[ON HOLD INDEFINITELY] Comfortable in the Chaos «Sebastian Sallow»

26. Old Letters

Sebastian was gone with no word after the revelation of his sister's poisoning for the next few days.

Me and Ominis spent the first half of the next week not knowing what was happening with the Sallows.

I received a letter from Thalia explaining that she had been watching over them while Anne was being treated at Saint Mungos. And when the weeeknd came, she wanted us to meet her at her estate.

"Does she know why Soloman would do such a thing?" Ominis asked.

I shook my head. " No. She simply said that she found some letters. She searched the Feldcroft cottage too and found some old boxes of paperwork and books. So she asked we go and help her search through it." I said with a sigh.

" You have the proper coordinates?" He asked carefully.

I looked at the letter and nodded. " I do." I said as I linked my arm with his.

We disaperated together and found ourselves in a dark wooded area. The trees were tall. Almost like the forbidden Forrest. But life felt entirely pure in this darkness.

I scanned the area before spotting a tall iron gate.

I stayed linked with Ominis as I guided him to the gates. They opened as we approached, welcoming us inside.

A long corridor of hedges lead us to a path towards a large open. On either side of the path we're small ponds. At the center of either side of the ponds we're two sentient cat statues.

When we passed them, they scanned us softly hissing, before meowing curiously and curling up back on their pedestal after a moment.

"Cats...?" Ominis asked.

" statue cats... I wonder if they're enchanted to sense a threat. They looked to be evaluating us before they settled." I explained.

He nodded slowly and continued walking. When we approached the large mansion I gently knocked on the door.

The home was like the opposite of my own. My family's estate was white. With pillars that my father hoped could put the palace of Versailles to shame. It really didn't. It was too much in my opinion.

Thalia's estate was simple yet beautiful. The designs were elegant. And all black.

She truly loves the color I suppose.

After a few seconds a house elf opened the door. Instead of old garments she wore a black dress, with a white collar and sleeves. She almost looked like a doll.

" Oh dear me—" The little elf murmured as her eyes fixated on me. " You look so like the Mrs."

I smiled awkwardly and nodded. " Thalia? I hope we have the correct location. I'm Valeria Lowell. Her niece.."

She beamed happily and opened the door further ushering us inside. " Of course! We've been waiting. The others arrived a few hours ago with Mrs."k

" Others...?" Ominis murmured.

" Sebastian and Anne?" I whispered with a questioning expression.

Ominis shrugged and kept walking. His linked arm with mine was firm. Knowing full well we wouldn't know what to expect of Sebastian or Anne.

" May I ask your name?" I asked after a moment as the small elf lead us down a corridor. The house was embellished in black fixtures. And various paintings. Mostly of the macabre. None were sentient. And no family portraits. The Lowell estate was littered with them.

My portrait hung in the library. And it Changed every year on my birthday. The others were kept in storage. How sad to think the record of my life no longer exists. It's almost as if I never had existed to begin with.