A voice.

No, two voices.

Mumbling?

Why can't I see them?

My eyes are open, but everything is dark. Oh, there is light now. I see shapes. There are two figures in front of me. I speak, and I see eyes look at me.

"Where am I?" I ask.

A man dressed in black gets closer to me. He picks something up and puts it on my forehead; it's a wet washcloth. I see the man clearer. He has black hair and pale skin. His eyes are brown. He is beautiful.

Another man gets closer to me, as well. He is an old man. He lifts my head up. A rush of pain shoots through my body. I cry out, and the old man says, "You will be alright, Lady Lillith. You hit your head, badly, but it will heal. Get plenty of rest." He said something to the other man, but I couldn't tell what was spoken.

The old man left the room, but the beautiful man stayed. "Lady Lillith, you gave us all quite a scare," he said.

Lady Lillith? Is he talking to me?

"Is that my name?" I ask him.

The man frowns. "Yes. Do you know my name?"

"No," I reply. "Should I? If so, I apologize."

"Do not apologize. The accident must have given you amnesia. Allow me to introduce you to yourself. You are Lady Lillith Mary Winifred Athelward, daughter of Henry and Mary Athelward. Your family owns a shipping company. Your parents disappeared a year ago. I am Sebastian, your butler."

He bows. Three other people run into the room: two men and one woman. They all talk at once. Sebastian makes them be quiet. He says, gesturing to each one, "This is Baldroy, the cook. This is Finnian, the gardener, and this is Mey-Rin, the maid." He turns toward them. "Lady Lillith has amnesia from the accident."

The maid, gardener, and cook begin panicking. I feel horrible that they are so frantic over me, so I tell them, "Please don't worry about me. What accident are you talking about?"

The four of them tell me about a storm that went on during a vacation by an ocean. The wagon I was riding in tipped over, and apparently I hit my head and lost my memory.

I try sitting up, but my head hurts too much. The four of them rush to take care of me, which, while I'm grateful, I feel uncomfortable from the attention. Sebastian calls the other three away, and they leave the room.

"Lunch will be ready, shortly, my lady."

"Please don't go through any trouble."

"Lady Lillith, I live to serve you. It is my duty. You would not want me to not fulfill my duties, would you?"

"Of course not. I am sorry. I'm still trying to grasp all this."

Sebastian bows. "Forgive me for being harsh. I should not upset you. You need nourishment and rest. I will bring you your food."

He walks out of the room. I look around and notice that my bedchamber is lavishly decorated and large, fit for nobility. Is this the kind of life I lead?

A male that I have not seen before runs in. He is dressed in fine garb and looks about my age. "Lily! Thank goodness you are alright! I came as soon as I got word!"

A feeling of dread travels through my body, though I do not know why. However, I ask politely, "I seem to have lost my memory and do not know who you are. May I ask your name?"

The male looks shocked. "Come now, Lillith! This is no time for jokes!"

"I'm afraid she is correct, Lord Walter," Sebastian's voice says behind him. "The accident gave her amnesia. She does not even remember who she herself is. You will have to introduce yourself to her."

The male sighs and says, "I am Lord Walter Dellmore, your betrothed."

"Betrothed?" I ask, not enthused.

"Yes," Walter replies. "I was with you when the wagon tipped over on our vacation. A storm cut it short." He scowled in frustration.

Sebastian comes in with a tray full of food. "Lady Lillith has not eaten today. Would you like some tea, Lord Walter?"

"Yes, please, Sebastian."

I look at the meal and examine each dish carefully. "Is something the matter, my lady?" Sebastian asks, concerned.

I shake my head. "I am just taking in how wonderful the food looks," I reply, amazed.

He smiles. "You are too kind, my lady."

"How will Lily get her memory back?" Walter asks, impatiently.

"We wait. Perhaps if we show her different objects that have sentimental value to her, she will regain it."

I finish eating, and Sebastian takes the tray. "I will be back, shortly." Then, he leaves the room.

For some reason, I feel unsafe when Sebastian isn't near me. It's an odd feeling. Is he my protector, and if he is, what is he protecting me from?

I look at Walter and fake a smile, though I still feel dread. Perhaps his courtesy is just a facade, and on the inside, he is not who he seems to be. How can I be betrothed to a man I don't like?

Sebastian returns with some books and a box. "My lady, perhaps these will return your memory. Please don't pressure yourself."

I look through the books first. One is filled with records concerning the Athelward Shipping Company, the company I apparently currently run. Another is a diary. Another is a script of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. There is a program of it that lists myself as Juliet.

I look through the box last. It is filled with different items. Sebastian explains each one: a necklace my mother owns, a bottle of my father's cologne, photos of my family, and a ring that is to be passed down to me.

With each item, I see brief flashes of scenes that I think are memories. I see myself filling out books. I see a stage and people running around, acting silly. I see random things about my childhood and feel the pain of my parents leaving and not returning. I see a man and a woman alongside my parents. I see their deaths. I see a woman with a glow around her shooting my uncle and another setting a house on fire. I see a wagon's wheel purposely being broken and the wagon tipping over. These are my memories, yet it feels like some of them are not.

I close the box and look at the two men, horrified. Sebastian asks, "Do you remember anything?"

Walter says, "Your face is rather pale."

"I need rest," I quickly say. "I feel ill."

Walter leaves the room, but I grab Sebastian's arm before he leaves my side. "Stay," I beg him.

"As you wish."

"Who are you? You are not merely my butler; there is much more to you than that."

"Indeed, there is, but perhaps it is best not to say at this moment."

I grip his arm, tighter. "Tell me. Tell me everything."

"Very well, my lady."

He steps back and takes one of his gloves off. There is a green symbol on his hand. It reflects in my eyes, and suddenly I remember drowning. "What is that?"

"It is a mark signifying our contract. You have the same mark on your chest."

"Contract?" I ask as I unbutton the top of my gown. I look at my chest and indeed see the exact same symbol on it.

"Yes, my lady. You summoned me as you were drowning yourself. In exchange for helping you find your parents, I will consume your soul when your life ends. I am a demon."

I should be terrified, but somehow, I'm not. I do not feel threatened or in danger. "I thought demons looked much differently," I say.

Sebastian smiles, slyly. "This is not my true form. You will never see that."

"If you are a demon, then there are also angels, correct?"

"Yes. They are pesky beings."

I see again my aunt and uncle's deaths. The woman had a glow about her.

"Do they glow?"

"They are capable of doing so, yes."

An angel killed my aunt and uncle. It did not do it randomly. Why would an angel murder someone? I feel its presence near. I hold on to Sebastian for dear life. I hold on to a demon to be saved from an angel.