Aftermath ✧ Sebastian Sallow

chapter forty-one

Sebastian's Perceptive

Amelia had wrapped herself up tightly upon the pile of pillows and blankets shattering the floor of the Undercroft as I attempted to decorate for the holiday. Even if we were only going to be here for part of the day, it still felt right to decorate to some degree and a few spells didn't take much. Ophelia seemed to enjoy the additional decorations as the cat curiously explored the new space.

Even with her face buried into the pillow, I suspected Amelia hadn't actually fallen asleep yet. But I did my best to try and remain quiet as she rested. Her black curls stuck to the pillow drawing a dark halo around her face as she lay peacefully.

"How many people did you buy books for?" I questioned, but truthfully I was just testing to see if she might have actually fallen asleep.

Her sigh was more of a yawn as she pulled onto the blanket tighter, "Three? You, Ominis, and Samantha. Yeah, only three people."

"I count four book-shaped gifts over here?"

"Someone has two," She said sleepily into the pillow. 

"Someone?" I teased with a raised brow. 

The expression was lost on her, eyes still closed against the pillow as she tucked her nose deeper into the fabric.

"Yes. Someone." She purred. The corner of her lips twisted upwards slightly behind the blanket.

I decided that there were enough decorates and that the pile of blankets making the makeshift bed looked far too inviting to not join. 

There had been a debate about sneaking into either dorm, but the professors had been monitoring the dorms and common rooms too closely with the few students on campus. The Undercroft just seemed like a safer choice to stay together for Christmas morning.

As I lay on the blanket next to her, I couldn't help but keep staring at her. Even though she was being consumed by blankets and pillows, just the sliver of her face made me smile. 

My glare must have been heavy as her blue eye flattered open and met mine. She didn't say anything before closing her eyes once more and itching closer to me. I slide closer, meeting her in the middle, and tucking her under my arm.

"Are you tired at all?" Amelia asked as she nestled herself deeper into my sweater.

"Not really," I confessed, "I'm kind of used to not sleeping at this point."

"Nightmares still?"

"Not as often, but yes," I tried to reassure her. 

I already planned on forcing myself to stay awake the best I could that night. The only time that I had shared a bed with Amelia was the night I dreamt about her neck being cut open, then days later I saw Harlow cut her throat open with my own eyes. 

Whether or not there was a connection between the two still worried me, but regardless of that unknown fact, it felt like a bad omen. 

"You seem awfully tired today?" I raised instead before the topic of nightmares could keep going.

"Physically yes," She said softly, "But my mind is too cluttered to fall asleep still. I mostly just want to rest."

"Is it about the Ministry?" I asked. 

Amelia's smile shifted at the question. As soon as she mentioned what happened at the Ministry I could tell that it was bothering her more than she cared to admit out loud. That afternoon when Hecat made the comment in her office about the meeting, it seemed like Amelia was concerned about discussing it.