Chapter 21

Her options were running out and her mission had come up unsuccessful so far. It had been four days since Sira ran out of Cal's house with a quest in her heart, a quest to get back the one she loved. She had searched everywhere she thought he could possibly be, anywhere she could possibly find him. He was nowhere to be found.

Her heart sank with her growing belief that she would never find him, that he was lost forever. She ached with her pain, her belief. As Cal had said, she couldn't afford to lose him again. But what did Cal mean? This was the first time that Scabior and she had been apart. Soon, Sira began to think that Cal didn't mean Scabior exactly, but her love for a man instead.

She had loved and lost before, her stomach churned with the thought of Sirius, still not accepting his death, but she knew that she couldn't lose again in the game of love. She just couldn't. Is this what Cal meant? That she couldn't lose again? Sira was confident in this answer.

Quickly, she started to recount her memories of where Scabior and she went, of where Scabior told her where he liked to go. Only, she had gone to each and every one of those places, all except for three: Azkaban, where they first met, Gringotts, their second meeting, and the tavern where they shared their first kiss. She doubted that he would be at Gringotts or Azkaban, so that left her with the tavern. It was her last chance.

She appeared out on the street in front of the tavern. The evening light was growing old for it was late in the day, approaching sunset. Her heart pounded in her chest, pounding with her nerves. If he was anywhere, he would be there. She jogged up to the door and pushed it open, allowing the smell of alcohol to waft out into the street. She took a deep breath and entered the tavern.

No one was in the tavern, causing it to look deserted. Her footsteps echoed off the wooden floor as she headed towards the bar. "Hello," she called loudly, her voice holding her stress as she pulled her hood lower on her head. No answer. "Hello."

A door opened and a man stepped out from a back room, his brown eyes studying her. "What can I do for you, miss?" the man, who was the bartender, asked as he walked up to the bar and started to clean a mug with a towel.

"I'm looking for someone by the name of Scabior," she said softly as she looked the bartender dead in the eye. He seemed to know the name.

"So you're the one that poor, heart-broken chap was talking 'bout," the bartender stated. "He said that you had dark-brown, curly hair, blue eyes, and were beautiful and you're all of those things." He shook his head, chuckling to himself, as he set down the mug. "I told him that you were thinking 'bout him and that, with some time, you would think it all through. So what are you doing here?"

"I messed up," Sira sighed, "and I need to talk to him. I know how I feel now and he needs to know too." The bartender smiled at her as his eyes beamed at her happily.

"His room is up the stairs and the third door on the right," he stated. She head towards the stairs and was about to climb them when she turned and gave the bartender a smile. He chuckled. "He was also right 'bout your smile." She climbed the stairs, her breathing becoming deeper and her heart hammering in her chest.

The hall was dark, the only light coming from a single window directly down the hall from her. She took a deep breath and headed for his door. Once in front of it, she stopped, frozen to the spot. Her heart raced with her emotions. Her hand rose to knock on the door, but she stopped herself before she could. Is he mad at me? She asked herself. She didn't know but she would find out soon enough. She knocked on the door.

"Go away," a voice said from within. She inhaled, as if to say something but then sighed. She didn't want to force him but he didn't even know she was here. He hand found the door knob and she tried it. It turned open easily.

"Scabior," she panted as she opened the door, her eyes filled with tears. He was there, gazing at her with his blue-grey eyes, leaning back against the pillows on his bed. Sadness, glee, and desire filled her as she closed the door. He climbed out of the bed quickly and she raced over to him, moving into his chest as his arms wrapped around her. "Scabior," she breathed again as she buried her face in his shirt, "I messed up. I messed everything up." Her tears rolled down her face. "I just can't lose you, Scabior. I love you so much and I don't know what I would do without you. I know it now, Scabior, and I don't question it anymore."

"Sira," he panted as he hugged her tighter. She shook her head.

"All I have wanted over these last few days was to have you back," she said quickly. "I've been searching and searching for you and I couldn't find you. I was running out of options and I was desperate. Oh, I'm just glad that I finally found you."

"Sira," he said again.

"I hope you're not angry with me either," she sobbed gently. "I love you and I know that I hurt you and you have the right to be angry with me for that but please don't, Scabior. Please don't be mad at me. I can't stand to see you hurt." He started to stroke her hair caressingly. "I love you, Scabior."

"Sira, listen to me," he breathed into her ear. "I'm not angry with you and I know that you 'ave 'urt from this too. You were right though, we were going too fast. I just love you so much, beautiful, that I didn't realize 'ow long we 'ave actually been together. We both made a mistake. I just 'ope we can look past this." She gazed up into his eyes. They had both suffered, they had both felt pain. The look in his eyes told her that he was confident that they would make it, that they would be okay. She gave him a sweet smile as her tears continued to fall from her eyes.

"I love you, Scabior," she whispered as his lips brushed against hers. Their mouths met in met in a sweet and tender, yet strong and passionate kiss. His breath was hot in her mouth. She weaved her hand into his hair as his hand ran down her side. She let out a little gasp as he pulled her over to the bed. She wanted his touch, his comfort, and his passion. Right now, it was all she needed.

He gently set her in the bed, not removing his mouth from hers. Her hands cupped his face, her touch sending sensations through his skin and holding her wanting. The feel of her body under his, the feel of her warmth, made his suffering vanish in an instant. His lips moved to her neck, causing her to let out a little whimper. She wanted him for he took away her pain, he ended her numbness. He pulled the covers over them as her blue eyes closed.