Prince In Darkness Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 37: Old Flames

*Alora POV*

"Here." Ominis said, handing me a cup of coffee. Feeling the heat of it surround my cold fingers.

"Thanks."

He sat down in the couch, the fabric swallowing him as he leaned his head back. Feeling the tension and anxiety rolling off his shoulders in waves.

"I'm sorry Ominis, my presence here is making it worse for you."

He waved me off, taking a sip of his drink.

"Please don't apologize..... Anne has these-.... well unreasonable fits she has to work through herself. They just take time."

"It's understandable-"

He shook his head, "I can tell your trying, she just doesn't see that yet."

I faced the fire, feeling it light my face with a wave of warmth.

"That's the thing, I'm not trying. I'm not trying at all. I'm just here Ominis. I-.... I'm not going to ask her to forgive me. She shouldn't."

"Alora-.... When are you going to accept that what happened wasn't your fault?"

I sighed heavily, not wanting this to turn into another argument.

"Please I don't want to-" I waved him off.

"I'm serious."

I could feel his white orbs beating into the side of my face. Waiting for me to give in.

"Ominis, nothing is going to change it. Please...... let it go."

He sighed, looking off into the fire. Not saying another word. 

"So...... a little birdy told me you're now going to be a professor at Hogwarts." I said, taking a sip of my drink.

His eyes went up in shock. 

"How in the merlin did you even hear about that? It just happened not too long ago. Nobody was supposed to know about it."

I chuckled, "Believe it or not, I do hear things around the Ministry. Scavenging for information kind of is a second nature to me, you know."

"Hmmm..... is it now? Been asking about me, have you?"

I coughed on some coffee, wiping my mouth from the access that spilled. 

"Come on, that's not fair. I might have been gone a long time. Doesn't mean I still don't-.......... well care. You were my best friend after all."

He smiled slightly, his white orbs watching me intently. Seeing his cheeks slight grow a light pink. Not sure if that was just the heat from the fire or if I really was making him feel a certain way. 

His eyes glossed over slightly, seeing him manipulate his wand in the other hand. Watching it turn slightly from the blinking light.

Why was he watching me.........

"What?" I asked. 

He looked puzzled. Biting on the inside of his cheek as he thought silently. 

I leaned in slightly, trying to get him to react from the silence treatment.

"What is it? Tell me."

He finally looked up, his eyes looking dead straight into mine almost like he knew exactly where my eyes were.

He sighed, "Nothing, I just-........ well, I shouldn't say. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

I frowned at him. 

"What are you talking about? Anything you say at this point can't be any more uncomfortable than the way Anne's been sending daggers at me since I arrived."

He chuckled at my comment, rolling his eyes in a way if I hadn't been looking, I would have missed it. 

"Come on Ominis, I thought we were past this awkward stage."

He sucked in a breath, "Fine."

He leaned in closer, sliding his body slightly closer to mine. I felt myself lean further back to give him room, not sure at what he was doing as my heart began to pump louder in my chest. 

"I......I was just going to say that-......... you were my best friend too......... you meant so much to me and at one point I looked at you more than a best friend. I-....I loved you."

Oh merlin............ merlin fucking help me.........

The air from my lungs must have heard him and wiped the floor clean of any chance of wanting me to stay alive. I felt like I couldn't breathe as I held my breath. Feeling as though, if I breathed, he would hear my erratic heart fly out of my chest and up out of my mouth. 

When the silence grew, he put his hand over mine that held onto the coffee. My hand had started to shake, not even noticing it as the liquid on the insides started to splash.

"Alora-"

He grabbed the cup from me, placing it on the coffee table that sat in front us.

My cheeks felt hot, my chest burning. This sensation was continuing to grow and was starting to scare the living shit out of me. 

He squeezed my hand, his thumb rubbing it slightly. Giving me reassurance with his eyes that it was going to be okay. That I was okay. 

This overwhelming feeling of panic washed over me. Like....... I wasn't supposed to do this. I wasn't supposed to be here.

With him........

Without him, this felt............ wrong.

"I know. I know you did." I breathed, feeling my voice go shallow and low. "I-..........I remember."

I pushed some hair out of my face, my hands sweaty as my breath came out uneven. 

"I-...... it's been such a long time Ominis. Some memories feel faint sometimes."

He relaxed into the couch, leaning into the cushions as he watched me. 

"Well, that's what happens when you try to block it out Alora."

I frowned, watching his white orbs flicker in-between mine. 

"How in hell do you even know that?" I said quietly.

"You weren't the only one who tried blocking our memories out."

My heart sank. 

I pinched my eyes shut, feeling a sickness come up through my throat. 

"I'm so sorry Ominis."

He only squeezed my hands tighter. Seeing him swallow as I could tell this conversation was getting to him.

All these old memories........ trying to resurface. 

"I've done nothing but bring bad memories from the dark.....I'm so sorry." I said softly.

When he opened them, I could tell he was conflicted. His breath also uneven as we sat in silence. Trying to get both our hearts back on track. 

"No........... you're only bringing them back to the light......"

How could I ever forget....... 

I breathed.

Or even try to.....

Eyes searching each other vividly.

When I-..........was once......

Sinking deeper. Pulling..... closer.

Your light.