Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Fourty-One: Power Couple

"You heard the lady," Sebastian snapped at the portraits when he pulled away. his glowing eyes trained on Professor Rackham, both of our chests heaving for air. "Tell her what she wants to hear."

When Professor Rackham spoke, his voice was hollow and empty, his own painted eyes glowing with Sebastian's curse, and I grinned at the sight, relishing in seeing Sebastian's power over the man who attempted to control mine.

"Salazar Slytherin could wield ancient magic, that is true. He was a man most intrigued by the Dark Arts, and attempted to use the magic to strengthen the Unforgivable Curses. Though he lived long before us, we do know he was successful in using ancient magic without a wand."

I glared at the portrait before me, "And why not tell me about Slytherin?"

"We did not want you to fall to the same darkness he did," Professor Fitzgerald answered, her own hollow voice echoing around us.

"You forced me to follow your set path! To prove myself to use a gift that I was given. Exactly how did stopping me from learning more help you?"

"You did more than we ever thought possible."

"Sebastian here taught me more than you ever did," I hissed. "He showed me it's not a bad thing to give in to the Dark Arts. I doubt you ever counted on that."

They didn't answer. It made sense, it wasn't a question and they couldn't speak freely due to their state. So I rephrased.

"Why are you all so afraid of dark magic?"

"It corrupts the soul," Professor Rookwood said. I let out a yell of anger, pointed my wand at him and gave it a flick. Immediately a bind was placed over his mouth to silence him. His ghostly green eyes widened briefly before settling back into the forced nothingness I had put on him.

"I have no patience for a Rookwood!" I snarled. I turned to Professor Bakar, who Sebastian had cursed. "You killed Isadora. You prevented her from teaching me anything! Why do you get to use the Dark Arts and the rest of us don't?"

"She needed to be stopped. Using a spell considered unforgivable to get rid of evil is, in my opinion, a worthwhile trade."

"Trade?" Sebastian demanded, his own face twisted angrily. "You lot stopped her from learning to actually use her magic unless it suited you! She could have died had it not been for the things I helped her learn!"

"That is true," Professor Rackham spoke slowly, his monotonous tone sending a chill down my spine. "In all honesty, we thought our trials would result in the death of any ancient magic wielder. It had until Abigail here."

My blood went cold. My ears were ringing and my magic froze inside of me. They'd never intended to teach me anything. They'd intended me to die doing their trials, to never even realize my full potential.

I was truly played the fool.

I grabbed Sebastian's hand, and looked at the portraits again, angry tears in my eyes. I was a pawn in everyone's game; The Keepers, Natty, Professor Fig, all of Hogwarts, even Poppy and Sebastian at a time. They'd all used me for their own gain, and if it wasn't for my own power, the Keepers would have succeeded in their wish to murder me.

It was only Sebastian and Poppy that I had left.

It was only Sebastian who fully understood me.

He'd given me the tools to ensure my survival in the Keepers trials. It was my turn to ensure he survive whatever the Gaunt family was attempting to throw our way.

Giving his hand a rough pull, I started walking through the final door of the Map Chamber.

"You will all wait here, you will not go to other portraits, and you will never be free from either of us."