Mel sat at the bar, watching Cade pace. Thalia slid onto the stool next to her and let her hand rest gently on Mel's thigh and Mel felt her shoulders relax. It was a small gesture, something grounding, and Thalia was the only one in her corner so far. Needing something to do with her hands, she pulled one of the last few cigarettes from her pack with a frown. She would need to get more. 

“Why do you even do that?” Cade asked, voice a growl, “Not like you can enjoy it.” 

The cherry burned bright in the dim room, the only other light, a neon “beer” sign glowing dimly. She let the smoke linger for a good ten seconds before exhaling slowly.

“Because,” She gestured, “It’s movement, it’s an action, it satisfies the – I’m not sure what it is, that I suppose keeps me going. It uh – also helps me focus and tune out different sensations, otherwise it’s a lot.” 

“Huh. I always wondered why I’ve seen your kind smoke. Anyway, that isn’t important.” He leaned heavily on the bar, “I will admit, you didn’t start it, but I am the one cleaning your shit up. So I want something in return.”

“Cade, be reasonable—” Thalia interjected.

“I am being reasonable. You already know way too much, human.” He growled. 

Mel gave Thalia a glance, a warning. Thalia scowled but didn’t say anything.

“What do you need? I am happy to help more beyond this. One- I need some paying gigs, and two- I accept and understand that I owe you.” Melody said flatly. 

“Good. Glad we understand one another. So here is the deal: One of my pack, Mat, has gotten himself into a spot of trouble. He’s young, headstrong, and doesn’t like that we are under the thumb of Lira. Well now he got caught up in a trap, being seen doing things he shouldn’t be doing. He killed one of Lira’s little lackeys, and another of her lackeys, a human in her thrall caught it all up on tape. Fortunately he’s an idiot and trying to blackmail us on his own. You will deal with him, and if shit goes south, you deal with the fallout.”

“I see. What kind of resolution are you hoping for?” Mel asked. 

“Your discretion.” 

“Right. So then, have a photo or description?” 

“Mmm, yeah. I know Nathan Moore, journalist for The Iron City Times.” 

Mel let out a sigh, frustrated at this turn of events. Not for the first time she questioned how deeply supernatural things were embroiled in this city. She couldn’t help but fathom, why here of all places. She mentally added that to her to do list, alongside how to keep Daniel off her back. 

“Well, I know him. Works with Daniel, because of course he does.” Mel said, taking a long drag. 

“Yeah, speaking, Daniel was looking for you.” Cade added.

“Oh, I know. Anyway, consider it done.”

Mel moved to get up, but stopped as Cade gestured for her to stop. He ducked behind the bar briefly before slapping a handful of bills on the table. Mel looked at them curiously, flicking between the money and Cade.

“Get Mat out of this, and maybe I can front some more money, work on something with the pack. I’ll double it if I’m impressed.” 

Mel slid her hand on the bar, stopping just over the cash.

“Why?” 

“Because as much as I bluster and growl, I do like you Mel. You were a good sort before and I reckon if you manage yourself and don’t get killed, again anyway, you could be an asset. Consider this an investment.”

Mel chewed her lip thoughtfully, ignoring the pricking of her fangs. She could play more than one side. The thing with Rowan and Martinez, that was dangerous. Temporary. No matter what she did, how controlled she ever was, eventually that was going to be a problem.

“As I’m sure you know, these killings aren't actual vampires.” 

“No shit.”

“What if I said that… they’re connected to the PD and the hunters in some way.” 

At that Cade’s eyebrows shot up. So that part was news to him. Perhaps they were staying away from this. Cade’s attitude suggested they were trying to remain neutral, so they might not be sticking their nose in this. 

“That would be interesting indeed. Assuming you do say that, what is it exactly that makes you think that.” Cade asked, not hiding his curiosity. 

“That cop, Keegan? He was one of the two that killed me, and according to – well, the one turned me, left me bleeding all over the lot with the signature cut throat they’ve been trying to sell off as vampires.”

“It is just hearsay, but… something worth considering.”

