Chapter Twenty-Five-These Violent Delights Have Violent Ends

Chapter Twenty-Five

These Violent Delights Have Violent Ends

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Spencer and Derek had received permission from Mammy to analyze the house. They went though all the upstairs rooms (with the exception of Melanie's and Victoria's. "That ain't fittin'!" Mammy had cried.) and were onto the downstairs.

     They came upon the locked door-Melanie's father's office.

"How do we-" Reid felt along the top of the door frame until he found a rusted, dusty skeleton key. Derek smiled. Reid thrust it into the hole and turned the knob and they were in.

     The office was a dark brownish-grey in color, but it seemed so much darker. The curtains were closed and their were bookshelves lining most of the room, filled to the brim with philosophy and classics. A pair of reading glasses sat on the large wood desk. There was a leather wheeled chair at it, cracked and worn. A rug in the middle, big enough to fit a person in. It was matted in the middle and flat while the rest was still clean. There was a piece of folded paper on the desk with a child like drawing on the front of a flower. A red rose with briar curling around it. Cryptic for such a ill drawing obviously drawn by someone so young. Morgan opened the inside and there was a drawing of a man. They child didn't bother coloring his skin peach, and left it the white grey of the paper. The man had blue eyes and the child had drawn the wrinkles that showed along with the with smile on his face. His hair was a slick bronze-copper but had a tinge of black along with the red brown.

"Happy Birthday...errr...How do you-?"

"It says 'Abba'," Reid said."She called him Abba. It means father but translates to-"

"Daddy."

     Reid and Morgan whipped around at the voice from the door frame. Melanie leaned against it, her eyes burning with anger and betrayal. She stalked forward and stole the card from Derek's hands and placed it where the dust showed it had been.

"I don't know how you got in here but I want you out. Now. This office hasn't been disturbed for seven years and I'd like to keep it that way." When Reid stood staring at the floor Melanie yelled again. "Out!"

"How many nights did you sleep here?" he asked.

Melanie stared with slits. "What?" she whispered. Reid pointed to the rug where the fabric was smashed and matted. "You layed there. How long? How many nights did you cry without leaving this room?"

Melanie stared without seeing at a spot on the wall. There was nothing there.

"It still smells like him...in here...Everything does....Please...just...just go..." Reid handed Melanie the extra key and she smiled lifelessly.

"Of course he would..." her voice trailed off. Reid shut the door behind him, so no one would see the tears streaming down Melanie's face.

***

Derek and Reid walked into the living room where Mammy was sitting out tea for her Mistress.

"Ah, boys," Dresella greeted them. "How lovely to see the two of you again!" she smiled. There was something about Mrs. Wilkes that made Reid feel like he was drowning in ice water. Her gold hair that was brittle and hay like or her brown eyes so dark they were almost black. Or the smile that never held any meaning. This woman failed to love the best daughter a woman could have. That's what chilled his bones the most, knowing what this woman had done to Melly. The original Melanie Wilkes was an orphan. Melanie was that in some sense, but mostly she was only Cinderella without a happy ending.

     Victoria came down the stairs, smiling from ear to ear. Her copper unruly hair was pulled back in a braid. Her parasol was slung lazily over her shoulder as she hummed (horribly).

"It's going to happen today, Mother," Victoria smiled. "I just know he's going to call on me today!"

"Of course Victoria," Dresella said, pinching her favorite daughter's cheek. "Mr. Kennedy is a fine choice too. Just make sure he doesn't take his time for asking for your hand like the Comte Dufour did. You'll end up an old maid, like Melly."

"Oh, Mother!" Victoria snorted,"Melly's not an old maid! She's engaged! And to a Comte. Oh, how I wish a Comte would fall in love with me," she sighed.

"Nonsense," Dresella said. "Mr. Kennedy's got a nice store down in Atlanta and he's got a side lumber, too. It'll be fine, darling. You'll be twenty times as rich as Melly if he keeps it up!"

"But Melly gets to be a Vicomtesse," she frowned. "French royalty!...."

"She won't have any say in the government," Dresella said. "The French are a democratic nation. Phillip will be an ambassador, like you're father," Dresella said.

"I'm going to retire for the morning, Mammy," Dresella sighed. "Wake when lunch is ready. I shall have it in my room."

"Yes'm, Mrs. Dresella."

"Mammy?" Reid asked when the nursemaid returned.

"Yes'm, Docta Reid?"

"I was...just wondering if...well, if you would tell us how Mr. Wilkes died."

Mammy's face darkened, and scared Reid immensely.

"It's a dark and sad story, Docta. Too dark to be tellin'."

"Go on, Mammy," Charlie said, Aggie's hand in  his as they entered the room.

"Yes, Mammy," Melanie whispered, coming into the room. "But, remember," she whispered, turning to leave again,"These violent delights, have violent ends."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Melanie laughed as Charlie tickled her from behind at the pianoforte, her blonde hair was flimsy, and didn't stay curled for long, so it was only wavy with a red silk ribbon in her hair and a matching dress. Black tights clung to her pale legs and she wore red shoes, a joke she and her father shared about the Hans Anderson story.

"Can't play now, can you?" Charlie sang as he tickled his 12 year old sister.

"Charlie!" she giggled as her hands pressed random keys. "Stop it!"

"Not until you say uncle!" he said.

"Never!" Melanie turned and pounced on her older brother. Melanie tickled his sides as he rolled and rolled, laughing hysterically.

"Will you two stop it?!" Dresella cried, 8 year old Victoria in her arms. It was late in December, and it was raining and snowing with a storm outside. Lightning struck again and Victoria screamed. Dresella covered her ears and Victoria fell to the floor. Melanie picked up the screaming girl.

"Want me to put you to bed?" Victoria nodded several times, her pink gown shimmering in the candle light as Melanie picked her up.

    Melanie turned on a little CD of music and plugged in three nightlights before giving her sister a kiss and leaving the room. Dresella, in a fusha turtle neck and high-rise slacks, sighed loudly. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail with curls at the end. She had her phone in her hand, waiting for her husband to call.

"Miss Melly, you go practice the pianoforte some mo',"Mammy yelled. "And Mista Charlie, your Papa is gonna beat you if you don't get him in one gamma chess. Go practice."

"Aw, do I hafta? It's no fun when there's no one to play with."

"Come play the piano with me, Charlie!" Melly cried.

"No, Masta Charlie hasta play his chess."

Melanie frowned. She let her cat, Descartes, come slip up onto her lap as Melanie began to play the piece again. The song her father had given her to learn was sad and deep and made her want to run and cry and never stop. She wanted her father to hold her right now and she would cry and feel loved. The music cried into her blood and she smiled at her emotion. This is what music would always be to her. Love. Fear. Escape. Safety. Softness. Memories.

     The music was laced with longing and desire and Melanie closed her eyes and she didn't feel any others on her, though they were all watching as Melanie slipped into another world. Her mother, thinking how odd she was, like her father. Her brother so proud. Mammy so mesmerized.

