Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter NINETY - Groceries, Bread and Mr. Lemondrop

(Start this one after the page break: Moments - Hollow Coves)

Growing up, I had always found the snow comforting. Something about the silence as it fell from the sky, the ease at which it collected on the ground, the crunch under my boots as I walked, dancing flakes landing on my tongue with my head tilted to the sky or any number of the seasonal activities that came along with it. Snowball fights had been among my favorites, right next to sledding. I'd used to always pretend to be an evil sorceress, forming my artillery from nothing and using 'magic' to pummel my attackers.

Perhaps a small part of me had always known I was a witch.

That thought terrified me.

In this instant though, any and all reminders of sparkling magic, castles, potions exams, and stone knights were pushed to the background. 

There was only this moment, 

this snow, 

and this little family of friends.

Sebastian, while having accused me of cheating at first, now had his arm slung around my neck and rocked me back and forth triumphantly.

"Next time Barlowe... I won't take it easy on you."

"I should hope not Sallow." I had smiled and tapped his nose with my frozen fingers. 

He'd flinched at the cold and immediately wrapped his warm ones around them, grumbling under his breath about always having to take care of me. 

Wet, cold, laughing hysterically and frantically trying to catch our breaths, the four of us rounded the last turn in the path up towards the Sallow home. Sebastian was now pulling chunks of snow from his hair which had begun to curl more than usual. Anne's fingertips were red but she hadn't stopped smiling, guiding Ominis, though he had pulled his arm all the way over her shoulder for warmth.

He had tucked his chin down to hide his face, but I caught sight of his cheeks as they heated brightly and a small smile touch his lips. Sebastian was oblivious of course, now attempting to pull a piece of ice from within the back of his shirt and doing an awkward little dance.

One final step forward and the house came in to view. Solomon was leaning against the front, arms crossed and brows low. Upon spotting us, he pushed off with unsettling force and stormed directly to Anne. His hands quickly grasped her wrists, pulling her from Ominis' arms and feeling for her pulse while cursing under his breath.

Though Anne tried to get a word in, Solomon's furious voice boomed over the top, eyes piercing daggers into Sebastian.

"How long have you been out? I am very disappointed in you Sebastian. She cannot be in this cold for so long. You should know that."

Disgust dripped from my tongue but I kept my tone calm. "We were just-"

His head whipped to me. "You are a guest in my home miss Barder, I suggest you keep quiet while we are talking."

"Barlowe." Instinctually I turned to Sebastian whose knuckles were flexing white, steady breaths seeming labored as he stared at his uncle. "Her name is Atley Barlowe. She is my girlfriend and she has just as much a right to speak as any of us."

Solomon and Sebastian held each other's gaze through deafening silence before Solomon finally sighed deeply, anger filled features dropping slightly.

"You are much too like your father Sebastian." He then tipped his eyes back to me. "I apologize miss Barlowe."