Legacy of Magic

Chapter 6

Eloise stepped out into the busy reception area of St. Mungo's, her senses momentarily overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Healers, patients, and visitors. The air was thick with the smell of antiseptic potions, and the faint sound of magical beeps and whirs filled the air. Eloise took a moment to steady herself before approaching the front desk.
"Hello, my name is Eloise Dawnson" she greeted the witch behind the counter. "I'm here to visit Anne Sallow."
The witch nodded and flipped through a ledger. "She's on the fourth floor, Spell Damage Ward. Room 412."
"Thank you," Eloise replied, her heart beating faster as she made her way to the lift. The journey to the fourth floor felt both too quick and agonizingly slow. Her mind raced with what she would say, how Anne would react, and whether she was doing the right thing.
Finally, she reached room 412. The door was slightly ajar, and she could hear the faint sound of someone moving inside. Eloise took a deep breath, gathering her courage before knocking softly on the doorframe.
"Come in," a familiar voice called out, and Eloise pushed the door open, stepping inside.
Anne Sallow was sitting in a chair by the window, her back to the door. The sunlight streaming in through the window highlighted the her brown hair, dulled because of her curse. It was crazy how much she and Sebastian looked alike. She turned slowly to face Eloise, her expression guarded but not unkind.
"Anne," Eloise began, her voice tentative. "Thank you for agreeing to see me."
Anne studied her for a moment before nodding. "I wasn't sure if I should," she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of weariness. "But... I've had a lot of time to think."
Eloise moved closer, taking a seat in the chair opposite Anne. She hesitated, feeling the weight of her next words. She looked at Anne, who seemed frailer than the last time she had seen her, the curse's effects more evident in her pallor and the way she held herself.
"How... how are you feeling, Anne?" Eloise asked gently, her voice tinged with concern.
Anne sighed, glancing down at her hands, which were resting in her lap. They trembled slightly, and Eloise noticed the way her fingers twitched, as if fighting against some unseen force. "I've had better days," Anne admitted, her voice soft. "The Healers here are doing what they can, but... you know how it is with curses like this."
As the quiet between them stretched, Eloise gathered her courage, knowing she couldn't leave without telling Anne the truth. Her hands fidgeted in her lap, and she looked up, catching Anne's curious gaze.
"Anne... there's something I need to tell you," Eloise began, her voice barely above a whisper. Anne's brows furrowed, her attention fully focused now.
Eloise swallowed hard, her heart pounding. "The curse... the one that's been tormenting you all this time—it wasn't the goblins who did it."
Anne blinked in confusion, sitting up slightly. "What do you mean?"
"It was Victor Rookwood," Eloise said, her words falling heavily in the room. "He's the one who cursed you, Anne. The goblins were working with him, but the curse—it was his dark magic."
For a moment, Anne said nothing, the weight of the revelation sinking in. Her eyes clouded over, and she shook her head slightly. "Rookwood? But... why? Why would he do that to me? How do you know that?"
Eloise took a deep breath. "Because he was working with Ranrok and didn't want anyone to know. I got... caught up in some trouble with him a few months ago and he came after me in Hogsmeade and he said to me the very same thing you heard the night you were cursed "Children should be seen and not heard".
"Merlin..." Anne gasped
" I understood it at the same moment what it meant and when he tried to kidnap me..."
Her voice faltered as she remembered that night, the heat of the duel, the danger swirling around her. "I defended myself, Anne. I didn't mean to, but in the chaos of the battle... I killed him."
Anne's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "You killed him?"
Eloise nodded, her heart heavy with the memory. "I didn't have a choice. He would have killed me, or worse. But it doesn't change what happened to you, and I'm so sorry, Anne. I wish I had known sooner."
Anne sat back, the weight of the truth settling on her as she processed everything. She looked away for a moment, her gaze distant, lost in thought. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet but steady. "It's not your fault, Eloise. Rookwood was a monster. I've known for a long time that whoever cursed me was filled with darkness. I just never imagined it was him."
"I feel responsible," Eloise admitted, her voice thick with guilt. "If I had known, if I could have done something sooner—"
Anne reached out, placing a hand over Eloise's, her grip surprisingly strong. "You didn't curse me, Eloise. You've done more than anyone could have asked. You put your life on the line to stop that monster and now you've given me the truth. That's all I needed."
Eloise squeezed her hand back, a flood of emotion washing over her. "I just hope this helps you, somehow."
Anne smiled softly, her eyes glistening. "It does. Knowing the truth—about Rookwood, about everything—it gives me some peace." She paused, her gaze growing distant. "But it doesn't change what's happened. The curse is still here."
Eloise nodded, the reality of Anne's situation settling heavily on her shoulders. The curse that had plagued Anne for years now was powerful, dark magic, and even the best Healers at St. Mungo's could only do so much.
"Is there any progress?" Eloise asked, trying to keep her tone hopeful. "Anything at all?"
Anne gave a small, sad smile. "They're trying new treatments, but it's slow. Some days, it feels like I'm getting better—my strength returns, the pain eases. But then there are days where it's hard to even get out of bed, where the curse feels like it's wrapping tighter around me, squeezing the life out of me."
Eloise's heart ached as she listened. She had always admired Anne's strength, her resilience, but hearing her speak so openly about her suffering was difficult.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Eloise asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Anne looked at her, her eyes softening. "Just being here helps, Eloise. Knowing that you care, that you're willing to visit me despite everything... it means more than you know."
Eloise swallowed hard as she began to speak about the reason for her visit.
