Soft candlelight filtered into Ally’s eyes as she slowly opened them. She blinked once, then twice trying to clear her sight. Shadows danced off the walls and she jumped when something crackled and popped. Her eyes darted towards the source of the sound. Logs in the fireplace. The flames danced to their own hissing beat. She attempted to calm her nerves and cautiously moved her legs and arms that felt heavy and tingling, causing the sheets to move around her.
She looked around the room again and took in the high pale blue walls, thick damask curtains and the wall sconces. Her gaze settled on the wingback chair near her bed, shrouded in darkness. The candles there had been snuffed out or weren’t working, she wasn’t sure which. Goosebumps rose on her forearms. A shadow was in the chair…
Her heart kicked into overdrive and clutched her chest.
“Alessandra,” the shadow whispered as it leaned forward.
She scrambled back. “Who are you?”
Moments of silence ticked by before she heard him move and watched as he leaned forward and lit the lamp by her bed, illuminating his face. “I mean you no harm,” he cooed to her and held up both his hands, palms facing out.
Her brows furrowed and her eyes widened. She clutched the sheets closer to her chest and asked again, “Who are you?”
“Vincent. Do you recognize me?”
Her eyes raked him over from head to toe. He was sinfully attractive, but she didn’t recognise him. She shook her head in answer to him.
“I had hoped,” he sighed dramatically. “But I was expecting this. Oh, Alessandra, you don’t know how I’ve worried for you these past months.”
Alessandra? Is that me?
Her mind swirled with panic and dread as the realisation hit her. She didn’t know who she was.
“What did you do to me?” She demanded. “Where am I? Where is…”
Vincent eyes held a faint wariness and excitement that she couldn’t make sense of. “Where is who?”
Ally shook her head, trying to clear the fog in her mind. “I...I don’t know…I can’t remember…anything!”
“I know,” He stood up and rang a bell. The door opened a moment later. “Ah, Mabel, can you make Alessandra a tea tray and something to eat. She’s obviously had quite a shock.”
“Of course,” Mabel replied. She leaned past Vincent in the doorway and looked at Ally with a heartfelt smile. “We’re so glad to have you back sweetheart.”
Ally gaped and watched the woman leave.
Vincent returned to his chair by her bed.
“I’ve never seen that woman before in all my life!”
“You have, you just don’t remember,” Vincent corrected.
Ally glared at her captor. “So I have amnesia or something, is that it? What the hell happened to me?!”
“My darling, please try to calm yourself. The doctor said we had to take things slow and too much excitement was bad for you.”
“Doctor?” She sputtered.
“Yes, Dr Reid. He’s been your doctor for a while now.” Vincent looked so concerned and worried for her that she almost felt sorry for him for a split second, but that was quickly washed away out of self-interest. She was the wounded party here no matter what was going on. At least he knew who he was. Her hands went to her temples. Her head felt like it was going to explode.
“Who are you?”
“Vincent.”
She groaned internally. “You said that already. How do I know you?”
He hesitated briefly. “I’m a friend of sorts.”
“What exactly does that mean?”
A knock on the door stopped his answer. “Ah, saved by the bell.” He swiftly opened the door and allowed Mabel entry. “Would you mind sitting with Alessandra while I go and call Reid? He’ll want to know she’s awake.”
“Of course,” she said with a smile and carried the tea tray closer to Ally.
“I’ll return soon,” Vincent called out and closed the door.
Ally looked at the woman incredulously. This isn’t real…this is all just some messed up dream…right?
“Bed or the fireplace?” The older woman asked with a kind smile.
“Huh?”
“Where would you like to have your tea and something to eat?”
“Oh, right.” Ally quickly checked that she was clothed. “The fire please.”
Ally got up and followed Mabel to the wingbacks beside the fireplace. She sat down as the tray was placed with a rattle on the small table between them.
“I suppose this must all come as a bit of a shock.”
“That’s an understatement,” Ally replied grimly as she stared into the fire.
Mabel handed her a cup of tea and placed a plate of sandwiches in front of her. “Strong and sweet. Good for shock.”
“Thanks,” Ally said with sincere gratitude. She had no idea what was going on, but the woman before her was a kind soul and obviously trying to help Ally. “Mabel, please don’t think me rude, but how do I know you exactly?”
“Of course I don’t think you’re rude my dear girl. You’ve been through an awful ordeal, the last thing you need to worry about is offending me,” she reassured. “But to answer your question, I’m Vincent’s housekeeper, so we’ve gotten to know each other over the past few months that you have been staying here.”
Ally sat stunned for a moment processing what she had just been told. “I live here?”
Mabel nodded.
Ally looked around again, trying to find one thing that might jog her memory. “I don’t remember it, but apparently I have good taste.”
Mabel laughed quietly. “Now that sounds like Ally.”
“Ally?” She questioned. “Is that my nickname?”
“Yes, although Vincent always insists on calling you Alessandra. He thinks it’s a beautiful name and suits you.”
“Nothing is familiar to me at all…not even my name. It’s maddening!”
“That’s to be expected after what you’ve been through.”
Ally paused and pinned Mabel with a look. “That’s the second time you’ve mentioned that. What exactly happened to me?”
“I can’t say. Doctor’s orders.”
“Oh for the love of God,” Ally cried. “Won’t someone tell me?”
Vincent’s voice filled the room and she jumped. “I will tell you. But not until after Reid sees you.”
Ally groaned internally. “What difference does it make?”
