Evermore

Chapter 1

“Good day, Mrs. Davis.”  This was a lie.  I rather disliked this day so far.  The sun shone bright in my eyes.  The humidity and heat combined to bring a surreal quality to today.  My hand stung again and I winced.

“Good day, Elizabeth.  How is your mother?  I should think I might visit her soon.”  Mrs. Davis continued crossing the road over in my direction, matching her pace to mine.  She left a trail of dust clouds that usually only a horse could manage.

I smiled the most polite smile I could muster.  “She is quite well.  I imagine mother would enjoy your company, and perhaps a cup of tea.”  I highly doubt she would enjoy her company any more than I would, but mother had been lonely since all of her children but I had sought out to begin their new lives with their own families.  Father, much like me, did not make great company most of the time.

“It is settled then.  I will walk you home, Miss Cooke.”  She is a relentless woman. 

Not exactly what I had expected, or at least, not the response I cared to receive.  “That would be a splendid idea, but I must say, I am headed to the depot for something.” 

“That will do as well.  I would enjoy some light shopping and then visiting over a cup of coffee.  Perhaps I shall purchase some cakes to make the afternoon get-together extended?”

Also not what I had hoped to hear.  It seemed that what should have been a quiet time for me to think alone was soon to be filled with the unnecessary and constant observations from Mrs. Davis.  Worst yet, I had no escape.  “That would be pleasant.  Thank you for your offer, Mrs. Davis.”  I do not think she notice the inflection in my tone.  It would be neither pleasant nor quiet.

We strode together to the store and for a moment I was in silence.  I had so many thoughts that I needed to mull over and I could not concentrate if I was not in some form of silence.  My studies had been interrupted again today in class.  I had been respectfully listening to the teacher when I realized that I was no longer sitting in the class room.  I was standing at the edge of the cliff.  The spray of the ocean misted my face and the torrent wind blew my crimson hair wildly around me.  I was cold standing there looking some hundred feet down.  All except for my left hand.  It was warm and tingled with excitement. 

I looked towards the source of the heat and excitement.  He was handsome in every way possible and I could see in his eyes why we were here.  There was screaming and we both turned to look behind us.  They had found us as we knew they would.  Their weapons were drawn.  I took one long lasting look at my one true love, and we leaped with all the faith that we would not have to endure being apart for long. 

My left hand began to sting but I did not want to let go of him.  I would hold on until the end.  It burned but I kept squeezing.  The pain became unbearable and I cried out and released my grip.  I could hear laughter in a moment where laughter did not have a place. 

I opened my eyes and rubbed my sore hand.  Miss Johnson stood in front of me with her weapon of choice – the ruler.  My hand bared a one inch welt across the width.  I had been day dreaming and was caught.  I am sure that’s what had taken place.  A simple dream that took me away from the mundane class even for just a moment.

“Miss Cooke?  Elizabeth?  Elizabeth?”  I almost had time to mull over the events of the day but apparently Mrs. Davis could not be in silence for more than a few minutes.

“I am sorry” I whispered.  “What did you ask Mrs. Davis?”

“Of what age are you now, Miss Cooke?”

“I will be sixteen in a month’s time.” 

“You are becoming quite the woman.  Do you have any suitors?  Perhaps a fine young gentleman from your lessons?”

I had no interest in a single boy in my class.  They were extraordinarily plain and a bore.  Well, to be perfectly honest there was nothing wrong with the fellows I knew.  I just could never imagine loving a single one of them.  Strangely, I felt I knew my soul mate already but I have not had the opportunity to meet him just yet.  Oh, I did dream of him often and always the same unbearably handsome man.  He was always tall, stunningly handsome, jade green eyes and dimples that seemed to complete his sincere and innocent face.  “No ma’am.  I cannot say that anyone is interested in me.” 

Mrs. Davis made her entrance into the depot with a loud clang of the bell announcing a customer’s arrival.  I truly resented the attention I was receiving all because Mrs. Davis could not stand going with out someone paying attention to her for a moment’s time.  It is probably because Mr. Davis spends more time out in the evenings with his poker buddies than he does with Mrs. Davis.  I do not blame him.

