Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Twenty: A Broken Home

I watched them, watched Sebastian point at the clipping of Rookwood on the table and my magic flared again in hatred. His finger jammed onto Rookwood's face, the air humming and crackling faintly around me the longer I stared at him.

I tore my gaze away, choking on the magic welling inside me and focused on Sebastian's face. I could see his lips moving. He was shouting, his jaw clenched tight, and his eyes softening any time they shifted to me. He was probably defending me, but I couldn't hear a single word. It was too much; she was right about too much.

I stepped back from the table, still holding the prophet clipping in my hands, only now noticing that they were shaking. I had to get out of this home where too much had happened, before something worse exploded out of me.

"I- I'll be back," I choked out, barely hearing my own voice.

"No, stay," Sebastian's voice cut through the thumping now.

I shook my head at him, backing towards the door as I did so, the feeling of needing to let go pounding against my veins. Anne looked confused between Sebastian and I.

"I'm sorry," I said to her before ripping open the door and taking off at a run. I didn't care that my wand still lay on the table, long forgotten under a mass of parchment. I didn't need it to let this out.

"Abbi!" Sebastian called after me, pain and concern laced in his voice. "Abbi, wait!"

I didn't turn back.

My boots pounder across the familiar hamlet, tears filling my eyes. Dirt and rock kicked up behind me as I ran, thoughts filling my head. More than thoughts... almost like a voice, trying to claw its way up to the front of my mind. I couldn't let it out here, I couldn't expose myself like that.

I'd been running as fast as I could over hills and through tall tufts of wild grass, my hearing still drowned out by the magic pulling against my veins, whispering to me to let go, that the release of power would help.

It's what you want. So let us help you. Let go.

I did. Put simply, I did want to feel that power again. One more push over a hill, and there I would be safe to let my power out, to feel it, and relish feel how good it felt to succumb to its allure.

The catacomb entrance looked in front of me, the last time I was here having just learned the killing curse from Sebastian. I felt the magic inside me purr with delight at the memory and I let myself pulled deeper into that pool of delightful darkness.

I didn't even need to enter the catacomb, I could have just let myself go in front of the door. The voice in me whispered that that would be enough, that I could simply let go here for now.

Stop waiting!

I fell to my knees, eyes still brimming with tears at the thought of the rift I'd formed between Anne and Sebastian. The words Anne had said were now pounding through me along with my magic and I let out a strangled sob, giving in to the pull of my magic as I did.

Everything that happened next was fast.

The strangled sob that released from my body was immediately followed by a very loud explosion. White light erupted into the air, taking the form of lightning, a large bolt going straight up with smaller bolts flowing out around me. There were wisps of dark magic all around the catacomb, only visible amongst the lightning, the closest wisp only inches in front of my face.

Touch it, my magic purred. Take it, no one has to know.

Face still wet with tears, lightning still surrounding me, I slowly reached out a delicate shaking hand and touched the small wisp of darkness.

Immediately, my vision was filled with the images of Sebastian and I on that day. He was holding me from behind, guiding my wand hand as he spoke instructions into my ear.

"You have to mean it, Abbi, or it won't work." His lips were against my ear, brushing it with every word he spoke.

"Tell me the incantation," I gasped out, shivering at the sound of his voice.

I heard his small chuckle as one hand moved to my waist and pulled me closer against him. "Avada Kedavra," he whispered low, while moving my hand how it needed to. A large burst of green light erupted from my wand and I could feel the power radiate off of him.

"Avada Kedavra," I said, repeating the same movement he'd just done. Green light once again flowed freely from my wand and I gasped as the intoxicating power filled my body. His fingers flexed on my hip and he groaned approvingly in my ear.

"That's my good girl," he said lowly into my ear and I turned to see his eyes dark and hungry.

I'd shivered then just as I did now, and felt myself delight at the power he was giving me.

The images were swallowed as I hastily moved closer to the magic and inhaled. The power that this wisp provided me was incredible. The veins throbbed in delight as more magic crammed painfully into my body, the new wisp weaving it's way from my brain, to the tips of my fingers and toes. I found I didn't mind the pain, rather, I relished in it.

As quickly as it had happened, it was over. I was left laying on the ground, panting from a mix of raw emotions and the insatiable desire to find more of my own wisps of dark power, to relive those memories with Sebastian.

"Abbi?"

I sat bolt up right from my spot on the ground, looking around for him. "Sebastian?"

He came out from behind a large boulder to the left, taking in my appearance as he stepped closer to me. I worried what he would see- what he had already seen. I curled my legs into my chest and looked into his eyes.

He crouched down in front of me and I was unable to read him.

"What did you see?"

I was nervous for the answer. I'd taken wisps of dark magic in, traces of dark magic he and I had used. I'd fallen into temptation we were trying to avoid and I was worried he would scold me, that he'd agree with what Anne had been saying in their small home.

He didn't answer me right away, instead choosing to reach out and wipe the tears from my cheeks. After a long moment, he answered me, his voice holding a tone of excitement and a familiar husky drawl.

"I saw you and your beautiful, powerful magic."