Chapter 13. The palace

PROSE MODE

At the station terminal, Melody strolled out, a suitcase in one hand, a mascara-stained handkerchief in the other.

She noticed a familiar figure standing in the shadows. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she ran to him, entering his warm embrace.

"I missed you."

She spoke softly, her head buried in his coat.

He returned her embrace, pressing his chin lightly against her head. He placed his hand on her hair and stroked it.

"I missed you too."

Her clasp around him tightened, the quiet sobbing sounds didn't go unnoticed by him. But he hesitated to ask, what if she didn't want to tell him? It's probably about her family and it may be a personal issue. But she refused to look up at him, just continued nuzzling against his chest bawling her eyes out. His heart was melting at that point.

"Melody. What happened?"

Her grip slowly tightened on his coat, the muffled sobs stopped. Seth immediately regretted asking. He should have just let her finish up and then taken her home. He mentally punched himself, he really doesn't think things through beforehand. She'll tell him if she wants to, this was how he thought it'll be best for their relationship.

"Melody, I care a lot about you. I'll always be here for you when you wanna talk about it, if you don't wanna talk to me about it it's okay too, I just want you to know I'm here for you, I don't want you to bottle up your emotions in front me, just act freely, okay?"

There was no response.

Seth felt even more awkward, what was with the speech anyway? She was slightly better after hearing him, she wasn't afraid to tell him what happened, it's just...

What would think of her if she says she actually had the intent of killing her stepdad? He was an immortal, killing him was easier said than done.

She imagined how red her eyes must be at this point, they felt itchy pressed against the fabric of his coat.

Tipping her head back up to meet his eyes, his expression softened, he seemed so concerned about her.

It made her smile, she leaned forward, kissed and fondled him. He'd parted his bangs, it made him look more mature than he was, his striking appearance distracted her from her thoughts for a while.

A few tear drops fell out of her eyes as they unravelled. He cupped her face in his hands, using his thumbs to slowly wipe them. She looked so cute with squishy cheeks and puffy eyes, he had to resist the temptation to kiss her again.

"Please can you take me to the Ocarina hotel?"

"The one downtown? okay, I'll..."

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Josie lurked out of the shadows to the shock of her son.

"Oh, Mom I uh w-what are you doing here?"

Melody had never heard Seth stutter before, it was a new sight and she smiled when his grip on her hand tightened. He always seemed so confident.

What she couldn't believe was that he called the ravishing lady with bold features a few feet away, his Mom.

The Queen?

"I saw you in a hurry to leave when I came out for water, so you sneaked out to pick up your girlfriend and you didn't plan on bringing her home?"

Did she just say home? Melody flushed, should she courtesy and say your majesty or something?

"You want me to bring her to the palace?"

"Of course. That'll be better than a hotel at this hour, plus it's the new year."

Seth knew better than anyone that it was nearly impossible to change his mother's mind once it's been made. But it was kinda hard to tell if she was joking at this point.

"Seriously Mom?"

Josie ignored her son's disbelief and looped her arm through Melody's.

"C'mon let's go, dear."

Melody became so self-conscious about herself and how her appearance gave off a sad feel.

"Um thank you your majesty but I..."

She smiled brightly at her. Melody was at a loss for words, the portraits of the Queen she'd seen didn't do any justice at all to the drop-dead gorgeous lady in front of her.

"Oh don't be modest dear, Seth has missed you so much."

At this point, Melody felt it'll be rude to still reject her offer.

***

"Yay, now there are lots of girls in the palace."

Soteria cheered. Well, everyone was present for the holidays. All Josie's sisters and all Seth's cousins. A maid showed Melody to her room, so she could freshen up and get changed into warmer clothes. Josie pulled Seth aside.

"Sweetie, I sincerely apologize, I looked a bit through Melody's thoughts."

Seth stared at his Mom a mixture of shock and displeasure on his face.

"I could sense slow depressing energy in her throughout the car ride. She's fine. She's just worried about what you'll think of her when she tells you what happened, it's something related to her family and she was deeply affected by it. I didn't look further than that, you have to find out the rest yourself."

She sighed, patting her son's shoulder and returning to her quarters.

Seth quickly got over the fact that his Mom had done some snooping, he was used to it, it was impossible to hide anything from her growing up. She's a pure being, a celestial, with so much insurmountable power even so much that she's able to read through people's thoughts and true intentions.

The eeriest part is that you can't sense her going through your self-consciousness at all. What he couldn't get was why Melody felt like that. Had he given off a vibe of someone judgemental? He leaned against the wall in deep thought.

***

Someone knocked on the door to Melody's room.

"Come in."

A pretty red-haired maid bowed.

"My lady, His highness the crown prince requests your presence to watch the fireworks for the new year at the royal pavilion."

"Okay."

Melody slipped on a beanie and a fleece jacket.

"Right this way, please watch your step my lady."

***

SETH'S Point of view

I still couldn't believe Melody was in the palace. I really couldn't thank my Mom enough.

She arrived just in time for the fireworks when the new year countdown was over. I looked up, they sprayed across the sky elaborately and lacked no restraint.

