Sebastian breathes softly at my back, his face nuzzled into the crook of my neck, his hands at my waist holding me, as if to keep me in place. I lean back to settle against him, despite the uncomfortable warmth I’m already feeling from the heat of the day. Outside the window, the sun has already begun to set, and something buzzes in the back of my mind, warning me that this is wrong.
Sebastian lets out a quiet moan, pulling me in more closely, his hands slipping beneath the hem of my nightgown. A slight breeze blows, ringing the chimes I’ve hung outside my bedroom window, their melody soft and sweet. I glance towards the clothesline where the towels hang, and just from the way they move, I can tell they’ve long ago dried. On the walls, I can see a spectrum of colors where the crystals of my wind chimes catch the sun’s lights.
A soft knock comes at my door, and the rattling of the doorknob shortly after.
The sun is setting! And Sebastian is still in his human form. I push myself away from him, knocking him off the bed. He hits the ground with a loud thud, followed by a groan.
“Clara?” It’s Maria.
I hear the click of the lock.
“Clarita? Are you okay? You would have to be on your deathbed to have skipped your chores this morning. I came in to check-” She grunts, as she struggles to pull the door open, which I hold shut with an earth spell, using the existing wood of the door to expand in the door frame.
“Maria,” I cough, to hide Sebastian’s moans.
Sebastian struggles on the ground, trapped between the narrow space of the wall and the bed.
“What is wrong with this-” Maria grunts as she slams her body against the door. “-DOOR!”
“I’ll be right there,” I call out, running around the bed to help Sebastian get to his feet. “Sometimes it gets a little stuck.”
She strikes the door again. Sebastian scoffs, then looks at me in disbelief. I pull his collar, so that we’re at eye level.
“Owl,” I hiss. “Now.”
He rolls his eyes, and smirks just before getting into his animal form. I release the spell on the door, and Maria comes stumbling through it at full speed, running into the wall just opposite the door by the staircase. Quickly, I cast a warming spell on my body, dampen my face with a water spell, dive into my bed, faking one final cough to complete my performance.
“You shouldn’t!” I shout, dramatically. “You don’t want to catch whatever this is.”
Maria hesitates on the final step up the staircase then glances around the room, her eyes landing on Sebastian who’s managed to jump into his cage and lock it in seconds. He coos quietly, and ruffles his feathers.
“Is that an owl?”
I turn towards Sebastian’s cage, then back at her. “Yes.”
“You have a pet owl?”
I blink several times before responding, and only after Sebastian screeches do I respond. “Oh! Yes. This is Baz.”
“Is he… friendly?”
“Ye-” Sebastian screeches, and hisses, flapping his wings. “Uh- He’s not in the mood for guests, it seems.”
Maria approaches cautiously, sitting at the edge of the bed, and feeling my head for fever. Wiping her hands on her apron of my ‘sweat’, she gives me a pitying look.
“Were you studying again?”
She stands, then takes one of the towels hanging on the clothesline with her into my small bathroom. I hear the faucet squeak as she turns it. She returns with a cold, damp towel, and presses it to my forehead.
“No,” I respond.
Sebastian coos quietly as flashbacks of last night return to me; A flurry of touching, kissing, and passion. I blush as Sebastian’s and my feelings mix to form a painful swelling in my chest, making my heart pound, and my body heat up like a furnace.
“Should I bring some food up for you? I think I can scrounge up something for you from the leftovers.”
I nod, giving her my best sorrowful eyes. She runs a hand over my head, giving me a sad smile, then gets to her feet, looking over at Sebastian once more.
“Does your owl need anything?”
“I just let him out to hunt at night.”
She nods, then disappears down the stairs. When the door clicks shut, Sebastian twitters, almost laughing.
“What?” I grumble.
“Last night.”
I pull the covers over my face, groaning. “We shouldn’t have done that.”
“You were able to use your magic.”
“I wouldn’t have had to if we’d just-”
The door opens, making us both tense. I heave a sigh of relief when it’s just Miguel. He rushes up the stairs, smiling when he spots me, his eyes immediately falling on Sebastian’s cage.
“Clara, I didn’t see you all day.”
He waits at the top step for permission to enter. I wave him over with a roll of my eyes. He excitedly rushes in, and sits at the foot of the bed, where he has easier access to Sebastian’s cage. I shake my head, amused, as he pokes his finger into the cage. Sebastian rubs his cheek against his finger, cooing softly, and nipping at him playfully.
“Can I play with him, Clara?” he asks, excitedly. “I promise I’ll be good.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about.”
