𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐑 || 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Moonstone

Chapter Thirty-Six

"So you and Poppy were surrounded by Centaurs and they were about to kill you?" Hope inquired as she sat at the boathouse with Matty. Matty had been recounting everything that had been going on to her best friend.

She nodded her head. "Then this Centaur named Dorran came and told Elek, the herd leader, that we were innocent. I'm assuming Elek only let us live because he's intimidated by Dorran." She replied. "Dorran told us about something that could help us find the Snidgets. Poppy's been searching the library for it."

"All these... 'adventures' you go on, they're crazy." Hope said with a small laugh. "How you're still alive I have no idea."

"You can say that again." Matty chuckled. "But, in an odd way, it's like my life wouldn't feel as fulfilling if I wasn't doing all of this. Not to mention, Professor Bakar is still holding out on me so I'm trying to get my mind off of things by helping my friends."

Hope made a face at the mere mention of Professor Bakar's name. She couldn't imagine what Matty was feeling knowing that the Keepers weren't trusting her nearly as much as they should after all she had done for them.

"I'm meeting Poppy in Irondale so we can see if we can find anything Dorran was speaking of." Matty said. "From what she's told me, the trek into the cave shouldn't be too much."

"How has everything been going with Sebastian?" Hope abruptly asked.

The question caught Matty off guard a little bit but she sighed. "It's... going, that's for sure." She answered. "I'm not sure, honestly. I can't decide if I should try and stop him from messing around with this relic. Part of me thinks it can really help Anne, she's suffering so much. But another part of me is telling me I'll regret it if I don't stop him." She answered.

"See, I honestly understand where Sebastian is coming from." Hope said. "Aaron and I, as different as we are, we care about each other a lot. I can't imagine the pain Sebastian is going through right now with everything. I know I'd be pretty desperate to save Aaron if anything happened to him. But—coming from Anne's side... I'm not sure if I would want Aaron to get into the Dark Arts to save me."

"I know, and that's where I'm lost." Matty sighed, leaning her head against the wood of the boathouse. "I'm worried about everything. I'm worried about Sebastian, I'm worried about Anne, Ominis, and Esme too—anyone involved with this. Sebastian needs my help but I just don't know if—for his own sake—I should keep helping him."

Hope gave Matty a reassuring smile—Merlin knows she needed all the reassurance she could get. "Whatever you choose to do, I'll be there to help. Not to mention, you're a smart girl, things will work out." She said.

Matty nodded her head. "Thank you Hope, for listening to me." She said, returning the smile even if she wasn't exactly in the best mood. "Everyone needs a friend like you and I'm glad I have you."

She leaned over and pulled Hope into a long hug. These past few weeks—almost months, had been exhausting. Through school, through the situation with Ranrok, Rookwood, Harlow, and the Keepers—it had drained her. But she had amazing friends like Hope who would always listen to her.

When Hope pulled away after giving Matty a tight squeeze, she looked up at her in the eyes. "Off you go to Irondale, Poppy is probably waiting for you. But be safe." She instructed.

Matty nodded her head. "I will be, thank you Hope." She smiled.

Hope watched as Matty mounted her broom and started to fly off to Irondale. "And tell Poppy I say hi!" She called out.

***

Matty made it to Irondale with time to spare, but thankfully, Poppy was already waiting for her outside of the cave. She wasn't sure how Poppy had found this place in the library but at the same time, people like Sebastian existed who could basically find anything in a book so perhaps Poppy was similar to him in a way.