Peregrination

 

Chapter 1

 

The town of Leeves was tranquil and beautiful.

 

Deep teal eyes swept the area with careful precision as Melyssa slowly made her way to the gates of the Branch School of Thors, the second one to open and was an indirect match to the main branch school of Thors in Trista.  Originally, she wanted to attend the main campus, but there hadn’t been room for any more commoners, so she had to settle for the branch school instead.  It was fine, she supposed, because either way, she would get an education.  The branch school was freshly built about a year ago and had nearly everything else the main school did as far as clubs and activities went. 

 

Melyssa looked down at her dark blue and silver uniform, the jacket with the white undershirt, even though only the color of it could be seen.  She had on a white and dark blue plaid skirt and her dark blue hair was pulled back in a tight neat bun.  There was a black belt around her waist that had her ARCUS II attached to it, which allowed her to do perform various arts and attacks while in battle the school sent her.  Shouldering her bag that had her belongings, along with her weapon of choice – a cutlass – Melyssa took a deep breath before finally arriving at the entrance of the branch school of Thors.

 

Wow, it’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be, she thought, taking a moment to just stand there and take everything in.

 

It was hard to believe everything had gone somewhat back to normal after the fiasco that hit Erebonia about a year ago.  Supposedly, the end of the world had almost happened and, thanks to a lot of people, it had been diverted.  However, one person had stood out above all others and that had been the Ashen Chevalier and Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves One Blade School of Swordsmanship, Rean Schwarzer.  He was an instructor at the branch school and it made her wonder why he hadn’t gone back to the main school.  That was where he originally graduated from.  The infamous Class VII had also been there to stop the end of the world disaster from happening, which had been at the hands of the deceased Chancellor Osborne. 

 

Rean was also the dead Chancellor’s biological son, so that was a little intimidating in itself, even though the Ashen Chevalier was NOTHING compared to his biological father.  He had been raised by the Schwarzer family – Baron Teo Schwarzer, who was a very dear friend of Osborne’s.  Apparently, when Rean was just a little boy, he had been adopted by the Schwarzer family and his father had received ridicule because of it.  And it was all thanks to Giliath Osborne.  The newspaper had a ton of information for the public after the crisis and the war had been stopped with the Calvard Republic.  Melyssa knew eventually she would come face to face with the Ashen Chevalier since he was an instructor here, but she had NO idea what the Goddess was about to do to her…or whose class she was about to enter.

 

The Ashen Chevalier, he wasn’t sure if he would ever get used to that.  He didn’t feel necessarily worthy of the title that had been bestowed upon him.  Rean Schwarzer hadn’t ended the Erebonian Civil War by himself, but he had been hailed as a hero, as if the others had contributed nothing when the fact of the matter was, he wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without their help.  They had saved him after all, finding him the way they had.

 

The class Melyssa entered was Rean’s class, he was the homeroom teacher of Class VII: Special Operations. It had started out as a type of social experiment, a politically charged one, and gone through some ups and downs, though he knew the fact that it had been reinstated spoke volumes of its benefits and merits. The class itself was a combat class when broken down into basest of terms and only those who had shown a high aptitude with the ARCUS II were accepted.

 

Oh Goddess, Aidios save me, Melyssa thought, stopping momentarily to look at the Ashen Chevalier himself, in the flesh, before quickly averting her gaze to look at her schedule, making sure she was in the correct room.  She even backed out to look at the number sign next to the door attached to the wall and shut her eyes.  Yes, yes it was. Goddess, why am I in HIS class of all classes, she thought, once again entering the room and took a seat near the door with her eyes still down.

 

“Good morning, Instructor.”

 

“Morning, Instructor.”

 

“Hey.”

 

“Ash, do you REALLY have to be so RUDE with our Instructor?”

 

“Forgive me, Wild Filly, for giving a damn in the first place and greeting him.” Ash Carbide remarked, rolling his pink eyes and fingered his short spiked blonde hair.  He was a second year, along with Juna Crawford, Kurt Vander and Altina Orion, who was related to two of the most famous army generals and lieutenants in the Empire.

 

“SERIOUSLY?!”

 

Kurt shrugged when Juna shot him a dark look, holding his hands up. “He greeted him, you can’t expect more than that from him and you know it.  Ash is Ash, Juna.”

 

“UGH!” Juna growled, not amused and folded her arms tightly in front of her chest. “Unbelievable.  Hey, where’s Allie and…”

 

“The party has officially arrived, boys and girls!”

 

“Please kindly refrain from calling this a party, Crow.” Altina ordered in her usually subdued, robotic voice, though her eyes lit up at the sight of the Instructor. “Good morning, Instructor Rean.”

 

Who in Aidios’ name were all these people?  Were these her classmates?  She recognized Juna Crawford and Kurt Vander instantly, knowing they were second years and the girl with the long silver hair was known in the Empire as the Black Rabbit.  She had worked in the Intelligence Division for a while before making her way to the Branch School of Thors and apparently was in Rean Schwarzer’s Class VII: Special Operations.  Soon, everyone was seated with the Instructor at the front to greet everyone.  Some new and old faces combined – the class one was put into was the one they stuck with until they graduated from Thors, after all.

 

 “Settle down.” Rean instructed firmly, keeping his tone even as his light fuchsia eyes swept over his students. My students, Goddess help me. He thought, though he kept those thoughts from showing on his face. He had fought with some of them, knew them as his comrades -such as Crow- and now he was their instructor. Another wave of not feeling right for this washed over him and he shoved it aside, knowing that was his own inability to accept that maybe he was worthy poking at him.

 

“Yes, Instructor.” Crow’s tone was almost serious, just enough sarcasm and humor edging the two words to let Rean know he was amused. He dropped down behind one of the long tables and folded his hands behind his head, lacing his fingers together.

 

Rean was tempted to pinch the bridge of his nose and managed to refrain.

 

Next, Crow propped his feet on the table.

 

Altina was prompt in shoving them down.

 

Rean dismissed Crow with a brief eye roll, taking in the faces he did not know. One student, a young woman, looked like she was lost.

 

Lost was an understatement.  Melyssa was OVERWHELMED and had her hands folded in her lap, staring straight ahead.  Nothing – NOTHING – could have prepared her for being in THIS class with THIS instructor.  Melyssa had to pull herself together and stayed perfectly calm, cool and collected on the outside, but on the inside, she was screaming and a complete mess.

 

“One at a time, we’re going to do this like we did last year.  Stand up, announce who you are and then I will explain what your curriculum will be for this year.  Juna, you are the class president, so please start this off.” Rean ordered, gesturing with his hand to her, who was also a treasured comrade of his.  Juna, Kurt, Altina and…Crow, who was his best friend and had recently decided to come back to school to fully graduate.  He only had one year to do and then he would be taking a job in the branch school as an instructor himself…as scary as that thought was.

 

“Yes, Instructor.” Juna stood with her vibrant pink hair pulled back in a high ponytail and let her light green eyes drift around the classroom. “I’m Juna Crawford from Crossbell City.”

 

Kurt stood up next. “Kurt Vander from Heimdallr.”

 

“Do I really have to do this?”

 

“Ash, come on now, be a good sport.” Rean chastised with a soft smile.

 

“Ugh, fine…” Ash stood up, rolling his light pink eyes. “Ash Carbide from Raquel.”

 

Rean’s eyes moved to the dark blue haired girl. “You’re next.”

 

Melyssa swallowed hard and nodded, rising from her chair with her hands clasped in front of her. “I’m Melyssa Brackett from the Jurai SEZ.” SEZ stood for Special Economic Zone.

 

That gained everyone’s attention, including Crow and Rean’s.

 

“Really?” Rean glanced back at Crow, who simply shrugged his shoulders before his attention went back to Melyssa. “I wasn’t aware we would have students from that far abroad, but welcome nevertheless.”

 

“Thank you, Instructor.” Melyssa sat back down and could FEEL eyes on her, but ignored it for the moment.

 

“Altina, please?”

 

“Yes, Instructor Rean.” Altina stood up with a stoic expression on her face. “Altina Orion from Ymir.” She currently lived with Rean’s parents on the off season and they had somewhat adopted her as one of their own, thanks to Rean.  He was like a big brother to her these days.

 

“What happened to Musse?”

 

“Unfortunately, she had obligations to attend to back home and won’t be finishing her schooling.” Rean informed the class, gesturing to the back at Crow. “All right, your time to shine.”

 

The moment Melyssa turned her head to look back at the man, who stood from the desk and heard his name leave his mouth, it took every ounce of willpower not to bolt out of that room.

 

Crow Armbrust wasn’t dead.

 

Crow Armbrust was ALIVE!

 

And more importantly than that, Crow Armbrust did not recognize her and if he did, he didn’t let on they knew each other from Jurai.

 

Crow was complicated.  Well, not really, but the circumstances surrounding him were interesting to say the least.  He had ‘died’, sort of, and his memories had not come back with the rest of him. Not at first, it had been odd, which was an understatement. With the return of his memories had come the return of his proper personality, much to the chagrin of everyone who had been foolish enough to miss him.

 

“Crow Armbrust, and I’m a gift from the Goddess here to make all your dreams come true.”

 

NOW Rean pinched the bridge of his nose while the others just stared at Crow in disbelief.

 

“Aidios, save us.”

 

“I second that.”

 

“Can I third it?”

 

“Hey man, I think it’s cool and I’m the second gift from the Goddess.”

 

Juna rubbed her temples, shaking her head at the fact they had not only Crow, but now Ash to deal with in the same class. “Instructor, is it possible to be transferred out of here?  I’m going to end up killing one or both of them before this year is over, just a fair warning.”

 

Kurt bit his bottom lip, knowing how temperamental his girlfriend could be and shook his head. “Come on, Juna, we’ll survive somehow.”

 

“Ooooh lover boy to the rescue!” Ash crowed, laughing along with Crow since they were both seated in the back. “You’re full of shit and you know it, Wild Filly.  You wanna be in the same class as me.”

 

“Instructor Rean, I think it’s time to start class.” Altina deadpanned.

 

That was a wonderful suggestion!  Melyssa stayed quiet during the exchanges and had to bit her bottom lip at how alike Ash and Crow were.  Ash was a mini-Crow – they had two of the same type of personalities in the same class.  Melyssa had to fight the urge to look back at Crow and instead focused on the information Instructor Schwarzer was unloading on them.

 

All things considered so far, Rean personally thought that Juna’s comment about ‘killing one or both of them’ wasn’t a bad idea.  Maybe he could incorporate it into the curriculum or something, since they did do a lot of ‘hands-on’ training so to speak.  Not actually killing Ash or Crow, but if the pair got to be too aggravating maybe he would use them as the props or something in a physical lesson.  He almost smiled at the thought…almost. He had to keep his face straight, he was supposed to be the instructor, so instead he focused on laying out the information everyone would need to know and what they could expect from this class going forward.

 

“Any questions?” He asked finally, his kind gaze landing on the student from abroad, “Miss Brackett?” She still looked a little overwhelmed.

 

Her teal eyes snapped up to meet fuchsia and, thank the Goddess, she had been paying attention to everything he said.  Why was he singling her out, though?  Was it because she was the newbie in a class that knew each other very well?  Probably.  The other students who had entered had left right away, so she was the ONLY new student of the Ashen Chevalier.  It was…unnerving, to say the least.

 

“A-Actually, um, regarding the club stipulation…how long do we have to choose one before one is chosen for us, Instructor?” If the students didn’t choose a club, they would be helping the Student Council with various tasks, just like Rean had done during his years at Thors main school.

 

“One week.  And tomorrow is a free day for you all.  You get one free day a week, so take advantage of it and you can even go into Heimdallr with permission.” Rean remembered his first day in the old class VII and could understand why this girl was very uneasy. “Take your time.  Explore the school and your surroundings.  You’ll all figure out a club you want to be part of.  That includes you too, Crow.  No exemptions.” Juna, Kurt, Altina and Ash were already part of clubs from the previous year and would more than likely continue with them. “And please help your fellow classmates if you see them struggling.  Teamwork is the key here.”

 

“A.C.,” Crow said, amusement dripping from his tone, though there was no malice in it.

 

“A.C.?”

 

“Ashen Chevalier.”

 

Crow KNEW he hated being called that, how uncomfortable it made him.  The unworthy part he tried keeping to himself.

 

“Anyway, A.C., is all about teamwork.” To the point where some people called it abnormally strange, to put others before oneself and work with them the way Rean did.  Crow smiled slightly at the flicker of exasperation that danced briefly across his friend’s face.

 

“Yes, I am, and one day I will properly explain why.” Rean said patiently, giving Melyssa what he hoped was a reassuring smile, knowing the first week could be overwhelming and confusing. “If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to come see me.”

 

Crow bit his tongue.

 

“Juna, if you would?”

 

“Yes, Instructor.” Juna stood up with a soft smile, already deciding she would do what she could to make Melyssa feel welcome in Class VII: Special Operations.  As the class president, she felt it was her obligation to do so, wanting everyone to get along. “All rise – bow.”

 

Everyone did as they were told, surprisingly even Crow and Ash, before class was officially dismissed for the day.  The first day allowed the students to get acclimated to the school grounds and to find everything they needed. Tomorrow was a free day, so after that, it would be full class sessions and regular schooling. 

 

Military academies were strange, indeed.

 

Chapter 2

 

“So, Melyssa, have you…huh?” Juna frowned, seeing the dark blue haired girl had left already and raised a slow brow, looking over at Instructor Rean.

 

He simply shrugged, noticing how fast Melyssa had left and could feel Crow’s eyes on him, not surprised when the man approached him. “I have no idea who she is, Crow.” He said before the man could utter a word. “Does she sound familiar to you at all since she’s from Jurai?”

 

There was a very good reason Melyssa bolted and it was due to the fact she was in the same class as Crow Armbrust…and who her instructor was.  Why did it bother her so much to have the Ashen Chevalier as her instructor, though?  Melyssa didn’t harbor any ill feelings toward him or anything, but it was…overwhelming since Rean Schwarzer was a hero to the Empire and so many others for everything he and his comrades did over the past couple of years.

 

“I’m going after her.”

 

“Juna, I’m not sure that’s a good idea…” Kurt sighed when she simply walked out with Altina following suit, shaking his head.

 

Ash clapped him on the back. “Don’t sweat it, man.  Girls are girls, and you know how Wild Filly is.  She’s a mother-hen.”

 

“Yeah, don’t remind me.”

 

Juna was also class president and that, coupled with her mother-hen tendencies, she was someone who looked out for everyone, especially new students.  She knew how overwhelming, confusing and even lonely it could be.  She couldn’t imagine coming from abroad and not knowing a single soul.

 

Crow shrugged his shoulders after running his fingers lightly through his silver hair, shaking his head. “I don’t know, Rean.” His tone was serious for once, red eyes on the students who were still exiting. “Maybe?  I left that place and its memories a long time ago.”

 

“Well, even if you are not a familiar or friendly face to her, someone from her home may help if she’s having problems.”

 

“Do-gooder.”

 

Rean smiled softly, shaking his head. “As if you’re not, beneath the sarcasm and jokes.”

 

Crow muttered under his breath, but didn’t argue it either.

 

Deep down inside, Rean always knew Crow was a good person, both inside and out.  After hearing Crow’s backstory with his grandfather and how Chancellor Osborne, how the Empire, destroyed everything the man worked his entire life for, made Rean realize not everything in the world was black and white.  Crow wanted revenge for his grandfather, who had died in his home due to a broken heart the people of Jurai and the Empire had caused.  It was almost as if he gave up the will to live and Crow had been the same way, but Rean, along with the rest of THEIR Class VII comrades and friends, snapped him out of it.  Rean had a meeting with the other teachers in the teacher’s faculty office, so he went off to attend while Crow was left to his own devises.  He only hoped Melyssa gelled well with everyone in the class or else…things would become complicated, especially since they had to link with each other in order to pass the combat portion of schooling. 

 

Only time would tell.

 

~!~

 

Melyssa spent the better part of the day walking around Leeves, taking in the different shops and everything the town offered.  She was trying to get her mind off Crow, off being in the Ashen Chevalier’s class, and instead focused on figuring out what kind of club she’d join.  Or be forced to, rather.  There was a list of them in the student guidebook and, honestly, most of them didn’t sound too bad.  Once she finished, Melyssa made her way to the dorm she would be staying in and found her room, her name plate on the wall right beside it.  That was interesting…there was another girl by the name of Monique she would be sharing with, but she wasn’t in Class VII.  Altina and Juna were sharing a room as well, so she assumed the boys were the same as far as rooming with each other.  Setting her belongings down on the bed, Melyssa reached up to let her hair fall out of the bun she had it in and groaned at how good it felt to let it all down.  It was long, went to her waist and she kept it up to keep it out of her face and way in general.

 

It wasn’t long before her roommate, Monique, came waltzing in and they introduced themselves.  Monique was in Instructor Towa’s class, who was also a well-known name throughout the Empire.  Towa Herschel.  She graduated from Thors main school 2 years prior and now worked in the branch school…and she was a sweetheart, very helpful and attentive to any student who had a question for her.  Monique was lucky, but everything happened for a reason and Melyssa would suck it up and deal with the hand the Goddess dealt her.

 

“So, you’re in Class VII: Special Operations, eh?  What’s the Ashen Chevalier like anyway?”

 

“I-I really don’t know.  He’s fine, I guess, very informative.” Monique sounded like she was a huge fan of Schwarzer’s and Melyssa really hoped her roommate didn’t start gushing over him to her. “We should go eat before it gets too late.”

 

“Yeah, the kitchen is only open for another hour.  Come on, I haven’t ate either.”

 

Nodding, the girls made their way to the kitchen area of the dorm for supper.

 

Monique WAS a huge fan of the Ashen Chevalier, an admirer for sure and she was very open about it.  She kept her questions to herself while they navigated to the kitchen to get a bit of supper, knowing food needed to come first and her roommate seemed overly quiet. “Homesick?” She asked gently as they got their dinner, knowing some first time students tended to get that way, even those who weren’t that far from home.  It was the change, being in a new, strange place on top of being surrounded by and living with people one did not know. “I promise, it does get easier.” She flashed a reassuring smile, looking for a quiet spot to sit before her eyes landed on none other than Rean Schwarzer sitting with Crow Armbrust. “Oh my…” Maybe near the pair, not RIGHT NEXT to them, but… close enough.

 

“No, it’s just a new place and I’ll get used to it before long.”

 

Spotting them instantly, Melyssa just followed Monique’s lead and sat down at the table behind them.  That was fine; she would endure it for her new roommate, who would probably become a good friend of hers.  Maybe.  Then again, the way Monique was eyeballing the Ashen Chevalier…no, definitely not.  However, they were roommates and she would do her best to get along with the woman.  Another good thing was she couldn’t see Crow, he was out of her eyesight and it made it easier to swallow the food in front of her.  The food wasn’t half-bad either, so that was another plus as she popped a fry in her mouth.

 

Rean had instantly noticed the two women.  It was a bit hard not to be aware of Monique, she kept glancing over at him every other second with what would normally have been an attractive blush in her cheeks, if not for the fact that she was… in awe of the ‘Ashen Chevalier’.  Or making him sort of uncomfortable.  She reminded him A LOT of Musse, actually.

 

“Don’t. You. Dare. Laugh.” He muttered, staring determinedly down at his bowl of soup.

 

“But it’s so adorable.” Crow was using his peripheral vision to watch Monique, finally shaking his head. “You seemed flustered, Ashen Chevalier.”

 

“You know I don’t like being called that.”

 

The problem he had with Crow was that they were friends; the student / teacher relationship was virtually non-existent outside of the classroom.  He glanced down the table, realizing who else was with Monique.  The new girl who had seemed like she was drowning today, overwhelmed by everything.  Miss Brackett, that was her name.  Melyssa Brackett.  She seemed quiet, focusing on her food while Monique talked her ear off.  He didn’t know if Monique would be good for Melyssa or drive her mad.

 

“Oh, and did you see the shops around town?  They are so cute!  Oh, did you hear there’s a hot spring type baths RIGHT HERE in the dorm?!” Monique was a chatterbox and always had been, grinning while stealing glances at the very handsome Rean Schwarzer. “I really wish I wasn’t a student.  He’s even more handsome in person.” That part she whispered loud enough for Melyssa to hear.

 

“Uh huh.” Melyssa was on the verge of getting a headache and stood up from the table, having finished her food in record time. “I think I’m going to go to the lower level and get some practice in…” It’d been over 24 hours since she pulled her cutlass out for a workout.

 

“Oh…okay…”

 

“Melyssa, there you are!” Juna jogged over to them, breathing somewhat heavily and actually placed a hand on Melyssa’s shoulder while catching her breath.

 

“What’s wrong?  Is everything all right…Juna?” Thank the Goddess she remembered the girl’s name.

 

“I’ve…been looking all over…for you.”

 

“Juna, I told you not to run so fast.” Altina chastised, standing beside the pink haired girl and folded her arms in front of her chest. “Breathe in through the nose, out the mouth…”

 

“I don’t need you to tell me that, Allie!”

 

Melyssa blinked, clearing her throat and wasn’t sure what to say to this high-spirited, somewhat temperamental girl. “Do you need some water or something?”

 

Rean couldn’t help being worried over Juna and had made his way over, clearing his throat to gain everyone’s attention. “Juna, what happened?  Are you hurt?” Pure concern shimmered in his fuchsia eyes over his student, friend and comrade.

 

Juna gave him a confused look before becoming exasperated, nodding while also nudging him away as politely as she could. “Of course, I am!”

 

Rean was overly helpful, overly concerned about people, and tended to put others first to an extreme.  It was one of the things that both drew people to him and made them question his sanity.  He was the guy who would quite literally give someone the shirt off his back.  Her emerald eyes crinkled at the corners as she flashed him a warm smile before giving her attention back to the matter at hand.

 

“I need to speak to you, Melyssa and you Monique.” She then looked around, her lips pursing. “You as well, Crow.” She imagined this little mix-up of hers, that she was now correcting, was not going to go over all that well since it seemed that Monique and Melyssa were becoming chums.

 

Frowning, Melyssa took a step back and listened as Juna informed them that there had been a mix-up with Monique and Crow’s rooms. “So, you’re saying…” Wow, the Goddess really must’ve hated her for doing this!  Oh Aidios save me, she thought, finally meeting Crow’s intense crimson gaze for the first time and steeled herself for his reaction. “Crow is my actual roommate instead of Monique?”

 

“I mean, well, this IS a military academy and they did away with girls only and boys only rooming last year.” Juna didn’t know how Melyssa felt about this.  It was hard to read the first year. “So Monique, you will be rooming with Ash instead of Ash and Crow together.”

 

“Oh, okay…” Monique didn’t see a problem with it and smiled, shrugging nonchalantly.

 

Rean stood back, silently watched and listened, as an instructor should, wondering what was going through the navy haired girl’s head at the moment upon this mix-up.

 

This was… interesting, even Crow was at a loss for words.  He knew all about the integration of the genders, how the old rules had been turned over in favor of more progressive policies.  To be fair, he hadn’t expected them to have an effect on him either, not really.  Pushing away from the table, Crow rubbed the back of his neck, not sure what to say.  Usually, he had a sarcastic or amused comment for everything, but the way Brackett’s face had gone stiff and blank, he was guessing right now was a terrible time to attempt humor.

 

Ash, on the other hand, did not have any of those issues at all. “Wow, this integration thing is awesome.” He flashed Monique a very wicked smile. “So, I’m a cuddler.”

 

“You have your own beds.” Juna said flatly, folding her arms over her chest. “Don’t be lewd, Ash.”

 

“I’m being polite and informing her of my sleeping habits. I also sleep in the nude.”

 

Monique’s eyes were wide and her cheeks pink as she considered him, glancing at Rean, who seemed concerned though not necessarily for her. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She said finally, her voice coming out demure.

 

“Ash…” Rean’s voice held a note of warning.

 

“So… roomie…” Crow decided to focus on his new roommate, who was still looking… stiff. “I don’t snore, if that helps.”

 

Ash was more vulgar than Crow, which was very HARD to top since Crow did have his lewd side.  Rean had seen it one too many times, especially when they were classmates in old Class VII.  He STILL remembered the concert they performed with everyone at the Military Academy festival and the ‘notes’ he had written for the girls’ costumes.  Just thinking about it now made him silently groan and he really hoped Crow minded his manners with Melyssa.

 

“Please don’t call me that.  Melyssa is fine.”

 

“I kinda like Mel, I’m gonna start calling you that instead.” Ash informed her, not giving a damn what anyone thought and folded his arms in front of his chest.

 

This man had NO filter at all. “Okay…”

 

She couldn’t focus on Ash right now and instead looked back at Crow, her new roommate.  He didn’t recognize her at all and something twanged in her heart.  He was supposed to be dead.  Yet, here he was alive, in the flesh, in front of her and now they had to share a room together.

 

“Actually…” Rean really didn’t want to throw Crow under the bus, but he also felt he had to be truthful with his student. “You do.  I roomed right across the hall from you for months and yeah, you DO snore.”

 

“Oh woe is me!  Whatever shall I do with the snoring?  Maybe I’ll get some earplugs?  Just, uh, stay in your own bed and we’ll be fine.”

 

Juna raised a brow, along with Monique. “Did you just crack a joke?”

 

“No, I mean yes, well…people do that from time to time, don’t they?” Melyssa cracked the barest hint of a smile and kept swallowing down her nerves. “But I meant the last thing I said – stay in your own bed, roomie.”

 

Her joke fell flat, she definitely needed some help in the ‘how to make jokes’ department and maybe even line delivery.  Crow made a mental note to give her some pointers.  Not only were they roommates, -Goddess how did THAT happen, this kid must have done something wrong to someone at one point in her life to wind up with him- but they were from the same town.  He had a reputation to maintain.

 

“Just remember you said that, Brackett,” He said sweetly, his red eyes however weren’t sweet, they were borderline wicked. “You may change your mind.”

 

Chapter 3

 

“Aidios, I’m so sorry.”

 

Juna pat Melyssa’s shoulder a bit awkwardly, already foreseeing someone winding up with a murder charge.  Pairing Ash and Crow together had been ideal, they could actually tolerate each other.  Probably because they were practically identical in humor and lewdness.

 

This was… a potential disaster.

 

“Well, um, it was fun while it lasted, but I need to go grab my stuff and Crow needs to do the same thing.” Monique spoke up, avoiding eye contact with Ash, her new roommate, for the time being.  He was hot, no question about it, but this was a military academy and she had to behave herself.

 

“Sure, I’ll help you.  Thanks again for telling us, Juna.” Melyssa left the cafeteria with Monique to help her gather her things.  It was also the perfect escape from Crow, at least for the time being. 

 

Goddess, how was she supposed to share a room with HIM?!

 

“Are you sure you’re all right with this arrangement?  Maybe you could talk to…”

 

“It’s fine.” Melyssa cut her off, shaking her head. “If this was the real military, there wouldn’t be sex-orientated rooms assigned.  It would be mixed and that’s probably why they changed the rule last year.  Probably want us to be used to rooming with the opposite sex before going into the actual military, if we decide to.”

 

Monique didn’t think of that way and had to admit, Melyssa made complete sense. “Hmm, good point.  Well, if anything unsavory happens…”

 

“Don’t worry, I can handle myself and Crow Armbrust.  I’m more concerned with you and Ash.  He’s…intense.” That was putting it mildly. “Watch yourself.  I know we barely know each other, but…be careful around him.”

 

“Just like you said, I can handle myself too.”

 

Why did Melyssa feel sad to lose Monique as a roommate suddenly?  Granted, she was a chatterbox, but it wasn’t to the point of being annoying, unless she gushed about the Ashen Chevalier. “Thanks again for…inviting me to eat with you and talking.  It was nice.”

 

Monique waved her off with a grin. “We’ll have plenty more times to do that.  And I’ll try to dial down my gushing on Instructor Schwarzer.” She sighed dreamily.

 

I almost feel sorry for Ash…almost, Melyssa thought, knowing Ash would get the full brunt of the gushing now.

 

Ash would definitely be getting it.  Or maybe not.  Monique thought about implications of gushing about her crush on the Ashen Chevalier to Ash of all people… maybe she’d have a lot more practice on ‘dialing it down’ than she had anticipated.

 

“Well, on the bright side,” She said as she began packing up the very few items she had managed to unpack, glad she had been procrastinating today. “At least… mmm, well Crow’s a hero, right?  Mostly.  That’s got to mean something.” Not that she anticipated needing a ‘Hero’ here, but… one never knew.

 

“Crow is a loud, obnoxious boy in a man’s body.” Altina said from the open doorway, folding her arms over her chest when the other two women turned to look at her. “He’s also on his way here, I figured I’d give you a head’s up. It turns out, there were several mix-ups similar to yours.”

 

Of course, because this new ‘program’ of integration was still being rolled out. She got the mechanics of it, but that didn’t make it any less weird.  She supposed by the end of the year it would all seem normal and all right, which would mean the program had been a success.

 

“Altina, right?” She looked like a child compared to the rest of them, but…the Black Rabbit was anything but human.  She moved and acted human, but was a robot when all was said and done.  Still, Melyssa smiled at her, not judgmental in the slightest and grabbed a bag and a box of Monique’s. “Thanks for the head’s up.”

 

“No problem.  Here.” Altina grabbed a box as well, following them out of the room. “The name plates will be changed as well.  Instructor Towa is not happy about this mix-up.”

 

“What did you mean Crow is a hero, Monique?”

 

Both Altina and Monique stopped to look at Melyssa with raised brows. “You DO know he was one of the many who helped stop the end of the world from happening, right?”

 

“He’s also known as the Azure Chevalier while the Instructor is Ashen.” Altina added, nodding at the bewildered expression on her classmate’s face. “You did not know?”

 

“Jurai doesn’t get all of the news from the Empire, so I only heard of the Ashen Chevalier.  Didn’t realize there was more than one.”

 

“Crow is from Jurai.  Did you know him?” Juna walked up to them, joining the fray and took the box from Melyssa to help out as they arrived outside of Ash and now Monique’s room, opening the door.

 

Melyssa didn’t want anyone to know her history with Crow Armbrust, so she had no choice except to lie. “No.  Jurai isn’t exactly a small place and not everybody knows everybody.”

 

“True.”

 

“Cannot deny that analysis.”

 

“You hadn’t even heard of him though? That just seems odd.” Altina commented after a long moment before shrugging and dismissing it.  Maybe Melyssa didn’t know him personally but given the events from not so long ago at the very least Altina would have thought she’d at least know OF him. “Well, I’m going to my room and-”

 

“Okay ladies, I’m here, the party can start.”

 

Crow had arrived, with a leather bag over his shoulder.  Clothes and other items poked out from the unlatched top, he had just sort of crammed everything into it before heading this way.  His red eyes swept over the trio, finally landing on Melyssa. Rean had warned him to behave, she already seemed ‘nervous’ enough being so far from home and overwhelmed from her first day. Crow had told him to stuff it, she obviously wasn’t a paper doll who was easily pushed over if she had been accepted into the academy.

 

Feigning ignorance was the way to go when it came to her classmates, Melyssa decided, leading the way out of the room.  Of course, she knew what Crow had done, who he was, including his time in the Noble Alliance and the Imperial Liberation Front’s leader, C.  He was the Azure Chevalier, who nearly lead the Noble Alliance to victory, but Rean had beaten him and stopped the civil war.  That was also where she’d heard Crow had lost his life while trying to save the former Crown Prince Cedric, one of Erebonia’s greatest treasures.  These days, however, Cedric was an Enforcer of Ouroboros and had denounced his claim to the throne after the Twilight’s curse was stopped.

 

What she DIDN’T know was HOW he was alive if he’d been pronounced dead two years ago. 

 

Sighing, Melyssa still had some unpacking to do and it looked like Crow really needed to organize his belongings as well.  Juna and Altina took off to go to their room and Ash had arrived moments before Melyssa and Crow left, both girls sharing a subdued expression on their way.  Arriving at their door, Melyssa opened it and went to her side, taking her Cutlass out to set it on the bed.  A fellow swordswoman, there were plenty of them in the academy, but she’d been following the path of the sword for several years now.  She was still an amateur and hadn’t reached her best, but hopefully, this place would help her reach her goals.

 

In theory, Crow should have graduated quite a while ago, but he had a few personal issues.  Being a slacker was one of them, he was prone to avoiding homework and ignoring assignments until the very last minute.  There had also been the fighting and wars, the death thing, all very detrimental to a young man’s education.  He flashed Melyssa what was meant to be a charming smile, knowing this was either going to be a GREAT year or a very awkward, terse one.  He wasn’t one for any kind of weird situation or feeling like he had to be on tenterhooks, though.

 

“So, what part of Jurai are you from, Melyssa?  It is Melyssa, right?” He had been calling her Brackett, both Juna and Rean had informed him that he needed to attempt going along to get along.

 

Her eyes slid over to him, seeing absolutely no recognition in his eyes, just pure curiosity.  He was trying to make conversation with her, which Melyssa found to be out of his comfort zone.  Turning, she sat down on her bed to fully face him and draped her long hair over her shoulder, knowing she would have to humor her new roommate.  Avoidance wasn’t an option anymore with Crow.

 

“Yes, it’s Melyssa.  And the south side.  Born, raised, bred…I’ve never been outside of Jurai until now, so it’s been a little overwhelming.” There was no point asking him the same thing because anyone who lived in Jurai would know who Crow was.  Even if it was only because of his grandfather being the last mayor of Jurai before the Empire annexed it.

 

“Brackett….” Crow raked his brain, trying to place the name. It was familiar but it was also a common enough surname in a place with a population of around 150,000 people. “Mmm, I know a few Bracketts.” Sort of, maybe, it had been years and he had been… angry and dismissive back then. “None as pretty as you, of course.  I’d remember a beautiful woman such as yourself.” He had gone from cordial to a combination of playful and seductive.

 

His back was to Melyssa as he unceremoniously dumped his belongings out onto his new bed, eyeballing the contents that seemed to go everywhere.  He had crammed more things into the bag than what was probably possible and as a result, a few items went rolling off said bed.  He dropped to his hands and knees and gave chase to said items, right beneath her bed and out between her legs.

 

“Got it.” Crow peered up from the floor at her, sliding the rest of his muscular yet sinewy body from beneath her bed, the small ball in hand.

 

Calling her beautiful made her blush a little because she didn’t expect to hear something like that from him.  Crow was a sweet talker, it seemed. “Well, this isn’t awkward at all.”

 

Melyssa’s face felt as if it was on fire, the blush clear as day in her cheeks and instinctively clenched her thighs together.  Oh Aidios, she was wearing a skirt!  Melyssa immediately grabbed her pillow and planted it on her lap, folding her hands on top of it.

 

“Next time, just ask and I’ll climb under there to get it for you.  And if you’ve heard of the name Brackett, well – my family owns a fishing company in the south part of Jurai.” Her entire family were full of fishermen while the women stayed home cleaning and cooking.  She definitely didn’t go down that road and was determined to be something more in Erebonia.

 

Fishmongers, her family was a bunch of fishmongers, also not unusual given Jurai’s location and he racked his head again while staring up at her.  He hadn’t bothered getting off the floor, not yet anyway. He was amused with her putting a pillow on top of her lap, as if that did anything to help from this angle, though he was a gentleman and kept his practically glowing red eyes on her flushed face.  Deciding to stop tormenting Melyssa, Crow gracefully got up onto his feet, tossing the ball from hand to hand as he now stared down at her, taking in the way her eyelashes practically brushed against her cheek when she blinked up at him with those teal eyes.

 

“So, Crow Armbrust, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Since his introduction earlier had been a bit… unorthodox, he flashed her a smile and held out a hand.

 

Clearing her throat, she set the pillow to the side on the bed and stood up, taking his hand to shake it gently and firmly.  Those crimson eyes of his made her stomach tighten slightly and a warmth spread throughout her body.  Somehow, Melyssa managed to stay composed because even his touch felt familiar to her, no matter how much time had passed since they last saw each other.

 

“Melyssa Brackett, it’s nice to meet you too, Crow.” Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. Again, she added in thought, slowly pulling her hand out of his. “So, do you have any recommendations on clubs I should check out for our free day tomorrow, fellow Juraian?”

 

“Oh I don’t know… I guess it depends on what you’re interested in.” Crow went back to finish unpacking.  He eyed his clothing and turned towards the dressers, spotting something that looked feminine on top of one and assumed she had picked hers already. “There’s cooking club, gardening, uh… photography, if that’s your thing.” He snorted, beginning to half-heartedly fold his stuff before putting it away. “Swimming, the reading club, there’s a chess club…” That one sounded boring personally. “Oh, fencing too.” Which she might be interested in, he had spotted her cutlass. “Or…” Crow snorted wickedly, glancing back at Melyssa over his shoulder. “There’s also a fishing club.”

 

“Yeeeahhh, you’re not funny, Armbrust.  And you have a mess on your hands.” Melyssa rolled her eyes, wondering if fencing would be up her alley.  Then again, she wasn’t much of a fencer, more of a slasher. “Cooking – no, gardening – definitely not, photography – uh-uh, swimming – maybe, reading club – no, chess club sounds downright boring.  And I’m definitely staying away from fishing.  So, what club are YOU going to join?  It’s mandatory, so you have to pick one unless you plan on helping the Student Council.” Without realizing it, she began helping him sort through the mess of clothes on the bed and other items, standing by his side.

 

“Yeah, there’s no way they’ll stick me on or anywhere near the Student Council,” Crow snorted derisively at that.  Hero he might’ve been hailed as of now- after all the stuff he’d done that was probably not very heroic to the general populace-, Student Council material he was not. “I already know what club I’ll be signing up for.” She was folding his laundry, Crow raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure how he felt about her sorting through his unmentionables as if it were the most natural thing in the world.  At Melyssa’s questioning look, he grinned. “Paranormal.” Which meant he’d be able to slack off to his heart’s delight.

 

“Paranormal, eh?  I didn’t take you for someone who believed in the afterlife, but guess you learn something new every day.” Melyssa looked down at the shirts she folded and glanced at the dresser, wondering why she started doing this in the first place. “Sorry, you just looked like you needed help sorting through this mess.  I can stop if you want.” Crow shrugged, telling her it was fine and Melyssa continued doing it, beginning to fold his shirts and buttoned up flannels. “You like games.  Of all kinds.” Hell, he even had a chess set! “Why don’t you join the chess club since you have your own set?  Seems you like games.”

 

“I like gambling.” He corrected her after a moment. “Chess is all well and fine and most of us know how to play.” It was a ‘gentleman’s game’ after all, notwithstanding the logic and patience it taught.  In some cases, it was also used to teach tactics for war, that had come in handy he supposed. “Do you play Blade?” He asked, dismissing Melyssa’s apology with a wave of his hand. “I have a deck.” He loved the game and he had taught several children how to play, both out of amusement at their eagerness to learn the gambling game, on top of he had a bit of a soft spot for kids.

 

“I’ve heard of it, but no, never played it.  Never really had time.” Honestly, Melyssa had played a few games with Crow when they were kids and she stopped all of it when he left Jurai behind to pursue his revenge. Not even a goodbye, he just left, she thought, finishing up his shirts and saw him pluck out the deck of Blade from the semi-organized pile on the bed. “Maybe you can teach me sometime how to play.” Taking a chance, she looked up at him the same time he looked down at her, a tentative smile crossing her face. “I don’t gamble though, fair warning.” Goddess help her, she was gambling right now and didn’t even realize it.

 

Crow wasn’t sure what was going on behind those teal eyes of hers, but it made his own light up with something he didn’t readily try assessing. “Sure you do, you just don’t know it yet.” He teased gently, unaware he was sort of reading her subconscious mind.

 

A knock on the door made him step out of Melyssa’s immediate space, turning to glance over his shoulder.

 

Chapter 4

 

It was Rean, coming in to check in on the pair.

 

He knew Melyssa’s first day had probably overwhelmed her and tossing Crow into that mix…could send her running back to Jurai. “Everything okay in here?” He asked, trying to keep from sounding too concerned.

 

“Instructor.” Melyssa had a feeling Rean was here for Crow since they were best friends, according to Juna and Altina. 

 

Melyssa tried slowing her racing heart and went back to her side of the room, picking up her Cutlass.  What did Crow mean?  Did he mean more than just actual gambling or…Melyssa shook her head, pushing those thoughts out of her mind.

 

Rean noticed it instantly and stepped inside the room since Crow was here, raising a brow. “You’re a swordsman, Melyssa?”

 

“Swordswoman, actually, and yes I am, Instructor.” Melyssa had turned back to face him, her Cutlass in hand still in its sheath.

 

“Interesting choice.  So, you follow the path of the sword?”

 

“I guess, yeah.  I’m nowhere near the level you are though with the Eight Leaves or the Arseid way.  I’m an amateur, at best.”

 

“How long have you trained with the sword?” Rean inquired, folding his arms in front of his chest with his own tachi attached to his side in its own sheath.

 

“Five or six years.  I never went to any kind of schooling or anything.  I’m mostly self-taught.” That was another reason why she enrolled in the military academy, to hone her skills as a swordswoman.

 

“Ah…”

 

There was nothing wrong with being self-taught though there were things she would have undoubtedly not been able to learn on her own, which was where the academy came in.  Many students had prior experience either via the way Melyssa had learned or through private tutors and lessons courtesy of their families and brought that knowledge with them.  Considering this was a military academy, he imagined some prior knowledge and/or experience, or at least the aptitude, was something recruiters hunted for in their potential recruits.

 

“Perhaps you will spar with me one of these days, I could assess your skill level.” And offer advice tailored just for her.

 

Goddess, here he goes, Crow thought without any malice as he plopped on the edge of his bed, fingering a pile of folded clothes as he watched Rean and Melyssa.  Rean just couldn’t help himself, he was overly… mother-henish and concerned about everyone.

 

Melyssa knew this would be an incredible opportunity to spar with a Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves and felt honored at the invitation.  Saying something like it would be an honor probably wouldn’t bode well with him, however. “I would appreciate any help you can give, Instructor.” That sounded better and not so Monique-ish. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you about my amateur skill level, though.” He was a Divine Blade and would demolish her in a sparring contest in no time flat, but…it would still be a great learning experience, nevertheless.

 

“Everyone has to start somewhere and from the way you carry yourself, I have no doubt that you are not an amateur.” Rean said with a slight smile, bowing his head at Melyssa in acknowledgement of the compliment.

 

The back of Rean’s neck was flushed, which meant he was embarrassed, he was such a sissy sometimes. “I’m not too bad with a sword.” He offered with a cheeky grin. “I’m always up for giving out pointers to beautiful women.”

 

“Aidios…” Rean muttered, then shook his head. “By the way, Melyssa,” He made sure to emphasize her name. “You don’t HAVE to call me instructor all the time.  Rean is fine when we’re not in class.”

 

A double-saber wasn’t the same as a Cutlass or tachi.  It was in the sword family, however, and Melyssa wondered what it would be like to spar with Crow.  He was probably even more entuned with sparring and fighting than Rean since he was older.

 

“I don’t know if I’d be comfortable referring to you by just your name, Instructor.”

 

This was the Ashen Chevalier and he was so…nice and friendly, not at all cocky or arrogant.  On top of that name, he was also a Divine Blade.  No, no she couldn’t be casual with him, especially not on the first day of school.  Maybe one day she would get to that point, possibly after graduation.

 

“Oh, how late is the training room open in the dorms?”

 

“It’s accessible up until curfew.” Rean answered, his shoulders drooping slightly at her insistence in calling him ‘Instructor’.

 

However, he also understood she wasn’t comfortable, he got that.  He wouldn’t push the issue and would just have to swallow the wince and flinches he’d probably do whenever he heard it from her after class hours.  Poor Rean, he was stuck in this loop of being over-caring and wanting to be normal, but he was the Ashen Chevalier and royally screwed.  Crow didn’t have that problem at all, but he was more outgoing and inclined to not be cornered by his issues…like being polite and helpful.

 

“We can spar in here, Mely.” He wasn’t sure if he liked calling her that.

 

Melyssa could read people pretty well and could tell Rean was not comfortable being referred to as Instructor. “Thank you…Rean.” That felt very weird to say as she grabbed her bathroom bag and slung it over her shoulder.  It had her bath wear in it and, luckily, the bathing areas WERE designated for men and women separately. “Pick the time and place, Armbrust, I’ll be more than happy to spar with you and your…double-saber.” Winking, she headed out of the room to go take a much-needed bath, feeling a little more comfortable in her skin.  Maybe having the Ashen Chevalier as an Instructor wasn’t horrible, after all.

 

“So… she’s interesting.” Crow said once Melyssa had vacated the room. “Also, I get the point of the integration of the dorm rooms, but WHY are bathrooms still… as we all know, when in war, privacy is a luxury.”

 

“You know, if not for the fact that I DO know you, I’d say you have a valid point.  As it is, I do know YOU and I know your reasons aren’t… polite.”

 

“They are very polite.” Crow was tempted to point out that Rean had interrupted what could have been a perfect getting to ‘know you’ moment with Melyssa, but didn’t. “I’m not harassing her, promise.”

 

Rean had to admit, it didn’t look like Crow was up to his old tricks and nodded, deciding to give his friend and student the benefit of the doubt. “All right, all right, I believe you.”

 

Even in the military, men and women bathed separately unless they were in the field somewhere.  Every facility for the military had designated bathrooms and bathing areas, showers included.  Now sleeping arrangements, on the other hand, were mixed genders.  It was backwards the more Melyssa mulled it over in her head while she bathed, washing her body and hair in the steaming hot water.  It felt amazing, truly, especially being in here alone.  She had just stepped out of the bathing room, fully dressed once again, when Ash rounded the corner, a towel slung over his shoulder. 

 

Was it rude to simply walk past him without saying a word?  Melyssa felt no ill feelings toward him and they were classmates… “Hi.” What else was she supposed to say to him? “Well goodnight.”

 

Ash had opened his mouth to reply to her ‘hi’ and then she was dismissing him, his mouth spread into a wide grin at that, unsure of what else to do.  He went with his usual fallback: he cracked a joke. “You don’t have to rush off, you can stay and help me.” He teased, unlike Crow he had no intentions of toning himself down for anyone and he would never pass up the opportunity to flirt, maybe even seduce, a beautiful maiden such as Melyssa.  His pink eyes sparkled wickedly at the look that flickered across her face. “I could really use help getting my back.” He was going to get slapped.

 

No.  Filter.  Melyssa shouldn’t have been surprised and folded her arms in front of her chest. “Should’ve went with my gut instinct and said nothing.  And I’m sure the water in there is hot enough to where you won’t need to worry about your back.  Trust me on that.” She draped her wet hair over her shoulder, freshly brushed, but she would probably have to braid it before bed. “On another note, are you getting along with Monique or do you miss Armbrust yet?”

 

“Nope, and what does hot water have to do with a good back scrub, beautiful?” Ash asked, carelessly flipping his hair back off his forehead. Melyssa was getting annoyed, she was just great at hiding it, that or she had the patience of a saint. “You tired of Crow yet?” Considering Crow wasn’t exactly a gentleman… maybe she was already hardened to the jokes and the flirting, that was no fun.  His lips pursed into a half-pout at the thought of Crow already immunizing the new girl against their crap on the first day.

 

“And here I thought you were going to call me Mel.  Now it’s beautiful?” Melyssa chuckled, leaning against the wall and didn’t look the least bit annoyed.  In fact, amusement shimmered in her teal eyes while staring up at him.  He was much taller than her and she couldn’t begin to guess how tall, at least a couple reges. “No, Crow is fine.  And you should invest in one of those long back scrubbers.  I’m sure you can do a far better job than I ever could.  Better get in there before the dorm is completely shut down for the night.”

 

“I don’t know, I think I’m willing to risk it since you’re being gracious enough to allow me the presence of your company.” Ash mimicked her stance and leaned into the wall as well, side pressed against it as he stared down at her intently. “You don’t seem as tense as you were earlier.” His mind automatically jumped to a lot of X-rated thoughts about how she had gotten relaxed, clearing his throat. Maybe it was time for that shower, maybe he’d also skip the hot water part and enjoy it just a smidge past lukewarm. “See you tomorrow, beautiful.” Mel was nice and all, but… Beautiful suited her.

 

“It’s a free day tomorrow, but I’m sure we’ll see each other around either in town or on campus.”

 

It was almost as if a lightbulb clicked in Ash’s head and she grinned, waving at him before walking away to head back to her and Crow’s room.  Instructor Rean had left and Crow was on his bed, shirtless, with a book in hand.  Melyssa immediately averted her gaze from him and made her way over to her bed, beginning to braid her hair like she wanted to.  Once she finished, she changed into her night clothes, a shirt and pants, making sure not to show Crow anything in case he glanced over at her.  Sliding under the blanket, she grabbed the student guidebook and began reading through it, wanting to familiarize herself with the school grounds, rules and anything else.  In no time, her eyes closed and she was fast asleep with the book laying on top of her.

 

Crow had been watching from the corner of his eye, noticing how Melyssa had made sure to avoid him seeing even the slightest bit of skin.  He had no such issues himself though he had mentally decided that he would not be sleeping in the nude anytime soon, as a courtesy to her.  Also, Rean had pointed out that this integrated, progressive social experiment had several factors that contributed to its success.  Such as not doing anything that might be consider sexual harassment.  The teasing already border lined that, sleeping naked probably would be a nail in his own coffin.  He had stripped down and changed into a pair of plain sleeping pants and once he was sure she was asleep, he rolled onto his side to shut off the lamp, dog earing his book and set it aside before laying on his back and folding his hands beneath his head.

 

Soon enough he was asleep as well, thoughts of the fishmonger’s daughter drifting lazily in his mind.

 

~!~

 

Before the sun rose over the horizon, Melyssa was up, dressed and ready for the day, pinning her hair back in another tight bun.  Crow slept peacefully and she caught herself staring at him for a minute or two, but luckily, he hadn’t awoken.  After making her bed, Melyssa grabbed her Cutlass and left the dorm with key in hand, heading downstairs to the training room.  She was used to getting up this early to train in Jurai, so it wasn’t foreign to her to be up at the crack of dawn.  Unsheathing her Cutlass, she gently ran the tip of her finger over the blade and nodded, satisfied with how sharp it was.  Her parry was off, so she proceeded to practice, thrusting her arm forward and back, along with her footwork.  Both needed A LOT of work, including her striking angles, which to her were also poor.

 

For someone who was self-taught, she wasn’t bad at all.  Crow had informed him that her family apparently was in the fishing business, so Rean didn’t really know if that would have afforded Melyssa the opportunity for private lessons or if she mimicked things she had seen.  He noted her footwork and her blocking, she needed some pointers, but she definitely had the making of a proper warrior.  Goddess forbid she ever actually need to apply her current skillset and future knowledge on the field, but… it WAS a military academy after all.  They weren’t teaching the students this stuff for nothing.

 

“May I join you?”

 

Naturally, she jumped at the sound of his voice and snapped her head to the side, breathing a little heavy with little beads of sweat on her forehead. “Instruct…” She stopped herself, clearing her throat and sheathed her Cutlass as Rean stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “Rean, I didn’t see you standing there.” How long had he been watching her?  Usually, Melyssa could sense when someone was nearby, but she’d been so focused on training, she hadn’t sensed another presence in the doorway. “Sure, if you want to.” Free day, they weren’t in school and he preferred to be called by his first name, so she would try to oblige him.  One thing was certain, the Ashen Chevalier Divine Blade had a powerful aura about him that did not match his personality or attitude at all.

 

Since it was in theory an off day, Rean hadn’t bothered in dressing in his instructor’s uniform but instead had pulled on his trusty, comfortable old jeans and a black shirt, his equally comfortable brown boots on his feet.  His Tachi was sheathed, for the moment, he had come to exercise and focus before breakfast and then found Melyssa practicing herself.  He had been taking mental notes.  Nodding, he walked towards her, each step confident until he stood opposite of her, one hand dropping to the hilt of his sword, fingers curving around it.

 

“We do have bokkens available.” He said after a moment, referring to the wooden swords generally used when evaluating and sparring with newcomers.

 

“Bokkens aren’t used in the battlefield and I’m comfortable sparring with our actual weapons, as long as you are.” Unsheathing her Cutlass, Rean did the same with his tachi and she watched the stance he gave.  There was no hesitation, no openings – it was flawless and perfect. Goddess be with me and help me get through this, she silently prayed, determination burning in her teal eyes.  It was an honor and privilege to spar with a Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves.

 

“Begin!”

 

Their swords clashed together as they began moving around the room, Rean automatically getting the upper hand.  Melyssa did her best to evade his attacks and focused on blocking, slashing at him a couple of times.  They were easily evaded by Rean, but she showed temerity and strength in her own moves, not giving an inch, not giving up.  Giving up would be the day she put her Cutlass down and walked away forever, which would never happen.  Eventually, Rean struck her down and Melyssa dropped to her knees, admitting defeat after a long, hard sparring bout with her Instructor.  The power this man possessed was uncanny and insane – she really did have a long way to go before she could even TOUCH him.

 

“I-I’m okay, I just need a minute…”

 

Chapter 5

 

Nodding, Rean stepped out of her immediate space, sheathing his Tachi.  Bokkens were NOT used on the battlefield, well… not traditionally, he had seen people with no skill use them as clubs basically and that was effective enough.  The fact that she didn’t want to use the lesser weapon, he respected that, having heard her tone and knew it wasn’t contempt so much as she wanted to wield her own and become its master.

 

“With formal training, you will be a formidable force.” He informed her once she had regained her breath, his own steady and normal, though a faint sheen of sweat on his face indicated he had put in his fair share of effort.

 

Slowly, she rose to her feet with a nod of appreciation, sheathing her Cutlass and grabbed her towel to dab at her neck and face. “I’m pleased to see the Divine Blade lives up to his name.  You’re definitely not all hype and seeing the Eight Leaves One Blade swordsmanship in action, firsthand, is an honor.” It was one of the most prestigious swordsmanship techniques in Erebonia, along with the Arseid.  Rean extended her a water and she accepted it, taking a small pull because downing it would only do more harm than good. “And I could tell you were holding back, Rean.  You don’t have to sugarcoat anything with me; I know I need A LOT of work and training.  And I’d appreciate your honest opinion – I want to know the areas I need work on and I need to hear your criticism too.”

 

“I was holding back because you wouldn’t have gotten any practice in if I treated you as a fully trained opponent.  Nor would I have been able to assess anything.” He said with a slight smile, his fuchsia eyes twinkling good-naturedly.  Stepping back, he sipped his own water with his now sheathed Tachi at his side before reaching down and peeling off his slightly damp t-shirt with one hand, using it to mop what little sweat was on his face away. “You should take dancing lessons.” He said after a moment. “It would help you with your footwork.” Most men thought it was a joke, learning to dance, but the best in their craft had grace, skill, and the ability to move on the battlefield without tripping on their own two feet.

 

This man was chiseled out of stone and had muscles rippling for days.  Melyssa noticed the scar on his chest, but didn’t say anything and instead focused on her water, on anything except the bare chest of her Instructor.  She was in a simple white short-sleeved tunic and black leggings, her usual training clothes.

 

“Is there a dance club I could join then?” Why wasn’t she surprised at his nod? “Dancing, huh…” Granted, Melyssa would have never thought to join a club like that or to even entertain the notion of it.  He was right, however, it would help with her footwork. “I was trying to find a club that could help me hone my skills and if you say dancing will do it, I’m willing to try.” The worst she could do was fail at it and find something else.

 

Rean smiled down at her, nodding his head. “There are other countries who incorporate sword dancing, or even spear, as part of their military exercises.  The different styles were used to focus on things such as speed and strength,” He draped his shirt over his bare shoulder, unaware she was purposefully avoiding looking at his bare chest as he took a step towards her. “Other styles were meant to improve agility and flexibility, and focus is incorporated into everything.” Learning how to hone those abilities and then apply the knowledge in the heat of a moment was something they also tried teaching, but until one was in a position of life or death… that was something all the training in the world couldn’t necessarily prepare for.

 

Why did he have to move closer to her?  She could smell the sweat and his own scent wafting through the air mixing with her own.  Melyssa smiled back at him genuinely, appreciating all the advice he gave. “I understand…Rean.  Thank you for taking the time to spar with me and teach me today.” He must have had so many other things going on or to do being an Instructor and whatnot, even if it was a free day. “And don’t worry about Crow.” Now there was a slight twinkle in her teal eyes while his brow arched in question. “He was a perfect gentleman last night and didn’t do anything unsavory.”

 

Ash, on the other hand…lewd comments or not, he was very intense, even more so than Rean.  Melyssa would be steering clear of him as much as she could, which would be difficult considering they were in the same class together.  Honestly, he should have been more concerned about Ash than Crow.

 

“I don’t worry about Crow.” Rean said quietly. “He’s loud and can be obnoxious but he knows when to stop.” Crow had proven many times that he was a loyal friend and even he knew when to back off from a lady. “And I’m sure if he did do something… unsavory,” His lips twitched into his own smile. “You would be able to handle him, you don’t seem as lost as you were yesterday.” In fact, she seemed more at ease and he was noticing she had a sense of humor. “Did you have any problems acclimatizing last night?”

 

Then why did he show up last night at their dorm if he wasn’t concerned about Crow, someone he actually KNEW?  This man made no sense in what he did and if he was worried about HER enough to do a dorm check…Melyssa immediately dismissed the thought and chalked it up to Rean checking on all of his students. “Not really, no.  And I was overwhelmed yesterday because…well…” Her eyes lowered from his, which was a mistake because now they were locked on those tight, muscular abs. “I didn’t think I’d be in your class out of them all.” She looked back up at him, their eyes locking. “It was overwhelming becoming a student of the Divine Blade of Eight Leaves.” Then, Crow being in the same class threw her for an even bigger loop.  That was something she couldn’t tell Rean, however. “I know it has something to do with being a match for the ARCUS II unit.” She remembered being tested for it during registration, like all the others. “Just didn’t expect it to happen, so I apologize if I was…quiet or standoffish yesterday, sir.” Oh Aidios, if he didn’t like being called Instructor, would he have a problem with that term as well?

 

Rean had shown up last night because being told one had the wrong roommate and were actually rooming with someone of the opposite gender… well, that could throw anyone for a loop.  Factor in she had seemed a bit overwhelmed yesterday, checking in on her had seemed like the right thing to do. “You showed exemplary aptitude with the ARCUS II, Melyssa, which was why you were accepted and placed in Class VII: Special Operations.” Which was both an honor and a compliment to the student’s abilities.  His cheeks flushed a bit, realizing what she had said and smiled awkwardly, a hand moving back to rub his neck. “I’m not… I- it’s not that big a deal, really.” It sounded lame even to him, but there it was.

 

“You really need to learn how to take a compliment, Rean.  It IS a big deal to some nobody commoner like me from Jurai, who came to Thors, HOPING to hone my skills well enough to be half a decent swordswoman.  You should be proud of your accolades and what you’ve accomplished and done for Erebonia as a whole.  And that’s all I’ll say on the matter.” Finishing her water, she tossed it in the nearby trashcan and picked up her bag, shouldering it. “I think it’s time I check out that dance club you recommended.  Go enjoy your free day and hopefully, we can spar again sometime.” Saluting him, Melyssa left the training room and pulled her guidebook out to figure out where exactly the dance club would be located on campus. 

 

“Hey, Melyssa, wait,” Rean took off after her, gently catching her by the elbow and stopped her from getting too far. “You might, and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, want to take a shower first.”  They hadn’t exactly gone light and she had given it her all, she was a beautiful mess. Not that he would say that outside of his head, he had already shown how awkward he could be. “If you haven’t eaten breakfast yet, you probably should.” Now his brows drew together in concern, the ‘helping’ thing coming out in force. “I’m heading to the kitchens now, if you’d like to join me?”

 

As if on cue, almost as if he was a mind reader, her stomach rumbled with life, reminding her she had not eaten yet today. “Okay, but…don’t take this the wrong way either, you really should put your shirt back on.” The last thing she needed was rumors starting about her and the Ashen Chevalier. “N-Not that you’re ugly to look at or anything…I mean that’s not what…” Oh Goddess, she was babbling now and her cheeks were flaming red. “Never mind, lead the way and I’ll shower after we eat.”

 

Hopefully, the walk down to the cafeteria would give her ample time to make her cheeks return to normal and Rean would put his shirt back on.  It took Rean a moment to realize his scar was probably bothering her.  It was a bit on the unsightly side, but he was so used to it by now that it didn’t generally garner his notice unless someone else drew attention to it.  Without a word, he pulled the shirt back on, keeping his strides short so she wasn’t running to keep up with him.

 

“My apologies.” He said after a moment. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” If he had been Crow, he would have jumped all over that ‘not that you’re ugly to look at’ comment.  He wasn’t Crow, he figured she was saying it to save him face.

 

“You didn’t, but I just don’t want the school getting the wrong impression, that’s all.  I mean, you ARE my Instructor and being shirtless with your student…do you understand what I’m saying?”

 

The realization dawned on his face and she simply smiled, hoping he understood it had NOTHING to do with how he looked or the scar on his chest.  If anything, that scar made him sexier and she immediately dismissed that thought out of her head.  This was her Instructor!  They walked inside the cafeteria, grabbed their food and chose a table in the far back, both sitting in front of each other.  Her tray consisted of a bagel with freshly cut up fruit and a couple slices of bacon with eggs.

 

Eggs, fish and toast were on the menu for him today, along with a cup of tea and a glass of juice.  To be honest, he hadn’t given any consideration to how it would look, him walking alongside of her being shirtless.  Given that men and women were now being roomed together, if people were going to gossip about him being in a training room with a young woman -sans a shirt- then this program was doomed already.  Rean sat opposite of Melyssa, focusing on his tray, wondering idly what the regulations involving students and instructors were.  He had probably been told them, or told of them, he just couldn’t remember off the top of his head.

 

New question: WHY was he wondering about them?

 

~!~

 

It’d been two weeks since the sparring session with Instructor Rean.  Melyssa had also followed his advice and joined the dance club.  They met three times a week, for two hours, including free days, and it was hard at first because Melyssa had ZERO rhythm.  However, with a little guidance from the dance teacher, everything began falling into place.  All the classes had been doing was homework and learning the ways of the Empire, what they wanted the students to know and learn.  There were a few quizzes and a test would be next week, but Instructor Rean assured everyone they would start Combat Link training after their test next week.  That was something to look forward to since there was little action so far in the academy. 

 

Melyssa kept up with her training, always getting a few hours in the early morning hours and a few hours at night, which followed with a hot bath.  She also practiced her dance steps in the dorm when Crow wasn’t around and tonight was no exception.  With her back turned, Melyssa began practicing after doing an hour of studying, her training already done for the evening as well.  Mentally, she counted 1-2-3 in her head and shut her eyes, focusing only on her footing while breathing in and out evenly.

 

The Combat Link training was not something Crow was overly looking forward too, though he also knew it was necessary.  It was one of the ARCUS II functions, allowing for partners to link up for attacks and it boosted said attack.  There was talk of bonds between people having an effect on it.  A Link Buddy… could be fun though no one in their right mind would want to have to suffer his inappropriate sense of humor in times of battle.  He walked into the room he shared with Melyssa, a deck of cards in hand and came to a halt, his jaw dropping.  She was… dancing.  With her eyes closed.  He pocketed the deck and silently approached her after closing the door quietly behind him.  She was mouthing numbers, counting and after a second, he swept in to take her hand in his, speaking the numbers out loud as he easily fell into step with her.

 

Her eyes snapped open as soon as she felt a presence in front of her and a hand take her own, shocked teal locked on deep crimson.  Crow was…dancing with her.  This was the first time he’d caught her practicing dancing and, instead of announcing himself in some obnoxious way, he was helping her.  Hesitantly, she placed her free hand on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her closer as they continued moving around the dorm room, no music, and the counting had trailed off, leaving only silence.

 

“Didn’t peg you for the dancing type.  You’re good at it.” Melyssa commented, breaking the silence between them and remembered what Rean told her. 

 

It helped with the footwork of a skilled swordsman/woman.  Still, this was CROW and the last thing she ever expected was for him to know how to dance.  Now technically, Crow wasn’t purposefully trying to help, he would never.  That was all Rean’s shtick.  Deep down, he also knew that wasn’t true, he was prone to being useful and helping out when the mood took him, but he wasn’t one to admit it or toss the fact around freely.  His best friend had the market obsessively cornered on ‘helpful’.  He had heard, through said best friend, that Melyssa had joined the dancing club to help with her footwork for swordsmanship -such as it was.  Smart idea, of course he knew Rean had probably suggested it, but Rean was too modest to say so.

 

“I had to take lessons.” Very, very briefly.  Duke Cayenne had been more interested in using him as a tool than as adopted kin.  Of course, at the time, Crow hadn’t cared about being ‘used’, his motives had been sort of aligned with the Duke’s.

 

Chapter 6

 

Thirteen. 

 

He was thirteen when he left Jurai, merely a boy, and now he stood in front of her a grown man. 

 

When his grandfather died, Crow had holed himself up in the house for days and then, one night, he left.  Vanished by jumping on a boat instead of taking the train that stretched all the way to Heimdallr.  She’d been 10 and they’d grown up together; Crow was her best friend and protected her when they were in school from others that picked on her for being in a fishmonger family.  It’d been a long six or seven years and she had also grown considerably, sprouting into a beautiful young lady instead of the little girl with knobby knees and acne. 

 

Melyssa had heard all about his association with Duke Cayenne and the Noble Alliance, his status as the Azure Chevalier, and especially when he sniped Chancellor Osborne, who miraculously survived the attack.  The last thing she heard of Crow was he died trying to save the former Crown Prince Cedric Reise Arnor by helping the Ashen Chevalier.  For the longest time, Melyssa hated the Ashen Chevalier because she was convinced he was the reason, Rean Schwarzer, for Crow’s death.  But Crow was alive and it was still a mystery to her and all she wanted to do was ask him one question. 

 

How? 

 

How was he alive and dancing with her? 

 

There were so many things she wanted to ask him too, such as why did he leave Jurai?  No, better question.  Why didn’t he come to her and why didn’t he have the decency to say goodbye at the very least?

 

“I keep forgetting you’re a swordsman yourself.” Melyssa congratulated herself for keeping her voice calm and steady, not giving away any indication just how livid she was at this man. 

 

The worst part was she couldn’t bring herself to ask him all of this questions or to even tell him the truth!  He didn’t remember her anyway or recognize her, so what was the point?

 

When Crow had left Jurai, he had been a bitter, raging youth with only one thing on his mind.  Revenge.  He hadn’t cared about anyone or anything outside of his own pain and machinations of revenge.  Any friends he had had, he discarded when he walked away, drowning in his grief and rage equally until he could see nothing before him but red.

 

“I’m pretty good at making people forget, aren’t I?” He made it a cheerful question, but the truth was, it was more of a statement.

 

“Well considering you have your double pistols…yeah, it’s easy to forget you also wield that double saber.” A weapon from the Dark Ages, though she didn’t know much more than that about it. “And I’m sure you’re unforgettable to those close to you, Crow.” Those words left her mouth before she could stop herself and Melyssa cracked a small smile to ease any tension between them.  After all, he was the one who forgot about dear friends and people who meant something to him, apparently. Still the same as ever, she thought, continuing to move with him and didn’t once pull her gaze from his. “So, since you know how to dance, how am I doing so far?  Am I nailing it or is it hopeless?”

 

“Oh, one day, many years from now, you’ll possess a tenth of my skill.” Crow injected a note of arrogance he had learned from none other than Duke Cayenne himself into his tone.  He was smiling though, his red eyes sparkling with good natured humor. “You’re doing fine, though you also seem more relaxed now than when you were doing it solo.  You were trying too hard and dancing is like fighting… you can learn the basics, learn how it’s supposed to go and all the styles, the bells and whistles, but it’s best when it comes naturally.”

 

She rolled her eyes at his arrogance and giggled softly, letting him twirl her once before pulling her back into his arms again. “In my defense, I had no choice except to do it solo.  I don’t have a dance partner…or didn’t.  And it helps when you’re dancing with someone with actual skill too.” Those were valid points she knew he wouldn’t be able to dispute, even though he would probably try. “I have noticed my footwork when I’m practicing has gotten a lot better, though.  So the dancing is helping with my swordsmanship, if anything.” The only thing Melyssa was not looking forward to was performing at the upcoming academy festival later in the year because it was required for the dance club to give a performance.

 

“So…. I imagine that there will be other opportunities for you to display this new skillset of yours,” Crow teased, deciding to ignore the compliment she had given him because he wasn’t sure how to respond to it outside of being arrogant again. “Like the festival.” He was looking forward to that actually, raising an eyebrow down at her when she sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth. “I’m guessing you’re not looking forward to that?” They still had quite a way off from all that, plenty of time for her to get better.  Though, given how she was still dancing with him without any issues, he was going to assume she’d be spectacular by then.

 

“I’m a swordswoman first and foremost, so I almost feel like I’m betraying the way of the sword by being in this club.  Performing in front of other people is completely different than simply doing it within the club or…with others privately.” With you, she added in thought, another pierce tearing through her heart. 

 

Melyssa would never admit it outside of her own head, but she missed Crow, which was why she hadn’t stopped the dance.  Goddess help her, she wanted to freeze this moment in time and stay like this with him forever.  And at the same time, she wanted to hurt him for causing her so much agony over these past couple of years, making her believe he was dead.

 

“Thank Aidios, it’s not for a while and hopefully, I’ll be decent by the time the actual performance rolls around.”

 

“You can have other passions besides the sword, it’s not betraying anything.” He couldn’t imagine feeling that way, well… he could, though he had viewed himself as the one being betrayed. There was a major difference between a person being betrayed and a… passion. “You are more than decent, you really don’t have enough confidence in yourself.  That or you’re trying to be modest, which… doesn’t work.”

 

He twirled Melyssa again, bringing her back against him a little more aggressively, his free hand dropping to the curve of her waist.  That move made their chests collide and Melyssa could feel his hand burning her skin.  Her tank top had gone up a little, just enough to expose that little bit of skin on her waist.  Along with that, her hand had moved from his shoulder and now had a hold of the back of his neck gently.

 

“I’m not trying to be anything.  The only reason I joined the dance club was to get better with my footwork…” Melyssa decided to turn the tables on him while they merely stood there, not moving after the twirl. “Let me ask you something, current dance partner, what are YOU passionate about?  What fuels that fire inside of you, Crow?”

 

“I already told you, gambling.  I’m a gambler, Mel.”

 

He was a betting man, a gambling man, and he spread his bad habits to the local kids.  They adored him, their parents not so much.  Blade was an addicting game and so was Vantage Masters, which he had gotten pretty solid at playing.  Pomto, on the other hand, could go straight to Gehenna.  But the addiction part aside, it also taught valuable lesson about math, logic, reading body language and whatnot.  There was more to gambling than just winning and losing.

 

“The last thing I was passionate about… hurt a lot of people.” Crow said finally, knowing his actions had done a lot of harm and, at the time, he hadn’t cared because vengeance had been his only driving force.

 

I know it did and I’m on that list of people you hurt, she thought, not believing his answer for a second.  Gambling was not something to be passionate about.  It was just an excuse to hide what truly kept him going, what raged the fire inside of him. “I shouldn’t have asked and I didn’t mean to bring up your past.  I’m just…curious about you, I guess.  Curiosity killed the cat as that old saying goes.” Her hand on his neck slid back down to rest on his shoulder to give it a gentle squeeze. “Maybe it’s because you’re from Jurai.  Maybe that’s why they put us together in the first place…” That wasn’t a comforting thought, but she couldn’t deny the coincidence either.

 

“Probably, since you’re new and I’m not.  Maybe they thought that it’d make you feel more at ease and less homesick.”

 

Crow jumped on the change of topic, flashing her a smile that came more easy than what he felt at the moment.  He didn’t know why, but something about her, or maybe about this moment, was putting him on alert.  Like something was tugging at him.  He shoved it aside, tamped it down and then began laughing.

 

“You know the rest of that saying, right?  Curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.”

 

“Yeah and I’m not nearly satisfied, so my curiosity will continue until it is.  However long it takes, roomie.” Melyssa tapped his nose with her finger and stepped back to give them both breathing room, knowing she had probably overworked her body after all the training and dancing she’d done. “Thank you for being my dance partner and helping me.  I tell you what – on our next free day, how about we spend a couple hours playing that Blade game of yours?  You can teach me and show me why games and gambling are your new passion in life.”

 

As much as she loathed Crow, only half of her felt that way and the other half wanted to be as close to him as possible.  Her heart was split in two, along with the slew of different emotions pulsating through her because of him.  Something was brewing in her beautiful teal eyes and Crow felt something tugging at his gut, something almost familiar but not quite.  He sometimes wondered if he had come ‘back’ normal or if maybe all his memories hadn’t been properly restored, or maybe his brain hadn’t catalogued them all yet.

 

“I’ll hold you to it.  Maybe we could get off-campus for a bit, yeah?” He suggested, letting her have her space and brushed a stray lock of his silver hair back off his forehead.

 

“Yeah, Heimdallr isn’t that far from here by train.  A half hour, at best.  We could definitely go for a couple hours.  I suppose sacrificing a day of training and actually relaxing for a change wouldn’t be so bad.”

 

What was she saying?!  Crow had cast some kind of spell on her because she wasn’t thinking clearly!  Melyssa couldn’t go back on what she said, however.  She had just inadvertently made plans with Crow, to hang out with him outside of campus, outside of their dorm room.

 

“And I’ll hold you to that.  Now, it’s time to get back to studying because we have a very important test coming up.” Grabbing her book, Melyssa plopped on her bed and blinked when Crow joined her moments later, both sitting side by side. “Wanna study together, I take it?”

 

“Oh no, I’m just here to supervise.” Crow began laughing, though he had also cracked his book open. “I should’ve graduated by now, I know all of this, or most of it, I’m just a slacker.” He had goofed off and around instead of applying himself and it had landed him right back in school.  Of course with the war and everything else going on, his focus had been a bit all over the place. “I could use a refresher…” He admitted, sprawling out onto his stomach and patted the space beside him. “I won’t bite.” Hard.

 

Shaking her head, Melyssa shifted to lean back against her headboard with her legs sprawled out while Crow took the other side of her bed. “Just admit you wanna study with me, Armbrust, it’s okay.” Supervise, sure, she added in thought and started reading the book, or tried. 

 

Crow was very distracting, but she was determined to get some studying done and to rest her legs.  They had danced for an hour straight without realizing it – it didn’t seem like that long, but it had been according to the clock.  Oddly enough, it was comforting having Crow study with her.

 

I’m supposed to be mad at him, damn it, she mentally chastised herself, flipping a page and shook all other thoughts out of her head. 

 

They both wound up falling asleep with Crow ending up shifting to sleep beside her instead of on his stomach.  Somewhere during the night, his arm draped over her stomach and she turned to where they were spooned together with his nose buried in her hair.

 

~!~

 

Crow woke up in the typical manner most men did.  With an erection.  His usual routine was to go to the bathroom to relieve himself and it tended to go away.  This morning was nothing typical.  He hadn’t woken up with anyone in quite some time, so it was disconcerting, his face being buried in a mound of loose, sweet smelling hair and a soft, curvy body pressed tightly against his.  This wasn’t relieve it in the usual manner and call it a day, this was- Gehenna.  It was Gehenna!  It took him another long moment to realize he had fallen asleep and, at some point during the night, they had gotten into this position. By the steady, even breathing from Melyssa he was assuming she was still asleep.  Hissing softly from clenched teeth, he shifted ever so slightly, trying to put some modicum of space and decency between them.

 

Not even 10 minutes later, the alarm went off and her hand clenched in a fist to pound down on it, her eyes slowly opening.  The textbook she’d been reading was on the floor beside the bed and…something wasn’t right.  This presence…someone was in bed with her!  In lightning quick speed, Melyssa was out of bed with her unsheathed Cutlass and pointing it at… “CROW?!” Slightly disheveled and half-asleep, Melyssa swallowed hard at the sight of him and her breathing quickened, immediately looking down at herself to make sure her clothes were still intact. Oh thank Aidios, she thought, the grip on her Cutlass not wavering while she continued staring at him, her heart pounding in her ears.  WHAT IN AIDIOS’S NAME WAS HE DOING IN HER BED?! “Goddess, I could’ve seriously hurt you!!”

 

Slowly, she lowered the Cutlass at her side and tore a hand through her hair, cheeks several shades of crimson now.  Redder than his eyes boring back at her.  She also needed to learn how to breathe again because waking up to another person in her bed, especially Crow, hadn’t been a pleasant feeling at all.

 

Chapter 7

 

“No.” Crow informed her, his eyes fastened on hers. He nodded down and watched as her gaze fell down to his own extended arm. He didn’t make it a habit of carrying his guns to bed, but he wasn’t above a small, deadly sharp knife and it was currently pressed right against her thigh, where her femoral artery was. “If I had thought you were actually going to attempt it, I’d have gotten you first.” But he hadn’t, which was why his dagger was still in its slim sheath. “And…” Since she was pulling away, he lazily tossed said dagger onto his own bed, moving so he was standing. “We fell asleep while studying.  I don’t remember much after that fifth paragraph you made me reread twice.”

 

“Shit, that’s right.” Melyssa muttered, closing her eyes as the memory of studying with Crow filtered through her mind.  The dance they shared beforehand.  The promise of playing Blade together and going to Heimdallr to get away on a free day. “You were on your stomach and…you know what?  It doesn’t matter.”

 

Sheathing her Cutlass, Melyssa turned and began pulling her clothes out for the day, glancing at the clock.  Crow was on his stomach when she fell asleep, so why did they wake up with him right beside her?  If he woke up during the night, why didn’t he go back to his own bed?

 

Overthinking it will only cause more harm than good, just let it go, Melyssa, she mentally chastised, pulling her skirt on before removing her pants from beneath and tossed them in her hamper.  She’d never gotten dressed so fast in her life and simply pulled her hair up in a high ponytail instead of the usual bun.

 

If he had woken up, he had no recollection of it.  Crow figured things he did either half-awake or totally asleep, he shouldn’t be held accountable for because…. Subconscious did what it wanted whether he wanted it or not. Crow did not feel the sense of modesty she did and simply peeled off his shirt from the day before along with his pants, tossing them both into his own hamper.  He was wearing the current in-style type men’s underwear, stretching his arms over his head before dropping a hand to scratch his bare abdomen. 

 

“Not mad at me, are you, Mel?” He winked at her. “I did say I was a cuddler.” Just like Ash had with Monique.

 

She was used to seeing Crow in his boxer/briefs because the man had no modesty, whatsoever.  It wasn’t nearly as big of a deal for a man to change in front of a woman as a woman to change in front of a man.  Well, almost woman.  She was 17, but her birthday was in a few weeks and she would be 18.  Not that Crow knew that and she wasn’t big on birthdays, so she would keep that little nugget of information to herself.  To answer his question, truthfully, yes she was mad at him, but not for waking up in the same bed together.

 

“You did, I just didn’t think we would ever be in that position.  I didn’t mean to freak out on you.” That was as close to an apology as he would get because saying the words ‘I’m sorry’ to Crow did not set well with her.  She went to head toward the door and Crow stopped her, his hand on her elbow pulling her back to turn to face him, staring up into his crimson orbs. “I’m not mad at you, Crow…” Not for this anyway.

 

“Well, last night you were relaxed and today you’re tense, so…”

 

He knew a big part of that was waking up in an almost stranger’s arms, complete with body parts poking at her.  Nobody would like being woken up in such a fashion unless it was with a lover and they were not lovers.  His mind strayed for a moment or two, considering that possibility and then shook his head, stepping away from her.

 

“I need caffeine.” He was obviously still half-asleep. “I’m sorry, I won’t let it happen again.  Unless,” His mischievous smile appeared. “You want it too.”

 

Her cheeks were on fire again and she could no longer remain eye contact with him. “I…” Melyssa had to snap out of this reverie when it came to Crow and she stepped back, his hand falling from her elbow. “I need to go.  I’ll see you later.”

 

Grabbing her bag, shoes and Cutlass, Melyssa flew out of the room while hopping to put her shoes on, already having her knee thigh-high stockings on.  She grabbed an apple and granola bar from the cafeteria and then made her way to the training rooms in the basement, really needing to get a session in.  Melyssa was tense, coiled and knew some training would release that and relax her further.  It would hopefully also get Crow off of her mind.

 

Crow let her go, pretty sure he had lit a fire beneath her pert backside and groaned, closing the door before turning to flop down onto his unused bed. “Goddess….” It came out a curse more than anything as he fisted the top blanket in his hands. What was it about Melyssa that made something in him twinge, something poke at his mind, urging him to… what? 

 

He wished he knew.

 

~!~

 

“One, two,” Rean was practicing his own ‘sword dance’, focusing on his strength at the moment when Melyssa came in.  He wore black loose pants and no shirt, a bandana around his head to catch sweat as he focused on each precise move. “Three, four…”

 

He didn’t notice her.  He was completely focused and concentrated on his training, his footwork almost mesmerizing.  Melyssa did not want to bother her Instructor, so she stepped back out silently and checked the other training room, not seeing anyone occupying it.  There were four in total, thankfully, so she set her stuff down, practically swallowed her food and began her training.

 

~!~

 

“Melyssa, wait up!” Juna jogged to meet her friend’s fast walking on the way to campus from the dorms. “Are you okay?”

 

“Yeah, why?” Melyssa was usually a master at hiding her emotions, but today wasn’t a good day for that. “I’m just tired.  I studied a lot for the test last night.” Blatant lie.  It did NOT help matters to walk in on her Instructor, shirtless either, right after dealing with her morning fiasco with Crow.  Training seemed to be the only thing that cleared her mind of all distractions and now she had to step away from it to attend classes.

 

Juna wasn’t sure if she believed Melyssa, eyeballing her almost shrewdly and shrugged. “If you need to talk about anything, you know I’m here, right?”

 

“Yeah, thanks.  So, did you get any studying done?”

 

“Ugh, I feel like my head is going to explode with all the stuff we have to remember.” Juna groaned, rubbing her temples with her fingertips. “I thought being a second year would be easier, but no such luck.”

 

Sometimes, Melyssa had to remind herself she was only a first year in a class FULL of second years.  She was the only first year who acclimated well with the ARCUS II unit in the entire school. “Yeah, but hopefully, it’ll pay off once the testing is done.”

 

“Goddess, I hope so.”

 

~!~

 

Testing was over with and the scores would be posted in the next couple of days.  Tomorrow was a free day, but today, just as Instructor Rean promised, it was time to finally start Combat Link training.  Everyone in the class was used to it because they’d gone through it during their first year.  So naturally, all the attention was focused on Melyssa, who had NO idea what Combat Link training was.  It was a refresher for everyone else in the class and, quite frankly, she was a little on edge about it.  They were on the outskirts of Leeves, where they could find monsters to attack and practice on.  Not only that, but Principal Le Guin had instructed Rean to take Class VII: Special Operations off the campus grounds for practice because coming up they would going out on their first field study.

 

“Okay Melyssa, why don’t you try linking with…Crow.  Since he looks ready to fall asleep from boredom.” Instructor Rean announced, gesturing both of them forward and pointed over at the group of monsters they had to vanquish for the Principal. “Remember, complete trust is needed to form a link with your partner.  Are you two ready to do this?”

 

“Yes, Instructor.”

 

“Born ready.”

 

“Good, we’ll leave it to you then and if you need help, I’ll jump in.  I want to see how you two perform together, though.” This would be a cakewalk since they were roommates, which was also why Rean had selected them.  Or rather, he had selected Crow for this exercise with Melyssa, eyes narrowed slightly.

 

Unsheathing her Cutlass, the ARCUS II glowed as blue circles formed beneath them from it, initiating the combat link.  Melyssa hadn’t seen much of Crow since the morning they woke up together in bed and nearly cut each other down.  She couldn’t focus on that right now, or their past, or anything except the monsters in front of them.  So far, she had linked well with Juna, Kurt, Altina and Instructor Rean, and now it was time for a true test with Crow.  Ash would probably be next if this went well.  Crow had linked up before and knew there were certain things that made it possible. 

 

He frowned when nothing really happened, glancing at her. “You sure you’re doing it right?” He asked flatly, already knowing she was, his eyes taking in the blue circles beneath them.

 

“Let’s… try again.” Rean said after a moment, knowing one of the reasons Links failed were due to not having a strong enough bond.  Given that neither Crow nor Melyssa had said anything negative about the other… He figured they had at the very least made it to the friendly stage.

 

They were definitely friendly, but the problem with combat linking with Crow was simple.  Melyssa didn’t trust him.  She wasn’t stupid and understood what it took to be able to link with another person.  It was about trust and she didn’t have that with him.  The ARCUS II apparently could read that much and that deep about a person.  She was able to link with everyone else in the class, besides Ash, and that was only because she hadn’t tried yet.  Crow was practically a master at combat linking, so it all rested with her. 

 

Goddess, I have to make this work, please just WORK, Melyssa silently prayed, closing her eyes briefly to try to find some kind of trust for him deep down inside.

 

“There!  There we go, it’s working!”

 

Nodding, Melyssa felt the link between them, though it was weaker than the others.  Still, it was working enough to dispatch these monsters. “Okay, you ready, Crow?” A few seconds later, they were in the fray and thick of the fight with her slashing and parrying techniques while Crow stuck with his double pistols.  They found an opening, went in for the kill…and suddenly, the combat link broke, snapped like a twig, between them while they were still fighting.

 

“Oh no!”

 

“It broke?!”

 

“Instructor!”

 

“Shit, they’re in danger!” Ash growled, swinging his halberd above his head ready to charge in.

 

“No, let them handle it.” Rean ordered, though that was the last thing he wanted to do.

 

What he truly wanted to do was rush in and save them, but first of all, they had to learn.  Second, Crow was a formidable warrior, it was just insulting to his best friend if he came in and ‘saved the day’.  This was about them having to learn how to trust each other and right now, they needed that trust.  Putting others, or more like leaving them, in danger wasn’t something Rean was used too and it went against his helpful, concerned nature to sit this one out, but he did, stepping back to watch.

 

Ash could only stare at Rean like he had lost his mind.


Melyssa ducked just in time before a claw could pierce her side and slashed the enemy, killing it instantly.  She couldn’t focus on Crow or anyone else; the only thing she could think about was surviving and destroying the enemies coming at her.  Crow had his own share to worry about and she had hers.  It was surprising that Instructor Rean was allowing them to handle this on their own, but she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.  Finally, the last enemy fell with Crow blasting it with his double pistols and Melyssa immediately looked around, making sure that was the last of them.  There had to be at least 20 of those bird monsters!  Breathing heavily, Melyssa and Crow looked at each other before both putting weapons away as the class joined them.

 

“Are you okay, Melyssa?!” Juna could not believe Instructor Rean didn’t intervene, even if Crow was with their first year student!  It was dangerous and reckless, what in Aidios’ name was wrong with him?!

 

“No, I’m not fine, not really.” Melyssa was fine health wise, but mentally and emotionally, she was a wreck on the inside. “Crow, I’m sorry.  It’s my fault this happened and…I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it never happens again.”

 

“Everyone but Armbrust and Brackett, head back.” Rean ordered, ignoring the look Juna shot him and steeled himself. “Now.” His tone made it an order.

 

Muttering under her breath, Juna reluctantly stepped away, turning to head back as told.  Just as Ash thought, Juna was now thinking the same thing: Rean had lost his mind!

 

Considering Rean and both new and old class VII had been through worse and other than she was scared, Rean considered this to be a success.  Granted, his own heart was beating a furious tattoo in his chest, but… as Crow had pointed out many times, one could learn everything there was from books and practice.  However, one would never know truly whether they were made for the battlefield until they actually stepped foot on it.  Neither looked injured and Crow seemed amused while Melyssa may have been borderline panic, or she was still dealing with the adrenaline rush.

 

Ash was thinking the same thing Juna was because their Instructor NEVER did anything like this with them during their first year.  He almost felt sorry for Melyssa.

 

There was a very good reason why Melyssa was on the verge of panicking because she had screwed up that combat link between her and Crow.  And it was because she knew the truth of the matter – her trust with Crow didn’t exist because of the past.  She resented him, which only made trusting him nonexistent.  Granted, she hadn’t MEANT to do it, but it happened, nevertheless.  Instructor Rean didn’t look amused compared to Crow and she simply stood there with her arms at her sides, fighting the urge to lower her head.  Maybe Instructor Rean would kick her out of Class VII and she could be in a class that had more than just her as a first year.  There was no way she could tell the truth, how she truly felt about Crow Armbrust or reveal their past together.  Somehow, Melyssa would have to find a way to make a combat link with Crow work, if she even lasted in this class.

 

“So, there’s obviously a lack of trust between the two of you.” Rean said finally, not entirely sure on which end it was coming from or maybe some weird combination of both. “Crow, you already know from experience what it takes for the Combat Link to work and be successful.”

 

“Experience doesn’t mean trust.” Crow countered after a long moment, sounding a hint amused, a dash arrogant, and a sliver of annoyed. “Trust is usually based on experience with the person you’re linking with.  We’re not very familiar with each other, it happens.” He wasn’t sure if it was her, him, or both, but… that had failed spectacularly.

 

“I know just how to get that trust there.  You two need experiences, together, to build trust and faith in each other.” Rean smiled slightly. “We’re going on a field study.”

 

Chapter 8

 

What would a field study accomplish? 

 

Then she realized what Instructor Rean said about needing experience together, to build the trust and faith.  Would that work?  Would that be enough? “The whole class?” She questioned in a soft voice, feeling about two feet tall at the moment with both Azure and Ashen Chevaliers staring at her.

 

“Yes.  The whole class, BUT there’s a stipulation.” Rean folded his arms in front of his chest, knowing Crow wouldn’t have a problem with what he had in mind.  It was the only way. “You two are going to be at the front of the line.  And you can only link with each other or work on linking with each other.”

 

Melyssa’s teal eyes grew wide as saucers while staring at their Instructor like he’d lost his mind. “But…” Her gaze moved to finally look at Crow, seeing the thoughtful expression on his face while he stared back at Instructor Rean. “Okay…” What the hell else was she supposed to say?  Thanks but no thanks?  That wasn’t an option! “Where are we going for this field study?”

 

“You will find out with the others next Wednesday.  I’ll announce it after your first practical exam.  And you two WILL be partners for that as well.”

 

Aidios save me, Melyssa thought, seeing how determined Instructor Rean was to make this work.  Something told her he’d dealt with broken Combat Links before.

 

“Well, if it makes you feel better, Melyssa,” Crow turned to look down at her after Rean started walking away, rubbing the side of his neck as he flashed her a crooked smile. “The best place to start bonding usually is on trips and stuff.”

 

Of course the trips Class VII had taken in the past had been done during the war and everything.  It had all been crazy and they had been in a lot of life or death situations.  Trust was built very quickly when one was responsible for other people’s lives and vice versa.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“I should be asking you that.  You’re not the one who messed this up.”

 

Melyssa knew it was her own personal animosity and anger at Crow that prevented them from forming a combat link.  There had to be a way to swallow it or stuff it down and she would have to do it.  Instructor Rean was adamant about keeping them on the front line for a while until they could form a combat link together.  This…was not going to be easy to do.  Another question plagued her: Did Crow trust her?  Maybe he also had trust issues when it came to her, despite them being roommates.  Maybe it was both of them that were responsible for the failed Combat Linking.  Crow began walking along the path they had followed out here, keeping his stride easy and slow because he wasn’t exactly in a rush.  He knew that swarm of bird monsters was probably the worst of it out here and Rean wasn’t that far ahead, so they were relatively safe.

 

“I’m fine, thank you.” She was concerned for him and thought she was the problem, she was… not what he was expecting.  She had been pretty confident when in action. “You’ve got some skills, Mel, dance club is paying off.” Did he trust her?  He hadn’t really thought about it and now he was asking himself a lot of questions. “I guess we got some issues to work out.”

 

“Yeah, I guess we do.” Melyssa kept walking with him back to campus, not sure what else to say and wasn’t surprised to see the rest of Class VII waiting for them when they arrived.

 

“What happened?  Is everything okay?” Juna asked, eyeballing both Melyssa and Crow and then looked at the Instructor.

 

“Yeah, Instructor Rean just wanted to talk to us alone for a minute.  No need to worry.” Melyssa cracked a small smile at her fellow classmates and looked back at Crow. “We’re going to figure out what’s holding us back from linking.”

 

“Instructor Rean, I don’t agree with what you did today.” Juna spoke up, placing her hands on her hips.  She was NEVER one to sugarcoat anything or hold her feelings back, proving it to him time and time again. “You are the Instructor and I understand that, but you put Melyssa in danger today.  Crow and Melyssa weren’t ready for that onslaught and I don’t agree with it.”

 

“I’m in agreement with Juna, Instructor.  It was careless and reckless.”

 

Ash simply snorted, shaking his head.  He also didn’t agree with the decision not to help their fellow comrades, but there was no point in arguing with the Instructor. “It’ll go in one ear and right out the other, ladies.  You know it and I know it.  He did it for a reason, we just gotta deal with it.”

 

“I don’t care what the reason is!  We’re a TEAM and I don’t care how much of a warrior Crow is either!  It was WRONG not to let us help them when there were that many enemies!” Juna snapped, her light green eyes full of fire and her brows were down.

 

“All right, all right, that’s enough, Juna.  I don’t agree with it either, but…they’re both fine and unscathed.  That’s what matters here.” Kurt, once again, was the voice of reason in Class VII. “No sense in reading our Instructor the riot act.”

 

Rean was simply staring at them all with an unreadable expression on his face, which was either good or bad.  Wow, Juna had quite the temper on her and was that regret flashing across Rean’s face?  Melyssa felt bad for him and decided she had to speak up before Juna verbally castrated him.

 

“Juna, I appreciate the concern.  I appreciate all of your concern and I know we’re a team, but…” Her eyes slid over to Instructor Rean briefly and then Crow, before moving back to her fiery-tempered friend. “I agree with what he did.  And I can hold my own in a fight, I’m not helpless and Crow isn’t either.  We took care of the problem and…we have some stuff to work on and we will.  I think I speak for Crow too when I say he agrees with what the Instructor did today as well.  If it was really dangerous, you know he would’ve stepped in.”

 

“Yeah well…” Juna sighed heavily. “Look, you’re a first year, Melyssa, and…”

 

“And what?  You’re telling me the Instructor has never left you to your own devices?  To your own battles?”

 

Juna thought back to their first year – it was CRAZY, to put it mildly, and there were quite a few times when Instructor Rean would leave them to go do various tasks for the government he didn’t want them involved in. “Yeah, he was insane and ran off on his own on more than one occasion.  We ended up chasing after him every time too because we wanted to be helpful and…”

 

“So you disobeyed him?”

 

“Well…yeah…” Juna’s cheeks tinged pink. “For a good reason though!  You have no idea how stubborn Instructor Rean is!  He feels like he has to take the whole world on by himself and he can’t ask for anyone’s help!”

 

“The circumstances were…”

 

“They were shit.” Ash remembered those days all too well and was still paying penance for what he did to the Emperor, thanks to the Twilight and the curse that befell Erebonia. “That’s why me and Musse had to jump in and come to the damn rescue every time!  Couldn’t let you three have all the fun, after all.”

 

Juna growled, not appreciating being reasoned with and felt Kurt wrap his arm around her shoulders, leaning into him. “Everything was messed up back then.  This is different…”

 

“Believe me, if I had a real problem with it, I would have confronted Instructor Rean about it myself.” Melyssa assured Juna, grunting when the pink-haired woman tossed her arms around her neck to hug her tightly.  She winked over at Instructor Rean, hugging Juna back and broke it after a minute.

 

“I’m not apologizing because it was still wrong, but…I’ll let it go this time as Class VII’s president.”

 

Everyone chuckled at that, including Instructor Rean.

 

At least he’s not angry with Juna’s outburst, Melyssa thought, actually afraid for her fellow classmate and friend for a few minutes.

 

“Look, at the end of the day, Rean’s making the tough calls and in charge because the powers that be know he’s been there and back again, just like the rest of us.  Not everyone is as lucky to have a group in times of war and battle.” Crow said evenly, pointing out that they had been exceptionally lucky in that they’d had each other. “It’s also fairly insulting to think we couldn’t have handled it.” This was not good for Melyssa’s confidence, them thinking she didn’t have it and his ego wasn’t overly pleased with their lack of faith in his own abilities. He had been a terrorist, been on both sides of the coin, he had this. “She was chosen for Class VII because of her potential skills and her adeptness with ARCUS II, give the woman some faith.”

 

That surprised Melyssa to hear from Crow and she smiled genuinely at him, hoping he meant everything he said. “Crow…”

 

“Gotta admit, she was damn good with that Cutlass out there.  She could probably give me a run for my mira, actually.” Ash winked at her, chuckling when she rolled her eyes in response. “Oh come on, beautiful, you know you’d love to go one on one with me.”

 

“Ash, stop being an ass!”

 

“I’m not, Wild Filly.  Oh, I guess she didn’t tell you about our little rendezvous in the bath a couple weeks ago, eh?”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

“That’s not…” Melyssa knew what he was doing and could feel her cheeks tinging red, holding her hands up. “We ran into each other on my way OUT of the bath and he asked me to wash his back for him.  I turned him down and apparently, it hurt his feelings.”

 

“Hey, wait a damn minute!”

 

“Oh, look at Ash’s face turn red!” Juna cackled, draping an arm on Melyssa’s shoulder. “See, that’s what happens when you’re all talk, Carbide.”

 

“For the record, I will go one on one with you anytime, anywhere, any place, Ash.  Just be sure you’re ready for it because I won’t hold back when we finally do clash.” Melyssa forewarned him, showing she still had plenty of confidence in her abilities.

 

“Don’t get too cocky now, beautiful,” Ash winked at her, recovering quickly even though the red was not as quick to recede from his face. He had to regain his footing here, the first year was making him look bad. “Just because you held your own this time, with Crow’s help, doesn’t mean you’re ready for a stud of my caliber.”

 

Crow face palmed himself, shaking his head and clucked his tongue.  For as bad as he could be, Ash always, ALWAYS managed to make him look like some kind of saint or something. “Give it a bit more time, moron,” He drawled finally, his red eyes narrowing slightly. “I guarantee she’ll wipe the floor with your face.”

 

“Like I said, be prepared and completely ready both mentally and physically.” Ash was very cocky and someone needed to knock him down a peg or three.  Melyssa would be happy to do it because one thing she didn’t do was allow her ego to go to her head the way he did.  It would be an interesting battle between them, especially since he could extend that scythe ax of his quite a long distance.  It was a special chain scythe ax – a weapon she’d never seen in her life until coming to Thors Branch School.

 

“Well, I think we’ll call it a day here.  Good work today, everyone.  I’ll go report our success to Principal Le Guin.” Rean informed them, dismissing his class just outside of the school and headed inside the building.

 

Melyssa frowned, watching him disappear inside and turned to face Crow, who had also watched Rean’s retreating form. “Thank you, Crow, for what you said.” Reaching out, she took his hand to give it a gentle squeeze while staring into those crimson eyes. “Listen, there’s…”

 

“You guys can talk later.  Right now, I’m taking you out for some gelato and we’re going to talk, along with Altina.  Girls only.” Juna looped her arm through Melyssa’s and guided her away from the school toward Leeves, Altina falling into step on Melyssa’s other side.

 

I can’t tell him, not now, maybe not ever.  I’m such a coward and I know we won’t be able to link up together until I come clean about knowing him.  Damn it, what am I supposed to do, Melyssa glanced back at Crow, showing the different emotions in her eyes flaring back at him before turning her head to stare straight ahead, nodding at whatever Juna was saying to her.

 

“Quite the spitfire you have on your hands, Azure.” Ash commented, watching the girls walk off and nudged his old roommate. “Damn lucky, Monique is like a wet blanket that is in lust with the Ashen Chevalier.  She’s lucky I haven’t duct taped her mouth shut yet in her sleep.”

 

Kurt chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe if you wouldn’t try womanizing every girl you come across, you’d have a better reputation with them, Ash.”

 

“Oh shut up!”

 

“There you go, womanize her and shut her up with some-”

 

“I thought about it.” He didn’t even need to finish that sentence, a lewd grin spread across Ash’s face because he could see where this was heading. “But then she’d probably bite it off out of some weird loyalty to her true love.” Monique’s little obsession was borderline scary sometimes.

 

“Both of you shut it.” Crow snorted, running his hand down his face as he headed back towards the academy. “Leave my roomie alone, Ash.”

 

“Aw, someone has feelings for the new girl?”

 

“No, but I do have to live with her.” That felt wrong, even to him.

 

~!~

 

“So, what is going on between you and Crow?”

 

“I sense distress from you whenever you’re around him, Melyssa.” Altina admitted in her soft robotic voice, taking a bite out of her gelato.

 

Melyssa looked back at Altina and then Juna, seeing so many burning questions in their eyes. “It’s…complicated.  I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

 

Would it be terrible if she confided in these two?  Would Juna and Al be able to keep her past with Crow a secret?  She hadn’t known them very long, but they were classmates and Instructor Rean did inform them they would feel like family.  This was her new family while she was away from Jurai.

 

“Something is obviously troubling you, Mel.  You can tell us, we won’t say a word to anyone.” Juna promised, taking a bite of gelato with a satisfying groan. “This is really good.”

 

Melyssa had barely touched hers.  She felt conflicted because she had lied to Juna and Altina, to everyone, even their Instructor.

 

“She doesn’t trust us.”

 

Juna frowned, wondering if that was true. “Allie…”

 

“It’s not that I don’t trust you both.  We wouldn’t have been able to Combat Link if I didn’t.  I just…like I said, what’s going on between me and Crow is complicated and I have to work through it…on my own.  I’m sorry, but I can’t say anything more than that.” Melyssa knew she was being vague, but if she told them the truth about her past with Crow, she ran the risk of him finding out.

 

“Just tell me one thing: He hasn’t done anything to you, right?” Juna wanted to make sure her friend was comfortable and safe with Armbrust. “Because if he’s hurt you…”

 

Only emotionally and mentally, Melyssa thought sadly, tears filling her eyes while she looked down at the half-melted gelato in her hand. “He hasn’t done anything to me physically…” Her voice cracked and before she could stop them, a few tears slipped down her cheeks.

 

Now Juna was alarmed along with Altina, both placing a hand on her shoulders. “Melyssa…”

 

“It’s nothing.  It’s nothing, I’m fine.  Really.  I know it seems like he’s done something to me, but he really hasn’t.  It’s all on me, it’s in my head and I just need to deal with it.” Quickly wiping her tears away, Melyssa stood up from the bench they occupied and set her gelato down, knowing she had to pull it together. “When I’m ready to tell you both everything, I will.  I’m gonna go for a walk and clear my head a bit.  Thank you for the gelato.” Sniffling, she took the napkin Juna handed her and headed off, needing a moment to herself without people breathing down her neck.

 

“What do you think happened with Crow, Juna?” Altina asked, once Melyssa was out of earshot.

 

“I don’t know…and I want to find out, but…I think for now, we should leave it be and just watch and see what happens.”

 

“Agreed.”

 

Chapter 9

 

“So, you and Brackett have some issues.”

 

Crow had been wondering when Rean his best friend, and not Rean his Instructor, would make an appearance.  He had been out on the grounds, laying beneath a tree and pretending to study when Rean had strolled up.  He didn’t even bother with the pretense anymore, just chucked the book aside and sat up, drawing his knees up.

 

“Well, there’s a lack of trust there, apparently.” He said after a moment, hearing and feeling Rean settling into the grass alongside of him. “Pretty ballsy move today, Ashen Chevalier.”

 

“You know I hate being called that, Azure…” Rean shot back, with much less bite. “I don’t know if I liked how I handled it.”

 

“Which means you handled it perfectly since your first instinct is to usually mother-hen everyone to death.”

 

Rean sighed, feeling conflicted after what Juna had to say to him, along with Altina and even Ash. “I knew you could handle it.  You’re older than me, after all and more experienced.” Crow should have been an Instructor or in the military by now, but because of the path he chose to follow, he was behind. “Melyssa is only a first year, however.  Even with you there, I…” Sometimes, he really hated being an Instructor. “I’m supposed to protect my students and today, I didn’t do that.  You can say I handled it perfectly, but…I don’t think I did.”

 

“You were fine, Rean.  Don’t beat yourself up about it.  Forget what Juna said.  She’s inexperienced compared to us, don’t forget.”

 

“Maybe…” Rean wasn’t convinced and looked up at the night sky since the sun had set on the horizon.  Stars were peeking out one by one, glittering back at them. “Did something happen with you and Melyssa?  Whether it be good or bad, I want to try to help you both succeed and in order to do that, I need to know what all has happened between you two.”

 

“Why does it feel like we’re getting that question?” Crow didn’t even know what had possessed him to say it because nobody had asked him that. As far as he knew, no one had asked Melyssa that either. Maybe people were thinking it and it was finally starting to seep into his brain. “Just because we’re from the same place doesn’t mean anything, and I’ve actually been on my best behavior with her.” Because even he knew this co-ed dorm thing was meant to gear them for the actual army and things of that sort, all it took was one idiot to muck things up. “Nothing has happened between us.” Other than a dance… and falling asleep in the same bed.

 

Not that he said that out loud.

 

“Well, obviously something did to make her not trust you or vice versa.  I’m willing to bet it’s on her end, though.” Rean admitted, looking down at his gloved hand and pulled them off, sliding them in one of the pockets of his white coat. “She’s hiding something, Crow.  I can feel it and sense it.” That made the silver haired man’s head snap up as those fiery eyes met his. “I’m serious, I don’t know what it is or how I know it, but…the way she acts around you is different than the others.” He had a sixth sense about people and always had ever since he was a boy, even before his training with Master Ka-Fai. “You can’t deny that, my friend.”

 

“I don’t know, maybe it’s my impressive reputation that makes her act so weird.  Just like she does with you.” Crow reminded him of how Melyssa had acted upon discovering that her Instructor was none other than the Ashen Chevalier.  She had been overwhelmed and stiff with him at first. “Regardless, she doesn’t act like she dislikes me and I think prying isn’t the way to go.” Not from Rean or anyone else anyway. 

 

Him, yeah, he was going to pry later in the privacy of their bedroom.

 

“Maybe. Not by all of us, I imagine after today if we all converge on her, it’ll be overwhelming.”

 

“You don’t say.”

 

Once again, Rean knew what he had to do and it would be hard to relinquish the responsibility on someone other than himself, but it was also for the best. “Very well.” He stood up from the grass and took his jacket off, tossing it over his shoulder. “I’ll leave it to you, Crow.  This is between the two of you and nobody, not even me, has any business interfering.  I will make sure nobody else does either.” He looked back down at his best friend, comrade, and former rival with hesitant, sympathetic fuchsia eyes. “If you need my help, you know where to find me.” Leaving Crow alone with his thoughts, Rean made his way back to the dorms for a bath and then he had to finish grading the tests.

 

“So dramatic.”

 

Crow shook his head, watching his friend disappear and whistled through his teeth.  They were in times of peace and yet, they had to go seeking issues.  Find problems to solve, lives to fix!  It was as if nobody knew how to be content with just… being, and not fearing for lives or anything of that nature.  Digging up drama, that was what he was going to call it, and all because he and Melyssa hadn’t been able to link.  Sighing, he grabbed his book and reluctantly pushed himself up onto his feet.

 

Dinner first, then the roommate.

 

Melyssa did her nightly training, showered, ate and went back to the dorm, feeling marginally better after a long walk around Leeves.  Crying also helped.  For over a month now, she had kept a lot of emotions bottled up inside and they had finally come out.  Melyssa remembered the last time she cried that hard for that long and it was the day her mother came to her, telling her Crow was dead.  The Imperial Chronicle had made it seem like the Ashen Chevalier, Rean Schwarzer, was the real hero, however, while Crow had been painted a villain.  She had run out of the house down to the docks, by the boats, and screamed out Crow’s name to the point where her vocal cords were on fire. 

 

For 2 years, she thought Crow was dead and mourned him every single day he was gone; countless nights spent crying herself to sleep, missing him.  She really, truly thought one day he would come back to Jurai and they would be reunited, but such wasn’t the case.  Now here they were as roommates and he didn’t even remember her.  She wasn’t worth being part of any of his memories and it hurt her more than anything in the world.  It was almost as if he’d wiped his memories of Jurai completely from his mind.  Maybe that did happen to him; maybe his memories had been wiped since he was in the clutches of Duke Cayenne for the better part of his teen years.  Luckily, after the shower, her tears managed to dry up and the puffiness in her face was gone, for the most part.  Leaning back against the headboard of her bed, Melyssa had cracked open a book, something to do to get her mind off everything that happened that day.  That was until Crow decided to return to their room for the evening.

 

Crow had, against rules, bundled up his dinner in a sack and brought it with him after roaming around almost aimlessly.  His friends, his peers, today had brought to attention some of the things that had been nagging at the pit of his stomach, though he hadn’t given them names yet.  There was something going on and he couldn’t exactly place it.  Melyssa seemed perfectly normal with him and he had racked his mind over their encounters.  The only thing he could think of that would make her not trust him was the incident where she had woken up to him in the bed with her.  Panic had made her reach instantly for her Cutlass.  It didn’t seem like that was the entirety of it though, but it was the best he had come up with.

 

“More studying?”

 

She looked up from her book at the sound of his voice and cracked a small smile, shaking her head. “Not tonight, I’ve done so much studying for that test we took, I decided to give myself a break.”

 

Tomorrow would be the same thing, though she did have dance club to attend.  Melyssa could feel the tension between them, even though they were speaking cordially to each other and she was sure Crow could feel it as well.  She folded the page she was on in the book and closed it, setting it aside to give Crow her undivided attention for the moment.

 

“A break with a book?” Crow dropped down onto his bed, sorting out the contents of his sack after spreading out the linen napkin he had snitched for a little bed picnic. “I have cards, want to play Blade?” He offered, popping a piece of cheese in his mouth and flashed her a closed-lip smile, so he wasn’t showing off the mouthful of food.  He then extended the flask of whatever it was they had been serving with supper towards her. “I figured maybe,” He said after swallowing. “That we could talk about today.”

 

One thing hadn’t changed about Crow and that was his love for games.  It did surprise her he wanted to discuss what happened during their outing with the class.  The broken Combat Link. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to.” 

 

Slipping from her bed, she moved over to Crow’s side and sat down on his, being careful not to disrupt his dinner.  Why didn’t he eat in the cafeteria like everyone else?  While he ate, she took the cards and began shuffling them to give her something to do, bracing and preparing herself for the inevitable talk.  Crow didn’t chow his food down like he was starving, which he was, battling always left him ravenous.  Instead, he took his time, knowing that rushing into this conversation was going to lead to it getting all mucked up.

 

“Yeah, I want too, just not with the entire class breathing down our necks.” Because they had all been nosy, overly curious and concerned.  He got it, he did, but that was a lot of pressure and potential embarrassment he didn’t want for a conversation like this. “So… we sucked at linking.” Next was a grape, he offered the bunch to her. “And usually being unable to link comes from a lack of trust, no proper bond.” So, which of them was it or was it a combination of both?

 

Taking a grape from the bunch, she popped it in her mouth and nodded, setting the Blade cards aside. “Well…” Melyssa really didn’t know how to start this off because deep down, she knew what the issue was. Why don’t you remember me – were those words really that hard to say?  Knowing Crow, he would brush them off and it wouldn’t be a big deal to him since they were only kids. “You’re the expert with this, so how do you propose we fix this?  And before you mention what happened a few weeks ago, waking up together in bed, that didn’t bother me.  It shocked me and it scared me at first, but I really don’t believe that’s the reason for the Combat Link breaking between us.  And I thought we did form a bond the night we danced together.”

 

“I thought we did too.” Crow admitted, his brow furrowing in thought as he lay out the rest of the food on the linen napkin.  Crackers, apple slices and grapes, some diced cheese and summer sausage.  It was a light supper and considering he had snuck it out in a sack, he hadn’t been keen on bringing something that would be messy or spill. “But obviously it wasn’t strong enough for us to remain connected today, and I know I could feel how weak that Combat Link was today.” He was honestly amazed they had even gotten it up that much.

 

“Yeah, I felt it too and it was my first time linking.  Everyone felt so much more powerful…well, besides Ash.” Only because they hadn’t gotten the chance to try linking together because of the issue with Crow.  Melyssa didn’t have a doubt in her mind she would be able to link with Ash perfectly fine because she didn’t have a past history with him. “Let me ask you something, hypothetically,” She paused, hoping she worded this right and took a deep breath. “Could a past history with someone you’re trying to link with affect the combat link?  I was going to ask Instructor Rean about it, but it slipped my mind.” Since Crow didn’t remember her, she didn’t think it would hurt to ask him this question instead of their Instructor.

 

“I guess, if it was a bad history.” Crow frowned, mulling over her question. “I have a history with a lot of people, and not all of it good.” Because of the stuff he had done out of encouraged and misguided vengeance.  He had been blinded by a lot of things and not cared about who he had hurt for a long time. “So, hypothetically, since this conversation is about us, is that question related to us?” He flashed her an awkward smile. “Because I would like to say I’d remember you, but I don’t.” Not really, even though there WAS something nagging at his gut.  Something begging him to remember, he was beginning to wonder if he had gotten everything back.

 

“No!  No, of course not!” Melyssa hadn’t meant it to come out so forcefully and cleared her throat, snatching the cards to start shuffling them again. “I was just asking for academic purposes, that’s all.  I was reading up on it a bit because it does bother me we can’t link and it didn’t say anything about that in the book.” Lying had become second nature to her and Melyssa hated it, but knew it was a necessity. “I know people only remember those who mean something to them.” Obviously, she didn’t mean a damn to Crow or his brain was fried by Duke Cayenne. “I have another question for you,” She looked up at him, meeting that fiery, intense gaze and felt her stomach tighten. “Do you feel you can trust me?  We really don’t know each other that well, so it wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t…”

 

“I thought I did.” But right now in this moment he wasn’t so sure because it felt wrong, what she had said.  He would never accuse a person of lying, not if he wasn’t 100% sure they were, but something felt off right now with her. “Your question, your hypothetical question, doesn’t feel like it’s something out of the textbook, Melyssa.” He admitted finally, wishing he could pinpoint what was going on. 

 

He felt close to discovering something, learning what this nagging thing was. Not hungry anymore, Crow popped a piece of sausage in his mouth, chewing automatically though it tasted dry, his eyes locked on her.  He was not going to drop this subject easily and Melyssa regretted asking it.  Maybe Instructor Rean or one of their other classmates would have been a better option.

 

“Sounds to me like you’re conflicted, so maybe it’s on both of us after all the Combat Link didn’t work.  I thought it was all on me, but…like you said, it takes trust to make it work.” There wasn’t complete trust between them, more on her end than his, but Crow had this confliction in his eyes, like he was trying to solve a puzzle. “Still up for a game of Blade?”

 

“Sure.”

 

He was all smiles again, not bothering to tell her the reason he was conflicted because it was like he could practically feel her telling lies. One thing about gambling, if you had a ‘thing’ for it like he did, was honing the ability to read people.  Any gambling man worth his salt learned how to read tone, eyes, body language, it was how one won on top of luck and a bit of skill.  However, it would be rude to press the issue and he had a feeling she had already gotten enough from the girls and would probably hear it all over again from them.

 

“You deal.” While he put away the remnants of an unsatisfying supper.

 

“How many cards each?” Crow informed her and she began dealing them out, setting the game up the way he instructed. “You do realize you’re going to have to walk me through the first couple of games before I’ll be able to actually play, right?”

 

She listened and paid attention, nodding when he asked if she understood.  It was pretty straight forward, not as complicated as she initially thought.  After four hands with Crow winning them all, Melyssa was ready to get down to business and watched him deal the cards.

 

This reminds me so much of when we were kids, she thought, picking her cards up one at a time. We didn’t play Blade, but there were other card games we played together and he’d always beat me. “I should start calling you the card master.” She commented, once he beat her yet again and shook her head.

 

“Oh Goddess, please don’t…. that sounds like some sort of cheesy villain name.” He practically begged, his mouth turning down into a pleading frown.  It was bad enough, his other ‘nicknames’, the Azure Chevalier came to mind. “Besides, once you get the hang of it down, and realize that you’re doing more than playing cards, you’ll be as good as I am.” Probably not, but close, she was an exceptionally bright woman who picked things up quickly he had noticed.  When she actually gave him a slight smile, like ‘Card Master’ was going to stick, he narrowed his red orbs at her. “Card Mistress.”

 

Her teal orbs narrowed back at him playfully. “That doesn’t fit me and you know it, Armbrust.” She muttered good-naturedly, looking down at her cards and tapped her chin slowly, trying to decide how best to play this.  It was a very close call this round, but Crow managed to squeak by her and she groaned, tossing her hands up in the air. “Okay, that’s it, my ego has taken enough of a beating tonight.” Hopping off the bed, Melyssa bowed to him mockingly with a twinkle in her eyes. “You are indeed a card master, but I’ll keep that little nickname between us.  Maybe it’ll help grow our bond more, hmm?”

 

“Hardly, I don’t like it, so I don’t see it furthering any bond.” Crow snorted derisively. “Unless you want us to have a terrible bond without any trust.” He even threw in a mock pout, puckering his lips in a way that would have made other women swoon.  Melyssa just fixed him with a ‘look’ and rolled her eyes at him, letting him know in no uncertain terms that she didn’t find him as cute as others would have.

 

“Tough, I happen to LIKE the nickname for you.  It suits you, oh gaming genius.” Melyssa would not be easily dissuaded and winked at him before heading back over to her side of the room. “Hmm gaming genius or card master…I think I like card master better, honestly.” Crow’s groan made her laugh as she sat down on her bed and looked over at him, seeing he was STILL mock pouting.  Silence ensued between them for a few minutes and she finally settled down, covering up to snuggle against her pillow. “Goodnight, roomie.” It had been a VERY long day and Melyssa was actually looking forward to their free day tomorrow.

 

“Sweet dreams, fishmonger.” He singsonged before dropping down into his own bed, reaching over to shut off the lamp between their beds.

 

He shuffled around in the darkness, shedding his clothing and kicking it off the bed and onto the floor.  Crow was nice enough to make sure it wasn’t on her side, where’d she would step into a pile of denim in the morning.  Lacing his hands beneath his head, he looked up at the ceiling, his gaze thoughtful and all hints of humor and smiles gone.

 

Hypothetical his ass…

 

Chapter 10

 

“Five, six, seven, eight!”

 

Melyssa finished the routine, getting better with each practice she had with the club and currently dabbed sweat off her chest.  She had on a black sports bra and cotton shorts, the normal wear for dance.  It was a lot easier to move around in than the uniforms or regular clothes, according to her teacher.  A throat clearing from the doorway made her turn her head, a slow brow raising at the sight of Ash, of all people.

 

“What are you doing here, Ash?” She asked, draping the towel around her neck and walked up to him, folding her arms in front of her chest. “Wait, let me guess, you came to give me the time and place for our one on one bout, right?”

 

“Well, right now would be a great time, you look all warmed up and ready for me, beautiful.” Ash teased in a lusty drawl, though he also winked down at her in a purely friendly manner.  With as much as he flirted with her and came onto her, he knew it was never going anywhere and that was just fine with him.  There were plenty of other fish in the sea who wanted a piece or two of his luscious backside. “Actually, I came to give you this.” He held out a piece of paper. “Altina and Juna have been handing them out to Class VII, it’s for the field study we’re taking.” To work on trust and bonding and Combat Linking. “What you need to bring, blah-blah-blah.” He used his free hand to wipe away a bit of sweat rolling down her neck, catching it on a finger. “Mmmm.”

 

Melyssa made a face, wondering what was wrong with a guy who actually liked tasting sweat off someone else. “Gross, Ash…” She groaned, smacking his hand away when he tried doing it a second time and read over the paper.  They were leaving next Friday and would be gone the entire weekend.  And they were going to… “No…” Rean Schwarzer had LOST HIS MIND!!  Jurai…they were going to Jurai for their field study! I’m in trouble.  I am in serious trouble right now, she thought, needing to learn how to breathe and could see the questions swirling through Ash’s pink eyes. “Thank you for bringing this to me.  I need to shower and get dressed now.” Everybody else had already left and she had stayed behind to do a cooldown session of stretches.  If she didn’t come clean to Crow before the field study…Melyssa really hated the Ashen Chevalier at that particular moment.

 

She had said no and he had seen the panic flashing across Melyssa’s beautiful yet now pale face, so naturally, Ash was beyond curious. “No, what, beautiful?” He asked curiously, not sidestepping out of her way when she moved to pass him by, instead stepping into her, which forced her to step back into the room. “You got this look on your face, don’t you want to go home to Jurai?  You’re not homesick yet?” Crow was from Jurai as well. 

 

There was a mystery here, he could practically feel it in his bones.

 

“No, not really.  I’ve only been here a month and a half.” Melyssa was shocked at how calm she sounded, even though her face was FULL of panic and uncertainty.  Ash was a lot bigger than she realized too, he towered over her and it didn’t take much to keep her in the dance room. “I haven’t been away long enough to get homesick.” Tossing her bag aside, Melyssa scrubbed her hands down her face and whipped the towel from her neck, dropping it on top of her bag. “It’s fine, just…a little unexpected, that’s all.” This was NOT a coincidence.  Rean had either already put the puzzle pieces together or this was his way of getting answers, by sending them on a field study to the place where it all began for her and Crow. What am I going to do, she thought, trying to find some way out of this, out of going to Jurai.

 

“You said no, that’s beyond unexpected.” Ash pointed out, wondering who she thought she was fooling. Her tone was calm and collected, but she couldn’t as easily disguise the panic written all over her face. “Rean thought since that’s where you both are from, if you two are in familiar territory, you may be able to bond easier there.” With all of the rest of them present, so no pressure. 

 

Ash was kind of looking forward to seeing how this played out; things had been quiet since the war ended.  He was highly intelligent for a man who acted the way he did.  She had caught him a few times reading a book on their free days and they all had to do with something related to the academy.

 

“Of course, he did.” Why would Rean tell Ash something like that in the first place? “I take it there was a meeting without me and Crow invited?”

 

Now Ash was the one who looked sheepish and she shut her eyes, clenching her fists.  Their Instructor was very sneaky to do something like this, considering it had only happened yesterday.  Rean worked fast and now Melyssa had to find a way to break everything to Crow, to forcefully jog his memory.

 

“Wonder how Crow is going to react to this.”

 

“No clue, probably with a lot less fuss than you, or maybe he already knows, he and Rean are best friends. I’m only giving you a head’s up because Rean is under the impression that everyone is going to pester you and Crow since you two together are the only ones who had issues.” Rean wasn’t wrong.  Ash was about the only one who wasn’t going to bother them simply because he knew he would get to see it played out. “If people haven’t started bugging you already.”

 

Which, they had.  Melyssa had been asked questions by nosy girls yesterday while Rean had gone straight to Crow to ask what was up.

 

“You’re wrong, Ash.  WE haven’t linked up together yet.  We didn’t get a chance to because of what happened between me and Crow.” Melyssa pointed out, unable to deny she hadn’t been questioned about what happened by others.  Juna and Altina were just worried about her and she understood that.  She had no idea what kind of agenda Ash had, however. “I think we should find that out right now.  Do you have time to come to the outskirts of town with me?” It wasn’t that dangerous and they could handle a couple monsters by themselves. “It’s your free day, so you can turn me down if you want.  I just have to shower first.”

 

“Rean will have our asses.” Ash warned, not that he overly cared.

 

He wasn’t a pushover and he didn’t see an issue between them linking up.  He doubted there would be one, she seemed to trust him well enough and he didn’t have any trust issues when it came to her.  She was a spitfire sure, but what was a little girl like her going to do to him?  He had seen her ability without a Combat Link, so there was no lack of trust there on the battlefield either.

 

“I’m game, meet you out by the gate in 30?”

 

“Rean will get over it.  And from what I’ve heard from Juna and Altina, this won’t be the first time you’ve gone against the Instructor’s wishes.  AND it is a free day, so if we’re allowed to go to Heimdallr by train for it, we shouldn’t have a problem being able to go just outside of Leeves for a little extra training.” Melyssa picked her bag up and shouldered it, hell-bent on doing this exercise with him to see if they had trust issues as well. “See you out there.”

 

Then, she hauled her cookies to the shower room to wash up from her dance practice, not believing the sudden turn of events.  Jurai.  They were going to Jurai and she had to find a way to either avoid seeing her family altogether, because they would recognize Crow right away, or tell Crow about their past he’d forgotten.

 

On her way out of the building, 25 minutes later, Melyssa was stopped by none other than the Instructor himself, with Ash nowhere to be found. “Instructor.” What was he doing here?  Had Ash purposely set this up?  She was going to maim the bad boy if that was the case. “Is everything all right?” Thankfully, her anger had diminished for the time being after a relatively cold shower.

 

“I wasn’t sure if you had gotten one of these yet,” Rean flashed her a piece of paper, watching her teal eyes flicker to it and seen both recognition and resignation on her face. “You have.” Frowning, he let go of her arm and stepped back, surveying her. She looked like she was going off-campus. “I thought it would be easier for you and Crow, being in familiar territory. Maybe you two can find things to connect with there, you know, familiar locations, history, things like that.” Yet… he now felt like maybe he was making a mistake.

 

“Ash told me already.  I figured you were the one who sent him here, but then again, it could’ve been Juna.” Sometimes that girl took her responsibility as class president of Class VII a little TOO seriously. “May I ask you a question, Instructor?” Rean nodded, gesturing for her to continue. “Are we going to Jurai because of this issue between me and Crow?  Is that the only reason?”

 

Rean cleared his throat, not sure how to answer. “Well, it’s a field study and…”

 

“That’s not what I asked you.” Her voice had turned somewhat cold. “I’m asking you if you chose this location because of Crow and I.”

 

There was no denying it. “Yes, but as I told you…”

 

“Then I hope you’re prepared for the outcome of this excursion, Rean.” Now her eyes were narrowed, the anger slowly filling them. “You know something, don’t you?  You either figured it out or you’re doing this to find the truth as to why there’s trust issues between us.  I get Crow is your best friend and you want to help him, but meddling ISN’T always the best solution.” That felt great to say to him, actually. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going out on the outskirts with Ash for some training practice.  Do you have a problem with that, sir?” 

 

“Well, I…no…” Rean was dumbfounded, taken aback by the amount of anger and animosity directed at him.

 

“Good.” Melyssa started walking away and then stopped, turning back to face her Instructor. “I haven’t been forthcoming with you or anyone in Class VII when it comes to Crow.  And there’s a VERY good reason for that.” Now tears filled her eyes as her teeth gnashed together. “He doesn’t remember and I wanted him to remember on his own and now, thanks to you, I’m going to have to force him to remember everything.  So thanks for that, Ashen Chevalier.” She stormed away before he could get another word out, shredding the paper he gave her because she already had one stuffed in her bag.

 

What the hell was THAT about?  Goddess… Rean could only watch as she huffed away, wondering just what on earth she was talking about.  He was assuming they were just having standard trust issues, but now…now Melyssa had opened her own can of worms and spilled some beans she apparently hadn’t wanted spilled.  Now he had an issue, did he go talk to Crow about something he didn’t obviously ‘remember’ or did he go explain the situation to Melyssa who… no, scratch that last one.  Ashen Chevalier, and he had noticed how awe and reverence had become scathing and sarcastic, or not, he wasn’t dealing with a pissed woman tonight.

 

Eventually, the truth would come out and Melyssa’s temper had flared at the wrong time.  She jogged all the way from campus to Leeves, holding her hand up in a one minute gesture to Ash, who was waiting for her by the fountain.  Dropping her bag off in the dorm room, she grabbed her Cutlass and jogged back downstairs to finally join Ash, breathing a little heavy.

 

“Sorry I’m late.  The Instructor showed up to give me that paper you already did.  You ready to do this?”

 

“Born ready, beautiful.” Together, they headed out for their training session.  Trust and having a bond was what made a Combat Link powerful and work, so this was the perfect opportunity for both of them to kill two birds with one stone.

 

Neither saw crimson eyes watching them walk away to the outskirts of Leeves or the way they narrowed to slits.

 

“So, is that all Rean wanted?” Ash asked once they were on their merry monster hunting way, finally out of sight of the campus and town.

 

He was totally oblivious to the fact that them taking off together had garnered Crow’s attention, or that Melyssa had in fact been on Crow’s mind a lot lately, more so than any other woman had before.  Since she already knew there had been a meeting that she and Crow hadn’t been invited too, Ash saw no reason to try being secretive or any such nonsense.  It was just insulting to Melyssa’s intelligence, especially since she was the one who had discovered the bit about the meeting.

 

“Yeah, and to tell me the reason why we’re going to Jurai.  Basically, the same words you told me came out of his mouth.”

 

If the Ashen Chevalier wanted to tell her anything else, she didn’t give him the chance since she told him exactly how she felt about this whole upcoming field study.  They walked for a bit and finally found a group of monsters that didn’t look too tough, but they still had to be on guard.  Unsheathing her weapon, Ash did the same thing as they approached the group to gain their attention, which didn’t take much.  Their ARCUS II glowed simultaneously as Ash and Melyssa began forming the Combat Link with each other, the blue circles forming beneath their feet.  The link was strong and powerful, not at all weak like it’d been with Crow and Ash merely smirked at her before going in for the first shot.  She followed suit, doing double attacks to quickly vanquish the monsters they had found.  It felt good to let some of her aggression out, which was another reason she wanted to do this with Ash too.

 

Of course they had no problems linking!  For all his playboy ways and smart assed, vulgar remarks, Ash was a reliable partner to have on the battlefield and most people knew it.  They also knew where they stood with him.  If one was a hot female, they were getting hit on, though he understood no meant no.  If one was a guy, they got heckled until you either beat his ass or became his buddy.  It was a great fight, there was nothing like the surge of adrenaline from taking down monsters, never mind the fact that they were also doing the wary travelers who came this way a favor by lessening their chances of getting eaten.  Melyssa was showing a lot of aptitude with that Cutlass, she would have been a good warrior to have during the Civil War and all that entailed for that.

 

Chapter 11

 

The dancing club had really helped her footwork and she dropped into a split, allowing Ash to slash at the final monster, which was bigger than the others, before parrying it, killing it instantly.  It was the final one and she felt somewhat vindicated, definitely better than earlier.  Also, it was a relief to know she could link with Ash without any problems too.  She wouldn’t always be able to link with JUST Crow; everyone in Class VII was a team and it took teamwork and trust to be successful on the battlefield.

 

“Well, that was fun.” She commented, turning to face her partner and watched Ash’s scythe ax reel back in from the chain it was connected to.  It really was a fascinating weapon, she’d never seen anything like it and it suited him.

 

“That was great!” Ash was running on adrenaline right now, his face flushed from the excitement of a good battle and he hadn’t missed the way Melyssa’s teal eyes had focused on his scythe axe.  He smiled slightly, brushing sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand and walked towards her, lips parted slightly as he inhaled deeply. “You are fantastic, you know that, beautiful?” She was glowing practically, experiencing the same rush he was no doubt, and he had seen that split she had done without even thinking about it, just dropping down gracefully as he had come forward with the killing blow. “We work pretty good together, don’t we?”

 

“Yeah, better than I thought we would, honestly.” Melyssa beamed back at him, sheathing her Cutlass as the blue circles beneath them evaporated for the time being.  They only appeared when the ARCUS II sensed danger in the area and they had vanquished what little monsters were around here. “You’re not half bad yourself there, Carbide.”

 

She had flushed at his enthusiastic compliment and wiped some of the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, her breathing returning to normal.  This man flourished in the battlefield and his eyes were alight with pink fire.  It was breathtaking; Ash was a gorgeous man, tall, strong, arrogant, but something told Melyssa, if any of their classmates were in a pinch or in danger, he would have their backs in the blink of an eye.  She didn’t realize how right she was in thinking that because Ash had been the one to step up to try to help her and Crow yesterday, only for Rean to stop him, along with the others.

 

“Don’t I know it, beautiful.” Laughing, he winked one of those pink eyes down at her, reaching out to tuck a damp strand of hair that had gotten loose from her style back behind her ear. “I’m famished now, let me buy you dinner?” Was it dinnertime?  Oh well, his stomach was hungry NOW and not about to wait. “Something besides cafeteria or dorm food.” He didn’t move away from her, though he did pull his hand back from her face, not about to push his luck just yet, not when she was still coming down from a battle high. The last thing he needed was her taking a hand, or something even more vital, off because he had gotten touchy feely at the wrong time. “What do you say?”

 

“Okay, but on one condition,” Melyssa looped her arm through his, showing her playful side as well. “I’M buying you lunch since it’s a little after noon.  You did me a big favor coming out here to test the Combat Link with me, so this is the least I can do.”

 

This was a great way to increase their bond and trust with each other as well by hanging out.  She already had a pretty tight bond with Juna and Altina, not so much with Kurt, but she would get there eventually.  Ash pretended to mull it over before reluctantly agreeing to the condition and he was rewarded with another brilliant smile from her.

 

“So, I’m curious, what club did you decide to join?” He liked to read a lot, so her guess would have been the Literature club.

 

“I will never tell.”

 

It wasn’t much of a secret that he was a book geek; he liked to read and his reading tastes were varied on a variety of topics.  Most people when they initially found out were surprised that he liked to read, he didn’t exactly give off the impression of a well-educated guy and he knew it.  Holding out his elbow, Ash smiled down at her when she took it, the pair of them strolling back towards town together in a leisurely fashion.

 

“Are you feeling better about this field study?” He asked quietly, knowing the whole thing had gotten her dander up.

 

She sighed softly, the pensiveness returning to her face. “No, but…I’m going to have to face the music sooner or later.”

 

Melyssa didn’t know how or where to start when it came to telling Crow about their past together.  They were kids, she was 10 and he was 13 when he left Jurai, but even with how young she was, her heart had gone with him.  He was the reason why she had picked up the Cutlass and began following the way of the sword in the first place.  It may have been at a young age, but a lot of others who followed the path she did started out as early as 6 years of age. 

 

Rean, for example, started when he was 8-years-old in the Eight Leaves One Blade swordsmanship.  It wasn’t unheard of, but Crow was the main reason why she wanted to pursue the way of the sword, hoping one day she would cross paths with him.  That was until she was 15, almost 16, and heard of his death, which made her train harder than she ever had in her life.

 

“It’s happening whether I want it to or not, so I’ll just have to grin and bear it.  Now, where do you want to eat?” They had choices from vendors on the street to small diners and cafes.

 

Ash gave her the moment she was silently asking for, looking around the semi-busy streets and finally pointed to a tavern a bit tucked out of the way.  Perfect place for some privacy; all the drunks wouldn’t be in just yet, they’d still be out earning the coin for their ale.  Ash guided the way inside, it wasn’t a total derelict place, but no respectable lady would be caught here after dark.  As it was, plenty of people, men and women, were enjoying lunch.  Well, maybe four or five, enough to make it acceptable for Melyssa to be in here without fear of scandal as well as few enough to give them peace.

 

“Is this okay, beautiful?”

 

“Yeah, just remember I’m underage, so I can’t drink like you.”

 

Not yet anyway, but it would be soon since she turned 18…next week.  Her birthday.  They would be in Jurai for her birthday.  Melyssa had completely forgotten about it until now, immediately pushing that thought to the side for the moment.  Ash simply winked down at her as they picked a booth near the back of the tavern and took their seats.  The place had a calm ambiance about it, but she had a feeling at night, it was bustling with a lot of drunks.

 

“So, why won’t you tell me what club you joined?  Are you ashamed of it or something?” She asked, after their order was taken.

 

Ash had ordered two pints, nobody was going to question her, not with him and rules were meant to be tweaked, bent and broken anyway. Melyssa hadn’t questioned it, she was probably assuming they were both for him. “The Literature Club, as you assumed, if you really, really must know.” He pushed his chair back to give his legs some breathing room, crossing one ankle over the other. “I considered Student Council, but…” He grinned when she snorted, drumming his fingers on the tabletop. “My thoughts exactly. I wasn’t really interested in any of the clubs, but since I like to read,” He shrugged nonchalantly. “It seemed the best fit.”

 

“I figured that was the one you’d choose, or be forced to choose.” It was mandatory or else he wouldn’t have joined anything, more than likely. “You don’t have club today?” Most of the clubs did their activities and whatnot on the free days since the rest of the week was booked with classes.  Some had their meetings after school too, but for the most part, they waited until the free days for the longer sessions.

 

“Later on tonight.  I may or may not attend, don’t know yet.”

 

“I see.” The pints were set down before them and she immediately pushed hers across the table toward him, shaking her head. “Ash, I said I’m underage and you could get in big trouble for giving me alcohol.” She chastised softly, watching him roll those pink eyes and dropped her own to the peanut she grabbed, cracking it open.

 

“I’ll get a slap on the wrist, maybe my butt cheek if it’s a saucy wench and you’ll be reprimanded for allowing me to influence you in such wicked ways.” Ash drained his pint with gusto, licking away the foam residue left behind on his upper lip.  He did it slowly, however, winking when she glanced at him. “Here.” He nudged the small menu towards her. “Nothing major, but it’s all good.” Most pubs didn’t serve a full-scaled menu because it wasn’t the point of a pub; this one had basics and they were all delicious. Unless you were drinking copious amounts, then they were coming right back up. “Other than you wanting to improve your swordsmanship, was there any other club you had considered besides dance?” Not that he would argue that it hadn’t been a good idea, she was light and graceful on her feet.

 

“Not really, no.  I was actually considering helping the Student Council, believe it or not, before…well…” Melyssa recalled her first sparring session with Rean, where he had recommended dance club to her to work on her footwork. “Instructor Rean told me about it, said it could help me with my footwork.  He sparred with me and…I took him up on the recommendation.” She sounded begrudging, the tone of her voice, wishing it hadn’t been Rean who guided her toward the dance club.  Getting help from the Ashen Chevalier, the meddler was more like it, didn’t set well with her anymore.  Crushing another peanut, she dropped the shells in the nearby ashtray before popping some more in her mouth. “Hate admitting it, but he was right and it has helped my footwork a lot.”

 

“Rean’s not a bad guy, he’s just interfering and overly helpful, even when you don’t want him to be.” As Melyssa had discovered and from the looks of those poor peanut shells, she really, really wished Rean was less helpful. “Actually, everyone is interfering, me included.” He admitted, pausing a moment to give the server his order and waited while she did the same before continuing.  Ash had been the first one to initially rush to try helping out Melyssa and Crow during that battle when they couldn’t link up. “I think it comes from everything that happened over the war, and all of us having to work and fight together.” He knew it did, that forged bonds, and apparently made them all interfering, mother-henning biddies.

 

“And I’m the outsider none of you really know, so you’re being cautious about it.” Melyssa added in a mutter, hating how they all had these tight, strong bonds with each other and she had been planted in Class VII: Special Operations as a stranger. “I understand it, I really do and I know Rean is only looking out for Crow’s best interest.  They’re best friends and that blurs the lines between their friendship and being Crow’s Instructor.” It was a good and bad thing; there was a lot of grey area when it came to Crow since he was older than Rean and more experienced. “BUT thanks to his meddling, he’s now opened up a whole slew of trouble for me and he doesn’t even realize it.”

 

That intrigued Ash. “What do you mean?”

 

“Let’s just say I’m not as innocent as you may think and the way I came to Thors is…unconventional.” Melyssa had a rebellious streak a mile long and she didn’t want to return to Jurai until she had proven herself at Thors to her family.

 

“Oh no, you opened that can of worms yourself, so you have to spill.” Ash ordered when it looked like she might shut up again. Nobody says things like that unless they WANT at least SOMEONE to know about it. “How’d you get into Thors?  It’s a pretty straight forward process.  You’re recruited, apply, paperwork is signed, you come… how’d you manage to screw that up, beautiful?” He wasn’t sure if she was biting her lip because she wasn’t sure if she should tell him, or if she was amused, maybe a little bit of both. “Out with it you saucy little minx, what’d you do?”

 

It was both.  Both amusement and uncertainty mixed. “I don’t know if I should tell you, Carbide.  You might go spread it all over campus and then I’d have to have that one on one session with you the hard way.” She smirked, popping a peanut in her mouth and leaned back against her chair, folding her arms in front of her chest.  Ash stood up and moved his chair over to sit beside her, towering over her just like he did when they stood face to face. “Are you trying to intimidate me?  Because I regret to inform you, it’s not working in your favor.” Teal eyes were locked on intense pink and they were BOILING with curiosity as his arm wrapped around her chair to press her closer to him. “Want a peanut?”

 

“Nope, do you want a nut?” He shot back with a cheeky wink, his entire body posture nothing except relaxed, nothing intimidating about it.

 

He knew he was a big man, tall especially, but unless he was royally angry, he knew he didn’t come across as intimidating to most people. Probably because he was always cracking jokes and grinning lewdly.  It was hard taking a young adult seriously when they were prone to spouting off about tits and asses.

 

“I think you already know I won’t go spreading it all over canvas, Melyssa,” For all his many faults and how he teased her, he was probably also the most observant when it came to her, which was weird.

 

“Why do you want to know so badly?  Why do you care?” All joking aside, they were two serious questions and that uncertainty was back in her eyes again.

 

“Because this shit has been bottled up inside of you for a while and it’s not good to keep it locked up.  Besides, you wanted to build trust with me and bond, right?” Ash shot back, taking a swig of the second beer that was supposed to be hers. “You’re a comrade and having you in distress isn’t good for the class as a whole.  I’d be doing the same damn thing with Juna and Altina if they were as torn up as you are.”

 

Would confiding in Ash really be that bad?  Her eyes lowered from his to look down at her clasped hands in her lap, knowing he made sense. “I didn’t get in illegally, if that’s what you’re wondering.  It was just…unconventional.” Ash remained quiet, allowing her time to muster up the courage to tell him the truth. “My parents forbade me from coming to the academy.  They said it was too dangerous and a proper lady should get married, have a family and stay at home.  They wanted me to help run the fishing company they’ve ran in Jurai for the better part of 50 years.” They really were fishmongers. “I started training with my Cutlass at age 10 and I didn’t stop, no matter what my parents said or thought.  I trained myself because they refused to let me get a proper trainer for swordsmanship.  They were completely against it and I fought them tooth and nail, refusing to give up what I wanted to do in life.  The way of the sword has been my passion for the better part of 7 years and when I told them I wanted to come to Thors to expand and hone my skills, they said no.  They denied me.  So…I ran away from Jurai and I haven’t been back in over a year.  I had outside help to make it into Thors, after I applied, with costs and whatnot and…that’s pretty much the story.” Slowly looking up at him, Melyssa saw the shock registered on Ash’s face and she couldn’t help giggling, though it came out more nervous than amused.

