Meet Melody: Part 10

Alright, this short introduction to Melody and her world of magic and monsters has finally drawn to a close. I’m not sure what I’ll be posting next, at least as far as stories go. I’m still having a hard time working through the creative block, but it never lasts too long. It just feels like it to me sometimes.

 

“Enough!” said a soft voice, the gentle tone holding a power that stopped her cold.

 

Melody dropped the man in shock and turned around to see a woman standing beside the docks. She was tall, and dressed in a beautiful gown that looked jarringly out of place in the rustic colony town. Her stunning appearance and shining violet eyes were so distracting that Melody nearly missed the men standing by her side.

 

“Enough!” she repeated, her violet eyes flashing. “Lord Ethan!”

 

Ethan tottered to his feet and backed away, clutching a hand to his torn neck. “Lady Victoria,” he spat. “This matter is the Court of Magi’s to resolve, not the Blood Court’s. The hatchling and her maker are mine!”

 

“This hatchling is not responsible for her maker’s crimes,” Victoria rumbled. “Do what you will with the maker if you can catch her, but you will not touch this hatchling. By right of her rebirth, she is a member of the Blood Court and under our protection!” Fangs glittered in her mouth as she looked at his bleeding throat. “Though by the looks of things, she may not need us much.”

 

Ethan’s face became ugly with rage and he grabbed Melody by the hair and reached out with his free hand. The dragonbone sword, lost during the struggle, came to his hand with a loud smack and he touched the deadly edge to her neck.

 

“I was only getting started!” growled the mage dragon as Victoria’s eyes widened. “The girl is mine! Let me leave peacefully or I will kill her here and now!”

 

“If she dies you will die as well,” she warned as Melody gasped for breath, struggling to force Ethan’s wrist and blade away. “Take care friend, this is an act of war.”

 

“I’m no friend of yours,” Ethan snapped. “And peace died with the aspects! They were the only ones keeping you in check!”

 

Victoria’s face tightened and she took a half step closer. “Look around you! While you fought a harmless hatchling, you put this city in danger and exposed all of us!” Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you think they haven’t attacked you in terror?”

 

Ethan backed away, pulling Melody with him. He swallowed anxiously and she could feel his breathing quicken.

 

“My men have seized control of the city,” Victoria said firmly. “The townsfolk have already been evacuated from the area and their memories altered. You cannot face the might of the Blood Court alone Ethan.” Her voice became like granite. “If you had attacked the hatchling while she was still in the tavern you would have been dead already!”

 

“The Court of Magi gave me my orders Victoria,” Ethan insisted stubbornly. “The hatchling comes with me… she may well lead me to her maker!”

 

His grip loosened and Melody took her chance, yanking her head to the side and clamping her fangs down on his exposed wrist. There was a crunching noise as his bones broke, shattering under the force of her bite. He howled in agony and the sword fell as he tore himself free. Melody reached for the blade but Victoria moved before her fingers even touched the hilt, bounding past to drive her fist into Ethan’s gut. The man doubled over and she raised her knee, smashing his jaw. She threw him into the snow, her lip curling in disgust.

 

“The hatchling is under my protection!” she hissed, her eyes blazing. “As is this town! Leave now or I’ll arrest you for exposing us to the humans!”

 

“Escort him out of the colony,” she ordered, turning to her guards. She sighed and shook her head as the beaten man snarled and shook away their hands.

 

“Stubborn fool,” she muttered, turning back to Melody. “Are you alright young one?”

 

Melody nodded nervously, suddenly noticing that the voice seemed to have vanished. “Y… yes my lady.”

 

“You don’t have to be afraid of me hatchling,” Victoria said with a gentle smile. “You’re with family now. What’s your name?”

 

“Melody,” she replied, overawed by Victoria’s strength and beauty. “My… my name is Melody.” She hesitated and looked back at the inn and Mary’s ruined house. “Wh… what happened to my friends?”

 

Victoria’s face fell. “Your friends? My men will have altered their memories by now. If they remember you at all they will think you died in the fires.”

