When I awoke again, Sebastian was still holding me.

I glanced up at him, and he smiled down at me. I smiled back, sitting up.

"No nightmares this time?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No. No nightmares."

He gave me his closed eyed smiled. "Good. That means you've rested some. How are you feeling?"

I thought for a moment. I knew he was asking about my health, but that wasn't all I started to consider. I had completely broken down in front of him about my parents. What had he thought when I asked why I hadn't died? Did he care? I doubted it. Even if he did, it would only be because if I'd died, he wouldn't have my soul. Of course, he probably could've found anyone else.

I'd been 13 when it happened. The hit and run that should have ended my life had happened a little over three years ago. It felt like so long, and yet, it felt like no time at all.

I must have thought for longer than I'd planned, because Sebastian spoke up. "Chrystal?"

I closed my eyes as I spoke. "The doctors and nurses all used to tell me that I must've had a guardian angel that caught me during the crash and set me on the ground. The only major injury I had was the cut on my head, which was caused by the glass windshield that shattered as I flew through it." I glanced up at Sebastian. "There was nothing that showed any sign that I hit the ground. No bruises, no concussion. Nothing. I wonder what happened."

Sebastian didn't answer. Instead, he stood, gently pushing me off of him in the process. "How are you feeling?" he asked again.

I stood. This time thinking about how sick I had been earlier. Maybe the dream about the crash was a result of a high fever? I didn't know. I did know that I was no longer shivering, which seemed like a good sign.

"Honestly, I don't know."

Sebastian frowned at my answer. I couldn't quite tell how I felt. It was weird.

He removed his glove and felt my forehead. He made a face, like he couldn't quite tell if I had a fever or not. Then his next action made me jump.

He pressed his lips to my forehead.

I ducked away from him, startled. He chuckled as my common sense kicked in. My parents used to check if I had a fever by doing the same thing. It meant nothing. He wasn't giving me a kiss, he was checking if I was sick.

I took a deep breath and glanced away, blushing. "I'm sorry. You scared me."

"I apologize. I hadn't meant to."

I didn't look up.

He stepped closer and pressed his lips to my forehead again. I didn't pull away this time, now that I understood what he was doing.

He stepped away a long moment later.

"You definitely still have a fever. We should really be finding you a doctor."

I stared up at him. "My family first."

Sebastian smiled and knelt before me. "As you wish, My Lady."

That caught me off guard. "Are we leaving soon?"

Sebastian looked up at me. "The sooner we do this, the sooner you'll begin to worry about your health. I cannot allow for you remain this sick. We must hurry."

I broke out into a huge grin. Finally. We were finally going to help them. We had been gone for what felt like ages. I wanted my family back.

"So when do we leave?" I asked, ready to go.

"Patience," Sebastian smiled. "I want one final training session with you. After that, you will rest until nightfall. That is when we will attack." He stood, then stared down at me, his smile lost to a look of concern. "I will need you to be strong, Chrystal. If I am going to save the others, you will need to be able to defend yourself."

I nodded. He meant that I may have to kill someone. But did it justify killing them if they were trying to kill me? I didn't want for anyone to have a reason to believe the rumors. I would just have to hope Sebastian could be fast enough to break them out before any real damage could be done.

Sebastian stared at me a moment longer, before finally smiling. "Alright, I suppose we should get started, then."

I nodded again, returning his smile. Sebastian may be worried that something might happen to me, but I had complete faith in him. He would save my friends, he would protect me, and we would go home and clear my name. I would live the last 10 months or so of my life happily with the ones I loved, and when the time came for my wish to be granted, well... I'd go along with it with a smile. I was already living on extra time as it was.

Finally coming to terms with the inevitable felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I stood there confidently, then grabbed my swords and readied them for battle.

Sebastian noticed the change in my demeanor, but he didn't say anything. He put on his signature smile. "Are you ready, Chrystal?"

I nodded, then lunged at him, giving it everything I had.