Consuming Darkness: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 86

-Ronnie-

The lights from the hospital were as harsh and sterile as the rest of the environment that Professor Weasley left me to. My body still felt weak but I wasn't about to let anyone know in case they kept me from Sebastian.

Sebastian.

It had been three days since the night of the ball.

Three days that I had been out.

Three days I hadn't had Sebastian by my side.

Part of me was still unsure if he was alive, though Professor Weasley and Nurse Blainey confirmed it. The sound of Professor Pierce casting the killing curse rang through my head. The look of Sebastian's bloodied and broken body would likely haunt my nightmares forever.

I cautiously pushed through the door to his room. And there he was.

Sebastian Sallow.

My Bash.

He was still sleeping. His chest, shoulder, arms, and stomach were out of the blanket and wrapped in fresh gauze. I walked over to him his face looked tense and I reached out without thinking to run my fingers along his jaw.

"I'm here Bash... I'm alright..." I whispered to him, and though he didn't wake I swear I watched his face relax. I pushed the hair off his forehead, my fingers lingering in his hair as I admired him. "Sorry, it took me so long to come find you..." I whispered, tears catching in my throat at the relief of seeing him alive and the pain of seeing him like this. I took comfort in watching his chest rise and fall and listened to the sound of his breathing.

I'm not sure how long I stood there next to him but eventually, I was pulled out of my trance by the sound of the door opening.

"Veronica?"

I heard a familiar faint jingle of a bell and nearly ran to him. Ominis wrapped me tightly in a hug, his comforting embrace immediately calmed me and tears fell from my eyes. "Ominis..." I sobbed against his chest.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you when you woke up but I couldn't leave Sebastian here..." he muttered against my hair. "I'm so happy you're okay..." His other arm wrapped tightly around me as his hand gripped at my shirt.

I pulled away and brought my hand to his face. A few tears had fallen from his eyes and seeing them made more tears fall from my own. "It's okay Ominis... I'm happy you've been here with him. It's where I would have told you to go if I could have," I said with a slight smile.

He nodded and pulled me back against his chest. "I know," he chuckled lightly. "Poppy swore she'd look after you, Natty, and Imelda too... I figured you were in good hands and Sebastian was so beat up..." Ominis shook his head and I pulled back to look at him, I noticed the dark circles under his eyes.

"I'm alright," I smiled weakly and wiped my tears before laying my head back against Ominis' chest.

He held me for a while, both of us drawing comfort from each other, finally finding comfort after so much pain.

"I know you were probably already questioned about everything before they brought you but... can you tell me what happened? I've been wondering for days with only guesswork and what the doctors or nurses have been able to piece together from his injuries... Professor Weasley didn't even tell me everything... I could tell she was keeping things from me..." Ominis finally spoke into my hair.

I nodded. "Yes... I'll tell you everything..." I pulled away from him entirely. "But can we sit? My legs feel tired..." It was an understatement, not just my legs but my entire body felt like it was going to collapse.