 

Melody’s heart fell and Victoria caught her arms as her knees buckled. “They think that I’m dead…” she mumbled, forcing the words past a lump in her throat. “I won’t be able to see them again will I? I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

 

“I’m sorry Melody, but it’s better this way,” she replied. “Humans don’t do very well in our world.” She squeezed her shoulder. “Come. Let me introduce you to your new family.” Her eyes twinkled and she winked. “Better than a voice in your head I’ll wager.”

 

Melody’s eyes widened. “What? How…”

 

“You aren’t the only one who was left alone when she was turned,” Victoria said gently. “But it gets better. I’ll show you everything you need to know.”

 

End

Meet Melody: Part 8

This one is a bit longer. I haven’t really had much that I’ve felt like saying in the last few days but hopefully I’ll have a couple of blogs to post next week. Enjoy the next piece of Melody’s origin story while you wait. Let me know what you think.

“Our powers are growing,” said the voice as Melody slipped away. “Soon you won’t need me anymore.”

She grunted, wishing suddenly that her maker was with her. At least then, if the voice did stop, she wouldn’t be quite so alone.

The sight of the stables distracted her and she jumped easily to the rooftops, her feet crunching softly in the snow as she circled, leaping from one building to the next. She found her prey sitting by a roaring fire, looking even bigger and more beastly than she remembered.

Gavin looked up as she dropped to the ground and stepped into the firelight.

“Who’re you?” he asked suspiciously. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m a little lost,” she replied. “I arrived on the last ship and don’t know the town very well yet.” She gave a sheepish laugh. “I must have taken a wrong turning.”

The man’s piggish eyes glittered with barely concealed lust as he rose ponderously to his feet. “Well we wouldn’t want you to be late now would we? Got a husband at home waiting for you?”

Melody smiled sweetly and shook her head. “No. I don’t have anyone really.”

Gavin’s face twisted in what was meant to be a friendly smile. “You look cold dearie. Come into the tack room. I’ll get you a blanket and then I’ll help you find your way home.”

“You’re too kind,” Melody said, resisting the urge to tear out his throat right then and there. She followed him into the dark stable. “You seem like a good man.”

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than Gavis spun around, his meaty hands reaching for her arms. She curled her lip in anger and disgust, planting her palm in his thick chest. The blow knocked the big man to the ground and she knelt beside him, watching him gasp for breath. His face paled as Melody bared her sharp teeth. He tried to scream but the noise was cut short as her fangs sank into the soft flesh below his ear. Melody growled in annoyance as he thrashed, batting at her with his thick arms and heavy fists. After several long moments his movements slowed and she released him, tearing away part of his shirt to wipe her bloodied mouth.

“Either drain him or heal him,” said the voice. “If you leave him as he is, he will turn.”

“A dragon?” asked Melody, staring down at the gasping man.

“No,” growled the voice. “A vampire. We were… different.”

Gavin’s eyes fluttered open and he moaned miserably as Melody leaned closer, tempted by the blood seeping from his mangled neck. She growled and bit her wrist, pressing it to the man’s mouth. He gagged and writhed but she tightened her grip, watching in fascination as the bite on his neck closed and blood returned to his face.

“You will leave on the next ship,” Melody said, transfixing Gavin with her eyes. “And you will never harm another human being for as long as you live!” Her eyes narrowed. “You will not remember me.”

The man nodded stupidly and got up, tottering away past the fire and into the sleeping city.

“You should have killed him,” said a voice from the far side of the stable. “ ‘Twould make me feel better about killing you.”

Melody tensed and turned around to see a man dressed in buckskin and furs, leaning lazily on the door. He adjusted his cap, puffing contentedly on an ornate pipe, watching her with bright, blue eyes.

“I thought that this job would be fun,” He said with a sigh. “I was hoping to finally test my strength against a dragon… but I guess a vampire will have to do.”

“Vampire?” Melody asked warily, backing away.

The stranger shrugged off his coat and drew a slender sword from its scabbard. “Your maker didn’t even tell you what you are? Maybe your death will be a mercy after all.”

He bolted down the aisle, the point of his blade narrowly missing Melody’s shoulder as she ducked away. She vaulted into the nearest stall, slipping past a frantic horse to break through the wall with her shoulder. Snow sprayed from under her feet as she skidded around a corner with the stranger hot on her heels.

“Bloods and Beasts. Think they’re the strongest,” he taunted as he followed Melody to the rooftops. “The fastest. They’ve  never fought a battle master….”

