Sins of the Father | Sebastian x OFC (Caroline Rookwood) | Ominis x Garreth

Chapter 63: Who I Am

CW:

Sadly, just lots of violence and swearing in this chapter.

Notes:

I'm alive! Bear with me... I apologize for my delay in this chapter (and future chapters). It's been a rough month and a half with work and whatnot, haha!

Last time:

Following Caroline waking from the events of the Solstice Ball (and many memories/ flashbacks in between), we find ourselves at an impasse for all our characters. Caroline is finally ready to learn and figure out more about her father and what that means going forward. We find that she had taken over her mother's duties following Cecilia's emotional breakdown after Victor's death.

Meanwhile, Ominis is still dealing with his family. Unlike the last two years following the Scriptorium and the events of their fifth year, he is ready to move and take steps forward finally. He retrieved his Aunt's ashes back at the manor and plans to attend dinners with his family (to remain two steps ahead).

Sebastian, however, is still at a low point. But he's hit his strides. We find out that that between the end of their fifth year and seventh, he and MC had gotten together, were isolated from friends, and had become a shadow of his former self. Though seventh year had given him the means to move forward and change his path, the encounter with MC at Solstice forced him to re-assess who he is. He is, at last, coming face to face with himself and his guilt (but not before we left him sobbing in Caroline's arms).

Lots of decisions are being made! (Pray I stick this landing— it all makes sense to me, but I genuinely hope it comes across as that.)

Without further ado:

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Caroline

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For all the mannerisms and charms she had learned in her years in society (and under the tutelage of Lady Malfoy and her mother), Sebastian Sallow had never failed to coax out Caroline. Not Caroline Alice Rookwood, the lady expected to present herself with an air of affability and kindness. But Caroline— impulse-driven, cheeky, and utterly improper.

He had done so with ease when he etched his name on her hand with Everink.

Drew her out after the long years of silence had finally drawn her ire (and slap) in a cold corridor.

And now, laying with him in the comfort of her own bed, in her own home, and in his sleeping arms.

What emotion she felt at that hour, that minute, and second when she lay there recalling the events that had occurred for Sebastian to sob in her arms had not been because of him. She was silent and seething— a thousand questions on her mind clawing and keeping her from sleep.

Why, however, was not one of them.

The grip of his hand about her waist had finally loosened since their arrival home. Tears that stained his cheeks and her blouse all but dried. And the heaviness around his shoulders had become lighter, wrapped beneath Eliza's scarf.

What would Sebastian Sallow do?

Or rather— what had he done?

He elected to do anything and everything he could to save Anne, burdening himself with guilt and feelings of obligation.

Closing her eyes at the thudding of her heart, she counted and breathed in slow and slower out—desperate to find her reason before a scream would wrench itself from her throat. But the sight of Sebastian's dried tears once more had her only biting down on her lip.