Consuming Darkness: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 63

-Ronnie-

The misty rain started to clear as we reached the hamlet. It looked a lot like Hogsmeade, except there was an ease to the air that was new and exciting. There were lots of flowers scattered about, some seemed intentionally planted, while others were let to grow on their own accord. We walked along the cobblestone path, my steps sloshing in the newly formed puddles.

Hasn't he been through enough?

Suddenly, my hand felt uncomfortable in Sebastian's, my fingers itching to move. I feigned a shiver and buried my hands in the pockets of my skirt, my cloak draping forward to cover my arms. I felt his brown eyes on me, suspicious of my action but he just threw his strong arm around me, holding onto the outside of my arm, and tucked me against his body. He lightly kissed the top of my head, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Let's get you someplace warm," he stated, his pace quickening. I was practically running to keep up with his long stride. The comforting and familiar smell of Sebastian washed over me, and the contact of our bodies warmed me immediately. What did Anne know anyway!

Sebastian led me through a large wooden door into what appeared to be a pub. There were barrels behind a bar, and quite a few people were gathered inside. The air was humming with all the different conversations that were going on at the same time, all competing to be heard over the rest. Despite everything that was going on in this pub my eyes immediately went to the large man who stood behind the bar. He had to be at least ten feet tall.

"Oi! Back again wee brammer?" A loud, gruff voice bellowed out in one of the thickest Scottish accents I had ever heard. The air smelled of warm spices and smoke from the fireplace in the back of the room.

"Can't get enough o' that piss water you pass off as mead!" Sebastian chuckled. My eyes widened at the insult; I knew Sebastian was kidding but this man didn't seem like someone I would even jokingly insult. That man had said 'back again'. Had Sebastian been here the last few days? Was this where he had disappeared to?

"Aaack! Piss water, eh?" The man whom the gruff voice belonged to was, by far, the biggest man I had ever seen. The sides of his head were shaved and painted with tattoos. His remaining bright red hair was long enough to be tied into a knot at the back of the top of his head. He had a big red beard as well that he had tied off near the end with a leather strip. His arms were covered in tattoos, varying runes, and symbols mixed with intricate bands and patterns. One of his legs was nearly as big as I was, and his hand looked as if it could crush a man's skull like a walnut. He must have stood close to ten feet tall, but his pale blue eyes seemed kind in a way that didn't really make sense with the rest of his appearance.

"Ye' gotta' 'mire the 'baws on 'dis lad!" Another man called out with a roaring laugh and slapped Sebastian on the back. This man was also huge, standing nearly a head taller than Sebastian, who was himself very well over six feet tall. Where on earth were we? Were these giants? No... giants were bigger... I stared up at all these men as four others came to join in, greeting Sebastian roughly, but all seemingly good-natured. I clung to his arm and remained on edge ready to fight if needed. Sebastian must have sensed my hesitancy and turned to me with an apologetic smile that thawed my nerves.

"Oi! Ya' bunch oh' eejits!" The redheaded giant of a man called out over the group of very loud men and women speaking with such heavy Scottish accents that I could hardly make out what they were talking about. "Brammer!" He turned to Sebastian. "Ooo' 'dis bonny burd ya' gott'on yer' arm?"

"This," Sebastian moved to the side and held both of his arms out to better display me to the room with a cocky smile, "is Ronnie."

I waved hello but before I could utter a word a woman, almost as large as the redhead called out. "Dis' the lass yer on 'bout the o' night?" She questioned, her tone harsh but Sebastian seemed at ease. So he had been here. That was why they all seemed to be well acquainted.