Choices: Part 1

Chapter 17

Screams are what wakes me the following morning. I fly out of bed, my heart pounding against my chest. Anne is writhing in her bed, her eyes squeezed shut, as she lets out the most bone chilling scream. Her long hair is tangled around her neck as if it's strangling her as her body jerks. It looks like she is having some kind of seizure. Solomon and Sebastian both barge in with Ominis trailing behind them, his hands out in front of him trying to figure out where to go. He must have forgotten his wand, in a haste to get to Anne. Solomon shoves me aside, a small purple bottle in his hand, and kneels by Anne who is now cradled in a fetal position. As he starts to coax her to drink from the bottle, Sebastian hurries over and tries to comfort her by rubbing her leg as he whispers to her to listen to their uncle. Her screams slowly stop and Solomon is able to lift her head to help her drink. Once the potion passes her lips, she breathes a sigh of relief and lays back down on her pillow.

Ominis is still struggling to get in the room and I hurry over, taking his hand, and lead him to sit on my bed. I offer to get his wand, but he shakes his head, his tousled hair hanging low over his milky eyes. I don't think I ever seen Ominis look so unkempt. He is usually the model of poise and elegance. Wearing the finest of clothes, you would never see him wearing anything else but suits. No loose or crooked ties, no untucked shirts or rolled up sleeves. I hardly ever see him take off his jacket. And his hair is never anything but slicked back off his face. It is almost jarring to see him with his hair sticking up in random places and wearing a simple white shirt and pants. He looks so much younger than 15.

"She'll be okay for now." Solomon grunts. He pulls the blankets back over Anne who seems to have fallen back asleep.

"Does this happen every morning?" Sebastian asks.

"No, but it is becoming more frequent."

Sebastian's eyes widen and he looks back down at Anne in desperation. His hair is flattened on the one side, his eyes slightly bloodshot, and his grey shirt is twisted as if he was tossing around in his sleep.

"We have to do something."

Sebastian's voice is pleading, he looks back up at his uncle practically begging him with his eyes.

"I told you, boy. There is nothing we can do." His uncle snaps.

He snatches the bottle that he set on the nightstand and storms out. We eventually hear the front door slam shut. Sebastian glares at the empty doorway before looking back at Anne, worry etched all over his face. He reaches out and gently takes one of Anne's hands in both of his. He holds it up to his face as he closes his eyes as if in prayer.

"I will save you, Anne." He whispers.

"Sebastian, maybe..."

"I don't want to hear it, Erin."

I sigh, feeling defeated. Pulling on my dress robe, I head for the door when Ominis speaks up.

"Sebastian."

"What, Ominis?"

I pause, my hand on the doorframe. Sebastian sounds guarded by Ominis' pissed off tone.

"Do you really think you'll be saving Anne by Dark Magic?"

My head snaps over my shoulder in surprise. Sebastian is staring at Ominis in shock, his hands still holding onto Anne's. Ominis is glaring in his direction, his hands gripping the blankets at his sides.

"What are you –"

"Don't play daft with me." Ominis spats. "You think I wouldn't have noticed?"

"Ominis, you don't know –"