Omnia Vincit Amor | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 10: Woeful Homecoming

Chapter 10: Woeful Homecoming

'Let me take care of you.'

The words echoed inside Lucy's head over and over. Her body was stiff; still locked in a tight, longing embrace. She could feel his breathing on her skin, causing the hair on her neck to rise.

The offer was no doubt tempting. Disregarding everything else, she would not hesitate to say: please do.

But what would happen if she does?

Several possibilities ran through her head and none of them spelled good news.

Sebastian was overprotective over his loved ones, and this would not blend well with the fact that Lucy now bears a life-threatening curse.

If Lucy allowed his feelings for her to deepen, would he be as reckless in finding a cure?

—Absolutely.

Would Sebastian just let it go?

—Absolutely not.

The thoughts alone were scary. Eight years ago, Sebastian was an inch away from becoming a dark wizard. Had she and Ominis not been successful in bringing him back to his senses, he would be today's threat to the Wizarding world. Lucy would rather not go through it a second time.

With a heavy heart, she gently pried his arms off her, causing him to lift his head in confusion.

"Lucy?" he watched as the witch battled her internal thoughts.

The wait was tormenting. He already knew what would come out of her mouth, yet he held a flicker of hope that she could provide him a chance.

"Sebastian, I— it's just... I mean," she sighed, the words were not cohesively forming. It pained her to turn him down. Things could go awry between them, and refusing was as good as saying goodbye once more.

"I'm sorry..." she managed to breathe out.

He heaved an exasperated sigh, head hung low, "I see."

Seeing his face twisted in sadness stung. She brought her hand to his cheek, urging him to look her eye-to-eye.

"It's not what you think, it's just—" words left her again. She wanted to assure him that she feels the same, that he's handsome and that he's more than enough. Moreover, she wanted to blurt out the whole truth.

But the words were stuck in her throat. Her lips were involuntarily quivering, keeping her from making a choice she would later regret.

"I get it," Sebastian whispered after deciding that he waited long enough for her to talk. He peeled his face away from her palm, her fingertips brushing along his cheek in the process.

"I'll be on the couch if you need me," and with that, he walked away without a glance back.

The night continued in deep silence. Sebastian never strayed away from the couch, similarly to how Lucy never left the bed.

While she spent hours twisting and turning before finally drifting off, Sebastian compelled himself to stay on one side—his back towards her. Even with a numb arm, he never switched sides.

The following morning, Lucy woke up to noises outside the cottage.

Feldcroft was bustling. She heard the villagers greeting each other 'good day!' and exchanging uplifting words such as 'lovely work you've done in your garden.' She even unintentionally eavesdropped on two women nearby, gossiping about someone's daughter eloping with a muggle—they must have thought that the Sallow home was empty for them to have the inappropriate conversation next to the thin cottage walls.