Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter THIRTY FOUR - Anne

Sebastian had somehow worked his magic (no irony intended) and gotten me and Ominis permission to join him on his visit to Feldcroft. He had suggested we fly the entire way but both Ominis and I were incredibly against the idea. Ominis hated broom flying and I had not so much as touched a broom since Professor Kogawa's first class and I didn't want to risk the embarrassment. So instead, Professor Weasley had secured us a carriage ride pulled by thestrals.

As the three of us climbed inside, I had to shove my hands deep into my pockets to hide the shaking. Flashes of my last carriage ride stabbing at my brain.

Sebastian noticed instantly and shifted closer into the spot next to me, pressing his weight against my shoulder. When he could still feel my tremors, he removed his hand from his own pocket and gently placed it onto my knee.

The warmth and tingles against my leg were enough to preoccupy my mind and my breathing slowed.

Ominis' quiet nature had continued through the rest of the week but his disposition towards Sebastian had greatly changed for the better. He was now facing the side window, incredibly eager and smiling to himself as the carriage lifted into the air.

Thankfully, our trip wasn't terribly long. We landed quickly and swiftly just outside an adorable and incredibly green Hamlet. Despite the early fall season, the grass here looked like something right out of a story book. The stone road below us twisted into and wound around a circle center, little cottages and small shops dotted the edges. A few furry cows with long horns walked leisurely across the road to a field a few paces away. I could just make out a little stone well- the one Sebastian had pointed out having read next to growing up with Anne.

A jolt of excitement and something like nerves prickled up my spine and down my fingertips.

Sebastian was grinning excitedly out the window, running his hand over the strap of his particularly heavy looking book bag and his thumb absentmindedly rubbed against my thigh.

The effort to swallow at the feel of his touch was embarrassing, my heart pounding in my ears.

Thankfully, the carriage pulled up to the town center and the two boys jumped out the moment it stopped. I took a moment to compose myself before sliding across the bench seat and joining them in the sunlight.

A slight cool breeze tickled my neck and I tightened my red and gold scarf. The air had finally turned a bit crisp and I was anxious for the cooler weather. Autumn had always been my favorite.

Sebastian was thanking the driver while Ominis had stepped up towards the thestrals. I was about to warn him when he raised a hesitant hand up and the thestral closest nuzzled its head into his palm.

I was struck with the fear that if he had his vision, he might be able to see them as well.

"They are beautiful, bright creates for such dark circumstances aren't they?" Sebastian had stopped talking and stepped up beside me, catching me staring at Ominis.

"They are-

oh. Oh Sebastian I'm so sorry." My knees buckled at the realization.

His eyes flicked down to the ground and he smiled sadly. "At least there's one perk to it all."

Ominis had wandered back to us. "Are you two ready? I'd like to spend as much time as possible with Anne instead of dilly dallying outside."

Sebastian grinned and looped his arms through both of ours, attempting a little skip. "Let's go kids."

Ominis had quickly pried his arm from Sebastian's but kept up the pace as we wound down a little stone path behind a couple of bright green hills. A few wildflowers danced lazily in the breeze framing a small straw roofed cottage. A couple of empty terra-cotta pots hung from little ropes under the roof on the right, a curvy chimney twisted up into the air just above it. The way to the front door was lined with little barrels filled with dark soil and bright green plants. A small wood rocking chair sat just to the left underneath the sweeping branches of a tree. An empty tea cup and a small notebook similar to Sebastian's sketchbook, sat on a small wood side table next to it.

"Here we are." Sebastian's smile dripped into his voice. "My sister should be just inside." He held a finger to his lips and tapped Ominis's arm before stepping inside. "Shhh."

He pressed his palm flush against the front door and pressed the handle gently.

Immediate comfort flooded my senses. The space was filled with warm candle light and so. many. books. A little wood table and four chairs was pressed into the far wall and a small figure sat hunched over it in the chair facing away from us.

I nearly tripped over my feet into Ominis as a tall man stepped quickly at us from the shadows, wand raised and a slight terror in his furrowed brows. Sebastian only held his finger back up to his lips and the man's shoulders relaxed, tucking his wand back into his pocket.

Sebastian tip-toed forward toward the table hands held up and ready to pounce like one of the cats in the castle halls.

"Aha!" He tapped the figure quickly on the shoulders and and she jumped in her seat.

She clambered quickly to her feet and the little girl from the Defense Against the Dark Arts class smiled brightly. She looked better than she had the first time I had seen her, eyes brighter, figure still frail but slightly fuller than it had been in class. Her brown hair was pulled back into a bun, bangs hanging just above her eyes. She was wearing a deep brown wool skirt, beige button up and green vest topped with a thick, warm brown scarf.

The two siblings clung to each other and I could feel Sebastian's fears, his pains, his worries dissipate in an instant.

Ominis shifted in front of me, his smile touching his ears. Anne opened her eyes and stepped back from Sebastian's hug.

"Ominis!" Tears were brimming in her eyes now and he closed the gap to her quickly, placing his hand on hers. She quickly pulled him into a tight hug and I watched Ominis' shoulders rest into her body, bringing his hands up to wrap over her.

"Hello darling."

After a few moments more, the two separated but she held his hand firmly between them, winding her fingers between his. "I've missed you my friend."

It was then that Anne caught sight of me. Her head tilted to the right, smile falling. She blinked in confusion, eyes scanning over my body and landing on my scarf before a familiar grin touched her lips.

"My brother brought home a Gryffindor?" She crinkled her nose and Sebastian was behind her, grin matching hers, hands on her shoulders.

"Anne, this is my Atley- My friend! My friend Atley Barlowe."

Anne's grin widened.

I stepped closer, heart pounding once again, hand outstretched. "It's wonderful to finally meet you Anne."

Her eyes darted down to my hand and for a moment I was sure she was going to ignore the handshake completely, when she lunged the last step and wrapped me in the warmest hug I had ever felt in my life.

I forced my mind back into my limbs and pressed my hands to her back, catching sight of Sebastian smiling at me, arm thrown around Ominis' shoulder.

"I've heard so much about you Atley. I'm so glad you came." She leaned back but kept her hands on my arms, running them down to my hands and rocking them back and forth. Tilting her head forward, she dropped her voice. "And thank you for keeping my brother in line."

I'm definitely going to like this girl.