Chapter 51

"You did not follow your orders, Lysa."

"I won't hurt any of them. I already told you that." Melyssa stated with conviction in her tone, standing in front of the Grandmaster. "I found out who the new mayor is, that was all that was required of me."

"Until you were ordered to eliminate him. He's a threat to us…" The Grandmaster tapped her chin with her finger, contemplating what to do with her new Enforcer and suddenly, an idea popped into her head. "You told them you now resided in Crossbell City, correct?"

"Yes, but…" It had been a lie; Melyssa really didn't live anywhere and traveled from place to place with Ouroboros.

The Grandmaster smiled wickedly, her eyes practically glowing. "That was a brilliant story on your part…and one we will bring to fruition."

"What are you saying?"

"You will reside in Crossbell City from here on out and keep an eye on things regarding the mayor. And IF he gets in our way, you WILL do as you are told." The Grandmaster ordered, folding her arms in front of her chest.

"I won't do it." Melyssa stood her ground, not flinching or moving, besides her head snapping to the side, when the Grandmaster backhanded her.

"You will."

"No!" Another backhand, this time to the other side of her face. Once again, she did not move and kept her hands clasped behind her back.

The Grandmaster scowled, not appreciating being defied, but she also expected this from Melyssa – no, Lysa. "Stubborn girl! You would really go against me, us, for the sake of protecting Machias Regnitz?! What has he ever done for you?!"

"He's on the list of people you swore never to hurt, if I agreed to become an Enforcer…"

"IF none of them intervened in our plans! Read between the lines, Lysa!"

Melyssa didn't dare lower her eyes from the Grandmaster and squared her shoulders, not budging. "You can torture me or have McBurn do it, but I will NOT go against any of them." They're still my friends and I care about them, all of them, she added in thought, knowing better than to say it aloud.

The Grandmaster narrowed her eyes, her jaw clenching at the disobedience of this girl, but she had to admit, Lysa had fire. McBurn had been right to recruit her, even if it was against her will. "I am sure McBurn would LOVE to get his hands on you…" She tried once more to instill some kind of fear into her Enforcer, to shatter that wall she built over the past two years.

"So be it, then."

"Hmph, very well." The Grandmaster turned and moved to sit back on her chair, crossing one leg over the other. "You will be my eyes and ears when it comes to Machias Regnitz. Do whatever is necessary to get close to him, find out his agenda for Crossbell City and report back to me directly. You don't have to eliminate him, but you WILL be my spy. Are we clear?"

Melyssa didn't have a problem with that, even though it would still be hurting Machias in a way. At least it wasn't physical and she could accept these terms. "Yes, Grandmaster, I can do that much." She agreed reluctantly, bowing her head and already planned on protecting Machias against Ouroboros, if and when it came down to it.

"Good, you're excused." The Grandmaster waved her hand, watching the newest Enforcer leave and a devious smirk curved her lips. She's proving to be more useful than she could ever realize.

Now, Melyssa REALLY had to find a place to live in Crossbell City and fast.

"I dislike Crossbell." Ash announced, staring at the city alongside Crow Armbrust, his pink eyes narrowing as he took it in. The city was rapidly expanding it seemed and he could already see the future growth under Machias' 'mayoral' rule. He snorted, shaking his head as they set off on the road leading into the city.

"You dislike everything." Crow retorted with an easy grin, though his red eyes were hard.

He knew why Ash disliked Crossbell. Anything to do with Melyssa or what they knew of her past, Ash disliked. Ash was also convinced she was alive and probably in no good spot, most likely due to the fact that Ouroboros had never sent a gloating message about her demise, or her head in a basket, something along that nature.

For once, the Grandmaster was a lifesaver and had set up an apartment for Melyssa to live in. It was on the commoner side of the city, which she didn't mind since, in her eyes and heart, she was a commoner. Regardless of what her father had told her about the Brackett dynasty. Brackett was no longer her name. Lysa Reynolds was and she had to start living in the present and owning that name.

