Melody's P.O.V.

After the little intense incident in Hunter's office, I literally ran to my room to control my racing heart. Closing the door behind me, I rushed to bathroom and washed my face with cold water as it feels like my face is burning with fire.

I shut my eyes afraid to open them thinking what I'd see in the mirror. Atlast, I dared to do it and I sucked a breath at my reflection.

Is this really me?! 

My cheeks are light red in colour from previous incident, my eyes are no longer dull and empty but had a little spark in them, lips are light shade of red same like my cheeks, and my hands are still shaking. All this is because just one encounter with Hunter.

I'm feeling shy....

Throughout my life, I've never felt shy. Maybe fear, anger, happy, sad and embarrassed often but never shy. As a matter of fact, I never had a reason to be shy. Even if someone complimented or praised me, I only felt embarrassed or awkward. Not shy.

And this recognition of mine only tells one thing that had my heart drop to the floor, maybe even underneath.

I like him....

*************************

"Please don't leave me" Belle sobbed, "I love you". 

As she spoke, the last rose petal fell. Then a shower of sparks filled the air. The beast began to transform into a handsome prince. The enchanted objects were filled with joy as they too turned back into human forms and watched their prince and Belle fall in love anew."

I stopped reading to look at Cara next to me in the bed. She's so curious as she sat comfortably.

"And they lived happily ever after" I finished.

That's my favourite part. Happily ever after.

I find it's Cara's too when I saw her face split into a wide smile.

She took the notes and started writing. Since I'm the only one who don't know the sign language, Cara decided to talk through notes. When she show it to me, I let out a chuckle at her.

"I want a beast" it reads.

"Well, then you have to be like Belle. Sweet, loving, caring for others. So when you grew up you'll find your prince charming" I whispered to her as if it is a secret between us.

She giggled and continued to write another one. This time I choked on air reading it.

"Will you sing for me?" 

I laughed nervously, "Oh honey, my voice is not that good. You can ask Daisy. She'd sing for you" I explained.

Daisy'll definitely kill me if Cara really asks her.

Cara takes my hand shaking it back and forth with pleading eyes and pouted a little.

No matter how much hard I tried to look away from her, she is too cute to do that. I give in eventually, nodding my head.

Who could say 'no' to that face....

She gave me a full blown smile that lit up her face like fireworks on the New years eve.

"If you don't like it, tell me okay?"

She nodded enthusiastically, shifted laying down cozily wraping a hand over my waist and signed me to start.

I closed my eyes for a moment remembering the song my mom used to sing for me. Just like Cara, I always asked mom to sing before I went to sleep. Every night, same song. Tale as old as time from Beauty and the Beast. I'm obsessed with that song. If I didn't listen to it, sleep would be far away from me.

Cara shook me bringing me back from my memories. I smiled at her, pulling her towards me before starting to sing that song.

Tale as old as time

True as it can be

Barely even friends

Then somebody bends unexpectedly

Just a little change

Small, to say the least

Both a little scared

Neither one prepared 

Beauty and the Beast

Ever just the same

Ever a surprise

Ever as before

Ever just as sure

As the sun will rise

Tale as old as time

Tune as old as song

Bittersweet and strange

Finding you can change

Learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun 

Rising in the east

Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Beauty and the Beast

I completed looking at Cara as she was fast asleep cuddling with me. Other than Daisy and sometimes Eddie, no one hugged me after my parents. Now Cara's tiny body embracing me feels so good and normal. When I felt a presence in the room I glanced up and noticed Hunter standing at entrance.

Shit!!! How long was he standing there?! Did he hear me sing?

He strolled towards me soundlessly and slowly like he's preparing himself to attack his prey. And his name also apt too. Hunter..... With his dark and intense eyes and hard face, he is actually looks like a predator.

I slowly released Cara from me not disturbing her sleep and steadied myself before turning to Hunter to ask him what he wants. But he already reached me very closely I can clearly see his blue specks. 

I backed away a little surprised by the closeness but he also take a step forward preventing me from keeping some distance between us. This happens for a while until the wall hit my back. I looked beside to see Cara is sleeping heavily and the table on the other side is stopping me from escaping. I'm trapped with him.