     The phone rang and interrupted her and Melanie jumped to her feet.

"Rene?" Dresella asked into the phone. "Thank God, when are you-?"

"Abba! Abba!" Melanie jumping up and down.

"Shut-"

"Is that my little song bird I hear?" Melanie could hear her father's voice from where she was standing. Dresella again asked her question but Rene Wilkes demanded to talk to his daughter.

"Abba," Melanie sighed.

"How's my dove?"

"Better now, Papa," she said, smiling. "I've been playing all night, just like I promised!"

"Good girl! Tell you what, baby doll, I'll be home real soon and why don't you play and when I get home, the first thing I'll hear is my song bird playing her music."

"Okay, Abba!"

"Melly!" Rene cried, as Melanie pulled the phone away.

"Yes, Papa?"

"...I love you."

"I love you, too." Melanie said, smiling. Rene pictured that in his mind and he sighed.

"Be good, little dove. Be good."

When Melanie handed the phone to her mother, Rene was gone. Dresella sighed and returned to the dining room, where she would sit for the next few hours with her head in her hands.

     Melanie returned to the piano and played.

 

And played.

 

 

 

And played.

 

 

 

Melanie Wilkes would play all night till two o'clock in the morning, until the door opened. Melanie bit on her lips to hold the smile and when she turned to see the two sad looking cops whispering to her mother and Mammy. Melanie watched as all she heard was the music ringing in her ears as her mother fell to the ground and Mammy's head whipping to see the young girl playing the piano.

"Stop playing..." Dresella had whispered.  Melanie didn't hear her mother, she just stared at the police, her face distorted with what she knew had happened, her fingers still typing along the keys.

"Stop it..." Dresella whispered. "Stop!!" she had flown into a rage and everything seemed to slow down for Melanie. Her mother trying to violently rip her from the piano, Melanie screaming.

"Daddy's not home yet! I promised! I promised!!" she yelled, tears streaming down her face as she screamed. Charlie stared from his corner in the room, without seeing. One tear fell for his father, the other four fell for his sister and how her world was falling apart.

"He's not home yet!! I promised!!" Melanie tried to glue her fingers back but she stared messing up and couldn't do it anymore, she couldn't see out of her eyes. Dresella threw her across the room, the police tried to stop her as Dresella fell the floor and Melanie ran to her father's office, only to collapse in the little fluffy maroon rug in the floor.

    The music ringing in her ears, she didn't dream those nights in there. She had hallucinations where she was floating in and out of consciousness, where her father would pick her up and hold her, but then she would breathe again and find it false. He would never hold his daughter again. Never see her fall in love or hold her first child. Never walk her down the isle. He wouldn't see her graduate high school or get her first kiss. He would hold her and never let her cry the way he did. She wouldn't ever hear some one refer to her as song bird or little dove. She couldn't stop crying, she didn't think she ever would.

     Her throat and lungs hurt and she was falling apart physically as well as mentally and she wouldn't stop sobbing. As long as she loved her father, there would not be a day she wouldn't sob for him. Wouldn't be a day she wanted to scream or kill herself. Wouldn't be a day where she would wish she was dead so he could hold her.

 

 

She would never hear his voice again. Never hear him telling her how to play the pianoforte the way he always wanted.

 

 

One of the last days she was in the room, she finally remembered his last words to her.

 

"Be good little dove, be good..."

"I promise, Papa...I'll always be good."

 

 

Charlie and Melanie had both broken their promises.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Three whole days that chile stayed in that room. I walked in while she was half-asleep sometimes, and bring her food. She never touched it. I ain't never seen that child so depressed as I did when I seen her walk out that third day. She just wanted to die. You could see it, the way her blue eyes went cold and her skin was so pale and her heart just hardened. That girl wasn't gonna let anyone in for a while. Mista Phillip was really a blessin'. He brought back parta Miss Melly. I don't 'spect we'll ever really have her whole again. Not like she was. Po Miss Melly. I can't imagine what it was like. Charlie was big enough and Victoria was to young to understand. Dresella's never really changed, 'cept bein' more distant, but Melly...her whole world came down. She tol' me once that she was gonna find a way to see him again. That look in her eye....I ain't never been so afraid of anyone 'cept when I saw that look in her eye. I thought that po' girl done lost her mind," Mammy started crying. "I nursed a lotta chilin's, but Melly hadda be the best. And then this happens to her. I always thought God was vengeful, but that girl didn't deserve any of what she's getting. No, sir..."

***

Melanie sat in her father's leather chair, pressing her nose against it.

"It smells like you, Abba..." she whispered. She could she his finger prints on the wood. She smiled, careful not to touch them.

She opened his desk and found the letter he left for her. She remembered coming out of the room on the third day and they were working on father's will, and he had left Melanie a letter. She'd read it a thousand times, but not in six or so years now. Maybe she could gather some meaning now she didn't then. She sighed and held in the tears as she unfold the letter.

 

 

 

 

Dear Melanie,

     Right now, I am sitting at my desk and you are in the floor behind me, playing with Descartes. It's actually rather late and I'm quite sure you lied to me when you said you had a nightmare. When you have nightmares, you cry and get too scared to come out of bed and I have to get you. But I am glad to have your company.

     This is the fifth time I've written this letter. I try to make it deeper and easier for you to understand as the both of us get older and I get closer to leaving you. I apologize for you reading this now, because I know you must be so young. I pray you're not reading this.

 

 

There is a blob of ink on the period, where he held his pen there to long. She smiles as she runs a finger over it.

 

 

    You're just to funny, little dove. Too sweet and too kind. I'd like to take this moment to say how proud I am of you. Not just because you're beautiful. You're beautiful on the inside and out. You care about people and things no one else cares about. You're every thing I imagined having a daughter would be like and more.

     I want to keep writing, to keep listing your perfections, but all I can say now is how proud I am and always will be of you. Stay good. Stay pure. Stay safe. That's all I can ask, darling.

     Keep singing, little dove.

 

I will always love you.

Your Abba.

 

 

 

 

Melanie wiped her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I love you...so much..."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just want to let you know I've spent most of the day listening to Alexandre Desplat songs (such an amazing composer, so beautiful). I've gone back and forth on a lot of songs, but I ended up going with this.

 

The song Melanie plays non stop in the flash back is Alexandre Desplat's 'Dreamcatcher'. Better known as one of the Jacob themes from New Moon. So, there you go.

 

I originally planned it to be 'Lily's Theme' from The Deathly Hallows, but decided against it.

 

Go listen to it while reading this some time!

 

-MEG

Chapter Twenty-Four-Save Me From Myself

Chapter Twenty-Four

Save Me From Myself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Spencer watched from box five, behind Phillip, as Melanie as a man and the man himself is in drag, ripped off her skirt.

