Lily closed her eyes, waiting for what was to come. Her future had flashed before her eyes. Everything would go dark soon, and then she would forget all that she knew about her life.

Nothing hit her, nor did she hit anything. She opened her eyes. Sebastian was holding up the wagon inches above her with one hand, while his other hand held her off the ground. They locked eyes, and all she could hear for a moment was her own breathing. Then, the only sound that filled her ears was the violent wind and rain from the storm.

Sebastian pushed the wagon back onto its wheels. Lily wasn't able to hear the others, but she screamed their names, fearing that they had gotten hurt. Sebastian picked her up and ran, and Lily continued screaming. This seemed to last for hours, when really, it was only a couple of minutes.

The next time Lily opened her eyes, she saw she was in an inn. Closeby was Walter, Mey-Rin, Finnian, and Baldroy. They were completely drenched like she was. A woman ran up to them. "Oh my, you're all soaked to the bone! Come sit by the fire and warm yourselves!"

Shivering, Lily only stuttered, "Sebastian…"

"I am right here, my lady," his voice said beside her. She looked at him, then went by the fire with the others.

The woman who had urged them to get warm gave them blankets. "Poor things. Stay there, and I'll get you all a hot meal."

Everyone but Sebastian sat by the fireplace, shivering. They talked about the storm and that they didn't know how they got to the inn. Lily looked at Sebastian out of the corner of her eye, quietly. He looked at her, and she swore she saw a small, sly smile cross his lips.

The kind woman brought them each a bowl of soup, and they thanked her, gratefully. Lily spoke, "We are in your debt. I will pay handsomely for some rooms and your kindness."

The woman smiled. "Kindness needs no reward, though I am grateful that you are able to pay for some rooms. I am Mrs. Gilley. My husband is the owner of this inn. He should be here shortly."

A man rushed in from outside. All eyes turned to him, and he immediately said, loudly, "That's one hell of a storm we've got here! At least all the animals are safe!"

Mrs. Gilley ran to the man, who was obviously her husband. "Come sit by the fire, John. I'll get you some soup."

"Eh, don't fuss, Flora; I'll be fine," Mr. Gilley said, disappearing upstairs. He came down later wearing dry clothes. Mrs. Gilley went back into the kitchen.

Mr. Gilley acknowledged the new guests. "Welcome! Welcome, friends! I see you have taken refuge in our inn!"

Lily spoke. "Yes. We were staying at a vacation house close to the sea and thought it would be safer to get away from the water."

"Very wise, indeed! We would happily give you rooms for the night…provided you can pay." He looked at Sebastian and Walter.

"Of course. I will pay for the cost of 3 rooms," Lily said.

Mr. Gilley raised his eyebrow. "You? It is impossible that you have money. You are a lady."

"I am Lady Lillith Athelward, current owner of the Athelward Shipping Company."

"Athelward, you say? They ship goods from other countries to England, don't they?"

Mrs. Gilley entered the room with a bowl of soup, which she gave to her husband. "Hey, Flora, this girl claims she runs the Athelward Shipping Company, you know, those ships that bring stuff from other countries." He laughed.

Sebastian frowned at him, staring into his eyes. "My mistress is correct. She has been given the responsibility of handling the business's matters in her parents' absence."

Mr. Gilley suddenly stopped laughing and looked nervous. He cleared his throat. "Ah, hm, yes. I'm sorry, Lady Athelward. We will do our best to make sure you and your party are comfortable."

As soon as they got their rooms, Lily told Finny, Bard, and Mey-Rin, "Please avoid destroying anything. There has been enough chaos today; none of us need any more."

The three agreed, and she continued. "Walter and Bard will share a room, Sebastian and Finny, and Mey-Rin and myself."

Walter said, frustrated, "Why do you get to make decisions?! I also have money, and you won't order me around! You talk about me not controlling you, but you are trying to do so to me! I will pay for the rooms, and I will decide who stays in which room! Why can't you be a proper lady and stay silent and meek?!"

"Hey, you can't talk to Lady Lillith like that!" Finny shouted.

Bard agreed. "She can be however she wants to be! Besides, you should be glad you aren't paying for us all to stay here!"

Mey-Rin put her hands on her cheeks. "Oh, dear. Another yelling match."

"Enough, all of you," Sebastian spoke. His tone of voice immediately silenced the others. "Lord Walter, myself and the other Athelward servants do not appreciate you talking to our mistress this way. If it is that important to you, you may split the cost of everything with Lady Lillith." He turned to Lily. "Perhaps you should not take responsibility for everything and let Walter make some decisions. After all, since you two are to be wed, you both have to learn to cooperate with each other."

