Right Where You Left Me | Sebastian Sallow |

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: Rookwood Castle

It was now close to noon. Sebastian and I found ourselves at the large, stone walls and turrets that made up Rookwood Castle. Before, we hid right in the tree line to make sure no loyalists or goblins were in our path. There was no one in sight, it was almost...eerie.

Still, Sebastian and I hid underneath the cloak while we walked around the castle's perimeter as we tried to find the best way to enter. The October air was chilly, crisp. The orange and red leaves crunched beneath our boots with each step. Even under the cloak, the wind sent chills down my spine, covering my skin in goosebumps.

I wrapped my arm around Sebastian's without thinking but he didn't seem to mind. His body heat radiated off him and kept me warm. With each sudden burst of wind, Sebastian pulled me closer to himself. Sebastian's touch was always warm, any contact between us was never cold or unwelcoming.

Only cold when he left.

We walked around the castle walls till I found a similar opening, "Here, this is where Professor Fig and entered last with those boxes." I pointed to the same old crates we used to create a sort of platform to enter the wall's gaping hole, "Sebastian it feels strange being back. The last time I was here was with Fig..." My words trailed off, the feeling of a pit in my stomach formed.

Sebastian turned to me and noticed the tears welling in my eyes, "Hey, shh it's okay." He placed his other free hand on my shoulder, "I know you miss Fig, and it's normal to feel this way. Missing someone that much is your heart's way of reminding you of your love for that person." Oh, the irony. Can I once and still feel this for two people but in totally different ways?

I quickly wiped my eyes before a tear could roll down my cheek, "Perhaps you're right Sebastian, thank you. Also, when did you become such a poet?"

"Guess I've read one too many books darling. Perhaps I should read some more to give you more advice?" His smirk formed on his face, causing me to quietly laugh.

"Sure Sallow, not like that would stop you from reading more anyways."

"For you? I'd read as many of those books as possible Eliza." He closed his eyes and his cheeks flushed red, "For advice, I mean." He sighed and turned back around.

I pulled the cloak off and started to point my wand at the boxes, attempting to cast Levioso and form another platform. The silence was now somewhat awkward between us. I hate it and I started some small talk, "So, how did you sneak into here by yourself anyways? With this being the only available entrance and with loyalists everywhere as you mentioned, how did you do it?"

Sebastian walked over and put his hand on the tip of my wand, lowering it to my side, "Oh, I apparated inside." He said it so casually.

"You what?! You didn't tell me you knew how to apparate." Impossible.

"Like I said, I can't tell you all my secretes now, can I?"

"When did you even learn this? Ominis and I learned apparition during our sixth year. Which you were not present for." I pointed my finger against his chest, my last sentence came out bitter. He knows damn well why I said it the way I did.

"Well Eliza, that's for me to know and for you to...dot, dot, dot."

Is he for real right now?

"Whatever, now are you going to help me move these crates or not?" I walked away, not really needing his answer because I knew what needed to be done.

He started to laugh which made me turn around. He had his hands on his hips, looking up at the sky and rolling his eyes, "You're seriously still thinking of moving the crates when we just discussed another way of getting in? Quite comical Bennet."