"Quit fighting will ya?" The guy grumbled.

I continued to struggle despite what he ordered me to do. So he kicked me in the stomach, sadly I had to give in. The tied my hands and feet, and blindfolded me with a rag over my mask. I lay there motionless and whimpering.

"We're ready for her." Someone else said.

"Get up you b****."

The guy pulled me up and made me follow him up a flight of stairs. I tripped on a step or two, feeling the shock in my arm as it landed on the steps.

"Stop being so clumsy, or else I'll hafta drag ya."

Not wanting that, I hurridly stood up with my tied hands. And we continued to walk up the stairs.

"Where are you taking me?" I muttered.

"A place where you can make a grand entrance." One of them told me.

Another laughed. "Don't you mean exit?"

I gulped, what did he mean? They suddenly stopped, having me bump into them.

"Hey, watch it!" One of them growled.

"Gee sorry, didn't see you there." I said sarcastically. "It's not like I'm blindfolded or something."

He slapped me, and I stood there stunned. "Not much of a good idea to talk back to me."

I gritted my teeth but said nothing.

"Good."

He pushed me forward and made me come through a door. I walked forward when one of them kicked me in the butt, making me go down to my knees.

"A simple please could have done it." I grumbled.

He undid my blindfold letting me see again. My mask was under the blindfold so it still hid my identity.

"So you two got her, eh?"

A voice said in a dark corner. The figure walked out of the darkness revealing a tall and muscular guy, he looked about 20 or 21. He had shaggy, dark brown hair and dark gray eyes with a strange glint of red. He wore black clothing and had two swords at his side.

I gulped. "Bloody Blades."

He laughed. "So you know me?"

"Who wouldn't, assassin?"

Blood Blades unsheathed one of his two swords, it glinting in the sunlight. He then hit me with the tip of the sword, making a slash on my mask, with a bleeding cut.

"Whoops, my hand slipped," he muttered.

"You bastard."

"You seem so much like you dad, when I killed him of course." He had a evil grin plastered on his face.

"Why am I here?" I demanded.

He studied his sword, my blood dripping down its blade. "You're the famous Masked Musician, I will do what no one has ever done."

"Which is what?"

I watched in horror as he slid his tongue across the blade, licking the trail of blood. "To unmask you."

"My identity."

"The true identity of the Masked Musician revealed to Medieval America." He smiled at the thought. "Doesn't the sound of that give shivers down your spine?"

A sudden shiver went down my spine.

He grabbed my hair making me stare directly at his dark gray eyes. I noticed it having a strange red glint in them, marking his evil identity. My eyes widened as he stepped behind me, showing me a video camera. One of his henchmen was the camera and pointed it at me.

"Now smile at the camera."

The camera blinked green and the henchmann held out his hand.

"In 5-4-3-2-"

Bloody Blades grinned at the camera. "Hello Medieval America, excuse us for the interuption but I have an important announcement."

"No he doesn't!" I screamed. "Just turn off all your t.v's this isn't important!"

Blood Blades yanked my hair making me a scream in agony. Then I became silent.

"Shut up." He growled.

Then he turned back to the camera. "As you can see we have a special guest with us today, the one and only... Masked Musician."

This can't be happening. Tears came down my face. This can't be happening.

"And now we will be showing the identity of this famous bounty hunter."

"No!" I begged to Bloody Blades now. "I'll do anything, just please!"

But all he did he was give me was a sadistic smile.

He slowly pulled away my mask, making this the absolute torture. When he pulled it off, I lowered my head to hide my face. My pride, my dignity, my identity is gone.

"The Masked Musician is not the hero you all believed her to be. She is nothing but a villian, the daughter of the man you hated. The man who you celebrated his death."

He pulled my hair to make me look at the camera once again.

"Yes, this Melody Richardson, the daughter of Christian Richardson."

My eyes shot open, I was breathing heavily. I have this huge headache, like someone was pounding my head. I sat up and looked around me. I was in the bedroom of my hotel.

Thank god, it was just a dream.

I heard some faint snoring in the room. I followed it to the snoring Dominic that sat on a chair beside my bed. Why was he here? Then I remembered that I let him crash here. But on the couch, what is he doing here sleeping next to me?