 

It took Ash a long moment before that kind of settled in and then comprehension dawned on his face. Mirth filled his eyes as the corners of his lips turned up into an amused grin. “So, you forged your parent’s signatures to get in?” Melyssa shook her head and Ash raised an eyebrow, now he was REALLY curious. “Okay, how’d you get into Thors? Who was the outside help?” The server was on her way back with their food, so he moved his chair, a little, giving them some space between each other but he didn’t return to his original spot. “Not going to tell me, are you?” Man, she was going to be in for it when she returned to Jurai and by chance ran into her folks.

 

“Nope, I can’t tell you or anyone.  I have been sworn to secrecy and I won’t go back on my word.” No matter what, Melyssa would not betray her outside help and focused on the delicious burgers heading their way. “At least you know a little more of the mystery, though.  Now, it’s time to eat.”

 

Picking up her burger, Melyssa dug in with gusto, a lot hungrier than she thought.  Between dance club and then going out on that training session with Ash, with just a small breakfast consumed, she was practically ravenous.  However, she didn’t scarf her food either and had to admit, the tavern was amazing.

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah… he inwardly thought, helping himself to his own burger.  He got it though, she had promised someone to not spill about involvement and he wasn’t going to press her on that.  Melyssa had already struck him as someone who was fairly honorable and he’d let this ‘mystery’ go.  Besides, now that people knew that there was something going on, they would figure it out themselves eventually or go digging for clues.  Ash would just sit back and watch it all unfold.

 

“Here, wench.”

 

He tossed a linen napkin at her, using his own to blot his mouth.  Delicious but messy, and just the right amount of grease.  Nothing that was dripping down his hands, but he could taste the deliciousness they had fried the meat in.  As promised, Melyssa made sure to pay for the meal with her own mira, including the two beers and water, before they made their way out of the tavern.

 

“I don’t know about you, but I feel a lot better after that.” Lighter too, for her.  Some of the weight was lifted from her shoulders after confessing part of the reason why she was afraid of going back to Jurai again. “Now, I’m going to give you a hug and I don’t want any funny business.  Just hug me back.” Wrapping her arms around his torso, Melyssa gave him a squeeze and pulled back, nodding at him. “Thank you for today.  Really.  Go enjoy the rest of your free day, I’ve taken up more than enough of your time.”

 

Chapter 12

 

Crow’s fiery red eyes flashed almost pure crimson for a moment and he honestly had no idea what was eliciting the reaction from him.  He had absolutely no reason to find the idea of Melyssa and Ash so… disgusting and wrong, but he did.  Would he feel the same if it were Rean?  Of course not, Rean wasn’t a wanton philandering jackass who would break his roommate’s heart.

 

Keep telling yourself that, buddy. He mentally scolded himself.

 

Melyssa was squirming now because Ash had pulled her, so her back was to his chest. “Now why,” He whispered in her ear, the corner of his mouth that was visible to Crow hitched firmly up into a grin. “Does he seem almost… jealous?  Hmm?”

 

“Considering he sees me on a nightly basis and we share a room together, why would he be?  I don’t think that’s it.” Ash was not making this situation any better by positioning her the way he did.  She shrugged, gently but firmly pulling away from Ash to put space between them. “And Carbide, kindly stop trying to insinuate something is going on when there’s not.  We’re classmates and friends, that’s it.” She wanted to make that crystal clear to him in front of Crow, so there was zero confusion in the future.

 

“Hey, it’s none of my business what you two are.” Crow said it carelessly, but he couldn’t stop the relief that washed through him at Melyssa’s assertion.  She was too good and way too smart for the likes of Ash Carbide.

 

The fact that she was making it perfectly clear that there was nothing going on between them made Ash curious about how she felt about Crow. “You’re breaking my heart, beautiful.”

 

“I’ll break your face.” Crow offered cheerfully, balling up one fist and gave it a playful shake.  His mood was quite a bit better.

 

“Oh come on, Ash, I’m sure there are LOADS of girls in this school that would love a shot at the bad boy.  I’m here to strictly hone my skills as a swordswoman, nothing more – nothing less.” It was nobody’s business how she felt towards Crow, quite frankly, and she wasn’t about to give Ash any more ammunition in that territory. “Now, if you ever want to dance together again, like we did earlier, or against each other, you know where to find me.  Come on, Crow, I’m not leaving you two alone with each other.”

 

She’d given Ash PLENTY of ammunition.  Her panic about returning to Jurai earlier, he hadn’t forgotten that ‘no’ that had escaped her, the somewhat scathing attitude about Rean instead of the near reverence she usually possessed. Ash was going to let discretion be the better part of valor today and back off, she had given him plenty to consider and mull over.

 

“Well then, beautiful, I’ll leave you to it, I’ve got business to attend and Crow seems delighted to let you boss him around.” I’m not leaving you two alone with each other, she was a lot like Rean and the other girls in class, he wondered if she even knew it.

 

“Shut up, Ash.” Crow muttered, his eyes narrowing as Ash walked off, laughing no less.

 

That was just who Ash was as a person and she was getting used to it slowly but surely.  Maybe spending the day with him wasn’t the best idea or confiding in him regarding how she’d gotten into Thors, but…trust had to start somewhere.  Melyssa thought back to her ‘talk’ with Rean and rubbed her temples, wondering if Crow knew anything about it.  It seemed Rean would go to him, but then again, maybe not.  She was still contemplating if telling Crow was the right thing to do, to jog his memory about a past he obviously wanted to forget.  Would it do more harm than good?  Melyssa didn’t know what to do and blinked when Crow snapped his fingers in her face, jolting her out of her deep thoughts.

 

“What?”

 

Melyssa didn’t have to worry about him spilling the beans or using the information she had laid out on him against her.  Ash was a jackass sometimes, lewd and vulgar, but when someone confided in him, the secret pretty much stopped there.  He wasn’t one to spread stuff like that.  Now petty gossip, sure, but not something like what she had told him.

 

Time would prove that to her.

 

“You are so lost in thought right now, I think you might need a road map.” Crow informed her, searching her eyes intently. “What’s going on, Mel?”

 

“Sorry, I have a lot on my mind right now.” That was an understatement.  Not only did she have Crow to worry about, but going to Jurai would mean she’d more than likely see her parents again after over a year of zero contact.  Melyssa felt like a twisted pretzel and her brain was going in all kinds of different directions, while her heart was torn on what to do. “It’s nothing you need to worry about…” Suddenly, it was like something SNAPPED inside of Crow.  He grabbed her hand and dragged her to the nearest exit of town, her teal eyes widening. “Crow, what in Aidios’ name are you doing?!  Let me go!” She managed to yank her hand out of his vise grip and he responded by bodily lifting her over his shoulder, making her jaw drop. “PUT ME DOWN, CROW ARMBRUST!!” Melyssa was strong, but he was a lot stronger than her and tightened his hold around her waist to prevent her from squirming or slithering away.  Once they were on the outskirts, he dropped her on her backside in the grass and she glared up at him, immediately getting to her feet. “What the HELL is wrong with you?!  Who the HELL do you think you are?!”

 

Melyssa had attracted quite a bit of attention with her shrieking, never mind him carting her out of the town like she was a rucksack of flour or something. “Don’t tell me it’s nothing for me to worry about!  Rean told me what you ranted at him.” He said in a much calmer voice than what she was using. “You’re hiding things from me, so what the hell is wrong with YOU?” What in Gehenna was she hiding from him? “What is it you think you’re going to have to force me to remember?” His eyes searched hers intently.  Did she even know his story, about how he died and what his ‘return’ from death had entailed?

 

“So you thought manhandling me and dragging me out here would make me tell you?” Damn it, Rean Schwarzer, she thought scathingly, really hating the man right now for not keeping his nose out of her business.  Gritting her teeth, she unsheathed her Cutlass and held it out to him threateningly, shaking her head. “If you want to know so badly, you’ll have to beat the truth out of me, Armbrust.  Just know, I’m NOT that weak little girl you used to know and I won’t go down easily.  So come on, what weapon will you use?  Your double-saber or pistols?” It didn’t matter to her, she was ready for this and didn’t need a Combat Link to battle.

 

“You’re not ready for Class VII.” Crow said flatly, stepping away from her and folded his arms over his chest. “I don’t know what your damage is, inviting someone to beat you.”

 

He could kill her, beating her seemed a little mundane compared to what he could very easily do to her.  Some weak little girl he used to know, he racked his brain, trying to place her.  A fishmonger from Jurai, there were so many and to be honest, much of his early life had been red washed due to his grief and rage.

 

“I’m not going to fight you because you have a chip on your shoulder.” Did she want to lose her spot in the academy?  This was a good way for that to happen and he was ready to graduate finally and be done with this.

 

“So manhandling someone and dragging them off is considered to be perfectly fine, but when that person decides to fight back, it’s a violation of whatever code Class VII and the academy has?  That’s good to know.  Thanks for enlightening me and, just so you know, I DON’T have a chip on my shoulder. You’re the one who does from the looks of it.” Sheathing her Cutlass, Melyssa took a deep breath and figured she had nothing left to lose at this point. “Jogging your memory may do more harm than good and I was deciding if I should or not.  I was deciding if it was even worth it since you don’t remember me.  I don’t know what Duke Cayenne did to you or how you’re alive, since last I heard before coming here, you were dead.  You had died trying to save the former Crown Prince Cedric…with the Ashen Chevalier.” He was staring at her now through narrowed crimson eyes. “Yet somehow, miraculously, here you are in the flesh.  Makes me wonder if you were dead in the first place or if that story was fabricated to protect you somehow.  You wanna know what I’ve been hiding from you, Crow?  I’ve been hiding the fact that we grew up together in Jurai.  My family was close to your grandfather and we were best friends.  My Mom was practically a mother to you and you fished a lot with my father.  Cynthia and Roger Brackett and they own Brackett & Co in Jurai.” It was the largest fish company in Jurai. “You left Jurai when you were 13.  You left without a word, no goodbye, nothing.  And I missed you, I missed my best friend, the only one I grew up with since we were little.  And then I find out you died and I mourned you for almost 3 years, wishing there was something I could do to prevent it from happening, wishing for you to come back to life!  And the only thing I had my mind set on was getting better, stronger, faster, so one day I would cut down the one who I thought took you from me.” That bit she hadn’t told Ash about, only that she had started training at age 10. “Imagine my surprise to come here and I’m not only thrust into Rean Schwarzer’s class, but find you alive and well.  And when you looked at me with that blank expression on your face and no recognition in your eyes, well…I decided there was no point bringing it up.  You obviously don’t care about your past in Jurai or the people you left behind after your grandfather died because of your revenge on Chancellor Osborne.  So there you have it, that’s what I’ve been hiding from you, Crow.  Satisfied?  Did it jog anything up there?” She tapped her temple harshly with her finger, not even feeling the tears pouring down her cheeks. “Hey, I guess you’re right, maybe I DO have a chip on my shoulder after all.” Turning, she walked off down the path, just needing some time and space from him after saying all of that.

 

She definitely had a chip on her shoulder and absolutely none of that made any sense to him.  He remembered his childhood, right?  So where were those teal eyes, he wouldn’t have forgotten them, would he?  Frowning, Crow debated if he would chase after her and decided against it. Obviously, they were going to have to have a proper, calm discussion, they were roommates; there just wasn’t a way to avoid it, but first… he needed to talk to Rean, work some things out. 

 

He HAD gotten back all of his memories, right?

 

Rean, along with the rest of Class VII, were waiting at the same entrance Crow carted a bellowing Melyssa off in.  He frowned, not seeing Melyssa anywhere and Crow was pale, looking very troubled.  What had happened?  He assured the townsfolk everything was fine and quickly gathered all of Class VII here, questioning Ash vigorously on what he’d done with Melyssa for the day.  It was only when he spoke to an elderly woman at the entrance did he find out Crow had carted a young lady with dark blue hair through the west exit.  Instead of going after them, Rean trusted Crow and it was obvious he had to hash things out with Melyssa, especially after what she’d said to him earlier.

 

“Crow, where’s Melyssa?”

 

“She took off…after telling me what’s been bothering her.  I forced it out of her.” Crow sounded distant and weary, which wasn’t a good combination for him. “She told me what’s going on and…I need to talk you privately, Rean.”

 

“Sure…” Rean looked at Juna and Altina, both nodding before taking off through the entrance.

 

“Ash and Kurt, stay here and wait for them to return, please.  I’m going to talk to Crow alone and if anything happens, you can reach me on the ARCUS II.”

 

They both nodded. “Yes, Instructor.” Kurt watched Rean and Crow walk away and his eyes moved back to the entrance, wondering if leaving the girls out there alone was really the right thing to do.

 

Ash snorted, waiting until Rean and Crow were out of sight before making his own decision and took off out of the entrance.

 

“For Aidios’s sake!”

 

~!~

 

Melyssa had no idea how long she’d been walking, but she finally stopped at a nearby stream to take a breather, wiping the tears away from her eyes.  Sitting down in the grass, she drew her knees up and buried her face in them, unable to stop crying.  That had been A LOT to unload on Crow all at once and she was trembling from the aftermath of it, knowing he probably hated her now.

 

Duke Cayenne is responsible for everything Crow has done and I will make him pay someday, she silently vowed, not moving an inch and stayed there by the stream, the sound of the water calming her down little by little.

 

“You DO know the girls are looking for you, right?”

 

Finding her had been interesting.  Ash did not consider himself a ‘tracker’, others were better at it then he was, but… even he hadn’t missed some of the signs of where Melyssa and Crow had been.  He probably should let someone know he had found her via the ARCUS II, but…she still looked a little blotchy from the crying jag she had obviously had.

 

“Mmm, they’re still about ten minutes out from finding you.” Altina would figure it out quick, she was almost mechanical in her processes.  Dropping down into a crouch beside her, he peered into her face. “What happened, beautiful?”

 

“Ash…” Fresh tears pooled in her eyes and she couldn’t hold them back as she shook her head, turning her head to stare back at the water. “How did you find me?”

 

Even her voice was rough from all the crying she’d done and she hated how it cracked.  She felt his finger glide down her cheek, trailing the tear streak and it made her look back at him.  There was nothing lewd in his touch like there’d been earlier and there was nothing except concern in his eyes.

 

“Crow manhandled me, took me to the outskirts of town because I told him not to worry about what was on my mind.  And he became angry over it.  I challenged him to beat the truth out of me and he said I didn’t belong in Class VII.” That hurt more than she cared to admit. “Maybe he’s right – maybe I don’t.”

 

Chapter 13

 

“You challenged him to beat the truth out of you?” Ash echoed, wondering if she was out of her mind.  Nobody beat the truth out of their friends, their family, and it made him wonder where on earth she had picked up that idea. “He’s wrong.”

 

Ash KNEW Crow was wrong.  She was wrong too, for issuing a challenge like that, but he had a feeling it had stemmed from her heart and emotional duress and not her mind.  Who wasn’t a victim of falling to their own heated moments?

 

“You do belong.”

 

“I was angry that he manhandled me and then threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes before dropping me on my butt in the grass.  My temper got the best of me.” Melyssa was only human.  She wasn’t perfect, far from it and had made plenty of mistakes in her relatively short life. “And the way he was acting towards me, yelling at me, I figured he wanted to fight, so I thought I’d beat him to the punch.” Wiping her tears away with her hands, Melyssa moved her legs to where they were sideways instead of bent up.  Even in her distress, she was mindful there was a man here talking to her and she didn’t need to flash her panties at him. “Why do I belong, Ash?  I’m an outsider to you all.  You’re this tight-knit group because of everything you’ve been through, you’re all second years and I’m…nobody.  You’re wrong, I don’t belong in Class VII.  It was a mistake, regardless of what the testing says.”

 

“You sound like Rean.” He commented off-handedly, taking her hands in his, ignoring the wet on her palms from wiping away her own tears. “Thinking you’re not good enough when you are, more than good enough, actually.” She made a face, he was guessing Rean was still a touchy subject. “Beautiful, when it comes to Crow, you’re mysterious and I don’t know if it’s on purpose or not, but you’ll say something and then let it drop, and that makes everyone curious.” Luckily for her, she hadn’t done it with many people, just those who tended to be a bit more observant than the average person. “Whatever it is you have going on with Crow… I have to ask, Melyssa, do you know about recent events with him?”

 

“You mean being miraculously alive when he was pronounced dead almost 3 years ago?  No, I don’t.” She’d already told Ash about how she’d gotten into Thors, without divulging who her outside help was, so would it be terrible to tell him about her past with Crow? “I know he was C in the Imperial Liberation Front – the leader of it.  I know he left Jurai when he was 13 without so much as a goodbye to a 10-year-old girl he grew up with, who claimed to be his best friend.  I know he was working directly with Duke Cayenne and the man warped him into the monster he became and fueled his revenge for Chancellor Osborne.  And I heard he died trying to save the former Crown Prince Cedric, along with the Ashen Chevalier.  I thought he was dead, so imagine my surprise when I walk into this school and I’m thrust into Class VII – Rean Schwarzer, The Ashen Chevalier’s class – and there’s Crow, sitting in the back alive and well.  And he looked at me with absolutely no recognition in his eyes – he doesn’t remember me.  My parents practically took care of him when his grandfather was busy being the Mayor of Jurai and we grew up together.  Yet, he doesn’t remember any of it.” The look in Ash’s eyes and the way his face somewhat fell made her heart clench almost violently. “I’m assuming you have the missing pieces of the Crow puzzle, right?”

 

“I do.”

 

It was curious though, one small bit of what she had said.  It was insignificant he supposed, but it would also explain why Crow didn’t remember Melyssa when she so very clearly remembered him, perhaps even idolized. …who claimed to be his best friend.  She hadn’t said who HE claimed, which left it open to interpretation and if Crow not recognizing her one whit… yeah.

 

“Crow didn’t remember anything when he was brought back, he had his skills, but not his memories.” He tapped the side of his head, staring down at Melyssa intently.  Her wording aside, he was wondering if it were possible that Crow hadn’t come back with ALL his memories, it would explain a lot.

 

“Brought back?” Now Melyssa was confused and it showed on her face, her brows drawing together. “What do you mean like…back to life?” Was that even possible to do?

 

Ash nodded, not releasing her hands and squeezed them gently. “Look, it’s a long shitty story, so I’ll try to cut it down to the gist of what happened.  There was this place called the Black Workshop and the leader, Black Alberich, was working alongside the Chancellor.  They were known as the Gnomes.  This was all during the end of the world bullshit that went on last year.  The Twilight.  Crow was resurrected temporarily under the control of Alberich as the immortal Azure Siegfried.  He lost all of his memories of the past and worked under the Gnomes’ command.  With me so far?”

 

All Melyssa could do was swallow hard and nodded, not saying a single word.

 

“When the Twilight began, something must have triggered Crow to regain his memories because he wound up helping us.  Well, he wound up helping Rean…” Ash shuddered, remembering the Black Workshop and how they’d found the Instructor, who had been completely consumed by the darkness inside of him.

 

“Wait, what do you mean help Rean?”

 

This really was a lot to tell a first year, but she wasn’t an ordinary girl and she had a connection with Crow from the past.  He felt she deserved to know the truth. “During the Twilight, Class VII – old and new – tried to stop the Chancellor and we failed.  Rean was taken captive into the Black Workshop and we discovered he was a sacrifice for the Twilight – for what the true motive was.  The Rivalry is what they called it and it pitted the Divine Knights against each other to gain the ultimate Great One’s power.  That was what Chancellor Osborne, Alberich and everyone who was responsible for bringing on the Twilight aimed for, even the Society of Ouroboros.”

 

“Oh Goddess…” Ouroboros was BAD news and had been around the Empire long before Class VII originated.  They also had some of the most powerful beings in their alliance as well. “So that’s why the Divine Knights are gone, right?  Is Crow still immortal or…?”

 

“No, Crow was supposed to disappear along with the Knights, once the Rivalry came to an end.  Thanks to the Great One’s power, though, along with Valimar, the Ashen Knight and Ordine, the Azure Knight, they stopped Crow from disappearing with them, along with the Chancellor and the other awakeners that were kept in the world as immortals.  Rean’s friend, Emma Millstein, her grandmother, Rosalie and Vita Clotilde also helped with magic of their own.  Since Crow wasn’t an immortal that long, he was able to be saved, but now I’m wondering if he didn’t regain all of his memories back.” That was quite the mouthful and it was the best way he knew how to explain what happened to Crow. “If he doesn’t remember you, it’s probably due to the immortality.”

 

That was…a lot.  Melyssa felt like her brain was going to explode or possibly implode and she had no idea what to say to any of it.  Crow was an immortal being, that was spared, but he hadn’t regained all of his memories.  Crow had died and was brought back to life as someone named the Azure Siegfried…she couldn’t imagine what he’d been through during that time and even before that with Duke Cayenne’s influence.

 

“Thank you for telling me, Ash.  It makes sense to me now why he doesn’t remember me or any of his past.” Now, she felt lower than dirt for being so angry at Crow not remembering her and hadn’t given him the benefit of the doubt.

 

“Well, I’m telling you this for a reason, beautiful.  Don’t be so hard on him, I understand why you’re carrying a lot of anger with him, I would too if I had been forgotten by my best friend.” Ash would have been livid actually and probably thunked some memories right back into the friend’s head; he was unforgettable for Goddess’ sake! “But most people don’t go through what he did, so maybe a small exception.” Smiling, he held up his fingers, making a ‘tiny bit’ gesture with his thumb and pointer finger. “I bet he’s beyond confused now…” If she had unloaded on Crow, he was probably totally lost since he obviously didn’t remember her.  Ash wished he could have witnessed that blow-up, just to see the birdies of confusion swirling around Crow’s empty head.

 

In spite of what happened, she managed to crack a small smile at his humor and nodded, knowing Ash was right. “I guess I have been carrying around a lot of animosity and anger towards him without realizing it.” Until now. “I was hurt at first and then that hurt festered into something cold and ugly.” Her eyes moved back to the stream, her heart hurting for an entirely different reason now.  Crow had been through so much and suffered things she would only see in her nightmares.  Then there was Rean…she had unloaded on him earlier as well and now the guilt was peeking through. “How am I going to face either of them again?  I said some pretty horrible things…”

 

“The same way I faced Instructor Rean after unloading on him.”

 

Both Ash and Melyssa’s heads snapped to the side, staring back at Juna and Altina.  Ash did warn her they would be here relatively soon and he hadn’t been lying. “What do you mean, Juna?”

 

“I’m originally from Crossbell.” Juna informed her friend and walked over to sit down, Altina following suit. “When I first found out I was in the Ashen Chevalier’s class last year, I had A LOT of animosity and anger towards him because of what happened in Crossbell with the annexation by the Empire.” Crossbell was officially freed of the Empire and everything had returned to the way it used to be after the Twilight, thankfully. “He was on the side of the Imperial government in Erebonia, who ripped away Crossbell’s independence.”

 

“Oh, I heard about that.” Why would Rean side with the Imperial government?

 

“We ended up going on a field study to Crossbell and…let’s just say I said some things that weren’t nice.”

 

“Oh man, she let him HAVE it.” Ash chuckled, grunting when Juna smacked his arm. “What?  That was brilliant to witness!”

 

Juna rolled her eyes, directing her attention back to Melyssa. “My point is we ALL make mistakes and say things we don’t mean.  We’re only human and from mistakes is where the lessons are taught.  I learned a very valuable lesson from that trip and I made amends with Instructor Rean.  He’s one big ball of forgiveness, you just have to have the courage to talk to him and don’t be afraid to tell him how you feel.”

 

“If he can forgive me for being in the Intelligence Division and kidnapping his sister, Elise, I’m sure he can forgive you for yelling at him.” Altina quipped, cracking the barest hint of a smile herself.

 

Wow, they all had issues with Rean Schwarzer in the beginning, it seemed, and Melyssa suddenly didn’t feel like she was alone. “What about Crow?  I-I share a room with him and I don’t know if I can face him right now after what I said…”

 

“Courage.” Juna stood up and extended her hand, pulling Melyssa to her feet. “Crow is a lot like Rean, though he’ll never admit it.  I’m sure if you sit down with him, calmly and rationally, and talk, everything will be worked out.  I don’t know your connection to Crow, but we’ve all sensed it since the moment you stood up in class to introduce yourself.  Crow looked at you with this faraway expression on his face and when we questioned him about it, he shrugged it off.  Even if a person loses their memory, it doesn’t mean they’ll completely forget people who meant a lot to them because they’re instilled in the heart.”

 

“Don’t make me throw up, Wild Filly.  Ugh.” Ash had stood up with them, folding his arms in front of his chest. “Just talk to him and see what happens.  No sense in avoiding him and I meant what I said,” Now his pink eyes were locked on red-rimmed, swollen teal. “You DO belong in Class VII.  He said it out of anger and I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”

 

“Affirmative.”

 

“Come on, it’s getting late and we need to head back if we’re going to make it before nightfall.  Instructor Rean is worried sick about you and Kurt is waiting for us at the entrance still.”

 

“Okay.”

 

~!~

 

“They’re coming.”

 

Crow had been almost flat and overly calm since earlier, Rean didn’t like it at all.  It reminded him of when Crow had been resurrected as Azure Siegfried.  As Azure, Crow had been very quiet and introverted, which was his opposite as a general rule, but he had also been prone to resolving with violence which was not a good thing.  Maybe some things from the resurrection and the memories being restored processes had carried over from ‘Azure’ to Crow while at the same time, things of Crow’s had never come back fully.  It was a lot to wrap his aching head around.

 

“I see them.” He stood up from his place on the steps to watch the group approaching the academy gates.

 

Crow stood as well though his entire body language screamed hesitance, as if he was considering going inside and avoiding another explosion.

 

“Thank Aidios.” Kurt breathed, rushing over to Juna and the others with Rean and Crow following behind. “Everything okay?”

 

“No, but…it will be.” Juna smiled at her boyfriend and reached up to brush his light blue hair from his eyes. “You worry too much.”

 

“For good reason.” Kurt kissed the top of her head, thankful they all made it back unscathed.

 

Ash had his arm around Melyssa’s shoulders in a purely platonic way, knowing she needed someone to lean against on the trek back to Leeves. “Found our spitfire.” He winked down at her, dropping a kiss on top of her head. “Schwarzer, I know you told me to stay behind with Kurt, but…”

 

Rean held his hand up, already knowing what Ash was going to say. “I knew you wouldn’t follow orders anyway, Ash.  I’m glad you didn’t.” His eyes turned hesitant as they landed on Melyssa, who looked like a train wreck. “Melyssa, are you all right?  Physically, I mean.” First and foremost, he had to ask that question and folded his arms in front of his chest.

 

She swallowed hard, slowly nodding her head. “Y-Yes, Instructor.”

 

Juna, Kurt and Altina stepped back and Juna pulled Ash away forcefully as well, knowing Melyssa had to do this alone.

 

“Good.  Well, it’s getting late, so why don’t you all head to the dorm for some rest?” Rean suggested, turning to walk away and blinked when a hand came out to grab the sleeve of his jacket.

 

Courage.  Goddess, please give me courage to do this, Melyssa silently prayed, and released Rean’s jacket, clasping her hands in front of her.  He was even MORE intimidating than before and her nerves were already on edge from her confrontation with Crow earlier. “I was wrong for the way I treated you earlier today, Rean.  I’ve been…burdened with a lot of animosity and anger ever since school started and I took it out on you.  And I’m sorry.  I will understand if…if you want to send me to a different class and I won’t resent you for it either.  The way I’ve been acting is inappropriate, disrespectful and rude, not at all how a member of Class VII -no, of Thors – should act.  I have nobody else to blame for my actions and I take full responsibility for them and I’m prepared for the consequences.” Melyssa blew out a shaky breath, doing everything in her power to hold her emotions in because she hadn’t cried this much since she found out about Crow’s death.

 

One of Crow’s eyebrows raised almost imperceptibly from his place off to the side, his arms folded over his chest.

 

His face was otherwise blank.

 

Chapter 14

 

Rean smiled down at her, reaching out his hand with his palm up. “Apology accepted, Melyssa, and I appreciate how hard it must be for you to do this.” Apologies were always hard to give, especially when one had an audience.  The others had left to give them privacy, not Crow.  But then again, Crow was not himself right now. “And you do belong in Class VII, I won’t be sending you away.” At her surprised look, he chuckled softly. “You are not the first to have a go at me and you’ll probably not be the last.”

 

Juna instantly came to mind with her story.  And then there was Altina, who had a very messy past with Rean on her own. “Thank you, Rean.”

 

She took his extended hand and shook it gently but firmly, relief flooding her body from head to toe.  Juna and Ash were right; talking was all it took and Rean was a ball of forgiveness.  He was almost too good for this world with how gentle and kind he was, despite all the rumors and things she’d heard about the Ashen Chevalier.  Her eyes moved to Crow, who had a faraway look on his face and Melyssa knew she owed him, more than anyone else, an apology.  Where did she even begin though?  He didn’t remember her or any of their time together as kids before he left Jurai.

 

“I’ll leave you two alone.” Rean said after a long, fairly heavy moment of prolonged silence, stepping away from Melyssa and glanced back at Crow. “Perhaps you two might want to talk inside, where you don’t have to worry about others eavesdropping.”

 

Because after today, he knew that Crow and Melyssa were officially ‘gossip’ material, throw in a healthy dose of everyone who had seen her out and about with Ash.  He didn’t envy the trio.  Well, maybe he wished the misery on Ash, it would serve him right for provoking reactions just for his own devious amusement.  Nodding, Crow opened the door, holding it for Rean and Melyssa, his eyes guarded as she slowly walked by him.  He had messed up today by losing his cool and carting her off, and he knew it.

 

It was her fault because she wasn’t honest with him.  She’d kept the fact they knew each other in Jurai a secret from everyone and it had come back to bite her.  The entire walk to their room, Crow remained behind her and Melyssa simply put one foot in front of the other.  She went to pull her key out and stopped when Crow’s hand came into view, sliding his own in the slot before turning the doorknob.  Stepping inside, Melyssa went straight to her bed and sat down on it, exhaustion slowly seeping in.  No, she would not be able to sleep until she said something to Crow, having learned her lesson not to keep things bottled up or secrets.  No wonder the Combat Link failed between them!

 

“I should’ve told you everything from the start.” Melyssa spoke up, breaking the tense silence between them. “I know you don’t remember me and…I resented you for it because I didn’t know the full story.” Thanks to Ash, she did now. “I’m sorry for everything…for yelling at you and acting the way I did today.  I should’ve went about it a different way and treating you horribly should’ve never happened.”

 

Crow remained silent, rolling her words over as he began shedding his clothes.  He stopped at his pants, finally walking around to stand before her.  When Melyssa didn’t raise her head up but stared down at his bare feet and the floor, he slowly knelt down until his face was in her line of vision, red eyes searching her face intently.

 

“I’m sorry,” He began quietly, the words coming out a bit stiff at first. “That I lost my temper and manhandled you, there’s no excuse for how I behaved and how I treated you.” Like she was a common criminal or some lowly wench, it had been undignified, but his words weren’t stilted, his tone apologetic and low. “I’m sorry I don’t remember you, or our friendship.” That came out sorrowful and a little bitter. “I wish I did.  Sometimes it feels like it’s just barely there, right out my reach, but begging me to recall, and I don’t.”

 

“Crow…”

 

Sniffling, trying to hold back the tears pooled in her eyes, Melyssa did the one thing she wanted to do since seeing him again.  Alive.  He wasn’t buried six feet under in a grave on the outskirts of Heimdallr.  He was here in the flesh and she could feel all the animosity and anger at him melt away.  She tossed her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, shutting her eyes to relish the feeling of being in his arms again.  Granted, they were A LOT bigger, muscular and strong these days, but he was still the Crow she grew up with.

 

“You have NOTHING to apologize for.  I was being a stubborn idiot not telling you the truth.  Nothing else matters except you’re here, alive and well.  And I know you don’t feel the same way, but I really missed you.  When you left Jurai, I was devastated and I didn’t understand at the time why you would leave without saying goodbye.” Pulling back, she cupped his face in her soft hands as the tears poured down her face. “But I do now.  The past is the past and it can’t be changed, so we just have to move forward and make new memories together, and with Class VII.”

 

Friends, they had been friends and she had to of been rather young when he left.  Crow wondered how children could be such good friends and then dismissed that thought as callous.  If anything, Rean and the rest of Class VII -past and present- had taught him a lot about just how strong, how powerful friendship could be.  It was a disservice to people to assume children couldn’t experience those bonds as strongly as their elders.

 

“Help me remember, Mel.” He asked quietly, bringing his own hands up to cover hers as he searched her eyes intently. “I feel it there, help me.” That tugging whenever he looked at her, something begging him to recall. “Don’t cry…” His hands moved, fingers sliding up her cheeks to cup those tears.

 

Was Juna right about memories forgotten remaining in the heart of that person?  And how was she supposed to help him remember? “You used to call me Lyssa.  Everyone else called me Mel or Mels or Mely and you apparently wanted to be different than the rest, so you called me Lyssa.  And I used to call you the game master because you loved playing games.  We played chess, cards, board games, any game you could get your hands on, you sat me down to play it.” Crow continued wiping her tears away while her arms remained draped around his neck. “When your grandfather would work late, you’d come stay the night at my house with my parents and we’d end up sitting out on the roof to look up at the stars.  You knew how much I loved looking at them and we would talk for hours.  Pretty sure we even fell asleep up there a couple of times.” That made her chuckle a little, pulling back enough to grab a tissue since her face was a mess. “You were my best friend and my favorite person in the world.  And you protected me from any of the other kids who called me fishmonger or made fun of me because of what my family did for a living.  We were friends for 5 years before you left Jurai, I was 10 and you were 13.  I know it’s a bit of an age gap, but you never once minded hanging out with me.” Probably due to the fact her parents were Crow’s full-time babysitters since his grandfather, his guardian, worked a lot as the Mayor.

 

Crow didn’t remember any of that, not really.  He had memories of fishmongers, of a woman with a nice singing voice and memories of being irritated that at his ‘age’, he had needed a sitter. “I’m sorry.” He whispered, moving so he was sitting on the edge of the bed beside her. “Maybe when we go back to Jurai, something will help trigger these memories.  Your mother…. Does she sing?” Or was that another woman he was thinking of, he kneaded his forehead with the heel of his hand.

 

“Wait, what?  What did you say?” When Crow asked the question again, the biggest smile crossed Melyssa’s face and she nodded, taking his hand away from his forehead. “Yeah, she does.  Not professionally, but she always sings whenever she cooks and cleans.  Don’t push yourself, Crow.” The fact he had these little signs, these little tweaks of memories, told her they weren’t completely gone. “When it’s meant to happen, it will, and I’ll be right here to help you any way I can.” I’m never leaving you again, not after finding you, she silently vowed, leaning her head against his shoulder. “I’ll answer any questions you have at any time.” Looking up at him, in those fiery eyes, she leaned up to caress his face with the back of her hand. “You’re not alone.”

 

“I know.” Crow hadn’t felt alone in a long time, but ever since Melyssa had come into his life, something had been gnawing at him. creating an ache he couldn’t place and now tonight he knew why there was that burgeoning hole.  Something WAS missing, something crucial, and perhaps the last few pieces to his childhood… he had, on some level, been alone and so had she. “I don’t have any questions… right now.” He added with a sly smile, because he already knew once everything settled and was processed, he’d bombard her with a million things.

 

~!~

 

Wednesday rolled around, two days before the trip to Jurai, and today was their first official practical exam.  Melyssa had trained in the morning before class, not deviating from her routine and felt so much better ever since her explosion with Crow.  There was a lot of revelations in that one day and she felt ten pounds lighter ever since.  Now, they stood on the academy field in front of Instructor Rean, who was explaining what they would be doing.  Crow looked a lot better too, seemed more cheerful and playful, even.

 

“All right, as I said, teams of two and Crow and Melyssa, you two will be teamed up for the foreseeable future until you can form a Combat Link with each other.” Rean reminded them, not winking or cracking a smile because right now he was their Instructor.  Business before pleasure. “Now then, you two step forward and we’ll get started.” He snapped his fingers as soon as they did and a metal robot appeared out of nowhere.

 

“What in Aidios’ name is THAT?!”

 

Crow chuckled at Melyssa’s shock. “It’s an artificial intelligence robot that can be set to any difficulty.  Courtesy of the Black Workshop.” The government now had full possession of it and both Thors Military Academies had gotten a hand full of them.

 

“Weapons ready.  And begin!”

 

At first, they were able to form a Combat Link, but it fizzled after about 2 minutes, but Rean still saw it as progress.  The stronger their bond became, the better they would get until they could keep the Combat Link going until the battle ended.

 

This was basically a controlled exercise in a controlled environment and after his last, spontaneous, decision which had resulted in Crow and Melyssa fighting without being linked up or without any assistance… Rean figured he should probably walk the straight and narrow for a few classes, especially during testing.  Juna might have his head on someone higher than his position’s platter if he didn’t.  He might have been the Instructor, but his students, his friends, were not afraid to point out when he was making a bad decision.

 

“Ha!” Crow crowed once the battle was over, raising his hand for Melyssa to slap. “Now THAT is how it’s done!”

 

“Yes!” Melyssa’s hand connected with his and their fingers squeezed together briefly before releasing, both sheathing their weapons.  Crow had decided to battle with his double-saber this time around and Melyssa had to admit, he had amazing form with it.  The pistols were fine and everything, but seeing him wield that double-saber warmed her from the inside out for some reason. “Even though we didn’t link up that long, it still worked briefly, so hopefully, it’ll get stronger with each battle we do together.”

 

“It will.” Rean stated confidently, clapping each of them on the shoulder before gesturing Juna and Ash forward. “All right you two, your turn.”

 

“Hell yeah, time to shine!” Ash swung his scythe ax with a grin, winking at Juna, who rolled her eyes at him in response.

 

Melyssa and Crow got back in formation to watch the rest of their classmates battle the robot like they had.

 

Even with Juna’s eye roll, she and Ash were able to link up.  Regardless of whether women trusted him on a personal level given his habit of being vulgar, they all knew he would have their backs in a fight.

 

Crow, being fairly tall, hung back at the edge of the circle, eyes on the fight.  Every now and then, he met Melyssa’s teal gaze and he would flash her a smile that she instantly returned.  That nagging, lingering feeling was still there, but he knew what it was now and it wasn’t as annoying as before.  Now, it was mixed with something else, a warmth he couldn’t describe but it was a nice feeling. He wasn’t alone anymore. He had never thought of himself as being alone, well, not in recent times, not since the death of his grandfather. But that loneliness feeling had been edged out with anger and hate, the desire for revenge, everything else had fallen to the wayside and been his path to this point.

 

Never again would he be alone and if he tried running off on her again, she was going to hunt him down and string him up by his toes.  That was a funny image in her head and Melyssa had to stifle a giggle, instead clearing her throat while Kurt and Altina linked up.  Ash and Juna had destroyed the robot in record time, but once again Kurt and Altina prevailed as the fastest time.  Once they were finished, Rean congratulated everyone on a job well done, commending them all.  One day, when they could do a proper Combat Link, Melyssa had not a doubt in her mind her and Crow would reign and beat even Kurt and Altina’s time.

 

“Now, we need to discuss our upcoming field study to Jurai.” Rean announced, handing Juna the papers to pass out to everyone. “There’s been a sighting from Ouroboros that we’ve been asked to look into while we’re there.” He didn’t want Crow and Melyssa thinking he had picked Jurai simply because of them because that wasn’t the case. “As most of you know, Ouroboros is to be taken seriously and we’re to report to Principal Le Guin for anything we discover.  We leave out at 6 AM Friday morning and we’ll be gone for 2 days and return Sunday evening sometime.  Any questions?”

 

Nobody had any, at least none they were voicing and Crow looked down at Melyssa when she joined him at his side.  Ouroboros was a ‘secret’ shadow type society and they were behind several of the years recent events, in some way or form, manipulating things behind the scenes.  Even him to a degree.  Vita came to mind.  His death for Cedric.  He frowned, repressing a shiver.  He remembered that vividly.

 

“Dismissed then.”

 

Chapter 15

 

“Do you have any questions?” Crow asked, forcing the dark thoughts back as he glanced back down at Melyssa.

 

“No, but…”

 

Melyssa made a vow not to keep anymore secrets from Rean from now on and she had one more she had to tell him about.  Ash already knew this and she could feel Crow following her, not minding if he overheard it.  Juna, Kurt, Altina and Ash had taken off to do club meetings or whatever was on their agenda since school was over for the day. “Instructor?”

 

She walked up to him, feeling that nervous energy all over again.  Why did it only happen with Rean?  Melyssa couldn’t figure it out and shoved it aside, needing to be brave and have courage.

 

“I need to talk to you about the upcoming trip to Jurai.  Do you have a minute?”

 

“Of course.” Rean’s eyes flashed to Crow.

 

Nodding, Crow excused himself, taking off with the rest of the group.  He was curious of course, but if it was something he NEEDED to know, someone would tell him. He had already exploded once on Melyssa, he was learning how to be patient and these days he found he possessed a LOT of patience.  Maybe it was because the ‘big’ secret had been told.

 

Rean shook his head at how fast Crow had taken off, not missing the way the other man looked back at Melyssa.  Giving her his firm attention, he smiled down at her. “Walk with me?” He extended his arm to her, raising an eyebrow when she hesitated. “You’re not still on pins and needles with me, are you?”

 

“Would you believe me if I said no?”

 

“No.”

 

Melyssa looped her arm through his, really hoping Rean wasn’t angry at her after she told him what was on her mind. “It’s only been a couple days since…everything happened, so it’ll take a little longer before I don’t feel nervous around you anymore.”

 

“Understood, so what’s on your mind?”

 

While they walked, Melyssa explained to him what happened between her and her parents in Jurai, just like she’d done with Ash.  They stopped walking the field and she turned to face Rean, seeing all the questions burning in his fuchsia eyes. “I was sworn to secrecy, so I can’t tell you who my outside help is, but…you deserve to know the storm you’re about to walk in when we go to Jurai on Friday.  I promised I wouldn’t keep anything from you anymore and, if you want, I can ask my outside help if it’s all right to divulge their name.  I want to make it clear that I’m not here illegally though.  I just got in…unconventionally.”

 

“Unconventionally is right…”

 

Rean whistled, wondering just why this girl thought it was all right to bring drama into their lives now that everything was so peaceful.  He inwardly smiled, not meaning the thought maliciously, he supposed this was what ‘normal’ was when not fighting monsters or working to save an empire.  Drama and crazy students, gossip and… a lot of things he had probably been guilty of as a student himself now that he thought about it.  She definitely had her share, but he was assuming it was for all the right reasons.

 

“Jurai isn’t exactly a small place.” Well, it was… just not THAT small. “Do you really think we’ll run into your parents?” He asked quietly, curiosity needling at him about her unknown sponsor.  Whoever it was, they had to be someone with some power to get things done, he really hoped it was all above board.

 

Oh, it was and if Rean knew who helped her get into the academy, he would’ve probably hit the ground at her feet. “That’s why I’m telling you this because…well, Juna told me that you’re trying to help Crow with his memories and that place, my parents, has A LOT of memories for him.  I just don’t want to cause any problems on this field study, so I think it would be best if we steered clear of my parents’ house and the fishing company.  If not, I’ll deal with it, but I already know they’re not going to be happy to see me after I ran away to join Thors.” Her birthday was Saturday, so they would be in Jurai when she turned 18 and she knew if she saw her parents, it would be brought up.  They were there for schooling, not for any other reason and everyone had to stay focused. “I’m sorry…again…”

 

Her eyes lowered from his, feeling conflicted and the fact they were out here, alone, made her a little on edge too, though she tried to hide it.  Rean didn’t know what to say to her, pulling back to rake both hands through his hair.  He wasn’t even bothering trying to be her instructor right now because she needed a friend.

 

“Do you want to see your parents?” He asked finally, wondering if she was homesick.  That would be conflicting, for her, being homesick, but at the same time having to be concerned about how they would react to what was tantamount to her having run away. “Does Crow know about this?  I know we all want to help him, but if there’s going to be issues, I know even he would want to avoid that.” Or at least wait until they had private time or holidays to visit on. “Hey,” She looked ready to cry and Rean reached out, gently cupping her chin in the palm of his hand. “It’s not so bad.” He smiled down at her, eyes crinkling at the corners.

 

“I-I don’t know if I want to or not.  Half of me does and the other half is terrified because they were against me coming here.  I haven’t seen them in over a year…” Pull yourself together, this is your damn Instructor, Melyssa mentally chastised herself, taking a deep breath and managed to keep the tears at bay. “No, Crow doesn’t know about it, but…Ash does.  I told him the day all hell broke loose while we were getting something to eat.  He’s…not easy to dissuade, I’m finding out…” The weird part was he was incredibly easy to converse with, even with his lewd behavior. “I’m going to tell Crow about it tonight.  I was hoping he’d stick around to hear this with you, but he took off rather quickly…”

 

“Crow is still figuring out things with you.” Rean said with a reassuring smile, wishing there was something he could do to set her at ease.  She had always been a little odd in his presence but it had increased since her blow-up and subsequent apology.  It was water under the bridge as far as he was concerned, he just wished she’d believe that. “It’s a little… odd that you told Ash all of this.” It was beyond odd, actually. “I know it’s not any of my business,” His cheeks were slowly tinting pink, but he forged on. “But are you and… Carbide a, um, thing?” Because that would just be the weirdest and most unlikely thing ever.  Ash flirted with every woman under 60 and over 18 and his brand of flirting was borderline indecent as a general rule, so seeing Ash with anyone for longer than a few days would have been a miracle.

 

Did Rean Schwarzer just ask her, his student, about her LOVE life?! “WHAT?!” Melyssa did NOT mean to shout that, but the question came out of left field and legitimately shocked her.  She slowly backed up from him as his hand left her face, teal eyes wide as saucers. “Goddess, no!” Her cheeks had gone from slightly flushed to crimson red in a matter of seconds as she shook her head almost violently. “No, no, no…we’re just friends!” What was wrong with two classmates having a bite to eat and one confiding in the other?  Granted, they were the opposite sex, but she felt NOTHING towards Ash besides friendship. “I know it may seem like it at times, but I promise you, there’s NOTHING there and Ash will tell you the same thing.  He doesn’t feel anything for me.  I just…confided in him because I was upset after I yelled at you outside of my dance club.” Goddess, she hoped she wasn’t lying because Ash was incredibly hard to read. “Let me put your mind at ease, Rean.  The only love I have in my life is my sword.”

 

Oh Aidios, her cheeks were on FIRE right now.  She had already broken her vow not to lie to Rean again, but there was NO WAY Melyssa could tell him her heart belonged to another.  It had been claimed by the very man who couldn’t remember who she was and she didn’t see him relinquishing her heart anytime soon.

 

She was cute when she was flustered and Rean could tell he had flustered Melyssa quite a bit.  She was shouting at him again.  He wasn’t taking any offense to it because he knew she was flustered and he wondered if he was crossing a line by asking.  It wasn’t his fault he wasn’t much older than his students, was it?  Complicated, this teaching thing. “I was only asking, Melyssa, you don’t have to deny it so hard.” He teased gently, though he wouldn’t deny it was a relief, knowing she wasn’t dating the vulgar Ash.  Rean doubted any woman would be able to date the philanderer for very long.

 

Her eyes narrowed at him slightly as Melyssa folded her arms in front of her chest. “You’re amused with this, aren’t you?”

 

He was only a few years older than her; the age gape really wasn’t that big between her and Rean.  Two years for them and three years with Crow.  One year between her, Ash and Kurt and she had no idea how old Altina actually was.  That was a grey area.

 

“So, what about you then?  Do YOU have a special lady in your life, Rean?”

 

The tables had turned and now HE was the one who looked flustered, his face tinging pink.  If he could ask her personal questions, why couldn’t she reciprocate?  He really didn’t act like an Instructor at all.

 

“No, I don’t.” Rean had plenty of opportunities, there was no shortage of adoring fans out there who would love to be his ‘special lady’.  Monique immediately came to mind and he shoved that right back out, no way was that ever happening. “Too many women want the Ashen Chevalier, so for now, I’m content to live vicariously through my friends until the right girl comes along.” He didn’t act like an Instructor when not instructing because of the age, it was hard, after classes were over, being the ‘teacher’ when all he wanted was to be the ‘friend’.

 

Alisa Reinford, Laura Arseid, Emma Millstein, Fie Claussell, Towa Herschel -she was one of the current Instructors of Thors Branch School- were just some of the women Rean had bonded with over the past couple of years.  Everyone thought he would choose Alisa, a beautiful blonde with a stacked body and glowing red eyes.  Then, there was Laura with her gorgeous, insanely long blue hair -lighter than Melyssa’s- and deep burnt amber eyes.  She followed the way of the sword and everyone thought her and Rean would make a great couple as well.  Emma was a witch with flowing dark pink hair and blue eyes – again, another choice candidate for the Ashen Chevalier.  Fie was beautiful in her own way, a former Yaeger, who was now a Bracer and helped citizens all throughout Erebonia, alongside their former Instructor, The Purple Lightning, Sara Valestein.  Towa was cute in her own way with brown hair and eyes, very short and Rean had helped her immensely while she was the Student Council President during their tenor at the Thors Main School.  Rean had been drowning in a sea of beautiful women and, yet, he was single, which made no sense to a lot of people and their colleagues.

 

“I’ll be honest with you, I thought you and Instructor Herschel were together.” Melyssa had caught them together a time or two walking around Leeves. “I guess you can’t judge two people of the opposite sex by simply looking at them.” Just like her and Ash had been judged, apparently, just for simply being spotted together in town.

 

Rean’s problem was that he ‘bonded’ with a lot of people due to his nature.  He wanted to help everyone, he was concerned for everyone, and he took on other’s problems as if they were his own.  That tended to lead to a lot of bonding and a lot of lonely nights, even though there were plenty of offers and assumptions.

 

“No,” He shook his head. “I’m not with anyone.” Man or woman, there were people he was attracted too for sure, but so far not enough to warrant pursuing something serious.  He was hoping that would change soon, lonely nights were getting old.

 

“If I were you, I’d keep that fact under wraps, especially from people in the school.”

 

Monique would JUMP at the chance to be with her adorable Ashen Chevalier.  Melyssa giggled at the face Rean made and looped her arm through his again as they began walking the grounds.  It was weird, Rean was very easy to talk to, even more so than Ash.  The nervous energy she felt earlier had evaporated and she looked up at the stars peeking out one by one, the moon half shaped in the sky.

 

“I never realized how beautiful this place is.  You graduated from the Thors Main School in Trista, right?  What’s it like there?  Is Leeves similar?”

 

“Mmm, yes and no. No two places are exactly alike. The main school was…. a little different, more traditional than this one, but not so bad.” Rean said after a long moment, pacing himself slowly because this was nice, and relaxing. “Yeah, by the way, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t let anyone know about my relationship status, them speculating but unsure keeps me a bit safe…” Monique came to mind, he grimaced.  Nice girl she was sure, but she was so in love with the Ashen Chevalier and his ‘deeds’ that she tended to overlook the man.

 

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” This reminded her of the morning they sparred together and how Rean helped her decide what club to pursue.  There was something about Rean Schwarzer she couldn’t quite put her finger on and it had nothing to do with him being the Ashen Chevalier, a hero of Erebonia. “Maybe one day I’ll see Trista for myself.  I heard it’s a beautiful little town.” She stopped and turned to face Rean, a soft smile on her face. “You really are completely different than what I made up in my head.  If someone else was in your position, they would be flaunting their status all over the place as being the Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves or the Ashen Chevalier.  And you don’t…and that’s very admirable.  But I also think you should embrace who you are instead of hiding from it.  You are who you are and you should be proud of your accomplishments and what you’ve done.  That doesn’t mean you have to flaunt the titles or whatever, but instead of looking sheepish and down when someone refers to you as the Ashen Chevalier or Divine Blade, you should keep your head up, Rean.  I know it can’t be easy and I can only imagine what you’ve been through to obtain those titles, but you should wear them with pride and honor.  I just thought you should hear that, even if it’s from your first year student.”

 

“And I appreciate it, Melyssa, and you are not just my first year student but my friend as well,” Even if they didn’t always see eye to eye or had some weird, awkward moments. “Maybe one day I will, but not just yet I don’t think, there are still too many people who… see me as larger than life and as someone to be revered.” Which made it awkward to even acknowledge the other title. Goddess, even she had been that way at first, in awe of the Ashen Chevalier and he had felt a bit bad because of how overwhelmed she was on those first few days with him, and then Crow -not that he had known it at the time-, and being in Class VII. “If I was out of line for asking about you and Ash, I apologize.”

 

Chapter 16

 

Hearing being called one of Rean’s friends made something inside of her tingle and Melyssa didn’t understand why.  He barely knew her and, yet, he referred to her as his friend, not just his student.  Hopefully, the nervous energy she felt with Rean would be gone for good after this talk and stroll with him.

 

“No, you weren’t.  I understand why you asked.” It was just the way society worked – a man and woman, boy and girl, couldn’t hang out without the subtext of dating. “And for the record, I consider you a friend as well, Rean.” That didn’t mean she would start treating him differently whenever he was in Instructor form, however.

 

Wrong.  A man and a woman could hang out without there being the subtext of dating.  Them, for example, they were hanging out and nobody would bat an eyelash or assume anything.  Ash was in a league all of his own and most people assumed he was ‘dating’ any woman who actually spent time in his company, given the way he ‘worded’ things. “I was concerned for you, that’s why I asked.  Ash is… a good guy, most of the time,” He added quickly with a playful smile, glancing down at her as they continued their leisurely stroll. “Other times, I have to reprimand him for running his mouth and saying things that are one day going to land him in serious trouble even he can’t weasel out of.”

 

She laughed, not able to deny Ash was very vulgar, lewd, crude and borderline sexual harassment waiting to happen. “He is a good guy, but definitely not my type.  I made it clear to him – he can flirt all he wants with me, but it won’t lead anywhere.” Rean really did worry a little too much about people, Crow had been right about that. “I do appreciate the concern, though.” They had turned to head back across the academy field since it was getting late, heading back to the dorm.  On the way, Rean invited her to have some gelato with him at one of the vendor stands and they found a bench by the fountain in the middle of Leeves. “What flavor did you get again?” It was a weird flavor, not vanilla or chocolate swirled like hers.

 

“Uh, it’s lemon flavor.” Rean offered her a small spoonful and waved it at Melyssa, smiling when she hesitated. “I’ll make weird noises and baby talk it until you try it.” He teased, his eyes sparkling when she finally opened her mouth, watching those soft pink lips close around the spoon. “Good, isn’t it?” He pulled it away when she was finished, helping himself to another spoonful. “Want another bite?  What kind did you get?” Rean peered down at her, shifting closer without even thinking about it.

 

“Vanilla and chocolate swirled – my favorite.”

 

Melyssa found herself compelled by those fuchsia eyes and held her own spoon out, letting him sample hers like she did with his.  Just like he had done, her eyes watched his lips enclose around the spoon to take in the vanilla, chocolatey goodness before pulling back.  What was happening?  Why was she suddenly getting butterflies in her stomach?  It wasn’t anywhere near as strong as when she was with Crow, but…there was definitely something there.

 

“What do you think?”

 

“Delicious.” Rean ran his tongue along his bottom lip, making sure to catch the corners and not miss a bit of that gelato. “I may have to get that kind the next time we do this.” He said it easily enough, without thinking, and flashed her another grin.  They were almost shoulder to shoulder now, sitting so close, and he realized this was the most relaxed Melyssa had been around him. “You know,” He hoped he wasn’t jinxing it by saying it out loud. “This is… nice, I don’t think we’ve ever just talked like this.” He knew they had never hung out either.

 

Truthfully, she couldn’t agree with him more and took another bite of her gelato. “You’re right, we haven’t and this is really nice.  I don’t remember the last time I did something like this.” Granted, she had lunch with Ash, but…it wasn’t relaxed and fun like it was with Rean.  And Ash didn’t make her heart pound in her chest and warmth spread throughout every portion of her body. “I like hanging out with you, Rean.” Just him, not Instructor Rean or the Ashen Chevalier or Divine Blade of Eight Leaves.  Just him, the man, stripped down with that gorgeous smile and hypnotic eyes. “And I wouldn’t mind doing this with you again.”

 

“You’ve had a crazy week, haven’t you?” Rean chuckled, more like crazy term so far.  She was by far the most exciting thing happening in his life right now, now that he knew what was -mostly all- going on with her. “I like hanging out with you too, Melyssa.  I think we should do it more.” He bent down so he could see her face properly in the star and moonlight, close enough where their noses were almost brushing together. “Maybe after this field trip to Jurai, we could hang out again, what do you think?”

 

He was so close, she could smell the lemon on his breath from the gelato and his own scent, some kind of musky cologne.  He was her Instructor and Melyssa should have pulled away from him, but she couldn’t.  This was wrong on so many levels, but Melyssa found herself nodding and smiling, teal mixing with fuchsia.

 

“I’d like that, Rean.” Was it wrong to want to hang out with her Instructor alone?  No, he wasn’t an Instructor – not right now in this moment, eating gelato with her.  It was a man and an almost woman sharing a moment together under the moon and stars. “And…I wouldn’t mind sparring with you again too.” Without realizing it, her voice had lowered and turned a little husky, along with his. “I had fun with you last time, believe it or not.”

 

Even as oblivious as he could sometimes be, that was a change in her voice that even Rean could not miss. He wasn’t sure if she had noticed the way it had changed, gotten a little velvety, but every last bit of him did. “Well, you’ve definitely improved since then.” He had noticed that during their practical exam earlier with the combat robot.  Her footwork had improved drastically, the dancing was only enhancing her already considerable natural ability with her Cutlass. “I look forward to it and hopefully,” His own voice had deepened a timbre. “It’ll be soon.”

 

Danger, danger!  Walk away NOW! There was an alarm ringing in her head that Melyssa couldn’t ignore and she slowly pulled back, finally breaking their eye contact. “Just let me know the time and place and I’ll be there.” Her voice had returned to normal and it felt as if her heart would fly out of her chest at any second. “Thank you for the gelato and the walk.  Goodnight, Rean.” Melyssa squeezed his hand and stood up from the bench, tossing her half-eaten melted gelato in the trashcan before heading to the dorm. What in Aidios’ name am I doing?!  He’s my Instructor and…Crow’s best friend!  Crow is the one I want to be with, right?  For Goddess sake, he doesn’t even remember me, how could he possibly want me to be with me? Melyssa frowned, not understanding where these new feelings she developed for Rean were coming from. 

 

It didn’t make sense, but it was obvious they had a connection…a STRONG connection.

 

To an outsider looking in, someone who would have been privy to her thoughts, being in love with Crow would make little sense to most people.  Children didn’t fall in love at eight, nine, or ten years old, right?  Not true, eternal love.  Usually that was puppy love, the stuff time and space made seem sweeter and more than what it really was.  It was also irrational to think that a childhood ‘sweetheart’ would return the affection after all that had happened throughout the years. 

 

Someone like Rean would have probably understood it though, and offered to help her any way he could because he was that kind of guy, even if it meant he was shoving aside his own feelings.  Where had that come from?  Rean watched, with a somewhat dopey smile, as Melyssa disappeared into the dorm finally, shaking his head as he pushed himself to his feet. There was something there, here, between them and he wasn’t sure exactly how strong this ‘something’ was, but he definitely wanted to explore it.

 

Maybe it was impossible for children to fall in love with each other, or one falling in love with the other.  Crow had been instilled in Melyssa’s heart, however, and she was never able to fully shake him.  Even when she thought he was dead, he still remained in her mind and heart; not a day went by she didn’t think about him and wish for him to be alive.  However…as people grew and became adults, things changed, feelings changed and she couldn’t deny the connection between her and Rean. 

 

Walking into the room she shared with Crow, Melyssa stopped at the sight of him sleeping with his arm over his eyes, shirtless in just his boxers, his chest rising and falling steadily.  He really was a beautiful man, but then again, so was Rean.  Shutting the door and flipping the lock on it quietly, Melyssa walked over to her bed and kicked her shoes off, doing everything in the dark.  She didn’t want to disturb Crow’s rest.  Quickly changing into her nightclothes, Melyssa slid under the covers and laid down, staring up at the ceiling.

 

Crow hadn’t meant to fall asleep.  He had come in and figured he and Melyssa would talk before they went to bed.  It was what they had done the past few nights since they had finally had it out and talked about their mutual past, even if it wasn’t mutually remembered.  He wasn’t forcing anything, he just asked her questions, seeing if anything stuck or jogged his memory and she’d ask him questions about his time in the war and things like that.  Even though some things he had been ashamed of, it was still alarmingly easy to talk to her, and she never judged him, even for his darker deeds.  Crow thought maybe it was because she had known who he was prior to his life turning to crap.  He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but he hadn’t thought Melyssa would be out so long with Rean either.

 

~!~

 

The bath really was heavenly in the dorm. 

 

Melyssa sighed in contentment and shut her eyes, having her bathing wrap on just to be on the safe side.  This was a public bath for the women after all.  The steam rose around her and it was comforting, relaxing and she could feel the soreness and aching of her muscles deteriorate.

 

“Mind if I join you?”

 

Her eyes snapped open at the sound of an all too familiar voice, slowly looking up at none other than her Instructor. “Rean…” What was he doing in the women’s bath?! “T-This is for the women…”

 

Rean smirked, wearing just a pair of bathing shorts and stepped into the hot water to glide over to her, his arms slicing through the water. “I know.  Don’t worry, I locked the door.”

 

“B-But…” The smell of him was infiltrating her senses once again and her mouth turned dry, those fuchsia eyes burning through her. “I-I’m not sure…” He was her Instructor for Goddess sake! “Rean, I…”

 

Rean pulled her flush against his body and his mouth descended on hers hungrily, his arms wrapped around her to prevent her from escaping.

 

“Well, well, isn’t this interesting.”

 

She broke the kiss instantly and looked up at the sight of Crow staring down at them while Rean began kissing down her neck. “C-Crow…” How did he get in here if the door was locked? “T-This…”

 

He waved her off, sliding into the water and pulled her away from Rean. “My turn for a taste, partner.”

 

~!~

 

Snapping her eyes open, Melyssa jumped slightly in bed and looked around the room, slowly sitting upright breathing heavy.  In front of her, Crow was still sound asleep and Melyssa was caked in sweat, glancing at the clock.  Four A.M. flashed back at her and she scrubbed her hands down her face, swallowing hard.  Water, she needed a drink of water and quietly left the room, heading to the bathroom.  What in Aidios’ name was THAT dream about?!

 

That dream was telling her that she needed to try spending some quality time with a member of the opposite sex.  Or at least that’s how a female friend would have interpreted it.  Altina would say that obviously Melyssa had feelings for both men.  Monique would encourage her to try for Crow.

 

“What are YOU doing up so early?”

 

All Ash had been doing was getting a drink of water and MAYBE finishing off this book, leaning against the hallway wall wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and those were dangling dangerously low.  He snapped his book shut and tucked it beneath his arm, eyeing her curiously as he stepped away from the wall.  The lighting was really dim but he had been warned to not go wandering during ‘evening hours’ because he was ‘interruptive’, he called bullshit.

 

“You look flushed, beautiful.”

 

Goddess, save me!  What was Ash doing up this early and sitting in the hallway for?  She was half-asleep, but her adrenaline was pumping through every vein in her body from the dream. “Yeah…bad dream.” No, no it wasn’t a bad dream.  It was a VERY good dream, in fact…a naughty dream too since Rean was her Instructor. “I just came out for some water.  I’m a little parched.” Ash held his hand up in a one second gesture and retrieved her a cup of it from the men’s bathroom, handing it to her.  She took it, feeling a little confused and muttered a ‘thanks’ before downing it, her breathing slowly returning to normal along with her heartrate. “Didn’t think anyone would be up this early.  Do you do this often, Ash?  Wait for damsels to leave their room, so you can offer them your help?” She smirked, though it wouldn’t surprise her if that was his actual motive.

 

Ash flashed her the book cover. “Actually, I sneak out here to read when I can’t sleep.” He informed her with an easygoing grin, not at all bothered by her comment and he wouldn’t have been bothered by her thoughts either.  He did have a reputation and he had earned every last bit of it. “Monique gets pissy if I have a light on after hours, says it interferes with her beauty sleep, so… I come out here, where the light is already on and people are usually asleep.” He pat the space on the floor beside him. “Come join me, I’ll even read slow so you can read along with me.  Or you can tell me about this bad dream of yours if you want.”

 

Chapter 17

 

Was that really a good idea? 

 

Rean already thought they were together, or had, which was why he questioned it.  How many other people assumed it?  More importantly, why did Melyssa care so much?  Ash was a nice guy, friendly with a little flirtatious twist.  There was NO way she could tell him about her dream, but going back to bed wasn’t an option either.

 

“All right, I’ll join you for a little while.” Sitting down beside him, Ash held the book out to where she could read it and she merely leaned her head on his arm, drawing her knees up with her back against the wall. “My dream really wasn’t a nightmare.  I lied.” She confessed quietly, already feeling her cheeks tinge pink as Ash looked down at her, her teal eyes slowly looking up at him. “I really don’t know if I can even describe it, honestly.”

 

Hmm, if it wasn’t a nightmare, but she had come out of her room with flushed cheeks and elevated breathing. Ash’s mind immediately went to ‘sex dreams’.  He knew he had them, though his usually also meant he had the lovely erection to go with it, being a man sometimes sucked.  Couldn’t sport wood and claim nightmare at the same time as a general rule.

 

“Well, how did it make you feel then?  Can you describe that?” He asked, though he had given his attention back to the page, figuring it would take some pressure off of her and she might be more inclined to talk.

 

“Heated, shocked, overwhelmed…” How else was she supposed to feel after having a dream about both Rean and Crow kissing her? “I’ve never had a dream like it before.” Was fate trying to tell her something?  There was no way she could have anything intimate or romantic with Rean Schwarzer because of his status within the academy.  She was his student! “Have, um, have you ever had an intimate dream before, Ash?” Melyssa asked, pulling back from his arm since she was more awake now and those pink eyes gazed down at her with his patent lewd smile. “Dumb question, never mind.”

 

That was not a dumb question, but the smile he had flashed had probably not been the brightest idea, not that he could help it.  It had been his first, automatic response to her asking a question.  Her question had been the answer to his own about what kind of dream she had had, obviously not the nightmare spiel she had tried saying at first.

 

“Of course, I have since before puberty.” He said finally, keeping his tone even and casual, as if this was the most natural thing in the world to be discussing at 4 something in the morning. “I think everyone does, beautiful.”

 

“Not everyone…” She mumbled, rubbing her temples with her fingers, trying to understand where this dream sequence stemmed from.  Granted, she had an incredible night with Rean and then she couldn’t get the dance with Crow out of her mind either.  It was like her heart was split in two between them and now her subconscious had taken over. “Rean asked if you and I were together because I told him the other reason why I’m hesitant about going to Jurai.  And I told him you already know.” Her parents forbidding her from joining the military academy and pursuing the way of the sword. “And before you ask, no, the dream wasn’t about you, so get that smug look off your face, Carbide.  I just figured I’d warn him before the trip, so there’s no surprises there.  I still haven’t told Crow yet.”

 

At one point or another, everyone had a sex dream or a ‘wet’ dream, it was just a part of life, especially when you were going through puberty or finally starting to figure out things on a sexual level.  Melyssa was obviously inexperienced and Ash was tempted to offer her… well, an education.  Maybe not a hand’s on education, but… he’d offer her advice and knowledge.  Yeah, that would probably NOT go over well.

 

“Wait, stop… if it wasn’t about me, and I’m really, really hurt, beautiful, because I thought we hit it off…” Ash’s smile widened. “It wasn’t about our dear Instructor now, was it?”

 

Ash could read her like a book and she hated him for it.  However, Melyssa somehow managed not to turn completely red at the mention of Rean and shook her head, scoffing. “Are you kidding?  He’s our Instructor, that would be terrible!” There was no choice except to lie.  She nudged Ash, rolling her eyes at the feigned hurt on his face. “I’m not telling you who it was about, but it was my first time…experiencing a dream like that.” Another confession was bubbling up inside of her and she could feel Ash pulling it out with that intense gaze of his. “Look, I’ve never had a boyfriend before or any kind of intimacy.  I’ve devoted my life to the sword and honing my skills.  Never had time for anything else.  Dance club is the first hobby I’ve had outside of swordsmanship.”

 

“You have led an incredibly sheltered life and as your friend, I insist on you letting me help rectify this tragedy.” Ash said it seriously, but when she nudged him with her elbow, he began laughing -softly so they didn’t wake anyone up.  Rean, he would bet money she had dreamt of Rean.  He supposed she wasn’t the only girl to do so, he knew Monique did and wrinkled his nose.  She had woken him up with HER moaning and other things in her bed, disgusting. “So it’s only now that you’re finding interest in the opposite gender?”

 

With her thinking Crow was dead, Melyssa had completely consumed herself in her swordsmanship and put everything else on the backburner. “Honestly?  Yeah.  I must be some kind of mutant or something.”

 

Considering she was turning 18 on Saturday, Melyssa hadn’t found any interest in men until she came to the academy.  Then again, she hadn’t really been around many men in her life besides her father and grandfather.  The boys at school in Jurai weren’t anything to look at, nothing compared to the academy.

 

“And no, you’re not helping me rectify it either.” There was no way Ash would be her first kiss – Goddess no! “I’ve never given it much thought as far as having a boyfriend or being in a relationship.  Probably because my parents kept pressuring me to get married instead of following the way of the sword.  I rebelled against what they wanted me to do.” Because I had to find my own way, my own path, even when I thought Crow was dead, she added in thought, scrubbing a hand down her face.

 

“How are you supposed to get married without any experience in life whatsoever?” Ash asked, though to be honest, it wasn’t unheard of.  Going from kid to wife or husband was a way of life for many people, especially in smaller countries.  That was just ridiculous, going from one extreme to the other without any middle ground, any life experience between the two. “I have a question.” His tone turned serious. “If not for thinking Crow was dead, would you have picked up a sword and become so devoted to learning this path?” Would she have gone down another road basically?

 

Wow, she couldn’t remember Ash ever getting this serious with her, even his eyes looked serious and it made a lump form in her throat. “I picked it up shortly after he left Jurai to pursue his revenge on the Chancellor.  He told me about it the last night we were together, how he wanted Osborne to suffer for killing his grandfather and Jurai.  I wanted to follow him and I thought, one day, we would reunite somewhere in the empire and fight side by side.” She sat up more, remembering the first day she picked up her Cutlass, which she took very good care of.  It was her grandfather’s – he supported her decision, but couldn’t go against her parents, or more importantly, his daughter. “I may have picked it up because of Crow in the beginning, but the more I practiced and self-taught myself, self-trained, I discovered I loved it.  My passion for it grew day in and day out, night in and night out.  My grandfather built some contraptions for me to practice with since my parents wouldn’t let me receive proper training for it, so he did what he could to help me.  So, in a way, Crow lead me down the path I always felt I was meant to go.” The way of the sword. “And when I found out Crow died because of Duke Cayenne, I vowed to get revenge for my best friend.  I also wanted revenge against the Ashen Chevalier because I firmly believed Crow died because of him.  I didn’t know the entire story and now that I do, I don’t feel that desire for revenge anymore.” Crow was alive and that was all that mattered to her at the end of the day.

 

“I pray, that others fall out of desire for revenge as quickly as they fall into it.” Ash said seriously, wondering if Melyssa realized how special she was.  She was about the only female he talked to like this most of the time.  Sure, he could hold proper conversations with others, but… more often than not, he was flirting and being… well, himself. “Revenge is what got Crow where he is now.”

 

And that wasn’t exactly 100% himself either, he had come back missing some key bits apparently.  Revenge for his grandfather.  She had wanted revenge for Crow.  Those were slippery slopes to be on and he was glad she had managed to come out of it before she wound up jaded and broken.

 

She frowned, lowering her eyes and couldn’t deny what Ash said.  Crow wasn’t in a horrible place these days, but he had gone through pure hell in order to arrive here…with only some of his memories. “I know it was wrong to feel the way I did.  The only reason I came to Thors is because of my outside help I told you about.  They sort of…convinced me to come here to hone my skills.  I had no idea what class I would end up in or anything.  Actually, I wanted to go to the main school, but they didn’t have room for any more commoners, so I was sent here.”

 

What would have happened if she’d been sent to the other school?  Would she have discovered Crow was alive or would she have drifted down the road of revenge further?  That was a very unsettling thought.

 

“Now it’s my turn to ask you a question, Ash.  Do you do this with a lot of people, talk to them about their problems or their feelings?  Because you’re good at it, just so you know.”

 

“What do YOU think?” He asked derisively, adding in a snort just to emphasize his feelings on that ridiculous idea. “No.  No I do not.  Most people think I’m nothing more than some vulgar, handy with a weapon, brick wall.” Since he was a bit of a big guy, all muscle. “Why would I want to change how people perceive that?  They might give me more responsibility or put me in positions I don’t want to be in.” Crow was not the only slacker in Class VII, Ash had cornered his own fair share of that market.  Admittedly, when people -the select few of them anyway- did find out he was brainy, as well as brawny and not just a lecher, he did enjoy seeing the surprise on their faces. “Besides, I like you, beautiful.” He winked one pink eye at her, knowing he had given her food for thought with that revenge bit.  That was insightful, even for him and he knew it. “Now, I think,” Ash stood up, bending down to help her to her feet. “I’m ready to go back to bed and try squeezing in a couple more hours, how about you?”

 

She liked him too, as a friend.  Ash meant it that way too, Melyssa could tell and slowly shook her head, hugging him briefly around the waist. “Just know that if you ever need to talk about something, no matter how small it is, I’m here for you too.  This isn’t just a one way street.  I’m not going back to sleep, I think I’ll take a quick shower and then go train downstairs for a while.”

 

She was too restless to sleep, especially after that dream and the upcoming trip to Jurai tomorrow morning.  Ash responded by kissing the top of her head and headed back to his room with book in hand, waving over his shoulder at her.  Quietly, she went back to her and Crow’s room to grab her bathing bag and clothes, jumping nearly out of her skin when the light flipped on.

 

“Shit!”

 

And there was Crow with a pistol out, his fiery red eyes wild and his hair sticking up every which way.  He had the most jacked dream. “What are you doing?” He demanded gruffly, realizing he was almost pointing the business end of his weapon at her and put his hand down, shaking his head.  He was sitting upright in his bed, the lamp between beds the light he had flipped on.  Crow took her in, noting the stuff in her hands and then glanced at the time, finally putting the gun away. “’m sorry.” He muttered, drawing his knees up beneath the sheet he was under and ran his hands through his hair, making it stand up even more.

 

“Crow?” Melyssa dropped her stuff instantly and slowly moved toward him, being cautious because he could lash out at her at any moment. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

 

She wasn’t the only one that had messed up dreams apparently, but his had been a nightmare.  There wasn’t a doubt in her mind.  Once she was at his bedside, Melyssa slid her fingers through his haphazard hair and those crimson eyes looked up to meet concern-filled teal.  Were those tears in his eyes?  Her heart splintered at the turmoil she saw in them and without thinking about it, her arms wrapped around his neck to hold him.

 

“It’s okay…you’re okay…”

 

“Off me,” He ordered in a half-husky, half-growl tone of voice, shaking his head as she extricated herself from him. “I just pulled a gun on you and you’re hugging me?”

 

Even half-asleep, he knew that made no sense, this woman was out of her mind.  He could have shot her.  He closed his eyes against that image, crimson blood pooling out of her chest, the light dulling to nothing in her usually vibrant teal eyes.  Unsurprisingly, Melyssa didn’t move from his bed, just sat on the edge of it and stared patiently at him.  Groaning, Crow dug the heels of his hands into his eyes, wiping away the tears that he was refusing to acknowledge.

 

“I haven’t had that dream in years.” He muttered, finally looking at her again.

 

“You don’t have to talk about it, if you don’t want to.  And I’m not going to ask about it.  I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

 

Melyssa wanted to reach for him, at least take his hand or touch him in some way, but she refrained.  He didn’t want to be touched or coddled right now and she understood that.  The paleness was slowly disappearing and the color had risen back in his face, so that was a good sign.

 

“I’m here if you do want to talk about it, though.  I always have time for you, roomie.” She winked, trying to get him to at least crack a smile and frowned when he just continued staring at her. 

 

Was the dream about her?  Was it about the past?  No, he didn’t remember her, so why would he dream about her?

 

Chapter 18

 

“It smells like fish.” He informed her finally, knowing that probably made no sense at all unless she thought he was taking a jab at the fishmonger thing, her family, which he wasn’t.  Slumping back against the headboard, Crow let his hands drop in his lap, just staring at Melyssa. “In my… dream, it always smells like fish, and salt… and rancid water, like… water in a barrel that’s… briny.  Someone is trapped in this dark place, and it’s small, and she’s crying for help, but it gets weaker and weaker.  I’m trying to find her and I don’t, I never do, and the crying stops, but the smell gets stronger.  I think she died.”

 

Fish…salt…water…that all linked to Jurai since it was just off the ocean, which was how the city originally made trades and whatnot.  Melyssa didn’t move from where she sat and honestly had no idea what to say either.  He dreamt of a girl crying out for help in a dark place and he thought she was dead.  What in Aidios’ name had this man been through these past few years to make him dream something like that?

 

“She died in the dream, you mean?”

 

He nodded and she clasped her hands together tightly in her lap.  It would be pretty presumptuous to think it was her since Crow had no memories of her, but…the environment and surroundings of the dream, again, reminded her of their home.  It was a little too convenient and, as far as she knew, Crow didn’t have any other friends that were girls in Jurai.

 

“Do…do you know who the girl in your dream is?  Have you been in that kind of situation before in real life?”

 

“I don’t know, it feels real. It smells real.” Crow said after a long moment, considering it as he studied her. “I’ve had the dream for a long time and maybe once I knew it, or what it went, but… this is the first time I’ve had it since I’ve, um, come back.” Fish and brine, a barrel, dark and a young child crying. “To the best of my knowledge, I have never been trapped in a fish barrel.  You tell me, fishmonger’s daughter, have I?” She may know since she knew things about him he had forgotten.

 

Trapped in a fish barrel…Melyssa’s brows drew together because something zipped through her mind, a very faint memory…

 

~!~

 

“Help me!!  Please!!  I’m scared!!” The five-year-old little girl screamed at the top of her lungs, the darkness surrounding her.

 

“Hold on, I’m…trying…” A boy’s voice could be heard through the barrel and he was struggling to pop the top on it.

 

“PLEASE!!  MOMMY!!  DADDY!!”

 

The silver haired boy gritted his teeth, having a wrench in hand and sweat rolled down the sides of his face. “Hold on!  I’ll get help!”

 

“HELP ME!!” The little girl was near hysterics by now since she was sitting in very old water and it smelled horrible in here, like rotten fish.

 

~!~

 

Her eyes snapped open when she felt a hand on her shoulder, bewildered teal eyes wide while they stared into confused crimson. “W-What was that?” She whispered, more to herself than Crow and rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry, sorry…I just…” What was she supposed to say?  The truth. “Crow…” She swallowed hard, wondering how he would react to what she was about to say. “T-That…dream…I don’t think it’s just a dream.  I think it’s a memory…from Jurai.” At 5-years-old, little girls didn’t have the greatest memory, but certain events stuck with even the youngest. “I’m not sure, mind you, but I just…something just struck me when you told me what the dream was about and it felt like a memory.”

 

If that dream, that nightmare, he had wasn’t a dream but a memory replaying itself out in his head, the Goddess had the oddest sense of humor.  He was dreaming about an event of a girl he didn’t remember.  An event she didn’t remember, but she remembered him.  He felt the weirdest sensation, not exactly déjà vu, but something very close to it.

 

“In my dream I can’t get to her and the screaming just… tapers off.” But obviously, Melyssa was alive and well, and not pickled and brined in a fish barrel. “What do you remember?”

 

“The flashback I just had was of a little girl in a barrel, screaming for help.  Screaming for her Mom and Dad.  It’s dark, so I couldn’t see who the little girl is.  And a little boy’s voice is telling her he’s trying and he’s straining to open the barrel the little girl is in.  I don’t even know if it’s a barrel, but…there is water in it.” Her hands began to tremble and she clenched them tightly in her lap, taking a few deep breaths to slow her suddenly racing heart. “Does that sound like your dream?  I mean there are similarities…” That vision had come out of NOWHERE, only when Crow described what his nightmare was about. “I DO know that those fish barrels are used to transport fish across the ocean in Zemuria for trade.” That hadn’t stopped in Jurai. “So the water in them smells really bad.”

 

“You sound like you’re describing something you saw and not experienced.” Crow pointed out, like it was a dream she had had as well.  He idly wondered if she had any siblings or something, emphasis on had, and swallowed hard.  Where were these grim thoughts coming from? “I need water.” He muttered, his throat suddenly parched and tossed back the sheet, revealing nothing beneath but his sleep shorts. “I don’t know… it just smelled briny… and was dark and dank, and I wasn’t in there, but… maybe I was.” He didn’t know, it was starting to fade. “Maybe when we go to Jurai, things will become clearer.”

 

“Maybe…sorry, it was…I don’t know if it was…I mean…” Groaning in frustration, Melyssa stood up as well and grabbed her bag while Crow pulled pants on. “I’m gonna shower and then go train downstairs until class starts.  If you need me, you know where to find me.”

 

Crow looked like he needed time alone and, honestly, Melyssa was thrown after that vision or memory she’d had.  Was it her in that barrel?  Her parents would know, but she hadn’t spoken to them in over a year, so that wasn’t an option to question them.

 

“Oh…” She stopped and turned to face him, suddenly remembering what she’d told Rean and Ash already about Jurai. “My parents don’t know I’m here.  I told Rean last night and I was hoping you’d stick around to hear everything, but you didn’t, so I’m telling you now.  That’s another reason why I’m hesitant about this upcoming trip to Jurai.  I really don’t know if I want to see them, but…if it’ll help jog your memory, I’m willing to grin and bear it.  I’ll leave the decision up to you and we’ll talk about it later.” Then, she left the room and went to take a much-needed shower.

 

What in the blue realms was up with this woman and either walking out without a word or walking out and leaving a guy hanging?  Crow could only stare at the door, scratching the top of his head before going to get that glass of water. Why didn’t her parents know she was here?  Wasn’t that kind of a requirement for getting into Thors to begin with?  Groaning, he filled a bottle and retreated back to the bedroom, already knowing he wasn’t going to get anymore sleep, but he lay down anyway, making sure the drawer his pistols were in was locked this time, not about to EVER greet her with one again.  If it was going to cause her distress, he had no problem in holding off on that visit.

 

It wasn’t like he couldn’t go to Jurai on his own.

 

She hadn’t meant to rush out on him, but…having a pistol pointed at her and then hearing Crow’s dream, nightmare, whatever he wanted to call it, somewhat scared her.  There was no way she could tell him that, though.  The last thing she wanted to do was push him farther away or put more space between them.  Standing in the middle of the training room, alone, Melyssa held her Cutlass in a stance that did not leave any openings.  Her guard was up and she closed her eyes, feeling and hearing each swing of her weapon.  Complete and total concentration, she just wanted to escape for a while in training and could tell her footwork was much more fluid.

 

~!~

 

Friday morning arrived sooner than Melyssa would have liked as she boarded the bullet and bomb-proof train, the Derfflinger, that would take them all the way to Jurai.  It would take around 6 hours to get there, so Rean instructed everyone to eat breakfast before take-off.  Melyssa hadn’t talked to Crow because he was gone by the time she arrived back at the dorms last night.  He didn’t return until late and she was already asleep by then.  It was like they’d swapped places with him being out late and her in the dorm.  Finding her room – each student had their own on the train – Melyssa set her bag down and looked out the window, watching the scenery fly by.

 

“Melyssa.”

 

She knew that voice anywhere and turned around, smiling at the sight of none other than Principal Aurelia Le Guin. “Good morning, General.”

 

“How many times must I tell you not to call me that, child?” Aurelia chastised playfully, walking up to stand in front of the student. “How are you getting along with Class VII thus far?  Are you comfortable with them and the ARCUS II?”

 

“Yes, General.”

 

Aurelia decided not to hound her about using the title since she had been a General for the Noble Alliance during the civil war. “Good, I was just checking up on you.  You haven’t told anyone how you came to be here, right?”

 

“I have, but I did not mention your name at all.  I gave you my word and I stand by it.  Nobody will find out you’re the one who helped me get into Thors.”

 

Aurelia smiled at that, proud of the girl standing in front of her and patted her shoulder. “Very well, thank you for being discreet and keeping your word.  That’s very honorable.  I will take my leave then.  Rest up, Class VII has a very busy day ahead of them when we arrive in Jurai SEZ later today.”

 

“Yes, General.”

 

Rean, who had been standing in the narrow hall, guiding the students to their rooms, had spotted Aurelia stepping into Melyssa’s room and then coming out.  He didn’t think overly much about it since she also visited a few other students, knowing she was just checking in and getting a measure of everything.  This was Class VII’s first excursion of the year and after everything that had happened last year, and what they were also investigating while in Jurai, he would have been surprised to NOT see her.  Once everyone was in their compartment, he made his way down to his own, halting to knock on the open door to Melyssa’s and grinned when she glanced over at him.

 

“Nervous?”

 

“A little, yeah.” The nervous energy she used to feel with Rean wasn’t there anymore and it made her feel a little more at ease. “You can come in, you don’t have to hover in the doorway.” Rean looked a little sheepish and stepped inside, closing the door behind him.  That erotic dream with him and Crow suddenly sprung to mind and Melyssa cursed her brain for bringing up something like that at the worst time. “I take it you were worried about me, Rean?” Why else would he be hovering in her doorway with a pensive smile on his face? “I won’t be distracted during the field study, I promise.”

 

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried,” He admitted, sitting down beside her, though he was mindful enough to leave space between them. 

 

This wasn’t like the other night when they had had gelato together.  This was an official school trip and he was here as her Instructor, he could probably wind up in a sling being in here with her with the door shut.  He also would probably get out of it because he was still fairly popular and revered as the Ashen Chevalier, but it wasn’t in Rean’s nature to capitalize on things like that. “You look a little flushed,” He leaned in towards her, bringing his fingers up to press against her forehead. “Are you all right?” His hand moved to the back of her neck. “You’re warm, but not burning hot.”

 

She swallowed hard at the feeling of his hand against her forehead and then her neck, that nervous energy back for an entirely different reason. “I-I’m fine.  Really.”

 

Melyssa firmly pushed the image of Rean and Crow in the back of her mind, needing to focus.  There was a very good reason why she was flushed and warm to the touch…and one of them was currently in her room.  Those fuchsia eyes were full of concern and confusion, making her stomach tighten.

 

“Just thinking about what I’ll say when I see my parents again.  I think…we should go see them and see if we can’t jog Crow’s memory.  He remembered something, I think, in a dream and he said he’s been having the same dream on and off since he left Jurai.  I know my parents won’t be happy about it, but…Crow is more important and I want to help him any way I can.  What do you think, Rean?” Oh goddess, she managed to avoid an awkward situation with her Instructor with the change in subject.

 

“Now, I think that’s a good idea, but…” There was a but because this was a class field study and he had to think about the entire class.  Crow’s memory issues had not been a problem up until Melyssa informing a few people that Crow did not have all his memories back.  He didn’t have his memories of her. “It will also depend on how much time we have.  We have to investigate Ouroboros since we’ll be in the region.” When he had initially planned the trip, he had thought that being in familiar territory would help the pair bond, he had gotten a lot more than he had bargained for. “You two together will be able to make that excursion, but the class as a whole… I don’t know yet.”

 

“Right, I understand completely.”

 

There was a mystery here with Crow’s nightmare and Jurai and it was obvious Rean didn’t know anything about it.  If they didn’t have time during this trip, they would simply have to come back to Jurai another time together…outside of the academy.  Her face turned serious as she turned to fully face Rean, clasping her hands in her lap.  The flush was gone for the moment and she had cooled down.

 

“What exactly are we investigating with Ouroboros?  You never did tell us the specifics.”

 

Chapter 19

 

“That’s because I didn’t have all the specifics at the time.”

 

Rean was glad she wasn’t taking what he had said personally.  That was the downside to being both the teacher and the friend, as an Instructor he had to put the class as a whole first.  Now, if by chance this thing with Crow and Melyssa also somehow tied into Ouroboros, that would be a whole new ballgame, but what were the odds?

 

“There’s been some odd occurrences in Jurai, political mostly, but some are economical, and if not checked, they have the ability to destabilize the zone.” Which was something Ouroboros would do, it was one of their specialties, destabilizing areas and causing chaos.

 

Why would she take it personally?  Business came first and she understood that.  Helping Crow was a priority, but not at the top of her list when it came to the academy.  Ouroboros was very dangerous and if they were trying to destabilize Jurai, something had to be done.  What worried her was Rean saying there were political issues within Jurai since it was an economic zone through the Imperial government.  There wasn’t a Mayor or ‘leader’ or anything, just the Railway Military Police, headed by Major Claire Rieveldt and the Imperial guard in general. “Do you know which member of the Society we’re investigating?” Melyssa was almost afraid to ask since they were all dangerous, but two stood out to her above all else.

 

“Enforcer No. 0 Campanella, the Fool and Enforcer No. 1 McBurn, the Almighty Conflagration.”

 

Those were the topmost dangerous members in Ouroboros and nobody had seen or heard from McBurn or Campanella since the Twilight was stopped. “Oh wow.”

 

“Yeah, wow, so first we need to determine if there is active Ouroboros presence in Jurai, and then we’ll address how we determine what exactly they are up too.” Which… was a lot for one weekend, and he knew time was the enemy here because it wasn’t like they could just go out and start asking a million questions. 

 

Rean also knew that their presence, Class VII, was going to raise some questions anyway.  A lot of them had been a part of the civil war and other bits in one way or another.  They would be working from sunup to sundown for the three days they were in Jurai.  There would be no stone left unturned, there wouldn’t be any time for excursions outside of the field study unless…it was after the day ended.

 

“If it’s political, that’s definitely going to raise eyebrows and suspicions.  You don’t think Ouroboros is trying to start another civil war between the Nobles and the Imperial government, do you?” During the first civil war, Ouroboros worked closely with the Noble Faction, which created the Noble Alliance.

 

“It wouldn’t surprise me. While we’re at peace, it’s still new and one wrong thing could set it all sliding back.” Rean admitted with a heavy sigh. “There’s a lot of tension and bad blood on either side, stirring that up wouldn’t be too hard, but Ouroboros will be cunning about it.”

 

Considering they had operated for centuries in the shadows, they had this down to an art.  He rather admired the ability they had and the power they wielded from said shadows, but it was the same admiration he had for a deadly beast.  Rean appreciated the raw power, he recognized it had to be put down.

 

“We’ll figure it out.  This is Class VII and we have the best Instructor with us.  We won’t fail.” Melyssa winked, trying to ease the tension a little and wondered what Crow was up to. 

 

She wanted to go talk to him, but at the same time, she didn’t want to bother him.  That’s all she felt like lately was a big bother to Crow, for some reason.  Things were complicated and she almost wished she hadn’t said anything to him about them knowing each other as children.  He hadn’t been standoffish with her or distant until the revelation.  Maybe he really didn’t want anything to do with his past, including the people he knew like her.  It would break her heart if that was the case and Melyssa immediately stopped going down that dark road, needing to stay positive.

 

As if reading her mind, actually it was more of her face, Rean decided to ask about her and Crow. “How’s it going with Crow?” She confirmed it was that with the way her face shifted. “Not so good?” He draped his arm back along the seat rest, staring down at her intently. “He doesn’t remember anything, does he?”

 

And maybe he never would, he wondered if Melyssa had acknowledged that yet or even started preparing herself for that potential outcome.  If Crow never regained those memories, regained his knowledge of her, how would that affect her?  Concern shone in his eyes.

 

“I wish I wouldn’t have told him who I really am.  Before I did, he was carefree and friendly, but now…I don’t know.” Melyssa sighed heavily and leaned back against the seat, this time reading Rean’s mind without realizing it. “Maybe I just have to face the cold truth of the matter.  Crow may never get his memories back of me, of his time in Jurai, and I have to accept that.  It’s reality.” She looked up at Rean, seeing the relief flash across his face at her words. “Don’t worry, I won’t fall apart over it.  He’s alive and I can always make new memories with him.” As long as he wanted to make them with her anyway.

 

“He’s distant towards you, isn’t he?” Rean asked curiously, not surprised to see her nod almost helplessly.  Yeah, that would suck, having that closeness prior, but then… yeah.  He shook his head, looking out the window for a moment before back down at her. “Maybe he’s trying to remember things.” He suggested finally, knowing Crow would come around -if ever- when he wanted and on his own terms; that was just how Crow was. “Well if you need anything, I’m always here, Melyssa.  Someone to talk too, hang out… shoulder to cry on.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled again. “I’m not just your Instructor.”

 

Her very desirable Instructor that she had erotic dreams about.  They were the reason she refused to go back into the bath at the dorm and stuck to showers instead. “Thank you.” There were just SOME things she could NOT confide to Rean about, such as what she’d already told Ash.  Never had a boyfriend, never even kissed a guy before…she really was a mutant. “Please don’t say anything to Crow about this.  I don’t need him losing focus on the field study.  When we get back to Leeves, I’ll talk to him about it, but not while we’re in Jurai.  Will you do that for me, friend?” Now she cracked a smile back at him.

 

“I’m not going to say a word to him, I doubt anything I would say would help the situation.” Rean promised easily enough. “Now, on the other hand, if he comes to me and talks about the situation, I’m not going to send him away. I’m his friend too.” His best friend actually and the way she nodded told him Melyssa understood. “You’re flushed again.” He used his hand on her forehead once more, frowning slightly before leaning in.  A second later, his lips were firmly pressed against her forehead. “Mmm.”

 

“I-I meant about how I feel…”

 

What was he doing?!  Melyssa didn’t move an inch, frozen in her seat and her breathing had quickened a little, along with her heartrate.  What was it about Rean Schwarzer that made her insides quake?

 

“Rean, um…” Her mouth was dry and her throat had locked up, causing her vocal cords to stop working temporarily.  He pulled back and their eyes locked, their lips mere not even an inch apart. “I don’t…”

 

A knock sounded at her door, jolting both of them apart and she stood up instantly while Rean went to the window.  Sliding open the door, a pair of deep crimson eyes stared back at her and Melyssa felt actual relief flood her at the sight of Crow.  Crow stood there, his eyes moving back and forth between the pair. Melyssa’s cheeks were rosy and Rean’s eyes were slightly dilated, his lips parted just a fraction.

 

“Am I interrupting?” He asked curiously, his tone light and friendly, though fire was now simmering in his red eyes.

 

“No, not at all, we were just discussing the trip.” Rean grinned broadly, stepping back to make room. “I was actually getting ready to leave, I need to check in on a few others before I finally find my own room.” He sidled past Crow and out the door.

 

Melyssa did not dare watch Rean leave and stepped aside for Crow to enter, the door closing behind her.  She really had to get a hold of her emotions and had to wonder if Rean was about to kiss her before Crow decided to interrupt them.  Why would he press his lips to her forehead?  She wasn’t sick or anything…Melyssa could not figure him out and pushed it out of her mind, her focus going back to Crow.

 

“Hi.” That sounded lame and she could tell Crow wasn’t amused to find their Instructor in here alone with her. “What’s on your mind, roomie?”

 

Rean kept doing it because she kept flushing and the only reason he could think of for that was sickness.  Or perhaps embarrassment, but what would Melyssa have to be embarrassed about.  It occurred to him that he would like to see her flushed under certain circumstances and he cleared his throat, slipping into his room.

 

“Just wanted to check in on you, it feels weird, having my own room.” Crow laughed, moving to take Rean’s seat though he didn’t sit as close. “What’d the Instructor want?  Something about why we’re there?”

 

There was that laughter, that carefree attitude Crow had prior to finding out who she truly was. “He came to check on me because he knows I’m nervous about going to Jurai.  He also told me the members of Ouroboros that are possibly in the region.” She sat down next to him, resting her hands in her lap and slowly looked at him, into those crimson eyes.  Melyssa could have confronted him right here and now, but like she told Rean, she wanted Crow’s focus to be on the field study. “We really have our work cut out for us for our first field study.”

 

“Yeah, we do.”

 

So that meant, even if it wouldn’t have caused issues between her and family, they weren’t going to have the time to go exploring for those missing memories.  Crow wasn’t sure if he felt disappointed or relieved.  He didn’t know why the disappointment was there, when Melyssa obviously treasured their childhood friendship, so… what was his deal?

 

“So, I’m sure you think I’ve been a royal jerk lately.” Ever since the night he had pulled his pistol out on her. “And I’m sorry.”

 

“No.  I’ve never thought you were a jerk, Crow.  But…I’ve come to the realization that you may never regain the memories of us.  And I regret telling you who I really am because it’s just made things awkward between us.”

 

He wasn’t spontaneous like he’d been the night he danced with her in their room or fell asleep spooned up against her.  Melyssa missed those moments and it was all because of her big mouth and belief Crow would somehow regain the memory of her.  She’d been selfish, inconsiderate and wrong to tell him or anyone, for that matter.

 

“You seemed like you wanted to be left alone, so that’s why I haven’t bothered you.”

 

“I’m trying to remember the things you want me too.” He said after a moment, frowning slightly.  She regret telling him. “I always had this weird feeling around you, like a nagging in my gut, trying to tell me something and now I know what it is.  I just wish I could remember.  I guess… it feels different now around you because you remember some kid and I don’t…” Obviously it was coming back, slowly, and things like that nightmare he had had proved he had memories that were there deep in his subconscious.

 

"But I know you aren't a kid anymore.  And I certainly don't see you that way either." Melyssa grabbed his hand and set it on her skirt covered thigh, teal eyes full of warmth and plea. "The past is the past.  I just...I miss the connection we had before I told you who I am.  I don't want anything to change or be different with us.  I want to get to know you all over again.  I am glad you still kept your love for games, though.  But I want to get to know you in the present, right here and now, instead of living in the past.  I will still help you and answer any questions you have, but I also want us to move forward." Goddess, she hoped she didn't sound pushy or manipulative.

 

Crow was somewhat confused.  She was angry with him because of their past, his ‘death and resurrection’, and then she was sad because he didn’t remember anything about their childhood together, and now she wanted to move on and not dwell on the past.  He was beyond confused actually.  His palm was also tingling as he looked down, realizing where she had set his hand and acted instinctively, his fingers flexing and tightening for a moment before relaxing. He was about two seconds away from caressing her or something, realizing this was the closest they had been with each other in a while.  He really had been distant lately.

 

Melyssa wasn’t angry anymore.  She was sad, but that would pass in due time.  Crow being distant made her realize that pushing him to remember the past and putting this pressure on him just drove him away.  When he squeezed her thigh, her hand on top of his, Melyssa felt the muscles jump instinctively, her cheeks flushing all over again.  What was going through his mind right now?  He didn’t speak a word and had flexed his fingers, but she had no idea what that meant.  What was Crow trying to tell her without using words?

 

“Are you okay?” She asked softly, after several minutes of silence flew by between them. “Please, say something, Crow.”

 

“I don’t know.  Yeah, I guess.”

 

He pulled his hand away, knowing she was too virginal to realize that that was a pretty intimate gesture. Well, maybe she did know, there were rumors about her and Ash Carbide, which he didn’t believe for a second because she had better taste than that.  She was HIS friend, after all.  However, he also knew he couldn’t really assume anything about her experience with intimacy, even though everything about her screamed virgin in big, flashing letters.

 

Goddess, where did those thoughts come from? He had been musing about the distance between them since she had revealed what she knew about him, about them being friends in Jurai.  How her parents had basically babysat him and then he had been thinking about Melyssa not as a friend, but as something else entirely.  As a woman… a woman, it dawned on him almost stupidly because he couldn’t believe he was surprised by this, he was interested in on a physical level.

 

Chapter 20

 

Something else was bothering Crow and Melyssa didn’t have the faintest idea what it could be.  Just the tone of his voice alone told her he was anything except all right.  There was nothing she could do for him – he had to help himself before anyone else could.

 

“No, you’re not.  It’s okay, I won’t ask.”

 

Maybe grabbing his hand to hold it was presumptuous of her.  It had been a natural reaction since he’d come to finally talk to her.  Was he bothered by the fact she ran away from home and hadn’t seen her parents in over a year?  Now that she thought about it, they hadn’t discussed it because she had walked away before he could question anything.  Why did things have to be so complicated?

 

Nope, he wasn’t bothered in the least that she had run away from home and hadn’t seen her parents.  That was her business.  He was amused by it actually, and rather admiring of her gumption. She had known what she wanted, she knew she had to find alternative means to get it, and she had gone for it, consequences be damned.  Nobody had been hurt in the process, besides said parents maybe on an emotional level, and she was getting an education and working towards acquiring her dream.  Not many people could say that, ever.

 

“I’m not going to worry about the past.” He informed her, the decision just kind of clicking in his head as he stared intently down at her, turning sideways in the seat so his body was facing hers. “I’ve been trying to make myself remember and feeling like I’m letting you down,” Which he had been, by being distant. “And I’m done with it.  If it happens, it happens.” Crow gave her his patent smile, eyes staring intently into hers. “And we have enough to worry about with Ouroboros in Jurai without adding more fire to the flames.”

 

“We do, yes.” Crow probably knew members of Ouroboros better than anyone since they had been his allies during the civil war.  He more than likely had inside information that would help Class VII figure out what exactly they were doing and after. “And you’re not letting me down, Crow.  You never were.  I’m sorry for putting so much pressure on you.  I didn’t realize I was doing it until now.” He was fine just the way he was and maybe it was a blessing in disguise he didn’t remember her or the past. “Instructor Rean did say if we have time, we can go see my parents, if we want.” More than likely, it would have to be at night after the investigating for the day is over. “He also said Ouroboros has something to do with the political nature in Jurai and that worries me.”

 

“That doesn’t surprise me… Ouroboros likes to destabilize economic zones that are already fragile and everything is fragile right now.” Jurai was small, but it was also a focal port and provider of certain goods, so casting Jurai into chaos would have a rippling effect.  Maybe not overly major -at first-, but that was how the ‘secret’ society worked, in the shadows and with long-term goals instead of short-term gains. “Then there’s the fact that we’re at peace and all it’ll take is a few well-placed daggers, figuratively speaking, to disrupt that…” He sighed, pushing silver hair off his forehead. “This is going to be an interesting field study.”

 

They still hadn’t been able to form a proper Combat Link with each other either.  Rean was determined to get them to do it, so they would be hunting down Ouroboros linked together.  Melyssa went to say something else when her room began to shake and an explosion suddenly went off.

 

“We’re being attacked!!”

 

“Everyone, head to the back of the train!!”

 

That could be heard through her room door and both Melyssa and Crow were up instantly, racing out into the hallway.  Another explosion hit and it sent them both flying back into her room to the opposite wall.  The train was…tilting…they were falling!

 

“CROW!” She cried out, knowing they were being ambushed and more than likely, it was from Ouroboros. 

 

Screaming ensued as the train plummeted from the tracks and down into the water, exploding half of it and the other half began to sink.  Crow tried breaking the window and finally managed to succeed as they both swam out of it, but Melyssa caught her arm on a shard, slicing it open.

 

Crow the student was gone and the man who had led the terrorist organization was out in full swing.  One arm went around Melyssa, dragging her away from the sinking train.  He didn’t bother with surfacing, the train sinking would drag them and everything around down with it. Eventually, he surfaced, glancing down to make sure she had a pulse and pressed his hand to check. “You okay?” His voice came out strained, gruff, oblivious to the fact that she was bleeding. 

 

In the light, he could see she was pale and attributed it to what had just happened.  Coughing and gasping for air, Melyssa couldn’t answer him at first, but the noises she made told him she was alive.  Crow didn’t let go of her as he began swimming towards land.  Her arm was throbbing, searing with pain from the cut and she was losing blood slowly but surely.  Eventually, they made it to dry land and Melyssa crawled on her hands and knees, upheaving water she had consumed.  She heard something rip and slowly turned her head to see Crow wrapping her arm in some kind of cloth.

 

“W-What in Aidios’ name just happened?” She stammered, coughing more while he finished tending to her wound the best he could. “C-Crow, are you hurt?”

 

“No.”

 

He wasn’t even in shock and a small part of him felt bad for the other people from the train.  Some of them wouldn’t have made it, some may drown, and he would bet a lot of them were in shock right now, struggling to make it out of the water.  It occurred to him that some of their classmates from Class VII may have not made it if they were in the initial explosion range on the train.  He couldn’t think of that, not right now.  Right now he had to focus on their survival.

 

“Is there anything else?” He asked once done with her arm, beginning to take stock of her limbs before cupping her face and checking to make sure she wasn’t in shock.

 

Rean, Ash, Juna, Altina, Kurt…they were nowhere to be found and Melyssa could already feel the tears boiling in her eyes.  Her throat felt like it was locking up, the shock of the attack draining out of her. Goddess, pull it together, she mentally chastised, shaking her head when Crow asked the same question again regarding if she had any other injuries. “W-We have to…we have to move.  We have to find Rean and everyone else…” Thankfully, her Cutlass was still strapped to her side and Crow had his double-saber and pistols.  Slowly getting to her feet with his help, Melyssa wiped the tears away that streamed down her cheeks and took a few deep breaths. “W-We need to find out where we are too…”

 

“No, you need to stop and breathe.” Crow informed her, standing with his feet spread apart, his eyes were on her, but he was listening to the sounds of people screaming and crying, stuff in the water, it was a disaster. “We also need to assess which side of the lake we’re on and stay cautious.  Whoever planted the bomb may be lurking and waiting to pick off survivors.” Which would make helping anyone disastrous because then they were targets. Ouroboros would be expecting people to help others, it was a weakness of good people.

 

What if they were dead?  Rean…Ash…Melyssa immediately pushed that thought firmly out of her mind, refusing to succumb to despair so soon.  There were others that had surfaced from the train, but they had gone to the other side of the lake. “Okay…” Reaching up, she scrubbed her hands down her face and through her loose hair, the tail she had it in halfway out.  Melyssa didn’t care about how she looked and pulled her Cutlass out, nodding at Crow.  Her arm was killing her, but she’d suffered worse pain than a cut and would be fine. “All right, lead the way then.  I’ve got your back.” This wasn’t good since they couldn’t form a Combat Link yet, but then again, there was no time like the present to practice.

 

Rean, Ash and most of the rest were not new to battle or situations like this.  Granted, nobody was ever actually prepared for a train to explode and send them careening over a bridge, but… they had survived a lot of other extreme, dangerous situations and come out the other side.  He wasn’t overly concerned for them so much as the people on the train who were just civilians.  This was a great way for them to build a bond, trust, survival situations usually were, but he had a feeling this was not what Rean had been thinking of.

 

“This way, we’re going around the long way.” And low, out of sight because he liked their heads on their shoulders.

 

She was a first year and Crow was a second year, not to mention he used to be the leader of a terrorist group.  Melyssa trusted him enough to follow him and do as she was told, thankful her legs hadn’t been damaged in the explosion.  They trekked from the lake and headed through the wilderness, cutting down monsters they ran into.  Thankfully, they weren’t too strong, so they didn’t even need to use a Combat Link to demolish them.  The ARCUS II was waterproof, apparently, because it still worked perfectly.  They finally managed to get to the top of the hill they trekked and could see the bridge completely destroyed where the train had been attacked.

 

“Goddess…” She whispered, covering her mouth with her hand and her eyes were wide in horror at the destruction.

 

Shaking his head and sending water everywhere, Crow silently echoed her, his wide red eyes taking in everything.  If there had been anyone near the explosion site on the train, they were dead and he felt his heart lurch at the thought of his friends being dead. “Come on.” He ordered grimly, eyes searching the path ahead.  When she didn’t immediately move, Crow turned to take Melyssa gently by her shoulders, bending down until his forehead rest against hers for a brief moment. “We got this.” He whispered, brushing his nose against hers. “Okay?”

 

Swallowing hard at the intensity in his eyes, Melyssa exhaled shakily and nodded, believing what he said.  They were alive and they had to keep moving, not able to stick around this area for fear of the attackers still lurking.  The smell of smoke from the fire and faint screaming of people echoed up at them as Melyssa clutched the front of Crow’s jacket.  At least he was with her and hadn’t perished in the explosion.

 

“We have to keep moving.” She reached up to touch his face with her hand briefly before pulling back. “This is Twin Dragon’s Bridge, so no more than likely, if anyone from Thors survived, they would head in that direction to the 4th Armored Division.  We should head there first, unless you don’t think that’s a good idea?”

 

“It is… but what about the civilians?” Crow asked quietly. “There are survivors and I think Rean will be down there helping.” And hopefully, in his rush to aid people, keep his wits about him and not make himself too big of a target. “We can split up.” He offered finally, torn on what to do.  This was the problem with having friends and caring about other people, sometimes the survival thing, which usually required being selfish, was tested because one had developed feelings and empathy for other people. “You can go ahead and see if anyone else is there, and get more help, and I can go down and start… dredging the lake and aiding the wounded.”

 

This idea was horrible and she didn’t want to be away from Crow.  How did Crow know Rean was even still alive?  He was talking like he KNEW and it unnerved her, if she was honest.  He was more worried about the civilians and other members of Thors, that much was obvious.  Frowning, Melyssa looked around and then back up into his eyes, finally finding her voice.

 

“What if Ouroboros is around here somewhere, waiting to attack?  Are you sure splitting up is the right thing to do?” At his firm nod, Melyssa felt her heart plummet to the depths of her stomach and stepped back. “Fine, be careful and I’ll try to be back as soon as I can with help.” Alone, with an injured arm, was going to be LOADS of fun to trek through the wilderness surrounding them.

 

“If you can’t do this, Melyssa, then stay here and stay hidden. I’ll be right down there and we can keep in communication with the ARCUS II.” Crow said with more patience than he was feeling.

 

Though, as he stared down at her, he could see the panic in her eyes.  This was what Class VII was about at the end of the day, what the Academy was training them for and moments like this, which nobody ever hoped for, tended to weed out who truly belonged and could make it and who could not.  His heart ached for her, but at the same time… others had to come first, the people who weren’t trained to defend themselves, who may have more than an arm wound.

 

“No, I said I’d go and that’s what I’m going to do.  I’m not helpless and I’m not a damn damsel in distress either.  I got this.” Granted, she didn’t know the area very well, but she would figure it out somehow, someway. “Someone has to go inform the 4th Armored Division what happened, so they’ll send reinforcements here to help.”

 

Crow was cold-blooded when it came to situations like these, she was quickly discovering and she didn’t know if she liked it or not.  Rean was completely different from him for sure, but then again, she wasn’t with Rean right now to survey how he handled this situation.  Maybe he was just as cold.

 

“See you soon, Armbrust.” Winking, she headed off down the hill while he went another direction, both parting ways to do their duties as military academy students.

 

Coldness and being level-headed, rational, was an automatic reaction from him, given he had been doing things since he was a teenager.  Leading terrorist organizations, fighting battles... He had been thoroughly prepared which was sad though currently useful.  Crow headed down towards the lake, going faster since he didn’t have to worry about Melyssa.  There was absolutely no surprise at all finding Rean dragging people up onto shore.

 

Rean blinked water out of his eyes, breathing heavily as he surveyed Crow coming at him. “Where’s Melyssa?” He demanded, accepting the one armed hug before they both turned back to the lake.

 

“She headed for the 4th Armored Division.”

 

“Altina did as well.”

 

“Juna and Kurt are trying to locate Ash right now.  He’s missing.” Rean informed Crow before once again diving into the water, pulling another body up to shore moments later. 

 

Death didn’t bother him too much since they had been surrounded by it during the civil war as well as the Twilight.

 

Chapter 21

 

If Melyssa had an inkling that Rean was actually alive, she would have jumped for joy.  However, if she knew Ash was missing, she would have had a meltdown. “Shit, I need a minute…” She muttered to herself when she walked for a while, or so it felt like, and leaned back against a tree, staying in the wilderness and out of sight. 

 

Following the railroad tracks was a surefire way of being blasted off them or attacked.  Hissing at her arm, she pulled the soaked bloody piece of cloth away to survey it.  The bleeding had stopped, but one false move and the wound would reopen.  She had managed to bypass monsters, knowing fighting alone wasn’t the best idea since she was injured.  Ripping off some of her jacket, she rewrapped her arm and took a deep breath before continuing on.

 

Not even two seconds later, Melyssa was tripping on what could have been a log, but after a second look, it was not a log.  She landed on her knees, catching herself with her good arm and turned her head.  Laying there was Ash, breathing but unconscious, a large knot on the side of his head and dried blood down his face.  Or, he had been unconscious.  He was starting to stir, moaning as pain tore him from that knot on down.  The last thing he remembered was harassing Monique, cracking a joke before turning to enter his room and he had felt a change in… everything, right before a blinding light and a scorching heat had engulfed him, then nothing.

 

“ASH?!” Melyssa hadn’t meant to shout his name, but she hadn’t expected to run into anyone far into the woods either. “Oh Aidios…”

 

He was hurt and she had just tripped over him, which couldn’t have felt good either.  A groan came out that sounded low and gruff, his eyes slowly opening.  What was Melyssa supposed to do?  There was no way she could call for help because they were too deep into the woods.

 

“You’re alive…thank goddess…” As much as she wanted to hug him, she really needed to help him first. “C-Can you sit up?” More than likely, he had a concussion. “How the hell did you make it all the way out here?” Was he headed for the 4th Armored Division at Twin Dragons Bridge?

 

“Here?” Ash echoed weakly, confusion lacing his soft, cracking voice. He began pushing himself up into a sitting position only to stop, hissing in pain. “Something is wrong with my arms, Melyssa.” It came out a puzzled whine, his teeth gnashing as he pushed himself up anyway, his pink eyes closing as if he could shut out the pain.  It took him a moment to realize what was wrong.  They were singed.  His arms and his back, now that he was conscious and everything was registering, had been burnt. “What happened?” He asked, wishing he had water as he met her stare finally, noting how pale faced she was and frowned. “Are you hurt?” The pain was becoming bearable as he began categorizing what was hurting, what may have caused it and whether or not it was an immediate life or death situation.

 

“D-Don’t worry about me.” Goddess help her, she was trying to remain strong and vigilant, but the tears began falling before she could stop them.  She had to get a hold of herself and took a shaky breath in and let it back out slowly. “Ash, the train…it was attacked and…there were explosions.  People are dead.  I-I’m on my way to the Twin Dragons Bridge to get in touch with the 4th Armored Division.  Crow stayed behind to help civilians and…I don’t know if the others are okay.  You’re the first one I’ve found alive since leaving the wreckage…”

 

He was pale and the blood on the side of his face broke her heart.  There was no way he could go with her, but she refused to leave him in this state.  What was she going to do?

 

“T-There’s a stream about five minutes from here, let me go get some water.  It should be clean enough to drink…”

 

“No,” Ash’s hand shot out, it was shaking and it wasn’t something he could control just yet, but his grip was strong enough to stop her, briefly anyway. “Just, give me a minute and we can go together.” His other hand came up to his head when Melyssa raised her fingers to ghost it, feeling dried, sticky blood there and grimaced. He probably looked worst then he felt, he hoped anyway, he felt pretty crappy right now. “What happened to your arm, beautiful?” His eyes, which were finally focusing properly and the glossiness wasn’t as bad, zoomed in the makeshift bandage wrapped around it. “Ouroboros attacked the train.” He said after she explained about the glass, shaking his head. “Somehow they found out about us… unless there was a very important passenger aboard none of us knew about.”

 

“That’s what Crow thinks.  He’s almost positive it was Ouroboros.  Something big is going down in Jurai for them to attack us on the Twin Dragons Bridge railway.” Not only would the 4th Armored Division be there at the tower, but so would the RMP. “Ash, you’re injured more than I am…” That didn’t stop the stubborn man from rising to his feet in front of her, using the tree as leverage with his free hand.  He still had a hold of her arm and she had no choice except to get to her feet as well. “Instructor Rean told me there’s something going on regarding the politics in Jurai and he believed…believes…” She immediately corrected herself, refusing to believe Rean was dead and wished she could clean Ash up even a little bit.

 

So, the question was, did Ouroboros attack because of Class VII coming or had there been a high profile target abroad the train?  It wasn’t ego to assume that it could have been Class VII, the students of the class had gone to war and won, so… their enemies knew most of them weren’t just students.  They were a threat.

 

“Afraid for Rean?” He asked, almost conversationally as he forced her to move with him or drop his overly large ass. “He’ll be fine, he’s been through worse.” He laughed, it came out a little raspy. “I can’t really think of anything worse at the moment but I know there’s something.  It’ll come to me eventually… which way?” His sense of direction was addled, he was relying on Melyssa a lot more then he was trying to let on.

 

“I’m worried for everyone, Ash, not just Instructor Rean.  And it’s down here a ways, just hang onto me.” Melyssa was stronger than she looked, her petite frame having a muscular, feminine build to it.  She didn’t look grotesque, but her strength wasn’t to be passed over either. “I got you, come on.” Together, slowly, they began trekking back down the hill through the woods, the sound of running water coming to their ears within five minutes of walking.  Once they arrived at the stream, Melyssa managed to help Ash to the water and they sat down to drink their fill. “Okay, I’m going to start cleaning your face off.” Tearing some of his shirt off without hurting him, Melyssa dunked it in the stream and then proceeded to straddle him, his legs not singed like his arms were, and started wiping the blood from his face.

 

“Ow, ow, mind the knot, wench,” Ash whined, ducking his head when she actually got said knot.  He knew, rationally, it needed to be cleaned and checked for damage beneath the blood and he probably looked a hot mess, but OUCH. “Hey,” He displayed quickness that he shouldn’t have possessed in his current state, rolling so he was hovering over her, shielding her. “Ssshhh…” He bent down, his lips hovering against her cheek as the sound of someone coming became clear over the sound of the stream.  Ash wasn’t sure if it was friend, foe or some random person, but he wasn’t risking a thing right now.

 

Ash was covering his entire body with her own, moving his arms while his face remained right next to hers, so she was completely out of sight from whoever was approaching them. Goddess, please don’t let it be Ouroboros, Melyssa silently prayed, holding her breath while her face was buried in Ash’s chest.  Ash could more than likely feel how fast her heart was racing and pounding against her chest, fresh silent tears spilling down her cheeks.  She was legitimately scared to death and wanted to protect him, but Ash still showcased tremendous strength, even in his current condition.

 

“What the-”

 

“Ash!”

 

A second later, Ash was being pulled up by a half-naked, soaked and sweaty Rean with Crow right beside him.  Crow looked down, blinking when he realized who Ash had been on top of and stooped to help Melyssa onto her feet.  She looked terrified.  She should have been halfway to the 4th by now. Crow studied her, looking for any new damage and nodded when he found none.

 

“Don’t squeeze me!” Ash yelped, instantly covering his mouth. “Where are the others?”

 

“Looking for you, and heading to the 4th. Responders are on the scene, so we left.”

 

“I-I found Ash unconscious and helped him down to this stream for some water…and to clean him up a little.” Being found in THAT compromising position should have been the last thing she worried about, but this wasn’t just any men.  Crow and…Rean.  Rean was alive!  Melyssa couldn’t break down right now and cry out to the Goddess, to Aidios, for sparing him, needing to keep her head on straight. “What are you two doing here?  I thought you were staying behind to help the civilians, Crow?” Did he not trust her to make it to the 4th Armored Division?

 

“When the responders came, Rean said we should try catching up with everyone else.” Crow said with a shrug. “Also, we have no way of knowing if we’re the targets or not.”

 

“If we were, the longer we stayed, the more likely the attackers would have become alert to our presence.” Rean explained, his eyes taking in Ash and Melyssa slowly, cataloguing their bumps, bruises and cuts. “There’s enough responders there now… we shouldn’t be needed.” A hint of worry laced his tone.

 

“So…  cleaning him up, huh?”

 

“Yes, Crow, I had to help him.  He’s my friend and…” Melyssa looked back at Ash, the lump on his head rock hard and she could only imagine what he’d whacked it on. “I care about him.  I care about all of Class VII.  Have you guys heard from Juna, Kurt or Altina yet?”

 

“Altina was on her way to the 4th Armored Division.  Juna and Kurt…no…” Rean was worried sick for his missing students, but they had to keep the faith they weren’t dead like so many others. “I’m sure they’re fine…”

 

Rean didn’t sound convincing and Melyssa shared a worried look with Ash, knowing he had the same thought process going as she did. “I’m glad you guys came after us because I wasn’t going to abandon Ash to keep going to the tower.  Now that you’re here, we can bring Ash with us and get him proper medical treatment.”

 

“Juna and Kurt were out looking for Ash.” Rean said quietly.

 

“So, has anyone tried raising anyone else on ARCUS or did we all forget how to use them?” Crow asked curiously, obviously they had all forgotten since even he hadn’t thought of it.  He had mentioned using it to stay in touch with Melyssa earlier, but… that was about it.

 

“Let’s walk and talk at the same time.” Rean suggested, sliding an arm around Ash’s waist. “Crow, you can try getting through to them, please.”

 

The problem was they were in the middle of the woods and nowhere near an area that would gain a signal on the ARCUS II.  Sure enough, Crow couldn’t make a call out to anyone or send a message.  Melyssa was on the other side of Ash, his arm draped around her shoulders to help Rean guide him through the woods.  Their posse, all of Class VII, had miraculously survived somehow, someway, and now they had a huge problem on their hands to figure out why the train had been attacked.  Did Rean have any injuries?  His white coat was singed, torn and had black soot on it, but other than that, he seemed to be perfectly fine.  Ash had to stop a few times to catch his breath, his head pounding from the concussion he had.

 

“I wonder how much farther the tower is…”

 

“Not much.” Rean said softly but cheerfully, ignoring the weird look Melyssa tossed his way.

 

“Yes, he’s always like that.” Ash grunted, knowing that was probably weird for her. 

 

Rean sounding like they were at a day in the park for a picnic.  It was something he did to try to keep morale up.  Some people it irritated, others… when they heard him speaking in that tone, it calmed them down, made them less prone to freaking out.

 

“It should be coming into sight once we clear this line of trees.” Rean had cause for being cheerful, the end was in sight. That was cause for celebration, right?

 

As soon as they cleared the trees, a huge tower stood before them that held part of the RMP and 4th Armored Division.  They were on high alert, tanks already rolling out and the railway had, to no one’s surprise, been shut down.  They managed to make it up to the bridge and were stopped instantly by security.

 

“It’s the Ashen Chevalier!  Please, please right this way, sir.” The soldier instructed and blinked when the big man Rean had a hold of, along with a petite dark blue haired girl, dropped to one knee. “We need medical attention immediately!”

 

“Right away, I’ll inform Lieutenant General Craig of the Ashen Chevalier’s arrival!”

 

Melyssa had no idea who these people were, but she was thankful Ash would finally receive the medical help he desperately needed.

 

“REAN!  CROW!” An orange haired man came bolting across the bridge, his hair pulled back in a small tail. “Oh, thank Aidios you’re safe!  We’ve been so worried!  Alisa and Laura are here too!  Emma is on her way!”

 

“Elliot, must you gallivant off without a lick of sense?” A green haired man came walking up next, holding a shotgun with a grim expression on his face. “Thank the goddess you’re all right, Rean and Crow.  We heard about the explosion and immediately came here.” He pushed his spectacles up his nose since they had slid down a little, clearing his throat.

 

Melyssa recognized the green haired man instantly as Machias Regnitz, the son of the current Governor of Heimdallr and the orange haired man as the sensational Elliot Craig, a well-known musician throughout Erebonia.  He was also the son of the Lieutenant General Craig, who was also known as Craig the Red in the 4th Armored Division.  Judging by the way these two men knew Rean and Crow, she was venturing a guess they were former members of Class VII from the Main School.

 

“I wish we could have reunited under better circumstances.”

 

“Same here.  Have the others made it?”

 

“Altina, Juna and Kurt are inside talking to my Dad.” Elliot rubbed the back of his neck. “We were told you’d stayed behind to help civilians and my Dad immediately sent out reinforcements to assist.”

 

Oh thank the Goddess they’re okay, Melyssa thought, not leaving Ash’s side even as the medical team rushed out to bring him into the tower for treatment.

 

“Well that explains why the responders got there so fast.” Rean said with a nod.  They had been on the scene so fast that, if he had been thinking properly, he would have been concerned about their initial attackers sneaking in under the cover of being responders.

 

Now he knew the why’s and the how’s, this was the perk of having friends.

 

Chapter 22

 

“She needs her arm looked at.” Crow ordered, gently but firmly holding Melyssa’s now slipping bandaged arm up. “Battlefield dressing without the battlefield equipment.  Infection is a concern.” He flashed her a slight smile. “And I’m sure Rean needs looked at too.  He was hiding a slight cut on his side.”

 

Rean scowled. “Shut up.” It was a scratch, literally.  He growled at Crow when he, the ‘Ashen Chevalier’, was immediately carted off. “And her, don’t forget Melyssa.”

 

“Mel!” Juna rushed over to her friend as soon as they were inside, tears streaming down her cheeks.  She hugged Melyssa tightly and then pulled back when the woman hissed out, her eyes moving to her bloody arm. “Sorry!”

 

“It’s okay, it’s not as bad as it looks.” Melyssa had to cover her arm with her hand since the wound had reopened.

 

“Instructor Rean, I’m so glad you made it here.  I saw Ash, is he going to be all right?” Altina, with her robotic, angelic voice, was concerned for all of their class, as well as the others from Thors, already knowing some of them hadn’t made it out alive.

 

“He’ll be fine.  Come on, we need to get bandaged up.” Rean didn’t want Melyssa to lose any more blood and they were each guided to their own rooms for medical attention.

 

Sure enough, fifteen staples later, the wound was closed and dressed, with a shot of antibiotics for added measure.  It would scar and Melyssa didn’t mind because it was a battle wound.  Being in a military academy wasn’t all wine and roses – there was war, death, fighting and she would probably receive plenty of scars in the years to come.  Also, she had a cut on her cheek she didn’t even realize, so they put a few stitches in that one too.  Fortunately, it wasn’t deep enough to scar like her arm.

 

Rean had had the same issue, some stitches and a shot of antibiotic for his ‘scratch’, which he hadn’t even gotten in the explosion.  He had gotten it diving for people in the lake afterwards, pulling survivors to shore.  He had been stupid and brushed against wreckage.  After they were all tended too, they were taken to the cafeteria for food, drinks and basically a debriefing.  Rean took stock of the class, nodding before giving his attention back over to the speaker.

 

“So, it was Ouroboros.”

 

“That hasn’t necessarily been confirmed yet, but all evidence thus far points to them.  Traces of the bomb have been found, not enough to give a proper lead, but based on what we know of them, this tech is right up their alley.”

 

“My Mother is looking into it right now and Sharon is investigating what’s left of the bomb.  They want to make sure it’s not Reinford Factory related.” Alisa informed everyone, her golden blonde hair pulled back on one side with a flower barrette and a look of pure concern on her beautiful face. “Granted, all of the Factories are under the Imperial Government’s control, thanks to Prince Olivert.”

 

“That’s good, but…that also means someone could have sold the bomb on the black market again to Ouroboros.” Not everyone in the Imperial Government was squeaky clean.

 

What about Jurai?  That was where they were headed and, yet, nobody seemed concerned about it.  Melyssa was a first year, so she simply sat there, nibbling on her food and drink and listened, sitting beside Juna with Altina on her other side.  Ash was sedated currently since he was badly singed from the explosion and he had a bad concussion.  They made sure to keep him awake long enough before putting him out to let his body rest and recover.  Unfortunately, he would be left behind for the time being until they could find a way to get him back to Leeves for the duration of his recovery.  He would be out of commission for a while.

 

“If this was Ouroboros, does Sharon have any leads on who it might be, Alisa?”

 

“No, but she’s harbored a guess it’s McBurn, the Almighty Conflagration.”

 

“That is correct, my lady.” Sharon entered the room, wearing her purple maid’s uniform and bowed to everyone. “And it wasn’t a bomb like we thought.  The wreckage shows no signs of bombs and…judging from the impact and how the train is scorched, I’m positive it was McBurn that did this.  He used his magic, I could sense it while I was there.”

 

“The fireballs…” Elliot groaned, putting his head in his hands. “So, there were no bombs at all?”

 

“No, Master Elliot.”

 

Magic did this?  Magic killed countless people and was capable of this type of destruction?  Melyssa felt sick to her stomach and pushed her food away, unable to keep quiet any longer. “Is he linked to what’s happening in Jurai right now?” All eyes turned to her and she squared her shoulders. “There’s a reason the train was attacked heading straight for Jurai.  Instructor Rean told me something happened with the politics in the city and that’s why they were sending us there to investigate.  Jurai is a Special Economic Zone, strictly ran by the Imperial Government, so there shouldn’t be anything going on with the politics there.  McBurn and Ouroboros did this to stop us from doing our field study and investigating and I think we’ll find our answer if we continue onto Jurai.”

 

Everyone who didn’t know the newcomer looked at her curiously before glancing to Rean.  Rean shifted in his seat, clearing his throat. “We’ve known for a while that Ouroboros has been back at it, trying to destabilize the peace while it is still new, still fragile.  Tension is still there between the classes, the people, and all it takes is one incident to set everything off again.”

 

“And Jurai?”

 

“Jurai is small and out of the way, but it’s rife with tensions right now.  Also, it’s an important central of trade and exports, Jurai is the perfect place to launch this destabilization attack.”

 

“And if they knew Class VII was coming…” Crow groaned, letting his head drop.

 

It all made sense as Machias stared at Rean’s student with interest. “Crow said something that I cannot get out of my mind.” Now all eyes were on Machias. “The Ashen and Azure Chevalier on the same train headed for Jurai SEZ…it would make sense why the train was attacked.” Crow was right on the money as far as someone important being on board the train.  It was the two heroes of Erebonia, though Rean was more acknowledged than the former leader of the Imperial Liberation Front. “Excuse me, miss, but what is your name again?”

 

“Melyssa Brackett, Mr. Regnitz.”

 

“Oh please, call me Machias.  There’s no need for formality.” Machias waved her off dismissively. “I agree with what you said.  The only way to determine what exactly is transpiring in Jurai is to investigate it ourselves.”

 

Melyssa shared a look with Crow, who managed to lift his head up long enough to acknowledge her before dropping it again.  She knew what his issue was now and Rean was doing the same thing, both men looking distraught.  It was because of them the train had been attacked due to what they’d done for the empire in the past.  They would no doubt blame themselves for all the death and injuries that happened as well.

 

Exactly, Melyssa was right on the money, Rean’s guts where churning at the thought of all that death and destruction being caused by him and Crow.  If they had known, they could have… avoided it, gone a different way, with less civilians present.  All those casualties because of magic so powerful everyone’s immediate thought was massive bomb of some sort.

 

“For now, I’ll have you all escorted to your rooms so you can rest.  The trip to Jurai will have to continue tomorrow.”

 

Rean was already foreseeing them being there longer than the initial two days. Nodding, he slowly pushed himself up, looking around at his students and friends. “Everyone up.”

 

The place had a lot of rooms, so they each received their own.  Juna and Kurt asked to bunk together because she couldn’t take her eyes off him.  He had gotten injured as well, but it was nothing compared to Ash and Melyssa.  Just a cut over his right eye and she wanted to keep an eye on him.  She invited Altina to join since the room had multiple beds in it.  Each room did, but people had the option to share or not.  Everyone had a change of clothes waiting for them, though they were under clothes for the Imperial uniforms the soldiers wore.  Better than nothing.  Melyssa walked into one of the rooms and sat down on the bed, not surprised when Crow didn’t join her.  He probably needed to be alone or he was staying with Rean.  Not wanting to be alone right now, Melyssa changed into the fresh clothes and went to go check on Ash. 

 

Sedated or not.

 

Crow was already there, busy with a marker and writing on Ash’s palm.  He cracked a grin when he spotted her coming in, his red eyes twinkling with mirth for the first time in hours. “Just giving him a note to let him know… how much he failed.” He joked, knowing if the positions were reversed, Ash would have done the same to him except it would probably have been scrawled all over his face.  After hearing his friend was going to be ‘fine’ after some rest, he had felt relieved and then annoyed.  Ash was a jerk, making him worry so damn much. “Can’t sleep?” He asked quietly when she sat opposite of him on the other side of Ash. “It’s lucky you found him you know, he could have died from the concussion.”

 

“He must’ve been on his way here and passed out.  He doesn’t remember and I really didn’t have a chance to ask him much.”

 

Melyssa didn’t know what would have happened if Ash died from this and she didn’t want to.  Whether she liked it or not, he was a big part of her life and her new best friend.  They could sit and talk in the hall at 4 AM about everything, including her lack of intimacy.  Taking his other hand, Melyssa merely held onto it and looked up into his sleeping face, tears stinging her eyes.

 

“You better not die on me, Carbide.  You hear me?  You still owe me that one on one spar.” Her watery eyes moved to Crow, her heart doing a funny leap in her chest when those red eyes locked with hers. “I didn’t want to be alone, so I figured I’d come in here and keep him company for a while.” Despite all she’d been through that day, Melyssa was restless.

 

If she hadn’t stumbled over Ash, he could have wandered and passed out from his concussion.  He could have tripped and broken his neck.  He could have done a million different things, so the Goddess had meant for Crow and Melyssa to part ways.  Crow firmly believed that, that he had been meant to send her towards the 4th, regardless if she had made it or not.

 

“He won’t die, they said he’ll be fine and they’re monitoring him.” Because one wasn’t, technically, supposed to sleep with a concussion. “His head is harder than both of ours combined.”

 

“Can’t argue that.” Melyssa cracked the barest hint of a smile, briefly, before it disappeared.  She wasn’t sure if she should say something to Crow regarding the discussion from earlier.  Maybe it would help, then again, maybe it wouldn’t. “You and Rean are not to blame for what happened, Crow.  You may have been the targets, but we don’t know that for certain yet.” Not until they made it to Jurai and started the investigation or McBurn told them himself. “For all we know, Thors in general could have been McBurn’s target, not just you and Rean.  Just because you’re the Ashen and Azure Chevaliers doesn’t mean you were the only ones targeted.  I don’t think anyone blames either of you for what happened, only the one who actually blew up the train.” Melyssa kept her voice low and quiet, not wanting to disturb Ash, even though a foghorn blown in his ear couldn’t wake him up right now. “I just…thought you should know that.”

 

“You know, I hear you and I know you’re probably right… But it still feels almost personal.” Crow said quietly, knowing if he was feeling this way then Rean was feeling a thousand times worse because Rean was one body away from being female. “But you do make a great point, the entirety of Class VII was on the train and most of us were involved in the wars to one degree or another, and we’ve all served our roles for the greater good…” Combined, Class VII was a formidable force.

 

It was personal, there was no way to deny it, but Melyssa didn’t want Crow and Rean to blame themselves for something that was out of their control.  She decided a change of subject, somewhat, was in order. “I want to thank you for what you did for me, Crow.” Now he was confused, raising one silver brow at her. “You saved my life.  I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for you and your quick thinking and reflexes.” More than likely, she would’ve gone down with the rest of the wreckage. “And I know you saved me back when we were kids from that fish barrel too.  I don’t know how you managed to pry it open, but…I know that girl in your dream and the flashback memory I had was me.  You’ve saved my life twice and…I don’t know how to begin repaying you.  I mean it.”

 

“That’s what friends do, Melyssa,” Crow got up and walked around to crouch beside her, gently placing his hands on her knees when she turned in her chair so her body was facing him. “I know you would have done the same for me, for anyone really,” Because Melyssa was that kind of person, tough as nails and a good heart to match it. Staring at her intently, he also realized she had the brains to go with the toughness that was tempered by her kindness, and… he was really looking at her now, taking in her teal eyes, she also had the beauty. “I’m just glad you went when I asked you too, who knows if Ash would have been found if not by you.”

 

“Crow…” He was giving her way too much credit for finding Ash when he wasn’t far behind with Rean.  They would have found him if she hadn’t; Melyssa had no doubt about that. “I didn’t want to leave you,” She paused briefly, placing her hands on top of his on her knees, her eyes lowering almost in shame at the confession. “But I also knew how important it was to get help as quickly as possible.  We didn’t know at the time if Rean or the others were alive and I knew you couldn’t turn your back on those who needed help.” She looked back up at him, fresh tears brimming her eyes. “I just found you again after all this time and I nearly lost you again with that attack…”

 

“Yeah, I know.” He smiled slightly, hoping it conveyed that he understood. “One of the things about being in Class VII is learning that sometimes, we have to put others before ourselves.  And tonight, it paid off, with you finding Ash the way you did.” Reaching up, Crow brushed the tears off her cheeks with his thumbs, moving so his head rested against hers. “You’re not going to lose me again, Melyssa, I promise you that.”

 

Chapter 23

 

Melyssa couldn’t hold back and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close to her.  His arms encircled her waist to pull her against him right off the chair and she went willingly.  Her face buried in the side of his neck, breathing him in and his hands caressed her back up and down soothingly.

 

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Crow.” She murmured in his ear, knowing nobody could ever promise not to perish.  They had a perilous journey ahead of them that would be full of twists and turns, especially since Ouroboros as at the head of their enemy. “Will you sleep with me tonight?” As soon as those words came out of her mouth, Melyssa pulled back from the hug with wide eyes. “I-I mean in the same room since there’s multiple beds and I just don’t wanna stay in there by myself tonight.” Goddess, her cheeks were on fire and she could not look Crow in the eyes at the moment, those words coming out in a rush.

 

Wow… Crow was amused, he had been about to inform her that he was making a promise he could easily keep.  He was starting to think he was invincible at this point.  That was also his arrogance talking and sometimes, he had enough ego to go around and then some.  However, she had just… sent his brain into a spiral of terrible, lewd thoughts.

 

“I’ll sleep with you tonight.” He had been doing so good with her, not cracking the jokes and the flirting.

 

Until now.

 

“Goddess, that’s NOT what I meant!” Melyssa groaned, flustered and touched her cheeks with her hands, shaking her head. “It came out wrong.”

 

He started laughing at her and she smacked his arm, beginning to chuckle with him.  This also did her heart good because he hadn’t been cracking jokes with her lately and the sound of his laughter was addicting.  She missed it a lot.  Technically, they HAD slept together once before, but…Melyssa knew he didn’t have an innocent thought process with her mouth mistake.

 

“You can stop laughing at me at any time, roomie.”

 

“Oh no, my soon to be lover,” He teased, loving the way roses blossomed in her cheeks as she brought her palms right back over them, her mouth open. “I don’t think I will.” Though, he would be escorting her out of here before they got in trouble for being so loud in the medical room, even though Ash probably wasn’t waking for anything anytime soon. “Come on.” Smirking, he pulled her towards the door, lacing his fingers through hers. “Pick up your jaw, Melyssa… mmm, our luggage didn’t survive the train, did it?”

 

Soon to be lover?!  Melyssa was mortified and it showed plain as day on her face.  She would not dignify him with a response, he was worse than Ash! “No, it didn’t hence why I’m wearing the under clothes of the Imperial army right now.  They should have given you some too.  You didn’t find any in the room you chose?” Melyssa questioned, letting him lead her wherever he wanted and tried to get her cheeks to stop burning. “And I’m not your soon to be lover, so get that out of your head now, Armbrust.”

 

“Sorry, Lover, you’re the one who put it there.”

 

Crow was almost as bad as Ash, there was a reason people said the pair were very much alike… because they were.  He just didn’t usually go out of his way to be as vulgar as Ash, or heckle the women as much.  He liked his good looks the way they were and not slapped across the wrong side of his face.

 

“Besides, you should be used to this, what with how much you and Carbide hang out.” He said it nonchalantly, not phased in the least. “And they did, but I ignored it.” He had showered however and dressed in the pants, not bothering with much else because most people had gone to bed and he was feeling rebellious after that hit on their lives.

 

“How many times do I have to say nothing is going on between me and Ash?  We are just friends and since when is it a crime for a girl to hang out with a guy anyway?  Aren’t we supposed to be creating bonds with our classmates?”

 

Melyssa could tell deep down it bothered Crow, even if he was trying to hide it with humor.  It probably didn’t help she had gone to sit with Ash either.  She also noticed Crow was shirtless, but had tried everything in her power to ignore the warmth spreading through her body, especially when she hugged him earlier.

 

“Ash does tease me, can’t deny that.  Didn’t realize how much you two are alike until now.”

 

“Then you’re the only one and I’ve fooled you too well.” Crow teased, running the pad of his thumb along his bottom lip.  He was feeling rather amused now at her defense against her friendship with Ash. “I never said anything about you and Ash and anything going on between you, Melyssa.” He informed her once she was done. “I said you should be used to the teasing since you hang out, anything else isn’t my business, but thank you for telling me anyway.” She was flustered way too easily.

 

“That’s not…never mind.”

 

Crow was messing with her on purpose and she was flustered from her mouth mistake earlier.  He was just adding fuel to that particular blaze and she had to get over it.  This was what she wanted, after all.  She wanted the teasing to return, the impish gleam in his crimson eyes doing her heart good.  It was a miracle he hadn’t been injured during the crash, not one scratch on him.  Maybe he was invincible or the Goddess was smiling down on him.

 

“You’re right, I should be used to the teasing, just not from you.” She sat down on her bed, knowing neither of them were tired, even though they should have been dead to the world by now. “I found a deck of Blade cards here.  Wanna play a few hands with me?”

 

Shrugging one shoulder, he tugged off the jacket he had pulled on, but never closed to sort of give himself some semblance of decency when he had gone down to the infirmary. “Sure.”

 

He dropped the jacket on the extra bed, the one she hadn’t obviously claimed and then tugged his pistols, which had been in the inner holsters of said jacket, out.  After a moment of considering them, he lay them inside the nightstand drawer before dropping down on the bed with her, watching as she shuffled.  He knew exhaustion would kick in soon enough, when they least expected it, because that was how things worked after a night like they had had.

 

“How are you feeling?” He asked quietly, eyes on the cards once Melyssa began shuffling. “And not just physically.” He doubted a fishmonger’s daughter had THIS kind of excitement in her average day to day.