“Well I find that very hard to believe, my dear.  You are a great catch.  I think I might introduce you to my nephew.  He will be in Bellemont in just a couple days time.  Now what are we here to find, Elizabeth?” Mrs. Davis began looking through a case with candies, chocolates and cakes.  She had selected four coffee cakes in a matter of seconds as well as some hard candies.  She quickly unwrapped one and looked back in my direction.

She also never gave me an opportunity to deny the necessity of meeting her nephew.  I tried not to let aggravation seep through my voice.  “Well I do need some new material for a dress.  Father has had a remarkable year with the cattle ranch and he wanted his only daughter to have a lovely new dress.  I want something… well something special.”  In fact I wanted something just luxurious.  I had a feeling deep down in my gut that it would be very important soon.  I just could not place a finger on my reasons.  I would discover the motives behind my actions soon enough, I knew that much, so I did not argue with making a new dress for a reason I did not yet know.

“Well that sounds lovely dear.”  Mrs. Davis strode over to the bolts of fabric.  “What about this Elizabeth?  It had such a darling floral print.  Or really what might the occasion be?  That will help make our decision on print.”  Our decision, of course.  I thought this might be my dress, but I can see how she could become confused.  I knew this would happen when she invited herself along and I wondered if she would be able to detect my sarcasm in every word that slipped through my gritted teeth.

“I do not have an occasion, but I do know what I’m looking for in my material.”  I picked up a fragile lace.  French lace is always so expensive.  It seemed to be my fortunate day though; I was able to purchase just the perfect amount of lace for a sweet summer gown, given that I do not make a mistake in the least.  “I believe I have found exactly what I was searching for Mrs. Davis.”  I could feel I was beaming with satisfaction that I had made my own decision without her assistance.

Mrs. Davis looked puzzled.  “Oh Elizabeth, it is beautiful but I believe it is designed for a wedding gown in mind.  Are you sure this is what you will be wearing soon?  You did say yourself that had no suitors.” 


“I would not believe myself to be making a wedding gown ma’am, since as you said yourself twice now; I do not have any gentlemen callers.”  I knew what it was meant to be though.  I have seen the vision many, many times.  In my dreams and in wake, the visions were always the same.  He will come for me, the one I loved.  I do not know where he will be and I did not know when he will be here, but he will come to me.  I also know that this will be the dress that I will wear when I wed my truest love.  “This is it and this is all I have come for.  Thank you so kindly for shopping with me.”  How did she miss the sarcasm at the latter statement?

“You are most welcome dear.  I cannot wait to have tea with your mother.  I do believe it has been some weeks since we have had the pleasure of socializing.” 

I turned to pay for my French lace and I could not keep the modest smile from my face.  My life was going to change soon.  Every fiber of my being was tingling.  The door bell clanged with the entrance of a new customer.  The breeze carried with it a significant amount of electricity.  My hair stood on end and a slight shiver went through my body.  What a strange sensation.

“Oh, James!  You have arrived early!  I did not expect you for another 2 days.”  Mrs. Davis was ecstatic.  At least her attention was off of me for a moment’s time. 

“Aunt Louise, how wonderful to find you here.  You were not home so I decided to come looking and here you are.  Lucky me to have found you so quickly nearby.” 

That voice – it is impossible.  My surroundings fell away from me and I lost most of my senses.  I could hear a faint conversation, feel the clerk hand back my small amount of change, but they were all distant.  I turned ever so slowly.  I was compelled to see the face of the voice I knew so well in my heart. 

My eyes found his.  They were what I had been looking for my entire life.  Jade green eyes that were – in shock possibly?  His jet black hair that accentuated his strong jaw line and exceptionally masculine features, his smooth lips that seemed to be quivering, and the dimples that made me swoon.  All of the features that I had only dreamed of ever coming across.  I was certain this time I was not day dreaming.  Oh please do not let this be some unfortunate day dream, just a trick of my imagination.  Please let him be as real as the French lace slipping from my trembling fingers.

He seemed to be in just as much amazement as I.  He could not possibly recognize me as well.  Could he?  “James?”

His face was instantly a stunning smile.  My entire being warmed with his radiance.  He walked towards me and took my left hand.  He rubbed the still scarlet welt.  He took my hand up and whispered where only I could hear his silky voice.  “I have missed you, my Elizabeth,” and he kissed my hand with his fiery breath washing over me.