I couldn't help but watch him sleep, but not like a stalker way he looked so innocent and cute... I wonder where I put the sharpie?

Then he snorted awake. Dammit, maybe I can drug him and draw a mustache on his face.... No, no thinking evil thoughts, Melody.

He yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Good morning."

"Why are you here?"

He stood up and stretched. "You said I could crash here."

"Yes, but why here. In my room?"

"Last night I heard you whimpering like you were having some nightmare." He told me. "I checked up on you and you calmed down. I decided to stay here in case you got the nightmare again, but I guess I fell asleep."

"Oh."

"Were you having a nightmare?"

I nodded.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I shook my head.

"I understand."

"Thank you."

I tried I sit up again, but I groaned because my head ached.

"Something wrong?"

"My head really hurts."

"Ah, what you're having is something called a hangover?"

"What? A hangover? I never get a hangover."

"Well you were pretty drunk last night."

I paused. "I didn't do anything embarrassing last night, right?"

Dominic thought about it.

"Oh no! I really did, didn't I?! What did I do?!"

My mind filled itself with worst-case scenarios I may have done last night.

Dominic laughed. "I was kidding, you just got pretty stubborn and seductive, but that's all."

"Seductive?" I muttered.

"But let's put last night behind us. Today is your last day, we need to get out of here."

I fell backwards to the bed. "No, I have a headache."

"I'm not taking no as an answer."

"Yes you are."

"Oh really?"

He grabbed my ankles and pulled me off of the bed. I landed on my butt on the hard, wooden floor.

"Dominic!"

"I will drag you out of here if you won't get up."

I glared at him. "You wouldn't."

"Oh yeah?" He challenged.

He began to drag me across of the room. He really wasn't kidding.

"Eeek! Fine, I'll go change, I'll go change!"

"Good, bring some swimwear," Dominic said. "We're going to the beach."

-

I took off my tanktop and jean shorts into my swimsuit. It was a cute two piece bikini with music bar and notes pattern. Fits me perfectly, right? I started to walk to the beach, spotting a place to set up. Hands with girls were removed, people stopped running, shades were lowered, people nudged each other, jaws dropped, I have to admit, I was a bit proud of the stares the guys in the beach gave me. A guy offered to set up my umbrella for me while another lay out my blanket. I gave them a smile of thanks and one of them fainted, having the other one drag him away to safety.

Whoops. How am I suppose to know a simple thing as a smile can make a man's heart race.

I put on my favorite pair of sunglasses and lay back on the blanket. I closed my eyes, and hummed quietly to myself. Fidge sat next to me into the shade when I heard him growl. Then I felt a shadow loom over me, blocking my sun. I heaved out a sigh, someone must really want to die if they try to block my sun. I lowered my shades, okay, maybe I can forgive this person.

Dominic grinned proudly at me with his arms crossed, as I gawked at him. His bright blue eyes glint in the sunlight. He was shirtless, wearing nothing but swimming trunks with his swords at the sides. I'm not complaining of course, he had a six pack. Six packs are huge turn on to, especially when he had those semi huge muscles and those cute dimples and... I'm getting ahead of myself. I wasn't the only one checking out someone, his gaze at me seems to be going on forever. How flattering.

I put my shades back on and lay back on the blanket again. "Like what you see Dominic?"

"I-I wasn't checking you out," he protested.

Aw, he was stuttering, and I didn't even have to look to see him blushing.

"So you're saying I'm not hot enough to be checked out?" I asked innocently.

Bam, another blush. Melody- 2 Dominic- 0 "Of course you are. I just didn't mean-"

"Uh huh."

He regained his cool again. "What are you doing lying here?"

"This is the beach, and I can. Now go away, you're blocking my sun."

"We should go. Your flight will leave in a few hours."

"I don't wanna."

"I don't care-a."

I snorted. "Real mature Dominic, real mature."

"Let's go Melody. Or do you just want to lay here with a group of guys staring at you really creepily?"

"What group of-" I lowered my shades and spotted about 10 guys who turned away in unison.

"Huh."

"Let's go, let's go." Dominic urged. "You can bask in the sun in California. Let's go eat before you go."

