Lily looked at the indentations the rope had made around her wrists. She had gotten back to Sebastian's and her room without incident, and she was now sitting on her bed, trying to fully process what had happened.

"It is done," she heard Sebastian say. She looked up at him and nodded. He walked to her and held her wrists. "Did she hurt you?"

"No. I awoke tied up."

"The marks will go away soon. Is there anything you need?"

Lily hugged him. "This is all I need. I need comfort and assurance."

"Did you doubt that I would come to your rescue?"

"I did not. However, being knocked unconscious and tied up with the intention of being sold is a terrifying experience, and I need to be held. Humans need to feel safe."

"So I've noticed. Anyway, you should sleep. It is quite late, and you've had an exhausting night."

"Indeed. I just have one request."

"Yes?"

"Lay beside me and hold me until I fall asleep."

"Yes, my niece." Then, he did as she asked.

Soon, morning came, and with it came loud voices. Lily woke up, immediately, and Sebastian opened the door to see what was going on. Two policemen were holding Palsu's assistant's arms, and she was handcuffed. "You are under arrest for the murder of your employer, Palsu the Magician!"

The assistant looked terrified. "I didn't murder him! I swear!"

"We know you did it! No one else had a motivation nor connection to him!"

Lily was also watching the scene unfold, and she was waiting for the assistant to tell the police and the captain what really happened, but she did not. She only kept insisting she did not commit the crime.

Lily looked at Sebastian. "Help her," she whispered, desperately.

Sebastian went to the policemen and asked, "Forgive the interruption, but what is going on?"

"The magician was murdered by his assistant between last night and this morning. His body is gone, which means she threw it overboard."

"I am an investigator," stated Sebastian. "I can help solve this crime. It's too soon to make an accusation. Have you searched his belongings for any clues?"

"No," one of the police officers replied. "And if you are an investigator, show us your badge."

"Gladly," said Sebastian, and showed them a badge he pulled out of his pocket. The policemen nodded and let him search Palsu's room with one of them while the other made sure the assistant didn't escape.

"Look here," Sebastian said after looking through the room. He held up a folder which had lists of people Palsu had "acquired" and sold. There was also a journal, with the last page saying that the magician was afraid of being discovered and that to protect himself, he would get off the ship using one of the lifeboats. Sure enough, one of the lifeboats was gone. It was enough to prove the assistant's innocence and close the case.

Lily watched as the assistant was released and as she went back into her room. As she started to follow, Sebastian came back and stated, "Well, that's all settled. Shall we go to the dining hall?"

Lily didn't answer him. She knocked on the assistant's door. The door opened, and seeing Lily, the assistant looked uneasy. "Yes, miss?"

"May we talk?" asked Lily.

The other woman hesitated, then nodded. As she invited Lily in, she looked at Sebastian. "In fact, I do wish to speak you both. Please come in."

Once the three of them were in the room, the assistant closed the door behind them. Back to them, the assistant asked, "It was you, wasn't it, sir?"

Before Sebastian could answer, Lily stated, "My uncle did what he had to do to keep me safe, and you, as well."

The assistant turned around and looked at them. Softly, she said, "I thank you. He was a horrible man, and I am glad to be free of him. How can I ever repay you?"

"No need. As my niece told you, I only did what I had to to secure her safety."

"There must be something I can do."

Smiling, kindly, Lily replied, "There is. Tell us your name."

"Julia. Palsu usually just called me his assistant or derogatory words."

Lily held out her hand. "It's a pleasure to formally meet you. I am Emma Forbes, and this is my uncle, Oscar Forbes."

Julia shook her hand. "I am happy to know the names of my saviors."

"Would you like to sit by us this morning?" asked Lily. "We would be happy to have you join us for breakfast."

"That is very kind of you," Julia said with a smile.

The three of them sat together in the dining room and ate. The other passengers avoided them and gave Julia harsh looks and cold glances. Lily could see Julia's shame and embarrassment from being watched and did her best to put her at ease.

After breakfast, Sebastian and Lily walked with Julia back to her room. After Julia thanked them, Lily asked, "What will you do now?"

"I…I have no idea. I don't know what I CAN do. I am only a former assistant to a magician. I don't have any special skills. I suppose I am just a wanderer, stuck on a ship bound for India."

"You yourself can become a magician, or learn a new trade. Your future is wide open," said Sebastian.
"Perhaps you are right. I've just been under someone else's control for so long, I don't even know who I am."

"Then, now is the best time to learn."

Lily nodded, agreeing with Sebastian. "And we shall help you."

The demon raised his eyebrow. "Emma?"

