Of Cunning Minds: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 34 - Battle Ready

Sebastian wasn't keen on riding the Basilisk again, but they agreed it would be the fastest way to reach Cragcroftshire. They couldn't exactly apparate with a massive serpent. Sebastian was responsible for casting a Disillusionment Charm on the beast and even with his careful wand work, all he could say was that he was grateful it was dark out.

They traveled for the duration of the night, zipping past the rolling hills and trees of the valley and through the rocky mountains near the coast. Sebastian wasn't sure how, but Thea managed to fall asleep at one point with her head rested against Ominis' back. Only when they arrived at the wooded outskirts of Bainburg did she stir again.

"Are we here?" she mumbled.

"Cragcroftshire is a few miles down the coast," Ominis said through a yawn. "We should set up camp here and rest while we can."

He gracefully hopped off the serpent and conjured a tent using a square of fabric from his pocketbook. He moved to step inside the makeshift home but not before calling out something in Parselmouth. The Basilisk shifted, curling itself into a ball and causing Thea and Sebastian to fall off its scaly back. Within seconds the beast appeared to be sleeping.

"I'm glad to see they've bonded," Thea muttered sarcastically from the ground.

Sebastian scoffed. "He always said he didn't like pets. I guess owls and cats just weren't his type."

Thea chuckled, and instead of pulling herself up from the grass, she laid back onto it and stared up at the twinkling night sky. "Are you scared?" she asked.

"We're sitting next to fifty-foot serpent; you may have to be more specific in what you're referring to," he teased while moving to lay next to her in the grass.

Thea frowned and scrunched her eyebrows. "I don't want to lose you guys again," she whispered.

Without thinking, Sebastian reached down to squeeze her hand. Even though her fingers were ice cold, they brought an instant warmth to his own. "We'll be okay," he promised. "We have each other...and a giant murderous snake."

Thea laughed out loud. "I can tell you're not a fan," she chided.

Sebastian eyed the Basilisk nervously. "Let's just say I would have preferred if Salazar Slytherin kept an Acromantula as a pet."

Thea sat up so that she was leaning back on her elbows. She raised an eyebrow. "A spider, really? I thought you hated them."

"Quite the opposite," Sebastian said as he extracted his wand from his pocket. "Expecto Patronum!" A silvery spider scurried out of the tip of his wand. It scuttled around the grass for several minutes before it caught a glance of the sleeping Basilisk and darted in the opposite direction. Thea laughed again.

"After all those disgusting spiders we fought together in caves and catacombs, I can't believe your Patronus would be..." Her voice trailed off and her eyes grew wide.

Sebastian cleared his throat and quickly sat up. "They're truly fascinating creatures," he said as nonchalantly as he could manage.

"No, definitely." Thea's cheeks were suddenly very pink. "They have cool, er—legs."

"Yes," Sebastian quipped. "A whopping eight of them."

Thea grinned into her lap. "We should probably get some sleep," she said after a beat. "Ominis won't appreciate us being drowsy in the morning."

"You're right about that," Sebastian sighed as he stood from the grass. He offered a hand to Thea which she took gratefully. Her eyes met his again and he saw faint traces of tears. "What's wrong?" he urged, reaching a hand forward to brush her cheek.

"Promise me things will be okay," she pleaded. "I don't want to have to say goodbye to you again." A stray tear rolled down her face and Sebastain wiped it with his thumb.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said softly. "I promised you a butterbeer and I happen to be a man of my word." He winked at her and she let out a quiet chuckle. Sebastian suddenly frowned.

"What it is?"

"I'm supposed to wait," he admitted. Thea scrunched her eyebrows and stared at him.

"Wait?" she repeated.

"Yes, until after we finish our butterbeers and I walk you back to your apartment." He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth. "That's the normal thing to do."

Thea smirked at him and titled her head. "I thought you gave up on normal."

"You're right."

Sebastian brought his hands to the sides of her face and with a careful swoop, he pressed his lips to hers.

~~~

Ominis was sitting at the small kitchen table when Thea plopped into the chair next to him.

"Good morning," she said brightly while pouring herself a cup of tea.

"What happened to you?" Ominis questioned.

"Nothing," Thea quickly responded. "Why do you ask?"

"You're practically bouncing up and down in your chair, which doesn't seem appropriate considering our current situation. Speaking of which, where's Sebastian? We need to start discussing our plan."

"How would I know where he is?" Thea scoffed.

Ominis' face scrunched in confusion. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Sebastian pushing open the tent flap.

"Your little snake friend just swallowed a sheep," he said with an eye roll. "You better tell it to save room for a dedicant dragon dessert."

Thea smiled and her cheeks grew warm when Sebastian met her eyes. He grinned and winked before kicking the sand off his boots.

"I took a walk around the area," he explained. "No sign of Clyde or any of his goons."

"I don't expect them to be obvious with their arrival," Ominis grimaced. "That man is wickedly smart. His attack will likely be quiet and stealthy."

"We should move closer to the village then," Thea offered. "We want to be ready for when he arrives."

Sebastian and Ominis nodded and moved to gather their few belongings. Just as Thea reached down to finish the rest of her tea, the contents of the cup vibrated.

"What the—" Sebastian glanced nervously around the tent. The whole structure was shaking rhythmically. "Are those--?"

"Footsteps," Ominis answered.

All three of them hurried out of the tent and to the top of a nearby hill. Down by the shore, Thea could make out an army marching along the sand. There were wizards, goblins, and some of the largest trolls she'd ever seen. Leading the pack was a familiar looking man riding a dragon.

"Clyde," she whispered.

"So much for quiet and stealthy," Sebastian gulped.