The Serpent and The Bird

"I said you weren't going to lose me, and I almost lost you instead"

- She's waking up.

Sebastian leaned forward on his chair, muttering the words to quiet down Ominis and Anne's chatter. He grabbed Everleigh's hand in between his, his heart doing gymnastics on his chest so loud, he truly thought everyone else could hear it.

He watched as Everleigh opened her eyes slowly, confusion rosing in them.

- What happened?

Her words came out weak, in a choke. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, gently.

- You passed out after the trial. - He responded, trying to contain his emotions behind a blank face. He was equally happy to see her waking up and furious that she had put herself in a position of danger that could've been avoided if she had let them go with her. But it was not the time to bring it up. - Ranrok was there, with his loyalists. They attacked you.

She blinked a few times, scanning the room. Sebastian held his breath. Ominis shifted his weight from one leg to the other and Anne froze on her seat, at the other side of Everleigh's bed.

- How did I get here?

Everleigh asked, sitting on the infirmary bed and touching her cheek, where her cut had been. Her expression changed when she touched the skin and didn't find it. Sebastian knew better than to look at his sister or his best friend at that moment.

- Ominis and I found you when you lost consciousness and brought you back to the castle.

She finally made eyes contact with him. Sebastian could see she was not believing that that's all there was. Everleigh searched for Ominis and Anne's eyes next. His sister was a terrible liar, so she at least had the decorum of keeping her mouth shut. Ominis wasn't affected by Everleigh's scrutiny because he couldn't really see her. But he knew his best friend enough to notice he was uncomfortable.

The Gryffindor girl turned to Sebastian again.

- Did you follow me?

- Yes.

He didn't feel an ounce of shame with the quick reply, not even when she yanked her hand out of his and glared at him with exasperation.

- Are you crazy? You could've died!

- You almost did!

He hissed back, his blank face breaking into anger. That girl truly vexed him.

- Everleigh... if we hadn't followed you, Ranrok would've captured you and imprisoned you to get the next locations of the trials out of you.

Ominis finally spoke, his voice calm, like he was trying to pacify her. She buried her face on her hands for a long minute before speaking against them, her voice muffled.

- Thank you for helping me.

- You are quick to thank him but I get the short end of the stick every time.

Sebastian relined on his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. He hadn't meant to sound jealous, but the words had burned on his throat enough to want them let out. She glared at him, a hard expression on her face.