You Cannot Put a Fire Out // Sebastian Sallow [Book Three]

Chapter Six: The Party

"We're here!" Sebastian called out as he and Damien entered Anne and Ominis's home. Damien was a few steps behind him, carrying a whole slew of gifts for Leigh, whose seventh birthday they were celebrating today. Seven years old. In a few years she'd be one of Sebastian's students at Hogwarts. Boy, how time flew by.

Seven was also the age when Anne and Sebastian lost their parents. The fleeting thought was extremely unwelcome, so Sebastian quashed it as quickly as he could, thinking instead of a fonder memory: the day Leigh entered the world.

He still vividly remembered holding Leigh in his trembling arms after she was born, such a mewling, tiny little thing, her skin mottled and yellow. He'd been terrified that he might drop her, which he supposed wasn't an uncommon thought, but it still made him break out into a cold sweat.

Damien had always been so much better with children. That day was no exception. He held Leigh like she was his very own. His eyes brimmed with tears as he murmured, "Hello, Leigh. I'm your uncle." He held her for as long as Anne and Ominis would allow, saying the usual platitudes, which, unlike most people, Sebastian knew Damien meant, such as, "Ominis, you'll be a wonderful father," and "Oh Anne, she's beautiful. So beautiful." Sebastian hadn't been so sure about that last point. Babies had always looked a bit like Mandrakes to him.

"Al and I are in the garden!" his twin sister shouted, yanking Sebastian out of his reverie. As they walked further into the house, the smell of fresh rye assaulted his senses.

"Anne, you wonderful, wonderful woman. You baked your famous bread!" Damien shouted from behind Sebastian, startling him even further out of his thoughts. It was the most enthusiastic tone Sebastian had heard from Damien in a little over a week, ever since their not-quite argument about his drinking, followed by their rather odd tiptoeing around the topic of Jack.

"Do my ears deceive me? Have our guests arrived?" Ominis's voice drifted down the stairs. He alighted before them, extending his arms out for a friendly hug.

"Have your ears ever deceived you?" Sebastian said as he helped Damien set Leigh's presents down on the dining room table. He then swooped into Ominis's arms, returning the hug, finishing with a swift pat on his oldest friend's back. "The party can officially start now that your most esteemed guest has arrived."

Ominis chuckled under his breath as Damien, likewise, pulled him into an embrace. "Ah yes, we have been waiting for Uncle Damien to arrive, haven't we, Leigh?" he said.

As Sebastian held back a snort, Leigh darted down the stairs, her long blonde ponytail whipping behind her.

"Uncle Damien! Uncle Seb!" she exclaimed, vaulting into Damien's outstretched arms. Leigh was quite tall for her age, but Damien caught her and spun her around, letting loose one of his deep belly laughs.

Sebastian felt a pang of longing at Damien's sudden burst of exuberance. He patted his robe pocket, confirming he brought his flask. Yes, it was there, and quite full at that. He wasn't sure if there would be libations today. Anne and Ominis's house had been quite sparse lately when it came to that. He suspected it was because of him, but he was reluctant to ask. No matter. That's what flasks were for: ever portable and convenient.

"Uncle Seb?" Leigh said, back on solid ground and glancing up at him expectantly with her dark brown eyes.

"Leigh! My favorite niece! Happy birthday," he said, tousling her hair.

She grinned, then squirmed away, breaking out into a run as she shouted for her mother.

"How was your week, you two?" Ominis asked.

Sebastian exchanged a quick glance with Damien. Damien's lips were set in a straight line. It didn't go unnoticed by Sebastian that Damien's joyous mood had evaporated entirely. Damien shrugged, then said, "Same old, same old. And you?"