Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter FORTY FOUR - Handkerchief

Taking his little finger in mine, he looked at me like I had stars in my eyes. Like this universe was ours and ours alone.

"You really love this pinky promise thing don't you?"

He smirked. "Well you're just so good at it, how could I not?"

His gaze traveled down to my neck and his face hardened. He released my pinky and traced a soft finger just below where the blade of the axe had been. The cut stung but the feeling was overridden by the heat of his touch and the sparks that shot across my skin, stopping in my lungs and obstructing my breathing.

"Barlowe- you need Wiggenweld." His voice was breathy, separated.

My mind wandered to my book bag and realized it was still draped over my chest. Sebastian followed my gaze and reluctantly brought his fingers from my neck and gestured to my bag, offering to search through it himself.

I nodded and he lifted it up over my shoulders gently, careful not to run the strap over the cut I could only imagine was still bleeding. As he searched, I brought my fingers up to the sting and touched the warmth, a bit of it sticking to my fingers. I winced at the pain and Sebastian eyed my cautiously, removing a bottle from the bottom of my bag. I wiped the red away quickly on my pants before any old memories could resurface.

"Is this it?" He held the little green bottle out to me.

"Yup."

"Ok, take it, I've got something to clean up the blood." He twirled his own bag to the front of his body and dug through its contents. His bag seemed to be far less organized than mine but finally he pulled out a little white cloth with a triumphant "ha!".

I eyed it suspiciously, lips twisting my smile. "Is that a handkerchief?"

He looked down at it, flipped it a few times through his fingers and then glanced back up to me. "Uh... yes." He pulled out a small bottle filled with water and dipped the fabric into it. "Ominis gave it to me- he's been trying to get me to dress 'more distinguished'." He laughed. "As if I don't already exude the epitome of class."

"Oh no," I played along. "You are the perfect gentleman."

He winked and shifted his weight close to my neck again, breath tickling my skin as he reached in with the damp cloth. "This might sting, but the Wiggenweld will kick in soon. I just- want to get you cleaned up a bit."

His throat bobbed as he gently wiped at the blood. Eyes focused intently on his work but mine were on him, on his freckles, on his messy hair.

The pain in my neck was nearly nonexistent now and I was grateful, the amount of blood collecting on Sebastian's handkerchief was staggering .

His lashes shifted slightly as his gaze lifted to my face but quickly flitted down after realizing I was staring at him already.

He coughed and dabbed the cloth a few more times before backing away. "There you go." He wrapped the bloody cloth in another larger green one and tucked it into his bag. He breathed deep before looking back to me and smiling. "Better?"

I nodded, fearing the sparks from his touch were still holding my voice hostage.

He rose from the ground and held his hand out to me. "Better get a move on Barlowe. No slacking off."

I glared through a smile and let him haul me back up to my feet.

The tower behind us seemed taller now that we were in the courtyard. Its stones near the top were crumbling and a few larger rocks looked to have recently fallen to the ground.

As we approached the entrance and a large ornate wood door, Sebastian cast the unlocking charm and we pushed inside. The room was incredibly round, a set of stairs led up near the right and a little study with shelves of books to the right. The place looked as if it had barely been touched but a few charmed brooms swept by as if nothing had changed from the moment they had been enchanted. A large statue of a wizard clutching a book and holding a staff stood proud and tall in the center of the room.