Sebastian tilts his head, and blinks several times, looking so innocent, even I almost fall for his little trick.
“Baz is a good boy, aren’t you, Bazzy?”
Sebastian coos in response, then looks me dead in the eyes. Again, there are flashes of last night. I choke on my gasp, then cough to hide it.
“Go ahead. Be careful of his claws. They’re very sharp.”
Miguel struggles with the latch, and I give Sebastian a warning look when he pecks at the lock, helping him open it. Luckily, Miguel doesn’t notice, simply rejoicing when the cage door swings open, and Sebastian steps gingerly onto Miguel’s wrist. Miguel holds him close to his chest. Sebastian presses his cheek to his, twittering joyfully, then gliding to the bedroom floor. He flaps his wings wildly, making Miguel squeal with joy.
A few minutes later, they play a game of tag around the small room. Miguel catches him on the clothesline, Sebastian slaps him with a wing as Miguel runs out of the bathroom, and on and on it goes until the door opens again. Maria watches in shock, and I’m afraid she’ll drop the tray.
“Maria,” I call her.
She blinks several times, then steps towards me, placing a tray of food in front of me as I sit up, flinching when Miguel approaches her with Sebastian now perched on his shoulder.
“Hola, Señora Maria,” says Miguel, with a slight nod.
“Hola, Señorito Miguel, what are you doing bothering poor Clara when she’s sick?” She eyes Sebastian cautiously.
Miguel looks up at Sebastian, and Sebastian immediately presses his cheek to his, cooing softly. “I just wanted to check up on her, and see Baz.”
“Well, you should be getting ready for dinner, and let Clara alone to recover, so she won’t miss out on tomorrow’s work, isn’t that right, Clara?”
Sebastian screeches, sending Maria backwards towards the door.
“Baz,” I hiss softly. “It’s alright. She’s right. I know you like Miguel, but we’ll see him again, right?”
Miguel flashes Sebastian a toothy grin, and Sebastian takes a tuft of his hair into his beak, and tugs it lightly. “Clara and Maria are right. Clara needs to get better. We should let her eat, and get some rest. I’ll see you again soon, Baz.”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Miguel walks over to Sebastian’s cage, holding his hand towards his perch. Sebastian walks carefully down his arm, taking his place on the small perch, and staring up at Miguel with big gleaming eyes. Miguel rubs Sebastian’s head for a short period before finally shutting the cage, and joining Maria at the stairs.
“If you’re not feeling well by tomorrow morning, I’ll fetch you a healing draught from the market,” says Maria.
“I’ll be fine,” I reassure her. “I took one this morning.”
“I hope you feel better, Clara,” says Miguel, quietly. “I’ll see you, Baz. Take good care of Clarita.”
“He won’t,” I say, with a laugh.
Sebastian lets out a screech, causing Maria to pull Miguel out, and shut the door quickly.
Once they’re gone, Sebastian lifts the latch of the lock on his cage, flies to the railing by the stairs, and disappears behind it. I hear the distinct lock of the door, and the puff of air as he returns to his human form. He takes each step slowly, and deliberately, his golden eyes watching me carefully, like a predator corning its prey.
“Quieres continuar where we left off?”
“Is it mating season or something?” I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.
He chuckles. “What if it is?”
“I’d lock you out of the attic until it was over.”
“So mean. You’d do that to me? You know I could never find anyone else when I have you.”
“I’m lucky I didn’t get myself in trouble for missing work.”
I get out of bed, ripping the sheets off the mattress and placing them in a wash basin. From the bathroom, I pull out a glass bottle of homemade laundry detergent from the medicine cabinet, and pour a small amount over the sheets. Then, I fill the basin with water from the sink I carry over with a spell, heating it until it’s steaming. Sebastian follows me with his eyes, taking a seat at my study desk, and leaning back against the chair. Setting the basin at the foot of the bed, I begin to stomp away at sheets.
“You know,” he says, watching the water slosh inside the basin. “The last time we did that, you had powerful magic for ye-”
“It was a mistake.”
“If it’s a mistake, why does it always work, and feel so incredible? I feel my own powers surging, like electricity in my fingertips.”
“We shouldn’t. It was stupid.”
“How long will you work here? It’s been years.”
“Feel free to go home, and return to our old life, then.”
“Clara…” He leans over in his seat, resting his elbows in his lap. “You know I could never leave you.”
“I wish you could. I wish we both could. This life doesn’t feel as if it’s worth living.”
“We should go to the mainland. Then we wouldn’t…”
I look up at him, so shocked, my mouth falls open. “Have you lost your mind, Baz? I’d be taken as a slave! The dark elves are out there hunting my kind down, and-”
“Madam Beatrice just came from the mainland, didn’t she?”