"I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for everything that happened," she said, her words earnest. "I know it doesn't change anything, but I want you to know that I never intended for things to turn out the way they did."
Anne's eyes softened slightly, though there was still a distance in them. "I believe you, Eloise. I know you never meant to hurt anyone and that you tried to stop Sebastian. Ominis told me. But that doesn't make the pain any less."
Eloise nodded, understanding the truth in Anne's words. "You're right," she said quietly. "And I don't expect you to forgive me. I just wanted the chance to tell you how much I regret everything, and how much I care about you and Sebastian."
At the mention of Sebastian, Anne's gaze faltered, and she looked away. "How is he?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Eloise hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "He misses you, Anne," she said finally. "He blames himself for everything, and it's tearing him apart. He tries to hide it, to pretend that he is fine, but I can see he's not. He doesn't think he deserves your forgiveness, or even your love."
A tear slipped down Anne's cheek as she listened, and she quickly brushed it away. "He always was too hard on himself," she murmured. "But I'm not ready to see him, Eloise. Not yet. I don't know if I ever will be."
Eloise's heart ached for both of them, the siblings who had once been so close and were now separated by a chasm of pain and guilt. "I understand," she said gently. "I won't push you. But if you ever do want to see him... just know he'll be there in a heartbeat."
Anne nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe someday," she said softly. "But for now... it's enough to know that he's okay. That he has someone like you looking out for him."
Eloise smiled sadly. "He's important to me, too."
She swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "I care about you, Anne. And so does Sebastian. He talks about you all the time."
Anne's expression tightened at the mention of her brother, but she nodded. "I know. And I think about him too. But I can't face him yet, not like this. I'm not ready."
Eloise reached out, gently placing her hand over Anne's. "You don't have to rush anything. Healing takes time, both physically and emotionally. And when you're ready, he'll be there for you."
Anne squeezed Eloise's hand, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you, Eloise. For understanding. For everything."
Eloise smiled softly, though her heart was heavy. "I just wish there was more I could do."
Anne gave a weary smile. "You're doing more than you realize, just by being here. And... there's something I need you to know."
"What is it?" Eloise asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The Healers... they don't know how long I have," Anne said quietly, her voice trembling slightly. "They can slow the curse, ease the symptoms, but they haven't found a way to stop it. And I've come to accept that. I don't want Sebastian to know—not yet. He has enough to worry about. And I'm afraid that knowing this will cause him to spiral out of control again."
Eloise felt a cold dread settle in her stomach. She had known that Anne's condition was serious, but hearing it put so plainly, with such resignation, was almost too much to bear. "Anne, you can't give up," she urged, her voice thick with emotion. "There has to be something—some way to break the curse."
Anne shook her head slowly. "I've tried, Eloise. We all have. But some curses... they're too deeply rooted in dark magic, too complex. And after everything that happened in that catacomb, I don't want to risk it. What we have to gain is not worth what we have to lose and I've made peace with it. What matters to me now is that Sebastian finds peace too."
Eloise wanted to argue, to insist that there had to be a way, that she was worth the risk, but the look in Anne's eyes told her that she had already fought this battle many times, and she was tired. So, instead, she squeezed Anne's hand a little tighter and nodded. "I'll do whatever I can to help you and Sebastian, Anne. I promise."
Anne smiled—a small, fragile thing, but it held a warmth that Eloise clung to. "Thank you, Eloise. For being here. For everything you've done."
They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of the conversation settling around them. Despite the bleakness of the situation, there was a quiet understanding between them—a bond that had been forged through shared struggles and a deep care for the same person.
Finally, Anne spoke again, her voice firmer this time. "Thank you for coming, Eloise. It... it means a lot."
Eloise stood, feeling a sense of closure, though not complete. "Thank you for seeing me, Anne. I'll leave you to rest now."
Anne nodded, and Eloise turned to leave, but before she could step through the door, Anne's voice stopped her.
"Eloise," she called out, making Eloise turn back. "Tell Sebastian... tell him that I'm thinking of him. And that... I don't hate him. I don't know if I can forgive him yet, but I don't hate him."
Eloise's heart swelled with a mix of emotions—hope, sadness, and a deep sense of empathy. "I will," she promised, and with that, she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
The journey back to Lower Hogsfield felt like a blur. Eloise's mind was consumed with thoughts of Anne and Sebastian, of the fragile hope that perhaps, one day, they could find a way to heal. She wished she could tell Sebastian everything, but she had made a promise to Anne, and she intended to keep it.
When she finally arrived back at Mrs. Bickle's cottage, Sebastian was waiting for her on the porch, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. "You're back," he said, relief evident in his voice.
"I am," she replied, managing a smile as she approached him. "Did you miss me?"
"Always," he teased, but there was an undercurrent of sincerity in his tone. "Did everything go alright?"
Eloise hesitated for the briefest of moments before nodding. "Yes, everything's fine. Just had to take care of a few things."
Sebastian studied her for a moment, as if sensing that there was more to the story, but he didn't press her. Instead, he reached out and took her hand, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles. "I'm glad you're back, El."
"Me too," she whispered, feeling the warmth of his touch seep into her bones. Anne's words still loomed over her head though. Knowing that she was dying weighted heavily on her chest. She wanted to tell Sebastian but, besides having promised Anne that she wouldn't, she was honestly afraid of what he would possibly do once he knew. And given how things ended so horribly wrong the last time he tried to find a cure for his twin, she decided that this time, she would try to figure it out on her own.