Ancient: The Legacy of Slytherin

Scriptorium

Sebastian POV

I wasn't sure how I got so lucky to have a friend like Arabella Gene. Since the moment I met her, she indulged my desperate attempts to help fine a cure for Anne with no questions asked, and she barely knew my twin.

Looking back, I took advantage of her kindness at every turn. I hated it. I hated myself for knowing I was intentionally taking advantage of her. But she never said no! She always gave in, eventually. Sure, I pushed her sometimes. I had to save Anne. But I couldn't keep taking advantage of Ara, I couldn't...

I loved her. Merlin did I love her.

But if Ominis wanted a villain, someone to blame instead of her, I'd give it to him.

Let them hate me. Blame me. The outcome would be the same. Anne would be saved.

Even if it meant I was damned.

When Arabella entered the Undercroft about five minutes after I sent her an owl, I wasn't surprised at how quickly she arrived.

She always came for me.

"Sebastian, I received your owl. You said you needed to speak with me urgently?"

"Yes, thank you for coming."

"Look, Seb...about the other day-" I hadn't spoken with her since Ominis nearly beat the shit out of me for kissing her.

"Ara, please don't. I'm not going to say I regret anything, because I don't."

"Of course you don't."

I raised my eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean?"

She huffed. "Nothing. What is so urgent that you needed me here right away?"

I recognized the outfit she wore. I had dubbed it her "battle attire" because she always wore it out on our late night adventures and bouts in the Forbidden Forest. Objectively, she was a stunning woman. Her long, jet black hair fell in curled ringlets down her back, ending right above her backside, which was glorious, by the way. Her olive skin gave way to the brightest blue-green eyes I had ever seen. You could get lost in them, like a sailor losing his bearings in the open sea. She was adorablely petite in height, which I always teased her about. I would be lying if I said I never thought about what it would feel like to be buried deep inside her, to feel her warmth around me as she screa-

"Hello, earth to Sebastian? Is anyone home?" Her voice snapped me out of my intrusive thoughts.

"Aye, sorry. Remember Salazar Slytherin's Scriptorium I told you about? You said you'd speak with Ominis about it...

"I know. I uhm, haven't got around to it."

"Please, Ara. I need to understand that relic, or else our efforts have all been for nothing. Ominis can hate me all he wants if it means I'm right and that there's no solution at the end of all this. But I can't bear the thought of him hating me for no reason at all."

Arabella looked into my eyes for a moment before she responded. She's so bloody beautiful.

"I'll go try and talk with him now. But Sebastian, this is the last time. I hate who you become when you're too deep into Dark Magic. I need you, remember? But I need you to be yourself, my Seb. Not that other person you become."

My cheeks felt hot. "Thank you Arabella, truly. You're an excellent friend." She placed her right hand on my shoulder and squeezed, and I placed my hand on top of hers. When she went to pull away I grabbed her wrist and pulled her body against mine.

"Sebastian, no."

"Why not?"

"Because, Ominis-"

"I don't care."