 

“Scared.  Uncertain.  Relieved that we all somehow survived the attack.” Melyssa stopped shuffling and began dealing the cards out, trying not to think about all the people who had lost their lives today. “I’m worried about Jurai.  Whatever is going on there is linked to today’s attack and…I have a feeling when we finally get there, it’s going to be a horrible situation.   Tornado.” She picked one of his cards off, so he couldn’t use it and he reciprocated with a Mirror, which reversed their cards.  It was nice to be able to play cards with Crow again since they hadn’t done it much lately in the dorm. “What about you?  How are you feeling?”

 

“Relaxed actually.” At her puzzled, raised eyebrow, Crow gave her a small smile before returning his attention to the game. “I know it sounds weird but there’s something…. Cathartic about coming out a situation like that, mostly unscathed, but most importantly alive.  It… I’m alive, I know I shouldn’t be and I know there are people who died, but knowing that, it’s relaxing as odd as it is.” Of course, it also meant that there would be another incident since the job hadn’t been finished, but surviving in a situation you weren’t supposed to also was life affirming.

 

This man really had been through smoke and fire to be relaxed after what happened today.  Melyssa didn’t know how to feel or react to what he said, so she kept playing the game.  He beat her, of course, and she handed the cards over to him, their fingers brushing together.  Instant electricity.  That warmth was back, stronger than ever, along with the pull and something suddenly dawned on Melyssa.  She had never kissed a man before.  She could have died without experiencing a simple pleasure like that!  Jurai held a lot of mystery and danger – was she really prepared to leave without at least having her first kiss?  And why was she thinking about this suddenly?  Crow dealt the cards out for the second hand and Melyssa picked them up, trying to get her mind focused back on the game.

 

Crow knew the way he thought was confusing to people, but after the life he had led from 13 on up… anytime he came out of the flames relatively okay, he was relaxed once the battle adrenaline wore off because it meant he was alive for another day’s fight.  It was weird and he knew it. “You looked like you swallowed a lemon or something, the way your lips pursed.” He informed her as he picked up his own hand, eyes narrowed in on her lips, watching as her tongue darted out to wet them.

 

“I do?” Melyssa hadn’t realized what she was doing while deep in thought and tossed another card down, only for Crow to counter it. “You really like using Mirror, don’t you?” His smirk told her the entire story as she sucked her lips on before chewing on her bottom one, trying to contemplate how to turn this game around.  It definitely was strategic and she was improving, but he still had her number. “You keep staring at my lips now.  What gives, Crow?” She demanded, after catching him a third time looking at them and touched them with her fingertips. “Are they really that fascinating to you?”

 

“Yeah, when you keep puckering, pursing and licking them, it really draws attention to them.” He said in a matter of fact manner and without a hint of shame as he continued staring at her. Also, he had noticed her improvement with Blade so he had decided to introduce some new tactics. There were ways to influence the game that had absolutely nothing to do with the cards. And she did keep doing those things, which was damn distracting. “You have a perfect little cupid’s bow mouth, Mel.” He informed her, the corner of his lips curving upwards when her teal eyes met his. “What?  It’s a compliment.”

 

“I have a what?” Melyssa blinked, once again touching her lips and tossed her head back to stare up at the ceiling. “Okay there, you can’t see them now.” She couldn’t see the game they were playing either, so it wasn’t exactly a win-win.  Crow was laughing at her and it made her cheeks redden all over again. “Yeah, that’s not going to work either.”

 

Chucking her cards at him when he continued laughing at her, Melyssa went to stand up and he stopped her, pulling her right back down to sprawl on top of him.  Shifting, Melyssa wound up straddling his lap on the bed and their eyes were locked, teal and crimson swirling together.  Her hands were on his bare shoulders, feeling his muscles rippling beneath her touch and her heart was pounding in her ears.  He leaned forward, their lips almost touching and Melyssa couldn’t hold back the confession bubbling on her tongue.

 

“I…I’ve never…” He was making it very hard for her to focus let alone talk and her pink tongue slid out to wet her dry lips again. “I’veneverkissedsomeonebefore.” It was all said in a rush of mumbled words, really hoping she hadn’t just misread the moment.

 

Even Crow had to stop and blink, his lips still dangerously close to brushing hers as he took a minute to separate out her jumbled rush of what he initially thought was gibberish. “Never?” He echoed finally once he had realized what she said, his red eyes widening when she nodded to confirm, her cheeks a brilliant shade of red. “Time to fix that, it’s a crime somewhere, a woman as beautiful as you having never been kissed.” He informed her before sealing his lips to hers.

 

If he got slapped, he would have deserved it and he knew it, but the temptation had been too great.  Her lips were soft and pliant beneath his, and he was cautious not to introduce tongue because then he’d really get slapped.  Goddess, she’d probably nail him anyway.  At first, she tensed because she hadn’t been expecting Crow to actually kiss her.  It wasn’t rushed or hard either, it was gentle and felt really good.  That spark she felt just brushing their fingers together had ignited into something more, the fire between them obvious. 

 

Slowly, Crow pulled back to break the kiss and Melyssa kissed him again, this time taking the plunge.  Kissing felt amazing and the fact it was Crow, her childhood best friend and favorite person in the world, made it that much better.  The taste of him incredible, indescribable and made her heart thunder against her chest harder.  Her hands had moved from his shoulders to wrap her arms around his neck as the kiss deepened and she gasped as soon as his tongue touched hers for the first time.  That gasp was followed quickly by a moan as her fingers buried in his hair, both getting lost in each other.

 

Melyssa tasted divine and it really was a shame that she hadn’t been kissed before now though at the same time, Crow was immensely pleased that HE was her first kiss.  It made something in him purr, almost in victory.  For someone who hadn’t any experience in kissing, she was damn good at it, she was eager and unafraid, which did delightful things to his body.  It had been a long time since someone had gotten his attention like this or at least it felt like a long time.  His hands dropped to her hips, positioning her tightly against him, pretty sure she could feel the erection he was sporting brushing against her.  Suddenly, Melyssa was tossed off Crow to plant on the bed with him bolting off it, cursing violently.  She had no idea what just happened and stared up at him with wide teal eyes and swollen lips, her body trembling. 

 

Did she do something wrong? 

 

Was she not a good kisser?

 

“Crow…”

 

“Shit, shit, shit!”

 

Crow had been so engrossed in the moment and then her confession had made him act without thinking.  She was UNDERAGE and he was kissing her!  What in Aidios’ name was wrong with him?!  They were in the same class, but she was a first year and he was a second year because of his stupidity and moronic choices in life.  That still did not excuse the fact he was an ADULT and she wasn’t.

 

“Crow…”

 

Just the sound of her confused voice made something lurch painfully in his chest and he couldn’t turn to face her, slowly shaking his head. “This is wrong, Melyssa.  It’s a mistake.” His voice was gruff, harsh and low, his teeth gritting together. “I’m sorry, I need some air.”

 

Before she could stop him, he left the room and all she could do was stare at the now closed door, rejection and sadness overwhelming her.  What had made him go from kissing the daylights out of her to…rejecting her?  Unbeknownst to Crow, it was after midnight on Saturday and it was officially her birthday…her 18th birthday.  And it was turning out to be the worst birthday of her life with the attack and now the rejection from Crow, the man who had stolen her heart and her first kiss.

 

What in the Goddess’ name was WRONG with him?  Crow kept raking his hands through his hair, not caring who or what was out here with him.  Logically, the watch was out here and if they were doing their jobs, they weren’t paying him any attention.  She was a minor… by law anyway.  He was taking advantage of whatever emotions she harbored from their childhood, or nostalgia, or whatever and she had no idea what she was doing, but he did.  After a few minutes, it belatedly occurred to him that he had probably left her a hot mess, confused beyond belief and he groaned, knowing he couldn’t go fix it.

 

Not right now.

 

Chapter 24

 

The following morning, Melyssa woke up to an empty room with Crow nowhere to be found.  She had cried herself to sleep and now she was up, the feeling of rejection overwhelming her.  Never again would she put herself out there for a man.  No, all she needed to focus on was the way of the sword, like it had been since she was 10-years-old.  Tossing the blanket off her, Melyssa stood up and made the bed before brushing her hair back in a messy bun on top of her head.  She washed her face in the bathroom quickly before walking to the cafeteria in the tower for something to eat.

 

I’m such an idiot for thinking he liked me as more than a friend, she thought, mentally chastising herself while grabbing a tray to put some food on it. 

 

After she ate, she would go check on Ash.

 

“Over here, Melyssa!” Rean waved a hand at her, watching as she began automatically coming his way only to halt when she spotted Crow beside him.  Rean had slept like a log last night once he had managed to fall asleep anyway.  Crow looked like crap, he had bags under his bloodshot eyes and his hair looked like he had electrocuted himself. “Hi.” He grinned when she hesitated by the table, her eyes sweeping over Crow before dismissing him.  What had he missed? “What the…” She walked away and dropped down with Juna and Altina.

 

Crow grunted, dropping his head on the table, nearly face planting himself in his tray of untouched food.

 

Juna and Altina both shared a look with each other while Kurt continued eating his food, trying not to look concerned. “Okay, what’s going on?”

 

“Nothing.” Melyssa plastered on a fake smile for her classmates and poured syrup over her hotcakes and scrambled eggs. “Just thought I’d sit with you guys for a change.”

 

Juna didn’t buy that lie for a second, narrowing her eyes and decided she would be grilling Melyssa for information later on.

 

Melyssa didn’t mean to be rude to Rean, but there was no way she could sit at the same table as Crow.  She wanted nothing to do with him unless it had to do with class.  Never again would she get personal or close to him, not like last night/earlier that morning.  After eating almost half of her breakfast, Melyssa wasn’t hungry anymore and tossed her food away before heading off to go check on Ash.  She couldn’t stand being in the same room or breathing the same air as Crow Armbrust right now, her appetite completely gone.

 

“Okay, what in Aidios’ name is going on?”

 

“Juna, she does not want to talk about it.  Please refrain from questioning her.” Altina ordered, looking back at their Instructor and then Crow, raising a brow.

 

Kurt was staying the hell out of this.

 

Rean had not missed any of that or the way Crow kept raising his head up as if to check on Melyssa’s current whereabouts. “Okay, what did I miss?” He demanded, his tone borderline turning that question into a demand, contemplating pulling out the ‘Instructor’ card if Crow didn’t answer.

 

Crow actually answered.  In a very soft, miserable tone, he explained what had happened last between him and Melyssa.  He also mentioned the underage thing, knowing if Rean had him expelled or something, he would have totally earned it.  However, laying out his sin made him feel a little bit better.

 

Rean’s jaw was in his eggs.  It did occur to him that Melyssa had celebrated a birthday, wasn’t it today?  He didn’t tell Crow.  Aidios… what a mess.

 

The only reason why Rean would know it was her birthday was because of her application.  Every applicant was required to put their birthday, address, where they were from, things of that nature.  Melyssa didn’t care so much about today being her birthday as she did being rejected by Crow.  She couldn’t even look him in the eye, how were they supposed to form a Combat Link now when he made her nauseous?  Plopping down in the chair, she stared at Ash, willing him to wake up and cried to the silence of the room, not wanting anyone else to see her break down.  Ash would have no doubt given her hell for it if he was awake, but he wasn’t.  If anyone walked in, she could pass it off as being upset about Ash and the wreck instead of the horrible rejection and shot to her self-esteem.  Becoming an adult sucked, she wanted to go back to the way things used to be before Crow decided to kiss her and then call it a mistake.

 

Crow had had the same thoughts.  He’d come sit with Ash, give himself something to do, something to ‘focus’ on when all it meant was he could berate himself more. Rean hadn’t said much, he had seemed overly shocked actually.  Crow had totally missed the speculating look on his friends face and the internal debate Rean had been struggling with.

 

Rean could have probably totally absolved all Crow’s guilt about the age thing, -not the bailing and hurting her feelings bit, that was all on Crow- but he hadn’t.  He didn’t know why.  It was a simple fix to a fairly simple mistake and Crow would have only had to apologize and explain himself, maybe everything could have been salvaged.

 

But he hadn’t and he didn’t know why.

 

One look at Melyssa had Crow freezing in place, his red eyes widening as he took her in.  He cleared his throat, opening his mouth to say something and then turned and walked right back out, his entire face going as red as his eyes. How was he going to make this right?

 

“Shit.”

 

Melyssa wanted to punch him as hard as she could in his mouth, feeling her rage starting to consume her.  The sadness was slowly being replaced with anger and resentment.  Standing, she wiped her tears away and leaned down to brush her lips against Ash’s forehead softly.

 

“I don’t know when we’re leaving, but I’ll make sure to come and say goodbye before we do.  Hang in there, Ash.” Narrowing her bloodshot, swollen eyes, Melyssa walked out of Ash’s room and headed out of the tower, being stopped by the soldiers blocking the entrance.

 

“Don’t go too far if you’re heading out to the woods.”

 

“Will do, thanks.”

 

The ARCUS II was working now as well, so if Rean or any of her other classmates needed her, they would be able to contact her.  Melyssa needed to get away for a while, alone, with just her Cutlass and the sounds of nature surrounding her.  She moved about 7 minutes from the tower and stopped, finding a small clearing big enough to let her train and practice her moves.  This was also a great way to burn her anger and resentment away.

 

Rean was alerted to Melyssa leaving the gates and going out towards the forest.  He was alerted because technically these were his students and he was in charge.  That weight had hit him hard this morning upon waking.  These students, his friends, were his charges, he was supposed to protect them and get them there and back again safely.  He had epically failed.  One of his students, his friends, was in the medical ward right now with a concussion and they had no idea what Ash’s state would be once he woke up.  Sighing, he let Juna know what he was doing before slowly following after Melyssa.  Right now was not a good time to go outside the compound alone, not after that attack.  After grabbing his Tachi, he took off out the gates and went in the direction he had been told she’d gone.

 

It didn’t take long for Rean to find her. 

 

Melyssa had stayed right where she was supposed to and had her eyes closed, feeling the grass beneath her bare feet.  It was how she trained in Jurai and the nature surrounding her helped.  That was until she heard footsteps and spun around, her Cutlass colliding with Rean’s Tachi.  The sound of the weapons clashing echoed around them and Melyssa pulled back first, sweat beading on her forehead, neck and arms.  Her bandaged arm still looked fairly new, though she would have to change it out before they left for Jurai.

 

“Time to leave?” She questioned, keeping her tone even and sheathed her Cutlass.

 

“No, and you’ll need that.”

 

Rean gave her exactly three seconds before lunging forward, feeling the blade of her Cutlass coming up in a defensive stance as he brought his Tachi down, steel clashing against steel.  He didn’t say a word, just went on the offensive, putting her through her paces.  She had improved and he noticed the changes instantly, the way she moved her feet, she was dancing and would be formidable when on the battlefield.  He was hoping that moment came later rather than sooner though it wasn’t looking that way.

 

Why was he doing this?  If he thought for a second she would talk, Rean was dead wrong.  She refused to talk about being rejected by the man she thought she loved.  Maybe she didn't.  What was love anyway?  She didn't know the first thing about it and being told kissing her was a mistake...letting out a roar of rage, an orange aura surrounded her as Melyssa sent a shockwave at Rean, sending him flying backwards to land on his backside.  Her eyes went wide as the orange aura disappeared and she shut her eyes tightly, trying to reign her anger in.

 

Rean didn’t want to talk to her about what had happened with Crow.  He was still busy sorting out why he hadn’t done the right thing and told Crow about Melyssa’s birthday, about her status as a legal adult.  Hitting his butt on the ground from that attack, from her, had him stopping for a moment.  Seconds later, Rean was back on his feet, knowing that had not been a planned attack.  If it had been, she would have flattened him.

 

“With control,” He informed her as they clashed again. “That would have been near perfect.” As it was, his butt was dirty.

 

“Rean…”

 

She went to help him and jumped back when he swiped his Tachi at her, almost nicking her arm.  Obviously, he wasn’t that hurt from her attack or else he would have stopped this.  They continued dueling for a while until he got the upper hand on her and forced her to a knee, surrendering.  Melyssa was breathing erratically with sweat coating her reddened face, her heart pounding vigorously in her chest.  She had no idea how long they’d gone for, but Rean was breathing heavy as well with an equally crimson face and sweat.

 

“Damn…” She grunted, slowly looking up at her Instructor – no, her friend – and slowly sat back in the grass, keeping her Cutlass firmly planted into the ground. “I-I think I’m okay now…”

 

“Yeah?” He used the sleeve of his shirt to wipe sweat off his face, frowning and just peeled the thing off.  It was damp from that workout and he knew he was red and breathing heavily. “You gave me a run for my money this morning, Melyssa.” Rean grinned at her, pride and admiration in his tone. “That was a decent shockwave, once you learn how to control it, you’re going to be phenomenal.” He was guessing she had come out here this morning to work out whatever issues she had going on, thanks to Crow being a bit of an idiot.  Crow was just being stupid.  For someone who was so smart and could be such a smooth talker with women, he had mucked this up royally.  He dropped down alongside her, tossing his shirt around the back of his neck.

 

Shirtless again. 

 

Melyssa did everything in her power not to look over at her gorgeous, now half-naked Instructor.  However, Rean chose for her and reached over with his fingers to turn her head until their eyes met. “I’ve been working on that move for a while now, even before I entered Thors.  It finally came together today, for some reason.” Her anger and hurt could have had something to do with it. “Listen Rean, I don’t want to go into detail, but…something happened between me and Crow and I know you instructed us to keep trying to form a Combat Link together, but…” Not after last night, there was no way it could happen. “I don’t think it’s going to work with us and we need to be as powerful as we can going into Jurai.” That was a fact, especially with who they were going up against. “Would you mind terribly if we shelved this Combat Link issue until we’re back in Leeves?  Please?”

 

All things considered after last night’s events, Rean thought that was a very practical and reasonable request.  Everyone needed to be at their best and on alert, not distracted by personal matters. “Yes, that’s fine.  You’re right, we do need to be at our best and on point.  I’ll have Crow partner up with someone else and you can partner with me.”

 

Now that he was thinking rationally and she had made the point about needing to be as powerful as they could be, he reconsidered his stance on informing Crow about Melyssa’s birthday.  It wasn’t right to leave his friend hanging in misery though whether or not Crow and Melyssa could salvage anything… that wasn’t on him or his business.  Or at least, that’s what he was telling himself.

 

“Partner with you, huh?”

 

Melyssa was intrigued, thinking he would send her with Juna or Altina or even Kurt, but he had chosen himself instead.  It was interesting and she wondered where Rean’s frame of mind was.  Suddenly, she thought back to the train before the attack and how close they’d been to kissing…or maybe it was all in her head.  Then again, she was just a first year and a weakling compared to the others in Class VII, so maybe Rean wanted to keep her close to him for that reason.

 

“That’s fine with me, whatever you want to do, Instructor.”

 

He saw no reason to break apart other partnerships that were working well, such as Juna and Kurt for example.  Once Ash was back on his feet, he could partner with Crow.  For now, with her still ‘learning’ the ropes, so to speak, and with them having as much on their plate as they now did, it was just best to not take any risks.

 

“It’ll be easier for everyone involved, and you and I already work well together.” He flashed her a grin, finally getting up onto his knees. “Come on, let’s get back. We’re going to have to be going soon and they were saying before I left that Ash was waking up.”

 

“H-He is?!  Oh thank Aidios!” Melyssa didn’t take Rean’s hand and plucked her Cutlass out of the ground, up on her feet in the blink of an eye.  She quickly pecked Rean’s cheek with a bright smile, all traces of sadness gone temporarily. “Thanks for the sparring bout!” She called over her shoulder, running as fast as she could through the woods towards the tower with Rean trailing behind. 

 

Nothing else mattered. 

 

Nobody else mattered. 

 

Ash was waking up, which meant he was definitely going to be all right.  After what happened with Crow, Ash was the only man she could fully trust since her feelings for Rean were up in the air at the moment.  It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him, but she didn’t trust herself to be around him for a long period of time, not after the walk under the stars with the gelato or the near kiss on the train.  There was no way she’d miss the chance to say goodbye to someone she did consider to be her best friend since Ash had been there for her more than anyone in Class VII.

 

Chapter 25

 

As soon as she walked into the medical room, two things made her stop.  First, Ash WAS awake and eating, he was also laughing and trying to wave off the nurse with the one hand that wasn’t busy shoveling food into his mouth.  Second, Crow was there, sitting on the end of the bed, doing card tricks with his own Blade deck and grinning as if he didn’t have a care in the world.  He had plenty of cares, he was just hiding them and genuinely happy that Ash was awake.

 

“Beautiful!” Ash laughed when he spotted her, gesturing her to come in. “Come tell this fine nurse that I’m 100% ready to get back to it.”

 

“Mr. Carbide…”

 

“And… Crow tells me you’re the reason I’m still here.  Says you found me last night.”

 

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she stared at him, hardly believing he was already awake laughing and cracking jokes, not to mention eating.  She walked toward him, not caring if Crow was in the room and hugged him, being mindful of his injuries. “I’m so, so glad you’re all right.” Melyssa mumbled against his neck near his ear, feeling his arm wrap around her to hug her close.  Pulling back, she stared into his pink eyes and touched his face gently with her hand. “You scared the hell out of me.  And I did find you, but Instructor Rean and Crow are the ones who really helped us get here.” She didn’t bother telling Ash about how he’d rolled to cover his body with hers to protect her by the stream.  Apparently, he didn’t remember any of it and that was fine by her. “You should be thanking them, not me.”

 

“The way Crow tells it, if not for you finding me in the woods, I probably would have been out there overnight and nobody would have found me until this morning.”

 

And then he would have been damn lucky if he hadn’t died or something, or been found by the enemy.  As far as he was concerned, Melyssa had saved his life and until that debt was repaid according to him, he would basically be her slave.  Ash pulled her down onto the bed with him, settling her in his lap and grinned when she began protesting.

 

“So, when do we head out for Jurai?” He asked, as if he hadn’t been burnt and concussed the prior night.

 

“Rean said today.” Crow said quietly, his eyes ghosting over Melyssa who was not even looking at him.  She was staring at Ash intently.

 

“You’re my friend…no…” Melyssa shook her head, her eyes only for Ash and she did not care what anyone, especially Crow, had to say or felt. “You’re my best friend and I’m just glad you’re okay.”

 

Even with the singed arms and the knot on his head, he was still very handsome and his personality hadn’t changed a bit.  Melyssa had absolutely no qualms sitting sideways on his lap in the bed and rested her head gently against his chest.  Just his arms, neck and legs had gotten singed and, luckily, none of it would scar.

 

“And I don’t know if you’ll be able to come with us…” Ash immediately pressed his finger to her lips, silencing her and stopped her from what she was about to say. 

 

Oh boy, Ash was going to be stubborn about this, she could already tell.

 

“Of course he will.” Rean’s amused tone announced his presence and when three pairs of eyes turned to him, he was dressed in his own clothes. “Our luggage, most of it,” He quickly amended as he walked in. “Was recovered. It is all in the cafeteria, waiting to be reclaimed and the casualties were… not as bad as we had originally thought.” He came to a stop at the side of the bed, taking in the way Melyssa was sprawled across Ash’s lap. That had to suck for Crow, given the pair were apparently kissing and whatnot the night prior.

 

Yeah, yeah it did.  And Crow had no one but himself to blame.

 

“By the way, before I forget again,” Rean bowed to Melyssa. “Happy birthday.” Then he held out his hand to Ash. “Good to see you’re up, Carbide, we’re going to need you.”

 

Crow’s eyes widened. Wwwwwwwwwwwwwhhatt????

 

“Whoa, wait, WHAT?!” Ash was now staring at Melyssa, who had crimson cheeks and her eyes were lowered. “Today is your birthday?”

 

Oh, did she loathe Rean Schwarzer right about now because he had just done and SAID that in front of Crow! “Y-Yeah…” Why couldn’t he do that whole birthday spiel in private when they were sparring together earlier in the woods?  Rean was an evil man and she cleared her throat, refusing to look at Crow. “And I wasn’t PLANNING on telling anyone, especially given the situation we’re in.” Teal eyes shot a glare Rean’s way before they immediately softened at the shock on Ash’s face. “Please don’t make a big deal about it.”

 

“Fine, then tell me how old you are.” Ash demanded, pulling her up further against him and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Because if you’re legal, we can have some FUN, beautiful.”

 

And now her face looked like a tomato. “Keep on dreaming, Carbide.  I’m sure you’ll get the message sooner or later.” She patted his uninjured cheek playfully three times, making him growl. “I’m 18, all right?  I’m officially a miserable adult like the rest of you.”

 

“Hey, there’s nothing miserable about me, beautiful.”

 

She was legal. She was fricking legal and he had totally ruined any chance at anything, friendship included, because he had been kicking his own ass about defiling a minor. Crow swallowed hard and pushed himself up. “Happy birthday, Melyssa.” He said quietly, proud of how even his tone was before walking out of the room. He was going to go see if any of his luggage had been recovered and maybe drown himself.

 

“I’ll go find the doctor and see what he says about getting you out of that bed.” Rean said, excusing himself as well.

 

Crow had a lot of nerve to wish her anything or even speak to her after what he did.  Ruining her very first kiss, on her birthday…he hurt her and Melyssa would not be forgiving and forgetting anytime soon.  She looked back at Ash, who had a questioning look on his face and simply smiled back at him.

 

“You’re right, there’s absolutely nothing miserable about you.” Would Rean really allow Ash to travel with them so soon after the attack?  Ash seemed like he was fine, but it would take time and effort to rebuild his strength and time was against them right now. “I’m going to go retrieve my bags, and yours, and bring your stuff here, so you can sift through it and see if anything is salvageable, all right?”

 

“Or… you can hang out with me a little more.” Ash informed her, wrapping his arms around her and squeezed tight enough to show he wasn’t an invalid.  He felt as fit as a fiddle and ready to go.  Of course, a knock upside his head or something would probably prove him wrong and lay him out on his arrogant ass but… it was a risk he was willing to take. “I couldn’t help but notice… there’s some tension between you and Crow, beautiful.” His playful tone was gone, concern creeping in. “Everything okay?  What’d I miss while I was out?”

 

Just like that, the tears were back and she couldn’t stop them even if her life depended on it. “No.”

 

She shook her head slowly, clasping her hands tightly in her lap and felt Ash hook his finger beneath her chin until watery teal met concerned pink.  He was the only one she could confide in, not even Juna or Altina had the kind of connection they did.  She meant what she said, Ash was her best friend, just like Crow had been once upon a time.  That wasn’t the case anymore since he didn’t know her and she didn’t really know the type of person he was these days.

 

“He kissed me and then called it a mistake.  And it happened last night, which is why I’m crying like a baby when I should be controlling my emotions better.” The sparring match with Rean didn’t release all of her emotions regarding the situation, apparently. “I just need to focus on Jurai right now.  Everything else can wait.”

 

“Well yeah, it can, but it won’t.” Ash said reasonably, the complete opposite of Rean on this.  Rean had given into her observation that they needed to be powerful going into Jurai, but Ash already knew she wasn’t going to be able to shelve it.  Not completely and once she and Crow were on home turf, it was likely to get a lot worse if it wasn’t handled sooner rather than later. “Well, beautiful,” He said slowly, knowing waiting would likely to lead to the issue festering and becoming worse than what it was. Granted, nobody had ever called kissing HIM a mistake and he had never been dumb enough to say that to a woman, but he could only imagine how it felt. “Why’d he call it a mistake?  Did he say why?”

 

“No.  He just said this is wrong and it’s a mistake and he needed air and he walked out.  We had just gotten back from visiting you, actually, and I asked him if he’d stay with me in the same room.  I didn’t want to be alone.” That wasn’t unreasonable given what happened to them. “We started playing Blade and the next thing I know, he’s kissing me…and I’m kissing him back.  And then he stops it, says that and walks out on me.  And if it’s because of my age, he’s an asshole and he never should have kissed me in the first place.” Scrubbing a hand down her tear-stained face, Melyssa wiped them away angrily and took a few deep breaths. “My first kiss and it was a mistake.  Great, huh?”

 

Ash let out a low whistle, freeing one hand to reach back and rub his neck as he considered her.  Crow had royally cocked this one up and even Ash didn’t know how the other man was going to fix it.  Considering how hung up Melyssa had been on Crow… yeah, he could only imagine how hurt and embarrassed she must have felt.  If it was about her age… hmm.  In the heat of a moment or something, sure, he could see a kiss happening, but just from playing cards… and then to backtrack.

 

“I’m sorry, Melyssa.” He said quietly, pulling the sheet up as much as he could to begin wiping the tears off her face. “That is not how a first kiss should go.”

 

Melyssa pulled the blanket away from her face and shrugged, hating how this affected her. “It is what it is.  There’s nothing I can do to change it and I have to move forward.  It was a mistake and it never should have happened.” Once again, Ash had caught her in a vulnerable state and managed to pry the truth out of her by being…him. “It’s okay, really.  I don’t need to be distracted by something like a guy right now anyway.  And it sounds like Instructor Rean is pulling strings to get you out of here, so you can come with us.  Are you sure you’ll be all right to do it?” She still had no idea how they were getting to Jurai, knowing taking a train was out of the question.

 

“Yeah, I’ll be right as rain, don’t you worry about me, beautiful.” Ash said dismissively, shaking his head at her. “I don’t think we’ll be attacked like that again, not so soon after the first time. Another attack would mean more civilian casualties and even Ouroboros knows that would draw attention to the rocks they like hiding under.” One attack, the majority of the population might think some rogue terrorists or something.  Two, on the same people, eyebrows would be raised and then the manipulation thing Ouroboros specialized in was going to be harder to pull off. “I’m not planning on getting knocked in the head again, now that we know they’re watching us, I’ll be more alert.” Gently, he moved her so she wasn’t directly on his lap. “Are you going to be able to shelve things and get through this trip to Jurai?” Since that was where she and Crow had met and been friends.

 

“Yes.” She answered without hesitation, knowing her personal feelings toward Crow would have to be put on the backburner until they returned to Leeves. “I did ask Instructor Rean one favor.” When Ash just raised a brow, she cracked a sad smile. “I’m not linking up with Crow for the duration of the investigation while in Jurai.  We all need to be at our best and he agreed with me.  Crow and I don’t have a great compatibility with Combat Links and the last thing we need to do is bring the entire class down with our issues.  So, Instructor Rean said I can link up with him.  We didn’t know if you’d be coming with us, so I think he’ll have you link up with either Altina or Crow.” Melyssa congratulated herself for saying Crow’s name without cringing or flinching.  It just proved she was a professional and would be able to move forward to help Jurai. “Jurai is my home and I will protect it any way I can.”

 

“I’ll probably link up with Crow, he and I don’t have issues.” Well, not on his end, Crow may wind up having issues with him, but that was neither here nor there. 

 

Crow was going to have to fix his own mess and Ash was friends with both Crow and Melyssa; he wasn’t going to be in the center of this mess, but he wasn’t going to shut either one of them out.  Though… maybe he’d heckle Crow a little bit, once he was out of danger with the concussion -in case Crow thudded him- over this because it WAS hilarious, Crow’s foot in mouth mistake.  Crow had panicked and overreacted, badly, which was NOT usual for the man, so apparently… Crow had some issues with Melyssa, maybe even feelings for.

 

That was not surprising. “All right, now I’m really going to grab our stuff to see what all can be salvaged.  I’ll be back with yours.” She leaned forward, kissing his forehead gently. “And you get some more rest.  I mean it.” Ash merely rolled his eyes at her as she slid out of the bed, looked back at her friend and headed out the door to go see what had been recovered.  Luckily, she had a waterproof bag, something her grandfather had bought for her before she ran away from Jurai.  Of course, he’d been discreet about it…and Melyssa suddenly wondered if her family was all right. 

 

If Jurai was being taken over by Ouroboros, were the citizens safe?

 

Chapter 26

 

Rean wasn’t concerned about Jurai being taken over by anyone.

 

Ouroboros would be lurking in the shadows and manipulating events in Jurai, not outright seizing anything.  Even though tensions were high among the classes and everyone else, people were still also united by the fact that they had all come out of these wars alive and with peace.  It was a tentative situation and could go either which way.  After speaking with the lead doctor about Ash and learning he would be able to come with them, -as if anything would stop Carbide- he had gone to the cafeteria to oversee the sorting of bags, making sure Class VII found their things, if they were here.

 

“He’s cleared to leave with us.” He informed when Melyssa came in.

 

“Good, he’ll be happy to hear that.” Melyssa began sifting through the bags and pulled Ash’s out, setting it aside. “I told him I’d bring him his bag, so he can look through it.” Rean nodded and she continued looking for hers, thankful she had her name on it.  He tapped her shoulder and she turned, seeing her bag in his hand. “Thank the goddess…” It didn’t look too worse for wear, none of them did really and she took it, setting it down. “That was pretty sneaky what you did in Ash’s room, you know.  You could’ve wished me a Happy birthday out in the woods earlier, but you chose to do it while Crow was in the room.” Now Rean looked sheepish and she folded her arms in front of her chest.

 

“Well, in my defense, you weren’t going to tell him and-” Rean, who was not usually mischievous in the way Ash and Crow were, had a decidedly impish grin spread quickly across his lips before vanishing just as quick. “It was good for him to have that reality check.  Crow doesn’t usually overreact and panic that way.” He was curious if Crow was just overwhelmed by this young woman, who had come waltzing in claiming to know him and then struggling to remember her. “It’s not very often someone is able to catch him off guard like that, I had to take advantage.”

 

“Hmm…so you used me to get one up on your buddy, in other words?  I didn’t think you were that type, Rean.” She stepped up to him, that impish gleam shimmering in his eyes and she let a slow smirk curve her lips. “So, between you and me, he freaked out because of my age, right?”

 

“Well…”

 

It was understandable, she supposed, though Crow also shouldn’t have assumed what her age was.  Or he could have asked before stealing her first kiss.  Either way, it was pathetic and she didn’t like the feeling of being called a mistake simply because of her age.

 

“Rean, we’re past being hesitant after you decided to out me.”

 

Rean sighed, nodding. “Fine – fine, it was because of your age.  He freaked out because he thought you were underage and he’s an adult.”

 

“Hmm…thought so.” Picking her bag up, Melyssa shouldered it and winked at him. “Thanks for telling me.  At least now I know and the unknown won’t bug me anymore.”

 

“You shouldn’t let it bother you anyway.  It’s not on you or anything you did, Melyssa.” Rean said earnestly, reverting back to his usual serious and concerned demeanor, staring down at her intently. “You are a beautiful, vibrant woman and one bad experience,” Yikes though, the first kiss part of that whole debacle was a killer. “Shouldn’t ruin… anything for you.  We’re not all total fools like he is.” Well, now it sounded like he had just put himself on the market and offered himself up to her.  Goddess, maybe he had. “Altina, right there is yours.” He called past Melyssa, pointing to said bag. “Everyone should be ready within the next hour.  Let Carbide know, please.”

 

It was her very first kiss, so of course it bothered her a little.  And did Rean just…no, Melyssa immediately dismissed that instantly and nodded at her Instructor. “I will, thanks.”

 

She waved to Altina on her way out of the cafeteria with her and Ash’s bags in hand, heading back to his room.  On the way, she ran into Juna and Kurt, who both wished her a happy birthday.  Juna hugged her, promising they would do something once they were back in Leeves and out of this mess with Jurai.  Melyssa agreed to it and let them be on their way to grab their belongings while she stopped in the room she occupied to quickly change.  She had just taken her shirt off, leaving her in a skirt and bra, when the door opened and her eyes locked on hesitant crimson.  He was the LAST person she wanted to see or talk to right now; the pain of his rejection was still too fresh and she needed time to get over it before they could have a discussion about what happened. 

 

Turning right around with her back facing him, Melyssa picked her shirt up and began pulling it over her head, thankful none of her clothes smelled funky.  See, this was how Crow knew the Goddess had a wicked sense of humor.  This moment right here.  What were the odds of him walking in just as she was UNDRESSING?  Only a cruel, jokester Goddess would allow this misery.

 

“I’m sorry.” He apologized, first for walking in.  He should have knocked even though, technically, this was his room as well.  Crow had kind of forfeited that invitation last night when he had left her there on the bed, confused and miserable after stealing her first kiss. “I shouldn’t have barged in like that, Melyssa.” But here he was and it was only going to get more awkward because he wasn’t leaving until he had at least apologized for his major mistake last night.  Walking around until they were face to face, he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, for freaking out on you last night.  I shouldn’t have, and I should have asked your age and permission to kiss you.”

 

They were really doing this right here and now.  Rean must have talked to him about this and pushed Crow to apologize before they had to leave for Jurai.  Did he mean the apology?  Did she care?  She wasn’t sure what to feel any more towards him and grabbed her jacket, slipping it on.

 

Jurai needs you and you don’t need this drama crap getting in the way of saving your home, she rationalized in thought, plastering on a smile and patted his shoulder in a purely platonic way. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it.  I think it’s better if we just stay friends and roommates like we have been and forget this ever happened.” They had to find a middle ground with each other before returning to Leeves. “Instructor Rean said we’re leaving within an hour, so I really have to go give Ash his bag.”

 

Nobody had pushed Crow to come in and do this.  He had gotten his stuff loaded onto their new transport and taken a minute to sort his head out, trying to think of how he was going to word things without offending her or making it worse.  Apparently, he had not thought it through long enough or there just was no fixing his mess-up.  His grandfather had been wrong, apologies did not always fix things.

 

“Ash was being released when I passed by the infirmary.” He offered slowly, aware she was sort of extending an olive branch and he would be a fool not to take it. 

 

Just friends and roommates… he wasn’t sure if he could go back to those things, though.  Everything had been weird, different, since she had opened Pandora’s Box between them with the memory thing, with being mad at him for not remembering a childhood she had apparently cherished.  Crow didn’t see anything returning to any semblance of normal soon.

 

“I AM sorry, Melyssa.” He said softly, reaching out to place a hand on the bag to stop her when she went to shoulder it. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like it was a mistake.”

 

“I know and I forgive you, roomie.” She even gave him a smile to show there were no hard feelings. “Come on, let’s go find Ash to give him his stuff and then we need to get to the bus.”

 

They were taking an orbal bus to a destination unknown, where they would board a flying aircraft known as the Courageous II.  It was Prince Olivert’s private airship and Rean had called in a favor to his friend.  Olivert assured him they would arrive safely in Jurai and had been planning on bringing the Courageous II to them even before Rean’s phone call.  Melyssa grabbed Ash’s bag, along with hers, and left the room with Crow, finding Ash in almost no time…and he was fully healed.

 

“Whoa…”

 

“Emma performed some kind of healing spell on him.” Juna informed them, her hand clasped in Kurt’s.

 

“She is a witch and she can perform powerful spells.” Altina added her two cents, eyeballing Crow and Melyssa, who seemed friendly, but there was something…wrong between them.  She could sense it.

 

“Oh okay.” Melyssa hadn’t met this Emma person yet, but if she could fully heal Ash to make himself look like brand new again, she was one hell of a witch. “Here’s your stuff, Carbide.  You might wanna go change really fast before the bus gets here.”

 

He smirked, squeezed her shoulder and took off to change in the nearby bathroom.

 

“We could have used her last night.” Crow remarked offhandedly, shaking his head as Ash took off. 

 

Hell, having a witch last night would have prevented the few casualties they’d had, all of which had been regular people, none of the actual intended targets.  That was kind of depressing, actually.  They, Class VII, had been the intended targets and none of them had gotten anything beyond hurt.  He thought Ash’s concussion might’ve been the worst of it.

 

“Here, I’ll take your bag and put it in the undercarriage.” He offered, extending a hand.

 

“Hurry up, guys,” Rean ordered, standing off to the side supervising his students. “We’re on a schedule!”

 

Emma Millstein had saved countless lives from the wreck, which was why there wasn’t nearly as many fatalities as there should have been.  She had gotten there as quickly as she could.  A witch could only move so fast, just like everyone else.  She wasn’t Vita where she could snap her fingers and be in a place a few seconds later.  That was not how her witchcraft worked.  

 

“No, I got it.  Thanks.”

 

Melyssa tossed her bag in the compartment before boarding the bus, Crow following suit.  He didn’t sit next to her and she was relieved, still feeling awkward around him.  Hopefully, the awkwardness would fade away after a while, but right now, they were on their way, finally, to Jurai.  Melyssa took the window seat and stared out, hoping her parents and grandfather were all right.  She would soon find out.  The investigation would still happen, but it was no longer a field study, so she planned on going to see them, alone, once the opportunity presented itself.

 

Crow and Ash soon had several others engaged in a game of Blade while Rean was reviewing some things with Juna, who as class president was his ‘second in command’ so to speak.  When he ran out of things to go over, and she insisted they were done repeating it, he leaned back and surveyed the others, noting nobody was sitting with Melyssa. She was still staring out the window and it made him wonder if she was asleep, he couldn’t see her face.  Quietly, he moved until he was sitting beside her, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

 

“Everything okay?”

 

Melyssa turned to look at her Instructor and the turmoil was clear in her eyes. “Crow and I talked, so you don’t need to play mediator with us anymore.” She assumed that was why he was asking if everything was all right and leaned her head back against the seat. “And no, everything isn’t okay.  I’m worried about Jurai…about my parents and my grandfather.”

 

Why was it so easy to talk to Rean and why did she enjoy doing it?  Melyssa knew it was wrong to be attracted to her Instructor, but how could something so wrong feel so right?  He was always there for her when she somehow needed him the most, just like earlier in the woods with their impromptu sparring session.

 

“Do you think McBurn and Campanella would hurt the civilians?”

 

“Not this soon I don’t, it would be tipping their hand and instead of dividing the people, it would bring them together.” Rean said slowly, though doubt began lacing his tone. “Unless they made it look like someone else did it.  The ending of the Twilight curse was a bad deal for them, they didn’t get anything that they were aiming for… so now they’ll have to achieve their means in other ways.” Seeing the concern shining in her teal eyes, Rean gave Melyssa what was meant to be a reassuring smile. “I think if citizens were winding up injured, or missing, we would have heard a report about it from our sources.”

 

That was true.  So why did Melyssa have a sense of dread wash over her? “This is my home, Rean.  I haven’t been there in over a year and…I’m scared of what’s happening to it.” Jurai was beautiful and prosperous, thanks to the Imperial Government, and she wanted to keep it that way. “Look, um, now that we have a minute to talk one on one, without me being upset, I need to tell you something.  I’ve had a run-in with McBurn before.  It’s the reason why I was…invited to join Thors and the person who helped me get in…saved me from him.  He almost killed me.” Twice now. “I’m not assuming he was after me with the train attack, but…it’s awfully coincidental too.  I know I should have told you this sooner, but…” A lot happened in a very short period of time and Rean was too busy running around, trying to do all he could to help.

 

All Rean could do was stare at her, wondering where this information had been the day he had mentioned this trip AND Ouroboros in the same sentence. “Melyssa,” His voice was now ‘leader’ and ‘Instructor’, his eyes slightly narrowed as he gave her his entire focus. “That was information I should have been made aware of a while ago.” He informed her quietly, wondering WHY she had a history with McBurn, or a run-in as she had called it. “What do you have to do with McBurn?” He asked, keeping his voice down, so nobody would overhear them just yet.  If that entire train had been attacked because of HER and it could have been prevented... His stomach lurched at the thought, a wave of nausea washing over him.

 

Chapter 27

 

“Nothing.  I don’t know him at all, only that he’s part of Ouroboros and he’s incredibly dangerous.” She sighed heavily, hearing the change in Rean’s voice and felt her own stomach flip. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Members of Ouroboros had attacked Crossbell at the time…” Now Rean was staring at her with wide eyes and she swallowed hard, lowering her eyes from his. “Of course you would have heard about it since it was a major headline in the Imperial Chronicle.  Anyway, I was staying in Crossbell when that attack happened and…McBurn went after civilians.  I was one of them and I tried to fight him off, but…I couldn’t.  Just before he could burn me alive with that fire magic of his, I was saved and dragged to safety and the person responsible for me being in Thors was responsible for my rescue.  And when I woke up, we talked for a while, I told them what my goal was and they offered me a spot at Thors Branch School in Leeves…and I took it.  Apparently, they were very impressed with how I tried fighting McBurn off.  I don’t think I did anything, however.”

 

“You tried fighting back, how many people ran?  That right there makes all the difference and is why you were recruited.” Rean asked tiredly, slumping back in his seat as he mulled over her words. “Odds are, McBurn doesn’t even remember you and it was a coincidence.” He said finally, hoping he was right.  But for the life of him, if Melyssa was telling him everything pertinent to this, then there was nothing overly ‘special’ about her in that situation other than she had fought back. “Anything else I should know about before we get there?”

 

“I think it was a coincidence too and I didn’t mean to keep it from you.  I never planned on telling anyone about it, but then I heard who attacked the train and figured I’d better tell at least my Instructor.” Melyssa didn’t want him thinking she was purposely hiding information from him when that wasn’t the case at all. “I’m sorry…”

 

Turning her head to stare back out the window, she thought back to that day in Crossbell that changed her life forever.  It was all thanks to the Golden Rakshasa too.  Aurelia Le Guin had saved her and then commended her for being brave enough to go up against McBurn.

 

~!~

 

“Why did you do it?  Why did you unsheathe your sword and go after someone much more powerful than you?”

 

“Because I wanted to protect myself and the others around me.  If he was cutting anyone down, it might as well have been me instead of innocent civilians.”

 

“So, you’re not innocent?”

 

“Far from it.  I ran away from home and I’ve been trying to find my way ever since.”

 

“I see.” Aurelia had dabbed her mouth with her napkin while they had dinner together. “What are your ambitions, your goals, in life?  What do you hope to accomplish?”

 

“Following the way of the sword and honing my skills.  I want to be the best swordswoman in Erebonia one day.  I know I was foolish to think I could go up against McBurn, the Almighty Conflagration, but…sometimes, you have to take a risk to get to where you want to go.”

 

“Maybe so…” Aurelia leaned back against her chair and contemplated the young girl in front of her. “I have a proposition for you, Melyssa Brackett of the Jurai SEZ…”

 

~!~

 

Melyssa would never forget that dinner as long as she lived and she owed everything to Aurelia for giving her this amazing opportunity.  Now her homeland was in danger from the same man who had nearly killed her twice and she vowed, right then and there on that bus, not to let it happen again.  McBurn would not win in the end, no matter what she had to do or if she had to sacrifice herself to achieve victory.

 

“Okay, you two have been sitting here long enough in silence, looking mopey.”

 

Rean snapped out of his own thoughts, realizing he and Melyssa HAD been sitting there for a while, not saying anything.  He didn’t know what she was thinking, but he had been reflecting on what she had told him and what he knew of McBurn and the incident at Crossbell. “Ash, I’m almost glad to see you.” He joked, taking in his friend/student/comrade.  It was like he hadn’t been wounded at all; magic was a beautiful thing when used properly.

 

“Almost,” Ash winked one pink eye down at Melyssa. “What’d I miss?  Why are we so gloomy?”

 

This time, Melyssa decided to keep the truth to herself. “No reason, just thinking.” There were a lot of reasons why they should look gloomy after all that had happened on this trip thus far. “Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.” She managed to wink back at Ash and turned her gaze to stare out the window again.  They had another hour ride before arriving at the destination where the Courageous II was waiting for them.

 

~!~

 

Running down the street, Melyssa heard screaming from all different directions and turned the corner, stopping at the sight of a terrifying man dressed in red.  He had blue and red hair and spectacles, a sinister smile on his face.  There was a fireball in his hand as well, floating above it, while the people in front of him begged for mercy.  Melyssa had no idea what made her do it, but she unsheathed her Cutlass and prepared to fight him.  Hopefully, she would give the people a chance to escape him.

 

“HEY!  Why don’t you pick a fight with someone who can give you an actual challenge?”

 

The man slowly turned around to face her and Melyssa felt fear grip her insides, those intense eyes of his searing into her very soul. “Oh really now?  This is interesting.  And just who are you and what makes you think you’re worth my time, girl?”

 

Even his voice sent shivers down her spine, but Melyssa had to stay strong and could see the people running away from them. “Because I’m stronger than I look and I may go down, but not without a fight, Red Man.”

 

He chuckled wickedly, taking a step toward her. “Red Man?  So you have no idea who I am?”

 

“No, should I?”

 

“Anyone with a sword should know who I am, girl.  I am McBurn, the Almighty Conflagration and Enforcer #1 of Ouroboros.” The fireball just continued floating and he was impressed her eyes hadn’t left his for a second.  Her stance wasn’t half-bad either, if he was honest. “What’s your name, girl?”

 

“I’m not telling you that.”

 

“Hmm fair enough.” McBurn didn’t waste a second and tossed the fireball right at her, watching her dodge it with ease. “Let’s see how much I have to turn up the heat to take you out.” Melyssa prepared herself for the inevitable, dodging three more fireballs, but one had gotten her by surprise, blasting her back.  McBurn came toward her, stalking her like a predator going after its prey and grabbed her by her neck, beginning to throttle her. “I’m going to burn you alive, girl.”

 

“Screw…you…” Melyssa had passed out, not knowing what happened except when she woke up, she was in a different bed with The Golden Rakshasa staring back at her from across the way.

 

~!~

 

Melyssa jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, not realizing she had fallen asleep and looked up to find Rean hovering over her.  She looked around, trying to blink the sleep out of her eyes and nodded when he informed her they had arrived at their destination.  Standing, she walked off the bus in somewhat of a daze and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder before stopping dead in her tracks at the HUGE crimson red flying contraption in front of her.

 

“Oh wow…” They were going to Jurai in THAT?

 

“That is the Courageous II,” Rean said, giving the airship an admiring look. “It is…-”

 

“Awesome.” Ash slung his arm around her shoulders, pulling Melyssa into him as he stared at said ship as well. “It’s awesome.  You don’t get motion sickness or anything, do you, beautiful?”

 

“Quit heckling her, Carbide.” Juna ordered, walking up alongside them with Kurt at her side. “You’ll hardly even know you’re hundreds of miles over the ground.” She flashed Melyssa a smile.

 

“Usually.” Kurt amended, sweeping his hair back out of his eyes.

 

Crow was standing behind everyone, remaining silent as he just took in the Courageous II.

 

“All right everyone, fall in line.” Rean ordered, watching as Class VII assembled into a neat line, ready to ‘march’ so to speak. “We’re already behind schedule.” By a lot actually. “I don’t want anyone getting too comfortable, this will hopefully be a short flight.”

 

Each class boarded the Courageous II one by one, the first year students in awe while the second years just grinned.  They were on this once before, most of them anyway.  The ones that weren’t were also in awe, naturally.  Melyssa couldn’t believe the size of this aircraft, trying to take everything in while continuing to walk until they arrived in the captain’s room.  There he stood, in all his crimson glory, alongside his wife, who was a former Bracer of Crossbell – Prince Olivert and Princess Scherazard, who was formerly known as the Silver Streak.  Her hair was pure silver, long and beautiful and she was lethal if provoked.  She wasn’t the average princess and had on an outfit that most nobles would balk at.  Showing some cleavage, stomach, arms…yet she looked completely comfortable and Olivert had a bright smile on his face, an eyepatch over his left eye.  He had lost it during the Twilight a few years ago, when he’d nearly lost his life on the first Courageous.

 

“Rean baby, it’s been too long, hasn’t it?” Olivert beamed, walking over to hug his friend and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Come on, you know you missed me.  And here I am, coming to the rescue of my precious friends yet again.”

 

Elliot, Machias, Emma and Alisa laughed at Rean’s blushing face, shaking their heads. “You haven’t changed a bit, Your Highness.” Alisa giggled, amused that Rean always seemed to be the center of attention wherever they went.

 

“And why would I, lovely Alisa?” Olivert winked at her before heading over to Machias and Emma, the impish gleam in his eyes telling them they were in for a world of trouble. “So, a little birdie told me you two got hitched not long ago.”

 

“W-Well…um…” Emma was red as a cherry now, the diamond on her left ring finger stating the obvious. “We didn’t want a huge ceremony, Your Highness…”

 

“We just wanted it to be us and that is why we went to the courthouse to have my father do it.” Machias grabbed his wife’s hand, lacing their fingers together. “Some people do not wish to have extravagant, lavish weddings like yours, Your Highness.”

 

“Touché, I can respect that.” Olivert shook Machias’ from hand with a soft smile. “I hope you accept our sincerest congratulations, however.”

 

“O-Of course, Your Highness.  Thank you.”

 

Machias grinned at Emma at how flustered she was and kissed her cheek. “It’s all right, my love.  This is Olivert and you know how eccentric he gets.”

 

“True.”

 

Ash dipped his head down, so his mouth was by Melyssa’s ear. “In case you haven’t noticed, our illustrious Prince is not… normal by regular nobility standards, by any means.” And that was an understatement when it came right down to it. 

 

However, ‘regular’ nobility was a dying breed, the aristocracy was evolving and hopefully for the better. This ‘us VS them’ mentality hadn’t done Erebonia any favors.  As long as the focus was off of him, Rean didn’t care what the Prince was talking about or to whom.  One day, he was going to be regarded as a normal person.  His gaze moved to Melyssa, flashing her a smile.

 

This wasn’t former Crown Prince Cedric, it was his older brother, who could not take the throne due to his blood not being pure nobility.  Olivert’s mother was a commoner.  Cedric and Princess Alfin, their dear sister, was of pure noble and imperial blood, so they were eligible to take the throne from their father, Emperor Eugene III, someday.  Olivert would forever be just a Prince and he was perfectly fine with it.  Melyssa cracked a smile back at Rean, nodding her head to acknowledge what Ash was saying.

 

“Now, I do recognize a lot of faces here, but there are a few new roses blooming among us!” Olivert waved his hands dramatically while he spoke and groaned when his wife popped him upside the head. “My darling rose, what was that for?”

 

“Stop being YOU and make the announcement.”

 

“Woe is me, taking all of my fun away!”

 

Scherazard rolled her eyes, though she had a smile on her face, still not believing she had agreed to marry this buffoon.  Love made people do crazy things, she supposed. “What my husband is TRYING to say is welcome to the Courageous II and feel free to explore the ship to your heart’s desire.  We should be in Jurai within 2 hours.”

 

Everyone vacated the room besides a few and Melyssa stuck to Ash’s side like glue, not having a clue where she was going.  He pointed out the different rooms to her – there was even a game room with tables to play Blade on and pool – and they had their own gourmet kitchen.  There were shops too to upgrade accessories and whatnot.  This was insane how much was packed into one ship.  This ‘ship’ was like a floating, mobile city in the sky with how many people were aboard it, all of them hustling and bustling as if this was perfectly normal for them.  And it was.  Ash was comfortable enough to talk to a few people he recognized from his last time aboard the Courageous II, seeing some new faces as well.

 

“Well, what do you think of her?” He asked finally, coming to a halt at the back of the ‘ship’ and leaned on the railing, looking out at the sky.

 

“Overwhelming.”

 

It was still hard to believe Ash was back to himself, strength included.  Emma’s magic was incredible and terrifying at the same time.  She thought witches were just myths, but now Melyssa was quickly discovering the myths and legends of Erebonia were real.  The sky looked incredible from this high and the air was crisp and fresh.  It made her a little heady.

 

“She’s beautiful, there’s no doubt about it.  I’m just curious where this beauty is going to land since Jurai doesn’t have an airport of any kind.” Unless the Imperial government had built one in the last year, which was a possibility.

 

“You worry too much, let Olivert deal with that.” Ash laughed, glancing over at her before turning his gaze back out onto the sky. “The first time I was on this ship, I got airsick and dizzy from the view up here.  The idea of it, you know?  Being up so high and at the mercy of this beast.  I always thought I did better with my feet on solid ground.” He confided in her.  It was always a marvel at how easy Melyssa was to talk too and now it felt natural; maybe it had something to do with her basically saving his worthless hide last night. “Are you ready to see Jurai again?” He wondered how that would work with Crow, knowing that relationship was not bouncing back anytime soon.

 

“Yes.  I know we have an investigation to do, but I plan on going to see my parents and grandfather once we’re done with it.  No matter how late it is that we finish, I have to go there and see with my own eyes they’re all right.” Crow was the last person on her mind right now, her parents and grandfather at the forefront.  Rean did not make her feel better about the situation and after having that flashback dream with McBurn…Melyssa had an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach she couldn’t quite ignore. “How are you feeling, Ash?  Really?  No pain?  The magic took it all away, right?”

 

“No pain, really – really.” He chuckled, shaking his head down at her. “You better watch it, beautiful, pretty soon you’re going to turn into a worrywart, just like Rean.” He chided, reaching out to gently cup her chin, letting her see in his face and pale pink eyes that he was teasing her and meant no harm. “You’re too young to be giving yourself wrinkles already with those frowns, Melyssa.” Bending down, he brushed his lips against her forehead, laughing when her teal eyes widened. “There you go, smile!”

 

He didn’t blame her for worrying about her family, however, not after the events of last night.  Though, he was hoping that if anything had happened in Jurai, they would be informed of it.  News like that had to spread, right?  With Jurai being on the far east, news from there didn’t spread nearly as fast as if something happened in Heimdallr.  Ash was right; there was no point in worrying when no news had come to her.  Or maybe she was starting to feel guilty for running away from home and not seeing her family in over a year.  Whatever the case, Melyssa plastered on a smile for Ash and left him to gaze out into the sky while she went back in, having more than enough fresh air.

 

Chapter 28

 

“There you are!” Juna called out, rushing over with a cupcake in hand and it had a candle stuck in the middle of it. “Since we can’t properly celebrate your birthday, I improvised.  Where’s Ash?”

 

“O-Outside…”

 

What was Juna doing?  Melyssa balked when Altina pulled out Claimh Solais, her weapon, and proceeded to float her right to the kitchen while Juna went to retrieve Ash.  Rean, Crow and Kurt were waiting for them when Melyssa was dropped right on her feet in the middle and Altina made Claimh Solais disappear.

 

“Did you REALLY have to do that, Altina?”

 

“Yes.  You would have ran if I didn’t.”

 

“This really isn’t necessary…we have more important things to worry about…”

 

“Life is too short, Melyssa.” Kurt spoke up, usually the quiet one, but he had to say this much. “After what happened yesterday, every birthday should be celebrated to some extent.  And you are 18 now, correct?  That is a huge milestone in one’s life.”

 

“Exactly.” Juna and Ash walked inside and she still had the cupcake in hand, extending it to the birthday girl. “Now stop fighting it, let us sing Happy Birthday to you, blow the candle out and we’ll all have a cupcake.  It’s harmless.”

 

Sighing, Melyssa decided if it made Juna happy, she would suffer through this and took the cupcake, watching Rean light it.  They all sang to her and then she stared at the candle when Juna ordered her to make a wish.  Shutting her eyes, she wished for Jurai’s safety and prosperity, as well as her family’s before blowing it out, all of them applauding her.

 

“See?  That wasn’t so bad!”

 

“No, it wasn’t.” Melyssa hugged Juna with one arm. “Thanks, Juna.”

 

Then, they all sat down together as a class and ate their cupcakes.

 

After their cupcakes and people started wandering off to rest before they landed, Rean gently pulled Melyssa aside. “Here, I have something for you, birthday girl.” He pulled a small packet from his pocket, wrapped in brown paper with twine string. He had been browsing the vendors, seeing if there was anything he or his may need before they hit Jurai and spotted this small trinket.

 

Rean had, and not on purpose, cut Crow off.  He had been approaching Melyssa, hoping to try mending fences again when Rean had swooped in.  He knew Rean wasn’t trying to block him or anything, but it sure felt like.

 

Melyssa stared at the brown package with wide eyes, not expecting any gifts, especially one from her Instructor. “Rean…” He pressed it to her hand and she took it, her eyes staring at it for a moment or two before looking back up into his fuchsia eyes. “What is this?”

 

“Open it and find out.”

 

Hesitantly, Melyssa looked back down at the present and pulled at the string, unraveling it to reveal a brown box.  Rean opened the lid for her to reveal what it was and she felt the breath temporarily leave her body.  It was a beautiful midnight blue stone that had little stars embedded inside of it.  It reminded her of the night sky and her love for stargazing.  It was on a silver chain and Rean took it out of the box to step behind her, moving her hair to the side to clip it on around her neck.

 

“It’s so beautiful.” She pulled her hair out of the chain once he finished and turned to face him, fingering the stone. “Thank you.”

 

“Now, before you think it’s just for pretty…” Her reaction was beyond what he had been hoping for.  Rean had been concerned she would find it overwhelming or inappropriate, so the expression on her face when she had seen it… relief had coursed through him. “It has a protection spell imbued in the stone.” Not one that would guarantee 100% safety, but it would help rebound minor spells and whatnot, help her avoid incoming harm.  Enchantments were tricky. “Also, it reminded me of the sky that night we had gelato, which made me think of you.”

 

Rean wanted to protect her and remembered their night under the stars with gelato, which told her he enjoyed it as much as she did.  She felt that all-too familiar warmth course through her body and her heart filled with a feeling she couldn’t describe.  The protection spell was more than likely done by his witch friend.

 

“So, as long as I wear this, it will protect me?”

 

“Not completely, but it will help a great deal.”

 

She wanted to ask him why he would give her such an amazing gift, but Melyssa refrained.  This was her Instructor and, no matter what she felt towards him, they couldn’t be together.  It wouldn’t be appropriate and the last thing she wanted to do was cause him problems within the academy.  Still, she hadn’t forgotten that night with the gelato or the walk they took together under the stars on the academy field.  Why was she having an overwhelming urge to press her lips to his?  Maybe it was because she now knew what a kiss felt like, even if it was a tarnished memory.  Rean was like a forbidden fruit she desperately wanted to taste.

 

“You truly are one of a kind and not who I thought you were at all, Rean.  I will cherish this always and never take it off.”

 

“Who did you think I was?” He asked, puzzlement lacing his voice before it dawned.  Or at least he had just hit an assumption. The Ashen Chevalier, a stuffy ‘hero’ or something. “Ah, never mind.”

 

Hopefully, now that she knew him, the man beneath the moniker… things wouldn’t ever be awkward between them again.  Not like when she had first met him and realized who her Instructor was, though that awkward had mostly been on her end.  She had been overwhelmed that first week and he had instinctively gone out of his way to help trying to ease her into everything.

 

“Anyway, I’m glad you like it, it looks good on you.” She made it look lovely, but he knew better than to say that out loud.

 

She blushed at his compliment, her cheeks infusing with pink and looked down at the necklace again, loving how the little stars shimmered in the stone.  There was no way she could let him walk away without giving him something in return.  Without hesitation, she stepped up and hugged him around the neck, feeling his hesitation, but she didn’t care.

 

“Thank you for thinking of me.”

 

Pecking his cheek, Melyssa turned and left the kitchen, leaving him standing there with a shocked expression on his face.  Rean stood there long after Melyssa had vacated, unaware that he had moved his fingers up to the spot where her lips had kissed his cheek. Goddess, he was in a lot of trouble when it came to that woman and that’s exactly what she was – a woman.  A beautiful, smart, brave young woman who had attracted his attention as more than just a friend.  His mind threw up a bunch of rules and regulations that he would be tossing aside and willfully breaking if he pursued this, pursued her.

 

As his friends would probably tell him…. some rules were worth breaking over the right person.

 

The only question was: Would Melyssa allow him to break those rules?

 

~!~

 

On the outskirts of Jurai, the Courageous II landed and everyone disembarked exactly an hour and a half later.  They had a little bit of a trek to get to the actual city, but it wasn’t anywhere near as far as what they had to walk yesterday.  Melyssa grabbed her bag and shouldered it, along with everyone else, Rean instructing his students to fall in line.  When they arrived in Jurai, it would be all business and he wanted to make sure they were prepared for absolutely anything.  Prince Olivert promised to come back in 3 days to pick them up and bring them back to Leeves since the trains were all shut down for the time being.

 

“Now since this is familiar territory for Melyssa and Crow, I’m asking you both to take the lead and I’m depending on you both to guide us around Jurai when we get there for the investigation.” Rean informed them, watching both nod and he did the same before they all departed for Jurai.

 

With each step she took, that dreaded feeling pulsated through Melyssa and she did her best to ignore it, putting her focus into destroying some monsters they ran into on the way to Jurai.  Crow hadn’t been to Jurai in years, so being asked to be a guide seemed silly to him. Equally silly was asking him to do so alongside of Melyssa, who was keeping him at arm’s length, not that he blamed her, even after his apology. He had ruined not only her birthday, but he had stolen her first kiss without even asking anything he should have and then immediately afterwards made her feel like complete shit for it.

 

“This place seems familiar.” He said softly after dispatching another group of monsters, surveying the territory. “Did we come here as children?”

 

Melyssa looked over at Crow, along with the others, immediately swallowing down that spark of hope. “Yeah, we did.” She gestured to the nearby tree. “We used to climb this all the time while my grandfather would fish in the river.” There was a river just beyond the trees, not far away from where they had played as kids. “Sometimes, your grandfather would join him, Crow.” She informed him in a soft voice, the memories of them swinging on the branches and their laughter echoing in her mind.  How she wished Crow could experience the nostalgia she currently was. “Anyway, we’re almost to Jurai.  About 10 more minutes or so and we’ll be at the gate.”

 

They used to play here and climb this tree as children.  Crow could vaguely remember his grandfather fishing, though he didn’t recall Melyssa or coming out here with her.  He knew she wasn’t lying, he did have a feeling associated with this area, happiness and joy for the most part.  Falling in step with Melyssa, he kept his pistols out, the inner joy tampered with something else as each step took them closer to the gates of Jurai.

 

“Something feels wrong.” He said it quietly, just to her, not wanting to upset the others over a feeling.

 

Maybe it was just him.

 

“I feel it too.”

 

There was a very uneasy feeling surrounding the outskirts of Jurai, so Melyssa could only imagine what it felt like on the inside.  She shared a concerned look with Crow and then looked at Rean, who had an intense expression on his face.  He must’ve felt something was off as well.  However, once they arrived at the gates of Jurai, the Imperial soldiers allowed them inside without any issues. 

 

The town was…lively. 

 

There were people everywhere shopping, walking, talking, and there were smiles.  This was the ‘richer’ part of Jurai, but the further they would venture in, those smiles and the cheerfulness would vanish.  There was still parts of Jurai that suffered from poverty and economic hell.  Right now, the rich, the nobility that lived in Jurai, looked as happy as clams and that did not set well with Melyssa.  Jurai was a city bathed in commoners, but ever since Jurai had been made a Special Economic Zone, the nobility had slowly but surely edged its way in.

 

Now, after the civil war, the issue between the classes was supposed to -in theory- ebb as the classes were encouraged to mingle a bit more, lessen the stigma between them.  That was in theory, but the reality was one couldn’t force people to stop acting the way they had been taught, by people who had been taught the same.  This was a problem that had lasted generations and it would take generations more to fix it.

 

“I’d say this isn’t so bad.” Crow said wryly, having holstered his pistols once through the gate though he still felt the urge to have his fingers wrapped around one. “But it still feels wrong.”

 

“So, what exactly are we looking for?  How do we start this investigation?” Juna inquired, once they found a quiet spot in between uptown and downtown Jurai, staring at their Instructor expectantly. “You said it was a political issue, correct, Instructor?”

 

“Yeah, Prince Olivert gave me more information on the way here and I can share it with you all now.” Rean rubbed his hands together, knowing this would not be easy for Crow and Melyssa to hear. “Heidel Rogner is trying to vie for power in Jurai.”

 

Heidel Rogner was from one of the Four Great Houses – the Rogner family, who was very well-known in the city of Roer, where Alisa and the Reinford family were from.  He had hired jaegers during the civil war to capture Irina Reinford, Alisa’s mother, and Class VII had saved her and restored order in Roer.  Before Heidel could be sentenced however, the Noble Faction had saved him, or rather Duke Cayenne had, and since he had a lot of power back then, nothing was ever done about Irina’s kidnapping.  It had infuriated Alisa and now…he was trying to steal power from the Imperial government in Jurai.

 

“From what His Highness was told, the nobles are slowly but surely taking over Jurai and there’s an upcoming election for a mayor of the city.”

 

“But…how can that be?” Melyssa demanded, her eyes wide and looked at Crow, shaking her head. “No, that’s wrong.  Jurai’s last mayor was Crow’s grandfather – Mayor Armbrust.  The Imperial government has complete control over Jurai, so how can there even be an election?!”

 

“Emperor Eugene III decreed that Jurai needs a leader of some sort instead of the Imperial government running it.” Rean could understand why she was upset, but at the same time, he had to remain neutral. “Prince Olivert isn’t happy with his father’s decision, which is why there’s a lot more Nobles here than there was a year ago.”

 

“Aidios, help us…” Melyssa whispered, not believing these sudden turn of events. “Who is he competing against, Instructor?”

 

“THAT…I don’t know yet.  Prince Olivert didn’t either, but Scherazard thinks it’s another one of the Four Great Houses.  And here’s the worst part – Ouroboros is backing Heidel Rogner in the election.” Rean did not like the look that crossed over Crow’s face, knowing this was a very serious situation they’d just stepped into. “The election is one week from tomorrow, so Prince Olivert is hoping we can somehow put a stop to it before then.  He said if we need to stay here longer than 3 days, it’s not a problem and Principal Le Guin has already signed consent on it too.”

 

Melyssa felt nauseous, looking around at all the people walking and talking, not believing what was happening to her home.  If Ouroboros was backing Heidel Rogner, his competition did not stand a chance and was in danger of becoming extinct.

 

Chapter 29

 

“So, we need to find out who his opposition is.” Crow said quietly, digesting all of that.

 

Politics, he hated politics, that was what the war was basically all about.  The nobility had NOT agreed at all with the policies Osborne had set in place, with the royal family backing him, no less.  They hadn’t wanted to lose their prestige, their influence, everything that separated them from the ‘lower classes’.

 

“And they’ll probably need protection of some sort, including family.”

 

“And…” Ash hated this, he really hated it because it was just a terrible thought, but it also was not out of Ouroboros depth of depravity either. “We need to keep our ears open for anyone who is voicing against Rogner and supporting the other candidate, enough loud voices usually are heard and Ouroboros will want to stifle them.”

 

One person immediately came to the forefront of Melyssa’s mind that would go against both Heidel Rogner and Ouroboros. “M-My grandfather.” All eyes turned to her and that dreaded feeling in the pit of her stomach surged almost violently. “My grandfather was close to the last mayor of this city.  He’s always been a FIRM believer in the traditions of Jurai and the power belonging to the commoners.  I-If this is all true…and he spoke up against them…” Keep it together, don’t think the worse yet, she mentally chastised herself, taking a slow, deep breath.

 

“Are your parents also traditionalists?” Juna asked, remembering Melyssa telling her about her grandfather living with her Mom and Dad.

 

“Yes.  My grandfather instilled the traditions into his son, my Dad.  They own the biggest fish market in Jurai, so they’re pretty well known throughout the city.” Melyssa felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up at Ash, nodding to let him know she was all right. “If we’re going to find out who Rogner’s competition is, my parents and grandfather would more than likely know.  I-I’m not trying to sway us in the direction of my family because I’m worried about them either.  I truly feel they will have the answers to our questions because of their influence and involvement in Jurai.”

 

It made sense.  Kurt couldn’t deny it. “Then lead us to the fish market as long as it’s all right with you, Instructor.  They should be there right now, correct?”

 

“I would assume so, yes.”

 

“It’s up to the Instructor then.” Altina spoke up. “I agree with Melyssa.  This is our best lead and I do not believe she is doing it for personal reasons.” After all, that wouldn’t be very professional of a student of Thors Branch School.

 

“So, when I called you a fishmonger’s daughter, that wasn’t entirely accurate.” This was not the time for jokes and he wasn’t even joking, Crow was being absolutely serious. “You’re THE fishmonger’s daughter.”

 

Someone who had influence, potential power, and backed the power belonging to the commoner’s.  That was like… nobility with a soul and his eyes narrowed at Melyssa thoughtfully.  Friends with his grandfather, who had been a very, very busy man.  Busy enough that the few precious memories he had of said busy man were highly cherished.  If Melyssa was being honest and he had every reason to believe her, he had spent more time with her family than his own.

 

“Hey, I told you my family took care of you as a child while your grandfather was busy being mayor.  Did you think I was fabricating some elaborate story or something?  The fact is we didn’t just grow up together, Crow, we were RAISED together too.  My family took care of you, clothed you, fed you, bathed you, made sure you got to school on time with me…you even had your own room at our house.  And yes, I’m a lonely child…and you were like their adopted son.”

 

Not only had he broken her heart when he ran away from Jurai, but her parents had been devastated as well.  Her grandfather also because he had spent a lot of time teaching Crow how to fish.  So many memories and he didn’t remember any of them…it was a hard pill to swallow, but at least she didn’t feel any animosity or anger towards him anymore.  Crow raised an eyebrow down at her, wondering if she realized how she sounded. 

 

He hadn’t been questioning anything, simply making a statement.

 

“Let’s go.” Rean ordered, before either could say anything again. 

 

He was already seeing a headache forming.  Maybe he should have asked his witch friend to see about restoring all of Crow’s memories since either he hadn’t come back with them all or he was purposefully blocking them out.  Melyssa lead the way, each step feeling heavier than the next, but she had to be brave. 

 

What if something happened to her family?  What if Ouroboros had already struck?  What if they were too late?  It took everything in her power not to panic as she lead them to the biggest fish market in Jurai.  The big sign in front of them read Brackett & Co. in big bold black letters.  Melyssa froze at the sight of an older woman with dark blue hair, braided over her shoulder, cleaning the windows on the outside of the market.  This was it.  At least her mother was safe and sound.  It’d been over a year since they last saw each other and Melyssa pushed down, fought back, the barrage of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.  Instead, she slowly walked toward the woman and cleared her throat, gaining the woman’s attention.

 

“Hi, welcome to Brackett &…” Miranda Brackett’s words died on her lips the moment she looked away from cleaning the windows, staring back at her own daughter. “Goddess…Mely, i-is that you?  Is it really you?” Tears instantly began sliding down her cheeks as soon as the young lady in front of her nodded her head. “Oh, Aidios!!  You’re alive, you’re alive and you’re back!!”

 

Melyssa grunted when her mother threw her arms around her, hugging her close and she could feel how badly she was shaking. “M-Mom…”

 

“I prayed, oh I prayed to the Goddess every night for your safety!  I had no idea what happened to you, if you were alive or dead all this time!  Aidios has answered my prayers!” Miranda was beside herself, not caring who saw her because her baby girl had finally made it back home safe and sound.

 

“M-Mom…” Melyssa tried again and finally had to break free from her mother’s grip, placing her hands on the woman’s shoulders. “Please stop, okay?  I-I’m not here for…a family reunion.  T-This is my Instructor at Thors Branch School, Rean Schwarzer…and these are my classmates.  W-We need to talk to you, Dad and Papa.  It’s urgent.”

 

Miranda frowned, finally noticing the uniform her daughter sported and covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide. “Y-You’re the Ashen Chevalier, aren’t you?  And you joined his class at Thors?”

 

“Yes, he is and yes, I did and we don’t have time for this.  Where is Dad and Papa?”

 

Miranda swallowed hard, her face growing pale at the mention of her husband and father-in-law. “Mely…”

 

That dreaded feeling was in her stomach again. “Mother, where’s Dad and Papa?” She tried asking again, only for Miranda to completely break down and began crying. “Mom…”

 

Miranda shook her head, unable to find her voice and wrapped her arms around herself.

 

“MOM!”

 

“Whoa Melyssa, calm down…”

 

Melyssa shoved Ash away when he tried to touch her, tears of her own already sliding down her own cheeks. “Mom!  W-Where’s Dad and Papa?  A-Are they all right?  A-Are they here?!  DAD!  PAPA!!” She rushed past her mother into the shop, not sensing anyone else in here. “DAD!!  PAPA!!  WHERE ARE YOU?!” She shouted out, taking the stairs two at a time and felt a coldness take over her racing heart, flinging every door open.  They were nowhere to be found. “Goddess no, please…”

 

Miranda’s husband, Robert, had been captured a month ago and she had no idea where they were keeping him…or if he was alive.  Robert had done exactly what Melyssa feared, spoken his mind, along with her grandfather, Thomas, and they had paid the price for it.  Thomas had been killed as a ‘warning’, by Ouroboros, and when Robert pursued his goal of protecting Jurai, despite what happened to Thomas, that had been the final straw for them. 

 

Miranda gestured everyone to follow her inside before telling them what happened, not wanting it out in the open for everyone to see.  She didn’t trust anyone right now in Jurai and the only reason their business was still going because they were the largest fish market in the city.  Some of the smaller ones had already been shut down.  People were terrified for their lives and some had even left Jurai to start new lives elsewhere.

 

Melyssa listened from the top of the stairs and felt her heart shatter in her chest, not believing her Papa was dead.  He hadn’t died an old man either in his bed peaceful or because of some disease.  He was MURDERED…by Ouroboros.  Now, they had her father captive or he was already dead as well…and her poor mother was all alone to deal with this.  She thought back to Crossbell, to her encounter with McBurn and wondered if it really was a coincidence after all.  No, it had to be because McBurn didn’t even know her name and called her ‘girl’. 

 

It had to be a coincidence – a wrong place, wrong time scenario, right?

 

Unless of course McBurn had known who she was, whose daughter she was, whose granddaughter she was and then the coincidence was out the door.  Knowing all this now, again after the fact, had Rean’s mind playing catch up as he began sorting this all out.  Fishmonger, when he had heard that, he had thought of a small family, small business, commoner type of deal and Melyssa’s family was not exactly common.  Not if they were the largest supplier in Jurai.

 

“Crow, Ash, I want you two down by the docks to check out the warehouse.” Because a fishery, a business, this size would have to have a place down at the docks as well.

 

Miranda felt something akin to hope flaring as action was FINALLY being taken over this.

 

“On it.”

 

Miranda’s head also shot up at the name Rean Schwarzer said, her eyes wide. “Crow?  Crow Armbrust?”

 

Was the Goddess smiling down on her today or making a mockery of her?  The man had silver hair and crimson eyes – there was no mistaking it, this was the same boy she had cared for and practically raised.  However, she did not see any recognition in his eyes as he stared back at her and Miranda was somehow not surprised.

 

“Never mind, we’ll talk later.”

 

Crow merely nodded and followed Ash out the door.

 

“Juna, Altina and Kurt, I need you to go around town, discreetly, and start questioning people on the possible whereabouts of Ouroboros’ hideout.  More than likely that’s where they’re keeping Robert Brackett hostage.” Rean was all business, determined to help this family and stood, his eyes moving to the stairs.

 

“What about Melyssa?” Juna asked, worry lacing her tone for her friend.

 

“Let the Instructor deal with it.”

 

Kurt knew they had to put the investigation first, but that didn’t mean Melyssa had to be involved, not until she was in a right frame of mind again.  Finding out her grandfather, who she adored, was killed by Ouroboros, because of a Noble, and then her father was taken hostage…it was a lot for anyone to take in, especially on their birthday.

 

This was the worst birthday of her life.

 

As far as Rean concerned, right now the best place for Melyssa was here with her mother.  Firstly, it allowed her to grieve in peace without the pressure of having to hold everything together for an investigation.  Second, if anyone came through that door with ill intentions, it would rouse her and grief would be channeled into something else, which was a win-win.  Crouching down by her, he reached out and placed a hand gently on her shoulder, his heart breaking at the tears and brokenness in those teal eyes.

 

“I want you to stay here until I come back, watch over your mother and take some time.” He ordered softly. “Okay?”

 

Melyssa understood why he was doing this, leaving her out of the investigation and just nodded, not able to find words.  She should have been here all along instead of being selfish, trying to track down a man, who didn’t even remember her.  Her Papa was dead and she wasn’t here to try protecting him.  She was off at a military academy or sleeping in the woods being stubborn and bullheaded.

 

“Rean…” She grabbed his arm when he went to stand up, watery teal meeting concerned yet determined fuchsia. “Please…please save my Dad.” In her heart, she felt he was still alive and she would hold onto that hope as long as she could. “Please…I-I can’t lose him too…”

 

Rean’s first instinct was to promise that he would and he even opened his mouth to say as much, but then he shut it, his lips compressing into a thin grim line. “I will try.” He said finally, letting her hear the truth in his tone.  He wasn’t promising anything because he didn’t want to have to disappoint her if he couldn’t keep his promise, not after the day she was having, the news she had heard.  Rean couldn’t bare being the one to break her again by not living up to his word. “I’ll be back.” He whispered, brushing his lips against her forehead before getting up and stepping down to look at the remaining students. “We’re moving out.” He was going to, however, leave a few of the second years behind to keep an eye on the place from a distance. 

 

Crow and Ash would be the ones to stay behind, after they returned from the docks and warehouse, but that would take a while.  Altina told Rean she would stay behind to keep an eye on Melyssa and her mother, while Juna and Kurt went with Rean to try to find the whereabouts of Ouroboros’ hideout.  Rean wasn’t taking any chances, wanting this place and family protected.  Melyssa felt worthless just sitting at the top of the stairs with her head in her hands, showing weakness. 

 

What was she proving by sitting here, wallowing in pity? 

 

Her Papa couldn’t be brought back to life…not like Crow had.   He was gone.  Forever.  Her Dad was in danger and she should have been out there with the others, grilling people for information.  Instead, all she could do was sit here and cry, now understanding why she’d had a feeling of dread wash over her the moment Rean announced they were going to Jurai for their field study.

 

Papa, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here to protect you.  I love you so much and I miss you.  Dad, please be safe.  Goddess, please protect him and keep him safe until we can get to him, Melyssa silently prayed, clasping her hands tightly in front of her.

 

Chapter 30

 

Crow had navigated himself and Ash to the docks, the warehouse and fishing district by memory, feeling things surfacing in his mind as feelings were connected by visuals now, even smells.  The saltiness of the ocean air, the fishy smell that seeped into everything, including their hair and clothes.  He could hear people laughing and talking, haggling as people conducted business and of course, children running here and there.  It made him feel nostalgia, envisioning himself and Melyssa doing that, running back and forth, laughing and playing tag here.  This was horrible timing, the return of some memories while they were conducting not only an investigation of Ouroboros, but also a murder and kidnapping.  Again, the Goddess had a wicked sense of humor.

 

“There.” He raised a finger and pointed to the warehouse. “There’s a side entrance we can take, maybe less people will see us.”

 

Ash could tell Crow was somewhat out of it while walking toward the docks and warehouse.  He just hoped the man snapped out of it if they had to battle.  Heading to the side door, Crow picked it with ease and opened it, both slipping inside undetected.  Crow froze instantly because the warehouse was lined up with closed barrels and Ash noticed it, frowning.

 

“What’s up?  Does this place have a connection to you too?” He didn’t mean to pry, but it was obvious Crow was experiencing some serious memory issues at the moment. “Come on, try to focus and look around.”

 

Crow was definitely having a memory issue right now, his red eyes firmly fastened on those barrels.

 

~!~

 

“Help me!  Someone help me!”

 

“Lyssa?” Young Crow asked, approaching the brining barrel hesitantly.  They had been playing hide and seek.  He had been the seeker this round and this was… confusing. “Are you hiding in there?”

 

“Crow?!  Help, it’s hard to breathe in here!”

 

“Hold on, I’ll get help!”

 

“Don’t leave me, Crow, don’t leave me!”

 

He grabbed the top of the barrel, the lid, and tried prying it off.  How’d she get in there?! “I can’t, it’s stuck!”

 

~!~

 

“Hey Armbrust, get your head in the game!” Ash popped the silver haired man upside the head, seeing Crow had been in a zone of some sort.  What in Aidios’ name was going on in his head?

 

~!~

 

“Melyssa, we are headed to your family home next door.  I recommend you join us and not leave your mother alone.” Altina informed her classmate two hours later, remaining at the bottom of the steps to look up.

 

It was nightfall and it looked like a storm was rolling in.  Her mother had already closed up the fish market and was waiting for them by the entrance.  Melyssa nodded silently, descending the stairs and followed them outside, waiting for her mother to lock up.  Together, they ventured to the two story house that was right next to the fish market and Melyssa stopped to stare at it.  Even in the darkness, it looked the same, but there was a cold feeling about it now that Papa was gone and Dad…she immediately dismissed that train of thought, refusing to believe he was dead as well.  They would find him and bring him back home safely, no matter what she had to do.

 

Miranda looked back at her daughter and wanted to hold her close, but she could tell Melyssa didn’t want to be bothered right now. “Come on, I’ll make something to eat for everyone.  There’s plenty of room for you all to stay here.”

 

Altina just nodded, walking inside and Melyssa slowly followed, closing her eyes to breathe in the scent of home.  It made her want to cry all over again seeing her Papa’s favorite chair with his smoking pipe on the table beside it.

 

Crow and Ash returned while the storm was in full force.  Crow had remembered something else, storms coming in off the ocean were downright dangerous at times.  Nobody was in the market, so he automatically veered towards the large house next door.


Miranda screamed when the back door, the kitchen door, flew open. “Crow!” She shrieked, a hand flying to her heart when she seen the silver haired youth come in like so many times before, shaking water out of his hair alongside his friend, who was just as wet. “It was locked!”

 

“You leave the spare key in the same place still.” He said slowly, feeling almost shy under the look she was giving him.  Some things were coming back or he just felt like he knew, like he had always known, but not everything, not yet.

 

Melyssa overheard that and stared at them wide-eyed, her Cutlass unsheathed, ready to cut down any intruder.  She had been sitting in her Papa’s chair with a cup of tea in hand, freshly showered and in her pajamas for the evening.  The moment the back door swung open, she was up with her Cutlass unsheathed and Altina had brought out Claimh Solais, which had terrified her mother.  Was Crow’s memory coming back?

 

It doesn’t matter, he doesn’t want you and you need to move on, she reminded herself, sheathing her weapon and Altina waved her hand as hers disappeared.

 

“I’ll get you boys some towels.  Stay put.” Miranda ordered, rushing into the bathroom to grab them and handed one over to the blonde while she proceeded to towel-dry Crow. “I didn’t know if you’d remember me, boy.  Pleased to know some memories are returning.” She had asked Rean about Crow after he left with Ash and Rean had told her about his memory loss, not going into much detail.  It was enough to know Crow didn’t know her or Melyssa or anyone from Jurai besides his deceased grandfather. “All right, get your hair really good and then you can sit down for some hot soup.”

 

Ash smirked at the mothering from the older woman and Crow’s cheeks were tinged red, his pink eyes moving to look at Melyssa.  Even with the shower she’d taken, her eyes were still red and swollen from all the crying she’d done, though the tears had stopped.  He really didn’t know what to say to her, so he just winked, letting her know he was here if she wanted to talk.

 

All Melyssa did was nod back at him and sat back down in her Papa’s chair, sipping more of her tea just as flash of lightning lit up the house.

 

Crow remained silent as this woman coddled both him and Ash like they were little boys instead of grown men.  He glanced at Melyssa from time to time, unsure of what to say to her.  Offer his condolences?  He knew how trite and worthless those were, he had been in her position himself years ago.  It was one of the key factors that had led both him and her to this point, a loved one being murdered.  He needed to tell her he was sorry for her loss, and Miranda as well, but every time he did open his mouth to speak, he wound up spooning more soup instead.

 

“She’s exhausted.” Miranda murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter’s sleeping face and covered her up with a blanket that was on the back of her father-in-law’s chair.  It was his favorite and she remembered the countless times he would snuggle Melyssa up with it to watch the fireplace. “Happy birthday, my sweet girl.” Kissing her forehead, she went to lift Melyssa up to carry her upstairs to her bedroom, when a hand landed on her shoulder. “She can’t sleep in this chair, her back will kill her in the morning…”

 

“I know, ma’am, don’t worry.  I’ll carry her up for you.” Ash offered, already lifting Melyssa in his arms to cradle her against his chest.  She didn’t move and he nodded at Miranda, following her up the stairs to Melyssa’s bedroom. 

 

Rean and the others weren’t back yet, but Ash had gotten a message from their friends a short while ago, letting them know not to wait up.

 

~!~

 

Jurai was turning out to be shady.

 

On the surface, a lot of things looked normal, very peaches and cream and the people seemed happy.  As they had explored and tried to investigate, without being overly obvious and attracting too much attention to themselves, – that was a bit hard since he was the Ashen Chevalier – he had noticed a few things.  A lot of the adults were so ‘happy’ it seemed faked, forced, and then undercurrents of tension seeped into the stilted conversations.  The ‘death’ of one of their own, on top of the disappearance -because nobody was calling it what it was, a kidnapping- had people clamming up, afraid they or a loved one would be next if they voiced their concerns, or voiced out against the opposition.  This town was under a silent type of oppression. 

 

By the time he made it back, the storm was in full rage and he was drenched from head to toe, taking in the house.  Every light was off, he doubted anyone was awake.  Rean had sent others back hours ago, knowing they weren’t getting anywhere else tonight, not with this storm, but he had wanted to go investigate a few locations.  He had known that with the storm going on, they would be empty and he had been right.

 

“Rean?”

 

Melyssa had slept for exactly two hours and was woken up by a nightmare, unable to go back to sleep.  She had padded downstairs quietly and curled up in her Papa’s chair again, silently crying.  Crow and Ash were in his old room, Juna and Kurt were roomed together in another, Altina in her own and Rean would be sleeping in Thomas’s old room.  Melyssa stood up from the chair, seeing him standing there sopping wet and held her finger up in a one second gesture to go retrieve towels.  Her mother had done a load before going to bed, apparently, because they were freshly washed and folded.

 

“Here, take your jacket off and I’ll hang it up.” Her voice was a low and soft monotone, gruff from all the crying she’d done.  It was after 2 in the morning, Juna and Kurt had gotten back after she’d fallen asleep and someone had carried her up to her bed.

 

“Look away.” He ordered through chattering teeth, trying to keep from being loud. 

 

Rean was SOAKED, even his underwear, and he began shedding his clothes right there in the kitchen.  He spotted a barrel -what was with these people and their barrels- loaded with what looked like Crow’s jacket, wet stuff.  Ah, he got it.  He began carefully adding his stuff, each piece as he removed it, knowing it would all have be laundered, or at least dried before being put back on.  His fingers hooked into the waist of his pants, eyes moving to her, making sure she wasn’t watching.  After the horrible few days she had had, standing here in her mother’s kitchen, seeing him naked would probably traumatize the poor woman.

 

Obeying, Melyssa had hung up his jacket and then walked back to sit in her Papa’s chair, letting Rean dry himself off with the towels.  The fireplace wasn’t on, so she sat in the dark and stared straight ahead, trying to commit the smell of the chair to memory.  It smelled just like her beloved grandfather.  She could hear Rean chattering and shuffling of clothes, or towels, whatever, the chair blocking her view completely.  As tempted as she was to sneak a peek, Melyssa knew better and touched the starry night stone around her neck.  Only in her fantasies and dreams would she ever see Rean naked because he was her Instructor and it was wrong to lust after someone of his caliber.  Wrapped in that overly large towel, Rean came out and groaned softly.  No fire.  He bet it would have felt good right about now, warming him.  Even his bones felt chilled, the wind whistling outside reminding him of just how bad it was out there.

 

“Why aren’t you in bed, Melyssa?” He asked quietly, settling himself on the floor at her feet, making sure there was towel beneath his naked butt.

 

Then again, maybe that was a stupid question.  If he had been in her shoes and gotten the news she had, sleep would be the last thing he wanted to do.  Rean knew he’d want to be out there searching for killers and kidnappers, raining down vengeance, which was always a slippery slope.

 

“Had a nightmare and couldn’t fall back to sleep.” Melyssa quietly answered and stood up from the chair, stepping over him to get to the fireplace. 

 

The logs were still fresh, so she took a match and lit it, stoking it a little with the poker to get it going.  When she turned around, Rean was slowly being bathed in the firelight, bare from the waist up and that scar on his chest made her stomach flip and her heart race.  It was just like their first sparring session, only she knew he was completely naked beneath that towel.

 

“You were out late.” She moved back to him and instead of sitting in the chair, she took the spot beside him, drawing her knees up. “Did you find out anything?”

 

“Some,” Rean said slowly, scooting up closer to the fire, aware she was moving along with him. He stuck his hands out, hissing as the warmth crashed over them. “Thanks, this feels heavenly.” It was like dunking himself into a very hot bath at the end of a long, cold day. “Most people are too afraid to talk.  I didn’t notice it when we first came in, but… a lot of these smiles and the cheer, it’s fake, especially amongst the commoners.  They’re scared.” As they should be, he supposed, cocking his head to the side as he watched the flames.  Rean started to ask her about her nightmare only to be interrupted by his own stomach, his cheeks flaming just as hot as the fire. “Sorry.” It had been a long day, he had been busy from the moment they had arrived and he could already see the next few days would be just as bad.

 

Melyssa cracked the barest hint of a smile at his gurgling stomach and knew what she had to do, rising back to her feet. “Stay here by the fire and I’ll warm you up some soup my Mom made.”

 

Before he could stop her or argue, Melyssa was already on her way to the kitchen.  Rean would more than likely come down with a cold unless he got really lucky.  He was DRENCHED and she had seen just how sopping wet his clothes were.  Luckily, they had an orbal washing machine and dryer, an invention the Reinford company came up with several years ago.  While the soup was warming on the orbal stove, she tossed his clothes, along with others, into the washer and started it up.  They would need fresh clothes and her mother had done more than enough for them already.  Melyssa would grieve in her own time, but right now, she had one primary focus and that was finding and rescuing her father. 

 

Ten minutes later, she brought out the soup and handed it over to Rean, cautioning him to be careful because it was hot.

 

Chapter 31

 

Rean didn’t plan on catching a cold.  He planned on practically baking himself on this fire until any chance of a cold was burnt away.  When she came out with the soup, his nose had him shifting to look at her, his stomach gurgling again to remind him that he was famished and hadn’t eaten all day.

 

“You are an angel, you know that?” He cradled the hot bowl between his finally warming palms, shifting his body so he was sitting facing her as Melyssa sank back down onto the floor with him. “Did Crow and Ash say if they found anything out down at the docks?” He asked, raising the spoon up to start blowing on the soup, pretty sure he was going to risk the burn because he was starving.

 

“No, I’m not an angel.  I’m…I’m nothing.  And I don’t know because I was too busy wallowing in my grief to pay attention when they returned.  I ended up falling asleep in my Papa’s chair and someone carried me up to my room.  You’ll have to ask them in the morning.” Melyssa couldn’t meet his eyes and instead stared into the fire, the grief threatening to overtake her once again.  She wasn’t here.  She wasn’t here to protect her family and she felt worthless because of it. “Tomorrow, I’m going on the investigation with you, Rean.  I’m going to help any way I can because, if I stay here and keep wallowing like this, I’m going to be swallowed whole in my grief.  I need to continue the way of the sword and we have a job to do here.” I’m coming, Dad, I promise, she silently vowed, wiping a stray tear from her cheek angrily.

 

Rean was silent, using the now cooled enough to eat without scalding his mouth soup as means to occupy himself, so he didn’t have to reply.  Instead, he thought about it, about her, about this situation.  She had run away from home after fighting with her parents.  He could not even begin to imagine the guilt she must feel now, coming home to find out a loved one was dead and another had been kidnapped.  It had to be shredding her inside and here she was trying to put on a brave, stoic face for him.

 

“You can cry.” He said softly once he was done with the soup, setting the bowl off to the side, so it was out of the way. “Melyssa, you can cry as much as you want, as much as you need too.  It’s the desire for revenge and vengeance that you can’t succumb too.”

 

He moved closer to her, cupping her face with his palm, his thumb moving to catch another tear.  Crow had done that and look where it had landed him.  She had too much potential to throw it away on things like vengeance, no matter how much she DID deserve it.  Another tear fell and then another as they kept filling her eyes, the shame and guilt ripping her apart from the inside out.

 

“I-I have to be strong.  My Papa wanted me to pursue the way of the sword and supported me.  The Cutlass I wield was his and he gave it to me.” It was more special to her than ever now that he was dead.  She pulled away from Rean’s touch, using both of her hands to wipe the tears away. “No, I’ve cried enough.  When this is over and my Dad is safe and sound, I’ll find time to mourn my Papa.  Now isn’t the time or place, not when my Mom is in danger now.” With her father gone, Ouroboros could sweep in at any time and take her mother next. Whoever killed Papa will pay and I’ll cut them down myself, another vow she made silently, knowing Rean wouldn’t like hearing those words come out of her mouth.  She was angry and had every reason to be.  Melyssa would channel that anger and pain into being helpful, productive and strong instead of succumbing to it completely like Crow had.

 

“There is strength, Melyssa,” He said quietly with conviction, knowing she heard every word he said clearly. “In acknowledging and embracing what some may view as weakness.  It’s one of the things that separates us from those in Ouroboros, one of the things that keeps us from becoming LIKE them.  The tears mean you loved your Papa deeply, I’d be concerned if you didn’t cry.”

 

He was also concerned that too many people thought they had to bottle it up and carry on, avenge their dead, and it lead to accidents, innocents getting hurt.  Or led the grieving down a path they might not be able to come back from.  Again, Crow came to mind and he realized that it was because the situations here were so similar.  It had been his own grandfather that had been murdered, same as hers.  Same town.  Same political positions.  Close family friends.  They were cursed, it seemed.

 

Slowly turning her head to look back at him, Melyssa didn’t see her Instructor in the firelight.  This was Rean Schwarzer, her friend, who was trying his best to comfort her.  The tears glittered in her teal eyes and she shut them tightly, beginning to cry all over again.

 

“I…miss him…so much…” Her voice cracked as she buried her face in her hands and Rean pulled her against him this time, keeping his grip firm while his cheek rested on top of her head. “I-I never should’ve left home…I-I could’ve protected them if I hadn’t been so selfish and stubborn about wanting to reunite with Crow!  And look how well THAT turned out.  The man doesn’t even remember me, us, nothing of Jurai!  Please Goddess, Aidios, whoever is listening up there, please take this pain away…please give me strength to save my Dad…” If Melyssa lost him, she didn’t know if she’d be able to go on with her own life since she blamed herself entirely for her grandfather’s murder. “T-This is my fault…I’m so sorry, Papa…”

 

Her tears were now soaking Rean’s chest because she had moved her hands from her face in order to wrap her arms tightly around his waist.  He wanted her to cry and let it all out and that was exactly what she was doing.  Patiently, Rean listened to her crying and her pleas, her prayers to the Goddess to help her through this and ease the hurt.  It was a sad song that he was sure the Goddess had heard a thousand times before and he wondered if it hurt Her any less or was She indifferent to it by now?  All Rean did was hold her, occasionally moving a hand to stroke her hair, silently letting her know that he was here and he was listening, being her literal shoulder to cry on because that’s what you did when you cared about someone.  After a long while, her words tapered into cries and eventually those also faded into something ragged and heavy, as if she had cried herself hoarse and maybe she had.

 

“Melyssa?” He murmured, his lips brushing the shell of her ear.

 

Her breathing was ragged from both crying and sobbing, shivering when she felt Rean’s breath and lips on her ear.  Why did that feel good?  Melyssa didn’t want to move, pretty sure she had soaked Rean’s chest and now her tears had dried into his skin, along with the rain outside, thanks to the fireplace.  Slowly, she pulled back to look up at him, those fuchsia eyes burning down into her, piercing her very soul.  Goddess help her, she really needed to check herself when it came to Rean because all she wanted to do was kiss him.

 

“Rean…” She croaked out softly, her voice hoarse and the moment he began leaning down, she pulled back, sniffling. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…break down on you like that…” As much as she wanted to explore these feelings for Rean, it was wrong and she couldn’t pursue anything with her Instructor.

 

“No, it’s fine, I think I kind of gave you permission.” He smiled slightly at her, taking note of the way her tears had dried on her face, the firelight making those tracks glisten almost. “That’s what I’m here for, if you ever should need me, Melyssa. I want you to remember that.”

 

Because in the days to come, she’d probably need a friend and why was he thinking of himself as something that could potentially be more than her friend?  She was his student and he knew she’d had feelings for Crow.  After Crow’s idiot move, he wasn’t sure where she stood with the man, however.

 

“Thanks.” Melyssa rose to her feet and sat in her Papa’s chair, putting some space between her and Rean. “I think I’m tired enough to catch some more sleep.  You really should do the same, Rean.” Squeezing his bare shoulder, she stood up from the chair and scrubbed her hands down her face. “My Mom set you up in Papa’s old room, if that’s all right.” He nodded and she did the same, feeling a lot of confliction when it came to Rean.  Then there was Crow…and she couldn’t even deal with him right now, not with everything else that was coming at her. “Goodnight.” Padding up the stairs, Melyssa turned the corner to go to her room and froze at the sight of Crow standing in the hallway.  He had a faraway look on his face and she took another step, this time making his head snap to stare at her with those fiery eyes. “If I woke you up, I apologize.”

 

“No, you didn’t.  A branch hit the window and it startled me out of my dreams.” Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing since he had been having the weirdest dreams, though at least this time, it wasn’t anything to do with her being in a fish brining barrel.  He reached out and hesitantly placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. “I remembered that, the barrel bit I mean, Lyssa.” He flashed her a tentative smile, knowing his behavior with the kiss stealing and immediate panic attack afterwards had not left them on good terms.

 

“It’s not…wait, what?” Melyssa’s eyes widened, her hand slowly coming up to cover her mouth.  Did he just call her Lyssa?  Nobody else ever had – it was Crow’s special nickname for her growing up. “What did you call me?”

 

“Lyssa…”

 

There was a hint of recognition in his eyes and familiarity when he said it a second time.  Now, she wanted to cry for an entirely different reason, but instead, she placed her hand on top of his and squeezed. “You remembered what you used to call me.  You’re getting your memories back?”

 

Was this real?  Or was she dreaming again?  Maybe she fell asleep against Rean and she was still in front of the fireplace with him.  She pinched her arm, just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming and she wasn’t, feeling that small zip of pain.  This was both the last thing she needed to be told and the best thing in the world.

 

“Crow…”

 

Reaching out with a trembling hand, she touched the side of his face with newfound admiration in her own eyes.  He was another person she couldn’t lose.  Now that he was regaining his memories, maybe Crow would finally remember just how close they used to be prior to him leaving Jurai.

 

“Lyssa,” He said it again, it felt both familiar and weird, the way it just rolled off his tongue, but the way she smiled again when he used the nickname he had given her as a child… it was worth it. “I’m sorry I forgot everything, I don’t… the memories ARE coming back.  So many things snapped into place today or they felt familiar and I just knew… knew things, like where to go and what to look for, where.” It was an odd feeling, having memories he possessed, but couldn’t access just suddenly be there.

 

Despite what she found out and everything happening, Melyssa could not stop the smile that crossed her face when he called her ‘Lyssa’. “It’s not your fault.” Melyssa meant that with every fiber of her being. 

 

It was Duke Cayenne’s fault.  It was the deceased Giliath Osborne’s fault for blackmailing Crow’s grandfather.  Duke Cayenne did not help matters at all by manipulating him into building his hatred for Osborne either.  She didn’t hesitate and wrapped her arms around his waist to hug him tightly, tears falling for an entirely different reason now.  They weren’t sad.  They were full of happiness that she was slowly but surely getting HER Crow back.

 

“I’m just glad you’re coming back to me and remembering.  That’s all that matters.”

 

Considering how he had taken her first kiss without asking permission or her age, and then how he had acted after it had belatedly come to him about her age… the fact that Melyssa was willingly touching him again had something stirring inside of Crow.

 

“Melyssa?  Are you-” Rean had been finally moving to his room, Papa’s room, which he had learned was downstairs.  He had heard her and come up to check, turned and hesitated, coming to see if everything was all right.  She was standing there with Crow, looking much happier than when she had been downstairs. “All right?”

 

Rean was in nothing but a towel.  Crow’s red eyes widened for a moment before narrowing. “You got in late.”

 

“The storm had me delayed.” He kept his voice down, not wanting to wake anyone. “I thought you may have called for me.” He inclined his head at Melyssa. “Good night.” Right back down the steps he went, holding tight to the towel with one hand.

 

As much as she wanted to go after Rean, it felt as if her feet were glued to the flooring and her arms would not release Crow.  All she had done was turn her head to look at their Instructor/friend and now she was looking up at Crow, who had an unreadable expression on his face.  Was he…irritated?  Why?

 

“I was already downstairs when he came in from the storm and I started the fireplace for him and warmed him up some soup.” There was no way she was telling Crow about her breakdown on Rean.  Some things were better left unsaid. “Are you okay, Crow?”

 

Crow’s face went blank for a moment before he gave her a half-smile, nodding his head. “Yeah, I’m fine, Lyssa, just tired is all.” It had been an extremely long day and he was going to pass back out, hopefully without any more strange dreams or branches hitting his window. “Try to get some sleep.” He shoved a naked, minus a towel, Rean right out of mind, knowing it wasn’t his business when it came to Melyssa and Rean, not that there WAS anything going on there. 

 

That would probably violate some rule or something since they were student and Instructor.

 

There was NOTHING going on between her and Rean and there never could be, not until she wasn’t his student anymore.  That was two years from now and there was no way he’d wait for her.  Why was Melyssa even thinking along those lines in the first place?

 

“You too.  Goodnight, Crow and…welcome back.” Squeezing his arm, she walked into her room and shut the door, pressing her back against it. 

 

He may have stolen her first real kiss and hurt her feelings with the rejection, but her heart was wide open for him now that his memories were returning.  Touching the stone around her neck, Melyssa knew she was in trouble because she also had forbidden feelings for her Instructor.  She couldn’t deny the chemistry and attraction she had with Rean, not to mention their connection. 

 

There was definitely something there, she just didn’t know what it was yet.

 

Chapter 32

 

A few hours later, Melyssa finally gave up and slid out of bed, smelling something fantastic coming from downstairs.  Her eyes shut and she relished the smell – Mom’s home cooking.  It’d been over a year since she smelled it and her stomach rumbled with life since she didn’t eat dinner the previous night.  She’d been too upset and crying always put a damper on her appetite.  Walking down the stairs, Melyssa could hear her mother in the kitchen and pushed open the door, watching the older woman jump slightly.

 

“Sorry Mom, I didn’t mean to scare you.” She looked around the kitchen, familiarizing herself with it and remembered the countless baking sessions they had in here together. “Do you want some help?”

 

Miranda bit her tongue, almost asking if Melyssa remembered how to cook.  It would have been her teasing, but it felt wrong, especially after yesterday and the sad news she had to break to her daughter. “No, I’m nearly done.” She nodded her head at the table. “The Ashen Chevalier has been up for a while, he set the table.” Having Him setting her table… she clicked her tongue, knowing such work was beneath a man like that, but at the same time, it showed that he was still humble. “Here.” Miranda turned, wiping her hands off on the apron at her waste before reaching for a freshly baked biscuit, turning to hold it out. “I’ve changed the recipe a bit, what do you think?” If someone would have told her, after a year of nothing, she’d be discussing biscuits with her daughter, as if nothing had happened, she’d have whacked them with a fish.

 

Carefully, Melyssa took a bite out of it and shut her eyes, relishing the flavor and the taste of it. “You haven’t lost your touch, Mom.  It’s delicious.” She devoured the entire thing and then hugged her mother, fresh tears stinging her eyes. “I missed you, Mom.  I’m sorry about the way I treated you yesterday.  I know it was a shock to you to see me after all this time and…”

 

“Quiet, Mely.” Miranda soothed, hugging her daughter back and tears of her own began sliding down her cheeks. “I’m just…so glad you’re safe and alive.  We were all worried about you when you ran away and we didn’t know what happened to you.  None of that matters anymore though, you’re here safe and sound in my arms again.  I love you so much, my girl.”

 

“I love you too, Mom.” Melyssa slowly pulled out of the hug, wiping her mother’s tears away and Miranda did the same to her. “And I promise you, we’re going to find Dad and bring him back.  I know he’s still alive, I can feel it.”

 

Miranda nodded with a small smile. “I can feel it too.  Are you absolutely sure this is the path you want to follow in life, Melyssa?  You don’t have to do this because of Crow…”

 

“It’s not just about Crow anymore.  I love swordsmanship, Mom.  I love battling and honing my skills.  It may have started out because of him, but I’ve evolved past that and I managed to get into Thors Branch School based on my talents.” There was no way she could tell Miranda the other big reason for being accepted. “I know you don’t like what I’m doing, but I hope you can accept it and respect my choice.”

 

Miranda sighed resignedly, seeing her daughter’s mind was made up and there would be no changing it. “All right then, I support you.  I should have done that from the beginning.” She touched Melyssa’s face tenderly with her hand, kissing her forehead. “Just promise me you won’t run away again and you’ll come visit, once everything is settled.”

 

“I promise.” Melyssa hugged her mother again, this time a little tighter. “Thanks, Mom.”

 

That was the scene Rean walked in on, having gone outside bright and early to check out any damage to the house from last night’s storm.  It was clear and beautiful out, he could hardly believe that there HAD been a storm and a fierce one at that.  Miranda had done everyone’s laundry bright and early, he had woken up to clean clothes on the end of the bed.  He had slept like a log, after spending an hour trying to get comfortable in the dead man’s bed.

 

“Morning, Melyssa.” He greeted her, wearing his pants and shoes, no shirt yet.  He had been gathering up branches and debris and putting them into a pile for Miranda. “No damage, ma’am, the roof is solid as well.” She must have had a good luck charm last night because he had seen some serious damage to her neighbor’s property.  Given everything that had happened to this family, thank the Goddess for small mercies.

 

Shirtless.  Again.

 

“Thank you, Mr. Schwarzer.  I appreciate all your help this morning.”

 

“Morning.” Melyssa wasn’t sure if she should call him Rean or Instructor, so she just stuck with the standard greeting.  She was still in her sleep attire, shorts and a tank top, deciding to change after breakfast and a shower. “I’ll go wake everyone else up since breakfast is almost done.” Unable to resist, her eyes slid over Rean’s shirtless chest on her way out of the kitchen, heading for the stairs. He needs to stop being shirtless around me, she thought on her way up and decided to see if Juna and Kurt were awake yet first.  She tapped on the door, heard cursing through it and blinked, deciding to back up. “Breakfast is ready, you guys.”

 

“Be right there!” Juna squawked, cursing more. “Where are they?!”

 

Whatever they were doing, Melyssa did NOT want to know and she went to the next room.  Altina was already awake and headed downstairs, walking past her with a nod of her head.  Finally, it was time to knock on Crow and Ash’s door and Melyssa did, waiting to see if she heard anything.

 

“Stop… cuddling me…”

 

Crow was awake all right.  One bed, a large bed, but Ash was all up in his business.  Crow was a cuddler by nature, Melyssa had found that out the hard way, literally, his hard-on had been pressed up into her.  He was learning he did not like being on the receiving end of that.

 

“You’re so warm.” Ash muttered, his eyes closed and sighed.  Then he frowned, cracking one eye open. “Oh man…” He was cuddling Crow… then he shrugged and closed his eyes again, yawning.

 

Yawning right against the back of Crow’s neck.  He shuddered and wrenched free. “We’re coming, Lyssa.”

 

Once again, whatever THEY were doing, Melyssa did not want to know and turned as a red-faced Juna and Kurt came out of their own room. “Good morning.” She greeted, walking past them to head downstairs with Juna mumbling under her breath the entire time. 

 

Obviously, Melyssa had interrupted something between them.  At the table, Rean sat still shirtless and Melyssa decided to help her mother set the rest of the food on the table.  When she returned, all the chairs were taken besides the one across from him, which coincidentally was ‘her’ chair from when she lived here.  Great.

 

“I call shower first when we’re done eating.” She announced, setting the platter on the table and sat down beside Crow, her mother at the front.

 

“Fair enough, beautiful.” Ash winked at her, happy as a clam and hungry, not fazed in the slightest he had spooned another man.

 

“After everyone is fed and ready to go, we need to discuss what we’re doing today.  I have some ideas in mind, but let’s eat first.” Rean informed his students before everyone began digging in.

 

Rean had already showered, so he had no problem in letting her call dibs.  He noticed everyone was eating heartily, including Melyssa, which was good.  What was not good was how she was very determined to stare directly into her bowl and not even look up, that puzzled him and he kept glancing up at her throughout the meal.

 

“Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Brackett.”

 

Ash was charming Miranda, foregoing the vulgar jokes because one, this was Melyssa’s Mom.  Two, she was grieving and her husband was missing.  Three, she looked like she would bean him with a cast iron skillet if he mouthed off to her or something.

 

“The bed was very comfortable.”

 

Crow nearly choked on a biscuit, shooting his friend a dark look.

 

Ash simply winked one pink eye at him.

 

“You’re welcome and please, call me Miranda.  No need for formalities, Ash.” Miranda smiled back at him, sipping her tea and continued eating, glancing at her daughter. “Mely, slow down before you engulf your plate too, dear.”

 

“Sorry…”

 

Melyssa was famished and the fact this was her mother’s cooking just made her want to ingest as much as she could.  Also, there was a very damn good reason why she wasn’t looking up at SHIRTLESS Rean.  The man was lean, chiseled out of stone and Melyssa did not need to give off any inclination she thought of him as more than her friend and Instructor.  Whenever she did look up, it was always at someone else.

 

“Juna and Kurt, how did YOU guys sleep last night?”

 

Juna and Kurt both lowered their heads and turned red, making everyone raise curious brows. “Very well, thank you.” She was going to KILL Melyssa when they were alone, wondering if she’d overheard anything.

 

“Yes, quite.” Kurt cleared his throat and sipped some water.

 

“They must have been practicing because I heard a lot of noise from their room last night.” Altina chimed in at the perfect time, that same robotic angelic voice sounding almost innocent.

 

“Oh REALLY now?” Ash was intrigued, his focus on the couple. “And what pray tell were you two ‘practicing’?”

 

“NOTHING!” Juna and Kurt both shouted out at the same time.

 

“Sparring.” Crow added without missing a beat, giving them a smug smirk and knew, if not for the fact that they were guests in Miranda’s house, Kurt would have probably tossed a piece of sausage at him.

 

Rean was shaking his head, clearing his throat to let his students know it was time to knock it off.  They were guests in this house and he prayed they HADN’T been doing what everyone was assuming.  Miranda was eventually going to strip that bed and she’d probably smell something… he inwardly groaned.

 

“Eat.” He ordered, winking at Melyssa when she finally glanced his way.

 

After a rather uncomfortable and amusing breakfast, Melyssa helped her mother clean up the table, alongside Juna and Altina.  Then, she headed upstairs to grab her belongings she would need for her shower.  Crow and Kurt was still being heckled by Ash and Rean had finally put a shirt on, thankfully, when she came back downstairs where the shower was located.  Starting the water, Melyssa shut the door and undressed before stepping under the sprays, letting the heated water wash away everything from the past couple days.  There were a few people they could talk to still that may give them a clue as to where her father was being held.  Melyssa would have to talk to Rean about it, unless he’d already questioned the people she had in mind.  One way or another, today they had to make some progress because she was not leaving Jurai until her father was back home safe and sound.

 

Given the circumstances they had arrived to find, Rean had already sent word that Class VII would likely be extending their trip to Jurai.  With the delay they had experienced, they were already behind schedule and the current political climate, the murder and kidnapping… they couldn’t, in good conscious, leave after only a few days.  They were going to have to see this thing out and ensure the safety of Jurai’s citizens, as well as ensure that this did not spread outside of Jurai and into the rest of the Empire.  If possible, Rean was hoping to prevent another civil war right here and now.

 

After her shower, and some more soul-searching, Melyssa asked if she could speak to Crow outside for a minute alone. “I think we should try to Combat Link again.” She blurted out, not meaning to do it so…bluntly, but time was not on their side and she more connected to him now. “I think my problem was the memory loss and now that you’re getting them back, little by little, we may be able to link up finally.  I don’t want to give up on us or avoid each other just because there’s a bump in the road.” The kiss came to mind. “I’m not saying we go out there in the battlefield or investigation and try to experiment.” Rean wouldn’t go for it. “But maybe tonight after dinner, we can go to the woods and try, like I did with Ash in Leeves.  We need to be a well-oiled machine going against Ouroboros and whoever else is behind the scenes.  What do you think?”

 

Here she was, extending him an olive branch.  Crow just stared down at Melyssa for a moment, taking her in.  She looked better than she had yesterday, more at peace with herself and the situation around them.  He wished he had been able to do that all those years ago.  But wishing wasn’t going to get them anywhere and he nodded.

 

“You’re right.  We can do that.” It would definitely have to be done in whatever ‘spare’ time they had because Rean would need all hands on deck for this investigation. “So… are we good, Lyssa?” He asked quietly, knowing he couldn’t take back ruining her first kiss or that moment, but he could try to make amends for it.

 

Tilting her head, Melyssa was confused by his question at first and then it dawned on her what he was referring to.  The kiss.  The rejection.  Why didn’t that bother her now?  Was it because Crow was regaining his memories?  It felt so good hearing him call her Lyssa again and seeing actual recognition in his eyes when he looked at her instead of a blank slate.

 

“Of course we are, Crow.” She reached up to smooth away some of the silver hair hanging in his eyes and cupped his face tenderly. “Don’t worry about what happened, let’s just move on from it, okay?  Please?”

 

Don’t worry about it, easier said than done.  Now that his memories were starting to return, it seemed stupid that he had forgotten her birthday and equally stupid that he had spazzed so hard.  Though, now he was also wondering if maybe deep down he had panicked because he had known her as kids.  Maybe he felt he was doing something that he probably shouldn’t with the girl who had been raised practically as his sister.

 

“I’m trying, Lyssa.” He smiled, a hand moving up to cover hers. “I really did make an ass of myself though, didn’t I?” He grinned when the look on her face changed into something amused and definitely agreeing with his statement.

 

“Yeah, you did, but…it’s okay.  It was in the heat of the moment and everybody makes mistakes.  I am glad you were my first kiss, though.  At least it wasn’t with a complete stranger.” Then again, she wouldn’t have minded if Rean had been her first kiss and she immediately dismissed that train of thought.  HE’S YOUR INSTRUCTOR, STOP IT, she screamed at herself internally, pulling her hand away from Crow’s face and kept the smile on her face.  Melyssa really needed to get a hold of herself when it came to these developing feelings for Rean because she still had feelings for Crow as well. “Feel better now?  Because I sure do.”

 

Melyssa was glad that he had been her first kiss, even if he had royally mucked it up with his panic attack and thorough humiliation of her right afterwards.  Crow’s eyes lit up and he felt his heart beating just a little bit faster as he let her words wash through him. “I do.” He said quietly, letting his own hands drop down to take hers, lacing his fingers through hers and squeezed gently even as he moved to fill the space between them. “I’d like a do-over on the kiss, Lyssa.” He admitted, feeling a bit vulnerable because she could very easily shoot him down.  She didn’t immediately pull away however, so he took that as a tentative invitation, leaning down slowly until his nose was almost brushing hers. “May I kiss you?”

 

Chapter 33

 

Now Melyssa’s heart was beating furiously in her chest and her breathing had turned a little heavy, her teal eyes wide at his request.  They were outside of her house, in the open, with people walking past them to head to work or the markets Jurai offered.  If she rejected him, Melyssa was afraid Crow would shut down again and that was the last thing she wanted.  Before she could answer, however, a voice sounded behind them and Melyssa silently thanked the Goddess for small favors.

 

“Are you two done yet?  We need to have a meeting.” It was Ash, brash and blunt as always with arms folded in front of his massive chest.

 

“Y-Yeah, we’re done.” Melyssa felt Crow release her hands and step back, not realizing her throat had become bone dry in the short span of time.  She needed time to sort her feelings out and Crow had put her on the spot at the worst possible time. “We’ll talk about this later.” She murmured to Crow, letting him know she wasn’t trying to ignore his request and followed Ash inside the house for the meeting.

 

Ash had the WORST timing of anyone he had ever known, himself included, Crow thought as he followed the pair inside.  He had not missed the way she had hurried, as if she was afraid he might actually kiss her and wasn’t sure how he felt about that.  Maybe after the first time and his actions immediately afterwards, she wanted nothing to do with him in that way and he didn’t blame her.  Crow stepped into the house, noting that the majority of Class VII had assembled in the living room and Rean was standing before the now cold fireplace, patiently waiting it seemed on them.

 

“We’re splitting into pairs again.” Rean informed them once everyone was there, his fuchsia eyes raking over his students.  His friends.  The distinction in situations like this was important because it was not only a teaching moment, but a dangerous situation and they WERE his friends, his family.

 

“Mr. Schwarzer, with all due respect, I don’t need protection and I’d rather all of you being out there finding my husband.” Miranda requested, grateful to finally have some help with this horrible situation.

 

“No Mom, what if they come for you next?  You need to be protected.” Melyssa interjected immediately, shaking her head.

 

“Instructor would not allow that.” Altina chimed in, nodding over at Rean, who already had a look on his face that mirrored what she said.

 

“Damn straight, we’re not gonna leave you to defend yourself.  Even if Schwarzer allowed it, I wouldn’t.” Ash stated defiantly, pink eyes narrowing at the older woman, who had done so much for them already.

 

Melyssa smiled at Ash appreciatively.

 

“Instructor, if I may…” Kurt even rose his arm, watching Rean nod his head, giving him permission to continue. “Juna and I shall stay here and guard Mrs. Brackett since we ventured out with you yesterday.  You can take, Ash, Crow, Melyssa and Altina with you this time around.  It may help that Crow is regaining his memories of this place as well.  Perhaps he’ll know some contacts you haven’t thought of?”

 

“Ash and Crow are going back to the docks.” Rean said after a moment, unaware Crow and Melyssa had made up.  He knew they had been talking last night and then again this morning, but with their inability to link up properly, he preferred them to work with different people and a large group was going to attract even more attention then what they already were with this investigation. “Melyssa and Altina-”

 

“I think I should go with Crow and Ash.” Altina interrupted in her soft, robotic voice. “I would like to visit the docks.”

 

“This isn’t that kind of field trip, Altina.” Ash shook his head at her.

 

“She goes.”

 

Altina nodded her head at Rean while Ash grumbled.

 

“Melyssa, you’re with me.”

 

“Yes, Instructor.”

 

Their inability to link up would hopefully be settled later that night after the investigation was over with.  What was it about the docks that had Rean so interested, though?  If Ash and Crow couldn’t find anything yesterday, what made him think they would today?  Maybe bringing Altina would give them more room for exploring as well?

 

“Thank you, Kurt, for volunteering to keep my Mom safe.”

 

“It really isn’t necessary…”

 

“Yes it is, Mom.  Ouroboros is extremely dangerous and we’ve already lost Papa…” That was very hard for her to say, but Melyssa managed to do it, clearing her throat. “And Dad is missing, I’m not about to lose you too.”

 

“Agreed.” Crow wanted to show his support however he could for this family he was slowly but surely remembering.

 

Spending the entire day with Rean would be interesting…and Melyssa would hopefully work out whatever these feelings were for him before her Combat Link practice session with Crow later on.

 

The investigation at the docks had been somewhat hindered by Crow’s memories resurfacing and causing him to halt.  It had provided useful too as he had remembered little things, little ways of getting around or inside of buildings without being seen, but… Rean knew Altina had a keen eye and given that the docks was where a lot of business went down, it would also be a good place for shady dealings.  She was likely to pick up on those.  Not many people took her to be an insanely intelligent, deadly force because of her angelic looks, but she was.

 

“We’re going to the… upper class areas of Jurai today.” Rean informed Melyssa once Ash, Crow and Altina had vacated, Ash still grumbling under his breath. “We know the commoners are scared, I want to see the nobility.”

 

It made sense since there was a great deal of nobility in Jurai these days.  There was no hiding who Rean was because he was well-known throughout the empire.  Most of the nobility hated him for putting a kibosh on Duke Cayenne’s reign of terror and that was only because he was FOR the nobility. “I am ready when you are, Instructor.” Melyssa walked over to her mother and hugged her, kissing her forehead. “You’re in good hands, Mom.  We’ll be back later on.”

 

“Just try not to be TOO late and be careful.”

 

They both nodded before leaving the house, Melyssa sending a wink to Juna and Kurt on her way out the door to let them know she trusted them to protect her mother.  Not only were they classmates, but they were friends and they had to trust each other to get through this.

 

“We’re going to probably be out late.” Rean laughed as they headed towards the first section of Jurai they had come in when arriving, where they had noticed all the upper class dwelling.

 

It was a stark difference between that area and where they were currently and he was pretty sure the majority of those changes were new.  He had forgotten what being ‘mothered’ was like.  Miranda was definitely a mom, treating them as if they were precious children instead of warriors and learning warriors, which he liked actually.

 

“Now tell me what you remember about this area and the people here.  Anyone you remember that is noteworthy?”

 

“It wasn’t like this before.  All the nobility wasn’t here a year ago when I left.” Melyssa kept her voice down to where only Rean could hear her and he had looped his arm through hers.  They were in regular clothing instead of their Thors uniforms to stay incognito as much as possible. “There are several new shops here too and I’m betting their run by the nobility as well.” She discreetly pointed them out, which consisted of two jewelry stores, a clothing store and another store that wasn’t labeled, but people kept coming and going out of it, carrying bags. “All of these used to be markets to help sell goods Jurai receives by trade or from fishing and hunting.” The woods were a great resource for furs and hides. “I just can’t believe how much has changed in the span of a year…”

 

“So, all of this, including the buildings are new, within the span of a year?”

 

Rean wanted to be sure he was understanding this correctly, raising one brow when Melyssa shook her head no and explained. The old shops had been taken over. All of this within a year, buying out, or more likely forcing out, shop owners and setting up news businesses… he just couldn’t fathom such drastic changes within a year.

 

“Let’s go into the unmarked shop.”

 

That seemed weirdly out of place, a shop that had no indication of what goods it sold but people were going in and out.  Keeping her arm tucked in his, he purposefully strode that way, each step sure and confident.  He couldn’t hide who he was, so he would play to the role, which meant confidence and keeping his head up proudly.

 

Melyssa kept her head up as well, though on the inside she was enraged by all the changes Jurai went through.  This was NOT the Jurai she grew up with and loved.  She knew money spoke volumes, especially in this day and age, so it wasn’t unheard of that the nobility would force the commoners out of their businesses by throwing a bunch of mira their way.  Stepping inside the unmarked shop, Melyssa swallowed back a gasp and looked around, not believing what was being sold.  Weapons of every caliber hung on the walls, along with shields, staffs to perform magic, ARCUS units, and accessories, both big and small and for both men and women.  Jurai had NEVER had a shop like this. 

 

Sure, they had a weapon and accessories shop, but this was…on a whole different level.  There were other things to buy as well such as home décor, souvenirs, clothes…Melyssa looked up at Rean and could see the pensive expression on his face, wondering what was going through his mind.  She COULD harbor a guess and one of those questions was why was all of these weapons being sold to nobles and commoners freely?  Some of these weapons should have been outlawed since the Imperial Army, RMP and Provincial Army, which was basically an army for the nobility.

 

“This is crazy.” She whispered, letting Rean guide her wherever he wanted to go while her eyes took in everything in horrific amazement.

 

This was highly illegal or should have been.  Rean took his time, his hand moving to rest on the small of her back, as if he was being considerate when it reality he didn’t trust anyone here.  He felt something prickly, raising the hair on the back of his neck. Nobody needed THIS kind of firepower, not the average citizen anyway, not unless they were planning on a coup or… a war.   He swallowed hard, glancing down at Melyssa and could see she was entertaining the same thoughts.  It was mixed so casually with everyday wares and nobody seemed to be batting an eye. He wondered if Jurai was only the beginning, how many other places were starting to become like this?

 

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the FAMOUS Ashen Chevalier!” A fiery redhead came bouncing up to them with a smarmy grin on her face, almost indecently dressed.

 

The Sanguine Ogre, Shirley Orlando.  She was the cousin of Randy Orlando, who was one of the Instructors at Thors Branch School, currently.  Randy and his students were in a nearby city investigating and Melyssa would bet the same thing was transpiring there as it was in Jurai.  Shirley was also the daughter of the leader of the Jaeger corps known as the Red Constellation.  They were the most lethal Jaeger corps in Erebonia.  As if that wasn’t enough, she was also Enforcer No. XVII in Ouroboros.  This was a terrifying woman and Melyssa could FEEL the power oozing out of her pores, her eyes moving to look up at Rean.  He didn’t seem fazed, only surprised to find a member of Ouroboros out in the open like this.  Melyssa wanted to demand where her father was, but that wouldn’t be a smart idea, given the circumstances, so she kept her mouth shut.

 

“What’s the matter, Ashen, cat got your tongue?”

 

Rean, in a childish moment, almost stuck it out at her, but refrained, slowly raising an eyebrow. “No, Shirley, I was just thinking that with business being so good, you may be able to afford decent attire finally.” He said coolly, letting his upper lip curve into a sneer before his face smoothed out into something neutral. 

 

She was out and about brazenly; Jurai had definitely been taken by the enemy and they were feeling secure in their power.  She wasn’t someone he wanted to tussle with in a shop.  Shirley wouldn’t care about collateral damage, she was quite mad.

 

“I know, right?!  Business is BOOMING!!  Daddy is so proud!” This was her pride and joy, this shop full of all kinds of goodies only the nobility could afford.  A few commoners came and went, but for the most part, it was nobility buying up everything.

 

“Rean.”

 

“Oh, I do believe you remember the FORMER Crown Prince Cedric.  Did I tell you we’re engaged?” Flashing Rean her blood red stone on her left ring finger, she draped an arm around Cedric’s neck and gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek.

 

Cedric had been part of Osborne’s insane Twilight curse, the Phantasmal Blaze plan, and he’d gone toe to toe with Rean and Class VII.  Because he wasn’t an Immortal, he didn’t die once the Rivalry was settled with Rean being the victor.  Instead of going back to the empire and begging his father for forgiveness, Cedric joined the Red Constellation and Ouroboros instead and renounced his title as Crown Prince of Erebonia.  He was now simply Cedric of the Red Constellation Yaeger corps and an Enforcer in training for Ouroboros. 

 

One day, he would take over as the leader since he was marrying the current leader’s daughter.

 

“It’s…been a long time, Rean.” Cedric didn’t look happy or sad, his face completely stoic while Shirley boasted about their engagement.  He did love her, but his spirit had been crushed once the Chancellor died.

 

“Not long enough.” Cedric was almost as crazy as Shirley and he didn’t bother making introductions with Melyssa.  Chances were, she already recognized him, a quick glance down at her wide teal eyes informed him this was accurate. “I suppose congratulations are in order.”

 

“That’s so sweet!” Shirley chirped, fluttering her eyelashes at them both.

 

“Apologies, I meant condolences.”

 

He was channeling his inner Ash and Crow.  The mighty had fallen far indeed and considering he was former royalty, Cedric knew better than anybody that what was happening here in Jurai would not stand, it could not.  It wasn’t going to set the tone for the country as a whole.

 

“And WHO is this LOVELY, delectable morsel on your arm, Schwarzer, hmm?” Shirley stepped up to Melyssa to wrap her arm around the girl’s shoulders and pouted when she stepped back.

 

“Don’t touch me.” Melyssa ordered, tensed and coiled, fighting the urge to reach for her Cutlass, but Rean stopped her by wrapping an arm around her waist.

 

“Oohhh, forgive me, I didn’t realize the lady was taken already.  Very cute, and I bet there’s a hellcat in there waiting to be released.” Shirley liked women and slid her tongue out to wet her lips, giving her best sultry look. “Just know, if the Ashen Chevalier can’t satisfy you, I damn sure will give it my best shot, dollface.”

 

Melyssa shuddered involuntarily, unable to suppress it and tightened her jaw, clenching her teeth. They have to know where my father is.  There’s no way Shirley will tell us, but maybe Cedric will, if we can get him alone, she thought, her eyes moving to the uneasy looking young man.

 

“I suppose congratulations are in order for you as well, Rean.” Cedric was used to Shirley’s eccentric behavior and eyeballed the dark blue haired girl with interest. “Didn’t realize Instructors could date their students, though.  Was that rule thrown out in Thors?”

 

Melyssa’s jaw dropped.  How the HELL did he know she was Rean’s student?!  She wasn’t wearing her school uniform!  That told Melyssa one thing: They were being spied on. “W-We’re not…”

 

“Oh please!  No need to be modest!” Shirley cackled, her eyes practically dancing with mirth. “This IS the Ashen Chevalier, after all, so I’m sure he can get away with breaking rules.  He WAS always a rulebreaker, after all.  Isn’t that right, Schwarzer?”

 

Chapter 34

 

“When it proves expedient.” Rean allowed with a nod of his head, acknowledging the truth in her words.  He kept his arm firmly around Melyssa, feeling her body shaking in silent fury against his and hoped she would let her cooler head prevail.  Shirley was provoking her on purpose.  He had reached the same conclusion she had, they were being spied on and took a calculated risk. “This is Melyssa, Melyssa Brackett.” He said it casually, his eyes sweeping from Shirley to Cedric.  Something had flickered in Cedric’s eyes, it was gone almost as soon as it had come, but he had seen it.

 

“Brackett…Brackett…doesn’t ring a bell.” Shirley was lying through her teeth, an evil smile crossing her face while Cedric had given himself away.  She didn’t notice it, too busy enjoying provoking the daughter of the fish market owner they had in their clutches at the moment. “Where are you from, Melyssa?”

 

Calm down, losing your temper is not going to help matters, she mentally coached herself and the smile had returned to her face, the trembling ceasing.  Shirley was testing her to see if she would lie and Melyssa wasn’t about to be caught in that trap. “Here, actually.  Born, bred and raised Jurai.  You may have heard of my family’s business, Brackett & Co.?  It’s the largest fish market in the city.”

 

“Ah yes!” Shirley snapped her fingers, surprised the girl had been forthcoming with that information, even though she already knew it.  Her trap hadn’t worked.  Bummer. “It was a PLEASURE meeting your family.” Her eyes gleamed almost viciously, her voice dropping an octave. “Especially your grandfather, he was A LOT of fun to talk to.  My condolences on his death.” She didn’t mean a word of it, turning to look at Cedric. “McBurn COULD have went easier on that old geezer, but once he gets started, it’s hard to pull him out of his…aura.”

 

McBurn killed her Papa…Melyssa felt her heart crumble in her chest all over again and she had to fight back tears, not believing how callous this woman was being talking about her family.

 

“How is your dear mother coping anyway?  I heard your father disappeared and nobody has heard from him.  Tragic, really.” Shirley sounded bored, studying her red painted talons and shrugged. “Do send my regards to her, won’t you?”

 

“We will.” Rean said before Melyssa could, his eyes flashing with fire at how callous Shirley was, knowing hearing this was breaking Melyssa.

 

He was proud at how she was handling herself, however, and would tell her so when they were not here.  Right now, all he wanted to do was draw his Tachi and remove her head from her shoulders, knowing he would be doing the world a favor.  Rean was not a man to harbor such thoughts, not usually, but here he was, seriously considering it.

 

“Perhaps you’d return the favor and send McBurn my best?  He’s going to need it.” Because he wasn’t going to try talking Melyssa out of killing the man when they came face to face, again.

 

Shirley snorted at the Ashen Chevalier’s bravery and rolled her eyes, shrugging. “Suit yourself.  Just make sure you’re prepared to be BURNED.  Remember, you play with fire too much and you will get scorched.  Just some friendly advice from me.  Do look around and buy anything your heart desires.  I’ll even give you a discount.” She snapped her fingers. “Cedric, come.”

 

Obeying like a dog, Cedric trudged behind Shirley and looked back at Rean, giving him another look that told him they needed to talk.

 

Melyssa couldn’t stand being in the shop a second longer and walked away from Rean to step outside, closing her eyes to breathe in the fresh, salt-water air from the ocean.  McBurn…McBurn killed her Papa and more than likely had her father in captivity.  Was Crossbell really a coincidence or did he know who she was?  She couldn’t break down, not now, not when they were just starting the investigation.  She had to remain strong, diligent, cautious and on guard, taking several deep breaths to slow her racing heart and to keep the tears at bay.  Later…she would break down later when she was alone in her room, not here and not now.

 

“If they’ve been planning this coup, McBurn knew who you were last year, you were a target.” Rean had caught up with her and was speaking in low whispers, his eyes still rolling from the cheesy ‘burn and scorch’ comments from Shirley.  Which brought them back to the speculation that maybe the train attack hadn’t been a coincidence either.  She was very likely a target. “I need to get Cedric alone.” As long as Shirley was around, that wasn’t going to happen and she wasn’t about to let herself be distracted by him.

 

“He knows something.  And I have a feeling McBurn has my Dad.”

 

Melyssa was sure of it, especially after that conversation with Shirley and Cedric.  She turned to look up at Rean, not able to deny anything he said.  Crossbell and her run in with McBurn…were they looking for her?  Is that why Ouroboros attacked Crossbell, or was it just partially the reason?  What about the train?  Was that because of her?  Melyssa felt so much turmoil and guilt overwhelming her, but she had to stay strong.

 

“Where to next, Instructor?” When Rean just stared down at her, she folded her arms in front of her chest. “We have to continue, right?  I’m fine, don’t worry about me right now.  We need to focus on the task at hand, so where to next?”

 

“An early lunch, we need to talk.” Rean felt like a complete tool for his current train of thoughts, but… they needed to talk and he would lay it out for her.  Shirley had expressed interest in Melyssa and that was about the only way to get her out of Cedric’s eyesight, which meant he could swoop in and talk to the former Crown Prince without that mad wench interfering. “Let’s hit a street vendor and find a quiet place.” He wasn’t going into a pub or café; he didn’t trust anyone in this town to not eavesdrop.

 

After they bought a fish sandwich from a vendor with a drink, Rean guided them toward the docks that were on the nobility side of Jurai.  They sat side by side and she listened to what he had in mind, his plan.  Cedric had the information they needed on the whereabouts of her father, but he wouldn’t tell them with Shirley breathing down their neck.

 

“So, you want me to occupy Shirley long enough for you to talk to Cedric?  What makes you think he’ll tell you where my Dad is?” She asked, pure curiosity in her tone and already knew there was only one way to ‘occupy’ the Sanguine Ogre.  Were her skills up to par and strong enough to withstand Shirley’s onslaught?  There was only one way to find out. “Never mind, I’ll do it.” Anything to help rescue her father, even if it meant putting her own life on the line.

 

“He knows something and the look he gave me when Shirley was guiding him off.  I think Cedric has bitten off more than he can chew with Shirley.  Today was a GOOD day for her.” Rean said seriously, nodding when Melyssa gave him a curious look. “She’s a maniac, and that’s putting it nicely and mildly.” She was a freaking lunatic, a mad dog who is just barely on a leash. “I doubt Shirley will try to engage you in combat.  That is not… what she’s after from you.” His face flushed, from the tips of his ears down to his neck, glancing at the fish sandwich and cleared his throat. “If you’re not comfortable with any of this, just say the word.  I don’t want to put you in a situation you can’t handle.”

 

Melyssa raised a slow brow at the way his face flushed and she suddenly realized what exactly Rean was referring to.  He wanted her to… “I’ll figure it out, Rean.  I can handle her.” There was NO way she would engage in any lascivious activities with Shirley, but…she also knew how much The Sanguine Ogre loved to fight.  She was a Yaeger queen, practically, and Melyssa wouldn’t be able to submit her, but…that didn’t mean they couldn’t engage in a sparring session. “You just focus on getting whatever information you can from Cedric and leave Shirley to me.” Squeezing his shoulder, she took another bite out of her fish sandwich and stared out at the water, really hoping McBurn didn’t hurt her father. Please Papa, watch over Dad until I can get to him, she silently prayed, shutting her eyes as a gust of wind blew over her and somehow, she knew it was her Papa letting her know he was.

 

Rean was silently praying to the Goddess, his own gaze out on the water now as the blush slowly receded.  She was a virgin who had her first kiss stolen and here he was, asking her to flirt with a madwoman so he could gather information.  If he could have, Rean would have switched places with her, but Shirley wouldn’t fall for it and even if she did, she wasn’t interested in anything except harassing him and eventually trying to take his head off his shoulders.  By the time he was finished, she was too and they just sat there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

 

Finally, he stood up, brushing his hands off on his pants and held out a hand for her.

 

Looking up at him, Melyssa slid her hand into his and felt that rush of warmth flood through her body and the connection with him strengthen. “Rean, I need to ask you something as a friend, not as my Instructor.” If she didn’t ask this now, there probably wouldn’t be a better time later on. “I heard what Shirley said about it being against the rules for an Instructor to date a student in Thors.” Keep it together, don’t blush, don’t give any indication you are interested in him, she mentally coached, not releasing his hand. “I was just curious if she was lying about that or not, just to get under your skin.  Is it true?”

 

“It’s frowned upon.” Rean answered, staring down at her intently, his fuchsia eyes curious. “Students and teachers have been known to start… expressing interest in each other, but generally wait until the student has graduated before cementing anything.  Well,” He stopped, shaking his head. “Most of them.  There have been a few incidences where relations were entered and just not made public until after the fact.  Since nothing can be proven…” He shrugged, not sure how else to explain it. “Why?” His heart rate had picked up exponentially.

 

Hers was up as well and she had no idea why she asked him a question like this.  No, that was a lie.  She knew why.  Melyssa had feelings for him and they had grown ever since the night they ate gelato together under the stars, after walking the academy grounds.  There was something about Rean…something special and it had nothing to do with his titles or the fact he was a hero of Erebonia.  She liked him…for him, just the man.

 

“No reason, it just caught my attention and being a first year, I was curious if she was lying about it or not.” Melyssa had another question for him, but she wasn’t sure if asking it was the right thing to do. Screw it. “What are your feelings on it?  A student and Instructor dating each other?  Do you think it’s right or wrong?”

 

“I think that it depends on the couple.” His first impulse had been to say wrong because, technically, it was wrong, but not necessarily from a moral standpoint so much as an ethical one. “Sometimes an Instructor may take advantage of a student and pressure him or her, which is one of the reasons the rule is there in the first place.  I think, however, that there are couples who are exceptions to that rule and they’re the ones who wait until they can formally be together.”

 

“Very diplomatic answer, Instructor.” Melyssa teased, trying to lighten the mood and could see the slight smile curve his lips. “All right, back to business.  Thanks for teaching me something new today.” Winking, she looped her arm through his as they walked away from the dock back toward town. “So, do you want to put this plan into action now or wait a couple hours?  If we don’t wait, I fear Shirley will get suspicious right off the bat.  What do you think?”

 

“Oh she will, which is why we’re going to continue our tour of the noble section.” He hated calling this part of Jurai that, but it was the truth since there was nothing BUT nobility there.  When they had been coming in, they hadn’t been able to tell anything was wrong outside the gates.  Jurai had looked peaceful and inviting and now they knew that couldn’t be further from the truth. “We’ll also need to get word to the higher-ups, Jurai is in violation of a few laws and treaties.” Though… he frowned, stopping to look down at her thoughtfully. “What if it’s not just Jurai?” What if all levels were being infiltrated again?  Rean wasn’t sure if Erebonia could handle another civil war so soon after the last one.