"Serraphino, away with this pretense!" Charlotte cried. "You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence." Charlotte held her fan over their lips and Melanie and she dove in for a stage kiss. Niall as the Count shook his fist upset from the door. The audience laughed.

Charlotte began her song. "Ah, old fool, he makes me laugh, ahhhhhhhhh-" she went on until they were interrupted by a voice from above.

"Did I not instruct that box five was to be left empty for me?"  It boomed aloud, and the whole theatre looked for it's source. Audrey looked at Meg.

"It's him! The Ghost..." she trailed off. Melanie didn't listen. She stared at the ceiling.

"He's here..."

"You're part is silent little toad!" Charlotte hissed to the girl. Melanie stared at her friend. She smiled apologetically. "All is good..." Charlotte said to the audience as she scuttled off stage to get her throat sprayed. She began again.

"You cannot speak! But kiss me in my husband's gaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!" she croaked loudly at the end of the statement and the audience gasped.

She smiled uncertainly, her eyes wide with fear. "Poor old fool, he makes me gaaaaaahhh!!" she continued to croak and croak while the audience laughed her off the stage.

"Mama!!" she shrieked, running off. Fray ordered the curtains closed as he and Carlin ran on stage.

"The performance of tonight will continue in a few moments time when...Miss Wilkes-" they yanked Melanie forward from behind the curtain,"will be playing the role of Countess. Now, for you entertainment, we will now perform the ballet from act three of tonight's performance."

     The orchestra director stared.

"The ballet!" Carlin cried and the director repeated it as the ballerina's ran on stage. Madame Greywald helped Melanie dress backstage, lacing her corset as she fingered a black rose. It wasn't one Phillip had sent.

     She made eye contact with Phillip in the wings and just as the ballet was ending Melanie screamed, because she was the first to see it.

 

 

The stage manager's body flinging lifelessly from the rafter, the noose around his neck making him shake oddly as his body spun in midair. A young ballerina screamed as the rope fell and she had to dodge the body about to come down on her head.
     Reid was about to grab Phillip, but Phillip had grabbed a curtain rope and was sliding down to Melanie in the wings. The team was behind them, but as Reid rushed toward Melanie, Derek held him back.
"We can catch him here. They're headed for the roof. Give them space." Derek and Reid followed from another stair case, never taking their eyes off the pair.
The two lovers ran smack into each other.
"Are you alright?" Phillip yelled over the chaos.
"Phil, we're not safe here!" she yelled, taking his hand and dragging him up toward the stairs.
"Why have you brought me here?" he said.
Melanie was mumbling,"We can't go back..."
"We must return-"
"He'll kill you! His eyes will find us there."
"Melly, don't say that-"
"Those eyes that burn..."
"Don't even think it."
"If he has to kill a thousand men!"
"Forget this waking nightmare-"
"Damien will kill and kill again!"
"There is no ghost in the opera."
Melanie yelled as they entered the labyrinth, Morgan trailing quietly as the lovers ran. "My God who is this man? Who hunts to kill-"
"His mask of death..."
"I can't escape from him..."
"What is this voice you here?"
"I never will...And in this labyrinth, where night is blind...He's still here...inside my mind..." The two made it on the roof, it was colder here in the spring.
"He's not here, Melanie. He wouldn't risk it."
Melanie stared daggers at the man she loved, tears springing in her eyes. "Phil, I've been there...to his world of unending night. To a world where the daylight dissolves into darkness...darkness...Phil, I've seen him. Can I ever forget that sight? Can I ever escape from that face so distorted, deformed, it was hardly a face in that darkness?...But his voice held my spirit with a strange, sweet sound. In that night there was music in my mind. With the music my soul began to soar...and I heard as I'd never heard before..."
"It was a dream and nothing more."
"Yet in his eyes, all the sadness in the world...those pleading eyes, that both threaten and adore..."

Reid and Morgan watched from a higher part of the roof, as Phillip took strides to take his fiance in his arms as the hurt tried not to show on his face.
"Melanie, please dear, don't cry...I've got you honey..." Melanie shivered as she let her head lay limply on her love's shoulder. "Baby..." Phillip whispered, turning Melanie to face him, her head falling lifelessly in his neck. "Darling, please forget you're fears...I'm right here....Melanie..." Phillip stuck his hand under her chin so that she would look at him. It was cold that night, and her breathe was visible in the air, swirling playfully in her fiance's hair.
"I've never been so afraid..."
"No one will hurt you, Melanie. I won't let them."
"It's not me I'm afraid for. It's you and my team and my family and my friends. For people who barely know me. I don't even know the man who died tonight. He died because I'm living."
"Melanie, don't say that-"
"You know it's true!" she cried. "As long as I'm here and tangible to him...I should've never left Coney...I should've taken-" she stopped, not knowing who was listening, but continued regardless,"I should've hidden the boy, like I did. I should've stayed and let him kill me in a blind rage. He'd regret it enough and soon, we'd both be dead." she looked away from Phillip at the stars. "I should've died long ago. Think of the lives that would be so much better."
"What of I?" Phillip asked, jerking Melly's chin as softly as he could to look at him. "You think I'd been fine?" Melanie smiled weakly.
"I know you would. Because you are strong. You've always been strong and brave...and kind..." she whispered. Her blue eyes were boring into his this breathing intertwined as the steam from their lips danced above their heads. Slowly, with out thinking Phillip leaned in and covered Melanie's mouth.
       His lips were warm on her cold ones and she gripped his jacket with her little hands balled into fists. Their kiss was slow and loving, Phillip slipped his tongue into her mouth and Melanie giggled, releasing his shirt and pulling away. Her smiled slipped as she saw Phillip's serious expression. Staring into his crystal eyes, her knees wobbled and she fell into him, sobbing.
"What is it?" Phillip asked.
Melanie shook her head, smiling through the tears. "I don't know what's going on," she whispered happily. "I'm upset and dizzy and happy and I want to scream," she said, ripping away from her fiance, twirling. They were a few yards away when they locked eyes again.
"What?" she asked.
"You don't have any idea how long I've dreamt of this moment," he whispered, taking three long strides to close their distance.
"I can guess," she whispered. And again, their lips met. Spencer caught sight of the three trinkets around her neck, all gold and one with a ruby in the middle. Melanie's ruby lips smiled when she leaned away to breathe. He was instantly reminded of Lila, who he hadn't thought about in...what? Years? Melanie was so like her and so unlike her. Spencer would always hold a special place in his heart for her, and he never dreamed he'd ever fall in love. But Melanie was his best friend. He had been her first kiss and the whole time, she'd been dreaming of Phillip.