“Madam Beatrice is rich! I have nothing.”
Sebastian gestures towards my feet, reminding me to continue stomping on the bedcovers. I sigh, disgruntled. He rushes to me, pushes me aside, and takes over. I watch him, reminded of the times when we were younger splashing cold water on each other by the river to cool ourselves from the sweltering summer heat.
“We shouldn’t have done that,” he murmurs. “You’re right. I’m sorry. There’s just this…”
“Pull.”
His stomping slows, a smile creeping over his face. “I wish that I could go back, and change things.”
“And not become my familiar?” I tease him, poking one finger into his arm.
“No, before that. I wish I’d never let Selene into the underworld to retrieve Gaia’s soul. I’d still be guarding the underworld instead of having to put up with you, and your…” He gestures vaguely at me.
“You are kind, Sebastian.” I run a finger along his cheek, pushing his hair aside so that I can glimpse his smile. “You cannot help it. It’s woven into you, into your existence. Your soul.”
“Yes, woven in after you ripped me apart to fit your stitches, Clarita.”
“Hmm,” I hum, turning toward the full length mirror angled to reflect the view outside the window. “You never fought too hard.”
“How could I? I’m powerless against you.”
I lean back, propping myself against my elbows, staring up at his face. His eyes trail over my body, then back up at my eyes, and I know the look on his face is one of love. Pure love. Unconditional love. His lip twitches, forming a small smile, then he sighs.
“We should make you a contraceptive, for last night.” He sighs.
“Right, I should go out, and… wait, I can’t. I’m sick.”
“I’ll go. I’ll be quick.”
“I’ll make you a list.”
“I’ve got a list.”
I feel the blood rush out of my cheeks. “You have a list?”
“I’ll be back. Finish washing the sheets.”
The bed sheets billow in the light breeze. I stare out the window, waiting for a small dot to appear against the darkening skies painted in shades of pinks and blues. Exhaustion washes over me so suddenly, I can only catch my head as it falls, nearly hitting the window sill, then shift in my seat, so I’m forced to sit more upright. I should be practicing spells, not waiting on Sebastian to return, but I cannot help but worry about it. He looks unusual in a place like this. He speaks differently from the people around here. It was the one bad thing about being so far from…
There’s a small tap on the window. I open it, and Sebastian hops in, flies towards the center of the room, then returns to his human form. He seems grateful I’ve already got a pot of water boiling. He pulls a small paper package from his pocket, tipping the contents into the boiling pot, then mixes, and waits, taking a seat on the floor, leaning against the bed frame.
“Did you have trouble?” I ask. “It took a bit longer than usual.”
“I saw your father at the market.”
I grip the chair’s armrests, pushing myself to my feet so suddenly, I manage to startle Sebastian.
“He didn’t see me,” he reassures me. “But I couldn’t just transform, and leave in the middle of a crowd.”
“Why was he there? It’s so far from home.”
“He claims he was looking for his daughter.”
“I’m not his daughter anymore. Did he forget? He’s the one that proclaimed it loudly for all my family to hear.”
“Clari,” he sighs, giving the pot another stir. “You know he didn’t mean that.”
“How would you know?”
“I was there, remember? Even you said some things you regret.”
“I-...” I fall silently into the chair, then watch him, his eyes glinting with the glow of the fireplace. “Why did you buy the premade stuff? It’s expensive.”
“It’s expensive, but fast. I didn’t think you’d want to wait several days for your own to be completed, seeing as it’ll be too late by then. You should keep it around, anyway. I don’t trust you or your Master William, anyway.”
“Baz!” I gasp. “He would never.”
“You’re right, he wouldn’t. You, on the other hand…” He laughs, giving me a knowing smirk.
I dash towards him, punching his upper arm, causing him to wince. “You’re the worst, you know that! You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“I’m just joking,” he grumbles, rubbing his arm.
“Besides,” I murmur, sitting down next to him, pulling my knees to my chest. “I would never.”
“Are you upset about it?”
“No,” I murmur, burying my face into my knees.
Sebastian stirs the pot once more, then takes a small amount of the liquid into the spoon, looks it over several times, then pours the contents into a small cup I’d left by the fireplace. He hands it to me, and I can feel him resisting the urge to tell me to be careful because it's hot. Taking it gingerly from his hands, I blow on it, sending a cloud of steam up to warm my face. I set it aside, and wait for it to cool.
“You have bottles for the rest?” he asks, getting up, and pulling the pot off the fire, setting it over a rug beyond the wall of bedsheets that divide the room.