"But we just got here," I whined.

"You'll thank me later."

"We'll see..."

It was getting late. Around 7 or 8 pm. My flight leaves at 9, all my luggage is in Dominic's car's trunk. 

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we-?"

"Melody, I will not hesitate to turn this car around and go to McDonald's."

"Sorry mother." I muttered.

"I heard that."

I gave him a look. "I know."

 He looked to his left and sighed with relief. "We're here."

I had Fidge stay in the car, promising him to bring him some food. We then got out of the car and headed into the restaurant.This is the true definition of a fancy restraunt. The whole place was quiet, everyone spoke in soft whispers. The restraunt was lighted my dim candles, and the decor was beautiful.  

"Romeo's Cafe?" I asked as I looked around the restraunt. "I don't think I'm wearing the appropiate attire."

"Says the one that took 30 minutes to choose a dress," He said, adding, "Which you look beautiful in."

I smiled. "Thank you."

I was wearing a spagetti strap green dress that came to my thighs, and had a black belt around my hip. I put on green flats to match. 

He grabbed my hand that made me blush brightly, then led me to the host. "I booked a reservation for two, Fletcher."

"Ah yes, Mr. Fletcher. Your table is ready." The host smiled and led us to another part of the restauraunt.

There was no one else in the room except for a slightly loud, odd couple. They look nowhere near for this restraunt. They wore trashy, cheap clothes and were loud compared to everyone else. They were eating sloppily, and making a mess all around them.

"The chef will be with you shortly," the host said, his right eye twitching from the couple behind us.

He came over to them and asked, "Is everything alright?"

The guy belched. "Nope, we want another round of wine."

"Yeah!" The lady said. "And make it quick for our dessert!"

"Of course, ma'm." And he quickly left the room.

"Hey you, you two!" Someone called out.

We turned to see the couple was talking to us.

"Yes?" Dominic asked.

"Where the hell did you found something as hot as that?" The guy asked.

"E-excuse me?"

"I mean that fine piece right in front of you."

I had this huge urge to punch his sorry as to a McDonald's.

Dominic chuckled unconfortably. "Don't you have a girlfriend?"

"This?" He asked, reffering to the lady in front of him. "Nah, I picked her off the street. Now asked the question."

Now I have this huge urge to punch him and chuck him out the window.

"I picked her off the street, but not the way you did."

""I don't know about you, but that must be the only way you can get something like-"

I stood up and went towards the table. 

"Walk away and get out of that life," I said to the lady, using my persuasion voice.

She grabbed her voice and walked away of the room. 

"Hey where do you think you're going? You still have an hour-"

I grabbed him by the ear making him start cussing a whole lot of nasty words at me. Then I lead him to the back of the restraunt.

"Ah I see, you want me rather than-"

I punch him in the face having him crash into the floor.

"I am seriously getting sick and tired of you!"

He slowly stood up. "What the hell is wrong with you lady."

I motioned making a zipper, and had him shut up.

"You have no respect for women. No respect for yourself. No respect for others around you!"

I punched him onto his chin, making him fly up into the air. Then I jumped into the air and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying into the dumpster. He moaned in agony in the dumpster. I smirked at him, this guy earns it. I turned and went back to the restauraunt, sitting back on the table.

He raised an eyebrow. "What happened to that guy?"

I smiled innocently at him. "What guy?"

"You know that guy, with the- oh nevermind."

A man walked up to us. He was a short, plump man. He had blackish gray turning white hair, and a clean cut. He smiled, his brown eyes twinkling behind his round glasses. He wore a black chef outfit, with the Romeo's Cafe logo at the top left, and he stood with his hands in his pockets.

"Hello, welcome to Romeo's Cafe." He introduced. "I'm Romeo Majano, the chef and owner of this restraunt."

 We both introduced ourselves.

"I have a question," Dominic said. "How come there are no-"

"Menus?" He answered. "Let me explain how it works in my restraunt. We... have no menus."

"No menus?" I asked.

"Yes, I make either a 4 or 6-course dinner from you dietary restrictions and my intuition. My food is about quality, not quantity, so the food will be in small portions for the courses. Now let me ask you, what do you like and dislike?" He said, pulling out a notepad.

