Consuming Darkness: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 23

-Ronnie-

   We finally reached the Three Broomsticks and walked inside. Ominis dropped our little bubble of heat and went to order our drinks. I stood by him at the counter and talked with Sirona while she got us our butterbeers.

   We walked up to the second story where there were fewer people. I watched in amazement as Ominis' wand guided him effortlessly up the stairs. We sat down and sipped on our drinks in comfortable silence for a while.

   "How does your wand work?" I blurted out. "I don't mean to be rude in my asking, I am simply just curious... what does it show you? Does it act as your eyes? Like what can you... see..?" I asked sheepishly. I had always wondered but I'd never asked for fear of offending him. He seemed so at ease right now and we were closer than we ever had been, so I figured it was a good time to ask.

   He laughed heartily at my stumbling words. "You don't need to be embarrassed to ask me. You can ask me whatever you want," he responded.

   I blushed, embarrassed, regardless of how kind his response had been.

   "I'm sort of happy I've been blind since birth, I don't really know what I'm missing out on. My wand sends out little waves of sound and light that are only detectable to me. Then the light and sound will bounce off the objects nearby and it all create a sort picture in my head of what's around me," he told me.

   "Can you see what I see?" I asked stupidly. I was unsure how else to word my question.

   He turned to me and I looked into his cloudy eyes. "No, nothing is very defined. I'm hoping some day to figure out a spell or charm or something that will help me 'see' like everyone else, but for now it's more just shadows and outlines."

   "So you don't know what I look like? Or even Sebastian?" I asked.

   "I have a better idea of what Sebastian looks like," he responded.

   "Because you've known him longer?" I wondered slightly confused.

   He dropped his eyes to the floor. "No, I can, sort of, get a better idea through touch. It's very muggle of me... but the best way for me to map out someone's face is to touch it," he responded and took another drink from his glass.

   "Like if you touch my face you'd be able to know what I look like?" I clarified.

   "More or less," he responded sheepishly.

   "Why haven't you asked yet?" I wondered.

   "There was lots of other stuff going on last year we didn't really have time and now I feel like I've known you too long that it would have been a little strange of me to ask now," he responded and I could tell he was trying to hide his embarrassment.

  "Well you can ask me anything," I said, teasing him slightly by repeating what he said to me. I started drinking my second butterbeer.

   He laughed. "Fine then, can I 'see' you Ronnie?" He asked.

   "Of course Ominis," I replied. My words were flowing a little easier after I drained the rest of my butterbeer.

   Ominis stood up and walked over to me. I spun in my chair so I was facing him. He stood in between my legs and handed me his wand. I took it, placing it on the table next to me. I looked up at him and grabbed his hands, gently placing them on my face. The moment felt so intimate as he slowly dragged his fingers along my face. His face looked so serious as he tried to piece together what I looked like. His touch was so gentle and careful it gave me slight butterflies. Finally he moved his thumb across my lips and my breath caught in my throat.