Right Where You Left Me | Sebastian Sallow |

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: Me?

Sebastian walked at my side, wands at the ready till the long mysterious hallway ended. There was a slight chill in the air, the sound of water dripping onto the stone floor echoed into our ears. We were eventually greeted by a large stone archway that led to more darkness. Sebastian and I stepped through the archway's threshold, startled by the unexpected light that appeared. The torches on the wall were alerted by our presence and ignited to life.

The undiscovered room was small, it looked like it was once used as a study. There was a wooden desk in the center towards the back of the room, behind was a large red, leather office chair. The room was completely enclosed by bookshelves. As we made our way more into the new room, the blue and gold swirls beneath my boots were more alive and shined brighter than ever before.

"This is it Sebastian, now to find the entryway and then I can create a portal."

"Your lead Eliza, I'll follow."

I walked towards the desk, hoping to find a hidden message or type of symbol. The shimmer beneath my boots continued but, it wasn't as present as it was just before.

Odd.

I left the desk so Sebastian and I could search thoroughly through the bookshelves behind, trying to find anything yet again that looked out of place.

Nothing.

As I searched, something truly felt odd about that desk. It bothered me and it honestly felt like a sore thumb in the middle of the study room. Perhaps a decoy. I felt allured to it.

I gave up on the bookshelves and went back to the same desk and investigated it a bit more. Its surface was completely covered in dust and cobwebs, old letters and a dried-out ink bottle sprawled across. Sebastian walked over and brushed his finger against the dusty surface, drawing a smiley face.

"Look at this place! This probably hasn't been used in hundreds of years." Sebastian exclaimed while walking away from the desk and went back to a bookshelf, shoving several old books into his bag.

"My question is how Victor Rookwood found this room in the first place and then was stupid enough to not put the journal back."

"No idea honestly but even if we are the first to discover this area once again, I think we should take full credit." Sebastian chuckled and walked back towards me and the desk, grabbing the old quill, "Miss Bennet, where would you like your name signed?" Sebastian went to grab the ink.

Sebastian brought his hand up, but the ink bottle wasn't within his hand, "You saw me grab that right?" He went to pick up the ink bottle again, but it didn't budge, "Ah, so our little quest comes with a puzzle. Comical."

The ink bottle didn't glow, so the answer wasn't connected to ancient magic. Nothing on the desk glowed either, "Can you move it in a different direction Sebastian? Or is it just stuck?"

"Then we shall find out." Sebastian brought his hand down once again to the ink bottle. He moved it forward.

Nothing.

To the left and to the right.

Nothing.

"This bloody thing better move; never thought I would be angry at a pathetic ink bottle." With the last direction remaining, Sebastian pulled the ink bottle down and towards us.

POP.

A sudden noise made both Sebastian and I jump. A hidden compartment opened on the other side of the desk. We went around the large leather chair and peeked into the hidden drawer.

Inside was an inscription burned into the wood, "Omni luci est umbra." I spoke the message aloud, unsure of its meaning.

"There is a shadow to each light. It's Latin." Sebastian spoke over my shoulder with no hesitation, only confidence in his voice.