Deciding to keep her hair in corkscrew curls, since that was how she met Machias and Emma once again, Melyssa thought about also dying her hair and dismissed it. No, that would give off warning signs to the perceptive witch. Besides, she loved her hair the way it was and didn't want to change it just because she had to spy on her former comrades. Stepping out of her orbal car, Melyssa starting grabbing bags out of her vehicle, having gone shopping to grab some things she needed for her new apartment.

Ash had been relocated to Crossbell for some assignment for his job. He had accepted on the grounds that he point blank never had to step foot in Jurai. It had been a cold, startling and then intensely painful realization, discovering he had loved Melyssa. She had clicked with him, gotten him on levels he hadn't known existed and he knew it was the same for her. Maybe not the love part, but he had thought that if things hadn't gone sideways, maybe she could have fallen for him. Once she had gotten past Crow and Rean anyway, the woman had men lining up for her affections, he had found it hilarious.

In retrospect, not so much.

A gust of wind suddenly blew past her, taking one of the very light bags with it and she groaned, cursing under her breath. "Damn it!"

She dropped the rest of the heavier bags on the sidewalk and began chasing it down, wondering where this wind came from. The weather report didn't call for winds of Gehenna today! Turning the corner, she plowed right into a brick wall, or so it felt like and Melyssa stumbled backward, taking the brunt of the impact. She'd been through a lot worse and slowly looked up at the hand clasping her light bag until pink met perplexed teal.

"Oh Goddess, I'm so sorry!" It was Ash Carbide…and Crow, both staring at her with wide eyes. "T-That's my bag, I was chasing it because of the WIND!" She shrieked out that word, immediately pulling her skirt down when another gust came up to try to blow it up.

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to wear a skirt today.

"You should probably take care that the rest of you doesn't blow off." Ash drawled lazily, not bothering to hide the fact that Mother Nature had just delivered a spectacular if not brief view of this woman's panties. He slowly dragged his eyes up from her legs and waist view, she had that skirt firmly down now and was probably glaring daggers at him, finally looking into her face and blinked. "What's your name?" He demanded with a lot less finesse then he normally possessed.

"Ash…" She did look very familiar and Crow found himself scrutinizing her as well. Now he wanted to know her name as well, frowning at himself.

Goddess, please don't let them recognize me, Melyssa silently prayed, taking a tentative step back from both of them. "Lysa. Lysa Reynolds…" She tilted her head slightly, playing the part flawlessly.

Her heart was thundering in her chest and she could only hope they didn't hear it. Over the past two years, Melyssa had learned to hold her emotions in, to not show them and the only thing they could see in her eyes at the moment was confusion. She took her bag from Ash without him handing it back, tucking it under her arm.

"And who are you two gentlemen?" She inquired, figuring it was only fair since Ash was being rather cross with her. Not that she blamed him, but Melyssa had a role to play.

Crow had his memories back, as much as sometimes he wished he didn't, and his eyes were still locked on her face. He was mentally removing make-up, undoing that corkscrew hairstyle. He wanted to say Lyssa, but refrained and the only thing that made him do so was the fact that there was absolutely no recognition from her at all. He could see nothing in those eyes that even hinted at familiarity.

Ash made the introductions with a wry smile, glancing up at the apartment building. "Just moving in?" He asked with more politeness than he was feeling at the moment. At her nod, his grin widened. "I'm in the same building."

WHAT?! Melyssa's mind screamed while she remained calm on the outside, her eyes widening in honest surprise. "Oh, really?" What in GEHENNA was she supposed to do now?! Ash was living in the same building as her?!

"I am too." Crow announced, finally finding his voice and waited to see what her reaction would be.

I am so screwed! Melyssa smiled at them both, both of her brows up now. "Wow, what a coincidence then! How long have you two been staying here? I wouldn't mind getting to know my new neighbors, after all. I'm on the second floor."

"So are we." Crow and Ash replied simultaneously.

