🥀 Roses and Novels | Hogwarts Legacy Fanfic | Sebastian, Ominis and Evander

🥀 - chapter 38 -🌹

(Evander's perspective)

I stared at Helena through the iron bars of my cell. She was really here. Flesh and blood, magic and soul. My mind still struggled to believe it. But the moment her fingers touched mine, I felt her magic, warm, familiar, true.

"You're real," I whispered again, more to myself than to her.

A wave of relief washed over me, and I stepped closer to the bars, reaching out fully to hold her hand.

"Helena... you're okay. You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

She leaned in, helping me close the distance between us.

"I'm here, Evan. Don't worry," she said gently, then glanced around with concern in her eyes. "But... where is here?"

I cleared my throat and wiped away a tear.

"We're in Scotland, I'm almost certain of it. But exactly where? I couldn't say."

"How long have you been here?" she asked, pulling her knees to her chest.

"Today marks two weeks," I replied, turning to the wall beside me. I picked up a piece of chalky stone and scratched a line across four others already there.

In the corner of my cell, there was a jug of water and a small cup. I lifted it toward her.

"Do you want some water?"

She nodded eagerly. I filled the cup and slid it carefully through the bars. She drank it in one go and handed it back, her fingers brushing mine once again. Our eyes locked.

"Evan..."

"Helena..."

I smiled when I saw her lips curve upward, however slightly.

"How are you, Helena?" I asked, after a long, quiet stretch of simply sitting side-by-side against our respective walls, both leaning back, faces turned upward, breathing the same still air.

"I'm fine, Evan," she said softly. "Thanks for asking."

I hesitated before asking the question that had been on my mind since the moment I saw her. "Are you and Ominis still..."

She hesitated too. "Uhm... yes. Ominis and I are still together."

"That's nice. Good to hear." I forced a smile, though my chest ached. "I hope you see him again someday."

She looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "I hope so too..."

"We'll get out of this, Helena. We're together now. Together, we're strong. I promise you."

She turned to me, her voice trembling. "But how are you really, Evan?"

The question pierced something inside me. Tears welled in my eyes.

"Do you want the honest answer?" I asked.

She nodded.

So, I told her the truth.

"I'm not okay, Helena...

I thought I'd lost you.

They showed me things, horrible things in your cell. Things they made me watch. I couldn't stop it. Couldn't help you, no matter how much I wanted to.

My magic was gone. My body too weak. I was powerless.

And then, a few days ago... they dragged me into a courtyard. You were there.

They attacked you in front of me.

I've never known pain like that, Helena. I tried to run to you... but I was too late.