Tempest // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 31

Anne agreed to meet with Sebastian a week after the incident. Under the condition that Ominis attend with her. And Rosie didn't.

Sebastian wanted to disagree, he wanted to fight for Rosie, but when he told Rosie about Anne's ridiculous demands, she agreed with her.

"It's probably best I don't go. She has never been the biggest fan of me anyway." Rosie said, shovelling another forkful of eggs into her mouth at the Slytherin table where the letter from Anne had just landed.

"Why? She needs to accept you since you're going to be in my life for a long time."

"Am I now?" Rosie teased, tossing a bit of bread at Sebastian that hit him in the chest with a smirk.

"Well, yes. How daft of you to think for a second I'd let you leave again." Sebastian teased right back, collecting his own piece of bread and tossing it at her, which Rosie swiftly caught in her mouth. "Hm. Impressive mouth work."

"I know." Rosie winked and continued to eat her breakfast, lightly encouraging Sebastian to visit Anne without her, which he agreed to.

"And don't forget to apologise!" She reminded him as he swung his legs out from the table and left with a dismissive wave of his hand.

He met Anne just on the outskirts of Hogwarts with Ominis already there.

"Hey. Thanks for meeting with me." Sebastian said, stopping a few cautious steps away from them both.

"Sebastian, what's happened... it's not good. Solomon doesn't want you anywhere near Feldcroft, anywhere near him or anywhere near me. Even coming here today was difficult, I had to make up an excuse to get away." Anne explained, her face littered with grief.

"What? He can't do that! How can he ban me from my own house and my fucking sister!?"

"What Rosie did was out of line, Sebastian!" Anne argued.

"No! Don't you dare talk about her. She did what should have been done long ago. I've been fighting Solomon by myself for years and finally, finally, someone is seeing the mistreatment and actually defending me! The fact my own sister turns a blind eye to the bruises, to the lashes, the cuts... I'm glad she said something! It's more than you've ever done!"

Anne stared at Sebastian and closed her mouth, unable to form an argument back.

He'd come to apologise, and he'd made it worse again.

"Sebastian," Ominis said with a sigh.

"No, Ominis! Why does no one ever listen to me!? I've been expected to just sit here my whole life and just cope with whatever gets thrown at me. Or I get hit with. Or whatever gets said to me, but I'm not going to do it anymore! I thought it was how my life was supposed to go but... for once, for once I am happy. She makes me happy, she makes me realise I am worth more than what any Solomon or anyone else had me feeling. I hated myself, Anne! Years and years living in hell with him and you never noticed because he doesn't do it to you!"

"Of course I noticed, Sebastian..."

"No, no you didn't! You saw what he did, what he still does. But you didn't notice the toll it took on me. I had almost wished I was in the cellar with mum and dad because the sweet release of death seemed kinder than the shit I was putting up with. And what did I do? What did I do wrong? Why do I deserve this?" Sebastian said, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"I—I'm sorry, Sebastian..." Anne mumbled, her eyes glistening with tears. "I just... I suppose I figured you were strong enough and that one day you'd just move out and put it all behind you. I didn't realise it affected you so much..."