Invisible String - A Sebastian Sallow Story

Chapter XVII

birthdays and hogmanay... 

The days between Yule time and Hogmanay were filled with little in the way of eventful excitement, however Sebastian felt more at peace than he had in a while. Their steady rhythm of waking up next to each other, even after nights filled with talking and less of being physical, brought him much more happiness than he thought possible.

When December 31st finally reared its somewhat bittersweet head, he tried to suppress his mixed feelings on his and Anne's birthday. Part of him was so grateful knowing that Anne had made it a fully year now after being cursed. But the reminder that exactly one year prior, was the origins of such a plague, was proving difficult to manage. Top it off with his usual amount of sadness at his parent's absence, and the typical uncertainty that often accompanied the yearly reset, he had much to be sad, angry and worried about.

However, despite this he found himself awaking the morning of his 17th birthday with a smile. He awoke finding his love nestled along his chest, her hair fanned out across her back and shoulders. Her lips were slightly parted, leaving the softest puffs of air when she exhaled along his right pectoral. The tiniest amount of moisture had collected there as she slept and he couldn't help but smile at the thoughts of her so comfortable while laying on him, that she had actually drooled in her slumber. He adored watching the way her long eyelashes would flutter ever so often as she dreamed in the sanctity of his arms. He would never tell her, but he often found that some of the times she looked the most beautiful was when she was asleep.

She reminded him of the story his mother read to him when he was a young boy, about the beautiful princess whom was cursed to sleep for one hundred years until she was awoken by a kiss from a prince. And while a part of him recognized she truly was beautiful while asleep, he himself felt more like the princess in that fairytale. This wonderful witch had come into his life, rescuing him from going down a dark road with her love and affections. She was inspiring him to grow up, to be a better man, to repair his broken relationship with his guardian, and to actually see hope in the future. The way she fought, the way she stood tall against the evils he had come to know, and show him the care he'd so been lacking... she seemed more like a hero, than he ever could fathom himself capable of being.

While she continued her slumber he took to drawing unconscious patterns along her semi exposed back. She had taken to only wearing a thin silk slip each night when she laid next to him, no longer awkward about shifting close to his naked chest now that their initial shyness in the matter had long been dissolved over the course of the few days since he'd been exposed to her. He would not deny that the selfish and uncontrollable parts within him continued to have a large pit of desire to see her come undone again, however with the peace they had created over the last few days, he felt no immediate rush. Receiving word from her family helped, making their future seem obtainable. Expediting such whims now were in some ways were loosing their appeal, as he continued to want to make such an occasion special for her.

When the curtain cautiously shifted, and Anne's mischievous face stuck through he barely glanced up, unable to look away from the girl resting on him. As Anne quietly came closer to the pair, standing near the foot of the bed she glanced down upon the girl who was still deep in slumber, watching her brother reverently brushed loose strands of hair off her face.

"I was hoping to steal you away for some one on one time, but I can come back later. I just thought I would slip out while Ominis was still asleep." She spoke as softly as possible as to not wake the girl.

Sebastian looked up at his other half's hopeful face and nodded, recognizing that need his sister had for him on this day. She too understood its conflicting nature.