Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Seven*

*Warning: This chapter contains very mild mature content.*

"Thank you, Ellie. I actually enjoyed today... despite the queasiness." I smirked at her as we stood at the Lower Hogsfield Floo Flame. The dusty rose of sunset spilled over the Black Lake.

"Absolutely. It was truly my pleasure. I will tell the Minister in the morning that you've accepted. Under your special conditions, of course. And I'll meet you in the Atrium Monday morning." She gave my arm a little squeeze and backed away. "I well and truly hope you find the answers you need. And remember. Be strong." She smiled so genuinely at me, it filled my heart with hope.

"The Leaky Cauldron, London" she said firmly to the Floo and it whisked her away.

I vaguely wondered what kind of place that might be... cauldrons shouldn't leak... it's dangerous.

"Rachel, dearie. I've been worried!" Mrs. Bickle hollered from the front door.

I went in to join them at dinner, regaling Mrs. Bickle and Archie with the day's journey and my choice. I would spend two days a week at the Ministry gathering what information I could.

Which would be mine. Indefinitely. Until such a time I chose to divulge it to whomever I wish. I wanted some privacy. I didn't want to feel like a freak on parade. I wanted answers. Like everyone else had about their lives. And I wanted those answers to be mine and mine alone. If the minister did not accept these terms, then I would go it alone. Seeking my answers out in the world. I'm sure it would be at a much slower pace but... eventually, I would find out what this is inside me, where it came from and how it is evolving.

Archie and Mrs. Bickle sat mostly in silence. They didn't know much about my past or my circumstances. Only the bare minimum. Which could be scary. Like having a practical stranger with weird powers and a tendency to blow people up just living in your house like normal.

And yet they found a way to support me. "Don't worry, dearie. I've dealt with the Minister before. He truly is a strange man but he can be enormously helpful. He's been at this for years you see... our longest running minister. I think he's quite old to be sure." She ruefully smiled at me. "Well, shall we have a game? I'd love to see one of your muggle card games you've been showing Archie." She clapped her hands in enthusiasm.

--

Exhausted. I didn't even have words for the level of fatigue I was feeling as I practically stumbled into my room with only the thought of crashing my face into the pillow and finding oblivion.

Onyx. Asleep on her perch.

Soft snoring breaths escaped from under her wing. My heart was beating so fast. I practically ran across the room to her. I ever so gently stroked a finger down her wing. She didn't acknowledge it at all. I sighed. My poor defeated bird. I looked down to see a letter attached to her leg. My breath caught. I ignited a lamp and looked closer... it was a very beaten letter... with the words Sebastian Sallow barely legible on the front.

I quickly detached it and held it in my hand. It felt heavy. Like it had been soaked through from rain. Well... maybe he didn't have an envelope and just reused mine... I quickly broke the seal and pulled the parchment out and unfolded it. No. It was my letter. Onyx never found him... he hadn't read it.

I had no tears left in me to shed after my downpour from earlier. I just felt empty. Defeated. And alone. I threw the letter in a desk drawer and slammed it shut. As if putting it there could hide all my fears and regrets.

"FUCK!" I yelled while pounding my fist into my leg... it really hurt.

Soft knocking on the door. "Rachel, dearie, are you ok?"