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Lux frowned, nervously rubbing her arms as she remembered the excruciating agony that she’d endured during their search for Salazar Slytherin’s Scriptorium. Her face showed a multitude of emotion that was lost on the blond across from her. Pulling her bottom lip in between her teeth, she shook her head, unwilling to listen to what he’d been saying.
“It's useless, don't do this. It's hubris to try.” Ominis said softly, “He's ruthless, you knew this. I told you, didn't I ?”
Lux shook her head, turning away from him. She couldn’t bring herself to believe what the boy said about their friend. Surely his past with his own family was distorting his thoughts on the matter. Sebastian was just trying to save Anne— they all would have died alongside his Aunt Noctua if Sebastian hadn’t cast Crucio on her. A flare of anger rose up in her at how easily Ominis was giving up on him.
“He's abusive, elusive, the truth is, he lies. That’s what you keep telling me.” Lux replied angrily, quoting what he’d told her before. “But he’s not! Did you want to die down there? I know I didn’t.”
A soft sigh escaped the blond in front of her as he took a small step forwards, hand reaching out to comfort her. She stepped back, avoiding his touch, gaze cast at the ground— unwilling to believe his words. If Ominis wasn’t going to be there for him, she would. She would stand with him when things got hard, because that’s what friends were supposed to do. Sebastian had to care for her, he only cast that curse to save them… right?
“I know you don't want to let go—” Ominis said, continuing forwards and resting his hand on her shoulder.
Lux shrugged him off and turned, quickly leaving the Undercroft. She couldn’t just stand here anymore and listen to the judgment roll off of Ominis’ tongue any longer.
“And just like before, I can see that you're sure you can change him.” Ominis whispered, listening to her leave, his heart breaking for her, “—but I know you won't. ”
— — —
Ominis stood in front of her, his face pleading as he looked at her. This relic they’d found was only the beginning of a very slippery slope into a world where the blond would not follow his dear friend. He didn’t want to lose her to it as well, hoping that she’d see reason. He could hear the fear in her voice, the trembling in her words as she tried to talk him into seeing reason.
He knew that she wasn’t going to listen to him right now, and he feared that Sebastian was going to drag her down a path that she’d never be able to recover from. Still, he at least had to try and save her, even if his best friend was beyond his grasp— she was still within reach.
“The devil doesn't bargain. He'll only break your heart again. It isn't worth it, darling. He's never gonna change. He'll never be Prince Charming, he'll only do you harm again.” Ominis pleads. “I don't mean to meddle, but the devil doesn't settle…”
“No, the devil doesn't bargain,” Lux whispered, voice trembling as she tried to convince them both of the nature of Sebastian’s motives. “I can’t give up on him too, he needs us Ominis— Anne needs us.”
“I'm not one to lecture— talk down to a friend— I don't mean to pressure, mean to condescend.” Ominis said softly with one hand resting against her cheek, hecould feel the dampness of tears on her cheek and he brushed them away with his thumb. “But I just want what's best for you in the end. I know you don't want to let go.”
“I can’t abandon him, Ominis…” Lux sighed.
The blond felt his world shattering, he was going to lose them both and neither would see reason. Ominis let his hand drop back down to his side— heart breaking. He stood there as his world spiraled out of control, listening to the steps of the two people he cared about most in this place leave.
— — —
Ominis couldn’t believe this. They were trying to convince him to help use the Dark Arts! Did Sebastian only care about what he could gain in all of this? Does he not understand that dark magic comes with a price? He turned on the girl, a disappointed and betrayed glare on his face. How could she help him?
“And just like before, I can see that you're sure— you can change him— but I know you won't. The devil doesn't bargain.” Ominis yelled, anger tinting his voice. “He'll only break your heart again. It isn't worth it, darling.”
He heard her step back in shock. He’d never raised his voice at her before, and the guilt was already suffocating him, but she had to listen— he needed her to listen. She wasn’t listening!
“You say he's never gonna change, he'll never be Prince Charming…” Lux said quietly, gently stepping towards him and putting her hands on his chest as she pleaded with him. “But you’re wrong, we can save Anne.”
Ominis thought he really was destined for bad luck. He’d been disowned by his family, he was losing Anne to the curse, Sebastian was so far gone that he was sure he’d never return, and now you were slipping out of his grasp. It felt like his world was caving in, making it hard to breathe.
“He'll only do you harm again.” Ominis pleaded, throat tight with emotion. “I don't mean to meddle, But the devil doesn't settle.”
— — —
“No, the devil doesn't bargain.” She sighed, her voice breaking as she buried her head into Ominis’ chest.
Lux was numb, she didn’t know how to process what all had just happened. Was there anything she could have done? Anything that would have changed the outcome of that night? Tears fell freely from her face as she sought solace in the arms of her friend.
“Devil doesn't bargain and I know you think he'll change this time. ” Ominis said, holding her tightly as she cried. “But I think that you will find, the devil doesn't bargain. ”
Her heart was breaking at the thought of losing Sebastian. Everyone had given up on him, how could she do it as well? Sure, he’s made mistakes, but who hasn’t? He’s even lost Anne now— all he has left is her. Is she really going to let him go? Can she?
“He'll only break your heart again. It isn't worth it, darling.” Ominis said.
— — —
“He's never gonna change.” Lux said, her voice hollow and dejected, “He'll never be Prince Charming.”
“He'll only do you harm again.” Ominis said, pulling her in close. “I don't mean to meddle, but the devil doesn't settle. ”
He’d gone too far, and there wasn’t anything she could have done to stop it. Even after speaking to him about what all he’d done, he seemed to express no remorse at what happened— and she knew he’d do it all again. He would do anything for Anne, paying whatever price required to do so.
“No, the devil doesn't bargain.” Lux whispered, feeling her world crumbling.
Devil doesn't bargain.
Devil doesn't bargain.
Devil doesn't bargain.