POV ADA MARROW
Lodgok was dead, killed by his own brother's hand and even after that I had to move on to the third trial. Ranrok knows where the last repository is. He knows but I found myself redirecting my broom from returning to the map chamber rushing to the Feldcroft Catacombs. I had received Ominis's Howler. Sebastian had gone without us, calling Anne to him.
I swooped down, abandoning my broom on the ground as I sprinted up the hill to the entrance. I stopped Ominis and Anne outside. Anne looked worriedly at the barricade sealing the catacomb shut while Ominis started pacing.
"What happened? Ominis, Anne, where's Sebastian?!"
"Ada, I'm glad you're here, he's in the catacomb." Ominis gripped at his wand, "You promised you'd keep him from acting recklessly."
"I know, it's my fault but it seems I underestimated his determination to cure Anne."
"I have to go. I can't be here." I looked at Anne seeing her pull away from us, she looked pale as a ghost as she rushed off.
"I should have stopped him originally, We need to go in, Sebastian is in danger, the entire catacomb is swarming with Inferi!"
"Inferi?!"
"It has something to do with that damn relic, creating Inferi is already incredibly dark magic but controlling them? We need to go in now."
"Let's go."
The inferi didn't appear until we reached the first small room of the catacomb. I had dealt with Inferi before. They were easy to dispatch, once fire had started consuming them like kindling. The issue came when they'd appear in hordes, Ominis and I stuck close together, keeping the hoards from overpowering either of us. I had been worried about him, but my worry was unfounded.
He was just as skilled in wand combat as Sebastian was. If not more accurate with his shot. The last one fell and I sighed in relief, "We can move on now."
"Hold on," I stopped looking back at him, "I didn't realize it because I was too worried about Sebastian but Annes' gone to get Solomon!"
I felt my blood run cold, breath sucking in. "Solomon said he'd go to the Headmaster if either of us were caught using dark magic again."
"I need to get to Professor Black first, to twist the story to make it seem like it's a family issue. Ada you need to find him and talk some sense into him."
"I will, Ominis you need to go and hurry."
"Be careful Ada." Ominis turned leaving me to delve deeper into the Catacomb. There were times I had almost gotten overwhelmed by the sheer amount of them, The Inferi were unmatched in strength but incredibly, happily, slow. The final blow I let loose an inferno surrounding me, almost consuming the room.
"Sebastian!" I called out, where was he? I had to go deeper. I had to find him. Then I found him, murmuring over the relic as he was surrounded by docile Inferi. "Sebastian!" His head snapped up looking back at me, his eyes going wide.
"What are you doing here?"
"I should be the one asking why you didn't call for me! I had to find out from Ominis that you were here. Without us!"
"Ominis wouldn't come! I had to do this. The relic is the key, with it I can control Annes' curse just as I control the Inferi."
"Sebastian you're not controlling them all. I had to fight hordes just to get to you! You're putting the entire Feldcroft region in danger-" I was shocked as the relic was snatched from his hand by magic. I was horrified to see Solomon there.
"You've gone too far boy!" His wand pointed to the relic. Sebastian took a step forward towards his uncle.
"Solomon, no!" The relic disintegrated in his hand, "NO! You'll pay for this!" The destruction of the relic brought upon us more danger and problems. Sebastian launched a basic cast at Solomon and seemed to be what finally flipped the man's switch. I had been dragged into it. Even when Sebastian was down, I had to be quick to dodge Solomon's spells and the Inferis' attacks.
I was thankful for my escapades the last few months, if it wasn't for the raids or the experience fighting Inferi I wouldn't have lasted long. Though, it would have been greatly appreciated if the Inferni would stop replacing the ones I had taken down. It was overwhelming, I made a mistake and Solomon caught me. The force of the spell sent me across the room, back slamming into the stone wall. It knocked my breath from my lungs. Pain spread over my back, I watched Sebastian blocking me from the Inferni, brandishing his wand at his uncle.
"You must stop this Sebastian! She can't be healed!"
"I won't allow her to suffer any longer! Avada Kedavra!" MY eyes widened, watching the unforgivable hit Solomon dead on. His Body dropped lifeless to the ground.