Mel took the stacked bills and slid it into her satchel and pulled Thalia along with her. Stepping into the lot, she spotted Frank and the other one from earlier. She sighed and grimaced at her smoke nearly burning at the base before flicking it into the gravel and snuffing it out with the toe of her boot. Fortunately one of them rolled her bike back into the lot from wherever it was hidden.

“Sorry, my guy,” Mel said, stepping forward, “I have it kosher with Cade.” 

The other one, Tom, scowled and said nothing. 

“Yeah, I’m not happy, but what can you do? This isn’t the first time. Trouble always follows your kind.”

“So it seems. Look,” She paused digging a scrap of paper before scribbling her number on it, “I do mean it, I’m not looking for trouble, just trying to figure out how to fucking exist, you know? You need something, I’m happy to help. Sides, got bills to pay still.” 

Frank flashed a wry grin, but took it and slid into his jeans pocket. 

“Well, I like you better than Lira, queen bitch that she is. Not worth the fight to get her to see things differently.” Frank replied.

“Huh, good to know. See you around.” Mel said. 

--

Beth watched as the two men worked to haul the bodies away of the two foolish ‘vampire hunters.’ She scoffed at the thought, at the possibility, of the two of them being anything close to a threat to her dragon. She smiled at the thought. 

She watched as Mel made her reappearance out of the bar with her… friend in tow, her arm locked through the others. She could be a problem, Beth, thought recognizing her. That was Thalia, one of the accounts she was trying to get into. Yet, this could still be an opportunity. She would just follow them, see if she could learn anything else this night.

As Melody kicked her motorcycle to life and spun it around, their eyes locked for one brief second. Beth was sure of it. As the bike roared off into the night, she slid her car out into the street quietly and followed at a distance. Yet as she tried to follow, she watched the bike gain ground, faster than she dared keep up. Scowling she let her dragon fly but she would find her. She would be worthy. 

--

Mel sped off into the distance, enjoying the wind and hum of the engine. She also enjoyed Thalia wrapped around her to stay on the bike, and the dark curl of something possessive growing. She didn’t know what to think or make of it other than it felt… good. 

Though she couldn’t shake the feeling of a threat tonight. She saw the car, saw the girl in it, watching. At the distance, even with her better vision, she couldn’t make out much. Somehow, whoever that was knew way too much and was a threat. It wasn’t hard to evade their clumsy attempts at following, as she took off at speeds she could handle, but doubted the other could with their car.

It didn’t take long before she flew into the apartment lot and slid the bike into the usual corner space she had been keeping it in. Killing the engine she let her ears strain against the sudden silence, only hearing the rhythmic pulse behind her, and the Thalia’s exhilarated breaths from the racing speed. 

Mel let a low and throaty hum escape. She was still relishing in the blood, the electric hum in her veins to want the night to end. Still she stepped off her bike, only a hint of reluctance, glancing back at her friend. She marveled in the way her eyes sparkled, wide in the aftermath of everything tonight. At that moment, she regretted ever doubting her. 

Thalia let out a long sigh, letting her head hang back and her hair cascaded down her back. Mel probed at her fangs seeing Thalia’s taught throat, the bubbling possessiveness, heavy and ticklish curling around her once more. Mel could still taste the blood at the back of her tongue and knew she could have more, would always want more. 

How would you taste, I wonder? Her nose wrinkled slightly as she sniffed at the air, hoping to catch the scent of her blood just under her skin. 

“You have that look again.” Thalia said, pulling Mel out of her thoughts. “The same one from the other night. What are you thinking?” 

Mel didn’t miss the tease in her voice, the current in the air. She wasn’t stupid, she knew Thalia saw something she wanted, an escape, a way out in her. Mel was becoming Thalia’s walking Shangri’ La. What Mel couldn’t decide, however, was if that was a bad thing. Unlike last time, Mel couldn’t find any hesitation in the flirt. 

Mel turned on her heels to face Thalia, languid and serpentine. She stalked closer listening to the rush of blood just under her skin, the hungry red haze pulsed in time to her heart clouding her mind. Thalia backed away, hands up in surrender and a smile before being pinned against the wall. 