In that moment, my skin was set ablaze.  Visions of flames licked my face and obstructed my view of this strikingly attractive man.  I could not move.  Was I bound at wrist and ankle?  The heat seared my lungs.  I was screaming, as much as one can scream when they are burning alive.  I soon realized that I had not been crying out for my own agony.  I yelled out to the man with green eyes and dimples.  I yelled because I knew he suffered too, and it shattered my heart that he felt any pain.  I could not bear to see my love perish.  This was worse than the fire that would soon consume me.  I did not know if he could hear me, but I used my last breath to let him and everyone gathered to survey our downfall know that this was not the end.  “Death cannot keep us away from each other.  We will find a time when no one can keep us apart.  I will love you, James, for evermore.”  I saw his eyes flicker in the flames and we both gasped at our final breaths.

Chapter 2

I gasped again.  The air was warm, not like searing fire.  I opened my eyes just slightly.  My room?  I had been dreaming.  Why do I suffer these extreme hallucinations?  I do not wish to see my end constantly and I do not want to love someone that does not exist.  I have seen mine and James’ death from at least four different possibilities.  “James.”  My ears rejoiced when I said his name aloud softly.

Ugh!  Why do I think his name like those visions are even remotely real?  “James.” It slipped past my lips again like silk.  Impossible.  I should probably check myself into care for hysteria.  I just do not feel hysterical, but I cannot seem to be able to convince even myself that I am sane.

I shut my eyes tight and tried to remember the last thing that I knew was true.  I traveled to the store with Mrs. Davis.  She interrupted my time to ponder over my constant daydreams of mortality with questions of who was interested in me and decided that I needed to be introduced to her nephew.  I bought lovely French lace for a wedding gown that had no bridegroom to stand next to.  Mrs. Davis’ nephew showed up early in the depot.  It was James.  “James.”  His name tasted sweet like the smell of honeysuckle.  He had known who I was as well.  I was burned at the stake and vowed to return to be with him again. 

Maybe the last few things did not happen.  I could have possibly overheated and became delirious.  Mrs. Davis’ nephew could have looked remarkably a lot like the man in the visions I have had and it was all just a trick of my imagination.  I do have a vivid imagination and it is May in the south.  Maybe the humidity over took me by surprise.  I think I may have heard that happen before to other people.

That is such a fantastic explanation that I almost considered it to be the truth.  Surely it was all just a fanciful reverie.  My heart and body still ached for him though and my ears wanted to hear what I was trying to convince myself was hopeless.  “James.”  The whisper of him is still silky soft and much sweeter than honeysuckle.

A man with a harsh voice cleared his throat and I screamed.  “So sorry Miss Cooke!  I did not mean to startle you.”  I recognized the jagged voice as Doctor Nathaniel Williams.  He was seated in the armchair just a few feet from my bed and I failed to notice him initially through my barely open eyes.  Doc was an older, rough man of his late forties.  His amber eyes always left an uneasy feeling with me, and concealed his real thoughts or intentions.  He gazed at me and my stomach knotted.  His glossy, black bag of medical contraptions sat next to his feet and I wondered what transpired that required Doc here. 

“I did not realize that you had awoken yet.  Please do forgive me for frightening you.  Your mother asked that I make a house call to ensure your well being.  She stepped out to attend to a few things and I offered to stay with you in case you awakened.  You seemed to have fainted in the depot yesterday and although all your vital signs have been within normal ranges, you have been in a deep slumber for over sixteen hours, which is not normal.  I also can find no reason for your fainting, my dear.  Louise claimed you were perfectly fine one moment and then your face flushed and you collapsed.  Are you feeling well?”  His words took a moment to wash over me. 

“I… I… I really did faint?”  He chuckled in his raspy tone and I could not find the humor in my very serious question. 

“Oh dear, you were having hallucinations while you were slumbering, were you not?  You tossed quite a bit for someone who could not be awaken and you spoke a few words every once in a while.”

Oh dear is right.  “What did I say Doc?”  Please do not have let me say anything that would give reason for those around me to believe that I am truly insane!

“Nothing of importance Elizabeth.  You did mention James more than once but that is nothing to worry about sweetheart.  I am surprised you do not remember what you had dreamed about because I imagine it was quite vibrant.  Please, do tell me if you are feeling well though Elizabeth?  Everyone is worried about you.”

