Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Part Three Epilogue

Three Months Later

Drinking my morning tea, I stood looking out the kitchen window. It was going to be a beautiful summer day. The pink streaks in the sky were mesmerizing. I watched as the sun slowly crept up the horizon and the morning dew melted into the ground. The grass was sparkly and gently waving in the warm morning breeze. I could hear the birds start chirping their morning songs. This was my happy place.

I was feeling pretty good today. No more nausea. I even ate toast and eggs this morning. My hand was running soft circles around my slightly bulging stomach. A gentle movement from inside me bumped into my hand, pushing it out slightly.

I chuckled. "Good morning, little ones. What say we get some air today?" I planned to work in my garden for a bit. It was still slightly overgrown with weeds and needed more care. But I tired so quickly these days I could only get a couple of hours in before needing a nap.

I dressed for the day in a loose button up shirt, the sleeves rolled up and my trousers that I had sewn a little baby pouch into. They were far more comfortable now. My trusty boots laced up like always. I didn't hunt for things anymore, so they were fast becoming my gardening boots. I chortled at the change in my life. From hunter to gardener. 

I wore both the Slytherin necklace and the Drusy cluster necklace now. I had dug them both out of my trunk one sad, lonely night and had cried over my lost loves. They gave me strength now. I felt... whole with them on. Especially with my "sister" bracelet from Archie and my Greengrass Crest ring. I wore all the talismans of my past like scars to keep me strong and remind me that once there were those that loved me.

I braided my hair down my back and took a cursory look in the mirror. I looked happy. Healthy. But my eyes were still sad. No matter how much rest and seclusion I got, I always missed Sebastian. I had tried to send him numerous owls and always ended up throwing away the letters.

And Will. I missed him so much sometimes I physically ached. The sobs would wrack my body and my suppressed magic would burst out in white and blue lights. Sometimes, red depending on if I was sad or mad. I had gotten it a little more under control lately. The less magic I used, the more it built up though. But I hated using it. I liked my little magicless life.

I looked over to the portrait of my mother that I had hung next to my own mirror. We looked so similar, except my bulging stomach. "Good morning, mum." I kissed my fingers and pressed them to her cheek. She still hadn't spoken and only barely moved. There must have been a strong enchantment on that portrait. But I didn't care to try to break it and risk ruining the portrait.

I made my way downstairs and looked around my quaint home. The ruins of the crib I had tried to put together were still in the corner. I laughed at myself. I still had time to figure it out.

I grabbed my gardening gloves, my sun hat and my bucket of tools and headed outside.

I was right. It was glorious out here. The sun was warm but not hot. And the gentle breeze. I inhaled deeply. I could smell the nearby ocean as it crashed on the rocky shore. The summer flowers in bloom. The tomatoes and cabbages in my garden. And a soft whiff of trees from the nearby forest.

I went around the side of the house and opened my little garden gate. I had somehow managed to put up a white fence around it and it actually didn't look too bad. I set my bucket down and put on my gloves, securing my hat.

I got to my knees to pull out some weeds, bending didn't work very well nowadays.

I had only been working a short time, when Onyx came swooping down to me. She landed on my shoulder gently, hooted softly and nipped my ear once. I had used Sebastian's tactic and taught her to warn me of company. A nip for how many. One person was approaching. "Where, girl?" I said softly, not getting up. I was partially hidden by my fence and I liked it that way.