A pact of shadow love and Unity

The cold breeze swept through the dimly lit street as Melly and Arkins stood face to face. The air between them felt thick with unspoken words. Arkins had just confessed everything—the leaked scandals, his half-vampire nature, and the reason behind it all.

Melly crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she spoke. "Just know that I support you, Arkins."

Arkins blinked, surprised. "You do?"

Melly nodded. "But tell me… why did you expose my family?"

Arkins clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tightening. "Because of what they did to my mother."

Melly's eyes widened slightly. "Your mother?"

Arkins exhaled sharply, his voice dropping. "She was murdered."

A beat of silence passed.

Melly tilted her head. "By them?"

Arkins met her gaze, his eyes dark with something unspoken. "Your family played a role in her death. I don't have all the details, but I know they were involved. And I won't stop until I make them pay."

Melly stood there, digesting his words. Then, slowly, a small smirk formed on her lips. "Serves them right."

Arkins narrowed his eyes. "You're… not shocked?"

Melly shrugged. "I've lived with them my whole life. If there's one thing I know, it's that they aren't saints." She took a step closer, her voice steady. "I'll help you, Arkins."

Arkins stiffened. "Help me?"

Melly nodded. "I also want to see them go down."

Arkins studied her, trying to find any hint of hesitation in her face. "And why would you help me?"

Melly's smirk widened. "Because I have my own reasons. And I think we're on the same side."

For the first time in a long time, Arkins felt something he wasn't used to—trust. Not fully, but enough to know that Melly wasn't lying.

A dark alliance had just been formed. And neither of them knew just how deep it would take them.

Arkins took a step closer, his eyes locked onto Melly's lips. The intensity in his gaze sent a shiver down her spine.

"Melly…" he whispered, his voice low and husky. He reached out, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Melly swallowed hard, feeling her heartbeat quicken. She knew what he wanted—his first kiss with her. But just as he leaned in, she placed a firm hand on his chest and pushed him back.

"Not happening," she said, crossing her arms.

Arkins blinked, caught off guard. "Why not?"

Melly scoffed. "You kissed Nabi. Just yesterday."

Arkins stiffened. "That was different."

"Oh? Different?" she raised a brow. "You let her kiss you, Arkins. And now, the very next day, you want to kiss me?"

Arkins sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It didn't mean anything. You know that."

Melly rolled her eyes. "Doesn't matter. I'm not just anyone. If you think you can kiss one girl today and another tomorrow, you've got it all wrong."

Arkins smirked slightly, realizing she was mad—jealous, even. But he also knew that getting his first kiss with her wouldn't be easy.

"Fine," he said, stepping back with a playful glint in his eyes. "I'll wait. But just so you know…" He leaned in close again, his voice barely above a whisper. "When I do get my first kiss with you, Melly… you won't be pushing me away."

Melly felt a blush creep up her neck but held her ground. She turned away, refusing to let him see how flustered she was.

Arkins chuckled softly. This is going to be fun.

Later that night.

They went to Melly's house to work on their revenge.But a whole mood was waiting for her in that house.

As they stepped into the house, an eerie silence greeted them. The usual chaos was gone—no arguing, no footsteps, no background noise from the TV. Just emptiness.

Melly glanced around, noticing how the space felt larger without Nabi's presence. A small note was left on the dining table. She picked it up and read it aloud.

"I've gone to the island. This house is too suffocating right now. I need to be with Mom and Dad. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."

Melly scoffed. "She thinks she's my babysitter or something."

Arkins chuckled, dropping his bag onto the couch. "Guess that means we have the whole house to ourselves."

Melly turned to him, crossing her arms. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

Arkins smirked. "Nothing… yet."

Rolling her eyes, she led the way to her room. It was the first time Arkins had been inside, and he took a moment to take it all in—the shelves lined with books, the soft scent of vanilla lingering in the air, the neatly arranged pillows on her bed.

"Alright," she said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "We have work to do."

They both sat on the bed, laptops open, going through files, gathering evidence, and making plans for their next move. The only sound in the room was the clicking of keys and the occasional exchange of ideas.

But Melly wasn't paying attention to the screen anymore. She was watching Arkins—his sharp jaw, his focused eyes, the way his lips curved slightly when he concentrated. Her heart pounded.

She tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept coming back. The tension in the air shifted.

Without thinking, she reached out, grabbed the laptop from his hands, and placed it aside.

Arkins looked up, confused. "What are you—"

She didn't let him finish. Her lips crashed against his, silencing him instantly.

Arkins tensed for a second before melting into her touch. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her onto his lap. The kiss deepened—hungry, desperate, filled with all the longing they had been holding back for too long.

His hands moved up her back, pulling her even closer. Melly moaned softly against his lips, sending shivers down his spine. He trailed kisses down her neck, nipping at her skin, making her gasp.

"Damn, Melly…" he whispered against her skin.