“I think I am fine now, Doc.  My throat is dry and scratchy but I am sure a glass of warm milk will cure me in a heartbeat.”  I smiled at Doc Williams with my most convincing smile that was sure to portray just how well I was after sixteen hours of sleep. 

“I thought you might be just a little thirsty.”  He grinned back through his graying beard and I saw a flicker in his eyes.  There were more knots in my empty stomach.  “I’ll go see about getting you that glass of warm milk.  Are you feeling up to visitors right now?  You gave your loved ones a fright and they will be happy to witness you are just as fine as you say you are now.”

I really hope mother and father were not too distraught with worry over me.  “I think I could manage.  I would not want everyone worrying over me.”

“He had not left your bedside until a few moments ago to get cleaned up for the day.  Louise thought it was best and I think he wanted to be able to impress such a fine young lady when she woke up.”  Doc’s countenance did not change but there was a dejected inflection in his voice.  “I am willing to bet he has made it back over by now.  I will send him up right away.”  Doc left on that note, and shut my door with a grimace on his face and a severe look of confusion on mine. 

Louise? Who is the he Doc kept mentioning?  I did not have a chance to ponder long over his words.  It took just a moment for the heavy footsteps of Doc walking down the hall towards the stairs to mix with another pair of footsteps coming up the stairs towards my bedroom.  “She woke up and she has been calling for you.  I am fetching warm milk for the parched sleeping beauty.  I will return soon, but I will give you two a moment.” 

The footsteps quickened and stopped outside my door.  There was a light rap at my door.  Before I even had the opportunity to say come in, the door cracked open.  I sat straight up in my four poster bed and pulled my duvet cover up to my chin.  The door continued to open little by little.  My breath quickened and electricity in the air sent a current through my body.  A hand emerged at the side of the door, widening the opening ever slightly more and made room for the most perfect human form to make its way into my sleeping quarters

Chapter 3

Alas, I was still hallucinating.  There stood James.  My soul mate I had not met before I swooned in his arms - in a hallucination I had in the supply store.  I groaned, closed my eyes and settled myself back into my bed.  Maybe if I just ignored my impossible visions then I could force myself into sanity.  I heard the door shut softly and was beginning to get comfortable when my vision became audible.

“Elizabeth, my love?  Do you wish me to leave?  I will go at once if you do not feel up to my company.”  His voice rang in my ears and I could not imagine that a hallucination could be quite so genuine. 

I lifted my eyes towards the charming voice.  My vision of perfection was still there.  “I suppose if I am going to continue to have visions of someone so flawless that they cannot possibly exist in a real world and that has cursed me to be unable to appreciate the actual individuals that do inhabit a world outside of my head, then,” I paused and inhaled the sweet aroma of James, “it would be a complete waste for me to be crazy and not enjoy it.” 

With that I threw my cover off and made my way to James who did not hesitate to embrace me and guide my face with the delicate touch of his palm to within inches of his lips.  His breath swept over me and sent chills down my spine.  He had his well-built arm wrapped behind me and his fervent hand grasping at the small of my back.  James felt me shudder and a grin crept across his face.  It was a smile I knew so well though I had never seen it before.  I acted upon the situation before he had an opportunity to disappear.  I was unsure how cruel my hallucinations could be today and I was leaving no desire unattended to this morning. 

I took his tender lips up in mine and kissed James with more passion than should be allowed in an unreal situation.  His face was smooth and his lips were yielding but I could feel the fierce passion in his long, drawn out kisses.  It was hard to believe that I could imagine something so vivid even for me, but I could not misuse precious moments with my James, because he would vanish when the hallucination ended.  My lips became overly eager.  My hands sought his firm chest.  Even though he was several inches taller than I was and outweighed me by at least seventy pounds of solid muscle, I found the strength to guide him towards the four poster bed. 

