Chapter 24 - The Lost Twin

Ominis had owled his letter to Anne and he took first watch by the fire as I lay in my bed thinking of the events of the day. Sebastian was in the other bed, and I could hear his breathing was heavy, he was in a deep sleep. After a few hours, I admitted that sleep was not going to happen for me, and I lifted myself from the bed and put my boots on once more. I peeked behind the curtain where Sebastian was sleeping and stared at his peaceful face. He looked better than when I had found him hanging from those chains, an image I would never be able to erase from my mind.

He's safe now. I reassured myself as I made my way out of the tent.

Ominis was sat by the fire reading a letter. The air was crisp and fresh, I could see the sun was just about to rise. Ominis looked up at the sound of my footsteps and I sat beside him.

"Why don't you go get some sleep? I can take the next watch."

His eyes look tired and the bruise over his eye had now properly formed. He folded the letter in his hand and returned his gaze to the fire.

"Anne has written back, she's going to meet me at the town mid-morning and then I'll bring her here, she won't be able to find us on her own."

"Is she well enough to travel?"

I remembered how Anne would struggle with basic tasks from her curse, the pain would overwhelm her at random times.

"She's travelling with a friend, and then I'll take over and help her here. She wants to see Sebastian. She feels just as guilty as us for abandoning him. I should only be gone for an hour or so, you'll need to watch over Sebastian. Try get him to drink and eat something, he is looking terribly thin."

I just nodded as he spoke. As Ominis gathered his things he turned to me before heading towards the perimeter to Dissaparate.

"We'll talk when I get back Riley."

I didn't respond and just watched him disappear through the trees. I poked the fire and started to prepare some food. I made my way into the tent with a steaming bowl of fresh stew and a goblet of water for Sebastian.

I walked slowly towards the curtain where Sebastian was laying before and poked my head around it, but he wasn't in his bed anymore.

"Sebastian?"

I walked slowly over to his bed and placed his food and water on the side table. When I turned around Sebastian was standing right behind me, so close that I could smell the soap on him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, I needed to freshen up a bit."

Sebastian was standing in just a towel in front of me, his hair was still wet from bathing himself. I couldn't help glance down at his naked chest. He was very thin and there were white scars all over his body.

He noticed my stare.

"The scars won't heal, Ominis tried both spells and Wiggenweld potion."

I slowly raised a hand to touch them, and I could hear Sebastian hitch a breath as I touched his chest. Tears swelled in my eyes. I could just imagine the pain he endured these past few months.

"I'm sorry we didn't come rescue you sooner Sebastian."

He placed a hand over mine on his chest.

"You have nothing to apologise for. I should be thanking you. I thought you had given up on me, I wouldn't blame you if you did."

I was looking up into his hazel eyes as he spoke.

"I can try heal you, I managed to heal Ominis' blindness."

I smile escaped his lips.

"I wondered how that had happened. You seem to have gotten stronger since I last saw you."

I kept my face blank and didn't return the smile. Now wasn't the time to tell him how much I had changed. About the evil that now lived within me.

"Sit down on the bed, I'll see what I can do."

Sebastian let go of my hand and sat down on the bed in front of me. I could feel my heart race quickening at the sight of him sitting in front of me, I almost wanted to run my fingers through his wet hair. I shook the thought from my head. Concentrate Riley. I slowly raised my hands so that were hovering just above Sebastian's chest, and I closed my eyes.

I willed the magic to release from my fingertips and flow into his skin. I pictured his skin and tissue beneath those scars healing, building, and repairing. I was surprised that I wasn't feeling drained, in fact I felt strong. I could hear Sebastian's steady breathing and I opened my eyes to look at him and the scars had disappeared from his chest.

He still looked pale and thin from the malnourishment. I continued to work my magic. I imagined his muscles restoring and growing stronger. His skin tone returned to a normal colour and the bags under his eyes faded. As I finished my ancient magic glowed against his skin and he stood as I put my hands down.

"That was amazing Riley, I feel like my old self," he said staring down at his chest and arms. Now that he stood before me fully, I realised how much taller he had grown in a year. His arms were more muscular than what they were before, and his shoulders were broader. He had grown into a man, no longer the boy who I used to get into trouble with at Hogwarts.

"How did you learn to do that?" I looked up at his face as I answered.

"With some practice. It usually drains me of all my energy, but I feel fine, surprisingly."

I knew this new strength was a result of me absorbing the power from the repository and it made me nervous. But at the same time, it felt amazing, I could feel its power flowing through me.

"You are wasting your ability on healing this one. We should be using our power to reshape the world." I stilled as the voice spoke within me.

"After all the pain he has caused you, you still help him. Foolish girl. You should've left him to suffer. Just as he left you."

"Riley? Are you ok?"

Sebastian brought me back to the present, and I snapped myself out of those hideous thoughts.

"You should eat something. I don't think my power can cure hunger."

As I said the words Sebastian's eyes looked over to the food and he instantly sat down on the bed and began shovelling the food into his mouth. I began to retreat when he spoke with a mouth full of food.

"Don't leave. Sit with me? Please? I want to hear about everything I've missed."

