Melissa stood beneath an old oak tree in Everdale's Royal Park, watching a squad of soldiers on the opposite side of the lake as they marched hurriedly past. She clutched her papers tightly beneath her shawl, hoping that no one would question her even though she had all the documents required in order for her to venture beyond her own neighbourhood. Since Talia's kidnapping, Everdale had become a much different place to the city she had grown up in. The city was virtually in lockdown and soldiers could be seen on every street corner as they frantically combed the city looking for the Princess. Citizens were being stopped and questioned regularly and permitted only to travel to and from their place of work and local neighbourhood. Many were chafing beneath these strict rules but more were sympathetic to the reasons behind the lockdown. Melissa had seen the king and queen recently and knew how hard they were finding the Princess' absence but she was also desperate to see Talia return home safely. She was her best friend and she would do anything to have her back.
She shifted anxiously, drawing her shawl closer around her body to keep out the afternoon chill. Getting Talia back was precisely why she was stood beneath the tree in the park. She had done as Alec had instructed the night of Talia's kidnapping. She had told the King that the criminals had broken into Talia's tower and kidnapped the sleeping Princess just as Alec had told her too. She hadn't told anyone of the state she had seen Alec in; of the blood that drenched his rain soaked clothes or the terrifying, needle-like fangs that protruded from his top lip. She knew enough of Everdale's history to recognise a vampire when she saw one, even if they were all supposed to have been eradicated. They were creatures of the night, possessed of dark magic and black hearts. All the stories labelled them as creatures of evil and yet Talia had opened her heart to Alec and when he had told Melissa what had happened, she had sensed that the fear in his voice had been genuine.
"Good evening, Melissa,"
She stifled a shriek as she turned to see Alec standing behind her. He looked different to how she remembered him on that night. Yes, he had been covered in blood and drenched in rain but he had still carried himself with a air of dignity and grace. His clothes had been smart and his demeanour confident if fearful. Now, however, he looked half the man she had seen previously. His skin was grey and pale, his eyes marred by dark circles and his jet hair ruffled. His clothes were dirty and torn and he looked hollow.
"What happened to you?" she gasped.
"I have been searching for her," he said, his voice thin and low.
"Have you slept?" she asked, not knowing if vampires required sleep.
"I will sleep when I have found her," he said curtly.
"The guards are doing everything they can," she replied.
"It's not enough!" he snapped, his eyes flashing momentarily red.
She took a step back, trembling as she was reminded with what she spoke. How could she really trust this man not to kill her?
"I'm sorry," he breathed, pinching the bridge of his nose with one hand whilst holding out the other to calm her. "I didn't mean to frighten you."
"You really are a vampire, aren't you?"
He nodded. "Yes. And I really do love Talia. I think I have found a way to locate her. But I need your help."
"My help?" she squeaked. "What can I do?"
"I've tracked down one of the Red Hand's lieutenants," he said. "He oversees their smuggling operation at the dock. I believe he knows where Talia is being held."
"Why not tell the guards then?" she asked.
He shook his head. "He's not just a simple thug. He would die before telling the guards anything and even so, by the time the syndicate realises he has been taken they might try to move Talia."
"So what do you need me for?" Melissa hissed.
Alec bit his tongue, his expression softening. "I am sorry, Melissa," he whispered. "I wouldn't ask if I did not think this was our best chance of getting Talia back."
"Just tell me what you want!" she snapped, her heart racing in her chest.
"He is a man with very particular tastes..." Alec said carefully. "You are precisely his type. If you could seduce him then maybe you could get him to loosen his tongue enough to tell us where she is being held."
"You want me to seduce him?" she cried. She felt sick. What with her duties to Talia and her mother's illness she hadn't had much time for romance in her life. The idea of making a stranger, and a criminal at that, fall for her seemed utterly ridiculous.
"Like I said," Alec replied. "He has very particular tastes. I wouldn't ask if I didn't think this was the only way and I wouldn't ask if I didn't think you were capable of doing this."
Her eyes darted to his hands and narrowed suspiciously. "It doesn't matter what I say, does it?" she growled. "You'll just use your magic to make me do it."
He flinched and she thought her words might have stung him. "No," he said firmly. "it doesn't work like that. Besides, if it is to be convincing then it needs to be genuine. Please, Melissa. if not for me, do it for Talia."
She licked her lips and shifted her feet on the grass. She had felt so helpless since Talia had vanished. Night after night she had lain in bed listening to her mother's wheezing coughs, wishing there was someway to bring her friend back. Now that she had the chance she knew there was no way she could turn it down.
"Will it be dangerous?"
"Yes," Alec replied "He is not a kind man and I don't expect him to treat you respectfully. But I will be right outside and if there is the slightest chance he will cause you serious harm then I will protect you. You have my word."
"The word of a vampire?" she snorted.
"The word of a man in love," he retorted.
She sighed, thinking of how happy she had seen Talia since Alec had come into her life. The Princess trusted him and that had to be enough for Melissa to trust him.
"When do we start?" she asked.
****
Melissa stood in the room that Alec had rented near to the docks. The tavern was small and dingy and like most of the neighbourhood, stank of sea water and fish. It was getting dark outside and she could hear the gulls calling to each other as they fought over the scraps tossed away by the fishermen after their daily haul.
Alec knocked on her door and stepped into the room, a bag slung over his shoulder and a cloak pulled tight around his body. He smiled reassuringly at her as he set the bag down on the rickety bed in the middle of the cramped room.
"There are some outfits in there for you to choose from," he said. "I wasn't sure on what style you would like and I had to guess some of the sizes but I'm sure you'll find something."
"Thanks," she said stiffly. She was still feeling sick.
