Merlin had been here recently to spy on Melody. Mab herself had been away at the time, but her people had hidden themselves the moment Merlin arrived in Avalon. Merlin might be aware of the shadows moving through the rest of Britain, but there was no good reason for them to announce their presence to him here in Avalon.

Mab hadn't planned on Nimue allowing Merlin back into the equation. She had been certain the woman would turn her former-lover away the moment he showed up. But rumor of Mab's return had frightened Nimue into cooperating with him again. Now Merlin would be snooping around in Avalon. It was about to get very difficult to hide her influence over Melody. Hiding from humans was easy, they couldn't see her anyway. Hiding from anyone with the Sight was much more difficult, especially a fully-trained wizard. She wished she could simply take Melody with her, make her disappear. But doing so now would announce her return like nothing else could. No, something else would have to be done and soon.

"Who are you?" Melody asked for the thousandth time since she'd met her.

"I am the Queen of Air and Darkness." Mab finally gave an answer.

Mab covered Melody's mouth with her own. Mab intended to fill her with darkness. Melody choked on it, a bittersweet mist that moved from Mab's mouth to her own. Mab pulled away and Melody felt like she had swallowed a rock. She also felt like she might be sick. The darkness settled heavily in the bottom of her stomach. "If you can bear to hold it inside of you for three days, then will become a part of you and you'll no longer feel it sitting there."

"So I have to suffer through a stomach-ache for three days?" Melody was already clutching her stomach.

"Don't eat anything." was Mab's dry suggestion.

But it didn't stop there. Mab insisted on her swallowing darkness several times over the long months of winter. She suffered with a stomach-ache more often than not. There was a food shortage in Avalon that winter, so in some ways, Melody supposed it was a good thing she didn't eat often.

The reason why she put up with the stomach-aches was because of the amazing feeling afterwards. Once the darkness finally dissolved, there was an adrenaline rush. Her heart sped, her senses increased, and the world around her seemed to pulse with unknown colors. This euphoria lasted quite awhile and she typically asked for sex during this time to heighten the experience.

Everything was going well. The child was unaware of what she was truly learning because Mab had conveniently never told her. Melody read all the books Mab brought her and she had mastered all the incantations she needed to know. Now she was learning the hand movements that would replace most of those spells.

Mab fed Melody parts of her own power in order to give the girl the power she would need, she was far too human otherwise. In return, Mab fed off the girl's hopes, desires, adoration, and lust.

By the time Mab was truly ready to return, she would also have a fully-trained sorceress as her right hand. Then she would destroy her enemies and Melody and herself would bask in the power that followed.

There was only one small problem: how to sever the girl's attachment to her mother and Avalon.

All Merlin could see was Melody's aura becoming darker and darker over time. Something was wrong. This kind of thing didn't happen on its own. Did Mab have to the power to reach out beyond the grave and affect someone like this? Even within the very walls of Avalon?

But how could he protect Melody without revealing his existence to her? If he were allowed to walk right up to her, he could cast a protection circle around her and protect her from whatever was reaching out to influence her. He didn't know how to explain Melody's changing aura to Nimue, she couldn't see what he could see. There was no way Merlin could convince Nimue to allow him to reveal himself to his daughter.

A week later, the decision was taken out of his hands, for he discovered something beyond his worst nightmares had come true.

Mab's lips were locked on Melody's, her tongue moving slowly through the girls' mouth. This was the last one. Her form was completely solid and visible now. Mab pulled back with triumph. Melody wavered on her feet for a second like a drunk person, but then recovered in time to see a man gaping at them in horror from the shadows. After a few moments he seemed to recover enough to come straight for them and he specifically aimed for Melody.

Melody screamed when he reached for her and he paused at the sound. Then the girl fled and hid behind Mab. The fact that she had screamed at him and then ran to Mab, bewildered him.

"Now don't look so confused Merlin. This is the women's section of Avalon after all. Men aren't allowed here. You've frightened the girl." Mab spoke with amusement, Melody still hiding behind her.

"Frightened her? I find you here molesting her. And she's frightened of me?" Merlin ranted.

Mab couldn't help but burst out laughing at the hysterics.

Melody peered around her body. "Who is that man?"

"My pet-wizard, Merlin. Isn't he delicious?" Mab purred. "Good enough to eat...or kill."

Mab's eyes gleamed malevolently.

I don't know if Melody is going to be pleased with Mab's plans once she finds out. ;) Please Review.