“You should be afraid of me.” Mel whispered, “I could kill you.” 

“You won’t though. No one will enable you like I would, and no one else would be worth the trouble to pull back from the edge like me.” 

Throaty laughter bubbled up from Melody’s throat, rich and velvet from the blood still coating her throat. Mel knew she shouldn’t be doing this, but right now, she just didn’t care. 

“You’re so sure that I won’t go too far or that I won’t pull you into the dark with me,” Mel teased, leaning closer, anticipating the moment her fangs pierced skin, “Let’s say I do. I won’t let you fail. I will drag you with me.” 

Thalia pushed against Mel, trying to test her strength. Mel didn’t budge and Thalia never lost the smile as she drowned in something dangerous and dark. 

“Only you get that privilege, huh?” Thalia teased, a mirror of the same line from the other night.

“That’s right.” Mel whispered, before striking.

Melody’s knees nearly buckled at the heady taste, thick and cloying and honeyed. She pressed in closer, biting harder. She could hear Thalia's gasp, but that didn’t stop her. If Thalia wanted this, she got the good with the bad, the pleasure with the pain. 

Resisting every ounce of instinct she pulled back, looking at Thalia, her torn throat, she sliced her palm and smeared her own blood along the wounds. That black serpent, the possessiveness she felt curled and slithered around her spine. She watched, fascinated as Thalia's skin knit back together in response to her inner command. 

Heal and be mine. 

--

Thalia gasped at the pain, the fire on her throat and the inky chill that spread through her as she hung on to Melody. She could feel her limbs grow heavy and face flush at the wet sounds of Mel drinking her blood. It was everything she wanted, everything she feared and she loved every second. The fear of approaching oblivion, dancing on the edge of life and death. 

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I don’t care. 

Suddenly she felt Mel pull back and with blurred vision she looked into her eyes, drowning in the hunger of them. Her mind was racing and slow all at once struggling to keep up with what was happening. She watched as Mel sliced her palm and gasped at the cold current that spread through her as Melody put her bloodied palm to her neck.

She could feel Melody in a way, like an echo next to her cold and sharp and hungry. She could almost feel that hum Mel would talk about, like invisible strings coiling along her limbs and in her mind. Some part of her, something sane and normal was screaming at her, berating her for the deal she just made with the devil, but the dark, curious part of her mind, the core of who she was, the thirst to learn relished at what just happened. 

Her eyes focused, just enough to see the black inky blood drip from Melody’s hand. She reached for it, on instinct or insanity, but she took Mel’s palm and licked the blood from it, some dark part of her demanding it. Thalia didn’t know what it would do to her, and she didn’t care. 

It was cold, metallic and bitter, it was a poison she knew she wouldn’t quit, just like spirits. She could feel Mel’s gaze on her, but didn’t meet her gaze, just fell back against the wall and let her head spin from the blood loss. She felt as if she did something profound and life altering. 

As her mind was slowing, some part of her knew she just made a deal with the devil. She made a deal that couldn’t be undone. That thought bubbled up again, the one she pushed down. The want to learn and know all the deep and dark corners of what just happened. Of what could happen now. What lines will they cross together? With a wry twist of her lips, she realized she never had any lines in the sand drawn. 

“You’re mine now. You will be until your heart stops beating. You know that?”

Thal could only hum in response. Everything was heavy and she didn’t try to talk. 

“Part of me is horrified by what I just did, Thal. I should be sorry, ashamed, something other than pleased. That’s what the rational part of my mind keeps telling me.” Mel said, picking up Thalia, “Maybe it was just tonight. Maybe it's you.”

Thalia could feel herself being carried up the stairs. She just let limbs hang loose and her eyes stay closed. The cold curling in her chest should terrify her, but the sharp echo of Mel next to her – it was something profound, exciting.

“You’re bad for me Thal, or maybe – maybe I don’t care all that much anymore.” Mel continued. “Sleep, rest.” 

The command slithered down all the icy strings in her mind, along her limbs and she couldn’t help but obey. Her last thoughts were the softness of a bed underneath her and the warmth of covers pulled over her.