What was this feeling?
***
Melanie sat uncomfortably folded on the threadbare couch, her hands wringing as she slept. The team decided it was unsafe for Melanie to sleep in her room and she refused to let them tear it apart. So, she was sleeping in the living room under the watch of Reid, Phillip, and Charlie. Phillip was snoring quietly on the floor next to Melanie. He had been holding her hand as she slowly started to doze, but released it when he fell asleep. Melanie was twitching and sighing now, her legs racing back and forth. What was she running from?
     Her moaning got louder and her head and chest started to convulse while her hands beat furiously. She screamed at the top of her lungs, alerting Phillip to an upright position. Charlie and Reid rushed to her side, shaking her gently as she kicked and punched at them until she woke, sobbing.
"What was it, Melly?" Charlie asked.
"I can't save you!" she screamed it seemed without hearing Charlie. "I can't! I can't!! I'm so sorry!" she sputtered, her hands holding her self together, as if she would fall to pieces.
"I'm so sorry..." she whispered.
    Mammy came in with a candle and Melanie finally focused through her tears.
"How many people did I wake?" she whispered as Mammy put a cold wash rag to her head.
"Just Mista Aggie and Miss Vicky. Yo momma and the team are still sleepin'. Or as far as I know. What was goin' on in yo head, Miss Melly."
     Melly looked at the ground as Phillip returned with a glass of water. She thanked him.
"You don't want to know..." she whispered.
"Go on, Mel," Phillip urged. "It's better to talk about it."
"No!" Melanie screamed, curling her black blanket around her tightly as if one of them planed to yank it from her grasp.
"Melly..." Phillip whispered. Reid was about to object when Melanie sighed.
"I watched...everyone of you die...then the shape-it's always a shape, no matter what the nightmare is about-came for me. I didn't want to run, and leave you there, but I was so scared...I hate myself for what I did. I always run. I leave you all there to die while I live. Living in a world like that...I couldn't."
"Don't you say things like that, Miss Melly. It ain't do no one no good to say em. You go to sleep now."
"...I don't want to. I know what will happen when I close my eyes," she whispered.
"Surely you have some good dreams," Phillip said.
"...I haven't had a good dream since my father died. Since that night it's been the same. 7 years of horrible nightmares over and over and over again. All different. Some times I die, but it's mostly me seeing something...something I never should. Every time I close my eyes..." she sighed, looking down. "Do you think they'll ever stop?" she whispered.
"Of cou-"
"I was talking to Dr. Reid, Mammy," Melanie whispered.
"...7 years straight?" he asked. Melanie nodded. "...Then, no. I don't think so."
Melanie looked down.
"...G'night, Miss Melly."
"Goodnight, Mammy," she whispered as her nurse maid left. Charlie retreated to a desk in the corner of the room her father used to drink at. Now, as Charlie pulled a glass and filled it to the brim, Melanie's eyes grew sad as he drank it down in mere seconds.
"I wish you wouldn't drink so much," Melanie whispered, her arms around his neck.
He smiled drunkenly,"Next time a man tries to drown his sorrows, kindly remind him they can float." His eyes, still sad, locked on Melanie's. He touched her face, and traced her red lips with his fingers.
"Do you know what I wish?" he asked.
"...What?"
"That you wouldn't look so sad all the time."
Melanie's eye brows pushed together, and her sad eyes got even sadder. "I didn't know I did."
Charlie nodded slowly. "You know what you're name means, don't you?" he asked. Melanie shook her head that she didn't.
"We were named after book characters," she whispered. "Because our last name was Wilkes. Father loved the book Gone With the Wind and wanted two children named after then, but he didn't want to name a son Ashely, for fear he'd be made fun of, and Melanie Wilkes was his favorite character, so he went with the Hamilton children, even though Melanie's last name was changed when she was married to Wilkes."
"Yes, but Father, being the philosophy lover he is, wanted to give you a deep meaning," Charlie smiled. "Did you know he knew you'd be a girl? And he knew you'd be blonde and blue eyed? He just told Mother he knew. She was happy about that, but you weren't quite what she expected." He chuckled again. "Melanie means dark or black. Darkness. You were born to be afraid and meek, Melanie. But you were also born to change. Do you know what my name means? It means strong. It means 'free-man'. Maybe that's what I was born into but now...now all I am is a protector."
Melanie stared simply into her brother's eyes.
"Do you remember why father said he loved mother when they first met?"
"They were so different. He said they were like-"
"Fire and rain," Charlie whispered. "You and I are like fire and rain, Melanie. You once said to me that some people are born to be stars and others to be secondary characters. You sold yourself short when you said that, but I learned this:
    I was born as a secondary character. I was born to protect you. We may not see eye to eye because we're so different now. You left and it changed everything. But you were born to grow out of the legacy that was planned for you. You were born for so much more. You can't even imagine."
"...Charlie..." Melanie whispered, her voice rising at the end.
"I love you so much," he whispered.
"What are you talking about?" she whispered.
"I am going to save you," he said, gripping her face in his hand,"from all the evil. I have to keep you alive and happy. At any cost."
"...First, you'll have to save me from the most dangerous thing," she challenged, tears in her eyes.
"...What?" he whispered.
Her voice was thick with tears as she whispered,"Myself."

Chapter Twenty-Three-Deo Salus Mea

Chapter Twenty-Three

Deo Salus Mea

     Ardely was torn up as the news that Melanie was gone spread. Charlie locked himself in his room and hadn't come out for almost 14 hours now, and the clinking of glasses carried down the hall to Reid's room. Reid was worried for Melanie's sake. Charlie was going to drink himself to death. He'd made a promise and he didn't keep it. How awful that must've felt.

     No one was more tore up though than the Monsieur's Lon Carlin and Fray. Their cast had disappeared. A ball was scheduled for next week. A performance in three days. They would have to refund multiple full houses.

The FBI had taken over the opera house as M. Fray came bumbling in yelling for Carlin.

"'Mystery after gala night!" he cried, reading the paper aloud,"if says 'mystery a soprano's flight. We are mystified' baffled Surete say, 'we are mystified - we suspect foul play!' Bad news on soprano scene - first Charlotte, now Melanie! Still, at least the seats get sold. gossip's worth its weight in gold .... What a way to run a business. Oh, spare me these unending trials...Half your cast disappears, but the crowd still cheers! Opera !To hell with Gluck and Handel - It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles-"

"Damnable! Will they all walk out? This is damnable!"

"Carlin, please don't shout. It's publicity and the take is vast. Free publicity!"

"But we have no cast!"

"Carlin have you seen the queue?" but stopped when he saw the letter in his friend's hand. "Oh, it seems you've got one too..."

Carlin read aloud his note,"Dear Andre what a charming gala. Melanie was in a word, sublime. We were hardly bereft when Charlotte left-on that note, the chorus was entrancing but the dancing was a lamentable mess!"

"Dear Fray, just a brief reminder, my salary had not been paid. Send in care of the ghost by return of post: Q P.TO. No one likes a debtor so it's better if my orders are obeyed!"

Rossi stalked up the steps told the men. "Who are these letters from?"

"To hell if we know..." Carlin sighed.

"These are both signed,"O.G.""

"Who the hell is he?"