She ran her fingers through his hair, tugging slightly, making him groan. The heat between them was unbearable.

There was no stopping now.

That night, they crossed a line neither of them had planned to.

The Next Morning

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Melly stirred, feeling warmth beside her. As her eyes fluttered open, memories of the night before flooded her mind.

She turned her head slightly, and there he was—Arkins, lying beside her, shirtless, his arm draped over her waist, his face relaxed in sleep.

Her cheeks burned as she pulled the blanket up to her face. What have I done…?

Arkins stirred, his eyes slowly opening. When he saw her hiding under the blanket, he smirked.

"Are you shy?"

Melly groaned. "Don't look at me."

Arkins chuckled, pulling the blanket down just enough to kiss her forehead. Then her cheek. Then her lips.

Melly sighed. "Arkins, stop kissing me after every sentence."

He smirked. "I can't help it."

He kissed her again. And again. Because last night wasn't enough. Not even close.

As the morning light filtered through the curtains, Arkins lay beside Melly, his fingers gently tracing patterns on her bare arm. His eyes softened as he watched her, a rare warmth filling his usually guarded expression.

Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke. "Melly… I love you." His voice was raw, unguarded, filled with a truth he had kept buried for too long.

Melly, still lying beside him, turned her head to meet his gaze. A smile slowly spread across her lips. "I love you too, Arkins."

Hearing those words, Arkins couldn't hold back. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, deep kiss. It wasn't rushed or desperate—it was filled with meaning, with the weight of everything they had been through.

When they finally pulled apart, Melly smirked, her teasing nature surfacing. "So… between me and Nabi, whose lips taste better?"

Arkins arched a brow at her, a lazy smirk forming. "Really? That's what you want to ask me right now?"

She shrugged, mischief dancing in her eyes. "I'm just curious."

Arkins leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "There's no competition, Melly." He pulled back just enough to look at her, his gaze smoldering. "Your lips are the only ones I crave."

Melly's heart raced, but she hid it behind a playful smirk. "Nice answer."

Arkins chuckled before pulling her close again. "I don't just say things to please you, Melly. I mean it." He kissed her again, slow and lingering, as if proving his point.

Melly melted into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. For the first time in a long time, she felt something rare—peace. Even with all the chaos surrounding them, at this moment, none of it mattered.

Arkins propped himself up on his elbow, a lazy smirk forming as he gazed at Melly. "You love how I kiss you, huh?" he teased, his voice husky.

Melly rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the blush from creeping up her cheeks. "I'm just admitting the truth," she murmured. "You make me melt when you kiss me."

Arkins chuckled, trailing his fingers lightly along her arm. "Good. Because I don't plan on stopping anytime soon."

They spent the next few minutes tangled in each other, whispering soft words and teasing confessions between slow kisses. The warmth between them was undeniable, a new kind of bond forming beyond their shared revenge.

But suddenly, Melly snapped back to reality. "Wait—we have work to do."

Arkins groaned dramatically, flopping onto his back. "You're killing the mood, Melly."

She smirked and pushed him lightly. "You can kiss me all you want after we're done."

With a sigh, Arkins sat up, stretching before reaching for his laptop. "Fine, fine. But you owe me later."

Melly grinned, hopping off the bed. They ordered breakfast, ate quickly, and then got to work—analyzing evidence, tracing connections, and planning their next move.

As they worked, Melly suddenly said, "You know, you just took advantage of your master."

Arkins paused, raising a brow. "My what?"

Melly smirked. "You heard me."

Arkins looked at her, completely confused. "Master? What are you talking about?"

Melly leaned back in her chair, watching him closely. "I mean, I hope you don't get punished for it. Sly as you are, I don't think you'd handle it well."

Arkins narrowed his eyes. "Melly, you're messing with me again."

She tilted her head. "Or maybe I'm telling you the truth."

Arkins studied her for a moment before sitting up straighter. "Okay, now you have my attention. What do you mean?"

Melly took a deep breath, her playful expression fading into something more serious. "Arkins… there's something I haven't told you. Something about me—about my real family."

Arkins frowned. "What do you mean your real family?"

Melly hesitated before finally saying it. "I'm not just an ordinary girl. I come from a bloodline of sorcerers."

Arkins stared at her, blinking in disbelief. "What?"

Melly nodded. "I've been keeping it a secret, but now it's time you know. My magic—my powers—they're the reason I'm still here. The reason I survived."

Arkins was silent for a long moment, processing her words. Then, finally, he exhaled. "So… all this time… you've had magic?"

Melly nodded again. "And there's more. My real family—they were killed. Not just by coincidence, not by fate. It was planned. And I'm going to make the people responsible pay."

Arkins' eyes darkened. "Who did it?"

Melly's expression hardened. "The same people we're after."

