Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Twenty: A Broken Home

I looked to Sebastian, my eyes wide. I was relieved to see softness and comfort in his brown eyes and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. Anne had seemed happier in her letter. We'd had no reason to believe she'd be this angry still.

I opened my mouth to say something, to apologize to him but he just shook his head.

Anne returned, slamming a pile of yellow parchment and Daily Prophet news papers on the table. I recognized the handwriting on the parchment immediately as Sebastian's.

Letter after letter enveloped the table, filled with page after page of his words scribbled hastily on the parchment, and I gingerly reached my hand towards the pages. Picking up the closest pile of them, I read, my heart pounding fast, feeling his eyes on me.

Anne,

I was only trying to help you. He was going to take you away from Feldcroft, from me. I couldn't have that; not when you are all I have left.

Please write back.

Sebastian

I flicked the parchment to the table, eyes roaming over each letter he had written. Small droplets of water stained the page, and I had no idea if it was his tears or Anne's.

Anne,

I don't know what to do. I'm sick with worry. Please, tell me you're all right.

Sebastian

Another letter replaced onto the table. Another shuffle as Sebastian grabbed it to read over again.

Anne,

I know you're mad at me, and I deserve your anger, but your silence is concerning with you being sick and me not knowing where you are. If you won't speak to me, please send word to Ominis or Abbi.

We are all worried about you.

Sebastian

We were still talking here. He'd requested that she reach out to me. I wondered if he knew I had never reached out to her.

One more letter.

Anne,

In case you see it in the prophet, I wanted you to hear it from me first. Abbi was kidnapped by Victor Rookwood. Abbi was able to get away and everything is okay now, but things are... different. We decided we aren't good for each-other, and that we need to stop speaking, but that's not what I want. I want her, and it seems I will never be able to have the things I want.

I lost it all. First you. Now her.

What else can I lose that I love so dearly?

Sebastian

I looked up, tears in my eyes at the last letter. Both twins were looking at me, Anne's eyes still glaring, her expression a challenge. Sebastian was looking between the parchment in my hand and the tears in my eyes. He gave one small tilt of his head and I handed the letter to him, immediately grabbing for the copy of The Daily Prophet on the table.

There were three articles clipped.

The first, a small paragraph announcing the tragic death of Solomon Sallow, who according to this story, passed away in his sleep at his home in Feldcroft. I pushed down a fresh wave of emotion - I may have regretted what it did to Anne, but I didn't regret helping Sebastian.

The second was a larger clipping. Front page, and one I was all too familiar with. Front and center was a large portrait of Victor Rookwood, his smug face staring into the camera, top hat slightly tilted forward as he always wore it. Across the top was the heading: VICTOR ROOKWOOD DEAD UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.