"Opera ghost!It's really not amusing. He's abusing our position! In addition he wants money. He's a funny sort of spectre ... to expect a large retainer! Nothing plainer - he is clearly quite insane!"
"Morgan!" Rossi yelled...just as Phillip Dufour burst angrily into the house.

"Where is she?" he growled.

"You mean Charlotte?"

"I mean Miss Wilkes. Where is she?"

"Well how should we know?" Carlin asked.

"I want an answer!" he snarled. "I take it that you sent me this note?"

"What's all this nonsense? "

"She's not with you then?"

"Of course not. We're in the dark-"

"Monsieur, don't argue. Isn't this the letter you wrote?"

"And what is it that we're meant to have wrote...Written!" Fray let his eyes scan the page for a moment before reading it aloud. "'Do not fear for Miss Wilkes. The angel of music has her under his wing...make no attempt to see her again.'"

Phillip shifted uncomfortably,"If you didn't write it, then who did?"

ENTER:Charlotte Greywald.

"Where is he!" she screamed.

Carlin smiled. "Welcome back!"

Charlotte was crying. "You're precious patron, where is he?"

"Charlotte," Phillip sighed,"what is it now?"

"I have your letter-a letter that I rather resent!"

"Did you send it?" Carlin asked.

"Of course not," Phillip cried.

"As if he would," Fray stated.

"You dare to tell me, that this is not the letter you sent?"

"And what is it that I've meant to have sent?" Phillip scanned his sister's letter, then read it aloud:"Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered. Melanie Wilkes will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take her place."

Carlin and Fray looked at each other for a moment, considering what to do. With one missing Prima Donna, and one in front of them, it seemed ignorant to obey the mysterious writer.

"Far too many notes for my taste," Carlin said, taking Charlotte across the room,"And most of them about Melanie. All we've heard since we came is Miss Wilkes' name!"

ENTER:Annette Greywald. "Miss Wilkes has returned."

"No word for where and when as far as we're concerned," Carlin sighed.

"Where precisely is she now?" Fray asked.

"I thought it best she was alone. She needed rest."

"May I see her?" Phillip asked.

"No, Vicomte, she will see no one."

"Will she sing?" Charlotte cried through her tears.

"Here, I have a note," Annette said, showing it. Everyone cried for it at once, but she gave it to Rossi to read.

""Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theatre is to be run. You have not followed my instructions.I shall give you one last chance . . .Melanie Wilkes has returned to you, and I am anxious her career should progress. In the new production of "Il Muto", you will therefore cast Charlotte as the Pageboy, and put Miss Wilkes in the role of Countess. The role which Miss Wilkes plays calls for charm and appeal. The role of the Pageboy is silent - which makes my casting, in a word, ideal. I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, O.G." How long have you been getting these letters?" Rossi asked.

"Since we came," Fray sighed.

"No," Reid said,"Since MELANIE came."

"I know who sent this!" Charlotte cried. "The Vicomte, her lover!"

Phillip sneered at his sister,"Indeed? Can you believe it!"

"Senora!" Carlin cried. "You are our star-and always will be! We don't take orders-Miss Wilkes will be playing the pageboy, the silent role. Charlotte will be playing the lead!"

"The angel sees!" Madame Greywald cried,"The angel knows!"

"What does that mean?" Reid whispered to Rossi.

"I can tell you," Charlie said. Reid stared. When had he come out of his room? "If you'll follow me boys?"

***

Charlie's room was comfy. Soft. Plaid, everywhere. The color red, everywhere. Phillip poured them a little brandy, which Reid didn't touch. Not on the job. Rossi popped his down.

"It's really an old fairy tale around here...An Angel of Music."

"Didn't Phillip call Damien that while we were on Coney?"

"Probably..." Charlie sighed. "Melanie...believes Damien is her angel of music. Father used to tell Melanie the story before she went to bed...every night. Every true musical genius has been visited by the angel of music. Father once told Melanie, that when he died, he would send the angel of music to her. Only a few families know the story-I guess the families originally from here, this being an old civil war town and all...She used to hear things...and it would scare me when she told me about them."

"What did she hear?" Reid asked, concerned.

"...Voices...Music in the night...when she said she heard it again the other night I finally realized that...well, what if she really is hearing something? There's not something wrong with her head? There's something tangibly there?"

Spencer looked at Rossi. "Melanie met Damien on Coney-"

"But he had been with her the whole time."

***

"Mista Charlie! Mista Charlie!" Mammy burst into the room of the horror shocked men. How young had Melanie been when she first heard this voice? How long had he been watching her sleep? Singing to her. Reid thought he might throw up. "Mista Charlie! Miss Melly's home." Mammy was smiling from ear to ear.

"Melanie," Charlie sighed, getting up and running down the stairs. "Melanie?!" Phillip was already kneeling at her side. She was sickly pale, with dark circles under her eyes. Phillip held fast to her hand. She had her black shawl wrapped around her body, and her hair was matted and dull. She kept wringing her hands and biting the lips that were no longer red.

"Melanie?" Charlie asked again.

"Mammy, get her some water," Reid said.

"Yes'm Docta Reid," Mammy said, scuttling off.

"Melanie, are you alright, dear?"

"Of course," she smiled at her brother. "Phillip?" she whispered, the only tone she could manage,"would you be a darling and let me alone for my brother?"

"...Can I stay in the room?" he asked.

"Of course, darling," she breathed, her eyelids fluttering.

"Melanie..." Charlie whispered,"I'm sorry..."

"Don't apologize...you have nothing to apologize for..."

"Are you sure your okay?" he asked.

"Deo Salus Mea," Melanie mumbled.

"What?" Rossi asked.

"It's the Wilkes family war cry," Reid whispered to him.

"My safety comes from God," Melanie clarified. Mammy came in and propped up her Mistress to give her a sip of water.

"You've been brave so long, Miss Melly. Ya just gotta keep on bein' brave."

"I'm not brave, Mammy...I'm just living..." Melanie sighed, her eyes closing.

"Let's go and let Miss Melly rest," Mammy said. Everyone was departing, and Charlie saw Phillip still at her side. "Phil-" but Mammy cut him off.

"Leave 'em be, Mista Charlie. Leave em be." Charlie looked pitifully as Phillip brushed hair out of his sister's face. "I'm sorry," he whispered again, to no one. He left, sparing another glance at the sister he couldn't protect.

***

The next day, Melanie was sitting up on the threadbare couch they'd left her on, smiling. Her lips were red again, though not the crimson that was normal for her. Her hair had been washed by Mammy a few hours earlier, when she had carried her to the tub and bathed her. Her hair was wet and clinging to the frame of her face. She had on make-up, and Mammy was pulling up her hair as Reid walked into the room.

"Look at you," he said.

"Quite," Melanie said, still smiling.

"Who took you, Melly?" he asked.

Melanie looked down, sad.

"Don't be botherin' Miss Melly," Mammy said.

"Have you ever felt a fairy tale crash down around your head, Reid?" he stared at her.

