Melanie woke up at the sound of her cell phone going off. She reached over and swiped it to the answer.

"Hello?" She asked in a groggy voice.

"Melanie! Its Brandi."

"Brandi?" Melanie asked and then sat up. "Oh! Brandi. Sorry, I just woke up."

"That's okay. Listen, you aren't going to believe this. A woman called the cops this morning saying she had gotten rescued from a pair of guys who were trying to rape her. The rescuer as she reported it, was the same as your guy."

"Where was he?" Melanie asked.

"I guess she was rescued down fifth. Near the west end of town." Brandi said. "The only place to stay around that area is Roxy's inn."

"Thanks Brandi."

"Anytime sugar. Let me know if you find him."

"You know it." Melanie hung up and got dressed.

She slid on a pair of white leggings with a black mesh going up the side. Her white top laced in the front exposing her breasts slightly. She slipped into her sneakers before hopping onto her scooter. From her house it was a twenty minute ride to Roxy's Inn. It was a long ride on a slow scooter but it was worth it.

As she pulled up to the parking lot inn she found that there were no vehicles. A flickering feeling of despair wormed its way into her mind. She rushed in and hurled herself at the counter. A young woman with short brown hair and brown eyes looked at her warily.

"Excuse me. Have you seen this man?"

Melanie showed her the folded up picture of Lucian from the cctv cameras at KCC.

The woman took the paper and looked at it before handing it back to her.

"Yeah. I saw him this morning. He is in room twenty."

Melanie folded the paper and just before she took off, the woman spoke again.

"Him and two others went out for breakfast though."

"Did they say where?"

"Yeah. The tall guy asked where to eat and I suggested Patrick's diner."

"Thank you!" Melanie hurried out and jumped back onto her scooter.

Patrick's diner was just around the corner. The parking lot was full of vehicles and the small waiting area was full of people waiting for seats. As she rushed past them and into the diner, she was met with the aroma of bacon, eggs and pancakes. The dream hit her and she paused for a moment. Remembering how it felt to submit to his words.

Melanie looked around the restaurant, her eyes darted from person to person.

"You looking for a party hun?" The waitress asked.

"I umm...yeah...I am." She pulled out the photo and showed it to her. "Do you recognize him?"

The waitress looked at it hard for a moment and then nodded slowly.

"Yeah. Yeah I do. He came in with a pair dressed in suits. He just left since it was busy. I told him to try Lucy's cafe."

Melanie sighed, grabbed the photo and took off down the street. Lucy's Cafe was five blocks away and on the scooter it was nearly ten minutes. Nonetheless she hurried down the street and parked in front. As she pushed through the doors, the waitress at the front desk looked at her with an arched brow.

"Can I help you dear?"

"This man? Have you seen him?" Melanie lifted the photo and the woman looked from the photo to her again.

"Yeah, I just served him his breakfast."

Melanie nodded and walked over to the main restaurant floor and stopped. Sitting in a booth beside the window, was Lucian and his two guards. Lucian glanced put the window and then to her surprise he looked her way and then met her gaze. With smooth grace, he slid out from his seat and waved to her. Melanie walked over and looked up at him.

"Please. Sit down."

Melanie felt a familiar sensation, one that she had never experienced before and yet, it seemed as though she had felt it before. His commanding tone was not forceful nor was it demanding. It simply ordered her to do something she wanted to do.

"Yes sir." She blushed and slid into the seat closest to the window. Lucian slid in beside her and looked at her with a smile.

"I am glad you came to find me." He said and pushed a plate of freshly made pancakes to her.

He slowly drizzled syrup over them and passed her the fork.

"Please, eat." He said.

Melanie took the fork and met his gaze.

"Yes sir." She replied and cut into the pancake.

"Do you have time to talk?" He asked.

Melanie nodded, a mouthful of pancakes.

"Wonderful. I apologize for startling you yesterday. I think I need to explain myself just a little better."

"N-No. It's okay. I...I have to confess. This is my first time actually meeting anyone like you in person. I just...I felt a little unprepared is all."

