Moths to a Flame

23. Determination

Sebastian pov

Professor Weasley didn't lie. She's had teachers all over the castle watching us. Making sure any of us, mostly Ominis, Poppy and I, didn't leave the castle. Even the others were catching on and I had Natty, Garrett and even Samantha Dale coming up to me asking what the hell was going on, Poppy was too emotional to explain so Ominis did. I couldn't either, not without getting angry. It's been exactly three days since we found out she was missing and I can't stand this whole situation. Not knowing where she is, is making me mad with worry. Anything could happen to her. I'm afraid of what's already happened without us. I keep thinking of what it was like for her the last time. How frail and long it took for her to recover and that was only 35 hours. The first 24 hours were rough for me, I didn't leave the dorm Ominis pried my out the next morning to eat. Cause in his words - there's no use in making yourself sick, when she's out there fighting for her life the least you can do is the same- but it doesn't feel the same. I just want her here with us and where I know she's safe.

"Ominis we have to do something I can't take this suspense anymore" I say.

"Sebastian you heard Weasley, we can't; she and Sharp are doing everything they can" he says.

"You think we can at least talk to them and see where their investigation is leading" I ask.

"I suppose we could try but there's no guarantee they'll tell us. It may be more of a temptation for you than a help" he says to me. He then rolled over. I doubt he's actually sleeping he's just as worried as I am. He's just better at hiding it.

I couldn't sleep that night not with my thoughts. So I snuck out of the dorm and went down the hall to Sharp's classroom. I knocked on his office door. He looked tired and worn out, but he answered. He looked at me.

"Sallow, I'm not surprised, come in" he said, he hands me a cup of tea.

"I know why you're here Sebastian, but I've been sworn not to tell you where she is" he tells me.

"You know! Tell me" I say.

"Sebastian I can't. It's for your own safety" he says.

"But professor it's been three days." I say.

"And I just got the owl from one of my informants of their whereabouts I haven't even told professor Weasley yet" he says.

"Please" I plead.

"No. We have to make a plan and make sure no one gets hurt. It's strategy. Remember it's a delicate situation we're in." Sharp reminds me.

"I don't care I just want her back" I say my voice cracking.

"Sebastian" he sighs. "I know you two are... quite close, but she's a strong person and soon she'll be back I promise you" he says with a hand on my shoulder.

"Really you promise?" I ask.

"Yes, now I could give you a sleeping draught if you need and I'll send you back to bed" he says.
I nodded. The walks to his storeroom and comes back with a small vile and hands it to me.

"Here it's a dreamless sleep potion, you'll fall asleep in no time, but no bad dreams." Sharp says, and escorts me back to the common room entrance. I went back to the dorm and took the potion and like he said I feel asleep. 

Ominis pov

It's hard to keep my spirits high while I have to look after Sebastian. I heard him leave the dorm I just didn't want to fight with him. But he was back not long after so I guess he used the bathroom or something. He's the type to wear his emotions on his sleeve. Where I'm the opposite I was always the one to hide my emotions and feelings. Keeping it to myself. Of course I was just as upset as Sebastian, I just don't go around telling everyone. I love her just as much as he does she's the light in my literal dark world and her absence is felt hard. Sebastian is spiraling without her. So am I, but I just don't show it. I try to keep him in check. Poppy's kept her distance I think she just feels bad about the whole situation.

Aria pov

I was losing my sense of day. I don't know how long it's been. It could have been days or longer. I barely see the sun coming through the barred window. I'll see it maybe an hour or two then I fall asleep and I wake up hours later to be tortured while it's dark. Then fall unconscious from exhaustion. Randell hasn't been back since that time after what happened. I haven't seen Marvolo either. Good he can stay away. I was trying to use my ancient magic at one point to break the chains but it's not working. My magic actually exploded out of me, that one time had to be days ago now, and bounced off a mirror from the other side of the room and hit me square in the chest. I fell back and hit my head hard on the floor and I could see the blood pooling on my blouse. I also had a prolonged headache after that.

There had been this other guy coming in here you to get me to talk. When I don't he hits me with a pugnus and crucio. My nose and lips were bleeding, but it's dried up and crusty now. The door to the hall was opened and the two guards that were standing just outside the door were talking loudly. I could hear them.

"You suppose the girl will go mad before we get to it?" One of them said.

"I doubt it Boss doesn't want that he needs her coherent to show him where it is" the other guys said.

"But with all the torture curses she'll be damaged" the first guys said.

"Oh no doubt, which is better for us, hopefully she'll talk soon" the second guys says.

"Yeah, I know this whole guarding and watching the little tramp is exhausting to say the least." The first guys said. They paused the conversation.

"If we weren't in so close to Hogsmeade I would say he should cut his losses with her and just move on, what's so special about this place anyway" the first guy asks.

"He can't it's because we're so close that he gets his updates on the ministry. Plus it's a place of power and only certain people know if it's existence and even fewer of its location" the second guy said.

"And how did Boss find this out?" The first guy asks.

"His brother" the second one tells the first one. 

"What was that?" The first guy said. They must have heard something.

"Stay here make sure on one gets in or out of that room" and one of them walked away.

"Stand down" I hear a cold voice say from out side the door. All the blood drained from my face.

The door opens wider and Randell and behind him was Marvolo I cowered into the corner of my cage holding myself.

"I'm done waiting on you, you little brat; you're going to tell me and now" Randell said.

"No" I say.

"Still resisting eh, we'll see about that." Randell said. "Marvolo" Marvolo walked to the cage and opened it and right up to me.

"It's a shame I couldn't see your face react to me the other day." He said to me. I shiver ran down my spine and not in a good way.

I moved as far away from him as I possibly could.  It only made him more determined. He came up to me grabbed my face and put a clear liquid to my lips and he poured it down my throat. He waited a few minutes and then kept talking.

"Now tell me where the repository is" he said. I felt a tugging in my throat my urge to resist was harder. Veriteserum. They gave me truth potion I had no choice.

"Hogwarts" I say.

"Where" Randell asks.

"Under the school" I say no matter how are I tried to resist.

"Hmm, very well that's more information than I had before, we need to think of a way to get under the school now. Come Marvolo we have things to discuss" Randell said.

"Oh can't it wait I think she deserves a prize don't you think." Marvolo said.

"Not now, you have all night" Randell said.

"Fine I'll be back beautiful" he said and left with Randell.

After a few minutes the potion wore off and I felt horrible about telling him all that. I curled up again in the corner. Hoping to sleep, but Randell came storming back in and cast relentless crucios at me. I screamed and screamed. He stopped for a moment.

"How is it they know!" He shouted. "Who told!" He shouted at someone.

I was hit with another crucio. There were bangs and spells flying around me, I passed out again from exhaustion.