POV SEBASTIAN SALLOW
What had I done, my body felt numb. Seeing Solomon still on the ground, regret washed over me. I dropped my wand, about to walk towards him.
"Depulso!"
I was launched off across the room shoulder hitting into the stone wall. I groaned, holding my arm, looking at Anne. Tears stained her face, dropping down to her knees next to Solomon's body.
"Anne." She looked to me then to the book, "Wait no-"
"Confringo!" The book was struck and burst into flames.
"NO!" I lurched forward, then doubled over in pain, my hand gripped onto my arm. "Anne, what have you done!"
"I've done what should have been done from the beginning." Her eyes held a burning hatred. No, no, no not her she can't hate me.
"Anne-" She kneeled down and apparated away with our Uncle's body. My mind raced, she was gone. I couldn't save her now and I had come to the conclusion after my talk with Ada that she couldn't save her either.
Anne didn't have the time to wait for Ada to master that magic that Isadora wanted us to see. Wanted her to see. My body moved on its own, seeing Adas wide eyes as she started to rise to her feet.
"Sebastian..."
"I can't stay here." I had to find my sister, my feet moved on their own.
"Sebastian, wait!" Adas' cries fell on deaf ears, the world warped around me. Everything had fallen apart in my hands, I had ruined everything. The catacomb felt suffocating and even when I left the fresh cold air I sucked into my lungs burned. Her hand was on me grabbing mine.
"Sebastian!"
"Annes' withering away, inside and out... Solomon... Solomon never cared about us. You saw it didn't you? He attacked us! I had to use the curse, if I hadn't known it he would have ruined Annes' life." My voice was cracking, tears falling down my face. I had killed my Uncle and I was in denial.
"Sebastian, you attacked him first! How can you even justify what you did? You killed your Uncle!"
"Ada! He was launching spells at us indiscriminately! Every attack was aimed right at us! He tried burning you alive with a Flame Vortex of all spells!" He had tried to hurt Ada, even when she wasn't involved with this. The look Ada gave me was of hesitance. She wanted to agree, but I had done something I couldn't take back.
"I'm sorry Sebastian but you went too far." She murmured, her hand let go of mine.
"I... I'm not myself... I need to find Ominis, I need to go."
"Sebastian, please don't-'' I pulled away from her, I couldn't look at her. Her eyes held to much disappointment at my actions; I couldn't stand to see her look at me like that. How had such admiration and adoration turned to disappointment.
"I'll meet with you later at the Undercroft."
POV OMINIS GAUNT
I paced back and forth, he had been trying to justify everything, but he had used an unforgivable. The most heinous unforgivable, he had killed their Uncle.
"Sebastian you can't justify what you did! Annes' already buried Solomon, she wants to turn you into the authorities!"
"She what?" He sounded bewildered, he had come to me not in his right mind telling me what had happened, how Solomon was attacking them indiscriminately. How he had tried to hurt Ada despite her not being involved with what he had done. How Ada had gotten knocked back about to be overrun by the Inferi and Solomon had only watched as they surrounded her. I couldn't tell what was the truth or a lie. Anne hadn't seen what had happened from the start, only Sebastian casting that damn curse on Solomon.
"She wants to turn you in and I'm half inclined to agree with her."
"I need to talk with her, tell her what happened!"
"She doesn't want to see you Sebastian."
"But-"
He silenced himself, and I grew quite as well. Hearing the gate to the Undercroft open. Ada's familiar steps were heard against the stone floor. I stayed silent and walked off away from him. Standing to the side to clear my head.
POV ADA MARROW
I approached Sebastian quickly, taking his hands, "Ada, I've messed up."
"It's okay-"
"No it's not! I've killed Solomon, Anne wants nothing to do with me... I've lost my twin..." My hands moved up to hold his face, watching the array of emotions twist it. I saw the regret in his eyes, the pain and loss.
"Ominis said Anne wants to turn me in..." His voice was strained, the words made my stomach drop. After seeming Azkaban for myself, I could never wish that upon Sebastian.
