𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐑 || 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Anger, Guilt, and Regret

Chapter Thirty-Seven

It had been a completely normal day at school. Matty attended her classes, took her notes, hung out with friends, and took care of the beasts in her vivariums, the everyday stuff. So what was so different about today?

Sebastian hadn't shown up to anything.

He hadn't shown up to Charms class, which was the first class of the day. Matty brushed it off as he overslept and she was sure that he'd show up to the next class. Then potions class arrived, and then transfiguration. Sebastian was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps he was sick, Matty thought. But she was sure she'd hear about it if he was. Then when Defense Against the Dark Arts class rolled around and Sebastian was nowhere to be seen, that's when she started to have real concerns. He'd never miss DADA if he could help it.

So when class ended, Matty caught up to Esme in the hall. "Have you seen Sebastian at all today?" She asked, hoping to get an answer.

Esme shook her head. "No, I haven't. I was going to ask to see if you had. I haven't heard anything from Ominis about him today. I don't think anyone knows where he is."

Matty's facial expression changed to one of confusion. "Hmm, that's odd. Surely he would tell someone if he were going somewhere." She said, staring off confusedly. "Well if I hear anything, I'll be sure to tell you."

Matty went off to finish the rest of her classes for the day but she couldn't help but wonder just where Sebastian was. It wasn't like him to miss school like this and no matter how hard she tried to stop thinking about it, she couldn't.

And then she found out she had very good reason not to.

Later into the afternoon, she received an urgent owl from Ominis. From the moment she received it, she assumed it was important. Ominis had never sent an owl to her before so she was quick to open it and read it. He was begging her to meet him at the tomb and that Sebastian was in there with the relic.

Matty's blood ran cold as she read the owl—this was bad, very bad.

She didn't even bother to get properly dressed for the weather, she just immediately headed outside to mount her broom and fly to Feldcroft as fast as she could. Sebastian hadn't told her about this—he hadn't told anyone about this, which meant he was going to do something he'd regret later and they had to get to him before he did so.

Matty landed in Feldcroft and rushed to the tomb. Outside were Ominis and Anne talking.

"Sebastian has gone too far. You know what lies in the catacomb now. I cannot stay here!" Anne said in a distressed tone.

"Wait! Anne, please!" Ominis pleaded.

"Ominis—he was willing to put the whole hamlet and himself in danger on the chance that some old relic could help heal me." Anne said, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Ominis. Make sure he's alright, will you?"

As soon as Anne walked off, Matty made herself known to Ominis. This seemed extremely urgent and there wasn't a second to lose.

"I got your owl. Where's Sebastian?" She questioned.

"Inside the catacomb. Frankly, I was surprised you weren't there with him." Ominis replied. "I know you did what you had to do, and I agreed. It might well have salvaged my friendship with Sebastian for the moment."

"Whatever we did doesn't matter anymore." Matty stated. "What's going on?"

Ominis sighed. "I'm going back into the catacomb to find him. Anne's right—he and the entire hamlet are in danger. The place is crawling with Inferi." He answered.