Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Thirty: Aurora

"He's always a prat. It was more serious than that. He mentioned the Dark Arts, Abbi."

I nodded once before looking around me and seeing the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy and coming to an abrupt halt. Grabbing Sebastian by the hood of his robes, I jerked him backwards.

"Merlin, Abbi!" He sputtered out, yanking his robes back down, away from his throat. He glanced at the blank wall before us.

"I'll teach you how to get in. I didn't really explain that part last time we were here."

He nodded, looking around to make sure we were completely alone.

"You have to walk up and down the wall three times, picturing clearly exactly what it is you're wanting. To get into my space, I picture the Vivariums and my potion stations, and I think about being happy."

He watched me with inquisitive eyes, stepping back and gesturing me forward as if to say after you. I began my usual pace along the wall, but as I reached him, standing at the halfway point, I took his hand and laced my fingers through his.

"You're going to do it with me," I insisted. He squeezed my hand tightly in his, and fell into pace with me. I closed my eyes, thinking of the magical room, seeing my beasts, seeing Sebastian sitting on the sofa, seeing him mixing potions for me at the stations in the lower room, a small niche corner full of all the books he could ever possibly want to read.

The sound of metal scraping forward from stone made me open my eyes. I smiled warmly at Sebastian as I pulled him into the room. He followed quickly, but when my grip on his hand slackened so he could let go if he wanted, he held it tighter.

I closed the door quickly behind us, listening to the room reseal itself. Sebastian followed my lead, smiling a little as I pulled him excitedly into the center of the room, and held my arms out for him to take in the entire thing.

"Here we are," I said, proudly. "Welcome back."

He stepped closer to me, brushing hair from my face. I flushed at the proximity, my heart rate picking up dramatically as he trapped me between his body and the large table occupying the center of the room. "You never cease to amaze me, you know that?"

"I- I haven't done anything that impressive," I say, looking into his brown eyes. "I just showed you how to get in here."

He shook his head, leaning his head down to the space is so often occupied below my ear. "You really have no idea, do you?"

Gulping, I shook my head. He just let out a breathy chuckle, his lips gently grazing the skin there. I shivered at the contact, a small gasp escaping my lips. "You have no idea the affect you have," I teased, tilting my head slightly to offer him more access.

Instead, he pulled away, allowing that smirk I loved so much to be seen. I frowned at the cold air hitting my neck where his lips had just grazed. Cat and mouse, as always, but my heart stayed full all the same. This was us.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, his heavy brows shadowing his brown eyes.

It was my turn to lean forward now, my lips reaching the soft skin on his jaw. They danced gingerly, floating there, close enough that I could graze the skin, but far enough away to just make you think you could feel them. I smiled at his shaky breath and when I glanced down I saw his hands clenching into fists over and over.

"We should talk about it," he whispered, his voice low, his eyes closed.

I ripped away from him, my eyes narrowed. Why of all damn times did he have to choose now to want to talk about it? We could talk about it later, and enjoy this space of time without Poppy or Ominis. We could see if either of us would actually leap over that invisible line we put in place. Instead, he wanted to talk about Arcturus Black. Glaring, I slipped out from under his arm, crossing over to the sofas we had sat on last time we were in here. He blinked after me, watching as I crossed my arms and pointed to the seat across from my chosen cushion.