Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter ONE OH THREE - A Million

Ominis had dropped the subject quickly when Sebastian had started to explain with "do you remember those marks on my chest?" and I'd nearly pummeled him at Ominis' feet. The brown haired heathen had only widened his grin and winked at me before ducking back behind the curtain to wash up and change clothes, leaving me to Ominis' silence.

He'd tucked himself back into the corner with what appeared to be a fresh, steaming mug of coffee and nodding in the direction of a spare cup he'd seemingly poured for me.

After what felt like a thousand minutes and a burnt tongue from the attempt to fill the silence with sips, Ominis finally spoke.

"...Did you know?"

I swallowed abruptly, heat searing the inside of my throat. "Know what?"

"That he was using dark magic?"

"I- no, not that he was using it..."

He tucked his nose down, swirling the small amount left in the bottom of his mug and I wondered how he was able to drink it while it was still so hot. 

"I was hoping that answer would make me feel better..." 

He placed his mug against the counter and crossed his arms, nose in my direction.

"The dark arts seem harmless until it's too late."

Something about the way he said it, the way the words slipped between the burn of my throat and the heat of my ears felt all too much like a warning directed at me too.

I mumbled a short "I know" just as Sebastian slunk back into the room. Now dressed in a thick green wool sweater and baggy cotton pajama pants. 

The domesticity of it made my heart flip. 

He pulled a chair back from the kitchen table next to us and tucked himself in as quietly as he could. Anne stirred beneath her blankets in the living area before murmuring quietly and breathing deeply once more.

"So... what riveting lecture are we getting now?" Sebastian hooked his fists under his chin, smiling up to the two of us. I noticed just how dark the bags under his eyes had gotten and wondered why I hadn't spotted them earlier.

Ominis was quiet.

"No lecture? Fine by me! How about some of that coffee?"

Sighing deeply, Ominis reached gently back across the counter, finding his own mug and filling it nearly to the top before handing it to Sebastian.

"Thank you so much." He paused, squinting to the ceiling. "How much is 'so much' anyway?"

"...What?"

"Like when we say 'thanks so much'- just how much is that?"

"I don't know."

"Humor me Ominis."

"...a million."

"Thank you a million then." He grinned ear to ear and sipped quickly from the mug, also apparently having the heat resistance of the sun.

I blew gently across the surface of my cup of deep brown liquid, watching the steam swirl over the edge and graze my fingers. I let my eyes focus and defocus with the little wisps, feeling incredibly exhausted but not nearly tired enough to sleep.

"What about plans? We've only got two days left." Sebastian was speaking again but had dropped his head to lay among his folded arms, blinking quickly in an attempt to keep his eyes open.

Something sat heavy across my chest, perhaps it was the words left unspoken between the friends.

Ominis recounted a list of activities Anne had mentioned wanting to do, the register seemed never ending and to no one's surprise, Sebastian was snoring only a few minutes later.

Coffee now cool enough to sip, I'd guzzled it down gulp after gulp.

"You really should get some sleep too Atley dear." Ominis' nose back in my direction.

"Oh I'm not tired."

His silence called my bluff though I ignored it.

"I'm fine Ominis. Thank you."

There were those words again.

I'm fine.

Ominis frowned and held an arm out to me, motioning me closer.

"I'm blind not oblivious. Come here."

A bit of my unintentional wall melted, reality creeping below my skin and I ducked quickly into his arms. His hug warm, platonic and safe. We sat in the quiet of our thoughts for far longer than I realized, the sun dusting the counter space with shifting prisms of light. Tiny particles drifting through the hazy rays, effortless and mesmerizing. I let the heat of Ominis' arms blanket my breaths, listening to the steady beat of his heart against my ear. It had to have at least been a half an hour by now but neither of us made to move apart.

"ANNE!"

Sebastian's screams crumbled the peace as he jolted upright in the chair, shaking frantically and gasping at the air. Ominis had lunged quickly to his side, leaving me alone at the counter and pulling him close to his chest. He tucked his arms between them and began rocking slightly. The moves so quick and precise they almost seemed rehearsed.

Or routine.

"Anne. Anne. Anne." Sebastian's whimpers tore at my heart.

Anne herself had shot up amongst the blankets, head swinging from side to side and I rushed to her, shoving my own shaking heartbeat down.

"It's ok. Sebastian was just dreaming. I'm so sorry we woke you." I wrapped my hand through hers.

As if the chaos couldn't get any worse, the front door to the home pounded open and Solomon's wild eyes flashed.

"Where's Anne?"

I watched as Ominis clenched his jaw, still holding tightly to Sebastian.

"Here." Anne cleared the sleep from her voice. "Right here."

Solomon's wet boot prints sloshed across the wood floors, his wand grasped tightly next to his thigh.

"Are you alright? We heard there was an attack. I came straight home."

"Yes yes we are alright." The sharpness in her distinction seemed to go unnoticed. Solomon disregarded me entirely and spun around to the boys at the table.

"What in Merlin's name is going on here."

Sebastian's eyes were blank though he had pushed Ominis away and was standing on his own. Ominis had crossed his arms over the purple sweater.

"Mr. Naughtber reported seeing the four of you out fighting." His fingers flexed subtly, white cresting over the tops of his knuckles. "From you..." He gestured to Sebastian. "I knew I couldn't count on you, but you Ominis..." He shook his head and tucked his wand back into its pocket. "I expected more from you. To keep Anne safe."

"They tried to stop me." Anne's gentle voice somehow missing every bright bit I'd come to know it by.

"That's enough. This visit has clearly been far too much on you, look at your face..." He turned back to Anne and I as he spoke, eyes now locked on mine. 

"I think it's about time the three of you went back to the castle. I'll take it from here."