Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Fifteen: In the Shadow of Power

He shifted closer to me, his eyes keeping locked on mine. He wrapped an arm around me, tucking me into his chest as he leaned us back on the sofa. I clutched at his coat, wanting to ground myself to this moment with him. 

We looked at each other for a long while. I studied each freckle on his face, charting constellations in the way they formed, looking at the small crinkles in his forehead. I reached up and ran a finger over them, attempting to smooth them away. His eyes closed and he took a shallow breath. It tickled my face as he exhaled and I breathed him in. 

Cinnamon and mint.

 Leather.

 Parchment. 

I felt myself calm even more as I breathed him in. 

"That magic isn't like yours. But I don't think you've lost yourself to it." 

"How do you know?" 

"Because," he said gingerly, pushing a piece of my hair out of my face, letting his fingers linger just behind my ear. I shivered at the touch. "If you'd lost yourself to her darkness, you wouldn't be sitting here worrying about Unforgivable Curses." 

I stayed quiet and leaned my head onto his chest, breaking eye contact and closing my eyes. Maybe he was right. Maybe I wasn't lost yet, but I'd have to watch myself closely. If I'd almost taken that magic tonight, who's to say I wouldn't be tempted again? 

I don't know how long we stayed like that, resting against each other, but I soon was aware of sunlight hitting my eyelids. I lifted my heavy eyes open, feeling the steady rise and fall of Sebastian's chest below me. We were no longer sitting, but rather laying on the small love seat, our bodies tucked under his coat. I pulled away from him slightly and he stirred, his groggy voice filling the quiet morning. 

"Did we fall asleep?" 

I removed myself from him, missing the warmth he brought. He frowned as I removed myself from him and moved to the entrance. I felt a blush settle its way onto my skin and nodded to answer him. 

"Apparently. It's sunrise." 

I pointed to the opening of the cavern, and Sebastian followed my hand. We looked out to the rising sun, the sky painted beautifully with brilliant pinks and golds, small wispy clouds moving delicately across the sky. The sunlight reflected on the lake, giving a beautiful sparkling surface to stare out at. 

"I think this is the first sunrise I've ever seen at Hogwarts," he said, suddenly behind me. I jumped a little as he rested his hands on my shoulders. "It's so different than waking up under the lake." 

I looked out at the sunrise, my heart racing a little wildly at his touch. 

"Sebastian, can I ask you something?" 

He chuckled and I knew it was because this was how our conversation in the common room went just a few hours ago. "You've already asked me that. But yes, you can." 

"Would you be upset with me if I can't stay away from the Repository?" 

He turned me to face him again at this, his gaze roaming wildly all over my face, settling on my lips for just a moment longer than anywhere else. My breath caught and I found myself wishing he'd lean in. I shook myself, telling myself that I was not supposed to be thinking thoughts like that.

"Abbi, I think it would be pretty insane for me to be upset with you over that." 

"Yes or no, Sallow," I breathed out, my eyes flicking from his to his lips and back again. They were so close, his breath fanning over my nose. If I just leaned forward a little bit I would be able to touch my lips to his. 

Stupid idea, stupid idea, stupid idea, I chanted to myself. He raised one hand to my face, resting it on my cheek and I held my breath.

"No, Abbi. I wouldn't be upset with you over that. I could never be." 

"I need you to help me," I whispered against him, our original comforting stance now pulsing with tension as I couldn't keep my eyes from his lips. I hoped he was looking at mine. 

"Always," he whispered back. 

He pulled away from me abruptly, his lips - and the rest of him - now almost three feet away from me, walking out of the cavern. I shook myself, blushing again, refusing to let myself feel disappointed. 

We were friends. 

Nothing more. 

He knew everything now. I followed after him catching up and falling into step beside him as we started our way back up the path to the front doors. Whatever the dreams meant, whatever would come our way as we tried to find that out, we could face it together. He knew everything and he still wouldn't judge me if I couldn't stay away from the darkness. He was the best hope I could ever have in someone knowing what I was fighting every day. 

We were both touched by darkness, our souls damaged on their own but able to find comfort with one another. 

He truly did understand me.