I was relieved to see him healthy once more, but the voice had reminded me of how much Sebastian had hurt me. How he had chosen to leave, not even bothering to write me to me while he was away. "Sebastian, I'm glad you are safe now. But we haven't spoken in months, and we didn't end things on the greatest of terms. Forgive me if I don't feel like catching up right now."

His eyes widened at my response, no doubt he could sense the hurt in my voice. He set the bowl down on the table.

"Riley, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so presumptuous. Of course, you're still angry with me, you have every right to be. There's just so much I want to tell you, and I didn't think I was ever going to get the chance again. I don't want to waste another minute."

I stood by the curtain entrance my arms folded as he spoke, not revealing the impact his words were having on me, I tried to maintain a straight face. I know I needed to tell Sebastian about me and Ominis, I don't know why but I felt guilty about my relationship with Ominis now. I shouldn't feel guilty, I thought to myself, it's not like Sebastian and I were anything romantic. He made that very clear when he rejected me in the library.

"Sebastian a lot has happened since you left-"

Before I could finish Sebastian's eyes turned towards the tent entrance. I also turned to see Anne Sallow standing there, with Ominis close behind her. Her eyes met mine and she gave me a soft smile before turning to look at Sebastian. Tears started to fall from her face, and she smiled at her brother. Within seconds they were in each other's arms.

"Anne? I can't believe you're here. Oh-Anne." Even Sebastian had tears in his eyes as he hugged his sister.

"Sebastian, I'm so glad you are safe. Ominis told me what happened. I was so worried."

The Sallow twins were reunited once more, I almost forgot how close they were, and it made my heart swell to see their happy tears. Despite it all, they were together again and that was all that mattered right now. I would eventually need to finish this conversation with Sebastian, but not right now. Right now, this was what was important.

I looked over at Ominis by the tent entrance and he gestured for me to follow him, to give the Sallow twins some time together.

We walked in silence towards the edge of our perimeter and sat on some rocks by a stream that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. I hadn't acknowledged the beauty of this spot that Ominis had taken us to after rescuing Sebastian. There was something peaceful about this place. Ominis took note of me taking in the surroundings and answered my internal thoughts.

"We used to come here during the summer break me and the Sallow family. When their parents were still alive, they would invite me on their annual family camping trip. This was the first place I could think of that would be safe. I always felt safe here, it felt like home. Anne, Sebastian, and I would play in this stream for hours on end."

I smiled at the thought of the three of them playing in the stream as young children. I could imagine Anne and Sebastian splashing Ominis and their laughter echoing through the trees.

"I'm sorry about earlier Riley. I said some really hurtful things to you."

I was still angry with him, even his apology now I was struggling to accept.

"This is a lot for me to process and I'm feeling confused to be honest with you. So much has changed in forty-eight hours. Our lives have changed overnight, and I feel like the teenagers in the Undercroft from two nights ago are no more."

I gulped at his mention of our intimate moment, something that had been weighing on my mind since.

"I wish we could go back to that moment, but that's selfish of me to think like that." His words started to cool my anger.

"I don't regret that evening in the Undercroft with you Ominis."

He looked at me and reached for my hands slowly, cautiously.

"Neither do I. But something has shifted between us Riley, I can feel it."

I snapped my hands away.

"It's because of this thing inside of me, isn't it? Ever since I told you what it was. Even back at The Blackhand's camp, you immediately thought the worst of me Ominis, it's clear that I frighten you. Do you regret it? Do you regret deciding to come with after Sharp said that I needed to run?"

Angry tears had formed in my eyes and my heart was beating fast.

"I don't regret my decision, Riley. That's not the reason..."

I stood up in frustration and paced along the edge of the stream.

"Don't lie to me Ominis, you can barely touch me without wincing, I can see the pain in your eyes when you do." He is also stood now, and his voice was firmer.

"I said that's not the reason Riley, you're not listening to me."

I kicked at some stones in the stream and shouted at him.

"Then what is it?"

He just stared at me as he spoke calmly.

"It's Sebastian."

I quietened at the mention of his name.

"I see the way you look at him Riley." I remained still as he continued.

"I told you that I was jealous of how close you and Sebastian were in fifth year. You barely spoke to me unless it was about him. Only when he was out of the picture did you notice me. I felt like a second choice, but I didn't care, because we became close, and I was completely captivated by you. I had fallen in love with you."

His face was filled with such sincerity, his words even more so that they tugged at my heart, and I felt guilty for my angry outburst.

"These past few months have awoken something in me, not just because of having my sight, but you have awoken something in me. A lust for life, something I thought I'd never have. I even asked your father for his blessing to ask for your hand in marriage when I met your parents during the Easter break."

I was in shock at his confession and didn't say a word, all the anger within me had subsided. Ominis walked up to me and held my hands once more and raised them to his lips, placing a soft kiss on them.

"I am in love with you Riley Dagworth. How could I not be?"

Tears were streaming down my face now and I just stared up into those green eyes.

"But I'm not blind," he said with a smirk, "I see how you look at Sebastian, and how I wish you would look at me like that."

