In the Shadows of Romance/Sebastian Sallow x MC

Chapter Ten (Redone:July 2, 2023)

The undercroft was cold, even with my cloak that wrapped tightly around me. The Sallow twins stood in the middle of the room, talking in hushed voices though Sebastian was doting on his sister that now stood as a cured woman. Ominis and I stood side by side, one of his hands laying resident on the small of my back as Icarus stood before us, talking in his own hushed voice.

"I need to do something with this magic." He breathed heavily, a hint of pain crossing his features before he covered it up. "Training in the room of requirement isn't working anymore. It's like the more I train my magic, the more uncontrollable it gets. I know we just solved one issue in Anne's cure but I think it's time I figure out what to do with my magic."

Ominis spoke up. "Can you make another repository?"

"No," Icarus answered with a heavy sigh. "I've tried even if it's to make something small and I haven't been able to do anything. It's like the magic knows what I'm trying to do and it doesn't want to be back in a repository."

"Is there any other option?"

"No any I like."

"And what is the option you don't like?" I was quick to question.

"To share the power, to have you absorb some of it." He answered me, eyes cast away. "But I have no idea what that could lead to. I don't know if it will help me or if it will put you in the same pain I have gone through."

"But it's worth a try." I said. "If I can't help in any way, I'm glad it's this."

"No," Icarus and Ominis both said at the same time.

"Why?" I asked. "It's nothing in comparison to what we've been through. I wouldn't be going down a dark path of dark magic to help you."

"That doesn't mean anything to me, Echo." I cocked my head at my brother, he rarely ever called me by my name and I wasn't liking the simple word at the moment. All i was doing was trying to help, did it really matter that I could be risking my own health in helping ease his? And then it hit me, that was why he didn't want me taking the risk, but before I could argue with him he continued speaking. "You've already been through hell and back with that bastard leaving you alone pregnant. And then you lie to me about what happened to Christopher. And yeah, I managed to figure it out on my own, Ominis just confirmed what I was thinking."

I looked away from him. "That shouldn't be a reason for me to not help you."

"Yes, it is." His voice was low as he spoke.

"Icarus Dante Grey." I snapped at him, Anne and Sebastian's eyes snapping to me as I stepped out of Ominis' touch and stepped up to my brother. Though I was half a foot shorter than him, I held my ground with him. His eyes had stormed over and I knew mine had done the same, both the color of a galing sea storm. "We are going to go to the room of requirement and you are going to let me help you. I'm not some china doll on the verge of breaking, I will absorb half of this magic so help me Merlin! Forget about being my protective brother for a bloody minute and think of your own health for once. If I can take a fraction of the magic and help ease the pain it puts you through then so be it."

"Don't be so bloody stupid, Echo." He growled down at me.

"You're the one being so when you absorbed the magic," I growled back at him. "It was my fault you took that magic, so let me help you now."

"No," His voice was deadly calm, too quiet for Anne or Sebastian to hear. "And what you wear around your neck is proof enough as to why I won't let you."

I don't know what came over me, but I reached out and slapped him across the face. "Ravenclaws are supposed to be smart, and you can't tell me that this isn't your best option right now."

"I know it is." Icarus answered. "I know it is, but just because it's my best option doesn't mean it's the safest. You've already suffered so much pain this last year that I'm not risking any more."

"What's going on?" Anne asked, walking up to us with Sebastian following behind her.

"You know Icarus absorbed the magic thinking it could help with a cure for you." Ominis was the one to speak. "Though he has the magic now he has had trouble managing it, he isn't using enough of it even with training and it's bringing him immeasurable pain."

"I'm taking half of it." I stated matter of factly.

"Like bloody hell you are! I'm not doing this right now with you." Icarus yelled at me, making me flinch. He then spun on his heels, stomping toward the undercroft exit while the four of us stared after him.

"Áde gamísou, malákas! (Fuck you, asshole!)" I screamed after him as I crossed my arms over my chest as he disappeared, cursing in what little Greek I knew. We had both learned from our parents, though curses we had taught ourselves as we got older. And like anything else, the curses were the more fun phrases to learn.

"Is that Greek?" Anne asked softly.

I nodded, calming some. "My parents were muggle Greek mythology professors. They learned the language to help with their classes and then taught us. It's also where Icarus and I get our names."

She nodded, reaching out to me. "Are you alright?"

"No," I breathed, hand twirling my necklace before it dropped when she moved to pull me into a tight hug.

"It will work itself out." She told me in a soft voice. "He'll realize at some point he'll need help. Whether it's asking for it or letting you take some of that magic for him."

I sighed heavily. "I hope so."

"Push that aside for now and let me thank you properly for what you've done for me." She smiled at me. "It means the world to me that the counter curse and potion worked. It means the world to me that you were the one to be able to help me."

I let a small smile find its way to my lips. "I'm happy to see your curse free."