Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter EIGHTY EIGHT - Home

(Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros -- THIS cover by Matthew Hall)

A deep crunching ache tapped repeatedly at my sternum as I stood just outside the castle and anxiety pressed against the walls of my lungs with each breath. Just why I felt so anxious remained a frustrating mystery to me. I was most desperately excited for the coming two weeks spent in the sleepy hamlet of Feldcroft with my three closest friends... Merlin knew I had barely been able to focus on more than that the past week or so. 

Perhaps it was overwhelming nerves. 

Or perhaps it was simply the fact that I had been dreading this day since starting school - the holidays were always the worst for me and the memories of my parents. I would have thought I would spend it alone just as I had the past two years. I would never have guessed that I would be spending my Christmas with my very own boyfriend and my two other closest friends. Should I have allowed myself to dream on day one, even the most optimistic chasm of my heart couldn't have imagined it.

The bones of my fingers wound tightly around the handle of my small and battered suitcase, black straps wrapped just as firmly around the brown leather. The snow crunched beneath my boots as I shifted my weight from either side, not so patiently waiting for the boys to meet me in the cold. My Gryffindor scarf was wound around my neck and Sebastian's warm hat tugged tight over my ears.

Somehow I had managed to collect my few belongings into my suitcase, shove in a heap of wrapped presents, bundle myself in my warmest clothes and make it outside the castle all before either of the boys.

Ominis had managed to secure us a carriage ride to Feldcroft. I imagined he did it more for the security and comfort of his own preference but I was grateful all the same. I could just make out the thestrals and rickety wood wagon in the distance, making its way slowly towards me.

"I am so sorry we are late dear Atley," Ominis and Sebastian pushed through the large carved doors just behind me and shuffled quickly down the stairs. Ominis had his hands wrapped around Sebastian's arm - something he did a lot in the winter months when the ice was particularly thick. "...but someone had to doll himself up."

"I did not." Sebastian looked offended, brows crumpled and bouncing brown hair begging to differ.

Sebastian had enchanted their two large suitcases to float along behind them, one deep black and the other a tattered dark green.

"And I thought girls were supposed to take the longest getting ready." Ominis grumbled under his breath, dropping Sebastian's arm and wrapping me in a big hug so quickly I didn't even have the chance to raise my own arms.

"Excuse me, boyfriend coming through." Sebastian slithered between the two of us and though Ominis tried to remain looking unpleased, laughed softly as he stepped out of the way.

Sebastian's smile dipped slightly and he quirked his head as he took me in.

I hadn't even noticed that I'd had a hand over my chest until Sebastian gently lifted it away and pressed his own palm in its place, smiling down and melding his soul to mine.

He dropped his voice so Ominis wouldn't be able to hear. "You alright my cabbage?"

He seemed to always know exactly what to say to get me out of my own head.

The damn cabbage again.

I could feel the hiccup of relief bubbling in my throat.

Feeling seen.