Deeper.
Deeper.
I feel my life leaving as I sink. In my last moments, my memories are clearer.
Clearer.
I see my mother and father. I remember the good times. Then they fade away. They left me.
Gone.
Gone.
And soon, I shall be.
I open my eyes and see nothing but darkness. I scream, but the cold water silences it. I cry out for help, though why, I do not know.
"Say my name."
Lily woke up screaming. She sat up and looked around. She was in her bedchamber, in her luxurious bed. She soon heard a knock at the door. "My lady, are you alright?" Sebastian asked.
It took Lily a moment to calm down, then she replied, "I'm alright. You may come in."
Sebastian entered the room. "Did you have another nightmare, mistress?"
"Yes, but I'm alright now."
"Breakfast is waiting for you whenever you are ready for it."
"Thank you. I shall be down in a few moments."
"Do you want help dressing?"
"No, I will dress myself."
"Very well, my lady. I will wait for you in the dining room."
The butler left the room, and Lily got dressed for the day. Although she was of noble blood, she cared little for her appearance. However, she needed to look her best.
Lily dressed in a green dress and picked up a green ribbon. As she stood in front of a full-sized mirror and put her hair into a ponytail, she saw a mouse scurry across the floor. She ran out of her chamber and into the dining room, screaming for Sebastian. "What is wrong, my lady?" he asked.
"There's a mouse in my bedchamber!" Lily shouted, terrified.
"A mouse? I'll take care of the bugger for you, my lady," Baldroy said, coming in from out of the kitchen.
"Don't hurt it. It's just a tiny, helpless mouse," said Finny.
"I don't care what you do; just get it out of the manor," ordered Lily.
Baldroy grabbed a flamethrower and raced to Lily's bedroom, with Finny following close behind. Mey-Rin came into the dining room, pushing a tray of food as Lily sat down. "What's all the excitement?" Mey-Rin asked.
"Lady Lillith found a mouse in her bedchamber," replied Sebastian. "Excuse my while I…ahem…"assist" the others." With that, Sebastian left the room.
Mey-Rin jumped up on a chair. "A mouse in the manor?!"
"Yes. Get down from there. It will be taken care of," Lily said, drinking a sip of tea.
Crashing and banging sounds were heard upstairs. The smell of smoke filled the manor. Lily ran upstairs and almost got knocked into by Baldroy and Finny. They were racing in the opposite direction. "It must have escaped! Come on!" Baldroy said.
Lily ran into her room and cried out in dismay. The walls were black with smoke. All of the furniture was tipped over. A small fire had started. She grabbed a blanket and put the fire out. Then, she saw a picture frame on the floor. She picked it up. Tears filled her eyes. It was a picture of her parents, and it was torn up. She sat on the floor and cried. Sebastian came in. "My lady, you should not be-" He stopped when he saw what she was holding. "I will take care of this mess. Please leave the room before you step on glass."
Lily left the room, quietly. She went out to the garden and sat on a bench. Lilies were planted all over and were in full bloom.
"Say my name."
"Sebastian!"
Sebastian walked to her. "There you are, my lady. Everything is alright now. You may come back in."
"I don't want to."
"My lady, I must insist you go back inside."
Lily got up and hugged Sebastian, tightly. A look of surprise crossed his face. "Lady Lillith, this is inappropriate."
"I don't care. I need comfort."
"If you would just go inside-"
"Comfort me."
Sebastian sighed and hugged her. He stroked her hair and spoke softly. "There, now. Everything is alright."
They stayed like that for a few minutes, then Lily pulled away. "Thank you. I feel much better now."
The teenage girl went back inside, and she reluctantly entered her bedchamber. Her mouth dropped in shock. Everything was the way it was before the chaos. Even the picture was in perfect condition.
"If I couldn't repair one room, what kind of butler would I be?"
Lily turned around and saw Sebastian standing behind her. She nodded and thanked him.
Just then, there was a knock at the front door. "I will answer it, my lady," the butler said, and he left the room. He came back soon and said, Lord Walter is here to see you. What shall I tell him?"
Lily walked past him. "I will greet him, myself." With that, she went downstairs.