The Legacy of Our Love

Chapter 12*

OMINIS

***Mature Content Warning***

When Sebastian and I arrived at Potions that afternoon, we were concerned to realize Asra had not yet returned. She bloody vanished after morning classes. Both The Undercroft and The Room of Requirement were empty, and no one Sebastian and I had spoken to had seen her other than Poppy, who wasn't able to give us any answers either.

"Do you think she's off with Professor Fig looking into Ranrok?" Sebastian asked, and I shook my head.

"Professor Fig has been teaching all afternoon, he hasn't left the castle." I replied as Professor Sharp began today's instructions.

"Alright, if she's not at dinner, we'll check The Undercroft and Room of Requirement again. If she's still not back, perhaps we should go to Professor Fig." Sebastian laid out his plan, which wasn't the soundest of ideas.

"And get her into trouble with him for telling us about what she's been up to? We aren't supposed to know about any of that, remember?" I countered.

"Mr. Gaunt, Mr. Sallow, do you have anything you'd like to share with the class?" Professor Sharp's voice cut through our debate.

"Uh, no sir, sorry sir." Sebastian apologized.

"Next time it will be points from both of you. Pay attention." Sharp scolded before continuing to describe the dangers of preparing Mallowsweet root incorrectly. We remained silent for a good portion of the class, until we were released to replicate what Sharp had displayed.

I swore as I sliced my thumb open on my first attempt at splitting the root, dropping my knife with a hiss.

"She's alright, Om. You seem to forget I watched her blast a troll to ash her first week here." Sebastian attempted to sooth my worries as he helped me bandage the shallow wound.

"I don't doubt her capabilities." I sighed. "I worry she's becoming involved in something far bigger than we could possibly hope to help her with."

Sebastian pressed a gentle kiss over the bandage. "We'll do what we can."

As soon as class was dismissed, we rushed our way to the common room to drop off our bags before dinner. Disappointed not to find Asra there, the two of us began to make our way to The Great Hall.

"Don't worry, she'll be here." Sebastian urged as we turned the corner, and my senses confirmed his words as I felt her near. I couldn't understand it, the way her magic called to my own. It was like a damned siren song as it pulled me closer still.

"She's here." I sighed with relief as we approached the first set of doors, and I sensed her pacing.

"Oi, Devorak!" Sebastian called, pushing ahead of me in order to gently pull her aside, away from the other students crowding the door to the hall.

"Sebastian?" She yelped in surprise, too lost in her own thoughts to notice him as he pulled over to a private portion of the corridor. "Look, I'm sorry I've been gone–"

I was hit with that intoxicating scent of orange blossom and bergamot as I joined them, cursing internally at the effect it had over me. It was going to be stuck in my nose for hours, torturing me with the idea of her.

"Where have you been? And why are you covered in cobwebs?" Sebastian questioned urgently. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, of course I'm fine Sebastian." Asra replied, an unusual trill in her voice.