Lost Devotion // Sebastian Sallow

Stubborn

The past couple of days had been a complete blur for me, with nothing major worth noting. Sebastian's behavior had still been quite peculiar whenever Ominis is around. It's almost as if he's deliberately keeping his distance from us, as if we were some sort of plague. On the other hand, Ominis hasn't stopped being snippy with Sebastian, and it's only intensifying the tension between them.

It was however, a relief to see that Ominis' other odd behavior had seemingly been resolved, as he began spending more time with both me and Poppy. He was chatting with everyone and had finally returned to joining us for meals, restoring the familiar routine I had missed.

That still didn't absolve him the the conversation I was planning to have the next time I got the chance. However, at this moment, as everything seemed to be falling back into place, all I truly yearned for was a temporary release from heavy conversations and a semblance of normality for just a bit.

The closer it got to Saturday the more thrilled I was feeling and since today was Friday it was only one more day of waiting. The end of my classes for today meant one thing - freedom to relax.

Brimming with excitement, I made my way back to the Slytherin common room, already planning out in my mind the perfect ensemble for tomorrow night.

Upon entering my bedroom, I gracefully settled onto the bed, summoning the courage to open the nightstand drawer and confront the item I had been purposefully avoiding since it was delivered on Tuesday.

As I opened the drawer, my eyes fell upon the letter from my mother, still sealed and untouched. With a mix of curiosity and apprehension, I carefully picked up the small envelope, feeling the delicate texture beneath my fingertips. The elegant handwriting on the envelope seemed to hold a secret, and yet, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

Should I dare to break the seal or simply discard it altogether?

A deep inhale and quick swipe of my finger popped the wax seal open, the letter slipping out onto my lap. Gently I picked it up and unfolded it, scanning the contents with bated breath and and ever growing sweat that was pricking my forehead.

The letter commenced in a typical manner, with my mother touching upon the usual subjects. She enthusiastically shared details about the social gatherings taking place, expressing her hopes that I would join in the merriment by attending the upcoming holiday balls.

The remaining part of the letter mainly consisted of her showering me with unsolicited advice on how I should conduct myself as a young woman. She emphasized the importance of contemplating my future and potential suitors. Additionally, she made it clear that she eagerly awaits my response in a timely manner.

Frustration washed over me as I let out a deep sigh, tossing the letter onto my bed. It was no surprise, really, given how the previous summer unfolded back home. Each sentence she penned left me dizzy, and a growing sense of discomfort settled in the pit of my stomach.

Snatching the letter again, I folded it up and made my way to the trunk. Opening it caused a loud thud as the top hit the foot of my bed. I reached inside, grabbing the stack of letters I had collected over the summer, and added the new letter to the pile.

"Out of sight, out of mind." I mumbled to myself as I fanned through all the letters in my hands.

As I gazed at the petite stack of letters from the gentleman I encountered at the ball last summer, a mix of delightful memories and not-so-pleasant ones flooded my mind. Sighing, I carefully placed the letters back into my trunk and forcefully closed the lid, determined to banish them from my thoughts.

With the weight of my mother's relentless bombardment hanging over me, I realized it was high time to respond. Determined to bring her some peace, I made my way to the desk and settled down. Grasping the quill firmly, I swiftly jotted down a few words that I knew would pacify her, at least temporarily. Satisfied, I rose from my seat and headed towards the Owlery, ready to send my message.