The woman’s voice was shrill and extremely annoying and the louder she screamed the more her ears hurt. She did her best to be considerate, to explain the situation, to remind her that she just saved her from whomever. Yet, for whatever reason she would not stop whimpering, screaming and just all around being noisy.

After the umpteenth time Melody tried to calm the woman, she felt the red haze begin to settle once again, and her temper flared. 

“Will you shut up.” She hissed. She had, at the moment, wanted more than anything for her to stop and she did. The whole thing was odd, but she was grateful. What was it that Evora had said? It is not hunger, but your will? What did that mean? Her eyes flicked back to the woman, and the words came, the meaning came and she didn’t let her rational mind fight it. She wanted to see what would happen.

“Lady, go home. Forget you saw anything.” She said, letting that electric hum flow through her words. She watched fascinated as the woman’s face slackened and she blinked, before tottering off. 

Useful, if unsettling.

This wasn’t a super populated part of town but she needed to clean this up before shit hit the fan  again. She drug the body over to the men’s room and propped him up in the stall, to be a problem for somebody else. She quickly made her way back to the women’s room, to see if she needed any – ah – cleanup. 

Her appearance utterly shocked her. She really hadn’t gotten a good look at herself since she died. It was shocking. Her skin was once light but very warm, her hair a rich brown. Her eyes were the color of coffee, with just a splash of cream. Now… Now she was so pale she nearly glowed under the fluorescent lighting, in contrast her hair seemed so dark. Her eyes were just a bit sunken and they seemed to glow, almost an amber color. Pulling her lips back she flinched. Six long teeth, four on top two on bottom. Canines and incisors elongated and lethally pointed. Same for the bottom two canines. They still had blood on them.

Mel let herself fall into that detached efficiency, the kind that she used when doing her crime photos. She cleaned herself of all blood on her that she could see and strode out back to the motel, and to her bike. She wasn’t staying here again, not now, not ever. 

Mounting her bike she pulled her phone out. Thalia… That was both an ongoing fire, but the question was, was it something soothing and warm, or a destructive blaze. Swiping open her messages she read Thalia’s text.

“So, hey, I suppose if… when you get up, meet me at the Foundry.I couldn’t stand just waiting there, seeing you like that. Went to get a drink.”

“Fucking fantastic.” Mel cursed. “But it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing, Mel. Don’t put the cart before the horse.” 

Deciding to ignore one fire for another she opened Martinez’ message.

“Melody, we need to meet. I have some… uncomfortable reports, but I’m not buying them. Let's just catch a coffee and figure this out, off the record.” 

She carefully put her phone back in her satchel and put her head in her hands for how long she didn’t know. Each second that went by seemed to create an ever growing list of problems. She wondered if this was normal or just a modern thing. Surely it must have been easier when the world couldn’t get a hold of you at literally every possible moment.

Fuck it, it’s still early. To Cade’s it is.

She kicked her bike into gear and spun out of the lot. She didn’t care how fast she was going, because at worst she would just die again. She let herself ride the thrill of speed and wind and weaving in and out of the (minimal) traffic. She let herself feel awesome, because so far all of it had sucked. 

Not all of it. 

She didn’t notice her grin, as she sped through the city on the back of her iron steed.

It didn’t take long to pull up to the Foundry. It was one hell of a bar. Almost a club, but not quite. It was more like a venue. Many nights secret shows and local bands took place in the shell of the old steel mill. Even when they weren’t Cade ran the bar. Cade – he was a good man, if gruff and quiet. He was in his mid forties or so she thought. He had one of those faces that made it hard to tell with salt and pepper hair more salt than pepper. He was handsome in the way a man made from hard work was handsome. 

Its flickering neon sign lit up the gravel lot. She wasn’t sure how she felt when Thalia’s beat up Corolla, but she was here. She saw a few others she recognized but didn’t really know, other regulars and the like. The music pulsed and the heavy beat thrummed in her chest drowning out the sound of heartbeats, clinking glasses and the constant murmur of conversation, though not even the smell of old urine could drown out the blood, and there was lots of it. 

It was a siren’s song, but just like sex or food, it was a lot easier to ignore when you’ve just had some. Not that the appeal was lost… 

She killed the bike and shoved her keys into the kangaroo pouch of her hoodie and stepped up to the door. This was it. Just have to open the door. Just like that, reach for the handle. Just as she was about to pull, it burst forward pushing her aside as someone she hadn’t seen before stumbled out. They reeked of alcohol. As she scrunched her nose, she couldn’t help but wonder… could I get drunk if I drank his blood? Though the thought wasn’t appealing, with his patchy beard and general state hygiene by the smell. 

Fuck it, Mel, you got this. 

