Consuming Darkness: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 54

**spice warning**

-Sebastian-

   "Morning love," I greeted as Ronnie walked into the common room. She looked a little worse for wear. She had made no attempt to tame her hair and it hung long, lose and wild, like a silver mane. Sheilding her eyes, she groaned.

"A skirt?" I wondered with a coy smile from my reclined position on the couch where I'd first met Ronnie.

   "Please stop yelling at me..." she groaned. As she approached I sat up and closed the book I was reading. She carefully laid down on my lap, burring her face against my stomach. Leander's stupid face. Leander's stupid face. I could not let her know I was aroused with her simply laying her head on my lap, especially in the state she was in, so if I had to picture horrid things to help with that, then I would.

   "And yes... I am wearing a skirt... it seemed easier to put on," her voice muffled as she spoke into my shirt.

   I laughed and ran my fingers through her hair. She never wore skirts, always claimed them to be far too impractical and repressive. "Garreth brewed a ton of hangover cures in preparation for the party. You want to go get one?"

"I don't know if I'm that desperate." She turned away from my body and practically hissed at the light before turning back into me.

"We have the darkest common room. Walking around the school will be way worse," I reminded her. "Also we need to see the Keepers today."

She sighed and slowly sat up. "Fine...." She grumbled as I stood and helped her slowly get to her feet.

"We've got to go all the way to the Gryffindor common room..."

She responded by pulling her hood up with a huff and started walking out of the common room.

  "Want to take the Floo?" I wondered.

   "No I'd rather deal with the light than a pissed off Imelda," she grumbled and continued up the stairs.

"I could help with the light?" I offered, trying not to sound too giddy at the opportunity to show off as we walked out into the hall.

She turned with puzzled look. "Really?"

I nodded and took her lack of refusal as a confirmation. I guided her into the back end of the hallway. After making sure that no one else would witness, I pulled her hood forward to shadow her face a little more and smirked down at her before closing my eyes. I focused on my breathing and the familiar feeling of the shadows all around me caused my finger tips to hum with their power. It was getting easier to pull them to me and the shadows licked at my finger tips. There was a familiar burn as they fed on my pain but such a small use of them would not warrant too much pain.

I opened my eyes. "You won't really be able to see but no light will get into your eyes as we walk."

"Your eyes... are you sure you're okay?" She whispered, reaching up, her finger tips brushing lightly under my eye. I had never seen myself while practicing Umbra Dicio, I wondered what they looked like. I didn't want to ask her, worried that I'd stress her out. I could just practice in the mirror later.

"I'm fine," I chuckled. "I don't have to do this if you don't want me to." I cocked my head meeting her eyes.

"No... I want to see it, what you can do," she said in a low voice. There was a buzz in the air between us, her curiosity meeting my anticipation and excitement. I brought my hand up and her eyes widened at the sight of the dark mist that danced at my finger tips. She said nothing and I couldn't help but smile slightly at her morbid curiosity. I slowly brushed my thumb across her brow, the palm of my hand brushing her nose. Darkness shrouded all of her face, leaving only her mouth exposed.