Phillip burst in, with a load of red roses. He handed them to her as she smiled weakly, her eyes, full of life and love, doing the speaking.

"19 roses," he said, kissing her palms. "One for every hour you were gone," he smiled. He put his head in her hands.

"Phillip..." she whispered, kissing his hair.

He sighed ruggedly. "Let's not think about that now," he smiled,"remember when we were young? Little dove...let her mind wander...the little song bird thought,'Am I fonder of dolls or of goblins or of shoes...'"

"Phillip," she smiled.

"'Or of riddles or of frocks..."

"Those picnics in the attic..."

"Or of chocolates?"

"Father playing the violin..."

"As we read to each other, dark stories of the north?"

"No," Melanie smiled,"What I love best,'the song bird said,'is when I'm asleep in my bed...and the angel of music sings songs in my head," and they chorused together,"and the angel of music sings songs in my head..."

Reid looked at Melanie and he knew.

Melanie knew.

Damien was the Angel of Music. He'd been with her much longer than any of them could realize.
***
Madame Greywald was finishing Melanie's make-up as Reid walked in. Another coat of pink lipstick, to cover her red, and she left.
 "So?" Reid said.
"Yes, Reid. Damien is the opera ghost. Damien is the angel of music. Damien is sending the letters and yes, Damien is the voice that sings to me at night. I just...when he took me that night...and everything ran together...it was like my world was falling out of the sky. But, I got to thinking...what if Father did send me the angel of music?"
 "What?"
"What if he sent me Damien? I know he's not what we both thought. I mean, he wouldn't be accepted in public because of his...distortion. But still, what if Father sent me him? And for a reason?"
 "Melly-"
"Charlotte and I can't sing tonight. He's going to do something awful. Hurt someone. I know it. I tried to tell the managers, but asking them to give me the main role when I didn't deserve it would be horrendous. Il Muto is so amazing to put on."
"Melly, you do deserve the main roll. I mean, you play a boy dressed up a maid whose in love with Charlotte's character, right?"
 "Opera for you," she smiled,"and you mustn't say unkind things about Charlotte, Spencer. After all, in a few months time, she will be my sister," Melanie smiled. "Reid, if something happens tonight, you must protect her. It would kill Phillip if she was hurt."
"If you need helping though-"
"Her over me. I can't put Phillip through her death, Spencer. Besides, my safety is with God."
"What else is it you Wilkes say? Your family motto?"
 "No safety in arms," smiled weakly. "I know. I'm brave enough to survive. I have to be."
  Spencer watched as Melanie Wilkes walked away, her shoulders squared though she
 couldn't walk but two days ago. Her face painted and powered, her smile small and red already peeking through the lipstick. The girl whom Spencer had to protect, even though she just asked to give up her life for the girl that loathes her.



Chapter Twenty-Two-Gone With the Wind

Chapter Twenty-Two

Gone With the Wind

India's case had been put on hold in order to deal with Damien, who was, again, murdering to get to Melanie.

At least, they assumed it was Damien.

Melanie spent most of her time at the theatre, and Charlie and Phillip kept a close eye on her there. Charlie hadn't spoken to her lately unless it was of utter importance or a grim morning greeting. This upset his younger sister, but he kept his distance for a reason. If only she knew what he'd done....

 Mother came home from a social late one evening and was cornered by her younger daughter and son. Melanie stood in the corner looking at her solemn brother across the room.

"...she get to wear the dress?! I wanna wear Melanie's green dress!"

"I don't like you're tone, Victoria. You're pink dress is lovely," Dresella said, allowing Mammy to take her coat. She walked up to her oldest child and took her face in her hands. "Are you quite alright, child? You look pale."

"I'm fine, Mother, really," Melanie said, prying her mother's hand off her face and leaving.

Victoria frowned,"I didn't wanna wear your tacky old green dress anyway-"

"Oh, hush up!" Melanie yelled as she yanked on one of her sister's curls.

"Oh, and Melanie, don't wear your green dress to the ball at the Carlin's tomorrow. Wear your red ballgown," Dresella yelled at her daughter was retreating into the great room.

     Garcia had set up her computer there-it was where she got the best signal. A few of the team members were in the living room as Melanie sat down next to her brother, without looking at him and without a word.

"Is that you're pianoforte, Melanie?" Reid asked her. Her eyes shot up to the instrument, the main piece in the room.

"...Yes," she mumbled. Her head turned when there was a knock at the door, and Xylen let in Phillip. Melanie stood to embrace her fiance.

"It's so late," Melanie said in his ear.

"I missed you," he whispered. Spencer read his lips, and saw the goosebumps forming on Melanie's neck.

"I love you," they whispered at the same time.

"That's quite a long embrace," Victoria sneered from the corner. Melanie released her fiance and stuck her tongue out at her sister, who mimicked her.

"Enough! You want your momma to see you like that?" Mammy said, even though Dresella had retreated up stairs for the night.

     Melanie sat between Charlie and Phillip. Her head on the latter's shoulder, she sighed.

"I. am. bored." Derek said after a few minutes.

"You have the patience of a four year old, Derek Morgan."

"Why don't you play something on the piano, Melly?" Spencer asked. Melanie stared uncomfortably at the instrument.

"I haven't played in such a long time....I haven't played since..." Melanie stared, her mouth releasing a whimper.

"Say it, Melanie," Charlie sneered. "Say,"the night he died". Go ahead."

"Don't you ever say that again!" Melanie whimpered, jumping up out of her seat.

"Melanie! He did! You walk around here with that smile and do you know why? Because father put that on your face. Who makes you happy here? No one even wants you here!"

"Masta Charlie..." Mammy warned.

"It's like he's still around with you, isn't it? You expect him to walk through the door and pick you up again? Guess what, Melly, he won't. Because he's buried six feet under the ground and if he did come back, it would be in a body so mangled-"

"Shut up!" Melanie was sobbing.

"Charlie, stop it," Phillip snarled.

"His casket was nailed shut. Remember that? Of course you wouldn't. You wouldn't stop crying. For weeks. For months. The only thing that ever loved you died that day. There is nothing here for you Melanie."

"You never loved Father! I'll love him and I'll love him till I die!" Melanie ran to the locked office, but found the key around her neck and quickly locked herself in.

"What was that?!" Phillip screamed, quickly attacking Charlie. Charlie shoved him off.

"Get out of my house. Now."

"Not while she's here. Not while there's a breath in my body-"

"That can be arranged," Charlie sneered. He'd never liked Phillip. He was a threat. He could hurt Melanie. The only way Melanie really got hurt: emotionally. Sometimes though, she needed to hurt, to protect herself. If only she knew what he was trying to do....

"Stop it!" Mammy said. "Miss Melly loves ya both and if eitha of ya hurt one another, it would break her heart," she looked at Charlie,"if it ain't broke already." Charlie stared back at the woman who had put diapers on him. Who had held him when he was hurt. He was hurting her Melanie. She was another soul that needed Melanie here, but he couldn't let her know that. He had to protect Melanie. He had promised. Even if that meant scarring her, hurting her. She had to live. Because, even time can heal, and if she lived, she smiled.

