Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Fifty-Two****

WE MADE IT!!! This is the FINAL chapter of Part Two! I hope everyone has loved this as much as I love it. I'm so proud of it. ENJOY!

****Warning: This chapter contains sexually explicit adult content.****

I spent the week in classes sitting with Will. At meals sitting with Seb. Not really speaking to either. I felt heavy. Like things were changing and I didn't like it.

Will was excited to be going to Hogwarts with me. I was excited too! But going home now felt like a brick in my stomach. I was living in a fantasy world right here at Durmstrang. And I knew once we were home, everything would become real and true.

Vicky had agreed to go with Will to the ball and he was even excited about that. A small part of me dreaded it. I just had this bad feeling about the whole event and I couldn't place what it was. The problem was probably named, "Sebastian" in flashing lights that I was ignoring.

Seb was very cordial with me though. He still kissed me on my temples and held my hand squeezing reassuringly, but it all felt different. I could feel the distance between us. And I didn't know if we were together, broken up, hanging out... we just were. We were always just us. Never really defined by labels anyway. I tried to tell myself that often, feeding the denial beast within me.

Come Friday, I opted out of the usual bonfire to spend time with Will. He was going to take me around the castle and show me his favorite places since he wouldn't be returning. The castle was far smaller than Hogwarts. Only four stories. And not half as many secrets as Hogwarts. But it was still old and beautiful. Steeped in history. I loved things that felt heavy with historical value. And I couldn't wait to show Will some of Hogwarts' secrets too. We were headed into a new adventure. Together.

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Saturday bloomed with snowy clouds raining down soft flakes to add to the already covered ground. One undeniable thing about this area was that it had less daylight and was far colder, but it was stunningly beautiful when the sun was actually up. Today, no such luck. The snow clouds were heavy looking and dark, leaving everything in a gloomy feel. Which sort of matched my mood.

Everyone was talking excitedly about the Yule Ball. All the girls were giggling almost relentlessly with each other, not really including me but I would smile with them, not knowing even what they had been talking about but trying to include myself. Lunch was barely finished when we were all shoved out of the dining hall which was apparently about to be transformed for the Yule Ball.

I decided to take a long, volcano level hot bath to scorch my skin again and relieve some of this tension. I hadn't seen Will all day and I could almost feel it within me, something missing. I hated that feeling and that's why I was so glad he was coming back with me.

And I hadn't really seen Sebastian either. He sat at the other end of the table at breakfast with the boys and I sat with the incessantly giggling girls. And he wasn't there at lunch. I knew he didn't like how close I had become with Will. But part of me thought Will was right and since Seb loved me, he would come around eventually. I just wish it was sooner rather than later.

The other girls were filing into the dorm when I finished my bath. I was moisturizing my hot, dried out skin when they came in giggling with each other. Again.

"Hi, girls! Everyone ready for tonight?" I said, happily trying to ingratiate myself into their conversation.

"YES! We all managed dates and they are really turning that drabby dining hall into a spectacle! We just went to peek and it's GORGEOUS!" Nellie told me, practically jumping up and down in anticipation.

"Good. That place needed sprucing up. It's definitely no Great Hall." I added smiling. They all agreed and went to start getting ready.

I dried my hair mechanically and thought to myself, I had no idea what to do with it... Anne had been taking care of my short hair needs for so long... And now that it was to my shoulders in soft waves, I had no idea what to do with it...