 

“I thought that too…and something tells me it’s not.  Jurai may not even be the beginning of whatever is going on.” Then she had a thought and gestured to his ARCUS II. “Machias’ father is the governor and acting Chancellor of Heimdallr, correct?” Rean confirmed it with a nod. “If something is going on within the empire, surely he knows something about it.  Maybe you should call and ask your friend for some help, to see if can find out any inside information.  He is part of the judicial inspectorate, after all.” Basically, Machias went all over Erebonia to observe certain people and places, investigating them in his own way.  It was like a light bulb went off in Rean’s head at her suggestion and he held his hand up in order to make that call.

 

“I wonder when the last time he came this way was…” She had a brilliant idea and when he had a moment later tonight, he would make that call. “I think Jurai was the beginning, it makes a lot of sense.  For the most part, Jurai is isolated and small enough to serve as a… sort of testing grounds.  If whatever this is, this takeover, can be implemented here smoothly, they may try applying it on a larger scale in some of the bigger regions.” If they hadn’t already, he mentally added, seeing from the look on her face that she was thinking along the same lines. “Come on.” He looped his arm through hers, heading back the way they had originally come. “Let’s get going.”

 

For the next three hours, they explored and investigated the upper side of Jurai, the nobility all looking smug and happy.  There wasn’t one face that looked scared or unsure or timid.  They finally made their way back to Shirley’s shop and Rean nodded at her, both parting ways while she stood outside of it.  Taking a deep breath, Melyssa stepped inside and went on the hunt for the redhead.  It did not take long to find her or her cackling, annoying voice.

 

“Shirley.” She called out, watching the redhead slowly turn until teal locked with blazing blue.

 

“Well, well, the fly has found its way into my web.  And what brings you back here, little girl?” Shirley sauntered up to her, flicking a piece of dark blue hair from Melyssa’s face.

 

“I have a proposition for you, if you’re interested, Sanguine Ogre.” Melyssa placed her hand on her unsheathed Cutlass, a cold smile crossing her lips. “If you are, meet me outside of the gates in 5 minutes.”

 

“And where is the great Ashen Chevalier hiding, hmm?  Do you really think I’ll fall for a trap like this?”

 

“No, I don’t and he’s elsewhere.  I came alone.” Melyssa could lie with the best of them. “I just want it to be you and me, one on one.” She stepped up to the redhead. “No distractions, no witnesses…” Sliding a finger down Shirley’s top, if one could call it that, that cold smile grew. “I figured you’d enjoy some alone time with me and we could work up a sweat together.”

 

Now THAT was the way to Shirley because she didn’t have a doubt in her mind that this little chit wasn’t even half the warrior she was.  She could tell by her stance, some things the body tended to give away if one hadn’t spent years training it to obey even the smallest of thoughts.  There was potential there for sure, but it wasn’t fully realized yet.

 

“Oh sweet thing, you didn’t really want a fight… you want to tumble with me.” She cooed, winking knowingly at the younger woman. “You will DEFINITELY work up a sweat, I promise you that.”

 

“Whatever you wanna call it, just meet me and bring your best.  I’ll be waiting, hope you don’t disappoint.” Melyssa turned and walked out of the store, heading for the outskirts of Jurai.  Her heart was pounding in her ears and she hoped that was enough to lure Shirley out here away from prying eyes and ears. 

 

Don’t let me down, Rean.

 

Chapter 35

 

Instead of exiting out the gates, there was another passage she took to get to the woods, which was out of sight.  Once she was far enough away, Melyssa said a quick prayer to the Goddess and waited, not unsheathing her weapon yet.  Instead, she began to do some dancing exercises to loosen her muscles up, keeping her ears and senses open in case Shirley did take her up on her invitation.  Suddenly stopping in her tracks at the trees rustling, in lightning quick speed, she had her Cutlass out and clashed it against Shirley’s weapon, which was an orbal chainsaw that could shoot flames.

 

“Sneak attacking your opponent really is a tacky way to go, you know.”

 

“Unfortunately for you, precious, the real world doesn’t operate on the Thors principle of honor and other such stupid nonsense,” Shirley informed her with a smirk, forcing Melyssa back and snorted when the other woman assumed a defensive stance after coming to a halt. “The real world is going to bite you in the back, without any warning, and strike you down.  You of all people should know that.  The world isn’t fair.” Only the strong survived and she knew that Rean would not teach his precious Class VII how to fight to survive, but how to fight with honor and temper it with mercy.

 

The fool’s way of dying.

 

“Fight fire with fire, right?” She dodged a few more attacks with ease, once again taking her stance and didn’t leave any room for an opening. “I know better than most the world isn’t fair and, sometimes, you have to break the rules to succeed.” The orange aura began surrounding her as Melyssa allowed it to consume her, her eyes glowing orange instead of teal. “I may not be able to defeat you, Sanguine Ogre, but I won’t go down without a fight either.  So come on, show me why you’re an Enforcer in Ouroboros.  Show me why you are feared!” Sending a shockwave back at Shirley, she was thrown back several feet and Melyssa went on the attack, their weapons clashing together as they began to dance.

 

Oh, her little kitten had claws! 

 

That just lit Shirley’s blood on fire as she began upping the pace of their little dance.  Soon enough, they were both sweating, as she had promised and to her, this was foreplay. “You sweet, precious thing, you fight like you have a chance of winning.” She taunted, flipping her hair back over her shoulders before shaking out her arms, rolling her head from side to side to crack her neck. “Well, now that I’m limbered up, I think I’ll show you a few things Rean Schwarzer only wishes he could.”

 

Rean didn’t fight that way.  It was demeaning, cruel, and he was still in his right frame of mind.  Currently, he had cornered Cedric and was coaxing information out of him.  Cedric couldn’t lie to Rean and still thought of him as a friend, deciding he owed the man one and divulged the information Rean needed.  Sure enough, McBurn was the one who held Mr. Brackett captive.  They would have to go through the Almighty Conflagration in order to save him.

 

The sheer strength Shirley possessed was unworldly, ungodly, and it terrified Melyssa.  She could easily strike her down if Melyssa made ONE mistake and so far, she had dodged whatever Shirley through at her.  Doing a dodge roll, she slashed at Shirley and cut her leg, making the Sanguine Ogre hiss out angrily.  Like she said, she wasn’t going down without a fight and she already had burns on her arms from the fire attacks thrown at her.  Rean knew exactly where she was, so she just had to keep going until he arrived to pull her out of the fire, literally.

 

“Throw whatever you want at me, I can take it!” She went to block an attack and Shirley threw a second fire attack, sending Melyssa soaring through the sky to land on the ground with a sickening thud, knocking the wind out of her. “Damn…” MOVE, you have to move now, her mind screamed at her, her body reacting instinctively as Shirley brought down her weapon in a killing blow, barely missing Melyssa.

 

“Oh you are SO much fun, Brackett!” Shirley was right back on it, forcing Melyssa to remain on the ground, using her own body weight as leverage to force their weapons lower, basically attempting to take off Melyssa’s head with her own Cutlass. “Look at how sweaty you are.” She purred, bending down so her own neck was pressed against the blades and stuck out her tongue. “I’m dying to taste you.”

 

Rean was on his way with the information and his Tachi out.  He arrived on the scene and halted, giving his mind time to digest this.  Shirley was licking Melyssa’s forehead, with that Cutlass dangerously close to Melyssa’s neck.  Snapping out of it, he sprang into action.

 

“Go…to…GEHENNA!!” Melyssa gritted out through clenched teeth, using all of her strength to keep her own weapon from slitting her throat. 

 

Shirley laughed like a hyena and Melyssa could feel her arms weakening, knowing it was only a matter of time before she was killed.  Just as the tiniest slit formed on her throat, Shirley was suddenly tackled to the ground.  Melyssa managed to turn her head, watching the scene upside down.

 

“I-Instructor!” She rasped out, doing a kick-up and ignored the pain she was in, seeing him and Shirley doing battle.  The Divine Blade of Eight Leaves against The Sanguine Ogre.  Melyssa managed to join in, linking up with Rean and together, they managed to force Shirley to back off.

 

“Oh, this is too precious!” Shirley spat, gritting her teeth madly as she surveyed them both.  Melyssa was barely a threat, made weaker by their battle, but with the Combat Link… her eyes narrowed at Rean, noting his stance. “Ooohhhh, you’re mad because I made a move on your girl.” She singsonged, reaching up to wipe saliva off her mouth.

 

“Woman.” He corrected in a flat tone, though he shifted so his body was poised between hers and Melyssa’s, Tachi ready to strike.

 

“That’s really precious.”

 

He didn’t say a word, his eyes fastened on her. “Raise your weapon and shut up, Shirley.”

 

Rean’s backup he set in place, before talking to Cedric, arrived at that moment.

 

“Now Rean, how many times do we have to tell you NOT to do things on your own?”

 

“Seriously, you’re an idiot.”

 

“How dare you try to start this party without your favorite, gorgeous Instructor and one of your best friends?!  I feel so unloved!”

 

“Idiot.”

 

Both Sara Valestein and Fie Claussell jumped into the mix, coming out of nowhere, standing in front of Rean and a dark blue haired girl they both assumed to be one of Rean’s students. “Sorry we’re late, but you know how it goes with us women.”

 

Shirley balked at the Purple Lightning and Sylphid, eyes alight with both excitement and annoyance. “Of course, you just HAD to ruin my fun, didn’t you?!”

 

“As much fun as this is, I’m afraid we’ll have to call it a day on this particular dance.  After all, it wouldn’t be fair to go four-on-one now, would it?” Sara grinned viciously back at the redhead, glancing at her partner, who had her gun swords drawn already.

 

“Unless you wanna dance with us?  That’s fine by me.” Fie shrugged, in the perfect fighting stance and had gone several rounds with the Sanguine Ogre in the past.

 

Whoever these two women were, Melyssa was grateful for their arrival because she wasn’t sure if Rean would be able to withstand Shirley’s onslaught, Divine Blade and Ashen Chevalier or not.

 

Rean had tussled with Shirley a time or two and was confident in his ever growing abilities.  However, given the circumstances in Jurai right now, he wasn’t sure what the effect of taking Shirley out would be.  He did know leaving her alive would probably come back and bite them in their butts sooner rather than later.

 

“Run back to your masters.”

 

Shirley gnashed her teeth, but did dance backwards.  She didn’t know if they would be able to beat her, but even to her, a four-on-one fight didn’t have promising odds. “This isn’t over.”

 

“Of course, it’s not, but for now, we’ll have to end the party.” Sara sounded almost sad, holding her orbal gun and orbal sword, one in each hand, a purple aura surrounding her, along with purple lightning. 

 

They called her The Purple Lightning for a reason.

 

“And just when I was ready to have some fun.” Fie clicked her tongue and sheathed her gun swords as Shirley took off, both turning to stare at Rean and the dark blue haired girl. “Glad we made it in time.”

 

“Is she okay?” Sara asked, concern lacing her tone and could not believe Rean allowed one of his students, a first year at that, to deal with a veteran warrior like Shirley.

 

“I’m fine.” Melyssa stepped past Rean and extended her hand to the purple haired woman. “Thank you for saving us, Miss Valestein.”

 

Sara smiled, shaking her hand. “Call me Sara.”

 

“You’re hurt.” Fie pointed out, stepping up to look at her slashed arm and nodded. “Not badly though, you’ll survive.  I’m Fie Claussell, former classmate of Rean’s and a good friend of his.”

 

“It’s nice to meet you both.  I’m Melyssa Brackett.”

 

“Well Melyssa, I don’t think you should’ve baited the Sanguine Ogre into a fight.”

 

“I know, but…it was the only way to keep her occupied…” Melyssa suddenly looked at her Instructor, teal eyes full of hope. “Please tell me it wasn’t for nothing.  Did he tell you where my Dad is or not?”

 

“It wasn’t for nothing.” Rean assured with a grim smile, the back of his neck slowly flushing as Sara and Fie gave him looks that definitely weren’t amused. 

 

He already knew what they were thinking and inwardly sighed.  They weren’t wrong to think it either.  Rean shouldn’t have put Melyssa in that situation, she was way over her head and he was sure she now knew it, his eyes moving to the thin slice on her neck.

 

“I apologize for putting you in that position. As your Instructor, it was wrong of me.” As someone else, someone who wanted to ensure there would be no second civil war, it had been necessary.

 

“No, Instructor, don’t apologize.  It was the only way to get Shirley away long enough for you to talk to Cedric.  You got the information we needed and that’s all that matters.  Believe me, I’ve been through worse than this.” Melyssa assured him, not wanting Rean to beat himself up over this very necessary plan. 

 

It was a success, even if she nearly lost her head in the process.

 

“Wait, Cedric?  Renounced Crown Prince Cedric?” Sara demanded, her eyes widening when Rean nodded his head in confirmation. “Oh Goddess…”

 

“That little cutie is here?  We haven’t heard anything about him since the end of the Twilight.”

 

“He’s here…and he’s part of the Red Constellation jaeger corps.”

 

Both Sara and Fie looked at each other, blinking.  As Bracers, they had gone several rounds with various Red Constellation members and they hadn’t seen Cedric in any of the fights once.  They were keeping him hidden away for a reason.

 

Rean cleared his throat, knowing he had to drop another bomb on his former Instructor and friends. “He’s also engaged…to The Sanguine Ogre herself.”

 

“WHAT?!” Sara and Fie both shouted at the same time, their jaws now dropped.

 

Melyssa just nodded, backing up what Rean said.

 

“So, where is my Dad, Instructor?  Is he all right?  Is he safe?  Is he even alive?” Melyssa fired the questions off left and right, worried about her father and could tell Rean was hesitant to tell her the truth. “Just tell me, please.”

 

“He’s in a warehouse about an hour from here.  It’s abandoned and it’s heavily guarded.  McBurn is keeping an eye on him and Cedric said, as far as he knows, your father is in good health.” Rean explained, his face carefully neutral as Melyssa took in all of that information.

 

“McBurn…McBurn has my Dad?” How in Aidios’ name were they supposed to rescue him from a monster like him?! “Okay…how about we head back to my house for now to check in on my Mom and we can talk to everyone else about this, Instructor?” They needed to devise a plan and now that two Bracers were here in town, thanks to Rean, they had a better fighting chance, hopefully.

 

“So, all this is a rescue mission?”

 

“No, but saving her father is a priority.” Rean said as they all began walking back towards the gates.  Rean, Sara and Fie were all on alert, hands on the hilts of their various weapons. “What’s going on here does tie into the Brackett’s.” He admitted thoughtfully, though he was gathering it was their influence and the former ‘Papa’s’ outspokenness and friendship with the prior mayor that had made them targets. “What might your father know?” He asked suddenly, stopping to look at Melyssa. “About anything besides fish.”

 

“You mean about Jurai?  Everything and anything you want to know, pretty much.  He was good friends with the last mayor of Jurai, Crow’s grandfather.  Our grandfathers were best friends and grew up together, actually.” Just like her and Crow had and now they were both in the Goddess’s hands, hopefully reunited. “Anything regarding politics and history about this city he will know.  My Dad is a fountain of information.” If anyone could help them reverse what was going on in Jurai, it was her father. “The sooner we rescue him, the sooner we can hopefully stop this takeover Heidel Rogner is trying to do.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Heidel Rogner is trying to become the next mayor of Jurai, even though it’s a Special Economic Zone.”

 

“How is that possible?” Sara was confused, folding her arms in front of her chest. “The only way that could happen is if…”

 

“The nobility rises up against the Imperial government.” Rean finished for her, watching the realization dawn on both Sara and Fie’s faces.

 

“So, you’re telling me we might have another civil war on our hands if this isn’t quelled?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Sara and Fie looked at each other again before turning back to Rean. “Fine, we want in.  Us Bracers have a duty and that’s protecting all citizens of Erebonia, including Mr. Brackett.  That’s our first priority as Bracers, so the sooner we rescue him, the sooner we can get some answers to the many questions we have.”

 

“I’ll answer to the best of my ability any questions you may have now, and once we rescue Mr. Brackett, he can fill in the gaps.” Rean offered, glad they weren’t the only ones who had recognized the looming possibility of another war, one the country would not recover from so easily.

 

“We heard there was an accident on your way here.”

 

“McBurn attacked the train we were on.” Now they knew it was no mere coincidence.  Either he had been targeting Melyssa or looking to send a message.  Maybe both, probably both, she would have been the best way get the ‘point’ across.

 

“We heard about that.  There were minimal casualties, thanks to Emma and Rosalie.” Fie frowned, not believing they were involved in that horrific train crash only two days ago. “You’re very lucky to be alive right now.  I heard the train and the railway were destroyed completely.”

 

They had no idea just how horrific or how close they’d been to losing one of their own. Ash, Melyssa thought sadly, the guilt beginning to eat away at her all over again. Is it my fault he nearly died?  Am I responsible for all the death that happened?  Did McBurn know who I was in Crossbell during that attack?  I need to tell them my last secret and I just hope Aurelia understands.

 

There was no point hiding anything from Rean or her classmates anymore, not when they were in the midst of trying to prevent another civil war from happening.  She remained quiet during the rest of the trek back to the house, deciding a shower was in order since she was filthy and somewhat bloody from her fight with Shirley.

 

Chapter 36

 

Once back at Miranda’s, Melyssa took off for the shower and Rean remained outside, pacing as he checked his ARCUS II, viewing status updates.  He wouldn’t risk a call, not out here, not when he knew this house was being spied upon.  It was a giant target.  McBurn could very easily finish the job because he likely knew they were all there at night, Melyssa included and she was definitely a priority target to McBurn due to her family.

 

We can’t stay here. He thought morosely, the realization dawning on him just how much danger they were all in being here.

 

While Melyssa was in the shower, Crow, Ash and Altina returned from the warehouse and docks.  It was just past 5 PM and Miranda was busy in the kitchen, cooking.  She didn’t see the condition her daughter was in when they walked inside, only Juna and Kurt.  Juna didn’t freak out, just guided Melyssa to the shower room immediately while Kurt received the rundown of what happened from their Instructor.  Juna was NOT happy to learn Rean had used Melyssa as bait against the Sanguine Ogre and had nearly gotten her head sliced off with her own weapon.  Thankfully, Sara and Fie had arrived just in time to save them both or they would’ve been demolished, at least Melyssa would have.  Once Melyssa stepped out of the shower room, freshly dressed, Juna proceeded to doctor her up since she had cuts on her neck, arms and a new one just above her eye. 

 

Crow took one look at her and knew something had happened, his crimson eyes moving to Rean and then back to Melyssa.  What in Aidios’ name happened during their investigation today?

 

Rean wished someone WOULD berate him for the decision he had made.  It wasn’t like him and he knew it.  He also knew they had gotten vital information and learned some new things today, but at what cost?  Was using people to get further information about this looming civil war worth it?  Maybe it would save lives, but did that matter when he was condemning his own soul and compromising his own morals and principals?

 

“It’s what makes you a good leader, you know.” Crow said softly, having watched the emotional play going on his friend’s face.

 

“What does?”

 

“Worrying about your decisions, if you did the right thing.”

 

Rean’s shoulders slumped. “That doesn’t help.”

 

Crow was probably in a very unique position to see both the ups and downs of leadership, from both sides of the coin. “No, it wasn’t meant too. Obviously, you did something you regret.”

 

“I put her in danger.  She could’ve died because of my ‘leadership’.” Rean kept his voice down and hoped Crow didn’t hate him for what he did to Melyssa today.  He explained what happened during the investigation and his plan to retrieve the information from Cedric, while keeping Shirley occupied. “I wanted her to flirt a little, but…Melyssa went overboard and challenged her to a fight instead.  I shouldn’t have agreed to it, but…” He was desperate and could not bring himself to say those words, lowering his eyes in shame. “I’m not leadership material, I never was.” Maybe becoming an Instructor wasn’t the right thing to do.

 

“She’s a lot tougher than she looks, Rean.” Sara had overheard their conversation and smiled, joining her former students. “How many times do you think I beat myself up over the decisions I made as your Instructor, hmm?  I put you all in danger COUNTLESS times and do you know why?  Because it taught you and strengthened you.  It kept you on your toes and vigilant.  Maybe I went overboard a few times, but I NEVER regretted a single decision I made for Class VII.  Look at all of you now – you’re flourishing and it’s because of those experiences as a class.  So, stop beating yourself up over it.  She’s fine and this isn’t ballet.  She understands there’s risks involved, as we all do, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to save her father.  Honestly, she reminds me a lot of you when you were my student.”

 

“Uh huh.” Then why had they all been giving him doubtful, ‘what you’d do’ looks, because they thought the same thing as him? “Regardless, on our way back, I had a thought and it’s a sobering one.  We can’t stay here.”

 

“No, because all of us, your students are enclosed in one space, how many nights have you stayed?”

 

“Last night.”

 

“Staying another would be begging for an attack.”

 

“My thoughts exactly.”

 

Crow stroked his chin thoughtfully, finally clearing his throat. “I know where we can stay. There’s an abandoned warehouse on the docks, Ash and I got in there today with Altina.”

 

Only Juna had given him those looks while everyone else simply had questions written on their faces.  They simply wanted to know what happened and Rean had told them.  Juna was a mother-hen type and had been giving Rean flack since day one, though in the end, she agreed with a lot of his decisions.  It was just the type of person she was and they accepted her for it.

 

“Really?  Is there a kitchen and shower there?” Eating and bathing were a must and Crow nodded, assuring them it had everything they needed.

 

“Even the lights work.  We were shocked and Altina said she can fix anything that may be wrong.  We checked it out and it even has beds.”

 

“Must be for fisherman coming off the ocean from long voyages.” Melyssa intervened, overhearing Crow’s idea to move from her home to the abandoned warehouse. “There should be enough beds for everyone, though there won’t be privacy.”

 

“Fine by me.  We’ll round everyone up…after we eat.”

 

Miranda wouldn’t be able to bring all the food over to the warehouse, so they would have a nice dinner and then head over once the sun set.

 

Melyssa pulled Crow away from the others, smiling up at him. “Are you still up for tonight’s Combat Link training together?”

 

Crow stared down at her, blinking his surprise.  Now that Rean had pointed out the likelihood of the house being attacked during the night, the last thing on his mind had been the Combat Link training. “It’ll have to be after we’ve relocated and privacy is going to be hard to come by unless we slip outside.” Which they would have too, the last thing either of them needed was an audience.  He really hoped Rean was working out the logistics of moving them all without being spotted, having a feeling they were going to have to go in pairs to make them less likely at being detected. “Are you up to it after the day you’ve had?” He asked quietly, reaching out to trace the tip of his finger along the cut on her throat. She had been dangerously close to losing her head today.

 

She touched his hand and nodded, seeing the concern swimming in those crimson orbs. “Yes.  And I meant after we’re relocated and everyone is safe in the warehouse.  We can sneak out and go to the outskirts of Jurai to do the training.”

 

They also needed to talk about the kiss he asked for earlier.  She didn’t forget about it and it had been on the forefront of her mind.  Maybe that was why Shirley had gotten the upper hand on her because she didn’t have a clear head.

 

“Don’t worry about me, okay?” Melyssa squeezed his hand and released it, jumping when a flash of light suddenly engulfed the house.

 

“What in Gehenna?!”       

 

“GOODNESS!”

 

“Sorry, sorry!” It was Emma Millstein, alongside her familiar, Celine, who had shiny black fur and a blue bow around her neck. “I figured this was the easiest way to get here.”

 

Melyssa had to do damage control quickly, seeing her mother was in shock after watching someone just appear in the middle of their home unannounced. “M-Mom, this is Instructor Rean’s friend, Emma Millstein and, um, well…she’s a witch.” That wasn’t the way to say it, but Melyssa really didn’t want her mother panicking.

 

“A w-witch???” Miranda didn’t know what to think or believe anymore, thinking witches were just part of Erebonian legends and myths.  Witches were REAL? “I-I think I need to sit down a moment…”

 

Melyssa immediately grabbed a chair for her mother, setting her down in it before she collapsed and retrieved a glass of water for her.

 

“Sorry.” Emma frowned, not meaning to scare the older woman and looked down at Celine.

 

“I told you we should have used the front door, Emma!”

 

“T-The cat…is…talking???” Miranda promptly fainted, her glass of water falling to the floor.

 

“Shit!”

 

Emma narrowed her eyes down at Celine, who just stuck her tail up in the air obnoxiously. “Honestly…”

 

Sighing, Ash moved to lift Miranda off the floor with ease. “I’ll just go put her to bed for now.” He muttered, carting her up the stairs as if she weighed nothing.

 

This poor woman was not EVER going to recover from all this mental trauma she had been and was still going through.  Ash was honestly surprised she hadn’t lost her mind yet.  Now he knew where Melyssa got her moxy from.  Crow had almost smiled at the cat is talking bit, but this was definitely not the time for that.  Sneaking out later with Melyssa seemed like both a good and bad idea.  Given everything that had happened today and Rean’s own issues in letting her do something dangerous, he felt like he might be pushing the limits on his friend’s patience, if they were caught doing this, after Melyssa had nearly died at Shirley’s hand.  Fortunately for him, Emma’s presence distracted him from his thoughts.

 

“Not that I’m not grateful to see you, but why are you here?” It was always good to have a friendly witch up your sleeve.

 

“Well…”

 

“I called her.” Fie shrugged, thinking it was no big deal. “Didn’t expect her to POP up out of nowhere like this, but…whatever.  She’s here now and she’s going to help us.”

 

Melyssa raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

 

“I can do a transportation spell from here to the warehouse with all of you.” Emma had done several of them during the civil war and Twilight. “I’ve mastered doing it and Celine will help me with her own power too.”

 

“I suppose I could.” Celine huffed, rolling her eyes at Emma volunteering her services without her consent.

 

“Wait, so…you mean…”

 

Fie cracked the barest hint of a smile. “She’s going to make it to where we don’t have to figure out a way to travel to the warehouse in a large group or separated groups.  One spell and bam, we’ll be there, safe and sound.”

 

Could Emma really do that?  Melyssa was in awe and looked at Ash when he came downstairs from laying her mother down in her room. “Should we wait until my Mom is awake or…?”

 

“The sooner we do this, the better.” Sara chimed in, everyone nodding in agreement. “Don’t worry, Emma’s done this before and we all trust her ability.  Your Mom will end up in a bed, sleeping soundly in the warehouse with the spell.”

 

“Should we gather the food she cooked?”

 

“I’ll get it.” Juna offered, dragging Kurt and Altina with her to help.

 

Melyssa walked over to Ash. “Didn’t take you for the knight in shining armor type, Carbide.  Thank you for helping my Mom.”

 

“Don’t think I did it for good reasons, beautiful.”

 

Ash winked down at her, looping his arm around her slender waist and drew her into his side.  He had been behaving since they arrived in Jurai.  Now that they had a better idea of what was going on, as well as a witch joining them, even if only briefly, his spirits were lifting and a return of his wicked tongue was in order.

 

“I’m thinking about spiriting you away to bed next.” His tone was light, teasing and he made sure to keep it down, so he didn’t overly embarrass her. “After the day you’ve had, you look like you could some pampering.”

 

He was definitely back to his normal, crude self and it did her heart good to hear it, even if he made her cheeks tinge pink. “I’m fully capable of pampering myself, thank you.” She nudged him with her elbow in the gut playfully, giggling when he doubled over, acting like she’d just given him a killer blow. “Good to have you back, Carbide.  I was starting to worry if your near death experience had taken away your personality.” She pecked his cheek and his lips brushed against the bandage over her right brow.

 

“All right, everyone ready to go then?” Emma asked, pulling her orbal staff out and everyone responded with a firm ‘yes’, giving her the green light to start the spell. “Celine, I’m counting on you.”

 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Celine muttered, though she began to glow along with Emma and they both chanted, their eyes turning amber gold.

 

“Hang on, this will feel weird and you could lose your footing if you’re not careful, beautiful.”

 

“Got it.” Melyssa didn’t move away from Ash, relying on his strength and grip.

 

A few seconds later, everyone in the house disappeared.  Sure enough as soon as they appeared in the warehouse, Melyssa lost her footing and Ash was right there to catch her, keeping her steady against him with both arms around her now.  He grinned down at her, pale pink eyes gleaming wickedly.

 

“You sure about that pampering, beautiful?  I’ll bunk with you tonight.” He caught her hand when she went to mock slap him, pressing a kiss to her palm before letting her go. “It’s good to see you smile, Melyssa.” She hadn’t exactly had a lot to smile about over the past few days, not that he blamed her.  Finding out not only was her grandfather dead, but her father had been kidnapped by someone like McBurn… he was worried she’d never smile again.

 

“You were worried about me, weren’t you?” Now it was Ash’s turn to look sheepish for a change and she turned to hug him, standing on her tiptoes to do it.  He still had to bend a little since she was short compared to him. “I’m okay, I promise.” Ash hugged her back, a little tighter than necessary and she didn’t mind it, slowly pulling back to tap his nose with her finger. “Don’t ever change, Carbide.  You had me worried too, you know.”

 

They had a connection that was different than with the others.  It wasn’t romantic and it wasn’t platonic either.  Melyssa found Ash very attractive, but she didn’t feel that intimacy with him like she did with Crow and…Rean.  Crow wanted to kiss her while Rean informed her of the rule in Thors where Instructors and students were frowned upon for being together.  It confused her because Melyssa honestly didn’t know who or what she wanted anymore besides rescuing her father.  Ash was…Ash and he had taken over the best friend role in her life, always there for her when she needed someone the most.

 

Him?  Change?  It would never, ever happen, no matter how many times someone tried to beat common sense and manners into him. “My head is hard enough to take, don’t you worry about that, beautiful.” Ash rapped his knuckles on it, grinning before turning his attention to Miranda who had been ‘popped’ in, still asleep and on a bed just like Emma had said. “We really need one of those, you know, around all the time.” He said admiringly, his eyes sweeping over the witch once she had finished along with her familiar.

 

Celine fixed her eyes on him, narrowing them.

 

“Or maybe not…”

 

“Is everyone all right?” Emma asked, once the spell subsided and looked around, seeing nobody was missing limbs or anything.

 

“No matter how many times you do that, I’ll never get used to it.” Fie commented, shaking the effects off.

 

“Same here.”

 

“Hey, at least we all arrived in one piece.” Juna was already setting up the table with the food Mrs. Brackett graciously cooked for them all.

 

Melyssa walked over to check on her mother and kissed her forehead, covering her up with the blanket that was already on the bed.  More than likely, she would sleep for the rest of the night, the dark circles under her eyes speaking volumes.  She wasn’t sleeping well and Melyssa knew it was because of her father being gone.

 

We’re gonna get him back, Mom, I promise.  We know where he’s at now.  Just hang in there a little longer, she thought, feeling a shadow fall over her and a hand planted on her shoulder.

 

“She’ll be all right, Lyssa.”

 

“I know.” Melyssa squeezed Crow’s hand back in return, feeling his chin rest on top of her head gently. “Are they done with the food?”

 

“Yeah, let’s go eat.”

 

Melyssa nodded, letting him guide her away from her sleeping mother to the long table to eat dinner with everyone.

 

Chapter 37

 

Dinner was mostly quiet as the realization of why they had moved locations began finally sinking in.  Rean was somber looking as he listened to Emma and Celine quietly discussing the possibility of putting up some kind of protection spells around the warehouse.  Crow just focused on his plate, eating the food even though he really didn’t have much of an appetite.  From time to time, he would glance at Melyssa, who kept giving her mother worried looks.

 

“She’ll be fine, Lyssa.” He assured quietly, reaching across the table to rest his hand on hers, squeezing gently.

 

Truth be told, Melyssa didn’t have that much of an appetite either, but she had to keep her strength up.  She had to take care of herself or she wouldn’t be any good to her father.  Tonight, she would try to link up with Crow again and then tomorrow, they would all come up with a rock solid plan to rescue him.  Having two Bracers and a witch on their side would help tremendously.  Something was nagging at Melyssa, however, and she couldn’t ignore it any longer.

 

“Instructor?” All eyes turned to her as Rean looked up from his plate, teal locking with fuchsia. “Principal Aurelia was one of the leading Generals of the Noble Faction in the civil war, wasn’t she?”

 

“Correct…” Rean’s eyes narrowed as he set his fork down on his plate. “Why do you ask, Melyssa?”

 

“I’ve been thinking about the attack in Crossbell and…I think you’re right.  I think I was more of a target than I thought.  And I think my rescue from McBurn might’ve also been staged as well.” Now everyone’s interest was piqued, especially Rean’s.  His eyes were burning a hole through her and Melyssa clasped her hands in her lap.

 

“Wait a minute…McBurn?  Crossbell?  What are you talking about, Melyssa?” Juna demanded, a fellow civilian of Crossbell herself and felt her brows rise almost to her hairline.

 

“Lyssa?”

 

“Ash and Instructor Rean know this already, but with everything that’s going on in Jurai with the nobility, I feel you all need to know this information.  About a year ago, during the attack of Crossbell, I had a run-in with McBurn.  There were other civilians with me and I told them all to run, that I would stay behind.” Her hands began to tremble at the memory of being in that monster’s presence and feeling his sheer fiery power. “I almost died at his hands, but someone intervened and helped me.”

 

“Who?”

 

Melyssa was about to go back on her word, but she had no other choice in the matter. “The Golden Rakshasa, Aurelia Le Guin.”

 

Silence stretched throughout the dinner table, everyone’s eyes widened and their jaws dropped to their plates.

 

“W-Wait a minute…”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

“So that’s who helped you get into Thors, eh?” Ash had finally gotten the last piece of the puzzle, the one she had been sworn to secrecy on. “The Principal helped you get in.”

 

“Yes.  She said I had potential and when I told her why I left home, she offered to help me with my acceptance into Thors.  I thought I was gonna go to the Main School, but there wasn’t any room for commoners, so they sent me to the Branch School instead.” Melyssa explained, scrubbing a hand down her face because the evidence of all this being a huge setup was mounting. “I asked the Instructor that question because I’m wondering if Aurelia is still working with Ouroboros even now.  And if that’s the case, then…”

 

“Shit.”

 

“I was sworn to secrecy by Aurelia.  She said she didn’t want anyone to know because she didn’t want others treating me differently, thinking I didn’t earn my way into Thors, when that’s not true.  I just had a…different way of getting in, but I still had to take all the tests required.” That was why she wound up as the only first year student in Rean’s Class VII with the ARCUS II unit. “I trusted her, but…I don’t know if I do now and that’s why I’ve decided to come clean about my connection with her.”

 

“But…Aurelia was on that train…” Juna pointed out weakly, glancing at Kurt, who had a stoic expression on his face.

 

“And she came out unscathed, untouched.” Kurt practically spat the words out, gritting his teeth.

 

Rean let his head drop to the table, knowing that the pieces all fit, it was all THERE. “And she’s been privy to most of this information because we’ve been keeping her in the loop.” He said, his voice coming out muffled due to being face planted on the tabletop.

 

“Even today’s info?” Crow asked, his tone flat and emotionless, but his fiery red eyes were telling a different story.

 

“There hasn’t been time.  But if she’s working with Ouroboros, she’ll know about Shirley and Cedric.”

 

“So, she put you here,” Ash said slowly, frowning slightly as he stared at Melyssa. “In Thors… I wonder if she was using you ‘running away’ as a way to control your family or something.” And eventually the control stopped working, hence the grandfather’s death and the kidnapping of her father.

 

“No, she didn’t.” Miranda had overheard everything and sat up in bed, walking over to the table. “My husband and I didn’t know what happened to Melyssa.  That’s why it was such a shock to see her again after over a year.” Her eyes lowered as the memory of what happened to her father swept over her. “My father was killed because he tried stopping Heidel Rogner from starting petition to have a new mayor in Jurai.  Heidel promised even more money and prosperity since he’s a family member of one of the Four Great Houses.  A day after we buried him, my husband was kidnapped from the docks and that was almost 6 months ago.  If this Aurelia is working with the enemy, she is keeping it under wraps and quiet.”

 

“So then, why go after Melyssa in the first place?”

 

“The only thing I can think of is I’m their daughter and they wanted to use me as leverage against Papa and Dad to sway their choices.” Melyssa couldn’t think of any other reason since her family wasn’t nobility, but they did have the biggest fish market in the city. “But then why would McBurn try to kill me in Crossbell?”

 

“Unless that was staged, like you said with Aurelia.” Ash folded his arms in front of his chest, seeing Crow and Rean were being quiet for the moment. “It could’ve all been staged to get you to trust Aurelia, so she could get you into Thors and keep you under her thumb and surveillance.” That made a lot of sense now that he thought about it. “And if things didn’t go their way, she could’ve easily used you as bait against your family.”

 

“Why did…why did they kill Papa then if that’s the case?  Killing him defeats the purpose of using me as bait…”

 

“Because they still have your Dad and your grandfather had a lot of influence within Jurai.  They saw him as a danger and eliminated it.” Miranda sounded saddened, but also reserved and could feel her heart breaking at the thought of never seeing her father or potentially her husband again.

 

“Come to think of it…” Sara looked at Rean suddenly, knowing he had the same thought going through his head as she did. “Didn’t the Principal send you to Jurai specifically with your class, Rean?”

 

“She did?!”

 

“Oh man…”

 

“Goodness…”

 

Melyssa hadn’t even thought of that until now and pushed her plate away, her appetite officially gone. “Goddess…” It was really true – Aurelia had to be working for the enemy and they had fallen into her trap!

 

Rean buried his own face in his hands, shaking his head. “I went to her about Melyssa and Crow not being able to effectively use the Combat Link.” He said through his fingers, fuchsia eyes shut tight as he recalled that conversation. “I told her I wanted to take them out on a field study and put them in situations to build trust. She was the one who suggested taking all of Class VII as a way to remove pressure from the pair… and that Jurai would be a good place to start because Crow and Melyssa were both from here.” And then, afterwards, she had discussed the ‘rumors of Ouroboros’, he had been played like a cheap fiddle.

 

“SON OF A BITCH!” Ash roared, standing up so fast, his chair went flying and his pink eyes were nothing more than fire. “THAT BITCH USED US!!”

 

Melyssa had NEVER seen Ash’s temper flare until now and it was somewhat frightening, if she was honest.  She had no idea Rean had gone to Aurelia or the fact Aurelia had ‘suggested’ they come to Jurai to help work on the Combat Link between her and Crow.  Her Papa was dead, her father was being held captive by the very man who was probably working closely with Aurelia in the first place!

 

“ASH, calm down!!” Juna shouted, standing from her chair as well and didn’t know what she could say to Melyssa at the moment. “Losing your head is not going to help matters!”

 

“I DON’T GIVE A DAMN!!” Ash was beyond pissed off and needed air, storming out of the warehouse, slamming the door behind him so hard, the walls rattled.

 

“I-I’ll go talk to him…” Melyssa was already headed toward the door when Crow stopped her, turning her to face him.

 

“Lyssa, that’s not a good idea…”

 

“I’ll be okay.  He won’t hurt me.” Ash was there for her several times and it was her turn to do the same for him. “Just…leave us alone for a little while and let me talk to him.” Extricating her arm from his grasp, Melyssa made her way outside and spotted Ash on the dock, staring out into the ocean.  Emma had cast a protection spell within a 500 arge radius, along with an invisibility spell, so they wouldn’t be spotted out here in the open or heard. “Look, I know you probably hate me right now and I don’t blame you one bit for it.  You should hate me and my family for everything that’s happened.  It’s because of me that you nearly died in that train attack…and I know this doesn’t make it right, but…I’m sorry.  I’m so sorry, Ash, and if I could take it all back, I would.  I never would’ve gone to Thors and turned all of your lives upside down like this had I known I was just being used as a pawn.” Maybe she really didn’t belong in Thors, after all.

 

“Stop being such a martyr, Melyssa.” He said flatly, not turning to look at her, his hands landed behind his back in a guard stance as he stared at the ocean. “It’s not YOU, it’s your family and their influence.” Being the most influential fishmonger had bitten her in the backside. “And even then, it’s not their fault that people can’t accept how things are.  The fact that we were betrayed…” He clenched his fists. “And so many have gotten hurt….”

 

Melyssa didn’t know what else to say to him, wishing she could be there for Ash the same way he was there for her.  She wasn’t making things better by apologizing, apparently.  What if he didn’t survive that train attack?  What if she had lost him or anyone in their class, all because she was the target?

 

“Being that it is my family makes me just as responsible as them, Ash.  I’m not being a martyr, I’m stating simple facts.  I’ll leave you alone and if you want to talk, you know where to find me.” Pulling her ARCUS II out, she sent a quick message to Crow to meet her on the outskirts of Jurai, which wasn’t far away from the warehouse.  There was a back entrance and Emma’s spell would reach that far, so they would be in the clear to practice linking.  After what she just discovered, Melyssa really needed to blow off some steam.

 

But she was wrong.  She and her family weren't at fault for any of these events.  They were just as much victims of Ouroboros as the rest of Jurai.  The only thing that made them special was their influence within the commoners.  Ash hadn't known how to say that, but he was thinking it and figured he'd try explaining himself better when he wasn't tongue-tied from anger.

 

Crow met her shortly.  He had to sneak away almost, catching Rean’s eye on the way out and had gestured about needing air.  Rean currently had his hands and mind full with this new information.  Melyssa had found a clearing, sat down and cried, trying to get it all out before Crow arrived.  She could hear him approaching and wiped her tears away, drying them up because now wasn’t the time to break down.

 

“Glad you came.” She managed to crack a smile that did not touch her turmoil-filled eyes and had pulled her hair back in a messy bun.  It had been down for the majority of the day and she couldn’t handle it on her neck anymore. “Ready to do this?  There’s a pack of monsters just beyond those trees we can surprise and try to link up on.” She unsheathed her Cutlass, ready to lose herself in battle for a little while.

 

Crow started to nod only to stop, bending down as he really stared into her face. “You’ve been crying.” He said quietly, reaching out to trace the now dried track her tears had left behind in their wake. “The day finally starting to get to you, Lyssa?” She looked tired, but also determined and there wasn't a doubt in his mind that the Combat Link wouldn't work this time.

 

Not that Crow felt up to testing this theory out in the middle of a heated battle with someone like Shirley.

 

“I don’t want to talk about anything else except training right now.  I’m fine, really.”

 

Melyssa could be stubborn when she wanted to be and they had to get this taken care of before they decided to go into battle together against Ouroboros.  She had gotten a taste of what Shirley was capable of and she already knew McBurn was downright lethal.  Pushing everything else in the back of her mind for the time being, Melyssa focused primarily on Crow and her feelings for him.  Calling her Lyssa, his memories returning and how happy she was to finally be reunited with him after all this time.  It didn’t feel like a reunion until yesterday.  The monsters spotted them and she nodded at Crow, the blue symbols forming beneath their feet.  She glowed orange while he glowed blue, both nodding at the same time before leaping into action.

 

I trust him and I believe in him, I believe in us and what we have is strong enough to overcome anything, she thought, cutting down one monster and then going after another while Crow did the same thing.  So far, the Combat Link remained intact and, surprisingly, despite what happened and what they discovered, both could feel it growing stronger with each passing second. “Crow, now!” She shouted, activating the special Combat Link attack and did the splits, just like she did with Ash, allowing Crow to make the finishing, deadly blow on the last monster.

 

Chapter 38

 

That had been exhilarating.

 

Once Crow realized that the Combat Link WASN’T going to fail, he had felt some weird rush coursing through him.  The fight had gone from almost uncomfortable and stilted because he had been concerned the Link would fail again and then into an almost graceful dance.  They moved in sync, slashing down their enemies, and he swore he could almost feel the trust flowing through them.  He stood there, surveying their fallen enemies, his breathing mildly ragged and enjoyment flowing through him.  There was nothing like a good fight, a clean cut, black and white, proper fight.  He looked at her, his lips curving into a smile.

 

They did it.  It worked.  Melyssa’s breathing was ragged as well, her teal eyes glowing in the night and the sheer adrenaline and euphoria from linking with Crow was incredible.  She looked at him with a smile of her own, sheathed her Cutlass and began laughing, the sound full of relief at finally being able to Combat Link with Crow.

 

“We did it.  We did it!”

 

Waiting until he put his pistols away, Melyssa closed the distance between them and tossed her arms around his neck, feeling him spin her around in circles.  His own laughter was music to her ears as she held him close, both relishing in the moment for all it was worth.  Pulling back, Melyssa gazed into those crimson orbs with newfound affection and adoration and stroked his face tenderly with her fingers.

 

“I have an answer to your question from this morning.” She paused for dramatic effect and to wait for the confusion to leave his eyes, for his brain to catch up with what she said. “My answer is yes.”

 

Crow’s brain was not the only thing to catch up, his body did too as it registered what she was saying. May I kiss you? He had asked her that this morning and they had been interrupted.

 

Not even thinking twice about it, he pulled her into his arms and firmly against his strong, lean body, inclining his head to capture her lips with his. That night, only a few short nights ago but it felt like another lifetime, replayed through his head, the good parts. The kissing and laying out on the bed, how she had felt against him as she eagerly returned those kisses. This was ten times better and when Melyssa parted her lips for him, he took the invitation, sweeping his tongue against hers.

 

There was no hesitation, fear or uncertainty this time around and Melyssa completely immersed herself into the kiss, following her instincts.  Crow was such an amazing kisser and the way he held her against him, she could feel the passion in his touch and definitely with his lips.  Melyssa buried her fingers in his hair again as they tasted each other and she could feel their bond strengthening even more.  The fact he wanted to kiss her just sent her soaring to new heights, letting out the softest of moans. 

 

This felt so good, Melyssa never wanted it to end and felt her heart thundering against her chest.  For years, she had missed him being in her life, always thinking about him.  Not a day went by Crow Armbrust wasn’t on her mind and he’d instilled himself in her heart as children.  She didn’t realize it, but all those feelings poured forth in this kiss and it made them both tremble.  There was also one other intense emotion in that kiss and it was love – pure, irrevocable love for him.

 

Crow felt it.  He had been getting lost in her kiss, how eager she was and how good she tasted, how good she felt pressed against his body and then this.  The intensity rocked him to his very core and sent him spiraling into a bunch of things he didn’t understand, other than panic.  Not panic so much as he was startled and mildly concerned.  He knew he felt lust for Melyssa, he knew he cared about her intensely but this was… something he had never felt from anyone, let alone his childhood friend, the girl who had been like a sister to him.  Slowly, the kiss broke between them and Melyssa saw the barrage of emotions flood over Crow’s face.  Was he not happy with the kiss?  She supposed it would be better to be told the kiss sucked as opposed to rejecting her.

 

“Crow?” Even her voice was unsteady and husky, her tongue sliding out to wet her swollen lips.

 

“It’s getting late, Lyssa.  We should head back before they send the search party after us.” Crow’s voice sounded weird, even to his own ears, while staring down at his childhood friend. 

 

This girl – no, woman – was supposed to be a sister to him since they’d been raised together!  And here he was kissing her, touching her and holding her like a lover.  It was…wrong.  It had to be wrong.  How could something so wrong feel so right, though?

 

“Come on.”

 

“Crow, I don’t understand…” Melyssa wasn’t leaving with him until he explained what was going through his head. “I-I know I’m inexperienced and I’m not very good at kissing…”

 

“It’s not that.” He cut her off, sounding gruffer than he meant to and groaned at the flash of hurt in her eyes. “Look, it was nice – great, even.  You’re not a bad kisser and…I’m not trying to reject you again or hurt you, but…”

 

“But what?  What is it?” She stepped up to him, searching his eyes and could feel her chest tighten.

 

“It’s wrong.  Us doing this is wrong.  It feels wrong.  We’re practically family and we’re kissing each other.” Crow didn’t know how else to explain it, scrubbing a hand down his face. “I shouldn’t LIKE kissing a girl I grew up with and who was practically my sister.”

 

It felt like her heart might explode at his words and Melyssa didn’t know what to feel or how to respond to that. “Your…sister?” Was he serious?  It was obvious what she felt for him he did NOT reciprocate. “Why would you…ask to kiss me again then?”

 

“I didn’t know how I felt at the time, but now I do and…we can’t do this, Lyssa.  I just want to remain friends with you.  I care about you too much to screw it up because of a relationship that may or may not work out.” Crow knew he was being harsh with her, but this was how he truly felt and he hoped she understood. “Please don’t hate me for this…”

 

“I don’t.” Melyssa’s voice changed to a calmer tone, digesting every word that came out of his mouth and could feel her heart shattering.  It wouldn’t help to tell him how she felt because Crow’s mind was made up.  This was how he truly felt and she couldn’t fault him for his honesty. “It’s all right, Crow, really.  I never want to lose you again and, if that means I have to keep you in my life as strictly a friend, so be it.” Reaching up, she smoothed away some of his hair from his forehead and leaned up to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for being honest with me.  I don’t think of you as a brother and I probably never will, but…you are one of my best friends and that will never change, no matter what.”

 

“Good.” Crow’s smile was filled with both uncertainty and relief.

 

The resurgence of all his memories had also brought back old feelings.  He honestly did view her as a little sister and now it was at war with the desire he had felt for her.  The desire would lessen and, hopefully, so would the feeling of sickness in his stomach, of guilt.

 

“You’re too important to lose, Lyssa.” He bent down and kissed her forehead, chastely. “I’m sorry for letting it go this far.” But now they both knew.  She knew how he felt and he knew it would take a long time for him to stop thinking of her as a sister, if ever, it would be cruel to pursue anything.

 

“We wouldn’t have known unless we gave it a shot.  No need to apologize.” She looped her arm through his to show there truly were no hard feelings as they began walking back toward the city. “You are right though, it is getting late.  We’d better head back.” Once again, she was swallowing her feelings down, along with the ache in her heart, and she could only hope it went away sooner rather than later.  The walk wasn’t full of tension like it probably should have been and Melyssa was not surprised to find Ash still at the docks. “I’ll be in shortly, go rest up.”


Crow nodded, heading off toward the warehouse and watched Melyssa go to Ash, shaking his head.  He was an idiot.

 

Instead of speaking, Melyssa simply sat down to dangle her feet off the dock and stared out into the ocean while Ash remained standing there.  She shut her eyes, letting the ocean breeze flow over her and also allowed silent tears to slide down her cheeks.  There was no way she could cry in front of Crow, but Ash had already seen her tears once before and she trusted him enough to show vulnerability.  Her tears were from a broken heart, the death of her Papa, her father being in danger, all the people who died in the train attack, discovering Aurelia’s betrayal…she had every reason to cry and holding her emotions in would only make her feel worse.

 

After a long silence other than the sounds of the waves breaking against shore and docks, Ash slowly moved so he was sitting beside her but with space between them.  From the corner of his eye, he caught her reaching up to wipe at her face, a glint of something on the tip of her nose catching his attention before it dropped.  Tears.  She was crying.  He didn’t know why she was crying, but he did know she had every reason in the world too given the current circumstances involving her family.  Sighing softly, he reached over and took her hand, gently enveloping it in his and squeezed.

 

I’m such an idiot!  What in Aidios’ name was I thinking?!  Even with his memories, he never felt the same way I do.  He thinks of me as a damn SISTER!  A SISTER!!  At least he was honest about how he felt and didn’t string me along or reject me again.  I am done with intimacy.  I need to focus on saving my Dad and following the way of the sword.  I need to hone my skills and stop worrying about kissing guys or the ridiculous notion of love! Melyssa couldn’t say any of that out loud and appreciated what Ash was trying to do, but she didn’t want to be touched right now. 

 

She didn’t want to be coddled or comforted, she just wanted to be left alone.  Pulling her hand out of his, she squeezed his shoulder to let him know she silently appreciated him being here for her and stood up from the dock, wiping away the remainder of her tears.  Reluctantly, she walked back into the warehouse and went to the bathroom to shower.

 

Ash had gotten absolutely none of that.  If she had wanted to be alone, she wouldn’t have come to an occupied dock.  As it was, he figured she was checking in on him and would be calling it a night.  Speaking of calling it a night, he needed to as well, tomorrow was going to be insanely busy and it would be all hands on deck.  All those hands needed to be well rested.  When he made it to the warehouse, there was no sign of Melyssa, he assumed she had gone inside, but Crow was standing there, leaning against the building under the cover of mostly darkness.

 

~!~

 

Melyssa was the first one up in the morning, even before her mother and the sunrise.  She made some coffee as quietly as she could and walked outside to lean against the building, needing the caffeine rush.

 

“What are you doing up this early?”

 

Melyssa turned her head, raising a brow at Emma’s familiar sauntering towards her. “Oh, Celine, right?”

 

“Hmph, glad to see you remember my name.” The glossy black feline planted right beside her, licking her paw. “And yes, it’s Celine.”

 

“I should be asking you the same thing.  What are YOU doing up this early?” Melyssa countered, sipping her coffee now that it was cool enough without burning her tongue.

 

“Patrol duty.  Also, I went to go stake out where your father is being held captive.” Celine looked up at the girl when her head snapped to stare at her wide-eyed. “They haven’t moved him yet, but we should act fast.  Also, Rean was correct in the assumption of attacking your family home.  It was ransacked last night or this morning.”

 

That was unsettling to hear. “Great.”

 

“I don’t think they stole anything, they just destroyed some furniture, from what I could tell through the window.”

 

Closing her eyes, Melyssa wasn’t surprised and continued drinking her hot beverage. “Thank you for telling me.  Do you want some milk or something?”

 

“Hmph, no need to thank me and I’m fine.  Just…keep your wits about you and your head on straight or else you may end up really losing it.” Celine walked away, leaving the girl with that bit of advice.

 

The mission had been to capture and or kill, depending on who it was and the circumstances.  It may have been hard to capture someone if another person got involved, deaths happened.  As it was, the Brackett house was totally empty and there wasn’t a sign or anything telling Shirley where the old lady, her teasing spawn, and those idiots in Class VII had gone off too.  Shirley had ordered her ‘minions’ to go off and find those do-gooders.  Now that Rean had enlisted help – how was THAT fair? -, they all had to go before they actually accomplished something.

 

“Is that coffee?” A yawning Rean asked, approaching the area Melyssa was in, running a hand through his sleep tousled hair, wearing nothing but a pair of sleeping pants and a lazy grin.  Even with everything that had happened yesterday, he had slept like a log and woke up feeling… refreshed, actually.

 

“Good morning, Instructor.”

 

Melyssa looked up and instantly regretted it, immediately averting her eyes back to the ocean, nodding. “I made a huge pot about an hour ago.  She made a vow not to focus on men anymore and, even if she wanted to be with Rean, she couldn’t.  He was her Instructor and she had to keep reminding herself of that.  Thors had that policy for a reason.

 

“Emma’s spell seems to be working flawlessly.” The entire warehouse was invisible and the protection spells helped with sounds and whatnot, even smells.

 

Chapter 39

 

Rean nodded, busy fixing himself a cup. “She said that other people are going to be able see a warehouse and it’ll still be abandoned, but they can’t see us, or our stuff.  She said it would be weird if a building people had seen suddenly ‘disappeared’.” Magic was very useful, though he had also seen firsthand how scary and dangerous it could be when used by the wrong person for the wrong reasons. “I asked her,” He turned back to Melyssa, leaning against the counter with the mug between his palms. “What keeps people from coming inside and she said they feel sick when they try and a disgusting odor wafts to them.” He wrinkled his nose.

 

“Interesting.  Definitely useful though, can’t deny it.” Melyssa figured now would be the best time to tell him what Celine did earlier before she came back inside. “Emma’s cat, Celine, did a patrol run and…you were right.” Rean raised a brow, wondering what she was referring to. “Someone ransacked my house last night/this morning and Celine said things were destroyed.  I’m surprised they didn’t just burn the house down, honestly.” She looked back into her coffee cup, drawing her brows together. “Also, Celine went to the location of where my father is being held and said they’re still there and he’s okay for now.” That could change in the blink of an eye, however. “Oh, one more thing, I don’t know if Crow told you or not, but…we linked up last night.  We can Combat Link now, so we won’t be holding the class back anymore.” There, he knew everything now.

 

First thing in the morning, he had just started sipping his coffee, and now Rean was simply staring at her with his mouth slightly open while his mind played catch up.  That was a lot of information to lay out on a person in one breath. “You and Crow went out last night?” He knew there was a ward in place to protect them, but pushing their luck like that seemed foolish, like they were testing it and daring fate to come slap them down for their hubris.  Evidently, Emma’s spell had worked above and beyond what he had anticipated since everyone was all right. “Melyssa,” He said softly, not surprised by the other news, it wasn’t information he hadn’t already counted on, drawing closer to her. “You’re going to give me gray hairs, you know that?”

 

The barest hint of a smile tilted her lips as she stared back at him and took a slow sip of her coffee. “Oh I am, huh?  I don’t think you’re THAT old yet.” They were only a few years apart in age, but it didn’t seem that way. “We knew how far we could go.  Emma said the spell went 500 arges all the way around the warehouse and that included the back gate of Jurai.” Surprisingly, there were no soldiers at the gate, but then again, this was the ‘lower class’ part of the city. “I felt something change yesterday with Crow when some of his memories were restored.  Something clicked, so I asked him if we could go practice Combat Linking, like I did with Ash on the outskirts of Leeves.  I just didn’t want anything holding us back, no weaknesses.  Besides, that’s why we came here in the first place, right, Instructor?” Standing, she went to go refill her cup and stifled a yawn.

 

“You know the situation, the parameters of the mission have changed.” Rean said in response, his tone patient as he watched her.

 

How late was she out last night?  Better question, why did it bother him on some level he shouldn’t acknowledge that she was out late with his best friend?  Obviously, there was something there between the two and they had made amends after the disastrous first kiss incident back at the 4th Armored Division.  He wondered if they had made more than amends and instantly squished that down, it was none of his business unless she or Crow wanted to tell him.  Besides that, he was her Instructor and had no business prying in her personal life when he couldn’t do anything about it, about them.

 

Goddess, where did that come from? He blinked, turning away from Melyssa to clear his throat.

 

“I know that, but now everything is solved with the Combat Linking and we can move on.”

 

They were out late and Ash had been too when she joined and then left him on the docks.  It wasn’t anyone’s business what her and Crow were doing, but she felt the need to inform Rean.  He was their Instructor and since he was worried about their lack of linking, she wanted to ease his mind about that at least.  It was obvious Crow hadn’t discussed anything with him, or told him what transpired between them.  A sister…she was a sister to Crow and she had to accept it and move on.  She sat back down at the table and began sipping her second cup of coffee that morning.

 

Crow had come back from their practice at linking and short lived kissing session, hung out until Ash had come back and talked to him for a few moments before heading right to bed.  He hadn’t had time to talk to anyone since Rean had been in the land of the dreamers by the time he had gotten inside.  Rean left her to her thoughts, busy scrounging up something for breakfast.  Today they were going to try to liberate her father as well as bring down the Ouroboros connections that were fueling the nobility in Jurai.

 

It was time to set Jurai free.

 

“Now, now Mr. Schwarzer, out of the kitchen and let me cook.  You all need a hearty breakfast to get your strength and stamina up.” Today was the day they would hopefully bring her beloved Robert home. “Shoo, you’re not needed in here.”

 

Melyssa chuckled as Rean bolted out of the kitchen, knowing better than to try to make food with her mother around. “Mom is a bit of a kitchen hog, if you haven’t noticed.  She loves to cook, the more people the better.  It also keeps her mind off what’s going on with Dad.”

 

“Melyssa dear, will you come here a moment?”

 

“Coming, Mom!” She walked past Rean to go see what her mother wanted.

 

Rean had learned really quick not to get underfoot with Miranda unless she needed help.  Her idea of a man helping in the kitchen was basically taking orders and holding towels for her to use to dry her hands.  He shook his head when he spotted Crow was up, sort of, looking like he hadn’t slept a wink.

 

He had, just badly.  Crow had some weird dreams and most of them revolved around Melyssa. “Do I smell coffee?” He asked with a yawn, swinging his legs out of the bed.

 

“You do, it’s in the kitchen area, with Miranda and Melyssa.” He sipped his own, slowly raising an eyebrow as Crow considered it. “Something wrong?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“Why don’t I believe you?” Rean remarked, refilling his cup and could already smell whatever Miranda was cooking for them in the kitchen. “Come outside with me for a minute.” Crow followed him reluctantly with his own cup of coffee and they went to the docks, where Ash had spent most of his night, stewing. “I told you not to bottle your emotions up.  That gets you into trouble, so what’s going on?” This was his best friend and former rival, they knew each other inside and out. “I need you focused today because we’re going to liberate Mr. Brackett.  I need your mind clear and Melyssa already told me what happened between you two last night.  For the record, not smart to sneak out, but I’ll save the lecture for another time.  She told me you guys linked, which is good, but…something else happened, didn’t it?”

 

Crow sometimes hated Rean and it had nothing to do with their former rivalry.  He hated that Rean was so perceptive.  He hated that Rean had a mother-henning streak a mile wide that made him prone to butting into other people’s business.

 

“Rean, it’s really none of your business and it won’t affect today’s mission.  Melyssa and I are good.” And they were, she had said as much last night.  He knew she probably said it to spare hurting his feelings as well as eliminating any awkwardness between them, but he felt like most of it had been resolved.

 

Eyeballing his friend for a minute, Rean finally decided to back off and trust Crow was telling him the truth.  However, ‘good’ implied they weren’t together as a couple…and WHY was he thinking along those lines in the first place?! “All right, fine, new topic.  Celine told Melyssa this morning about her patrol last night and apparently, Ouroboros struck the house.  So either they were looking to take more hostages, kill us or…”

 

“Send a message.” Crow finished, his tone even and crimson eyes narrowed.

 

“They’re still keeping Mr. Brackett in the same location, but if we don’t liberate him today, they could move him since they’re on the hunt for us.” Rean was thankful to have friends like Emma, Sara and Fie. “Emma already told me she’s coming with to cloak us with a spell, so we can get in and, hopefully, get out unscathed.  I also called Machias and he’s doing research and investigating in the other cities to see if the same thing is happening to them that’s happening here.”

 

“Do you really think that’s a possibility?”

 

“I think Jurai was the test subject, test zone, to see if it COULD be implemented.” Rean said thoughtfully. “Jurai is small enough that it wouldn’t be overly hard to start infiltrating the higher levels and wiggling in, and it’s isolated enough that not many people outside of the gates would realize what was going on, even when passing through.”

 

“And obviously it’s been working here.  If Aurelia hadn’t tipped us off, we wouldn’t have ever known.” Crow said dryly, wondering WHY she had tipped them off.  She had to be very confident in Ouroboros’ ability to take them all out. 

 

Joke was on her.

 

“When we liberate Mr. Brackett, he’ll have the answers to the questions we have.  Melyssa said he knows everything about Jurai, inside and out.  He’ll know what is actually going on and what Ouroboros’ main goal is.  It’s more than just making Heidel Rogner the new mayor.” Rean didn’t believe Ouroboros would do all of this just to make one man have power in a city.  There had to be an ulterior motive somewhere hidden beneath the surface. “We need to do this at night, so we’ll rest up during the day and strike once nightfall hits.  It’ll be easier and we won’t be detected.  We can use the darkness to our advantage.”

 

“And what do you plan on doing about Heidel Rogner himself?”

 

Rean smiled wickedly, which was very out of character for him and his fuchsia eyes twinkled. “Don’t worry, I already have that covered.”

 

Crow smirked as well. “Angie?”

 

“Bingo.”

 

Angelica Rogner, the niece of Heidel Rogner, would be taking care of her DEAR Uncle for them once Mr. Brackett was rescued. “She’ll be here by nightfall.”

 

Rean personally thought that if they were able to put one man in charge here in Jurai, Ouroboros would try doing the same elsewhere.  It was like a controlled experiment and in one of the most prominent areas of trade and commerce as well.  Regardless, whatever their plans were, they had to be stopped here and anywhere else they may have already been put into action.  He hoped Brackett would be able to clear this up for them as well as point them in their next direction.  First they had to rescue him and then they had to run Ouroboros out of Jurai.

 

“All right, let’s head in.  Miranda should have worked her magic by now and everyone else needs to hear Celine’s news.”

 

~!~

 

“Leave it to the kitty cat to help us with this.” Ash snorted, after listening to everything Rean reiterated to everyone at the table. 

 

Miranda had made pancakes, eggs, sausage and bacon with coffee, milk and juice.  Emma had managed to bring her kitchen with her in the transportation spell since the food would go bad if not cooked/eaten.  Miranda had requested it and Emma made it happen with her magical abilities.  They were a lot stronger and precise these days compared to when she first met Rean and the rest of Class VII.

 

Celine hissed, baring her teeth at him. “Do NOT call me that!  My name is Celine, get it right!”

 

“Whatever, kitty cat.” Ash winked at the familiar and rolled his eyes. “So, what’s the plan then?  And what in Gehenna are we gonna do about Le Guin?” He did NOT like being betrayed and wanted to rip the Principal’s head off her shoulders.

 

“One thing at a time, Ash.” Rean didn’t blame the man for being angry at the betrayal, but they had to prioritize saving Mr. Brackett first. “We’re relaxing for the day and when I say relaxing, I MEAN relaxing.  No sparring, no exercises, nothing.  Tonight, we will liberate Mr. Brackett and use the darkness to our advantage.” Just like he’d told Crow earlier. “And we’re all not going because Emma’s magic won’t be able to keep up.  Sara and Fie, I only need one of you to come with us, the other can stay here to watch over everything, so let me know which one of you will come with us.  As far as the main team, it will be myself, Crow, Ash, Fie or Sara, Altina and Melyssa, along with Emma.  I’m counting on Juna and Kurt to keep an eye on things here with either Sara or Fie until we return with Mr. Brackett.”

 

“Yes, Instructor.” Kurt did not mind being left behind and he understood why Melyssa was going.  This was her father and she would no doubt fight if Rean didn’t choose her to go.

 

“Do you REALLY think that’s a good idea, Rean?” Juna couldn’t keep her mouth shut any longer and shook her head, folding her arms in front of her chest. “Melyssa is a first year, inexperienced and this is a very dangerous place you’re going.  Don’t you think either Kurt or I would be better suited to deal with this?”

 

Juna had a point.

 

“I really don’t care if this is her father we’re liberating or not.  You shouldn’t put her in harm’s way AGAIN.”

 

Now Melyssa’s dander was up and her eyes narrowed across the table at Juna. “I appreciate your concern, Juna, but I’m fully capable of handling myself and I’m not as weak as you think, even if I AM a first year.” Technically, she should have been a second year, but she had joined Thors a year late than the others.

 

“You’re still inexperienced and it’s stupid for the Instructor to add you to the mix when you’re just a liability.” Juna ignored Kurt’s warning look and pursed her lips tightly together. “You and Crow can’t even LINK together, how are you NOT a weak link in Class VII?”

 

Now Melyssa was smiling coldly as she set her fork down on her plate and stood up. “Not that it’s any of YOUR business, but Crow and I took care of that problem last night.  We linked up, we’re good to go.  And I don’t think Instructor Rean appreciates you, his student, dictating what he should or should not do.  He did not put me in harm’s way yesterday.  It was his plan, yes, but I could have said no and I didn’t.  Why?  Because I believed I could keep Shirley occupied and I DID IT.”

 

Chapter 40

 

Juna snorted, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, with the help of two Bracers and our Instructor, otherwise you would’ve lost your damn head!  Whether you believe it or not or want to admit it or not, Rean put you in harm’s way yesterday and he was foolish to do so, all to gain information on YOUR father’s whereabouts!  This isn’t about you!  We SHOULD be focusing on how best to liberate the city from the nobility instead of worrying about rescuing your damn family!”

 

Melyssa could feel the animosity oozing from Juna and she knew what it was really about.  The train attack, Crossbell and the fact she was used as a pawn by being inserted into their precious Class VII by the Principal who betrayed them.  Juna no longer trusted her and didn’t want her in the class, that much was obvious.  As far as Juna was concerned, Melyssa was the enemy just as much as Aurelia in this situation and that was a horrible reality to face.  As soon as this was over and done with, Melyssa planned on leaving Class VII and possibly Thors altogether.

 

“As much as I hate saying it, Melyssa does have less experience then the rest of us.” Crow held up his hands when Melyssa gave him a look. “But on the other hand, if they attack here, we also need stronger people to keep the place, and Mrs. Brackett, safe.” Because Juna had made a good point, Melyssa nearly died yesterday. “It makes sense to bring Melyssa and leave you two here.”

 

“You’re saying that only because you’ve known her since pre-puberty.”

 

“No.  We need experienced people here and Melyssa isn’t going to be any good to anyone if she doesn’t get to see her father is all right with her own eyes.  You want to focus on helping people?  Then we need to get Brackett out and get intel from him, this is our best bet.”

 

Was Crow saying this because he truly agreed with Juna or because of what happened between them last night? “Take Juna or Kurt then.  I’ll stay here with my Mom and everyone else to watch over things.  I know what this is really about.” Her eyes locked on Juna. “You don’t trust me because of how I got into Thors.  You’re thinking I could be involved with Ouroboros and I’m betraying all of you, right?”

 

Juna lowered her eyes, unable to deny what Melyssa said and slowly nodded.

 

“Well, there you have it.  Excuse me, I need some air.”

 

Her appetite was gone and Melyssa could not look any of them in the face right now, wondering if everyone thought the same way as Juna.  Probably.  If they didn’t trust her, there was no way she could go into battle with them.  Trust was everything when it came to Combat Linking.

 

Juna looked up at everyone, who simply stared back at her and she stood up as well, grabbing her plate. “She can’t be trusted and you know deep down I’m right.  Everything that’s happened is too coincidental with her.  The attack on Crossbell, the train attack by McBurn, Aurelia ‘helping’ her get into Thors…she’s dangerous and I don’t trust her.  You’re all fools if you do.” Not caring she just said that in front of Melyssa’s own mother, Juna walked into the kitchen to drop her plate in the sink and then began cleaning.

 

Ash, Crow and Rean all exchanged troubled looks as everyone else began quietly discussing what Juna had just said.

 

“And how much information did she withhold until she ‘felt’ it was the right time?”

 

“She only told us, or Rean, because it would have come out…”

 

“Maybe Juna is right.”

 

Rean kneaded his temples.  The logic was there as much as he hated to admit it.  There were a LOT of coincidences and Melyssa HAD hidden quite a bit of information, only divulging what she needed too and when she wanted.  He groaned, pushing away from the table to go after her.

 

“She’s not a traitor.” Crow said flatly, folding his arms over his chest.

 

“I trust her.” Emma spoke up, all eyes turning to her and it stopped Rean from walking out the door.  She smiled at him softly and pet Celine behind the ear, the memory of her time in Class VII washing over her. “I withheld information from Class VII when we were classmates.  A lot of information.  They didn’t know I was a witch until the civil war began.  For nearly 7 months, I kept the information hidden until Laura, Jusis and I had to escape from Thors and we wound up in Laura’s hometown, where we knew it was safe.” She stood up from her chair, the smile still on her face. “Despite having that deep secret, NONE of our classmates ridiculed me and their faith and trust in me never once faltered.  I was sworn to secrecy from my Clan not to say a word about who I really was, where I came from or the fact I’m a witch.  It was for my own safety as well as the Hexen Clan.  When Rean was taken away in Valimar, the Ashen Knight, with only Celine by his side, he could’ve given up and went on with his life.  He nearly DIED because of me, because I withheld the truth from him being an Awakener for so long.  Instead, he picked himself up and traveled Erebonia SEARCHING for his classmates, his friends and comrades and when he found me and Laura, he embraced me and he was understanding and kind, along with the rest of Class VII.  When we went toe to toe with my sister, Vita, they all stood behind me and gave me the strength to persevere, to win against her and to make me believe in myself and my abilities as a witch.  Just because people don’t divulge all the information about themselves to you does NOT mean they are untrustworthy.  Why would Melyssa go around saying she was part of Crossbell’s attack?  Why would she tell you the Golden Rakshasa helped her get into Thors, when it’s really nobody’s business to begin with?  She didn’t withhold the truth on purpose, just like I didn’t.  It was because of circumstances beyond our control.  You all need to stand behind your classmate and give her the strength and courage to continue on this journey.  Because let me tell you something, without encouragement and TRUST and loyalty, you have nothing.  Her father was kidnapped, her grandfather was brutally murdered and her family home was destroyed just last night.  How do you think that makes her feel?  How do you think she’s feeling right now, knowing people who she trusts and believes in don’t feel the same way about her?  Juna, what you said to her was uncalled for, disrespectful and horrible.  As the former Class VII’s president, I am ashamed of how you’ve behaved this morning, especially saying such despicable things in front of Melyssa’s own mother.  As THIS Class VII’s president, you really do have a lot to learn about respecting your peers and classmates, regardless of what they hide from you or where they come from.”

 

Celine purred, agreeing with everything Emma just said. “You really have grown up, you know that?”

 

Emma smiled down at her familiar and lifted her up. “We all have, but some of us still have a lot to learn.  Rean, I will go talk to Melyssa and I think you need to sit your students down and INSTRUCT them on what WILL happen tonight.  You are their Instructor, not their friend and you need to stop blurring the lines.”

 

Rean swallowed hard, not remembering the last time Emma was THIS passionate about something and could only nod, watching her leave the warehouse.

 

“That girl has A LOT of nerve saying what she did!!” Juna was fuming, gritting his teeth to the point of gnashing. “She doesn’t-”

 

“She’s absolutely right in everything she just said.” Fie interjected, standing as well alongside Sara. “Come on Sara, let’s leave the Instructor alone with his students.”

 

Sara followed, both deciding to help Miranda in the kitchen since Juna had come out when Emma began her lecture.

 

“No, she doesn’t trust us. If she trusted any of us, she would have told us the truth from day one instead of lying and hiding things.” Juna spat once it was just her, Rean and the rest of Class VII. “And obviously nobody thinks highly of you, Rean, if you’re being told off about being our friend.  You were our friend BEFORE you were an Instructor and-”

 

“Sit down and shut up.” Rean ordered flatly, knowing Juna had a point about the friend thing, but Emma had a bigger, more valid point.

 

He cared too much about his students, his friends, and it was costing them all.  Things were going to have to change, HE was going to have to change.  He was their teacher, their mentor, not their friend… not even Melyssa’s.

 

~!~

 

“Melyssa?  May I talk to you for a minute, please?”

 

She turned to see Emma and Celine walking towards her, wondering what the witch and her familiar wanted. “Sure.” There was no reason not to talk to Emma and she scooted over to make room on the dock.

 

“I know what Juna said bothers you and I don’t blame you at all.  I just kind of…blew up in there, in my own way, and I want to tell you the same thing I just told the rest of your classmates.” Emma looked down as Celine jumped on her lap and began stroking her fur.

 

“Okay…”

 

Reiterating what she said, except without the harsh tone to her voice, Emma explained her role in Class VII, as well as what she kept from her own classmates.  Melyssa listened intently, not interrupting her and felt her eyes grow larger and larger.  Emma’s situation sounded almost exactly the same as her own.

 

“I wasn’t…trying to keep anything from them on purpose.” Melyssa began to cry, knowing it may have seemed that way, but it wasn’t. “I swear on the Goddess, on Aidios, on my own Papa’s grave, I did not hold back any information purposely from them.”

 

Emma’s heart broke as she wrapped her arm around the girl’s shoulders, pulling her close. “I know you didn’t.  Like I said, there was no reason for you to tell them about your connection to Aurelia and your reasoning for getting into Thors.  It really was nobody’s business except yours and hers.  You didn’t know Aurelia had ulterior motives and was using you.  Rean didn’t either.  Nobody did.  And you can’t beat yourself up over circumstances that are OUT of your control.  You are a good person, I can see it and feel it.”

 

“Crow betrayed your Class VII though, so how can you trust anyone from Jurai after that?” Melyssa wiped her tears away, feeling Emma tense slightly and slowly looked up at her.

 

“I honestly don’t have an answer to that and I wish I did.  I guess that’s just what happens when you put your faith and trust into someone.  Rean fully believed in the good in Crow all these years and, in all the time we battled him, even when he was in the Noble Faction and the leader of the Imperial Liberation Front, even when he was the main villain, Rean never once lost faith in him.” She pulled back to wipe away more of Melyssa’s tears with her thumbs. “Remember this, Melyssa, once a member of Class VII, ALWAYS a member of Class VII and that’s how we felt about Crow, even after his betrayal.  When Rean found out what the old Chancellor did to Crow’s grandfather, he understood why our friend went down the path he did.  All Crow could see was red and Duke Cayenne manipulated him into becoming C.  He was just 16 when he became an Awakener with Ordine, the Azure Knight.  He was a kid still and my sister manipulated him as well by guiding him down the path he traveled.  In a way, a lot of what Crow did wasn’t entirely his fault.  I know everyone is responsible for their actions, but…there are gray areas and Crow is one of them.”

 

“So, you still fully trust and believe in him, even after he betrayed all of you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The only difference was Melyssa hadn’t betrayed anyone and didn’t know how important her information was at the time.  All she thought was Aurelia had saved her life and helped her obtain her goal, which was honing her skills as a swordswoman.  She didn’t know about Crow being alive and she had no idea McBurn had ‘attacked’ her in Crossbell to set Aurelia up to ‘save’ her.  It had all been one elaborate, drawn out plan that was slowly coming to fruition and it was all because of her family.  Even Rean didn’t know Class VII was being set up to come to Jurai because he had trusted and believed in Aurelia. 

 

They had ALL been betrayed and tricked.

 

“I just…want to save my Dad and help my city, however I can.”

 

Emma nodded, understanding where she was coming from, hearing the conviction in her tone and looked out at the ocean. “Rean said you are coming along tonight and that’s what’s going to happen, regardless of what Juna or anyone else says.  You need to be there with us and I will help save your father however I can with my magic.”

 

“But…”

 

“No, Melyssa, you have to prove to them you are who you say you are.  You have to prove you are trustworthy and you are reliable.  The only way to do that is to be in the thick of the fight.  Actions speak louder than words.  So do it, prove it to them and to yourself that you BELONG in Class VII and you can be trusted and relied upon.”

 

“What if he changes his mind?”

 

Emma smiled again, slowly shaking her head. “He won’t.  I know Rean better than most.” They had several intimate moments together in the past, but had never gone past friendship and her heart belonged to another – her precious Machias. “Now, dry those tears up and relax as much as you can because tonight won’t be an easy task.  It will be the most challenging thing you’ve had to do and you need to be completely focused and ready.  Prepare yourself.”

 

Melyssa nodded, taking a deep breath and stood up on the dock to face Emma. “Thank you for the talk, Emma.  I’ll never forget this.”

 

Emma watched her walk away and hoped Rean got his students in line before nightfall or else this would turn into an absolute nightmare.

 

“Do you really think Rean can separate himself from being their friend to being their Instructor?” Celine asked, watching Melyssa as well. “He’s having a hard time with it.”

 

“He’ll have to learn how to or else tonight will turn into an absolute nightmare for all of us.”

 

Chapter 41

 

Crow did not like the ‘new’ Rean and it had only been a few hours.

 

Rean had informed them all of how things were going to go down and the tone of voice he had used had made it clear he wasn’t playing around.  When Juna had spoken up to protest, Rean for the first time, as an Instructor, had disciplined a student.  Emma had really gotten under his skin and Crow knew the part of Rean’s nature that was concerned for everyone was going to take the criticism to heart, thinking that being friends with them was doing them a disservice, as well as potentially, putting them in danger.  Emma was a jerk.  Mostly because when Crow had gone to Rean to ask him if the joke was over, Rean had given him the flattest look and said it wasn’t a joke.

 

Juna kept her mouth shut for the rest of the day, not believing Rean had actually disciplined her by making her do 100 pushups in front of everyone.  Then, she had to write an apologetic letter to HIM, which was even more humiliating.  That was the last time she opened her mouth and expressed how she truly felt to their Instructor.  He was no longer their friend, thanks to HIS witch friend for sticking her nose in their business. 

 

Juna hated Emma with a passion.

 

Rean had come to Melyssa after a few hours and told her she would be joining them for the excursion that night.  She had nodded, told him she understood and that was that.  No joking around or anything – Rean was all business.  Melyssa kept to herself for the rest of the day and hung out with her mother, who stayed in the kitchen.  Her mother was very upset with the way Juna had spoken to her and Melyssa assured her it was all right and not to worry about it.  Then, she went back outside on the outskirts of Jurai, alone, to do some self-training.  Even though Rean instructed everyone to relax, this was her way of doing so.  She really missed her dance class, so she also did some of that as well, practicing what she’d learned thus far from it and watching her footwork.  Tonight, her father would be rescued and brought back home, or rather, as close to home as they could get since their actual home had been ransacked and turned upside down.

 

Emma, for the most part, was proud of herself for opening Rean’s eyes and making him realize, as an Instructor, he could not be a friend, especially in a tense, dangerous situation like this.  She didn’t care if Crow was upset with her or not.  All that mattered was that Rean was finally being the Instructor she knew he could be and she was proud of him.

 

Joke was on Emma, Rean didn’t care if she was proud of him or not, regardless of their past.  He knew most of Class VII was expecting this ‘mood’ to dissipate and drop once this mission was over and he knew it couldn’t.  It had to be this way, for their own sakes.  He followed Melyssa out to the woods, frowning as he watched her practicing.

 

“I said to relax.” He informed her curtly, folding his arms over his chest. “You’ll wear yourself out before tonight and be of no use to anyone, Melyssa.” Which would give people like Juna another reason to go off and then he’d have to force her to do five hundred push-ups, after tonight because he didn’t want to wear HER out.

 

Whatever Emma had said to him had completely changed Rean.  Telling him this was how she did relax wouldn’t bode well, so she just sheathed her weapon and nodded. “My apologies, Instructor.  You are right and I want to be at my best tonight.  I’ll just sit out here, if you don’t mind and relax.” Her tone was even, not callous or sarcastic.  Just obedient to a fault and just to prove she would do as he instructed, she sat down in the grass and drew her knees up, wearing leggings beneath the skirt she had on.  The pendant around her neck felt like a weight, but she would leave it on until they returned to Leeves since it was meant to protect her in dangerous times.

 

“No, you’ll come back and assuage your mother who is worried about you, as is Crow and Ash.” Rean’s heart broke at the sight of her sitting there, but he kept his face composed in a neutral expression. “Besides, you’re giving them more to gossip and gripe about.” By them, he meant Juna and anyone who was foolish enough to agree with her logic. “If you hide away and let them see you are bothered by their words, it makes what they say seem true to the others.  You need to carry on as you always have, Melyssa.” With your head up high like the warrior I know you are, he mentally pleaded, unaware that plea was now being conveyed in his fuchsia eyes as he stared down at her.

 

I don’t give a damn about the gossip and they can gripe about me all they want, Melyssa thought, knowing she had no choice except to obey her Instructor’s orders and stood up from the grass, dusting herself off. “As you wish, Instructor.” She already spent time with her mother and wouldn’t be able to stop her from worrying.  That was just the type of person her mother was. I’m not hiding away, I just want to be alone, but apparently, that’s a crime too. 

 

Melyssa walked past him out of the clearing and back to Jurai, to the warehouse, not waiting for Rean to walk back with her.  Keeping their distance was the best way to get through this and she already planned on resigning from Class VII as soon as they were back at the Branch School.  Hopefully, she’d be placed in a different class, one that actually trusted her and didn’t give her so many personal issues.

 

"You can't run away, you know." Ash stated conversationally when Melyssa came inside.  He drew her to the side, seeing her shoulders slump and tugged her down onto the couch, draping his arm along the back of it until his fingers traced the back of her neck. "All it'll do is make them think they're right and they're not." He bent down, brushing his head against hers. "Also I would miss you something terrible and you would miss me too."

 

Did Ash still trust her though? “I’m not running away.” Not yet anyway. 

 

Truthfully, she would miss him too.  He was the LAST person she ever thought she would befriend and have a connection with because of his crude personality.  However, Melyssa also HATED how well he could read her, like now, and she couldn’t lie to him, even if her life depended on it.

 

“But if I DID run away, yeah, I’d miss you too.” She conceded, leaning her head against his and draped her arm across his stomach, not minding his fingers on the back of her neck.  It felt good and comforting, at least she had one person in class on her side. “I’m curious,” She pulled her head back enough to look up into his pink eyes. “Why exactly would you miss me, Carbide?”

 

“First of all, if you say you’re not thinking of dropping Class VII, you’re a liar.  The others may not be able to see it or read you, but I can.” Ash would never fully understand why they knew each other so well, but they did.  They hadn’t even known each other that long, but they just got each other, it was interesting but also refreshing. “Second, I’d miss you because you’re the only woman I enjoy talking to normally.” The rest… he was a bit sexist and he knew it, but he tended to see sex when he looked at most ‘normal’ women.  Ash did have the utmost respect for warriors and knew they’d take his head off if given half a chance for running his mouth.

 

“I hate how well you can read me.” Some people just gelled really well together and they did.  Their personalities were completely different, but somehow, she connected on a higher level with Ash than anyone else in her life, Crow included. “I just don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.  I shouldn’t even be in Class VII.  I was planted in it for this plan of Ouroboros.  I thought it was weird how I was the only first year to be put in Class VII and now I know why.” She lowered her eyes from him while she spoke, fingering the starry pendant thoughtfully. “I…don’t think I belong here, at least not in this class, Ash.” Melyssa kept her voice down to where only he could hear her since there wasn’t any privacy, no walls to walk or hide behind. 

 

Juna hated her and didn’t trust her a lick, Altina had kept her feelings to herself, Kurt hadn’t said a word or voiced any kind of opinion and Crow…Crow hadn’t said anything to her either that entire day.  Ash and Emma were the only ones who reached out to her to talk.  Rean ordered her to come back or else she still would’ve been out there, practicing and wearing herself out before tonight.

 

“You may not think so, but you’d probably be the only one.”

 

“If you really shouldn’t be in Class VII, if you didn’t have the potential, Rean would have seen to it on the very first day that you were removed.” Ash informed her chidingly. “You have people who believe in you, Melyssa, now it’s time to believe in yourself.  Don’t let what Juna said get you down.” He tugged on a lock of her hair, smiling impishly. “Besides, you know Crow don’t think so, he’s been arguing with everyone who dares say anything against you.  Him getting his memories back seems to be a good thing for you two.” His pink eyes studied her thoughtfully. “Was it?  A good thing?”

 

“For him, yeah.  I mean, I’m happy he got them back and I’m sure more will surface the longer we’re here…” Melyssa didn’t know how to explain what happened with Crow and wasn’t sure this was the best time to do so.  It seemed they were being left alone to talk and she trusted Ash explicitly. “It just…didn’t work out the way I hoped, I guess.  But it’s okay.  I know now how he feels about me and we can move on and continue to be friends.” Ash nudged her, his way of ordering her to stop beating around the bush and tell him what happened. “He asked me yesterday morning to kiss me again, to do it over, and we ended up doing it last night, after we linked up successfully…and he called me his sister.  He doesn’t think of me as anything except a sister.” Then, she had to deal with being berated by Juna this morning, on top of everything else that had been thrown her way the past couple of days. “Please don’t say anything about this.  I’m only telling you because I trust you.”

 

Ash hadn’t said anything to anyone else about the Twin Dragons tower incident and he wouldn’t say anything about this new bit of information either. “Maybe kissing you wasn’t… the same as it had been at the tower.” He said after a moment, keeping his voice down. “He didn’t have his memories then… and now that he does…” He imagined the first kiss had been exciting and Crow had been hoping to feel that again and whatever else, not the sister part.  That was gross.

 

“It does make sense, as much as I hate admitting it.  We were raised together and he even used to call my Mom his Mom.  My Dad his Dad.  I just…I guess I missed him so much for so long that maybe my feelings got mixed up as well.  I didn’t feel weird like he did when we kissed either of the times, but he did on both occasions.  It just wasn’t meant to be.” Melyssa would never get that first kiss back either.  That memory would always be with Crow, a man who thought of her a sister and nothing more. “Anyway, what’s done is done and I just need to focus on saving my Dad and my city.  I’ll deal with everything else once we’re back in Leeves.”

 

“You need to remember that you don’t have to deal with it alone.” Ash reminded her, tapping his fingers against her forehead with a click of his tongue. “As for our new Rean…”

 

He wasn’t overly amused with the very sudden, abrupt change in their friend, but he knew Emma’s words had stung something deep in Rean.  Rean would view it as he wasn’t teaching them all properly, or making sure they would be able to survive, if he wasn’t playing Instructor but friend.  Friends didn’t always make the right decision.  Emma was a jerk.

 

“Once he gets his own issues sorted, he’ll find that balance again, though I think he’ll probably be like this if we ever do another rescue mission again.  Emma got in his head as only she can.”

 

“She told me she…snapped, in her own way, earlier this morning when she came outside to talk to me.  I’m not sure how to feel about his change in demeanor and attitude, but…it is what it is.”

 

Melyssa had NOT divulged how she felt for their Instructor and would take that to the grave.  Not even Ash would know that information and she would give no inclination she felt more for Rean other than friendship.  It would never work between them anyway and she really didn’t need to feel rejected twice.

 

“I DID hear about what he did to Juna, though.” Was it wrong she felt a hint of pleasure at Juna’s humiliation and discipline?  Probably.  Melyssa didn’t care; the pink haired woman made it clear they weren’t friends and she didn’t trust Melyssa. “Would you hate me if I decided to transfer to another class after this is over, Ash?  Could we still be friends?”

 

“Sure, and no I wouldn’t hate you.” Ash mulled it over, knowing what he was about to say was going to make him sound like a royal asshole, but he was willing to take that risk.  He had always been honest with her and he wasn’t about to change that up now, not when so many other things had rapidly changed in Melyssa’s hectic life. “I’ll probably respect you less.” He informed her, his face serious and he didn’t miss the hurt that flashed through her teal eyes. “I think whatever reasons you have for transferring… aren’t good enough and you shouldn’t make decisions today of all days.  Wait until after tonight and after things settle down.”

 

Ouch.  That did hurt to hear, especially from Ash, a lot more than she cared to admit. “You’re right.  I don’t need to be thinking about this right now.”

 

One thing about Ash was he never sugarcoated anything with her and told her the truth flat out.  It was one of the things she respected most about him, aside from his amazing combat ability.  It was just after 1 PM and she hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep the previous night, so when she fell asleep against Ash, nobody batted an eyelash.  He didn’t move either, instead lifting her to sit sideways on his lap with her head resting on his shoulder.

 

Her mother had come over with a blanket to drape over them and kissed her daughter’s forehead, whispering to Ash a quick ‘thank you’ before heading back into the kitchen.  If Miranda didn’t know any better, she would have thought Ash Carbide had feelings for her daughter, just from the way he held her against him and talked to her.  They definitely had a tight bond, a connection, and she hoped Ash treated Melyssa right because she did deserve to be happy.

 

Rean, outside of instructing his students, kept to himself.  He lay in his bed, ate, and outwardly appeared to be doing the same thing he had told them all: relaxing.  His mind wasn’t letting that happen, even when he closed his eyes.  He felt like dirt.  Not with Juna.  Juna had deserved her punishment and then some for sowing dissent the way she had.  A lot of them had betrayed someone at one point or another, and yet they all had been given second chances.

 

Melyssa hadn’t done a thing wrong other than keep a promise, it was her timing that had been terrible, but even then, it hadn’t warranted the scrutiny she had received.  Her mistake had been her loyalty, he knew how that went, he had always believed in Crow, even when Crow had turned on them.  But here they were now, best friends.  Well, former… or however this worked and Rean groaned, kneading his forehead.

 

Tonight wasn’t coming fast enough.

 

Chapter 42

 

Waking up several hours later, in Ash’s arms, with him sleeping as well, startled Melyssa.  She didn’t remember falling asleep.  They had been talking, or rather him convincing her not to leave Class VII and…that was all she remembered.  Maybe she was more tired than she thought.  Carefully, she extricated herself from his arms and covered him back up with the blanket, kissing his forehead.

 

“I owe you one, Carbide.” She murmured quietly, not wanting to disturb him and went to take a shower.

 

Before long, with dinner consumed, it was finally time to put the liberation of her father into action.  Rean explained to them what would happen and, one by one, each of them were encased in a lavender glow.  It was an invisibility and detection spell, which would help them immensely.  The only problem with this plan was not being able to warn Mr. Brackett of the spells, but they would cross that bridge when they came to it.  Melyssa had her hair pinned back in a tight bun and her game face on, more than ready to do this.  That nap with Ash had rejuvenated her and she was full of energy, ready to unleash Gehenna on Ouroboros for hurting her family.

 

Rean had very carefully explained everything.  They would go in using the buddy system because that was how Combat Links worked.  Given how Ash seemed to be the only one Melyssa was on proper speaking terms with tonight -not that he blamed her-, he paired them.  If anyone had to switch out, he prayed she was near him or Crow because he wasn’t sure where Altina stood and Kurt had been quiet.  Juna was a definite no, there was no trust there between them anymore.  That was actually kind of amusing when he thought about it. The original intent of this mission had been to BUILD trust between Crow and Melyssa, which had been achieved.  In the process, trust had been broken between Melyssa and others.  Time would prove she was no traitor and hopefully things would be able to be mended between everyone.

 

Leaving the warehouse, Melyssa and Ash stayed close together while following Rean and Crow.  Kurt, Sara and Emma were behind as backup and Emma was their saving grace.  Silently, thanks to Emma’s magic, they made their way through Jurai, passing by both the fish market store as well as the Brackett’s home.  Melyssa didn’t glance at them, her eyes straight ahead and her face stoic.  Nobody spoke, just walked and soon, they made their way to the nobility part of Jurai.

 

“Okay, we’re about halfway there now, right Celine?” Rean asked, once they were through the front gates of Jurai and on their way deeper into the woods going west.

 

“Yes, for the 100th time, Ashen.” That was her little nickname for him. “Just keep going west and you will come across an abandoned church.”

 

“Goddess…” Everyone stopped to look at Melyssa and she frowned, lowering her eyes from everyone. “It’s Jurai’s old Septian Church.  The Imperial government built a new one in town and this one shut down soon after.  I used to come here as a child and it’s been abandoned for years.” It was also very disrespectful Ouroboros was using it as a hideout and to hold her father captive.

 

“So how much farther is it?”

 

“About another mile.”

 

“Let’s go, we’re making good time.”

 

Everyone nodded, pressing onward and Ash reached down to squeeze Melyssa’s hand, letting her know he was here for her completely.

 

Considering how little respect Ouroboros had for anything, Rean wasn’t surprised at all by their using a church as a hideout. “Melyssa,” He halted, forcing everyone else to stop as well and gestured them in so they didn’t have to talk overly loud and risk being heard. “We need to know everything you remember about the church.” He said, his tone letting everyone else know he wasn’t debating this or the stop. “What you remember about the way in, other doors, the layout… anything that stands out and that you can remember.”

 

No pressure there, Ash thought, coming up to stand behind her.

 

“Ouroboros seeks out the live relics the churches safeguard.” Crow said after a moment, shifting from one foot to the other. “This church has been abandoned, but there still may be something of use there.”

 

“Or they’re just bastards who are squatting and we need to evict them.”

 

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in Melyssa’s head and her gaze shifted from Rean to Crow, wondering if he would remember.  It didn’t seem like it. “There’s an entrance in the back that leads to below the church, where there used to be Sunday School for kids.  Crow and I used to attend here and we can get to the top of the church that way, unless they are below.”

 

“They are.” Celine affirmed, waving her tail slowly back and forth. “They are definitely holed up downstairs and I don’t remember seeing a back entrance, so more than likely, they don’t know it’s there either.”

 

“That’s our way in, Rean.” Sara drew her gun and sword, nodding her appreciation at Melyssa. “Good memory, you’d be a great Bracer.”

 

“Thanks?” Melyssa didn’t know whether to take that as an insult or a compliment as Rean began leading the way again, all of them heading deeper into the woods.

 

Ten minutes later, they had finally arrived.

 

“It’s overgrown.” Crow said, moving to crouch besides Melyssa. “No wonder they didn’t find it.” Even in the darkness, by the light of the moon and stars they were able to make most everything out. The ‘abandoned’ church had been left to nature and slowly, she was reclaiming the land. “If you didn’t already know it was there…”

 

“And you two do.” Ash chuckled softly. “So how do we get in?”

 

“We’ll have to get through that brush and the ivy…” It wouldn’t be hard to use a sword to hack it down though it was potentially nosy. “Unless magic can handle that?”

 

“Emma?” Rean looked at their witch.

 

Nodding, Emma stepped forward with Celine, leading the way toward the back through the very tall grass and brush, until they arrived at the back entrance.  Chanting, her purple hue engulfed the outside of the church, which wouldn’t be noticed by Ouroboros since they were inside.  When the hue was gone, the church was no longer overgrown by nature and the back door stared them in the face.

 

“Wow…” Melyssa could only blink, realizing just now how powerful Emma actually was. “That’s…”

 

“Scary as Gehenna.” Ash finished in a mutter, making a mental note NOT to piss the witch off in the future.

 

Sara chuckled, used to seeing Emma in action by now and winked at her.

 

“I unlocked the door as well, so it should open easy enough without much noise.” Emma informed them, watching Rean step forward with his Tachi and, sure enough, with a small yank on the rusted handle, it opened.

 

“Wait.” Melyssa stopped them from advancing, chewing her bottom lip. “Don’t you think it’s a little strange there’s NO guards out here?  I know the church was overrun with nature, but…knowing Class VII is in town, wouldn’t they want to guard this place a little more carefully?”

 

Sara frowned, that observation not crossing her mind until now. “Now that you mention it, that is a little weird…”

 

“Celine, when you came here last night, were there any guards out front or anywhere patrolling the church?” Emma asked, looking down at her familiar.

 

Celine shook her head. “No.”

 

Melyssa felt her stomach tighten and her heart began racing a little faster than normal, that same feeling of dread washing over her as it did while on the train. “S-Something’s not right here…”

 

“Only one way to find out.  Your call, Instructor.” Kurt folded his arms in front of his chest, awaiting orders.

 

They couldn’t turn back now, could they?

 

Rean felt it in his gut, something was off, something was wrong here.  The whole thing felt wrong.  Even opening that door felt wrong.  Ouroboros had their own methods of detection and preventing themselves from being found and yet… this was easy, too easy.  But Mr. Brackett was here and if they turned back now, they might lose their one and only chance to rescue him.  This felt like a trap and Ouroboros was likely waiting to kill them all as soon as they entered.

 

“We go forward.” He said finally, knowing this was going to be a moment he looked back on and regretted, providing they made it through this. “Crow and Carbide, on point.  Melyssa, you need to remain behind Carbide.” Since they were in theory Combat Link partners.  He trusted Crow and Ash to have his back because he would take the lead, that was his job as Instructor. “Emma… if we have to beat a quick retreat?”

 

“I will do my best to make sure all fingers and toes arrive with the rest of your bodies.”

 

Celine growled uncertainly.

 

Rean stared at Celine.  The lack of a quip or snarky comment was what made that feeling of dread intensify.  Taking a deep breath, he felt the other two men fall into place behind him, and stepped into the church.

 

“I got your back, Mel.” Ash assured her in a whisper, wanting to assure her he wouldn’t let anything happen, if he could help it.

 

Melyssa nodded, not trusting her voice at the moment and one by one, they entered the church’s basement.  In the distance, they could hear voices, but they were too faint to make out.  However, the closer they trekked down the corridor, the clearer they became.

 

Dad! Melyssa’s mind shouted, hearing him and clutched the handle on her Cutlass, ready to battle and save him.  As soon as they turned the corner, Rean stopped everyone as they pressed against the wall and only him and Crow watched the scene unfold before them.

 

“For the LAST time, Robert, when are you going to stop being stubborn and give us what we want?” Mariabell Crois demanded, who was also the third Anguis of Ouroboros and one of the Grandmaster’s main hands.  She was incredibly powerful, her weapon a lethal blood red staff with turquoise jewels in it.  Her magic was deadly and could instant kill anyone.

 

Robert Brackett looked at the blonde, his eyes narrowed with his hands clasped behind his back. “I already told you, when you live up to your end of the bargain, I’ll live up to mine.”

 

“Or perhaps I should just end you here and now.  That would solve all of our problems now, wouldn’t it?” She took her staff and hooked it beneath his chin, her eyes glowing wickedly down at him. “I am SURE the Grandmaster would understand if I cut down one of his Enforcers for betraying us.”

 

“I didn’t!”

 

“Oh?  Then why haven’t we been able to catch your precious daughter, hmm?  What was her name again?  I forget…”

 

“Melyssa.” A dark, sinister voice echoed around the room as footsteps thundered on the wooden floor. “That precious morsel that escaped my fire in Crossbell.  I never forget a face as lovely as hers.  And if it wasn’t for that damn Golden Rakshasa saving her, I could be having fun with her right NOW.”

 

Robert gritted his teeth. “Leave Melyssa out of this!  I already told you, she’s not a danger to the plan!  Heidel Rogner has this sham of an election in the bag and you said I only had to sacrifice one of my family to make it happen!”

 

“True.” Mariabell couldn’t deny that, studying her nails. “Your father was a threat to us, so we had to extinguish him.  It’s as simple as that, but now that your daughter is on the WRONG side, along with your wife, well…”

 

“They have nothing to do with this, Mariabell!” Roger grabbed her by the throat and yanked her against him, gritting his teeth. “They don’t even know of my involvement or suspect anything, and as far as I know, they think the Golden Rakshasa is working with us!  It’s all going according to plan, if you’d just be patient a little longer.”

 

McBurn yawned obnoxiously. “This is boring me.  We done with this meeting yet?”

 

Emma, get us out of here NOW! Rean sent to her telepathically, a trick she had taught him a few years ago after they graduated from Thors.

 

Emma nodded, glancing down at Celine.

 

Rean stepped through Crow and Ash to get to Melyssa who had gone stark white.  Her father… he had betrayed them, sacrificed his father… he was giving them something in exchange for something.  But if he had already ensured this election had happened… why were they still keeping him?  What else did they want from him?  More importantly, what was it Roger was getting from the Ouroboros?

 

“No.” He mouthed, wrapping one arm around Melyssa, pinning her arm and Cutlass to her side.

 

They were not prepared for this at all and the heightened emotions, the shock was not going to do any of them any favors.  Drawing her into his body, he bent down and rest his head on hers, feeling Emma’s magic washing over them.  Melyssa was trembling like a leaf, tears stinging her eyes, but they hadn’t fallen yet.  She was in complete shock and didn’t even notice them disappear out of the church to transport back to the warehouse. 

 

Her own father…had her grandfather murdered, his father?  Her own father was an Enforcer of Ouroboros?!  Melyssa couldn’t have heard that right or there had to be some mistake…NOTHING MADE SENSE ANYMORE!  How long had this been going on?  Her mother didn’t have a clue and thought he’d been kidnapped, but he had orchestrated his father’s murder!  Did that mean her father set up what happened in Crossbell as well?  Aurelia was innocent, she hadn’t betrayed them and…Melyssa began glowing orange, her anger overtaking every other emotion in her body.

 

“ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” She shrieked out at the top of her lungs, blowing Rean and everyone else back several feet. 

 

Then, she unsheathed her Cutlass – the Cutlass her Papa gave her – and tossed it to the side, ripping off her belt with her holder attached.  Murder, betrayal…she felt all of it.  Thankfully, they had made it back in time before she completely lost her temper.

 

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!”

 

“Lyssa!” Crow was scrambling to his feet, his back and his butt throbbing from that unexpected landing.

 

Miranda had not been asleep, she had been sitting with the others, waiting anxiously for news on what had happened.  From the explosion her daughter emanated, she knew nothing good and her heart sank in fear for her husband.  Was he dead?  That was the only logical conclusion she could reach.  Her eyes widened, a hand moving to her mouth as Melyssa tossed her things aside, things she had loved and ran away for, the ability to learn how to walk that path.

 

“Robert, is he?” She couldn’t even finish the word, moving to her daughter, tears glistening in her eyes.

 

Rean shook his head no, watching helplessly as Melyssa shoved Crow away from her.

 

“GET AWAY FROM ME!!  DON’T TOUCH ME!!”

 

Melyssa dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms tightly around her stomach, screaming out her pain, agony, sadness…everything she felt came spilling out.  Her father, a man she looked up to and loved with all of her heart and soul…he was in the enemy camp all along.  Slowly, the orange aura surrounding her faded as Melyssa heaved her breathing, tears pouring from her eyes like two rapid streams.

 

“W-Why?  Why, Aidios?  Why my family?  Is this punishment for leaving, for pursuing the path of the sword?  Am I being punished?  D-Dad…D-Daddy, why?  WHY?!” Clenching her fists tightly, Melyssa drove them down onto the hard flooring and remained on her knees, not caring who heard her. “McBurn wanted to rip my spirit out piece by piece and he’ll get his chance.  Tonight.” Jumping to her feet, Melyssa grabbed her Cutlass and went to Emma, who looked downright terrified. “Send me back!  SEND ME BACK THERE NOW!  I have to know!  I have to hear it from his mouth why he did this!!  Why he had Papa murdered and why he wants Heidel Rogner to be mayor of Jurai!!  I HAVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!”

 

“M-Melyssa, you have to calm down, please…”

 

“NO!  I AM DONE BEING CALM!  I AM DONE BEING RATIONAL!!  I’M GOING TO KILL HIM!  I’M GOING TO KILL MCBURN AND ALL THE OTHERS FOR DOING THIS TO MY FAMILY!!  I’M GOING TO KILL THEM ALL!!  AND NOBODY IS GOING TO STOP ME!!”

 

Emma knew what she had to do and closed her eyes, waving her hand while casting a quick spell.

 

A second later, Melyssa dropped like a sack of potatoes, her Cutlass skidding to the floor.

 

Chapter 43

 

Miranda had no idea what happened, but one thing was certain, she had NEVER seen her daughter lose her temper quite like that and it petrified her.

 

Emma had been terrified for Melyssa, not herself or anyone else.  Melyssa’s ability was frightening, but not honed.  The day she got it properly under control and learned how to wield it, she would be a formidable ally, or foe.  In a rage like that, however, people got hurt or lost their life, this was better.  A dreamless sleep.

 

“Move her to the bed.” She ordered, watching as Ash and Crow came forward. “She won’t wake until morning.”

 

Rean was already putting her Cutlass away, where she couldn’t get to it upon waking.

 

So much for not walking the path of vengeance.

 

It was all a dream, right?  If only.  If only it was just a horrible nightmare that wasn’t true.  Melyssa slowly opened her eyes the next day and it all came flooding back, including her father’s betrayal.  Everything.  Her father was an Enforcer in Ouroboros.  Her father, the man who helped give her life, orchestrated her run-in with McBurn in Crossbell.  And he also was responsible for the murder of her beloved Papa.  She stared up at the ceiling for what seemed like hours, remembering screaming at Emma to send her back to that church. 

 

Melyssa wanted answers. 

 

She wanted to know why.  As much as she wanted to curl up in a ball and cry her eyes out, Melyssa had a duty to protect her mother, who was on Ouroboros’ hit list.  One other thing that hit her like a ton of a bricks all over again was the fact Aurelia did not betray her…and she had broken her promise to the Golden Rakshasa by telling everyone about how she truly got into Thors.  Shutting her eyes, instead of getting out of bed, she simply turned on her side to face the wall and didn’t move.  Honestly, she just wanted to go back to sleep instead of facing everything that had bombarded her.

 

Rean had informed Miranda of what had happened and what they had overheard.  He hadn’t wanted too, nobody wanted to deliver that news, but the woman had hounded him all night and he hadn’t slept a wink.  He had finally told her, grimly delivering the news of her husband’s betrayal, the orchestration of her father’s death, all of it.  He was the world’s largest heel right now, having listened to the woman’s muffled sobs of grief and rage throughout the night as Crow sat with her, crying his own silent tears.

 

“She’s awake.” Ash said quietly when he seen Melyssa stir, but not move from the bed, nodding when Rean acknowledged him with a bob of the head.  He moved to brew another urn of coffee, not many were hungry today.

 

The events of last night had drained them all.

 

Dad…why?  Why would you do this?  Why would you kill Papa and betray us like this? Melyssa couldn’t stop those questions from doing a replay in her head as silent tears fell from her eyes to splatter on her nose and arm. 

 

She didn’t make a sound or move an inch, feeling the bed dip.  It was her mother, she knew the woman’s touch anywhere and Melyssa knew she was just as heartbroken, if not more so.  This was the love of her life; Robert and Miranda had been sweethearts in school and were childhood friends prior to developing feelings for each other.  Her mother told her the story of the little boy that helped her escape a near-death experience from a horse when they were just 6-years-old.  It was a love story like no other…and it had all been a hoax.

 

“Mely, you must eat something.” Miranda didn’t want her daughter to run herself down and not take proper care of herself. “Please…”

 

Slowly, Melyssa pushed herself up from the bed and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, finally looking up at her mother.  Her eyes were swollen, red-rimmed and bloodshot from crying and her mother instantly pulled her into her arms for a tight embrace. I’m so sorry, Mom.  I’m so sorry this happened to you, to us, to Papa. She couldn’t bring herself to say the words and started crying all over again, her heart wrenching sobs echoing around the warehouse.

 

“That’s it, my girl, that’s it…let it all out.  It’s all right, I’m here.” Miranda crooned, stroking her daughter’s back and hair soothingly, her own tears falling. 

 

Today, they would grieve and wallow, but tomorrow, Melyssa would pick herself up, dust herself off and continue on this journey she chose to follow.

 

“So what next?” Everyone was leaving Melyssa and Miranda to themselves, to grieve together.

 

Juna had even gone to Rean, apologizing grimly.  He had told her not to bother Melyssa right now, she could apologize another time.  That was probably an awkward, bitter pill to have to swallow, to have been so wrong and so vocal and damning with accusations.  Yesterday’s pettiness had been tiring, especially when coupled with the information they had learned last night.

 

“We regroup.  Brackett isn’t a priority for rescue anymore.”

 

“No, now he’s a priority for intel.” Ash nodded his head, arms folded tightly over his chest. “And I’d imagine those two women inside are going to want to string him up.”

 

“I still can’t believe he’s an Enforcer in Ouroboros.” Sara was STILL dumbfounded, trying to wrap her head around what they overheard last night in the church. “And by the sound of it, he’s been an Enforcer for a LONG time.”

 

“So then, where was he during the civil war?  Why wasn’t he in the Noble Faction?” Crow spoke up, leaning against the wall with his eyes staring straight ahead.  They were nothing except red fire. “I heard NOTHING about Brackett and I was the leader of the Imperial Liberation Front.  Cayenne didn’t mention him once, nobody did.”

 

The Noble Faction had worked closely with Ouroboros during the civil war, which had transformed them into the Noble Alliance.  Both groups coming together for one cause, though Cayenne had plans of his own not a lot of the members knew about.  Crow did, but at the time, he had been consumed with hatred for Chancellor Osborne and wanted him to pay, to suffer, for what happened to his grandfather.

 

Those were very good questions and nobody had answers to them.

 

“He was biding his time and waiting.” It was Fie’s turn to speak, her voice low and almost stoic. “Just like Zephyr did with the Boss.”

 

He had died during the Rivalry in the Twilight with Rean when their Divine Knights clashed against each other and Rean had won.  The Boss, Rutger Claussell, Fie’s adopted father, had been an Immortal and once his Divine Knight was defeated and consumed by the Ashen Knight, Valimar, he was too.

 

“I thought the Boss was dead all that time and it turned out, he had died, but had been resurrected as an Immortal.”

 

That was a very good point. “Why would he bide his time and wait, though?”


“And why is Ouroboros on the side of the nobility?  Hardly any of them are nobles themselves.” Juna added, wanting to help the class any way she could and pushed aside her guilt for how she treated Melyssa at the moment.

 

“We need answers and the only way to do that is bringing Robert Brackett in for questioning.” Sara made it sound so simple, but since he was an Enforcer of Ouroboros, he was incredibly powerful.

 

“And how do you propose we do that?” Altina asked, knowing even her amount of power wouldn’t be enough to subdue him. “I do not think we will be able to capture him.  The success rate is .05%.”

 

“Not to mention his allies within Ouroboros.” Emma frowned, remembering what McBurn had said about Melyssa and shuddered.  They couldn’t let the girl anywhere near that monster going forward.

 

Rean already saw how this had to play out and he shared a look with Emma, raising an eyebrow when she began shaking her head no. You’re the one who said we are not friends. They are the students. He informed her via their telepathic link. Right now, they are neither. We need him and she is the clearest way of getting to him.

 

For all his faults, it did sound like Robert Brackett loved his daughter and hadn’t wanted her harmed.  Rean was going to have to gamble it, glancing at Ash and Crow.  They were going to beat his head into mush when they heard this idea and he wouldn’t blame them a bit, but Melyssa was likely the only one who had any chance at getting close to her father.

 

“WHAT?!”

 

“You can’t be serious!”

 

“REAN!”

 

“Even I think you’ve lost your mind!”

 

“NO!”

 

“Yes.” Everyone turned with wide eyes, staring back at a freshly showered and awake Melyssa. “I agree with the Instructor and I’m willing to take the risk in order to get answers from my…from Robert.” She couldn’t bring herself to call the man her father, ignoring the twinge of pain in her heart. “My Mom is in danger as long as this goes on and she deserves answers too.” Nobody could argue that logic. “Whatever you want me to do, Instructor, I’m ready.”

 

“Melyssa, you don’t understand…”

 

“McBurn, right?” Melyssa had no idea what the monster wanted with her other than he wanted to rip her spirit out piece by piece.  She still wanted to take this risk to talk to Robert and get the answers to their questions. “I can’t worry about him or what he wants to do to me.  I have zero chance against him, I know that, but I don’t think Robert will allow any harm to come to me, judging by what he said last night.” Those were the exact same thoughts Rean had prior to her announcing her presence. “When it comes down to it, my Instructor is ordering me to do a task and as his student, I won’t disobey.”

 

“This is BULLSHIT!  You’re putting yourself at risk AGAIN!” Ash growled, not liking this idea one bit and wanted to shake some sense into her. “You’re not thinking clearly, Melyssa!  Tell her, man!” He directed that at Crow. “Tell her this isn’t right and she shouldn’t do this!”

 

“I’ve known Lyssa all my life and telling her anything is like beating your head against a brick wall once she has her mind made up.” Crow said after a long while, frowning as he stared down at her. “I wish you wouldn’t, though.”

 

Ash was going to swing on BOTH his friends. “No, I forbid it!”

 

Emma shifted from one foot to the other, shaking her head. “Rean, this is not what I-”

 

“Then you should have stayed out of it and kept your opinions to yourself.” Rean shot back flatly. “This is the best chance we have.  Altina, what’s our probability?”

 

Altina refused to answer, not agreeing with this and therefore, she would keep her mouth shut.

 

“Hey!  It’s not Emma’s fault you can’t separate being an Instructor and friend!  Don’t take your frustrations out on her, Rean Schwarzer!” Celine snapped, hissing at Rean and ignored Emma’s baffled expression. “Perhaps we’ve overstayed our welcome, Emma.  Obviously, he thinks he can do this without our help.”

 

“Celine…” Emma’s voice held warning, knowing her familiar was just trying to protect her. “That’s not very nice and we can’t abandon our friend.”

 

“What friend?  That’s not our friend.  That’s not the Rean Schwarzer we know!  All because you voiced an OPINION, he has to cop an attitude with everyone?  All because you CRITICIZED him?  The BOY needs a thicker skin if he’s going to continue being an Instructor, that’s for sure.  I’m done helping him until he turns his attitude around.” Celine walked away with her tail up in the air, clearly irritated by the sudden turn of events.

 

Emma sighed, shaking her head sadly and looked back at Rean, who didn’t look pleased with what Celine had to say. “I’m sorry, I’ll talk to her and we will help you through this.  She’s just upset.  Excuse me.” She took off after her familiar, hoping Celine didn’t leave the protection barrier.

 

Crow and Ash both let out simultaneous whistles, not expecting Celine to go off on Rean.  They had been through A LOT together.  She had been the one to protect him and save him when he had to escape from Thors at the start of the civil war – the same day he had become the Ashen Knight’s Awakener.  Celine had used her mana and magic to heal him way up in the Eisengard Mountains, which hadn’t been too far from his hometown, Ymir.  She stuck by his side and helped him navigate and pilot Valimar, training him essentially.  One thing Celine NEVER did, however, was sugarcoat how she felt and let her feelings be known, be it good or bad.  It was obvious she didn’t even agree with Rean’s plan to use Melyssa as bait.

 

“Instructor, I do need my Cutlass back WHEN I meet with Robert.  I need to protect myself somehow.” Melyssa informed him, ignoring what Crow, Ash and even Celine said because it didn’t matter.  Her own wellbeing did not matter right now, not when so much was at stake.  Jurai and her mother, among everyone else and all the citizens within the city and possibly others, were all in danger. “I’m in my right frame of mind now and I will try not to let my temper get the best of me again.” Following the way of the sword would help her channel her anger and emotions into being a fluid swordswoman.

 

Rean honestly didn’t care what anyone thought of him right now.  Whichever way he turned or how he did things, he was going to hear he was wrong and it wasn’t anything he wasn’t used too, so he wasn’t bothered by it now.  Emma couldn’t have it both ways, where she chided him for being irrational and friendly and then upset because he WAS being rational and suddenly putting HER friend in danger.  He mentally pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing doing it physically would invite more words and he wanted everyone to shut up.

 

“I’ll get your Cutlass, and we’ll go spar.” He informed her, ignoring everyone else.

 

After last night, Melyssa NEEDED a good, hard sparring session and the Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves was the perfect partner. “As you wish, Instructor.” She watched him walk inside the warehouse and wasn’t surprised when both Ash and Crow were on her like white on rice.

 

“You can’t do this, Melyssa!  It’s dangerous and I won’t let you get hurt again!  You nearly lost your damn head!”

 

“You can’t protect me from this, Carbide.” Melyssa narrowed her eyes at her friends, wishing they would be on her side just once.  Rean was doing the right thing, whether they realized it or not. “I know it’s dangerous, but what YOU don’t understand, what NONE of you are comprehending, is Jurai is in DANGER!  My mother, the only family I have left, is in DANGER!  And we need answers!  We need to know what in Gehenna is going on here and I NEED to know why my own father is an Enforcer of Ouroboros!”

 

“That’s a selfish damn reason to put yourself in harm’s way on purpose!!”

 

“Fine, then I’m selfish.  When it comes to my family’s involvement in this, you damn right I’m VERY selfish and NOBODY is going to stand in my way of finding out the truth!  So BACK OFF, Ash!” He’d gotten in her face and she shoved him back none too gently, her teal eyes cold and full of determination. “I have to do this and you won’t stop me!”

 

“Her reasons aren’t selfish.” Crow said quietly, hating that he understood where she was coming from. 

 

If ANYONE could understand what Melyssa was going through right now, it was him, but she had done something he hadn’t.  She had listed off other reasons BEFORE her own, he had never bothered with any of that.  It had always been about HIS revenge, HIS pain and nothing else.

 

“Jurai IS in danger and she is probably the only one who can get anywhere close enough for answers.”

 

Ash beaned him before stalking off, throwing his hands in the air, cursing under his breath.

 

“I still don’t want you doing this, Lyssa.” Crow muttered, cupping his bleeding nose. “But I understand why you’re doing this.”

 

“At least you understand.  Wish he did too.”

 

As much as it hurt her to watch Ash stalk off, Melyssa couldn’t go after him.  She had to remain focused and steadfast in her goal, which was doing everything she could to save Jurai and protecting her mother.  Melyssa loved Jurai with everything inside of her – it was her home, part of her, and she didn’t want to see it crumble under the nobility and Ouroboros. 

 

Chapter 44

 

Rean came out a few minutes later and gestured her to follow him, both headed to the back entrance gate of Jurai.  It was the same place she had been practicing yesterday when he stopped her and ordered her to relax.  It had been for nothing since they hadn’t gotten into a battle at the church.  He had a hold of her sheathed Cutlass in his hand, in its holder, while they walked and once he stopped, she did too, waiting for him to hand her weapon over for the sparring.

 

Studying her for a moment, Rean lightly tossed the Cutlass towards her, watching as her hand wrapped around the hilt and caught it without hesitation.  He took the defense stance, raising an eyebrow at her.  Even when she got close enough to her father, there was no guarantee she was getting back out.  McBurn might try to kill her, or worse and there were things worse than death, especially a woman.  She was going to have to fight like her life depended on it and it did.

 

A second later, he had swung his Tachi, the blow meant to take her head off and she parried it.

 

This was a test.  Rean was testing her to see if she could hold her own against someone of his caliber.  Granted, he wasn’t on McBurn’s level – nobody was.  He was truly a terrifying species and she was convinced he wasn’t even human either.  Melyssa fought back, keeping her focus and channeling her strength, each move precise and fluid.  No words were spoken between them, just the sounds of their weapons clashing together echoing around them in the clearing. 

 

Melyssa loved the sound of swords clashing, it always sent tingles throughout her body and lit a fire inside of her.  Rean went to swing his Tachi again and she did the splits, nailing him right in the stomach like she did with the monsters she faced with Ash and Crow.  Luckily, Rean dodged out of the way and she was on her feet instantly, slamming her Cutlass against his Tachi as they stood there, both trying to gain strength on the other before pushing back at the same time.  Her adrenaline was pumping now and she felt exhilarated, not believing she had stood her ground against the Ashen Chevalier and Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves.  They both stood there, their weapons in their hands, breathing heavily and sweat caked their bodies from head to toe.  Without realizing it, they had sparred for two hours straight, having a lot of aggression to let out.

 

Not saying a word, – he couldn’t, he was breathing too heavily – Rean peeled off his soaked shirt, using a small dry corner to mop at his face before tossing it aside.  He took her hand, tugging her down onto the ground with him, sheathing his Tachi and letting it rest on the ground alongside them.  Melyssa was just as red and sweaty as he was, her breathing just as hard as his.  He didn’t think she’d manage to survive if McBurn tried to kill her, but she wouldn’t go down easy either.

 

Melyssa had no idea why he wanted her to sit with him in the grass, but she wasn’t against it either.  She had sheathed her Cutlass and set it down in front of her, trying to catch her breath.  Maybe they should have brought water with them before starting this.

 

“Thanks, Instructor.” She finally broke the silence between them, placing her hands in her lap and took a few more deep breaths, the redness in her face slowly subsiding. “After what happened last night, I really needed this.” Even though he had changed his demeanor to be more strict with his students, deep down, Rean was still the same man she had gelato with under the stars.  The same man who gave her the starry pendant around her neck for her birthday. “And it looks like you did too.”

 

“Yeah, I did.  We did.” Rean admitted, his brow furrowing as he dropped backwards into the grass with a grunt. “Emma means well, but she can’t have it both ways.” He ran a hand down his face, groaning. 

 

Rean shouldn’t have said that out loud.  He was supposed to be the Instructor and she was a first year who could not be his friend, should not.  Crow was going to beat him down after the end of the school year, he knew because Crow had already warned him it was coming.

 

“I’m sorry, that was out of line.”

 

Melyssa looked down at him, the sun peeking through the trees making his sweaty skin glisten on his chest, including his scar. “Why was it out of line?  You’re just being truthful.  I think what Emma was trying to say was not to let any of your students argue against your decisions.  I don’t think she meant for you to completely change who you are and how you treat us.” She looked away from him and began plucking at the grass thoughtfully. “Juna was out of line saying what she did to you.  She constantly rebels against what you want to do with Class VII, what YOUR decisions are and that’s not how a student should act.  She was being disrespectful towards you and the entire class as a whole.  I think you can be both Instructor and friend, but you have to learn how to balance both.  You can be a friend, but don’t let your students walk all over you and dictate to you how things SHOULD be done.  You are the teacher, we are the students and that’s why I’m not fighting against anything you want to do.  I trust your judgment as my Instructor and they should too, regardless of what you’ve been through together.  They need to believe and trust in your judgment and decisions, Instructor.” Looking back at him as he sat up a little to lean on his elbows, softer teal eyes met burning fuchsia and it made Melyssa’s stomach clench. “I know I do.”

 

“I’m not good at balancing that line, Melyssa.” Rean confessed what everyone already knew and then being called out on it in front of everyone.  Emma had basically called him out and forced his hand, had he been saving face? “Can I tell you something?” He asked, moving to sit on his knees, closer to her, their faces only inches apart. “As a friend.” A sheepish grin tugged the corner of his lips when she gave him a nod. “When the war was going on, it was the same then.  No matter what I did, or how hard I tried, I was always being told I had to do this, or that, or be this, or be that and to be honest… it sucks.” He had thought that would end… no, not really. “I can’t be one or the other and I probably should have made Juna do 500 push-ups because that was REALLY out of line.” He blinked at the look on her face, the sheepish grin broadening. “Us ‘heroes’ worry and have the same ‘little people’ problems.” Hero was a horrible word and he hated it.

 

“Then stop listening to what everyone else says.  Stop listening to criticism or what others think or believe.” Melyssa reached up to cup his sweaty face in her hands, her eyes not leaving his and could feel that strong connection to him all over again. “What do YOU believe, Rean?  What do YOU want to do?  You have to do what YOU feel is best, even if people don’t agree with it.  That’s what being an adult is all about – making choices and sticking to your guns on those choices.  Do you understand what I’m saying?” He could be their friend OUTSIDE of class, but once IN class and IN the battlefield, he had to be their Instructor. “Don’t let anyone change you just because of an opinion or ridicule.”

 

“You sound just like your Mom.” Rean informed her, smirking when she blinked and then kissed her.

 

He was going to wind up getting his head knocked off and he knew it, sending crazy signals.  First being her friend, then cutting that off -for less than 24 hours, he had totally aced that- and being the ‘Instructor’, and now… now he didn’t know.  All he knew was that she was gorgeous, still pink and damp, her breathing still somewhat labored and her lips were begging him to try them, pink and luscious.  She tasted sweet, almost like cherries, but not quite, and he was dying for a proper taste, his tongue swiping against her lips as he felt her hands coming up.  She was probably going to box his ears.

 

Or take his head off with her Cutlass.

 

This had to be a dream.  Any second, Melyssa was going to wake up in the warehouse, in her bed, instead of out in this beautiful clearing with Rean.  She didn’t wake up and the shock quickly wore off as she kissed him back, her hands leaving his face to wrap her arms around his neck.  It did not register in her passion hazed brain who exactly she was kissing.  Rean wasn’t just a friend.  He was her INSTRUCTOR.  She was kissing her Instructor and it felt incredible, especially when she opened her mouth for him to properly taste her.  They were still on their knees and her fingers had delved in his black hair, soft moans somewhat muffled by his mouth on hers.  This kiss was completely different from the ones she shared with Crow.  There was so much more fire and passion with Rean than Crow…and Melyssa finally heard the alarm bells ring in her head.  They had managed to cut through the passion haze and Melyssa pulled back, her hands pressed against his sweaty chest, the kiss breaking.

 

“W-Why?” She stammered, not pulling away from him and even if she wanted to, his arms were encircled around her. “R-Rean…” Goddess, forgive me, he’s my Instructor and I want to kiss him again. Not waiting for an answer or for him to get his own thoughts in order, Melyssa kissed him this time and felt herself completely melt against him.

 

There was the why.  Because there was something here.  He had been feeling it for a while, but always dismissed it.  Ever since that night they had eaten gelato under the stars he had been looking at Melyssa in a different light and he knew it was wrong.  Rean was taking advantage of her youth and adoration for the Ashen Chevalier.  He was the reason they had rules in place at Thors, so students COULDN’T be taken advantage of.  When she had asked him that question, his heart had begun singing, but he had shut it down quick, knowing… he was losing his train of thought as her lithe, tight little body pressed against his.

 

“Goddess… you’re killing me.”

 

Melyssa didn’t care about his titles, only the man behind them and she had felt the connection with him since the night in Leeves.  He was so down to earth and listened to what she had to say, offering his own opinion without any judgment.  She could not feel his arousal since they were still on their knees or else that would have freaked her out, more than likely.  Melyssa had never felt a man’s erection before and how she wished Rean could have been her first kiss.  She heard what he said and slowly pulled back, both of them breathing raggedly now.

 

“I-I am?” How was she killing him?  Her lips were swollen, along with his and the desire coursing through their eyes spoke volumes.

 

Aidios, she was a virgin. On some level Rean had already known that since Crow had sort of stolen her first kiss and her reaction to Crow's immediate issues afterwards.  However, her innocent question and the way the curious confusion in those darkened teal eyes had him groaning in a combination of lust and 'oh crap'. "I've been trying not to think of you as anything, but my friend and student, Melyssa," He breathed, his palms wrapped gently around her upper arms. "Goddess help me, I want you."

 

Even SHE knew what that meant and Melyssa felt her cheeks heat up, the roses blooming in them. “I want you too, Rean…” Her hands continued caressing his broad, muscular shoulders and chest, feeling his grip on her tighten slightly. “I’ve been feeling it too, this…connection, whatever it is, between us since the night we ate gelato together under the stars in Leeves.  You’ve invaded my thoughts and my dreams…” Before he could kiss her again, however, Melyssa’s demeanor changed and she hated herself for being the rational one.  Someone had to be, however. “But as much as I want you, I know it’s not possible.” Not right now anyway. “You’re my Instructor and I’m your student…and you just admitted you have a hard time separating being a friend and Instructor with Class VII.  If we tried being together, your judgment would be clouded and you wouldn’t make the right decisions for the greater good of the class and Thors.  And I won’t break the rules in Thors, no matter how much I do want you.”

 

Her education and the way of the sword had to come first.  She pecked his lips, seeing the sadness in his fuchsia eyes and extricated herself from his arms, putting space between them.  Sometimes, Melyssa REALLY hated being the voice of reason, but she also knew she did the right thing by stopping this before it went any further.

 

"Head back inside." It was in theory an order, but came out soft and husky. "Please." Rean whispered when she didn't immediately go. "I'll follow shortly."

 

He needed a moment by himself to get both his body and mind in order.  Rejection, even with her valid reasons, felt terrible and his body hadn't caught on just yet.  When he finally heard Melyssa’s footsteps fading away he slumped down, letting his head hang.  Melyssa wanted to go back to him, to jump in his arms and to say to hell with the rules, but…she couldn’t.  Jurai and her mother were too important not to have their full focus and attention on. 

 

Maybe when they returned to Leeves, after this situation was solved…Melyssa shook her head, knowing it wasn’t possible.  Rumors would be flying around about Rean and he didn’t need to deal with that.  She also didn’t need others, including her own classmates, thinking Rean was going easy on her just because they were in a relationship.  No, it would be very messy and complicated.

 

I’m sorry, Rean, I really am.  Please don’t hate me for this, she silently prayed, taking her time to get back to the warehouse and instead of going inside, she opted to sit out on the docks. Goddess, I hope I didn’t just make a huge mistake with him.

 

And now Melyssa knew how Crow had felt.  Sort of.  Having what they deemed a valid reason didn't necessarily mean the other person would see it that way.  Kind of like when he had thought she was underage and he was taking advantage.  Crow was beneath the docks with a line out, bare from the waist up.  At the end of the line was a net Miranda had put out the day before and even though that woman had gotten the worst possible news ever she had still sent him out to 'bring in their supper'.  Grunting, he pulled himself up onto the dock, his red eyes wide in surprise when he saw her and went right back down.

 

That right there told Melyssa that Crow wanted nothing to do with her and she was surprisingly fine with it.  She hadn’t spotted him beneath the dock fishing or else she would’ve headed right back into the warehouse.  Walking in, Melyssa didn’t greet anyone and went straight to the shower room to wash away the intense sparring and make out session with Rean.  She stepped out twenty minutes later, clean and changed, laying back down in her bed since her appetite was gone.  It should have been increased from the sparring, but after everything she’d been through lately…Melyssa shut her eyes and was asleep within minutes.

 

Damn it, Crow inwardly cursed himself when he surfaced and Melyssa was nowhere in sight.  He had come up, one hand holding that net, with all those heavy fish and seeing her there had shocked him.  It was an embarrassing moment, but she wasn’t there to witness him in all his red-faced glory.  By the time he lugged the fish inside, Miranda informed him Melyssa had already gone to bed.  He spotted Rean coming in, raising an eyebrow.

 

“You smell like fish.”

 

“I need a shower.”

 

Chapter 45

 

Two days had passed since her sparring/make out session with Rean and Melyssa had kept completely to herself.  Everybody except Melyssa and Miranda weren’t on board with Rean’s plan.  Even Sara, Fie, Emma and Celine were against it.  Still, Melyssa was done waiting and walked up to Rean, who was sipping a cup of coffee.

 

“Instructor, have you decided when we’re going to put your plan into action?” She asked, sitting across from him at the table and met his eyes.  Rean hadn’t said more than two words to her in the past two days and she knew it was because he needed time to get over her rejection. 

 

However, the longer they stayed here and waited, the more at risk and in danger they remained.

 

“Tomorrow.”

 

Rean nodded, having gone out and scouted the abandoned church with Crow’s help since Crow was familiar with the area just as much as Melyssa was.  He had thought about confiding in Crow, but that felt weird, being rejected by the girl who Crow had rejected.  Also, none of Crow’s business.  Since he had done the ‘not friends, Instructor only’ bit, Crow was giving him the cold shoulder.  Not that that had meant anything when they had gone to scout.

 

“More than likely, they suspect we were there.”

 

Given the huge spell Emma cast in order to clean up around the church, as well as make it easy to get through the back entrance, that did not surprise Melyssa at all. “They’re on guard now, more than ever, aren’t they?  Have you found a way to contact Robert?  Or is that going to be part of the plan tomorrow?”

 

“Emma is going to cast a spell tonight that will send a message directly to him.  We’ll need you to write a note to him, asking to meet privately wherever you want and then we can work on formulating a plan.” Rean’s voice remained even and low, taking another sip of his coffee while staring back at her.

 

“All right, she’ll send it tonight I’m assuming and hopefully, Robert will contact me soon after to set up a time and place.”

 

Rean nodded, glad they were on the same page and stood up from the table. “When you’ve written the note, give it to me and I’ll give it to Emma to do the spell.”

 

“Yes, Instructor.” Melyssa went to find a piece of paper and pen to write the note to her father, wondering how she was going to word this.

 

Miranda set out paper and pen from her satchel, sinking down onto the couch alongside her daughter.  She had been informed of the plan and simply nodded, not knowing what else to say.  What could she say?  Her husband was a murdering, traitorous bastard who had knowingly put their daughter in danger. He had MURDERED his own father!  When Melyssa simply stared at the paper, obviously struggling with what to say or at least how to say it, she dropped a kiss on the side of her daughter’s head.

 

“You got this, darling, I know you do.” She encouraged quietly.

 

In his own way, Robert had set Melyssa on this path, with Thors and the sword training. 

 

Looking back at her mother, Melyssa nodded and looked back at the blank sheet of paper, shutting her eyes briefly.  She knew exactly what to say and what would make him want to meet her.  Putting the pen to paper, Melyssa began to write from her heart and tried to keep it short, simple and to the point.

 

Dad,

 

I know the truth about you.  Mom does too.  You owe us an explanation.  Meet me tomorrow night at our house and explain yourself.  You owe me that much after sending McBurn after me in Crossbell.  And I am asking you to come alone.

 

Melyssa (Your Mely girl)

 

“Does that sound okay, Mom?”

 

Miranda read it and kissed her forehead softly, nodding. “He’ll show up.” The confidence in her voice almost startled Melyssa, but then again, Miranda knew Robert better than anyone, or at least, she thought she did.

 

“Hope so.” Standing, Melyssa folded her note and walked over to where Rean sat, extending it to him. “It’s ready, Instructor.”

 

Now, the waiting game began once Emma sent it.

 

Waiting sucked.  Rean was able to be patient or at least put on a good show, but everyone was now on tenterhooks.  Emma had Celine watching over the Brackett house, the familiar would be able to let them know if anyone went there.  Given that Ouroboros used traps and set-ups, he wouldn’t be surprised if they expected an ambush.  Sure enough, before they heard anything back, Celine sent word via Emma that some ‘fishermen’ had shown up at the Brackett house.  She also sent word when they left, adding she would check to make sure they hadn’t left any parting ‘gifts’.

 

Miranda wasn’t going to lie, she was getting nervous, but she was hiding it.  These young people, some of them barely more than children, all seemed antsy as well.

 

~!~

 

Robert received the note in his sandwich, of all places.  He had gone to take a bite and noticed something white sticking out of it.  Setting it down, he pulled the piece of paper out and unfolded it, reading what it said.  There was no doubt in his mind this was his daughter’s handwriting.  His heart actually sank at her harsh words – Miranda knew the truth now about him.  The love of his life…she knew everything and he now knew the meeting with McBurn and Mariabell last night had been eavesdropped on.  Crushing the note in his hand, Robert decided he would humor his daughter, only because he did miss her and maybe he did owe her an explanation.

 

“See you tomorrow, Mely girl.” He rumbled to himself, alone in his room, and proceeded to finish his sandwich.

 

~!~

 

“Tomorrow… she’s to go alone.” Not totally, Emma would see to that.

 

Having a witch was damn useful, as long as she wasn’t offering her personal insights to the group at large.  That was best done in a one on one environment where people weren’t put on the spot.  Rean wasn’t surprised when Ash opened his mouth to say something only to grit it shut, his teeth gnashing audibly.  Ash was not having a good time with all of this.  Being friends with someone, being close as Ash and Melyssa were, was both a good and bad thing.

 

The bad was currently playing out.

 

“And where will the rest of us be?” Juna asked after a moment of silence, almost leaning into Kurt. She was still feeling awkward after her outburst and accusations, but… she couldn’t focus on that.  There would be plenty of time once this situation was handled.

 

“Two of us will go with her, but stay in the shadows and wait to see if she needs backup.  I need people we can count on and rely on without letting EMOTIONS get in the way.” That was a clear shot toward Ash, who could not seem to accept Melyssa being used as bait against her father to gather intel.

 

Emma gestured to the necklace Melyssa had on. “This will also protect her.  It’s a magic shield, of sorts.  She can hold her own in a swordfight, but if magic comes into play, the pendant will protect her from harm and instant death.”

 

“So, how are we going to know what’s said?”

 

Emma once again gestured to the pendant. “Not only is this a magic shield, but I’ve enchanted it to where it’s a recording device, of sorts.” Magic really was amazing and she had really honed her skills over the past few years. “Everything that is said between them will be recorded and when she’s back here, we can listen to it and go from there.”

 

Rean had been right when he gave this to her for her birthday – it really was a protection charm.

 

“What if McBurn shows up?” Kurt spoke up, usually the silent one of the group, but he had to voice his concerns. “You heard him last night, Instructor, he wants to get his hands on Melyssa.”

 

“And you heard my father tell him to leave me alone.” Melyssa recalled coolly, swallowing down her own nerves for the moment. “I don’t think he’ll bring anyone with him since I’ll be going alone.”

 

“So…who is going with for the backup?  Bracers are excellent for this kind of thing and I think it should be three people instead of two, especially with who we’re dealing with.”

 

Rean stroked his chin, nodding at Sara’s advice. “Fine, three can go, but that’s it.  I’m going and so is Emma, so that only leaves one spot open.”

 

“Why not allow an investigator to assist you?”

 

Everybody turned to see none other than Machias Regnitz standing in the doorway.

 

“Machias…” Emma immediately ran to him, tossing her arms around his neck and passionately kissed him, missing her green haired man fiercely. “H-How did you know where to find us?!”

 

“Well, considering my fiancée IS a witch and taught me a few tricks, it was not hard to deduce, my love.”

 

“Oh, please!” Celine rolled her eyes, sauntering over to them. “He ran into me while I was out patrolling in Jurai earlier and asked where we were located.  I’m the one who lead him here.”

 

“And you didn’t tell me?!” Emma was going to strangle her familiar.

 

“Hmph, I don’t need to tell you EVERYTHING, Emma.”

 

“Besides, it is a nice surprise, is it not?  Celine filled me in on everything already and I have news of my own to share regarding what is happening in Jurai.”

 

Rean gave Machias his attention. “Yes?”

 

Crow didn’t like this plan either.  It was stupid.  Robert killed his father, he knowingly put Melyssa in danger with McBurn of all people, and they were going to HOPE that he was coming alone because Melyssa was.  She had way too much faith in a man who had already killed one of his own.  Crow felt traitorous thinking that, but he couldn’t help it either.  Sometimes, it seemed like Ash was the only sensible one of them all and that was saying something.  Even charms could be broken.  Emma’s magic was strong, but if magic was the end-all, be-all, then there would be no need for conventional weapons or people like them.

 

“You were correct in your assumptions, Rean.” Machias walked over and handed a slew of paperwork to his friend and comrade. “That is the evidence I’ve collected in the past few days.  Jurai is not the only city they are targeting.  There has been activity going on in Heimdallr and my father is looking into that, as well as Legram and…Ymir.” That made Rean’s head snap up, his eyes wide. “Your father has been receiving visits from Heidel Rogner quite a bit lately.  He’s just a Baron and if the nobility truly wanted to overthrow him and take over Ymir, they could with Ouroboros’ help.”

 

Ymir was Rean’s hometown. “Oh, Aidios…” Emma murmured, taking some of the paperwork to look over it with Fie and Sara.

 

“Why hasn’t the Bracer Guild been informed of ANY of this, Machias?” Sara demanded, slapping the papers on the table harshly. “It’s OUR responsibility to protect the civilians!”

 

“I do not have an answer for you, Sara.  I wish I did.  All I know is something is afoot and Jurai is only the beginning.  Have you found out anything while you have been here?”

 

“Actually…” Rean launched into the explanation of everything that had transpired in Jurai, including finding out Melyssa’s father, Robert Brackett, is an Enforcer in Ouroboros.

 

“Goddess…that’s…that’s ABSURD!  And you are, or rather your student, the man’s daughter, is meeting with him tomorrow evening?” Machias looked down at Emma, seeing the worry in her eyes and then looked back at Rean. “Surely you have a plan, yes?  Enlighten me, perhaps I can strategize and help out.”

 

So Miranda brewed yet another pot of coffee, starting to warn everyone that they were going to be stopping all day tomorrow to relieve themselves due to how much they were drinking, and set out a giant platter of sandwiches and other easy to grab finger foods.  She had to keep busy, trying not to pay TOO much attention to the ‘war council’ as her mind kept referring to it as.  Her daughter was going to be in such a dangerous spot and she knew that all it would take was… no, not thinking of it.  She was going to have this warehouse looking pristine and not so abandoned by the time she was done, cleaning was putting her on auto mode.