The small smile he had on his face had now faded and we stood in silence for a moment, only the slight breeze through the branches of the trees could be heard.

"Ominis, I don't know what to say. I have struggled with my feelings with Sebastian, he hurt me by leaving and then ignoring me all those months before he got captured. But I do care for you, you have made me so happy these past few months. With you I feel like I don't have the weight of the world on my shoulders and that I can just be an ordinary teenage girl. It's easy with you Ominis and in time love will grow." There was no point in lying. I was not in love with Ominis.

A sad smile appeared on his face, and he embraced me tightly after placing a kiss on my forehead.

"You are far beyond ordinary Riley, you are an incredible woman, don't you ever think otherwise. I have no doubt that we would've had a very content life together, but you deserve so much more. Love isn't meant to be easy. Love is meant to be hard, it's meant to challenge you, inspire you and bring out the best version of yourself. You've done that for me, but I don't think I'm the man to do that for you."

His words reminded me of what my mother had said to me during our last visit. I just let the tears run onto his shirt as we held each other. I couldn't deny it anymore, as much as I cared for Ominis, I wasn't in love with him. As much as it made me feel guilty, I knew I still had feelings for Sebastian, even after all the hurt, and I couldn't hide that from Ominis. I couldn't hide that from myself anymore.

"I'm so sorry Ominis."

He pulled me apart from our embrace and held tightly onto my shoulders.

"Don't be sorry about anything. I have no regrets, and for what it's worth I'm glad we were each other's firsts."

I smiled at him and responded, "Me too."

"What the hell did you just say?"

Our moment was interrupted by Sebastian glaring at us from a few meters away with Anne looking like a scared doe, behind him, not a muscle moving. Ominis and I had been so engrossed in our conversation that we didn't even hear them approaching. Ominis stared wide-eyed at his friend who looked like he wanted to strangle him.

"How much did you hear?"

Sebastian's fists were clenched and there was a look of pure rage on his face.

"I heard enough to know that you two have slept together. Since when were you two a thing?"

He said that last word with such disgust, but I was relieved to know that Sebastian and Anne hadn't heard our entire conversation, it was private and not meant for their ears. Evidently, they had heard the very last part and there was no hiding from it.

"Sebastian we can explain-"

Before Ominis could finish his sentence Sebastian marched up to him and swung a fist at his face. I heard a cracking sound and Ominis' nose was now bleeding.

"Sebastian stop it!" Anne shouted at him.

Ominis just cupped at his nose where blood was now pooling. Sebastian stepped forward to hit him once more, but I quickly stood between them.

"Enough Sebastian! Who the hell do you think you are? Whatever has happened between me and Ominis is none of your concern. You left us remember? You chose to leave, never ever bothered to write to us. Don't you dare act like you care now."

My breathing was heavy, I couldn't believe this reaction from Sebastian, I'd never seen him so angry. Not even that night he killed his uncle. My words seemed to hit him, and he just stared at me, his breathing heavy too. Anne took the opportunity to rush over to Ominis to help him with his bleeding nose. I could hear her uttering a spell to reset his nose and he yelped in pain. Sebastian and I just stared at each other, anger fuelling us both.

"Let's all just take a breath here and calm down." Anne's voice of reason broke the staring contest between me and Sebastian.

"Let's head back to campsite, we all have a lot to talk about apparently." I rolled my eyes at Sebastian and stormed off.

"Riley, please come back?" I could hear Anne calling after me.

"I don't feel like talking right now!" I shouted back and I stomped over to the other side of the perimeter where I could have some peace with my thoughts.

I found a cluster of boulders and perched upon one of them. Why had Sebastian reacted like that? How dare he acts like he cares for me, after leaving and ignoring me for months. I could only understand his silence these last few months because he was captured. I tried to put myself in his shoes, his friends getting cosy while he was being tortured. Still, did he really expect us all to be one big happy family once he returned? My mind was in a flutter, and I groaned in frustration into my hands. I was still heartsore from my conversation with Ominis. He was my support pillar and I felt like I had now lost that. Then I felt selfish for just thinking of Ominis as a support pillar. Had I been using him these past few months? To try and forget Sebastian? Was I no better than Sebastian who had done the exact same thing to me? I couldn't think straight, besides all this drama there was still the issue of the Ministry and The Blackhand, both out to capture me, although the former group was less frightening than the latter.

"I am getting bored with these adolescent activities. Just kill both of these boys and be done with these distractions."

The parasite within spoke and it only triggered my emotive state even more so.

"SHUT UP!"

I screamed out loud as I stood and a bolt of energy pulsated through me, escaping through my hands as I angled the eruption towards a nearby tree. The blast made the tree catch alight and topple over. I fell to me knees panting, the voice went quiet and just the sound of wood crackling in the fire could be heard.

After a minute I saw all three of my friends rushing up to me, they had heard my shouting and no doubt the tree crashing. Ominis and Sebastian surveyed the scene, and it was Anne who made her way to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Come Riley, I think we all need to have a long talk."

I nodded and as I stood, she gave me a big hug and I felt instantly calm.