anne even be open to trying a cure that I offered her if I did find one? I didn't even know where she was or how to reach out to her.

   Ronnie pulled away and placed her hand on my cheek. "Talk to me," she begged.

    I kissed her again instead. I didn't want to worry her. I knew she was already going through so much, and if I told her what was wrong she would take on my problems too. I didn't want to give her one more thing to stress about.