Recipe For Disaster

18: A Meeting With An Unfortunate Guest

Melody sat down and eyed Zak suspiciously. He had changed a lot. He had grown a bit of a stubble, gotten kicked out of Vera's Wing and started dealing drugs, but he still looked pretty good.

Zak's dark hair was slicked back, sorta like James but longer. His brown eyes that were once soft and friendly were now cold and alert. The stubble just appearing and he had a short scar above his lip. Zak looked at Melody, "You've changed." Melody scoffed, "I can say the same for you." Zak stared at her. He tilted his head, "Have you told them?"

Melody looked uncomfortable, "Told who?" "Your boyfriend that I tried to poison him," Zak shrugged. Melody rolled her eyes, "Sherlock is not my boyfriend!" A teensy bit of a smile appeared of Zak's face, "Then what was that, back at the dance studio?" Melody's already pale face paled even more, "How'd you know about that?"

Zak laughed, "Please, you told me that's where you went when you needed to be alone, so I saw you get a ride there and I followed. I needed to talk to you but cheekbones got there first so I waited outside." Melody flipped him off, "Stalker." Zak smiled, "Patience."

As Melody got up to leave, Zak grabbed her wrist. She looked at him and whispered, "Zak, let me go. Now." Zak smiled creepily, "We haven't even eaten yet. Sit down and enjoy the food." Melody kept standing, "Why would I eat any food near you?" Zak clicked his tongue, "That is a good question. Very good question indeed. Why don't you ask my employer that?" Melody looked confused until she looked forward and saw James walking toward their table.

"Sit," James said. Melody hesitated, but then finally sat. James sat next to Zak and took out a pack of gum. He took a piece out of the pack and put it in his mouth. "Want some?" he asked Melody. Melody shook her head. "What do you want?" She spat.

James pretended to look offended, "Ouch! I definitely wasn't looking forward to mean Melody!" Melody crossed her arms, "You said it was sexy." James chuckled, "No no, dear, that's angry Melody." "Whatever. What do you want?" Melody rolled her eyes.

James leaned forward, so close you could smell the mint in his breath, "You." Melody looked a little uncomfortable, but then she realized it was a trap a little too late. A needle went to the side of her neck and all she saw was darkness.

*

Melody awoke hours later in a warehouse. She was handcuffed to a pole. Great, falling for the old tricks again, aren't we Melody? She thought to herself. A shadow lurked in the darkness. It had a familiar figure. And a familiar coat...

Melody rolled her eyes, "Sherlock I told you not to follow me!" Sherlock stepped into the light, "Seeing that you are in an abandoned warehouse handcuffed to a pole with a new tattoo on your forearm, I think I did the right choice." Tattoo? When did I get a tattoo?

"Uncuff me now,"Melody whispered in sudden realization. Sherlock just stood there, "And why would I do that? Remembering that you said you would punch me if I follow you." Melody shifted uncomfortably and rolled her eyes, "I'll do that later, UNCUFF ME NOW!"

Sherlock reluctantly did and Melody got up. She decked Sherlock in the face and he crumpled to the ground. She held her arm that she punched Sherlock with which now was hurting insanely. It had the tattoo on it so she read what it said. In black calligraphy, it said Persephone will burn. A tear streamed down her face although she fought against it.

*

It was a sunny day as James and Melody were having a picnic in the park. He popped a grape into her mouth. After she swallowed it, Melody looked at James and said, "We should have names, you know, like Romeo and Juliet." "Romeo and Juliet?" James asked quizzingly, "They died. I don't think that would help your cause." Melody playfully punched him in the arm, "But they were so in love! If we're not like them, then who are we?" James pondered this for a minute before stuffing a grape in his mouth and saying, "Persephone and Hades." "Why them?!" Melody basically whined, "He stole her! And tricked her!" James chuckled. Melody frowned, "What?" He looked at her and put his finger under her chin, lifting her face up. "I stole your heart, didn't I?" Melody smiled and kissed him. "I guess that makes it final. Persephone and Hades."

*
Melody snapped out of her thoughts and helped a slightly unconscious Sherlock up. "You hit hard," he mumbled. Melody smiled and took him outside and waited for a cab to arrive.