As much as Ariana and I were eager to turn Ariana back into her younger self, we had to be patient until the orchestra was through. Now that we knew that one of the students from school had information on the old woman cure, we were not in a rush.

The performance was over in an hour, and Laila and Liam met us in the lobby. Laila ran to us like a toddler and gave Ariana a squeeze. It was only then when she glanced up that she realized that her older sister was not fine.

"Dang, sister of mine. Did you come down with the sniffles?"

"I cannot believe that I am saying this, but I would rather be old than receive the sniffles any day," Ariana confessed. "And to answer your question, Laila, no. I am not coming down with the sniffles."

Laila pulled away from her. "Then why do you resemble the abominable snowwoman?"

"I am an old woman." She hunched over. "I am like one of those old ladies that you see on television."

"Ooh. So you are wearing makeup and a wig."

"No." She facepalmed and shifted her upper body towards me. "Daniel? Could you be a dear and get me something to lean on?"

"Like a cane?" I suggested.

She elbowed me in the stomach. Though, not hard. "Of course, a cane! Jeez. You millennials can suck dirt."

"Whoa, Ariana. Whoa. You do realize that you are a millennial too."

"Stop your yapping and fetch me my cane!"

Dejah put a hand on my shoulder. "Do not be alarmed. This is what some old people do," she reassured me. Eleanor and I will get you a cane. You and Laila can start heading for home."

I thanked Dejah, and she and Eleanor took off in the opposite direction. Laila watched as they left the lobby and asked who they were and what they were up to. I told her their names and that they went to the same school that she, her older sister, and I did. Laila's concerned expression softened, and she smiled and giggled.

"So sweet of them to get a cane for my old sister. Literally."

"I feel the same way, Laila. I invited Eleanor and Dejah to my house. Would you be interested in joining us?"

She jumped up and down. "Yes, yes, yes! I loved your house the first time."

"My parents will not be home for a while. They are at the movies."

"Even better. It will just be me, you, the girls, and most importantly..." She hugged on Ariana's arm. "...my big sister."

I grabbed her hand and began leading her to the double doors that separated us from the outside world. She did not like what I was doing and managed to slip her hand out of my grasp.

"Where are we going, Daniel?"

"I told you earlier. To my house."

"What about my big sister? You surely are not planning on leaving her alone."

"I am not leaving Ariana alone, Laila. I would never do that. She will be in good hands with Eleanor and Dejah."

"But I refuse to leave her side." Laila stomped and clenched her hands into fists. "I am staying with her."

"Laila, please. I promise that Ariana will be safe with Dejah and Eleanor."

"You do not understand. I am doing this for you!"

She covered her mouth to keep herself from spilling out more words. Too late to take back what she had said. Why did she say that? What did she mean that she was staying with Ariana for my sake? Writer, do not tell me that Laila has a crush on me.

Laila took a glance at that last sentence before looking back at me and sticking out her tongue. "Ew! I do not like you. I mean, I do like you as a friend. But I am not in love with you. Sheesh. What do you think that this book series is? A long set of lame romances?"

I pointed an accusing finger at her. "Then what do you mean that you are staying with your sister for me?"

"I am trying to save you. I do not want you to make the same mistakes that I did."

"What mistakes?"

"Daniel, if we leave Ariana here in this very spot...I cannot help but have that sinking feeling that something bad will happen to her."

It finally dawned on me. Laila was scared that she would lose her beloved sister like that she did with her parents. Not in an accident, but probably in any other way that a person can get killed.

"You will not lose another," I said firmly. "We will not lose Ariana and make sure of that."

Laila wiped away a tear. "How can we make absolute sure that she will be safe and sound if neither of us will be here to watch over her?"

Before I could respond, I saw Eleanor and Dejah returning with a cane. Eleanor handed Ariana the cane and helped her out of the lobby. Dejah looked at me and Ariana's sister and asked why we were still here.

"I was not about to leave my sister," Laila hissed. "I love her too much to let her go."

Later, all six of us were at my house and in the living room. Eleanor, Dejah, and I were sitting on the couch. Ariana was leaning back in a chair, and Laila and Liam were on the floor and playing with each other. Dejah was showing a page in her book.

"That is the song," Dejah stated. "The person who sings it has their heart's evilest desires come to life."

"I heard no one singing it," I commented. "Ariana's sister played the music, but she never sang the lyrics."

"From what I am guessing, Daniel, there is a character in Forlot who despises Ariana so much that he or she wants her to suffer or be killed."