Melody - Crimson Rose (best short novels of all time .txt) 📗

 
As she passed by him, Alcander tried to smell her hair, and as always, it smelled like cinnamon and lavender... Could such a girl truly be a mortal? If it was possible, only with Lady Aphrodite's help. It had to be further than her help. Rumors  went on that she was her daughter. She was so beautiful that some say that many women died of jealousy, and many man  had died for the fact they weren't even close to be noticed by her. Her name was... Melody. The name perfectly fit her, cause any man with any of his senses would mutter a love song or melody as she passed by. Her long hair, that was almost pure gold under the sun light, ended up at her waist with perfect curls. Her eyes were a color that didn't have a name; dark blue, but light green at the same time. Her skin was as if it was silk and many people wondered if she would melt when she touched water. Her thick lips looked so red, that it looked as if it could burn the lips of her lover, if she had one. That was a stupid thought. Of course she had a lover, hoping she didn't was for idiots. Alcander just stared at her, but she didn't mind, since he wasn't the only one.  
Although Melody's wide but elegant smile made her seem she enjoyed the attention, deep down inside her she got really annoyed, after all, it was blocking her mission by unnecessary people, usually drunken men.
 -It does give me some privileges- she thought -but isn't  worth it-. It almost didn't make any sense, since she was wearing such a beautiful dress and wore oils that would attract a man by three blocks away. Alcander followed her with his eyes until she disappeared, just like that!    -Where did she go?- Alcander thought -and worse, where am I?-. He, without knowing, had followed her, almost enchanted, as if he was a puppet and she was the puppeteer. He looked around, and found himself right in front of the house of the man who knows the king better than anybody including the kings wife, Darius... Alcander brought milk, water, wine and bread here from the kings palace everyday.  Alcander was not surprised, but disappointed, if Melody came here, there was only one explanation. She had caught the eye of a very very rich man. A girl such as Melody would toss and turn a man like Darius in her fingers very easily.
Melody knew that very well already...   

                                                            
As Melody entered Darius's house from the back gate, she recognized someone she knew for years; her adopted sister, or perhaps she was the adopted one. Their mother (one of their mother) never told which was adopted. They never spoke of it anyways, so it didn't matter either. However, when they saw each other they acted as if they didn't know one other. Wouldn't it be suspicious enough that two sisters were employed in a place where every person who worked had to have different tastes and gave different feelings to Darius?  Nobody would know they were sisters anyways, Melody's sister Adelpha had dark hair, almost black eyes, and had a square face and was rather chubby. Melody was a new servant for Darius, yes that was what she was. She was going to cook, clean, tidy up, and any other things (only the gods know) Darius would desire. At least that was what everybody thought. She had to look like an average servant, except her beautiful face, but inside her was a volunteer for a spy. Her job was to smuggle information, directly from Darius. She didn't get payed much, but she didn't care. She had to do it for her nation, for the sake of the Romans against those filthy Greeks.
"Hello, I am the new servant. My name is Melody." she said, but she smiled at Adelpha under her scarf. Adelfa, as professionally as possible, acted as if she really was a new servant she didn't know and said "Follow me, I shall take you to Lord Darius. I recommend you to behave and do your best. It's hard enough for you."  which had a message in it and meant "I shall take you to Darius, be sure he likes you or there is no other way to get what you need. I am warning you, he is good at knowing who is who. So do your best, it is hard..."


"Master, the new servant has arrived." said Adelpha, so polite, that Melody was impressed. "Let her in." Darius replied. When Melody went in, Darius was doing paper work with a glass of wine in his hand. He was a short, fat man with salt and pepper hair with a bold spot. His beard, unlike his hair was rather black, only some white hair. His eyebrows were thick and bushy. -He needs to rest- Melody smiled from inside a wicked smile, but a sweet one outside -the ones who are frustrated are the ones who get the bait the easiest-. Darius looked up and froze. He stuttered "Please tell me your name, are you the new servant?". Melody said "Yes I am, my name is Melody.". "I hope you meant 'my name is Melody, master Darius.'" Darius said, but he didn't sound angry at all. He added "You should be my personal servant, to bring me wine and choose my clothing you know," he sounded almost excited "such a beauty shouldn't be waisted.". Melody thought -He got the bait, and right what I wanted, I will have access to anything without even forcing it.-.  She returned back to Adelpha, and winked. Adelpha just frowned, but she was proud of her sister for being such a successful spy...
                         
