Bewitched | Ominis Gaunt

Chapter 4

The skin around my nails had grown sore and red from my nonstop picking. I didn't know why I thought it was a good idea to reconnect with Ominis. A part of me believed that I had moved on from the past and I was ready to move forward, but the past still weighed heavy on my conscience.

It had been a couple weeks since I last saw Ominis. He had sent me two letters concerned about my well being, but I couldn't bring myself to reply.

If he saw the side of me I remain hidden, he would be repulsed. A side of me that only Sebastian understood. It was why we worked so well together —overlooking each other's flaws.

But Ominis is different. He had always been. Despite being surrounded by corrupted minds, he had managed to remain kind, and it was something he stood by.

One slip and Ominis would be able to see the evil lurking underneath the surface.

I sighed, looking over the huge pile of applications on my desk. I let my head fall onto the desk when I could not get it to focus. The loud thud alerted my assistant Oran, whose table was situated outside my office.

"Are you alright Miss Saye?" The house elf asked, poking his head in my office.

"Yes, it seems I need a little break." I stood up, pushing my chair back. I maneuvered my way outside of my office. It was quite difficult with the size of the room.

My office was in a secluded floor, to keep people from finding it. Not even common Ministry workers were able to find it.  It used to be a 7x7 utility closet before the Ministry turned it into the current office I now have. The Ministry was against the idea of creating a Magical Creatures and Wildlife department as the poachers earned them quite a lot of money. However, creating the department I was advocating for allowed them to keep me, specifically my power, under surveillance.

I headed down the hallway towards the hoist. I stepped onto the platform and was brought onto the third floor. There was so much to discover in the ministry building. Sometimes, I liked to take my time exploring each floors and rooms that I was allowed in.

Walking out onto the hallway, I turned my head to look around. It was quite empty, save for the workers who looked too busy to pay attention to the wandering girl. I've explored this floor before, but for some reason I was called to this floor again.

I made it halfway down the hallway when I froze in my tracks. Walking towards me was the boy who caused my anxiety. I held my breath in hopes that he would not be able to feel my presence. Surely he doesn't have superhuman smell. His senses aren't what troubled me though, it was his almost sentient wand that I feared would recognize me.

My fear diminished as he walked past me, seemingly unaware of my presence. I breathe a sigh of relief whenever I felt he was far enough to not hear.

"MISS ROSE SAYE? What brings you here?!"

My eyes widened as I turned my head to the direction of the voice. The mailman, Bernard, waved his hand as he smiled at me. He brought the letters to my office quite often, and he always stayed for a friendly chat. I'd liked to think that we were acquaintances on the verge of being friends, so I don't know why he had to refer to me by my full name and announced it to the entire third floor.

I brought a finger to my lips, urging him to keep quiet. I turned my head to where Ominis stood, hoping he did not hear Bernard. However, it seemed he did have superhuman hearing. He was facing my direction with a look of confusion on his face.

"I'm sorry Ms. Rose Saye. Where are my manners?" He put his hand over his mouth, covering his giggles. "I was merely excited to see a friend!" Bernard loved to chat.