by J. C. Hart
"No. I could have run too."
"But you're not the type to run. I don't think so, anyway." She didn't wait for a response, just left the room. She stood at the sink for a minute, breathing deeply, forcing herself not to cry. She couldn't breathe away the guilt though. Couldn't stop blaming herself for this whole mess. If she wasn't such a fuck-up, she would have killed Robbie back in the city and none of this would be happening.
"Get with it, Melody. No time to fall apart right now. Noah needs you, and then you need to figure out how to deal with that asshole Robbie." She nodded to herself and grabbed the kit and a glass of water before heading back into the bedroom.
Noah was dozing, so she went to work cleaning his cuts. It didn't seem like anything was broken after all, and hopefully he wasn't bleeding internally. She drank the water herself, filling it up again and setting it on Noah's beside table. He looked pretty peaceful now, and at least he was resting.
A loud knock sounded at the front of the shop. Melody jumped off the bed and rushed to the bedroom door, closing it and leaning against it.
Wait, what if it was Jake? Or a friend of Noah's? Maybe they could help. She opened the door quietly, tip toeing to the door between the shop and the house. The thump came again, then again. It was getting more insistent, and as soon as she saw the shape outlined in the window she knew it was Robbie.
An intense anger swelled through her and she charged to the door, leaving the glass between them.
"What the hell are you doing here? Don't you think you've done enough damage already?" she demanded, pointing her finger at him.
"Didn't expect to see you here," he said, a smirk on his lips. "Why don't you just come with me now? We all know that's what will happen, one way or another."
"I know what you are, Robbie, and I will never be yours again. Never. Do you hear me?" She shook her head and frantically felt for her jagged tooth with her tongue.
"If you know what I am, then why are you with that guy? He's just like me. Or didn't you know?"
"What? You have no idea what you're talking about." Melody shook her head, unwilling to believe it. Noah was nothing like Robbie. Nothing at all. He would never raise his fist to her.
"Don't say I didn't warn you." Robbie shrugged, then reached out and placed his palm on the window. He looked almost tender. "I love you, Melody. I really do. I never meant to hurt you, I just want you back."
Melody's heart stopped beating for a moment and she almost believed him. Almost. "No, you don't love me. You just love what I am, and I know all about that now. I'm not yours, and I'm never going to be again. Never."
"We'll see about that." Robbie smirked. "I'll see you soon. Real soon." He turned and walked away, not bothering to look back. Melody sat on the floor, unable to stop the shakes from taking over. For the second time in her life she'd stood up to him, though for some reason, it didn't feel like it was going to do much good this time either.
"Melody?"
She got to her feet in a flash and rushed to Noah, threading her arm through his to help him stay upright. "You should be lying down," she said, gently turning him and helping him back to the bedroom. He groaned as he lay down.
"It was him, wasn't it?"
"How did he know where you were? Or that I'd be here?"
"He must have followed me home. I guess he figured you might come by."
"Shit. Why didn't I think of that? I'm really sorry."
"You've said that enough. I know you were afraid. I don't blame you. The guy is nuts."
"What happened after I left?"
"I tried to have a polite conversation with him, but you can see where that got me." Noah indicated his bruised body.
"I'm—"
"Stop it. I could have run too. I chose not to." Noah looked her over, his lips quirking in a slight smile. "Though, I don't think I could have moved quite as fast as you. You were virtually flying, do you know that?"
"Well, you could say I was motivated, and the wind was kind enough to help me out." She poked her tongue out at him. "What am I going to do?"
"What are we going to do, you mean."
"No, I can't put you in any more danger. This is my problem. You've already done enough." The words came out harsher than she intended, like she was blaming him, but she bit her lip, worried if she said more she would only make it worse.
Noah considered her for a minute then reached out and grabbed her hand. "I heard him tell you I was just like him."
"He did, yeah, but you're not. You're way nicer to me." Melody glanced away so she wouldn't see the look in his eyes. She didn't want to talk about it. Didn't want him to say what she knew he was going to. All those tingles should have warned her.
"You know that's not what he meant." His voice was quiet, measured. He gripped her hand firmly and gave it a little tug so that she turned back to him.
"So he's right, then? You feed off magic too?" Melody pulled her hand back and crossed her arms over her chest.
Noah nodded. He looked so non-threatening lying there, banged up and in pain, that Melody struggled to think of him as a threat.
"You eat magic?" she asked. She needed him to say something. To confirm it with words, though she didn't want to hear them. She felt something for him, they shared something, she was sure of it. But what if it was all because of the magic?
"I eat magic," he agreed, "but I haven't eaten yours. I would never draw from someone like you without asking. I swear."
"Someone like me?" Melody cocked her head.
"Someone I feel a connection to." He was the one to look away this time.
Melody leaned forward. "Are you blushing? You are!" She laughed. "You like me," she said smugly.
"Yeah. I do. I even took a beating for you."
"No one asked you to do that," Melody said, her voice a little sharp.
"Settle down." Noah sighed. "I am like him though, and I know that's got to be a little weird for you."
"You're not wrong," she agreed. Her arms had come unfolded at some point, and really, lying there on the bed, what threat was he to her? If she was going to get answers, now was the perfect time. "So, how do you do it?"