Melody snarled and spun on her heel, driving her fist into the man’s gut as his sword cut a deep gash above her hip. She roared in pain and caught the man by the wrist and throat, levering the blade away from her body.

“You’re stronger than I thought leech,” he panted, planting his feet on the slippery roof. “It won’t help… steel might not hurt you, but dragonbone blades will….”

His eyes widened as Melody’s eyes began to blaze and she forced his arms apart.

“I’m not a leech!” she roared, her fangs shining in the darkness. “I’m a dragon!”

The mage gasped, dropping his sword as Melody wrenched him in and closed her jaws on his neck. Her mouth still dripping, she dropped the man to the snow, kicking his blade away.

“Leave me alone!” she growled as he gasped for breath, clutching his neck. “If you’re a mage, then my bite won’t turn you, but if you come after me again it doesn’t mean I won’t try!”

“You won’t make it out of the city,” the mage rasped as she turned to leave. “Even if you are a dragon…. Better check on your friends, Ethan isn’t as merciful as I am.”

There was a loud crack as Melody punched him in the jaw, loosening his teeth and laying him out cold. She snatched up the mage’s blade and dropped to the ground, sprinting madly through the streets to the tavern. The door shattered under her hand as she opened it. Before the broken wood even touched the floor she was through the second door and inside Mary’s bedroom.

“Shh…” said a voice. “They’re still sleeping.”

Meet Melody: Part 7

Melody followed her back outside and down the street to Mary’s home, a small, isolated building at the edge of the harbor.

“You don’t need to do this,” she said. “I can just stay in the kitchen for the night.”

Mary shook her head. “We have more than enough room for you here.” Her face hardened. “We’ve had one of the girls staying here with us for the last few days.”

“What happened?” asked Melody, narrowing her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

The woman sighed and went around the room, lighting candles. “One of the night watchmen tried to attack her last week. She got away, but he’s been bothering her ever since. Mark took her home this afternoon so her bed’s empty tonight.”

“She was attacked by a watchman?” Melody asked, feeling the dragon stir with sudden anger. “Hasn’t anyone done anything?”

“No one else believes the girl,” was the reply. “It’s her word against Gavin’s. But I’ve seen the bruises Melody… I’m afraid of what could happen if he gets her alone again.”

“Gavin?” Melody growled. Her fangs began to lengthen. “The blacksmith’s son? How’d an animal like him ever make the watch?”

“His father’s well respected,” Mary answered. “And Gavin’s the one of the most skilled fighters in town. When he’s around the sailors don’t cause as much trouble.” Her jaw tightened. “As long as his aid outweighs his sins, the officials look the other way.”

She stopped by the door, taking a deep breath. “But don’t listen to me. I have to go check on my husband. Why don’t you make yourself at home? Get some rest.”

Melody nodded and she left, closing the door gently behind her as she went. The vampire dropped to extra cot, not bothering to crawl under the covers. She remembered Gavin well, a brutish, leering boy whose bullying had terrified many of the other children in the colony town. His reputation for cruelty had been well known and she had always taken great pains to avoid him. The thirst prickled in her throat and she suddenly found herself wondering what it would feel like to sink her teeth into his neck.

“We’re still a newborn,” said the voice. “The wolves were not enough, we will need more. He would do well as a meal.”

Melody’s insides churned and she closed her eyes. The hunters were waiting beyond the town limits and she instinctively knew that she would have no choice but to feed. She heard Mary returning with her husband and stilled, feigning sleep. the door opened and their voices softened. She listened halfheartedly, too distracted by the thirst to pay much attention. After what felt to her like hours, the couple went to bed. When they were finally asleep, Melody got up, leaving as quietly as a ghost.

She caught the first watchman she found by surprise, dragging him backwards into the darkness. He cried out in shock as she slammed him into a wall.

“Where is Gavin?” she asked, her violet eyes shining as they bored into the helpless man.

“By the stables,” the man mumbled, his eyes going blank and his jaw slack. “His watch ends in an hour.”

“The eyes are the doorway to the human’s soul,” hissed the voice. “His mind is ours… erase yourself and leave him to his work.”

“Forget me,” she growled, dropping the man to the ground. “Go back to your post.”