“I do. They’re in a box under the bed.”
He reappears, then kneels over to get the box. I lean back, and watch him as he sets it over the table, and counts the bottles, looking slightly disappointed.
“There’s more,” I inform him.
He kneels again, pulling out the second box, and setting it down on the bed next to the other. He disappears behind the bed sheet curtain once more, then returns with a mortar and pestle, placing the heavy marble device into my hand. Inside the well is a glittering chunk of rock that crumbles with a slightest bit of force. He sits next to me, and sorts out various herbs and roots as I grind the rock until it’s nothing but a fine powder.
“Clara,” he says quietly. “It’s been five years. Don’t you want to go home?”
“Do you?”
“Clara-”
“My father almost killed you, Sebastian. He threatened you with-”
With the bond-breaking ceremony. The ceremony was guaranteed to separate a familiar from their Mystic, but no one knew what became of their soul. I think back on Antonio’s ceremony, and how his familiar, Camilla, simply vanished into thin air, shattering into dust, and blowing away with the wind, and Antonio’s death, which followed shortly after.
“You don’t think he’d still do that after what happened-”
“I don’t. I don’t know anything, Sebastian. I just want to be safe. I want you to be safe.”
“You could marry Christian y Di-”
“No!”
He falls silent, taking the mortar and pestle from my hands, and setting it aside.
“Mi vida,” he says, cupping my cheek. “It’s okay. We can stay here.”
“Are you getting tired of being here? We could go somewhere else. We can find another place.”
“No,” he growls, with slight amusement. “I could never take you from your dear Señor William, and Miguelito.”
“I’m sorry,” I cry. “I’m so sorry. We can go home. Just give me some time to set things in order here before my departure. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience Maria. She already hates me enough.”
He tuts, giving me a pitying look, running a finger beneath my eye to wipe a tear. “Clari, Clari, Clari. Where is your mind today? It’s dark, and foggy, and I cannot see your thoughts.”
“Because I don’t want you to,” I murmur, pushing his hand away, forcing him out of my head.
“Is this about Micaela?” He tuts again. “I know you were downstairs tidying her things yesterday. I could hear it in the way Master William’s heart nearly burst out of his chest when he saw you in his room.”
“So, now you’re spying on me?”
He leans over, kissing my lips before I have time to react. “Don’t be this way. I’m not making all these potions for us to be fighting.”
“You shouldn’t be making these potions at all. We shouldn’t-”
He kisses me again, more deeply than before.
“It is mating season, isn’t it?”
“Are you going to lock me outside all winter?”
“It’d keep you out of trouble. Besides, after last night, I couldn’t...”
He picks up the cup, pressing it to my lips. “Drink.”
“Baz…”
“Just drink it. I added a bit of healing potion to help with the side effects, and a bit of tranquility to help you get to sleep.”
I nod, sipping the potion, testing if it’s cool. It’s drinkable, pleasantly warm, the bitterness cut slightly by the sweetness of tranquility. Sebastian disappears once again behind the bed sheets. I hear the bathroom door open, followed by the running of water filling the tub, and then the sound of cabinets opening and closing.
“I don’t have any,” I say quietly, knowing what he’s rifling through the sink cabinets for. “I’m all out.”
He sighs, shutting the cabinet door a bit roughly. “Why?”
“We don’t have money for luxuries, Baz.”
“It is not a luxury, Clarita. Not right now.”
I set the empty cup down at the foot of the bed, and pull myself up using the bed frame. He comes rushing towards me, helping me up.
“It’s okay, Baz. I’ll make some more.”
He holds me by the waist, and I can feel it; a primal desire. He feels it, and then I can feel it because he cannot contain that emotion as well as he does the others. He nods, turning his attention to the bedsheets, which he works on taking down. At my writing desk, I open a locked drawer with a key that sits hidden beneath the chair I drag over from the window. Inside is a small collection of rare potion ingredients, those for soothing aching muscles, mental fatigue, joint pain; all the problems I’ve gained since moving into this house to work for Master William.
“I have enough for the rest of the year,” I say absently, grabbing a few pinches of various powders, salts, and herbs, and throwing them into a small bowl.
“Think you can have some ready before bed?”
He walks up behind me, placing his hands on my shoulder. I look up at him, then grab an extra amount of ingredients to help with mental fatigue, because I feel myself slipping, giving in to his silent beckoning.
“Sí.” I give him a toothy grin.
He rolls his eyes, and scoffs. “It’s not necessary.”
“It’s not for you. It’s for me.”