"Oh," I thought about it. "I never liked brocolli since I was a kid and anything other than normal meat like cow toungue or chicken legs is a big no no. But I love seafood and mushrooms."

"I'm allergic to peanuts, and any other nuts."

I coughed, recieving a glare from Dominic.

"And I'm good with normal meat." He finished. "Could we also have your best wine too?"

"Light," I added. "Really light." The last thing I want is another hangover.

"And we'll be having the 4-course meal." Dominic said.

"Thank you," he said, writing down the last few notes in his pad. Then he left out the room without another word.

"So, will you tell me what happened to that guy?"

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked.

"Melody."

"Dominic."

"Melody, really."

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes."

"I kicked his ass."

"Wait, what?"

"I kicked his ass. Sent him flying into the dumpster."

"Wow. That's amazing. "

I put my hair behind my ear. "It's nothing, he got pretty annoying and-"

"No, really Melody. But you should have let me kick his ass."

"I uh-"

A waiter came into the room and served us our first course. He place our dishes in front of us. The smells from the food filled the air. I am so hungry right now.

"For you," said to me. "Salmon carpoccio for your love of seafood."

"That looks really good."

"And lobster raviolis, for you sir. Enjoy."

I slowly ate my carpoccio, feeling the flavor. I eyed Dominic who also enjoyed his raviolis. They looked so good... He met my gaze.

"Jealous?"

I took a bite of my salmon. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You know you want some."

"Nope."

He picked one up with a fork and waved in front of me. "Come on, you know you do."

I looked away.

"Just one bite."

I sighed. "Okay."

I opened my mouth and ate the lobster ravioli. Yup, seafood is my weakness. I wish Fidget was here to taste this. We finished our first course and moved on to our second. 

"Rabbit and mushroom fettuccine." I said, taking a bite of it.

"Seabass a la fan, I mean frankie."

"It's francaise." I corrected.

"You're just rubbing it in my face that you got rabbit."

"No I'm not," I protested. "Okay maybe I am. But I do feel sad for the rabbit, poor rabbit."

"But it is tasty for the rabbit," he said as he took a bite from my fork. "Tasty rabbit."

"Hey!" I whispered/exclaimed. "You took my rabbit!""

"Yes I did. And it was great."

"You didn't ask my permission."

"You had some of my raviolli, I have some rabbit."

"But at least you offered before I had some."

"Okay then. Can I have some rabbit?"

"I don't know. Can you?"

"Can I?" 

"Can you?"

He caught his mistake. "May I have some rabbit?"

"Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids."

The waiter gave us our 3rd course. Mine was a pork loin in a beautiful sauce that came great with it. While Dominic enjoyed his duck covered un rasberry sauce. When he turned away in choosing our wine, I took a bite of it. It was crispy, yet tender, and all delicious. But he turned back to me and noticed a missing piece of duck and me chewing, making him chuckle. We continued to eat in silence since the food was doing all the talking when Dominic broke the silence.

"Melody, I've always wondered. What was your childhood like?"

I froze in mid-chew. I can't tell him what my childhood like. Being the daughter of Christian Richardson the evilest man on Medieval America. Who was known for being #1 of Medieval America Most Wanted. Everyday I helped serve my handmade chocolate chip cookies and tea to his business partners. Played piggy back rides with Uncle Tony and Blake, and princess and dragons with my father. Getting kidnapped many times for being his daughter, and see it as a game since it happens a lot. Being avoided my kids my age, my own teachers, having no friends. Seen as a monster, like the spawn of the devil. Maybe I really was.

"Melody? Is something wrong?" Dominic asked worried.

"Sorry, just drifted off a little. My childhood was fun and adventerous you could say. My Dad and his friends were really close to me, and my mom was beautiful."

"Was? Wait I'm sorry I forgot. They were murdered-"

"By a swordsman, yeah."

"I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"It's okay Dominic. Really. What about you? What was your childhood like?"

"I played swords with the other orphan boys. Got sent to military school. But then ran away and was trained by Coriander of the Blade."

"I'm sorry, who?"

His jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? You never heard of Coriander of the Blade?"

"Yup."

"Coriander of the Blade, was known as the greatest swordsman who ever lived. He was the one who taught me how to hold, make, and fight with a sword. He was like a father to me."

"But what did you mean by other orphan kids? Did something happen to your parents?"

"I was abandoned by my parents when I was little and was left on the front porch of an orphanage. There were theories that I was a mistake, they couldn't afford to support me, stuff like that. But I actually know the real reason."

I looked at him with full attention. I looked into his sky blue eyes. I always thought he has a happy childhood, but I can see now that he didn't. 

"They were murdered."

That hit me, hit me hard. 

"My parents were swordsmen with a huge bounty on them. One day they lowered their defenses because I was turning 10. That was their big mistake, because someone caught up with us. They owed him some money, and they didn't have it. I watched as he killed them and take their bodies for the bounty."

"I-I'm so sorry Dominic."

"Yeah, sure."

The waiter came back, "Your 4th course."

"A risotto with filet mignon and truffle oil, a exquisite recipe for your tastebuds, ms."

"And what about me?" DOminic asked.

"You get the mushroom risotto." Placing it before him.

Then he left the room once more. I began to eat, I really need to get this recipe.

Dominic frowned.

"Something wrong?"

"He made this huge speech for your course and he practically threw the plate in front of me."

I chuckled.

"What? What's so funny?"

"Nothing." I said, trying to keep a straight face.

"Okay then be like that."

"I will."

"You know, I never found out bounty name."

"Cause you never will."

"Really, at least tell me why you joined this life."

"Only if you tell me."

"I asked you first."

"If you want to know, you answer first."

"Okay then. I joined to get revenge on the man who killed my parents."

We were so simlar.

"And did you?"

"Yup. 3 years ago, killed him."

"And how did it feel? To get your revenge?"

He took a sip of his drink. "It felt, good. He deserved it, and I got to avenge my parents. Now it's your turn."

"I want to avenge my parents death, and kill the one who killed them."

"Did you?"

"No. I just hope I'll find him. I can never forgive what he has done."

"But think about it, it you haven;t joined. I would have never met you."

"Well, you're right about that."

They served us one dessert chocolate souflee.

"Uh, I'm sorry but you only served us one. How can we-"

The waiter left.

"I guess we have to share," Dominic said. "Now, open wide."

I leaned forward, going to eat the souflee. But at the last second, Dominic pulled it away before I could eat it.

"Hey, that was mean!"

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. Here, this is for real this time."

He offered the souflee to me and I took it. "Oh the cholatey goodness."

I looked at my watch and gasped. "My plane leaves at 30 minutes! We have to leave, like right now."

"Oh crap, I lost track of time."

"It's okay, we just have to go. Now."

"Right." 

He paid even after my protest of us splitting the check. Making me have to pay for the tip. We raced to the airport, I quickly got my tickets as Dominic got my luggage for me. Soon we stood in the terminal, in front of the tunnel that would lead me into the plane.

"So this is it." Dominic muttered.

"Yeah, I guess this is goodbye." I said, stroking Fidget.

"We can't ever look for each other, or else everything will be complicated."

"Assassins after our bounties will use us against each other. So this will be the last time we can ever see each other."

"No contacts. No letters. No meet ups."

He held out his hand. And I took it with a firm grip. We shook hands, smiling each other. I picked up my bags and started to walk away.

I tried to quicken my pace, making this quick and painless. But my pace started to slow until I halted to a stop. I dropped my bags and ran to him, and he stood there in open arms. We hugged so tightly, I will really miss him.  He then pulled me in for a slow kiss, saying all that needs to be said.

"Either we meet each once more by coincidence or by accident." He said.

"As a person or a bounty hunter." 

"Until we meet again." We said together.

_______________________________________

Here is a long chapter! Sorry it took me so long, hope this makes up for you. The days with Dominic are over. Wah!!! I'm crying in the inside just like all of them. But like they said.

"Until we meet again."

Hint Hint. So I'll be making the next chapter of this. And to the right is the Melody Richardson a.k.a The Masked Musician

Not much to say, but have much to write,

RubixCube89201