***

Melanie came out of the office late that next morning. Phillip had slept on the couch, ready to accept his fiance with open arms. Now he was merely snoring. She smiled weakly at that. She stalked into the quite dinning room, only to come face to face with her brother.

"Melanie," he nodded.

"Cut the crap," she said, staring at him. "I did a lot of thinking last night."

Charlie sipped his coffee tiredly. "Did you now?" Garcia and Reid stared from their spot 10 feet at the other foot of the table.

"And I realized, you didn't mean a word of what you said last night." She stared at her brother whose expression never changed. "Last night I said to you,'I love father and I'll love him till I die'. The same goes for you. I love you and I will always love you. And I know you love me. I'll love you forever, because you're my brother. You said what you said last night for a reason, and it was because you love me. So just come out and say it."

"You're too damn proud to listen."

"Try me," she whispered. He didn't respond. "What I don't understand," she continued,"is that you made a promise. To father. To keep me happy."

"That's just it, isn't it!" he yelled, slamming his fist on the table. "He wrote you this long heart felt letter in his will and I got a note that says,"Look after Melanie. Keep her safe and happy." When you left, Melly, I didn't know what to do. How did I know you were happy? And I realize, I'd always been focused on your emotions and never your safety. I've learned, from just those few days at the BAU, that you don't need to be happy, you need to live. If you went to heaven, and father saw you, what chance to I have of him ever being proud of me?" he growled.

"Oh, Charlie, he was always proud of you? Didn't you see that-"

"It's because I tried so hard. Melanie, when we were young, I found out the only way to get father's attention was to be the best brother to you. You will always be his favorite...always..."

"I'm sorry..." she whispered. "What are you trying to get me to do?" she asked him.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stay. I'm going to stay and protect."

"Protect what?" he asked drunkenly.

"Anything I can."

***

Melanie smoothed the huge scarlet skirt down, but it puffed back up.

"Is your dress big enough, Miss Wilkes?" Phillip asked. "God, I can't even dance with you," he grumbled, tripping again.

"I'll go to the bathroom after this dance and remove a petticoat," she smiled.

"Shocking, Miss Wilkes!" he cried. 

"Fine. Then I'll go dance with Bunny over there. He looks like he could dance with me-"

"Melly!" he cried, pulling her back in his arms. She laid her head on his chest, smiling.

"You sang like an angel, tonight," he mumbled. They were at the Carlin estate for the ball. She had sung...Golly, she couldn't remember. Phillip had this power to make Melanie weak in the knees and forget her name. The dance ended and Melanie sighed.

"I'll go-"

"Oh, look, Charlotte!" Melanie cried as Phillip tried to lead Melanie away.

"Melanie Wilkes, what a lovely dress!" Charlotte cried.

"And look at you, darling," Melanie crooned,"How lovely."

"How long is Melanie staying again, Phillip?" Charlotte asked.

"Oh, we'll try to keep her for as long as we can, won't we Charlotte darling?"

"Oh, yes, we'll make the biggest fuss," Charlotte sighed.

"Oh, Charlotte," Melanie sighed,"what a dear you are. You're so full of life...I wish I could be more like you."

"Oh, Melanie, you mustn't say things you don't mean."

"I don't think anyone could call Melanie insincere,"Phillip said, looking at his fiance.

"Oh, no, I'd never. Of course, now Phillip. Don't listen to him he doesn't mean a thing he says to any girl-Why, Charles Wilkes!" Charlotte smiled as the oldest Wilkes boy bowed in front of her. "Now, Melanie, you think it fair to bring your brother down here to break my poor country girl's heart? I'm afraid I have to go now, and I must say, Charles you must dance with me and not any of the other girls 'cause I'll be mighty jealous."

"I will try, Miss Greywald."

Charlotte began up the path toward the house when she ran into another man.

"Why, Frank Kennedy!" she cried. "Look at you with those new set of whiskers! How handsome you look!" He couldn't reply before Victoria Wilkes came and stole her beau away from the flirt. Frank was easily twice Victoria's age, but to her it didn't matter.

***

"I'm afraid they've raised the taxes on Ramblings again," Phillip sighed to Melanie. "My assets are frozen for another year and mother and Charlotte don't know how they are going to pay it."

"Oh, the poor darlings! Could I-"

"They won't take your help. They're too stubborn too."

"Oh..." Melanie sighed, hating being so helpless. "I guess I'll go take a nap. I hate napping," she sighed.

"Dream of me?" he asked.

"Always," she sighed.

***

"Where is Miss Melly!" Mammy bellowed.

"Wasn't she staying the night at Ramblings?" Victoria yawned.

"No. I done said goodnight to the Greywalds myself. She ain't still at the pawty, is she?"

Morgan and Reid exchanged nervous looks.

"Call a search party," Morgan yelled,"now."

The team would look for hours and hours. But Melanie wouldn't be found.

Spencer groaned when the last search party came around again, empty handed.

Melanie Wilkes was gone with the wind. 

Chapter Twenty-One-In Sleep He Sang to Me

Chapter Twenty-One

In Sleep He Sang to Me

     Melanie was forced to change for dinner. Only a few of the team members joined them. Morgan, Reid, Prentiss, and Garcia sat at the end of the table, while Melanie, Charlie, Aggie, and Victoria sat toward the front with their mother on the end. The Greywalds: Charlotte and Annette with Phillip sat on the other side.

"I just think it's wonderful that Phillip found Melanie after all this time and now...why their courting!" Annette mused.

"Perhaps a wedding is in the future, eh, Phillip?" Dresella said. Melanie coughed, uncomfortable. She ran her hands down her long red frock, smoothing it. Phillip tapped his foot against Melly's and she jumped with a yelp. His eyes widened and he smiled breath-takingly. She didn't notice Charlotte's glare at her as she smiled at her secret fiance.

"What a lovely supper, Dresella. You must simply tell me where you found your chef," Annette cried.

"Family friend. Don't go coveting, darling," Dresella crooned with a smile.

"Dresella, darling, I hope you don't mind, but I was wishing to take a look around Ardely's grounds."

"Oh, by all means. I do believe Miss Charlotte wanted to see the library?" Dresella cried.

"Oh, yes, please, Mrs. Wilkes!" Charlotte cried. She had never had a taste for books. They were dreadful boring and she didn't read anymore than her education demanded, but she needed to talk to Phillip. He couldn't court Melanie. Not while he loved her.

"Phillip, would you mind showing Miss Charlotte the library?"

"I'd be honored, Ma'am."

    Melanie smiled at her mother after all the Greywald's had dispersed.

"What a cool liar you are, Mother."

"Yes, well, years of practice, darling. You, on the other hand, have a tell."

"I do?"

"Yes."

"...Well what is it?"

"I'm not going to tell you."

