Utterly Hopeless: An Ominis Gaunt Love Story

Chapter Thirty-Two: Twisted Memories

(Threa)

"Ominis has been asking about you."

"Has he," I asked walking the halls of the ruined catacomb with the tall cheeky Scotsman at my side. A faint flutter filling my chest from his words warming my cheeks. Ominis is asking about me?

"He has," he says matter of factly, a wicked smile playing on his lips as he kicks a pebble down the dark corridor.

"Hmm," was all I could say back.

Why would Ominis be asking about me? Why would he go to Sebastian to ask? The two have been cross since our last meeting in the undercroft. Ominis and I have been growing closer of recent, I have been spending just as much time with him as I have Sebastian... Why not just come ask me?

"Aren't you two still at odds because of what happened in the Scriptorium?"

"We are," he ground, smile faltering slightly at the reminder before bouncing back. "Still, there are some things a man keeps to only his best friend."

"Really, like what," I probe climbing over some rubble making the freckled brute laugh hard shaking his head.

"Ah ah, that's protected by the sacred bond of friendship Princess," he teased making me glare at him.

"I told you I hate that name."

"But it is so fitting."

"And in what ways is it fitting?"

"You are a noble lady, hailing from an esteemed house, and can be the prissiest of persons when you don't get your way."

"Prissy?"

He chuckles, nodding. "Worse than Ominis on his good days."

"Now I know you're lying," I tease back elbowing him making him grunt hard.

"Ugh, Merlin! You hit harder than Anne."

"Doubt that. She looks like she had a mean right hook when she was well."

He went quiet as our steps echoed through the crypted halls making my smile fall as I met his forlorn eyes.

"She did."

"Seb, I-"

"-It's alright," he choked out. "It's nice to remember how she was.... Reminds me why we are fighting to get her back to herself."

"Thats a good way to look at it."

"I can't look at it any other way. Not with what's at stake," an uneasy chill blew through the catacomb shivering me slightly. "If the Scriptorium was any indication, we are bound to have to face many trials like we did then. Are you sure you want to do this. We may be asked to cast dark magic again."

"I know," I assured, stomach churning at the thought. "But Annes not going to get better if we continue to do nothing... You said that book spoke of a cure in this tomb?"
"Yes, I haven't been able to figure it all out just yet. I had tried to get Ominis to help me decipher his ancestors' writings, but he wants nothing to do with any of this. You are currently my only hope at figuring this out."

"Me?"

"Your wits and your gift... No one else has gone out of their way to aide me like you have. Ominis thinks it's hopeless, Anne wants me to let her die in peace and Uncle Solomon," he growled his name. "Man keeps saying I'm as awful as my father. As if that's an insult. He's given up. They all have," his voice grew softer. "It's just nice knowing I'm not on my own in this.... Life has felt pretty lonely of recent."