I wrapped my arms around Melody and sighed. I held back a little but that was just enough for her to notice." Babe... What's up? Did something happen?" I sighed, looking away for a moment. I pulled her closer and kissed her all over. Her laughter and resistance made me kiss her more and hold her closer. She grabbed my hands and looked up at me. " Okay, look. I wanna know what happened. When are we...?" In honesty, I didn't want to answer right now. I got to be with her right now and that was all that mattered...

.

.

.

.

.

I stumbled through the doorway as Ruby supported my shoulder. I wasn't healing well, which was due to the many slashes all over my body. I was WAY out numbered and that I was able to make it to the hotel at all was a miracle. Tears welled in my love's eyes as she ran to me and laid me down on her bed. " Baby what's wrong?" she begged. I held onto her hand and a smile played on my lips " I'm alright, Mel. Don't worry I just need to-" I stiffened as she licked my wounds and healed most of my cuts. I didn't need her to but I admit, I liked it. 

Ruby sat in a chair to the left of me, staring at me " Who ambushed you? How did you even let them get that close?" Melody clearly looked irritated but was occupied.

" Petre." 

Everyone went stiff. Ruby nodded." That means that Tristan, Katherine and my sister are in Romania. Or will be at least." I nodded.

" Our daughter goes by Katelyn, though. She uses it to make herself seem... " less dark " as she tried to explain to me when she was in middle school." I saw Mel's face sadden. After I was forced to turn her, we couldn't have kids. She felt... upset to say the least. And it broke me inside to know that she felt like a waste. I wanted nothing more than for her to feel herself again. She also couldn't be anywhere near Katy since birth, so she's never met our daughter. I couldn't even begin to describe the amount of grudges and the self-loathing she had against herself for things she couldn't control. She also voiced her thoughts on me wanting children that she couldn't give me which is why she wanted to break up for a while. But I reminded her that although I did want kids, I wanted her as well and if we couldn't have kids, she wouldn't matter any less to me. I loved her all the same. Ruby smiled, nodding. I guessed she got it far better than I did. 

" Look, being a teenager is the most pressuring thing ever. You always want to fit in even when you know you never will. For instance, my little sister was openly gay in high school. Where most of the kids were both straight and religious. So Cherry went to a party and had sex with some guy and leaked the video so kids would stop calling her ' pussy girl '. She went from ' pussy girl ' to ' Confused little slut ' real quick. She wanted to die every day until she graduated." I cringed at that. The logic seemed off but coming from a desperate teenager, it seemed almost normal. Cherry had grown up a lot and was now Tristan's confidante and best friend. She was engaged and had really proven herself. " Well, we really do live and learn. Sorry Cherry had to do it the hard way. But at least Cherry was proud of her feelings. No shame to closeted folk, but before I decided to marry the love of my life, you were VERY closeted and you seemed quite ashamed of your sexuality forever, Ruby. To be honest, I think you should take notes from Cherry."

 I looked at Melody in shock. " Babe,  rude!" She seemed unfazed while Ruby looked hurt for just a split second before giving Melody a sour look. I pushed off Melody for a second. I gave her a silent look before moving over on the bed. 

" I'm sorry, Ruby." I murmured, sincerely. She took the apology but left the room." Melody... was that necessary?" 

" I'm sorry. I don't like Ruby at all. I didn't like her than and I still don't like her now.

I shook my head sighing " You could at least try to be nice." I grumbled. She groaned and only lie on my chest. I closed my eyes, trying to rest after that freak show that was earlier quieted down. My eyes opened as there was nothing but  the sound of boots throughout the building. Melody and Ruby heard it. Ruby ran out of her room and looked at me, slightly panicked. The window. I opened it and climbed out. Melody and Ruby did the same but she closed the window shut. We quickly ran away from what could've been a very deadly encounter. We had to find somewhere else to go and quickly. Until Kathrine was queen, we weren't safe.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Cherry held out a branch to me in clear horror. I touched the branch and tasted the other end as Cherry did. I dropped the branch. All I tasted was dried blood. Katelyn's blood. She and I stood, in complete silence. In complete stillness. She could have died right where we stood but we'd like to think she wasn't dead. We'd been searching most of the week. Nobody knew Cherry and I snuck out every now and than to get any leads on what happened. I broke off the tiny tip and slipped it into my pocket. The first sign we had of her at all.