: Mellisony’s Trap

Little hands. Warm little hands were touching her.

She felt as if she was suddenly struck by lightning as the forgotten feeling invaded her bones.

She turned her head, missing the drawing of Dimitri's sword. Her attention on the small little thing holding her tail.

The girl sat there, oblivious to everyone's varying expressions.

With a small hand, she traced the scales on her tale, gently feeling the cool and metallic feeling.

She didn't notice how her older brother was silently making his way up behind her with a sword in hand and his eyes cautiously measuring every tiny micro movement of Kayda's like she was some monster he had set out to defeat.

Everyone was silent, that if a single pin where to drop, it would sound as if it was roaring like thunder.

Dimitri had now gotten to a position, easily in a spot where he could come between Kayda and his sister.

Kayda's attention was solely on Mellisony.

Instead of lashing out, like she would do with anyone else, her tale moved slightly until its tip was under Mellisony's chin. It gently moved back and forth, tickling the under of Mellisony's chin, making her delightfully giggle.

She looked up at Kayda with big bright eyes and smiled. A smile so bright that Kayda's lips couldn't help but slightly twitch.

Throughout her life, she had surprisingly met many young children. Even in the darkest of places that no child should be.

Many were depressed, lifeless and dead to the world. Including her.

She remembered how she used to hang out with a gang of orphans that lived under the radar on the streets. How little some of them were and how they became a pack. A family.

She could never hurt them.

Kayda's eyes glanced up, and her eyes caught the gleam of Dimitri's sword. With a glance, she looked around the room. Warry eyes looked at her. Weapons drawn and ready to fight.

Seeing such a deterring sight, her eyes instantly dimmed. Cooling and freezing over.

Gently, she moved her tale out of Mellisony's grasp, her face falling with the loss of the cool metallic scales.

She defensively wrapped her tail around her own leg, as she listlessly looked up to meet Dimitri's eyes.

And for once, Dimitri was taken back.

With her stare, he saw her lifeless eyes that held no rage, anger or injustice. No betrayal at being treated like a threat. Just lifeless eyes that seemed to accept, but at the same time, seemed so lost to the world.

Looking away, she grasped at the pendant hanging above her chest, and gently poured her mana into it.

Instantly reverting her to human society's definition of normal. No tale. No horns. No scales and no fangs.

No her.

"If you need my blood, take it."

The room was silent with no one daring to speak. Slowly, everyone sheathed their weapons.

Ceneth was the first to speak but his words did not hold the same luster as before.

"Follow me."

Without a sound, Kayda left the room, leaving it in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable silence.

"Brother."

Dimitri was sheathing his sword when he heard his little sister's voice. With a turn of his head, he looked down to be met with pouting lips and angry eyes.

"Why did you do that? You scared her!" She angrily shouted at her older brother, feeling injustice. She had finally gotten a chance to meet a character from her books. She even got to touch her tail! But her brother ruined it all.

"You're too over protective! Go and say sorry." Her finger pointed at the now closed door where Kayda had exited through earlier.

Dimitri was dumbstruck by his little sisters outburst and immediately got down in front of her to calm her unless she aggravated her poor health.

But she wasn't having any of it. Like a little lord, she crossed her arms over her chest and ignored her older brother. Her petty actions caused the butler to inwardly chuckle.

Dimitri sent a fierce but pleading glare towards butler Stevens.

He could only sigh as he assisted his just as petty master.

"Young miss, miss Kayda should probably rest after the long journey. Perhaps, if she is feeling well after a bit of rest, she could eat dinner with the young miss."

Mellisony instantly brightened up hearing his reassuring words. Dimitri too, started to ease the tension in his face when he heard Butler Stevens' suggestion.

"Really? Then it has to be a dinner with just me and Kayda."

Her words instantly caused Dimitri's face to darken like charcoal.

"No." His voice was firm. There was no chance of negotiation. But Mellisony was his younger sister. And she was equally as stubborn.

"Why?" Her glare made Dimitri further enhance the frown already on his face.

"It's dangerous."

Just two words. She only got two words.

Her eyes blazed. "That's not good for enough of a reason."

"She doesn't know how to speak this language."

"We don't need to talk to eat."

"She's dangerous." This time he emphasized on 'she's'.

Glaring at him, Mellisony lifted up her chin haughtily.

"What's more dangerous. Me eating dinner with someone new, or me not eating lunch and dinner for the rest of the day?"

Dimitri's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You wouldn't."

Mellisony smiled sinisterly, signing him she definitely would.

Using her own health to pressure him, he felt like she was taking after him a little too much. And he didn't like it.

He sighed and slumped down onto a chair with a hand on his face.

"Stevens will accompany you. If you dare fight me on this, I will personally chain you to your bed so you can rest. Do you understand?"

His eyes showed that he could not be persuaded any further on this subject. And if she tried, he would be true to his words, even if she was his sister.

But that was all she needed.

She beamed at his words. Her goal was achieved with such a little threat.

Seeing her smile, Dimitri could only look on with a dark, depressed expression. He felt as if he just fell for a trap.