"I... No, you're not going to Azkaban. I'll talk with Ominis, just go back to your common room and get some rest." His hand ran through his hair,
"I... I can't believe I killed him." His voice was so soft... He squeezed my hand and pulled away leaving Ominis and I alone in the Undercroft.
I looked at Ominis, he was silent. Leaning against the crates, thinking of what to do. I approached slowly.
"Ominis..."
"Don't tell me you've come to justify what he's done Ada."
"No, I can never justify what he's done but he doesn't deserve Azkaban Ominis." He stiffened, I assumed Sebastian and told him about our visit to the prison. "I need you to convince Anne to not turn him in."
"Ada, he killed someone."
"Ominis, so have I. Not with a killing curse but you know I've raided camps of terrible people and killed them."
"That's different."
"No Ominis it's not, not in the eyes of Ministry I'm still killing people. It doesn't matter if they're crooks or poachers. Ominis, Sebastian clearly shows regret for what he did. He's so rattled by what happened, I believe he wouldn't dare use that curse again."
"Ada, these curses leave a stain on your mind. They take bits of your soul with every use."
"It was a crime of passion, he doesn't deserve it." I took his hands, holding them tight. "Please Ominis, please, Annes' already lost her Uncle. She needs Sebastian. WE need Sebastian." He was silent, his face was softening with every word. His hands gripped mine harder.
"I'll talk with Anne, Ada I can't make any promises."
"Thank you." I lifted his hands to my mouth and kissed his knuckles, holding onto him tight.
—-
I had to visit the keepers after talking with Ominis, where I learned that I needed to take these pensive fragments to Ollivanders for a wand to be crafted. I sent Sebastian an owl, asking him to meet me at the wand shop. I needed his support. He did meet me there, waiting right outside the shop. His hair was a mess, he looked exhausted and the darkness under his eyes stuck out against the pale skin and freckles.
I explained the situation in more detail and he let me speak with the wand maker. Ollivander agreed to make the wand, leaving us to pace in his closed shop. I stuck close to Sebastian, my nervousness almost overwhelming me. I had to get to that Repository first, if Ranrok gained control of it it would mean an endless war. It meant death for everyone. I felt his hand reach up. Slipping along my neck to lightly massage the nape of my neck.
"Ada, it'll be alright. You can do this." His voice was soft, he wasn't smiling but I didn't expect him to. He had been through so much in such a short amount of time.
"Thank you, for everything Sebastian. I couldn't have gotten here without your help." I took his hand. Then looked up hearing Ollivander exit his back room, a wand box in hand.
"Now I'm sure you're already aware of this. This wand has only one purpose and can't be used for anything else."
"Yes sir." I murmured, "Thank you." I pulled from Sebastian and took the box from the older man, holding it close.
"Be careful my young friend."
"I will." I looked back to Sebastian, he nodded and held the door open for me and we walked out of the shop. The streets were oddly quiet for once and we were stopped right outside the shop. Victor Rookwood approached, wand held loosely in his hand.
"You are a difficult Witch to find."
I brandished my wand to him and saw Sebastian do the same.
"Now, no need for that. I've come to make a deal. You see our interests are aligned now."
"I will never align with the likes of you."
POV SEBASTIAN SALLOW
"I'll never align with the likes of you." Ada said, voice harsh and unwavering.
"So you will just let a Goblin claim all that wizard magic?" He hissed at her.
"Neither of you will wield that magic! I'll be sure of it until my last breath."
He scoffed, "I should have known better than to reason with a damn child." He paced us slowly, like a predator looking down at its prey. Disgust covered his face, hatred in his eyes.
"That magic is my birthright!"
"That magic belongs to no one!"
I kept my wand pointed at him, keeping an eye on his wand. He paced, frustration outlining his face.
"Well as I always say..." He stopped, facing us, "Children should be seen, not heard." My heart skipped a beat, taking me off guard. No, it was always the goblins! Anne only saw goblins that night but here the proof was. Victor Rookwood cursed my sister. I had only let my guard down for a second and someone grabbed onto Ada.
"Ada!" My head snapped to where she had been, she was gone. Then Victor Rookwood was gone. They took her, I've lost Anne and now I've lost Ada. I had to find Professor Fig.