We made it to the edge of the bed and I collapsed on it taking in ragged breaths of air.  I drew him down to my level with my impassioned lips and wandering hands, but he would not join me on my bed.  Of course my hallucination would have morals.  I broke free and gazed into the eyes of the literal man of my dreams.  I was officially loony and my own mind would not let me have the satisfaction of quenching the desire I had for him.  I could feel the tears well up in eyes, and I could no longer look the embodiment of desire in his eyes. 
I dropped my gaze and tried to crawl back into bed to cry myself to sanity.  No such luck.  My very tangible hallucination grabbed me around the waist and brought me back face to imaginary face.  “Please, do not cry my love.  It breaks my heart to see you cry.  Did I do something to hurt you, darling?” 

I thought about what I was being asked, and the tears fell faster when I blinked.  “Yes.  I do not want to cry over a hallucination, but you feel so real, and everything within me wants you to be real so much so that I truly believe you are here.  I am answering a question that no one real asked, and unless I am still unconscious, I am talking to myself out loud right now.  I will be locked up in an institution and it is your entire fault.  I had to dream of someone so flawless in every way that my mind will not let go.  I wish I had never dreamed of you so many years ago.  You have wrought my mind for almost sixteen years and I wish to be free of the torment.  Especially if you are going to continue having such strict morals!”

James listened very intently waiting to understand why I had quickly gone from ignoring him, to seducing him and then to crying on his shoulder.  His face was quite serious until his morals came into question, and he seemed almost pleased with my reaction.  “Elizabeth, my love, do not take this the wrong way.  There is a misunderstanding of what has transpired here recently.  You are perfectly sane dear.  You have to know deep in your heart that this is real.  Look me in the eyes and tell me you do not want me here.  Tell me again that you wish you never dreamed of me.  Feel how real I am this close to you.  Feel the caress of my hand, my breath on your neck and my heart beat beside yours.  You know I would not be here if it were not for you.  That heart beats for you alone and deep down you know the truth.  We have known each other far too long to be calling one another hallucinations.  And you above anyone else should know my morals are not flawless.”  He grinned at me and his eyes lit up.

Was I willing to believe that this beautiful person in front of me was real?  Every particle of my being wanted this to all be real.  Several instances stood in the way of my believing though.  If James were real, I had only met him yesterday for a brief moment before I collapsed with a real hallucination, I had never introduced myself but he knew my name with intimacy, and I had just thrown myself at someone I had not exchanged more than a few words with and was greeted with just as much tenacity as I had.  James had obviously felt the same attraction for me as I did for him, but he stopped me.  There was a single difference between the reality of now and the reality of my visions before; I was not in control of the previous hallucinations.  It was like they had already happened and I was reliving the same scenarios without change.  In retrospect, they were more like memories than hallucinations, and the realization crossed my face.

“I knew you would come around and stop calling me a hallucination.  Although, I thoroughly enjoyed your reaction when you thought you were crazy.”  He knew me better than anyone else ever had and I had technically known him for less than a day.  “I want to apologize for making you faint at the depot.  I was not supposed to arrive for two more days but Aunt Louise had sent her last letter to inform me of the job Uncle Henry had procured for me.  She mentioned just for a moment of a young woman she wished to introduce me to.  I believe she wrote and I quote, ‘Elizabeth is stunning, remarkably bright and wonderful company.  Her crimson hair, fair skin and sapphire eyes make her the belle of the town, but no one has seemed to catch her eye here in Bellemont.  I would think that a strapping young man from Hillsdale might be able to win the heart of such a lovely young lady.’  I would have been a fool not to realize that she wrote of my truest love.”

“So how do I compare to the over exaggeration of your aunt?  I hope you are not too disappointed.”  I blushed when his hand instinctively reached for mine and the warmth flooded my system once more.

“She was absolutely correct.  You are stunning Elizabeth.  You are looking at a stunned man.”  My heart skipped a beat.  Maybe two.  It is hard to tell when you are not breathing.  It explained how he knew my name though.  Mrs. Davis could have mentioned that she had already told her nephew about me.

I caught my breath.  “If I am so stunning then why did you resist me when I almost had you in bed?”  My pride was bruised by the fact that I had thrown myself at what I thought was my imagination, only to be denied by a very real, very handsome man.

“My darling, we do not exactly have all the time necessary for a rendezvous on the bed.  Too much farther and I would not have been able to stop myself in a moment of passion when Dr. Williams returns with your glass of warm milk.  He only offered a few moments with you, not hours love.  Besides, you still did not believe I was real and I would really hate to get you so worked up that you fainted again.  You would regain consciousness still not knowing the truth.  I am very much so real, my dear.”  He brushed his lips across my neck and every nerve ending he skimmed screamed with pleasure.  That was real enough for me.