"I completely understand. You have nothing to worry about. I simply would like to get to know you better." He replied.

"I would like that too." She bit into more pancake.

"Sir?" Marvin nodded.

"It is quite alright Marvin. I think we are safe." Lucian replied.

"Safe?" She asked. "From what?"

Marvin and Heather exchanged looks of hesitation before they looked to Lucian.

"Who are you?" Melanie asked.

"That is a bit of a story. Perhapse one better told after a little more time." He replied.

"Okay. But do you like, own a company or are you some sort of big boss or something?" She asked.

"If you can call being King as such, then yes I am a big boss."

Melanie coughed on her pancake and looked up at him with shockingly wide eyes.

"K-King?" She asked. "Thats a joke right?"

"Being King is no joke." Heather replied sternly. "Lord Lucian is the most honorable of his family lineage in over five thousand years." She replied.

Lucian waved her down and the red haired woman folded her arms and settled into the plush seat. Melanie looked from her to him, eyes still wide.

"So you are really? A King?"

"As I said before, it's a conversation for another time. How about you? Tell me about yourself."

Melanie blushed and tucked loose hairs behind her ears. Having someone ask about her seemed so unreal that she wasn't sure where to begin.

"Well I mean, I grew up here in Clearwater. I was adopted and I live with my foster family."

"This foster family? Are they nice?" He asked.

"Oh yes, very nice. I have my own room and everything."

"That is good. I should very much like to see it." He replied.

Melanie blushed. She had never had a man want to see her room before. Thoughts of what she wanted him to do flashed through her mind.

"What about your life? What do you do?"

"Well I graduated high-school last year and I am sort of figuring things out. I mean legally I kind of have to move out soon."

"How come?" Lucian asked.

"Well my foster parents have custody over me until I am eighteen. The program gives them money for me until I turn twenty. Which is in eight months. So I've been trying to look for a job and save up for a small studio."

"Have you thought about traveling?"

"I mean, yes and no. Clearwater is all I know but I want to visit other places too. I'd love to see the ocean some day."

"You know, my bedroom looks out over the ocean." Lucian said and smiled as her eyes flicked up to meet his.

"Really? What does it look like?"

"My oceans are similar to your eyes." He smiled. "Blue and brilliant and beautiful. They shimmer in the sunlight and sparkle in the moonlight."

Melanie blushed and wanted to lean into him but avoided it. Never before had she ever felt so enraptured by someone who seemed so taken by her in return.

"What do you do in your spare time?" Lucian asked.

"I mostly read." She replied.

"Oh?" He arched an eyebrow. "What do you read?"

"It's kinda girly I suppose but I like reading romance novels and fantasy with some paranormal mixed in. I always thought about how cool it would be to live that life. To meet a stranger and travel to a distant land and fall in love." She giggled and blushed, realizing how girlish she sounded. "Sorry. I'm sure to a man like you it must sound a bit boring."

"Oh no, not at all." He said, a serious expression spread across his stern face. "I read a great deal. Some fantasy and plenty of adventure but I like romance mixed in too."

"Yes. Our lord is a bit of a romantic at heart." Marvin chuckled.

"Really?" Melanie asked. "I like that."

"Perhaps you'd enjoy my library. It's-" he looked around the room, eyeing the walls and windows. "-well it is a bit bigger than this place. Only by two or three times I would guess."

"Your library is three times bigger than this restaurant? I definitely need to see this." She smiled.

"I would be glad to welcome you to any and all of my books."

"Umm...Luc-I...I mean your kingship?"

"You may call me Lucian for now. It is just fine." He smiled.

"How long will you be here? In this city?"

Lucian looked at Heather who pulled out a small device and inspected its face.

"Three days, sixteen hours and thirty six...wait make that thirty five minutes."

"Wow that is a very tight time frame. Are you on a vacation?" Melanie asked.

"I suppose you could say that, yes I am."

Melanie looked at the last slice of pancake and pondered her next words as she ate the last remnants of the breakfast.