 

With Machias in the fold, everyone felt a little more at ease because he was a terrific strategist.  He agreed with the plan to have backup, but…he managed to convince Rean, without stepping on his toes as an Instructor, to allow someone to go with Melyssa…someone who was like a son to Robert growing up.  Crow.  He was part of the Noble Faction at one point, so Machias was confident he wouldn’t be seen as that much of a threat to Robert.  Rean was hesitant to do it, but in the end, he agreed and the team that would be backing them up, in case everything went awry, would be Rean, Emma, Machias and, surprisingly, Ash. 

 

He had listened to the new plan unfold and felt better knowing Melyssa wouldn’t be meeting her father alone.  That was what bothered him the most and Crow going with her put his mind at ease.  Ash requested to be on the backup team and Rean was hesitant to add him to the mix, because of his attitude, but he promised to behave and not act rashly.  He also apologized for blowing up over the plan, which left a bitter taste in his mouth, but Ash knew if he had a chance in Gehenna of being added to the backup team, he had to concede he was wrong.

 

“Not to be a Debbie Downer,” Crow said after a moment, hesitating because this WAS a good plan and he all on board with going. “I know we all think he sees me as a son, but he also saw Papa as a father and we know how that ended.” He kept it down though, because that was Miranda’s father-in-law and he frowned at the look on Melyssa’s face. “You know I didn’t mean it to be a jerk, Lyssa.” He said quietly. “I’m… I’ve flipped both sides enough to know that I’m not usually considered to be a trustworthy person.” If Ouroboros trusted him for even a second, it made him question how they had so much power.

 

“I understand how you feel, Crow.” Machias nodded, acknowledging what Crow said and nobody could dispute it. “But if one of us were to go with her, they would see it as more of a threat than you going.  I’m sure they are aware of your education within Class VII at the moment, but like you said, you have played for both sides.  Out of all of us, you are the best candidate and…you trust each other, correct?  You can link up now?” Rean had confided in him about his worries regarding Crow and Melyssa back at the Twin Dragons tower.

 

They both looked at each other and nodded. “We did it a few nights ago and it was a success.”

 

“Good, then if things go amiss with your father, the two of you can link up and defend yourselves until the backup arrives.  Knowing Ouroboros, Robert will not be alone, so we’ll have to stay a ways back.”

 

“How will you know what’s happening inside my house then?” Melyssa asked, blinking as Machias pulled out two contraptions to set on the table.  They were very small.

 

“These are a new invention the Institute of Technology in Roer has come up with and I’ve been using them in my investigations.  One of you will stick one in your ear and Rean will get the other one.  He will be able to hear everything that is said and if we feel the danger is too much, we will move in.” Machias explained, seeing the sheer bewilderment and amazement on everyone’s faces at the table.

 

“I can enchant them to where all of us can hear what is being said, if you want.” Emma offered, winking at her husband and felt him squeeze her hand beneath the table.

 

“That would be a great relief to my mind.” Miranda said gratefully, nodding her head in acknowledgment at Emma.

 

True, hearing her husband’s poisonous words and excuses would only shatter the broken pieces of her heart further, but… as long as she was able to know what was going on with her daughter in real time, she would deal with that agony privately and at a later time.

 

“All right, so everyone knows what is going on, how we’re going to do this, and what our back-up plan is?” Rean asked, looking around at everyone assembled, not surprised by all the solemn nods he received.  This ‘weekend excursion’ was turning out to be beyond what they had initially signed up for. “Any questions?”

 

Everybody shook their heads, all their questions answered and they understood what would go down the following night.  The meeting was adjourned with everyone going to do their own thing.  Thanks to Emma’s magic, she was able to put up ‘walls’ to give everyone privacy within the warehouse.  Emma and Machias went to her room for some alone time with Celine venturing outside to do her usual patrol.  Emma had convinced her to help them out, understanding her familiar’s frustration, but also acknowledging her wrongdoing when it came to challenging Rean.

 

Chapter 46

 

Waiting until everyone was settled down for the evening, Melyssa left her bed and made her way to Rean’s door, pushing it open.  There he was, his hand on the handle of his Tachi, bare from the waist up, with a lit candle in front of him.  He was in the Eight Leaves stance, his eyes closed and she watched the Tachi slice through the flame, not touching the candle.  Melyssa shut the door, making him whip around to see who was in his room and walked up to him, pushing his Tachi to the side gently.

 

“If something happens to me tomorrow night, I don’t want any regrets.  And my one regret is pushing you away, Rean.” Very softly, Melyssa leaned up to brush her lips against his, her hands pressed against his chest and sighed at the feeling of them, of him.

 

Admittedly, Rean’s first impulse was to shut her down.  Tomorrow was going to be insane enough without the added distraction of her.  Of losing her after… if this went that far, his mind refused to compute that possibility.  Then there was the concern that she was doing this for the wrong reasons, he knew how that went before a major ‘battle’, making impulsive ‘this may be my last night’ decisions.  Then the rest of him was shutting himself down, knowing if he pushed her away now, she would take it badly and he would never have this opportunity again.  Never mind that she was likely to regret it after she did survive tomorrow and realized what she had done, and with who.  He draped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his body, his lips feathering hers.

 

“I didn’t mean what I said in the clearing.” Melyssa spoke against his lips, kissing him again, this time a little harder, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I was scared…and I still am because you’re my Instructor.  You said Thors frowns upon students and Instructors being together and I don’t want to cause you any problems.” It would be a huge liability for him to be with her. “It was…wrong of me to use your judgment against you, for what I said about you having problems separating Instructor and friend among us.  You proved tonight you won’t let your personal feelings get in the way of what needs to be done and I should have trusted that from the beginning.  I just never thought someone like you would want someone like me.” A nobody from Jurai, whose father was an Enforcer of Ouroboros. “I rejected you out of fear and I’m sorry, Rean.”

 

“Apology accepted and I appreciate it.” He rumbled, blinking down at her as he moved back to sit on the bed.  Rean pulled her with him, her legs automatically straddling him as she sat on his lap. “And someone like you?” If she couldn’t feel how much he wanted her, the way his body was beginning to shake from desire and restraint, the erection he was sporting in his loose pants… the woman had to feel it.  She shifted and he groaned, trying to focus as she explained, reluctantly, what she had meant by ‘somebody like her’, shaking his head. “Melyssa… most of us start out as ‘nobodies’.  Or in my case, nothing much was expected of me because…” He shrugged slightly, he had been sort of nobility. “You are… astonishing, you work twice as hard and come from less, including less resources, and you are making something of yourself.  How could I not want a woman like that?”

 

Their differences were major and they were cut from different cloths of life, different families.  Rean was the son of a Baron and his biological father had been Chancellor Osborne while she was born and raised as a fishmonger.  She didn’t even know who her father was because he had kept this secret with Ouroboros away from them all these years.

 

“I don’t…” This was hard to say and she swallowed hard, shifting again because she could feel him through the leggings she had on. “I’m not experienced when it comes to…this.  All I’ve done is kissing and…it was only with Crow and you.” Her cheeks turned red with embarrassment at her confession. “I figured you’d want a woman with more experience and someone who is older…” Not one of his students.

 

Rean raised one curious eyebrow, wondering if she thought he was worldly or something when it came to matters of the heart and the bed.  Did he give off that aura or something?  Or was she assuming because of his many titles?  Rean was suddenly feeling very pressured right now, wondering if he was supposed to be some stellar lover or something.

 

“I’m not… overly experienced myself,” He admitted, feeling color blooming in his cheeks and was grateful for the candlelight, anything brighter and it might show.

 

He had been intimate before, but not excessively so.

 

It suddenly dawned on Melyssa what he was saying, what he was confessing to her and her teal eyes grew wide in perplexity.  HOW was this man not experienced when it came to intimacy? “So, you’ve never…” He shook his head immediately, not allowing her to finish that question and her hands rested gently on his shoulders. “You’re such a great kisser, though.  I thought you’d had at least a few women in your bed before…”

 

Something new blossomed inside of her and Melyssa couldn’t figure out what it was, but it made her connection, her need for Rean, much stronger and intense.  He had been intimate in regards to kissing, making out… he had even gone down on a woman and vice versa only once, that was not exactly a world of experience nor was he a knowledgeable lover.  He was sort of amused, sort of chuffed, that the Ashen Chevalier had such a reputation.  Or he was assuming so anyway, given her reaction to him.  Fortunately, he didn’t have to live up to that unearned reputation, not if the way Melyssa was looking at him was any indication.  He reached out, running his fingertips down along her cheek, his thumb finally brushing against her lips.

 

Instinctively, she pressed her lips against the tip of his thumb and they both shivered at the contact.  It made Melyssa feel more at ease knowing he was almost as inexperienced as she was.  They could learn together, if Rean wanted to be with her long term.  How would that work once they were back in Leeves, back at the academy?  Melyssa didn’t want to think about any of that right now, knowing it would end up being a problem, but first, they had to protect Jurai.

 

“Rean…” She breathed his name and softly kissed him, no sense of urgency in it this time, opening her mouth to let him taste her again.

 

Rean would retire, step down, do something… just because she was his student… she was also of legal age, didn’t that count for anything?  He had before saw the necessity for that rule, but he had also said there were exceptions to it.  Rean felt like they were an exception, which startled him because that meant he was thinking long term and not just a night.  Maybe not so startling, he had known for a while he wasn’t the one night kind of guy.  Gripping her gently beneath the upper thighs, Rean shifted Melyssa, not wanting her to crush his erection or scare her with it, grunting when her body responded by arching.

 

The kiss broke when he shifted her and Melyssa frowned, hoping she didn’t do something wrong. “I-Is everything okay?”

 

Her breathing was slightly ragged and her chest rose and fell from how hard her heart pounded.  That was the type of effect Rean had on her.  He nodded, pulling her back against him and captured her mouth this time, moving to where they were lying in his bed.  Rean hovered partially over her and Melyssa welcomed it, both unable to get enough of each other.

 

“I want to stay with you tonight, Rean…” She murmured, arching her neck as his lips sealed to her skin, his strong hands gliding down her sides to lift her leg to hook over his.  In a way, he had her pinned to his bed and Melyssa was at his mercy.

 

“Are you sure?” He asked just as softly, kissing down along her collarbone, moving material aside so he had access to her soft, lightly scented skin.

 

Was he wrong for wanting to do this?  She was going to face potential death tomorrow, seeing her father, the man who had murdered her beloved grandfather… no.  Melyssa knew everything that was at stake, what she was going to be up against, and she was still here.

 

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop… once we reach a certain point.” Which was his way of letting her know if they got to the point of proper sex, his control was going to be iffy.

 

“Then don’t stop.  Go all the way with me.” Melyssa brought him down for another searing kiss, gasping in his mouth with his hand delved beneath her leggings and panties. “Yes…yes, Rean, touch me…” Her panting and moaning got louder as he began thrusting his fingers in and out of her, his mouth sealing to her neck again.

 

“Mmm kill me…if you can.” Suddenly, it wasn’t Melyssa he was with, it was the fiery redhead Shirley beneath him and her chainsaw weapon came up, slicing his head clean off. “Or maybe I’ll just kill you.  Nighty night, Ashen Chevalier...”

 

~!~

 

Rean bolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat and immediately clutched his neck with his hand, making sure his head was still attached.  It was an insane feeling, pretty sure he was missing his above head, it even felt like he had been sliced on his neck and then sporting an erection.  That went away very quickly as he rolled out of bed, peeling off his damp shirt and sleeping pants, wearing boxer-briefs beneath.  Pretty sure everyone else was asleep at this hour, he crept out of his room, needing some fresh air and maybe a stiff drink.  Definitely needed the stiff drink, was there any alcohol in this warehouse?  His hand at his neck, he moved to the kitchen area.

 

Fortunately for Rean, Sara brought the booze with her since she knew there wouldn’t be any liquor.  She had a bottle of booze in one hand while reading a book by firelight, not wanting to disturb anyone by turning the warehouse lights on.  They were very bright.  She turned her head to see Rean trudging toward the kitchen and cleared her throat, raising a brow when he actually jumped.

 

“Whoa there, hot stuff, what’s got you all jumpy this morning?” She asked, turning in the chair to look at him and rose from the table, the smile on her face turning to a frown. “Rean, what’s wrong?  Are you okay?”

 

“Morning?” So people were going to be getting up and he was out here in his boxers, soaked in sweat from that night terror and pretty certain his penis had confusion issues because it wasn’t sure what the Gehenna had just happened. “Bad dream.”

 

He glanced at the time, EARLY morning, nobody would be up for a while. Grunting, he retrieved his own bottle, figuring he would drink a bit and then he’d try going back to bed for a few hours. Looking at Melyssa today was going to be all shades of awkward on his end.  Sara raised a brow when he cracked open a bottle and folded her arms in front of her chest.

 

“Since when are you a heavy drinker?  Not that it doesn’t do my heart good to see you kick one back, but…” She recalled several times when he was a student he would berate her for drinking too much.  It was cute in its own way.  Now to see him actually knocking one back was…disconcerting. “You’re drenched in sweat…it must’ve been a horrible dream.  Wanna talk about it?” She wasn’t surprised when he shook his head. “Come on, you know you can tell me anything and if you keep it bottled up inside, eventually, it’ll come roaring out.”

 

Heavy drinker from one bottle and only a few sips?  Rean sometimes forgot that Sara was an odd one, which was saying something when you took in the entirety of their motley crew. “Wrong, it will not.”

 

Rean had had plenty of nightmares in his time and they did not come ‘roaring out’.  Women were so strange.  Feelings and terrible thoughts, those tended to come out roaring and always at the worst of times.  His thoughts meandered to the one woman who was currently on his mind.  Melyssa.  She had turned into Shirley in his dream, he frowned slightly, turning his head away from Sara.

 

“I’d rather not, thank you.” He muttered, shaking his head.

 

“Hmph, suit yourself.”

 

Sara wouldn’t press him and leaned back in her chair to start reading her book again, halfway through her beer.  She didn’t sleep much these days, only when her body physically told her enough was enough.  Fie was sleeping like the dead, as usual, with not a care or worry in the world.  Flipping the page, Sara noticed Rean was staring at the door to Melyssa’s room and raised a slow brow.  Something was going on there, but she couldn’t put her finger on what it was.

 

“Worried about your student, huh?  I admit, I’m not totally on board with the plan, but I do feel better knowing Crow is going with her now.”

 

“That in itself is a gamble, it’s Crow.” Rean said without any malice, his fuchsia eyes moving to Sara and then back to the fire. “He’s flipped so many times, not many trust him and I doubt Ouroboros will either.” He was betting they would probably try to take him out before he could get them first, or offer him a job.  Rean trusted Crow with his life, he was gambling Melyssa’s now based on their history and growing up together. “His presence may have the opposite effect of what we want.”

 

“Then why don’t you go with her instead?” Sara smiled when Rean’s eyes snapped from the fire to look at her and she merely shrugged. “Think about it, kiddo.  You’re the Ashen Chevalier AND, more importantly, her Instructor.  She’s your student.  It would make more sense for her Instructor to accompany her than Crow.” She wanted to say that during the meeting, but also didn’t want Rean thinking she was stepping on his toes.  This was his class and his decision and she respected it. “I think it would go down a lot smoother if you went with her instead of Crow because of his past, as you just mentioned.  Up to you though, I’m not trying to tell you what to do.”

 

“I’m more of a liability than he is.” Rean smiled humorlessly, shaking his head.  He had already thought about it, but he had also always been on the side of what he considered to be ‘right’.  He was a target, he imagined there was a bounty of sorts on his head with Ouroboros. “He also knows Robert, if he was considered a son by the man, he may be of more use to Melyssa than I.” He’d wind up getting her caught in the crossfire at best. “No, it is best Crow goes, Emma will have it so we can hear what is happening in live time and move in if needed.”

 

“You just said Crow is as much of a danger to go as you are.  Are you sure Crow is the right person to go with her?  What about another student, one of her classmates?  That blonde seems to be protective of her…” Sara immediately dismissed that idea and shook her head. “Never mind, he’s TOO protective of her.  Crow will have to do.” Standing, she tossed her now empty beer bottle in the trash and grabbed another one before walking over to stand in front of Rean.  Lifting his chin with her hand, she leaned down to kiss his cheek in a purely platonic way. “You’re doing great as an Instructor.  You’re giving me a run for my money, just so you know.” Then again, Sara was never one to be an Instructor…Bracer work was more up her alley. “Everything will be fine and work out.” Ruffling his hair, she grinned at his groan and sat back down at the table.

 

Rean wasn’t entirely sure he was cut out to do this instructor gig either, there were too many restrictions and he was learning he wanted some freedom.  Of course, what he wanted it for... He did require talking to Melyssa.  That dream had terrified him, the end of it anyway, but up until that point… But she had also rejected him.  He rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand, drained his beer and got up to throw away the empty bottle.

 

“I’m going back to bed.  Thanks for the talk, Sara.”

 

“Anytime.” She waved at him, watching as he walked off.

 

Chapter 47

 

Before they knew it, morning and lunch had come and gone. 

 

The sun was setting on the horizon and it was time to move out.  Melyssa had braided her hair to hang over her shoulder, wanting it out of her face and had a dark blue skirt on with white leggings beneath and a dark blue and white short-sleeved shirt that had a V neckline.  Crow was on edge, she could feel the tension from him and wished there was some way to alleviate it somehow.  When it was time for them to depart, Melyssa stuck the ear bud in her ear Machias presented and Rean had the other one, their eyes locking.  She hadn’t meant to reject him, but…she was scared and now wasn’t the time to get involved with her Instructor when her hometown was in danger.  When they were ALL in danger.  Together, she walked out of the warehouse with Crow and headed toward her family home, both ready to get this over with.

 

Crow was definitely on edge.  They were walking into the literal lion’s den and even with the protection and security measures in place, there was still a lot that could go wrong.  He sighed as the Brackett house finally came into view, stopping to look down at her. "Whatever happens in there, whatever is said, you can't lose your temper or your control, Lyssa." He was already slipping into 'battle mode', his face slipping into something serene and resolute.

 

“I know, and I won’t.” Melyssa had to remain cool, calm and collected in order for this to work, in order to get the answers to her questions.  Regardless of what her father said, she would not lose her temper. Control is part of the way of the sword.  You’ve already disgraced yourself once by losing your temper, do not do it again, she mentally chastised, nodding at Crow to continue on. 

 

His entire demeanor had changed – he was back to being the cold-blooded killer C, the leader of the Imperial Liberation Front.  Right now, Melyssa needed that cold-blooded killer within him if they were to survive whatever came in this meeting.  Arriving at the house, neither were surprised to find the door was open and nightfall had arrived.  Looking at each other one last time, they stepped inside.

 

Crow had a million and one recovered memories of this house.  Of this family, his family.  Of him and Melyssa.  Of Miranda cooking and putting them to bed.  Of Robert telling them stories about the ‘olden times’ in Jurai and how far it had come from those early days by the fire after a long day down at the docks.  He had been taught how to be a ‘man’ by Robert, and it turned out he was learning more than just that.  He was learning how to be… something terrible, something traitorous.  His mind wanted to start pinning Robert for HIS bad decisions and he shelved all that, knowing it wasn’t true. 

 

They stepped inside, the door closing behind them.

 

“Hello, my children.”

 

Dad, Melyssa gasped in her head, congratulating herself on not actually saying it, but the emotions in her eyes were clear as day. 

 

He looked perfectly fine and healthy, not a scratch on him.  This was the man she had looked up to, besides her Papa, the one who gave her life.  She wanted to hug him and had to remind herself he was the enemy.  Robert had dark blue hair, just like Melyssa, and acidic green eyes.  Miranda had the teal eyes, which is where Melyssa got her eye color from.  She was a mixture of both people, though she looked more like Miranda than Robert.

 

“Mr. Brackett.” Her tone was all business, not a hint of love or adoration anywhere in her voice.

 

Even Crow seemed surprised, though he remained silent and just nodded stiffly at the man.

 

Robert was looking his daughter over, satisfying himself that she was indeed all right.  She had grown quite a bit in a year, and not just physically.  The mental changes were very present, the adult’s stance and the inkling of a promising warrior was announced in her stance.  She was perfectly calm, even her teal eyes, eyes that her mother possessed and he had stared into for hours, were even, not giving a thing away.  His gaze shifted to Crow, not surprised at all that there was nothing given away in those blank eyes and expressionless face.  He hadn’t seen Crow in years, but he had heard the stories.

 

“My, my how you have grown.” He murmured, not surprised Crow was now taller than him.

 

“Cut the chit-chat, POPS, we’re not here to hear your mediocre one-liners.” Crow folded his arms in front of his chest, not taking his eyes off the older man for a second.

 

“Considering you haven’t seen me in over a year, I had to grow up sometime, father.” Calling him ‘Dad’ was not an option and Melyssa managed to keep her voice even. “You know why we’re here, so Crow’s right, why don’t we skip the formalities and get down to business?  You’ve been lying to Mom for YEARS about who you really are.  You’ve kept the fact you’re an Enforcer in Ouroboros for years away from the woman you supposedly love.  You…” She could feel her emotions rumbling through her and shut her eyes, managing to hold them back. “You had Papa killed.  Forget about me and Crow, this is about Mom.  So, I really have only one question for you – Why?” That summarized everything she needed to ask him in one small, yet loaded, word.

 

Robert wasn’t surprised by the question, but he really didn’t know how to go about answering it.  He decided to go with the simple approach. “I have been a member of Ouroboros since I was a boy.  Around Crow’s age when he decided to leave Jurai and everyone behind, after his grandfather’s death.” He walked over to stare into the lit fireplace, the house cleaned up and looking normal from the ransacking Shirley and her minions did a few nights ago.

 

“So…”

 

“Before I met your mother, yes.  You don’t know this about me or my side of the family, Mely girl, but…you have Noble blood in you.”

 

That made her take a step back, the calm demeanor she had going on shattering into pieces. “W-What?!  What are you talking about?”

 

Robert heaved a sigh, turning to fold his arms in front of his chest. “You heard me correctly, Melyssa.  I am a noble and you are a noble by birth being my daughter.”

 

“But…then how did you…?” Melyssa’s mind was blown and she couldn’t form words due to her shock.

 

Crow stepped in. “How did you become a fishmonger then, if you are nobility?”

 

“Thanks to the Imperial government, my family was stripped of their nobility years ago.  The Emperor, at the time, had decreed that all nobility was to be ruled under the Four Great Houses.  What you DON’T know is there were once FIVE Great Houses.  House Brackett of North Ambria, to be exact.”

 

“N-North Ambria…”

 

“Oh my Goddess…” Sara whispered, covering her mouth with her hand and couldn’t believe what Robert Brackett was saying. “I KNEW his last name sounded familiar!” North Ambria used to be her home before the salt disaster struck.

 

“Quiet and listen!”

 

“Yes, before North Ambria was turned to salt, House Brackett ran that part of the country.  The Emperor stripped our family of its title of nobility, simply because we were part of North Ambria.  He believed we were the cause of the disaster happening, which is not true.  Now, North Ambria was also where Ouroboros originated from.” Again, not many knew of this. “The Grandmaster swore to my father to wreak havoc and vengeance on the Imperial government and promised revenge for what happened to the Brackett family.  There was no reason to strip the family, but since our home was destroyed…the Emperor swept it under the rug and called it a day.  My father died shortly after and I was taken in by the Grandmaster and raised into Ouroboros.  I was 10 at the time of his death and my mother, your grandmother, killed herself to join him.  She couldn’t live without him and it left me an orphan.  Papa wasn’t my biological father, therefore, he wasn’t really your grandfather.  He raised me from a boy and he was also a member of Ouroboros, something Miranda did not know.”

 

Melyssa’s heart broke for her father, for her family, and part of her was angry at the Imperial government for allowing this to happen and not fixing it. “Dad, I…I had no idea…”

 

“Of course you didn’t, Mely girl.  Why would I tell you something like that?  Not even your mother knows, though I’m sure she will now once you tell her.” Robert sighed again at the thought of his beloved Miranda. “When I met your mother, I was 16 and full of so much anger and resentment at the Imperial government.  I did little jobs for the Grandmaster and…my hands are stained with blood, I won’t deny it.  However, when I met your mother, she was 16 as well and…she opened my eyes to a new world, to the light Erebonia had.  Her father didn’t bat one eyelash at me when I met him for our first date.  Two years later, we were married and took over the fish market that used to belong to her father.  And I stopped my ways with Ouroboros for a time, but whenever they came calling, I would tell Miranda I had to go on business excursions in order to deal with whatever Ouroboros and the Grandmaster asked of me.”

 

“So then why…why did you have Papa killed?  Why do you want to help Heidel Rogner, of all people, take over Jurai?  If you’re nobility, Dad, why haven’t YOU tried taking it over instead?” Melyssa didn’t mean for the questions to fire out of her mouth one right after the other, but she couldn’t help it.

 

“I didn’t want Papa to die.  I loved him like a son to a father, but I had no choice.” Robert frowned, actual tears forming in his eyes.

 

“And why is that?” Crow demanded, staying right by Melyssa’s side and didn’t show her affection because it would show weakness to the enemy in front of him.

 

“Because he wouldn’t back off!  He wouldn’t stop badmouthing Heidel Rogner to the people!  He nearly destroyed the election, Melyssa!” Robert shouted, his own anger and pain surfacing as he tossed his tumbler into the fire. “They told me I had a choice – they would kill one of their own to send a message or…Miranda would die.  I couldn’t let my beloved die, so I had no choice.  I spoke with Papa before it happened and he told me to choose him and to save Miranda’s life.  So I did.  I watched McBurn…burn him alive in the middle of the square and I could do nothing to stop it.  I had to hold onto Miranda because she wanted to run to him and I still hear her sobs in my ears to this day.  She still didn’t know I was involved, so when I disappeared later that night, I wondered if maybe she had an inclination it was my fault it happened.  That I killed a man she deemed a father.”

 

Melyssa blinked, huge tears sliding down her cheeks and felt her heart clench with pain, staring at her father while he cried as well. “So it’s true then.  Papa died because he tried to stop the election from happening.”

 

She wiped her tears away angrily, but managed to keep her temper in check and didn’t bother looking at Crow.  He wouldn’t show his emotions like her.  Naturally, her Papa chose his own daughter to be saved instead of himself – he had sacrificed himself and died in the most horrible way by the most horrible man in existence.

 

“Why did McBurn come after me in Crossbell, Dad?”

 

“He wasn’t supposed to come after you.  And I still don’t know why, but he KNEW you were there when Crossbell was invaded.” Ouroboros had been thwarted in their plan to take over Crossbell City and Robert hadn’t been there at the time since they hadn’t contacted him. “Ouroboros deems you a threat because you ran away from home to pursue the way of the sword.  They thought you and Papa had this plan to take over Jurai once you were of age and I tried to tell them it wasn’t true, but the Grandmaster didn’t believe me.  He…put a bounty out for you and sent McBurn to do the job in Crossbell.  I begged and pleaded with the Grandmaster to listen to me and we struck a deal – McBurn would leave you alone if I joined up with Ouroboros again.  So I did, right after Papa was killed…” Robert had to protect his girls somehow, someway, even if it meant they would hate him forever. “I never wanted this for you and Mom, Mely.”

 

“But…McBurn is still coming after me.  I overheard him say he wanted to…strip my spirit away piece by piece…”

 

“You showed him spirit that day in Crossbell when you planned on sacrificing yourself for those civilians.  He saw something in you and now…he has an obsession that I’m trying desperately to quell.” Robert suddenly walked over to her, taking her by the shoulders. “You have to get out of Jurai.  You have to go back to Leeves and don’t come back here again, Melyssa.  Tell your Instructor, Rean Schwarzer, this is only the beginning and I’m powerless to stop it.  Please, I can’t lose you or Miranda and take her with you.  Get out of this town before the election or you will all die.”

 

Crow finally understood what was going to happen and felt sick to his stomach. “Ouroboros plans on destroying Jurai, don’t they?” It wasn’t a question.  He could tell just by the way Robert held onto Melyssa he wasn’t lying.  Jurai really was in danger in more ways than one.

 

“Right after Heidel Rogner is made the new mayor, destruction will follow and you can’t be here when that happens!”

 

Rean, what should we do, Melyssa thought, wishing she could telepathically communicate with him the way Emma did.  She wasn’t a witch though. “Dad, we can stop Heidel Rogner, but you’ve got to tell us everything you know…”

 

“LISTEN to me, Melyssa, you can’t stop this!  Disaster is coming and if you don’t leave Jurai, you WILL die!  Just like everyone in North Ambria did when that disaster struck!  This is all part of the Grandmaster’s plan and it can’t be stopped!” He shoved his daughter back toward the door, pointing at her and Crow. “Crow, you know I’m not lying about this.  You’ve been on the other side before and you KNOW how dangerous the Grandmaster is.  When I say Jurai is done for, you know I’m not lying to you.  And when I say NOTHING can be done to stop this disaster from happening, you KNOW I’m not lying about that either.”

 

Chapter 48

 

“Enough.” Crow slashed the air with a hand, shaking his head. “None of that matters, none of what you did is excusable.” He knew how that went. “You’ve had chance after chance to alter your course.” A lifetime as a matter of fact. “And you haven’t.” He unsheathed his pistols, one in each hand. “You will tell us what you know and WE will decide if the disaster can be stopped.” He didn’t even look at Melyssa, knowing emotion was getting to her because this was her father. “Now, Mr. Brackett.”

 

“I just told you everything I know.  When Heidel Rogner wins the election, Jurai will be destroyed.  I don’t know anything more than that.  The Grandmaster only tells his Anguis the deepest parts of his plans, not Enforcers.” Mariabell, for example, was an Anguis of Ouroboros and would know every single thing that was planned once Heidel took over as mayor. “You can try to shoot me if you want, Armbrust…” Robert suddenly took out his own gun, which was bigger than both of Crow’s pistols combined. “But I bet I’m a quicker and better shot than you.”

 

“No!” Melyssa jumped in front of Crow’s pistols, her own Cutlass unsheathed. “You won’t hurt him, Dad!” Protecting Crow was a priority of hers because Melyssa had lost him once.  She would not lose him again by the hands of her own father. “Are you telling us the truth?  Is there no way to stop this disaster from happening?”

 

“No, there isn’t.”

 

“Then surrender now.” Crow stepped forward so Melyssa wasn’t shielding him, glancing down at her out of the corner of his eye. He was the more experienced of them, she needed to think logically and not be a martyr. “Submit to an interrogation.” And unlike Ouroboros, theirs wasn’t painful or invasive. Unless the witch could probe someone’s mind and then… that was all on her and Celine.

 

“Come on Crow, talk him down.”

 

If Crow could talk an Enforcer into turning himself in… Rean looked heavenward, praying the Goddess was on their side. So far, everything had gone relatively smooth. He was waiting for the wrench to be thrown.

 

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

 

The hairs on Melyssa’s neck stood up as a wicked, sensual voice echoed around them.  Even Robert looked shocked as none other than Mariabell appeared before them with her staff in hand. “Naughty boy, Robbie, coming here all by your lonesome and not telling us what was going on.”

 

The spell he cast around the house must have worn off and he kept his eyes firmly on his daughter and Crow. “I can handle this, Mariabell…”

 

“Oh sure you can, that’s why you just gave away some of our plan.” Mariabell shook her finger at him and waved her wand, forcing him to drop to his knees. “This is why the Grandmaster only trusts the Anguis with ALL the information.”

 

“Stop!  Dad!!”

 

“Stay back, Melyssa!” Robert ordered, grunting since Mariabell was causing him a great deal of pain at the moment. “Go!  Get out of here!  Leave Jurai now!”

 

Mariabell cackled wickedly and snapped her fingers as the front door blew open with McBurn stepping inside. “Now, now, why would you want them to leave the party so soon, Robbie?”

 

Melyssa clutched the handle of her Cutlass, really hoping the backup was on the way because they were going to need everyone to get out of this alive. “McBurn…”

 

“Ahh so you DO remember me, sweet thing.  How very precious.” He hissed out, stepping toward her and raised a brow at Crow.  They had been comrades at one point during the civil war, but now they were enemies. “You do know I can destroy you in the blink of an eye, boy.  Back off, this is between me and Mely girl.”

 

“D-Don’t call her THAT!” Robert gritted out, crying out in pain when Mariabell increased the pressure in his stomach.

 

McBurn laughed wickedly, ignoring Robert’s mundane order and kept his attention firmly on the one who held his interest captive. “How I’ve longed to see that spirit again.  Come on, Melyssa, show it to me, so I can extinguish it with my flames!  Or perhaps you need a little motivation…”

 

“CROW!”

 

They were on the move.  Emma was cursing a blue streak at her own wards and everything else she and Celine had done to ensure the safety of Crow and Melyssa failing.  McBurn and Mariabell, and he knew there would be more if required, those… that pair was- “Shirley!”

 

“Now, now, you weren’t invited to this party!” She giggled, blocking the route with her own backup. “This is official business, Ashen Chevalier... And YOU’RE not invited.”

 

“I say we take her head off.” Ash growled, gnashing his teeth in frustration.  Hadn’t he said this was a bad idea?  Yes, yes he had!  Here they were, bad idea realized!

 

Machias really hoped the rest in the warehouse, aside from Miranda, were listening in because they needed help NOW!

 

Crow had gone FLYING and hit the wall with a thud, temporarily having the wind knocked out of him.

 

“MCBURN, LEAVE HER ALONE!!”

 

“Sorry Rob, can’t do that.” McBurn developed a fireball in his hand and threw it at Melyssa, not surprised when she dodged it with ease. “Now precious, don’t go dying on me yet.  We’re just getting started.”

 

Melyssa was going to die and she knew it, but that didn’t mean Crow had to join her.  McBurn wanted her, nobody else and she could use that to her advantage. “I won’t fight you.” She proved it by dropping her Cutlass to the floor and could tell that wasn’t what McBurn expected, a flash of surprise in his cold eyes. “I don’t stand a chance against you and I know that.  You can have me, I won’t fight you.  Just please let my Dad and Crow go.”

 

“MELYSSA!!”

 

Rean overheard that and immediately started trying to get past Shirley’s forces, needing to get to the house now. “MELYSSA, DON’T!”

 

“I’m sorry, Rean…” Melyssa pulled the ear bud out of her ear and dropped it to the floor, smashing it with her boot to cut off communication. I have to protect Crow, she thought, glancing over at him while he still had a hold of his back, trying to catch his breath.

 

“L-Lyssa…”

 

“W-What are you doing?!” Mariabell squawked when her magic was suddenly stopped by a snap of McBurn’s fingers, allowing Robert to get to his feet.


“Deal.” McBurn growled, turning to look at Robert, who was still holding his stomach and helping Crow to his feet. “Leave now before I change my mind.”

 

“M-Mely…” Robert coughed, tears forming in his eyes while staring back at his brave, insane daughter. “M-Melyssa…”

 

“GO!” Melyssa cried out, her eyes locking with Crow’s before he was removed from the house by her father, leaving her alone with McBurn and a peeved Mariabell.

 

And then she died.

 

At least, that’s how it was playing out in Rean’s head.  He skirted around Shirley and her posse, leaving behind others under Ash’s charge as he and the rest continued towards the house. “I want Brackett apprehended!” He shouted sternly, catching Altina’s nod. 

 

Rean was going to smack Melyssa’s head off her shoulders for being a fool, sacrificing herself… McBurn was going to kill her and laugh the entire time.  She was DEFINITELY out of Thors, definitely out of Class VII!  His temper was rising with each thought.  She surrendered her weapon it sounded like and cut communications with them, jeopardizing this entire operation… He got what Emma had meant now, separating emotions from this.

 

Rean was terrified.

 

“Oh, here comes the hero to the rescue!” Mariabell announced, standing there with her staff and her eyes were glowing wickedly. “Hate to break it to you, Ashen Chevalier, but you’re too late.”

 

Melyssa was nowhere to be found and neither was McBurn.

 

“WHERE IS SHE?!” Rean roared, swinging his Tachi at Mariabell and she simply disappeared, appearing a second later behind him.

 

“Wouldn’t YOU like to know.” Another swing and a miss. “You know, you really should work on that temper of yours.  I think you should chalk this one up to a loss and move on.  You’ll never find her.”

 

McBurn wouldn’t kill Melyssa, but he would make her BEG for him to kill her before all was said and done.

 

“By the way, it was all a ploy, you know.”

 

“What are you talking about?!” Rean could feel his heart pounding faster while Mariabell and him circled each other, their eyes locked.

 

“Oh you know, the whole story of us wanting to destroy Jurai.” She cackled wickedly, swinging her staff in his direction as little icicles formed.  Rean barely managed to miss them. “We planted it in Robert’s head.  You see, Jurai isn’t the city we’re targeting.  Heidel Rogner isn’t even here!!”

 

Rean frowned, not understanding what was going on anymore.

 

“Poor baby, you still don’t get it, do you?  Melyssa is who we wanted, Schwarzer, and now that we have her, we have no reason to stay in Jurai.  It will go back to being a SEZ and we’ll move on with our main plan.” One he would never discover, not unless he continued on this path as one of Thor’s Instructors. “If I were you, I would watch the rest of your students VERY carefully from here on out.  You never know which one may stab you in the back next.  You know, like Crow did.” She waved three fingers at him. “Toodles!” Mariabell evaporated into thin air, her laughter echoing around Rean.

 

Other than the obvious, what was so special about Melyssa?  She was a decent swordsman, but prone to being overemotional which negated the fighter aspect.  She was… half nobility of a dead and long forgotten house apparently, but he couldn't see what that mattered anymore.  This had all been a ploy to get her here, but why?  Rean couldn't understand as he simply stood there, his mind failing to grasp the situation.

 

~!~

 

“Melyssa Brackett.”

 

Melyssa was shoved none too gently in the spotlight that shone above her, teal eyes wide with fright and curiosity.  McBurn hadn’t laid a hand on her and simply brought her to an undisclosed location.  Now, she was in the presence of a black cloaked man, or was it a woman?

 

Slowly, the hood came off and revealed a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and dark purple eyes. “You are quite the beauty, aren’t you?”

 

“W-Why am I here?” Melyssa stammered, swallowing hard as the rather petite girl came toward her.  She was taller than the cloaked girl, but the power emanating from her set alarm bells off in her Melyssa’s head instantly. “Who are you?”

 

“Mmm, I am known as the Grandmaster.  That is all you need to know for now.  I have a proposition for you and that is why I’ve asked McBurn to bring you to me.”

 

Melyssa could not believe THIS was the Grandmaster and squared her shoulders, trying to be brave. “Okay, what is this proposition?”

 

She had to admit she was mildly curious and on the way here, Mariabell had explained the whole setup to get Thors Class VII from the Branch School to Jurai.  She also explained how McBurn had gone off on his own to attack the train, which was not authorized by the Grandmaster.  However, since he was an Enforcer, and Enforcers could do whatever they wanted, it was a grey area.

 

“I want you to be trained to become an Enforcer, Melyssa.  Join Ouroboros and maybe one day, you’ll become one of my Anguis.”

 

“And if I don’t?”

 

The Grandmaster chuckled and shrugged her shoulders, turning to sit back down in her chair. “Well, that would be your prerogative, but l must warn you, McBurn will not let you go easily.  You could either train under Mariabell and the others…or become his toy to play with until he breaks you completely.” Her eyes flashed demonically. “Now, what shall it be?”

 

Enforcers could do whatever they wanted, according to Mariabell, as long as they didn’t interfere with the Grandmaster’s plans.  That would definitely work in Melyssa’s favor.  As much as she longed to be back with Class VII, she knew that wasn’t an option or a choice anymore.

 

“Very well, I accept your offer, Grandmaster.”

 

“Great!  Mariabell will start your training tomorrow and, since you’ve been so obedient, I will ensure McBurn leaves you alone.”

 

At least that was one less thing for her to worry about.

 

~!~

 

They had no idea where Melyssa had been taken and their only source of information was Robert Brackett.  Crow was all for taking his toes off and working his way up.  Ash was also on board with that.  Miranda was also considering it.  Her daughter had been lured into a trap and as far as she was concerned, her husband had been the cause of it.

 

"Where would they take her?"

 

“The Grandmaster.” Robert couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen it sooner, the reasoning behind coming to Jurai in the first place and scrubbed a hand down his face. “I should’ve known something was up after Crossbell’s incident.”

 

“Why would the Grandmaster want Melyssa?”

 

“I don’t know.” Robert grunted when Miranda slapped him across the face harshly, tears in her eyes.

 

“TELL ME WHERE MY DAUGHTER IS!!”

 

“I DON’T KNOW!” Emma and Celine had him bound by magic, so Robert wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “I have my suspicions, but I don’t know if they’re true.”

 

“And that is???”

 

“The Grandmaster wants to make Melyssa an Enforcer of Ouroboros.  Either that or…” Robert couldn’t bring himself to say it and another slap from his wife made him loosen his tongue. “McBurn will torture her until she begs for death.  It’s one of those two options, but either way, you won’t see Melyssa again for a long time.”

 

“YOU DID THIS!!  YOU DID THIS TO US!!  I HATE YOU!!” Miranda snapped, slapping him multiple times until she was physically pulled away from her husband to go sob and cry. “MELYSSA!!”

 

Robert shut his eyes at his wife’s painful wail, his own heart aching because he had done everything he could to prevent this from happening.  And he failed spectacularly.

 

“Rean, we have to find her.  We have to find her before she’s either turned into an Enforcer or they kill her!”

 

However, deep down, everyone knew it was already too late.

 

"But why?" Ash demanded awhile later after having raided the beer. Tonight was one of those nights. "What's so special about her?" Besides what they all already knew but that was about her character, her promise.

 

Overall, nothing stood out as spectacular.

 

They all knew she would be sooner rather than later, but… he groaned, dropping his head on the table.

 

Chapter 49

 

Two years went by in the blink of an eye, or so it felt like.

 

Melyssa stared in the mirror, her hair nothing more than dark blue corkscrew curls that went to the middle of her back.  Mariabell knew how to do hair, that was for sure.  She was now the age of 20 and had blossomed into a beautiful, vivacious woman…with a deadly twist.  Ouroboros wasn’t as bad as she thought it’d be.  They helped her hone her skills as a swordswoman, but the Grandmaster also gave her another weapon. 

 

A crossbow. 

 

It was the perfect combination – a Cutlass and a Crossbow.  It did not take her long to get the hang of the Crossbow, just her aim, and even then, all she did day and night was train.  McBurn would pop in from time to time, asking her questions and gave her some helpful tips, but that was about it.  The Grandmaster had kept her word not to allow McBurn to harm her.  Melyssa also had one other stipulation for the Grandmaster, which she accepted, and that was not harming a single person she loved and cared about.  She wrote the names down, handed them over and they were 100% safe from Ouroboros.  Crow had been the first name she wrote down, followed by her mother, Rean, Ash and the rest of her Class VII and old Class VII.  As long as they didn’t interfere with Ouroboros’ plans, all was well and, so far, they hadn’t.

 

Tonight was an annual ball in Crossbell City the Emperor threw every year as a way of celebrating the prosperity of his reign over the empire.  It was also Crossbell City’s anniversary of joining with the empire.  Melyssa was instructed to attend by the Grandmaster and she was to gather intel regarding the new mayor of Crossbell City.  Ouroboros was interested in Crossbell City because it was the one place they wanted to take over more than any other city in Erebonia.  It held tradition and the Grandmaster had a special place in her deviant heart for Crossbell as a whole. 

 

Wearing a strapless black dress, Melyssa slid her hands down the curves of her body and had to admit, she didn’t look half bad.  She left her hair down, did her makeup and had her weapons stashed, in case she needed them.  This would be her first mission in Ouroboros and the Grandmaster instructed her to do this alone, wanting to see what she was made of.  There would be no fighting or plotting, tonight anyway.  Around her neck was a string of diamonds, her nails painted black and she also had diamond dangling earrings on with black two inch heels on her feet.

 

“Are you ready for this?”

 

“Yes.” Melyssa answered without hesitation, allowing Mariabell to fluff her hair and spray it down a little more.

 

“Just remember, you’re only gathering intel.  If you need me, you know how to contact me.” Mariabell thought of Melyssa as a little sister and had taken her under her wing.  She was very easy to train, not needing to do much to break her in.

 

“I understand, Mariabell.  I won’t let you or the Grandmaster down.”

 

“Good.” Mariabell kissed her forehead with a smile. “Go on now, and try to enjoy yourself for a change.”

 

Melyssa didn’t understand the concept since the past two years – well, the past 10 years of her life, really – had been about following the path of the sword.  She still did it in Ouroboros, just a little differently than others.  Walking out of the hotel, Melyssa slid into the waiting orbal limousine that would take her directly to the newly built palace the empire created over the past two years.  It was also the grand opening of it, but nothing compared to it to Valflame Palace in Heimdallr.  Still, it was beautiful nevertheless and the color was a crystal white that reminded her of snow.

 

Promising not to harm ‘her’ or the ‘old’ Class VII was easy enough.

 

There was a new generation in Class VII, though the Ashen Chevalier had become… almost stern.  Emma had given him the best advice ever.  Don’t let your emotions get in the way, don’t be friends with them, they are students and nothing more.  Rean knew that meant he needed to protect them when required, but that was both his job and a moral obligation, nothing more and nothing less.  Caring had gotten him nothing but a gaping hole in his chest, a sense of failure that had never gone away and a few other issues he didn’t bother with.

 

He had failed Melyssa.  She was either dead or captive somewhere.  Rean knew how much she had despised Ouroboros and what they stood for. He knew McBurn had had a thing for her.  He still, to this day, did not understand why Ouroboros would go to such extravagant lengths to get their hands on one girl, who wasn’t overly remarkable at first glance.  She had been stellar, and he knew that, but from an outside eye, a casual glance… cut from the same cloth as so many others.

 

What about her… it was slowly driving him mad.

 

Melyssa hadn’t fought against becoming an Enforcer because she didn’t want to be tortured to a slow death by McBurn and she wanted to protect her loved ones.  Simply training with them to become an Enforcer protected her…and Enforcers had A LOT of leeway.  If this went off without any problems, if she was successful, her training would be completed as an Enforcer and Melyssa would be able to go out into the open world as she pleased. 

 

Granted, she had despised what Ouroboros stood for, but after learning about them, she realized they were just outsiders that had gotten dealt horrible hands of fate.  Just like her family had in the North Ambria disaster.  Her father hadn’t been lying about any of it; the Grandmaster had shown her the cold truth of what happened to her family and they had indeed been stripped of their nobility title.  There was a reason McBurn had chosen her, had told the Grandmaster about her, and slowly but surely, she was proving her worth to Ouroboros through her training.

 

“You are reborn as Lysa, The Orange Flame.” The Grandmaster had decreed, once her training was completed and shortly after, this mission was given to her.

 

Walking inside, Melyssa – no, Lysa – took in the scenery briefly and swiped a glass of champagne from one of the waiters to take a sip.  She would blend into the crowd and eventually make her way to the new mayor of Crossbell City.

 

Attending this party was not on Rean’s list of things to do but he was obligated.  Just like his current students were obligated.  Crossbell had so much history, it was considered a ‘field excursion’, which Rean had told them flat out the last field excursion he had gone on had ended in disaster.  Needless to say, his current students didn’t think he was a very happy man.  And that they were going to wind up in some fight or something.  But here they were, all dressed in their academy best and he was certain he had spotted some of his former students, not that they all kept in touch very much.  That trip two years ago had been a disaster and every one of them had felt at fault to a degree and Ash… Ash who had never been on board with the plan to begin with had ripped him and Crow apart.

 

Ash did more than rip Crow and Rean apart – he left Class VII and finished out his schooling with Instructor Herschel.  He wanted NOTHING to do with Rean Schwarzer ever again, cutting all ties with Class VII.  Ash didn’t realize it at the time, but Melyssa was more than just a friend to him – she was so much more than that.  He loved her.  She confided in him, he confided in her – they got each other.  Now, she was gone and it’d been two heartbreakingly long years since that horrible night.  For all he knew, she’d been burnt alive just like her grandfather. 

 

Robert Brackett was nowhere to be found and had escaped Class VII’s interrogation overnight, thanks to Miranda, who released him.  Emma had broken the magical bonds because they had tied him up and Miranda had been the one to release him.  When she was interrogated, all she said was he would find out what happened to their daughter.  Rean couldn’t really do anything to her, so he let her go and Miranda left Jurai to start her life over. 

 

It was almost as if the Brackett family never existed, truthfully.

 

“Need some assistance?”

 

Melyssa turned to see none other than Jusis Albarea, heir to the Albarea House, which was one of the Four Great Houses and…one of Rean Schwarzer’s best friends.  It was best to steer clear of any Class VII members for the time being and Melyssa could only hope they didn’t recognize her right away. “No, Mr. Albarea, but thank you for the offer.” Then she thought about the reason she was here. “Actually, could you tell me who the new mayor of Crossbell is?  As a citizen of Crossbell, I’d like to shake his hand and wish him well.”

 

“Certainly.  There he is now, actually.”

 

Turning, Melyssa felt her eyes widen slightly at the sight of none other than Machias Regnitz.  HE was the new mayor of Crossbell City?!  Machias was being swarmed with people at the moment, so there was no way Melyssa would be able to get close to him.

 

“Thank you for pointing him out.  Have a good night, Mr. Albarea.” Bowing her head, she made her way through the crowd, staying in the shadows of the ballroom as much as she could.  The Grandmaster would not be happy to hear of this sudden turn of events since Machias was a former member of Class VII. Shit, if he gets in the way of the Grandmaster’s plan, Machias will be in danger.  What am I going to do? More importantly, what COULD she do?

 

Nothing.  She couldn’t do anything.  She was going to have to hope that Ouroboros upheld their end of the promise and left her ‘friends’ alone as the original agreement had been.  Anyone with common sense and experience with Ouroboros would have told her to find a way to fight her way out or die trying because Ouroboros couldn’t be trusted.  The devastation at Crossbell before, the train attack and murder of innocents… and now, Juna felt like maybe she had been sort of right two years ago about Melyssa because it seemed to run in the family.

 

Her own mother had released a potential informant.

 

Rean didn’t talk to Juna very often because sometimes, it made sense.  He was bored.  Alert but bored as he stood against a wall, keeping an eye on his students, hands laced behind his back.

 

Ouroboros wouldn’t leave Machias alone, not when he had this much power over Crossbell City.  Melyssa had sent a message to Mariabell, informing her of what she discovered.  That was all she needed to do was find out who the new mayor was.  It had been kept under wraps until tonight – it was Machias’ ‘unveiling’ and he had to give a speech.  Beside him was his wife, Emma Regnitz, a witch of the Hexen Clan.  Melyssa cracked a small smile, seeing them together as husband and wife.  She finished her glass of champagne and set it down on the nearby table, feeling her phone go off again.

 

Eliminate him.

 

Melyssa’s blood ran cold at those words staring back at her, knowing it was a direct order from the Grandmaster.  They wanted Machias eliminated…and since she had made a deal with them, they expected her to carry out the deed.  There was always a loophole when it came to Ouroboros.  Cursing under her breath, Melyssa slid her phone back in her clutch and mulled over her options, not realizing who had come over to her side of the ballroom.  Due to her corkscrew curls, her face was hidden from the way she was standing against the wall.

 

Melyssa should have known from the get-go Ouroboros would only keep their ‘promises’ so long as it was convenient.  She was too deep into the organization now for it to really matter.  She would have no choice except to carry out her mission or else they would leverage other people against her.  Once one was in and committed, it was for life, whether they liked it or not.

 

Crow begged to differ.

 

Rean wasn’t paying anyone but Machias and Emma attention, moving closer to hear the speech properly.  Machias as the new mayor, that indeed was a momentous occasion and he managed a small smile, seeing how happy Emma looked in this moment.

 

After Machias gave his speech without any issues, everyone applauded him and it was time to dance.  He guided his wife on the dance floor, pulling her into his arms and it was as if the world fell away, leaving just the two of them.  As an Enforcer, even though this was her first mission, Melyssa also knew she didn’t have to necessarily carry out the orders given to her.  They would punish her, yes, but it wouldn’t be the first or last time an Enforcer disobeyed the Grandmaster.  Just as she was about to make her escape, a tap on her shoulder made Melyssa turn to stare at Jusis Albarea.

 

“A lovely lady such as yourself needs a dance partner.” He bowed, dressed to the nines in a black tuxedo and took her hand to softly kiss the back of it. “May I have this dance?”

 

This was such a bad idea, but Melyssa found herself nodding and allowed Jusis to guide her onto the dance floor, leaving her clutch behind at the table.

 

“You really are quite beautiful.  What is your name?” Jusis asked, once they began to waltz together to the music.

 

“Lysa.  Lysa Reynolds, sir.”

 

Jusis chuckled, twirling her and pulled her back against him. “No need for formalities, just call me Jusis.”

 

Melyssa felt a blush creep up into her cheeks at his request and she cracked a smile. “Very well…Jusis.”

 

“You should be having fun.” Emma chided when she spotted Rean, guiding Machias over towards the poor wallflower. She untangled herself from her husband, linking their arms together as they moved towards Rean. “It’s a party, Rean, smile.  Machias, make him smile.”

 

Machias flashed a grin large enough for them all. “Be that way my friend, don’t smile.  I see how much my success means to you.” He was teasing though rewarded with a small, tight smile from Rean.

 

Rean hadn’t smiled properly in two years.  Fuchsia eyes moved past them, spotting Jusis and nodded when his friend bobbed his own head at him before giving his attention back to his corkscrew haired dance partner.

 

Emma’s attention went to her as well, raising a slow brow. “Who is that dancing with Jusis?”

 

Machias tilted his head, folding his arms in front of his chest. “Not sure.  I know he did not bring an escort with him this evening.  Perhaps he found someone who can tolerate that brash arrogance and mouth of his.” He grunted when Emma smacked his arm, rolling his eyes. “You know we chide each other all the time, my love.” Machias and Jusis had been in a friendly battle for years, always trying to one up each other.

 

Chapter 50

 

“You two will never change, will you?” Emma chided, feeling a sense of déjà vu wash over her as Jusis twirled the dark blue haired woman on the dance floor, both of them laughing.

 

“You are quite the dancer, Jusis.” Melyssa complimented as he pulled her into his arms again.

 

“You are not horrible yourself, Lysa.” Her name rolled off his tongue and he smiled, which didn’t happen often from the youngest Albarea heir. “Shall we retreat for a moment to grab a refreshment?”

 

“Sure.” Melyssa was parched and took his extended arm, walking off the dance floor with him.

 

“She looks familiar.” Emma commented, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully as she watched Jusis and the young woman walk off. “Do we know her?”

 

Machias shrugged, not entirely sure how to answer that other than honestly and risk his witchy wife’s wrath. He inwardly smirked at her narrowing eyes, pretty sure she had caught that telepathically. Celine would have found it amusing.

 

“I can’t say.” If he did know her, it would have been from a time before his wife and those kinds of women were never something one brought up in polite company.

 

Emma’s eyes really narrowed. “Rean?”

 

He gave her a onceover, shrugging.

 

They had just taken a sip from their champagne flutes when Emma and Machias joined them. “I suppose congratulations are in order, Regnitz.” Jusis smirked, watching his friendly adversary narrow his eyes.

 

“I do not need your congratulations, Albarea.  But I appreciate the sentiment.” His eyes moved to the woman, who had her back turned to them. “So, are you going to introduce us to your friend?”

 

“My what?” Emma gestured to the woman and Jusis cleared his throat, seeing Lysa was busy having a few snacks along with her champagne. “I would not call her my friend…”

 

“Then why were you dancing with her?” Emma pried, folding her hands in front of her and smiled tightly at Jusis.

 

Melyssa slowly turned around, after swallowing the food she ingested and held her flute in her hand. “Because we don’t really know each other.  We just met tonight and he was kind enough to ask me to dance with him.” She smiled up at him and then turned her attention back to Emma and Machias. “Congratulations, Mr. Mayor.” She extended her hand, acting perfectly cool, calm and collected as Machias shook it gently but firmly.

 

“A pleasure, and you are?”

 

“Lysa.  Lysa Reynolds.”

 

“She recently moved to Crossbell City.”

 

“Oh really?  And where might you have originated from, Miss Reynolds?” Machias was curious about her, though he didn’t know why.

 

“Heimdallr.” Melyssa figured that would be the safest route to take since the city held over 800,000 people within it. “Your father was and is an outstanding mayor and I know you will do him proud as mayor of Crossbell City.”

 

Emma raised a brow, suddenly wondering if maybe she had assumed too much about this woman. “Of course he will.” She looped her arm through her husband’s with a smile. “Nobody else is better for the job than Machias.”

 

“Why thank you, dear.” Machias kissed the top of her head gently.

 

They really are a great couple and they love each other so much, Melyssa thought, taking a sip of her champagne while Jusis, Machias and Emma talked amongst themselves.  She decided to make a retreat, heading toward a dessert table for something sweet.

 

Rean however felt more than just a passing bit of ‘maybe’.  He felt a tugging and he didn’t like it.  Rean didn’t like passing feelings or any feelings for that matter.  Life was much simpler, less complicated when he just focused on doing his job and not much else.  Innocent civilians didn’t die and people didn’t disappear while focused on just the basics.  He made his way to the dessert table, eyes roaming the offerings.  Gelato.  He snorted, moving to examine the offerings and found the flavor Melyssa had liked.  He blinked when the woman Jusis had been dancing with reached for it too.  Nothing else looked good to her, but Melyssa always had a weak spot for gelato.  It was her favorite – chocolate and vanilla swirl.  She picked it up with a spoon and turned, nearly colliding right into none other than Rean Schwarzer.

 

“Oh, my apologies!”

 

Her spoon had flown out of her hand to land on the floor and she went to bend down to grab it, but Rean beat her to the punch.  Rean…how she missed him these past 2 years.  Melyssa had to push her own feelings aside and cracked a smile when he handed it to her.

 

“Thank you.” Calling him anything, even Mr. Schwarzer, would give her away and she could not reveal who she truly was to him.

 

She was familiar, sort of.  Rean had seen many beautiful women over his lifetime, being sort of nobility meant he had grown up surrounded by them. “You’re welcome.” He offered her a smile that felt stiff, as if his mouth had forgotten what to do in this kind of situation. “That’s a good flavor, Miss?”

 

She was wearing make-up like it had been air painted on and thanks to Emma, he now knew that women had a lot of tricks up their sleeves to make themselves look like someone they were not.  He found that sort of thing devious.  Crow, the last time they had seen each other and not squabbled, which had been well over a year, had seemed amused with the idea.

 

“Lysa.  Lysa Reynolds.” Melyssa extended her hand to him without hesitation, knowing showing the slightest bit would make him suspicious.  Rean slid his into hers, firmly shaking it and she smiled softly at him, feeling that familiar spark shoot up her arm. “And you are?” That question surprised him as their hands left each other and she took a bite out of her gelato, savoring the taste of it. 

 

Pretending she didn’t know who he was…Melyssa didn’t know if that was the right thing to do or not.  She figured maybe it would put Rean’s mind at ease a little since his smile was tight.  Anyone who didn’t know him automatically raised his suspicion because Rean didn’t go to very many places where he wasn’t referred to as the Ashen Chevalier.  That title still irked him, but now it was for all the right reasons.  He had always thought that he wasn’t a hero and the title wasn’t deserved, the accolades he received weren’t deserved.  Now, after the events in Jurai, what he had always thought was now a cold, hard truth.  He wasn’t a hero.  He wasn’t the Ashen Chevalier.  He was just… an Instructor.

 

“Rean.” He didn’t offer his last name, spooning his own bite of gelato into his mouth.

 

Rean always had a problem with his titles – the Divine Blade of Eight Leaves and the Ashen Chevalier.  Some things never changed, apparently. “It’s nice to meet you, Rean.”

 

He was eating gelato and she recalled how he’d never had it until the night they walked under the stars together.  Those memories were better left in the past because she wasn’t that girl anymore.  A lot had changed about her over the past 2 years being captured by Ouroboros.  Now, she was an Enforcer and Rean would hate her if he knew the truth.  He just nodded back at her while eating his gelato and she could see he wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

 

“Have a nice night.” It was time to make her exit from this party.  Melyssa had stayed long enough and didn’t want to linger too long for fear of someone recognizing her. 

 

There had been too many close calls already.

 

“Not leaving so soon, are you dear?” Emma was right there to intercept, her eyes crinkling as she smiled. “The party has only just begun and Jusis was looking for you, Ms. Reynolds.” Something about this girl, no woman, seemed familiar and it was bothering her that she couldn’t place it. “You just said you moved to Crossbell City recently?” She asked politely, glancing past the woman to find Rean watching them almost curiously.

 

For him, that was the most expression she had seen in a year and she felt a moment’s sadness wash over her.

 

Jurai had not gone down the way anyone had planned, at all.

 

“Oh, he was?  I figured he’d be sweeping the next damsel off her feet.”

 

Melyssa felt butterflies erupt in her stomach at the way Emma was staring at her.  The witch was very perceptive and Melyssa had to be careful a spell wasn’t cast on her or something.  She did not trust Emma and kept enough space between them that was both comfortable and necessary.

 

“Yes, I did.  Lived in Heimdallr most of my life and figured it was time for a change.  Man troubles, you see.”

 

“Ah, bad relationship then?”

 

“You could say that.”

 

“What part of Heimdallr, if you don’t mind me asking?”

 

“The Leica District.” It was the first one that popped in Melyssa’s head.

 

Emma narrowed her eyes slightly. “The Leica District.  So are you familiar with the Vander school then?”

 

“Yes, I’ve heard of it, but never ventured there.” Melyssa didn’t appreciate all the questions, but rushing out of there wouldn’t be wise either. “I did work for the Imperial Museum for about a year, however.” It was the only place in Heimdallr she was completely familiar with.

 

“Oh really?” Emma smiled broadly, seeming more at ease and genuine now as she really considered the other woman. “Did you like it there? I always found the place to be stuffy. Well, I always did admire the Star Bell, but that might be because I’m partial to the Crossbell area.” She laughed, shaking her head, gesturing back towards the party.  Whatever odd feelings were slowly disappearing, she had spent years on edge and focused, now it was time for another round of peace.  No matter how temporary it was. “Oh, and how is dear Ravan?”

 

“As far as I know, fine.  We haven’t spoken since I left the museum.”

 

“Oh!  Does Dorothee still work there too?  She’s one of my best friends from Thors.”

 

Melyssa had to take a risk with this and nodded, keeping the smile on her face. “I’m not sure, but when I worked there, she did.  I didn’t talk to her much.”

 

Emma chuckled, gesturing Rean over to join them while she kept the conversation going. “She’s definitely different, that’s for sure.” She would never forgive the ‘romance’ novels Dorothee used to write, almost all of them involving only men. “Ah Rean, have you met Lysa yet?  She’s from Heimdallr and recently moved to Crossbell City.  She used to work in the museum in Leica District.” There, he was caught up now.

 

What was Emma trying to do?  Melyssa smiled at him tentatively, seeing they had both finished their gelato. “Yes, we did briefly.  Hello again, Rean.”

 

“You worked at the museum?” Rean asked, nodding to acknowledge Emma’s inquiry if they had met yet. “When, which part? I spent quite a bit of time there last season and I don’t recall seeing you at all.” He had finished his gelato and gotten himself a glass of champagne. He wasn’t a big drinker, never had been and that hadn’t changed, but a glass or two of something here and there. “Oh, this is disgusting Emma.” He made a face after taking a sip.

 

“Ash said the same thing.  He’s around here somewhere.”

 

Rean’s face went carefully neutral.  He hadn’t seen Ash since graduation and Ash had repeatedly made sure Rean knew exactly what he thought of him. Crow had been a target of Ash’s ire as well.

 

Ash was here?  That wasn’t good because if ANYONE would recognize her, it would be him.  Maybe. “I worked mostly nights, after hours.” Melyssa answered, trying not to snicker at his reaction to the champagne. “It’s not so bad.”

 

“A little bitter, but that’s how champagne is supposed to taste.”

 

“That’s why they put strawberries and other types of fruit in it, more than likely.”

 

Emma nodded at Lysa’s observation. “Good point, I never thought of it that way.”

 

Shrugging, Melyssa finished off her champagne and set the flute down on a tray that came her way.  Three was her limit; she couldn’t be drunk in case she had to make a run for it.

 

Rean was not thinking about ‘making a run for it’, that was just cowardly and unbecoming a man of his ‘stature’.  What he was thinking was about making a discrete exit because discretion was the better part of valor.  In other words, it was better to avoid a potentially dangerous -and danger came in many varieties- situation than to confront it.

 

Ash was a dangerous situation waiting to unleash.

 

“You and Ash still haven’t reconciled?” Emma asked, having noticed the shift in Rean’s entire demeanor, even though his face was still schooled into a very neutral, very calm expression.  Some things he just couldn’t hide, especially from someone who was a good friend. 

 

“It’ll happen eventually, our friendship is just… taking a break.” He said diplomatically.

 

Because of me and what I did, they’re no longer friends, Melyssa had to fight back the sadness engulfing her and had a feeling Rean was about to call it a night. “Well, it’s been lovely meeting all of you, but I really must be going.  Give my best to the new mayor, Mrs. Regnitz.” She curtsied with a smile and turned, making her way up the stairs that would lead to the exit. 

 

That had gone a lot smoother than she thought it would and lying had become second nature to her, as it did with every Enforcer of Ouroboros.  Turning, once she was out of sight, Melyssa pulled something out of her clutch and held it in her hand, blinking tears away.  Her good luck charm, the pendant Rean gave her for her birthday.  She always carried it around with her, remembering what he said about its protection.

 

I won’t hurt any of them.  I don’t care what they do to me anymore, but I WILL protect them with all I have. Slipping the pendant back in her clutch and closing it, Melyssa cracked a sad smile at the slowly fading people that were once her friends and comrades before making her way out of the building.

 

“I should really start bringing Celine to things like this, that woman was… odd.” Emma said at the end of the night.

 

She hadn’t allowed Rean to ‘slip off’, but instead forced him to remain and she had done so by reminding him he had an obligation to his current students who were here under his supervision.  She had felt mildly bad using that against him, because she now tried keeping her opinions and observations to herself.  The ‘Instructor’ she had wanted Rean to be was now his core personality and she hated it, she missed her friend.

 

“She seemed familiar.”

 

“Everyone seems familiar to you.” He replied without looking at her, watching as the ballroom was tidied up. His own students were in the process of helping secure the place, ensuring everyone was out and everything was sealed off.

 

Chapter 51

 

“You did not follow your orders, Lysa.”

 

“I won’t hurt any of them.  I already told you that.” Melyssa stated with conviction in her tone, standing in front of the Grandmaster. “I found out who the new mayor is, that was all that was required of me.”

 

“Until you were ordered to eliminate him.  He’s a threat to us…” The Grandmaster tapped her chin with her finger, contemplating what to do with her new Enforcer and suddenly, an idea popped into her head. “You told them you now resided in Crossbell City, correct?”

 

“Yes, but…” It had been a lie; Melyssa really didn’t live anywhere and traveled from place to place with Ouroboros.

 

The Grandmaster smiled wickedly, her eyes practically glowing. “That was a brilliant story on your part…and one we will bring to fruition.”

 

“What are you saying?”

 

“You will reside in Crossbell City from here on out and keep an eye on things regarding the mayor.  And IF he gets in our way, you WILL do as you are told.” The Grandmaster ordered, folding her arms in front of her chest.

 

“I won’t do it.” Melyssa stood her ground, not flinching or moving, besides her head snapping to the side, when the Grandmaster backhanded her.

 

“You will.”

 

“No!” Another backhand, this time to the other side of her face.  Once again, she did not move and kept her hands clasped behind her back.

 

The Grandmaster scowled, not appreciating being defied, but she also expected this from Melyssa – no, Lysa. “Stubborn girl!  You would really go against me, us, for the sake of protecting Machias Regnitz?!  What has he ever done for you?!”

 

“He’s on the list of people you swore never to hurt, if I agreed to become an Enforcer…”

 

“IF none of them intervened in our plans!  Read between the lines, Lysa!”

 

Melyssa didn’t dare lower her eyes from the Grandmaster and squared her shoulders, not budging. “You can torture me or have McBurn do it, but I will NOT go against any of them.” They’re still my friends and I care about them, all of them, she added in thought, knowing better than to say it aloud.

 

The Grandmaster narrowed her eyes, her jaw clenching at the disobedience of this girl, but she had to admit, Lysa had fire.  McBurn had been right to recruit her, even if it was against her will. “I am sure McBurn would LOVE to get his hands on you…” She tried once more to instill some kind of fear into her Enforcer, to shatter that wall she built over the past two years.

 

“So be it, then.”

 

“Hmph, very well.” The Grandmaster turned and moved to sit back on her chair, crossing one leg over the other. “You will be my eyes and ears when it comes to Machias Regnitz.  Do whatever is necessary to get close to him, find out his agenda for Crossbell City and report back to me directly.  You don’t have to eliminate him, but you WILL be my spy.  Are we clear?”

 

Melyssa didn’t have a problem with that, even though it would still be hurting Machias in a way.  At least it wasn’t physical and she could accept these terms. “Yes, Grandmaster, I can do that much.” She agreed reluctantly, bowing her head and already planned on protecting Machias against Ouroboros, if and when it came down to it.


“Good, you’re excused.” The Grandmaster waved her hand, watching the newest Enforcer leave and a devious smirk curved her lips. She’s proving to be more useful than she could ever realize.

 

Now, Melyssa REALLY had to find a place to live in Crossbell City and fast.

 

~!~

 

“I dislike Crossbell.” Ash announced, staring at the city alongside Crow Armbrust, his pink eyes narrowing as he took it in.  The city was rapidly expanding it seemed and he could already see the future growth under Machias’ ‘mayoral’ rule.  He snorted, shaking his head as they set off on the road leading into the city.

 

“You dislike everything.” Crow retorted with an easy grin, though his red eyes were hard.

 

He knew why Ash disliked Crossbell.  Anything to do with Melyssa or what they knew of her past, Ash disliked.  Ash was also convinced she was alive and probably in no good spot, most likely due to the fact that Ouroboros had never sent a gloating message about her demise, or her head in a basket, something along that nature.

 

For once, the Grandmaster was a lifesaver and had set up an apartment for Melyssa to live in.  It was on the commoner side of the city, which she didn’t mind since, in her eyes and heart, she was a commoner.  Regardless of what her father had told her about the Brackett dynasty.  Brackett was no longer her name.  Lysa Reynolds was and she had to start living in the present and owning that name. 

 

Deciding to keep her hair in corkscrew curls, since that was how she met Machias and Emma once again, Melyssa thought about also dying her hair and dismissed it.  No, that would give off warning signs to the perceptive witch.  Besides, she loved her hair the way it was and didn’t want to change it just because she had to spy on her former comrades.  Stepping out of her orbal car, Melyssa starting grabbing bags out of her vehicle, having gone shopping to grab some things she needed for her new apartment.

 

Ash had been relocated to Crossbell for some assignment for his job.  He had accepted on the grounds that he point blank never had to step foot in Jurai.  It had been a cold, startling and then intensely painful realization, discovering he had loved Melyssa.  She had clicked with him, gotten him on levels he hadn’t known existed and he knew it was the same for her.  Maybe not the love part, but he had thought that if things hadn’t gone sideways, maybe she could have fallen for him.  Once she had gotten past Crow and Rean anyway, the woman had men lining up for her affections, he had found it hilarious.

 

In retrospect, not so much.

 

A gust of wind suddenly blew past her, taking one of the very light bags with it and she groaned, cursing under her breath. “Damn it!”

 

She dropped the rest of the heavier bags on the sidewalk and began chasing it down, wondering where this wind came from.  The weather report didn’t call for winds of Gehenna today!  Turning the corner, she plowed right into a brick wall, or so it felt like and Melyssa stumbled backward, taking the brunt of the impact.  She’d been through a lot worse and slowly looked up at the hand clasping her light bag until pink met perplexed teal.

 

“Oh Goddess, I’m so sorry!” It was Ash Carbide…and Crow, both staring at her with wide eyes. “T-That’s my bag, I was chasing it because of the WIND!” She shrieked out that word, immediately pulling her skirt down when another gust came up to try to blow it up.

 

Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to wear a skirt today.

 

“You should probably take care that the rest of you doesn’t blow off.” Ash drawled lazily, not bothering to hide the fact that Mother Nature had just delivered a spectacular if not brief view of this woman’s panties.  He slowly dragged his eyes up from her legs and waist view, she had that skirt firmly down now and was probably glaring daggers at him, finally looking into her face and blinked. “What’s your name?” He demanded with a lot less finesse then he normally possessed.


“Ash…” She did look very familiar and Crow found himself scrutinizing her as well.  Now he wanted to know her name as well, frowning at himself.

 

Goddess, please don’t let them recognize me, Melyssa silently prayed, taking a tentative step back from both of them. “Lysa.  Lysa Reynolds…” She tilted her head slightly, playing the part flawlessly. 

 

Her heart was thundering in her chest and she could only hope they didn’t hear it.  Over the past two years, Melyssa had learned to hold her emotions in, to not show them and the only thing they could see in her eyes at the moment was confusion.  She took her bag from Ash without him handing it back, tucking it under her arm.

 

“And who are you two gentlemen?” She inquired, figuring it was only fair since Ash was being rather cross with her.  Not that she blamed him, but Melyssa had a role to play.

 

Crow had his memories back, as much as sometimes he wished he didn’t, and his eyes were still locked on her face.  He was mentally removing make-up, undoing that corkscrew hairstyle.  He wanted to say Lyssa, but refrained and the only thing that made him do so was the fact that there was absolutely no recognition from her at all.  He could see nothing in those eyes that even hinted at familiarity.

 

Ash made the introductions with a wry smile, glancing up at the apartment building. “Just moving in?” He asked with more politeness than he was feeling at the moment.  At her nod, his grin widened. “I’m in the same building.”

 

WHAT?! Melyssa’s mind screamed while she remained calm on the outside, her eyes widening in honest surprise. “Oh, really?” What in GEHENNA was she supposed to do now?!  Ash was living in the same building as her?!

 

“I am too.” Crow announced, finally finding his voice and waited to see what her reaction would be.

 

I am so screwed! Melyssa smiled at them both, both of her brows up now. “Wow, what a coincidence then!  How long have you two been staying here?  I wouldn’t mind getting to know my new neighbors, after all.  I’m on the second floor.”

 

“So are we.” Crow and Ash replied simultaneously.

 

This had to be some kind of joke, right?  BOTH of them were not only in the same building, but on the same FLOOR as her?! “Well, at least I know some of my neighbors will be tolerable, so that’s a good thing.” She began picking her bags up from the store, the one still beneath her arm and frowned when they began helping. “Oh no, that’s not necessary, you guys.  I can get them, they’re not heavy…”

 

“What kind of gentlemen would we be if we didn’t offer a beautiful woman such as yourself our assistance?” Crow asked with what was meant to be a charming smile but it came out crooked. “Besides, we have nothing better to do, do we Ash?”

 

“Nothing pressing at the moment I can think of.” Ash replied easily, eyeing her car. “Might as well pop the boot, these muscles are for more than just show, sweetheart.” He hadn’t called a woman beautiful since Melyssa and he doubted he ever would.

 

Truthfully, she was just as strong as them, but since they were adamant about helping her, she’d play the damsel card for a little while. “Thank you both.” Melyssa opened the door for them to enter and followed them up to the second floor, pulling her keys out. “Ah here we are, number 7.” Luckily, she hadn’t started unpacking yet and didn’t have much to begin with.  Ouroboros had taken care of making sure she had furniture, including a bed, prior to moving in. “Come on in, boys.” She held open the door for them to enter with the bags. “You can put them on the kitchen table.” Closing her door, Melyssa retrieved some water from the fridge and tossed them each one since it was warm outside.

 

Ash was trying not to laugh, sharing a look with Crow. “So, neighbor,” He cleared his throat impishly. “Ms. Reynolds,” She wasn’t married so that was a plus, if he decided to really lay on the charms, he wouldn’t have to worry about a pissed off husband or wife coming after him. “I am right across the hall from you.” He had ‘moved in’ last week and by that he meant he had sent his stuff on ahead and he was just now getting here physically.

 

“And I am right next door to your left.” Crow added, studying her face intently as he took a slow sip of the water. “Thank you.”

 

At least Ash hadn’t lost his sense of humor and charm factor.  Granted, they both seemed…hardened since the last time they saw each other.  She knew it had to be partially due to what happened in Jurai with her disappearance.

 

“Good to know.  I suppose if we need to borrow something from each other, it won’t be difficult to ask, right?”

 

They shook their heads and she winked at them before downing half her water, setting it down on the counter.  This was so strange pretending like she didn’t know who these two men were.  One of them she had protected with her very life and the other had become her new best friend while in Class VII.

 

No, you can’t start thinking about the past.  You have to stay in the present.  The past doesn’t matter anymore. “Don’t hesitate to ask me for help should you need it.  I owe you both for helping me out today.”

 

“Oh trust me, we won’t, or at least I won’t.” Ash winked at her, laughing when Crow made a face. “It won’t be for a cup of sugar or anything so boring.”

 

“No, ten to one,” Crow drawled, knowing that Ash had definitely been hardened since the events of Jurai. “It’ll be for dinner and a show.”

 

Ash had hated him for the longest time before coming to accept that it hadn’t been HIS call, the most he could do was be there with Melyssa, the call had been Rean’s.  Rean should have known better.  Melyssa was too inexperienced, too emotional, and overly prone to putting others before herself, just like Rean.  Ash despised Rean.  Rean seemed all right with that because Rean despised himself.

 

It'd been a very long time since Melyssa was given any attention by a man – McBurn did not count, he was not a man and barely human at that.  She felt her cheeks flame up a little and shook her head, putting some of the bags on the other side of her small kitchen on the counter. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, but I appreciate the thought.” Going out with either of these two men would not be a smart idea.  It made her wonder if they already knew who she really was or if they were suspicious of it. “Anyway, I hate to kick you two out, but I do have a lot of unpacking to do.  And since you two recently moved in, I’m sure you have unpacking of your own to get done.”

 

“Wait, wait, wait,” Ash moved to intercept, gently placing himself between her and the bags, the smile still on his face. “Why not?” He asked curiously, cocking his head to the side. “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?” He hadn’t seen a ring of any kind on that finger and there was no trace of a line either.

 

It might have been a good idea for her undercover role to have included a relationship or something to fend off unwanted suitors.  Melyssa was a beautiful woman, even though in her ‘role’, she may have to use those womanly charms.

 

“All right, down boy.” Crow tugged his friend away, giving Ms. Reynolds an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid you should get used to it, Lys.”

 

Chapter 52

 

Did Crow mean to call her Lyssa and stopped himself at the last second?  Or did he really mean to call her Lys?  Why was Melyssa even questioning something so idiotic at the moment?  Ash was pushy as ever and she suddenly recalled what she told Emma, the reasoning for her moving from Heimdallr to here.

 

“It’s all right, but he asked a question and I’ll give him an answer.  I moved here because of trouble with my ex-boyfriend.  I don’t wanna get into the whole mess, since I don’t know either one of you from a hole in the ground, so we’ll just leave it at that.” Translation: She wasn’t interested in dating anyone right now.  Sure, she’d use her womanly charms when the situation called for it and it didn’t at the moment.

 

Even Ash knew when to back off, his smile slipping into something grim. “Trouble with an ex?” He repeated, clicking his tongue.  There were some lines even he wouldn’t cross, not now anyway.  He had grown up, somewhat. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

 

“Me too.  If by chance he ever shows up, just remember you have two big neighbors right next door.”

 

“And right across the hall.”

 

Crow was already moving towards the door, knowing they had worn out their welcome with their new neighbor for the moment. “Remember, if you need to borrow a cup of sugar.” He laughed, winking at her before stepping out into the hallway.  He left the door open, his way of telling Ash it was time to get out of there.

 

“I’ll keep that in mind.  It really was nice to meet both of you and thanks again for the help.” Melyssa extended her hand to Ash and those pink eyes seared through her once again as he shook hers, the spark clear as day between them. Carbide, you’re handsome as ever, my friend. They pulled away at the same time and she watched Ash reluctantly leave her apartment with Crow, closing the door behind them. That was too damn close. Melyssa shut her eyes, letting out a shuddering breath and ignored the bags on the table for the time being since her stomach was in knots.  How was she supposed to carry out her mission of being Ouroboros’ spy with them living so close to her? I’ll figure it out.  First, I need to figure out a way to get close to Machias without revealing who I am and take it from there.  Maybe there’s a spot available at his office or something.

 

“So, do you think it’s her?” Crow demanded, once they were inside Ash’s apartment and out of ear shot. “Or do you think we’re being paranoid and it’s wishful thinking that it’s her?”

 

“I think if we bleached that crap off her face, we’d have a better answer.” Ash said solemnly. 

 

Now, normally, he appreciated a woman’s effort in making herself look beautiful.  He knew that took time, patience and a lot of work and not many men seemed to appreciate it, he was usually one of them.  Crow actually felt the same way, but he would never word it like that.  To someone’s face anyway.

 

“If it is… why is she hiding and lying?”

 

“I don’t know, maybe she has amnesia.” Ash was rifling in his refrigerator. “We obviously have precedence for it.” He gave Crow a onceover. “Though, yours was brought on by dying.” If she had been in the hands of Ouroboros… that could have happened and he swallowed hard, passing over a beer.

 

“Or she may be working for them…if it is her.” Crow didn’t want to say that out loud either, but…it was a possibility they couldn’t ignore. 

 

He saw the way Ash looked at him and shrugged; he’d been there before and had been manipulated into becoming C by Duke Cayenne, all because of his hatred and animosity towards Osborne.  Ouroboros could have warped her, washed away her memories and maybe she really didn’t know who she truly was.  The possibilities were terrifying and endless.

 

~!~

 

The Goddess must have been on her side because Melyssa looked in the paper the next day and spotted a job that would link her directly to Machias.  He was looking for a new secretary.  Emma still went off to do her own thing, but she supported him from wherever she was and they got together when they could.  It was a unique marriage they had.  Melyssa thought about it for all of two seconds before getting dressed and going to apply for the job in person. 

 

She had black dress pants on with a crisp white buttoned up, short-sleeved blouse and black pumps on her feet, looking as professional as possible.  She even pulled her hair back on either side with clips to keep it out of her face.  With clutch in hand, she walked out of her door and turned to lock it up just as the door next door opened, with Crow stepping out.

 

It would be rude not to greet him, at the very least. Melyssa smiled at him, draping her clutch over her shoulder from the chain it was attached to. “Good morning, Crow.” She greeted cheerfully and walked past him, needing to get to City Hall.

 

“Good morning, Lys.” Crow greeted amicably, falling into step alongside her.  From head to toe, he was dressed in black and while it couldn’t be seen, he was packing his dual pistols. “You’re looking sharp this morning.” With her hair pulled back and not distracting from her face, it was easier to really study her.

 

“Yes, she is.” Ash appeared on her other side, the trio stopping on the sidewalk. “You look ready to go work.” Was she a clerk or something?  He smirked, one half of his mouth raising in amusement, she could be a naughty secretary.

 

“Here’s hoping.” They both looked down at her questioningly and she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’m heading off to apply for a job, actually.  Need to pay the bills somehow, right?” That was a horrible joke to make, but these two made Melyssa nervous because she couldn’t tell if they knew the truth or not.

 

“Where are you headed?”

 

“If you’re looking for a job, the mayor is looking for a new secretary.” Ash really wanted the naughty secretary fantasy to become reality, his pink eyes twinkling. “You look to fit that build in that getup.”

 

“I know, that’s where I’m headed now to apply for the secretarial position.  See you guys later.” Melyssa headed toward her car, pulling her keys out.

 

“Poor girl.” Crow remarked, watching as she got into her orbal car, closing the door behind her. “She’ll be easier to keep an eye on.”

 

“That is true.” Ash stroked his chin, turning and walking away alongside his friend. “And it gives a legit excuse for the background check I’ve already run on her.”

 

“You’re jumping the gun?”

 

“Color me curious.  I’m surprised you didn’t do it first.”

 

Crow huffed, flipping his silver hair back out of his face. He was long overdue for a haircut. “I thought about it.” He admitted, not overly surprised that Ash had beat him to the punch. “Not that you can tell her that you’ve done it right out the gate, she’ll still have to wait the three days or so for everything to be done.” Working for the mayor entailed a lot of questions, a background check, some testing… it was insane.

 

Thanks to a little hacking by Ouroboros, the background check would come back clean as a whistle with her name as Lysa Reynolds.  It would even have her previous job listed in the museum in Heimdallr and there was a specific person there who would take the call for reference.  Everything would come back as it should, Ouroboros wasn’t the most dangerous entity in Erebonia for nothing.  They could slink in and out of places without detection and plant spies wherever they wanted.  Class VII was smart, but Ouroboros was always one step ahead of them.

 

“All right, wait here please.” The secretary stood up and walked off to the mayor’s office, knocking on the door. “You have another applicant interested in the position, sir.”

 

“Wonderful, send them in right away.”

 

Machias needed to get this position filled as soon as possible and so far, none of the other applicants rose to his standards.  Imagine his surprise when the woman from the party walked in…the woman who reminded a lot of Class VII of Melyssa Brackett.  Crow and Ash had already called him on the ARCUS II, informing him where she was living.  They were his spies, essentially.

 

“Miss Reynolds, correct?”

 

Melyssa smiled at him with a nod. “Yes, Mr. Mayor.”

 

“Please, just call me Machias.” They shook hands and he gestured to the seat in front of his desk, sitting down himself to look over her application. “Ah, you worked for the museum in Heimdallr.  Emma told me about that.”

 

I’m sure she did, Melyssa thought, not surprised by that and kept the smile on her face. “I worked there at nights doing paperwork and cleaning.  I admit, I don’t have a lot of experience with secretarial work, but I’m a fast learner and I’m sure I can handle anything this position is required to do.”

 

“If.” He said softly, implying her getting it was an if.

 

First she had to meet his approval, then she had to pass the background checks, then she had to pass Ash and Crow’s questions, and finally, Celine.  Anyone the cat did not trust or like was an automatic out, hence why finding people to fill positions was so hard.  Celine had taken Jurai as badly as everyone else, the poor feline.

 

“So, tell me about some situations at the museum that you believe would be relevant to you working here, Ms. Reynolds.”

 

“Nobody’s background check is that clean.” Crow said after a moment, shaking his head. “She didn’t even get in trouble as a kid.”

 

Melyssa went through the standard interview, explaining what she did at the museum, which was basically filing paperwork, cleaning and polishing artifacts and anything else the curator needed help with.  Machias listened, trying to find ONE loophole, one flaw in her explanation, and couldn’t find any.  Maybe Lysa really was Lysa.  Maybe she wasn’t Melyssa, after all.  He informed her she would be going through a series of interviews that day and if she passed them all, he would hire her.  She was the best person for the job thus far, unless someone else came along.

 

“Please, come in here for your next interview.”

 

Melyssa stepped inside the room and was greeted by none other than her new neighbors. “Okay, I’m starting to wonder if you two are stalking me now.” She joked with a smile, walking over to sit down in the chair, a long table separating them.

 

“Nope.”

 

Crow smiled sweetly, shaking his head, wondering if Machias was out of his mind to hire her right out the gate before the official paperwork came back.  If he was already handing out free passes to this woman, then that just made her all the more suspicious.  They were going to have to have Emma make sure nothing witchy was going on besides her.

 

“We work here.”

 

Ash drummed his fingers on the tabletop, studying her thoughtfully. “We’re security, you have to get through us and your background check before you’re allowed to accept any offers of employment.”

 

“Understood, so then why am I in here for an interview when my background check hasn’t come back yet?”

 

“Because we want to see if you’re who you say you are.” A feminine, familiar voice echoed around the room.

 

Melyssa jumped when a black cat landed on the table in front of her. Celine!  I should have known she’d be here lurking around. “What in Goddess’s name is THAT?!” She jumped out of her chair, blinking at the TALKING cat in front of her. “T-That cat is TALKING!” She even pointed for added shock flare, teal eyes wide.

 

Both Crow and Ash looked at each other and then at Celine, who also looked a little bewildered by Lysa’s reaction.

 

“You know what?  I-I’m just gonna go.  I-I don’t think I’m qualified for a position like this…” Acting scared was the only way to get through this and she stepped back when the cat stepped one paw toward her, still on the table.

 

She was truly terrified of Celine.  What in Gehenna was going on?  Was this Melyssa or not?  Celine couldn’t deduce it and she knew Emma was counting on her. “Suit yourself then.  I take it you’ve never seen a talking cat before?”

 

“N-No, no I haven’t and…I’m a little terrified right now to be completely honest…” Melyssa was terrified, but not for the reasons she was saying out loud.  Celine would be able to tell who she really was if she took this position, but at the same time, she had a job to do for Ouroboros.

 

“Look, I’m not going to hurt you, lady.  Just…cool your jets and come sit back down.  I just have some questions for you.” Celine coaxed, not wanting her to leave quite yet and gestured with her paw toward the empty chair. “Come on, show us a little bravery.”

 

Reluctantly, Melyssa moved back toward the chair and scooted it back before sitting down, not wanting to be anywhere near the cat. “This is really weird being questioned by a talking cat…”

 

What was weird was that this SMELLED like Melyssa, but didn’t ACT like Melyssa.  Celine’s tail flickered back and forth slowly, musing on it.  She knew Crow had died and then been reanimated sort of without all his memories, it had taken years and triggers to get them back.  Or she had been brainwashed, or… there were a lot of ‘or’s’, actually, and she wasn’t about to process them all just right now.

 

“Not really.” She purred, licking one paw idly. “What’s weird is your reaction to it.” The world was inhabited by monsters, how was a talking cat so out of the ordinary? “I’m offended.” She sniffed.

 

“Celine.” Ash’s tone held a note of warning.

 

“If her background clears, hire her.” So they could keep a closer eye on her at the very least.

 

Not EVERY civilian in Erebonia was privy to the knowledge of monsters, only those that were involved with the army, jaegers or Bracers.  Regular civilians, like she was pretending to be, did not know about witches or talking cats, for example. “I-I didn’t mean to offend you, but…I’ve just never seen a talking cat before…and it shocked me.  I’m sorry…” She was apologizing to a talking cat…to Celine…Melyssa had to fight with everything inside of her not to find this amusing. “So, is that all?  I was under the impression this would be an interview, but none of you have asked any questions…” Or maybe they wanted to get her enclosed into a space to study her more thoroughly and carefully, which did make sense.

 

“Not at the moment, no.  And I don’t accept your apology.”

 

Celine hadn’t changed a bit. “All right then, I won’t take up anymore of your time.” Melyssa went to stand up again when the door opened and another familiar voice reverberated around them.

 

“I have a few questions, actually.” It was the Ashen Chevalier, Rean Schwarzer.

 

Chapter 53

 

What in Gehenna was Rean doing here?!  Wasn’t he an Instructor at the Thors Branch School still or had he changed professions?  Ash did NOT look happy to see him and Melyssa had turned her head to look at him, following his every step until he was in front of her, looking intimidating and handsome as ever.

 

“Hello again, Rean.” She greeted softly, clasping her hands in her lap and knew instantly this was not a conventional, everyday interview.

 

“Ms. Reynolds.” He inclined his head towards her.

 

Rean was here as a personal favor to Emma, who had wanted his opinion on any potential new hires because she didn’t trust her ‘darling husband’ to not be distracted by a pretty face.  Machias wouldn’t cheat, not on his wife, but that didn’t mean the man wasn’t immune to beautiful women either.  Also, Emma had wanted a hardened opinion on man or woman, anyone who might be working closely with her husband because she no longer trusted people.

 

He didn’t blame her and didn’t either.

 

Emma must have asked him to come here for the interviews, Melyssa deduced in thought, feeling as if she was under a microscope.  Four pairs of eyes were staring at her and she knew what they were doing.  They were hoping she’d crack under the pressure and it wouldn’t happen.  Her training in Ouroboros made her immune to pressurized circumstances and situations. “You said you wanted to ask me some questions, so fire away.  I’m an open book.”

 

The smile remained on her face, not faltering and her demeanor did not change.  Despite everyone in the room, she remained calm, minus her little ‘freak-out’ moment with Celine earlier.  That would be the reaction of any NORMAL civilian seeing a talking cat, however, so Melyssa thought she played it flawlessly.

 

Celine had jumped up to perch on Rean’s shoulder, whispering in his ear.

 

Which was very uncomfortable and ticklish, it took all of his many years of training and experience to not swat the cat off of him because her damn whiskers were going to make him sneeze. “I want to discuss your time at the museum.” He informed her finally, hands behind his back. “I’m sure you’ve already discussed this with the mayor, but I want you to tell me, what exactly are your duties there?” He listened as she recounted what she had already told Machias, raising an eyebrow. “How does that qualify you to be a secretary to the mayor?” His tone was neutral, waiting for her to reply.

 

Her tone was just as neutral and professional. “As I told you and the mayor, I don’t have a lot of experience in the secretarial field, but I am a fast learner and it doesn’t seem all that difficult to answer telephones, file paperwork and use the computer.  Honestly, I applied for this job because I need to pay my bills.  I need a job, like every other civilian in this city.  I’m good with paperwork and multitasking, as well as the computer.  Now, let me ask you a question, if I’m not qualified for the position, then why would the mayor have all of you interview me?” That caught Rean off guard and she smiled at him serenely.  Melyssa wasn’t wearing anything indecent or showcasing any part of her body, so she wasn’t using womanly charms to get her foot in the door.

 

Celine had to admit, this woman was sharp as nails and she shrugged when Rean looked at her, not sure what to think or believe. “Don’t look at me, she’s asking YOU the question, Ashen.”

 

“I’m just honestly surprised she’s asking it, I would have thought it was obvious.” Rean said, already dismissing the woman who looked somewhat like Melyssa.  She was either really good at lying and being dim or she genuinely was a beautiful idiot, which was a type found everywhere. “I don’t think you’re qualified, but Machias does.  It’s our job to ensure you’re not a danger to anyone or lying.”

 

“You do realize this is for more than just answering telephones, yes?  You’ll have to deal with members of the press and a million other things.” Ash drawled, rather enjoying this.

 

“She’ll be trained on what to do, if she gets the job.” Celine began licking her paws again, acting disinterested.

 

“I’m aware, yes.  The mayor went down the list of duties I’d have to perform for him since, if I’m chosen, I’ll be the main person everyone goes to for appointments, interviews and anything else related to the government.” In a nutshell, she would be Machias’ personal assistant, not just his secretary.  That would mean she’d be privy to any information involving his job, which meant everything he planned on doing while in this position. “And once my background check comes in, you will see I am not a danger to anyone.”

 

Did she look dangerous?  No.  Was she dangerous?  Yes.  Not to Class VII, however.  Getting this job, this position, would ensure she’d be able to protect Machias from Ouroboros, should they act, as well as being the Grandmaster’s spy.  Melyssa wouldn’t be telling the Grandmaster everything, only what she felt the woman needed to know to sate her.

 

“What do you think?”

 

Rean shrugged one shoulder, sharing a look with Crow.  Ash wasn’t giving him the time of day outside of what society deemed polite and not a speck more.  He didn’t fault the other man. “Machias will hire her.  She’s not the most qualified who has been interviewed, but she’s not the least either.”

 

“But?” Celina prompted with a yawn.

 

“I don’t trust her.”

 

Ash snorted, shaking his head and gestured at the ‘her’ in question. “She’s right there, you know.”

 

“I. Don’t. Trust. You.” She looked too familiar, sounded too familiar and, yet, she was all wrong.  He bowed to everyone present before walking out. He’d let Emma know what Celine had thought as well as his own, perhaps slightly askew, perceptions.

 

Rean was NEVER this straightforward before and Melyssa had no reaction or response to what he said.  That was how he felt and more than likely, he would go to Machias and Emma, tell them his thoughts, and she wouldn’t get hired.  She turned to look at Crow and Ash, both having completely different expressions on their faces.  Ash looked downright outraged while Crow had an unexplainable expression on his face and Celine continued staring at her.

 

“Wow, if the mayor treats other civilians like this, I’m wondering if he’s up to being in this position of power.” She did not feel bad saying that because any other normal civilian would have been irate at being treated like this. “That was very unprofessional.  Have a nice day.” She walked out of the room and out of the building, getting in her car to drive back to her apartment.

 

“Rean’s not wrong.” Crow said once she was gone. “She is… wrong, even Celine thought so.”

 

“Not the point.”

 

“Besides, if she can’t handle dealing with Rean, she’s not going to make it with the press.  They’d eat her alive, so really… he did us a favor.” Though… it would make it harder to keep an eye on her, but on the other hand, there was no way she was Ouroboros.  That or they hadn’t trained her well enough to know that positions like this required some serious patience and PR knowledge.

 

“Still not the point.”

 

“You’re not going to be pleased with him even if he had given her a pass.”

 

“Also not the point.”

 

No, Rean was a prick towards her and very unprofessional.  No other civilian would have been treated the way Lysa had been and Machias was not happy with his friend.  He informed Rean to go back to Thors Branch School, remove the stick from his backside and not to contact him until he turned back into the old Rean.  This was not the Rean he wanted as a friend and comrade.  Rean could not think clearly for the past two years since Melyssa had disappeared off the face of Erebonia.  He had voiced his concerns to his wife and what did she do?  She had Rean come to INTERROGATE a potential employee, a Crossbell City citizen!! 

 

Emma needed to stop sticking her nose in his business because HE was the mayor, not her.  This was HIS decision, ultimately, regardless of what others said or thought.  Machias had separate meetings with Crow and Ash, ignoring Celine because the cat would be bias from the beginning.  Celine was always on Emma’s side, whatever Emma wanted to do, she was for it.  Machias no longer trusted Emma’s opinion because it was also bias.  Everyone needed to move on – what happened in Jurai was awful and he understood that, but this was business and he would do what was best for business.

 

Miss Reynolds was hired with an apology and promises she would not be subject to that ever again.  Machias had a city to run through the democratic process and would not be distracted by his meddling wife because she felt something was ‘off’ with this young woman.  Machias hadn’t known Melyssa long, but even he could tell this was not her, these women were both very different personality wise and there were things that one just couldn’t change.  Not to mention, it was ridiculous, this theory about Ouroboros and Melyssa.

 

Why send someone they all knew?

 

It made absolutely no sense.

 

Since Rean had absolutely no intention of going back to Crossbell, not even if Ouroboros decided to come out and play, he informed Machias it was now officially HIS problem and he OWNED the fallout.

 

~!~

 

To say Melyssa was stunned at the phone call was an understatement. 

 

All she could do was accept the apology, as well as the position, and showed gratitude for being given this opportunity.  Was this Ouroboros’ doing?  How could it be?  The Mayor was the one who did the hiring and Machias had faced off with Ouroboros in the past.  Hmm…it made Melyssa wonder if Ash or Crow had something to do with it since it was obvious Rean didn’t want her anywhere near City Hall.  Rean knew something and he made that quite clear by stating he didn’t trust her. 

 

That hurt a lot more than Melyssa would ever admit.  Machias gave her the rest of the week off and expected her bright eyed and bushytailed that following Monday morning at the office at 6 AM sharp.  Melyssa assured him she’d be there and the call ended with her feeling conflicted, sipping her glass of wine.  Things were panning out in her favor…too much, and she was starting to wonder if someone else wasn’t behind the scenes pulling strings.

 

A knock at her door roused Melyssa out of her thoughts and when she got up to peer out the peek hole, there stood Crow Armbrust.  He smiled when she opened the door, fiery red eyes narrowing in on the glass of wine she was drinking, taking in the lipstick stain on the rim of the glass and cleared his throat, eyes moving to meet hers. “It’s considered bad form to drink alone, Lys.” He said by way of greeting, not moving to enter her apartment because she hadn’t offered him an invitation, just hovering in the hallway. “So, I wanted to talk to you about today.” Today had been odd and awkward, even by their standards.

 

“Yes well, after the day I’ve had, I needed a drink.” Melyssa remarked, wondering what exactly he wanted to talk to her about. “I suppose you are right, though.  Come in and I’ll pour you a glass, if you want.”

 

She opened the door wider for him to enter, stepping aside and shut it behind him, setting her glass down on the coffee table.  Moving to the kitchen, she grabbed another wine glass before heading back into the living room, sitting down on the couch.  The bottle of wine was already on the coffee table, she hadn’t been kidding when she said she needed a drink.

 

“So, do you want one or not?”

 

“Sure.” He shrugged, watching as she filled his glass before topping her own off.  Bringing it up, Crow sniffed it, taking in the aroma and smiled before sipping the liquid, letting it coat his tongue. “Rean isn’t always a bastard.” He said it abruptly, carefully setting the glass down. “You just physically remind him of someone he lost a few years ago, I don’t think he knows how to react to you.” She looked tired, like it had been a long day and given her morning, he bet the rest of the day had dragged on.

 

“Really?  I do?”

 

Melyssa felt her heart clench painfully in her chest at that revelation.  It was her fault Rean was the cold person she saw today…and at the party.  He had completely changed and he wasn’t nearly as warm as he used to be.

 

He has to realize I had no choice.  If I didn’t go willingly, they would have taken me by force and killed Crow and my Dad.  I had no choice… Melyssa thought sadly, not realizing a hint of sadness entered her eyes as she took a slow sip of her wine. “Just because I remind him of this person doesn’t MAKE me that person though, Crow.  Do I remind you of this same person?”

 

Something had changed in her demeanor and it made him curious, maybe as curious as she was about if she reminded him of this long lost friend. “Nope.” Crow smiled at her easily, leaning back against the couch and draped his arm along the back of it. Personally, he thought Melyssa should have told them to stick it up their ass and let the die fall where they may, but it didn’t matter now, none of it did. “She was kind of an idiot; you don’t seem like you are.” He said after a moment, reaching for his glass and took another slow sip, red eyes fastened on hers. “And I mean that in the nicest way possible.  She was a good friend, but an idiot.”

 

"I see.  Sounds like you don't agree with whatever she did." Crow shook his head and Melyssa had to swallow more hurt down. I did it for their own good, to protect and save them, including you, Crow! McBurn would have burned them all alive, just like her Papa.  She knew what she did hurt them, but hearing and seeing the aftermath was heartbreaking.  Even though she was an Enforcer, that didn't mean she wasn't human. "So, what did you want to talk to me about from today?  Or was that it?" There was no reason to keep talking about her.

 

"Mostly to apologize about Rean and sort of explain that he wasn't always a major jerk."

 

Rean used to be friendly and caring, to the point where he would put others over himself. Crow supposed that Rean hadn't enjoyed the shoe being in the other foot so to speak, being forced to watch someone sacrifice themselves.  Gehenna, maybe Rean’s problem was that she had beat him to it.

 

Chapter 54

 

Melyssa nodded in understanding, setting her wine glass down and clasped her hands in her lap, moving her gaze away from him. “Well, I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, no matter how tragic the situation is.  One thing that happens leads to another thing and so on and so forth.  I’m sure whatever this woman did, she had her reasons and I can tell she meant a lot to you, not just Rean and Ash.” Now Crow was staring at her and she cracked a smile back at him. “You say she’s an idiot, but at the same time, she may not have been and you just feel that way about her because of what she did.  Just an observation.” He could take it however he wanted, but Melyssa felt a little better after saying that much. “And since you came here to explain Rean’s actions, I feel I should inform you that tonight, Mayor Regnitz offered me the position and I’ve accepted, so we’ll be working together on the same team from here on out.” Again.

 

"She was young and afraid and totally not right for the path she wanted to walk." Crow had immediately dismissed her commentary on Melyssa. "As for working the same team, Ash and I protect the mayor.  He's our priority and you are a secondary." He tried wording that nicely, but if it came down to her or the mayor, she was technically collateral damage.  Not that they wouldn't try saving her because they would.

 

Damn, that was very harsh and Melyssa wanted to rage at him since she had sacrificed herself to save HIS life.  However, she remained calm and nodded stiffly, standing from the couch. “Understood, and that’s the way it should be.  I think we should keep things professional between us.  So, visiting me after hours at night won’t be happening again or sharing a drink.  As I told your friend, Ash, I’m not interested in men after what I’ve been through.  I think it’s time for you to leave now, Crow.” She tried wording that as nicely as possible, but it wasn’t her problem if he took it wrong. 

 

Tonight, she would go out in the middle of nowhere and train with her Cutlass, really needing a workout.  That was another reason why she was dismissing Crow rather abruptly.  Picking the glasses up, she carried them into the kitchen and set them in the sink, rinsing them while he made his way to the door.

 

Crow was smiling, nodding as he made his way to the door. "I look forward to working with you, Lys." He said amicably, obviously not bothered by her abrupt dismissal. "For the record, I don't think she's stupid for the sacrifice.  I think she's stupid for not running the first chance she got after the fact." He informed her right before he walked out.

 

The next work week would be interesting for sure.

 

Easy for him to say, he wasn’t forced against his will to join Ouroboros.  He willingly joined forces with them only because he was C in the Imperial Liberation Front.  Completely different scenario, the jackass!

 

Melyssa didn’t have a chance to escape because she had trained day in and day out, night in and night out, for the past two years.  She also stayed because she made the deal with the Grandmaster to protect her friends and family, including that jackass that just left!  None of them had any idea what she’d been through and what she endured…it took her two years to finally EARN freedom, which was why she now lived in Crossbell City.  Walking into her bedroom, Melyssa quickly changed into her training clothes and moved to the bathroom, washing her face of the makeup mask she wore. 

 

Looking in the mirror, Melyssa finally recognized herself and pulled her hair back in a messy curly ponytail, pushing everything that was said to her down to her gut.  She would use it in training tonight, channeling all of her pain and angst, all of her emotion into the swings of her Cutlass.  Her crossbow wouldn’t need to be trained on since it was point and shoot – she had excellent aim.  Grabbing her Cutlass and fastening the belt around her waist, Melyssa opened her window that lead to the fire escape and slid out of it, being as silent as the dead. 

 

The last thing she wanted to do was alert Crow and Ash of her outing, in case they were here specifically to spy on her.  Making it to her vehicle, Melyssa hopped in and drove off, heading to an unknown destination at the far recesses of Crossbell City.  It was way outside city limits, about 30 minutes or so.  Pulling over and hiding her vehicle, Melyssa made her way through the trees until she came out in the middle of a clearing, under the stars and moon.  Unsheathing her Cutlass, Melyssa began swiping and parrying, shutting her eyes while practically dancing in the moonlight. 

 

A deadly dance at that.

 

“Something troubling you, Melyssa?  Or is it Lysa now?”

 

She froze, sweaty from her training and didn’t bother turning around, recognizing that voice anywhere. “Trying to get some training in while I’m undercover.  What do you want, McBurn?”

 

“You are being awffffulllly friendly with your old buddies.” He commented, beginning to slowly circle her, watching as she ‘trained’. “I’m pretty sure that was Armbrust that came out of your apartment tonight.”

 

As if she wasn’t being watched.  This was her first true assignment and it was smack daub in the middle of her old friends.  She had already gone against the Grandmaster once, refusing to take out a target.  The Grandmaster might trust her, he didn’t.  Anyone who sold out people for the foolish notion of ‘saving’ them would sell out the next group for some reason or another.

 

“Having a little reunion are we?”

 

“No.” Melyssa stopped training and turned to face him, her teal eyes cold and focused. “I’m not the one who chose the apartment, so it’s not MY fault it wasn’t checked out beforehand.  Because if it was, you or whoever made the arrangements would’ve seen both Armbrust AND Carbide are my neighbors.  Can’t really do anything about it, McBurn.  And I was told to get close to the mayor, so again, I did exactly that.  Not my fault those guys are his security guards, though the Grandmaster should’ve seen that coming.  They are all part of Class VII.  I’m following orders and doing what I’m supposed to do, so why don’t you bugger off and bother someone else?  I’m not interested in your games, Almighty Conflagration.”

 

“You don’t have a choice, my little spitfire.” He snorted, stepping right into her swing and wasn’t surprised at all when Melyssa reigned it in right before slicing his head in two. “Bet you’d love to do it, wouldn’t you?  Cleave me right down the middle.”

 

If only she had the balls to attempt it two years ago, she might have been leading a different life.  Well no, no she wouldn’t have.  Two years ago Melyssa wasn’t even a fraction of the woman she was now, the fighter she was now.  Goddess help her, she hated this man with every fiber of her being!  He killed her Papa because of her father, who had disappeared completely.  Not even Ouroboros could locate him and she knew that was frustrating the Grandmaster to no end.

 

“You don’t miss much, do you?” She watched as he wrapped his hand around the sharp blade and PULLED it toward him, blood oozing from the deep cut on his hand. “Why are you here, McBurn?  Haven’t you done enough to me?  Haven’t you made me SUFFER enough?  Why don’t you just end me right here and now like you should’ve done two years ago?!” She ripped the Cutlass from him, wiping his blood off of it on her shorts and groaned, glad they were black. “I still don’t understand why you wanted to recruit me into Ouroboros.  You said you saw spirit inside of me during the attack of Crossbell City, but that’s not enough to go through all that you did.  You took me away from people I love and care about, all to force me into becoming an Enforcer or your damn toy to play with!  Don’t you think I deserve an explanation now that I’m an Enforcer?”

 

McBurn chuckled wickedly, clenching his hand tightly and the cut was gone in mere moments, thanks to his magic. “Because I was hoping you WOULD become my toy to play with, but you surpassed my expectations.  You’re special, there’s something inside of you that pulsates with life and I wanted to slowly extinguish that fire, but you just HAD to be a martyr.  You just HAD to sacrifice yourself in order to protect those you love and care about.” He mocked her, stepping right up to her again and gripped her chin as her Cutlass was pressed against his throat. “Do it, you know you want to.  Take your revenge, precious.”

 

“Stop it!” Melyssa whispered, not trusting her voice at the moment and still, even after two years, felt that same dread and fear whenever she was around this monster. “You don’t make any sense.  There has to be a reason why the Grandmaster ordered you to recruit me.  And one day, I will find out the truth, just like one day, I WILL cut you down for what you did to me and my family.”

 

“What YOU did to you and your family, just like what your FATHER did to you and your family.  You’ve always had a choice, Melyssa, and you insist on always making the wrong choice.” McBurn sneered, not impressed with her little outburst, even with as quiet as it had been.  She was too emotional back then and even now, with the right provocation, she would be again. “All it takes is one slip-up from you, girl… and I’ll be waiting for it.” She would eventually be his toy. 

 

As for the ‘reason’, he wouldn’t tell, he rather enjoyed seeing her losing her mind.


Because she was human, unlike him, and humans sported emotions, no matter how in control they thought they were.  She wasn’t losing her mind, not even close. “You’ll never have me unless you kill me first.  Get it through your head, asshole.” Melyssa gritted, shoving him away and breaking the hold on her chin. “You know as well as I do, if I didn’t choose to go with you that night, Crow would be dead right now and the others too.  Maybe I was an idiot, but at least my friends and family are safe and that’s all I care about.  Makes me wonder what YOU care about, McBurn.  Oh wait, you don’t because you’re NOT HUMAN.”

 

“The only reason Armbrust is alive is because others have machinations for him, not because of you, precious girl.” McBurn informed her, his lips curving up into a very cruel smile. “The fact that you were willing to offer yourself up for nothing… what kind of ‘evildoer’,” He even air quoted that word with his fingers, sarcasm dripping from his tone. “Would I be?” He then brought those fingers up to press against his lips, eyes widening. “But you didn’t know that, did you, Orange Flame?” He tucked his hands behind his back, turning to walk away from her, showing her he didn’t fear her at all by presenting his back to her. “It’s interesting how you fret over those who don’t care about you at all, but you were the reason innocent civilians died on that train and you didn’t shed a tear.”

 

“I’d rather be an Enforcer than your damn toy any day of the week, No. 1.”

 

Melyssa had dealt with the guilt of those people dying, even though Emma had saved a great deal of them with her magic, as well as her grandmother, Rosalie.  If it wasn’t for the Hexen Clan, a lot more lives would have been lost at the hands of McBurn.  Ash had nearly died because of him…and her eyes narrowed at the memory, a lump forming in her throat.  They all could have died, including her, and it was all because Ouroboros had targeted HER.

 

“And why would I shed tears for people I don’t know or care about?  That’s the way of Ouroboros, isn’t it?  Care only about yourself and nobody else?  Well sorry, I can’t do that, even if they don’t care about me anymore, I damn sure will protect my family and friends from the likes of YOU.  I didn’t offer myself up for nothing; I have their protection because of the Grandmaster.  I don’t think she would be too happy with you coming here and baiting me either since part of that deal was you would leave me alone.  I suggest you obey her orders unless you want to get on her bad side.  Unlike you, I AM following my orders while you think you’re untouchable.” The only other being who COULD take McBurn down was the Grandmaster and possibly Campanella, though that would be a close call.

 

McBurn was laughing, not even bothering to turn to face her as he shook his head. “For someone so young, you’re so confident of yourself, of your place… too bad as always, you’re wrong.  There are a few lessons yet to teach you, my dear, though with that thick head of yours… I’m doubtful they’ll take.” What she assumed about the Grandmaster and what the truth was were two different things.  If Melyssa disobeyed another direct order, she was just another body to be disposed of and the Grandmaster KNEW Melyssa had a soft spot for these do-gooders. “You’re already failing the test.” He informed her, walking off. “Enjoy your session.”

 

Melyssa could feel the rage inside of her threatening to come out, the orange aura that looked like flames surrounding her.  Anger…anger was her enemy.  Anger was what drew this power out of her.  Mariabell had taught her how to quell it, how to cease it and channel it into her swordsmanship.  For the most part, Melyssa could control it, but McBurn always found a way to bring the worst out of her.  A test…the Grandmaster was testing her and she was failing?  Driving her Cutlass into the ground, Melyssa dropped to one knee and still had hold of the handle, squeezing her eyes shut. 

 

This was not the life she wanted. 

 

She didn’t want to be an Enforcer. 

 

She didn’t want to be someone’s toy. 

 

And she absolutely would NOT harm anyone from Class VII or her own family.  Her mother had disappeared and the last she heard, she was nowhere to be found.  Either she was in hiding…yes, she was in hiding, Melyssa would not believe anything else.  Soon, the orange aura disappeared and her eyes opened, not seeing McBurn anywhere.  She was alone again, not sensing anyone in the area and slowly rose back to her feet, pulling her Cutlass out of the ground.

 

Rean hates me and so does Crow.  I know they all do, so telling them the truth isn’t an option.  I will protect them in my own way, even if I am an idiot. It was time to go home for some sleep; Melyssa had to go to City Hall in the morning to fill out paperwork, even though she wasn’t starting until the following Monday.

 

Chapter 55

 

“So have we decided yet?” Ash asked, shuffling the cards lazily as Crow set down two bottles of beer at the table.

 

“About?”

 

“If it’s Melyssa.”

 

“She looks like Melyssa, beneath all that make-up, and the weird way of dressing.  But she doesn’t ACT like Melyssa.”

 

Well… Crow HAD also gone out of his way to bait her, noting the minute changes in her tone, the way she had said things.  Nobody offered ‘opinions’ on situations they weren’t up to date on in polite society, not unless they knew something.  His time with Ouroboros, with the Duke, had taught him a few things.

 

“I’m… mostly sure, maybe.” Where he tended to wind up hitting the wall was the fact that his Lyssa had spent all that time trying to get him to remember her.  He could not, WOULD not, believe her so cruel as to fake purposefully not knowing him.

 

~!~

 

Makeup covered up the dark circles beneath her eyes, thankfully. 

 

Melyssa walked up the steps at City Hall, ready to get this paperwork done and over with.  She stayed out way too late last night, barely got 2 hours of sleep and was running on pure adrenaline.  Once she arrived on the mayor’s floor, an assistant of his asked her to wait since he was in a meeting at the moment.  Machias told her to come in the morning, but he didn’t specify what time.  Melyssa nodded and walked over to sit down, really hoping she could make it through this without falling asleep.  Ash and…Crow would be here since they were security guards, more than likely right by the Mayor’s side.  Her eyes widened very slightly and briefly when Aurelia Le Guin stepped out of the double oak doors about 20 minutes later.  Melyssa immediately lowered her eyes to her lap and hoped the woman didn’t recognize or approach her.

 

Aurelia had been the one to bring Melyssa into Thors, she had been the one to find the girl after the attack in the very city they were in now, impressed with her courage and fiery determination.  Aurelia Le Guin was not an idiot.  She spotted the young woman sitting there with her eyes lowered and raised an eyebrow, glancing back at the now closed oak doors and frowned.

 

A second later, Ash Carbide had come out, running a hand through his hair as he blinked his pink eyes. “That went well.”

 

“At least I didn’t threaten him.”

 

“You sort of did.”

 

“As one old friend to another.” Her attention had been drawn away, momentarily.

 

“The mayor will see you now.”

 

Ash nodded at Ms. Reynolds, waiting until she had slipped through those doors before following her.

 

All Aurelia could do was stare at those now shut doors.

 

Melyssa had looked up when she heard Ash’s voice, locked eyes with Aurelia and could NOT hide who she truly was, even through the makeup.  Even through the façade of Lysa Reynolds.  The woman was too smart and wasn’t called the Golden Rakshasa for nothing.  She had been around for a while and Melyssa could only hope she went back to Leeves and left her alone.

 

“Good morning, Mr. Mayor.” She greeted, shaking Machias’ hand and took a seat in the chair in front of his desk.  The same seat Aurelia had occupied mere moments ago. “I know you said sometime this morning, but I figured the sooner we get this done, the better.”

 

“I couldn’t agree more, Miss Reynolds.” Machias didn’t waste time and handed over the paperwork for her to fill out. “If you wish to take it home and do it, feel free, or you can do it here and we will have it filed today.”

 

“No, I’ll do it here.”

 

It was a little nerve-wracking having Crow and Ash watching her, along with Machias, but Melyssa managed to do it.  It took her a little while since there was a lot of paperwork to get through.  Finally, she finished and jumped when she felt hot breath on her ear, not realizing Ash had moved to hover over her shoulder.  DIRECTLY over her shoulder.  This man really didn’t understand the concept of invading someone’s personal space.  He’d always been that way.  Standing, forcing him to step back, she handed over everything to the mayor and waited for him to sift through it all, making sure she didn’t miss any I’s that needed dotted or T’s that had to be crossed.

 

Ash had been analyzing her handwriting.  He knew she had studied with Crow a time or two at Thors.  Not with him, however, though she had caught him reading out in the hallway during the early AM hours.  He had told her, at the time, that it was the only way he could get peace and quiet from his roommate, Monique, as well as maintain his reputation.

 

Well, he had told MELYSSA that, not Lysa Reynolds.

 

Machias finally nodded, passing everything over to his temporary assistant.  The woman was retiring, hence the need for a new one.  Personal assistant, personal secretary, he had ‘inherited’ this woman when he had gotten the job.  She had agreed to stay on long enough for him to hire and train a replacement.

 

“This is Mrs. Willias, she’ll be training you over the next few days and… I’m afraid etiquette is one of those things she’ll be instructing you on.”

 

“I did him too, for the media.” Mrs. Willias informed her replacement with a kindly smile.

 

Melyssa breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that, shaking the woman’s hand with a smile of her own. “Thank you so much.  I look forward to working with you.” For however much longer she would be here.

 

“Likewise.  Be prepared, I can be rather stern, as Machias will tell you.”

 

Machias nodded emphatically and even saluted the older woman.

 

The women laughed in response and Mrs. Willias made her way back to her desk to file the paperwork from her new replacement.  She had to admit, Lysa was easy on the eyes, had the look and with a little training, she would be a shoo-in for the media.  As long as she learned how to speak to the media and handle them, she would do fine.

 

“Well, if that’s all that you need from me today, Mr. Regnitz, I’ll take my leave and let you get back to your duties.” Melyssa shouldered her purse, stepping back when Ash invaded her personal space again. “Okay look, we barely know each other and I’m not comfortable with your hot breath on my ear constantly.  You do realize how rude that is to do to someone, right?” Not to mention, it sent shivers down her spine and she could not deal with that with everything else going on.

 

“You might as well get used to it and you really are going to have to learn to toughen up.  You have to have a harder skin for when the press comes at you.” Ash informed her with a wry smile, shaking his head at her exasperated huff and eye roll. “Besides, when Machias,” He knew the guy personally and only ever referred to him as Mr. or ‘Mayor’ when out in public or at events.  Ash wouldn’t ever get so formal and stuffy that it became an all the time thing and he had even warned Machias he’d put his scythe ax up his backside if his ego got too inflated. “Goes out, you go with him and you both will be sandwiched between Crow and I.”


“I’m aware of that, but that doesn’t mean you have to breathe directly on my ear like you were earlier and just now.” Melyssa narrowed her eyes back at him, folding her arms in front of her chest. “And believe me, Mr. Carbide, I DO have a thicker skin than you could possibly imagine.  I just really don’t want your awful breath on my skin.  Good day, gentlemen.” She directed that toward Crow and Machias before heading out, hoping that was enough to keep both men at bay.  As much as she hated being a bitch to them, it was the only way to keep them at arm’s length, so she could do her job for Ouroboros.

 

“I give her a week before she’s eaten by the press.” Crow made sure she could hear him as she walked away. “If she can’t deal with you, there’s NO way she’s going to handle those vicious hounds.  She’ll wind up screwing Machias over.”

 

“Well, maybe he’ll get someone to do the speaking instead of her.  He could probably hire someone better for that.  She just needs to be his assistant, not his mouthpiece.”

 

“If you two are quite finished.”

 

They both flashed Machias sheepish grins.

 

“Go stand somewhere and look imposing, stop harassing my new hire.” He ordered, waving his hand.

 

“Actually, I’m going to go through the building, it’s time for my rounds.” Crow said, glancing at the clock on the wall.

 

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Melyssa did not let out a shriek until she was in her car with the windows rolled up.  Suddenly, the passenger door opened and Melyssa went to open her mouth, when a sword was pressed against her side.

 

“Drive, Melyssa, and don’t say a word.”

 

AURELIA!  Melyssa swallowed hard and nodded, knowing Aurelia would not hesitate to cut her down here and now.  She drove off as instructed and instead of going to her apartment, she was ordered to take them somewhere they’d be completely alone.  The only place she could think of was the clearing from last night.  No words were spoken between them until Melyssa pulled over on the side of the road, not hiding her vehicle like last time.  She did not remove her hands from the wheel and stared straight ahead, wondering what Aurelia planned on doing with or to her.

 

“Most people think you’re dead.” Aurelia said conversationally, her eyes focused straight ahead as well, hands folded gently in her lap. “Or, those like Rean, believe you to be a captive of Ouroboros.  Clearly, you are neither.” Her relaxed posture began shifting, something another warrior would recognize as a readying change. “So… the question is, why did our Melyssa Brackett come back, to Crossbell of ALL places, and is now working for the mayor?” Because that wasn’t suspicious at ALL given what they knew of Melyssa’s abduction.  So help her Goddess, if Melyssa was a traitor, as much as it would pain her to do so, she would cut the girl down now and regret it for the rest of her days.

 

“Are you going to strike me down or give me the opportunity to explain?”

 

“I want an explanation and then I’ll see how I feel after that.”

 

“Fair enough.” Melyssa removed her hands from the wheel and rested them in her lap, not looking at the woman. “Two years ago, I was taken captive by Ouroboros, as you pointed out.  The Grandmaster gave me a choice – become an Enforcer or…I would become McBurn’s toy for him to play with and torture until he decided to kill me.  I told the Grandmaster I would become an Enforcer, under one condition.”

 

“And that would be?”

 

“All of Class VII, old and new, at the time, were to remain unharmed, along with my mother.” She didn’t give a flying fig about her father, not after everything he’d done.  He was the reason her Papa was dead, even if he didn’t strike the man down himself. “Their protection in exchange for my cooperation.”

 

Aurelia remained quiet, listening to her explanation. “Go on.”

 

“I was ordered to find out who the new mayor of Crossbell City was.  After I reported the information, I was then ordered to eliminate Machias Regnitz at the party that just happened a week ago…and I defied the Grandmaster.  I made it clear to her I would not harm anyone in Class VII, no matter what they did to me.  So instead, she sent me here as a spy for Ouroboros and ordered me to get close to the mayor.  This is the first freedom I’ve had in two years, so I agreed to do it, but I’m also doing it to stay close to Machias in case Ouroboros strikes.” Now, she looked at Aurelia. “I want to protect him any way I can.  And I’m not planning on telling the Grandmaster anything, only small things that Machias plans to do with Crossbell City.  She wants to know what direction he plans on taking the city now that he’s mayor.  And I don’t have a clue why Ouroboros is targeting Crossbell City, though I’ve got my guesses, as I’m sure you do too.  So, to summarize, I’m supposed to be here as a spy of Ouroboros, I’m technically an Enforcer not following orders and I’m very much alive, living an entirely new identity to hide who I used to be.  I’m not the same Melyssa Brackett I once was.  She died two years ago when I started training and Lysa Reynolds was born.”

 

Aurelia was silent for a very long time, considering all of that.  The first freedom she had and instead of running for help from the people who cared about her, she had decided to play the role to continue protecting them.  Or at least, that was the story she was telling.  She knew quite well how people could be turned by Ouroboros, Crow was a prime example.  But Crow was also an example of hope and redemption as well.

 

“I’ll be watching, Melyssa Brackett.” She said sternly, finally turning her gaze onto the younger woman. “For now, I’ll leave you be, but one false move and I will finish what McBurn started in Crossbell.”

 

It was obvious Aurelia was no longer the Thors Branch School principal and she now resided in Crossbell City as well.  Did Ouroboros know that? “I understand and if I do make a false move, I won’t even fight you.  I’ll let you cut me down.” It would be a mercy killing compared to what Ouroboros would do to her. “I hope you believe me when I say I don’t want to be part of that poisonous group.  I don’t want to be an Enforcer.  And I’m here to protect my friends from the very group who forced me into their world.  I hate them all, Aurelia, and I want them all to pay for everything they’ve done.  I have to play this close to the chest and that’s why I will not tell anyone else who I really am.”

 

“Why not come to us?” Aurelia asked, which was really the glaringly obvious question. “Crow has gotten out successfully and maintained his independence.”

 

Crow had finally learned to trust his friends.  Ouroboros was beyond adept at keeping one step ahead, but they had also been proven that they were not infallible.  With patience and determination, Ouroboros COULD be beaten and they could be sent scurrying back to the shadows where they belonged.

 

“You don’t have to keep living this lie, you’ve taken on a great burden, sacrificing yourself for your friends.” She took a deep breath.  Aurelia knew how much it had hurt Melyssa, Crow’s ‘death’ and then lack of memory, she wondered if Melyssa had considered how much that had hurt Crow, losing his childhood best friend after finally ‘remembering’ her properly. “And if you choose not too, if you insist on continuing with this,” Which while honorable was also foolish. “Then don’t ever let them know the truth of who you are, some damage… can be made worse.”

 

Rean came to mind.

 

Chapter 56

 

“I don’t know how.” Melyssa dropped her voice to a near whisper, tears finally building in her eyes.  She missed Crow so much while she was gone and the others, especially Ash and Rean. “They all hate me for what I did, especially Rean.  What they don’t understand is I had no choice that night.  McBurn would’ve killed everyone and…I couldn’t let that happen.  I couldn’t have their blood on my hands!  For whatever reason, the Grandmaster wanted to recruit me.  I’m the reason for the train attack.  I’m the reason why we went to Jurai in the first place.  And they won’t tell me why.  Even after two years, I STILL don’t know what makes ME so damn special!” She hit the steering wheel, letting a few tears slide down her cheeks and wiped them away angrily. “I don’t want to keep living this lie, this life, pretending to be someone I’m not, but…” If she revealed who she truly was, their protection would be gone because Ouroboros would come for not only her, but her friends and her family as well.

 

“Melyssa… have you considered that if McBurn really wanted you dead, or Crow, he would have done it by now?  He’s had plenty of opportunities.” But her tone was gentle, knowing that Melyssa had been a young, naïve woman who had feared for her friends and family.  Ouroboros -McBurn- had exploited that, made her believe if she didn’t do it, everyone would die.  They were predators, preying on the good hearted and it made her sick because Melyssa had been exceptionally good hearted. “You’re giving them power over you and not trusting your friends and their ability to protect themselves.  You do them a great disservice, just as I imagine they have done to you.”

 

If anyone spoke complete truth to her, if there was one person in Erebonia she trusted MORE than her friends and family, it was Aurelia.  This woman had saved her in the very city they were currently in.  She was right.  Ouroboros had all the power because of Melyssa fear of losing someone else she loved and cared about.  Papa’s death had rocked her and then finding out her own father was an Enforcer of Ouroboros…Melyssa hadn’t been thinking clearly that night.  As much as she hated admitting it, her mind was focused on protecting her mother and classmates, by any means necessary.

 

“They – no, Rean trusted me that night to keep my head on straight and I failed him.  I failed and all I had to do was find out the truth from my father.” Well, they hadn’t failed in that mission, but…the aftermath was a huge failure. “What should I do, Aurelia?  How do I even begin coming clean and getting my life back?”

 

“Honesty is usually the best policy.”

 

If Crow or Ash didn’t at least suspect then they were not as smart as she usually gave them credit for.  Admittedly, Melyssa looked very different, a lot had changed about her in the past two years and it showed in the way she carried herself.  One thing she would grudgingly give Ouroboros credit for, they had turned the young woman into a warrior.  It was visible in Melyssa’s posture.  Not that she approved of turning a human into a living weapon for sordid purposes.  Rean had left Crossbell last she knew.  Rean was not… Rean and hadn’t been since that tragic night.

 

“May I ask you a question?  About the nature of your relationship with Schwarzer?”

 

Why in Gehenna did butterflies suddenly erupt in her stomach at that question?  She knew why.  It was forbidden for students and Instructors to be together and…that kiss she shared with Rean, in the clearing, had never left her memory.

 

“Sure, you can ask me anything, Aurelia.  I will be completely honest with you.” There was no reason to lie to her about anything since Aurelia had instantly pinpointed who she was.  It made her wonder if Crow, Ash and even Machias knew the truth, which was why the boys were giving her such a hard time. That would make sense, the heathens.

 

It would make sense and given how some things about them had changed over the last two years, hardened so to speak.  Crow especially would be prone to harassing her, poking and prodding to get a reaction out of her.

 

“Were you two romantically involved on any level?” She asked bluntly, her usual way of asking anything with no sugarcoating.

 

If Melyssa and Rean HAD been involved, it would explain so much about his drastic personality change.  She knew a part of it was due to his over-caring nature.  Rean had felt like he had failed everyone, mostly Melyssa and that had had an effect on him but she didn’t think it would be THIS drastic.

 

Melyssa was quiet for a minute, trying to think of how she wanted to word her answer. “We weren’t in a relationship, but…we did have a moment where it would be considered ‘romantic’, I guess.”

 

“Romantic, how?” Aurelia pressed, wanting all the facts and narrowed her eyes at the pink tinge overtaking Melyssa’s cheeks. “Did you two…?”

 

“No!  No, Goddess, no!  I-I’ve never, um…” Why was this hard to talk about?  Even after two years and she was an adult now, talking about sex always made her flush and made her nervous. “It was a kiss.  We shared a kiss and I told him it was wrong and I wouldn’t break the rules of Thors Branch School.  And that was it.” It also happened the day of the catastrophe because later that night, all Gehenna broke loose and she was taken by Ouroboros. “I won’t deny I was attracted to him and I know I shouldn’t have been because I was a student and he was my Instructor.  That’s why I put a stop to it before anything else could happen…and I don’t think he took it very well.” Maybe that was why he came up with the idea to put her in danger in the first place by using her as bait. 

 

Now that she thought about it, as much as it hurt, that made a lot of sense.

 

“Being cut off or being rejected?” Aurelia asked immediately, already knowing Rean wouldn’t hold being ‘cut off’ against a woman.  She doubted he had a thimble full of experience himself.  Being rejected on the other hand… that was a whole new ballgame, but she didn’t see Rean putting someone in danger on purpose for rejecting him. “No, don’t answer, it doesn’t matter.  Suffice to say, I know, knew, him well enough to say with all confidence that Rean did NOT put you in danger’s way lightly or out of spite.” And now it was killing him slowly.

 

“How did you know I was…never mind.” That was a dumb question.  Aurelia could read between the lines and, somehow, she could always read Melyssa like a book. “I would hope he wouldn’t.  Even in the short amount of time we knew each other, I trusted him to protect me as an Instructor would.”

 

Rean was more than that to her, though.  Melyssa wasn’t sure what he was, but it definitely went past a student/Instructor relationship.  Was it love?  She didn’t know.  She thought she loved Crow for the longest time and he had put a kibosh on that.  Then there was Ash…and her feelings were all jumbled when it came to him.

 

“I trust your judgment more than anyone, Aurelia.  How should I go about doing this?  Who should I tell first?”

 

“Crow.” Aurelia said without even needing to think twice. “After everything you did to bring his memories back and how hard you worked to get to where you were, in honor of him… He hides it well, but your disappearance affected him almost as greatly as it did Rean.  Crow is also the one most likely to understand as well as help you break free of your chains with Ouroboros.” Since he obviously had the most experience there. “Providing he isn’t already aware of who you are and is just waiting on the right time to confront you.” Or for her to finally admit it to him.

 

Sometimes, Crow Armbrust made absolutely no sense to anyone, not even her.

 

Melyssa shut her eyes, looking away from Aurelia and opened them to stare out the window, confliction rearing its ugly head. “What if he wants nothing to do with me?” Her voice had gone quiet, the trouble and fear evident in her voice.

 

“That’s a risk you will have to take, Melyssa.  I never said this would be easy.  Maybe he will be angry with you and cut you off for a while, maybe he will tell everyone who you truly are, or…maybe he’ll understand since he’s been in almost the exact same position you are now.” That made Melyssa look back at her and Aurelia cracked the barest hint of a smile. “There really is only one way to find out.”

 

Was it a risk she was willing take, knowing Ouroboros was lurking and spying on her?  McBurn had made it clear she was being watched.  The apartment had been set up by Ouroboros, so more than likely, they had some way of keeping tabs on everything she did.  If she did tell Crow, she would have to take him someplace away from the apartment building, like she did with Aurelia.  Granted, Aurelia forced her to do this, but Melyssa didn’t fault her for it at all.  Driving back to Crossbell City, she dropped Aurelia off on the corner where her apartment building was, which was on the other side of the city and went to her own.  Melyssa had a lot of thinking to do, deep down knowing what the right decision was already.

 

“You look fantastic.”

 

“Don’t mind him, he got punched.” Crow laughed, half carrying Ash up the sidewalk just as Melyssa got out of her now parked car.

 

“She does look fantastic, like a secretarial play doll…”

 

“He got punched hard.  Someone came at Machias, who decided he wanted an after-hours drink at his favorite pub.”

 

Crow shook his head, hoisting Ash up when the pink eyed bonehead tried walking by himself.  Machias was more than capable of defending himself, but he wasn’t technically supposed too, he was in theory supposed to have pristine, white hands, hence the bodyguards.  Machias had been lamenting the loss of a ‘good and proper’ fight after Ash and Crow had stepped in.

 

“He wasn’t even targeting Mach, it was just a random drunk… with a mean hook.” Ash muttered, shaking his head and his hair shifted, revealing a lovely little bruised knot. “I’m fine.” He shrugged his friend off of him, standing perfectly still. “Ow…”

 

“No, you’re not fine because you can’t even walk straight.”

 

Melyssa quickly joined them and draped Ash’s arm around her shoulders, looking up at him.  This reminded her so much of when she found him in the woods, burnt and bloody.  Together, they had gone down to the creek for some water and Crow and Rean had found them in a…precarious position.  Ash had shielded her completely with his body, thinking it was whoever had attacked the train coming to finish the job.

 

“Come on, one foot in front of the other now.  If you’re good, I’ll doctor you up myself and maybe even kiss that knot on your head.”

 

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” He muttered, blinking wearily down at her and then flashed her a lopsided grin.

 

“Up to my place.  His still isn’t unpacked.” Crow said, leading the way inside and for once, they even took the elevator.  Soon enough, between him and Lysa, Ash was parked on his couch and Crow was in the kitchen, making an ice pack.

 

“You should get me a beer.”

 

“You should shut up and let Lys finish cleaning that knot on your hard skull.” Crow shot back with a snort, but he did get himself one, cracking it open quite audibly.

 

This reminds me so much of the better days.  I’ve missed these two so much. Melyssa shook herself mentally while continuing to clean up Ash’s wound, slapping a bandage on it and kissed it, just like she said she would. “There, all better.  I told you if you were good, I’d do it.” She smiled at him genuinely, seeing the twinkle in those pink eyes and had to look away, cleaning the mess up from the first-aid kit. If I tell them together, Ash will completely flip out.  Aurelia is right, if I’m doing this, it has to be Crow first, one on one.  I owe him that after forcing him to remember me and then I left him…I hurt them all. “Crow?” She took his hand to pull him further into the kitchen while Ash continued grumbling in the living room. “I need to talk to you, but we can’t do it here.  It has to be somewhere…secluded.  I know a place on the outskirts of the city.  Will you come with me tonight, after Ash is sleeping?”

 

Now the good mood was gone and replaced with caution, his fiery red eyes searching hers intently. “Any particular mode of dress?” The question was casual, but the look on his face was not. 

 

A ‘stranger’ wanted to take him to a secluded place on the outskirts of the city… at night.  Now, normally, he would have had a joke about a beautiful woman and all that, but… she wasn’t exactly giving off the come hither vibe right now.  Crow had been ambushed and lured into traps one time to many to fall for it again thanks to a pretty, familiar place.

 

"No…" Melyssa did not blame him for being on guard and skeptical.  She was springing this on him out of nowhere. 

 

What if this was a mistake? 

 

What if this completely blew up in her face? 

 

Was Aurelia right in believing Crow could help her reclaim her life and leave Ouroboros? Don't lose your nerve now! "Midnight, meet me at my car and... if you change your mind, I'll understand." She stepped closer to him, searching those crimson orbs for any indication she should back out of this idea. "Keep this between us.  For now.  I will see you tonight."

 

Right there was another bell ringing an alarm in his head. Keep this between us. Right there, he could already envision his lifeless body being found in a ditch outside of Crossbell somewhere.  Chances were, he’d be naked and his bank accounts drained.  He made a mental note to not take any personal items with him, like his wallet.  Crow was going to be stingy in death.  Bobbing his head to show he understood, he swept back towards Ash, who was looking tired.

 

“You’ll live.” He pressed the beer against the knot.

 

“I wish I wouldn’t, this hurts.” He grumbled.

 

“Get some rest, Ash.  I will see you guys later.”

 

Melyssa left the apartment and went to her own, hating how twisted her stomach felt.  It was in knots and it was only going to intensify until she had the talk with Crow later that night.  Food was not on the agenda, but she had to eat something.  Salad and small sandwich, it was.  She was also bringing her Cutlass and crossbow, not taking any chances, just in case he wanted to fight her after he heard what she had to say.

 

Chapter 57

 

The minutes, the hours, ticked by very slowly. 

 

Agonizingly slow. 

 

Melyssa nearly cheered when the clock struck 11:55 and she made her way down to her car, once again going out her window.  She was in training gear, again, just in case, which consisted of shorts and a tank top, both molding to her body and black.  Melyssa also did something else to alter her appearance and straightened her hair, braiding it over her shoulder.  The only thing that was different about her was her ‘makeup’.  What nobody knew, not even Aurelia, was Melyssa wasn’t wearing actual makeup.  It was a mask Mariabell made for her that made her face look absolutely flawless and perfect.  Too flawless and perfect.  She hadn’t removed it…yet.  A little after midnight, Crow finally made his way down and left the building, heading towards her.

 

“You’re late.” By 10 minutes.

 

“No, I’ve been watching you from the rooftop over there.”

 

Crow pointed at the building behind her, across the street.  And he had circled back, come downstairs and now here he was, fashionably late.  He had been scouting her, watching what she was doing, seeing if there was anyone with her, or if she had contacted anyone.  He had been scanning the area for others who might have the same idea as him, rooftop perch.  Crow was alive for a reason and that involved being smart and sometimes even a little paranoid.  He shrugged when she raised one of those perfectly sculpted eyebrows.

 

“A guy can’t be too careful.  I don’t know you.” He knew Melyssa Brackett, he had no idea who the Gehenna this woman was.

 

“Hmm…yet you took the gamble and came to meet me anyway, after spying on me.” Opening the passenger door, she didn’t take her eyes off of him the same way he didn’t her, tapping her fingers on the top of it. “Well come on then, Mr. Armbrust, care to take another gamble?  I don’t think you’ll regret it and we’re burning the night away.”

 

They really didn’t have a lot of time to be sizing each other up and picking at each other.  Melyssa slid behind the wheel and fired her vehicle up, waiting patiently for Crow to decide whether he was coming or staying put.  A minute later, he reluctantly slid in the passenger seat and shut the door, buckling up.  Another minute later, she drove off down the street and headed to the outskirts of the city, a million and one thoughts rushing through her head.  She could only imagine what Crow was thinking and feeling at the moment; he was completely on guard with her and tensed, coiled, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.  Instead of going to the same spot McBurn found her the previous night – it was technically two nights ago now – Melyssa went in the opposite direction, having a second spot in mind where she knew they would not be disturbed.

 

“You’re not in any danger, if it makes you feel any better.  There’s no ambush or attack waiting for you, no traps of any kind.  And once you hear what I have to say, you will understand why we had to go to these extremes to…talk.”

 

A gamble would have been coming straight to her WITHOUT surveying the situation.  The woman was either baiting him or he had a thing for beautiful idiots.  He knew he had a thing for beautiful, baiting idiots, his eyes studying her thoughtfully.

 

“Maybe.” He agreed without agreeing, his eyes on the side mirror, half expecting to find someone trailing them. the sad part was, he wouldn’t be sure if was for her, him or them both. “For someone who is so paranoid about speaking in the city, you’re very free with your words in the car.” What if her car was bugged or something?  What she was saying wasn’t anything definite to anyone who might casually overhear, but someone who knew what they were looking for?

 

Dead giveaway.

 

“The car is safe, the apartment building isn’t and where we’re going is safe as well.  And secluded.” Melyssa reasoned, focusing on her breathing because she didn’t want to give anything away yet. 

 

She still had no idea how she would do this, reveal to him what he either already knew or suspected.  Unless, Crow didn’t have a clue.  No, he was smarter than that and Aurelia had pinpointed her right away at City Hall.  The rest of the ride was made in silence until they arrived at their destination.  Not saying a word, they both stepped out at the same time and Melyssa lead the way through the trees into the wooded area.

