Chapter Two: Melody in Maine

The flight from Court to Maine wasn't a long one, especially not when you had your own private jet. Melody lived with her oldest sister Mabel. Some place just south of August were we landed and drove another half an hour to their house.

Eddie and I talked little on the way, spending the first five minutes discussing things. He told me that he was dating the Alchemist, Sydney. And had been for over a year now but was too nervous to propose to her. I actually felt happy for him; it was about time that he got someone.

Afterwards he spent much of his time talking to our tag-along guardian, Guardian Hedrick's, who was about my age with thick curly hair and brown eyes.

The house wasn't even that grand, which shocked me for even though they were a small group, they had a lot of money- Nothing compared to the Ivashkov's- and usually showed it, not out here in some small area surrounded by woods and what-not.

I remembered Melody from the time I was thirteen, she'd been my first kiss and I was obsessed with her for a week before being introduced to another girl who was an age older than me.

The drive-way was gravel and the house was a log cabin with stacks of Firewood outside and lush bushes.

Apparently Fred had called ahead so that the girls and their two guardians were waiting on us, for as soon as I put a foot out Melody came running from the door with a smile on her mouth.

Even I had to admit Melody was beautiful, not as much as Rose was but still. Not in the exotic or in-human make-up covered way, she was modest and always had been.

She wasn't that tall, maybe an inch or two than Rose, she had red hair that wasn't a flame but was more of a mahogany color, and she had these pale brown eyes with hints of hazel on the side, freckles on her cheeks and nose and dimples. She wasn't dressed up either, in skinny jeans and a brown blouse that showed little cleavage and made her eyes pop.

Mabel came after her, she was only three years older than me and had her sisters eyes but that was about it, standing at around 6'2 she was a bright blonde woman with hair that could be mistaken for yellow, no freckles and a thinner face then Melody's, she too was pretty and dressed like they'd been home all day, not about to try to impress a fellow royal, in shorts and a button-up dark blue shirt.

"Adrian!" Melody said and wrapped her hands around my neck; I laughed and hugged her back. "Long time no see Mel."

She laughs and Mabel says hello and I kiss her hand which she grins at, looking back at Melody I am surprised to see her eyes drifting off towards Hedrick's.

Funny, she didn't seem like the type who went for Dhampir's, then again people changed a lot when you hadn't seen them in years.

"You look good." She says, her eyes examining me in a not checking out way but just seeing what I looked like now, "Thanks, you too,"

Her eyes drift to the guys, "And who are your friends?"

I chuckle, "This is Eddie Castile and Damien Hedrick's."

"Nice to meet you." She said smiling at them, though mostly at Damien. "Melody Badica." She shook their hands but held onto Damien's for a second longer, he stared at her too, eyes filling with interest,

"Won't you come in?" Mabel asked, interrupting her sisters ogling; to my surprise she didn't even seem upset about it.

"Sure." I answered for the boys, "But we can't stay long,"

"Of course." She said and led us inside, Eddie was on my left examining the area while Melody and Damien talked quietly behind the group, "Where are you guardians?" he asked her, raising his eyebrows.

"Hm? Oh, Vanessa and Bruce are inside, don't worry. We have wards and there's rarely any Strigoi around here, it's kind of secluded plus not many people know or really care about Mel and I, we just float alongside the Badica's, ever since the attack a few years ago we've all been like this."

Eddie nods, "Ah, you shouldn't be too careful though, in that same year my academy got attacked and we had wards."

"I heard about that." She led us into a warm cozy looking house with stone walls, a large fireplace near the side, two black leather couches, a glass table, Indian rugs and through the arched doorway near the back of the room, kitchen.

"The living room." she waves her hand like how they do in the movies, on one of the couches a woman Dhampir with short brown hair looks up at us then back to the magazine she was reading, "This is Guardian Vanessa Greene, Vanessa this is Adrian, Edward and Damien."

"Nice to meet you." She checks me out quickly before looking back down, eh. Female guardians never looked at Moroi men like they used to, too afraid of getting pregnant or something like that. I didn't blame them.

She shows us the kitchen and then the hallway before we walk to the back patio which is screened in, "So you came here to do what now?" She asks, once we are all sat down and have a cup of either tea or coffee.

"According to my Psychologist I have to visit all my girlfriends from the past and apologize before I get married."

"For what?" Melody asks, "We dated for a day when we were twelve! Why do you have to apologize to me?"

"Actually," I corrected her, "We were thirteen and I don't know, he gave me a list of names and sent me on my way with these two." I nodded at Eddie and Damien, "Why you're on there I don't know."

Melody shrugs, sipping at her tea, "its okay, good seeing someone from the past here, we don't have many Moroi around here, and who are you getting married to?"

I hold back a groan, "Kasey Dashkov."

Mabel laughs, not able to hold it in and her aurora tells me that both she and Mel find this hilarious, "That moron?" Mel looks like she's going to die laughing, "Why on earth are you marrying her?"

I let myself groan, "My father is making me,"

Their faces turn apologetic at this, "And you can't back out of it?"

"I doubt it."

Mabel looks thoughtful, "Don't you love another woman?"

Yes. The one who left me for a guy who played with her heart forever? Yes, yes I do.

"We broke up three years ago."

Eddie frowns at this; he knows who I am talking about.

"Was it Hathaway? When I visited my mum and dad I heard some other Moroi talking about it."

I nod, "It was and always has been Rose."

"Why did you two break up then if you loved her?"

My heart breaks at this, "She was and has always been in love with another man, she chose him over me."

Eddie looks like he is having a mental battle inside; he looks like he wants to say something but keeps thinking better of opening his mouth, interesting.

"I'm sorry." Mel takes my hand and squeezes it, though Mabel doesn't look so put-down, she almost looks angry,

"And you didn't go after her?" she bares her fangs at me, what is her problem?

"No …"

"Well why not? That's just stupid! You need to tell Rose how you really feel and try to get her back!"

"Why should I?" my voice sounds pained, "She is happy with him! She has always wanted him and now that she finally got him she is happy, which is what I have always wanted!"

"But what about you Adrian?" asks Mel, "Is this what you really want?"

I stand up suddenly, "It is getting late, and I have to go. Come on guys."

The other two stand up immediately, "were leaving."

"Adrian wait!" Mabel calls as we step out the front door, "Think about what I said, stop worrying about other happiness and do something for you and not them!"

I close the door, looking up at the driver who had been waiting patiently, "Come on, back to the airport."

He nods and we drive off, Mabel and Melody's words hang in my head though, and in some sick part of my mind I believed them, why was I never allowed to be happy?

Why couldn't I just do something for me?

Review's please? :D