"You don't have to do that," stated Julia. "I can manage on my own….I think."

"It's not a problem. We can help you start a new life, or at the very least, be your friends."

"That is incredibly kind of you. I would like to have friends. I have none, nor any family. If you don't mind, I would like to stay around you both until I feel more confident in myself."

"It would be no trouble," Sebastian said. However, later when he and Lily were alone, he said to Lily, "You invest yourself too much into the lives of others."

"Julia is a clean slate and has no one to help her through this tough time. I feel compelled to help her."

"Your life would be significantly less stressful if you didn't get involved in others' affairs. You have to focus on your own."

"I AM focusing on my own affairs. If everyone in the human race thought the same as what you said, this world would be extinguished. Kindness and empathy keep us alive despite all the hatred and malice in society."

"I suppose you have a point. Still, I wish you wouldn't throw yourself into things."

Lily smiled, faintly, and hugged him. "Do not worry; everything will be alright."

Despite her words, her eyes held a sadness that she would not speak of. Sebastian simply nodded, not addressing her true feelings.

"If I may ask, why are you two going to visit India?" Julia asked Lily and Sebastian one day. The three of them sat in the sun, staring at the ocean.

Lily paused, thinking of how to answer. She didn't have to, for Sebastian replied, "I promised my niece to take her on a trip there. It is a fascinating country."

"Have you been there before, Mr. Forbes?"

"Oh yes. Twice, in fact."

Sebastian proceeded to talk about a few adventures he had had in India. Lily didn't know if he was making up stories or if he had actually done those things. Either way, her mind drifted away from his voice and concentrated on her own thoughts. She was getting more and more impatient and anxious by the day and wished they were already there. They were wasting time just sitting on a boat.

Suddenly, Lily faintly heard Sebastian say her fake name. She looked at him, and he asked, "Emma, are you quite alright? I said your name twice."

"Yes, Uncle Oscar. I am just distracted. I do not know how much longer I can bear to be on this ship."
"It shouldn't be long before we arrive," said Sebastian. "Perhaps another day or two. Have patience, my niece."

"I can't wait to go!" Julia stated, excited. "I've always wanted to travel to exotic lands. This will be the start of my new adventure!"

Lily couldn't share Julia's excitement. Her mind was too preoccupied with her own plans. Still, she smiled, happy that this woman was free and optimistic.

"Emma, I do wish you would enjoy yourself. You have barely had any fun on this cruise. You should use the remaining time to relax and clear your mind," Sebastian said.

Lily wanted to, but she no longer knew how. The closer they got to their destination, the more she felt that she was no longer a person, but rather like a train, speeding down a track, only able to concentrate on the final stop. She had gotten to the point where she thought of nothing but her mission. They were so close, yet so far away.

"Excuse me; I have a headache. I must lie down," Lily said, and went back into Sebastian's and her room. She lied on the bed, trying to calm herself.

Suddenly, she heard a soft hissing sound. She looked down at the floor. There was a long, red snake slithering across the room. It took everything in her not to scream. The young girl slowly picked up a candlestick that was setting on the side table next to the bed and quietly stood up. When she got close to the snake, she rapidly hit it with the candlestick and repeatedly did so until it stopped moving. Blood came out of its mouth and body. Relieved that she saved someone from getting bitten, she searched for something to put the snake in so she could drop it in the sea later.

Lily decided to use a towel, and proceeded to get one. Before she left the room, however, she spotted something in the corner of her eye. The blood from the snake left a huge puddle on the floor. She didn't know snakes bled so much, so she went into the bathroom to get two towels. When she returned, the puddle had spread, and she started to panic. She hastily dropped the towels on the floor, and grabbed her blanket and put it down on the same spot. The red liquid soaked the towels and blanket. It was then that she called out for Sebastian, knowing that she couldn't handle this alone.

Sebastian ran in. Lily said, desperately, "Help me stop it. I killed the snake, and its blood won't stop spreading."

The demon walked to her and picked up the candlestick, towels, and blanket. "Emma, I want you to concentrate. There is no snake. There is no blood. It's all in your head, and you need to fight it. Perhaps rest will help you. I imagine the stress is making you feel ill. I implore you to rest and enjoy what time we have left on this voyage."

Lily stared at the floor, then at Sebastian. She hugged him. "Stay with me until I fall asleep," she said, quietly.

"Of course, my niece."

Lily lied down on her bed once again. "I can't sleep," she stated, tears falling."

Suddenly, she heard Sebastian sing a slow, soft lullaby. She swore she had heard it from somewhere before, but she knew not from where. She didn't think about it too much, however; she simply let Sebastian's perfect voice carry her to sleep.