My name's Melody. I'm a small girl, one that no one sees as a threat. But that's so wrong, I can be a killing machine if I want to. I have black hair and brown eyes. I was orphaned at six years old when my parents died in a car crash. So naturally, I was sent to an orphanage, but I hated it there and decided to run away. I hitched a ride on a ship to a country I didn't know, and wandered around there for a couple of weeks, scouring trash cans for food. After a couple of weeks I caught a sickness, and with my small supply of food, was dying quickly. I knew I was dying, and decided I wanted a nice place to die. So I journeyed to the country side, where there were valleys and beautiful lakes. There were no villages near there so I would be alone.

Now let me tell you how I met Bel.

One day, I was sitting in a cave next to a little fire, watching the rain pour down outside, when suddenly a boy came dashing in, who looked about the same age as me, maybe a little older. He was drenched with cold rain; sporting a purple striped shirt, a trench coat, black pants, white boots, and a tiara. Yes a tiara. He had golden hair that covered his eyes, and he was covered in scratches. He looked like he was limping. I stared in shock at his sudden arrival.

"That...was...close..." He said, panting heavily, his knees shaking. It seemed that he didn't notice me, and I just sat there observing him from the shadows, obviously terrified of this newcomer. Then he fell to the ground, and after a few moments I realized that he had passed out from exhaustion.

What was that? Who is he? What happened to him? Why is he covered in blood and scratches? These were some questions swirling around in my mind as I watched him.

A few minutes later, I shakily approached him and sat next to him. I carefully put my hand on his chest. Good, his heart's beating. Slowly though. When I withdrew my hand I screamed when I saw it was covered in blood. I jumped back in surprised, wondering if he had woken up, but the boy was still unconscious. I went out into the rain and washed the blood of my hand, fascinated.

After some critical thinking, I decided I wanted to help the boy, even though I was terrified of him. I went to the back of the cave and looked at my supplies. There was a ragged old blue blanket, a loaf of bread, and a bowl. This was all I had. I grabbed the bowl and went to the edge of the cave, filling it with water.

I went back to the boy and set the bowl beside him. Then I stared at him for a couple of seconds. His hair was all messy and his mouth was ajar. I smiled. He was kind of cute after all, especially with that tiara. Woah, WHAT? Did I just think that! Nevermind.

I grabbed his arm and carefully slipped off his trench coat; after all it was dripping wet. Humming, I pulled it through the left arm, around the back, and- ouch what was that? Something sharp and pointy. That hurt. I pulled the 'pointy object' out and saw that it was a knife. THE HECK? What was this kid doing with a knife?

But I just set it to the side and proceeded to take off the jacket. I found eight more knives hidden in that black mess. Believe me, it scared me to death. After that, I took the bowl of water and cleaned his wounds. When I finished, I carried, okay dragged (he was too heavy after all) him until he was lying on top of my ragged blanket, sleeping soundly. I put his trench coat and creepy knives next to him along with his crown.

And then I too passed out from exhaustion. After all, I was only six; and when you're only six, you don't usually have to drag other kids across rooms. When I woke up, the boy was still there, but he was sitting up and leaning against the wall, staring at me. Holding a knife. Yes a knife. Mumbling, I quickly sat up too, facing him.

"H-Hello there...um...did you just wake up?" I say. I glance at the knife in his hand.

He's silent for a while then says, "Where am I? Who are you?" He asks innocently. (Btw this probably the only time he's ever been innocent.)

"Um, well, I'm an orphan...This is...where I...live..i ran away from the orphanage months ago..ah...well yesterday you sorta ran in here and passed out...so I cleaned your w-wounds and..um...yea..."

I sounded nervous. Why am I nervous? He's just some kid. Well, some kid with beautiful blonde hair...and well, a knife.

"oh ok, thanks." He says, like's it's perfectly normal, adjusting his tiara.

He continues. "I'm Belphegor, but you can call me Bel. I'm a prince."

A prince? Sure... "I'm Melody...nice to meet you." I say then I nervously glance at the knife again.

"Oh, whoops, shishi" He says, laughing nervously and putting the knife down, "sorry to scare you. I didn't mean to."

I nervously smile. "it's okay."

He smiles back. Dang...that smile. That smile can cure cancer.

A little too bluntly, I burst out, "Why do you have knives anyway?"

I blush, and wait, not expecting him to answer. But he does.

"Well, I'm a prince you see, and I want to become a master knife thrower. See?" and he picks up the knife and throws it at a bug on the wall. I gasp as it hits it target perfectly and the bug splats, blood dripping down the wall.

Wow, that's pretty cool, I wish I could do that. Then maybe my dream of becoming a secret agent can come true.

Before I can stop myself, I'm saying it out loud, "Wow, that's pretty cool, I wish I could do that."

"Ushishishi well, I could teach you if you want, princess."

That laugh. I like it. And did he just call me "princess"?

"R-really?"

"Yep!"

"Cool!...um...Wait...why would you do that...you don't even know me that well..."

"What are you talking about? You took care of me when I was injured. You're my friend now!"

I grin, "ok."

"Cool!" He gives me a toothy grin and I return one, but mine quickly fades. My heart sinks in sudden realization. I have other issues to worry about...

Bel starts to frown too, "Wait, why are you frowning Melody?"

Stop frowning Bel, it makes your face look weird.

"I-I'm...I mean...it's great that I have a new friend..but it's no use...I just don't think I have the time or energy...I've been sick for a while...I don't have much food...I think I'm..I-I'm...going to d-die soon."

And before I can stop myself, I'm bursting in tears.I wanted to stop, but I just...can't. I'm too ashamed to look at Bel. I mean, what does he think of me anyways? Of a little skinny, dirty, poor girl crying in front of him who's going to die soon? He's not saying anything, why is he not saying anything? But I'm too scared to look up and see his face.

Surprisingly, not a moment after I start crying, Bel reaches out and grabs me, hugging me very tightly. It's strangely comforting.

Then he says quietly, "It's okay. I won't let anything bad happen to my princess."