One final breath later, she stepped through and jolted at the mass of overwhelming scents and sights. Normally a dim bar with flashes of light and color from whatever show was going on in the back, now it was a kaleidoscope of sensation. Combined with the feeling of loud bass, the thrumming in her body AND the electric hum, now this, this she could get used to. Then there was all the blood, sharp and tangy and sweet and heady all wrapped up with an undercurrent of copper. Though under it she could pick out different scents. Some sour, from men after a long day, Thalia’s honeysuckle body spray somewhere and… something else. Something earthy, very dog-like. 

Her eyes flicked to the bar, straight to Cade. His eyes were a little wide and he had a slight frown. He was down right fucking flabbergasted then, Mel thought, as she approached the bar. Some instinct, something she didn’t quite understand urged caution, and she listened and kept a calculated pace. 

She slid up to the bar at the end where a few empty spots were, and looked around. She noticed that more than Cade gave her a look, but she just ignored them. It would seem that more existed than she knew of. Of course it did. 

“Evening Mel. Rough night?” He asked, voice rough. 

“Rough couple of em.” She wrinkled her nose at the scent. It wasn’t unpleasant, but nonetheless one she wasn’t quite used to. 

“Well now, Mel, I like you and all, but you're kind… well I don’t really have much in the way of that.” He leaned on the bar casually, but a tension filled the air, “It’s not that you ain’t welcome, mind --” 

“Cade… what are you?” 

“Not what you are."

“That isn’t an answer.” I quipped.

“It’s the one you're getting.” His frown deepened, but he kept a peaceful demeanor. 

“You remind me of… Well, never mind that,” She said with a wry grin, “Maybe later you can answer a few questions. At least point me in the right direction?” 

His eyes shot up at that, and he scrunched his brows together in thought. He sat like that for some time. 

“Maybe, just don’t bring no trouble ‘round here. The one who did that to you should be doin that.”

“Yes well, she isn’t so I guess I gotta do it myself. Fine though Cade, I just don’t want trouble you know? I’m supposed to meet,” Here eyes flicked towards the source of the honeysuckle scent. She could see her there, feet propped up in a booth, the epitome of collected, or trying to seem that way, “Thalia.”

“You handlin’… things?” He asked, concern and something more lacing his voice.

“I already ate.” Mel said.

She didn’t bother to read his expression. If he was half as resourceful as she thought he was, even before the supernatural revelation, he would understand. She let herself strut with the music, enjoying the pulsing energy of the place, and enjoyed watching her friends' eyes widen, and hear her heartbeat start to race. As Thalia’s mask started to crack and fear showed through… 

She toned it back as she drew closer and slid into the seat opposite and kicked her own feet up, leaning back and letting her arm rest along the seat back. It was nice in a very normal way, reminding her of times they would come out this way and kick back a few drinks, catch a show. She glanced at the beer Thalia had and grimaced, before looking back to Thalia. 

“Melody… What – what happened to you?” 

Mel leaned her head back and stared up at the ceiling for a long time. Minutes maybe. She didn’t know how to answer such a loaded question. Her mind swirled with so many possible answers. Some true, some stretching things, some speculation, but all applicable. 

What did happen to you Mel?

“I died. Murdered to be precise.” She winced internally at how hollow and detached she sounded. 

She wasn’t looking and missed Thalia flinch. She just let her thoughts swirl and let her take the lead. She felt her shoulders relax at the scent of Thalia. They had at one point danced around taking a step past best friends. Neither of them took that step though, but her scent was comforting.

“How – I mean… I don’t know what I mean. Are you… ok?” 

“You are just a font of questions I don’t know how to answer, aren’t you?” Melody sighed, “Am I ok? I suppose that depends on what you mean. Not sure how exactly my ‘life’ ended, but I think – I was supposed to be one of those victims you’re seeing on the news.” 

The two were quiet for some time, Mel getting lost in the music, a solace and normalcy she hadn’t had in days now, and she was glad that she had ‘eaten’. She didn’t feel guilt, not exactly with that guy, but she didn’t feel good. She felt glad that the hunger and haze were dimmed for this moment, with her friend, her Thalia.

When Mel finally looked back at her, she was surprised by the look of… excitement on her face. One she saw many times as they had done all the stupid things they did in the past. There was still some strain around the eyes, something lingering, but it was good to know she wasn’t terrified of her, at least in that shrill scream kind of way. 

“I am sorry, Thalia, that I never believed you.” Mel said, voice low.

“It’s okay, Mel.” 

You’re a terrible liar, Thal, you know that? Plus I can hear your heart. It sped up right before you lied.”  

Thalia scoffed, something humorous and playful and with it Mel could feel some of the tension ebb, just a bit. 

“Well, fine. It isn’t. Not yet, but it will be.” Thalia beamed.