Unspeakable

Chapter 45: The Ebony Frame

The Ebony Frame is an actual story from 1893. It's very good, so if you'd like to hear it, there's several audio books of it on YouTube. I highly suggest listening, it's about 1/2 hour long

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Everyone had headed home after the plan had been figured out, leaving Sebastian and Ominis alone in the house.

"I hate making you do everything." Sebastian grumbled from the couch, still unable to move around much without a lot of pain.

"It's fine, Sebastian." Ominis chuckled. "You protected me, I can take care of you while you recover." He said in a softer tone, walking over to him on the couch and rubbing his shoulders gently. "Where does it hurst most?"

"If I say my mouth will you kiss it?" Sebastian leaned his head back to grin wryly up to him.

Ominis let out a weary sigh and rolled his eyes. "You're ridiculous." He said with a chuckle, but leaned down to gently kiss him. He reached down to run his fingers along his jaw gently, his touch softly memorizing his features again.

"I'll admit... I'm nervous." Ominis said gently.

"I am too." Sebastian said softly. "It feels... strange without her here." A piece of them was missing. A piece that couldn't be replaced.

"We'll get her back." Ominis said firmly.

"You seem so confident in that." Sebastian said, looking up at him again.

"Because I won't think of the alternative." Ominis said in a wavering voice.

Sebastian reached up and held Ominis' hand gently, not wanting to think about it either. It would be.. unbearable. After all they'd been through.

"Bring me a book." Sebastian said softly.

Ominis frowned in confusion before realizing what he wanted to do. He blushed a bit, smiling warmly before running a hand through his hair affectionately. "I'll be right back."

He came back with a book, holding it out to Sebastian with a small happy smile.

"Oh, interesting." Sebastian said, looking at the title. "Grim Tales?"

"It's her favorite." Ominis said quietly.

Sebastian looked at the book again, his heart clenching. Her favorite book. He hadn't read it before, either. "Alright, come here." He raised an arm in offering for him to lean against him like he did with Diane.

Ominis sidled up next to him on the couch a bit nervously, not sitting back against him yet, but Sebastian pulled him back so he was leaning against his shoulder.

He flinched a bit as the contact hurt a bit against the tender area, but it was well worth it once Ominis settled in, resting his head on his shoulder gently. He hadn't bothered to fix his hair this morning, so his tawny blond hair brushed against Sebastian's jaw as he spoke as it remained wild and untamed.

Sebastian wrapped his arm around him, resting his hand against Ominis' chest as he opened the book with his other hand and started reading.

Occasionally as he read he'd look down and see Ominis smiling softly with his eyes closed, the sight warming his heart as he looked so comfortable in that moment. Like nothing was wrong. He was glad he could bring him such comfort even when it was so terrible otherwise.

He read for a few hours, then came upon the story 'the ebony frame', of a man who inherited a home from his aunt with a haunted painting of a woman, a woman who came to life from the painting.

The descriptions were more graphic than your usual romance novels. The woman was haunting, red lips and dark eyes that captivated the man in the story. The man became infatuated with her, a love from a past life. She wore a black velvet dress, the details described so well in the story it felt almost seductive.