"Uhhhh!!"

"Don't make that noise," her mother reprimanded. "I'm retiring for the night. Give our guests my condolences, Charles."

"Yes, Mother," Charlie replied as mother left. Melanie tried to meet Charlie's eye, but he refused to. He was like Melanie.

Proud.

***

"Now, Charlotte, enlighten me. Why in the world do you want to see the library?" Phillip watched his adoptive sister run to the door and lock it without saying a word. "What are you doing?" he asked. "What's going on?"

Charlotte placed both her little hands on his lapels.

"Oh, Phillip, I love you."

"...Charlotte-"

"I love you, I do, I do. Say you love me. Say it."

Phillip shook his head. "Why can't we leave here and forget all that you've said?"

"Why?" she asked, scared.

"I do intend to marry Melanie."

"You can't love her. You can't. She's nothing but a pale ninny who can't open her mouth except to say 'yes' or 'no' or raise a pack of measly mouth brats-"

"You mustn't say such things," Phillip said.

"You do love her..." Charlotte said. Tears in her eyes. "I can't believe it...you lead me on..."

"Now, Charlotte, I never said-"

"No! It's true, you did! I hate you and I'll hate you till I die! I can't think of anything bad enough to call you!" she slapped Phillip as hard as she could across the face. He didn't look at his sister, instead he went to the door, and closed it behind him without a word.

That damn Melanie Wilkes! she thought, it's all her fault. She's taken my role and now my life. I'll... she fell into a heap on the floor, crying.

***

"Cal, that supper was lovely," Melanie supplied again, while she helped him wash the dishes.

"Thank you, Miss Melly," he sighed, running his tan hands over his bald head again. "You don't need to help me wash the dishes, Miss Melly. I thank you, but, it's not your job. You go to bed. You've got that big performance tomorrow night."

"Oh, Cal, it's alright, I'm not tired."

"Miss Melly-"

The door burst open,"Cal, have you seen-" Charlie stopped dead, staring at his sister. He straightened his back and stared coldly at the space just above her head.

"Mammy's looking for you."

"...Thank you, Charli-" but he had gone.

"What's the matter with Master Charlie?" Cal asked.

"I haven't a clue. Cal, what happened in that year when I was gone to college?"

"Nothing of significance. Charlie wasn't around Ardely much. When he was, he was with Miss Dresella."

Melanie sighed, wiping off one last plate. "Alright, I best go find Mammy before she gets us both."
***
Melanie performed the aerie flawlessly that night, much to Charlotte's dismay. Audrey had laughed saying that,"See? What did I tell you? NATURAL blondes have more fun!" Melanie had to bite her finger to keep from going into hysterics with her microphone still on.
"Honestly!" Audrey said,"It looked better when it was that black she was born with and then she gets a bottle of peroxide! And those eyes of hers...ehhh..."
"You mustn't say unkind things about her. She could be my sister one day."
"And I pity you for that."
Melanie rolled her eyes as Audrey laughed again.
"Help me get this huge dress off?" she asked.
"Nope. On your own."
"Audrey!"
"Kidding! You would like die of suffocation from all the lace. Which, although hilarious, would make for a sad death."
"Uh, yeah," Melanie said. "Spend the night at Ardely?"
"Can't. I, err-"
"Need to make up a lie so you won't have to say you're meeting Tommy somewhere?"
"Melly!" Audrey stared at her friend, in shock. "Is it that obvious?" she asked.
"Tommy isn't that bad," Melanie said, hugging her friend while shrugged off the petticoat, then the hoop.
"He's sweet on me," Audrey said.
"He always has been," Melanie informed her. A knock interrupted Audrey's next thought.
"Can I come in?" Phillip yelled through the door.
"I'm undressing, wait a moment!"
"So you can be fully naked?" Tommy's voice yelled back.
"I hate your boyfriend," Melanie hissed.
"You just said he wasn't that bad!"
"Tough, I hate him again," Melanie said as she slipped on a white cotton frock. Phillip and Tommy were let in the main dressing room, and the latter left with Audrey. Phillip stayed and shut the door. He presented his fiance with a red rose and kissed both her palms. He kissed her ring finger.
"I wish I could see the engagement ring on your finger. You don't have any idea how much joy I get from seeing you wearing it."
Melanie smiled, then freed her hands. Turning to the vanity, she reached in a drawer and pulled out her gold necklace she always wore with the gold plated cross and the skeleton key. There was a new trinket on it now. A gold band with a red ruby. Phillip smiled.
"Want to know a secret?" Melanie told him.
"Yes," he smiled.
"I have two," she said. "First...do you know I've kept every rose you've ever gave me?"
"Really?" he smiled.
"Yes. All 23 of them. Now 24. I keep them in a box, in my bedroom, hidden under a floor board."
"What's the other secret?" he asked.
"How much I really love you," she whispered. She smiled at her fiance as he kissed all over her face and neck. And the fact that I'm considering letting me kiss you.
***
Spencer wasn't surprised that Ardely had all the rooms. There were only a few downstairs, not counting the kitchen, great room, dinning room, library, an office that was locked, and a rec. room for the children. The second level was set up odd. A square. In the middle of the floor was two rooms back to back. Mrs. and Mr. Wilkes. Spencer didn't think it odd they slept in two separate bedrooms. Nothing was shocking about this family. They brought traditional to a whole new level. Their was then a hall outside of that, then more rooms along the perimeter. Melanie's, then Aggie's, Victoria's, and Charlie's on the other side of Melanie's. 12 rooms ran around the perimeter, then the two in the middle. The third floor was the biggest ball room ever seen. The library was well stocked, as was the kitchen.
     Spencer was awake all that night, and he got up several times to go refill his cup of water. He heard music, very faint, coming from Melanie's room all night, and wondered how she stayed awake all day if that's what she spent her nights doing. Spencer sighed. She would be tired and irritable tomorrow.
***
"Where is that Miss Melly? You think that young girl could get herself up..." Mammy said. Spencer stared. "Is she still in bed?"
"I s'pose so, Docta Reid. Commin' check with Mammy." The two climbed the stairs to the second floor, and into Melanie's room. Mammy went and threw open the black out curtains and there was Melanie in her bed, the sheets tucked tightly around her as she sat up.

Her eyes wide and scared.
"Is it morning now?" she whispered.
"Yes, chile. You sure took your time to wake up."
"I'm sorry, Mammy," she said hoarsely.
"Melly," Spencer asked her,"what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Reid!" Morgan came bounding up the stairs,"We've got anther murder. Completely different M.O. Reid, this one was hanged."
"Melly?" Spencer asked.
"Last night..." she whispered,"...I heard voices...he was singing..."
"Damien..." Reid said, looking at Morgan. Morgan darted off as Melanie stared at nothing with her wide scared eyes. She could hear his voice echo up the stairs.
"HOTCH! HE'S BACK!"

"He's back..." Melanie whispered,"And more people are going to die..."