"What, eat?" He raised an eyebrow. Obviously the question wasn't what he'd been expecting.
"Yeah."
"Well, through touch, normally. It doesn't have to be intimate. It's like siphoning gas out of a tank, I guess. I just take a little, top up here and there, and I tend to ask first. I've never drained anyone, or kept anyone a prisoner."
Melody tongued her teeth, considering this. "You think that's what he did, don't you?"
"Well, from what I can gather, he kept you fairly removed from the world, fooled you into thinking you were happy with it. That's one of our skills, you know, making you believe what we want you to."
"Are you doing it now?" She shuddered, fearful suddenly. Her stomach churned as she remembered life with Robbie. It had seemed so good for so much of the time.
"I don't know, what do you think?" He raised an eyebrow.
Melody stepped away from the bed and paced the room. If he was fooling her, why would she still feel like that? Unless he was making her feel like that to make her believe he was trustworthy...
"I don't feel so good," she admitted. "I need some air."
"You're going to run again, aren't you? When are you going to stop?"
"When I can solve this thing." Melody paused at the doorway, then ducked back and kissed Noah on the cheek. Tears pricked her eyes, though she wasn't sure what they were for. Crying wasn't going to help her situation.
"Where are you going?" Noah called after her, but she didn't answer.
Chapter Sixteen
Melody didn't bother knocking, but she did slam the door behind her. She needed coffee. Now. She entered the kitchen and stopped when she saw her mother sitting at the table. Tears were streaming down her mother’s face.
"Melody! You're home, thank God." Her mother knocked the chair over as she got up and hugged her tight. Me
lody patted her back, uncertain where the barrier between them had vanished to.
"Yeah, of course I am. Did you think I'd run away again?" She felt like a bitch asking, especially because she almost had, but she didn't know what else to say.
"It's Jake." Her mother pulled back, dabbing at her eyes with her sleeve.
Melody stiffened. Her heart thudded in her ears as though it was trying to drown out what she knew her mother was going to say.
"He's gone. There's a note." Her mother held it out. Melody tried to grab it but the paper slipped between her fingers and drifted to the ground.
"Robbie," Melody whispered. "Does the note say where?"
"No." Her mother shook her head, and then her whole body began to shake. Melody wrapped her arms around her mother, trying to still the trembling, trying to infuse her with warmth, or comfort, or something. All the things she was no longer sure she knew how to offer, because when it came down to it, who had offered those things to her?
Jake. That was who. Her little, not so little, brother.
She had to get him back.
Melody steered her mother to the table, and sat her down. She filled the jug and put it on to boil, making her mother's tea just how she used to like it. She got a plate from the cupboard and filled it with biscuits, then set both in front of her mother. The mundane task kept her moving while her brain was threatening to shut her body down. She wasn't ready to face Robbie. She didn't have a plan, not even half of one.
"Here Mum, have some tea, and a bikkie. And then get some sleep." Melody patted her on the shoulder, used her best calm and rational voice. "I'm real sorry about this. I'm going to go and get Jake. Okay?"
"Do you know where he is?" Her mother's eyes were kind of vacant, like she didn't want to be here. Hell, even Melody didn't want to be there. She wasn't ready for this; she didn't know what to do. She thought she'd have longer, but the bastard just wouldn't back off.
"I think he's out in the woods. I was there with him earlier today. Okay? Just sit tight, and try not to worry. I'm going to bring Jake back." Melody leaned down and kissed her mother's forehead. She had to go and go now, she couldn't look at this woman any more. She was so broken.
Was this what she looked like after Melody ran away?
Melody swallowed hard, grabbed a couple of biscuits for the road and headed out the door.
Chapter Seventeen
Noah was drifting in and out of sleep when he heard the back door open and footsteps approach.
"Sam?"
"Yeah, only me." She pushed through the door, her eyes widening as she took him in. "He got you good, huh?"
"You could say that. Thanks for coming over so quickly. I don't know exactly what's going to happen next, but I'm no use to anyone like this."
Samantha shrugged as she sat down on the bed beside him. "Was she here?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, she did come by." He nodded, wincing at the pain in his jaw. "So, can you help?"
She appraised him, and shook her head slowly. "Did you come clean to her about what you are?"
"Come clean? Cut me some slack, Sam. You know I'm open about it. It had just never come up before." He grimaced at the pain as he tried to prop himself up further. "Of course I told her. After meeting him it was obvious I had. God, he's a real piece of work. He wants her all for himself, and he doesn't care whether she lives. He's addicted to her magic and the boost it gives him. She's like a drug for him."
"Which means you probably shouldn't have anything to do with her once this is all said and done." She gave him a stern look, and then softened it. "You I know I care about you, you're a good guy, but can you really trust yourself around her?"
"She's powerful and she has no idea of that power. But I'm strong, too. I can control myself." He glanced away, not wanting Sam to know that he and Melody were already on slightly more intimate terms than she imagined. "I like her. Not because of her magic. She's feisty and raw and a little rough around the edges. I can't stop thinking about her, Sam. I'm drawn to her and it's not just because of her magic." He was sure those words were true, though he could see the doubt in her eyes.
