Storms ⌲ Sebastian Sallow

25. ✭we were frail✭

☼Modern Soundtrack: Exile by Taylor Swift (feat. Bon Iver)☼

~

"If it isn't Celestial Lovegood," Ominis spoke as I approached him after History of Magic class.

"I have always been quite fascinated with the way you know it's me without fail."

"It's been a while, Cel," he smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Too long, if I may say..." I sighed. "But, that's beside the point. I need your help. Follow me to the library, where it's quiet and without watching eyes at this time."

Once we walked over there in complete silence, I leaned on the top floor bookshelf.

"Well, of course you need my help. I don't know what it is, but I know I can help you," he said confidently. I raised an eyebrow.

"I'm quite lost, Ominis. I love Sebastian dearly but I feel as though I've lost myself in the process."

"You're telling me..." he said as he inched closer to me, lowering his voice. "I know you took the powers from the last repository. I know you're the reason for Fig's death."

Out of habit, I frantically glanced around, but there was no one in the vicinity. We were perfectly fine to discuss this here. The librarian was practically asleep downstairs.

"Perhaps that's the reason why I'm here. You know things you shouldn't... I need you to my advantage... So I offer a trade deal, as you're probably thinking how this benefits you," I explained and he chuckled to himself.

"And what might that be?" There was a slight pause.

"Poppy Sweeting."

"You mention her name with such courage and boldness... Yet you haven't got a clue what you're talking about-" his voice turned cold and sinister.

"I know you've been in love with her since fifth year. I know you think you've done a fine job concealing it - but I see right through you. I watched you slowly succumb to sadness as you heard she went to the ball with Amit," I said and he bit his cheek in suppressed fury.

"That's not true."

"Oh, but it is. You're rather bitter with me because of our decision to not turn Sebastian in..." For a moment it was silent.

"Look who learns with haste."

"You fancy blaming me for this situation..."

"You practically ruined my life. If we had just turned him in, it would have saved me a lot of trouble. My family will have to testify for Solomon's death for generations to come..."

"He's supposed to be your best mate-"

"He was. Until he continued to dabble in Dark Magic..." he trailed off, his voice starting to crack. "I begged, pleaded for him to stop. He never did. He merely got stronger and stronger. Casting Avada Kadavra on random beasts in the Forbidden Forest..."

"So he didn't follow me there," I said as I began to feel uneasy.

"What are you on about?"

"Sebastian never wanted me - or even to be with me, at that. He only wanted to use me. You told him I took the repository powers, didn't you? That's why he saved me that night in the Forbidden Forest," my voice began to shake. My head felt heavy and my heart beating a mile a minute.

"I never wanted you to find out..." Ominis sighed. "We connected so well because you are just like me. You never saw this Dark Magic as something to be tampered with. You saw Sebastian's true colors before he even saw them himself."

"Sebastian never loved me for me, since the beginning, huh, Ominis?" My eyes began to water, and my nose stuffed. I was about to wail. He heard me sniffle and shook his head slowly.

"You possess a real talent, indeed, Cel. One he was drawn to from the very beginning. As you learned the unforgivable curses with him, he took you under his wing. That's the whole reason why he soon was distant, however, because he did have some genuine feelings for you and didn't want you to go down the path he was going."

"I can't believe this..." I shook my head as the tears ran down my face.

"So, he is only with me now because of my powers?" I asked and Ominis nodded.

"I tried to warn you. But, there was no use. I learned my lesson the last time I tried to meddle with Sebastian's Dark Arts. You made your choice the night Fig died. However, I thought he would learn, considering Anne's death."

"Anne died?"

"Last year, I know you must have heard he got in trouble for Solomon's death, but the thing is, he never did. The curse that Anne had ultimately killed her. Immediately after, he had spent every waking day avenging her - killing all dark wizards he had come close to - almost killing himself in the process."

At this point, I had run out of tears to cry. I was out of breath, exhausted, and utterly betrayed. Is this what Elezar felt before his death?

"So, it was never real, it was all an illusion, me and Sebastian?"

"Let's just say you and I both made the mistake of befriending someone like Sebastian. I guess that would be something that will connect us forever. An invisible string."