"Your very soul?"
I hear a voice in my head that is not my own. It is soft and soothing, but at the same time, menacing and evil.
It speaks again. "Say my name, and I will save you and help you find your parents. In return, you must let me consume your soul when your life ends."
I'm falling. The voice gets softer.
"Say my name."
With the last breath I can muster, I speak.
"Sebastian."
Lily woke up with a start when the carriage jolted. She fell sideways onto the other end of the seat. Sebastian reached across from him to help her sit up again. "Are you alright, my lady?"
"Quite, though why do you care?"
"As your butler, I am to see that no harm comes to you."
Lily was quiet. Another jolt, more intense than the last, threw her forward. She landed on top of Sebastian. She looked up at him. They locked eyes for a few seconds.
As Sebastian helped Lily sit in her seat once more, he said, "I will ask the driver to be more careful, though this road is very bumpy."
Sebastian looked out the window and then looked back in. "It seems we have lost our driver."
"I am not in the mood for jokes."
"See for yourself."
Lily looked out the window and discovered that Sebastian had been telling the truth. With a horrified look on her face, she started to speak, but then she saw Sebastian climbing up to the driver's seat and taking the reigns.
Lily tried to calm down, but questions plagued her mind. Where had the driver gone? How did he leave, and when?
The rest of the ride went smoother, and the gentle motion of the carriage lulled her to sleep. She was so tired that she didn't awaken when the carriage stopped, or even when Sebastian opened the carriage door. "My lady, we have arrived."
Lily continued sleeping. The butler shook her gently, which made her finally wake up. "What is it?" she asked, groggily.
"We have arrived at your aunt's house. Come. We must straighten your clothes before going in."
The young lady got out of the carriage and fell against Sebastian. Her legs were shaky. "Take a moment to get your bearings."
A minute later, Lily was able to stand on her own. Sebastian smoothed the wrinkles in her dress and straightened her hat. As soon as she looked dignified, they walked up the steps to the front door. Lily knocked, and the door opened. A man who looked similar to Sebastian opened the door. Sebastian frowned. "I never expected to see you here, Claude Faustus."