"If this becomes a problem, you know I'll step in. Right?"
Noah nodded. Samantha might seem like the gentle one. The kind, mothering type, but she had power of her own, was a Godchild in her own right, and she was not someone he ever wanted to cross. "So can you give me a hand?" he asked again, reaching his out to her.
Samantha took a moment before grabbing it and giving it a squeeze. "Go on. Just a little though." She pressed her lips tight together, as if she were trying to avoid saying something more, but she couldn't help herself. "So you scared her off?"
"I was honest with her about what I was, and she asked questions. I told her the truth, which is more than that asshole would ever do. He came here, did you know?"
"When?" She frowned.
"While Melody was trying to help me. She got angry, sent him packing, but I know it's not the last we'll see of him."
Samantha shook her head. "No. He's trouble. Our boundary is too weak right now. He did have her marked though. A necklace he made. It would have drawn him here, helped him track her down, but still."
"Well, we knew it was weakening. We got those supplies for Constance to try and build it back up a bit, but he's a magical being. Those have always been harder to keep out." Noah closed his eyes, finally drawing a little energy from Samantha. Her magic was gentle and controlled, totally different to the stuff Melody had pouring out from her. It was a crime that no-one had ever taught her how to control herself. She'd been a walking target for an asshole her whole life. "Once he's dealt with, we'll find a way to secure the place, okay? But he needs to be sorted out first."
"You're right." Samantha drew her hand back and Noah felt the pang. He needed more than that to fully recover, but it was enough to get him moving again.
The phone rang in the kitchen and he struggled to get off the bed, wincing at the pain in his ribs.
Samantha shook her head. "Let me get it." She left, throwing him a worried look, only to return moments later, hand pressed over the mouth piece. "It's Jake's mother."
Dread filled Noah as he grasped the receiver. "Hey, what's up?"
"Some guy has Jake, Noah. I don't know what's going on. Melody came home and she's rushed off to get him."
"Shit. Do you know where?" Fear gripped Noah, for both of them. Robbie was a loose cannon and there was no telling what he'd do. And Melody. Of course she'd run off after Jake. No plan, no backup.
"She said something about down by the river, that she'd been there with him today. I don't know. Noah. Help her. I've failed her so badly and now I don't know what she's mixed up in."
"Hey, hey, don't worry. I'm going to go and find them. I'll make sure they're fine. Okay?"
"Thank you, Noah. Thank you."
He ended the call and threw the phone on the bed. "Fuck. Robbie's got them. Or at least Jake. Melody's gone after them."
"Oh hell." Samantha slumped. "What are we going to do?"
"You're going to go and see Constance. We need to do something about the barrier, and now. I'm going to go find Melody and make sure her and Jake get out of this alive."
"You're in no shape for that, Noah. You're a wreck."
"So give me another hit. Just enough to make me mobile. I'll see what else I can tap into on the way."
Samantha reached out again and he placed his fingers on her wrist, feeling the blood pulse, strong beneath his fingertips. He siphoned off just a little, just enough, and then forced himself off the bed and out the door.
Chapter Eighteen
It was full dark by the time she made it to the river. She paced back and forth along the town side before summoning the courage to cross. At least the rain had stopped.
"You can do this, Melody. You can. Jake needs you. And hey, even if he didn't, you'd have to face Robbie at some point. Now is as good a time as ever. Right?" She laughed. "No, face it. You'd have kep
t running until he forced your hand. You can thank him for that later. You are a chicken."
She let out a quiet scream and pressed her palms against her temples. "Come on, deep breaths." Yes, this was good, she could take her own advice. And it wasn't like she was totally devoid of skills. She had her air magic, not that she really had a lot of control over it. But she'd hurled him off a cliff, maybe she could string him up in a tree, or blow him to Africa.
A snort of laughter burst forth at that image; she'd pay money to see it.
Melody turned at the sound of boots on gravel, raising her hands in defence.
"It's just me." Noah. Of course he was here. The man just had to stick his nose into everything.
"Go home, Noah. This hasn't got anything to do with you."
"Like hell it doesn't," he snapped back. "Your mother called. I know Jake's out there. Think whatever you like, but I care about him, and I'll be damned if I let you go into this alone." He shuffled forward, his legs still a little unsteady, though he was much more agile than she thought he should be.
"Look at you, Noah! You can barely stand. How the hell did you even get here?"
"Well, unlike you, I have a car." He gave her a cheeky grin, but she shook her head.
"No. Noah. You can't come. I'm sorry." She tongued her teeth, ground them together. She had to be strong now, and besides, she wasn't even sure she could trust him, not if he was like Robbie.
He took a step towards her, but she moved backwards. He kept moving. "I know you probably don't trust me, but seriously, think about it Melody. You need me. How are you going to deal with Robbie and make sure Jake is safe at the same time? Let me help."
He had a point. Damn him. He was close now and she let him reach out and brush the hair back from her face. "Just let me help. Let me prove that you can trust me." His eyes drew her in, their deep brown warming her insides. She glanced away, not wanting to be seduced by his gaze.
