SETH'S POV
While we were heading into the theatre, Melody's grip tightened around my hand and she pulled me aside.
She looked me in the eye, still stupefied.
"It's okay, you can say whatever's on your mind."
Melody regarded me. Her eyes changed color with every shift in the light, I don't think a painter could even capture them in paint unless he uses a spell or something. So sporadic color change for shock or anxiety?
"You're the crown prince? my favorite actress Ava is your aunt! This is huge."
I thought she'd be puzzled, angry, worried. I thought she'd be many things but none of those was even synonymous with her cheekbones on display and her eye irises finally coming to rest in a green hue.
"Ahhh, I'm so excited."
Glad this turned out okay.
***
At the after-party, I introduced Melody to a lot of actors I knew thanks to Aunt Ava. She was so thrilled that she was able to get their autographs and take selfies with them.
Amongst them all, Fleura de la Hoya, an actress based mainly in the action movie field mainly because she was a demon. Acting in a romance movie wouldn't sell much because of what creature she is, regardless of how talented she might be. She seemed to bond with Melody the most. She gave her, her business card, inviting her to drop by her agency sometime for a screen test.
"I want to personally introduce you to your idol."
With a smile I stole her away from Fleura, leading her over to where Aunt Ava and Uncle Gale were chatting with Sage.
"Aunt Ava, Uncle Gale."
Ava pulled me in for a hug.
"Aww, the last time I saw you, you were just 11."
Uncle Gale said. Shocking right, I know, between him and Ava, he's the one with all the cringing comments. Luckily this time around, he didn't conjure up some candies and cookies like he usually did without using his wizard wand.
"Auntie, meet your biggest fan, Melody."
Aunt Ava stretched her hand to her, displaying a toothy grin that vaguely exposed her fangs. Melody moved forward nervously shaking her hand.
"It's always nice to meet a fan."
"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Schneider."
Sombrero was her husband's surname. But since she's a princess of Capefrost, she's referred to as Mrs. Schneider [Capefrost's royal family name] when she's out on official business.
"I was hoping you could show Melody a few pointers, one of her electives is performance arts."
I wanted her to get to talk to her idol some more, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
***
The news spread like wildfire around campus.
Think Green's got three official members of the royal family.
I met Melody once again in her cheerleading uniform, Rockzy sashayed over to us. My nose wrinkled when she was about 3 feet away, did she empty a whole bottle of perfume on that uniform?
Urgh.
"Seth, I'm having a pool party at club Ninos today, care to join? Skipper will be there."
There's something else missing.
"And Melody?"
"What about her?"
"You're not gonna invite her?"
Rockzy paused for a second.
"I didn't plan on inviting her."
Good. I wasn't planning to use domination just to squeeze out the truth from her anyway.
"I'm not interested in your party."
I latched onto Melody's hand and walked around her.
***
PROSE MODE.
Kika carefully set the last of the roses in a vase and then put water in it.
"What do you see in that bastard anyway?"
Asher was setting the dinner table along with her.
"Isn't that obvious?"
Kika narrowly avoided that look he'd give her. One that said whatever she was doing wasn't worth it.
"There are many other guys out there."
Asher set the fruit punch on the table.
"Jeez, Asher. Just drop it," She said tartly, heading for the refrigerator.
"You know how I feel about you Kika," Asher muttered.
He wasn't the one to hide his emotions, it was obvious she didn't feel the same way about him but he wasn't going to give up, at least not right now that she's still single. He continued.
"Stop hurting yourself over and over again. You're an amazing person, any guy would be lucky to have you."
She turned to walk out but he got hold of her hand.
"Please just give him up already, he's not worth it."
Kika tipped her head to meet his eyes.
"And with my endless refusals, has the thought ever crossed your mind that I'm not worth it either."
She retorted. He opened his mouth to reply but for some reason, no words came out.
"Let go of me, Asher."
"But Kika I—"
"Please let go, don't make this any harder for me."
Asher reluctantly let go of Kika's hand and she walked out of the room.
***
Gael looked through his binoculars, he was in an opposite building watching Melody and Seth just across the street.
"They look really happy together."
He zoomed in closer to see her eyes, they slowly produced a violet coloration after he'd whispered something to her.
Gael smiled. He set off to their position in his disguise. Melody had excused herself to go to the restroom. He followed her brushing her lightly just before she went in.
At the alley in between the two buildings, he put the strand of hair he had successfully retrieved from her head into a zip log bag.
Creating a portal, something quite exclusive to Dragons. The stoneway melted away into the science laboratory of a close friend of his.
He handed him the sample.
"Mr. Portega, the test results will be available in 24 hours."
"Thank you."
With a flick of his fingers, Gael was in the comfort of his house. He took his phone out of his pocket settling into a nearby armchair. Hachila was on his lock screen wallpaper.
"I miss you so much, every day. Our twin daughters are beautiful, I just wish I was there to watch them grow up and take care of them."
He shook his head.
Life, he thought, just wasn't fair.
***
Luke checked up Melody's stepdad Intel online.
"Wow, he's such a liar."
"You shouldn't be surprised Sir, Mayors in that state are known for their notoriety."
Elliott said as he joined him. Elliott had taken a leave fifty days ago as a phoenix undergoing his fourteenth Nirvana in fire. He'd just returned a day ago after recovering from being reborn from the ashes.
"Did you get it?"
"Yessir."
Elliott passed him the brown envelope, Luke opened it.
A wry smile soon appeared on his face. He flipped through pictures of Fabian's men sneaking in truckloads of guns and drug amplifiers used as power boosters at the state's border defense station.
"Perfect. Call him quickly, he's the last person I need."
***
"Here are the results Mr. Portega."
"Thank you."
Gael ripped the envelope open and read through it.
Of course, Melody was his daughter and the one with Hachila should be Melanie. It was so hard to track them down in the last 20 years because Anniephera had changed her name to Hachila.
***
SETH'S POV
I stepped into the stone patio in the middle of nowhere and felt a stab of unease. The evening breeze stirred shadows into the river, turning the water from sapphire to deep indigo.
"Where am I?"
The source of light escaped, and nothing remained but a thick curtain of darkness. I could barely see three feet in front of me.
"Hello, Seth."
A guy in his mid-thirties materialized before my eyes. Flowing white hair to his waist, he seemed like some grand master of martial arts in his attire.
"Who are you? And can you tell me where I am right now?"
"I'm Reichert, the council of darkness has appointed me to be your master."
"Okay. That explains who you are part, then where am I ?"
"You are in your self-consciousness, kinda like your mind."
"How can I be inside myself? Don't tell me I'm in a coma or something?"
"You are just the spiritual essence of your real self. You can come here at will and I will teach you everything you need to know, including how to control the darkness inside of you."
I tilted myself to the side resting it on my cupped hands.
So he's like Evox. The one that purged the darkness out from within in my father. Reichert laughed.
"Don't worry. I'm not related to Evox."
"Good."
You better be telling the truth.