Shadow of the Key | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 12: Valencia

Sebastian's POV

After Amelia left the Undercroft abruptly, he immediately felt guilt.

So. Much. Guilt.

He was also angry. Not angry at Amelia. He was angry that she felt as though she needed to absorb the magic for herself to keep it safe and to save Anne.

Because for now, there was only one of three ways that this was going to go:

1. She keeps her magic but is constantly sought out by those who wish to take that magic from her. She'll be on the run pretty much her entire life.

2. She gives herself up to Harlow and he takes her magic, killing her in the process.

3. She tries to extract the magic from herself. Also killing her in the process.

Just the thought of her being in this situation made him feel sick to his stomach.

He wanted to track down Harlow himself and deliver the Killing Curse he so rightfully deserved.

He didn't get a wink of sleep last night. At all. He really wanted to stay with her until she woke up. He would've slept on the bloody floor if he could. He couldn't shake the image of Amelia bleeding out in his arms out of his head. He knew even if he went to sleep, the image of that was going to haunt his dreams.

He can still see her colorless face. Her colorless lips. His hands and clothes stained with her blood. The begging and pleading for her to open her eyes.

Seeing her so hurt and nearly die in his arms made him feel so hopeless. So defeated. He wasn't there to protect her. She got hurt and he wasn't there to help. If she hadn't sent that Patronus, she'd be dead.

A life without her just... wasn't a life at all.

...And that thought terrified him.

He didn't want to think about Harlow. He didn't want to think about the magic. He didn't want to think about any of that.

He just wanted to think of her as the brilliant, funny, beautiful witch that he spent all that time with in fifth and sixth year. All of the adventures that they went on together. All of those hours spent in the library sneaking into the Restricted Section during sixth year and staying up until the early morning hours. All of those times that they practiced dueling in the Undercroft.

That very first day she walked into the Great Hall bursting in late to the Sorting Ceremony.

The first duel in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

The trip to Hogsmeade.

Introducing her to Anne.

He couldn't do all of that with anyone else.

She had an effect on him that no one else ever has, and he didn't even know what to think of it. How to feel about it-

"Sebastian?"

He lifts his head up and looks at Anne.

She had a questionable look on her face and opened her mouth to say something before she closed it again.

Ominis snorts, "Daydreaming there, Sallow?"

Yes. "No."

Ominis shakes his head in resignation and stands, straightening his jacket, "I'm going to see if I can get an owl out."

Anne stands up with him, "You mean the mole?"

Ominis simply nods and pulls out his wand, the familiar red light pulsing at the end of it, "Will you be alright Sebastian?"