 

“This should be far enough.” They were about 20 minutes on the outskirts of Crossbell City and a quarter moon was in the sky with a few clouds and stars. “I want to show you something, Crow.  And after I do, I’ll explain everything.” She slowly turned to face him, waiting for him to nod once. 

 

That was good enough for her.  Taking a deep breath, Melyssa reached up and began pulling what looked to be a layer of skin right off her face, starting at the hairline and working its way down.  It literally looked like she was peeling her own face off, that’s how real the mask was.  Beneath it was the real Melyssa, makeup free, with slightly dark circles beneath her eyes, a slight scar on her cheek from the train attack and other little imperfections, unlike the mask had.  It even had ears that mirrored hers perfectly, so there was no sign it was an actual mask.

 

Crow was silent for a long moment, realizing what he and Ash had mistaken for make-up and contouring -things they had learned about thanks to girls like Monique and Juna, women were weird- was… not make-up.  It had been that mask.  It had been what had thrown them off, made them semi-doubtful this was Melyssa.

 

“That’s just creepy, even by our weird standards, Brackett.” He said after clearing his throat.  His suspicions, hesitations aside, had been confirmed and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to hug her or throttle her first. “Why?” He asked finally, his shoulders slumping. “No, where, where have you been and why show yourself now?”

 

She said she would explain everything to him and she meant it, lowering her eyes to the grass below. “With Ouroboros training to become an Enforcer…against my will.  For two years, I was locked away and trained day in and day out, night in and night out, with no freedom.  The Grandmaster wanted to recruit me and before you ask, no, I don’t know why.  She won’t tell me, nobody will, and I’ve asked several times.  All I was told was McBurn saw spirit in me and it was enough to convince the Grandmaster to come after me, to get me into their ranks.”

 

Tears filled her eyes, remembering that night she was taken away from everyone she loved and cared about. “He would’ve killed you had I not agreed to go with them, Crow.  You were knocked out, temporarily, you couldn’t even stand.  And Rean was on his way and…I had no choice.  I had to protect you, Rean, my Mom, everyone, even my loathsome father.” They still didn’t know Robert’s whereabouts. “The Grandmaster made a deal with me.  I told her I would become an Enforcer, if she stayed away from all of Class VII, old and new, at the time, and my mother.  I insured everyone’s protection before agreeing to anything.  It was either that or…” She shuddered violently, wrapping her arms around herself. “McBurn would do with me as he pleased…I would have become his toy and he would have broken me in ways that would’ve made me beg for death.”

 

Blinking tears away, she moved to sit down in the grass, drawing her knees up to her chest. “Fast-forward two years later, my first assignment and mission was to find out who was Crossbell City’s new mayor.  When I discovered it was Machias, I reported the information to Mariabell, one of the Anguis’ of Ouroboros and the Grandmaster ordered me to eliminate him.  I refused.  I went to her and I told her I would not harm any of you, no matter what happened to me.  She could give me to McBurn after everything, I didn’t care, but I would not harm my friends and family.  So, she decided to make me her little spy within Crossbell City and ordered me to get close to the mayor, to Machias, and report back everything I found out regarding his plans for Crossbell City.  Ouroboros wants to eventually take it over and they were relying on me to relay any juicy information they could use to their advantage.” 

 

“Thing is I wasn’t planning on doing anything like that.  The reason I went for the secretarial job was to be close to Machias to protect him, in case Ouroboros struck.  I didn’t realize you and Ash were here, but even with you two and Machias, you wouldn’t stand a chance against Ouroboros.” That was an unfortunate fact. “I also agreed to be a spy to get away from them, to get to freedom again and then…I ran into an old friend today and she convinced me to tell you everything.  I was…hesitant to do it, but I trust her more than most in this world and she did save my life, so I know she wouldn’t steer me wrong.  I know I hurt you and everyone else, Crow, and I’m not looking for forgiveness.  But I refuse to be Ouroboros’ puppet any longer and I want my life back!  I want to be Melyssa Brackett again, not this puppet named Lysa Reynolds!  I hate it, I hate wearing the masks and I hate who I’ve become because I’ve never condoned lying and that’s all I’ve been doing since rejoining society.  Until tonight…I feel free for the first time in two very long years.”

 

Crow was silent again for a very long time, wondering if he had dreamt the last decade of his life.  Huffing, he dropped down into the grass, just staring at her.  He had been a terrorist, the Azure Chevalier, and all that other jazz and she had absolutely no faith in his, or Rean’s, abilities to do anything apparently.  That was just downright insulting.  Add that to the guilt that she had so strongly felt the need to protect them, seeing no other way, no other choice… he didn’t know which way to go, what he should feel right now.

 

“I get your reasons.” He said finally, grudgingly.  Rean would have done the same and Crow had always been the first to admit that Rean was a jackass. “I’m really pissed with you though, Brackett.” She had MADE him remember, for NOTHING except misery and pain.

 

Melyssa heaved a sigh, not knowing what she expected, but at least he wasn’t trying to take her head off. “I know.  And I’m sorry for making you worry about me these past two years.  If I could have reached out to you, I would have.” She couldn’t; they had her under lock and key for two straight years, which was how long it took to complete the Enforcer training. “I don’t blame you for being pissed at me, Crow.  You have EVERY right to be.  And I know nothing will ever be the same again between us.” Not even close, not even a fraction. “Just so you know, though, it wasn’t that I didn’t have faith in your abilities or Rean’s to turn the tides of what happened.  No matter how GOOD you two think you are with a sword and your guns and your double-saber, you are NOTHING compared to McBurn or any of the Ouroboros Enforcers or their Anguis’s.  I was there for two years straight, I saw how much power they have and it’s frightening, Crow.  I do not regret what I did that night in Jurai to protect and save you and everyone else.  You would have died; they don’t pull punches and they don’t show mercy unless they get what they want.  And what they wanted, for whatever reason that night, was me.  This all happened because of me…and I still don’t have a damn clue why.  It keeps me up at night, I don’t sleep very well and it will probably haunt me for the rest of my life, knowing the train attack happened because of me and us going to Jurai in the first place was all for Ouroboros to get their hands on me.  It’s my fault and it’s my cross I have to bear, nobody else.”

 

“Well good, you bear it.” He snarked, looking away from her and rest his head on his knees. “You do remember, I survived a few wars, right?  Some pretty life and death situations?” She was terrified of McBurn and he couldn’t even begin to imagine it because he knew what she was afraid of.  What any woman was when it came to a man like McBurn and that reason alone would have probably been enough for her to surrender quietly, as long as THAT didn’t happen. “You going to tell Ash?” He asked finally, quietly, looking more like the youth he still technically was, and tired. He felt like a lost, tired little boy.

 

She had forced him to remember and then in one painful night, he had lost everything he had regained.

 

“I want to.  I want to tell him everything, like I just did with you, but…” Melyssa knew she would sound like she was being a martyr with what she said next, but it HAD to be said. “Ouroboros is still out there, Crow.  They’re lurking in the shadows and they’re watching me, testing me, waiting to see what I’ll do.  That’s why we couldn’t stay at the apartment building to have this conversation.  They set the apartment up for me to live in and it was my job to find a way to get closer to Machias to relay information to them.  And if they find out I told ANYONE who I really am, they will come and they will destroy without batting an eye.  Crossbell City will be turned to ashes.” This group absolutely terrified her and for good reason. “Machias made a mistake when he took this position because he’s right in Ouroboros’ crosshairs now.”

 

“No, Machias knows that sometimes you have to take a stand to do what’s right.” Crow informed her, his fiery red eyes narrowing. “So, even though you just said you don’t want to lie anymore and you want to be YOU again, you’re going to keep on lying and being… her?” She made no sense. “The reason… organizations like Ouroboros get stronger, Melyssa,” He said quietly, evenly. “Is because there are hundreds of people like you in their ranks, terrified to make a stand.  Sometimes you have to throw it all to the wind and risk it.” He had actually learned that from Rean because he had thought Rean was insane to constantly go up against Ouroboros and yet… Rean was still alive. “You need to let them know you’ve been compromised.” He informed her after another long moment of silence.

 

Chapter 58

 

Grabbing him by the scruff of his t-shirt he had on, Melyssa shook him none too gently. “No, I…I need your help!  I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, Crow!  I don’t know how to get out of this and I damn sure don’t want to be HER anymore!” Melyssa didn’t release his shirt, just pressed her forehead against his chest and let the tears flow. “And I’m not telling them anything because I’m not part of Ouroboros anymore!  I…I…I just want to be myself again!  I want my life back!” Calm down, for the love of the Goddess, calm down, Melyssa! She shut her eyes and channeled it all, breathing in and out slowly, trembling from head to toe.  Slowly, she opened them to look up into those crimson eyes of her childhood best friend. “Taking a stand against them means suicide, you know that, right?  You know we won’t stand a chance by ourselves with just you, Ash, Machias and myself.” Even Emma, with her magic, wouldn’t be enough.  They would need everyone, both old, new and newer Class VII, if they hoped to stand a chance against Ouroboros. “I’ll take a stand as long as I’m by your side.  Yours, Ash’s and…Rean’s.”

 

If she was to die, at least she would be with those she loved and cared about.  Crow began laughing at her, at this situation, at how absurd it was.  She had just said she ‘wanted’ too, but Ouroboros was still out there.  Melyssa hadn’t changed, she was still emotional, but he supposed after tonight, he couldn’t say a thing about it.

 

“You can’t ask for anything, Melyssa.” He said gently, prying her head up. “All you can ask for is a chance to explain.” And Ash would forgive her, mostly.  Rean… was not the same, he’d probably turn them away before they had a chance to open their mouths. “And I’m sorry, but if you’re thinking of anyone besides me and Ash, people are going to question your loyalty.” Just like his had been questioned until he had proven himself, multiple times. “It isn’t that easy, Lyssa.” The old nickname came out easily enough.

 

This was why she didn’t want to say anything, to show who she truly was.  It was hopeless.  Rean wouldn’t forgive her.  Ash, maybe.  The rest of Class VII, both old and new, she had no idea.  Releasing his shirt abruptly, she stepped back and swallowed down everything she felt, just like she was taught to do. “I’m sorry for wasting your time and mine, then.  Even though I had no choice that night unless I wanted your blood and everyone else’s on my hands…you know what?  It doesn’t matter anymore.  What’s done is done…and I’ll find a way out of this myself or die trying.” Slipping the mask back on, Melyssa ignored Crow’s shudder as she transformed back into Lysa Reynolds. “It’s late, we need to head back.”

 

Melyssa lead the way back to the car, no other words spoken between them.  Her loyalty would be questioned – of course it would, even though Crow’s hadn’t been.  Everyone welcomed him back with open arms, despite him being a terrorist!

 

Whatever, I’m done trusting others and I need to start trusting myself only.  Aurelia, you were wrong this time.

 

Crow was quiet for most of the trip back to the city, finally shifting to look at her. “I don’t know what you want, Lyssa.” He said finally. “You can’t expect me to not be mad, or for other people to fall at your feet and understand.  Well, I understand and I know others would too, but that doesn’t change anything.  Class VII is among the best, we all are, and a girl who nobody knew tells us all we’re dead without her making sacrifices.  Can’t you see it from everyone else’s side?” And why was she guilt tripping him with her ‘even though I had no choice’ stuff?  He had enough guilt from that night without her throwing it on him even more.

 

“I don’t want anything from you or anyone else, Crow.  I made my bed and I will have to lie in it.  I do see it from all of your sides, just like I saw it from your side when I found out you were alive, that you weren’t dead.  Your memories were gone and I was very understanding about it, after getting over the initial shock of seeing you alive.  Despite everything you’ve done, you were forgiven.  You were a terrorist and they all forgave you, which is why I thought, if I revealed the truth to you, you would help me make them see why I did what I had to do.  But I was wrong, and so was my friend.” Now, there was a risk Crow would tell all of Class VII who she was and then Ouroboros would find out.  Melyssa was living on borrowed time and she knew it, pushing her fear and anxiety aside while driving them back to the apartment building.

 

“I am TRYING to be understanding, Melyssa, but you are making it very difficult.”

 

She was expecting him to bow at her feet, profess his gratitude and tell her everyone else would fall in line.  She kept pointing out she had saved them by sacrificing herself.  It was hard to be understanding when she was basically throwing that fact in his face, she was guilt tripping him into whatever.  Ouroboros had really taught her well.  That was an unkind thought and he shoved it aside immediately.

 

“You don’t KNOW about how or why I was forgiven because you weren’t THERE.” She was in Jurai, doing whatever she did. “I want to help you, but you can’t expect people to just fall in line immediately, that’s not how human nature works and Rean is completely different from before!”

 

“I DON’T WANT EVERYONE TO FALL AT MY DAMN FEET!!  I’M NOT EXPECTING FORGIVENESS!!  I JUST WANT OUROBOROS GONE AND WITHOUT ALL OF US UNITED, IT WON’T HAPPEN!!  WE’RE ALL IN DANGER, CROW, ALL OF US!!” Melyssa screamed back at him, gritting her teeth because he wasn’t seeing the big picture.  He wasn’t seeing just how DANGEROUS and LETHAL Ouroboros was. “And maybe I would’ve been there had you not ran away when you were 13 to pursue a mad, ridiculous goal of killing the damn Chancellor!!  If you didn’t become a damn terrorist and kill COUNTLESS people for your own gain!!  It’s just crazy how I’m not a terrorist, and I did what I had to do to protect those I love and care about, but yet, I’m not good enough for forgiveness, not when it comes to the GREAT Azure Chevalier!!  Well, screw you, Crow!  SCREW. YOU!” That actually felt really, really good to say and Melyssa didn’t realize how much pent up anger she’d had when it came to him and what he did.  Somehow, she managed to make it back to the apartment building, after both raged at the other, and she cut the ignition. “The ball is in your court now.  Do with it what you want.  Goodnight.” Stepping out of the car, she headed inside, feeling emotionally and mentally drained.

 

Crow spent the night making calls after thinking about what she had said.  She was right.  Two years of nothing and her joining Ouroboros meant nothing in the grand scheme of things and she did deserve forgiveness.   They all had to be united and that meant they all needed to get over themselves and listen to what she had to say.  Obviously, Ouroboros was a bigger problem than any of them realized and Melyssa was the person in the know.  Bright and early, the majority of Class VII, the former Class VII anyway, had been updated on the situation, even Rean.  Rean was coming, they all were.  They all knew not to go to the apartment, or come together.  He imagined within a few days, the city would have been infiltrated by Class VII.

 

~!~

 

That following early morning, there was a fist pounding on Melyssa’s door.  She did not want to be bothered and tried ignoring it, putting a pillow over her head.  Nope.  It didn’t work.  What in Gehenna was going on?

 

“Hold on!” She shouted out, still half-asleep and nearly forgot to put her mask on. “I’m coming!  Hold your damn horses!” Melyssa had no idea where the damn fire was as she trudged to the door, flipping the deadbolt to unlock it. “Whoever this is, it’s 6 in the damn morning and someone better be dying!” She opened it and was instantly awake at who was on the other side.

 

Ash Carbide, recovered mostly from his knot from yesterday, was standing there.  The knot had gone down quite a bit though the area was bruised, he was hiding it with a bandana, his hair peeking out from over it.  He grinned down at her, pink eyes twinkling impishly.

 

“You need to get dressed, Ms. Reynolds,” He said by way of greeting. “Remember, I promised to buy you coffee.”

 

Of course he had done no such thing, but thanks to Crow, he knew her apartment was bugged and Ouroboros was listening in.  She looked pissed, it was early, but he had been up for a while.  He had done nothing but slept yesterday once getting home, he was AWAKE and full of energy now.

 

“I’ll wait, meet you outside in 20?”

 

If she acted like she didn’t know what he was talking about, if she was being watched at that moment, it would look suspicious. Crow told him. “Oh Goddess, sorry!  I forgot about that.  Yeah, 20 minutes and I’ll be ready.” He nodded, sauntering away and she shut the door, heading to her room to get dressed.  Ash knew.  Goddess, her stomach was already in knots again. Pull yourself together, Melyssa!

 

Pulling out an orange skirt with a pink and orange top, she quickly dressed and then did her hair, just pulling it back in a messy bun piled on top of her head.  The mask was still perfectly in place, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t be for long once her and Ash were alone.  Taking a deep breath, she slipped her sandals on and headed outside, looking perfectly calm on the outside, but on the inside, she was a mess.

 

Ash was waiting there, beside his own ride, arms folded over his muscular chest.  His eyes raked over her, taking in all that orange and then focused on her face.  A mask.  She was wearing a freaking mask that made her look perfect.  Crow had already informed him that he would no longer trust ANY woman who looked overly perfect because now he was creeped out.  Ash didn’t blame him, the thought of it WAS creepy.

 

“My lady.” He stepped aside, gesturing to the orbal car.

 

She plastered on a smile since they were in public and walked over to him, curtsying to him in a playful manner. “Quite the gentleman you are, Mr. Carbide.” Melyssa’s nickname for him was simply Carbide, but she couldn’t call him that, not out in the open like this. 

 

Slipping into the car, he shut the door for her and Melyssa buckled up, staring straight ahead.  The smile was gone as soon as they drove away from the apartment and Melyssa prepared herself mentally and emotionally for the verbal thrashing she was about to receive.  She didn’t dare ask where he was taking her either, keeping her hands clasped in her lap.  Her weapons were with her, just in case; Melyssa never left the house without her Cutlass, at the very least.

 

“Take the mask off, beautiful, it’s creepy now that I know what it is.” Ash ordered once they had turned out of the city, in the opposite direction of where she had taken Crow.  Crow had told him everything and Ash had pressed for every last detail, filing it all away.  He watched from the corner of his eye, while focusing on driving, as she reached up and began peeling it away, feeling his stomach roll. “That is…not right.” He also got Crow’s ‘never trust perfection’ thing again, it was unsettling. “So I know you already recapped with Armbrust, do it with me.”

 

“Why?  He told you everything already.”

 

“I want to hear it from YOUR mouth.”

 

Melyssa sighed, the mask laying on her lap and Ash reached over to fling it in the backseat, acting as if it just burned him.  She frowned at his reaction, not blaming him and agreed it was very creepy.  While he drove, she reiterated everything she told Crow, her reasoning for going with Ouroboros that night in Jurai.  How she was forced to become an Enforcer, unless she wanted McBurn to turn her into his personal toy.

 

“Just like I told Crow, I’m telling you the same thing: I don’t know why they targeted me.  I don’t know if it’s because of my Dad, or what.  They wouldn’t tell me and I asked several times.  All I know is McBurn said he saw spirit in me and he went to the Grandmaster about it.  The Grandmaster ordered him to recruit me, by any means necessary, which is why the train was attacked on the way to Jurai…and why we were directed to go to Jurai in the first place.  It was all because of me and I don’t know why.” There, he had all the details, all the information and she couldn’t meet his eyes, instead staring out the window while he continued driving. 

 

How far were they going to go?

 

“Okay, so you’re special.” Obviously, she had survived two years with Ouroboros and was now back, willing to risk her life yet again to lay it all on the line for them, to do the right thing. “We’ll figure out the why later, or maybe we’ll never know.  Either way, you’re here now.” He took a side road, a dirt road, flashing her a look over the seat. “I’m not stopping by the way, not for a while.”

 

Good thing they had the day off, though since Machias was now apprised of the situation, Ash was pretty certain he would be lenient about things.  He hadn’t seemed overly surprised by the Ouroboros spy in his office either.  Now she was a little nervous because Ash wasn’t verbally castrating her.  In fact, he sounded downright understanding and…happy.  Was that happiness?  Maybe relief?  Melyssa looked at him, trying to figure out where they were going and knew Ash wouldn’t hurt her.  He would never do anything to hurt her.

 

“I’m no one special, Carbide.  I don’t know what I am anymore or who I am.  And I don’t want anyone falling at my feet,” Crow’s harsh words flowed back to her from the previous night. “I don’t deserve forgiveness.  I just want Ouroboros gone.” More importantly, she wanted to destroy McBurn for everything he did to her friends and, especially, her family.

 

Well, she was going to get it whether she wanted it or not.  If she was still alive and had been targeted multiple times by Ouroboros, then she was special.  Crow had told him all about her meltdown, she was completely different today.

 

“We all do.” He said quietly, turning his attention back out the windshield.

 

It would happen.  They would all be stronger together instead of apart and he knew people may have issues falling in line and taking orders from her, but she knew what the what was on the inside.  Melyssa was their best bet when it came to formulating and executing a plan.

 

Chapter 59

 

Crow made it clear to her not to expect anything and all she could do was ask for help.  He wasn’t wrong, as much as she hated admitting it.  At the very least, Ash seemed to be forgiving and he was one of the most important people in her life.  They had only known each other almost two months before all Gehenna broke loose, before everything fell apart and disaster struck.

 

“I am sorry…for making all of you worry about me.  I told Crow if I could’ve reached out, I would have, but they had me under lock and key for two straight years.  It was in some kind of labyrinth, underground and I didn’t even see the light of day until I was ordered to attend that party the Emperor threw to celebrate Crossbell City’s liberation, the anniversary, and that was also the night Machias debuted as the mayor.  But I’m NOT sorry for what I did because at least you all survived and are alive.” Melyssa wanted to make that crystal clear.

 

“I understand.” Ash said with a nod, reaching over to take her hand and gently squeezed, knowing actions would help cement the words. “Emma and Celine aren’t too far away, Emma put up some protective wards around an old cabin to make sure we aren’t found and nobody can spy on us.  Did Crow tell you that everyone is coming over the next few days?” All in pairs or solo, and never from the same direction.  Now that it was verified Ouroboros was in Crossbell City, none of them wanted to risk coming in with the others.

 

Taking her hand, without any hesitation, to comfort her, stirred something inside of Melyssa.  Ash was always there for her, since day one, even with his lude behavior and remarks.  Crow was supposed to be the one to do this, not him, and yet, here she was, in a car, with Ash holding her hand like it was the most normal thing in the world to do.  It felt downright foreign to her.

 

“N-No…”

 

It was 7 AM in the morning, 6 AM when he came banging on her door and he ushered her out straightaway.  She didn’t have time to talk to Crow or anyone.  Crow actually did it.  He told EVERYONE, so that meant…Rean.  Rean knew the truth.  Emma and Celine knew…everyone knew and they were coming.  Was she about to have a panic attack?

 

You told Crow the ball was in his court and to do what he wanted, you fool!  What did you think was going to happen?!  Did you really think he wouldn’t tell the others, especially his best friend?  Rean… Pulling her hand away temporarily, Melyssa dug into her purse and pulled out the starry night necklace, also never leaving anywhere without it. “I guess it’s safe to put this on for now, then.” Clasping it around her neck, Melyssa shut her eyes to relish the feeling and took Ash’s hand again, once mentally and emotionally preparing herself for what was to come.

 

“You worry too much.” Ash laughed once he had pulled up to what looked like a ‘rustic’ log cabin.  Emma was here, he spotted her ride parked off beneath some trees. “Did you feel the shift in the atmosphere when we came in?  It apparently is a friend or foe system, it’ll let us in because it recognizes us.  Anyone hostile, it deters.” Emma had upped her game after the events of two years ago, the spells and protections she had used for that night had sort of done what they were supposed to, but she had been disappointed in the results.

 

They all had been.

 

Melyssa nodded, feeling a wave of nausea hit her, but as fast as it came, it was gone.  That had to be the magic barrier and protection Emma put in place. “Yeah, I did briefly.”

 

Ash continued smiling at her and she had no idea why he was so happy.  This wasn’t a happy affair, at least not to her.  She was literally about to walk into the lion’s den and Emma could probably vaporize her in two seconds, if she wanted to.  The witch was powerful – frighteningly powerful.  Hesitantly, she stepped out of the car once Ash did and looked up at the log cabin, her mask left behind in the backseat.  There was no reason to put it on here.

 

“Well, well, so it is true, then.” Celine said by way of greeting, sashaying out of the door Emma made for her and sat down on the steps, her eyes unreadable. “It really is you, isn’t it?  I thought I smelled your scent during that interview process, but I wasn’t 100% sure.  I really must be getting rusty in my old age.”

 

“You’re ancient, kitty cat, get over it.”

 

Celine hissed at him.

 

“Yeah, it’s me, Celine.  It’s…nice to see you again, you know, as me…”

 

“Hmph, I suppose it’s nice to see you again too.  And just a little friendly advice, you really need to work on your lying skills.  They suck.” Celine was straightforward and blunt as ever. “Come on in, Emma has been waiting on you two to arrive.  Crow should be here soon and Rean is on his way.  He’s leaving his new Class VII behind since they’re all first years, but he did contact Juna, Altina, and Kurt and they’re coming too.”

 

Oh great, Melyssa thought, really not wanting to deal with Juna since they hadn’t been friendly with each other.

 

“Yay!  Machias said you were familiar or that you seemed familiar, and I KNEW there was something about you the night we ‘met’ at that party.” Emma bounced over, looking pleased with herself, which she was. “That mask… Crow told us all about it, is creepy.”

 

Ash nodded his agreement.  That was a main theme here, they all found it creepy.  Now they were all going to be paranoid that anyone they looked out might be wearing a literal second skin. “Gross, it’s gross.” He muttered, reaching up to tousle his hair, trying not to think about it too much.

 

“Did you bring it?  I would love to see it and Altina is already talking about trying to copy it.” Emma pulled a face, shaking her head.  Altina saw ‘practical’ purposes for something like that.

 

“You want to SEE it?” When Emma nodded enthusiastically, Melyssa shrugged and walked out of the cabin to retrieve it out of the car.  Ash was groaning, ordering her not to do it, but she brought the thing in anyway. “Here it is.  I have 5 more at the apartment.  Mariabell said I needed ‘options’ for makeup and whatnot, depending on what I wore.” She made a face, handing it over to Emma, who looked completely fascinated by it.

 

“Okay, that is creepy.  Wow.” Celine pawed at the mask and couldn’t believe how THIN it was with all that detail. “Did she make it with magic?  I don’t sense any coming from it…”

 

“No, I don’t know how she made them.  I didn’t watch her, she just gave them to me and said they would hide my imperfections.” Like the faint scar on her cheek, for example.

 

“Just imagine it, there’s a creepy, face making factory out there and there are probably hundreds of Ouroboros agents wearing these things.” Emma said after a moment, feeling it. It was very lifelike, that was kind of morbid, what if they were harvesting and then preserving the faces of dead people?  She could see that happening. “It’d be perfect if it allowed you to imitate other people, but this contours to your bone structure.” Which was why Melyssa had seemed familiar, but at the same time, she had been totally different. “Altina is going to love this.” Altina was beyond weird but useful, so they all tolerated her weirdness.

 

“At least someone will.”

 

Melyssa couldn’t believe they were standing here, having a friendly conversation about her mask.  That was what she called it, but she had no idea what exactly it was.  That was what Mariabell referred it, so she had just stuck with the term.

 

“Damn it, Emma, thanks for the nightmares I’m going to have about Ouroboros agents running around wearing those damn things!” Ash growled, not appreciating the mental image the witch gave him and shook his head. “You’re never wearing those again, Melyssa.” He ordered, turning his attention on her. “We’re burning them…after Altina gets her fill.”

 

Melyssa didn’t want to start a fight or argument with Ash, so she just nodded to keep the peace and tucked the mask back inside her purse for the time being. “I’ll give it to Altina when she gets here.”

 

"She'll have four more back home." Emma reminded him with an overly innocent smile, snickering when he growled at her.

 

"Rean won't make it today.  I think Altina will be the first.  Everyone is going to trickle in slowly, so we don’t arouse suspicion." Change of subject, before he threw up.  If they could do that with faces... What about bodies?

 

Good, gives me more time to prepare myself to face him again. “That’s good.  We’ll have to head back into the city tonight and…” Ash shook his head firmly and Melyssa frowned, suddenly noticing all the beds that were in the cabin. “Wait, we’re STAYING here?”

 

“Hiding out, actually.  Machias is coming too.  He’s already given an emergency notice to his staff and they will handle things while we slowly reunite and figure out what we’re going to do.” Emma explained, seeing the fear cross Melyssa’s face and wished there was a way to ease them. “You’re safe here, Melyssa.  And Ouroboros is going to find out sooner or later you are no longer with them.  Might as well rip that band-aid off as soon as possible.”

 

Ash had brought her under false pretenses, but then again, she hadn’t asked him where they were going. IDIOT, YOU’RE AN IDIOT! “I’m just gonna step outside for some fresh air.”

 

“Just so you know, if you try to leave the barrier, it will electrocute you.” Emma made sure they would ALL be trapped here.  Nobody was running away anymore.

 

“Got it.” Melyssa left the cabin and sat down on the steps, burying her head in her hands. They’re going to know now.  If they didn’t before, they will now and McBurn will be hunting for me.  I have to be prepared.

 

Crow had also mentioned that she had seemed sort of wishy washy on the whole ‘being her true self’ and ‘not lying’ last night… Crow was a good friend, she would appreciate it in time, they were sure.  Crow wasn’t on board with the whole group showing up and shacking together, however, he had been very vocal against that.  Why was it when things like this happened, people thought the best source of action was to become a giant fricking target?  He would never understand it.  Terrorists were successful because they operated in small packs and never put everything in one basket.

 

Personally, Melyssa would have agreed with Crow…on the whole shacking up together idea.  This was a bad, BAD idea all the way around.  Melyssa wasn’t liked by a lot of Class VII and she knew it.  She didn’t get along with Juna, for one.  Emma was freaking her out by treating her like a normal human being.  Ash was…Ash.  Altina had arrived and only said a couple words to her before flying off, without the barrier, with the mask in hand to ‘examine’ and ‘study’ it with Claimh Solais.  Nightfall came, along with dinner, and Melyssa barely ate anything before heading back outside.  She’d been secluded for so long and the stars were beautiful, twinkling down at her.  She heard the door open and close, already knowing who was coming to join her.

 

“I’m not going to change my mind, you know.” Melyssa spoke, continuing to look up instead of at Ash. “And I’m not going to do anything stupid by running off and getting myself electrocuted either.” Crow still hadn’t arrived, which was making everyone on edge since he was supposed to be here by now.  She wondered if Ouroboros had gotten their hands on him again and immediately dismissed that thought, knowing worrying themselves silly wouldn’t solve anything.

 

“They told you about the barrier then?”

 

Rean raised an eyebrow when Melyssa whirled around to gawk at him, taking in her proper face.  He had flat out told her before he didn’t trust her and now he knew why.  Her face had been wrong, her voice had been wrong, she had just been all wrong.  Now, now she was right.  His fuchsia eyes took in her face, noting the scar and reached out, cupping her cheek for a brief moment before pulling it away.

 

“Crow’s been in touch, he ran into a work related issue with Machias.” He said quietly, taking a step back to give her space.

 

What was he doing here?!  Emma said he wouldn’t be here tonight, didn’t she?  Melyssa knew she didn’t hear the witch wrong, so either Emma lied or Rean decided to surprise them all with his appearance. “Oh.” She could not think of anything else to say to him, her own eyes guarded. 

 

However, touching her cheek sent that familiar warmth throughout her body.  The same warmth she felt every time they sparred together.  That night they walked the academy grounds and ate gelato together.  The necklace he gifted her currently around her neck for her birthday…all those moments flooded through her and she couldn’t stop the tears building in her eyes.

 

Don’t cry, don’t you dare cry!  Blink them back, stand strong!  This is not the time to get emotional! “Emma warned me, in case I tried making a run for it, earlier.  Are Crow and Machias going to be all right?”

 

“Yeah, they’ll be fine. Some of Machias’ proposed policies are pissing off some of the older families here in Crossbell, nothing we haven’t heard before.” Rean dropped down into the grass, shaking his head before laying backwards, folding his hands beneath his head. “Two years, Melyssa,” He said quietly, his eyes on the stars now. “I was so scared that they killed you.” Or worse, given that McBurn had shown an unnatural, predatory interest in her.  Rean wasn’t sure if he was relieved she had been alive and training with Ouroboros or not, which was not a good thought and he kept it to himself.

 

Ash had gone back inside, leaving them alone and his words cut right through her heart, hearing the pain in them. “Sometimes, I wish they would have.” Melyssa sank down on the grass beside him, still giving him plenty of space and she finally let those tears fall, drawing her knees up to her chest.  It was the same position she sat in while talking to Crow and explaining everything. “I couldn’t reach out to anyone, Rean.  They had me underground in some kind of labyrinth.  I didn’t see the light of day or the stars at night for two years…I was isolated and I trained from sunup to sundown.  And it was either become an Enforcer or…McBurn’s toy.  I chose to protect myself…and all of you.  That was my deal with the Grandmaster.  None of Class VII, old and new, or my mother would be harmed.  She accepted and my training started.” That shudder…she couldn’t suppress it just like she couldn’t with Crow the previous night. “I’m sorry for worrying you…” She couldn’t look at him, her heart felt as if it might explode from all the anguish, pain and guilt it was filled with.

 

Crow had already explained all of this.  She had pulled the same move that Rean himself would have if the positions would have been reversed.  All the logic against ‘why’ and knowing better than to cave because caving and not standing, and sometimes dying, for the right thing meant Ouroboros was not only winning the short game, but the long game.  But he would have made the same move.  Rean had been sick and torn up for two years, knowing HE had put her in that position.  He had used her as bait because of McBurn’s unnatural obsession with her and if he hadn’t… she wouldn’t have been taken.

 

Chapter 60

 

“You have to stop blaming yourself for what happened, Rean.  None of this is your fault.  It’s nobody’s fault except Ouroboros.” And mine since I’m the reason they came in the first place. “I know that’s what you’ve been doing these past two years.  Blaming yourself for me being taken and thinking you used me as bait.  I’ve got news for you, even if you didn’t instruct me to meet with my father, I was going to do it anyway.  I wanted answers for what he did to Papa and my Mom, to our family.  It was personal for me and I shouldn’t have let my emotions get the better of me, but I did.  I didn’t care what the consequences were.  And I don’t regret saving Crow, my Dad and all of you because, had I not gone, McBurn would have destroyed all of you in front of me.  He would have made me watch, he’s told me so on many occasions.” She wiped her tears away, finally looking up at the stars. “So please…please stop blaming yourself for what happened.  Nobody knew what was going to happen and we couldn’t have known it was all an elaborate plot by Ouroboros to begin with.  You know that.”

 

“Sure, Melyssa,” Rean gave her a sad, twisted little smile and shook his head. “I’ll stop blaming myself when you stop feeling guilty over everything.”

 

He wasn’t surprised when she blinked and then looked away from him.  Yeah, exactly.  It was always easy to tell people ‘don’t feel bad, don’t blame yourself, etc.’, but the truth of the matter was it wasn’t as easy to STOP feeling those things.  Her own mother had helped her father escape that night, nobody had gotten answers to any of their questions.  Not her, not him… and now her family was missing in action.

 

“You know, you could run.  We could help you disappear.” She didn’t have to do this, fight this again, because she had a lot more than the rest of them to lose this time around.

                                                                                     

She started laughing at that ridiculous suggestion and immediately shook her head, the smile on her face full of sadness. “No.” Her voice changed, a darkness tinging it. “This is my fight more than anyone else’s.  Like I told Crow, it’s my cross to bear.  They forced me to become an Enforcer.  They took me away from everyone I ever loved and cared about.  They isolated me for TWO years from the world, all to try to turn me into a killer of their making.  They KILLED my Papa, took my father and forced my mother out of her home, forced her to start her life over.  They have destroyed COUNTLESS lives and have shed way too much innocent blood.  And you’re telling me I should run away like a coward?  I’d rather die than be a coward, Rean.  If I die, at least it will be on MY terms and not as their damn puppet.” McBurn would die; she would find a way to kill him, no matter if she went down with him.

 

Melyssa was just one of many with the same story in Zemuria.  Rean imagined this played out a lot more often than people knew.  Ouroboros just had that kind power, that kind of grip on the country.  Her fight more than anyone else’s… he smiled sadly, looking away from her.

 

“It doesn’t change the fact that we’re all here again.  Gathering in a large group again, preparing to go up against them… again.” She would have help, her friends, backing her in a way they hadn’t before. “When this is all over with, what will you do, Melyssa Brackett?” Hopefully not put back on one of those atrocious masks.

 

That was a question she didn’t know the answer to. “I really don’t know, to be honest.”

 

She didn’t expect to survive this battle.  McBurn would be gunning straight for her and they could use that to their advantage.  The Grandmaster wouldn’t be involved, she always left it to her Enforcers and Anguis’s to take care of the job for her.  To clean up the messes she made.

 

“Haven’t thought that far ahead, just taking one day at a time.”

 

Following the way of the sword wasn’t an option.  She had tainted it the moment she agreed to become an Enforcer of Ouroboros.  It hurt her, but she had enough pride and honor in the sword not to pursue that path any longer.

 

“What about you, Rean Schwarzer?” Now she looked at him, the dark tinge in her tone gone. “What will YOU do?”

 

Rean fell silent again as he considered that.  He had no desire to teach anymore.  He knew he couldn’t be ‘friends’ with his students, and he had never been good at towing the line with friendly and friend, he cared too deeply and it bit him in the backside.  Kind of like two years ago.  He had no interest in joining a faction.  To be honest, Rean was tired of fighting, of waging war against Ouroboros.  He felt weary and he wasn’t even that old.

 

“Would it be selfish of me to say I want to retire?” He asked finally, resting his head against his kneecaps, legs drawn partially to his chest. “With everything going on, I know there really isn’t… it isn’t an option, not when there’s always another battle looming, another crisis to deal with, but sometimes, I think I’d like to just… put my Tachi up and call it a day.  At least for a while.”

 

“So do it.  That’s not selfish at all.  You’ve given more than enough of yourself and your time to the fight, Rean.  Like you said, there’s always going to be another crisis, another battle…that doesn’t mean you have to be involved in all of them.  You’re a person too.”

 

A person, a man, she loved. 

 

Not a day went by she didn’t think about him while she was gone.  However, she knew in her heart she could never have him; there was too much damage done between them. “I would not blame you one bit if you retired to your hometown and spent the rest of your days soaking in a hot spring.” None of them were that old, honestly, but after everything they’d been through, Rean and Crow especially, they had definitely aged a lot more than they should have. “I gave up the way of the sword two years ago…and I’m not going back to it after this.  Maybe I’ll put my Cutlass and my Crossbow up.” That made Rean look at her with a raised brow and she shrugged. “They said swordsmanship wasn’t enough for me, I needed something more, so I was forced to train with a Crossbow.  It’s not bad, actually, but nothing compares to my Cutlass.”

 

She wouldn’t be able to follow the path of Eight Leaves One Blade.  Not many people could, to be honest.  It’s style was open to those who wielded katanas, or Tachis, it would have been interesting to see a Cutlass practicing that path and, currently, he could count the known practitioners on both hands, only because he would need that sixth finger.  But there were other practices open to her, ones less stringent on honor and he looked away, considering that. Was her honor tainted because she had joined Ouroboros? If it had been done for noble reasons, and one legitimate, coerced reason. No woman wanted a McBurn in her life. “Crossbow is a ranged weapon.” He said finally, offering her some ‘Instructor’ Rean. “It makes sense to be trained on one, assassination is a thing with Ouroboros.”

 

There was no way she’d ever follow the Eight Leaves One Blade.  That wasn’t the path she wanted to follow in the first place.  The way of the sword was simply honing skills with a sword and putting full devotion, time and effort into it.  Everything.  There were other paths in the way of the sword she could follow, but she wouldn’t.  Melyssa believed she was tainted for good now that she was an Enforcer of Ouroboros.  Nothing would be able to cleanse her.

 

“I know.  And no, I’ve never assassinated anyone.  They wanted me to with Machias, but I told the Grandmaster no.  That was why she made me a spy instead and sent me to live in Crossbell City.”

 

Laying back in the grass finally, Melyssa stared up at the stars like Rean had, her hands as her sides.  For once in the past two years, she felt completely relaxed and didn’t feel the need to look over her shoulder.  Was that Emma’s magic?  Emma would have told her no it wasn’t.  It was simply Melyssa finally relaxing and letting her guard down for the first time in two years.  That was probably a very magical feeling after being a captive of fear for so long.  Her magic helped of course, in terms of keeping them off the grid and protected, but it was for tonight only.  Crow had sent word that they would NOT be congregating like the last time.  Machias had to continue on as mayor, he and Ash as security and the safest thing for Melyssa to do would be carry on business as usual while they formulated a game plan.

 

Crow didn't want to be part of a giant bullseye.

 

Rean didn't say a word.  He just took her hand in his and squeezed gently.  Her heart began to pound harder and faster, like a beating drum, and it wasn’t fear she felt.  This was something different, something she couldn’t quite comprehend.  Melyssa turned her head to look at him the same time he did and their eyes locked, teal mixing with fuchsia.  Goddess, what was this feeling?  What was this warmth inside of her?  Why did she feel it every time she was near Rean?  That kiss filtered through her mind, that memory in the clearing, the way his lips felt against hers, the way their sweaty bodies aligned together and the taste of him.  It was a taste she had committed to memory.  Looking away from him, Melyssa clasped his hand in return and moved to lace their fingers together, once again staring up at the stars.

 

“I missed you while I was gone, Rean.  Not as my Instructor or even my friend…but as something else.  You never left my mind and I kept the memories with you I have close.  They were the only thing that got me through the isolation and constant darkness.  Ash and Crow helped too, but…it was mostly you.”

 

Idly, Rean had to wonder if she knew how Ash felt about her.  Rean had been devastated by the events of that night and Ash's devastation had rivaled his.  They hadn't been on friendly terms until… well, they still had their own issues they would eventually have to sort out.  All of those issues centered around the woman beside him.  He rolled so he was on his side, staring down at her, not letting go of her hand.

 

"I missed you too." He did not miss the dream he had had of her that night though.

 

Now he wondered if it was a premonition of sorts.

 

No, she didn’t have a clue how Ash felt about her and she didn’t want to know.  The man she wanted to be with was beside her and Melyssa knew deep down she loved him.  She loved Rean Schwarzer.  She had fallen in love with her Instructor.  Ash was her best friend and he would always be a huge part of her life, along with Crow, but her feelings for Rean went deeper than friendship.

 

“You did?” He affirmed with a nod and she reached her hand up to caress his face gently, after turning to lay on her side to face him. “Rean, that day in the clearing…I was scared.  I was scared of how intense my feelings for you were.  I never meant to hurt you or reject you.  That is the only thing I regret is how we parted ways that day.”

 

Rean shook his head, catching her hand and held it to his cheek. "It doesn't matter anymore Melyssa, I did understand your reasons.  At that exact moment… that was ego and other issues." Like his body informing him that being cock blocked sucked and then he had that terrible, messed up dream that had actually woken him up and had him soaked in sweat. "Once we get you free from them… Then there may be time for us."

 

“We have time for us right now.” Scooting closer to him, her lips were mere inches from his and Rean pressed his forehead to hers, his arm wrapping around her waist. “I don’t know what the future holds for us or if we’ll even survive what’s coming.  But I DO know we shouldn’t waste the time we have and we should live for the moment.  As far as I’m concerned, I AM free of them because I will never go back…”

 

“You have to.  For now, until we come up with a plan.” Crow had made a good point that they couldn’t just all band together and become one huge target. “You should continue wearing those masks and being Lysa Reynolds until we find a way to stop them for good.  That also means being Machias’ secretary and that also means pretending you are still on Ouroboros’ side.” It would all be temporary.

 

They wanted her to wear those masks still?  They wanted her to still be Lysa Reynolds? “But Crow said…” She was more confused than ever and pulled away from Rean to sit up, her brows furrowed. “What was the point of this then?  What was the point of Ash bringing me all the way out here and what’s the point of you being here if we’re just gonna go back to the way things are?” I’m such an idiot!  Why did I think this could be solved in the blink of an eye?  Nothing is ever that easy or works that way!  Then why did Crow berate me the way he did?

 

“No, Machias knows that sometimes you have to take a stand to do what’s right.” Crow informed her, his fiery red eyes narrowing. “So, even though you just said you don’t want to lie anymore and you want to be YOU again, you’re going to keep on lying and being… her?” She made no sense. “The reason… organizations like Ouroboros get stronger, Melyssa,” He said quietly, evenly. “Is because there are hundreds of people like you in their ranks, terrified to make a stand. Sometimes you have to throw it all to the wind and risk it.”

 

Narrowing her eyes, Melyssa could feel her temper rising, remembering Crow’s words as they penetrated through her. “I won’t be me again until this is all over.  I’ll have to keep lying and being this puppet named Lysa Reynolds until we can stop them.” What made her think she was broken free of Ouroboros by simply telling Crow and coming here? “Crow said to throw it all to the wind and risk it.  That’s what I did…and it means nothing since I have to keep lying anyway.” She really hated Crow right now.

 

"To be fair to Crow, it wasn't his idea.  He wanted to just throw everything to the wind and risk it, a full out confrontation." Rean admitted with a frown, knowing it probably didn't make her feel any better. "Machias is the one who said no.  He's afraid Ouroboros will put citizens in the crossfire or accelerate whatever plans they have for Crossbell if we come out swinging and you're batting for us."

 

That did sound more like Machias than Crow, she begrudgingly admitted, only to herself. “I don’t blame him, honestly.  It’s a smart strategy, especially for all the citizens of Crossbell.  They’ve been through enough to last them several lifetimes.”

 

So, until this was completely over, she had to continue being Lysa Reynolds and wearing the masks.  She couldn’t be herself like she desperately wanted to.  And she definitely couldn’t be with Rean like she wanted to either.

 

“I’m on your side, regardless of what that mask shows, Rean.  I will never hurt any of you.  I should head back tonight, with Ash, to keep this going…” Melyssa didn’t want to leave though, already feel the tears building in her eyes and looked away from him.

 

“Yeah, you probably should.”

 

Why had he come early when they were only saying goodbye again?  Rean didn’t like this feeling, he didn’t like feeling, period.  He had done so well, isolating himself off and building those walls because he had known after the last time, he couldn’t do it anymore.  He couldn’t keep caring and over investing himself in people, or her, it had shredded him.  Yet here he was, with her, and they were putting the greater good ahead of themselves.  Without another thought, he rolled so he was hovering over her, arms braced on either side of her head, his eyes searching Melyssa’s intently.  A second later, his lips were on hers.

 

If they were parting ways again, it would be with a promise that this wasn’t done between them.

 

Goddess, was this really happening?  Melyssa returned the soft kiss that quickly exploded into something more…something fiery.  It’d been two years since she felt his lips on hers and she longed for it, even having dreams about it.  Every night she woke up and he wasn’t there, a piece of Melyssa’s heart would shatter.  Now, it was slowly piecing itself back together again because this was real, this wasn’t a dream.  Her fingers delved in his black hair and the moment his tongue swiped across her lips, she gave him the invitation.  The taste of him…it was just like before, like she remembered, maybe even better.  Melyssa didn’t want to leave him.  She didn’t want to be away from him ever again.  As soon as they had to break the kiss for oxygen, Melyssa kept him right where he was by wrapping her legs around his waist, pinning him against her.

 

“I…I love you, Rean.” If he didn’t feel the same way about her, it was all right, but this may have been her only opportunity to say the words. “Not as the Ashen Chevalier, not as my former Instructor, not as the Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves or a friend.  I love you for YOU, the man behind all of that.” She pressed her lips against his, very softly and tenderly. “And I’ll always be waiting for you.”

 

Rean had to discreetly pinch himself because that dream popped into his head.  Two years ago and he was still worried he may be having a repeat experience.  Melyssa turning into Shirley, a sword at his throat, no thanks.  She loved him… and not for his titles, which were useless and he had proven many times that he didn’t deserve them, but for him.

 

“This will be over soon.” He whispered against that finger, kissing the side of her mouth when she moved it, and then they’d be able to be together. “I love you, Melyssa Brackett.”

 

He really did.  She could see it boiling in his eyes and feel it in the way he held her and kissed her. “We have tonight.  I’m not leaving you, not yet.” Ash would probably want to stay over as well, just to get away from everything and they could travel back in the early morning. “Let me stay with you tonight, Rean.” He nodded, wanting the same thing and she kissed him again, this time harder and deeper, both getting completely lost in each other. “Come to the back with me.  I want to be completely alone with you.”

 

There was a small area she had ventured to earlier that day and, unless someone came to hunt them down, nobody would think to go back there.  Rean stood up, extending his hand to her and Melyssa took it, pulling him toward the back of the log cabin.  Once she was sure it was safe and they were alone, Melyssa released his hand and lifted her shirt up over her head, tossing it to the side.  She then stepped up to him and pushed his white jacket from his shoulders, unbuttoning the buttons of his shirt before removing it as well.  Softly, tenderly, her lips began gliding across his chest scar, their toned bodies pressed firmly together.

 

Before, two years ago, Rean had known she was a virgin because she had told him outright her only ‘experience’ had come from those disastrous moments with Crow.  He had to wonder, with how confident she appeared to be, if her virgin status had changed.  A gentleman didn’t ask, however.  He would chalk it up to the fact that she was a more confident woman, her training would have seen to that.

 

“Melyssa…” It came out a soft hiss as she began kissing up along his collarbone, settling his hands on her hips and pulled her lower half flush against him, letting her feel the erection he was now sporting, thanks to her.

 

“Rean…” It came out a breathy moan and she looked up at him, feeling his lips softly caress hers. “I’ve dreamt of doing that to your scar for the past two years.” She smiled somewhat sheepishly, her cheeks reddening. “I’ve always thought your scar was very sexy.” Slowly, she gliding her fingertips down it, enjoying the effect she was having on him.  Good, she didn’t want to be the only one who burned with desire. “I want to try something else, if you don’t mind?” Now Melyssa sounded more like a virgin and she lowered to her knees, pushing on his shoulders to make him go with her. “Lay on your back.” Once he obeyed, she straddled him and began tracing that scar with her tongue, gliding her nails down his sides.

 

Chapter 61

 

Of all the things to have an attraction for, his unsightly scar was NOT the first thing Rean would have guessed.  The weight of her body and the feel of her legs straddling him, this was what he imagined both heaven and Gehenna felt like, a strange combination of the two, pleasure and pain.  The pain was coming from the pleasure, wanting to take over and lay her down in the grass and do to her what she was doing to him. 

 

He wanted to kiss all over her body, he could just imagine tracing his tongue down along the- “Goddess, Melyssa!” She had working those kisses downwards.

 

Judging by the tone of his voice, Melyssa surmised he enjoyed what she was doing to him and kept going, getting lost in kissing down his chest.  This man had an amazing chest and he was chiseled out of stone.  When her lips touched the waistband of his boxer/briefs, she finally looked up at him and a hint of fear entered her gaze.  Did she really want to go further? 

 

She wanted to make him feel good, but at the same time… “I-I’m not sure how to do this, Rean…” Goddess, she was ruining the moment between them with her trepidation.  Again, she couldn’t help it being a virgin and never even experiencing foreplay. “D-Do you want me to…um…”

 

Well, that answered the question he had been curious about but not curious enough to be a total bastard and ask.  Melyssa Brackett might have possessed some confidence, but the woman was still a virgin.  Why that made him smile and feel a bit relieved was beyond Rean, but he was chalking it up to his own minute experience in the bedroom.

 

"Only if you want too." He even managed to say it softly and without too much need in his tone, which did come out slightly strained. 

 

Actually, this would probably go smoother if she were more relaxed.  He nudged her up, sitting up and drew her legs around his waist, beginning to kiss down the column of her throat while his fingers moved to caress the bare expanse of her stomach.  Goddess, his lips felt incredible on her neck and her fingers instantly delved in his haphazard hair, gripping it.  Her head tilted back, giving him full access to her neck and she was glad she had braided her hair.  It kept it out of the way.

 

“Rean…”

 

She felt his fingers at the clasp of her bra and she pulled back enough to look into his eyes, silently giving her approval with a nod.  Melyssa trusted him completely and felt the bra loosen moments later before he pulled the straps down her arms until her breasts were exposed.  Rean set it down beside them and began kissing down her neck and throat again, moving to the other side and his warm hands massaged her breasts, her nipples already hardened.  There was warmth pooling in her panties, a wetness and she may have been a virgin, but Melyssa knew what that meant.  She was ready for him to claim her, hopefully forever and not just this starry night.

 

Rean moved the palm of his hand to the small of her back, guiding Melyssa until she was leaning away from him.  Even with his own minimal experience, he knew to go with what felt good and natural, his confidence surging when he heard her breathy gasp as his mouth replaced his hand, plucking her hardened nipple with his lips.  Anything with her would feel this way, he hadn't felt desire for another woman in a long time.  He moved to her other breast, paying it the same attention.

 

What was he doing to her?!  That warmth in her body had erupted into full-blown flames!  Melyssa felt like she was on fire and couldn’t pull her eyes away from him, watching his mouth and tongue circle her nipple.  Why did that feel so good?  From the way he expertly kissed and touched her, Melyssa guessed he wasn’t a virgin like her.  That was fine.  It didn’t bother her; at least one of them would be experienced when it came to actual penetration. 

 

Everyone thought, at one point, Rean would end up with Alisa Reinford, but they never made it happen.  Rean went his way to Leeves to become an Instructor and Alisa remained in Roer as one of the Reinford Companies executives.  They had been sweethearts, somewhat, throughout the civil war, even when they were forced to part ways, but after all was said and done, they were never able to come together.

 

Eventually, Rean lay her down in the grass, moving so he was hovering over her with his weight braced on his elbows. "Is this all right?" He asked in a husky rumble, his own body quivering from both what he was doing to her along with anticipation of what was coming. He'd probably use his Tachi to remove a head from shoulders if someone interrupted them right now and it wasn't a life or death situation.

 

At Melyssa’s nod, he worked his way lower.

 

She watched him, her eyes nothing more than a deep turquoise liquid smoldering down at him.  Her mouth was dry and she lifted her hips when he began pulling her shorts and panties lower.  Rean was going to completely expose her and she wanted it, the cool night air doing absolutely nothing for her heated skin and blood.

 

“Rean…” Her thighs were trembling as he began descending those lips and tongue further down, starting at the crease where her legs pelvis met before doing her inner thigh. What is he…oh GODDESS!! Melyssa shut her eyes at the first feeling of his tongue against her nethers, her body breaking out in a thin perspiration.   She couldn’t speak, her moans however told Rean what he was doing was right on point.

 

Now this Rean had done before once or twice and with a woman who had had no issues in 'teaching' him how to pleasure the opposite sex.  It had been awhile, but it was a bit like riding a bicycle, he picked it back up quickly.  Melyssa tasted divine and he found himself working her into a frenzy just so his greedy self could keep lapping at her sweet juices, she was almost getting him drunk.

 

"Mmmm…." He rumbled, adding a single finger to the mix to stimulate her further, though he was mindful not to go to deep, hard or fast, feeling her body tensing around the single digit.

 

“R-Rean…” She gasped out, feeling something stirring inside of her, building, and she knew it had to be an orgasm.  Her first ever orgasm.  Melyssa hadn’t completely erupted for him yet, but she was on the brink and clutched his hair in her fingers, bowing her body to where he had to hold her down with his forearm. “Rean!” Her soft cry echoed in the night, not caring who heard her and felt that hot flood leave her body for him to devour.  That feeling was euphoric, better than she could have imagined and Melyssa wanted to experience it again. “Aidios…oh Aidios, I can’t…breathe…”

 

Good, that was good.  It meant he had done his job and done it well.  Rean pulled his face out from between her quivering thighs, licking lips clean of her essence while he stared up into her flushed face, his own fuchsia eyes dark with his own desire.  He gave her about thirty seconds before he buried his face right back, running his tongue up her slit and then sucked her clit between his lips, feeling her body tending all over again.  He could easily become addicted to the taste of her as well as the feeling of her fingers entwined in his hair.

 

By the time her third climax tore through her body, Melyssa was at his mercy and trying to scoot away from him, shaking her head. “N-No more…No more!  I c-can’t take it…” Rean growled, pulling her back to feast on her some more and she was so sensitive, it almost hurt. “Shit!  Rean, please!” She was a sweaty, trembling mess, wondering where the hell he learned these incredible skills with his tongue. “I-I’m gonna pass out if you keep going like this…”

 

Didn’t he remember she was a virgin and this was her FIRST time experiencing foreplay?  Using her strength, she wrapped her legs around him and rolled to where he was on his back, with her pussy faceplanted right on his mouth.  Melyssa hissed out and pulled back, scooting down his body until her mouth met his, tasting herself on his tongue.  That was new and it made the fire inside of her rage powerfully.

 

“Mmm, my turn, Schwarzer…”

Rean almost whined because he was nowhere done, he had found a new favorite snack.  Her pussy was even better than that gelato they had had so long ago.  Then he realized what she meant and folded his hands behind his head, so he didn't try reaching for her and taking control of the situation again.

 

"As my lady wishes."

 

He flashed her a smile, his gaze taking in her flushed, damp face and felt pride surging through him.  He had done that.  Definitely more relaxed, Melyssa was determined to make him feel as incredible as he made her.  She made her way down his body, once again paying special attention to his scar, before moving lower, feeling him shiver beneath her.

 

“Cold?” She smirked when he growled out a firm ‘no’ in response. 

 

When she arrived at the waistband of his boxers again, there was no hesitation as she hooked her thumbs in and pulled them down.  She wanted him as naked as she was – completely.  His cock stood at full attention in front of her and Melyssa only felt a fraction of nerves before firmly pushing them away.  Gripping it in her hand, she began to stroke it and looked up at Rean, watching his face intently to see if he enjoyed this or not.  Then, Melyssa lowered her head to taste his cock on her tongue for the first time.

 

Now Rean didn’t know if it had been the same for her, but he had a moment’s flash of worry as soon as her tongue touched the head of his cock.  He was a pretty clean guy, he knew men who did not bathe unless absolutely necessary and even then they had put up a fight, and he had scoured himself today, but still… what if he tasted funny, or smelled funny, or… his eyes rolled into the back of his head when Melyssa’s mouth just engulfed the tip, setting every little nerve ending there on fire.  Worry was gone, pleasure was rapidly taking over and the fact that she hadn’t pulled away or made some weird, disgusted noise helped to ease all that anyway.

 

“Aidios, Melyssa…” He dug his fingers into his own palms, more than tempted to bury them in her hair but he didn’t want to rip anything out.

 

Melyssa moaned around his cock, giving it a humming sound and she didn’t realize what that did to Rean.  She didn’t realize it sent vibrations throughout every part of his body.  The way he reacted and the noises he made…he tasted delicious, far better than she could’ve imagined.  Going on instinct, Melyssa began licking him up and down like a popsicle, suckling gently on the tip and tried not to scrape him with her teeth.  Then, she finally took him as far in her mouth as she could, feeling the tip of his cock reach the back of her throat and luckily, there was no gag reflex.  Pulling back, she did it again, and again, and soon, her head was slowly bobbing up and down.

 

Now this was going to kill him.  Rean could feel his balls tingling and tightening, an orgasm not delivered via his own hand building and he knew it was going to be a major one. “If you keep doing that,” His breathing was labored, his voice lower and huskier than usual. “I’m going to cum.” That was his way of warning her that it would also happen right down her throat, especially if she kept deep throating him the way she was.

 

Add in the humming and it was going to be explosive and potentially drown her.  Her response was to hum again, his eyes flying open to meet hers and he couldn’t for the life of him look away.  That was a beautiful, mesmerizing sight, her head bobbing up and down on his cock, her lips pursed around him.  Those darkened teal eyes of hers fastened on his face and all he saw there was lust, knowing it was echoed on his own.  Just before Rean reached the point of no return, she pulled back and released his cock from her mouth, kissing the tip of it softly.  If this was to be their one and only night together, Melyssa didn’t want to waste a golden opportunity.  If she was going to die, she didn’t want to go to the other side as a virgin.  And she wanted Rean to be the one to claim her innocence.  Couldn’t very well do that if he erupted in her mouth, as much as she wanted him to.  Crawling up the length of his body, Melyssa kissed him tenderly and rubbed her nose against his, their eyes locked once again.

 

“I want to feel you explode inside of me, not my mouth.  Make me yours, Rean, please…”

 

First thought was: what in the Gehenna?!  He had gotten her off MULTIPLE times and she pulled away just at THAT point.  Rean inwardly was groaning because being right there on that edge and then jerked backwards viciously had not felt nice at all.  Every man experienced blue balls at one time or another, the only thing that prevented his potential disaster was her slithering up his body like the evil serpent she was, and his eyes focused on her, brows drawing together.

 

“In this position?” He asked, his voice a low rumble as his hands moved to her hips, gently kneading them even as he felt her soaked pussy brushing against his straining, begging for release cock. “I can’t… promise it will last.” At all.

 

She had no idea what she’d done to him and raised a slow brow, hoping she hadn’t done something wrong. “Would you rather I finish what I started and not…”

 

Melyssa blinked when he brought her mouth down on his, crushing their lips together and slowly, he began guiding himself inside of her.  She gasped in his mouth and pulled back, her whole body tensing and Rean kept eye contact with her.  Goddess…that felt so weird and amazing at the same time.  It felt like she was being filled to capacity and it fascinated her how he managed to fit himself inside of her.  When he reached her wall and began pushing through, the pain set in and she shut her eyes, digging her nails into his chest.

 

“Don’t…stop…” Melyssa gritted out, knowing it would hurt a lot more if he stopped midway through and with one sharp thrust, harder than he probably meant to do, he broke through her barrier. “Shit!” It was more surprising than painful, surprisingly enough.

 

Rean’s hold on her hips had tightened and he was trying to mind it, knowing his grip had to be painful though he had enough sense to use his fingertips and not his fingernails. “Don’t. Move.” He ordered, sweat beading again on his forehead as he stared up at her, his teeth grit.

 

Goddess she was like a hot, wet velvet glove wrapped around him, almost crushing him, and he swore he could feel her pulse going a mile a minute and it was coming from her pussy.  She probably needed a moment as well, she needed to adjust; he had not missed the surprised look that had flitted across her face.  It burned.  That was the most surprising part about having her virginity taken – the incredible burning, searing sensation.  It wasn’t painful so much as…startling.  Melyssa did not move, just like Rean instructed and she was flushed from head to toe, her body coated in sweat much like his.  They must’ve sat there, adjusting to each other for a good five minutes before Rean finally moved and the burning sensation had subsided.

 

“Rean…oh Goddess…” She moaned out, the feeling of him fully inside of her, moving, pulsating, taking her breath away. 

 

It felt incredible, indescribable and she experimentally moved on her own, rolling her hips against him.  The hiss escaping him told her she was doing something right, so she did it again and moaned louder when his hips thrust up to meet her.  It was slow, rhythmic and neither wanted this moment to ever end.

 

“T-This feels so good, Rean…Goddess, don’t stop, please…” Sliding her hands up his chiseled arms, their fingers laced together as she began to slowly ride him.

 

Virgin, she was a virgin, he kept reminding himself even as she began riding him like she had done this before.  He knew he was, had been, a virgin, but he was projecting confidence and going with what felt natural, she was probably thinking similarly about him.  Her being on top was nice and it was a beautiful sight, her lean body moving on him, her tits bouncing in time to what they were doing, but he wanted to return the favor again, slowly sitting up so her legs dangled over his hips and growled at the new feelings this position brought.

 

“Better.” He cupped the back of Melyssa’s head, bringing her face to his so he could kiss her.

 

It was all on instinct.  Maybe she was just a natural at sex, though she had fumbled a few times.  Rean had to be an expert with the way he moved and exuded confidence in his abilities.  She kissed him back with equal fire, once again those fingers of hers burying in hair to pull him as close to her as she could.

 

“Rean!” She gasped out as he began thrusting in and out of her in this position, snapping his hips back and forth, and all she could do was try to move with him. 

 

They were in sync together, moving as one and she pressed her sweaty forehead to his, both completely lost in each other.  This was the PERFECT way to do this.  With her, beneath the stars and moon, with the sounds of nature as their background music.  Accompanied of course by the sounds coming from them, her breathy moans and soft gasps of his name, his own lower, more guttural grunts.

 

“I love you.” He murmured against her lips, snaking one hand between their bodies to begin manipulating her clit, adding to the pleasure she was feeling.  In response, he felt her tightening around him, her body quivering even more if it were possible.

 

“Goddess, I love you too, Rean…” It was another breathy moan and her hands gripped his shoulders, her body tensing, coiling, that burning sensation had returned, but it was in her belly this time.  She now understood what this was and whimpered, the sensation of his fingers on her clit combined with his cock driving in and out of her, making love to her, was overwhelming to her senses. “Rean!” Melyssa cried out, already beginning to flood him as the wave crashed over her intensely, sending her over that edge.  Somehow, someway, he managed to ride her orgasm and kept thrusting, increasing the tempo, doing it harder, faster and driving deeper.  Before she knew it, her world had spun around and she was on her back with him on top, lifting her leg to spread her even wider, if it was possible. “REAN!”

 

Rean’s face was contorted both with passion and in concentration, focusing on getting through this orgasm of hers even though his body was already waving the white flag.  She felt too good, spasming around him like that, and mildly alarming because the way she had clamped down, repeatedly, had made him fear he wasn’t going to get his dick back. “I’m close,” He gasped, hardly able to breathe and that only added to everything, his heart pounding a furious beat in his chest. “MELYSSA!” It was a roar a second later as he flooded her this time, filling her to capacity.

 

“REAN!” Melyssa shrieked out, her voice echoing around them, mixing with Rean’s bellow, as he exploded harshly inside of her, making her entire body shudder.

 

While still inside of her, Rean began chuckling and the sound was pure evil, malice, and he looked up at her with red eyes instead of fuchsia.  His hair wasn’t black, it was blue and red combined and a smirk curved his lips. “I told you, Melyssa, I would have you one day.  Mmm…delicious.”

 

A second later, he snapped his fingers and they were both engulfed in flames.

 

Chapter 62

 

Melyssa jolted upright, letting out a strangled gasp since the scream was caught in her throat, her body caked in sweat.  She looked around, seeing she was in the log cabin Ash brought her to and a quick glance at the portable orbal clock told her it was just past 3 AM.  Rean…where was Rean?  What in Gehenna kind of dream was THAT?!  Frowning, she shakily stood to her feet, needing some water.  She still felt as if she was on fire, from both the lovemaking in the dream and being set ablaze, literally.

 

Is Rean even here?  Emma said he wouldn’t be here until tomorrow, which is technically today, sometime. Why would she have a dream like that about Rean, only for it to end in a nightmare?  Was that her subconscious warning her to stay away from Rean?  She didn’t know and sucked the water down before filling the glass again, trembling slightly.

 

“You look like crap.” Ash said from his place at the table, cocking an eyebrow when Melyssa let out a startled gasp and offered her a sheepish smile.   He surveyed her through the dim lighting, frowning slightly.  She was covered in sweat, her face was red and flushed… she looked shaky and he imagined him giving her a mini-heart attack hadn’t helped anything at all. “You okay, Melyssa?” He asked, pushing out of his chair and stood up, walking slowly over to her to stare down at her intently. “Nightmare?” He had those, a lot, it was one of the reasons he didn’t like to go to sleep. At her hesitant nod, he smiled and reached out to tuck a strand of her damp hair back behind her ear. “You want to talk about it?”

 

Tears filled her eyes and Melyssa did something out of the ordinary, out of character…she clobbered Ash with a tight hug around his waist, burying her face in his chest.  There was no way she could talk to him about the dream she just had, even if he was her best friend.  They had a long way to go before they were back to the way things used to be and she knew that.  His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close and Melyssa shuddered again, trying to push McBurn’s face out of her mind. 

 

Rean had turned into McBurn…what in Aidios’ name did THAT mean?

 

Frowning, Ash dropped his head to rest on top of hers, feeling her body shaking against his and he could feel the fear in her. “I’ve got you.” He said softly, soothingly, rubbing his hands slowly up and down her back in a comforting manner. 

 

What she had dreamed about, it had obviously messed her up.  Probably something to do with her time with Ouroboros and preparing for round two against them.  If he were in her shoes, he’d probably feel the same way since the last time hadn’t exactly ended on a high note.

 

“I-I’m sorry…” She whispered, her voice stammering from all the different emotions she currently felt. “I-I don’t deserve to be comforted and held by you.  I’m a terrible person and I hurt you and so many others.  I don’t have the right to cry or carry on like this.”

 

Melyssa felt his arms tighten around her and Ash lifted her to where she had no choice except to wrap her legs around his waist, her face burying in his neck instead of his chest since they were eyelevel now.  Even though she felt like she wasn’t deserving, Ash still gave her what she needed at that moment and clung to him for dear life, his warmth seeping into her skin.  If she hadn’t learnt by now that they were all fairly big on forgiveness, the woman would eventually.  He sat her on the counter, pulling back enough to eye her face.

 

“You do deserve it.” Ash informed her, leaning to the side to draw cool water from the sink and retrieve the still clean washcloth he had gotten out earlier with the weird notion of maybe occupying himself with dishes.  He had never gotten past getting out the cloth, dishes were not his thing. “Everyone deserves forgiveness,” He began gently washing her face, knowing the cool water would also help with any potential swelling from her crying so much. “Well, most of the time.  You haven’t killed anyone, so you’re ahead of the game, beautiful.” He had meant it as a joke, but he could see it hadn’t helped, clearing his throat awkwardly.

 

“You’ve always taken care of me and you’ve always been there for me, even now.” Melyssa didn’t understand why and chalked it up to Ash being a decent human being.  She cracked a small smile at him to show she appreciated what he was doing and took the tissue he handed her next to blow her nose. “Thank you.” She murmured, feeling him lift her off the counter to set her on her feet in front of him again. “Ash…I-I don’t want to sleep alone after that horrible nightmare.  Can I lay with you?  I probably won’t fall asleep again, but…having you near makes me feel better for some reason.  Please?”

 

That, under any other circumstance, seemed like a bad idea for various reasons.  First and foremost, Rean was coming and he didn’t need Emma gossiping about anything she might see, such as Melyssa coming out of his room or something, to everyone else.  But he also knew he couldn’t deny this woman a thing, even if he tried, and right now he was trying.

 

“Yeah, of course.” She was going to be the death of him, he had never been this way around a woman before; she brought out the calmer, nicer side of him that was for sure. “Come on, beautiful.”

 

Nodding, she took his hand and let him guide her to his room.  Emma had once again used her magic to make the log cabin have far more rooms than it did normally.  Once inside his room, Melyssa waited for him to climb into bed and joined him, wanting to be on the outside.

 

“Thank you.”

 

She turned, snuggling into the pillow and they both lay there, facing each other, each in their own thoughts.  Maybe she wasn’t meant to be with Rean, not if that dream was any indication.  She hadn’t seen him in 2 years, and until she did she wouldn’t know if those feelings she harbored from when she was his student would surface or not.  Then there was Ash Carbide…strong, masculine, devilishly handsome and always there for her, no matter what.  The last thing she wanted to do was ruin their friendship by trying to be something more, however.

 

The simple fact of the matter, for Ash anyway, was that when Melyssa was around, he was a very different person and he wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.  He was devilish, lewd and flirtatious when it came to other women, her not so much.  Ash rarely was, if ever, and instead he found himself being her friend, a real friend.  Something he had only ever done with other men because usually his eyes and mind tended to stop right about chest level on a woman.  Or had.  He simply watched her face, she was tired, it was obvious, but afraid of sleeping and eventually, he reached out to place his hand, palm down, on her side.

 

“Get some sleep, beautiful,” He murmured softly. “Tomorrow is going to be a crazy day.”

 

“You mean today.” Melyssa corrected him with a smile, yawning and could already feel her eyes drooping heavily. 

 

Damn it, she didn’t want to fall asleep and have another nightmare again.  Ash looked tired as well, and she didn’t want to deprive him of sleep.  Maybe she would leave him alone to sleep once he fell out, just so she wasn’t keeping him awake.  However, in no time at all, their eyes both closed and Ash pulled her closer to him with her head resting on his chest.  Melyssa was out like a light minutes later, her breathing even and steady.

 

The next morning, Ash woke up to Celine sitting at the foot of the bed, staring down at him and Melyssa while licking her paws. “That’s creepy.” He muttered, bringing a hand up to rub sleep out of his eyes.

 

“What’s creepy is the fact that you’re fully clothed with a woman in your bed, Blondie.  I’ve heard the stories.”

 

“Get. Out.”

 

He reached beneath him to pull the pillow out from under his head, tossing it at her.  Celine took off and he snorted, letting his head drop back down, glancing at Melyssa who was curled in the crook of his other arm.  Sighing softly, Melyssa slowly opened her eyes, after feeling the jolt from Ash and looked up just as those pink eyes lowered to meet hers.  Ash.  She was in Ash’s bed and she glanced down, seeing she was still fully clothed.  It wasn’t another dream and she was really with him, not Rean.  Why did it feel wonderful being with Ash in his bed, sleeping in his arms?

 

“What time is it?” She asked in a sleepy voice, not moving to sit up yet as Ash settled back down with his arm draping around her waist again.

 

“No idea, sun is up though and I imagine Celine was in here to wake us up.” Though, he’d be having words with her later about doing it in such a creepy fashion, the evil haggish cat.  He pulled his arm out from beneath her, slowly moving to sit up and ran both hands through his hair. “We can’t all stay here for long, if you’re gone too long, it’s going to raise eyebrows.” Unless she was getting out of Ouroboros permanently and then they’d have to run that risk.  Ash turned his pale pink eyes down on her, raising one. “Crow should be here, maybe Rean too.”

 

“We should head back this morning, then, after the meeting.” Surely there would be one. 

 

There had to be a reason Ash brought her here and she had to find her mask too.  Altina was hopefully done with it.  Melyssa was not looking forward to wearing it again, but she had to do what she had to do until they came up with a SOLID plan to take out Ouroboros.

 

“Um, thank you for letting me stay with you.” She pecked his cheek, slid out of bed, stretching her arms in the air and the mouthwatering scent of food wafted in the air. “Someone’s cooking.”

 

"Yeah… and no problem, truth be told that was the best sleep I've had in… two years." Ash admitted, rolling out of the bed and instantly regretted it. Morning wood was a thing and he actually covered himself when her eyes dropped down to his crotch. "So yeah… about breakfast…" And a cold shower, maybe slap it around a little. "Shower first." He smiled awkwardly.

 

The dream came back to her, even though it was with Rean and not Ash and she wondered what it would be like to be with Ash in that way.  Intimately.  Would it ruin their friendship? “Go shower and I’ll make sure to snag you a plate.” She winked at him on her way out the door, her nose leading her toward the kitchen.  However, on the way there, she froze at the sight of Crow and… “Rean.” He was here, in the flesh, and she immediately pinched herself to make sure this wasn’t an illusion or another dream of some kind.

 

"Brackett." He said cautiously, bobbing his head at her.  Crow had explained the mask thing, which was incredibly creepy.  He had instinctively distrusted her before and he didn't feel it right now.

 

Crow rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Caught him coming in from the west a few hours ago." He yawned.

 

Still ice cold towards me, I see.  Not that I blame him. “We need to have the meeting as quickly as possible, so Ash, myself and Crow can get back to the city.” Altina came flitting in from her room with the mask in hand. “I’m going to need that back, Altina, just until we can figure out a way to stop Ouroboros for good.” It was time to go back undercover again and pretend she was working for the enemy. “I will tell you everything I know about Ouroboros and answer any questions you have, but then we really have to leave.” Her tone was even and purely business as she took the mask Altina handed to her and decided she wouldn’t put it on until after the meeting.

 

“Machias is taking a personal day with me, at our love shack.” Emma said with a wicked grin. “He got in late last night.” As mayor, he was occasionally allowed to do so, though he also knew not to be pushing that card too much since he was very new at this job. “Something about a barfight downing one of his guards.”

 

“That was Ash, he took a knock to the head.” Crow snorted, accepting the cup of coffee Emma passed him before passing it onto Rean, taking the next mug sent his way.

 

“I bet Machias is loving that, being expected to sit on his ass and not defend himself.”

 

“He said he feels like a… pussy.”

 

“I still should go back to keep up appearances.  No doubt Ouroboros is probably wondering where I am right about now.”

 

“Aren’t Enforcers allowed to do pretty much whatever they want?”

 

“Yes, but there are exceptions and one of those is a newbie like me.” Melyssa retrieved a cup of coffee, pouring a hefty amount of creamer in it and sat down with her mask in her lap. “If Ash doesn’t want to take me back, I’ll find another way.  I’m going to have to come up with a reason for being gone overnight instead of staying at my apartment, though.”

 

“Will it look suspicious if she goes back with him?” Altina asked, sipping her own mug and set one down before Ash with a shy smile.

 

“If Ouroboros honestly trusts her to do anything they say when it comes to us, or expects us not to see through that mask… then we ought to be ashamed for letting them beat us so easily.” Rean said sternly, his fuchsia eyes moving to Melyssa.

 

The fact that they had sent her into their midst with only that mask… it had been a clever distraction for sure, but that was all it had been, a distraction.  Crow had seen right through it and it had raised red flags with everyone else.  Considering Ash and Crow were the Mayor’s main bodyguards…Altina made a valid point.

 

“Then I will go back alone.  Altina’s right, and with the mayor taking a sabbatical, there’s no way his trusted bodyguards wouldn’t let him go alone.” She watched both Crow and Ash groan in unison, smirking in her coffee cup. “Don’t worry about me, I can find my own way back and I’ll simply tell them I went to Heimdallr to see an opera or something.  I’ll figure it out.”

 

“Sounds reasonable enough.” Emma concurred, knowing she was right when it came to the mayor and his bodyguards being inseparable. “I’m warning you both right now,” She directed this at Ash and Crow. “I BETTER get some alone time with my husband.”

 

“Done.”

 

“Got it.”

 

Wow, Emma still has that intimidation factor when the situation calls for it. “I’ll eat, shower and leave, then, unless you have something else you want to discuss, Schwarzer?”

 

Chapter 63

 

Rean’s fuchsia eyes were very conflicted as he stared at her, realizing she was holding what he had said against him. I don’t trust you. He didn’t know what to tell her to be honest.  He still wasn’t sure if she would have come clean about anything if not for Crow calling her out on it.  Rean didn’t trust her.  She had been with Ouroboros for two years and regardless of what she said, there was no way she had come out of it completely herself and ready to join back up with the good guys, not straight out the gate.  He narrowed his eyes at Crow, who seemed to be reading his mind and snorted when Crow simply shrugged with a sheepish smile.

 

“No, not at the moment.” Not with her present anyway, not just yet.

 

“What exactly was the purpose of everyone coming then?” Celine asked, sounding bored.

 

“Ask Crow.”

 

“I see.  Well, just so you know, my former Instructor, I did not tell Crow because he saw past the mask.” She read his mind and narrowed her eyes at the look on his face, her upper lip starting to curl. “I told him who I really am because of an…old friend.  An acquaintance of YOURS, I’m sure.” Now he was staring at her hardening and she smiled coldly in return, slipping her mask back on in front of everyone. “You can thank Aurelia for convincing me to come clean to Crow.  I can tell you don’t trust me, though, and without trust, we can’t work together.  So, I bid you all adieu.” This was a mistake – a COLOSSAL mistake. “Emma, drop the magic barrier.  I’m leaving.”

 

“But…”

 

“Drop. The. Magic. Barrier. Now.” It wasn’t a request and the witch sighed before waving her hand, the barrier gone. “Thank you for wasting my time coming here, Schwarzer.  MUCH appreciated.” She bowed mockingly at him before storming out of the log cabin, doing everything in her power to hold back tears. Screw him!  He doesn’t know what it was like these past two years!  He has no idea what I went through!  He can go to Gehenna, for all I care!!

 

“Crow, the next time you call a meeting like this, make sure you know what you’re doing first.” Emma scolded, walking into the kitchen to start putting food away since it was obvious nobody was hungry anymore.

 

“How was I supposed to know she expected him to fall in line?” Everyone else had, it was true so maybe she thought Rean would as well, and forgave her readily, but Rean still hadn’t forgiven himself. “I can’t MAKE her understand where he’s coming from just like I can’t MAKE him understand her!”

 

“The fact that she manipulates the way she does tells me I’m not bothering with anymore of this.” Rean was already on his own way out the door. “From my understanding, she’s friendly with everyone who trusts her and instantly accepted everything she says. She’s not with the one person who doesn’t immediately roll over and accept what she says as gospel, which is a huge red flag. Work with her if you like, I won’t.”  And he was gone. Without trust, we can’t work together…. Of course he didn’t trust her, she did things her way because she saw no other choice and had saved everyone and now it was her way or nothing. Crow, Ash, Emma, Altina and the rest could kiss his backside, he wasn’t going through this again because Melyssa said so.

 

“REAN SCHWARZER!!” Emma was done.  Emma was fed up and had stopped him with magic, holding him completely and firmly in place.  He was floating in the air and she tightened her fist, bringing him back inside the log cabin. “Shut your mouth and listen to me right now.  That girl is scared and it took her A LOT of courage to come to Crow!  She doesn’t think she’s worthy of forgiveness from anyone, so you giving her the cold shoulder IS NOT HELPING!  This isn’t you!  This isn’t the Rean Schwarzer we know!  You have changed and not for the better!  Even Alisa has noticed it and it stops NOW!  I know what happened in Jurai two years ago devastated you!  We were ALL devastated, but did you ever stop to THINK that maybe, just maybe, Melyssa did what she did to save all of us?!  You think it was easy for me to learn she SACRIFICED everything, her own life and FREEDOM, for two years with those psychos, in order to save and protect us?!  NO!  It wasn’t!  But let me tell you something, that is the most UNSELFISH woman I’ve ever met in my life and she is MORE than worthy of my forgiveness!  She’s worthy of all of our forgiveness!!” Now, she was really angry and her face turned beat red. “HOW CAN YOU FORGIVE CROW FOR EVERYTHING HE DID TO US, BUT NOT HER?!  SHE DIDN’T DO A DAMN THING TO YOU EXCEPT PROTECT YOU AND ALL OF US!!  CROW WAS A MURDERER, A TERRORIST AND EVEN TRIED KILLING US ON MORE THAN A FEW OCCASIONS AND YET, HE’S WORTHY OF YOUR FORGIVENESS, SO WHY ISN’T SHE WORTHY OF IT?!  WHY ISN’T SHE TRUSTWORTHY?!  SHE HAD TO WEAR THAT MASK TO PROTECT HER IDENTITY BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT OUROBOROS TOLD HER TO DO!!  SHE’S NOT GOING TO GO AGAINST THEM UNTIL THERE’S A PLAN TO TAKE THEM DOWN!!  SO YOU CAN SIT THERE AND YOU CAN BE ALL HIGH AND MIGHTY WITH YOURSELF AND YOUR COLD, DEAD HEART BECAUSE THAT’S ALL YOU’VE BECOME!!  YOU’RE A SHELL OF YOUR FORMER SELF AND WE WON’T TOLERATE IT ANYMORE!!  AS CLASS VII’S FORMER PRESIDENT, I ORDER YOU TO GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF AND WAKE UP BEFORE YOU END UP LOSING THIS FIGHT FOR GOOD, MR. ASHEN CHEVALIER!!” Releasing him, Emma stormed out the back to breathe because she had NEVER exploded like that before. 

 

Everyone was completely silent with dropped jaws and wide eyes. 

 

Rean still left.            

 

~!~

 

“I can’t make him do anything.” Crow said later in the day to Ash, sighing because he knew this was his fault.

 

 

He knew Rean had changed and he wasn’t saying a word about that because he wasn’t entirely sure he blamed the guy.  Rean had cared for Melyssa, she had been under HIS protection, and things had gone so far south, it made the man’s head spin.  It didn’t make him right, but it also didn’t necessarily mean he had to be like the rest of them and do the open arm thing.  Crow began laughing.

 

“It is a little funny, you know?  Rean went out of his way for ALL of us and now that he’s finally doing what we’ve all been telling him to do for years, to stop over caring and just… handle himself, we’re shitting on him.”

 

“Yeah well… it sounds like if he’s not on board, Melyssa isn’t either.” Why she felt like they NEEDED Rean, it wasn’t exactly like one man was going to make the difference here.  Rean had already proven his leadership skills were sorely lacking. “I don’t know why she cares.”

 

“Because she did it for him and he’s shitting on her.  Everyone is shitting on everyone.”

 

“Well, I figured out what made Emma lose her temper earlier, gentlemen.” Machias walked up to them, looking both sheepish, scared and excited all at the same time. “She is with child.  MY child.”

 

“Get outta here!” Ash grinned, wrapping his arm around Machias’ shoulders. “Really?!  She’s got a bun in the oven?!” No wonder her hormones were going haywire and she exploded on Rean the way she did.

 

“Yes, which also means…”

 

“She’s out of the plan.” Crow finished for the man, not blaming him one bit. “Powerful as she is, there’s no way we can risk her and your unborn child.  We won’t put them at risk.”

 

“I could not help overhearing what you said, Ash, regarding Rean and…I wish I could deny everything, but the truth of the matter is, he is not the same he once was.  He’s…colder, distant, he barely talks to any of us anymore, try as we might.  I think it would be best if we cut him out of the picture as well, completely.”

 

Now Ash was beaming. “Sounds like a great idea to me, boss!  We need to celebrate with some drinks!”

 

“Who needs him?”

 

Crow shook his head, feeling briefly like the world had gone mad, but there it was.  Rean had been a hero once, but he had also understood things like self-sacrifice and putting others over yourself.  He had used to be a team player.  If he couldn’t understand or even bring himself to care about Melyssa and why she had done what she did, then that was on him and they didn’t need him.  They needed to fully trust one another and that meant trusting someone’s judgment, just like Melyssa would do if one of them ever decided to make that call. 

 

The ‘my life for yours’ call.

 

That was how it worked.

 

“Apparently not us.”

 

Ash was a bit skeptical of Crow’s dismissal.  Crow and Rean had once been best friends, but… then again, they had seriously drifted apart over the last two years.  Melyssa had been Crow’s family for most of his life, so to speak, even though he had forgotten about her for a while because of being an immortal.

 

“There is darkness in Rean now.” Altina joined the fray, sitting down with her musical yet robotic voice. “It is sad to see how far into the depths he has driven himself.  This is worse than when he was taken captive by his own father in the Black Workshop, when we had to save him.  He had gone berserk and that was MILD compared to how he feels now.  I do not comprehend why he has changed so drastically.  It is almost as if he has given up the will to live.”

 

“Or maybe the will to fight.” Machias correctly gently, heaving a sigh. “I have asked Sara and Fie to converse with him, but to no avail.  They will not.  Rean has alienated everyone he has ever loved and cared about…and we do not really know why.  It has to be more than just what happened in Jurai, I suspect.”

 

“As you said, Machias, he has lost the will to fight.  That sums it up perfectly.”

 

“I do admit, he was the leader of Class VII for a very long time, and perhaps we have asked too much of him.  Perhaps being the leader is what drove him to the deep despair he is in now.”

 

“We kept asking him to stop being… him.” Crow pointed out. “How many times did we give him shit for being in our business, or putting himself first?”

 

“A lot but to be fair, he was always, always thinking of everyone else except himself, putting everyone before himself.  So he flipped and finally did what everyone told him to do.” Ash shrugged his shoulders, ignoring the look he received. “Hey, we wanted him to back off and now Melyssa is the new Rean.”

 

“Maybe,” Machias shook his head, dismissing it. “We have other things to be worried about. Rean will either pull himself out of this darkness or he’ll drown in it, that will be up to him.  He knows we’re here.”


“Well, no, Melyssa and your wife kind of… let him have it.”

 

“He knows better… and Emma is pregnant, it doesn’t count.”

 

“She is right in what she said, however.  Without trust, they cannot work together.  There has to be trust and that is gone between Melyssa and Rean because of what she did.” Machias was on Melyssa’s side, but that was because he understood where she was coming from, just like Emma. “I regret to inform you that I heard from Laura and Alisa and they will not be assisting us.  They have their own duties to perform.  And I cannot seem to get a hold of Elliot, so more than likely, he has sided with Rean on this matter.  That leaves us, Sara, Fie and Toval of the Bracer Guild, Gaius from the Nord Highlands, Jusis of Barehard, Millium, Altina and a few others.  I have tried contacting the unit in Crossbell City, but they are underground in hiding again, so I am not sure how reliable they will be.” The numbers were on their side, just not the experience and power.

 

“With active Ouroboros in the city, they may not trust anyone in places of power, not even you, Machias.” Crow sounded almost apologetic, hoping Melyssa was prepared for the lifelong twinges of guilt that came with redemption. 

 

She only needed redemption if she had done something bad.  Joining Ouroboros, even for pristine reasons, would still leave her with that… aftertaste, he already knew it would.  There was just something tainted about that organization, something that left an almost slimy feeling on one’s skin after even being in close proximity.

 

“It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve managed to lure our people over to their side.”

 

Which was kind of one of Rean’s points, not that he was there to say it nor would he be.

 

“You should send Emma away.” Ash was done with this ‘his side, her side’ thing; he didn’t care about Rean’s trust issues.  They already had enough on their plate without adding drama. “So she’s not caught in the crossfire.”

 

“But of course, young Ash. It’s already been taken care of.” Rosalie, the leader of the Hexen Clan and Emma’s grandmother, walked up to them, looking beautiful as ever.  She had extremely long blonde hair and fiery red eyes. “To think, my granddaughter is making me a great-grandmother already.” She sighed almost wistfully, clasping her hands together. “In her stead, I will be taking her place and fighting alongside all of you.  I hope you find this acceptable.”

 

Emma was not taking any chances, refusing to lose her husband and father of her unborn child.  Not to mention, Rosalie was A LOT stronger and powerful than Emma.  They all knew it too, both Crow and Ash bowing to the older woman respectfully.  Emma could be scary powerful, they were well aware that Rosalie was way past that point.  Her presence emanated power and demanded respect.

 

“Of course.” Ash said solemnly, straightening his back finally and nodded at Machias, who looked both amused and concerned.

 

Yes, he was concerned.  He got the reasons for Rosalie being here, he’d feel like complete crap if his pregnant wife’s grandmother got caught in the crossfire somehow.  But he was trying to squash that because it was rather disrespectful of Rosalie’s abilities.

 

Too bad grandmother wasn’t here when Rean was being a complete tool because the old woman would have set him straight.

 

Chapter 64

 

“Where were you?”

 

“Out.”

 

“Doing what?”

 

“Investigating, doing my job.”

 

“You mean figuring out the mayor’s whereabouts?”

 

Sometimes, things just seemed to fall into place for Melyssa. “Yes.  I was concerned when I heard he took a sabbatical.  That witch is his wife, so more than likely, they are in a place I cannot access.”

 

The Grandmaster eyeballed her newest protégé, wondering if she was telling the truth or not. “Very well.” She decided to give Melyssa the benefit of the doubt since she was, so far, doing as told. “McBurn tells me you had a…moment with him.  He claims you are being too friendly with Crow Armbrust and Ash Carbide.”

 

“Of course he did.  He seems to think I’m still on their side when that’s not the truth at all.  I work with them, Grandmaster.  I have to be SOMEWHAT friendly towards them in order to keep up this spy façade.” Melyssa folded her arms in front of her chest, a stoic expression on her masked face. “Unless you’d rather I blow this operation because of McBurn’s concerns?”

 

“Hmm…he’s looking for an opportunity to make you his still, it seems.  I will have a talk with him and I assure you, he won’t bother you again during this operation…unless absolutely necessary.”

 

Melyssa bowed to the Grandmaster. “Thank you.  I won’t let you down.”

 

“See that you don’t.”

 

Melyssa left the Ouroboros compound, which was on the outskirts of Crossbell City, deep in the woods.  She muttered something under her breath, the ground glowing beneath her and soon, she was transported back to her apartment, inside.  Of course, she was lying to the Grandmaster about being on their side, but like Machias said, she had to keep up the act until they figure out a way to destroy Ouroboros for good.  It would take time, she was prepared for the wait, even though she hated her masks.

 

McBurn wasn’t amused with how everything did always seem to fall into place for Melyssa.  When she had defied the Grandmaster, she had gotten off easy and the Grandmaster still trusted the woman around her ‘former’ friends, even when the defiance had been due to a former friend.  He was concerned that Melyssa was a type of witch because he was well aware how things just seemed to go ‘well’ for her.

 

The Grandmaster was losing her touch, losing her grip.  She needed to be replaced before that little witch wormed her way into a position of power she had no business being in.  That little witch belonged under his thumb, and other parts.

 

If McBurn so much as TRIED taking her out, the Grandmaster had NO problem sending him to the depths of Gehenna.  She was A LOT stronger than any of the Anguis and Enforcers she personally chose.  This was McBurn’s fault for bringing Melyssa into the fold in the first place and the Grandmaster knew the ONLY reason he did it was because he wanted her for himself.  Not happening.  McBurn would toe the line and follow her instructions…or he would be replaced.

 

“McBurn, you are under NO circumstances allowed in Crossbell City from here on out.” The Grandmaster held her hand up when he went to speak, snapping her fingers.  His mouth was instantly sealed shut, unable to pry them open even with his own magic. “I will silence you completely, if you do not follow my instructions.  You will NOT enter Crossbell City, nod if you understand.”

 

He did, reluctantly, with narrowed eyes.

 

“Good boy.  I will send you somewhere else for the time being and Mariabell will take over your duties in Crossbell City.  Nod if you understand.”

 

Again, he did.

 

“Lysa is no longer your concern and you will put her out of your mind, if you know what’s good for you.  She is not your toy to play with and I know that is why you brought her to me in the first place.  You thought she would screw up and then I would hand her over to you.” The Grandmaster was not stupid and folded her arms in front of her chest. “If you wanted her as a toy, you never should have recommended her to become an Enforcer.  That was your mistake and you need to deal with it.  Now, I’m going to unseal your mouth and you are going to walk away without a word.  Nod if you understand.” Once he did, she snapped her fingers again and he could pry his lips apart finally. “Your new assignment will be Jurai.  Off with you now.”

 

The Grandmaster had proven his point.

 

Everything just naturally fell into place for that tart, even when everything should have been logically stacked against her.  Even as he marched away, biting his tongue, McBurn felt hatred bubbling and taking over the desire.  Melyssa Brackett was a natural born witch, there was no other explanation, and Jurai was the perfect place to start investigating this witch’s origins.  He had to wonder how many other people she had charmed, who had fallen under her sway.

 

~!~

 

Ash and Crow were back in Crossbell, back on the clock and Machias had returned as well, reluctantly.  Emma had been relocated so she would be safe, along with their unborn babe, and out of potential fallout’s way.  Humming, Ash let himself into his apartment, knowing Melyssa should be home in hers.  He had to wonder what she had told her Grandmaster, considering she had left with him the other day, were they dating now?  At least, was that the story she had given?  Probably not.  He was a bit surprised to find he had been somewhat hoping, or something.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Since she was working closely with Ash, the Grandmaster didn’t question her on it.  Either that or the Grandmaster didn’t know she had left with Ash.  Maybe there weren’t spies around Crossbell City all the time.  Maybe she was paranoid when it came to her apartment.  Just to be on the safe side, however, she didn’t remove the mask until at night since sleeping with it tended to break her out.  Fingering the small diamond necklace around her neck, Melyssa wondered if Ash was back yet and contemplated going over to see him.  For some reason, she couldn’t get him out of her head and sleeping in his arms at the log cabin had been amazing.

 

Friends, we’re just friends and it has to stay that way.  I won’t lose him too.

 

It was bad enough she had lost Rean.  She had come home, had a crying jag and threw away the starry night necklace he gave her for her birthday.  Melyssa didn’t want anything that reminded her of Rean Schwarzer, trying to mend her broken heart as fast as possible.

 

It wasn’t until the next workday that Ash and Crow saw Melyssa.

 

She looked exactly like she had the day she had come in for an interview for this position, mask included and now that they knew what the hell that was, it was creepier than before. “Machias has a full schedule today.” Ash informed her when she stepped off the elevator and onto Machias’ office floor, standing guard right at the entrance way. 

 

Crow was in the office with Machias, doing yet another sweep for bugs, or anything that hinted at magic.  The stakes on this game had grown exponentially.  But yet they all had to keep pretending everything was normal, business as usual, and go on like they DIDN’T know a damn thing.

 

It was infuriating to say the least.

 

“Awesome, should be a fun-filled day then.”

 

Melyssa smiled at them, looking pristine and perfect in a blue buttoned up blouse and a white and blue polka dotted pencil skirt with white pumps on her feet.  She had gone shopping for some ‘proper’ work wear since Machias was gracious enough to give her an advance on her paycheck.  Thrift stores were a thing and she had found some cute outfits for under $100.

 

“Ah, there you are, dear.  Glad you’re on time.  Now come along for your training.”

 

Melyssa blinked at the older woman and remembered she had to be trained on etiquette, what to say and, more importantly, what NOT to say. “See you guys later.” She waved at them before being whisked away, her arm securely looped through the older woman she would be replacing.

 

Ash gave her a half wave before resuming his post, eyes ahead on the elevator, which was the only official in and out of this part of the building, for Machias’ safety.  He had totally forgotten Melyssa was being trained today, she was still a new hire, this was her first official day, right?  It seemed like so much time had passed since the day she had come in for her interview until today, it was insane.

 

“Anything?” He asked softly when Crow came to join him.

 

“No, but I’d imagine they’ll expect something to show up within the next week.” Since she was technically Ouroboros’ spy.

 

~!~

 

“We’re safe here, right?”

 

“Yes, my office is a complete safe zone, so you can take the mask off if you’d like, Melyssa.”

 

Nodding, Melyssa peeled it off and let out a huge sigh of relief, setting it down in her lap.  Her training went well enough and she now understood the basics of what her job for the Mayor would entail. “I spoke to the Grandmaster on Sunday.  I was summoned to their hideout, which is deep in the woods on the outskirts of the city.  I can direct you there, but I warn you, it’s HEAVILY guarded.  I wouldn’t recommend going there unless you plan on attacking them with an army of your own.”

 

“Understood.” Machias was already seeing how having Melyssa on their side would prove beneficial. “What did the Grandmaster want to know?  What did she ask you?”

 

“My whereabouts on Saturday.  I told her I was searching for your whereabouts since you took that small sabbatical.  She did not question me leaving with Ash, however, so I’m assuming she doesn’t know or doesn’t care.”

 

“Interesting…” Machias stroked his chin thoughtfully, looking at Crow and then Ash. “Do you gentlemen have any questions for her?”

 

“Remember how we thought things were almost too easy before?” Ash had been thinking about this all day, trying not to dwell in the past, but there were some similarities that were beginning to crop up that he simply could not ignore. “How some of it felt way too easy?” Like getting into their hideout, getting Roger to agree to a meeting… hiding in one giant cluster of people in a warehouse… and Ouroboros had wiped the floor with them both physically and with magic. “This kind of feels that way.”

 

Ash made a very good point. “You think they’re setting us up?  Do you think they know I’ve switched sides?  I would hope the Grandmaster wouldn’t, but…she has proven to be one step ahead of us in the past.” Or ten, rather. “She DID send McBurn away to Jurai and promised me he wouldn’t interfere in my work from here on out.  Apparently, he went to her complaining about what I said to him, the last time he visited me and…she took my side on it.  He’s been in Ouroboros a lot longer than me and he’s stronger…” Now she was worried, chewing her thumbnail nervously. “I don’t know what to believe, honestly, but we can’t rule out the fact she may already know of my treachery.”

 

McBurn was very powerful and they all knew it, to send him away was a big thing and could go either way.  Melyssa had already defied the Grandmaster once by refusing to assassinate Machias.  Of course that had also been partially because it was against the deal she had made with Ouroboros, but… they all knew for a fact that Ouroboros didn’t play fair and couldn’t be trusted.

 

“I’ve known you for a while,” Not as long as Crow obviously but enough to know that things did not just fall into place naturally for Melyssa.  The woman actually had the worst luck out of anyone he had ever met. “You usually don’t catch breaks.”

 

“I know.  And I still have no idea why I was recruited in the first place.  I don’t know what’s so special about me that the Grandmaster is putting me above one of her top Enforcers.” McBurn was No. I while she was No. XVII, way down the totem pole. “I didn’t feel anything different with her during our meeting.” It was weekly.  She had to report to the Grandmaster directly with any new information regarding Machias. “Now that I’ve started this job for you, Machias, I’m going to need you to give me some kind of information to tell her at my meeting next week.  She’s going to get suspicious if I don’t have something to tell her.”

 

Machias nodded, eyeing her thoughtfully.  Nobody had ever figured out why Melyssa had been targeted outside of McBurn’s lust and even then… for Ouroboros to accept her offer -not that they were trying very hard to keep to their end if they had ordered a hit on him-, not much made sense. “I’ll have something for you, nothing major.” Because while he trusted Melyssa, he’d have been a complete fool to reveal anything major intended for Crossbell while she was technically Ouroboros.  And some things were just need to know, they were all playing a dangerous game here and there were a lot of lives at risk.

 

“I don’t want you to tell me anything major.  The less they know, the better.” Melyssa was in complete agreement with Machias and she preferred him not to tell her anything major either, just in case.  She never knew what kind of magic the Grandmaster would perform on her at a moment’s notice.  The woman could probably read minds, knowing her. “Miss Wakaba wanted me to give you this to look over.  It’s the schedule for next week’s meetings.” Each major city, like Heimdallr, would be visited by their leaders, such as Machias’ own father, Governor Regnitz. “You will have meetings with each individual to discuss mending rifts between Crossbell and the Erebonian cities and if you need to change anything, let me know and I’ll switch some things around to make it more convenient for you.”

 

Machias nodded, frowning when Crow cleared his throat. “What?”

 

“She’s going to have to give them a copy of your schedule.” Crow pointed out a bit apologetically, but it was very obvious.  She had access to the mayor’s schedule, Ouroboros would know that and expect a copy as well, which meant his and Ash’s workload would likely increase. “As much as I hate saying it, if she doesn’t, it’s going to look suspicious.”

 

Ash groaned, shaking his head.  He hadn’t thought about it, but then again, he wasn’t a former terrorist either, or former Ouroboros affiliate or whatever Crow had been. “He’s right…” He hated his friend right now. “I guess this means we’re going to have to go above and beyond for your precious, mayoral backside.”

 

“Already way ahead of you.  Here.” She handed over another schedule, one that she wouldn’t have to show Ouroboros and smiled at their confused expressions. “The schedule I gave you will make them think your appointments are at those times, but really you’re going to have your meetings in the privacy of your home later that evening.  With a little help from Rosalie, Ouroboros won’t be able to see them arriving or leaving your home.” Magic truly was a beautiful thing and having a very powerful witch on their side was proving very effective. “And Rosalie even made it to where, if I go over to Ash or Crow’s apartments to discuss something, they won’t know either.  She cast a spell on all three of our places, so there’s some kind of invisible wall that Ouroboros won’t know about.” This way, she didn’t have to keep her mask on and she would also be alerted whenever someone from Ouroboros showed up. 

 

It was some kind of magical security.

 

Chapter 65

 

“So, if fixing this stuff is THAT easy, and we can handle issues THAT easy with magic, why the fuck are we bothering?” Ash asked curiously, reaching back to scratch at the nape of his neck. 

 

If Ouroboros was going to be duped that easily, then why were they all gearing up like they were going to war?  He shook his head, missing the good old days when it was just a bunch of straight forward fighting.  Give him his weapons and a monster any day, at least that all made sense.  Not to mention at least he felt useful then, right now all he was doing was pretending to be a guard.

 

“Don’t look at me.” Crow shrugged, shaking his head to get his silver hair out of his eyes, grinning down at Melyssa with another shrug. “So what other tricks do you have up your sleeves, Lyssa?”

 

“On the contrary, Mr. Carbide, magic DOES have its limitations, just as regular weaponry and anything else in the world.” Rosalie appeared before them and waved her hand, making sure they were completely alone and couldn’t be overheard. “The only thing I have done is ensure Machias has a safe place to have these meetings.  Magic doesn’t fix everything, believe it or not.  And it wasn’t Melyssa’s idea, it was my own, so if you’re not comfortable with it, you need to take your discrepancies up with me.  I’ve afforded you the opportunity to be able to meet secretly without Ouroboros knowing.  That does NOT mean everything is solved.” Not by a long shot. “Or, as you so eloquently put it, fixed.”

 

“Ash, you know as well as I do that magic only goes so far.  I know you’re not a fan of magic to begin with.” He HATED anything related to the supernatural world, actually. “But for now, this is the best thing we can do.  Going forward, we will still need to prepare ourselves and be on guard.  At least in our apartments, we don’t have to worry about being eavesdropped on anymore.  Or rather, ME being eavesdropped on by Ouroboros.”

 

Ash didn’t say a word.  His position on magic was quite clear and for Rosalie to just pop up with a ‘magic doesn’t solve everything’, but she had appeared out of nowhere and sealed all these places… yeah… no thanks, he was good with concrete ‘can’s’ and ‘can nots’ instead of this ‘be awed but there are limitations, sometimes’ thing.  It was too confusing.  He was the asshole because he had asked a curious question, note to self, don’t do that again.

 

“Define discrepancy, apparently I’m an idiot.” He remarked wryly as he stared at the ancient witch.

 

“You are an idiot.” Crow agreed cheerfully, ruffling his friends hair and dodged a punch. “But we still love you.”

 

Rosalie grinned, her crimson eyes sparkling and floated over to where Ash was, tapping his nose with the tip of her finger. “I like this one.  So much spirit and fire.  And I am sure you are aware of what ‘discrepancy’ means.  You do read enough, so you are very knowledgeable.  I am sure you can figure it out for yourself, handsome.” She squeezed his backside for good measure, giggling when he jumped and floated away again.  The 800-year-old witch could have fun when the situation called for it.

 

Melyssa could not keep the laughter in, though she tried by biting her knuckle and Crow was howling.

 

“Discrepancy is generally a lack of similarity between two things, generally facts.” Ash was very well read and about the only one who knew it was Melyssa. “For example, you popping in magically to say magic isn’t a cure-all is a bit of a discrepancy.”

 

Crow’s jaw dropped. “Who ARE you and where’s Ash?”

 

“You were probably meaning something along the lines of my ‘thoughts or concerns’ and just jumbled the words.” She wasn’t going to like him for much longer; he folded his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow.

 

“Don’t hex me when you get him…” Crow was backing away from the situation, wondering if Machias had a dictionary.

 

“For what now?!” What the HELL had he done the first time to get reamed?  He got this time, sort of, but damn it, he was tired of this occult bullshit! “I’m going to get coffee.  Crow… you’re on watch.”

 

“Uh… maybe bring back a few extras…”

 

“Sure… Rosalie, still take an ungodly amount of sugar in yours?” He got now why she needed it, the woman was salty and he grinned when she gave him a look.  Ash supposed at her age, she was allowed.

 

“I’ll, uh, go with him.” Melyssa pulled the mask back on, heading out the door and jogged to catch up with Ash. “I figured you could use some help bringing the coffee back.  You only have two hands, you know.” She looped her arm through his as they continued walking, a smile on her ‘masked’ face.  Melyssa didn’t know Rosalie the same way the others did, only because she didn’t go to war and fight side by side the witch or any member of Class VII. “You really don’t like witches, do you?”

 

“It has nothing to do with whether I like them or not.” Ash said after a long moment, glancing down at her thoughtfully. “It has to do with the fact that people are told magic isn’t a cure-all, but then others like to show off their magic by that floating thing, or just showing up out of nowhere.  It’s misleading.  As for Rosalie, the older she gets, the more her mouth runs.  That or I’m getting hit with the ‘can’t have a different opinion’ or ask questions brick.” Apparently, her brains were on the way out, though he didn’t voice it.  He hadn’t even been being mean when he had asked the others that question, he had been genuinely curious. “Rosalie is a brilliant witch.” He admitted, grudgingly. 

 

“For the record, I’m on your side, but…she is an 800-year-old witch, so I really didn’t want to go against what she wanted to do.”

 

Melyssa knew that was cowardly, but she was also thinking of self-preservation.  Ash would understand that, surely.  This was the first time they’d been alone since the log cabin and Melyssa was glad to see their connection was as strong as ever.  At least, that’s how it appeared to be.

 

“What are you doing tonight after work?  Since Rosalie spelled our apartments, maybe you can come over and hang out?  I could make dinner and we could watch a movie or something?  What do you think, Carbide?”

 

“Maybe, we’ll see how the rest of my day goes.”

 

If he had to deal with another verbal smackdown over nothing, he might actually be piss-poor company and take his bad mood out on her.  That was something Ash never wanted to do, not to her.  He stopped walking, staring down at Melyssa and sighed, wishing she wasn’t wearing that damn mask.

 

“I hate that thing.” He muttered, watching her raise one eyebrow slowly and was tempted to tap her cheek. “What’s for dinner, beautiful?” He hadn’t even known she could cook. “And what can I bring?”

 

“Just yourself is plenty.  And I was thinking spaghetti since it’s easy to make and filling.” She would never eat gelato again as long as she lived, but there were plenty of other delicious desserts out there to consume.  Rean destroyed her love for gelato, unfortunately. “And I promise I won’t wear it tonight, if you come over.”

 

Melyssa knew Rosalie didn’t mean to give a verbal smackdown to Ash.  She was just pointing out that magic wasn’t an end-all, be-all like others assumed.  However, she also saw it from Ash’s point of view since he was not a believer in magic at all, even with all he’d seen in Erebonia.  Maybe that’s why he hated magic so much in the first place.

 

“Just make sure to let me know before we leave, so I know whether or not to make it or just stop to get something on the ride home.”

 

“I will.” Verbally because he knew her communication methods were probably being watched.  Unless of course, Rosalie had done something there.  Magic made things seem to be too easy.  It was easy to disguise and hide, but then… why wouldn’t Ouroboros expect something like that to begin with? “Beautiful,” Another thought had occurred to him, though he half expected her to have already had a counter in place or something.  He needed whatever luck she had rubbed off on him. “They know Machias is married to a witch, a powerful one,” Because in her own right, Emma was. “They’ve got to be expecting the magical wards and stuff on his office.” And they would expect her to work around it or something, wouldn’t they?

 

If not, how were they always a step ahead of the rest?

 

Melyssa honestly didn’t know what to say to that observation because it was true.  Ouroboros knew all about Machias and Emma being married and Emma’s origins.  The Grandmaster hadn’t said anything to her about the magical wards, so either she didn’t care or…she had another trick up her sleeve.  That was disconcerting.

 

“That’s probably why they’re having me be their spy in the first place.” Normally, Enforcers weren’t dubbed as spies, but she was a new Enforcer and had to ‘prove’ herself. “I’m their only way of finding out exactly what’s going on within the system of Crossbell.” Not that she planned on telling them anything more than what Machias ordered.

 

“They’ll expect you to learn and report back all of this.”

 

And she wouldn’t, Ash could see it in her teal eyes.  She’d report only the smallest of things and the bare minimum, which he knew was going to trigger warnings if they weren’t already on high alert.  Sending her out into the field, her first time, against the people she had negotiated safety for, this was a test.  This was Ouroboros testing her loyalty, throwing her up against the very people, friends, she had bargained her life away for.

 

“You’re playing this close, beautiful.” He forewarned quietly, calmly, his pink eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he stared down at her.

 

“I know, and I’m prepared for the consequences, whatever they may be.  I’m not going to worry about it right now.  Whatever Machias tells me to tell them, I’ll do it.  The Grandmaster knows it’s going to take time to get any legitimate information from the Mayor and she even told me to take my time, to be thorough and diligent.” Melyssa could see the worry in his eyes and it was for her, not them.  She reached up to stroke his face tenderly with the back of her hand, cracking a smile. “You worry too much, Carbide.  Your hair is gonna start turning grey if you keep this up.”

 

“And it’s all your fault for being such a damn difficult woman, you know that?” He shot back without missing a beat.

 

Nevertheless, he also stepped away from her, putting a respectable amount of distance between their bodies as they resumed walking.  Her Grandmaster may have other spies present that Melyssa wasn’t aware of; he wouldn’t put it past the shady organization, having spies to monitor their spies.  Being a network of liars and evil pricks came with a lot of inner-fighting and backbiting, he supposed.  Ash would hate to have to live with that kind of paranoia, wondering who was going to stab who from behind next.  Them being close enough that way probably looked intimate, more than was likely allowed or maybe they thought she was sleeping her way to information.  Ash glanced back down at Melyssa, a little sharply, wondering if THAT was a method Ouroboros used and if she had been taught seduction techniques.

 

Not in the slightest.  That was something Mariabell did, the seduction technique, but she was a drop dead gorgeous woman.  When Vita Clotilde was in Ouroboros, she would do the same thing.  That was how she had gotten Crow roped into listening to Duke Cayenne and she manipulated him into going to where Ordine, the Azure Knight, slept under the city of Ordis.  Melyssa wasn’t anything like those Anguis, she preferred to use her sword, her wits and smarts in order to obtain the information she needed.

 

“I’m not THAT difficult…” She mumbled good-naturedly, already knowing he was speaking the truth. “You got a sourpuss look on your face, what’re you thinking about?”

 

“I’m just thinking that you’re walking a fine line and going to get hurt.” That was a lie, but also true.  He HAD thought about it before just not right now.  Ash wasn’t about to tell her what he HAD been thinking, she might deck him for it and he’d probably deserve it. “Here we are.” He gestured to the open double doors, the cafeteria. “Let’s get coffee.”

 

He and Crow checked in with the employees down here regularly, just in case.  Poisoning was a thing and a possibility.  It wouldn’t surprise him at all if Ouroboros had planted someone in the kitchens or something in an attempt to poison Machias since Melyssa had declined to take him out.

 

As long as none of you get hurt and you stay safe, that’s all I care about, especially you, Ash. Melyssa followed him over to the coffee, watching him smell everything and knew why he was doing it. 

 

Poisoning.  It wouldn’t serve Ouroboros purpose or the Grandmaster’s objective to try poisoning the Mayor, not when they needed vital information only the man could provide.  Being the Mayor’s secretary would give Melyssa access to all of that and more.  During her training, she’d been shown all the different files where each client of Machias’ went, along with scheduling, phone calls and whatnot.  It was a lot to take in, but she pulled through and tomorrow would another round of training.

 

Once they were out of the cafeteria, Ash passed her the drink carrier before popping his head into the first men’s restroom they passed.  Once he had determined it was empty, he came back out, took Melyssa by the wrist and pulled her inside with him, flipping the deadbolt that wasn’t supposed to be used unless it was an emergency.  He set out each cup, which was labelled for who it belonged too and popped the top of each, pulling a vial from his pocket. Sniffing only went so far and, to be honest, not many people used poisons that were detectable via smelling, or even tasting.  The most effect poisons, and ones he would assume Ouroboros would be smart enough to use, were odorless, tasteless and would kill someone before they realized it.  He pulled a small vile out of one of his many utility pockets and poured a drop or two from it into each cup, just in case.

 

“My new motto is don’t trust anyone.”

 

Wow, Ash was not messing around or taking ANY chances, not that she blamed him.  She watched as that substance dripped into each coffee and looked around the bathroom, just making sure they were completely alone. “What is that stuff?” She asked, curiosity getting the better of her and rolled her eyes when he simply responded with ‘my secret’. 

 

Melyssa didn’t take it to heart and nodded to show she understood why he wouldn’t tell her.  Hell, Ouroboros was capable of absolutely anything and if they found out she was playing for the other team, she would be in trouble.  Deadly trouble.

 

“Ready to go back?”

 

“Yep.”

 

Now he was satisfied that nobody would be dying from accidental ingestion of poison today and he capped the coffees again, putting them all back in the carriers.  Rean wouldn’t have done this, poured an antidote or more to the point, a neutralizer, into these cups with her present.  Rean would have been concerned she’d develop a counter.  Ash wasn’t a mistrusting douchebag, well… not totally, anyway.  He unlocked the door and poked his head out, making sure they were in the clear before stepping out into the hallway.

 

“Wouldn’t do to have your reputation sullied so soon, ma’am.” He teased, knowing it would have appeared like they were doing naughty things in there to most people.

 

Rean was a douchebag and wouldn’t know someone was helping him if it bit him in the backside.  All Melyssa had done was save him and everyone from sure death.  Hadn’t she come clean to Crow?  She didn’t have to and could have taken on Ouroboros on her own.  Aurelia helped convince her that she did have friends out there that would help take them down.  She thought Rean would be part of that friendship circle, and maybe more, but he had shown his true colors.  He had changed, not for the better and had alienated every single person who ever gave a damn about him.  Not just Melyssa, but all of Class VII…besides a few like Juna and Kurt.  They were on his side, naturally, and she’d never gotten along with Juna, so that wasn’t a huge surprise.

 

“Uh huh.” She smirked back at him and headed back to Machias’ office with him.

 

“Just say the word and I’ll besmirch your reputation so thoroughly, it’ll be the talk of Crossbell for at least 100 years.” Ash actually said it casually, with barely the smallest hint of something wicked. 

 

That mask did absolutely NOTHING to hide her blush and Ash bit back a smirk.  Two years ago, at Thors, he had refrained from flirting with her.  He had kept his lewd and crude comments to himself because she hadn’t been the kind of girl he had been chasing.  She had actually been a friend.  She still wasn’t ‘that’ kind of girl, not something for a night of fun, but… she was more than a friend to him now.

 

“If only I’d let you besmirch me, Carbide.” Melyssa remarked in a tease, nudging him gently and silently wished he would follow through with what he said. 

 

She wouldn’t mind having her reputation besmirched if it meant being with him.  What in GEHENNA was she thinking?!  Melyssa took one of the coffees and sipped it, giving her something to do besides turn into a tomato under his intense, sultry gaze.

 

“Though, we never did have our sparring session and I’m still holding you to that one day.”

 

“Well, given we’re technically batting for different sides, that day may come sooner rather than later.”

 

It would wind up being a legit sparring session.  He wondered how far Melyssa would go to maintain her cover now that she was back in the fold of the ‘good guys’, so to speak.  He already knew he wouldn’t go the full mile, he would hold back out of fear of hurting her.  WHAT THE GEHANNA WAS HE THINKING?

 

“Hey, we’re here.” Thank Goddess, he was losing his mind obviously. “Ladies first.” He gestured towards the door with his head.

 

“Wait, Ash, hold on.” Melyssa stopped him from opening the door and looked up at him, pure concern and confusion in her eyes. “I’m not on their side anymore.  We’re not batting for different sides at all.”

 

Did he really believe that?  Did he truly believe she was still on Ouroboros’ side?  Why did it hurt to know that was what he thought?  Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to have dinner together and watch a movie, after all.  Did Ash trust her or was he just going along with this because of Machias?

 

“Never mind, let’s get inside before the coffee gets cold.” Opening the door, she walked inside with Ash following and plastered on a smile to hide her disappointment and sadness.

 

Ash had seen her do that with Rean at the cabin.  He had seen her do it two years ago.  Just walk off without letting someone explain themselves.  He got Rean; Rean was a dick.  He, on the other hand, had put in technically. He KNEW where her loyalty was, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have a part to play either.  Sighing, he rolled his eyes and followed her inside, figuring he’d explain it to her later over dinner, providing she didn’t start giving him the cold shoulder and cancel because of a misunderstanding.

 

“Coffee…”

 

“Yay, you have useful purposes.” Crow teased, looking up from the map Machias had given him to study.  Old tunnels and whatnot beneath Crossbell, he wasn’t looking forward to going down in them.

 

“An escape route, that’s clever.  I know Heimdallr has them too, right?”

 

“Correct.  My father has them maintained for security and emergency purposes.  We used them when we were Class VII, actually.” He remembered that vividly and how they had actually faced a bone dragon, thanks to dark ages device that brought it to life by one of Crow’s former comrades – Comrade G.  He was dead now.

 

“You know you can’t tell them any of this, right?” Crow wanted to make sure she was aware of it and chuckled when she rolled her eyes. “Just checking, Lyssa.”

 

“Uh huh.” Time was what it would take to prove to them whose side she was on.

 

Chapter 66

 

After they had coffee and mulled over the maps Machias had dug up from Crossbell City’s archives, it was time to call it a day.  She walked out with Ash, leaving Crow and Machias behind.  Rosalie had left right after they did to get coffee, not a fan of it. “So, what time should I expect you for dinner?  I figured you’d want to go home and clean up first.  I know I do.” And to get this stupid mask off her face. 

 

Rosalie was a godsend, truly.

 

“Yeah, I’ll be over in about an hour.”

 

Ash figured he could wait long enough to shower and clean up before explaining earlier had been a misunderstanding and that he did trust her.  They all did or she would have been kicked out of Crossbell by now, or run out, whatever.  Right now, in the middle of a crowded street, was not the time to discuss such things.

 

“You know what I mean,” He laughed when she gave him a look, they still had to make it back to the apartment complex. “I’ll bring wine, if that’s okay.” Spaghetti and wine, perfect pairing. “Or dessert if you prefer.” Why did this feel like a date?  Or was that all in his head?


“Bring both, just…no gelato.  That’s all I ask.” When Ash gave her a curious look, she shook her head, not wanting to go into details about it out here in the open.  Maybe later she would explain. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”

 

Slipping into her car, she drove off while he did the same, both heading in the same direction.  Ash didn’t directly follow her and veered off toward another direction.  He was probably going to get the wine and dessert he planned on bringing over.  She giggled, shaking her head and continued onto the apartment since she already had everything to make spaghetti.  No matter what, she was planning on making it tonight, whether Ash showed up or not.

 

Ash was indeed going to get wine and dessert, wondering why she didn’t want gelato.  Gelato was delicious.  Rean had, a few years ago, given it to him and Crow after trying it while ‘out and about’.  He had wanted to share and… those were good times, Ash shoved them out of mind.  He went with cheesecake, couldn’t go wrong with cheesecake and he had them put the topping, strawberry, on the side in a to-go container just in case.  It occurred to him that he knew a lot about Melyssa that most people probably didn’t, but when it came to the basics, like her favorite foods, or type of music she listened too, he was clueless.  Well, maybe it was time to rectify that tonight.  He picked up a bottle of red, sweet wine and headed home for a shower, pretty sure he was overthinking everything and should squash the nerves. 

 

Why was he nervous? 

 

It was just Melyssa!

 

Because it WAS Melyssa.

 

After a quick shower, Melyssa didn’t bother putting the mask back on and started dinner.  She had actually started the sauce while in the shower, letting it slowly simmer, after browning the ground beef to put in it.  In a simple sky blue summer sleeveless dress, something comfortable and freeing, Melyssa had pulled her hair up to pile on top of her head, not wanting any hair in the food.  That would not be appetizing.  She had just finished setting the water on the stove to boil for the noodles when a knock came at her door.  She knew who it was as she bounced over to open it, the smile on her face slowly fading away at the sight of Crow instead of Ash.

 

“Oh hi, what are you doing here, Crow?”

 

“I came to see how you’re doing after today.”

 

Today had been… well, a part of it, had been awkward and tense.  Rosalie had the effect on people sometimes and she and Ash had a history of butting heads when they were put together in tense situations.  Something smelled delicious and he inhaled, letting out a groan.

 

“Is that your Mom’s recipe?” He asked curiously, seeing her nod and grinned, his eyes sweeping over the dress.  Her hair was still damp, she had just gotten out of the shower and she looked… beautiful.  Without the mask, her ‘flaws’ standing out, she was gorgeous and real. “Am I interrupting something, Lyssa?” He asked after a moment, beginning to feel a little uncomfortable because now he realized she had stopped smiling at the sight of him and greeted him with an ‘oh hi’, not exactly what he had been expecting.

 

The smile was back on her face as Melyssa gestured him inside by the arm, closing the door behind her. “Wait, what?  No, noooo, no, no, no, I was just making dinner for me and Ash.  I invited him over for dinner and a movie tonight to hopefully rekindle our friendship…” There was an unreadable look on his Crow’s face and Melyssa didn’t know what to think about it. “Why don’t you join us?  We’re friends and there’s plenty here for all of us.  I was just boiling the water for the noodles.  Ash is bringing wine and dessert, so if you wanna run home and grab a beer or something, you’re more than welcome to.” Now she was rambling like an idiot.

 

Ash and Melyssa, having dinner, that just didn’t sit very well for some reason.  Maybe it was because he was protective of Melyssa since she was like a sister to him.  Or maybe it was because he was protective of Ash since he was like a brother to him.  Or maybe it was because of reasons he wasn’t about to dwell on tonight.

 

“You sure?  I don’t want to interrupt anything… and to be honest, you didn’t look very pleased that it was ME at the door.” Now he knew why, she was expecting someone else.  Ash.  That was just… odd, it was ODD.

 

“I’m sorry, I just thought you were Ash since I’m expecting him…”

 

Melyssa didn’t mean to be disappointed at who was at her door and frowned, seeing the hesitation on Crow’s face.  She recalled the two kisses they shared and then he had rejected her because he thought of her as a ‘sister’.  It hurt her, Melyssa would not lie because she thought for sure she would end up with Crow…once she discovered he was really alive.  It was like the universe had literally pushed them together, but then…there was Rean and Ash.  Rean turned out to be a colossal disappointment and a downright bastard, but Ash had forgiven her and stuck by her, no matter what.  So had Crow, but then again, she was ‘family’ to him and nothing more.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

Crow finally stepped inside since she gestured him in again, raking a hand through his silver hair. "I don't know what to think about the idea of you and Ash." He held up a hand when her teal eyes widened and her mouth opened. "I'm not saying there IS you and Ash, but the idea is the first thing that popped into my head and it's… I don't know.  I also know it's not my business."

 

Well, she DID ask him and he had given her a straight, blunt answer. “Crow, there’s nothing going on between me and Ash.  I don’t even know why you care considering you said you thought of me as family and nothing more.  But now you’re standing here saying this stuff to me, and it makes me wonder if you really meant it or if you were just…scared of being with me, for some reason.  So, which is it?  Are you being overprotective and in brother mode or is there another reason why you don’t like the idea of me and Ash together?”

 

She was just as blunt and straightforward as he was. 

 

He knew he could give her a logical crap answer about them getting involved being stupid, given everything going on, but she'd see through his shit. "I don't know, maybe a little of both. " He wasn't going to lie. "And I care because you and Ash are both my friends, but if there's nothing going on than it doesn't matter."

 

“And what if there is?  Or there ends up being something between me and Ash?” Melyssa folded her arms in front of her chest, trying extremely hard to keep her voice calm and neutral, but there was a hint of annoyance in her tone. “YOU decided you didn’t want me, Crow.  YOU told me you saw me as a ‘sister’ and nothing more, do you remember that?  Do you remember rejecting me?  And now that I’m showing the slightest interest in someone else, you’re going to come at me with this shit?  You know what I think?  I think you don’t know what you want, even after the past two years I’ve been gone.  I think you were scared back then, though I have no idea why.  And I think you’re STILL scared and unsure of what you want right here and now and I don’t have time to play games.  I don’t know how I feel about Ash either.  And I don’t know how Ash feels about me.  I DO know he’s become my best friend.  I know I was in love with you two years ago, but I’m not now.  And I know I had feelings for Rean back then, but those are gone as well.  That’s what I know and I’m not going to let fear hold me back from being happy, regardless of who it’s with.  I gave you your chance, twice, and you chose your path.  You wanted to be just friends and I respected it, even though it nearly killed me because I thought you loved me too…as MORE than a sister.” Walking past him, she opened the door again just as Ash went to lift his hand up to knock. “I changed my mind.  You ARE interrupting us and I’m done with this conversation, brother.” That was her way of telling him to get out of her apartment.

 

Crow got it loud and clear. “I hope Ash is never honest with you.” He informed her on his way out.

 

Everyone who was honest with her got torn to shreds and he had seen it with others.  If they voiced their opinion, or told the truth, how they felt or viewed something, and it contradicted her or was ‘bad’, they got torn.  Rean immediately came to mind and he dismissed it.

 

“What’d I miss?” Ash asked, holding the wine tucked beneath his arm, the cheesecake on his palm and the other hand raised still like he was going to knock. “Or do I not want to know?” He probably didn’t want to know, he wasn’t getting involved between any crap between Melyssa and Crow.  Ash hoped she wasn’t cutting more people out though, she kind of needed them.

 

Crow could voice his opinions all he wanted, but the SECOND she did the same thing, voiced HER opinion, it was considered ripping people apart?  Talk about a double standard and a double-edged sword!  What was she supposed to do?  Stand there and listen to Crow’s crap about how he wasn’t comfortable with what happened between her and Ash?  That he MAY have feelings for her that were more than thinking of her as family?  The man REJECTED her and maybe she did still have some ill thoughts and feelings towards him. 

 

First Rean and now Crow – was Ash next?

 

“Tonight’s not a good night to do this, Ash.  I’m sorry, I just want to be left alone.” She closed the door in his face and flipped the lock on it, finally allowing the tears to flow down her cheeks.  Hearing the pot boiling with water on the stove, Melyssa walked over to turn it off and tossed it all in the sink, not caring if she made a mess.

 

I hope Ash is never honest with you. Those words struck her hard, like a knife straight through her already mangled heart.  Maybe leaving Ouroboros wasn’t the right thing to do, after all. I don’t trust you. Another stab right in the heart and she could hear Rean’s words echoing in her mind. 

 

Nobody trusted her; Aurelia was dead wrong on that assumption, even after she explained everything.  It didn’t matter.  That was why Rean refused to help them because he didn’t trust her.  She had saved these ungrateful people and sacrificed her own freedom for them AND THEY DIDN’T GIVE A DAMN!!

 

“I’m done.” Wiping her tears away, Melyssa decided it would be strictly business between her and all of Class VII from here on out.  Enough was enough, she could not take anymore and, honestly, Melyssa was afraid of having a nervous breakdown.

 

Ash had absolutely no idea what he had missed and he kept reminding himself he wasn’t getting involved. 

 

Tomorrow at work was going to suck majorly.

 

Crow had already decided he was going to be polite and if Melyssa wanted to continue her overreacting bitch fit, that was on her.  He wasn’t going to let her inability to let other people say what was on their mind, or admit when they weren’t sure about something, without stripping them down, interfere with who he was or what he did.  Melyssa was turning into Rean 2.0, she had the savior complex and had sacrificed herself for everyone, people were all siding with her.  If she didn’t check herself now, she’d keep on the same path where Rean was currently.

 

Bitter and alone.

 

Maybe tomorrow he’d try talking to her, definitely not tonight though.

 

She was his family, whether she liked it or not.

 

~!~

 

“My Lysa, did you honestly think I didn’t know what was going on?  I have spies all over Crossbell City, not just you.” The Grandmaster smiled at her newest Enforcer, steepling her fingers together. “Obviously, you have learned a few things, I’m assuming?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Such as?”

 

“Nobody trusts me.  All I have done is protect them and…they don’t trust me because I joined up with Ouroboros and became an Enforcer.” Melyssa spoke quietly, honestly, her head remaining bowed.

 

“Of course they don’t, child.  Do you know why?  Because you haven’t been through what they have.  You haven’t gone to war with them by your side.  Rean Schwarzer has always had a hero complex and when he couldn’t fulfill that role, it destroyed him.” The Grandmaster knew all and saw everything, including Rosalie Millstein’s interfering ways, which was a little troublesome, but nothing to be TOO concerned about.  They had dealt with the witch once before and would have no problem doing it again. “Will you allow this to destroy you?  If you wish to pull out of Crossbell, I will have no problem sending you elsewhere.”

 

Melyssa thought about it and shook her head, slowly looking up at the Grandmaster. “I will stay and fulfill my duty as Enforcer No. XVII, Grandmaster.”

 

She smiled. “Go then, child.”

 

Melyssa nodded, bowing to her and walked out, waiting until she was driving off from the compound to text Machias. It’s done.

 

Machias had ordered her to go to the Grandmaster for her next meeting and convince the woman, or whatever she claimed to be, that Melyssa was 100% on their side.  There was a rift going on between her, Crow and even Ash.  She had hardly spoken to them for the past week and Machias could feel the tension thick in the air.  He figured doing this would help ease it a little since they still had no idea how to take Ouroboros down for good.

 

Crow had tried talking to her and she was giving him the cold shoulder.

 

The Grandmaster wasn’t wrong, Melyssa HADN’T gone to war with any of them and that was something that tended to build trust, being in the heat of constant battles where one’s very life hung on the line and they HAD to rely on their partner.  It was easy for them all to say they trusted her, but truth was, they had no choice but to trust her and hope she was playing this straight. Even for all her guff and bullshit, Crow knew she was because at her core, Melyssa was a good person.

 

Even good people had sticks up their asses at times.

 

Get back safe.

 

Chapter 67

 

Honestly, Melyssa didn’t know what the right thing to do was.  She was conflicted because it seemed the Grandmaster and most of the Enforcers/Anguis did legitimately trust her.  Whereas the people she had only spent a short amount of time with didn’t.  Did she trust them in return?  Melyssa couldn’t answer that question and it troubled her.  Maybe it would be best to just stick with Ouroboros since she knew them far more and better than Class VII. 

 

Stopping her car, Melyssa stared straight ahead out of the windshield and shut her eyes tightly, gripping the steering wheel tightly in her hands.  What was the right decision?  What was the best thing for her to do?  It seemed the Grandmaster already surmised she was playing both sides, but the woman hadn’t condemned her for it either.  Maybe she wanted to show Melyssa who her TRUE friends and family were the hard way.

 

“You know, the Grandmaster took you in and cared for you like one of her own.” Mariabell had appeared in the passenger seat of Melyssa’s car, a soft smile on her face. “And we haven’t treated you THAT badly, I don’t think.  We’re not as bad as people claim we are.  We’re just…powerful and CAN be bad if the situation calls for it.”

 

“Why was I chosen, Mariabell?  I’ve asked this question so many times and I’ve never gotten a clear answer.” Melyssa looked over at one of her trainers and…friends.  Was Mariabell a friend of hers? “I was isolated and couldn’t see the light of day or the starry night sky for two years straight.”

 

“Because you were in training.  That’s how it was for me too.  And I’ll tell you something, I LOATHED the Grandmaster for it for the longest time.  But eventually, I opened my eyes and realized it was all done for my own good, to make sure I fulfilled my training as an Enforcer.  And then, I was bumped to an Anguis shortly after that.” Mariabell had no reason to lie to her or keep anything from her. “As far as why you were chosen, I don’t know.  I really don’t know why I was chosen either besides my magical abilities.  With you…it has to do with that orange aura you have whenever you power up.  Maybe that’s the ‘spirit’ McBurn was talking about when he referred you to the Grandmaster.  And you have to admit, your skills as a swordsman have improved exponentially since you joined us.  Can you honestly tell me Rean Schwarzer would’ve given you that kind of training, that kind of dedication?”

 

Melyssa frowned, lowering her eyes. “No.” It was the truth.  Rean had sparred with her, sure, but she hadn’t been with Class VII that long before Gehenna broke loose. “I just don’t want them to get hurt.  They don’t trust me and that’s fine, but…I still want to protect them for some reason.”

 

“So do it.  You’re an Enforcer now.  You can do whatever you want and make your own rules…as long as it doesn’t interfere with the Grandmaster.”

 

Now Melyssa was confused. “But I thought I had to be a spy in the mayor’s office?”

 

Mariabell shrugged with a smirk. “That was a test to see where your loyalties truly lie.  And we’re pleased to see that you came to us and told us what was going on.  So now, the Grandmaster has informed me you can do whatever you want and…” She reached over to pull the mask away from Melyssa’s face. “You don’t need these anymore since Class VII knows who you really are now.”

 

“I-I don’t?”

 

“Nope, and you can go back to being Melyssa Brackett instead of Lysa Reynolds.  The world is your oyster, my dear.”

 

“Why do I feel like this is a trap?”

 

Mariabell shrugged, a purple glow outlining her frame. “Maybe it is…maybe it isn’t.” Then, she was gone.

 

What in Gehenna just happened?

 

~!~

 

“McBurn is in Jurai, riling up the nobility again.” Machias was saying to Crow and Ash when Melyssa showed up for work, nodding once at her. “We knew he had been sent there, but… what is the point?” Seriously, why was it such a bad thing that the commoners and poor got a leg up? “I wish we could abolish nobility and be done with it.” He muttered under his breath, then flinched. Melyssa’s family had been nobility once and then stripped of it and their names stricken from the record.  He still didn’t fully know or understand the circumstances behind it.

 

“That’s not surprising considering that’s where the Grandmaster sent him.  I wonder what the endgame is, though.” Melyssa walked over and slapped a brand new application on top of Machias’ desk, making him look up at her.  Her UNMASKED face. “Lysa Reynolds is no longer your employee and has left the building permanently, so if you want to hire ME and keep up my training, the name is Melyssa Brackett from now on.  And don’t worry, the Grandmaster already knows and is the one who gave her approval for me to stop wearing those hideous things since I told her what was going on.  Just like you wanted me too, Mr. Mayor.” She winked, feeling happier than she had in a long time because now she no longer had to pretend to be someone else.  She could be HERSELF, mostly. “I’m starting to wonder if you had this planned all along, Machias.  You really are a sly devil, if that’s the case.” And smart as a whip to outwit the Grandmaster.

 

Machias, Ash and Crow were all staring at her, the real her.  The lack of a mask had all three men relaxing without being aware they had been tense to begin with.  The mask thing was really, really disconcerting.

 

“As much as I would love to be able to claim that was my grand scheme all along, Melyssa,” Machias bowed his head to her with a slight smile. “You give me far too much credit, we all know I’m more of a fighter than a thinker.”

 

“Which explains why you got THIS job.” Crow snorted, walking over to stare down into Melyssa’s teal eyes. “So what was the mind game she tried playing with you?” He asked curiously, knowing one had been laid out because he had had the same thing, a few times, happen to him.

 

“It wasn’t a mind game at all.  I told her what was going on, like Machias wanted me to, and then Mariabell paid me a visit and told me I didn’t have to be Lysa Reynolds anymore.  I didn’t have to wear the masks anymore.  I burned them all, by the way.  They are HISTORY.” It felt damn good to do that too and she’d done it out in the middle of nowhere, in the woods in a clearing, so she wouldn’t start a major fire. “She did tell me she has spies all over Crossbell City and she knows I’ve been friendly with you all.  And surprisingly, she seemed fine with it, so I couldn’t begin to tell you what her endgame is either.  Oh, and Mariabell told me since I passed whatever this test was the Grandmaster gave me, I can pretty much do whatever I want as an Enforcer now, as long as it doesn’t intervene with the Grandmaster’s main plans.  I don’t think they’re after Crossbell anymore, unless they want you to let your guards down.  It’s hard to say, she’s not easy to read.”

 

“No, Lyssa, there was something else.” Crow said quietly, studying her meticulously. “For me, one of the times anyway, it was about Class VII not being my friends at all.  Why would they trust me?  I was a terrorist, a spy…”

 

His cheeks flushed, remembering how hard it had been to earn trust back after turning his back on them, again.  Rean had been the only one who had welcomed him back with no questions asked and Rean had been called a fool for it.  Now Rean was… not here, not welcoming anyone… and he felt a moment’s twinge of guilt because nobody had even tried siding with the guy who had always taken care of them without question.  Guilt had to go, no time for it.  When she shook her head again, he nodded and let it go.

“It’s good to see your proper face again, outside of safe zones.”

 

In a way, the Grandmaster DID question her regarding Class VII trusting her, but they didn’t need to know that.  There was no reason for it.  If they didn’t trust her, she wouldn’t be here and she knew it.  Then again, maybe they were keeping the enemy close – her.  It didn’t matter, they had bigger fish to fry and had a plan when it came to Rean.  He wasn’t himself…and she wondered if Ouroboros had something to do with it. 

 

From how everyone spoke about him, including Emma, Rean was the most forgiving, understanding and trusting man in Erebonia.  Now, it was almost as if he didn’t trust a single person and there was a darkness inside of him.  She really needed to talk to him one more time, to see if she was right in her assumption when it came to Ouroboros.  Again, they didn’t need to know what she was planning outside of city hall, though she was contemplating asking Ash or Crow to accompany her to Leeves on Saturday – their next day off.

 

Ash was still playing the ‘mind my own business and focus on the matters at hand’ game.  Neither Crow or Melyssa had volunteered information about that night and he had managed to squash his curiosity and refrained from asking.  If they wanted him to know, he’d tell them, though admittedly, he had been more than a little tempted to bean Crow a good one for ruining what was potentially a date with Melyssa.

 

The rest of the day was business as usual with Crow accompanying the treasurer to the bank while he stood guard at the office door, Machias was getting ready to leave for the night.  He had stood there, watching as she worked, listening to her conversations and been bored out of his mind.  When Melyssa finally ended her last phone call and stood up, signaling she was done with the end of her workday, he flashed her a hesitant smile when she glanced at him.

 

Melyssa smiled back with a small nod, knowing Ash hated Rean because of what happened to her in Jurai.  The man could not understand why their Instructor would use her as bait with her own father.  She understood why Rean did what he did, and didn’t fault him for it either.

 

Something isn’t right with him.  I can feel it and I don’t know why.  I was a bitch to him, even though he wasn’t nice to me.  He doesn’t trust me and that’s not like Rean at all, not according to what Crow told me. Crow was only putting up with her because of their job, but they were tense with each other, so there was no way he’d go with her to Leeves. I’ll just go alone.  I can handle myself and…I can handle Rean. She hoped.  The man wasn’t called the Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves or the Ashen Chevalier for nothing. It doesn’t matter.  I have to try.  Maybe wearing the mask threw him off or something.

 

“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s a bad idea.” Ash observed, having been watching her face intently. 

 

He had always, from day one, been able to read Melyssa like a book.  Granted nowadays it was a bit harder, her training with Ouroboros had made it so it was near impossible because she kept her face stoic and still for the most part.  Her not wearing a mask anymore helped him look for facial cues and then there were her eyes, those stunning teal eyes that showed so much emotion if she wasn’t actively concentrating on hiding it.  At her politely puzzled, raised eyebrow, he grinned and shrugged his shoulders.

 

“You got this look, like you’re planning on doing something you maybe shouldn’t.  Your jaw squared up.” Which meant she had reached a decision.

 

“Yes, I have and you won’t approve of what I want to do, so I’m not telling you what it is.”

 

Ash would try to stop her, convince her not to do it, but in her heart and her mind, Melyssa knew she had to do this.  Traveling to Leeves to talk to Rean Schwarzer had to be done.  Mariabell said she could do whatever she wanted now that she no longer had to hide her true identity from the world.  Enforcers weren’t on tight leashes and going to talk to Rean wouldn’t interfere with anything the Grandmaster had planned.

 

“I’m taking a trip for the weekend.  I’ll be back sometime Sunday evening, just so you’re not growing greys worrying about me.”

