Consuming Darkness: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 77

- Ronnie-

I stood with Ominis outside the doors to the Map Chamber, rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet. Where was Sebastian?

"Ominis?"

"Hmmm?"

"If you hurt Poppy I'll kill you," I informed him plainly. There was no need for anger or a threatening tone. It was a fact, and he knew that.

He laughed through his nose. "I am very aware. We are still just friends, but we have been spending more time together, and she agreed to go to the ball with me- You probably already know that though."

"Yeah, she told me the second you asked her," I confirmed.

"I figured as much," he laughed as I heard footsteps echoing down the stairs toward us. "She is one of the kindest people I have ever met, and I do not have any intention of hurting her. I swear, Veronica."

I nodded. "I know you would never intentionally hurt her, but she does care about you quite a bit."

"Are you threatening Ominis?" Sebastian called to us before he was in view.

"Yes, but it all warranted!" Ominis laughed back.

"I'm a few minutes late, and you're threatening him without me, sweetheart?" Sebastian smiled at me.

I shrugged with an innocent look as Ominis chuckled.

"Your threats are the only ones that ever really scare me, Veronica," he told me. "I know you'll follow through."

"I don't scare you, Om?" Sebastian asked, offended, as he draped his arm over my shoulders.

"You scare me for other reasons, Sebastian," Ominis jeered.

I snickered.

And before 'Bash could rebuttal, Ominis gestured toward the door. "Shall we?"

I took a deep breath, readying myself for the Keepers, and shoved the doors open wide. The room looked the same, always the same, and even though no one had known about this room until last year, it was always meticulously clean. The navy floors that shone like the night sky, twinkling with stars that mapped out the land that surrounded Hogwarts had always been my favorite part. Our steps created slight ripples on the surface. I looked up to see the Keepers appearing in their portraits. That had to be my least favorite part of this room.

I looked to either side of me and smiled to myself. Even though it was horrid to have to have a conversation with these ancient portraits, I was glad Sebastian and Ominis were at my side.

The conversation with the Keepers went as we had all expected it to. They were frustrated that we hadn't located the relic yet and scolded us for not making it more of a priority... which... was fair. I couldn't be too mad about that, but it was just the way they talked down to us, specifically me. I could tell that it wasn't just frustrating to me. Sebastian and Ominis shifted beside me their hands balled up into fists the entire time.

They didn't give us much more information about the relic, or anything helpful as to how we should be directing our efforts. They were just pictures after all... but I thought that maybe once they knew about my memories they would have given me more. When I told them that I was wondering if the thing I had been stabbed with was the relic that said they had no clue, which felt like a half-truth. When I went back and read Archibald's journal, there was nothing about how the relic actually worked, just theories about it and saying that he had further information in another journal. It was mostly about his life, which was helpful in part, but also not what I needed now.

The only useful piece of information they did give us was the location of Archibald's tomb. They suggested that we look there for the journal, or maybe we had missed something the first time. It was a good start and more of a lead than we had currently. We made a plan for the three of us to go on Saturday, and then we would look for the relic again in Professor Pierce's office and room.

It gave me some hope knowing that we were going to have answers soon and allowed me to focus on the upcoming week.

...

My hair was still practically dripping wet from my bath as I dragged my aching body through the door. Making it through the castle had taken any remaining energy I'd had. The only thing motivating me was that I hadn't seen Sebastian in nearly four days. My bed had felt so empty without him, and I wanted nothing more than to curl up next to him and take my draught for dreamless sleep.

While the past few days had been very eye-opening and helpful in determining my future, they had also been so overwhelming and exhausting. Then, having to end my week with grueling practice with the Holyhead Harpies pushed me to the edge.

I shoved the solid oak door open and stumbled through the doorway into Sebastian's arms. I could have cried with the relief that swept over me. Hogwarts itself had never felt super homey to me. It had been filled with some of my happiest and my worst memories. But Sebastian... He felt like home. The comfort I found in everything about him, from the way my body fit against his to his smell to the way he held me. He hadn't even said a word to me yet, and I already felt more at ease than I had the whole week.

"Merlin Ronnie," he groaned into my wet hair. "I missed you so damn much."

I closed my eyes and smiled against his chest, the sound of his heartbeat calming my own. "Mmmhmm... I missed you too, 'Bash," I sighed blissfully.

I had relaxed into him so completely that I was no longer standing on my own in the slightest. I felt myself drifting.

"Come on, darling, let's get you to bed." His voice rumbled through me, lulling me further into the exhaustion that had almost completely taken me over.

"No! I want to hear about your week," I groaned weakly in protest. We had written each other while we'd been apart, but I wanted to hear his voice telling me.

I felt Sebastian laugh before he scooped me up in his arms and carried me the few steps to the bed. "I'll tell you once you're tucked in."

"Can you grab my sleeping potion?" I asked.

"You don't seem like you need help falling asleep, darling," Sebastian teased.

I laughed lightly. "It's just to keep the nightmares away. I have hardly slept this past week... I was too stressed, and the nightmares were just too much..."

"Ron..." he said worriedly and grabbed the potion from the side table drawer.

"I'm also not sure what you've done to me, but I don't know if I can sleep without you anymore," I chuckled and took a swig of the potion before standing to remove my pants.

I felt Sebastian's gaze on me. There was a huge part of me that wanted to push past this exhaustion and show Sebastian how much I missed him, but removing my pants was winding me in the most unattractive way. I figured that I was better off just going to bed.

I climbed into the covers with Sebastian's help. He removed his shirt before climbing in next to me. I laid my head on his bare chest and once again found comfort in the steady beat of his heart as he ran his fingers through my hair.

"I love you, Sebastian," I smiled.

He did respond for a moment, and I felt the world fading blissfully around me as I was swallowed up in the comfort that Sebastian brought me.

"I love you, Veronica."

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