We finally reached my room, and Sebastian set me on my bed. He stayed with me while Sarah grabbed whatever medical supplies she needed.

"I wonder which would be worse," I thought aloud, only to annoy Sebastian, "ending a contract or dying from infection."

I got half of a glare from him, the other half seemed to be... concern? Sadness? I wasn't sure. But it wasn't the death glare I'd been expecting.

Sarah returned a moment later with bandages and other stuff she would need. I didn't know what half of the stuff was, but I wasn't a doctor. Sarah's parents were both doctors, so she knew at least how to treat minor injuries like mine. At least, I hoped they were minor.

I glanced down at my sore feet, and when I looked up again, Sebastian was gone. I just shrugged it off. He was free to do as he pleased around the house, as long as it didn't involve killing any of the others that stayed here.

"You certainly did a number on your feet, Chrystal. Were you in such a hurry that you couldn't at least wear your slippers?"

"Apparently," I answered.

"So are you planning on telling any of us why you ran off?"

I looked up at Sarah. She was digging through my closet, trying to find me something comfortable to slip into, since she more than likely was going to make me stay in bed the rest of the day so my feet could heal a bit.

She pulled a dress out of the closet and laid it on the bed, then watched me again. "Well?"

I let my gaze fall to my hands, which were folded in my lap. "Just still coping, I guess," I lied.

Sarah's gaze softened, and she came over and hugged me. "You don't need to run away to cope, you know. We're here for you."

I nodded.

Sarah sighed, then started cleaning my feet. She bandaged them up, helped me change, and then left, saying that she would come back later to check on me, and informing me to let the cuts on my feet close before walking again.

I grabbed a remote off the table beside my bed and switched on the TV. I turned it to the news because there was nothing else on, and lay on my back, listening to the sounds of crying people and sirens coming from a story about a large house fire.

When I glanced up at the TV out of curiosity, what I saw horrified me.

The crying people were from the neighborhood, and the burning house seemed to be right down the street.

***

Turning off the TV, I jumped out of bed, put on some slippers, and ran downstairs. I felt someone grab me before I could reach the front door.

"Off again, are we?"

I turned around to see Sebastian. His gaze held concern once he saw my panic.

"What's the matter?"

"I-I..." I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. It didn't work. I whispered, "Why didn't I hear the sirens?"

Sebastian watched me quizzically. I turned to move for the door, but he stopped me again.

"What sirens?"

"You mean you didn't hear them either?"

Sebastian shook his head, still looking worried. He picked me up. "You shouldn't be walking, remember?"

"Fine, but take me outside. Please."

Sebastian nodded, then carried me outside. Once through the large doors, the sirens were heard loud and clear by the both of us. I looked down the street, and screamed in horror once I saw the tower of thick black smoke rising from the house near the end of the street.

Sarah and Thomas were outside in a heartbeat after they heard my scream.

"What are you doing out here?" Sarah asked.

I simply pointed at the smoke cloud, growing larger every second.

Sarah gasped, and Thomas just stood there, gaping.

Then I suddenly remembered something. I had a demon butler that could probably help out down there.

I glanced up at Sebastian, my eyes pleading.

He nodded, then handed me off to Thomas. When I looked back to him, he was gone.

"He better know what he's doing," Sarah said. "Thomas, please bring her to the couch. I doubt she wants to stay in her room by herself with everything going on."

Thomas complied, carrying me to the couch, then gently setting me down. But I instantly got up and ran to the window, watching the smoke rise higher and higher.

"Chrystal...."

I glanced up at Sarah, who was just watching me. A moment later, she sighed and dragged a chair over to the window, where I sat and watched the burning building.

"Do you want anything to eat?"

I didn't respond. I was frozen in place.

"What is it?" Sarah asked, moving to look outside better.

She moved over just in time to see the house fall to the ground. I opened the window to get a better look, and heard the screams of everyone down there. I immediately closed it again.

Sarah seemed to be near tears, while I was too shocked to move. I felt myself slump back in the chair, and tears filled my eyes.

I felt her arms around me, trying to get me to look away. My eyes were glued to the rubble, unable to divert their gaze.

Sarah eventually forced my head to turn away, but the image was still burned into my mind. The home of one of the poorest families, gone. And possibly some of my neighbors with it.

Sebastian, if you don't save them, I'll kill you.

I thought I heard him laugh inside my head. I wouldn't doubt it. He seemed to always be on my mind one way or another.

A few minutes later, I heard the door open. I jumped to my feet, only to be stopped by Sarah, who practically shoved me back into the chair. My feet aren't hurt that bad, I thought to myself.

Sebastian entered the room a moment later, a smile on his face. He nodded to Sarah, who obediently stood and left the room.

I sat back in my chair. "So, do I need to kill you?"

"No, My Lady. I managed to save everyone before the house collapsed."

"And do they know it was you?"

"No, Chrystal, they don't. I was in and out, like that superhero you seem to like so much."

"The Flash?"

"Yes, that one." His smile seemed genuine, like he was trying to joke around. I couldn't help but smile back at him.

Knowing that everyone was safe, I relaxed enough to change the subject. "Can I really not walk around? I don't like to sit around and do nothing."

"But don't you like not having to walk anywhere? All you have to do is snap your fingers, and....." He quickly swooped down and picked me up.

I screamed. "SEBASTIAN!! Put me down this instant!!!!"

Sebastian didn't listen. He carried me to my room and gently placed me back on my bed. "It's beginning to get late. You should rest. Maia will bring you your dinner," he said as he removed my slippers.

I sighed. Noticing that my TV was still on, I turned up the volume.

"I have no idea what happened," a lady in a brown dress was saying. She was nearly covered in ash and soot. "One minute, I thought we were goners, and the next, well, here we are, watching our house fall to the ground. I don't know who saved us, but we are super grateful."

I glanced up to Sebastian, but he was gone. I smiled to myself. Maybe a demon wasn't all bad, even if I had told him to save them and threatened his life, but it wasn't like I could actually do anything to him. I turned back to the TV, where the news had gone off and a talk show had started. I watched with divided attention. Some on the show, and the rest on my demonic butler who had saved the day.