 

“I already am growing greys because of you.  I’ve been tearing them out on a regular basis since the day I met you.” He informed her, pink eyes narrowing slightly. “Business trip or pleasure?”

 

Ash knew it was none of his business, but damned if he could keep himself from asking.  When Melyssa just shrugged one shoulder, he felt like snatching her up.  Except then he’d have to explain why he was assaulting a coworker, or being assaulted by one.

 

“Want some company?” He offered, already knowing she would shoot him down.

 

“Now see, I WAS going to ask you to come along, but when I tell you what I’m going to do, you’re probably going to blow a gasket and take half of Crossbell City with you.” Now his eyes were pink slits and she groaned, taking his hand to pull him into her office.  Being the Mayor’s head secretary had perks. “I’m going to see Rean.” Before he could blow his stack, she covered his mouth with her hand and her teal eyes pleaded with him to hear her out. “Ash, I have to talk to him.  Just one more time.  Something is wrong with him…and I don’t think it’s…I don’t think he’s in control of it.  From what Crow told me, he used to be the nicest, most trusting, most dedicated, most FORGIVING person in Erebonia.  How he was acting at the log cabin has been bothering me and…I think Ouroboros might have something to do with it.  And since I know you’re still angry and bitter towards him for what happened in Jurai, I didn’t want to burden you with my trip to Leeves.  It wasn’t his fault for what happened.  NOBODY could’ve known the true purpose of Ouroboros being there.” Her. “You have to forgive him.  You have to forgive him the same way you forgave me.  I’m the one responsible for what happened in Jurai, not him.  And since I’m back to my old self again, and I can pretty much do whatever I want as an Enforcer, this is my new path.”

 

This woman WAS going to be the death of him and his hair!  Ash was pretty sure he could FEEL the greys coming in, covering his natural color and his pink eyes were beginning to border on an almost red color as he continued staring at her.  He grabbed her hand and slowly pulled it away from his mouth, having had the childish thought of licking her palm and was glad that impulse had left as quickly as it had arrived.

 

“You’re right…about Rean.” He admitted grudgingly, snorting when her eyes widened in shock. “Crow’s been saying the same thing.”

 

Except nobody listened to Crow.  Crow and Rean had been best friends and it had taken Crow a long time to get over what had happened in Jurai.  How Rean had used Melyssa as bait, but what went down at the cabin had gotten the gears in Crow’s head turning.

 

Chapter 68

 

“He has?”

 

Why didn’t he say anything to her then?  Melyssa realized it was her fault for driving the rift between them because of what she said.  She didn’t mean to go off on him the way she did and she regretted a lot of what came out of her mouth.

 

“Shit.” Pulling her ARCUS II out, she sent him a quick message that she needed to talk to him as soon as possible.  If Crow was having the same thoughts as her when it came to Rean, the same worries, chances were something definitely wasn’t right. “Thank you for telling me about Crow, Ash.  I had no idea, but…I don’t blame him for not telling me after I was a horrible bitch to him the night we were supposed to have dinner and hang out.”

 

He couldn’t stop himself this time. “What happened that night?  What did you say to him?”

 

Melyssa bit her bottom lip and reiterated everything that was said between them, including Crow’s parting words. “I don’t know why I snapped at him the way I did.  I guess part of me is still sore at him for rejecting me or maybe leading me on.  Because he kissed me once, then fled back at the Twin Dragons tower.  Then he asked to kiss me again and then fed me that crap about only seeing me as a sister.  Yet, he questioned me about…us, me and you.  He just sounded…I don’t know, jealous maybe?  It set me off and I have to apologize to him.  All he was doing was trying to tell me how he felt and I cut him down.  And we’ve barely said a word to each other since that night.”

 

In fact, she barely said a word to anyone besides Machias over the past week.  Ash was noticing a pattern.  She had sliced Rean down too.  At the time, Ash had thought Rean was being honest, brutal and cold about it, but he had been giving his honest opinion and thoughts.  Rean had gotten shredded for his troubles.

 

“Tearing people apart was never really like you either.”

 

Once he’d overlook, but shredding Crow… just seemed odd.  Even after that disastrous kiss after the equally disastrous train trip, she had forgiven Crow. “If this is occult related, I want a free pass on my magic hating ways for LIFE.” He would even keep like… half of his thoughts to himself on magic, but when he DID unload, he wanted free reign and no repercussions.  Magic was evil and outside of Rean maybe being hijacked, or another amnesia thing like Crow had, magic was the only logical explanation.

 

“What’s happening to me, Ash?”

 

Now she was scared.  This scared her because she didn’t realize it at the time, but she had shredded both men verbally.  First Rean because of his lack of trust and then Crow…because he voiced his opinion on the possibility of her and Ash.  What was going on?

 

“You’re right.  This isn’t me.  I’ve never been one to shred anyone or cause anyone pain.” Unless she was in physical combat, but emotional and mental hurt…that was new for her. “What did they do to me?  What did they do to Rean?” It had to be Ouroboros’ doing, but she didn’t know HOW or what kind of spell or magic they used. “I’ve been a mean, cold bitch lately…and I’m just now realizing it.  Maybe Rean isn’t the only one who has changed for the worst.  I have too…and I don’t know why.”

 

“Well…”

 

Ash mulled it over and could pinpoint where these changes showed, thankfully, few and far between.  Or at least, they had been, until he found out about Crow just now.  Ash had to wonder how many other people she may have done that too without suspecting, without realizing, what she was doing.

 

“You’re not as bad as he is, which says that whatever is happening, it isn’t something that happens at a fast rate.  Something is likely triggering it.” Fuck. “We need a witch.” Ash sighed, hating his life right now because their current witch on call was that beautiful hag, Rosalie. “Do you still want to go see Rean and try talking to him one more time or do you want to get a magical expert’s opinion?” He asked quietly, knowing how important this would be to her.  Not only for her own sake because it seemed to be happening to her, but also because Melyssa and Rean had been… close. 

 

His heart lurched.

 

“Why not do both?” Rosalie appeared in front of them with a flourish, a smirk curving her lips. “Yes, every office in this building is directly connected to me and Machias knows all about it.  Emma wanted me to do it.” She rolled her eyes at her pregnant granddaughter’s insistence. “For added protection, according to my lovely Emma.”

 

Ash had jumped out of his skin and was clutching his chest, muttering under his breath incoherently.

 

“Rosalie, can you really tell if something is going on magically with me and Rean?”

 

“Hmm, the most I can do is try, dearie.  Like I said before, magic cannot solve everything, but if magic is involved, I should be able to tell you that much.”

 

“Okay, do it.” Rean was in trouble and Melyssa wanted to do everything in her power to help him, as well as herself. “Please, I need to know if Ouroboros is responsible for this and if it is magic-related, they are.”

 

“Very well…Carbide, if you’re going to have a stroke, please leave the room.” Rosalie winked at him before turning serious, her staff in hand. “Let us begin then.”

 

Yeah, Rosalie was still a bitch.  He wished that was magic affecting her, but no, it was 800 years of walking the earth.  Ash had a very rude thought about her using magic to ensure she remained beautiful and kept those breasts perky.  He was not stupid enough to say that one out loud.

 

“So, no conversation here is private?”

 

“Nope.”

 

Too bad magic couldn’t fix her personality.  He didn’t like the idea of private conversations, such as the one he and Melyssa had been having, being aired for everyone to hear.  Or her.  Mostly her. “Can you check Rean if he’s not present?” He asked curiously, because if she could, he was calling bullshit on magic not being able to solve everything because that would be pretty damn impressive. “Or are you going to use Melyssa as your deciding factor?”

 

“No need for Rean to be here when I already have a piece of essence from him.” She waved her hand and appeared a lock of hair, with a neat bow on it to keep the strands together. “Emma retrieved it before he stormed out of the cabin.  Any part of his body can be used, but hair will give me a definitive answer.  Melyssa…”

 

“On it.” She took a pair of scissors and cut the very bottom of her hair, just a few strands long enough for Rosalie to work with.

 

“Thank you, I’ll fix your hair for you, if you’d like, once we’re done here.”

 

She smiled genuinely at the witch. “Thank you, Rosalie.”

 

“Now then, silence is required for this to work and I need full concentration.  Step back both of you.” Rosalie commanded, not missing Ash instantly pulling Melyssa out of the circle she formed. “Oh Goddess, I call upon thee needing answers…” Her eyes turned pure black, looking demonized and Rosalie’s hair began swirling while both locks of hair began to glow. “Reveal unto me the truth!”

 

Then, she began chanting in tongues, her staff also glowing brightly and both locks of hair had turned from a white glow to black.  Melyssa frowned, knowing that couldn’t be good and felt Ash wrap his arm around her shoulders, pinching her lips together to keep from speaking or making a sound.  Rosalie looked down at the locks of hair pulsating black and snapped her fingers, the spell ending as everything returned to normal.

 

“You are tainted, dearie.  You and Rean…and there is something binding you two together.” She turned to face the woman, all traces of humor gone.  Now, she also was concerned. “Is there something you both share?”

 

“Well, we, uh, kissed…”

 

Rosalie shook her head, waving that off dismissively. “I mean an object of some sort, a talisman or something?  Whatever this is – it’s very dark magic and your assumptions were correct on who is responsible for tainting you and Rean.”

 

“You mean…”

 

“Ouroboros and more than likely, if I know the Grandmaster as well as I think I do, it was done while you were in their midst for those two years.  Do you recall if they took anything from you, anything that would link you to your former Instructor?” Rosalie raised a slow brow when Melyssa instinctively reached up to touch her neck and stepped forward, narrowing her eyes on the spot.

 

“A necklace…they didn’t know I had it, though.  I took it off and kept it hidden away from them.  He gave it to my for my birthday…”

 

“Where is this necklace now?” Rosalie demanded, keeping her voice low and even. “That could be the talisman, what did you do with it, girl?!”

 

“I-I threw it away!  I didn’t want any memory of him after what happened at the log cabin and…” Melyssa watched Rosalie’s eyes slam shut and she felt Ash’s grip on her tighten slightly. “I-It’s probably in the city garbage by now…”

 

There was NO way in Gehenna she was traversing through garbage!

 

“Rosalie, is there any way to break the spell?”

 

“Since Rean is tainted as well, that means he must have a talisman either similar to yours or…it’s the same thing he’s been holding onto.” Rosalie had seen this before, hundreds of years ago, and she could not believe Ouroboros was still performing this type of black magic.  It was a slap in the face to all witches within Erebonia and she gritted her teeth. “One of those necklaces must be destroyed completely to break this darkness that has overtaken both of you.  You’re linked to him, Melyssa, and as long as one of those talismans are active…you both will never know true peace again.  So, you can either traverse through the city garbage and try to locate YOUR talisman, or…”

 

“Go to Leeves, find Rean’s and destroy it.” Melyssa finished for her, already knowing what her decision would be. “Are you certain that’s all that must be done to cleanse both of us?  Both of them don’t have to be destroyed?”

 

“Only one.  I’ve seen this before, but it was a very long time ago and it’s extremely dark, black magic from the Dark Ages.  The Grandmaster must’ve found your necklace and infused it with black magic, girl.  Since Rean has a replica or something resembling it, it fused with him as well.”

 

“Goddess…”

 

“Why would Rean have one?” Ash asked curiously, ignoring the look Rosalie shot him, focusing on Melyssa. “It was meant for protection, right? Did he say he had one for himself at the time?”

 

Rosalie scoffed when Melyssa shook her head, shaking her own. “Maybe he had it and kept quiet about it for his own reasons.  Affairs of the heart, young Carbide, are usually more dangerous and secretive than Ouroboros.”

 

Yeah, there had been something brief between Rean and Melyssa.  Rean was a romantic at heart, even though he would put someone’s happiness with another person above his own, he was just that way. “Fine.  Leeves it is.” Because nobody was tromping through Crossbell’s sewage.

 

“I advise you only take one person with you, dearie.  So either Crow or Ash, one of them should stay behind to protect Machias.” Rosalie knew she was putting the woman on the spot with choosing, but at the same time, it had to be done.  And priorities had to be met, which was protecting the mayor or Emma would have an absolute coronary. “Besides, if all three of you go, it will look suspicious.”

 

Rosalie made a point and, as much as she wanted to ask Crow, they were on the outs currently.  Ash had always been there for her, through everything, and never once blamed her for anything that happened.  He hated Rean and Crow didn’t, but…she trusted him more than Crow at the moment.

 

“I want you to go with me, Ash.  I trust you completely and I know you want to help Rean as much as I do.” Even if he wouldn’t admit it out loud. “Please?” Melyssa knew she didn’t love Rean or have feelings for him that were more than friendship anymore. 

 

No, they had passed onto someone else…someone with pink eyes, a good heart and a lewd sense of humor.

 

“I also advise you to leave immediately.  The longer the talisman is active, the more damage will be done.”

 

“Are you sure?” Ash asked quietly, feeling a bit like Rean at the moment because he was doing something stupid, putting someone above himself. “Crow and Rean have been best friends for years.”

 

To him, it made more sense for Crow to go, it had been Crow who had brought this to HIS attention because Crow cared more, even with them being on the outs.  Ash, after learning he had been in love with Melyssa and admittedly he was an idiot sometimes, had not been very kind to Rean for that bad judgment call.  When she just nodded, he flashed her a smile.

 

“All right.”

 

“Both of you need to leave.  I will take care of everything here.  I will tell Machias and Crow what is going on.  There isn’t time to spare.” Rosalie instructed, disappearing with a flourish in front of them.

 

“I’ll never get used to that shit.” Ash muttered, grunting when Melyssa took him by the hand to lead him out of her office.

 

“We’ll stop at the apartment first and grab our things.”

 

Melyssa had one thing on her mind and it was helping Rean, breaking this dark link they had between them.  She wanted to restore Rean to who he used to be and she wanted to be the old Melyssa again.  There was a darkness tinging her for the past two years and she didn’t even know it until today.  On the way to the apartment, with Ash driving, Melyssa looked over at him and squeezed his hand.

 

“Thank you for coming with me, Ash.  I wouldn’t be able to do this without you.” It was the truth; she was too cowardly to face Rean alone, not after their last altercation.

 

He gave her a quick smile before turning his eyes back to the road, returning the squeeze. “I still think Crow would be better, but we’ll play this your way.”

 

Rean hadn’t been under any dark influence during that time two years ago, that had all been Rean. He knew logically that decision to use Melyssa as bait had torn the other man, went against everything he stood for.  Rean had been facing a lot of crap from them all during that time too, especially when Emma had shown up and challenged him. 

 

His lips turned down into a frown.

 

Maybe he did need to go.

 

Chapter 69

 

This was not going to be easy. 

 

They couldn’t just walk up to Rean and ask to talk to him.  Rean had ‘washed his hands’ of everything and everyone, all because of this darkness.  He wouldn’t listen to reason, so Melyssa had a plan on how to help Rean…without him knowing until the talisman was destroyed.  Once they are at the apartment, Ash retrieved his belongings and she did the same thing, both packing light.  Just a few outfits and toiletries, nothing more. 

 

Around an hour later, -Melyssa had spent some time making them lunches to take on the road, so they didn’t have to stop- they were on their way to Leeves and she decided to discuss what she had in mind. “So, Rean isn’t going to talk to us willingly, you know that, right?  He wants nothing to do with us because of the darkness tainting him.  So, I think what we should do is one of us needs to distract Rean while the other searches his place for the talisman.  Once it’s destroyed, Rean will return to himself and we can THEN explain to him what happened.  What do you think?”

 

“I think I’m going to have to be the one to distract him, and that’s even if he opens the door to us.” Ash had been thinking about this as well, his brow furrowing in thought. “If it’s gotten worse, he may want to fight.” And darkness or not, Rean was one of the best swordsmen there was in Erebonia.  His equally famous temperament and tendency to show mercy were NOT there. “And he won’t be tempered by his… usual judgment.” Which would make him cold, calculated… utterly ruthless. “I’ll keep him occupied, one way or the other, you find the damn thing, you’ll know better what to look for than I will.” Honestly, if something happened to her and Rean came to his senses… Ash did NOT want that on his conscience when he knew it could have been prevented.

 

“No, Ash,” Melyssa shook her head instantly, already knowing he wasn’t on par with Rean’s swordsmanship.  She had trained for two straight years, underground, isolated and honed her skills.  Ash had an ax scythe and he wasn’t a swordsman like her. “I will distract him.  His anger is going to be towards me, for what I did.  For sacrificing myself for everyone and going with Ouroboros, becoming an Enforcer.” She knew she was right about this and could see Ash ready to argue. “I can handle him and I won’t let him strike me down.  YOU look for the necklace or talisman.  Do you remember the necklace he gave me?  It was the starry night one, so he either has something similar to it or it’s the same thing.  Find it, destroy it and don’t worry about me.  I got this.”

 

“You’re doing it again.” Ash said, his lips thinning. “Putting yourself in the way, sacrificing.  I’ve fought against and with Rean, I know his tactics better than you.”

 

He wasn’t exactly useless in the field with his scythe ax that he had been using for years, opposed to a few years training.  He had been acknowledged by the Imperial Army and the Bracers, to name a few, for his battle prowess.  Granted, some of it was sneaky and underhanded, but Ash played to win.  He hadn’t survived Hamel at the tender age of three just to be struck down by the empire’s softest man.

 

“If that’s how you want to play it.” He agreed finally, his tone softening.

 

This was her show, he’d follow her lead.

 

Melyssa did not need to be saved.  She didn’t need to be protected.  She wasn’t a damsel in distress and she was swordsman, just like Rean, following the way of the sword.  Frowning, Melyssa suddenly felt that darkness for the first time, that animosity building inside of her at his words.  She shut her eyes, blocking out the horrible thoughts flittering through her mind and clutched Ash’s hand, probably harder than she meant to.

 

“I don’t mean to…emasculate you or act like I’m sacrificing myself.” She spoke carefully, trying to find the right way to say what was on her mind. “I appreciate you offering yourself as the distraction, but I truly feel I would be best for it because of what’s happening to Rean and I.  I know you know him better than me when it comes to combat and his tactics because you’ve known him longer.  I hope you don’t get mad at me for saying this, Ash, but…you have a lot of animosity and anger towards him and I’m afraid if I let you do this, you won’t have a clear head and you will end up getting hurt.” With a swords master like Rean, one HAD to have a clear head to face him. Please don’t be mad at me, Ash.

 

“As much as I appreciate the thought, beautiful, it’s kind of a moot point when I’m not the one tainted by that talisman and we’ve seen how it affects you around Rean.”

 

Ash saw where she was coming from, he did, but logically… he wasn’t the one who was going to wind up hurting Rean, she was.  She had totally unleashed on Rean in a way that had made even him sit back and shut up.  He knew Rean was under some sort of evil sway and had no intentions of hurting the man, just keeping him distracted.

 

“And I know you’re not trying to emasculate me.  You’re just a lot like Rean, when you’re not evil anyway.  You put everyone above yourself and that’s… it.” She and Rean could have been siblings.

 

She couldn’t deny that, but at the same time, her mind was made up and since he said he’d follow her lead, there was no reason to keep discussing this.  It would just piss her off more and that was where the darkness stemmed from inside of her.  Whenever she became pissed off, she lashed out at the person responsible and she didn’t want to do it to Ash.

 

“I understand where you’re coming from, but I’m politely disagreeing and we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this subject.” She would be the one to challenge Rean and hoped Ash meant what he said. Remain calm, it’s the darkness that makes you lash out.  You have to be stronger than the darkness.  You can’t let it devour you. With Rean, she would have to be COMPLETELY calm, regardless of the harsh words that came out of his mouth.

 

Ash was fully expecting her to mess this up and he would never say it out loud.  He had heard the tinge of anger in her voice, knowing she was likely struggling with keeping that darkness in check.  Knowing about it was the best thing for her, it gave her a defense against it.  He just hoped she was going to be strong enough to keep it up when she went against Rean.  Ash hoped something would break through to Rean to keep him taking her head off, he knew the man had loved her at one point, maybe deep down he still did.

 

“We’ve got this.” They just needed to get through this weekend one moment at a time, without her temper spiking.  He was afraid that if Ouroboros knew SHE knew about this… they could worsen it somehow.

 

~!~

 

Leeves.

 

It was better than she remembered, lively in a small town sort of way.  The lino flowers were gone since it was getting to be fall weather, the summer long gone.  She looked around, breathing it in and landed her gaze on the same bench she shared with Rean under the stars, eating gelato.  Pulling her gaze away from it and pushing that memory in the far recesses of her mind, Melyssa and Ash headed toward the school.  More than likely, Rean would be there.  What they didn’t expect was meeting with Towa Herschel, who informed them Rean had returned to Ymir over a month ago and resigned as an Instructor to Thors Branch School.  She wished them well and was on her way, not questioning why they needed to talk to Rean or anything.

 

“Ymir it is, then?”

 

“Ymir it is,” Ash sighed, raking a hand through his blonde hair, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Truth be told, I’m surprised Rean didn’t resign a while ago.  I heard rumors he was becoming… difficult.” One of the most ruthless, coldest instructors at Thors.  At the time, he had attributed to that bullshit from Emma about separating the students and friends line, on top of what had happened in Jurai. “Have you ever been there?” He asked, turning away from the school, his eyes raking over the old, familiar grounds and felt something tugging at him, nostalgia maybe.

 

“No, but I will now.” Melyssa sighed and headed toward the car with Ash, stopping to look at him. “How about we rest here for tonight?” The sun had set on the horizon and nightfall had arrived.  They’d been going for over a day straight and she knew they were both running on fumes. “We’ll get a good night’s sleep and then head out in the morning to Ymir.  Are you okay with that?” The look on his face told her all she needed to know and she reached up to stroke his face with the back of her hand. “You’re exhausted, Carbide.  Let’s find a hotel.”

 

“Yeah, you mean an inn.” Ash shook his head, remembering the time he had taken her to a pub.  Not exactly the normal, or appropriate, place for a young lady, but it had also been at lunch time, so the social norm was a bit more relaxed.  She was a grown woman now… nobody would bat an eye. “I know just the place, beautiful.” He grinned down at her, reaching out to wrap his arm around her shoulders and pulled Melyssa into his side. “You trust me?” At her nod, he began laughing, guiding the way down the familiar streets and lanes.

 

It was the same pub he had taken her for lunch when they were classmates.  Talk about a rush of nostalgia.  At the time, she had been conflicted what to do about Crow and she had spilled her secret to Ash…well, part of her secret.  She smiled up at him with sparkling teal eyes and they walked inside together, being seated almost right away.  Was it a coincidence it was the exact same booth as last time?  It was more lively than the last time in here, but that was because it was dinnertime instead of lunch.

 

“What will the lady be having?”

 

“A beer and can you send over some of those delicious chips with salsa?”

 

“Absolutely, and you sir?”

 

 Ash ordered the same plus a proper dinner and then he ordered a dinner for her, laughing when Melyssa gave him a look.  After the waitress left to get their drinks and put their order in, he leaned forward to take her hands, squeezing gently. “The last time we were here, you wouldn’t have a pint with me.  For the first, and probably the last time ever, I can say something positive about Ouroboros, they gave you some taste.” He began laughing when she pinched the inside of his wrist, squeezing again. “I’ll get us a room while we’re here, they have an inn above the pub and an add-on off to the back.” He pushed away from the table and left her there, returning a few minutes later with a sheepish smile. “So… about that room… I did get it.  The last actually.”

 

It was her turn to laugh, the sound musical and cheerful for a change. “How convenient.  Well, I guess it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve shared a bed together and it probably won’t be the last.” Did she just actually say that out loud? “T-That’s not what I meant!”

 

Damn it, she was flushing with embarrassment and took a long swig of her beer, shaking her head.  Why was she always a flushed mess when it came to Ash Carbide?  He knew exactly what to say and what to do to pull it out of her.  Granted, she’d been flushed with Rean a few times, but most of it had been after sparring with each other for a long period of time.

 

“Never mind, we’re sharing a bed and we’ll leave it at that.”

 

“Hey, they assured me it had double beds.”

 

Ash was doubtful however because the owner had been a little shifty when making that claim.  Chances were, it was a single queen sized bed and he hoped Melyssa didn’t mind the fact that he had totally forgotten to pack any sleeping bottoms.  He had planned on just going commando, but now… he cocked an eyebrow, figuring they would cross that bridge when they got there.

 

“Sounds good to me.” He leered at her playfully, toasting her with his beer. “I hope you remembered that I’m a cuddler.” Morning boner… he definitely remembered that and inwardly groaned.

 

“Yes, I remember and maybe I’ll wake up on top of you.  You never know.” She teased, taking another pull from her beer and chomped on a chip, enjoying this little back and forth they had going on. 

 

It was always like this between them, the playful banter.  She definitely wasn’t the shy woman she used to be and had built a little self-confidence while with Ouroboros.  Melyssa knew she was beautiful enough to net a decent looking man, though Ash was drop dead gorgeous.  She wondered briefly what color those eyes of his would change if he was turned on and immediately pushed that thought away.

 

Cuddle me all you want, big boy, I don’t mind.  WHAT IN GEHENNA IS WRONG WITH ME?! Were these thoughts part of the darkness or was her lust finally seeping through after all this time?  They were finally alone, one on one, with no one to interrupt or stop them.

 

Ash was completely unaware of where her thoughts had taken her, but the way her eyes widened for a second told him it was probably something amusing.  For him at least, maybe not so much for her.  He pulled back when the waitress finally returned with their meals, eyeballing the generous sized platters and his stomach rumbled.

 

“I don’t remember you being such an avid flirt before, beautiful.” He commented and picked up his napkin, setting it within easy reach.  There was a lot he didn’t remember, like the confidence.

 

“I was always too shy to do it back then and maybe it’s this liquid courage that’s making me more flirtatious.”

 

She shrugged with a smile, pouring sauce over her steak and potatoes, feeling almost ravenous.  They only had sandwiches and chips on the way here and a very small breakfast from a rest stop vending machine earlier that morning.  Ash hadn’t wanted to stop until they made it to Leeves and she hadn’t argued against it.  It just took a little longer than they thought it would to arrive.

 

“It’s nice to see some things have not changed, such as your flirtatious ways, Carbide.”

 

Chapter 70

 

“Those will never change, though you still hold the honor of being the one and only woman I have toned it down for.” Ash toasted her with the bottle of ketchup he was about to use to liberally douse everything on his plate. “I probably would have for my Mom too.” Or maybe he’d be less of… him and more of a proper gentleman.  He wasn’t dwelling on that, he hardly had any memories of her.  Ash popped a steak fry into his mouth, letting out a moan of sheer pleasure. “See, aren’t you glad I ordered for you, beautiful?” He asked after swallowing, because he wasn’t getting backslapped for a lack of manners.

 

“I WAS going to order for myself, after we got our drinks, but you jumped the gun on me.  Not that I’m complaining.  Steak is delicious.”

 

She popped a piece in her mouth, also groaning at the taste.  This place hadn’t changed – it still had the best food in Erebonia, in her opinion.  They completely engrossed themselves in their meal, asking for seconds on their drinks and when it was all said and done, both were very satisfied.  Their hunger had been sated and they were laughing over stories from the past.

 

“Okay so, do you remember when I stumbled out of my room at the dorm and you were in the hallway reading?  I never did tell you why I was up that early, did I?”

 

“Nope.”

 

“Do you want to know now?  I don’t know if you’ll find it disturbing or amusing.  Maybe both.”

 

“Hit me.”

 

Melyssa proceeded to tell him about the erotic dream she’d had in the baths with both Rean and Crow, shaking her head.

 

Ash just sat there eating his food and listening with an impressively calm face, though by the end of her little dream tale, he was smirking. "That explains why you were so flushed and a bit… damp." She had a damp face and beads of sweat on her neck.  He remembered that vividly, he had thought he was the only one up at that hour.

 

She leaned in a little closer to him, since it was getting rather loud in the pub and slid her hand on top of his. “That was then, and I don’t feel that way about them anymore, Ash.  Crow made it clear we’re family and Rean…well, I think it was just an infatuation more than anything.  He was my Instructor, it was like he was a forbidden fruit of sorts.” She had a very nice buzz going on and felt a little braver, taking another slow sip of her third beer.  Lightweight, she was. “I wonder what YOUR fantasies consist of…”

 

"Drunken orgies consisting of hundreds of lovely, depraved ladies and only me." He said without skipping a beat, wondering if she was still a virgin or if that had also been taken from her during her time with Ouroboros.  Ash had a lot of fantasies, a lot of them lately consisting of her and usually ended with them cumming together.  He'd woken up a time or two with his dick in his hand and cum everywhere.

 

“Mmm, sounds kinky.” She giggled in a low, seductive voice, playing with his hand now, his fingers, that confidence inside of her threatening to explode out. “And what would you do if I was one of those many, many women, Ash?” Her mouth was watering and she could see the desire burning in his pink eyes, her teals nothing more than darkened turquoise pools. “Better yet…” She stood up from the table, not releasing his hand and smiled when he followed suit. “Why don’t we go up to our room and you can SHOW me what you would do, hmm?  You’ve got my curiosity peaked, Carbide.”

 

At that point, Ash totally lost his cool and the last swig of beer he had taken from his pint went everywhere.  His cock was informing him that this wasn't a drill, it was legitimate go time and then the other part of him was a bit concerned that she was under the influence of the curse.  Ash did not want to be at the other end of the drunken mistake stick.

 

That was disgusting!  Ugh!  Melyssa could not believe he just spewed beer all over the table and HER! “Wow…” She had sobered up DAMN quick and narrowed her eyes, tempted to splash the rest of her beer in his face.  Instead, she did an about face and stormed upstairs to where the bedrooms were located. SON OF A BITCH! Her mind screamed, yanking her shirt off and then peeled her bottoms off, starting the shower immediately.  She didn’t want to smell like a damn brewery!  What in Gehenna had gotten into Ash?! He doesn’t want me.  If he did, he wouldn’t have ruined the moment by spraying beer on me from his mouth! Was that the darkness talking or was she legitimately pissed off?

 

Ash had NOT meant for that to happen, but for sweet, innocent Melyssa Brackett to say something like that to HIM, of all people… it had just happened!  He knew there was potentially something between them, but that had gone from a dinner that hadn’t happened to ‘show me your fantasies’ and even HE was putting the brakes on.  His dick was protesting and threatening to grow arms just for the sole purpose of bitch smacking him silly.  What if it wasn’t her or even being drunk?  What if it was whatever was tainting her? 

 

No… that caused rage, not lust.  Maybe alcohol had loosened her up because he knew she wasn’t fall down drunk.  Growling, Ash took off after her, needing to fix this.  He let himself into their room and heard the shower going, stripping out of his clothing.  Well, either she was going to forgive the faux pas or she was going to knock him out.

 

Her eyes were closed when she heard the curtain open and the cold water she was under turned warm, followed by only a little cascading over her shoulders.  Melyssa had two choices with this scenario.  She could either backhand him right out of the shower or turn around to face him in all his naked glory.  If he was undressed…and a quick brush of his cock against her backside gave her that answer.

 

“So, is spewing beer at a woman part of your foreplay regimen or am I just that lucky exception?” His large hands planted on her hips and she leaned back against him, keeping her eyes closed with her arms folded in front of her chest.

 

“You are the unlucky exception.  I usually use champagne and I have a fountain trick that would knock your socks off,” Ash’s mouth was right by her ear, gathering she wasn’t going to send him flying through a wall or something, his lips curving into a slight smile when he heard her laugh softly. 

 

Maybe.  He was pretty sure she had laughed, it was hard to see her face since she wasn’t facing him.  However, he had a great view of her partially bare chest, her arms covering and pushing them up at the same time.  His cock pulsated, right against the curve of her luscious ass.

 

“I’m sorry, that was… a total dick move from me.” Even though he hadn’t meant to do it. “I did not mean to ruin the mood.”

 

Melyssa wanted to stay mad at him, but he always broke right through her walls and made her smile.  She could have had the crappiest day ever and Ash was the only one who could get her to smile.  Her eyes opened when she felt his cock against her backside and her stomach tightened because he wasn’t a small man by any means.

 

“I suppose I can forgive you this once and besides,” Pausing, she turned to face him and slid her hands up his massive, muscular chest, smoldering teal eyes gazing up into smoky magenta. “You do deserve a chance to make it up to me, so you better make it count.” Crooking her finger at him, Ash lowered his head until their lips finally met.

 

Ash was going to go with: Not a virgin.  He also wasn’t going to say anything out loud because she could and would snap his cock right in half as it was in the perfect state for it – state being rock hard.  That was okay, he’d rather not be the one to have to introduce her to sex – admittedly, part of him did feel disappointed – and it also meant he didn’t have to be the poor guy who ‘set the bar’.  His palms kneaded her curvy hips, drawing her in against him so she felt his cock brushing against her nethers.

 

“I think I can make it count, beautiful,” He rumbled, brushing his lips against the corner of her mouth, denying her that kiss at first. 

 

“A-Ash…” Melyssa wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his now wet hair and pressed her chest against his, her body trembling. “Goddess…” Her eyes nearly rolled in the back of her head at the feeling of his lips sealing to her throat and she lulled it back, giving him full access. “W-Wait…wait!” She felt him pull back to stare down into her eyes and his forehead pressed against hers, their bodies still aligned. “Ash, I-I have to…tell you something…” What is he going to think when I tell him I’ve never done this before?  He’s going to think I’m some kind of freak! “I’ve um…shit…” Now she was the one who was ruining the moment. “I’ve never had sex, okay?  I-I know the confidence has to come from whatever this darkness is inside of me because I’ve NEVER be this forward.  I don’t think anyway.  I don’t know, but…I just…wanted you to know in case I absolutely suck at this.”

 

Well Gehenna… Goddess strike me down now, Ash pleaded, not entirely sure what to do now.  He cared very deeply for Melyssa and he knew it, but he also knew once this darkness was gone, there was a very good chance things went back to how they had been before.  Especially if she honestly believed that the confidence was coming from the darkness.  The part of him that wanted to claim her for his own, make her his, and fuck her until she saw stars didn’t care WHERE it came from.  The other part, the side that cared for her, didn’t want her making decisions while under the influence of magic.

 

“Do you want me to stop?” He asked finally, his voice coming out husky and low.

 

Truthfully, she didn’t know the answer to that question.  Half of her wanted to stop because she didn’t want to destroy their friendship and bond, but the other wanted him intimately.  Reaching around him, she shut the water off and pulled the curtain open, stepping out to extend her hand to him.  Ash took it, letting her guide their wet backsides out to where the bed was and she gently pushed him to sit down on it.  Straddling him, Melyssa cupped his face tenderly in her soft, wet hands and passionately kissed him, finally tasting him for the first time and it was instant fireworks.

 

“I want you, Ash.  I don’t ever want to lose you again.” She kissed him again, this time harder and deeper, her body feeling as if it was engulfed in flames. “Please don’t stop…”

 

This was not the darkness, the evil magic working and worming its way through her.  That only brought out the negative things, emotions, and there was nothing negative about any of this.  Not unless she went to town and bit off his junk or something.  Ash shuddered violently at the thought.  Luckily for him, Melyssa seemed to take it as a sign of desire and he kept kissing her, his large hands roaming her back and down further, cupping her luscious, pert backside.  She felt perfect, straddling him and fitting against him like this.  He could feel every plane of her body, every curve and eventually moved his mouth down the column of her throat, wanting to taste her everywhere.

 

That was a great idea.

 

A second later, Ash had flipped her and pinned her onto the bed.  Melyssa let out a gasp of surprise, not expecting him to do that or to feel his mouth work its way down the length of her slick body.  She watched him, her mouth going dry when his face became eyelevel with her glistening sex.

 

“Ash…” She moaned out, burying her fingers in his hair as his tongue slid up the crease of her legs and across her pelvis before doing the same thing to her other leg. “Goddess…oh Aidios…”

 

She had never felt the touch of a man like this, let alone experienced foreplay.  Tonight, that would all change and who would have thought it would be with Ash, of all people?  It was almost mesmerizing watching his face bury between her thighs and her fingers tightened at the first touch of his tongue against her clit.

 

Ash was unknowingly reenacting the dream she had out at the cabin about Rean.  By the time he had gotten to her clit, she was soaked and he growled against her flesh.  If he pulled away right now, he knew he would have her juices running down his chin.  She tasted delicious and he was thanking the Goddess he hadn't totally blown his chance.  That dream went through her mind while Ash devoured her and, very discreetly, she pinched herself to make sure this wasn’t a dream.  That little zip of pain told her it was very real and she was with Ash, naked, wet and more than ready to hand over her virginity to him.  She had thought she wanted it to be Rean, or even Crow, but the more she got to know Ash, the more she realized she wanted it to be him.

 

“Ash, baby…” She breathed out in a breathless moan, clutching his hair harder and immersed herself completely into what he was making her feel with that amazing tongue of his. “Goddess, that feels so damn good…make me cum, make me cum for you…”

 

Virgin, she was a virgin.  Ash had to keep reminding himself of that fact because the way she talked and acted, writhing beneath his tongue and lips, her fingers fisted in his hair… the words coming from those sweet, devilish lips… he knew confidence could be deceiving.  He was a prime example of that.

 

“Mmm, when I’m ready, beautiful.” He rumbled up at her, his eyes wide and lusty when she tilted her flushed face down to look at him.

 

He deliberately licked his lips, letting her see him relishing in the taste of her and he had been right, the bottom half of his face was soaked.  Gently, Ash slid one large finger between her silky folds, keeping his eyes trained on her face for signs of discomfort.  That was definitely different, but it didn’t hurt necessarily.  It was just TIGHT with pressure, but no pain.

 

“Oh Goddess…” She slammed her eyes shut and hissed out when he pushed the digit in a little further, the pressure building and there was a burning sensation as well. “A-Ash…” Her hand flew down when he began adding a second finger and her fingers wrapped around his wrist, stopping him. “N-No more…please…”

 

Melyssa bucked her hips when he ignored her plea and slid that second finger inside of her, making her cry out softly.  It wasn’t too painful, but her walls instantly clamped around his fingers in a tight vise and her breathing turned labored within seconds.  If she couldn’t take two fingers, there was no way she was going to take his cock.  Ash liked to boast and he knew he shouldn’t, but a lot of people thought he was just building himself, his cock was not… normal sized.  He was a big man with the corresponding large appendages.  Melyssa would need more prep, he dived back into her pussy, using his mouth along with a single finger to get her going again.  Ash had not missed the tightness or the way her entire body had seemed to clamp down around him, just envisioning that wrapped around his dick had him throbbing in greedy anticipation.

 

Chapter 71

 

An hour later, Melyssa was sure she wouldn’t be able to survive actual sex with Ash because he kept pleasuring her with just his tongue, lips and even his teeth, along with his fingers.  She was sensitive down there, to the point where she was burning up from the inside out.  Ash was driving her to the brink of insanity and the wetness of her skin wasn’t from the shower earlier – it was sweat from being worked up and climaxing repeatedly.  When Ash slid two fingers inside of her again, she didn’t buck as badly or hiss, her walls still tightening around them.

 

“A-Ash…” She choked out, trying to sit up to pull him on top of her, begging and pleading with him to end their torment and end the burning. “If you don’t get up here and make love to me, I’ll go find someone else who will!  You’re driving me crazy, I can’t take it anymore!  Please!”

 

Ash was chuckling wickedly as he slowly, and he was excruciatingly slow about it, kissed his way up Melyssa’s heaving body. “You can go find anyone you like, beautiful…” He drawled once he had reached her parted lips, kissing her and let her taste herself on his tongue for a brief moment.
“But he’ll never compare to me.” He was guaranteeing it. 

 

This would always be her first memory of sex, he was pretty sure anyway, and it would be very hard topping what he had done to her for as long as he had.  Ash kept his fingers inside of her, being lazy and crooking them every so often, once she wasn’t clenching and spasming so much, just to set her off again as his eyes studied her face intently.

 

“What was that about making love to you?” He murmured, feathering his lips against hers.

 

There was that arrogance he was infamous for and it didn’t annoy or anger her.  It turned her on.  She whimpered against his lips, completely at his mercy and her body trembled while he continued thrusting those fingers in and out of her slowly, methodically.

 

“Ash, p-please…please, I’m…oh Goddess…” His fingers felt incredible, so she couldn’t imagine how HE would feel, when they finally arrived at that moment. “I’m burning up, you’re making me…burn…” In the best way possible or the worst, she wasn’t sure yet. 

 

Melyssa cupped his face in her hands to bring his lips further to hers, passionately kissing him as he hovered over her.  During that kiss, Ash had swiftly replaced his fingers with his cock and she gasped in his mouth, not expecting the GIRTH of this man.  He was a lot bigger than she thought and her hands clutched his shoulders while he buried his face in her neck, his mouth right by her ear, urging her to relax. 

 

How in Aidios’ name could she RELAX with this…THING inside of her?!

 

So, that had been beyond sneaky of him, but she would have tensed BEFORE he was in and he knew a lot of women clenched and made it damn near impossible to slide in as it were.  Tension made it tight and kind of sealed things off, especially given his size. “Just breathe, beautiful,” He whispered, rubbing her hips gently with his palms, trying to calm her down, help her relax. “Breathe, Melyssa…” Before she passed out, but the heavy breathing and the racing heart… was making things constrict rapidly around his already straining cock and he mentally coached himself to relax as well, not get overeager.

 

Breathing was easier said than done. 

 

A LOT easier said than done, especially when Ash was FILLING her completely and then some.  Holy Aidios, how was he fitting inside of her?  He didn’t stop either and kept slowly sliding inside, coaching her through it and once he arrived at her barrier, he locked eyes with her.  Melyssa could get lost in those magenta orbs for hours, days, months, years…all of the above.  He ordered her to count to three and she’d barely reached two when his hips snapped forward in a smooth, fluid thrust, shattering her barrier and finally claiming her innocence.

 

“Ash!” She cried out in surprise, the pain not as bad as she thought it’d be.  Melyssa had been through much worse in her life, so this was nothing, but it was a great deal of burning.  He was fully sheathed inside of her and she clung to him, breathing in through the nose and out the mouth, while he kissed along her neck and throat, holding her close to him.

 

Goddess, I wanted this for so long…I thought about him so many times, not just Rean and Crow. Tears formed in her eyes from the intense emotion suddenly flooding over her. I missed him so much, my best friend and now he’s here with me, like he always was.  A lot of my thoughts were consumed with Ash…I think, no…I KNOW I love him.  Please don’t let that be the darkness talking.  Please Goddess, please let what I feel for him be completely real and all me. “T-That wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be…pain wise.  Come here.” He was holding back and she could feel it, sense it, and the fact he didn’t want to hurt her or wasn’t greedy made her heart explode with even more love for him.  It had to be love, this wasn’t just lust. “I’m ready when you are, Carbide…”

 

“You sure?” Ash’s voice was coming out low and raspy, his teeth gritting together because he was holding himself back.

 

His arms trembled from both desire and holding himself off of her as much as he could, knowing just how easily he could crush her tiny little body.  She was so damn small, it was amazing because Ash knew just how dangerous this woman could be.  Looks were definitely deceiving when it came to Melyssa Brackett.  Two years ago when they had first met, if someone would have told him about everything they would go through, he would have laughed them to Gehenna and back.  When she nodded again, he kissed the corner of her mouth before beginning to move, not pounding her into oblivion but taking his time, making love to her.

 

The burning sensation slowly tapered off and all that was left was the incredible feeling of his cock sliding in and out of her at a slow, rhythmic pace, her soft moans resonating around them.  This man nearly died because of her and Melyssa had never forgotten it, remembering vividly how she’d found him in the woods.  Even with the burnt skin and injuries, he was still the most handsome man in Erebonia.  She had stayed by his side, mostly, during his recovery, visiting whenever she could.  It had only been a day and thanks to Emma’s magic, he was back to himself with not a scratch on him.  Throughout the past two years, Ash had really changed physically.  He was more built, chiseled, far more than Rean and Crow and she could feel his strength as well.  They had both changed, but Ash had always remained in her mind and her heart, never forgotten.

 

“Goddess!  Oh Goddess, Ash!” Instinctively, she lifted her legs, only for Ash to grab the back of one of them to bend it up, driving deeper and harder inside of her.  She was already sensitive from all the foreplay and could already feel an orgasm building, doing her very best to fight it off, to push it away, not wanting this to end anytime soon. “You feel so good inside of me…” Melyssa spoke against his lips during another heated kiss, her nails digging into his huge, broad shoulders.

 

“Let go, beautiful, just let go and give it all to me…” Ash urged her, sweat beading on his forehead as he stared down into her face.  He wanted this image, this moment, all the sights and smells, her sounds, burned into his mind forever.  If this was their one and only time together, he NEVER wanted to forget it. “Trust me.” He whispered when she shook her head no, smiling slightly. 

 

She could climax more than once, unlike men, and he would definitely enjoy giving her orgasm after orgasm, knowing how sensitive her body would get after each one.  How that fine line between pleasure and pain would build and eventually peak.  THEN he would cum too.  Whether she wanted to or not, Melyssa climaxed minutes later and milked his cock for all it was worth, crying out his name louder.  It wasn’t a shriek, but it was damn close.  Ash growled approvingly, riding through that first orgasm and finally picked up the pace, wrapping his hands around her wrists to yank her up flush against his body.  His cock was still settled deep inside of her and her arms encircled his neck, his hands moving from her wrists to her hips.

 

He was on his haunches with her thighs draped over his and Ash began moving her up and down his length, making her bounce.  He was showing her what to do, what he wanted her to do, and Melyssa couldn’t deny him.  This position felt even better, if that was possible and she tossed her head back, her body moving on pure instinct as her breasts bounced up and down, along with the rest of her body.

 

“L-Like this, baby?  D-Does this feel good for you?” She panted, wanting to make sure she was doing it correctly, so he received pleasure as well.

 

Truth be told there wasn't much she could do any better. 

 

Even if she had lay there like a dead fish, Ash probably would have enjoyed it.  Maybe.  A large part of this was the connection between them, he had never felt this way about a woman in his life until Melyssa came along.  She was so different from any woman he had met before and he knew, deep down, he wanted her to be only his.  But they couldn't make promises right now because there was no guarantee they could keep them.

 

"Mmm, just like that, beautiful…"

 

If she had it her way, it WOULD be only him from here on out.  Melyssa didn’t know if Ash was a one woman man, though.  That was a tough call.  He had a very lewd sense of humor and he was very flirtatious with anything with boobs.  Maybe he had changed since Thors.  Melyssa didn’t want this to be a onetime thing between them, but if it was, she would accept it and they could go back to being friends…hopefully.  No, deep down, she knew they had crossed the line and there was no going back to just being friends after she gave him her virginity.  She watched his face contort and could tell his end was coming soon, her nails gliding down his chest while bouncing on and off of him faster, driving his cock deeper and harder inside of her.

 

“I-I’m close…I’m close again…” Oh it was there, right on the very edge and she pressed her forehead to his, lacing her fingers around his neck. “Cum with me, Ash, I want us to cum together…”

 

Nodding, Ash began letting go of himself, releasing himself from the self-imposed restraint, which felt like heaven.  He had been trying to ignore the telltale signs of his impending climax.  The tingling and tightening in his balls, the way his stomach had tightened, along with every muscle in him.  As if gearing up for a Charlie Horse or something, and just let go, exactly like he had told her to a while ago.

 

“Almost there, Melyssa,” He whispered hoarsely, tightening his hold on her as his movements became less focused, less controlled, working now on meeting both their ends instead of worrying about making her cum gallons for him. “Fuck, fuck, I’m there!”

 

Her name escaped him in a roar as he unloaded his seed deep in her receptive body, feeling Melyssa climax yet again, right along with him.  Letting out a string of curses, Ash felt her inner walls constricting and spasming around his cock almost violently.  The eruption was mind-boggling and explosive, and even those words didn’t do it justice.  She shrieked his name out this time, feeling him fill her to the absolute brink with his hot seed.  Ash grabbed her, leading her down on the bed with a soft thud, landing on the side of her with his arm still around her waist.  She was on her back, staring up at the ceiling and trying to learn how to breathe again.

 

“Goddess…” She managed to roll on her side to face him and scooted closer, draping her leg over his with their chests almost touching and her hand on his face, caressing his cheek lovingly. “Ash…” What she wanted to say died on her lips and all Melyssa could do was kiss him, slow and sensual, tasting him and herself all over again. 

 

She had no idea what he wanted from this, if anything, so she wouldn’t put herself out there first.  That was smart, with everything looming ahead of them, knowing they still had to contend with Rean, Ash wasn’t sure what he would say, do or even think, if Melyssa had sprung those three little words or some variation of them.  He was forcing down his own words, knowing saying anything coming right after incredible sex was a bad idea because people were usually riding high on the chemicals created during the act.  He knew he cared deeply about Melyssa, but what if she didn’t feel the same?  No, better to keep that all to himself and just ride this out, see where they stood when all was said and done with Rean, Ouroboros… the world.

 

“Mmm…” He pressed his forehead against hers, smiling against her lips. “Are you okay?” Her first time and he was not a small man, he imagined she was going to feel it soon enough.  Gazing into his eyes full of concern for her, just like they always were, Melyssa held him close to relish the feeling of him against her. 

 

She did NOT expect to say the next words that flew out of her mouth. “I love you.  I love you, Ash.” Melyssa blurted out, not meaning to do it and covered her mouth with her hand, teal eyes wide.  Oh shit, his eyes were wide as well and she could feel that rejection looming its ugly head over them. “I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it, but…I love you and…Goddess, I didn’t think this would EVER happen…” She covered the side of her face with her hand, tears stinging her eyes as her body slightly trembled.  What in Aidios’ name was she thinking blurting THIS out?! “I’m sorry, please don’t look at me…” Her voice cracked and she blinked, tears sliding down her cheeks from both embarrassment, fear and uncertainty.

 

Wow, she was making it even more awkward and worst, if that were possible, given she was trying to curl into a tiny little ball.  Ash didn’t know what to say as he ignored her ‘don’t look at me’ and continued staring down at her.  Had she said that to Rean, or to Crow?  He was unsure how to proceed, she was young and new to all of this; he had seen the blood on her inner thighs.  Ash realized HE was making this worse and rolled onto his side, pulling her into him and wrapped his arms around her trembling body, resting his head on hers.

 

“Calm down, beautiful.” He whispered softly.

 

No, she’d never said those words to Rean and Crow, not outside of her dreams anyway.  Dreams didn’t count.  Real life did.  The soreness and slight pain was starting to set in and Melyssa buried her face in his chest as Ash held her close.  She slowly opened her eyes after a little while, feeling his hands rubbing her back soothingly and took a deep, shaky breath.

 

“I thought about you a lot while I was gone.  And I missed you so much.  I thought about you the most, Ash.  You’ve always been here for me, through everything.  You never blamed me for what happened, not even Jurai or the train attack.” Both were because of her, but he refused to blame her for them. “You’re the one who kept me going while I was with Ouroboros, trapped, alone, isolated, for the past two years.  It’s not because you just made love to me either.  I’ve felt this way for a while, whether you believe it or not.  And I truly believe this is me and not the darkness talking.  I know I shared a couple moments with Rean and Crow, but…there’s a reason things didn’t work out with them.  There’s a reason I’m here, tonight, with you and not them.  And I only want to save Rean because he is a friend of ours and he needs our help.  There’s no romantic feelings for him anymore.”

 

Chapter 72

 

For Jurai, Ash had blamed Rean vigorously.  He knew that with command came a lot of bull and making tough calls, but as far as he was concerned then and even now, today, that had NOT been the right call.  Who Melyssa had been two years ago… she shouldn’t have had any say in how that had gone down.  It had been personal and she hadn’t been thinking clearly.  Rean had… he inwardly squashed all that, knowing there was no point in dwelling on the past.

 

“Are you sure?” He asked, meaning about Rean and Crow. “Even once this darkness is removed?  He’ll be back to the Rean you’ve known.” And it bothered him, unable to keep it from his tone.

 

Melyssa looked up at him with a soft smile and shook her head, zero hesitation in the words that came out of her mouth. “No, because I firmly believe the darkness inside me isn’t speaking for me right now.  Rage is what brings it out of me and there’s absolutely no rage with you.” She pushed him to make him roll on his back and she straddled him, ignoring the soreness in her thighs. “I. Love. You. Ash. Carbide.” With each word, she pressed a firm kiss to his lips, wanting him to understand she meant what she said. “When I found you half-dead in the woods, I’ve never felt fear like that in my life.  And when you were unconscious, all I wanted to do was do everything in my power to wake you up.  Because I couldn’t imagine my life or even a day going by without you in it.  And I’ve never said these words to another man.  Not Crow.  Not Rean.  You are the only one those words flew out of my mouth for, and you’re the one I refuse to live without.  Period.  I could’ve easily chosen someone else to take my virginity, to be my first, but I wanted it to be with someone special and someone I know I love.  And if you don’t feel comfortable saying them back, I won’t hold it against you.  At least you know where I stand and where my heart is.” With him, in his clutches, where it always had been since the day they met, more than likely.

 

“You are never what I expect, you know that?” Ash said it almost admiringly, shaking his head as he kissed the tip of her nose.

 

A minute ago, she had been crying and begging him not to look at her and now she was professing her love and explaining it to him.  This woman kept him on his toes and he imagined she probably always would.  She was giving him a questioning look and he began laughing, softly, scooting further down the bed so he was properly level with her face, she was so damn tiny.

 

“You are the only woman… I’m this way with, and I never understood why until that night in Jurai.”

 

He had been overthinking this, he had known that night, when Rean had come back without her… it had hit him then full force.  Ash had been in love with Melyssa Brackett then and now, two years later, he was pussyfooting around it.  He had to ask himself why and he knew it was because he was afraid of losing her again.

 

“I love you.”

 

He would risk it, because he WASN’T willing to risk losing her to his own inaction.  Ash could, or would, deal with it if he lost her to circumstances beyond their control, but not due to himself not being able to man up.  She wasn’t expecting him to say it, to actually hear those words come out of his mouth.  Ash had always been different around her for some reason and she never understood it, until now.  How long had he felt this way?  How long had she felt this way?  The questions didn’t matter because she refused to question any of it.  They loved each other, they professed it and that was all that mattered, not the circumstances leading them here.

 

“I want to be with you, out in the open, for the world to see, Ash.  No hiding it.  Like I said, since I’m an Enforcer, I can do whatever I want and I don’t think being with you will bother the Grandmaster.  And if it does, we’ll deal with it.  What do you say, you with me, Carbide?”

 

“Eventually, Ouroboros will mind.” He said gently, knowing that was an unavoidable fact.  Unless they thought that she would be able to sway him to their side.  They were always recruiting and if able to get someone into the fold from the ‘other team’, they probably considered that bonus points. “I’m just that big of a pain in the ass, beautiful.”

 

It did bother him however… that she was talking about being an Enforcer so easily.  Like she WASN’T planning on actually getting the Gehenna out of the organization.  He could see it if she were planning on being a double agent, working to tear it down from the inside.

“But for now,” He didn’t want to think about it, not right now, not with her in his arms. “I’m content like this, with you, and everything outside that door doesn’t need to exist until tomorrow.”

 

“I need a shower, lover.  Care to join me?”

 

Ash was up on his feet with her in his arms instantly, her legs wrapped around his waist.  They kissed on their way to the bathroom and her lips sealed to his neck while he started the water.  By the time they were under the soothingly hot shower sprays, Ash was already hard and inside of her again, holding her up with sheer strength.  It didn’t hurt nearly as much as the first time, but she was still tight as a velvet glove to him.

 

“Oh, Ash…”

 

He was going slow, holding himself back again and she knew it was because this was her first night having sex.  Hopefully, as time went on, she would really be able to experience what Ash was really like in bed.  Not that this wasn’t bad because it wasn’t.  She enjoyed it immensely and it felt amazing, but she wanted him to lose control and open up to her completely.

 

Not happening, not on her first night of sex.  Ash already knew tomorrow she was going to be sore in places she would think couldn’t be sore because that was a giant, delicious muscle that had never been worked out like this.  He hoped tomorrow was an easy day of traveling for them or his poor woman was going to hate him for a bit.  Maybe he’d pop down to the chemist and get her some healing salve.  Providing he could keep away from her longer than a few minutes.

 

Ash was already learning that sex with Melyssa could be addicting.

 

Indeed, it was and she was not complaining at all.  They ended up falling asleep in each other arms, completely naked, and she woke up with Ash’s cock probing her backside.  She was deliciously sore, but it was nothing compared to the soreness and aches she felt during her two year training.  This was a cakewalk.  Looking over her shoulder, half-asleep, she met Ash’s lips in a very soft kiss before he began fingering her clit, stimulating her.  Her body was waking up very quickly as he lifted her leg to drape over his, her back pressed against his chest and he slid home inside of her.

 

“Mmm, you’re turning me into a sexual deviant, Carbide…and I like it.” She purred, feeling his lips on her neck and his deep chuckle in her ear, his hands gripping her breasts and tweaking her nipples between his thumb and forefingers. “Goddess, that feels so good…” Who would’ve thought morning sex could be this exquisite?  Maybe she was just as addicted to Ash as he was to her because they could not get enough of each other.

 

If Ash had his way, they wouldn’t leave this bed until check-out and even then, he was sorely tempted to rent the room for another night.  Even as he was making love to her in the morning light, rocking in and out of her body, he knew he didn’t want to break this spell between them by going to find Rean.  So much could go wrong and his heart tightened, even as he moaned as she rocked back against him, realizing he was afraid of losing Melyssa, again.

 

“I love you, beautiful.” He rumbled in her ear, beginning to trail kisses down the column of her throat.

 

She smiled, those words penetrating through her like a hot knife through butter and she began meeting him for every thrust. “Mmm, I love you too, Carbide…”

 

Her arm hooked around his neck, fingers burying in his hair and her panting and moaning told him all he needed to know.  She turned her head enough to look up into his eyes and his mouth captured hers, both using each other for oxygen.  Melyssa was already planning on asking him to stay here another night.  One more night wouldn’t break anything.  The darkness wasn’t going anywhere and neither was Rean, especially since he was holed up in Ymir.  She wanted to stay here, naked with him in bed, with his cock buried to the hilt inside of her for hours on end.

 

“Harder, baby, just a little harder…”

 

Since she hadn’t complained of any pain, she was probably used to pain if he were honest given two years of extensive training, though perhaps not THERE, Ash smirked. “New position, my little sexual deviant in training.” He informed her, reluctantly pulling out of her receptive body which elicited moans of loss from them both.  A moment later, Ash had rolled her onto her stomach, his large hands on her hips guiding her up onto her hands and knees, putting her delectable backside right in his line of vision. “Now THAT is a gorgeous sight…” He informed her, running his palms down until he was caressing her cheeks, lightly slapping each side before guiding his cock back to her wet slit, rubbing the head up and down teasingly. “Want this, beautiful?”

 

“Goddess, yes, give it to me, Ash…” Her fingers clutched at the sheets on the bed, nails digging into the material, a cry escaping her once he plunged back into her hot depths. “Yes…YES!” She didn’t care who heard them this early in the morning and felt him begin pumping in and out of her receptive body, going right along with him for the ride. 

 

This position made her feel EVERYTHING tenfold and her eyes nearly rolled in the back of her head at how incredible it felt.  Why hadn’t he done this position with her from the beginning?  Maybe he wanted to get the ‘cherry popping’ done and over with first, which made sense.  Ash pushed her face down into the bed, his hand on the back of her neck and she turned to where her cheek pressed against the mattress, allowing him to take complete control of this.  If there was better sex out there than this, she never wanted to find it and doubted it existed.  She was more relaxed, not so tense and tight because now she knew what to expect and this position, with his size… Ash was a bit more considerate than that. 

 

From here on out, she could enjoy this position to her wicked heart’s delight because he would NEVER tire of watching his cock sliding in and out of her deliciously tight little body.  He was panting against her skin, keeping her head gently but firmly in place as he powered in and out of her and used his free hand to snake beneath her body.  His fingers returned to manipulating her clit, adding to the sensations and he could feel her beginning to quiver and tremble around and against him, groaning.

 

“That’s my girl.”

 

“Only…yours!” Melyssa gasped out in a choked cry, the intensity of her climax crashing over her taking her breath away. 

 

Ash, once again, didn’t cum with her and instead rode that orgasm out, increasing the tempo of his thrusts to make them more powerful.  The sound of flesh smacking flesh echoed around the inn room and neither cared, voicing exactly how they felt in that particular moment.  Ash forced two more orgasms out of her and on the third, he finally gave in and flew over the edge with her.  Their names came out of each other’s mouths in sync and Ash had yanked her up to where her back was against his chest, still pumping his cock in and out even after the explosion.  Melyssa was nothing more than a hot, sweaty mess, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her breathing ragged and she had never felt more alive in her entire life.

 

“I didn’t think…this could get better…but I was wrong…” She took another deep breath, feeling Ash guide them down on the bed with him spooning against her again, those strong arms encircling her to hold her. “Damn, Carbide…”

 

“Just you wait…” He laughed breathlessly, burying his face in her hair and sort of regretted it because his cock gave a half-hearted twitch when he inhaled her scent.  Very half-hearted, he needed at least 5 minutes of recovery time. “There’s so much more.” And it did get better, and he planned on introducing her to all the pleasures and delights of sex. “Mmm, do we have to leave today?” He knew they did, he shouldn’t be selfish.  Well, actually, they could, why not? 

 

It wasn’t like another day would make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things.

 

Rolling over on her back to look up at him, she slowly shook her head and brought his mouth down on hers for a very soft, tender kiss.  They needed a little bit of recovery time. “Let’s be selfish for one more day.  One more day won’t matter.” She was being the selfish one and didn’t care, not when it came to being with the man she loved. “Who knows when we’ll get a chance to do this again, to be together completely alone like this?” Another kiss, this time deeper and a little harder. “Let’s stay here together, just like this, and to Gehenna with anyone else or anything.  I want to feel and experience more, just like you said.”

 

“Mmm, my kind of woman,” He kissed her again before reluctantly pulling away from her, his eyes searching hers intently. “You sure?” At Melyssa’s nod, he rolled out of the bed, looking around for his bag.  A second later he was shimmying into a pair of pants, not bothering with wearing anything beneath them or buttoning them right away, turning to face her with a t-shirt in his hands. “I’m going to go rent the room for another night and order up for some breakfast, and put in a standing order for lunch and we can go down for dinner.  I promise not to spew beer on you today.”

 

Melyssa giggled softly at that reference and pulled him by the waistband of his jeans, kissing his taut, muscular stomach before looking up at him. “You more than made up for that little incident.  All is forgiven, lover.” Crooking her finger, she waited for him to lower his face until his lips met hers and broke it as he began pushing her down on the bed again. “No, no, we need sustenance first and then you can have your way with me again.” Scooting back from him, she pulled the sheet over her to create some kind of distance between them and Ash growled, his pink eyes flashing. “I’m hungry for food, feed me!”

 

“Bah!” He mockingly threw his hands up into the air with a growl though he was smiling, showing he was teasing and playing with her. “Sustenance it is then, beautiful.”

 

He was going to make SURE she had plenty of carbs, she was going to need the energy to get through today.  Lots of energy and breaks for power naps.  Whistling, Ash tugged on his shirt before exiting the room, knowing if she kept giving him those knowing bedroom eyes, he’d wind up starving them both just to feed other, much more carnal appetites.

 

Chapter 73

 

One thing about Ash Carbide – he had one HELL of a sexual appetite and Melyssa was learning that very quickly. 

 

In the span of two days with little to no sleep, they had sex over 20 times.  Bed, shower, wall, floor…even in the bathroom at the inn’s restaurant!  Melyssa was new to sex, so it didn’t bother her at first, but being sleep deprived because of Ash and his need to have his dick inside of her, made her somewhat cranky.  Still, she didn’t want to burst the bubble between them, so when they finally left the inn and headed toward Ymir, it was a nice reprieve for the time being.  Within five minutes, she was out cold with him driving, even leaning the seat back in order to be more comfortable.

 

Ash had been living on bread and butter, figuratively, for the past 6 months after Machias had decided to run for mayor and then won the damn position.  It was nearly impossible to get laid when you were stuck protecting a married man, who did not party because his wife had his balls in her purse.  Melyssa telling him she loved him and then initiating sex had unleashed the very cranky, very deprived sex addict he had not been properly satisfying with his hand.  He let her sleep, knowing he had worn her out but the perk to that was that she wasn’t freaking out the closer they got to Ymir.

 

If Melyssa had an inkling of a clue that Ash Carbide was a sex addict, she NEVER would’ve gotten involved with him.  However, she didn’t know a thing, completely oblivious.  For now.  Eventually, she would find out the cold truth about Ash, whether he told her from his own mouth or…she found out through actions.  It would happen, no matter what.  Melyssa woke up once they reached Ymir, feeling surprisingly relaxed and couldn’t believe how beautiful the town was.

 

“Wow.” She murmured in awe, stepping out of the orbal vehicle and looked around, remembering Rean telling her about the hot springs here. “Okay, so where should we start?  You’ve been here before, right, Ash?”

 

“Yeah, the Schwarzer residence is over there.” Ash pointed at the biggest house in the town, remembering the last time he was here.

 

“Come on then, no time to waste.  The sooner we do this, the sooner we can get back to Crossbell City.”

 

“Whoa, beautiful,” Ash took her hand, stopping Melyssa from taking off and pulled her back gently.  Using his free hand, he caressed the side of her face, shaking his head. “Getting in, as we are, isn’t happening.” Rean technically came from nobility, sort of, it was weird.  A lot of lineage when it came to nobles was, he was finding out.  He had never been so pleased to just be an orphan. “We need to clean up and dress a little better or we’ll never get past the butler.” He had nearly been refused entrance upon his first visit, if not for the fact that he wasn’t exactly a shy man, he might have been mortified at how that had gone. “Come on, we’ll duck in this shop and use their facilities to freshen up.” Maybe get in a quickie.

 

Melyssa followed him into the shop, looking down at her clothes and didn’t think she looked too bad.  She had on a skirt with leggings and a shirt, wasn’t that dressy enough?  Then, Ash showed her a dress that looked more…noble, she guessed, and he grabbed a crisp long sleeved dress shirt with some pants to change into.  No sooner had she gotten her clothes off, leaving her undergarments on, Ash was in there with her.

 

“W-What are you doing in here?” This was a WOMEN’S dressing room!  He had snuck in and…she lost all train of thought as his lips began trailing down her neck. “Ash…” Her back pressed against the wall and before she knew what was happening, he had moved her panties to the side enough to slide his dick inside of her. Aidios, help us if we get caught! “Oh, Goddess…”

 

The idea of getting caught was half the fun and, by the way she stimulated for him, he was betting she had cottoned on to the fact that they could indeed get caught. “Mmm, best be quiet, beautiful.” He rumbled softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t want to get caught in here, do you?”

 

Could be fun, could be mortifying, but going to jail was not going to get them to Rean any quicker either, so he silenced them both by capturing her lips with his.  He knew he hadn’t been seen by the store clerks. They had gotten busy when some posh older woman had come in, requesting to see a very specific ‘bonnet’.

 

If he knew there was a chance of them getting caught, then why take the risk?  Did this kind of thing turn him on?  Apparently so and her tongue dueled with his while he continued thrusting in and out of her, bouncing her backside off the wall.  Ash pulled her away from the wall to hold her with his pure strength, making her rise and fall on and off his cock.  Her nails dug into his shoulders, clinging to him while they continued kissing and getting lost in each other.  Her pussy was sore from all the sex they’d had over the past two days, but somehow, she was pulling through and moved her hands up to bury in his hair.

 

“Ah fuck, beautiful!” Ash hissed when she actually tugged on his hair, his eyes lighting up with magenta fire as he stared at her, his gaze rather intense.

 

That was something he did enjoy, having his hair pulled, and it tended to freak some women out who thought that wasn’t something anyone should enjoy. A little pain with the pleasure went a long way when it was done with the right person, in the right environment and under the right conditions. This was probably not the time to be exploring that since this was supposed to be a quiet, quick little affair. He guided Melyssa up and down his shaft, showing that these muscles weren’t just for other’s viewing pleasure, his eyes remaining locked on hers as he made her rise and fall faster and faster.

 

“I’m close, Melyssa.” He hissed, giving her a head’s up. “Touch yourself.”

 

“W-What?!” She gasped out softly and felt Ash take her hand to guide it where he wanted it to be.  Right on her clit, stroking it.  Muffling their moans again, their lips slammed against each other’s and Melyssa could feel her climax building rapidly.  The sensation and combination of stroking her clit with her own fingers and Ash’s dick gliding in and out of her was too much for her to handle. THERE! Her mind screamed, feeling her pussy tighten and flood all around him, milking him for everything he was worth and more, her fingers tightening even more in his hair. 

 

Seconds later, Ash exploded inside of her, once again filling her with his seed and his roar was muffled by their tongues dueling together.  Ash did not stop thrusting until his body physically stopped him and she felt him leave her body, still holding her trembling form in his arms as the kiss slowly broke with them breathing heavily.  He had Melyssa do to herself what he tended to do, stimulate her from outside.  He knew women had two ‘hot zones’, the G-Spot which was inside her delicious pussy and then she was able to orgasm via clit play.

 

He had been angling for BOTH, wanting her first quickie and first time having sex in public to be intense and memorable.  Ash had a feeling a lot of things they were doing were memorable.  That was good, he wanted her to have as many good memories of him as he did of her.  So far, his favorite and not related to sex was of that morning at 4 when she had come out into the hallway while he had been reading a book.  Reluctantly, he set her down on her trembling legs, watching as Melyssa leaned back against the wall and moved to the other wall, not that there was much room in this little cube to begin with.

 

“Sorry, beautiful, I couldn’t resist.” He wasn’t sorry at all and his playful smile made it known.

 

“Uh huh…” Melyssa was trying to breathe, already knowing her face and other parts of her body were flushed and sweaty.  That would NOT be a good look to have walking out of here. “Okay, get out of here before we’re really caught, Carbide.” She hissed out, shoving him none too gently and really wished she could get her cheeks to stop burning. “Go!  I’ll meet you out there.  I need to cool off first and try this damn dress on.” He snickered, yanking her against him to passionately kiss her one last time before reluctantly making his exit. Ugh, I’m all wet…down there now!  What in Aidios’ name has gotten into him? Shaking her head, Melyssa proceeded to try the dress on while feeling…squishy, which wasn’t comfortable at all. I’m going to maim him.

 

Thank the Goddess for public restrooms.  Ash used the men’s room to wash himself, having absolutely no shame in using the soap dispensers to clean his junk.  Reluctantly, he washed away the scent of him and her both combined.  Showing up at Rean’s family home would probably go over a lot better if he didn’t smell like Melyssa and sex.  Though… his eyes flashed wickedly as he began drying himself off, it would be amusing for him if Rean did catch that scent, did realize that Melyssa was now HIS lover.  That was the spiteful side of Ash, the man who had been in love with her unknowingly two years ago and then lost her because Rean had made a bad call.  He stuffed that side down, knowing it wouldn’t help.  There would be plenty of time later for dealing with all that, once this darkness business was resolved.

 

Melyssa had taken the dress off, needing a smaller size, and walked out of the dressing room, spotting Ash coming out of the public restroom. I have to clean myself up.  This feeling is just horrible! She actually had to take her panties off because of how wet they were. 

 

Slipping into the women’s restroom, she wiped herself up the best she could, using some water.  Thankfully, she had panties in her bag out in the car, so she would slip some on once they were out of here.  Once she finished and felt better downstairs, besides the soreness, Melyssa went to the dress rack to pull the next smaller size and then went to the register, setting it down.  Ash joined her, setting his clothes down as well and they paid before exiting the shop.

 

“How about we go find an inn, take a shower and get dressed up before heading over to the Schwarzer’s to ask about Rean?” Hopefully, he was there and they could solve this quickly. “I really need a shower after…what we just did in there…and to clean myself up properly…”

 

Her body parts weren’t as easily accessible as his was since his was on the outside.  Ash nodded, pointing to the one and only inn in Ymir, the Phoenix Wings.  Given it was the only inn in town, they did some serious business, but even if there had been competition, Ash doubted they’d suffer overly much as the Phoenix Wings boasted indoor AND outdoor hot springs.  They’d get a room for the night and once this business with Rean was done, come back here and he’d introduce her to those hot springs.  Given how much sex they had since he had popped her cherry, he bet a nice, relaxing dip in those springs would perk her right up and help her relax.

 

While walking to said inn, he began explaining the history of it to her.

 

Indoor and outdoor hot springs…she couldn’t imagine what those were like, but they had business to take care of here first.  They got a room and headed up the stairs to it with Ash unlocking the door.  He kissed her, backing her up while kicking the door shut and guided her down on the bed, his hard cock pressed into her.

 

“Ash, we don’t…mmm…” She was about to say they didn’t have time for this, but his lips on her throat and his fingers stroking her through the thin leggings she had on made all rational thought fly out the window. 

 

They just had sex at the dress shop and now he wanted to go again, already removing her clothes, as well as his own.  Within minute, he was inside of her and lifted her from the bed to slam against the nearest wall, thrusting in and out of her at a hard, fast pace.  Her voice would be hoarse before they even made it to the Schwarzer’s at this rate!   Ash was honestly surprised that she was constantly ready for him, she was always wet and accepting when he slid home.  He had no idea that while turned on, Melyssa was also getting extremely sore from all the sex they’d had over the past two days.  She was new to sex and he was giving her a very thorough introduction.  She hadn’t spoken up contrariwise to his sometimes not so gentle loving, but he definitely remembered her telling him not to hold back after those first few times. 

 

He also had no idea that sex all the time was NOT what Melyssa had meant.

 

“You are the perfect woman for me, you know that, beautiful,” He panted in her ear, his strong palms moving to her breasts, using his body to hold her against the wall. “Goddess, I love you…”

 

After this, Melyssa was calling for a break because Ash was exhausting her physically and mentally with all this sex.  It felt good, yes, but his appetite was insatiable and it was wearing on her.  The way he told her how much he loved her, however, made her body instantly respond on an emotional level because she did love him too.

 

“I love you too, Carbide, so much…” She moaned out, gripping his hair tightly and she felt his dick pulsate inside of her, throb, his thrusts coming sharper and deeper.  There was something feral that came out in Ash whenever she gripped or pulled his hair and she couldn’t quite put her finger on why it stimulated him so much. “Ooohhhh I’m cumming, I’m cumming!” She cried out in both pain and pleasure because it actually HURT to climax from all the sex they’d had.

 

Ash heard the pain in her tone and came a second later, hearing Melyssa gasping as he filled her with his seed.  Confusion and concern warred with the climax, making for the strangest orgasm of his relatively short life.  Slumping against her, pinning her to the wall, he began kissing down the side of her throat, cooling off and could feel how hard her heart was beating in her chest, frowning slightly.

 

“Are you okay, beautiful?” He asked quietly, pulling his head back far enough to look into her still darkened teal eyes.

 

Telling him how she truly felt wasn’t an option, not while he was still spurting inside of her.  However, if he tried having sex with her later, which would more than likely happen, Melyssa would have to turn him down.  She needed time to recover, at least a day, and she hoped Ash would understand when that time came.  Bringing his mouth to hers, Melyssa softly and sensually kissed him, keeping her fingers in his hair.

 

“I’m fine, lover.  But I could really use that shower now.” He chuckled, agreeing and carted them both into the bathroom to clean up.

 

Chapter 74

 

Arriving at the Schwarzer mansion, Melyssa felt a little intimidated by it and hoped the dress she picked out would suffice.  It was a simple, sleeveless dark blue that showed off her shoulders and clipped around her neck.  The front was slightly shorter than the back, resting just above the knee with a high waist.  Her hair was swept up on top of her head in spiral curls – Ash insisted she get it done professionally at the salon The Phoenix Wings provided.  It took a while since her hair was so long and now it was nearing dinnertime instead of lunchtime.  She really hoped they weren’t imposing, but this was very important and she walked up to the door, alongside Ash, who knocked on it.

 

Rean, please be here.

 

Dinnertime was the perfect time because he was a war buddy of Rean’s and Ash knew that etiquette was going to demand they show courtesy to him, for at least dinner.  He had explained this reasoning to her on the way over, but she hadn’t seemed convinced.  Sure enough, at the door after introducing himself to the butler and then waiting while the message was relayed, they were invited in… for dinner.

 

“Told you.” He whispered as he guided her inside, hand splayed on the small of her back.

 

Hopefully, the darkness in Rean hadn’t totally taken over and made him act unsociable here as well.  One of them would have to distract whoever was hosting and the other search the place, without getting caught.  This was not the apartment scenario they had originally envisioned.

 

“Welcome to our home once again, Ash Carbide.” Teo Schwarzer greeted with a bright smile, his eyes moving from Ash to the woman he did not recognize. “And who is this charming young lady?”

 

“Melyssa Brackett, sir.” She stepped up to him with a smile of her own, extending her hand.

 

“Ah yes, Rean has told us a lot about you.” Teo didn’t have his guard up or anything, pure trust in his stance and in his eyes as he shook her hand gently and firmly. “This is my lovely wife, Lucia.”

 

“Pleasure to see you again, Ash, and to meet you, Melyssa.  Our son has told us so much about you.  I’m glad to finally put a name with a face.”

 

Rean told them about her?  When?  Why?  Melyssa felt Ash step up to wrap an arm around her waist, shaking both Teo and Lucia’s hands.

 

“Is Rean here?  We were hoping to chat with him for a bit since we’re in town.”

 

Melyssa didn’t expect Ash to reach out like this and wondered what his game plan was, keeping her face neutral with the smile.

 

Ash had to play by society rules and channel his inner manners that Rean had tried beating into him, mentally snorting.  He had grown up… a lot different than Rean, that was for sure.  Maybe that’s why he considered Crow his best friend -Rean also claimed the same thing- because Crow came from a sort of similar background.

 

“Rean’s been indisposed…”

 

“Really?” Ash’s eyes widened, glancing down at Melyssa. “Is he ill?  He seemed fine when he seen him in… was it Crossbell?” At her nod, he nodded as well.

 

“Actually, when he returned from that trip he was… out of sorts.”

 

Lucia glanced at her husband and then back to the young pair. “Perhaps seeing old friends may do him some good.”

 

“Perhaps you’re right, dear.” Teo nodded, gesturing with his hand to the stairs that lead up to the second floor. “Truth be told, we have been worried about our son, so if there’s anything you can do to snap him out of this…funk he’s in, we’d really appreciate it.”

 

“Yes, we’ve tried having a doctor see him, but…it didn’t…go so well.”

 

Frowning, Melyssa couldn’t hold the truth back from these two, not Rean’s parents, and ignored the look Ash shot her.  He knew exactly what she was going to do. “I know what’s wrong with your son, Mr. and Mrs. Schwarzer.”

 

“Melyssa…”

 

“Ash, these are his parents and they deserve to know the truth.”

 

“You know what’s wrong with Rean?” Teo felt relief flood his body at the young woman nodding her head. “Please, tell us.”

 

“Yes, I want my son back, not this…shell of a man that has given up his will to live.” Lucia felt tears fill her eyes and listened as Melyssa explained everything regarding the spell from Ouroboros and the darkness consuming her son currently.

 

“There’s a necklace, a talisman, and if we can find it and destroy it, the spell will be broken on both Rean and I.” Melyssa finished, taking a deep breath and waited to be kicked out of the Schwarzer mansion by his own parents. 

 

Who would believe something this insane?

 

These people would because they had seen and heard a lot over the years, especially once their son became actively involved in affairs of the country.  Rean had always been a kind-hearted, good boy and it had developed into him being an outstanding young man.  So seeing him the way he was now… it broke their hearts.

 

“You have our permission to search for this necklace.  Are you positive he has one?” Lucia asked, frowning as she tried recalling seeing Rean with a necklace, a talisman, anything of that sort.

 

“It’s our best lead right now, ma’am.” Ash said sincerely, a bit relieved that that had gone over so well. “It would be best if he didn’t know we were here, doing this.” Because who knew what he would do in his current state.

 

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”

 

Ash and Melyssa whipped around to face the man of the hour with slightly wide eyes. He was eavesdropping on us.

 

That wasn’t like Rean, but at the same time, she probably would have done the same thing.  What was this feeling inside of her, this sudden warmth?  She frowned, the connection with him much stronger, but it was also tainted with darkness.

 

“Rean…”

 

“Ash, you honestly believe this ridiculous accusation that we’re linked and tainted with darkness?” Rean didn’t and it showed clear as day on his face, his arms folding in front of his chest. “You wasted your time coming here.”

 

“Rean…” Her eyes suddenly zeroed in on what was around his neck, peeking out of his shirt slightly.  It was enough to know he was wearing the talisman and she recognized the starry night necklace anywhere. Shit, he’s wearing it!  How are we supposed to get it away from him? “All right, how about we do things your way, my former Instructor?”

 

“Melyssa…” Ash’s tone held warning, not liking where this was headed.

 

“As an Enforcer of Ouroboros, and a former student of Thors Military Academy Branch School, Class VII: Special Operations, I, Melyssa Brackett, challenge my former Instructor, The Ashen Chevalier and the Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves, Rean Schwarzer, to a duel.  If I win, that necklace around your neck is mine.” She had unsheathed her Cutlass, pointing it at him with a stoic expression on her face.

 

“And if I win, which I guarantee you is exactly what will happen, what do I get?” Rean’s tone was full of arrogance and certainty, sounding completely out of character for the once humblest man in Erebonia.

 

“Then I will allow you to do whatever you wish to me.  Whether that’s cutting me down, letting me go, capturing me, whatever you want.” Melyssa knew it would be an offer he couldn’t refuse, not if he once felt anything for her and she knew she nailed it at the look his fuchsia eyes took on. “What do you say, Ashen Chevalier?”

 

“You should have remained in your underground chambers with Ouroboros, traitor.” Rean informed her flatly, the look in his eyes not exactly loving at all.

 

He had spent two years with this talisman, something he had never shown her because at the time, he hadn’t wanted to seem overeager or overwhelming when he had given her hers. With all the negative emotions in his life since then, it had been basically feeding the darkness, allowing it to creep in and settle within him.

 

“Rean…” Ash wasn’t liking this at all, his eyes moving between the pair. “Melyssa, he’ll try taking your head.”

 

“As is my right, she challenged me and I accept.” Rean snorted and then looked at his parents. “Not in here, however, Mother may not appreciate your blood staining her rugs and freshly polished floors.”

 

That stung to hear him call her a traitor and Melyssa could feel the anger slowly welling up inside of her. “The only traitor here is YOU, Rean Schwarzer, and I’m going to prove it when I save you, once again, from yourself.  You’ve betrayed everyone who ever loved and cared about you, including yourself and you turned your back on your morals, on EVERYTHING you stand for!  It ends tonight and if it means taking my head, so be it.  Lead the way.” Melyssa had a plan and it was risky, but it would be worth it if Rean wound up saved in the end.

 

“Rean, my son, please don’t do this…” Teo didn’t recognize his own son, his heart breaking at the cold, calculated expression on Rean’s face.

 

“I’m not your son, how many times do I have to say it?!  I am that bastard’s son, the one who nearly destroyed Erebonia for his own selfish reasons!  Who entrapped me and FORCED my power to become out of control, all for the sole purpose of the Twilight!” Rean snarled, unsheathing his Tachi and pointed it directly at his adopted father. “Stay here with Mother.  Let’s go, Brackett.”

 

“It’ll be all right.” She murmured to them, not taking her eyes off Rean and kept her voice quiet. “I’ll bring him back.” Or die trying. Melyssa followed him out the door, with Ash behind her, and they left the town itself to go to the outskirts.  It was a little bit of a trek, but they finally arrived at the same grounds Valimar, the Ashen Knight, had once stayed during the civil war whenever Class VII would come back to Ymir to recuperate from various travels and missions. Please stay out of this, Ash.  This is something I must do myself.  Goddess, give me the strength to save him. “One thing before we begin, Ashen Chevalier, I’m NOT the same girl who was your student two years ago, so you better not hold back on me…unless you want YOUR head taken.”

 

Ash groaned, burying his face in his hands and wondered why Melyssa felt the need to declare such stupid things to a man who obviously did not CARE about her. “Love…” He moaned through his fingers, splaying them so he could see her, shaking his head.

 

Rean was laughing coldly, pretty much wondering the same thing Ash was, though he wasn’t calling her ‘love’ either. “Love, hmmm?  Ash, I hope, for your sake, you don’t honestly love this idiot.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “I despise you, Brackett, and everything you stand for, traitor.  You WERE right, you NEVER belonged at Thors, you NEVER belonged to Class VII and all you’ve done is cost people their lives and put them through suffering since the day you showed up.  WHY would I take it easy on YOU?”

 

Ash stepped back, giving them their space as they began circling each other and it became clear from Rean’s posture, he had every intention of ending this quickly and mercilessly. Please Aidios, protect her from this madness that has taken him.

 

“Just remember, Schwarzer, if it wasn’t for me, all of you would’ve died that night in Jurai.  I saved your lives and sacrificed MYSELF and MY freedom for you worthless assholes!!” That was the darkness talking and Melyssa felt the rage slowly consuming her, an orange aura surrounding her while Rean’s was red. “Enough talking, let’s dance, Instructor.”

 

Their blades clashed together moments later with both not giving an inch, their footwork on point and their eyes never leaving each other’s.  Melyssa remembered their sparring sessions vividly and, deep down inside her heart, she could FEEL something pulling at her, both egging her on and fighting against doing this.  It had to be done.  It was the only way to save them both from this spell the Grandmaster had put on them.

 

“Melyssa!!” Ash went to intervene, but she shook her head, shoving Rean back with her Cutlass as his feet skidded the ground. 

 

He had nicked her cheek with the tip of his Tachi and blood slowly began spreading from it. “STAY BACK!!  I GOT THIS!!”

 

Channeling her anger and every emotion she felt at that moment, Melyssa brought her Cutlass down to send an orange shockwave at Rean.  It blasted him back, but he managed to stop it from completely obliterating him, using his own power and strength to combat it.  He sent a move back at her and she flew back on the ground, grunting since the wind had been temporarily knocked out of her.  Rean was on her like white on rice, however, and she began holding his Tachi back with her own Cutlass, remembering her duel with Shirley in Jurai.  This was the exact same position, only she was stronger and Melyssa saw the necklace dangling. 

 

This was her chance. 

 

If she could get it off him and get it to Ash…Melyssa took the risk and took one of her hands, gripping the talisman.  It took away from the strength of holding Rean back and her neck was sliced as she yanked as hard as she could, the cord the talisman was on giving way.  She tossed it, barely holding Rean back and felt tears fill her eyes, really hoping Ash knew what to do because she was seconds away from being beheaded.

 

I’m sorry, Rean.  I’m so sorry for everything, please forgive me for putting you through this.

 

Ash caught that necklace and promptly dropped it, bringing his booted foot down on it as hard as he could.  He did this repeatedly, pretty sure he had tears coming down his face because he knew she was going to die if she wasn’t dead already. Please, please, please… it’s over, let this be over!!

 

Coming back to his senses was not a pleasant thing.

 

Rean had been so livid with Melyssa, beyond anything he had ever felt before and intent on taking her head off and now… now it was all fading away and horror was taking over.  He had his Tachi to her neck and was preparing to deliver that killing blow.  His clearing fuchsia eyes widened in alarm and with the same speed he had used to disarm her, he had TOSSED his sword away.

 

“Melyssa?” Why did his voice sound weird?

 

Everything sounded weird, he had a rush of blood thundering in his ears, making everything else sound far away.  Dropping to his knees, he peeled off his sweat soaked shirt, using it to begin wiping away the blood from her neck.  It wasn’t deep, thank the Goddess, a bit more pressure and he would have taken her head off.

 

Chapter 75

 

Something SHATTERED inside of Melyssa the moment that talisman was crushed beneath Ash’s boot. 

 

She couldn’t explain it, but all the anger, animosity and negative feelings she had since returning to their lives vanished into thin air.  Her eyes slowly opened, staring up at Rean and Melyssa smiled genuinely for the first time in over two years.  Despite her neck being cut by his Tachi and the duel they just had, Melyssa felt overwhelming happiness and relief flood her from head to toe.  It was almost as if she was waking up from a very long, tumultuous dream that was full of twists and turns.

 

“Rean.” Even her voice sounded different, just like his. 

 

Was that really how deep the darkness had been embedded into them?  How long was the darkness inside of her, was it the entire two plus years?  It wouldn’t surprise her if that was the case and she placed a shaky hand over his while he continued applying pressure to her neck.

 

“I-I’m so, so sorry, Rean.  I-I never meant for…any of this to happen, especially to you…” Not holding them back like she would have before, Melyssa felt the hot tears pour down her cheeks and reached up with her other hand to wipe his own away with her thumb.

 

Goddess, this was HIS fault!  He had bought that talisman, those talismans, from a merchant on the airship.  Rean had thought giving her some extra protection at the time, when she hadn’t been able to link up with Crow, on top of what they had been going to do in Jurai, was a brilliant idea.  He had never expected this… not even in his most horrific nightmares.

 

“Ash,” He gasped, turning his head towards the other man who was just staring at them with an unreadable look on his face. “Get help.”

 

Reluctantly, Ash nodded and headed for the town, hoping whatever damage Rean had done could be healed with minor issues.  He also hoped that the gaga eyes Rean and Melyssa were giving each other were gone by the time he got back.  He had a dark and heavy feeling of his own building in his chest and it wasn’t caused by any evil magic or demonic talismans.  Melyssa didn’t bother looking away from Rean, not caring about anything or anyone else except him at the moment.  She knew he was worried, the concern etched in his soft fuchsia eyes. 

 

The anger wasn’t there.  The animosity and hatred was gone.  It did her heart good to see him back to normal and she felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from her own heart and shoulders.

 

“You’re okay now, Rean…and so am I.  We’re both going to be all right.”

 

The spell was broken and the darkness was gone, out of their systems.  Crow was right when he said something was off about Rean and she suddenly realized all the cruel things she’d said to him.  It all came flooding back to her and she began crying, burying her face in her hands.  How could she be so cruel to so many people?!  The things she said to Rean that day at the log cabin also filtered through her mind and she began hiccoughing, which in turn didn’t help the cut on her neck. 

 

Rean had barely missed her carotid artery.

 

“Stop, stop it!” He shushed, his tone soothing, a lot different than only moments ago when it had been cold and cruel, out to purposefully hurt her. “You have to calm down or you’ll aggravate the wound further.” He sincerely hoped Ash hurried up.  He may have missed the carotid artery, but that didn’t mean her getting worked up was going to help things, no… it’d make her blood pump faster and spill out faster.  Rean settled himself on the ground properly, carefully pulling her up so she was elevated, the wound above her heart properly, with an arm braced beneath her upper back to keep her in this inclined position.  He stared down at Melyssa, watching as she began breathing easier, her eyes locked with his and smiled sadly, tenderly.

 

How many times was this woman going to save him?

 

“Rean…”

 

A flash of red erupted in front of them and both turned to look up at none other than Rosalie. “As touching as this is, Schwarzer, I really need to heal her before she bleeds to death.” The elder witch declared, walking over with staff in hand and lowered to Melyssa’s level, pulling the shirt away from the wound. “You were very lucky, girl.  Hold still.”

 

Melyssa obeyed, swallowing hard and felt Rean clutch her hand to rest over her racing heart, a warming sensation spreading over her neck.  She could hear Rosalie chanting softly under her breath, her hands glowing a bright blue and slowly, the wound began to close.  Ash didn’t go back to town because of the nature of Melyssa’s injury, having a better idea.  Instead, he made one phone call and hoped it went through.  It wasn’t a normal call on the ARCUS II either and when he returned, he saw Rosalie had indeed come to the rescue, again, with her magic to heal Melyssa.

 

“All right, that should do it.” Rosalie looked from Melyssa to Rean, narrowing her crimson eyes at him. “Give me your palm.” She ordered, smirking when Rean immediately obeyed and closed her eyes, checking to see if the darkness was indeed gone. “Yes, destroying the talisman worked.  You both are free and completely yourselves again.”

 

“Thank the Goddess…”

 

“Mmm, her too.” Rosalie pursed her lips, turning to glance at Ash and nodded at him. “For once, Carbide, smart call.”

 

His response was to both thank her verbally and flip her off as he slowly made his way to the pair on the ground.

 

“You’re welcome.” She snorted, surveying the situation and gave another nod. “I’ll be on my way, I’ll report back to Machias and let him know the mission was a success.  And Crow,” She added as an afterthought.  Crow had been antsy ever since Melyssa and Ash had left.

 

A second later, she had disappeared as quickly as she had arrived.

 

“You okay, beautiful?” Ash asked, kneeling down beside them, his eyes searching over her intently before glancing at Rean.

 

Rean was obviously back to his normal self, he had tears in his eyes.

 

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine.  I feel…different.  I can’t really explain it.”

 

Slowly taking Ash’s hand, Melyssa rose to her feet and felt him pull her into his arms.  She didn’t want Ash’s arms around her, however, she wanted it to be Rean holding her.  That was a terrible thought to have, especially after she JUST confessed her love for Ash.  Not to mention, he had taken her virginity!  Was that all the darkness?  Could the darkness infuse those phony feelings into a person?  She didn’t know, but Melyssa felt obligated to be with Ash, no matter what her heart screamed at her.

 

“We should all head back, get some rest and something to eat.  Rean, your parents are worried about you, so you should go see them as soon as possible.”

 

If Ash had any inkling of what Melyssa was thinking, he would have taken her head clean off, Rosalie be damned.  When he had asked about her feelings being something motivated by the darkness, she had been vehement in her persistence that it was directly from her.  Ash had always been the lewd, crude flirt, the playboy, worse than even Crow Armbrust, and yet this one single woman had managed to tame HIM, make him WANT to be a one woman man.  He had lost her once and the idea of losing her again, because she was a fool, would have destroyed him.

 

“Yeah…” He nodded his head, giving Rean a strained smile. “You should probably apologize to your parents, actually… do you remember anything from these past two years?”

 

“All of it.” Rean croaked, wiping tears off his cheeks and turned his head up towards the sky.  He had been a horrible little beast, the things he had said, the things he had done, all to people he cared about. “I am so sorry for what I said to you, to both you.  Especially you, Melyssa.  I didn’t mean any of it.”

 

Her heart shattered at the sight of him, wanting to go to him and hug him close, to give him some kind of comfort, but she stayed steadfast in Ash’s arms. “I know you didn’t, Rean.  You weren’t yourself because of the horrible spell.  I said terrible things to you as well, and Crow…”

 

She sniffled, wiping tears away from her eyes.  Her heart was breaking because Rean was who she truly wanted to be with.  It’d always been him and now she was stuck with someone she used to consider her best friend.

 

“Everyone will understand, once they know what’s going on and I do believe Machias has already contacted all of Class VII to inform them.  Just take one step at a time, like I have to, and eventually, things will get back to normal for both of us.” Melyssa hoped she could also transfer her feelings from Rean to Ash and knew it would take time to make it happen. 

 

It had to, she couldn’t bear the thought of hurting Ash.

 

“Yeah.” Rean agreed though he didn’t sound very hopeful, going to retrieve his Tachi.

 

He had almost used his extensive training to kill someone he cared very deeply about.  Rean felt like he should burn this weapon and never pick up another one again because he was undeserving.  Sheathing it, he fell behind them, letting Ash lead the way back into Ymir with his arm securely around Melyssa.  It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that those two were together, it was in the way Ash held her, cradled her gently against him, and that did not make him feel any better.  Though, he also knew two years was a long time, and when he and Melyssa had finally met again, he had not been very kind.

 

As long as she was happy.

 

Melyssa was happy now that the spell was broken and both her and Rean were back to their normal selves.  She could finally be herself with Ash and there was no spell or darkness tainting what they had together.  She did love him; how could she not?  That didn’t mean she couldn’t love another man, however, and that love for Rean, as much as she wanted to act on it, had to be stuffed down. 

 

Ash was her man now, the one she was with. 

 

They all arrived back in Ymir and Rean immediately went to his parents’ house, his home, while Ash lead Melyssa back to The Phoenix Wings.  Having a near-death experience put a lot of things into perspective and apparently, rose Ash’s libido considerably.  The moment they were back in the room, he had her pinned to him with his mouth on hers and she could feel the desperation in his kiss and touch.  He was scared of losing her and Melyssa surmised he was probably pretty angry at the risk she took. 

 

So instead of pushing him away, she gave into him, allowing him to divest her of her clothing, and she did the same to him, before letting him have her any way he wanted.  She was his now; she made her bed and she would lie in it and be content with Ash Carbide, regardless of who her heart really longed for.  Afterwards, and he had been gentle with her after that semi-brutal kiss, Ash held her beside him, caressing and stroking everywhere he could touch.  He had been mindful of her body, knowing today had been draining, and he had made slow, sweet and tender love to her.

 

“I could have lost you again…” He murmured in her hair, feeling her shaking her head. “You have no idea… how hard those two years without you were. It felt today… like it was going to be like that again.” Because Rean had nearly taken her head off and WOULD have if not for that talisman being broken and then catching himself just in the literal nick of time.

 

She slowly rolled to lay on her back to stare up at him, stroking his face tenderly with her hand.  There was no darkness tainting her anymore; Melyssa had fully returned to who she used to be and it showed in her pure teal eyes. “Ash…” He loved her so much and she could see it in his eyes, leaning up to softly brush her lips against his. “You won’t lose me again.  I’m here, I’m right here with you and I’m all yours, just like I said.” Melyssa slid her fingers through his hair, feeling his forehead rest against hers and breathed him in. “I’m sorry for worrying you and being gone those two years.  Being away from you for two years was terrible for me too, but I promise, as long as the Goddess and Aidios keep me alive and well, you’ll never lose me.” Another kiss, this time deeper and a little harder. “I love you, Carbide.” She truly did.  She meant every word that came out of her mouth and she felt the need to say it to him again, now that she wasn’t under a spell.

 

Ash nodded, brushing his lips against the corner of her mouth and groaned when his cock gave a half-twitch. “Don’t… it’s not ready yet.” He muttered, hearing her giggle and rolled Melyssa onto her back, staring down at her intently. “I love you, and it’s all behind us… you’re finally back to being you, here with me now, and we’re going to get everyone together properly this time and send those worthless fucks back to the rocks they belong under.” He didn’t consider her to be Ouroboros, not really.

 

Maybe her loyalty to the organization had been because of that darkness.

 

“Yes, we will.  I will never again call myself an Enforcer or be a puppet on a string for them again.  I am a woman who wants to follow the way of the sword, not be someone’s lapdog and errand girl.” There was conviction in her voice, not animosity or anger like there had been before. “Ash, there is something we need to discuss, though, and you’re not going to like it.” His eyes became guarded and she softly brushed her lips against his. “Not about us – about Rean.  I know you blame him for what happened in Jurai, and that’s your right, but…if we really are getting everyone together to take out Ouroboros, you need to make amends with Rean.  As much as I know you’ll hate hearing this, we need him, lover.” He went to protest and she pressed a finger to his lips, rubbing her nose against his. “Do it for me then, if you won’t do it for yourself.  Please?”

 

Chapter 76

 

“It was the wrong call.”

 

Even with him loving Melyssa aside, it had been a stupid call tactical wise.  One didn’t let an untrained, new, barely legal girl make demands and take the lead!  Ash didn’t care WHO the person was, that was just suicide and she had paid for Rean’s foolishness, and her own.  He groaned when she turned those teal eyes on him full force, having a feeling she had probably suckered the other man in the same exact way.

 

“Fine.” He muttered grudgingly, growling playfully immediately afterwards when she smiled slightly. “But only because I love you.” He would try to make amends at least, knowing she was right, for this fight they all had to be on the same page. 

 

He wondered how that would work with Crow and Rean.

 

The men would make amends in their own way and she wasn’t concerned about Crow at the moment.  Ash had more ill feelings toward Rean because of her and she didn’t feel right about that. “You are right, okay?  It was the wrong call, but at the same time, I was the ONLY one who could talk to my Dad.  None of us knew the true intentions of Ouroboros that night either.  You can’t fault Rean for going with his gut instinct.  He’s human, he makes mistakes like everyone else and I know he was supposed to protect me as his student.  I get why you’re upset, but you need to look at the other side of things.  And I know you haven’t because you’re biased because of me.” He lowered his eyes and she knew she hit the nail on the head, keeping her voice soft and low, no pressure at all in it. “At the very least, just try to understand where he was coming from.  You don’t have to be his friend, but he IS a vital asset to bringing down Ouroboros.  We need him.” I need him. “Emma didn’t help matters by berating him either.  Rean was trying to do what she advised and it backfired.” Horrifically. “He’s beating himself up and he’s been doing it for the past two years.  Enough is enough, Ash.  We all need to band together and fight as one or Ouroboros will chew us up and spit us out.”

 

“You’re right,” He sighed, rolling onto his back and draped his arm over his eyes, shaking his head. “You better mark this moment on your calendar, beautiful, because I will NEVER say it again.” Ash huffed when she lay out on his chest, feeling her fingertips drumming on his chest and moved his arm.  He peeked down at her, his pale pink eyes sparkling with amusement. “Satisfied?” She nodded and he nodded too, yawning.

 

Today had been… draining, on an emotional level and he idly wondered if Rean had made amends with his parents, knowing he had said some very hurtful things to them prior to the ‘duel’.

 

“Oh, you’ll say it again because 9 times out of 10, the woman IS always right.” She laughed at the snort he gave and kissed along his broad, muscular chest, nuzzling his warm skin. “We can talk to him tomorrow.” Rean needed time to talk to his parents and possibly make some apologetic phone calls.  They would go talk to him tomorrow and she rolled, pulling Ash with her and felt his arms wrap around her waist to spoon up against her. “I love you, Carbide.” She murmured through a yawn, lacing their fingers together and closed her eyes, her exhausted body succumbing to some much needed rest. 

 

Melyssa smiled when she heard him say it back in her ear, just before sleep completely claimed her.

 

~!~ 

 

Rean spent a good portion of the night talking with his parents, repeatedly apologizing for the things he had said.  He didn’t even know how to explain it.  He knew exactly what he had said and done, he remembered the past two years quite clearly, but… it hadn’t been him.  It had been, but it hadn’t.  Those weren’t even things he felt, he never thought Melyssa was a traitor.  Now that his mind was his own, he understood what had happened to her.  She had been kept locked away, without friends, without family, without light… that would break anyone until they started caving, doing what they were told, and he knew it.  Yet he had called her traitor and hurled insults at her, tried to kill her… Rean did not sleep very well at all that night when he finally went to bed, knowing others might forgive him, but it would take him a long time to forgive himself.

 

~!~

 

The following day, after some delicious morning sex, courtesy of being woken up in a most sensual way, Ash and Melyssa made their way to the Schwarzer mansion.  They were greeted instantly upon arrival and she was hugged tightly by Lucia and then Teo, both thanking her immensely for what she did for their son.  Melyssa did NOT expect the beyond warm welcome from Rean’s parents and something in her heart surged and broke at the same time.  They were very good people with hearts of gold, she could clearly see that.  Lucia hugged Ash next and Teo shook his hand before guiding them into the sitting room while Lucia went to fetch Rean.

 

“I’m not going down there, Mom.”

 

Lucia smiled sadly at her son, shutting the door and walked over to sit beside him on the bed. “Sweetheart, we all know it wasn’t really you.  It was a curse you were put under and you didn’t know about it.” She placed a hand on her son’s shoulder, her heart breaking at how he carried himself. “Rean, is this just about the curse or something else?”

 

Rean shook his head, tears in his eyes. “No, Mom…I can’t…” He stood up from the bed to stare out the window, fighting them back. “I can’t talk about it…” Melyssa was with Ash Carbide, of all people, which was something Rean STILL couldn’t wrap his head around, no matter how hard he tried.

 

“I see.” Lucia didn’t move to comfort him further and stayed on the bed. “It’s her, isn’t it?  Melyssa, right?” She watched her son’s shoulders slump and smiled sadly. “She was under the spell as well, yes?”

 

“Yeah…”

 

“Well, why don’t you talk to her about it?  Tell her how you feel…”

 

“I can’t do that.” Rean was an honorable man and would never move in on someone else’s territory. “She’s with Ash now.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Yes.  I can tell.” Rean shut his eyes, resting his forehead against the window and took a deep, shaky breath. “No matter what I feel for her, I just want her to be happy and I won’t take that away from her.  I’ve put her through enough.”

 

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Lucia made it sound more like a statement than a question, rising from the bed. “Sweetheart, if you don’t tell her, it will eat you up inside and you will never find true peace and closure.  You really should tell her, regardless if she’s with someone else.” That boy downstairs, no offense, was nothing compared to her beloved son.  A hero of Erebonia, among other titles he’d earned.  She was exceedingly proud of him. “They are downstairs and said it’s urgent they speak with you.  What do you want me to tell them?”

 

“COME ON, SCHWARZER,” It was Ash’s voice booming up the stairs, echoing through his door. “WE DON’T HAVE ALL DAMN DAY!  STOP WALLOWING UP THERE AND COME TALK TO US!”

 

Teo bit his lip to keep from chuckling.  Ash was always straightforward and it was something he admired about the young man.

 

Groaning, Rean pulled his head away from the window only to smack it against the pane a second later.

 

”TODAY, REAN!  YOU CAN HIDE AND CRY LATER!”

 

“I wish I had taken his head off.” Not really, but… it was both good and bad that Ash hadn’t apparently changed one little bit over the past two years. 

 

He was still obnoxious as ever.  Obnoxious and with Melyssa, which was something Rean couldn’t fathom.  He could see her with Crow, but Ash… Ash?  It made no sense.

 

“You don’t mean that.  I’ll tell them you’re coming down in five minutes, dearest.”

 

“Mom…”

 

“Breakfast in five, Rean.” She ruffled his hair affectionately before walking out.

 

“All right, Ash, that’s enough.  If he doesn’t want to talk to us, we can’t force him.  Maybe he just needs more time…” Melyssa stopped him from going up the stairs, shaking her head with her hand wrapped around his bicep. “No.  Forcing him won’t make matters any easier.  Let’s just leave and maybe we can make another trip down here soon.”

 

“I told him to come down for breakfast in five minutes, but I don’t know if he will or not.  He’s pretty devastated.” Lucia informed them, walking down the steps and kept a soft smile on her face.  However, deep down, she wanted to berate the harlot that broke her son’s heart to pieces.  At the same time, Melyssa had saved him, which made her feel torn. “You two are more than welcome to join us for breakfast.”

 

“No, that’s fine.” Melyssa pulled Ash further away from the stairs, lacing their fingers tightly together. “We need to get going back to Crossbell City, but if Rean wants to talk to us, please tell him to call.”

 

“Will do.  Drive safely.” Teo nodded, folding his arms in front of his chest and waited for them to walk out before turning to look at his wife. “What was THAT about, Lucia?”

 

“Our son is in love with that girl.  And if he doesn’t want to talk to her, we shouldn’t force him into it.  She made the right choice to leave him be.”

 

Ah, young love, thou art a bitch at times.

 

Goodbye Rean. Melyssa looked up at the house before slipping into the orbal car, ignoring the way her heart ached, shoving it aside.  Ash slid behind the wheel and she grabbed his hand instantly, lacing their fingers together again before accepting a soft yet passionate kiss. “Mmm, I love you.  We should stop by Leeves again on our way back and stay at that tavern.”

 

“Or we could stay here for another day or so, enjoy those hot springs.” Ash chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows at her before looking back out the windshield.  At her soft no, he sighed, knowing she didn’t want to linger in Ymir because of Rean. “He’ll come around, beautiful, you know he will.  He’s always had an overly kind heart, give him time to sort this out and he’ll be up our asses mother-henning us again in no time.”

 

At 4 minutes and 57 seconds, Rean had come downstairs to breakfast, only to be told Ash and Melyssa had already left.

 

“Sorry, sweetheart, but they told me to tell you to call, if you want.”

 

Rean simply shook his head and trudged back upstairs, knowing he missed his opportunity to talk to them.  He did need time to sort everything out in his own head, Ash had been right about that much.

 

~!~

 

Three months passed by in the blink of an eye.

 

Machias welcomed the REAL Melyssa back with open arms, along with Crow, who had hugged her so tight, she thought he popped something in her back.  Rosalie had told them what happened, what Rean almost did and she understood Crow’s reaction.  He wasn’t mad at Rean, nobody was.  They were under a Dark Ages spell and it was broken now.  Rean was back to his old self and so was she, no darkness influencing or manipulating them. 

 

However, there was one person who had changed significantly throughout the past three months and that was Ash.  Melyssa didn’t understand it, but Ash had become…distant recently and she couldn’t figure out why.  The first month straight of their new relationship, they had so much sex, she physically couldn’t handle anymore by the beginning of the second month and told him so.

 

“Ash, please, just one day…I just need ONE DAY without sex!  We can do something else, but I really need you not to touch me for one day…”

 

Ash had snorted, rolled his eyes and stormed out of her apartment to go to his own, muttering something about being rejected.

 

Ever since that day she ‘rejected’ sex from him, or turned him down, things had been rather…tense between them.  They still had sex, but Ash had gotten rougher and rougher with it, then afterwards would question her about her feelings.

 

“Do you still want me?  Do you want out of this?  Am I not good enough for you, Melyssa?  Do you not love me anymore?”

 

Those questions had been flying out of his mouth a lot in the last two weeks and Melyssa was at her wits end.  Every time she responded the same way.  Yes.  No.  Yes, he was good enough for her.  Yes, she loved him and nobody else.  Or so, that’s what her brain said, but her heart spoke a different story.  Still, she was loyal and faithful to Ash, wanting to make this work between them.  She had even gone as far as planning a romantic dinner for them in her apartment, after a hard day of work at City Hall and shopped for the occasion. 

 

It was their three month anniversary and she wanted to do something special for him, as stupid as it sounded.  Who celebrated a three month anniversary, after all?  Melyssa had bought a see-through dark blue negligee that didn’t leave much to the imagination and bought oils and had the entire apartment lit up with candles.  She had even had her hair done up in a ton of a curls on top of her head and put some makeup on, just enough to enhance her natural beauty.

 

He walked in, looked around and she couldn’t believe the words that came out of his mouth. “What is all this, Melyssa?  Why are there candles lit everywhere and why are you wearing THAT slutty shit?  Take it off, I don’t like it.” Ash had ordered, sat down and propped his feet right on the coffee table, something he knew she HATED him doing.

 

She wondered briefly if the darkness had somehow made its way inside Ash and had Rosalie check, secretly, but no, this was just his personality.  This was who he was.  She had been completely heartbroken and finally took a plate of spaghetti she had made, her mother’s recipe, and hurled at him as hard as she could.  It landed on his arm and she screamed at him to get out of her apartment, not caring who heard her at this point.  She had planned this amazing night for them, hoping to make things right, hoping to mend their relationship and he would give her a chance to explain her side of things. 

 

No, he was a complete and utter asshole and she was done trying to make things work with him. 

 

“You’re nothing, but a sex addict, Ash Carbide!!  All you want is sex, Sex, SEX and I’m SICK OF IT!!  I asked you for ONE DAY, ONE DAMN DAY, to recuperate because it was HURTING me to have sex with you!!  And you took it to heart!  And then you started getting rougher with me whenever we do have sex!  Do you know what today is?  It’s been three months since we started this travesty of a relationship and I’m DONE trying to make it work!  DONE!  GET OUT OF MY APARTMENT, YOU EGOTISTICAL, SELF-CENTERED, SEX ADDICT ASSHOLE AND DON’T COME BACK!!”

 

Chapter 77

 

Crow, in his apartment literally right next door, heard Melyssa BELLOWING and RAGING and sort of came running, banging on the door.  It opened on its own, he stepped in, realizing she had been in the process of opening it and kicking Ash out.  Well, he had always thought the idea of them was weird and it had never set right with him, he was a bit sorry that they were fighting.

 

“Fuck OFF Armbrust.” No, SHE was fighting, he was trying to make sense of what had just happened. “She doesn’t need you protecting her from ME!”

 

“I think you may need protection from her if you don’t get the Gehenna out.”

 

That was the damn truth because she was LIVID and, if steam could pour out of one’s ears, it would’ve been at that moment.  She was standing there, still in the lingerie she had bought, the candles still lit all around the apartment and Ash was COVERED in spaghetti from the plate she flung at him.  Tears poured down her cheeks and she punched him as hard as she could when he went to grab her, right in his mouth.

 

“Get. Out. I NEVER want to see you again besides at work.” Her voice was deceptively calm and low, her teal eyes hard and cold while staring at the man she had given literally everything to.  And he didn’t care.  HE DIDN’T CARE! “You can go play with yourself or, better yet, find someone else who will put up with your sex addiction because I AM DONE!”

 

Sex addiction?  Wow.  Crow kept his mouth shut.  He was all for sex, all the time, every day, whenever and wherever, but… that was every man’s dream.  The reality was: it would be exhausting and chafing was a real thing, not to mention dehydration.  Damn it, there was other stuff out there that needed to get done!  Though, now it explained why Melyssa had seemed so tired lately.  He raised one eyebrow at his friend, who was holding his mouth, spaghetti sliding down his tomato stained face.

 

“Out.”

 

Ash shook his head and turned, shaking himself just to purposefully fling spaghetti everywhere before leaving.  He made sure to slam the door shut behind him, his last ‘say’ as it were.  Crow immediately went to Melyssa, catching her before she fell and held her up, his hands beneath her armpits.  He simply stared down at her, sorrow filling his red eyes as she cried even harder.  This was the last person she wanted to know what was going on between her and Ash.  Now that her body was ‘exposed’ for the most part, because of how revealing the lingerie was, Crow could see the bruises she hid beneath clothing. 

 

Thighs, upper arms, hips and if he saw her butt…it looked like Ash had beaten and abused her.  She also had bite marks on various parts of her body as well.  Melyssa couldn’t help crying her heart out against Crow, her face buried in his chest and felt his arms wrap tightly around her.  It wasn’t until an hour later, she finally spoke in a low, raspy voice, both now sitting on the couch with the lights on and the candles blown out.

 

“Today was our three month anniversary…and I wanted to do something nice for him because we’ve been fighting a lot lately.  He walked through that door, took one look at everything and asked what it was and ordered me to take the lingerie off I bought specifically for him.  All he cares about is bending me over and screwing me, Crow.  I can’t…I can’t do it anymore…I physically can’t handle it anymore and I’ve tried telling him, but all he kept telling me was I’d get used to it because of my virginal mindset.” She snorted, wiping her nose with the tissue Crow handed her while talking to him. “I thought I loved him, but I’m starting to realize the spell is what drew me to be with him.  After that spell broke, I didn’t feel the same way I did about him…and I know his sex addiction didn’t help matters.  Still, I did everything I could to make this work because I didn’t want to believe that damn spell could…influence my feelings for someone.  I do feel love for him, but…” She started crying again, burying her face in her hands. “I’m starting to realize I was never IN LOVE with him…and I tried making this work out of guilt because I’m the one who told him I loved him first.  I never should’ve started anything with him in the first place!  I don’t know what I was thinking!”

 

It made sense, about the spell.  It had brought out the negative things she was feeling and thinking, it had drawn her towards negative things as well and, from what he could see, and what he now knew, Ash had been a very, very negative thing.  It was so strange because they had seemed to of been the best of friends prior to getting together.  He had told her right out the gate he hadn’t liked the idea of them and he hadn’t even known why, maybe because of this.

 

“Do you need to see a doctor?” He asked, trying not to stare, but it was hard.  She was in next to nothing and looked like she had had her ass beaten.

 

“W-What?!” That had snapped her right out of her despair and she stared at him wide-eyed, suddenly realizing why he was asking that question. “Hand me a blanket, please.  And no, I don’t.  It was all consensual, he didn’t…hurt me that way or anything.”

 

Ash DID hurt her, but more on an emotional and mental level.  Granted, her vagina was thanking Aidios and the Goddess for not being pounded into oblivion, but that was something she would keep to herself.  Crow wrapped the blanket around her and she looked up at him with fresh tears in her eyes.

 

“I’m sorry about what I said that day.  It was the spell, Crow, I hope you know that.  I would never say something like that to you just because you voiced your concern about me and him.  You were right.”

 

“Yeah I know, but that’s my curse, usually being right and others ignoring me.” He joked, getting why she wouldn’t want to be seen, not if it was consensual. 

 

Crow was well aware that there were people out there who had some interesting kinks in the bedroom.  Though, he was guessing Melyssa did not share Ash’s.  It seemed like she had tried, but… some people just didn’t like being abused during sex, or bent over all the time.

 

“Why don’t you get a shower and I’ll clean this mess up?” His tone made it clear he wasn’t leaving her, not tonight. 

 

Crow didn’t trust Ash to not come back, which felt weird because for two years, Ash had been his almost best friend. 

 

Knowing better than to argue with him, she nodded and stood up from the couch the same time he did, reaching up to hug him. “Thank you.” She whispered in his ear before sniffling on her way to the bathroom, knowing her carpeting would be ruined because of the spaghetti sauce. 

 

Oh well, she didn’t care and it wasn’t her apartment anyway, technically.  Leaving the blanket behind, Melyssa closed the door behind her and her scream was muffled by a hand over her mouth and her back was pressed against a rock hard chest.  Just the smell alone told her exactly who was in her bathroom and it also told her the witch’s warding had failed.  After the horrible night she had with Ash, this was the LAST thing she needed.

 

“Don’t make a sound or I will burn this entire apartment building to the ground, Melyssa.” He threatened in a very low voice, hearing the sink running in the kitchen and smirked wickedly. “You thought you were slick, didn’t you?  Having that old hag witch cast a spell on this place to ward out intruders.  Luckily for you, I know how to break through such spells, which is why I can now come and go as I please, precious.” His hand moved up to wrap around her throat, squeezing ever so gently. “I must admit, I wasn’t overly pleased with the idea of you and Carbide.” The bruises on her body, the stuff he had overheard, those two were over, but not before Ash had gotten more than his fill of her. “If I would’ve known you were into the darker side of life…”

 

Her body went stiff as a board at his words as Melyssa calmed her breathing down, knowing exerting herself would not be in her best interest. “I’m not, and I don’t care if you approved of me and Carbide.  I’ll be with whoever I want, asshole.” She kept her voice low, gritting her teeth and gasped when he began to squeeze her throat to slowly cut her air supply off.  Struggling would only accelerate the inevitable, so Melyssa did everything in her power to stay perfectly still and calm against him. “W-What’s…the matter…McBurn?  Jealous?”

 

“Of a little slut giving out her favors?” McBurn snorted, shaking his head. 

 

Obviously, Melyssa enjoyed this sort of thing because she was intent on provoking him to violence.  He wasn’t one of the most dangerous entities in Ouroboros, in the COUNTRY, for nothing.  Violence, brains… fire, he was deadly and had remained alive for a reason when he was one of the most infamous men alive.

 

“And now you’ve finally grown a spine.” The hand not around her throat moved to said spine, running a slow finger up it, feeling her shiver. “And kicked Carbide to the curb… all because he didn’t appreciate your little slut show… well, my dear,” He buried his face in her neck. “I appreciate it.”

 

Panicking would take away more oxygen and she had to conserve as much of it as possible since he was currently cutting hers off.  The teal fire in her eyes, however, told him everything he needed to know or he could assume all he wanted.  The fact of the matter was McBurn didn’t have her the way he wanted her.  She had grown considerably strong while training to become an Enforcer of Ouroboros and now she was one – just like him.  He was not an Anguis, just an Enforcer just like her.  They were on equal footing, as far as the Grandmaster was concerned. 

 

Didn’t the Grandmaster demand McBurn to leave her alone?  Had he gone rogue?  That wouldn’t have surprised her since McBurn had been against her becoming an Enforcer in the first place instead of his sex toy.  Ironic how he was the one to point her out to the Grandmaster for her ‘potential’ and, yet, he hadn’t gotten what he wanted in the end.

 

“Then why…are you here?” She managed to ask, coughing a little when he let her breathe, just as she began to see spots before her eyes.  Oh Aidios, it hurt to feel the oxygen RUSHING back into her body and his hand remained on her throat, but he wasn’t squeezing to cut her air supply off anymore. At least I’m not yours…and I never will be, no matter what you do, asshole!

 

“Oh, checking in… you do realize nobody trusts you?  Not the Grandmaster, who has set you up to fail and you are doing spectacularly and not your friends.  You’re only Machias’ secretary because he wants to keep you close.” The old adage, keep friends close and enemies closer held true.  He ran his nose up along her neck to the shell of her ear, inhaling her scent. “I can’t wait until you stumble, I’ll be waiting to snatch this pert ass,” His hand dropped down, squeezing her backside. “Up.”

 

“Keep dreaming.  I’ll end it before you EVER lay a hand on me.”

 

Was it true what he said?  Did nobody trust her?  The Grandmaster had given her A LOT of leeway, so she assumed the woman, or whatever she was, did.  Machias and…Crow.  Melyssa felt a twinge in her heart at the possibility of not having his trust, especially after all they’d been through together.

 

“I refuse to fall for your mind games, McBurn.  I know what you’re trying to do and it’s not going to work.  I know who trusts me, I know who my friends are and I know where I TRULY belong.  And something tells me the Grandmaster did NOT give this order for you to come see me.  I know she ordered you to stay AWAY from me, as a matter of fact, which tells me you’re doing things without her consent.  So if you’re going to kill me, be done with it already or leave.”

 

“You really are a trusting, naïve, stupid little bitch, aren’t you?” He sneered, an undercurrent of humor in his tone. “You think everyone trusts you and you never once have honestly stopped to question why everything just falls in place for you, why people bow to your ideas and whims, even the Grandmaster.” Ouroboros was notorious for turning on people, including their own and she thought she was above that, just because she thought she was ‘special’. “You’re on borrowed time, Melyssa.” He kissed her neck before disappearing the same way he had come, she wasn’t the only one with friends in magical places.

 

“Hey, Lyssa,” Crow was at the door, knocking. “I thought I heard someone in there, are you-” He blinked when it flew open, taking in the faint red marks around her neck. “What happened?” He was already withdrawing a pistol.

 

She was naked, completely naked, since she had taken the lingerie off and did not care, feeling incredibly vulnerable.  Her weapons were in her bedroom, far away from her, and she had been bombarded in the bathroom, of all places!  Crow tossed a towel at her while checking the bathroom, both of his pistols withdrawn, but there was nobody there.

 

“He’s gone.” She whispered, not trusting her voice at the moment since it would be scratchy from being throttled by McBurn.  She quickly wrapped herself up in the towel and clutched it tightly, tears temporarily blurring her vision.

 

“Who?  Ash?”

 

No, because Ash had left to go into his apartment and there was no way into this damn bathroom!  Not conventionally anyway, it would take a magician, or someone who practiced magic and Crow’s eyebrows drew together as he finally turned to stare down at her.  He inhaled deeply, instantly regretting it because he KNEW that distinctive scent.

 

“McBurn.” He growled, his eyes flashing a dangerous, fiery red.  McBurn, who had a thing for Melyssa and had for years, that bastard had gotten in past Rosalie’s wards. “Come on.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, guiding her out of the bathroom. “We need to get out of here.”

 

Chapter 78

 

“W-Wait!  I need my…weapons…” Oh man, that hurt to shout and she regretted doing it, not meaning it to come out forcefully. “A-And I need to get dressed first.  Please?”

 

Crow nodded, ordering her to keep the door open and she didn’t have a problem doing that.  He thought of her as only family, a sister, so she didn’t think he would sneak a peek while she was dressing.  How could McBurn get past an 800-year-old witch’s wards so easily?  Was he always able to do that and just waited for the opportune moment?

 

I need to stop analyzing everything, get dressed and leave with Crow. Everything else could be sorted out later, but one thing was certain: they could NOT stay in this apartment building anymore.

 

Crow was on his ARCUS II, letting Machias know over a secure, encrypted connection what had happened.  He didn’t bother saying what they were going to do next.  Machias was well aware they’d take off, it was what any smart person would do when confronted with a rogue McBurn.  When Melyssa came out dressed, with her weapons and a bag over her shoulder, he nodded.

 

“I got my weapons and my wallet, let’s get out of here.” Crow had a bag in a stash here in the city, on the way to one of his safehouses. 

 

Crow was a firm believer in the paranoid survived and right now, he was paranoid.  Lacing his fingers through hers, he pulled her from the apartment, trying not to walk overly fast, they needed to sort of appear casual.  Wherever they were going, she trusted Crow explicitly and tried not to let what McBurn said bother her.

 

You’re on borrowed time, Melyssa. What did that mean?  Was he going to kill her at the ‘right’ time or whenever he wanted to?  Was Ouroboros going to do it? Nobody trusts you.

 

What he said about Machias really bothered her because she wondered if it was true.  Did Machias give her this job only to keep her closer?  They slid inside her orbal car and Crow took the wheel while she buckled up in the passenger seat, their stuff in the backseat.  In no time at all, they were on their way from the apartment building and toward some unknown destination.

 

“Machias is down in the sewers, Rean is in town and they went to clear out a nest.” Crow informed her, once the lights of Crossbell City were in his rearview mirror. 

 

He knew Melyssa and Ash had gone to Ymir to deal with Rean and break that spell.  Rean had remained holed up in his hometown for a while before coming back and immersing himself back into his old life.  Too bad Ash hadn’t been under a spell… it would be easier to deal with the idea of his friend having… issues.

 

“The work on the sewer, the repairs and then blocking off the older tunnels is supposed to start soon.” This she already knew since she had to give that press conference.  Obviously, she hadn’t divulged the other aspect, about using parts of it to bottleneck Ouroboros and other shady characters, who dealt beneath the city in their illegal deals and whatnot. “When he comes out, he’ll call and properly debrief.”

 

“Do they need our help?”

 

How big was the nest?  Would they be able to handle it with just them?  Melyssa didn’t feel the butterflies at the mention of Rean anymore, which told her the feelings she had for him when he was her Instructor had disappeared.  Maybe it was also partially due to the fact she had been with Ash.  Crow shook his head at her question and she left it at that, instead turning her head to stare out the window.

 

“Did you tell Machias about McBurn’s visit?” She wasn’t surprised at Crow’s nod and she clasped her hands in her lap, not believing what a nightmare this night turned out to be. “Where are we going?”

 

“I have a safehouse.”

 

Being on both sides of the good/evil equation, Crow currently considered himself to be chaotic good.  Meaning he did some weird, random stuff that sometimes made no sense except at the end of the day, he knew which side to toss his lot in.  The side that wasn’t going to try killing him for being a deserter, thanks mostly to Rean’s kind heart and potentially equally soft head.  That wasn’t very nice of him, considering Rean had been his best friend for years, but one thing about Crow was he called it like he seen it.

 

“And I don’t know the size of the nest, but between the two of them, I’d imagine they got it.” Machias probably needed to vent and blow off steam, anyway, not being able to get his hands dirty due to his position on top of Emma expecting triplets… Crow would have lost his mind by now.

 

“Yeah, if the Divine Blade of the Eight Leaves and the mayor can’t handle a simple nest, we’re doomed.” Melyssa tried to make it sound like a joke, but it came out stoic.  She wasn’t in a joking mood, for obvious reasons. “Sorry, that was terrible.” Just keep your mouth shut, Mel, for Aidios’ sake!

 

At least Rean wasn’t holed up in Ymir anymore feeling sorry for himself, so that was good.  He was in Crossbell City – when did that happen?  Had she been so wrapped up in the crap with Ash she didn’t notice?  Melyssa vowed right then and there to NEVER get so wrapped up in a man again that she neglected the world around her.  It was dangerous, especially under her circumstances.

 

“Yeah, it was shit, just sit back and relax, Lyssa.” Crow glanced at her, reaching out to take her hand and squeezed once in what was meant to be a comforting gesture. “You don’t have to try entertaining me or keeping conversation, you’ve got the best excuse in the world not too.”

 

McBurn’s creepy ass in her shower.  He felt like he had creepy crawlies going up and down his spine, resisting the urge to shudder like a little girl.  Silence reigned for the rest of the over an hour long ride and eventually, Crow pulled off road, steering through countryside until reaching trees and went right through those as well.

 

“Don’t freak.” He advised, the trees giving way to black, a tunnel, and he went through that too.


Now she grabbed his hand this time and held it, teal eyes wide in both wonder and a little fear because she hadn’t been expecting this.  Crow went ALL OUT for his safehouse, didn’t he?  The tunnel was long and it took a good five minutes to get through it before they entered a clearing.  In the distance, she could see a cabin and her brows drew together, wondering if anyone knew about this place besides her now.  Was it warded to prevent Ouroboros from entering?  Did Ouroboros even know about it?  There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but all Melyssa did was sit back and take in the scenery because it was breathtaking.

 

“So, unlike Carbide, I am a firm believer in using magic to do whatever I need it to do.” Crow informed her, knowing he could trust her with his secrets.  Not only because they had grown up together, but because at heart, Melyssa was turning out to be like him, someone who wanted to LIVE, to survive. “I know a guy, he’s kind of… unconventional and Rosalie would hate him.” Crow liked him because obviously Rosalie’s wards weren’t as good as they should have been, given her age. “Place is warded and only he and I know about it, he’s across the sea… so I doubt anyone would find him… should be safe.” It WAS safe, unless they had been followed.

 

That made her breathe a little easier, even though some guy she didn’t know warded the place.  If Crow trusted him, so did she.  That was one thing about Crow she’d never lost and that was her trust and faith in him. “Thank you for telling me.” She murmured just as the car came to a stop in front of the cabin.  They grabbed their belongings from the backseat and she went to head for the door when Crow stopped her. “What are you…?  Ouch!” He had just sliced her hand with his double-saber and kept hold of it while doing the same to his hand, pressing them together moments later.  She felt something wash over her, a warmth she couldn’t describe and Crow nodded before pulling her toward the front door. “Okay, mind telling me what the Gehenna that was about just now, Armbrust?” Melyssa demanded once they were inside and Crow pulled out a first-aid kit to treat their cut hands.

 

“See, Rosalie’s magic is all well and fine, but sometimes, you gotta toy with the darker shit and blood magic is sometimes,” At her look, he rolled his eyes, but mentally conceded the point. “A lot of the time, frowned upon, better?  Anyway, with this ward, it’s based on DNA recognition, mine to be exact and whoever I pass it on and share with.  If I hadn’t done that, you’d be dust right now.  Now the barriers, the wards, will recognize you as part of me and let you through.” A little extreme?  Maybe.  But McBurn wouldn’t be getting to her here.

 

Blood magic? 

 

She looked down at her hand and then to his, realizing what he’d done.  They shared blood now and the wards wouldn’t vaporize her into dust. “That’s…wow.  That’s definitely a security measure I never would’ve thought of.” Crow trusted her completely or he never would’ve brought her here or shared his blood with her to let her past the warding.  It did her heart good to know at least he trusted her, but she didn’t know about the others. Damn that McBurn planting doubts in my head like this! “Thank you, Crow.  Here.”

 

He was struggling with wrapping his hand with the bandage and she took over, doing it for him.  This place was not only beautiful, but it was HUGE and she couldn’t imagine how many bedrooms it had.  It definitely looked smaller from the outside…was that magic too?

 

“Give me the grand tour.”

 

To be honest, the place resembled a tone down version of the Thors Academy, though not as massive.  It was one of the few places Crow had felt totally safe and comfortable, so it made sense that his safe house would be an imitation of the real thing. “Sure, but as we go on, you’re going to laugh.” He cautioned her, bringing her bag along as he headed further inside, the lights coming on automatically as they walked.  On the bright side, there was no sharing rooms or anything like that since it was only them.  When she began realizing what she was walking through, he laughed at the look on her face.

 

“This is JUST like Thors!” She exclaimed, looking around in both amusement and awe, wondering how he managed to have something like this built without anyone knowing. 

 

Then again, he was C – the leader of the Imperial Liberation Front.  A terrorist group that could never seem to be found unless they WANTED to be found.  She supposed it made sense he’d have something like this far back in the woods.

 

“This is…incredible, Crow.” Stopping, Melyssa looked up into his crimson eyes and every other thought vanished from her mind.  It was almost as if her worries had vanished the moment she stepped through the door.

 

“Yeah, sometimes, I guess.” Crow shrugged, idly ruffling his own hair, staring down at her.  He was expecting her to laugh and he hadn’t missed the amusement in Melyssa’s tone, though she hadn’t laughed. “It felt safe and it’s a safehouse, I’m a dork sometimes.  It’s a lot smaller and I didn’t put everything in, the grounds are gone and I only include one dorm with only a few rooms…” Because Thors was HUGE and this safehouse was… not. 

 

It just felt that way.

 

“It’s the same design as the dorms.” There was no way that was a coincidence.  Melyssa wanted to laugh, but she just didn’t feel very humorous after everything that happened tonight. “So, which room can I use?”

 

He gestured to the one they were standing in front of and opened it, revealing one bed, a dresser and a desk with an orbal radio on it.  Crow informed her his room was across the way, if she needed anything.  As much as Melyssa didn’t want to be alone tonight, she knew asking Crow to stay with her wasn’t an option.

 

I’m a sister to him, family. She reminded herself, cracking the barest hint of a smile as he set her bag on top of the bed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

“Make sure you do.” He said seriously, watching as she set her bag down before gently pulling her so she was standing before him.

 

His hands wrapped around her upper arms, keeping her at arm’s length as he studied her.  This just hadn’t been a good night for Melyssa, in any capacity and he inwardly sighed, wondering how much more the Goddess was going to allow to be tossed in Melyssa’s lap before finally saying enough was enough.  He bent down, brushing his lips against her forehead, his eyes closing for a moment.

 

“I mean it, if you need ANYTHING, even a damn glass of water, come get me.” He doubted he’d sleep, not after tonight, after Ash and then McBurn.

 

He’d probably be up all night meditating or practicing his stances.

 

~!~

 

“It’s okay.  It’s okay, Lyssa, you’re safe now.” A younger Crow crooned to her, holding her while rubbing her back soothingly. “You’re outta that barrel now, no need to cry anymore.”

 

“I-I was so scared…so scared no one would find me…” Melyssa whimpered, her face buried in her best friend’s shirt with her arms wrapped tightly around him. “T-Thank you…thank you, Crow…”

 

The boy chuckled, kissing her forehead softly. “I’ll always be here for you, Lyssa, never forget that, okay?  I’ll always protect you from anything and anyone.  They’ll have to go through me to get to you.”

 

That made her smile as she looked up at him and kissed his cheek, wiping her tears away. “I feel safe with you, Crow.” She sniffled, letting him swipe the rest of the tears from her cheeks. “Okay, I feel better now.  Come on, let’s play catch or something.” She was properly bathed after getting out of that nasty barrel and dressed in fresh smelling clothes, thanks to her mother.

 

“I’ll race ya!”

 

“You’re on!”

 

~!~

 

Why did that memory suddenly pop in her head? 

 

Melyssa felt the emotions overflowing inside of her and tossed her arms around his waist, her tears beating down on his chest. “I-I don’t want to be alone tonight, Crow.  I-I know it’s asking a lot, but…please, don’t leave me alone in this room.” Her voice cracked, her vulnerability showing and the old Melyssa, before she became a warrior, was seeping through. “I feel safe with you.” Just as I always have, even when we were kids and he saved me from that fish barrel.

 

Honestly, Crow had been waiting for this.  Sure, she was a big and bad Ouroboros Enforcer, but… that only went so far and her time with Ouroboros hadn’t shown her any real combat or situations where she needed to steel her nerves, outside of training.  She was still almost as green as the day she had joined Thors.  She was still just as softhearted as she had been, always beneath the exterior and he wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on top of hers.

 

“Of course not, Lyssa.  Come on, you can sleep in my room and I’ll take the chair.”

 

That wasn’t his game plan at all, he doubted he’d sleep and when he did, and he was here, it was usually in that damn chair. Something about sleeping upright, facing the door, especially if he was in hiding helped calmed his nerves.  She was stronger and she had been put in life or death combat situations during her training.  Ouroboros did not half-ass anything when it came to training their people and only the strong survived.  However, right now in this moment, she was that girl he had befriended, thanks to their grandfathers.

 

“I don’t want to sleep.  I’m not tired.” Surprisingly enough. “How about we play some Blade or another game?”

 

Melyssa pulled back to look up at him and that smile on his face warmed her from the inside out.  He loved his games, that much had not changed about Crow, even with everything he endured and suffered.  They hadn’t played Blade together since that night at the Twin Dragons tower, when he kissed her after they played a few rounds and then left her high and dry because he didn’t feel the same for her as she did him. 

 

That was fine; it was in the past and she didn’t fault him for anything.

 

Chapter 79

 

“Let me go see if I have a deck and scrounge up some food, I’m famished.” Her spaghetti dinner that she had made for her and Ash’s anniversary had wound up all over Ash and the floor, obviously, she hadn’t eaten. “Why don’t you get set up in here,” He was guiding her to his room, which was like Thors so far as the set-up and the personalization was… all him.  This was his main safehouse. “And I’ll go grab a deck and something for us to eat.  I think I have… canned goods.”

 

“Okay.” Melyssa stopped him again, hugging him around the neck this time and closed her eyes, sniffling softly. “Thank you for letting me stay in here with you.”

 

She pulled back and watched him leave the room, taking a minute by herself to look around.  Melyssa decided to change into her sleepwear as well, pajama pants and a long sleeved shirt since it was cold outside.  Luckily, there was no snow on the ground here, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t get any during their stay.  However long it would last, she didn’t know.  When Crow returned, she was sitting on the bed and staring at a photo of her and Ash, her head snapping up when the door closed.  Immediately, she put her phone away and took the bowl Crow handed her, which had vegetable soup in it.

 

“Smells good.”

 

“Ought too, even I can’t screw up microwaving something.” He joked, though it fell flat and maybe he shouldn’t be cracking jokes either. 

 

Crow dropped down in his chair, surveying her thoughtfully.  He had rushed to her apartment in his day clothes, not bothered getting anything other than his weapons and wallet because this place was stocked with a basic wardrobe.  He’d change after eating, balancing his own bowl on his knee.

 

“You look like you might cry.” He said after a long silence, mostly silence, the sounds of them eating their soup was about the only noise outside of breathing. “Thinking about him?” When he went into work, -he had no intention of hiding here, just living here since the apartment building was obviously compromised- he was going to bean Ash.

 

“I miss how things used to be between us.  He was always so thoughtful and kind to me, never rubbed me the wrong way.  We had such a deep connection and bond as friends…” Melyssa wished she could turn the clock back and never got involved with Ash intimately. “It was constant, Crow.  He constantly wanted to have sex…and it got to the point where it physically HURT to do it.  He even pulled me into the offices at work for quickies, it was almost as if he couldn’t get enough…or I wasn’t enough for him.” That made her eyes lower to the soup and teardrops splashed into the liquid, her voice full of regret and pain. “We were better off as being just friends because he obviously has an addiction I can’t sate.”

 

Obviously, and that was a lot more then Crow had ever wanted to know about either of his friends, ever.  He made a mental note to bring in a maid service on the sly at work to disinfect the entire damn building, not wanting to sit down in a spot they had been doing the nasty. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” He offered finally, not knowing what else to say other than Ash was obviously a fool, if it was the second reason, because any man would be lucky to have Melyssa.

 

If it was the first… he winced.

 

“Yeah…I wish it would’ve never happened in the first place.  I’m such an idiot to let a spell control me like that.”

 

Melyssa set her bowl of half-eaten soup on the bed and drew her knees up, burying her face in them while wrapping her arms around them tightly.  Things would never be the same between her and Ash again.  More than likely, he hated her because she hadn’t been good enough for him in a relationship.  Her ARCUS II went off and she pulled it out, frowning at the video staring back at her.  It wasn’t playing, but she could clearly see Ash and another woman staring back at her.

 

Without preamble, she pressed the play button.

 

“Oh – oh Ash, oh baby that feels so damn good!  Your cock feels amazing inside of me!”

 

“Yeah, doesn’t it?  Mmm, I’ve wanted to fuck you since the moment I saw you.” Ash growled, pounding the cleaning lady at City Hall relentlessly…on top of Melyssa’s desk. “Fuck that bitch, she was never good enough for me and I took pity on her, which is why I fucked her in the first place!”

 

The woman laughed wickedly, nodding her head while gripping the desk as tight as she could. “Mmm yeah, she didn’t look like she was very fun in the bedroom and she’s definitely not good enough for a man like you…Goddess harder, pound me, Ash!”

 

Ripping back on her hair, he lifted his leg to plant his foot on the desk to really drive deeper inside of her receptive body, controlling every aspect of the session. “Spread them thighs wider for me…”

 

Crow overheard it and had moved to sit beside her, both watching the despicable footage in front of them.  Melyssa was trembling from head to toe, unable to pull her eyes away from the footage or drop her ARCUS II, shutting her eyes the moment he bellowed out another woman’s name in his climax.  The cleaning lady at City Hall, of all people…

 

“He never loved me.” It wasn’t even half a DAY and Ash had already found someone else to screw!  They didn’t even properly END their relationship because he had hurt her so badly with what he said, after she had TRIED surprising him with a romantic evening. “Dropping the ARCUS II, Melyssa bolted to the bathroom and barely made it, emptying the contents of the soup right into it.

 

Wow, with a jacked up face and everything, Ash had issues.  Crow wasn’t even trying to speculate on their sex life if Ash was already out banging another woman.  This had nothing to do with Melyssa being enough, not really, this was Ash having a breakdown or something.  He idly wondered if the Dark Ages spell had some effect on Ash because they had spent a lot of time together during those two years and Ash hadn’t been… that way.  Ash had barely looked at a woman until Melyssa had come back into their lives.  Maybe he was just addicted to Melyssa… no, because he had been plowing the cleaning lady.

 

Once she was done emptying her stomach, Melyssa didn’t go back to the bedroom and instead went to the sitting room.  She just wanted to be alone right now, the offer of playing Blade long forgotten.  Burying her head in her hands, Melyssa curled up in a tight ball on the couch, crying and sobbing her heart out.  Ash hadn’t waited more than a few hours before finding someone else to satisfy his needs. 

 

His nose had been jacked up in the footage and he was breathing a lot heavier than usual due to it being broken, thanks to her fist.  She wanted to do A LOT more to him and shut her eyes, trying to block out the pain and anguish as much as she could.  He used her for sex and she let him do it; she gave him her virginity and she could never get it back.  Eventually, she cried herself to sleep and didn’t feel Crow cover her up with a blanket or anything, dead to the world.