Chapter 4

“So you must feel this too, this attraction that is surging between us.  That intense feeling cannot be apart of my imagination too.”  I leaned closer awaiting his response.  I sincerely enjoyed the warmth his body threw off.

“Of course my love.  Centuries of passion do not ensue without attraction.”  He looked longingly in my eyes and I questioned the sanity of his cryptic statement, just long enough for Doc Williams to return.

The door opened slightly.  “May I come in?”  I wonder if Doc heard me assault James with my lips.

“Absolutely, Dr. Williams.  I do believe Miss Cooke still needs rehydrating.”

Doc entered with the glass of milk and stopped at the door.  He assessed our situation and I was unsure of what he thought had happened.  I had obviously shed some tears despite how much James had tried to dry my eyes.  We were intertwined at the end of the four poster bed, and were highly inappropriate for two people that had recently met.

No one moved for a solid thirty seconds.  It was awkward to say the least, but everyone stood their ground.  James did not try to reposition himself in a more proper manner and I did not try to shy away embarrassed by being caught.  Doc seemed to realize that he was the one that was making the whole situation seem inappropriate. 

“Here is your glass of warm milk, as you requested.  Are you still feeling well?  I know Mr. Latham here caught you before you hit the floor hard, but fainting and sleeping for over half a day can take a toll on someone and I want you to be sure that you are fine before I head to the office.”  I was sure he was worried about my well being but his tone suggested that he might not be okay with where things were headed with James.

“Thank you for the milk, Doc.  I think this will cure me.”  I gave Doc a convincing smile.  “You do not have to stay with me any longer.  James will watch over me and should anything change in my health, you will be the first informed.”  I hope that was compelling enough to be left with James again.

“Very well, Miss Cooke, I shall be by early tomorrow morning to check on you, if I do not get called back sooner.  I would like to see you continue to improve and perhaps tomorrow the claret puffiness around your eyes will have gone down.”  He gave one final look to us both, nodded and showed himself out.

We both glanced at each other and sniggered when the door shut.  “He thought you were being cruel to me.  Here I thought I was being cruel to myself.”  I giggled again and his eyes twinkled in the morning light.

“Really, love, you were the one being cruel to me.  You should not have stayed hidden from me for so long this time.  We never get the length of life we should before we have to start over again.  Promise me next time around, you will try looking for me too.”

Entirely cryptic yet again.  “James, I get the feeling that I am not the insane one in this room.  You are not making any sense and I would like some sort of explanation, please.”  Frustration took over and my face brightened to a shade of cherry.

James took me up in his arms again and whispered into my ears.  “My love, I was afraid something like this might have happened.  We willfully jumped as a last resort, though I knew how much it pained you at the time.  There was no way of timing the waves and landing.  I was swept away by the tide and drowned not far from shore.  Unfortunately your body crashed into the jagged rocks and it broke the grip I had on you.  I think you suffered severe trauma before you actually passed - that time anyway.  It is the only conclusion I have managed to produce that would explain your residual memory but your reluctance to believe their validity.  I know you at least remember our first time.”

Our first time?  I heard his words but I was not sure what I should make of them.  Could it have all been real?  Could every hallucination I have ever envisioned have really been a lingering memory from long ago?  “I remembered the leap from the cliff yesterday morning in my school lessons.  At least I think I remembered it.  It seemed so authentic and the next thing I know I was being disciplined with a ruler for inattention.”  I instinctively rubbed my left hand again but the welt had subsided.  “All I ever envision is our death.” 

“I also remembered another time yesterday as well.  That is why I fainted.  I heard your voice and saw your unforgettable face; you knew my name as well and then everything was engulfed in thick flames.  We were… burned at the stake?  I think that must be it.”  My forehead crinkled with concentration as I worked through the events of the recent past.  Then it occurred to me.  “That was the first time you were mentioning.  It was the first time we… we died together!  Either we are both insane or I am missing something important here.  Please, tell me what has happened that I seem to be overlooking.”