I turned to Melody, she wasn't smiling but it evoked admiration on her face.

After the fireworks, we both sat under the pavilion hand in hand. I waited for everyone to walk into the palace before asking.

"I hope you're feeling better now?"

She rested her head against my shoulder, wrapping both hands around my arm.

"I went to Janelle City, to visit my Mom and twin sister."

Melody looked at me when she mentioned the word twin sister, I suppose I didn't garner the reaction she was thought I would. Maybe it's because there are identical twins in the palace already. My mom's twin sister had arrived, visiting from Capefrost.

"But my stepfather had a fight with my Mom yesterday and he hurt her so badly..."

She failed to hold back her tears and had choked back on a sob. Her tears fell out once again.

"She ended up in the ER, I was so angry that I pushed him down the stairs..."

She buried her head in my chest, she didn't want me to look at her after that statement. Is that what she was afraid of telling me before? I wrapped my arms around her waist.

"I really wish he'd gotten hurt a lot but he's an immortal."

I felt the flat of her arm against my chest tighten to a fist.

"H-He-"

Her sobbed dissolved her sentence once more.

"He raped her several times."

She flinched when she my muscles tensing up and my clenching teeth.

She heard cracking up on her left side. She looked up, the frozen fountains were shaking, the frozen water melting and vaporizing all at once. She returned my gaze.

"Seth please calm down."

***

I woke up late the next day, almost eleven.

Melody and I returned to our rooms at quarter passed 4am. I told the maids not to disturb her, I wonder if she's already up. I stepped in the elevator, her floor was just below mine. Although Mom had ordered a room be prepared next door to hers for me to stay in starting tonight.

"Good morning Seth."

She flashed me a smile after I'd knocked on her door.

She was already dressed up.

"Let's go get breakfast, I'll take you to the dining room."

She regarded me, still a bit surprised about the elevator as the doors shut after we stepped in.

"Seth, thank you for everything and for listening to me. You're a great listener and I love that about you."

Melody held my hand, she was smiling broadly. I leaned for a side hug and pecked her forehead. She'd explained to me about everything yesterday including how she couldn't stand the thought of not being able to do anything about it.

I told her I'd help anyway I could, I'll need to get in touch with the police department in charge of Janelle City and file the report.

"I'm always here for you babe, so feel free to talk to me."

I looked at her, she seemed to be thinking about what to ask right now.

"Seth, you told me not to call on the 23rd."

Was she bothered about that? it was long passed anyway and I need to worry about my appetite control on the upcoming vampiric solstice instead. I haven't marked Melody yet and the thought got me excited, I had something to look forward to in our relationship.

"You're transformation went well right? I've read about the wing generation and how you guys become much more stronger afterwards, the process is excruciating."

Well she wasn't wrong there. I couldn't help smiling, she was worried about me.

"Honestly, this year's was the most painful twelve hours yet.And the fact that it's during the chilling winter is even more annoying but I got through it, so you don't have to worry about me."

She didn't look totally convinced by my response.

"Despite the pain I doubt I wasn't thinking about you half the time."

Color pumped into her cheeks and sh...Oww!

She slapped the back of my head.

"I'm asking about something serious here, stop sweet talking me."

I burst out laughing as the elevator opened up.

***

"You only saw a few of my family members last night."

I was just getting her ready for the worst. Iwatched her eyes widen in surprise. The whole dinning table was full.

But she turned fairly pale after her gaze rested on someone, was it...of course, I'd followed her gaze, it was Luke.

My eldest cousin. I introduced her to everyone, over thirty people all my uncles, aunts and cousins were always all present for the first week of January.

Except Jade though, she was busy in international waters.

"Bon appetit everyone."

Dad said before we all started eating.

I was sitting beside my Dad, Melody at my other side.

***

"Cool. A gym."

Melody said dryly gazing at me. I know, like why are we here? My Dad is very strict with all of us, it was a must to work out no less than an hour every day.

Palace rule 13.

It applies to everyone under age 25.

She looked around, all my cousins and siblings were working out too. Her gaze lingered on Skipper in the boxing ring.

"Skipper can I spar with you?"

I think everyone literally bobbed their heads in her direction because of her aloof question.

"Seth, is she serious right now?"

Phoenix gazed at her levelly, before continuing to lift his barbells. He was Aunt Ava's son. The insignia on his forehead glistened as sweet droplets touched it on the way down his face. He was very elegant for a nine tailed fox.

"Like why the hell didn't you warn her about Skipper?"

Aiah spoke smiling at Melody and glared at me. The tip of her fangs poking out just above her lower lip. Unlike me, she had blood in her diet.

"Don't do it Melody, Skipper has learned a lot of fighting styles, she's a pro at a few of them already."

Tina remarked on her yoga mat. Her two metres long hair, spreading all around her. Mermaids had that trait.

"She has like four black belts."

I heard Sage speak from the treadmills behind us.

"Are you sure you want to spar with her?"

I returned my gaze back to her , she didn't seem fazed by all their comments.

"I don't see why not."

NOTE:

Phoenix: Gumiho (he has about five tails already)