Arkins stared at Melly, still trying to process everything she had just revealed. "So you knew this truth all along… and still kept living with them?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Melly leaned back, crossing her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "Of course, Arkins. I'm a far worse monster than you can ever imagine. I stayed with them just to tear them apart… bit by bit." She leaned in closer, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Tell me, how did it feel when you saw my first masterpiece on TV?"

Arkins' breath hitched as the realization dawned on him. His eyes widened. "Wait… you're the one behind all that?"

Melly chuckled. "Yes. That was just the beginning."

Arkins ran a hand through his hair, still in shock. He had believed he was the mastermind playing his game, but Melly had been steps ahead of him the entire time.

Melly moved closer, her voice turning teasing. "Now do you understand what I meant when I said you've taken advantage of your master?" She tilted her head, her smirk deepening. "You slept with a sorcerer, Arkins. Are you ready for what comes next?"

Arkins, catching onto her playful tone, smirked back. "Oh?" He reached for her, pulling her into a slow, deep kiss. When he pulled away, he whispered, "Punish me all you want."

Melly rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Enough already," she said, playfully shoving him back. "We have work to do."

Arkins chuckled. "Fine, fine. But just know, I'm not done with you yet."

Melly smirked. "Neither am I."

And with that, they dove back into their mission, knowing that their twisted game had only just begun.

The air between them was still thick with tension, but Melly knew they had to focus. She pulled away from Arkins' grasp and grabbed the laptop from the nightstand, setting it down on the bed as she crossed her legs. Arkins sighed dramatically, running a hand through his already-messy hair as he sat beside her.

"So, Master," he teased, smirking as he emphasized the word, "what's our next move?"

Melly rolled her eyes, but his words still sent a thrill through her. She had never expected Arkins to take the truth so well—no fear, no hesitation. Just curiosity… and something else she couldn't quite place.

"We gather more evidence," she said, pulling up the files they had collected. "We're not done yet, Arkins. Taking down Nabi was just the beginning."

Arkins leaned in, resting his chin on her shoulder as he stared at the screen. "And who's next?" he asked, his voice low.

Melly smirked. "Her parents."

Arkins let out a dark chuckle. "I like the sound of that."

Melly turned her head slightly, and for a moment, their faces were inches apart. Arkins' gaze flickered to her lips again, but she pretended not to notice, keeping her focus on the screen.

"We have to do this carefully," she continued, typing rapidly. "If we rush, they'll see it coming."

Arkins exhaled, leaning back on his hands. "And what exactly do you have in mind?"

Melly turned the laptop towards him, showing a series of documents, emails, and transaction records she had gathered over the past few weeks. "I've been tracking their activities for a while. You'd be surprised how careless they are when they think no one is watching."

Arkins whistled low. "You're really something else, you know that?"

Melly smirked. "I told you—I'm worse than you."

Arkins studied her for a moment, a mix of admiration and amusement in his gaze. "And yet," he murmured, "I still want you."

Melly's fingers froze over the keyboard for a split second before she composed herself. She turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "You had me last night," she reminded him, crossing her arms. "Wasn't that enough?"

Arkins shook his head, his smirk deepening. "No."

Melly chuckled, shaking her head. "Too bad. We have work to do."

Arkins groaned, dramatically falling onto the bed beside her. "You're cruel, Melly."

"And you're easily distracted," she shot back, nudging him with her foot. "Now focus."

Arkins sat up, watching her closely as she continued typing. He had never met anyone like her—so powerful, so dangerous, and yet, still the only person he wanted more than anything.

For the next few hours, they worked side by side, planning their next move. Melly outlined the steps they needed to take to expose Nabi's parents while Arkins focused on making sure their digital footprints were covered. The two of them were an unstoppable team—dark minds working in sync to bring down an empire.

As the sun started to set, Melly stretched, letting out a small yawn. Arkins glanced at her, smiling. "Tired already, Master?"

Melly shot him a glare. "You're enjoying that too much."

Arkins shrugged. "I just like reminding you that you have complete control over me."

Melly rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her lips. "You wish."

Arkins suddenly reached out, pulling her onto his lap. She gasped, but before she could react, his lips were on her neck, pressing soft, teasing kisses along her skin.

"Arkins—"

"Shh," he murmured against her skin. "Just a little distraction. Then we'll get back to work."

Melly exhaled sharply, her fingers gripping his shirt as he trailed kisses up to her jaw. He was too good at this—too good at making her forget everything else.

But she wasn't going to let him win that easily.

She grabbed his collar and pulled him back, staring into his dark eyes. "You really think I'd let you get away with this?" she whispered.

Arkins smirked. "Try and stop me."

Melly leaned in as if she was about to kiss him, but at the last second, she pulled away, slipping out of his grasp. "Nice try," she said smugly, walking away.

Arkins groaned, flopping onto the bed. "You're going to be the death of me."

Melly laughed. "Get used to it."

As much as she wanted to fall back into his arms and forget everything else, she knew they had a mission to complete.

But later that night… maybe she'd let him win.