Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter EIGHTY SIX - Snowing

(True Love Waits - Radiohead)

As the sun dipped behind the trees, the warm red of Ominis' wand found us nestled together near the back of the rock, my head rested in Sebastian's lap.

He had been humming quietly to me, threading his fingers through my hair and calming my rapidly beating heart. My breathing had grown steady and the weight of my eyelids had soon pressed shut.

"Hello? Are you two decent?" Ominis whispered from the tree line.

"Come on down here mate. -Do you need any help?" Sebastian kept his voice quiet and his fingers in my hair.

"I'm quite alright thank you."

"Good. Be quiet if you can- I believe she's asleep." I could hear a small smirk in his voice.

"Oh!"

Rocks shifted and scuffled to my left and moments later, the warmth of another body sat next to mine, I kept my eyes shut and let my muscles relax some more - surrounded by the two people who meant the most to me.

Both boys kept their voices just above a gentle whisper.

"What have you got there?" Sebastian's chest lifted against my head.

"Well I- I just thought it might be a nice way to relax..."

"Ominis, is this firewhisky?"

He was silent for a moment. "...no."

Sebastian chuckled, the low sound vibrating through my ears.

"How rebellious of you."

"I try."

Keeping my eyes closed, I listened to the clink of glass and felt Sebastian's silent slurp before he shuddered feebly.

"Oof. Nasty stuff. No truth serum potion this time?" He chuckled.

Ominis was all too quick to bite out a sharp "Most definitely not".

"Oh come on. It wasn't that bad - though I do want to strangle that Aster boy for disregarding all consent boundaries."

Ominis was quiet and Sebastian dropped the subject.

They continued to drink and chat of the few normalcies of their lives and I was more than content to sit in their silent company. Tears Sebastian had not kissed away now dried and stiff on my cheeks. The brisk air wrapped around my skin and I shivered against his lap. 

Sebastian pulled me tighter to his chest and positioned his robe to drape across my body.

"She was incredible today wasn't she?" Ominis spoke between a drink.

"Who?"

"Your Atley."

A moment.

"She always has been."

"Of course. That's not what I was meaning to say-"

"I know Ominis." 

How is it possible to hear smiles?

Sebastian sighed.

"I just wish she would trust herself more."

Ominis shifted. "She just needs time. She has been through a great deal Sebastian - you ought to know that better than anyone."

Sebastian's thumb ran across the back of my shoulder.

"I do... I just- with Anne-"

"Anne Sallow is a strong young woman who would not want you pressuring your girlfriend into something she is not yet ready for."

There was a long pause and I was worried Sebastian might have become upset.

All the silence in the world couldn't have prepared me for how broken he sounded when he spoke again, barely able to get the words out.

"I'm scared Ominis..."

The dirt shifted and the warmth of Ominis' body pressed against my leg. I could feel the weight of his hand reach across my arm to find Sebastian's hand and tap it twice.

"...As am I Sebastian..." Ominis choked on his name but cleared his throat and continued. "Anne deserves the world but was given a fragment of starlight. That does not mean we shouldn't enjoy her light while it still shines bright."

Sebastian forced a laugh, pain tracing the edges of his words. "You've been spending far too much time with Anne- she's turning you into a poet dear Ominis."

"I am quite serious Sebastian... Anne deserves a cure more than anyone this world has ever known- but Atley deserves more than to be used only as a possibility."

"I wouldn't-"

"You are my oldest friend Sebastian... it is my duty to know you better than you know yourself... Continue your research if you feel it still may do some good, but do not use Atley for your gain, and do not let it consume you. Anne needs her brother, not a ghost of one."

Sebastian was quiet but I could feel the shift in his breathing.

"I can't live with myself if she- if I can't save her Ominis..."

"You deserve happiness just as much as Anne. I hope you know that-

and I have never felt you so happy as when you are with Atley Sebastian. Don't waste this."

Small cold dots peppered against my cheek and I opened my eyes, worried Sebastian was crying. 

Instead, I was met with the cool moon glow refracting off small, white crystal flakes as they gently floated across every inch of the night air. In the distance I could just make out the steady, silent snowfall against the silhouette of the castle and the cool lap of the water just below. Glinting shards dipped down to the waters edge and over our skin - lingering a moment more before dissolving to our hearts.

Sebastian coughed a sad laugh. "Oh Ominis... It's snowing."

Ominis hummed. "Anne will be so happy."