He leaned more closer bending down slightly leveling our faces at equal height and my gaze unintentionally fell on his lips. He cupped the left side of my face, instantly without knowing what I'm doing I leaned into his touch. When his thumb grazed my lower lip smoothly, I sucked deeply forgetting how to breath.

"You have a beautiful voice, kitten"

I didn't know what to say. Even if I know, I couldn't say anything in this position. All I do is stare at him without moving and without breathing. He seemed to understand my situation and stroked my cheek in a feather like touch.

"Breath, Melody"

It's then I sucked a huge breath glancing at his eyes in wonder as they are changing colour. Not entirely different. His eyes grew more darker and more intense giving him more handsome and even more dangerous look. His gaze shifted to my lips causing my heart beat so fast like a hammer. When he inclined slightly to me, I shut my eyes tightly expecting what about to come.

The feel of his hot breath against me is burning like hell, but it also feels cold, fresh and shivery. I can't fathom my emotions. I want to push Hunter away from me, at the same time I'm so annoyed and irritated he's taking too much time to kiss me.

Argh!!!! Just do it already.

To my misfortune, I heard a knock on the door and instinctively, I shoved him off me and quickly stepped away from him.

"Co-Come in" My voice sounds shaky and breathless like I just ran a marathon.

Alec came inside looking both of us trying to figure out what's happening.

"Am I disturbing something?" he asked doubtfully. 

"N-No no. We're just--" I stopped abruptly when Hunter started speaking.

"I came to pick up Cara"

Alec seemed to not believe a word he said as he watched suspiciously at us but nodded nonetheless.

"I need to talk to you Hunter" he announced to Hunter.

"Yeah, coming" he replied to him, going to bed to pick Cara. He lifted her and tucked in his chest so carefully.

Gosh! Sometimes I wish I had a someone to take care of me like him.  

He turned to Alec and they share a silent conversation. They nodded at each other. When Alec glanced at me, he got an unreadable expression on his face. I couldn't point out what it is. But something in me tells that it's connected to me.

"Night, Mel" he said.

"Good night, Alec" I replied smiling at him.

Giving one final assessing glance at me, he left in a blink of eye leaving Hunter and me alone once again.

"Uh....." I began to speak but ended confused what to say.

"Good night, kitten" he said putting me out of my misery.

I lifted my head to see him smirking at me with a teasing glint.

"Um.....Good night" I muttered wondering if it reached him.

But he hear it anyway and let out a soft chuckle. He spinned around and walked to the door but stopping suddenly, he looked back over his shoulder throwing an arrogant smirk at me he said,

"Dream of me, kitten. Meet you in the morning"

With that he disappeared through the door leaving me both dumbstruck and speechless.



Hunter's P.O.V.

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as my mind keep flashing her surprised face.

Poor kitten! She must be scared of my moves.

But I also caught a glimpse of desire in her. When I had her trapped back there, I bet my life that she awaited for my touch.

Fuck me.....but it's so damn satisfying.

Actually, it's not my intention to go to her room. But her voice....Damn, it feels like honey. So soft and serene. When I heard her singing slow and smooth, my steps automatically followed her voice. Thank god she didn't lock her door which gives me chance to hear her perfectly and also her view.

Her face held so much peace and calm. She always looks troubled and guarded. But when she's singing, she appears so free of burden like some invisible weight is lifted off her shoulders.

I decided strongly. All the promises I made myself yesterday to stay away from Melody can go to hell.

I'm going to make her mine.

*******************************

"What is it?" I enquired Alec.

"Melody" he stated and instantly my back straightened. 

I nodded at him to continue.

"Home town Colombia. Studied high school there. Father was Henry Jacobs, a doctor in there. Mother was Claire Jacobs, a music teacher but quit it when Melody born. No friends, no lovers" he stopped.

"Was?" I questioned him about her parents.

"They vanished when Mel was 6" he informs.

"Shit" I cursed under my breath.

"Shit is accurate in this case" Alec replied.

"Then--" I stopped when he answered my unasked question.

"Don't know where she grew cause she had no relatives. Orphanage is not an option cause I checked and there's no data about her in them. Don't know how she survive , don't know how she got money because there's no evidence of her working other than being a librarian now" he completed.

"Did you enquire her teachers or neighbors?"

"Yeah. Teachers said she's always reserved. Even if someone tried to befriend her, she'd be distant from them. But got straight A's. No detention record. No teacher even had a chance scold her. Always on time to school and don't stay for a second there after."