 

~!~

 

Ash had absolutely zero regret with what he did with the cleaning lady.  He hoped that miserable bitch was crying him a river somewhere for making him feel like he wasn’t enough.  Then not wanting to properly satisfy him, even though he had fucked her good and proper.  He had taken her under his wing, been her best friend, TREATED her different than any other woman and her response was to be a manipulative, lying bitch during their relationship.  She had never loved him, she had regret being with him, letting him take her virginity and the more he had tried bringing them closer, the more she had pulled away.  Even this cleaning lady, with his broken, jacked up face, had JUMPED on the opportunity to ride his dick.

 

~!~

 

Machias had given Melyssa a month off to cool down and for this whole breakup to blow over.  He needed Ash more than her, as much as he hated admitting it.  She was his secretary and could do work from anywhere, so Crow set her up an office within the cabin to do her work in.  Faxing was a thing, email also and Machias didn’t have a problem having her lay low for a while.  In fact, Crow insisted on it, especially with McBurn back in the picture and Ouroboros breathing down their necks.  He didn’t tell ANYONE where she was, no matter how many times Ash demanded him to.  Crow had finally had enough and belted Ash in the face, ordering him to never say Melyssa’s name again or else he would be sent to the morgue in a body bag.

 

Once that month passed by, Melyssa started feeling like her old self again with training and even cooked meals for when Crow came to the cabin.  He visited a couple times a week since it was a rather long drive to get here and called her every night on the ARCUS II to check up on her.  At first, she wasn’t comfortable staying in the cabin by herself, but the more she did it, the more she came to understand this was what she NEEDED.  Being alone to clear her mind and heart since Ash had corrupted it, along with the Dark Ages spell, for the past two and a half years.

 

“Yes, brother dearest, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?” Melyssa answered her ARCUS II with a smile, staring back at Crow through the screen, who rolled his red eyes at her. “You do realize you call me at LEAST five times a day, right?  Not that I’m complaining or anything.”

 

“Hey, if I don’t, Emma sends me a message reminding ME not to be a jackass!” Crow was half-joking.  Emma DID remind him via messaging frequently not to be a jackass because she was NOT happy about what Ash had done, but he was calling because he wanted too. “I just don’t… I want to make sure you’re okay, SIS.” He even stuck his tongue out at her, crossing his eyes and everything. “So, I spoke to Rosalie, and she wants to try this thing on your apartment.” Eight hundred-years-old and this was the first she had considered using blood magic, he shook his head, but kept his comments to himself. “She’s also thinking about employing it elsewhere, I guess there’s been some activity down in the sewers.  It’s been holding up the repairs needed to get the citizens what they were promised.”

 

Emma had called her frequently from wherever she was, making sure she was all right and asking if she needed anything.  Even Rean had reached out, in a purely platonic way, wanting to assure her they were all thinking about her during this difficult time.  It was weird that Machias hadn’t fired Ash from his bodyguard duty, but at the same time, the man was a powerhouse.  Sex addict or not, Ash was an asset to bringing down Ouroboros, once the time finally came.

 

“I’m willing to try anything at this point, but I gotta admit, I’m liking it here.  This cabin is peaceful and there’s not the city noise like there is in Crossbell.” That was good news that the sewers were being taken care of and Machias hadn’t pulled back on anything. “Do they know what kind of activity?”

 

Nobody had known Ash would be like this. 

 

Sure, he had been suggestive and lewd over the years when it came to women, but where Melyssa was involved, he had been an entirely different man.  They were all still trying to figure out how to address this ‘new’ Ash and, honestly, if not for Crow vouching -Melyssa had video proof- nobody would have believed it because nobody would have wanted to.  This was just that out of character for the man, especially when it came to her.  Then there was the fact that Ash knew a LOT and could potentially do some damage. 

 

It was an ugly situation.

 

“Some people have been caught down there and there have been several monster nests, of the very gross kind.”

 

Ash could do and be with whoever he wanted because Melyssa wanted nothing to do with him.  Not after that video footage was sent to her, which they still didn’t know who had sent it.  They thought it was Ash being a dick at first, but Machias had looked into it and it hadn’t come from Ash’s ARCUS II.  The only way she would ever talk to him again was work-related, but other than that, never again would she have late night talks with him.  Never again would she go to him for advice or share a laugh.  No more teasing.  No more leaning on his shoulder for comfort whenever she had a bad day.  Those days were gone and she had accepted that over the past month.

 

“Sounds juicy.” She laughed when Crow groaned, ordering her to never say that again. “Well, at least you haven’t been bored and been kept on your toes while in the city.” When will you be back here? That question came out of nowhere and luckily, she didn’t say it out loud. “So, anything else you want to report?”

 

“No, not really.” Machias had given her leave to take all the time she needed and that cabin was a good distance away, so making the trip back and forth daily wasn’t exactly feasible given his long hours. “Rean was brought in as a consultant, since we can’t exactly hide the Ashen Chevalier’s presence.” Rean was also even tempered and slow to react in a negative way to anything, so he was good for the actual mayoral duties, which involved peopling.  And… handy with his Tachi. “I’ll be coming out tomorrow, spend the weekend there.  Rean is going to cover for me this weekend; Machias has some dinner and ball he has to attend.”

 

That made her frown. “Wait, there’s a dinner and ball going on and you’re not attending?” Wait, didn’t she read something about that in the paperwork that was sent over? “Hold on.” Was that what Machias had referred to when he said ‘social gathering’ the last time they spoke? “Hmm…” Sure enough, it was a ball to help raise funds for Crossbell City and the construction going on beneath with the tunnels.  This would be the perfect opportunity for Ouroboros to strike, if they planned on taking over Crossbell City. “Don’t bother coming here, Crow.  Because I’m coming back to Crossbell City and attending this event.” She was already off the bed, knowing she could shop early in the morning for a dress and be ready by the evening. “Wanna be my escort?”

 

Chapter 80

 

“Do you even have an invitation?” He groaned, running a hand through his hair and actually exhaled in relief when she paused before admitting she did not.  Machias probably hadn’t bothered since she was on downtime, thanks to Ash. “I… have one, and a plus one.” He admitted just as diffidently, puffing out his cheeks. “Meet you at my place?” He was going to have to dig out formal clothes or something, inwardly cursing. “My attire is black, with red and white accents.” He said finally, practically feeling her smiling. “In case you wanted to match or something…” He sounded like such a dork right now.

 

“Well, look at you trying to be all formal and everything!” Melyssa teased, laughing at the look on Crow’s face. “Oh come on, it won’t be so bad and I promise I’ll get all gussied up too.” Red.  She would wear red.  Last time it was black, so this time she would go for a bolder color. “I’ll call Machias and…” Crow told her not to bother, he would inform the man and told her to get busy on the road since it was over an hour drive back to the city. “I’ll meet you at your place tonight.  See you soon, brother dearest.” Winking, she ended the call on the ARCUS II and immediately began packing her bag, trying to think of where she could go to buy a dress in the morning.

 

This was a formal event.  Crow wouldn’t be embarrassing not only himself, by showing up in casual wear, but Machias and the office.  He was an employee of the city, technically, he HAD to represent it properly.  That was something that had been instilled in him throughout this gig and he knew Rean would heckle him mercilessly.  Gehenna, he could probably get away with wearing his formal attire from Thors, though it had been over two years since the last time he had worn that.  Groaning again, he headed for his bedroom to search for said formal wear.  While she was in the city, if she wanted to redo the warding, they could get on that too.  He had already had Rosalie come do his apartment.

 

Coming back to the city tonight was a mistake. 

 

A huge, fat mistake. 

 

There he was, with a different woman, ravishing her against a car just outside of the apartment building they shared.  Melyssa recalled Ash doing that to her a time or two, ravishing her outside of the building, until she had to force him to take her upstairs to one of their apartments.  Public indecency was a thing and she kept reminding him of that, but Ash didn’t care.  Women were objects to him and nothing more, she was seeing that now.  However, Melyssa would not let it get her down and knew she couldn’t run away forever.  She had to come back and get back to work, to help protect Machias and put an end to Ouroboros once and for all.  Walking past them, Melyssa didn’t care if she was noticed or not and made her way up to Crow’s apartment, squaring her shoulders.

 

Ash hadn’t noticed her one bit.  One good thing about that farce of a relationship with Melyssa was he had gotten his libido back.  When she had been taken by McBurn two years and some change ago, everything had died for him, including his sex drive.  It had come back plus some once he had gotten with her and he had forgotten how much FUN sex was, when done right, and with the right person.  Obviously, she couldn’t hack it in the bedroom, not with a man like him. He was a bit grateful their relationship was over because he wasn’t ready to settle with one woman, not anytime soon and it had taken her to realize that.

 

Crow opened the door on the second knock, grinning when Melyssa tried walking in only to be sent backwards, watching as she stumbled before catching herself. “Hand out.” The best part of this was the fact that door to door salespeople got the SAME treatment, he had only felt bad once when a kid had come calling to sell cookies for a school fundraiser. 

 

A second later, their blood had been mixed again and she was through the barrier.

 

That jolted her a little and she needed a minute to get her equilibrium back on track. “Blood magic is nothing to mess with, is it?” She muttered, once she felt everything was back to normal again and finally turned to face Crow. “Thanks for waiting up for me.  Traffic wasn’t too bad getting here.”

 

There was no way she would mention seeing Ash with another woman outside of the building.  There was no reason to and…surprisingly, Melyssa did not feel any heartache or sadness.  It was all gone.  It made her believe that much more her love and what she felt for Ash had been the spell, not her.

 

“Are you sure it’s okay that I stay with you?  I don’t want to put you out, Crow…you’ve done more than enough for me already…”

 

Blood magic was definitely not anything to mess with and Crow knew these wards were the NICER side of the blood magic spectrum.  Rosalie was new to this type of magic, which seemed odd given her age, so her repelling factor was nowhere near as strong as the ones at his hideaway, which was a good thing since… populated apartment building.  Though, at least it only repelled once the door was open and a person was standing in the threshold, he’d imagine he would get in serious trouble if it did it to everyone who knocked.

 

“You’re fine, I already remade the bed for you, so it’s nice and clean.”

 

Truth be told, he slept a lot on his couch, unable to sleep in his bedroom.  Maybe it was because he knew right across the hall, Melyssa was supposed to be there and she wasn’t.  All because McBurn had gotten through the original wards and been waiting for her.

 

“No, I can’t take your bed…” Melyssa noticed the blanket and pillow on the couch, which looked like it’d been slept on quite a bit. “You sleep on the couch when you have a bed?  You make no sense, Armbrust.” That was just who he was, though. “All right, all right, I’ll take the bed and stop being stubborn.  I’m gonna use your bathroom and then I’m heading to bed.  I need to get up early and go dress shopping for the event.”

 

They said goodnight to each other and she grabbed her bag, taking it with her since it had everything she needed.  If blood magic would keep McBurn out of her apartment, then she would come back to Crossbell City and stop hiding away in the cabin.  There had been talk of employing blood magic at the office but then… Machias dismissed it.  He had taken up the offer on his personal home, but he had been the one to point out that, if the mayor of Crossbell City was slashing citizens, then sharing blood with them, before they came into his office, it was going to look suspicious, if not downright gruesome.  Dropping down onto the couch, Crow reached for the remote to his TV, idly flipping through channels until he found something that wasn’t going to overly bore him.  Mostly, he just listened to Melyssa moving around in his bedroom and then in the bathroom, wondering if Ash was kicking himself in the backside for losing her.

 

He knew he would’ve been.

 

~!~

 

The following morning was chaotic, to say the least. 

 

There had been an explosion down in one of the tunnels, but it was minor once checked out.  Crow, Ash and Rean had gone down there to investigate, along with Machias and a few others, Rosalie included.  Turns out, some idiot kids had snuck down there and set off a small bomb for kicks, but nobody had seen who they were, so there was a search going on at the moment. 

 

Melyssa had found her dress, though it had taken a few hours to do so.  She had gotten her hair done professionally, a ton of spiral curls and it looked like a crown of blue on top of her head.  She had added diamond pendant clips to each side since there was a diamond pendant in the middle of her sweetheart shaped bosom.  The dress was strapless, flowed down to her ankles, chiffon material and clung to every curve of her body.  Melyssa had also gotten some dangling diamond earrings and a diamond choker to match, along with her nails done, painted red. 

 

Her makeup wasn’t heavy, just thin black liner with foundation, a bit of highlighter and red gloss.  Staring in the mirror, she had to admit she cleaned up pretty nicely and slipped her silver heels on she’d also purchased that had diamond studs on the front of them.  Hearing the knock on her door, since she was in her apartment, Melyssa made her way over to it to answer and smiled at the sight of Crow staring back at her. 

 

Crow had gone with his non-Thors formal suit.  It was a three piece: slacks, waistcoat and jacket with ‘rolled up’ cuffs and three silver buttons running up each cuff.  The undershirt was silver – he had nixed the white because it had looked terrible and now he was glad he had – with a deep red waistcoat.  The slacks fit him perfectly and he had been so glad he had a holster built discreetly into the design for one pistol.  Inside the breast of his jacket, a pocket for his Blade deck, in case he got bored.  His red eyes widened as he took her in, letting out a slow whistle.  Her make-up was minimal and he got why instantly, those diamonds were the accent piece and she was dripping in them.

 

“You’re gorgeous.” He breathed and ‘gorgeous’ was an understatement.

 

“You don’t clean up so bad yourself, Armbrust.”

 

He was sexy, especially in that red waistcoat that really brought out his eyes.  For once, he didn’t have a bandana around his head and she reached up to fix the collar of his coat a little.  It was her excuse to touch him, her hands smoothing out the invisible wrinkles and could feel his muscles ripple beneath the material.  The earrings in his ears just made him even sexier…and WHY WAS SHE THINKING ABOUT HIM THAT WAY?!

 

He doesn’t think of you as anything more than family, a sister, remember that, you fool! “Let me grab my clutch and we can go.” Flashing him a smile, she grabbed it from the kitchen table and shut the door behind her, locking it before taking his extended arm. “I guess I chose the right shade of red, eh?”

 

“You did, we’re a matching set.” He laughed, knowing better than to openly gawk her. 

 

Crow had said she was like his sister and, at the time, after kissing her RIGHT after getting bombarded by ALL his memories, she HAD felt like a sister.  It had taken him a long while to get all of that sorted out, reconcile the ‘new’ Crow with the ‘old’ and his current feelings for Melyssa with how he had felt about her during their childhood.  If he had been the sort to see a therapist, they would have had a FIELD DAY with him.

 

“My lady.” He flashed her a charming smile, bowing at the waist before extending his arm to her. “Shall we?”

 

“We shall.”

 

Melyssa had stuffed all of her feelings for Crow down the moment he told her all he saw her as was a sister – family.  He did not have any romantic feelings for her and it hurt, at the time, but eventually, she got over it, especially being captive by Ouroboros for two years.  That would make any other problem cease to exist.  However, now that they were spending more time together, whenever it was allowed, Melyssa could feel those old emotions and feelings bubbling back to the surface.  No, she wouldn’t allow them to.  She had lost Ash already; she could NOT lose Crow and would rather have him in her life as a friend than nothing at all.

 

Unaware of her issues, he had his own, Crow led her out of the complex and to the waiting car.  It was one of the Mayor’s posh orbal cars, they were arriving in style tonight. “When we get there,” He said quietly once they were seated and the car was in motion. “You’re going to see a lot more soldiers and tanks than usual.  Rean upped the security.” Rean was paranoid, especially after that bomb thing even though it had probably been kids.  Rean was also afraid of losing people, especially after he had finally gotten them back after the Dark Ages spell. “Rosalie will be there as Machias’ own date.” And eyeballing for any stray magic, and McBurn, not that they would say that out loud since nobody wanted Melyssa to be paranoid.

 

“Got it.” McBurn, in other words.

 

She wasn’t surprised Crow hadn’t said that name aloud and nodded at his warning, smoothing out her dress with her hands.  Why was she nervous?  This wasn’t a date with Crow – they were just going as friends.  One bad thing about having her virgin taken was Melyssa experienced how great sex was…and her body was craving it.  She didn’t know how to relieve herself either because Ash had always been there to put the fire out, so to speak.  Being alone in that cabin, all she could do was workout, train, sleep and read…and she thought a lot about Crow while there too.

 

Silence reigned as they were driven, Crow watching the scenery out the window at the sunset.  He missed… anywhere but here.  Crossbell City was nice enough, but long term, not so much.  He hadn’t really made his home anywhere in particular, always traveling whenever he had wanted – or wherever duty had called him.  He supposed he had gotten used to that life, being on the go, and settling was starting to grate on him.  Crow imagined Melyssa was just glad to be out from underground.  When the mansion came into view, he groaned.

 

“Remember that festival in the village when we were kids?  And your Mom decked me for not having any manners?” At her nod and slight smirk, he frowned. “Don’t you DARE deck me in public.” Because the manners hadn’t improved at all.

 

“Just TRY to be on your best behavior, all right?  I won’t deck you…in public.”

 

She would, however, deck him once they were alone if he embarrassed her or acted a fool.  This was part of their job and they had to be responsible and on guard.  Mostly.  He rolled his eyes at her and she did the same thing at him, sticking her tongue out in the process.

 

I just hope McBurn doesn’t show up tonight.  Please Goddess, keep him away.

 

That wasn’t happening.  McBurn was there, but he was under a disguise, thanks to a little magic from Mariabell.  Well, he had to FORCE her to do it – torturing a person really got the blood flowing and she had finally agreed once she’d suffered enough pain at his hands.  He was currently outside, smoking a cigarette and his eyes zeroed in on the woman stepping out of the orbal limousine with Crow Armbrust, the Azure Chevalier and his former comrade. 

 

How very interesting.

 

Arm in arm, Crow and Melyssa made their way inside and she laughed at something he muttered in her ear.

 

McBurn inhaled deeply, his eyes on Melyssa, though he was wearing a pair of tinted glasses, he doubted from this distance he would even notice. Does it really count as torture with Mariabell?  She DOES like that sort of thing.  I wonder if my delectable little Melyssa does. He’d find out soon enough.

 

Contrary to what Crow said about his manners, he possessed them and they were on full display tonight.  He bowed to the right people, shook hands and kissed them on the right women.  Making sure to say the social pleasantries and ask the right questions when small talk arose before moving through the receiving line.  Finally, he sneered at Machias once they reached him and Rosalie.


Machias was smirking.  This was HILARIOUS.

 

Chapter 81

 

Melyssa had to admit, Crow was doing a fantastic job with his manners and the way he spoke so elegantly had thrown her for a loop. He was the leader of a terrorist group, so I’m sure he had to learn to adapt to surroundings pretty quickly. Her eyes landed on a particular man standing across the way in dark orange tinted glasses and she’d noticed he’d been eyeing her throughout the night.  They had only been here two hours and there were several more to go with the band playing. “Excuse me for a moment.” She murmured to the people they were conversing with and left Crow to deal with them while she made her way toward the snack table. 

 

Sure enough, her prey had made his way over to her, but she didn’t acknowledge him and took a bite out of the mini crab cake on her plate.  All he did was make a plate of his own, knowing better than to say anything or do anything here.  He was dangerous, not stupid.  This little party was crawling with witches and former Class VII students, on top of Machias’ personal trio of bodyguards, as well as city militia.  No… maybe before he left he would do something, something fun, something that’d send everyone screaming in a panic as well as send a message to his little Red Bird.

 

“Mmm, delicious.” He popped one of those crab cakes in his mouth as he walked by her, his voice completely different from his usual speaking tones.

 

All she had to do was smell him.  McBurn had this particular smell that he always left behind whenever he left.  Smoke.  She could smell it from the man that did not look like McBurn, but she also wasn’t stupid and knew there were spells out there that altered looks.  Narrowing her eyes, she finished her crab cake and tossed her small plate away before heading off to find Crow.

 

“Excuse us for a minute, won’t you?” She politely guided him away from another couple and smirked when he thanked her, both heading toward the dance floor. “Dance with me.” It wasn’t a request as she rested her hands on his broad shoulders, teal eyes locked on curious crimson. 

 

Melyssa opened her mouth to tell him why she had asked him to dance and realized she didn’t want to ruin this night.  They deserved one night where there was no drama and they didn’t have to worry about Ouroboros crap.  Damn it, now wasn’t the time to think about how amazing this felt!

 

“So, I take it I saved you from insufferable boredom just now?”

 

“Actually, I was really, really close to getting a phone number.  It turns out they’re brother and sister.” He laughed, catching her hand when she brought it off his shoulder to deck him, bending down to kiss her forehead before resuming the dance. “Just because you’re on the fence doesn’t mean the rest of us are.” He had actually been dating a girl for a while, it hadn’t worked out because she was too clingy and Crow did not like having someone up his ass all the time, not even a lover. “Were you bored?” He asked curiously, his eyes straying from her face to Ash, who was covering Machias and looking at her out of narrowed eyes.

 

He snorted inwardly – Idiot.

 

“Maybe a little, and you ARE supposed to be my escort for the evening, so I figured I’d at least get a few dances out of you.”

 

Melyssa had not paid any attention to Ash tonight, not even glancing his way or saying one word to him.  There was no reason to.  He made his bed and he would lie in it, though she did miss her friendship with him.  That wouldn’t go away anytime soon.  Ash wasn’t on her mind tonight, it was the man she was in the arms of, who she was dancing with, laughing with and her forehead tingled from his soft kiss.

 

“I missed you, you know, while you’ve been here in the city.  That cabin is too big for just one person and the quiet was slowly beginning to drive me insane.” It reminded her of being in Ouroboros, isolated. “That’s another reason why I decided to come to this event tonight, just to get out of the cabin and back to reality.”

 

Melyssa looked good, Ash would admit it, if only in his head.  She looked gorgeous actually and he would bet money that her and Crow’s matching accents and attire had been intentional.  Crow and Melyssa, he wasn’t sure how he felt about that since he had loved and mourned her for two years, only to have a relationship ruin what had been the best friendship of his life.  Then, he had acted like a petty fool and he inwardly sighed, knowing the damage was too much to repair, even if he knew where to begin.

 

“Well, the cabin wasn’t meant to be a permanent home, Lyssa.” He reminded her with an easy grin, shaking his head. “It’s meant to be a safehouse and you can come back now.  Rosalie can ward your apartment just like she did mine.”

 

“I would like that and I don’t mind if it’s blood magic.”

 

Melyssa was willing to do whatever it took to keep McBurn out of her apartment and life.  Ash was wrong in his assumption – they didn’t plan on matching like this, it was just the Goddess’s way of doing things.  Being in Crow’s arms like this made her feel safe and secure, like nothing in all of Erebonia could hurt her.  He had always been her protector and probably always would be.

 

“Crow, I…I don’t know how to begin to thank you for everything you’ve done for me this past month.  I was a mess and you were there for me, like you always have been.  I just…I just want you to know that I don’t take anything you do for me for granted.  I don’t take our friendship for granted and I never will.  And I’m always going to be here for you, for anything, no matter how big or small.  Okay?”

 

Crow had told her what colors his formal wear was, specifically, in case she DID want to match.  He had told her over the ARCUS II, whether she had done it intentionally was on her, but they looked stellar and he knew it.  She looked sensational and, if not for the whole thing where she had called him ‘bro’, he would have definitely complimented her tits.

 

“That feels like a break-up line,” He commented dryly, though he was smiling to show he appreciated the sentiment. “Are we breaking up, Lyssa?” He teased, dipping her.

 

“Can’t break up when we’re not together, Armbrust.” Melyssa remarked with a smile of her own, going with the flow.  When Crow brought her back up, his hand on the back of her neck, her hands planted on his chest and their noses were practically touching.  That felt exhilarating and, for some reason, her body was ignited with fire. “And for the record, any woman who does break up with you is out of her mind.” I wouldn’t have it in me if he was mine.

 

Why was she different than the other women out there he’d been with?  Why did things have to be strictly friendly between them?  They continued dancing together and talking, teasing each other.  At this exact moment, if Melyssa would have asked him that, he would have given her the perfect example. 

 

Her and Ash. 

 

Melyssa and Ash had the PERFECT friendship, the very definition of best friends and then they had gotten together in a proper sexual relationship.  Just LOOK at how that had turned out!  Crow could only imagine how it would wind up between them given their history of botching kisses, which was all on his end.  The song changed to something faster and Crow began laughing when she tried getting off the stage floor, pulling her back and led her in the fast paced steps.

 

“Come on, put some wiggle in your hips, woman.”

 

There was a HUGE difference between Ash and Crow.  Crow was not a sex addict like Ash.  It was because of his addiction that everything fell apart between them AND…it was also the Dark Ages spell.  They had a lot against them from the beginning, whereas Melyssa and Crow did not.  At all.  Two botched kisses and Crow telling her he only saw her as family, as a sister.  If she would’ve known what he was thinking at that moment, she would have told him exactly that.  Right now, she was laughing and dancing right along with Crow, having fun for the first time in what felt like forever.  Nothing else mattered except being crazy and having fun in this specific moment.

 

She didn’t know if he was, she hadn’t known about Ash until it was way too late.  However, fortunately for everyone Crow ever got involved with, he was NOT a sex addict.  He enjoyed sex, but he didn’t prioritize it over everything else.  He also liked personal space and being left to his own devices, which was one of the smaller reasons he hadn’t stayed with her at the cabin.  But Melyssa knew all that about him, she had grown up with him.  Currently, he was enjoying this, enjoying himself, letting loose with her in a way that they hadn’t in years.

 

“Let’s get a drink!” He shouted over the loud music after three more dances, reaching up to loosen his collar.  It had gotten hot in this mansion, though people also seemed a bit more relaxed.

 

Machias wasn’t throwing a boring, stuffy party, that was for sure.

 

“Okay!”

 

Melyssa followed him off the dance floor, clasping his hand and a little bit of perspiration had formed on her body from all the dancing.  Her neck, arms, chest and face were glistening and luckily, her makeup hadn’t been ruined.  She helped him get the waistcoat off, hanging it over the chair at their table and took a glass of champagne he handed her, along with a bottled water.  Going for the water first, Melyssa downed it and sat down, needing to rest her feet for a bit before taking a sip of the champagne.

 

Crow followed her lead, not about to get himself dehydrated by drinking the alcohol first after that vigorous workout.  Waistcoat and suit jacket were off, he had undone his collar and rolled up the sleeves of his silver shirt.  Crow was pretty comfortable and there were others doing the same.

“Machias can throw a party.” He laughed, leaning forward so she could hear him without him having to yell at her. “Are you having fun?” She looked like she was, she was grinning broadly and it did his heart good, seeing her finally letting her hair down after what had happened a month ago between her and Ash.

 

“I’m having a fabulous time.” Melyssa assured him, her teal eyes sparkling and continued sipping her champagne slowly. 

 

She didn’t want to get too tipsy since she hadn’t drank alcohol in a while, not even during her mourning breakup period with Ash.  Speaking of Ash…she glanced over and saw him standing against the wall with his arms folded in front of his chest, her face softening.  Why did she have to have a bleeding heart for him?

 

“I’ll be right back, Crow.”

 

She didn’t wait for him to respond and stood up, making her way over to where Ash stood.  What he did to her was still fresh in her mind, but…she didn’t want things to end on a sour note between them.  She figured she would extend the olive branch to try to mend their friendship, at the very least.

 

“I need some air, it’s hot in here.  Will you come with me?  We need to talk, Carbide.” She extended her hand to him, teal eyes searching his. “Please?  No funny business, I promise.”

 

Given what he had done to her, how things had ended, that video that had been sent to her that he had promptly gotten his ass kicked over by Machias, no less… if there was any funny business, Ash wouldn’t have blamed her one bit.  He took her hand, letting her lead the way out onto the balcony and inhaled the crisp night air, moving away from her to lean on the railing, overlooking the grounds.  Snorting, Ash tore a hand through his hair before glancing over at Melyssa when she leaned beside him.

 

“We should have never gotten together, beautiful.” His voice was quiet and even. “It fucked up a good thing. I fucked up a good thing.”

 

“No, Ash, it wasn’t just you.” Melyssa waited for him to look at her and she smiled sadly, her eyes lowering from his. “It was me too.”

 

“How do you figure that one?” Ash was confused, raising a brow at her.

 

“Because…as much as I don’t want to admit this, I don’t think I ever loved you.  I mean I loved you as a friend for sure, but as far as BEING in love with you, I wasn’t.  It was the spell I was under with Rean that drew me to you, for some strange reason.  I still don’t know the logistics of what happened, but Rosalie sat down with me and explained what exactly the Dark Ages spell did to both Rean and I.  When I asked if the spell could…manifest false feelings of love into someone for another, she told me it could.  And I believe it did with you.” Melyssa figured being brutally honest with him now wouldn’t hurt anything since their friendship was fractured to pieces. “I owe you a huge apology, Ash.  I said things to you that I never should have, that weren’t meant for you.  Those feelings were meant for someone else and, after the spell was broken, I realized I didn’t feel the same way I once did for you, but I didn’t want to believe it.  I wanted to try my best to make it work between us because I didn’t want to believe a spell could influence me like that.  And it did.  And…I think that’s why you kept asking me if I still wanted to be with you, still wanted you, over and over and over again.  Maybe because deep down, you knew the connection between us had severed the moment the spell was broken.  So, if anyone is to blame for this, for what’s happened between us, for how it fell apart in shambles, it’s me, not you.  And I hope you can forgive me for what I’ve put you through someday.  Because I miss my best friend…the Ash Carbide who would tease me, but be there for me in an instant.  I hope one day we can fix this and go back to being friends again because I don’t want to believe I’ve lost you forever out of my life.  I never want to lose you, you’re too important to me.”

 

He had asked her, several times, if she thought it was under the Dark Age spell’s influence that she had fallen in love with him.  She had reassured him constantly and he didn’t feel half as bad now about his sexual addiction.  More importantly, not telling her about it because she had been lying to him as well.

 

“I should have warned you,” He said finally, his voice coming out gruff, sullenly, as he looked away from her. “About my issue with sex, I hadn’t been with anyone for a while, two years actually…” Because after she had been taken, he had realized he loved her, or maybe it was misplaced love, either way it no longer mattered. “I thought maybe it was gone and then… then it wasn’t.  I should have listened to you when you asked for time and a break, and I didn’t.  I’m sorry, Melyssa.”

 

Chapter 82

 

“I am too, for lying to you about how I really felt after the spell was broken.” Melyssa reached out to touch his arm, those pink eyes moving to look down at her and she longed for the mirth they once held.  All she saw was sorrow and pain – pain she had caused him. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Ash.  I never wanted to hurt you.” Her voice cracked, tears stinging her eyes and she had to look away from him, taking a deep breath. “What’s done is done and we can’t change any of it, but…we can move forward and start over and rebuild our friendship.  Maybe get it back to where it used to be.  Are you willing to do that or…has too much damage been done between us, Carbide?”

 

“I think we both need time, Melyssa.” He said finally, knowing there was no way their friendship was going to bounce back to how it had been anytime soon, if ever to be honest. “This is a good start.” And he was done with fucking anything that gave him a second look, which was a lot of women – and some men if truth be told – because the idea of sex was losing its appeal again. “I think I’m going to get help, for this… addiction.” Admitting that cost him some pride points with himself, but he also knew it was for the best. “I don’t want to repeat what happened with you ever again.” Because he had hurt the person he cared for the most, he never wanted to put another soul through that.

 

“Moderation goes a long way, Carbide.  Maybe it wasn’t an addiction, maybe you just deprived your body of what it wanted for so long, it all just…came rushing out or something.” That was a possibility, right?  Melyssa watched him slowly shake his head and she left it at that, turning to stare out into the city lights twinkling back at them. “I don’t regret being with you, Ash.  I hope you know that.  My only regret is how it ended between us and the fact I didn’t tell you how I truly felt after the spell was broken.”

 

“Same here, I had a lot of fun with you, beautiful.” Ash sucked in a breath and turned to fully face her, not believing how sexy and exquisite she looked dripping in diamonds. “How about one more for the road, hmm?  You look far too beautiful tonight not to be kissed by someone.”

 

Melyssa looked back at him, seeing he was serious and didn’t stop him when he took her hand to pull her into his arms, those pink eyes boring into hers.  Her body was crying out for him and she knew why because his touch was familiar. “One more for the road.” One more kiss wouldn’t hurt anything. 

 

It was a goodbye kiss, something to give them closure.  She softly sighed the moment his lips met hers, the kiss slow and sensual, her arms encircling his neck to press her body against his.  Her body wanted him, but her brain and her heart did not, which was a very conflicting, weird feeling.  It broke all too soon, both pulling away mutually and she reached up to wipe away some of the red gloss from his lips with a soft smile.

 

“See you around, Carbide.” Then, she walked away from him and did not look back, feeling better about the future between them after that talk.

 

What. The. Actual. Fuck. Was all Crow could think.  He had spotted Melyssa talking to Ash and against his better inner advice, he had sort of followed and watched.  Wow.  He didn’t know what to think or how to feel at that kiss they shared.  It had been hot, steamy, slow and very sensual.  He stepped out of sight when Melyssa came back inside, waiting a few moments before joining Ash on the balcony.  Crow didn’t say a word for a while, just stared at his friend.

 

“If she takes you back and you hurt her again, I’ll remove your head from your shoulders.” He said it softly, but the ice underlining his tone was plain.

 

Ash was pretty sure that would never happen, but just nodded anyway. “I’m not good enough for her, man.  And she made it clear she wants to be friends.  That was just closure for us…” Why was he explaining this to Crow, of all people?  Then, Ash looked over at Crow and could see the FIRE in the man’s crimson eyes, suddenly understanding. “She’s free as a bird, but it won’t be long before someone snatches her beautiful ass up.  If I were you, I wouldn’t wait too long.” He clapped Crow on the shoulder and headed back inside, feeling a little better about things now that he had a talk with Melyssa.

 

Crow shook his head, deciding he would remain out here for a while.  Ash had that all wrong, but then again, Ash obviously wasn’t the brightest or else he wouldn’t have lost her to begin with.  He wasn’t looking to date or bed Melyssa, that would just be wrong on a lot of levels.  He was looking out for Melyssa, not wanting her heart broken again or just hurt, period.  She was his sister practically, she had just called him ‘bro’ the other day.  He knew he had been the one to lay down that groundwork once he had gotten all his memories back and she had graciously forgiven him for leading her on.

 

All wrong, Ash was wrong.

 

Right?

 

No, Ash was not wrong because, no matter how much Crow wanted to deny it, his feelings for Melyssa were not in the family category.  That was why he voiced his concern about her being with Ash.  That was why he offered her a place to stay, to get her mind back on track after everything fell apart with Ash.  That was why he was always there for her and why he’d made himself heartsick, like Ash, when she was taken over two years ago.  That was why he forgave her for deceiving them with Lysa Reynolds and those hideous masks.  That was why every relationship he’d been in since reconciling with Melyssa had failed…because they weren’t HER. 

 

Everywhere he turned, Melyssa was always on his mind and in his heart.  He could deny it all he wanted, but fear is what made him say the things he did the last time they kissed.  Getting his memories back, he felt disgusted with himself to lust after someone he had grown up with, but they weren’t blood and it took him a while to come to grips with that realization.  She was much more than a sister to him – she was something else entirely.

 

No, Ash was NOT wrong and if Rean Schwarzer’s sister, Elise, could be in love with her own adopted brother, then why couldn’t Crow be in love with the woman he had dubbed his best friend when he was a kid?

 

Crow switched off with Rean, taking his turn to guard Machias and it was a welcome relief because now his head was every which way when it came to Melyssa.  He knew he was probably making things overly complicated, but right now, he had a job to do so he shoved her to the back of his mind, focusing on Machias and potential threats.  He’d deal with everything else later.

 

Rean, cheerful and pleasant as always, went to greet his former student. “You look stunning.” He said warmly, taking her hand to drop a kiss on the top of it.

 

“Rean…” Melyssa didn’t expect him to approach her, figuring he would avoid her after the Dark Ages spell fiasco.  She smiled at him nevertheless and stood up, giving him a platonic hug. “It’s so good to see you again.” As himself, completely, and she could tell he was truly Rean by the look in his fuchsia eyes. “How’ve you been?  You clean up nice as well.”

 

He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and black pants with his white trench coat on, his hair haphazard as always.  There were a lot of things she wanted to say to him because she knew the spell was her fault.  If she wouldn’t have caved to Ouroboros, to McBurn’s demands, and went with him, the Grandmaster never would’ve put the spell on that charm he had gifted her.

 

Rean stared down at her intently, studying her eyes and then flashed her his signature ‘it’s okay’ smile, true warmth in it. “Don’t even worry about things from the past, there’s no changing them now.” He informed her, taking her hands in his and squeezed gently. “And it all worked out in the end, right?” He had dealt with his own issues during the past few months, working through the guilt from the things he had said and done while under the influence of the Dark Ages spell, as well as the lingering issues from that night in Jurai. “I’m sorry I had to swap out with Crow; I seen you two dancing, it looked like you were having a blast.”

 

“Yeah, I haven’t had that much fun in a long time and it felt nice to be able to do something like that.” Melyssa admitted, her voice soft and had nodded at what he said regarding the past.  Nothing could be changed.  They all had to just move forward and keep pressing on. “And don’t apologize.  I know Crow has a duty to perform and he danced with me, spent time with me, so I’m good.” It was fun while it lasted and she didn’t want to be clingy.  When Rean asked her to dance with him, since he hadn’t had a chance to that evening, she obliged and let him guide her to the dance floor, their stance nowhere near as close as it had been with Crow. “You really do look good, Rean.  You look like you’re happier and more content now.  It’s nice to see you back to your old self again.” Don’t ever change, Schwarzer.  You are fine just the way you are.

 

“Thank you.  You are also looking much better since the last time we saw each other.”

 

She had been ragged and he had nearly taken her head off, though he didn’t flinch at the memories like he would have before.  That had not been him and he knew it, accepted it now.  The path went ever forward, ever winding and he would never discover where it went if he kept glancing back at the past.  Not that he was all peaceful and whatnot, he was the one who had beaned Ash when he had found out what had happened between him and Melyssa.

 

Nobody had expected that, but… there it was.

 

That was a memory she really wanted to forget, his Tachi at her throat and nearly taking her head off with it.  Nightmares plagued her after the spell was broken and Ash had been there to chase them away…with sex.  It was always sex with him.  She would wake up screaming and crying and he would coax her into ‘forgetting’ about it by having sex.  Melyssa had gone along with it because she did want to forget that horrible memory and the feeling of his Tachi against her carotid artery.  Thankfully, she was no longer afraid of Rean, but it had taken time to get over and she hoped he finally found the happiness and love he deserved. 

 

Surprisingly, however, even with the spell broken, her desire for Rean had vanished over the past two years while she’d been isolated with Ouroboros.  She had gone from kissing him and having sex dreams about him to…nothing.  Melyssa felt nothing for him besides friendship, the same way she did with Ash once the spell broke.  It confused her because she was certain she wanted to be with Rean, but now…she didn’t.

 

Crow. The one man she would never be able to have was the one she wanted to be with the most.  That was a very bitter pill to swallow.

 

“You look like you just swallowed the most disgusting thing ever.” Rean remarked, his fuchsia eyes sparkling with amusement as he studied her. “Your mouth puckered in on itself and your nose did this little twitch and pulled in.” He imitated it, beginning to chuckle when she lightly slapped his shoulder, spinning her in a slow circle as a waltz came on. 

 

It was a very stark difference from the earlier music, the earlier dancing and, truth be told, this was more his style.  He was trained to dance, it had been part of his noble upbringing, learning how to dance.  Like he had told her years ago, it was great for footwork when it came to swordsmanship.

 

“What crossed your mind?”

 

“Some things are better left unsaid, my former Instructor, and I’m having too much fun to ruin it with my thoughts.  Don’t worry, they’re not about you.”

 

He twirled her again and she danced right along with him, meeting his footwork, remembering how much fun dance class had been.  The few times she had gone, anyway.  One thing about Rean was he did not pressure or push people to say what was on their minds.  If they wanted to talk about it, they would and this definitely wasn’t the time or place to discuss such things.  Honestly, she didn’t know if she COULD talk about what was on her mind with Rean because it had to do with his best friend…who was also her best friend.

 

“Have you ever wanted to be with someone so badly, but every time you tried, it just...never worked?” Maybe she would go the hypothetical route since she longed for some advice.

 

Rean nodded, shutting his eyes briefly because there was one woman he longed for.  There hadn’t been for a while because of the spell he’d been under, but now that he was back to himself, she had been on the forefront of his mind lately. “Yeah, actually, I have.” He twirled her again and brought her back against him, wondering where this question stemmed from.

 

“Who is it?  If you don’t mind me asking, that is…” Please don’t say me, please don’t say me!

 

“Alisa.” Rean smiled sheepishly, knowing it was impossible because of who she was, but…he could not get the blonde off his mind. 

 

It’d been that way throughout their years at Thors Military Academy.  Their first time meeting had been outside of the train station and then…they had a rather unfortunate second meeting that resulted in his face planted in her bosom with her on top of him.  He shuddered at that memory because she had hauled off and slapped the taste out of his mouth, then held a grudge against him for a couple months afterwards, until they had to do their first field study together.

 

“I haven’t…talked to her in a while.”

 

“So, why don’t you?  You’re back to your normal self again and I’m sure she understands what happened.  You won’t know unless you try, Rean.”

 

Rean wasn’t very good at approaching people, even though he’d done it with Melyssa. “You really think I should?” He sounded doubtful, looking down into her teal eyes and could see the certainty there.

 

“Something tells me she’s been waiting for you to call her.  No time like the present, but don’t force yourself into it.  If you’re not ready, you’re not ready.”

 

“I’ll do that.” Rean said after a long moment of silence, just waltzing with her, nodding his head.  His mind was made up and now he’d get it done, maybe things would work out this time with a lot less awkward from him. “And you should probably speak to Crow.” He smiled wickedly, a bit unusual for him when her startled teal eyes flew to meet his. “I remember you telling Ash, and myself, about that disastrous kiss.  At the military base after the train incident.” He had gone out himself to find her sparring in the woods away from said base.

 

Heaving a sigh, she couldn’t deny it and hated how well Rean could still read her, even after all the time they were apart. “It wouldn’t do any good, Rean.  He doesn’t think of me that way.  I’m a sister to him.  Family…” Melyssa frowned, seeing him slowly shake his head and tilted her own, confusion lacing her eyes. “Why are you shaking your head?  He told me himself it felt like he was kissing his own sister when he kissed me…” He twirled her again, his way of giving himself time to think, apparently, and brought her back against him. 

 

They were talking softly, so nobody else could overhear them and she was thankful for that.

 

Chapter 83

 

“You were gone for two years, Mel.” Lowering his head so his mouth was by the shell of her ear, Rean spoke softly.  To people who didn’t know any better, they probably looked like lovers or something. “Neither Crow nor Ash spoke much to me during that time, they blamed me for what happened in Jurai.” Crow and Ash, however, had become better friends though he imagined that was on the out again. “That’s a long time for someone to think about everything and realize what they actually feel.” And he knew, from reconnecting with Crow, and them discussing her, that Crow’s feelings were not the sibling type.

 

Her eyes widened at Rean’s words and he pulled back to nod at her, the realization dawning on her.  Had Crow spoken to Rean about his feelings for her?  What if he rejected her again?  A third time…Melyssa didn’t know if she could handle it.

 

“So in other words, you’re telling me to take my own advice?” He chuckled with another nod, continuing to dance with her and Melyssa didn’t know if she had the courage to do it. 

 

There was always that fear of rejection and her love for Crow had spiked exponentially ever since the spell was broken.  She had been with Ash at the time, which was why she didn’t go straight to Crow.  And then Crow came to her rescue the night she had broken things off with Ash…in a rather violent way and he had whisked her away to his cabin, his safehouse, because of McBurn.

 

“If you’re not ready, you’re not ready, so only do it when you’re sure.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“For the record, Crow hasn’t said one way or another the way he’s felt about you.” Rean informed her, not wanting to give Melyssa any false impressions or false hope, just in case he was wrong.  He knew, deep down, that he wasn’t, but… there was always that one percent. “But the way he does talk about you… it’s not a brotherly feeling.  I, out of all people, would know.” Since he was in that spot himself. 

 

He and Crow were a lot more alike than they had probably noticed.  Maybe that’s why he had kept giving Crow chance after chance, even after he had turned his back on them multiple times.  In the end, it seemed to have paid off, but he also knew if push came to shove, Crow would put himself first and survive.

 

Yeah, because DEAD didn’t do jack.  Crow didn’t mind being a hero, but he drew a line at being a martyr.

 

That right there, hearing those words, told Melyssa all she needed to know.  She would not be talking to Crow about how she felt and would stuff her feelings down as far as she could.  Risking that one percent chance he really didn’t feel the same way about her as she did him – it wasn’t worth losing their friendship over.

 

“I understand, Rean.  Thank you.  And thank you for the dancing.” They danced a little longer before both decided to take a break and Rean went off to make a call on his ARCUS II.  More than likely, it was to Alisa and Melyssa smiled, hoping it all worked out for them. I have to let him go.  I can’t keep pining for someone who doesn’t want me as anything more than a friend.  I have to move on from you, Crow. Without realizing it, she had downed another glass of champagne and was on her fourth or fifth, she had lost count and was feeling pretty tipsy. 

 

At least the strawberries tasted good going down.

 

Rean hoped she understood that 1% chance against her, and the 99% for her, was worth the risk.  That was a gamble he would take and, in fact, he WAS going to take it.  He’d rather know outright than live life alone and in fear because he couldn’t make a move based on a -1% chance.  Nothing worth having came easy – wasn’t that how the saying went?

 

By the time Ash took over for Crow, Melyssa was… “Wow.” She was giggling at something someone was saying and swaying.  He came up behind her, slipping his arm around her waist to steady her and smiled when she looked up at him. “Having fun, Lyssa?” He asked quietly, trying not to chuckle when she nodded her head exuberantly.

 

“I’m having a BLAST!”

 

She had been dancing and took another break to talk to one of the many bachelors of Crossbell City.  He was cute, black hair and brown eyes, but definitely not her type.  There was no harm in a little flirting and she was feeling very flirtatious at the moment.

 

“I see you were let off your leash, Armbrust.” She giggled, leaning against him and enjoyed the feeling of his arm around her waist.  Melyssa didn’t realize it, but she was snuggling against him as he guided her around slowly. “Whoa, I think I need some air.” She was suddenly feeling lightheaded and felt him guide her out toward the veranda, the same place she had her talk with Ash earlier.  As soon as the cool night air blew over her, Melyssa moaned softly and shut her eyes, relishing in it. “Mmm, that feels so nice…”

 

Well that sucked, she had been batting flirty eyes at every guy and then he showed up and she was potentially going to puke.  He stood away from her, watching as Melyssa leaned over the same balcony railing she had been on earlier when she had shared that kiss with Ash.  Ash, who was now with Machias and had said there wasn’t anything going on.  Ash, who was now offering sage advice and Crow had figured eventually, he’d tell Ash to shove it because obviously, Ash needed to use his own advice given how spectacularly his relationship with Melyssa had crashed and burned.

 

“You going to make it, Lyssa?  Or is time to take you home and tuck you in with a glass of water?” He teased, wondering how many glasses of that champagne she had to get her toasted.

 

She wasn’t going to vomit, not feeling nauseous at all and smiled while leaning against the railing, just taking in the cool night breeze. “I’m fine, Crow.  Just got a little lightheaded in there and heated from the dancing, probably.” Melyssa was just buzzed, not full-on drunk and could remember her own name still, so that was a plus. “I had such a great time tonight.  I really needed this after everything that’s happened.  I talked to Ash and we’re going to slowly start building our friendship back up.  We never should’ve gotten together in the first place and he said those words, not me, just so you know.  And then I talked to Rean and danced with him and he was a perfect gentleman, as always.” While she spoke, she slowly twirled and laughed, leaning back against the railing again. “I wonder how far up we are right now…”

 

“Don’t try to find out.” Crow advised dryly, wondering if she honestly thought she and Ash would ever be able to rebuild their friendship. 

 

Considering how balls up that had gone, he thought they would be lucky if they could eventually call themselves casual acquaintances at best.  That had been a train wreck from beginning to end from the sounds of it.  She had gotten screwed, no pun intended, royally when it came to first love and lover.

 

“I have no problem in staying out here.” He dropped down into a lounge chair, reclining back and watched her, lacing his hands behind his head. “Twirl again.”

 

She flashed a huge smile at him and did it again, coming closer to him without realizing it.

 

“Again.”

 

Melyssa obeyed his command, doing it again with her arms rose in the air and didn’t stop until…she was forced to.  She stumbled, losing her footing and planted right on top of Crow in that lounge chair, both grunting at the contact.  Her teal eyes were full of mirth and sparkled with happiness, her laughter filling the air.

 

“Oops!  I guess I twirled a little too much, huh?” The dress prevented her from straddling him, so she was literally laying on top of him, sprawled, her hands resting on his broad shoulders and his hands were on her sides from catching her when she stumbled on top of him.

 

Seeing her twirling about had reminded him of when they were kids. “Remember that dress your mother made you wear for the summer festival?  Lots of petticoats and a big skirt?  You hated it… until you realized you could twirl in it and it would flare out.” He had enjoyed watching it then too, though, now his enjoyment was stemming from things besides the ‘neat’ factor. “Maybe you should act your age, Miss Lyssa.” He teased, rolling his eyes when she scoffed and settled his arms around her lower back, feeling the full weight of her body sinking into his. “You smell like strawberries.”

 

Roses bloomed in her cheeks at what he said and she actually leaned her head down to sniff him, closing her eyes.  Crow always had this distinctive smell about him that made her weak in the knees and her heart race.  She couldn’t quite put her finger on the scent all this time, but now she could.

 

“Leather.” Melyssa scooted up a little further to settle more into him and their noses were practically touching. “I couldn’t think of what you smell like.  It’s always the same, but I could never figure out what it was and it drove me crazy.  Now I know what it is and it’s leather.  You smell like leather, Crow.” It was intoxicating and she could feel her heart beating a little faster in her chest being in this position with him, teal locked on crimson red.

 

“Leather?” He echoed, wrinkling his nose.  Leather smelled terrible, when it was being made into something anyway, and fresh leather had a horrible scent.  Broken in leather, on the other hand, which he was hoping what she was thinking, was in a class of its own. “Mmm, from the way you said it, I’m going to guess you like it.” He smirked wickedly. “But it’s your BREATH that smells like strawberries.” He was guessing from the champagne and Crow purposefully angled his head so he could smell her face, brushing his nose down to her neck before reclining again. “The rest of you smells warm and spicy.”

 

“I enjoy the smell of you.  I always have.  It’s comforting and soothing.” And makes me want to kiss you and beg you to make me yours. Wow, she was SO glad she didn’t say that out loud and that wicked smirk of his made her heart skip a beat. 

 

The warmth flooded right down to her nethers and she could already feel her panties dampening.  This wasn’t good.  This was a bad position to be in because those feelings for him were rising to the surface quickly.

 

“The champagne I was drinking had strawberries in it.” Oh Goddess, just his nose feels amazing on my skin and I long for his lips on mine again. “Spicy how, exactly?”

 

“Mmm, I’m not sure how to describe it… like ground cinnamon… and cloves.”

 

It was an incense, or a spice for baking depending on who asked, and there really weren’t words for it, she smelled delicious.  Maybe it was a pheromone thing, like body odor for humors, certain people were attracted to others based on what they perceived said other smelled like.  After a moment, he moved his hands to her hips, feeling the heat from her body beneath the material of her red dress and began rubbing in slow, circular motions.

 

“You ready to get back in there?” He asked, bringing his face out of her neck.

 

“No.” Melyssa breathed, her entire body lit on fire from feeling his hot breath puffing against her throat. 

 

It did NOT help his lips had brushed against the corner of her mouth while pulling his face out of her neck and that sent a shiver straight down her spine.  Her brain was slightly fuzzy from being tipsy, but there was no way she was hallucinating what he just did either.  Was Rean right?  Did Crow’s feelings go beyond thinking of her as a sister, as family?

 

Goddess, forgive me for what I’m about to do.  The smell of him was all around her, permeating the air and Melyssa was searching his eyes, looking for ANY indication he did not want her.  All she saw was red liquid pools and they were sucking her in, on the verge of drowning her. “Crow…” Then, Melyssa did the one thing, the ONLY thing, she had longed and dreamed of doing for over two years and softly pressed her lips to his, kissing the man she truly did love.

 

The last time they kissed, he had asked her if they could do it, and afterwards he had a lot of regret the moment their lips touched.  There was none of that this time.  Crow didn’t feel sickened because she was his ‘sibling’, he didn’t feel grossed out.  What he did feel was a slow rising erection as he softly returned the kiss, not moving to deepen it or grope her.  He just enjoyed it for what it was, a slow, leisurely kiss that was starting a slow, leisurely burn.

 

A slow burn, indeed. 

 

Too bad her body wasn’t slowly burning, it was already ignited and the flames were licking away at every part of her body.  His lips felt wonderful against hers and Melyssa was waiting for him to push her away, to tell her this was wrong and she was his sister, his family.  In the back of her mind, she was expecting it and instead, he was returning the kiss she gave him.  A soft moan escaped her, a shiver rushing through her and her nails were slightly digging into his shoulders. 

 

This felt right. 

 

Melyssa knew why because she loved him and it wasn’t a love manifested from a Dark Ages spell.  It was true, raw love, something she had felt since she was a kid.  Crow was the reason she was here today.  He was the reason she took up the way of the sword and trained, went to Thors, all of it.  And when he was dead, part of her was as well because living without him had about killed her.  Somehow, she had managed to go on and when she discovered he was alive and well, her love for him grew tenfold, even after he rejected her. 

 

Melyssa decided to convey all of that into this kiss, since it very well be the one and only opportunity she had.  All the feelings she’d stuffed down all these years for him came rising to the surface as she deepened the kiss, conveying to him everything she felt.  Love, pain, anguish, happiness, passion, desire, need, want, lust, uncertainty…it all came pouring out and even when she needed oxygen to breathe, she did not break the kiss. 

 

She wanted it to last forever…no, for eternity.

 

Ash had definitely noticed how much Melyssa had had to drink and he felt like giving her a warning when he seen her eyeball Crow.  He couldn’t, obviously, he was busy with Machias and trying not to be bored as the mayor sat at a table, discussing some current event with some rich people. Best of luck. He thought, hoping it worked out for them.

 

Chapter 84

 

Wow, she was overloading him, but Crow didn’t break the kiss, taking each feeling she was pouring forth as it came.  He was returning it, knowing some things didn’t need to be said, they could be felt, especially when they came from the soul and the heart.  Words between people like them, who knew each other so well, were sometimes pointless anyway.

 

It was all lust with Ash, a dark lust from the spell she was under.  Her kiss with Ash was NOTHING compared to this one with Crow.  And she really wasn’t THAT drunk that she didn’t know what she was doing.  Melyssa didn’t want to talk, she just wanted to feel and opened her mouth when Crow’s tongue swiped along her lips, moaning at the first taste of him in over two years.  He tasted like blackberries and she wasn’t sure if it was from the food and drinks at this event tonight or what, but it made her hungry for more.

 

Why is he kissing me like this if he thinks of me as a sister? That question had the WORST timing of popping into her head and it made Melyssa break the kiss, severing the moment between them, her cloudy passion-filled turquoise orbs staring down into liquid red fire. “I-I’m…” It was hard to breathe after that, she needed a few seconds to take in some gulps of air. “I’m not your sister.  And I never was.” She pressed a finger to his lips, shaking her head. “You kissed me back and I know you enjoyed it as much as I did…and I KNOW you would never kiss me like you just did, unless you felt something for me too.  We’re not family, you’re NOT my family – you’re something far more and you always have been.” Rean, I really hope you’re right about this and the risk is worth taking.

 

“Just shut up, Lyssa,” Crow chuckled, his voice lower, grittier than it usually was. “You always overthink everything.” And she had since they were kids.  He popped his hips up, letting her feel the erection he was sporting in these slacks that hid absolutely nothing.  They were designed for formal events, not hiding stiff dicks because polite gentlemen did not sport wood at formal events.  Thank the Goddess, he wasn’t a gentleman. “That’s not from thinking of you as a sister, I haven’t thought of you that way in quite some time.”

 

It had just taken him a bit to sort out those feelings and thoughts, after getting his memories back full force, and within days she had been taken.  His words brought a huge smile to her face and she leaned forward to softly kiss him again, this time cupping the side of his face.  She purposely wiggled a little to feel his erection, making him groan against her lips and Melyssa pulled back, rubbing her nose against his.

 

“Take me back to your place, Crow.  As much as I want you here on this lounge chair, I don’t think it would be wise for us to get caught at a work function.  And…I’m going to need help out of this dress.” She spoke softly against his lips and felt his hands reach down lower to squeeze her backside through the dress, reluctantly pulling back to get off him, so he could stand up as well.

 

Oh sweet Aidios, Ash inwardly groaned as Crow and Melyssa made their leave, hand in hand.  Was Crow trying to hide an erection?  He needed brain bleach.  Casual acquaintances for sure, he wasn’t sure they would ever be able to repair their friendship because of the things he had done, only time would tell.  He just hoped she wasn’t making a repeat with Crow that she had with him, so far… she was off to a terrible start on that.  He met Rean’s eyes, frowning for a moment before shrugging.

 

Rean had a ‘they’ll be fine’ look on his face and Ash just nodded, hoping so.

 

Crow had a lot going for him. 

 

For starters, he wasn’t Ash.

 

She was never in love with Ash either.  It was the spell planting that seed in her mind, making her believe it was Ash she loved, when really, it was Crow all along.  Maybe things were messy and complicated, but she didn’t care.  Rean had given her some advice…the same advice she had given him and she hoped he had taken it the same way she did.  Alisa deserved to know the truth of how he felt just like Crow deserved to know how Melyssa felt for him.  Life was too short and they never knew what the future held with Ouroboros lurking in the shadows. 

 

The moment they were in the orbal limousine on their way back to the apartment, Crow pulled Melyssa on his lap to sit sideways and they devoured each other’s lips for the duration of the trip.  By the time they made it back to the apartment complex, both Crow and Melyssa’s lips were swollen and they were both breathless.  Whatever kind of tipsy she had been at the party, that was long gone.  Now, it was just all her without any kind of impairment, no matter how slight it had been.

 

“Come on.”

 

He guided her out of the orbal limousine, wrapping his arm firmly around her waist to keep her almost trapped at his side.  There was no way he was letting her go, not after they had just gotten each other so thoroughly worked up.  Crow had undone his collar completely, the top of his shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest, and he did not feel bad in the slightest that the windows of that posh orbal limousine had been fogged up.  Her arm was firmly around his waist, going with him without any hesitation, without a doubt in her mind.  They made it up to his apartment and she watched with bated breath as he opened the door, looking back at her.

 

“Last chance to back out, Armbrust.” His response was to yank her flush against his body and kiss her breathless again, backing her into his apartment until he could kick the door shut. 

 

Melyssa melted against him, burying her fingers in his hair as he pressed her back against the door, flipping the lock on it just to be on the safe side.  Crow was never too careful these days and she didn’t blame him.  They broke the kiss and he spun her around to where her hands planted on the door, feeling and hearing his hand guide the zipper of her dress down.  It wasn’t his hand doing the unzipping, however, it was his teeth and she noticed it because his hands were planted firmly on her hips.  That made her panties dampen further, especially when he began kissing his way up the length of her spine.

 

“Crow…”

 

Flipping the lock was habit, anyone who tried entering that door and hadn’t been ‘accepted’ by the ward, via his blood mingled with theirs, would go flying backwards.  He pitied any burglar who tried burgling here tonight.  That was a lot harder than it looked, using teeth to unzip a gown, but the way her voice had dropped to a husky, seductive pitch and her body had quivered ever so slightly, told him it was a move that did some wicked things to her.  He made a mental note to keep it in the section repertoire, just not to overuse it.  Crow began gently bunching the material in his fists, pulling back to watch as it slowly came down and seen her wiggle her shoulders until it dropped to her waist, leaving her bare back in his line of vision. When Melyssa shifted just a little, turning to look at him, there was a side view of her breasts, the curve and his mouth began watering.

 

Not bothering to remove the rest of the dress quite yet, Crow continued his way up her back until he arrived at her shoulders, gliding his lips and tongue on her soft skin.  Melyssa lulled her head back as soon as his lips attached to the side of her neck, her hand instantly reaching up to bury in his hair.  His strong, warm, calloused hands cupped both of her bare breasts and she hissed out at the slight tweak of her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. 

 

No, being with Ash was NOTHING compared to this – the amount of passion and intensity between her and Crow was off the charts.  Her neck was completely bare, thanks to her hair being up in that crown of curls on top of her head, so Crow had free reign to her flesh.  He was going to make her burst into flames before this night ended, she simply knew it.

 

All she had to do was ask him nicely to fuck her good and proper and he would, he was polite that way.  Since she didn’t, but DID give him a lot of soft sighs, lusty moans and even a grunt when he smacked that firm, begging for it backside, he continued on torturing her.  She’d call Uncle when she had enough.  Taking her by the hips, he guided her away from the door before running his hands up along her arms until his fingers circled her wrists, leaning his upper body into hers.  Now her lower half was away from the door and she was almost bent over.

 

That dress was coming down and he was having a snack.

 

Melyssa was drowning in a sea of lust and ecstasy, her eyes opening to watch her dress being pulled all the way off.  She stepped out of it, kicking her heels off as well, leaving her clad in just a deep red thong that matched the dress.  Crow growled in her ear, his hands squeezing her luscious backside and continued devouring her neck.  He muttered something about snack time and she didn’t fully catch it, her mind cloudy and hazy.  Whatever he wanted to do to her, she was up for it and her thong was soaked in the front.  She’d been soaked the moment she kissed him on that lounge chair on the veranda at the party and the way he made her feel just lit her ablaze further.

 

“You have too many clothes on, lover.” Turning in his arms, her hands began unfastening the buttons of his shirt and kissed her way down with each button undone until it was removed completely. “Mmm, that’s more like it…”

 

His response was to whip her right back around and plant her against that door, growling as he dropped to his knees so said luscious backside was right in his line of vision. Crow brought both hands down to palm each cheek. “Bend back over and quit turning around, Lyssa.” He ordered, lightly slapping each cheek when she made a sound halfway between a chuckle and a giggle. 

 

At least she listened and now she was properly exposed to him, he could see how wet the crotch of those thongs were.  Smirking he ran the top of his finger along her covered slit, pretty sure he could feel her quivering.  She was more than quivering.  She was trembling with anticipation and feeling his finger sliding up and down her soaked thong, right on her clit, did not help matters any.

 

“I just wanted to make us even, couldn’t very well be the only one naked.” What in Aidios’ name was he…OH GODDESS!!  She was bent over and he had slid her thong down enough to hang around her ankles, keeping her in that position.  Melyssa could not see what he was doing, but she DAMN SURE felt it the moment his hot breath puffed against her aching sex. “Crowww…” Was he on his knees or something behind her doing this?  Every other thought and question flew out of her mind the moment he began flicking his tongue on her clit, his hands planted firmly on her cheeks and her hands were on the door, nails digging into it. “Oh Goddess!!”

 

She WAS the only naked one, he was still in his slacks and his dress shoes and his shirt was still tucked, hanging down his waist and legs.  He was kneeling behind, his neck angled so he could eat her out from behind. The way she had tensed almost in this position told him Ash had not been very imaginative for a sex addict, he inwardly cringed.  Crow kept his hands firmly on her hips, feeling Melyssa shaking and hearing her moans as he worked her over with his tongue.  Flicking at her clit before tongue fucking, his reward were her delicious juices coating his tongue each time.

 

Ash had been decent at foreplay, whenever he had the patience to do it, but nothing like this.  He always wanted to get down to business instead of building up to it.  This was new and exotic for Melyssa, and she was thoroughly enjoying feeling Crow’s tongue jet in and out of her, in this position.  Her thighs were trembling, the insides of them coated with her juices and she stood up on her tiptoes briefly, only for Crow to bring her back flat on the carpet.  He had full control of her and she didn’t mind it a bit, savoring everything he offered and wanted to do to her.

 

“CROW!” She bellowed out his name, her orgasm crashing over her and she completely surrendered to him, her hot juices flowing right into his greedy mouth. 

 

And he was at the perfect angle for this, right into his greedy mouth and down his greedy throat. The wet noises he made as he sucked and slurped her dry were very appreciative, this was his new favorite flavor and he had half a mind to go grab a vial out of the kitchen and bottle some up for later because she was delicious. Crow let her go, laughing breathlessly as she turned to slump against the door and stare down at him. Melyssa was red and covered in a fine sheen of perspiration, he adored that look on her. His own face was glistening from her juices and keeping his eyes locked on her, he purposefully, slowly licked his lips.

 

Melyssa was mindful enough to step out of her thong, so she didn’t go tripping once she could actually walk.  Her thighs were shaking and her legs were pure jelly after that intense orgasm.  This man was in a league all his own and if there was a better lover out there, she did not want to find him.  Ever.  No, there was nobody better than Crow and she knew that deep in her heart.  That smirk on his face lit her on fire all over again and she bent down to capture his mouth, tasting herself on his tongue.  He rose to his feet, towering over her and pressed her back against the door.  Melyssa reached down, beginning to stroke him through the pants he had on and giggled seductively at his growl.

 

“These…need to come off…” Just to emphasis her point, a flick of her wrist unfastened those pants and her hand delved inside, feeling his warm piece of flesh wrapped around her hand.  And he was very well-endowed, even more so than Ash had been, surprisingly.

 

Chapter 85

 

Thank FUCK she was not a virgin.

 

Crow would not have had the patience and now he didn’t have to worry about her being overly afraid of his well-endowed appendage.  Maybe some trepidation over taking it but… not outright fear. “Keep doing that, Lyssa, and you may regret it.” Because his loads were not average either.


Crow would wind up white washing something of hers, he wasn’t above doing it to her pretty face either.  He pulled her hand out of his pants, beginning to slide the slacks down and stepped out of both his shoes and the pants.  Standing before her in all his naked glory, Crow watched as her eyes instantly dropped to his cock.  As much as she regretted Ash being the one who took her virginity, she was actually grateful she wasn’t one with Crow.  He seemed to know exactly what he was doing in the bedroom and when it came to being intimate with a woman.  Her tongue slowly snaked out to wet her slightly still red lips as she stared at the masterpiece before her.

 

“You are a beautiful man, lover.” She smiled softly, stepping forward to press soft kisses against his chest and once again stroked his cock with her hand, gliding the pad of her thumb across the tip of him. “I want you…deep inside of me, Crow…” She wasn’t above begging, continuing to caress his chest with her lips and tongue. “Please fuck me…” Those seemed to be the magic words he wanted to hear her say because his red eyes ignited with pure fire.

 

Sweeping her up off her feet, Crow carried Melyssa back towards his bedroom, directly to the bed.  The bed he rarely used because he tended to sleep out on the couch.  Fresh, crisp cotton sheets because he was a practical man and when he lay her out, he had to pull back to stare at the image.  Her hair was still up in that dark blue crown style, her beautiful skin was practically glowing and he reached over to flip on the bedside table lamp.

 

“I feel like I should pray,” He informed her in a rumble, crawling over her body to hover over her, brushing his lips against hers. “Because I am about to devour you.”

 

“Pray all you want, but I want you to devour me whole, Crow.  Every. Last. Inch. Of me.” With each word she spoke, she emphasized with a kiss to his cheeks and neck, caressing his muscular bare chest.  Melyssa loved the feeling of him hovering over her like this and gasped when she felt his cock brush up against her dripping sex. “Because I want to devour every last inch of you and make you feel as amazing as you’ve made me.”

 

She moaned as his lips captured hers, feeling him continuing to probe her teasingly and she returned the kiss with equal passion, fire, and vigor.  This was it.  This was the moment she longed for, what she dreamed about while imprisoned with Ouroboros, what kept her going night after night…the hope that one day, she would be reunited with Crow, tell him how she felt and they would be together because he wouldn’t see her as a sister.  He would see her as a woman, who desired him and return that desire.  That was exactly what he was doing and he hadn’t even claimed her as his completely yet.  Crow saw her as a woman, oh yes he did!  She was laying here naked, he could feel every inch of her very womanly body pressed into his.  Melyssa was wet, he was rubbing the head of his cock up and down her slit, teasingly slipping just the tip into her and the sounds of her longing mewls had his own body trembling.

 

“Mine.” He whispered, sealing his lips to her neck as he slid home inside of her receptive, tiny body.  His teeth clenched because it felt like a velvet glove had grasped at him and was sucking him in further with no intention of ever letting go. “Fuck!”

 

Her eyes nearly rolled in the back of her head at how exquisite he felt sliding inside of her, thankful he didn’t stop until he was fully sheathed.  It would’ve hurt since she was TIGHT and she hadn’t had sex in almost two months.  The combination of his lips on her neck combined with his cock inside of her…Melyssa was once again drowning in ecstasy, clinging to Crow to hold on for dear life.  If this was a dream, she did not want to wake up from it ever again.  They didn’t move for what seemed like ages, but it was only mere moments and she gasped when he slid almost all the way out of her before plunging back in.

 

“Oh, Crow…” She moaned out, her tone pure lust and love mixed. “Goddess…oh Goddess that feels so good…” Sex really was amazing and she had missed it, but she wouldn’t sleep with just anyone. 

 

The wait was well worth it to be with Crow, finally.

 

Crow could hear something in her tone, something besides lust and he wasn’t focusing on it.  He was attracted to her, no man in his right mind wouldn’t be that was for sure, but during sex was not exactly the right time to be thinking with the heart.  Sex made everything complicated due to hormones and chemicals, focusing on THAT tone was better saved for when he wasn’t having a rush of pleasure that might taint anything he said in the moment.  Instead, he focused on how she felt writhing beneath him, the way Melyssa’s hips rolled upwards to meet each of his long, smooth thrusts and the way his name fell from her lips in breathy moans.

 

“Lyssa,” He was pulling away from her, pulling her with him, his lips finding hers again.  Crow wasn’t a sex addict, but he wasn’t a minute to win it kind of guy either and their first time together was going to be memorable. “Ride me.”

 

This was more like it, giving her the reigns, the power, and she would not disappoint him.  One thing Ash did was teach her well about what to do and what not to do when it came to riding a man.  She had nearly bent his dick their first time she rode him and there was no way in Gehenna she would allow that to happen with Crow.  Practice made perfect and she wasn’t an expert by any stretch, but she also knew what she was doing too.  Slowly, she began rolling her hips in a gyrating motion, back and forth, and caressed his sweaty chest, leaning down to slide her tongue up the length.  He tasted delicious and looked even better, his large hands gripping her hips before moving around to squeeze her backside.  Then, they moved again to her breasts, massaging them in his palms like he had at the door while teasing and tormenting her neck. 

 

Soon, the pace was too slow for both of them and Melyssa began bouncing on and off his cock, her breathy moans turning to erratic breathing and gasps of ‘oh Goddess’ and her lover’s name.  Crow would have cringed if he knew about the dick bending and he would have been a bit panicked if he was at risk for that.  Penile fractures were no joke, a man’s dick was not meant to bend that way.  Crow was not a silent lover by any stretch, he was very vocal in calling out her name.  Giving out dirty words of encouragement, singing her praises as she rose and fell on him, his own hips coming up to meet her each she came down, loving the sounds of their flesh slapping together.

 

“Mmm, you have any idea how gorgeous you look, riding my cock, all sweaty and breathless?” He asked huskily when she slowed the pace again, giving them both a moment to breathe before it was back off to the races.

 

She laughed breathlessly, leaning down to brush her lips against his and traced his with the tip of her tongue, slowly rolling her hips again during the cooldown period. “Mmm, I could say the same about you, lover.  You look exquisite and you smell incredible…” The leather scent was very much there and she couldn’t get enough of it. “However, I think I’d look even better if you fucked me from behind…” That made his eyes widen a little because they were rather dirty words coming from her.  Truth be told, it was her favorite position because she felt EVERYTHING ten times more and she wanted to feel Crow pounding her, forcing her submit to him. “Or I can make you cum while riding you, either way is fine by me.” Melyssa would climax either way and softly kissed him, tasting him again while continuing to ride his cock.

 

No man in his right mind would complain about pounding a beautiful woman from behind.  There was nothing quite like watching his cock sink in a woman with the bonus view of a delicious ass. “Off me, wench, show me that gorgeous ass.” Crow ordered, watching with an amused smile as Melyssa very eagerly got off of him and assumed the position, wiggling her ass at him.  Wasting no time himself, Crow got up behind her on his knees, admiring her unblemished backside while using one hand to rub the tip of his cock up and down her wet slit. “Want me, Lyssa?”

 

“Mmm, what do you think?” Melyssa remarked, gasping when he smacked her right cheek and asked her the same question again. “That’s a dumb question…” Her left cheek was smacked and he still had not slid home inside of her.  Obviously, he wanted the correct answer and she groaned when he slid just the tip of his cock inside of her before pulling back out again. “Tease!” She hissed between her teeth, both of her cheeks being smacked to make her backside rosy red. “Yes, damn it, yes, I want you, Crow!  Only you!  Now fuck me!”

 

Once again, her eyes nearly rolled back in her head at the feeling of him plummeting home inside of her.  Deep red nails dug into the bedding, especially when he pushed her down to where she had to turn her face to press her cheek against the comforter or else she would’ve probably suffocated.  As much as she did enjoy the slow lovemaking, there was nothing quite like being pounded and they both needed it at that moment.

 

“Crow, yes, harder!!”

 

“Good girl.”

 

They had made love, outright fucked, done the lazy thing, now it was down and dirty.  Not that it would be like this every time because it wouldn’t; sometimes sensual and slow was the way to go, other times it was a quick tumble.  There were so many varieties when it came to sex and that was even providing they did this again.  Something told Crow they would.  Ash Carbide could sit and spin, the fool, letting this delectable pussy go because he was an insecure clown with a weird addiction.  As far as she was concerned, Crow would be the ONLY man she slept with from here on out. 

 

He was the only man she wanted, nobody else compared.

 

“Yeah, oh yeah!  Right…there!” Don’t stop!  Please don’t stop! “I’m so…close…” She was so breathless, she could barely speak, gasping for air and felt Crow bury his fingers in her hair to pull her up, her back pressed against his chest. 

 

Melyssa met him for every powerful thrust, fisting his silver hair and turned her head enough to where their lips could meet.  His free hand slid down the length of her sweat slick body until his fingers came in contact with her quivering sex, crying out against his lips.  This far surpassed anything she’d ever done with Ash, even though sex with him wasn’t bad, but this was on another level entirely.  The feeling of her pussy tightening and clenching around him in quick, rapid fire movements had Crow’s head reeling, knowing when she did explode around him it was going to be like nothing he had ever experienced before.

 

“Fuck, cum for me, Melyssa!” He urged once he was able to speak, his lips brushing against her pulse point.  Her heart was going a mile a minute, it seemed, and knowing he was the one doing this to her sent a direct jolt to his cock.  Giving him another surge as Crow pounded her harder, his fingers worked her clit, urging her towards that climax. “I want to feel you cumming…” He nipped up along the column of her throat, his lips finally tugging on her ear lobe.

 

There was no way in Gehenna or any other realm in or outside of Erebonia that could STOP her from climaxing, not with all the different sensations Crow made her body experience.  His cock and fingers, along with his hot breath on her neck and ear…she was gone.  GONE!  Hook, line, and sinker, it was OVER.

 

“Oh Goddess, CROW!!”

 

Her body succumbed to what it wanted most, that hot coil within her springing free and his name roared out of her mouth with absolutely NO shame.  She didn’t give a damn who heard them at this rate and felt her hot juices flow freely, her pussy clenching and wrapping his cock in a warm, tight cocoon, making him hiss out in her ear while he kept pounding in and out of her, riding right through her orgasm.  It just made her fingers tighten in his hair more, almost painfully, and her head lulled back on his shoulder, her breath nearly gone.  Crow was going to get at least one more out of her before he even THOUGHT about whitewashing her with his cum.  His body was protesting this idea a lot; he wasn’t an innocent virgin nor was he a sex addict, but it had been a few months for him and having this beautiful woman writhing and falling apart for him…his balls were begging for release.

 

“One…more…” He grunted, letting up on his grip of her hair, not wanting to rip those dark blue tresses from her scalp and felt her head nodding against his, her body starting to move again even while trembling and spasming. “That’s my girl…”

 

Whatever this man wanted, she would do her absolute best to give him and he wanted her to climax again, to shatter against him again.  There was no way she could deny him a single thing at this moment and, honestly, Melyssa NEEDED another orgasm.  This would overwork her body, no doubt, but it would be worth it and she would sleep like a rock.

 

“Y-Yes…Y-Yes!!  One…more…”

 

Honestly, Melyssa didn’t want this to end and would die happily with this man jetting him out of her.  What better way was there to go?  NONE!  It would not take long to build another one, which was the beauty of being a woman.  Women could climax all day and night long, with the right man and if they could keep her stimulated.  Crow was doing MORE than that because she was still SOAKED after the multitude of orgasms he gave her already.

 

“T-Together!  Cum with me, Crow!”

 

Her wish was his command; there was no way he could deny that request, not when it fell so beautifully from those luscious lips. “Almost there, Lyssa…” He grunted, his rhythm falling to the wayside as he focused on them both getting off together.  His movements came harsher, along with his breathing, everything in his body tensing and tightening.  A few moments later, he was bellowing her name loud enough for people the next few blocks down to hear. “MELYSSA!” He had absolutely no care who heard him right now. 

 

McBurn could be standing outside the door for all he cared.

 

“CROW!!” She croaked out, her throat dry from all the panting, heavy breathing, moaning, and screaming she’d done. 

 

Her body erupted along with his, the orgasms slamming together absolutely delicious.  It was a moment unlike any other and she closed her eyes, savoring it and drinking it in.  Crow did not stop even after exploding inside of her, thrusting until his body physically made him stop and his dick went limp, sliding out of her.  Together, they both collapsed on the bed with his arm still around her, on their sides, trying not to pass out from exertion.

 

Oh dear Goddess this woman was going to kill him!

 

Crow lay there with his forehead pressed between her shoulder blades and his harsh pants as he struggled to regain his breath, which probably felt like spurts of hot against her damp skin.  They would definitely need to change the bedding before falling asleep.  He smirked slightly, that meant they had done it right.  Once his heart rate evened out, Crow began kissing her shoulders, finally rolling onto his back, and groaned as cool air assaulted his own damp skin.  He moved his arm when Melyssa rolled over, feeling her palm coming down on his chest and cupped it, smiling slightly.

 

Yeah, no more of that sister/brother crap.

 

Screw changing the sheets, Melyssa was not moving from this bed or his side for a while, already feeling the exhaustion creeping up.  The darkness was threatening to swallow her whole and she welcomed it with open arms, snuggling further against him.  She draped her leg over his before falling fast asleep, no words needing to be said between them.  That was the beauty between Crow and Melyssa – they didn’t need to talk or convey their feelings through words to understand each other.  Melyssa felt the love from Crow radiating throughout the entire bout and fell asleep with a smile on her face while her heartrate and pulse slowly returned to normal.

 

Chapter 86

 

Crow, when left to his own devices and able to sleep properly, was not an early riser.  Granted, he usually kipped on a couch these days, but he was also up fairly early, not this morning.  This morning, he slept in way past any decent hour and he unconsciously made her stay with him.  Every time Melyssa moved, whether awake or asleep, his arms would tighten around her and drag her back against him, eventually trapping her with his thigh draped over her legs.

 

“Okay, fine…” He growled when she finally informed him nature called, smirking as he cracked one eye open. “Morning…or afternoon?”

 

Melyssa giggled softly, turning her head to look back at him and then at the clock, her eyes widening. “Oh wow, it’s definitely afternoon.” Two o’clock, to be precise. 

 

She couldn’t remember the last time she slept in so late and groaned when her bladder threatened to relieve with or without her consent.  Pecking his lips quickly, since they both had morning -or was it afternoon in this case?- breath, Melyssa made a beeline for the bathroom and had to bite back a groan at how good it felt to relieve her bladder.  She washed her hands and decided to brush her teeth while she was in here, really not wanting Crow to smell her stank breath when she properly kissed him good morning.  Once she was done with that, still naked, she laughed when she opened the door and it was Crow’s turn to make a beeline for the toilet.

 

“You know, if you needed to pee, all you had to do was tell me and, I don’t know, let me go for two seconds, silly.” Her stomach gurgled and she groaned again, knowing neither of them had much sustenance at that party the previous night. 

 

“No, I am the master of my bladder.” He informed her from the bathroom, the door not shut all the way.  Crow finished his business and brushed his own teeth, reaching down to scratch his abs as he walked back out, not bothered in the slightest by his nudity. “Want to go down to the coffee shop?  It’s the place that has those pastries that you love.” He was even willing to put on pants, moving to search his dresser for a pair and shrugged, tugging on a pair of black sweats.  Crow was feeling chill as anything today and had no real desire to do anything except getting back in that bed.

 

Getting back in that bed would put them in another round of delicious sex and, as much as she wanted it to happen, they needed to eat first.  And talk, maybe.  Maybe not.  There was no pressure with them and she smiled at his thoughtfulness, leaning up to brush her lips softly against his.  That felt amazing to be able to do, without any repercussions or fear of rejection.

 

“Sure, I could use a walk and we really need coffee.” He nodded in agreement and she grabbed her bag, setting it on the bed while Crow finished getting ready. 

 

Pulling out a pair of red slacks and a black and red long sleeved top, Melyssa quickly dressed, throwing her bra and panties on first.  She had just finished putting her socks on when Crow came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her bare neck.  Her hair was in shambles up on top of her head, some of the curls having come undone from their activity.  Turning, she captured his lips in a full, proper kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling him pull her flush against him.

 

“Mmm, now we can go, if you’re ready.” Shoes, she needed shoes and out of this room before they didn’t leave it.

 

Crow had no intention of staying in the bedroom for another round of sex.  Unlike Ash, he didn’t feel the need to constantly fuck someone, no matter how delicious the sex had been.  He slid on a pair of leather boots, wearing a black long sleeved shirt and his hair had actually been combed, some deodorant and he was good to go.  Lacing his fingers through hers, he snagged his keys and wallet before leading the way out, his eyes instantly moving to take in both ends of the hallway out of habit.

 

She did the same thing.  They couldn’t be too careful and couldn’t get too wrapped up in the euphoria of being together.  That was when the enemy would strike and they both knew it.  Walking out of the apartment building, hand in hand, felt different, but in a good way.  There was nothing bad about how she felt toward Crow and there probably never would be.  Melyssa could not wipe the smile off her face if her life depended on it, even if McBurn were to show up…okay, no, she wouldn’t be smiling, even with Crow here, but still, ALMOST nothing could wipe her smile away.  She felt at ease and content with her life for the first time in…ever.

 

Of course, McBurn seen them, he had gotten himself a comfortable little hidey hole under an alias and paid with money outright, leaving no paper trail, just for the sole purpose of keeping tabs on his little Orange Flame.  Who was no longer with Mr. Carbide but Mr. Armbrust.  It seemed she was fucking her way through her former Class VII classmates, one cock at a time.  She had never pulled that with Ouroboros, but then again, she had also been under duress.  Perhaps she would have found those two years beneath ground more tolerable if she had explored her slut tendencies then.  He snorted, pulling away from the window and resumed his late lunch, making a note of the time.

 

“Mmm, oh my Goddess, no matter how many times I eat here, the food NEVER disappoints!” Melyssa groaned in delight, taking a bite out of her blackberry pastry puff and sipped her cappuccino with vigor.  She had also gotten a donut and two other different flavored pastries…at Crow’s insistence.  Melyssa smiled at him across the small table they sat at, not reaching for his hand or anything because he was too busy stuffing his own face. “Thank you for suggesting we come here.  I take it you love this place too?”

 

“I don’t know about love, I know it’s convenient and I like it.” Crow remarked, after licking his fingers clean, a coffee black before him and a box filled with a lot of deliciousness he was planning on burning off later.  Keeping his body looking this good came with some hard work and dedication. “There is a delicatessen a few blocks from here, I LOVE them, they make this sandwich… I’d live on it, but I’m pretty sure I’d die from overeating.” He considered the next pastry, grinning slightly. “Though, to be fair, I’ve never tried anything here except the sweets…”

 

Crow took a hefty bite out of that pastry he grabbed and there was cream filling in it, so he got a big dab of it on the corner of his mouth.  She laughed and leaned over since the table was so small, swiping the bit of cream away with her tongue and lips. “Mmm, that’s actually really good.” He did the same thing to her, swiping away a bit of blackberry from the corner of her mouth and it made her shiver.  She took a sip of her cappuccino and they proceeded to eat, both just enjoying being together without any hidden agendas or plans.  It was nice to just be able to do something like this together. I love you. Melyssa had learned her lesson and she would NOT prematurely say those words again like she had with Ash. 

 

Spell or no spell, that had been a huge mistake on her part.

 

“You got an interesting look on your face, Lyssa.” Crow commented after a while, having been watching her while he sipped his coffee, just enjoying the moment.  It seemed lately Machias and work occupied his mind, the situation with the sewers and then McBurn adding himself to the long list Crow just didn’t want to deal with.  This was nice, sitting down in a café, enjoying a very late breakfast and coffee with her. “What’s on your mind?” He held up a hand, grinning slightly. “Wait, if it’s anything office related, I don’t want to know.”

 

“The office is the LAST thing on my mind, Crow, I assure you.” Melyssa didn’t realize she had been gazing at him lovingly for the past 5 minutes until he spoke up. “And there’s really nothing on my mind.  I’m…happy and content.  I haven’t felt like this in such a long time.” He nodded in agreement, feeling the same way and she finally reached for his hand to hold, smiling when he laced their fingers together. “So, I pose the same question to you: What’s on YOUR mind?”

 

“The office.” He deadpanned, though there was mirth in his red eyes, a smile spreading across his lips when Melyssa snorted and gave him a look. “No, honestly, I’m just enjoying this moment.  Feels like it’s been ages since I’ve had proper downtime, or at least used it for shit other than work or training.” Crow used to have a life and he was realizing now, as he got older, that was… vanishing and he was becoming singularly focused and overly tense. “This is nice, being here like this, with you.” He gently squeezed her hand.

 

“Yeah, it is.”

 

Melyssa decided she had to do something in order to show him last night wasn’t just a onetime thing.  That might’ve been what was on his mind as well.  Scooting closer, she leaned forward to softly kiss him, wanting no doubts between them anymore.  It was gentle, no urgency, no hunger, just a simple, soft kiss to let him know silently they were no longer friends – they were something more.  It was up to him, the ball was in his court and she smiled against his lips when his arm wrapped around her waist to press their chests together, deepening the kiss ever so slightly.  The message was received loud and clear – they were together and, if she had it her way, nobody would tear them apart, not now – not ever.

 

“How about we go for a walk to burn some of this off?  There’s a park down a ways from here that I visit frequently and at least the sun is out, so it shouldn’t be too cold.”

 

“Burn it off?” He teased, already reaching for his wallet to get money to pay for their rather rich and unhealthy meal.  So worth it, it had been delicious and filling. “I think we’re actually at a deficit with calories right now after last night.”

 

Crow was rewarded with roses blooming her cheeks and his grin broadened.  Nobody would ever accuse him of being a constant gentleman, that was for sure.  Though, he was done with the flirting and fooling around with other women.  Even if this didn’t last between them or nothing except sex came of it, as long as he was with Melyssa in any capacity, it would be ONLY her. 

 

As much as Melyssa WANTED to order him not to see other women, she knew it had to be ultimately his decision.  If all he wanted was sex from her, it would break her heart and she wouldn’t be able to do it.  Hard as it would be, she would walk away and leave him to do whatever he wanted.  It was a risk to be with the man who had been her best friend since childhood.  They practically grew up together and now they made love and, no matter how much they didn’t want things to change, they’d have to. 

 

Together, they left the shop and headed toward the park, enjoying the cold walk while talking and laughing, mostly at Crow’s jokes.  Crow was regaling her with his time at Thors before her arrival.  He had taken to teaching kids how to gamble, how to play Blade, it hadn’t exactly endeared him to a lot of parents, but… he would be the first to admit he was never going to win any popularity contests.

 

“You know, Lyssa, it just occurred to me that we know about each other’s childhoods,” Since they had grown up together that was obvious. “And everything after you joined Thors, but there’s that gap…” The time between him leaving Jurai and her coming to the Academy.  She had sort of filled in the blanks, but it had been about a paragraph of information.

 

“Oh, you mean the dark years?” Melyssa chuckled at his raised brow down at her and she shrugged in response, looking away from him to stare straight ahead while they continued walking. “That’s what I refer to them as.  The dark years because they were dark without you in my life.  There’s really not much to tell, honestly.  Shortly after you left, I started training, against my parents’ wishes, but my grandfather was the one who encouraged me to continue doing it.  I told him the reason and he said it was a noble reason.  To follow you, to follow the way of the sword in hopes that it would lead me to you.  And then…I found out you died…” She shut her eyes briefly, painfully, recalling the day she found out and let out a shuddering breath. “I cried for days.  I wouldn’t get out of bed.  My grandfather is the one who knocked some sense into me, literally, by sparring with me on the fifth day, dragging me out of bed by my upper arm and shoved the Cutlass in my hand. ‘You’re not doing anybody favors staying up there, moping and crying yourself sick!  You gotta get back up, Crow wouldn’t want this for you!  Stand up and FIGHT!’” She mimicked her grandfather’s words as best she could, smiling sadly because she missed him dearly. “He was the only one who stood by my side and respected what I wanted to do with my life.  He’s the main reason why I continued the way of the sword after I found out about your death because, honestly, I wanted to give up.  I just wanted to give up everything because my whole goal in training was to one day meet up with you, to show you I could do what you did…to be your equal.  And to be your partner and help you bring down that horrible Chancellor that took everything away from you.  I hated him as much as you did, Crow, believe it or not…and I wanted him to suffer for causing you and your grandfather pain.”

 

To anyone else, that would sound desperate and pathetic, crazy, and obsessive, but Crow knew better than anyone just how grief could twist a person.  He was a prime example of it, though if he were honest, he was glad that fate had intervened and swept her off that path.  Crow did not want to be responsible for being the reason she had lived her life for everyone but herself, for him… that was a terribly heavy weight and her choices since that last time in Jurai had been… he pushed it all out of mind, refusing to dwell on the past.

 

“He’d be proud of you.” He stopped to reach out and pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. “You do know that, don’t you?”

 

Maybe it was obsessive and desperate of her, but at the time, Melyssa didn’t care and only had one goal in mind.  Reuniting with her best friend, the one who made her world better by being around him.  Her world sucked without him in it and it had for years, especially the ones she thought he was dead.

 

“I don’t think he would be.” Melyssa shook her head, disagreeing with her love and heaved a sigh. “Willingly going with Ouroboros and willingly agreeing to become an Enforcer…No.  He would’ve shamed me and asked me what in Gehenna I thought I was doing.  I just hope after we’ve finally dealt with them, with McBurn especially, he’ll forgive me for everything else I’ve done these past few years like the rest of you have.”

 

Chapter 87

 

Well it wasn’t like Crow could cast stones or anything, not with the laundry list of misdeeds he was guilty of.  Running a terrorist organization, batting for Ouroboros, repeatedly betraying his friends…he knew he was damn lucky Rean hadn’t run him through after the last time.  Aidios only knew he would have deserved it, but Rean’s own kind, forgiving heart had spared his life and he had been on the straight and mostly narrow ever since.  However, he was also the first to admit that if push came to shove, he was going to save his own skin first and everyone else second, he wasn’t doing anyone any good dead.  Again.

 

“He’s forgiven you, he knew you and you did what you did for good reasons, Lyssa.” He draped his arm around her, pulling her into his side for a hug.

 

“I hope you’re right about that.” Melyssa hugged him back, feeling him kiss the top of her head and looked up at him, deciding she wanted to know everything he was willing to tell her about those dark years. “What about you, Crow?  I don’t know…what happened to you after you left Jurai, really.  Where did you go?  Where did you end up?  Did Duke Cayenne recruit you right away or…?” He shook his head, squeezing her again and they began walking while he talked quietly about everything he endured after leaving Jurai at the age of 13.

 

It was odd, revisiting those years and with a much cooler head.  Three, four years ago Crow’s retelling would have been tainted by anger and bitterness.  He wouldn’t have been telling her anything objectively at all.  But after everything that had happened since she had come to Thors up until now… it was easier to see things how they had really been, how angry he had been and how he had let it ruin not only his life, but also others. “How was my pain,” He mused as they neared the park. “Any more important than others, Lyssa?  Others have suffered as much, if not more and they didn’t become monsters.” Her, for example.

 

“Grief affects everyone differently, Crow.  And you were just a boy.  You didn’t know any better and Duke Cayenne, at least to me, sounds like he manipulated you into becoming C.” That was how she heard it, but then again, Melyssa could’ve been biased when it came to Crow’s background and history. “Everyone deserves forgiveness, even you, and I know you’ve more than made up for what you did.” He DID help Crown Prince Cedric and had sacrificed his own life, his wellbeing, everything to save the boy. “Thank you for telling me about what you went through.  I have a much better understanding why you’ve done the things you’ve done.”

 

“So do I, isn’t that something?  Not that I look back and condone it, though…” Crow was honest enough to admit this and grinned sheepishly down at her. “I also know if given a do-over, I probably would do it all over again without a thought because that’s the kind of person I can be.” He looked around the park they had just entered, nodding.  It was quiet, thankfully, without many people. “I bet this is lovely in the summertime.  I miss Jurai, Lyssa, even the smell of fish.  This place, Crossbell City, it always seems so busy.  Except for this place.”

 

“I miss it too.  It was so peaceful and I miss sitting on the dock late at night, under the stars and moon, watching the water.” Her love for the moon and stars never faded away and she looked around the park, realizing why she came here so often. “I think that’s why I come here because it reminds me somewhat of home.  The peacefulness it has, anyway.” Granted, in the distance, orbal cars could be heard driving by to get from point A to B, but other than that, not many people visited this old park.  There were other nicer ones, but she loved the classic feeling this place had. “When this is all over with Ouroboros and I’m finally free completely, I’m going back to Jurai.  There’s no other place in Erebonia I’d rather live and spend my days and nights than there.”

 

“I don’t know if I can go back…” So many bad memories were there and some were very fresh.  He had regained his memories in Jurai, ALL of them, only to lose the reason he had gotten them back.  Jurai sounded beautiful, sounded like a good idea, but he was sure that nostalgia was a driving force behind that. “I suppose I won’t know until I’ve tried though… you know what I’ve always wanted to do?  Take a boat and just sail the ocean.  All my travels and that’s the one thing I really want to do.  We should one day.”

 

She caught that ‘we’ and smiled widely, reaching up to caress his face with the back of her hand. “You know what?  I think that’s a terrific idea.  We can live on the boat and stop at any ports we need for refreshments or if we just want off the boat for a couple days here and there.” Life at sea would not be so bad, not with Crow and her teal eyes twinkled with glee at the thought of spending the rest of her days and nights with him on a boat, sailing all over Erebonia. “Wherever you go, Crow, I’m with you all the way.  I won’t lose you again.” Not when we’ve just gotten together and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. “As far as I’m concerned, YOU are my home now.”

 

“Well that’s not vaguely weird at all now, is it?” He laughed and then his eyes glinted wickedly. “Do you remember that summer you followed me everywhere I went?  You even tried coming into the bathroom with me and your Mom had to inform you of the etiquette between boys and girls.” That had been a FUN summer; he had just started hitting puberty and it had been right before his grandfather had been murdered. “The point,” Crow was laughing because she was tinting pink and knew he was being a bit of a jerk, but it was meant good-naturedly. “Is that even then, we had a tendency to do EVERYTHING together.”

 

That was the summer he had learned that girls could be cute.

 

“Ugh, don’t remind me of that!  Every time I did it, my Mom would sit me down for a scolding and they got longer…and longer…and longer.” Melyssa groaned jokingly, smacking Crow’s arm and he caught her hand to kiss the back of it, pulling her against him. “Do you remember every year your grandfather would throw a party to celebrate Jurai?  I was 8, I think, and you actually asked me to dance with you because none of the other girls would.” She giggled softly, it was during the summer he had been nostalgic over. “You stepped on my feet so many times, I had to show you how to dance properly.” Her mother had given her dance lessons early on, which was why she was a natural in dance class at Thors Branch School.

 

“Ugh… want in on a little secret, my dearest little Lyssa?” Crow hopped up onto a snow covered bench, walking across it slowly as he stared down at her. “My grandfather MADE me ask you because the other girls were AFRAID of me.” Because he had been a bit of a troublemaker, on top of the ‘head honcho’s’ grandson… something about his eyes always burning bright or some such nonsense. 

 

Then he had gotten older and women had sort of started tossing themselves at him.  Thank the Goddess she hadn’t been around for THAT, his own cheeks flushing red this time.  Crow had been awkward at first, kind of like Rean.  Unlike Rean, however, he had learned how to flirt back really quick.  Figuring one good turn deserved another, he sighed and told her about that, figuring she deserved a good chuckle.

 

Melyssa listened, laughing at his story of the first time he’d been awkward with a woman and shook her head. “I can’t even picture that.  You’re always so…sure of yourself and cocky.” Borderline arrogant at times as well.  She could NOT see him being anything like Rean, but yet, here he was, telling her this story and it reminded her A LOT of Rean’s awkwardness.  Perhaps they were a lot more alike than she realized. “And why didn’t you tell me you asked me to dance because your grandfather forced you?  Geez, that memory is tainted now, thanks a lot, Armbrust!”

 

“Because I was EMBARASSED, Brackett, at being forced to ask my SISTER to dance.” Crow scoffed, dropping down onto the path in front of her and folded his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow. “Besides, it sounds like you’ve gotten a good laugh from it for years, about time you’re set straight.” He smirked, though the sister thing no longer held true. 

 

One did NOT fuck their sister the way he had fucked her last night, oh Gehenna no!  Not unless they were a sick and twisted individual, which he was not.  A second later, he was eating a snowball, his eyes wide and mouth dropped at the giggling Melyssa.

 

“That’s for calling me your sister!” Melyssa couldn’t help laughing, that was until a snowball came back and hit her square in the cheek.  Now Crow was the one laughing while she stared at him in bewilderment.  Did he just…HE JUST HIT HER WITH A DAMN SNOWBALL!! “Oh that’s it!” She picked some snow up, balled it up and tossed it, nailing him right in his hair.  He groaned about his hair being all wet now and she laughed harder, jumping, and dodging the next one. “Crow, no, don’t!” He had lifted her by the waist and planned on planting her in the snowbank nearby. “Please, I’m sorry!”

 

Of COURSE he had retaliated and nailed her with a snowball!

 

Had she honestly thought that would go unchecked?  That he WOULDN’T return the favor?  No, she knew him way better than that, he hadn’t changed THAT much since their youth. “Are you REALLY?  Prove it.” Crow challenged, his eyes lighting with that fire and she didn’t disappoint. 

 

She grabbed his face with her snow covered hands and kissed him, setting the rest of him on fire.  A second later, however, he had planted her in that snowbank anyway.  Because he was sort of a gentleman, he went with her.  Mostly because she dragged his ass down with her.

 

“You ass!!” Melyssa laughed, plowing his face with snow since he decided to join her and they rolled to where she was on top of him, both laughing. 

 

This time, Crow took the initiative to kiss her first and rolled them again with him on top, her arms around his neck pressing against him.  It would not surprise her if the snow beneath them melted into a puddle because now she was on fire.  His cold lips were warmed up instantly with hers and they became lost in each other, right there in the snow, in the middle of the deserted park. 

 

“Yeah, I’m an ass,” He agreed in a husky rumble when the kiss finally broke, a bit surprised that they WEREN’T laying in a puddle of warm water because he was a bit hot under the collar.  Crow was betting Melyssa was too, she had those bedroom eyes going on again and he smiled down at her, bending down to brush his red nose along hers. “But in my defense, you threw the first snowball, I was just retaliating.” Extensively, but he wasn’t one to do anything half-assed whether it was fighting, fucking or anything in between.

 

“Okay, okay, fine I concede to that.”

 

Melyssa had started it, but it’d been worth it to see the shocked look on his face.  And they had fun, so that was a plus as well.  She smiled, her teal eyes glittering up at him and gasped softly when he touched his cold nose against the side of her still warm neck.  Her entire body felt as if it’d been dipped in molten lava, but his cold nose could still be felt.

 

“Admit it though, it was fun having a snowball fight with me.  That’s something we’ve never done before.” Jurai did not get snow since it was on the ocean and the temperature never dropped below 50 degrees.

 

“I’ll admit nothing, that wasn’t a snowball fight.” Crow snorted, though he was pushing himself off of her and extended his hands to help Melyssa get up to her feet.

 

Right now, they were both toasty, but he knew once that wore off, they were going to be freezing in their now wet and icy clothes.  And children did this regularly for fun, he wasn’t sure why.  Three minutes of fun for fifteen of potential frost bite on the nethers didn’t seem like an appropriate trade-off.

 

“I don’t know about you, but hot chocolate sounds good right about now, and a hot shower.” He wiggled his eyebrows down at her.

 

“Mmm…both sound like a great idea.” She brought his mouth down on hers, kissing him a little harder with more passion and fire, pulling back only when they needed oxygen to breathe. “Shower first, definitely shower first.”

 

Crow nodded, wrapping her arm around her shoulders as they left the park to head back to the apartment.  Her cheeks were rosy red, along with her nose, and his was the same way, but they were anything but cold.  It was so easy being with Crow and it made her wonder if it was TOO easy. No, I’m not overthinking it, not this time, and I will just go with the flow and whatever happens, happens.

 

Of course, it was easy, they had known each other all their lives and even with the miscommunication issues they’d had, not to mention his death, and subsequent memory loss, and her being stuck underground for 2 years…. things tended to work out.  When it was right at least.  Considering how late they had slept in, this had been a great way to wake up and shake off the sluggishness.

 

“Not going to lie, cooking tonight isn’t high on my list of shit to do, Lyssa.” He informed her, watching his breath ‘fog’ the air before his nose as they walked.

 

She smiled back at him, shaking her head slowly. “Don’t worry about cooking.  I’ll take care of it.” He raised a brow down at her and she snuggled into his side, the cold finally seeping into her bones during the walk.  Being close to him was keeping her somewhat warm, thankfully. “I can whip up something fast.  I was thinking of making chili tonight for dinner.” He groaned because he knew it was also one of her mother’s famous recipes she used to make in Jurai. “We’ll shower, have some hot chocolate and then I’ll start making it.  It will be done in a few hours after I let it simmer and by then, we’ll be ready to chow down.”

 

Crow could think of several ways to kill the time and he didn’t bother mentioning them to her.  Melyssa might be offended if he actually said ‘Blade’ first, sex afterwards, inwardly chuckling.  He was a man with a healthy appetite, but he didn’t need sex all the time either.  Not to mention, he didn’t want to wear out the novelty within a short time frame, nothing like constant humping to burn out a good thing.  That was what had happened with her and Ash, minus the part where she didn’t love Ash and Ash was a dick.

 

“Sounds good.”

 

After a hot shower together, with no sex, just a lot of touching from washing each other, Melyssa made them a big pot of hot chocolate, using her coffeemaker.  It was something her mother used to do for her and Crow whenever they would jump into the ocean on a chilly day.  Chilly days came few and far between for Jurai, so it wasn’t often, but when she did, it was delicious.

 

“Here you go, I even put marshmallows in it.” She grinned, holding her own cup, and sat down on the couch beside him, drawing her feet up to tuck beneath her butt.  The warmth of the cup alone made the cold begin melting away. “I started the chili too.”

 

“Mmm, delicious.”

 

His palm was bandaged from being cut, so he could get into her warded apartment.  Fortunately, it would never be a problem again for him to enter hers and vice versa.  After what had happened with McBurn, there would be NO repeat, hence the blood magic.  Crow was glad he wasn’t someone who saw things in shade of black and white, but also saw the grey areas or else they wouldn’t be here like this right now, she’d still be in hiding.  Fortunately for him, she was just as practical as he was.

 

“You know, you could have asked me for help. I can pretend to cook too.”

 

“Oh no, no, no, no, you just sit right there and drink your hot chocolate and let me do the cooking.”

 

She recalled the ONE time at Thors he had nearly burned the dormitory down because of his horrible cooking skills.  That hadn’t been pleasant and the smell lingered for DAYS.  No thanks, she was good, especially since this apartment wasn’t the biggest.

 

“And yes, this is delicious.” Melyssa took a sip of her hot chocolate and then another when both of their ARCUS II’s went off simultaneously. 

 

That wasn’t good. 

 

It never was. 

 

Crow answered his while she took both of their cups to the kitchen, overhearing Rean on speakerphone telling them City Hall was on FIRE!

 

Chapter 88

 

“On my way.”

 

Crow was already up, hanging up and turned to look at her.  The fact that the place was on heavy security, with the top technology and magic to prevent things like from happening and it STILL happened…in the winter.  McBurn was a logical, reasonable guess. “I’ll let you know what’s going on when I get there.  Rean says there’s an odd smell.” Which was what she had said about McBurn, his nose wrinkled. “Unless you’re coming?”

 

He never thought that maybe Melyssa needed to stay put, where she was both safe and not a distraction for them, or that this was a way of drawing her out from behind the wards.  She wasn’t a damn damsel in distress and could hold her own!  She didn’t need anyone protecting her or telling her to stay put!  Melyssa wanted to fight just like the rest of them and already had her Cutlass and Crossbow in hand, shoes on.

 

“Damn right, I am.  I know who this is.” McBurn – neither of them needed to say the name. “We need to end this once and for all, Crow.  I’m sick of being in hiding and constantly living in fear of him.” Crow nodded in agreement, knowing she was right.  This was no way to live and she was DONE hiding.  She had no idea what Ouroboros had in store for Crossbell City, but one thing was certain: McBurn had plans of his own and this was his way of drawing her out. “He’ll be gunning for me.” There wasn’t a doubt in her voice or mind.

 

“Yeah, I know.  We’re idiots bringing you into the thick of it.” Crow said cheerfully, slipping across to his own apartment to change and equip his own weapons.  Anyone with a lick of common sense would have made the target stay safe, but not them.  Between him and Melyssa, common sense was a rarity and he could already HEAR Rean sniping and fretting at them for her coming along, his grin grew wider. “Let’s nail that sucker, he needs to GO.” He was practically giddy.

 

In fact, Rean had just sent a text telling Crow not to bring her.  Somehow, he doubted Crow cared because Crow sent back a thumb’s up and a smiley face.  He hated his best friend sometimes.

 

~!~

 

“Do NOT make me burn Crossbell City to the ground, Melyssa Brackett!!”

 

Those were the first words they heard upon arrival and there he was, in the flesh, bathed in a fiery, red and black glow.  It was a powerful aura surrounding him and she swallowed hard, unsheathing her Cutlass.  McBurn wasn’t alone either.

 

He brought backup, a little…INSURANCE policy to make sure Melyssa didn’t try to run from him. “Melyssa, we need to have a conversation and I’m not leaving until we do!  Someone’s here who wants to say hello to his daughter, after all!”

 

“Dad.” Melyssa muttered, feeling something cold and hard forming in her stomach while she stared up at him from a distance.  Even this far, she could see McBurn with her captive father, his hands bound behind his back and his face…she had to steel herself, no matter how much it hurt her to see him in this predicament.

 

“Melyssa, don’t act irrationally this time.” Rean warned, watching her nod and he nodded in return, his Tachi unsheathed. “He wants to talk to her.  We should at least hear what he has to say and then we can engage him.”

 

“Why must you jump in the heat of the moment, Rean?” Machias pinched the bridge of his nose while Ash simply shrugged, shaking his head.

 

“Rean’s right.  And besides, I want to hear what the Almighty Conflagration has to say.  My father is a dick, but I still love him and I don’t want to see him die by that asshole’s hands.” Not after what happened to her grandfather.

 

“You are far kinder than you should be.” Crow informed her, glancing down at her with a curved lip. “The last time we did the talking thing, it ended badly.” Which was about as close to ‘don’t be stupid again’ as he was getting.  Bleeding hearts…he rolled his fiery eyes and stepped away, shaking his head when Melyssa just gave him a look. “You and Rean are more than welcome to parlay with the pair of them, and I’ll just gracefully bow out here because I’m not watching this again.” His duty was to Crossbell, not her and if she was going to put stupid first…He wasn’t spending another 2 years in mourning. “This is exactly like Jurai, Lyssa.”

 

“Crow…” Melyssa frowned, wishing he didn’t see it like that, but she knew she couldn’t change his mind either. “Okay, City Hall is at risk, along with my father and the civilians of Crossbell City.  I don’t want this to be like Jurai again…and it WON’T be because I’m not bowing down to him like before.” She was stronger, an Enforcer of Ouroboros, as much as she detested that title, and another Enforcer was encroaching on her territory, calling her out. “If you have any other ideas, I’m all ears.” Her eyes conveyed the truth to him and she wanted to reach for his hand, but now wasn’t the time to show affection towards each other. “What do you think we should do about this?”

 

Machias, Rean and even Ash turned their attention from Melyssa to Crow, wanting to hear what he had to say.

 

“Well for starters, Roger is a scumbag.” Crow stated flatly. “The last time you went to talk to him, you wound up underground for 2 years and he REFUSED to tell us anything.  Rean said he refused to tell YOU anything, so why are you even considering doing this all over again?  This is McBurn using a daughter’s love to get you close to him.  I say Roger is collateral damage and our target is taking out McBurn.  If we can bring Roger in alive, great, if not…oh well.” He knew it was cold, but she wanted to know what he thought and this was about putting everyone, HER, over Roger’s stupid ass…again.

 

Wow, that was cold of him and Melyssa realized, at that moment, just how much of ‘C’ was bred into him.  The leader of a terrorist group, who nearly destroyed Erebonia…all for revenge.  This was her father and, no matter what he’d done in the past, he loved her and he was great to her and her mother.  They never knew his secret being connected to Ouroboros and he never wanted them to find out.  He also took care of Crow when he was a little boy…so for Crow not to feel ANYTHING towards him…it hurt her on the inside.

 

“Crow, with all due respect, that is her family and…you’re being very harsh when speaking about her father.  My own has done things I am not comfortable or happy with, surely, but I would never sacrifice him to the likes of McBurn.” Machias spoke up, seeing the heartbroken expression cross Melyssa’s face briefly before it was gone again. “We do not want this to turn into another Jurai incident, you are right about that, so we should come up with a solid plan before moving forward.”

 

Just because your family abandoned you and left you with your grandfather doesn’t mean I’ll abandon my family, Crow. Melyssa was glad she hadn’t said that out loud and squared her shoulders, refusing to let the emotions dictate her actions this time around. “We take Robert Brackett alive, if possible.  I have a lot of questions and he has the answers.  I know he does.  Including what Ouroboros’ ultimate game plan is with the city.  We find a way to save him from McBurn and get out of there.” Because there was no way they could take McBurn down, not with just the four of them.  Not even all of Class VII united would be enough, she feared. 

 

That was just how powerful this man was.

 

“You figure it out.” Crow shrugged one shoulder carelessly, swinging a pistol on his forefinger before holstering. “Just tell me where to aim.”

 

This was going to be exactly like Jurai with her telling them what they were doing and everyone falling in line.  She had questions back then and that had played out so well, unless Rean was lying about Roger refusing to answer anything during their ‘meeting’.  He knew for a fact Roger didn’t answer anything AFTER the fact.

 

“Fine, I will.  Just follow my lead.”

 

This would NOT be like Jurai.  For one, they had more backup and two, she wasn’t a scared little girl anymore.  She was a trained Ouroboros Enforcer, skilled and deadly, much like McBurn.  The only difference was she didn’t have powers like he did.  She didn’t come from whatever dimension or hellhole he did either.  Holding her Cutlass in one hand and her Crossbow in the other, the five of them made their way toward the front of City Hall.  Crow was on her right, Rean was on her left with Machias and Ash in the back, their weapons also unsheathed.  Melyssa congratulated herself for not jumping back or flinching when McBurn appeared before them, at the top of the steps, holding Robert by his hair roughly.

 

“I see you haven’t learned your lesson from the past, precious.” McBurn crooned, tightening his grip on Robert. “Here to try to save dear ol’ Daddy this time?”

 

“We both know that won’t happen, so let’s cut to the chase.  You summoned ME here and here I am, so what do you want, McBurn?  What is ALL of this about?  You wanted my attention, I just hope you’re prepared for the consequences of getting what you ask for.” Not a hint of fear was in her eyes, her voice, her tone or her body language, her eyes not leaving McBurn either.  She was poised and ready to strike at a moment’s notice, Crow and Rean having their weapons ready as well.

 

“Mmm…feisty today, are we?”

 

“No, just sick and tired of your bullshit.” Ash yawned out, being smarmy as ever.

 

“What he said.”

 

“If you’re trying to get back into her panties, Carbide, I’m afraid Mr. Armbrust has already fulfilled that position.”

 

Crow cocked an eyebrow and then shrugged when he was given a few curious looks.  He didn’t say a word, however, McBurn was talking enough for all of them.  As far as he was concerned, he was here for the dirty work and if things went south, he was aiming for Roger first.  Crow had been a terrorist before and now he was willing to do some shady shit for Melyssa, whether she liked it or not.  He’d just not say it out loud.

 

“Believe me, I had my fill of her, something YOU will never achieve, asshole.” Ash shot back with a smirk and he could tell that did NOT make McBurn happy in the slightest.  Good.  He hoped that fiery asshole crawled back in the hole he came out of.

 

“And not that it’s any of YOUR business who’s in my panties, it’s NEVER going to be you, McBurn.  I want NOTHING to do with you and, if that’s the only reason you summoned me here and lured me out with this little ‘show’ of yours, you wasted your time.” She smiled coldly at him, deciding pissing him off was the way to go because then he’d get emotional and make a mistake.  One mistake was all they needed to make a move. “And why is Robert here anyway?  Did you really think using my father as leverage was going to work in your favor?”

 

“You little bitch!” McBurn hissed out, looking down at Robert, who had a plea in his eyes that were directed towards his daughter. “You have NO idea what this man has done to you, do you?  Why don’t you go ahead and tell her, Robbie?  Tell her the deal you made with me ALL those years ago.”

 

“What are you talking about?” Just what in Gehenna did her father do now? “Dad?”

 

“N-No!  Y-You can’t…have her…s-she doesn’t…s-she’s not…” Robert was having a hard time talking and grunted when McBurn threw him on the ground at his feet, his hands still tied behind his back.

 

“I could always break you the hard way, in front of her, if you don’t loosen that tongue of yours, Robbie.  TELL. HER.”

 

Well now that was curious and obviously McBurn was trying to get into her panties.  The only thing Crow could compare him to was that schoolyard bully, who didn’t know how to properly vocalize his feelings, so he tugged the girl’s pigtails and taunted her relentlessly.  However, given the way Melyssa was staring at them, Crow felt her words about using ‘my father as leverage’ was indeed going to work because for all her words, she had a kind heart, it was going to be her downfall.  Kind of like Rean.  His best friend and his eventual woman…he had a type.

 

Not this time. “I don’t care what it is.” Her bleeding heart grew colder over those past 2 years and she backed away, still holding her weapons. “Let’s just skip the formalities and the explanations and get down to brass tactics, shall we?  You’re either going to kill him or torture him and we both know how much you LOVE torturing people, McBurn.  Whatever ‘deal’ you two made together, I’m not part of it and it doesn’t involve me.”

 

“But it does…more than you realize, pet.” He pressed his boot against the man’s neck and they heard a slight crack.  It was sickening. “There was one bone.  I can break them all and end him here and now, slowly and agonizingly, unless you do ONE SIMPLE THING and that’s LISTEN and SHUT YOUR MOUTH.”

 

Melyssa was resigned and looked at her father, waiting for him to talk through the pain he was in. “Get it over with and tell me, so we can move on with this.”

 

Robert heard the resignation in his daughter’s voice and grunted, knowing his neck would be screwed unless he came clean. “Promised him…you.  In exchange for leaving the rest of the family alone.  Y-You were supposed to be his…when you turned 18…promised your…hand…in…”

 

“Marriage.” McBurn finished for him with a wicked cackle.

 

Melyssa looked back and forth between them and started laughing – outright LAUGHING – wondering if they were serious.  They were! “Well THAT’S not happening!”

 

It was Ash who recovered first after Melyssa was done with her laughing jag and silence reigned.  Rean and Machias both looked disgusted and shocked.  Crow was standing there as if he was totally bored, though Ash did NOT miss the dark amusement in those near blood red eyes, that didn’t bode well.

 

“So, all of this bullshit is because you can’t get laid like a normal guy?”

 

Machias brought a hand up over his mouth.

 

“Seriously, what kind of sick pedophile accepts a LITTLE GIRL as a future bride?  You really are a million shades of messed up, aren’t you?”

 

“Did you NOT hear the old man say when she’s 18, piss ant?!” McBurn couldn’t BELIEVE the audacity of these people!  They were laughing at him!!  The aura around him flared up and his eyes narrowed to slits at Melyssa, who was laughing all over again at Ash Carbide’s crack. “Laugh it up, but you belong to ME, Melyssa, and nobody can change it!  We did a blood oath on it, so if you don’t become mine, your father DIES!”

 

Chapter 89

 

“And you think I care?  Granted, we wanted to save Robert to question him about some stuff, but…no, I’m not sacrificing myself ever again.  I learned my lesson the hard way, McBurn.  If you want me, you’ll have to kill me first.” Melyssa had a lot of conviction in her voice, the laughter gone and she pointed her Crossbow at him. “In fact, I’m done talking.” Then, she shot him right in the arm with an arrow and it went clean through his bicep.

 

At which point, McBurn finished snapping Roger’s neck with his foot.

 

“NO!”

 

That was Rean.  Crow didn’t even feel the littlest bit bad.  Roger had SOLD his little daughter to a mass murderer to save his family, which had worked out GREAT considering he had murdered his own father-in-law and Melyssa was technically his ONLY child.  Wow.  He thought HE was messed up in the head sometimes, but THAT took the cake.  Crow would never ever question his morals or anything else for the rest of his life, that was for damn sure.  McBurn was coming at them, with fire beginning to flow everywhere.

 

Machias was thankful he had ordered the entire city block evacuated and then barricaded, trapping them all in a ‘square’ of sorts.  Hopefully, the SOS he had sent would bring in the rest of the group because they weren’t able to take down McBurn by themselves.

 

“NO!” Melyssa began emanating an orange aura around them all, ignoring the shocked expression on Crow’s face because her eyes were glued to McBurn. 

 

He could not break through her barrier and she smiled coldly at him as he threw fireball after fireball at them.  No effect.  It took her a while to figure out exactly what her ‘power’ was that had him so captivated and, with Mariabell’s help, she had understood what she could do.  It took a lot of practice, hours upon hours, but she had mastered it and hadn’t needed to use it…until now.  Each fireball made her grunt a little as she kept her focus and shut her eyes, channeling her strength into the ‘shield’ of sorts.  She was called the Orange Flame for a reason.  Her orange flames would prevail over his red ones, even if it took her life in the end.

 

Her fire, inner and outer, and he had seen potential when she was a wee one, which was about the only reason he had accepted Roger’s pathetic little proposal in the beginning.  Admittedly, McBurn had popped in to eyeball her over the years, keeping tabs on his eventual property and it had been a pleasant surprise to find that Melyssa Brackett was growing up to be a beautiful, if not headstrong, young woman.  Of course, he continued monitoring her growth in potential, noting she had been smart, even as a child, and the beauty thing on top of everything else had been the only reason he hadn’t reneged and just killed them all.  Sparing a man’s ‘family’ of technically three via accepting a very delayed payout…hadn’t seemed very appealing after the first few years.

 

“Oh come now, Melyssa,” He taunted, more amused by her attempt to harm him than anything.  She had grown in her talents that was for sure, but she’d never surpass him. “The man sold you off to save him and your mother, how mad are you really?”

 

Grief, pain, anguish, love, sadness…it all flashed in her eyes, wave after wave, though she was more heartbroken over her grandfather’s death.  Yes, she loved her father, but…the man had been a scumbag from day one.  Who in Gehenna SOLD their only daughter to their enemy?!  Promised her hand in marriage at such a tender age?!  Robert Brackett died with a lot of regrets, she assumed, but that wasn’t her problem and she had to fight to live now.

 

“I hate you with every fiber of my being, McBurn, with everything inside of me.  For EVERYTHING you’ve done to me and my family!  And you WON’T take away the family I’ve built with these people, not unless it’s over my dead body!  You’ll have to kill me first!” Without realizing it, she was using her own life force, her very wellbeing, in order to protect them from the fireballs McBurn kept tossing at them while taunting her.

 

And he knew it.  McBurn was able to read Melyssa like a book.  No matter what she said or how dramatic she got, and boy this woman fit in with the rest of Class VII both past and present on the dramatics.  He could read her clear as day.  She was weakening herself because she thought they were targets when all he was doing was patiently working on ‘killing’ her battery, so to speak.

 

“Uh huh, keep talking, precious bride of mine.” The Ashen Chevalier was zoning up, he spotted him and Carbide forming a Combat Link and inwardly snorted, that was just precious.

 

It had never worked in the past and it wouldn’t now.

 

Suddenly, everyone was blown back, including McBurn, by a ferocious gust of wind.  Or that’s what it felt like, but it was power.  Sheer power. “That. Is. ENOUGH!”

 

Melyssa blinked, feeling weak after exerting so much energy with that shield and looked up at none other than the Grandmaster, who was bathed in a yellow glow.

 

“So, we finally find out the truth, McBurn.” The Grandmaster shook her head sadly while staring down at her dead Enforcer…his life taken at the hands of another Enforcer she had recruited long ago. “I have speculated and wondered for years why you had such an…interest in the Brackett family.  I could not put my finger on it and neither could the others, not even my lovely Anguis.  But you have finally played your hand and revealed what this was all really about.  Why you wanted this girl, the Orange Flame, recruited in the first place.  Lying to me, assuring me she wanted this…” That pissed her off because NOBODY could manipulate the Grandmaster…until now.

 

“You’re done, McBurn.” Mariabell appeared beside the Grandmaster while the other Anguis followed suit. “You have stained the name of Ouroboros with your pitiful plan and you have DISRESPECTED our Grandmaster.”

 

“Why do you think I was always on Melyssa’s side, McBurn, hmm?  Why do you think things seemingly fell into place for her in Ouroboros and why I INSISTED on her becoming an Enforcer?” The Grandmaster was not stupid, not by a long shot and she smiled coldly at her fiery Enforcer. “Because I KNEW something more was going on with you…and I wanted you to get to the point where you finally lost all sense of rationality and you have.  And that’s why you tracked down Robert Brackett, thinking you could use him as bait against Melyssa…to FORCE her to be with you.” She shook her finger, tsking beneath her breath. “You convinced me to invade Jurai because you wanted to kickstart the Noble Faction back up again and form another Alliance.  I did as you requested…but I always had my doubts about WHY and now I know.  I know EVERYTHING.  Just like you convinced me we should take over Crossbell City because it would put us in ‘GREAT’ power.” She snorted, rolling her eyes. “Why do you think we haven’t made a move on Crossbell City?   Again, I didn’t believe your intentions and I wanted to weed out what you truly desired.”

 

That made sense because, with all the security measures and everything else, a war with Ouroboros should have broken out long ago.

 

“Machias Regnitz, I apologize for putting a hit out on you.  Again, my foolish Enforcer convinced me it was the right thing to do and I will NEVER make that mistake again.” The Grandmaster could admit when she was wrong from time to time, nodding at Mariabell, who walked over to where Melyssa lay.

 

“Stay still, you used up a great deal of your energy with that shield of yours.  I’ll help you.”

 

“W-Why?”

 

Mariabell smiled softly. “You’re one of us, Melyssa.  Whether you want to be or not, once you become an Enforcer, it’s for life.”

 

“B-But…I-I want to be happy…I-I want to go on an adventure and not be bogged down by Ouroboros…”

 

“What makes you think you can’t?”

 

“Melyssa, if you wish to relinquish your ties to Ouroboros, as an Enforcer, I suppose I can make an exception given all that’s happened.  However, I want you think long and hard about this decision.  Don’t make it now.  Just because you are an Enforcer with Ouroboros does not mean you can’t live your life and have adventures.  Mariabell is getting married here soon and she is going to cut back on her Anguis duties because she wishes to have a child.” The Grandmaster turned to face Rean Schwarzer, the Ashen Chevalier and Crow Armbrust, the Azure Chevalier. “Wielders of the Divine Knights, you do not need to worry about the safety and security of Crossbell City any longer.  Ouroboros is pulling out of this city, Jurai, and others to go back to where we belong for the time being.  We are not your enemy as of today.  Maybe in the future, but today, there is no reason to fight.  Unless of course, you wish to do battle.”

 

“YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!!  I WAITED FOR HER FOR TOO LONG!!  YOU HAVE LOST YOUR TOUCH, OLD WOMAN!!  IT IS TIME FOR A NEW LEADER!!”

 

“And it is time for you to go back where you came from, McBurn.” Snapping her fingers, a portal opened up and she flicked it, watching his body fly into the vortex before it closed. “He was sent back to his own dimension and will never be able to enter Zemuria again.  His punishment is eternal isolation for everything he has done.”

 

“So…he’s…gone?” Melyssa was having a hard time talking while Mariabell continued pumping magic into her to help replenish her life force. “H-He won’t be able to get out of t-there?”

 

“Not without my permission and I will not give it.”

 

“I can’t be the only one who thinks this is way too easy.” Ash said after a very long silence, his pink eyes narrowing when Rean simply stared at the Grandmaster, obviously studying her.  Rean was going to accept whatever the Gehenna the woman had just said.  He side-eyed Melyssa, that woman…was extremely lucky because everything did fall in place for her.  Whether via divine intervention or someone else pulling the strings because it wasn’t just Ouroboros who fell in line when it came to her.

 

They all did it too.

 

“Oh, she’ll keep her word,” Crow said lazily, shrugging one shoulder when the Grandmaster’s eyes turned to him and mockingly bowed. “For now.” When it became convenient to break it, she would.

 

All that bullshit over Melyssa, Ouroboros was stupid.  He would have cut her off and kept McBurn, just because that was where the power was and Melyssa was an unknown when it came to where her loyalty lied concerning Ouroboros.  Fortunately, he wasn’t in any position where he had to worry about making calls like that.  Being a retired terrorist suited him, Crow didn’t think he had the stomach for it anymore.

 

“I made my decision long ago, Grandmaster.” Melyssa informed her, her eyes moving from the woman up to Crow, those red orbs boring down at her. “I started this journey because of Crow, because I wanted to reunite with him.  I’ve loved him since we were kids and…I just want to be free to go on adventures with him and sail the seas.  I don’t want to be an Enforcer and I never did.” There was no point hiding the truth since the Grandmaster was obviously on her side. “He’s my home.  He’s where I belong.”

 

The Grandmaster and Mariabell both nodded at each other, understanding the young woman very well. “All right then, close your eyes, Melyssa.” Mariabell instructed, waiting for her to do so and closed her own, pressing two fingers to her temple to begin chanting under her tongue. Breakth thy bonds and free her burden, no more suffering, no more yearning.  No longer an Enforcer, she is free as a bird, the bonds are no more.

 

Melyssa gasped out sharply, feeling something leave her body and her eyes flew open, glowing pure orange for a split second before they returned to normal.

 

“Whoa, what the fuck did you do to her?!” Ash demanded angrily, watching Crow, the true love of her life apparently, rush to her side.  Deep down, he always knew it’d been Crow.  Everyone did. “Is she okay?!”

 

“She’s free now.  The bonds between her and Ouroboros are no more and she can live however she desires.” The Grandmaster waved her hand as Mariabell came to her side and they both cracked a small smile. “Until we meet again, Class VII.  Farewell for now.” Then, they were gone.

 

Melyssa would sleep for 3 days straight to recover her life force as well as recover from severing her bond with Ouroboros.

 

~!~

 

Selene was called in to monitor Melyssa because nobody had any experience with this or idea of what had happened, besides what the Grandmaster had said.  Most of them were taking that with a grain of salt because… Ouroboros…it was Ouroboros.  They took shifts sitting with her, keeping her body in Machias’ office, letting her sleep on a couch in the corner.  It was the easiest place to watch her since Rean, Ash and Crow were all bodyguards and Crow stayed the night in City Hall, a bit amused with how quiet it always was once the doors closed.  He was on high alert that first night, waiting for someone to come finish the job.

 

Obviously, nobody did.

 

It was the third night when she finally began stirring and he was there, sitting on the edge of the couch, brushing her dark blue hair because life continued whether she were awake or not.  This was how he knew he loved the woman. “Lyssa?” He asked softly, watching her eyelashes beginning to flutter, hoping whatever the Grandmaster did hadn’t caused any lasting damage or changed anything about her core self.

 

“Crow?” Melyssa felt as if she was waking up from a dream and looked up at him, smiling softly at the worry in his eyes.  It did her heart good that he was the first person she laid eyes on upon awaking.  He continued brushing her hair, nodding and she let out a huge yawn, trying to wake up.  Where was she? “What happened?  The last thing I remember was Mariabell casting some kind of spell on me…or doing something…” She yawned again, really needing some caffeine and had NO idea how long she’d been out for. “What time is it?”

 

“The better question,” He said calmly, shifting her so she was leaning against his chest, setting the brush aside. “Is what day is it?  What year?” At her gasp, he grinned and kissed the side of her neck, wrapping his arms around her and squeezed gently, relief in the gesture. “Just kidding, it’s been 3 days.”

 

Chapter 90

 

“You’re an idiot.” Celine informed him, leaping from the desk to the couch’s arm, blinking her eyes at Melyssa. “The Grandmaster had Mariabell separate you from Ouroboros.  From my understanding, it was quite the show.”

 

“Your eyes went pure orange.” Like her entire body on the inside had been in flames.

 

“They did?” Melyssa felt weak, but…not in a bad way, in the way that happened whenever someone slept for 3 days straight.  At least, that’s what it felt like. “They really did it, then.”

 

“Did what?” Celine cocked her head.

 

“They took the power out of me by severing the link between me and Ouroboros.” Melyssa understood what happened now, waking up a little more and sat up with Crow’s help. “When you become an Enforcer, there’s a ceremony that’s performed and they inject this…power inside of you.  It’s not MY power that I was…born with, I guess.  The Grandmaster said I have some kind of power inside of me that can create a shield and that’s what I used to fend off McBurn’s magic.  The problem is it uses up your life force and…I exerted myself, which is probably why I couldn’t handle the severing without passing out.” Slowly, she looked up at Crow and leaned back against his chest, her hands coming up to squeeze his forearms. “I’m sorry if I scared you or worried you.”

 

“Nah, you know me, nothing worries me.” He joked, though the truth was shining in his red eyes as he stared down at her.

 

Well, that explained quite a bit about her and that shield.  Now that he knew it basically ran on her like she was a human battery, however, he hoped she never used the damn thing again.  Her life wasn’t worth the time it bought.  Or maybe some time with Rosalie was required, maybe the ancient witch with the perky breasts -and he’d love to know who she had sold her soul to for THAT bit of youth- could help her learn how to use this shield more effectively with less risk to herself.

 

“Sure, that’s why your entire head of hair is white.” Celine snorted, licking her paw. “I’ll let Rosalie know you’re awake.”

 

“Thank you, Celine.  Sorry for being such a troublemaker.”

 

“Yeah well, I’m used to it.  I look after a troublemaker myself, you know.” Celine winked her cat eye at the girl before hopping down to go inform Rosalie what was going on.

 

That left Crow and Melyssa alone and she felt his lips brush against the top of her head, his arms tightening around her slightly.  He was afraid she would disappear again or fell back out, she could feel it.  Melyssa knew him well and sat up more to turn around to face him, staring into his crimson eyes.  Then, she leaned forward to press her lips against his and moaned at the first touch of him, the sound super soft.  Three days, she had gone three days without this man, right after they had finally gotten together too.  It was three days too long and she pulled back, rubbing her nose gently against his.

 

I love him so much.  And I know he heard what I said to the Grandmaster, but I won’t bring it up first.  When he’s ready to talk about it, he will. “Three days, huh?  I really am a troublemaker…”

 

“You are.” He agreed with a grim nod, those soft kisses having set his blood to a low simmer, though the part of him that actually loved her and not just loved to fuck her, informed him that Melyssa had been asleep for 3 freaking days. 

 

She needed food and drink, along with a shower because sponge baths only went so far.  Actually, maybe she needed to sit in a shower and let the water run over her, he could wash her hair and whatnot.  Crow wasn’t sure where her strength was at right now.  Three days asleep wasn’t overly taxing, nothing bad would happen to the body in that short amount of time, but given what had PUT her in that state, that was potentially a whole new ballgame.

 

“Rosalie will be coming.  You should probably let me baby you a little bit more before she starts poking around in you.” Figuratively speaking.

 

“As long as it’s you doing the babying, I don’t mind enduring it.  But first…” Melyssa kissed him again, this time with a little more passion and fire, tasting him for the first time in 3 days. 

 

What Crow didn’t realize was the reason she had slept was her body just needed time to recover from all the life force she used in that shield she produced.  Mariabell’s magic had helped with that and she felt…energized, actually.  It was weird since she’d been asleep for 3 days, but it didn’t FEEL like three days.

 

“Okay, now I’ll behave and let you baby me.” She grinned, giggling at his growl, and hugged him around the neck, feeling his arms encircle her to return her embrace. “What do you want to do with me first, Doctor Crow?”

 

“Not that.” He said it sternly, amused when she instantly recoiled and then she realized the mischief in his eyes and he was a bit surprised when she lashed out with a quick rap to his forehead. “Touché…Still not that.  Yet anyway.” He grumbled, rubbing the spot with the heel of his hand. “You haven’t eaten or drank anything in 3 days, so let’s start there.  You want something from the cafeteria or the vending machine?”

 

Crow was already up, moving to Machias’ water cooler to get her a cup of cold water.  He also had fresh clothes for her because he had left long enough to pack her a bag, knowing Melyssa wouldn’t take kindly to being left in the same attire she had gone to City Hall in that night to confront McBurn.  That had just ended… badly, and good.

 

McBurn was gone.

 

She wasn’t talking about sex!  The cheeky jerk!  Melyssa couldn’t wipe the smile off her face because she knew what else had happened and remembered it vividly.  McBurn was GONE.  History.  He would never bother her again and she could be free to do whatever she wanted in her life.  All she wanted to do was be with Crow.  Wherever he went, she would follow because she would not lose him again.

 

“Actually, I really need a shower.  Three days sleeping…yeah…” Melyssa probably stunk to high heavens and bit back a groan, sipping some of the water he handed her.

 

“Yeah, you do.  I’ve been sponge bathing you and that only goes so far.” Crow was rifling around in the bag he had brought her from her apartment, not feeling an ounce of shame as he pulled out underwear along with a bag of toiletries.  He had even been a gentleman and gotten her the boring underwear, a plain cotton set. “I’ll have you know, I was a perfect gentleman and did not ogle and/or grope you while you were unconscious and I did your nethers.” Because he wasn’t letting his woman get swamp ass or crotch, he was way more considerate than that. “I’ll walk you to the showers.” Which were in the lower levels, with the cafeteria, how convenient for him. “And then while you’re doing that, I’ll make you something light to eat, yeah?”

 

“Crow…” How was Melyssa supposed to tell him she felt perfectly fine? “Look, I appreciate your concern and all you’ve done for me, but…I don’t know how to say this…” She looked pensive suddenly, chewing her thumbnail and decided to just come out and say it. “I feel fine.  I don’t feel…weak or anything.  It’s hard to explain, but I feel…energized for some reason.  Like I could run a marathon or take on a whole slew of monsters by myself.  It’s weird, right?  Tell me it’s weird and I shouldn’t feel like this after sleeping for 3 days straight…” Whatever Mariabell had done to her, it revitalized her.

 

“Lyssa, hate to break it to you, but I have functioning eyes and I can see you’re perfectly fine.” Crow informed her quietly, said functioning eyes raking over her. “Your entire body is practically thrumming with energy, doesn’t change the fact that you haven’t ate and you need a shower.  Rosalie will probably be able to tell you why you’re bouncing around like a fully charged battery, but I can’t.  Magic is way above my paygrade.” He utilized it, obviously, but he wasn’t able to explain how it worked or anything like that and he didn’t abhor it the way Ash did.  Grinning at the look she gave him, Crow began guiding her out of the office.

 

“It must have something to do with the spell, Armbrust.” Rosalie had arrived, her staff in hand and looking bewitchingly beautiful as ever with her long blonde hair and a smirk on her lips. “Welcome back to the land of the living, dearie.”

 

“Thanks…and you mean the severing of the bonds?”

 

“Well that, but…Mariabell DID siphon her magic into you to save your life because you had used a great deal of your life force with your…power.” Rosalie explained, sounding almost bored and stifled a yawn.  Emma was due any day now with the triplets and she had been running around like a chicken with her head removed, trying to get everything ready for their arrival. “A shower and food, you’ll be right as rain.  You do need sustenance, no matter how GOOD you feel right now.  It may wear off.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“Good girl for not arguing.  I’ll be off then.” Rosalie disappeared in front of them and Crow proceeded to guide Melyssa to the showers like he originally planned on doing.

 

Melyssa had to admit, a shower felt AMAZING after three days of sleeping.

 

While she was in the shower, Crow was both whipping up something even HE couldn’t mess up while explaining what Rosalie had said to Rean via the ARCUS.  The idea that Mariabell, who was certifiably insane, had actually SAVED Melyssa’s life was both a good thing and a worrisome one because things like that…usually had to be repaid later on down the road.  Mariabell wasn’t generally one to do something out of the goodness of her heart.  Not unless she and Melyssa had become the best of friends or something.  Now there was a disturbing thought, though… maybe that was how people viewed him and Rean since he was technically a former terrorist.  By the time she walked into the cafeteria, Crow had microwaved leftovers and was setting it out, enough for both of them since his appetite had picked up.

 

A turkey sandwich and some soup that looked like chicken noodle.  She smiled at his thoughtfulness and leaned down to softly brush her lips against his. “Thank you.” Sitting down, she waited for Crow to join her since he had a setting for himself and together, they began eating.  Food tasted amazing after three days without it and she sucked down her water.  Crow got up to get her refill before she could, ordering her to stay put. “If there’s ginger ale, I’d love some of that too.” Melyssa began eating again, finishing her sandwich, and had dipped some of it in the soup, which was delicious.

 

Crow rifled, finally finding a few bottles and carried them over to her, setting down the water first followed by two ginger ales for her and one for himself.  He dropped down at the cafeteria table, sitting opposite of her, and had made himself some as well.  Crow had skipped the soup in favor of a few bags of chips.  Now that he thought about it, he slid one to her.  She probably needed her sodium levels balanced out after that 3 day power nap his lovely little battery charger had taken.

 

“Rean will be here in a few hours, there’s no point in moving you until morning, nobody but us knows you’re here.”

 

“We’re in City Hall, right?”

 

“Yeah, in Machias’ office part, actually.  It wasn’t scorched by McBurn.”

 

“Got it.  Whatever you want to do, Crow.  I’ll comply.” Melyssa winked at him, feeling a lot better about everything now that McBurn was gone for good and she was OUT of Ouroboros completely.  She was not an Enforcer anymore. “When we’re finally released out of here, there’s somewhere I want to go.” She informed him, after she was done eating and didn’t know how Crow would react to this, but she felt it was something she had to do. “And I’m hoping you’ll go with me.”


Crow raised a brow and couldn’t help asking the obvious question. “Yeah, I will, but where do you wanna go?”

 

“McBurn is gone and I’m no longer an Enforcer of Ouroboros.  I want to do what we said we were going to do.” That day in the park, the same night she had been set free and McBurn had been exiled from their world. “I want to go on an adventure with you and sail the seas to travel all over Zemuria.”

 

Crow smiled widely, remembering that conversation vividly because he had also been thinking about it, long and hard.  While she was out for those 3 days, all he’d been thinking about was them running away together, telling Class VII and everyone to screw themselves and to live the rest of their lives the way they wanted.  He didn’t realize Melyssa had the same exact mindset he did.

 

Taking his hands, Melyssa laced their fingers together and stared deep into his crimson eyes, so much love swirling through them. “I just want to be with you, Crow.  No matter where we go, what we do…I know finding my Mom should be a priority, but…I have a feeling she’s going to remain in hiding.  And I’m done worrying about her.  I know she’ll be fine.” She had survived this long, after all.

 

Crow smirked, knowing she meant every words he said and leaned forward to softly brush his lips against hers. “Wanna hit the road then, Lyssa?  Just you and me?” They could go to Jurai, grab a boat from there and then begin their sailing adventure together.

 

By the time Rean arrived, all that was left behind was a note from Crow, explaining where he’d gone with Melyssa.  He smiled, in spite of everything that had happened, shaking his head and knew they truly were meant to be together.  Melyssa’s heart had always been with Crow and he was happy for both of them, glad she had taken his advice to tell Crow how she felt.  Rean really did enjoy happy endings and folded the note, slipping it in his back pocket and went to inform everyone Crow and Melyssa had taken off.

 

~!~

 

A week later, Melyssa was standing on the deck of a beautiful boat they had acquired in Jurai from a retired fisherman.  They had gotten a hell of a deal and she was wearing a cream colored sundress, leaning on the railing.  A pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind and she smiled, leaning back against him as they watched the sunset together.

 

“I forgot to tell you something, Lyssa.” Crow figured it was now or never and the setting practically screamed at him to do it.

 

“Hmm?  What’s that, love?” Melyssa felt his lips brush against her neck and his arms tightened around her slightly, making her smile. “Don’t leave me in suspense, Armbrust.”

 

Just as the sun began setting over the horizon, Crow turned her around to stare down into her beautiful teal eyes and cupped her face tenderly in his strong hands. “I love you too.” Then, he kissed her and Melyssa’s heart exploded with newfound love for him, kissing him back with equal passion.

 

Any other obstacles that were put in front of them would be knocked down.  That was what their life revolved around, overcoming impediments, and eventually finding their way to each other.  The path had taken a lot of twists and turns with Melyssa thinking she was in love with Rean Schwarzer and even Ash Carbide, thanks to a dark spell.  Ultimately, however, her heart belonged to Crow Armbrust and nothing would EVER change that fact.  No matter where life took them next, whether it was finding her mother somewhere in Zemuria or simply settling down with Crow somewhere, Melyssa was ready to take the journey WITH him.

 

Never again would she take a peregrination without the love of her life beside her.

 

The End.