Invisible String - A Sebastian Sallow Story

Chapter VIII

Sebastian didn't jump as his uncle's hand made contact with his shoulder in the home. He merely allowed himself to be turned around, no more energy left in his body as the fighting and trauma the day was finally setting in as his adrenaline was disappearing. Solomon let out a sigh, attempting to massage the tension in his brow with his other hand as he maintained his hold on his nephew: his grip softened. "Please take her to the tent to get some rest. After a day like today I think everyone needs some shut eye. I... I apologize for being harsh." Without an explanation Solomon turned and walked away to check on Anne.

Not wanting to dwell on the stress of the evening he decided to simply collect her and retire to their solitude from Solomon. He just wanted to spend all night holding her in his arms until the sun reappeared, putting to rest this terrible day.

"Hey you" she said horsely as he reappeared at her side. He allowed a small smile that didn't quite meet his eyes cross his features as he moved to grab her from the bed to escort her carefully outside. Before he grabbed her he decided to avoid another unnecessary argument with Solomon, grabbing his uncle's discarded vest on the other bed.

Sebastian shrugged the black vest on, not bothering with the buttons as he slowly moved the blanket she had been wrapped in from her body. He tried not to grimace seeing the blood that had accumulated under her as he slowly lifted her the same way he had done before, standing with her tiny body nestled in his arms.

He tipped his nose into the crook of her neck, briefly inhaling her faded sent of lavender before slowly making his way outside.

Anne and Ominis followed the pair outside and once inside the tent, Anne went to their shared room to conjure a bath for his injured lover. He continued to hold her wordlessly in his arms as he watched Anne move about the space, attempting to make it so she could help the injured girl remove the blood that had caked itself into her skin and hair.

Ominis remained in the entry way of the girls space listening to the quite shifting of Anne rushing about and Sebastian's heavy breathing against the girls skin. She simply allowed herself to be held by the boy as her eyes remained closed, and her head laid against his tall frame. No one knew what to say after the chaos.

It wasn't long before Anne asked Sebastian to set her down on the small stool next to the wash bin and he obliged reluctantly. Carefully he bent his knees to lightly set her on the stool before standing again. His hand cradled her cheek in his warm hands as she hummed relieved at the contact.

"Sebastian you should consider doing the same." Anne gestured to the way he had her dried blood on his stomach from where he had carried her.

"You are probably right" he said unmoving despite Anne's attempt at shooing him from the room. She understood him not wanting to leave. Anne also was finding it difficult to swallow the lump in her throat after she spent time outside listening to the girl screaming and her brothers sob, along with the fight from Solomon. His admission earlier in their yard was ringing in her head as she recognized that the day must have taken a deeper tole than she realized on her other half.

Her eyes trailed on the way the wash bin had filled with bubbles and her body was aching to clean itself of the day's horrible experiences. She hadn't even had much anxiety about the fact that Sebastian was only a few feet apart and had yet to see her without clothing, nor the fact their blind companion was lingering in the doorway not speaking. Just as she was about to remove the rest of her top she heard Anne offering Sebastian a compromise as he seemed unwilling to leave her side for long.

"How about I help her get in the tub and since there's enough water and soap to keep you from seeing her um... indecent... you can come back once she's in?" She offered, knowing damn well no one in the tent cared about rules of being proper or what was okay to the adults around them. They just had to pick up the pieces in whatever fashion they could, as even their unique circumstances held much weight on how the four teens ended up there to begin with.