This had to be some kind of joke, right? BOTH of them were not only in the same building, but on the same FLOOR as her?! "Well, at least I know some of my neighbors will be tolerable, so that's a good thing." She began picking her bags up from the store, the one still beneath her arm and frowned when they began helping. "Oh no, that's not necessary, you guys. I can get them, they're not heavy…"

"What kind of gentlemen would we be if we didn't offer a beautiful woman such as yourself our assistance?" Crow asked with what was meant to be a charming smile but it came out crooked. "Besides, we have nothing better to do, do we Ash?"

"Nothing pressing at the moment I can think of." Ash replied easily, eyeing her car. "Might as well pop the boot, these muscles are for more than just show, sweetheart." He hadn't called a woman beautiful since Melyssa and he doubted he ever would.

Truthfully, she was just as strong as them, but since they were adamant about helping her, she'd play the damsel card for a little while. "Thank you both." Melyssa opened the door for them to enter and followed them up to the second floor, pulling her keys out. "Ah here we are, number 7." Luckily, she hadn't started unpacking yet and didn't have much to begin with. Ouroboros had taken care of making sure she had furniture, including a bed, prior to moving in. "Come on in, boys." She held open the door for them to enter with the bags. "You can put them on the kitchen table." Closing her door, Melyssa retrieved some water from the fridge and tossed them each one since it was warm outside.

Ash was trying not to laugh, sharing a look with Crow. "So, neighbor," He cleared his throat impishly. "Ms. Reynolds," She wasn't married so that was a plus, if he decided to really lay on the charms, he wouldn't have to worry about a pissed off husband or wife coming after him. "I am right across the hall from you." He had 'moved in' last week and by that he meant he had sent his stuff on ahead and he was just now getting here physically.

"And I am right next door to your left." Crow added, studying her face intently as he took a slow sip of the water. "Thank you."

At least Ash hadn't lost his sense of humor and charm factor. Granted, they both seemed…hardened since the last time they saw each other. She knew it had to be partially due to what happened in Jurai with her disappearance.

"Good to know. I suppose if we need to borrow something from each other, it won't be difficult to ask, right?"

They shook their heads and she winked at them before downing half her water, setting it down on the counter. This was so strange pretending like she didn't know who these two men were. One of them she had protected with her very life and the other had become her new best friend while in Class VII.

No, you can't start thinking about the past. You have to stay in the present. The past doesn't matter anymore. "Don't hesitate to ask me for help should you need it. I owe you both for helping me out today."

"Oh trust me, we won't, or at least I won't." Ash winked at her, laughing when Crow made a face. "It won't be for a cup of sugar or anything so boring."

"No, ten to one," Crow drawled, knowing that Ash had definitely been hardened since the events of Jurai. "It'll be for dinner and a show."

Ash had hated him for the longest time before coming to accept that it hadn't been HIS call, the most he could do was be there with Melyssa, the call had been Rean's. Rean should have known better. Melyssa was too inexperienced, too emotional, and overly prone to putting others before herself, just like Rean. Ash despised Rean. Rean seemed all right with that because Rean despised himself.

It'd been a very long time since Melyssa was given any attention by a man – McBurn did not count, he was not a man and barely human at that. She felt her cheeks flame up a little and shook her head, putting some of the bags on the other side of her small kitchen on the counter. "I don't think that's a good idea, but I appreciate the thought." Going out with either of these two men would not be a smart idea. It made her wonder if they already knew who she really was or if they were suspicious of it. "Anyway, I hate to kick you two out, but I do have a lot of unpacking to do. And since you two recently moved in, I'm sure you have unpacking of your own to get done."

"Wait, wait, wait," Ash moved to intercept, gently placing himself between her and the bags, the smile still on his face. "Why not?" He asked curiously, cocking his head to the side. "Why wouldn't it be a good idea?" He hadn't seen a ring of any kind on that finger and there was no trace of a line either.

It might have been a good idea for her undercover role to have included a relationship or something to fend off unwanted suitors. Melyssa was a beautiful woman, even though in her 'role', she may have to use those womanly charms.

"All right, down boy." Crow tugged his friend away, giving Ms. Reynolds an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid you should get used to it, Lys."