James looked like he was pleased that I surmised so much truth after sustaining head trauma, in our last life anyhow.  “I will tell you what I know to be fact my love, but some is my own speculation.  You are more right than you know darling.  The first time we walked, talked and breathed on this earth was almost three hundred years ago.  It was a much different time then and we were not living in this area exactly.  We both grew up in Salem up north.  You were raised by your Aunt Agatha after your first mother died giving birth to you.  I think your aunt blamed you for the loss of her only sister.  She was a wicked woman who mistreated you with intensity.  You were rarely allowed to leave your house and it was by chance that I first laid eyes upon my only love.  My family lived just one house over and I glimpsed a mesmerizing young woman, fourteen years of age, radiant crimson curls and the bluest eyes, caring for the chickens.  I introduced myself and we began meeting each other under the cover of night.  We had passionate conversations and almost immediately fell in love.  I could no longer think of anyone but you my love.  Your aunt was enraged when she discovered that we intended to wed and forbid me to ever see you again.  Ultimately we were caught alone together, and your aunt accused us both of witchcraft.  You were sentenced to death for making me your victim of love enchantments,” he grinned at the idea “and I was sentenced to death for bewitching Agatha, who testified against us both.”

“I was one of the few men ever accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake.  We were strung up for the public to chastise us before we died in agony.  That was when you made your vow.  I think a higher being heard your cries and wanted us to live a fulfilling life together.  A life where we lived past the age of twenty together, start a family and grow old with each other.  Awful things always seem to find us, but someone or something is looking after us, Elizabeth.”

As fantastical as it was, I had no choice but to believe.  He knew my daydreams better than I did and I was certain that he and I lived many other lives aside from this one.  There were so many questions I had for him about us.  “I have felt heartbroken since I can remember.  I could not dream without seeing your face.  I would sit down for dinner and suddenly I was looking into your eyes with a panic.  I have seen us die many excruciating ends.  I have shed tears for you when I thought you were only in my mind.  This is highly overwhelming, but I can tell it is truth that comes from your sweet lips.  I love you with all of my being.”

“I have and always will love you, my Elizabeth.  The very first time I saw you I knew it would pain me to ever be apart from you.  You are my first conscious decisions in every lifetime.  I search for you everywhere not wanting to leave our love at first sight to fate.  I have always wondered though if we will always find each other eventually by chance, because I think we have a cosmic pull on each other.”  He smiled, showing off his dimples.

“You obviously know more about us than I do, honey.  I only have miserable memories of our deaths.  I definitely have feelings for you but no specific memories as to why I feel the way I do.  Do you remember everything from every life?”  I laid my head on his shoulder and embraced his chest.  His warmth and aroma swept over me and I became light headed.  It was subtle but he noticed.

“I will answer all of your questions as soon as you lay back down under your covers.  I do not need you fainting two days in a row love.”

“I was not going to faint.  Maybe swoon a little.”  James gave me a questioning look as though I thought he did not always know best.  He usually did though and I decided arguing was not going to get me very far so I humored James and slipped back under my plush covers.

I do not know if it was the warm milk, the cozy morning in the four poster bed, or the saturated heat of James that made me drowsy.  I had slept much longer than anyone should be allowed to, and here I was struggling to keep my eyes open on a handsome man that loved me unconditionally.  Between the heavy down comforter and the relief of James’ heart beating beneath my cheek at last, I let the exhaustion of unbelievable information take over.  James would have to share some of our memories with me later.  At this moment I would dream of my fantasy that had come true.

Chapter 5

“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”  His sultry voice could have raised me from the dead.  My eyes fluttered trying to adjust to the light, or really the lack there of.  Did I just sleep through another day?  I feel like I have spent my whole life not truly getting a single nights rest, and now suddenly I can sleep through days.  I suppose it was quite a bit of information to process and my mind needed the subconscious world to do so.  I had dreamed of my one and only love, and awakened to the excitement of this man holding me tightly in his arms.  I forced my eyes to focus on the handsome face that revealed so much devotion for me in the candle light.

“You’re still here,” I whispered.  “I was worried that you might not be when I woke up again.”

“It has always been painful to leave you, darling.  To be honest though, you would not let me move all day long.  I tried several times to slip out from grasp to attend to personal matters but you cried out for me almost instantly.”  His fingers intertwined with mine, his thumb unconsciously caressing my wrist.