Marriage, Murder & Magic- [OMINIS GAUNT]

Chapter 22- The Storm Prince, and the Prince of Bleeding Hearts

"Forgive me if the answer is obvious," I whispered to Ominis, "But what exactly is it that has caused a rift between you and Sebastian? Have the two of you truly become so different?"

Ominis pressed a finger to his temple. "He and I have always been different. That's never been the problem. The problem is how after everything that's happened last year- his uncles death, and Anne being sent away- he is behaving as if nothing is wrong. It's appalling."

Sebastian did seem to be in relatively high spirits. "Perhaps he is hurting inside, and hiding it," I pointed out.

Ominis curtly replied, "Then he clearly is not hurting enough."

I heard Sebastian and Poppy giggle again- and I thought Ominis was about to explode.

"I'm sorry. I cannot focus with those two yammering," Ominis packed up his things. "I bid you farewell, my lady."

"Farewell." I watched Ominis leave and returned to my essay.

"This was lovely, but I must feed Highwing. Have a good day, Sebastian." Poppy left the library, giving me a wave as she glided by in her honey-yellow dress.

I glanced over. Sebastian was a few tables away, and his eyes were on me once again.

I adjusted my glasses and kept my eyes on my paper. However, if I was being honest with myself, I didn't want to write my essay anymore. I wanted to speak with Sebastian. But had told him to move on, and he had done just that.

To my surprise, Sebastian spoke.

"How have you been?"

I looked up. I hid my excitement behind an expression of indifference. "Fine."

"Any new leads in the investigation?"

I shook my head. "No."

Sebastian nodded. "Well, you've been busy with other things."

"As have you."

Sebastian smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, well, I'm realizing now that one can still be lonely, even while surrounded by people."

I pressed my lips together. Sebastian was indeed the Prince of Bleeding Hearts. He used charm and charisma to hide the pain inside; I could tell.

To my dismay, he rose from his chair and came over to the seat beside me. It was lunchtime, so the library crowd had thinned out considerably. Sebastian and I were the only people on the first floor.

Sebastian put his elbow on the table, and all of his attention zeroed in on me like a hawk. "I have been thinking of the investigation, and I have some theories."

I laughed dryly. "You are beginning to sound like a Ravenclaw."

"You've rubbed off on me, what can I say?" He gave me a slight smile. "Would you like to hear my thoughts?"

I couldn't think of a reason why not. It could be useful to brainstorm. "Go ahead."

"I was thinking of the strange nature of Morgana's death. Her attacker was able to vanish out of thin air, right?"

"That's correct."

"We know there's no way to apparate in the castle. In that corridor, there's no hidden passageways. You've checked it yourself. So what other options are there?"

"An invisibility potion, a disillusionment charm, an invisibility cloak, an animagus that can turn into an ant-" I began to rattle off, but Sebastian stopped me with a simple finger to my lips.

"Prisma, the answer is obvious," Sebastian said slowly, looking me in the eyes with tantalizing satisfaction. "It is Dark Magic."

I did not like that sound of that at all. The fact that he brought it up made my blood turn to ice.

When he removed his silencing finger, I whispered, "What are you doing, Sebastian?"

"What do you mean? I am helping you with the investigation."

"By suggesting Dark Magic is at hand here? I'll admit, it is a possibility, but we simply do not have the evidence pointing to that."

"That's precisely why it should be considered," Sebastian insisted. "When there is a question, Dark Magic has an answer."

"Listen to yourself, Sebastian. You sound-" I was going to say mad. But I trailed off, not wanting to finish my sentence. "I do not want to investigate Dark Magic. It has done us no good. You know that better than anyone."

Sebastian seemed a bit irritated that I would not consider his idea. But how could I? Dark Magic was the reason why his Uncle was dead. It was the reason why Anne was cursed, and why she was now living hundreds of miles away. The fact Sebastian was thinking of Dark Magic again was not a good omen.

"I'm trying to help you with what I know, and what I know is Dark Magic," he said, furrowing his brows. "You're a Ravenclaw. You love knowledge. And yet you refused to learn any curses from me."

The events of last year seemed so far away now. Sebastian had approached me many times with opportunities to learn the Imperius Curse, the Killing Curse, and the Cruciatus Curse. I had debated with myself whether or not to learn them but ultimately decided against it. "I did not want to. I still do not want to," I said.

"That's fine," Sebastian admitted. "But I can't let you overlook this possibility."

I hated it, but he had a point. "Please do not look into this," I implored him. "The thought of you researching Dark Magic again, it makes me feel-" I stopped myself. I was not sure if my opinion mattered to him at all. "Well, what does Poppy think of you researching Dark Magic?"

Sebastian reacted as though he had never heard the name. "Poppy?"

"My friend," I articulated slowly, "The one that you were holding hands with only minutes ago at that very table?"

"Oh, right. Well, I haven't told her. I figured we could keep this between us, yeah? That includes not telling Ominis."

I was conflicted. I didn't want Sebastian researching Dark Arts again. But if it meant getting closer to finding Morgana's killer, I was willing to take some extreme measures.

"Fine," I croaked. "But I don't like it. Married couples aren't supposed to keep secrets."

Sebastian laughed. "You two aren't married yet. In fact, you two act as chaste as nuns around each other."

Ominous had not kissed me since he proposed. The lack of affection had been bothering me considerably, especially because he used to kiss Morgana- more than kiss her. I knew I was not as beautiful as her, and his connection was much stronger. But I was his fiance, and I supposed I hoped that something would have happened by now.

Sebastian gave me a closed-mouth smile. "If Ominis does not kiss you, then he is as stupid as he is stubborn."

I thought for a moment I saw Sebastian's eyes trace a line to my mouth, as if he were envisioning kissing me himself. I considered what that would be like. Kissing Sebastian would be enchanting and dangerous- like playing with fire.

Sebastian's eyes went to the piece of parchment in front of me. "May I copy your essay?"

I clapped a hand over my hard work as I stuck out my tongue at him. "Not a chance."