Unbeaten, book 3

Afterwards (1)

Ava's pov

The service ended up being interesting. Some of the professors who didn't know about our off work adventures were quite shocked to see multiple of the same people at the funeral including another Sebastian or two.

"I'm confused..." Professor Beery mumbled. He'd been staring at Sara's Sebastian a little too hard for the past hour.

"It's best not to think about it too much when you are talking about the Sallows." Albus sighed as he sipped his glass of wine.

The school had insisted on holding a small party after... I'm not sure what we are celebrating. My husband is gone.... I mean that wasn't stopping people and I'm not going to tell people how to process emotions.

"Albus," I sat next to him, "I have the wand,"

"Ava, you don't have to give it to me right now," Albus gestured to everything.

"Id rather do it now. I used a curse I never wanted to use with it." I handed him the elder wand wrapped in cloth. "I can't even look it at."

Albus took a deep breath as he felt the power from the wand. "Ava.... You could do a lot... with this wand, are you positive you don't want it."

I shook my head, "it'll just give me hope... and I can't have hope. Not with classes officially starting next month.... It's best for me to..."

"Heal?" He suggested.

"Process?" Minerva said next to him.

"You two are too much," I rolled my eyes, "thank you for coming." I got up to move to the next table.

"Are you fucking kidding me!?"

"Giselle, this is a funeral.... For your father. Don't cuss." I sighed.

"Sorry Mummy," she crossed her arms, "but the big kids aren't letting us in on the super secret meeting." I looked over at the open door leading to the court yard next to the great hall.

Eleazar was in what seemed to be a heated discussion with Anne, Willa, Cerus, and the other El. My son was pissed about something. I could tell by the way he kept adjusting his new glasses. "Yeah... they aren't letting me in on it either,"

A sniffling sound made me turn my attention to Ro's table. She was currently and almost... hilariously crying and rubbing the snot from her nose.

"Ro?" Her Sebastian asked concerned, "what happened you were doing so well during the service..."

"I just am realizing how insignificant your life can be and it's making me sad,"

Sebastian looked at me as I tried not to laugh, "ro.." he mumbled. "I don't think my life is... insignificant."

"You don't even understand how squishy you are!?" She sobbed.

Sebastian patted her back and sighed, "I knew I should have stayed home..."

I went to pat his shoulder in sympathy but found myself hesitating. Ro caught that and started crying more. "Oh god! How could I bring him! I'm so sorry, Ava!"

She got up and hugged me tightly slightly surprising me and her Sebastian. "Ro, it's okay, I'm okay. I have to get used to it."

"Ava..." merlina's voice made Ro's head snap up. "We came to give our condolences..."

"I'm sorry Mrs. Sallow. I should have been able to help more..." Mr. Wood looked down guilty.

"Oh my god, can you see?" Ro said through tears.

Everyone immediately started to shush her softly. "Ro, honey, it can't be replicated so we all agreed to not tell the other Ominis." I whispered as poppy's Ominis looked up for a moment before eating again.