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As Adelpha took Melody into the sleeping cuartors, Melody tried to observe every detail of what the place looked like. -Knowing the place before using it for your own benefit came in always handy.- Melody always said to herself, and thanks to this practical fact, she survived. Adelpha said "Your bed is this one. Your roommate is Neola. She is Darius's wife's right hand." then she whispered "she may be useful.". Melody's bed was right next to the door. It was an ideal place for her, it was easy to listen outside, and it was easy to exit when necessary. What Melody new from heart was that Adelpha had prepared it for her, and right away she knew where to look for her hidden compartments. Under the mattress, under the bed, places no one would need to look. She settled up pretty quickly, since she was used to change places a lot and that unpacking, but usually packing was a deal of life or death.    


The next seven moons, Melody worked for Darius, or more likely for her master back in Rome. -Darius will be so sorry he hired me in the first place after Rome beats Greece, thanks to me and all the other spies.- Melody thought in her day dreams -One day us and the warriors shall be the most honored people of our whole nation, and other nations shall admire us.- . 
She did her daily job too, but her favorite thing was to have guests over. They would talk with Darius about economics, the king and politics, just what Melody needed. She usually found some excuses to be in the room, saying either she brought cold wine or she needed to swipe the dust. She went through Darius's paper, which were nearly as informing as the talking. She smuggled some of the old paper he wouldn't remember or notice. At night she would go to the kitchens and hand Adelpha secret and coded messages. Once Adelpha couldn't hold herself and hugged Melody, but Melody knew only the gods saw, or she hoped so. 

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This job sometimes was tiring, but the worst time was when Darius's wife Adriano went away to visit her sister. Darius didn't have to fear of Adriano when she was gone, and it was Melody who was paying for this. He was repulsive, and even worst when he was drunk. Now in these days, Melody made sure Darius didn't get too drunk, although getting him drunk sometimes helped her get the beans out of his mouth. Melody knew she had to wait to get him really drunk when his wife returned, she would prefer those rascals outside staring at her over this fat pig.
Now was another night of disgust...


"I cannot take it anymore! Do you know how bad he smells!?" in no time Melody and Neola became friends, and now, Melody had a friend to complain about her personal problems "Do you know when Lady Adriano will return?" Neola just knew everything about Adriano, sometimes too much, but it didn't harm Melody, instead, she knew she was very lucky "Everybody thinks she went far away, but her sister is hiding in this city. Weird, Lady Adriano never told me why! Well, I think she went for one moon. It's been exactly 21 days. Do you want me to tell Lady Adriano about this? She would get terribly angry... And sad!". Melody turned furious "Never! Never, what ever you do never tell another soul! She would kill me! I wouldn't care if she killed that monkey face Darius, but think of it, she would kill herself! My job here would be over!!! And you, as well as me, would be in serious trouble! We would prefer to go to Tartarus!!!" Melody was breathing so deeply, her nostrils looked like a bulls. Than she collapsed and started to cry, and felt as if she didn't want to stop. "Ok, ok, I am very sorry Melody. I admit, it was a terrible idea. Oh don't cry, why don't you just quit the job?" Neola tried to comfort her, but even she understood how stupid her last seven words were when Melody glanced up at her as if Neola was crazy. Melody got up and said "We shouldn't speak to each other for a while. I already have enough to deal with. Let's just pretend we never spoke to each other, and do nothing else than share a room, shall we?" and just walked away as the guy from the stables was passing whistled. Neola had a burning sensation in her.
-Who was Melody to judge Lord Darius and Lady Adriano, what did she expect? To walk in, be beautiful and not get a man's, a weak man's attention? She should have known. Oh Lady Hestia, what has come out of this house? Would I be able to keep the secret away from my mistress? This little fury came and took over my room and Lady Adriano's place in her bed! All she does is daydream, right in front of Lord Darius, and he doesn't even notice! Sometimes she doesn't even look like daydreaming at all though, it is as if she is focusing on something! And what was up with her and Adelpha? Why would they be in