"How did she get to there?"

"They said a black car dropped and picked all the time."

"Don't you think it's quite skeptical they remembered her this much out of all students?" I asked quizzically.

Alec suddenly looked like something bothering him as he shifted to one leg to another in troublesomeness.

"Tell me" I demanded figuring he didn't tell me fully yet.

He gulped nervously before he began.

"There is a reason they remind her." I hasten him to carry on.

"Sometimes-" he inhaled deeply, "Some teachers said there are times she'd limp and can't walk properly" he finished in one breath.

Silence invaded the room entirely. But it's not a peaceful one. It's a silence before storm. And that storm is raging within me getting ready to burst explosively.

My mind feels like it would blow in thousand pieces any minute now and my heart suddenly weighed so heavy.

"Abuse?" I gritted out restraining my temper.

"Maximum possibility" he replied cutting off the last string of my rage and patience,

"Fuck....." My scream pierced through the walls thunderously as I hit the table.

"Who is he?" I asked icily.

"No clue. But I'm digging it" Alec replied.

"Do it quickly. I want to know who he is and every fucking thing about him" I ordered as I walked out of the room, marched directly to Melody's room.

I need to see her. This time, nothing could calm down me. Not even fighting. Only Melody can relax me. She is my sanity. Only my kitten can bring me that. Yes, My kitten. She's mine. 

Whoever he is, he hurts what's mine. He had committed a sin. Now he have to face my beast. The minute I got my hands on him, he'll regret he ever born. The torment he'd go through will put the shame on hell.

When I reached her room, I saw the door is slightly ajar and pushing it open, I found Melody sleeping so peacefully. I kneel down beside the bed looking at her innocent face.

How much pain you've had to cope with, Melody?

I gently stroked her cheek with the back of my hand and pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her skin is so soft and fair like a porcelain doll. Thinking she had been abused only enlarging the rage in my heart.

It took everything in me to stop myself from waking her up, hug her tightly telling it'll be fine from now on I'll protect her from the demons she's fighting and I'll not let her hurt anymore.

I leaned forward towards her, inhaling her sweet strawberry scent. It's so addicting. Strawberry is my favourite scent from now on. She stirred in her sleep taking my hand on her cheek, holding it tightly and securely with her both hands below her face. Her lips are grazing my palm so softly.

God!!! She looks like an angel.

Tenderly, I kissed her forehead unable to stop myself. Her grip on my hand tightened as she sighs in her sleep. I smiled at her gesture. My angel.

As much as I wanted to be with her, I have to go now. But my hand is prisoned between hers. I caressed her jaw with my free hand, instantly her grip loosened and I quickly take it away.

Giving her one more small peck on her head, I immediately sprinted out. On the way back to my room, my head is full of promises.

I promise you Melody, if anyone tries to get you, they have to go through me first. I'll protect you at any cost.

You'll not have one thing to be scared of as long as I'm with you.

And I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Unknown P.O.V.

My gun is pointing at his stupid dumb head.

"Tell me, you got any information?" I hissed at him.

"Boss, give me some time. I'll surely--"

I cut him off fuming. How dare he not to answer my question even when he's on his knees.

"I asked, did you get any information?" I sneered at him.

"Please boss--" he started again.

I smashed him in the jaw with my gun and the sound of a bone breaking reached me.

"Answer my question bastard. I don't need your bullshit" 

He coughed out some blood then shook his head.

"Then I didn't see any use of you" I tsked. His eyes widened in fear and started to beg me.

Huh! Now that's a pretty scene to see.

I smirked unlocking the gun.

"Please, please boss, I--" His voice ended when I pulled the trigger. The noise boomed vibrating the walls before filling the room with relaxing quietness. This is 38th one.

How many more do I have to kill to find you, baby? 

Someone knocked the door irritating me more, "Come in" I snapped.

My second in command  came inside, smirking at the body on the floor.

"I want another investigator" I ordered, "And clean this shit."

He nodded and went out of room.

I picked the photo I gave to my investigators.

"Mel baby, where are you?" I murmured "You had done huge mistake escaping from me. For that, an unforgetful punishment is waiting for you, when I got my hands on you."

I smirked thinking about that.

Be ready, baby.