Lily looked displeased, but not from Sebastian's request. She hated when someone brought up the fact that she was betrothed to Walter, but now, she hated it even more for some reason. All she did was nod.

Walter calmed down and agreed with the butler. "Thank you, Sebastian. At least someone can teach this lady. Now, I'll stay with Baldroy, Sebastian and Finny will share a room, and the two women shall share one."

Lily gaped at him, offended. "I just suggested that arrangement only moments ago!"

Ignoring her, Walter said, "It is late; we should all go to bed. If the storm subsides by then, we will go back to the vacation house."

Lily wanted to protest, but she was too exhausted and overwhelmed by the day's events to care much more about his assertiveness.

It's near. The angel's presence is near. The angel that killed my aunt and uncle is coming after me next. It's getting closer.

"Sebastian!"

Lily immediately sat up in bed, screaming. Mey-Rin fell out of bed in shock. Sebastian ran in, and Lily stumbled out of bed and rushed to him. She threw her arms around him, trembling with fear. "Save me! It's here!"

"What is, my lady?" Sebastian asked, calmly.

"An angel. The one that killed my aunt and uncle. It's going to come after me next!"

"Mistress, I won't let anything or anyone harm you. Do not fear."

As Mey-Rin got up off the floor, Mr. and Mrs. Gilley barged in. "We heard someone screaming."

Holding Lily, Sebastian stated, "Yes. It was Lady Lillith. She had a nightmare."

"Poor mistress. She had another night terror, yes, she did," Mey-Rin said, sympathetically.

Still not fully awake or aware of her surroundings, Lily clutched Sebastian tighter. "Please protect me, Sebastian! I can feel it near!"

"What's near? Is it a burglar?" Mr. Gilley asked, panicking.

Mrs. Gilley's expression became blank. "No. It is far more complicated than a simple thief. I sense an evil presence here. We must protect ourselves."

Mr. Gilley looked at his wife, strangely, and Mey-Rin began shaking with fear. Bard and Finny rushed to them and asked if Lily was alright. Sebastian told them all, calmly, "Lady Lillith simply had a bad dream. It is nothing to be concerned about. Go back to your rooms."

Everyone returned to their chambers except for Mr. and Mrs. Gilley. Lily, who couldn't go back to sleep, heard them talking softly downstairs. Curious, she quietly left the room and hid in a spot where she could hear them better.

"I tell you, one of them is cursed, and they brought it here!" Mrs. Gilley said.

"Flora, that's ridiculous! You've been hearing too many ghost stories!"

"I'm serious, John! I-"

Suddenly, the candles blew out, and the windows slammed open. Mrs. Gilley screamed. "I told you!"

"It's just the storm, Flora," Mr. Gilley said, closing the windows. "Light those candles again."

Mrs. Gilley didn't have a chance to. All of the chairs fell over, and both of them screamed. "It's a ghost!"

"It's the Devil, and the travelers brought him with them!"

"We have to find it and kill it before it runs loose!"

The innkeeper and his wife scrambled around, hanging up garlic, nettle, and other plants. They threw salt all over the rooms and carried crosses and prayed while they rang bells. The commotion woke all the guests up, and they looked out their chambers at the noise-makers. Mr. and Mrs. Gilley came near Lily, Walter, and all the Athelward servants. The husband and wife threw salt and plants at them all. Lily asked, angrily, "What is the meaning of this?!"

"You brought the Devil with you! Which one of you is he? You won't be able to hide from us!"

Sebastian made an odd face. Lily immediately saw it and started coughing and crying out. All eyes turned to her. Mrs. Gilley screamed, "I knew it! She is possessed by the Devil! We must get it out of her and destroy it!" She pressed her crucifix against Lily's forehead. With lightning speed, Sebastian pushed the innkeeper and his wife off of her. Mr. Gilley raced in Lily's direction. Bard pulled out a gun and shot him with expert precision. Mrs. Gilley rushed behind Lily, and Finny shoved the innkeeper's wife. She flew into a wall. Mey-Rin threw a knife at her, and it went right through her heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Gilley lay dead on the floor. The other guests and Walter stared at servants in horror. Lily didn't look shocked at all. She looked at them and said, "My servants are very capable of protecting me, especially against superstitious harmful people."

One of the guests asked, "Does this mean we get our money back?"

"I don't see why not," Bard replied. "It ain't any use to them now."