He studied her intently. Goosebumps began to rise over her arms and the hair on the back of her neck rose again. She didn’t know how it was possible at that distance but she saw his eyes flick over her arms and an eyebrow raised slightly. His gaze trailed back up her body and rested on her face once more. His eyes were unreadable but a grin that appeared to be smug settled on his lips. She shivered in response.
Ally watched the woman leave. Vincent took the seat that Mabel had just vacated.
Vincent leaned forward resting his arms on his knees. “Alessandra,” he started. “I don’t have all the answers that you want. I wasn’t there when they had you. All I know is what happened once I managed to get you back.”
“They had me? Who are they?”
“The Carlisles,” he spat the words out in disgust.
“I’ve never heard of them! How do I know anything you are telling me is real? For all I know you’re a serial killer who clubbed me over the head, caused brain damage and memory loss and now you’re holding me captive!”
Vincent worked hard to hold back the smirk that threatened surface. She’d never know just how close to the truth her hysterical rantings were. “My dear Alessandra,” he crooned to her. “If I was a serial killer I don’t think I’d be keeping you captive in such a luxurious place. Firstly, it would be stupid because this is my house and secondly, why would I give up my own room? Thirdly if I’d clubbed you in the head on the odd chance that it might give you amnesia, don’t you think you would have a lump on your head?”
Ally cocked her head to the side and studied him before she spoke. “Well when you put it like that, then no probably not. You’d have to be a very stupid serial killer. You don’t strike me as stupid.”
His gaze sharpened and she was all too aware of him in that moment. She looked away to hide the crimson that she was sure was staining her cheeks. He chuckled quietly at her innocence. “So now that we have established that I’m not some psycho intent on murdering you in my own bed, do you think you might try and trust me?”
At this she did look up. “I’d be mad to trust a total stranger. I have no idea who I am and you still haven’t told me what happened. I’m at a disadvantage here, but you still have to earn my trust if you want it.”
His face shone with approval. “Good girl. It seems I’m not the only one who is intelligent here.”
Ally rolled her eyes. “If you want to start earning that trust, then start talking Vincent.”
She could see the hesitation and wondered why it was there. What was he hiding?
“The do-gooder Carlisles took you from me,” he answered with a voice filled with pain and torment.
“Carlisles…” Ally said, testing the name but felt nothing. Whether Vincent was telling the truth or not, she could tell his hatred of the Carlisles was genuine. She watched the disgust and anger swirling in his eyes.
Wanting to keep him talking, she reached and took his hand in hers. Her hand wanted to flinch away from the intensity that she felt, but she fought it.
His head whipped to the place that she had touched and he appeared as stricken as she felt. Fear and wonder ran through his eyes. She couldn’t understand his reaction. Things were starting to get…strange, so she continued with her questions. “So the Carlisles are do-gooders but why me exactly? What did I ever do to them?”
He took a steadying breath and glanced down at the place their hands met. “They are my enemies. So they took what I loved.”
Ally sucked in a breath at the admission. His eyes moved up to hers, and her heart stopped beating at what she saw. Love. Tragedy. Devastation. Something wasn’t right though. He was looking at her but she felt the emotions weren’t about her. This was something else that had happened. Something long ago perhaps by the faraway expression. The mystery appealed to her and she desperately wanted to know what had happened to him. But now was not the time.
“So they took me because you loved me?” She asked to see what his reaction would be.
Vincent started. “Yes,” he mumbled. “And because you loved me…Ours was a forbidden love.” The words hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity before he spoke again. “And there was a prophecy written about you a long time ago.”
“Prophecy?” she laughed. “Very funny. What really happened? And how do I even know for sure that you actually know me?”
“You have a crescent moon birth mark on your lower back.”
Ally stared at him in disbelief.
“The bathroom is just behind that door,” he said with a gesture. “Go and check.”
Ally hesitantly stood up and wandered over to the bathroom. She walked in to the opulent space and was dumb struck when she looked into the mirror.
Her hand reached up to touch her face, as she examined herself. It seemed that she had forgotten not only her name but what she looked like as well. A flash of black on her wrist caught her attention and she looked at it. “An anchor?” she mumbled to herself.
“Have you found it yet?” Vincent’s question broke her reverie and she quickly turned her back to the mirror to find this moon birthmark.
She gasped. She did have a birthmark like he’d described.
“I take that gasp to mean you found it and believe me now?”
Ally dropped her top, walked back out into the bedroom and moved to stand close to Vincent soaking up the warmth from the fire. “Alright,” she admitted. “So you know me…But the prophecy thing was a sad attempt at a joke right?”
Vincent shook his head. “You don’t live in the world you think you do, Alessandra. A few months ago, you knew that…” His hand reached out and gently touched her cheek. She felt that same electrical current run through her.
He dropped his hand and pinned her with an intense look. “You don’t remember me and you don’t trust me. I know that. But…I’d be very worried if you did trust two strangers on sight. It shows you’re still a smart girl.” He grabbed her hand and put it to his chest. “Give me a chance to earn back your trust and your love. That is all I am asking for…Let me prove to you that I am what I claim to be.”
Ally was more confused now than she had been when she’d first woken up. The man before her inspired a myriad of emotions. His heartfelt plea touched her, but she was still wary.
“What choice do I have?” She answered.
“Oh, Alessandra,” Vincent leaned closer to her, hiding the look of deviousness that was written on his face. “We always have a choice…”
A soft rapping on the door brought them back to the moment and they sprung apart.
“Enter,” Vincent called out his voice oddly strangled.
Mabel stuck her head in the door. “Dr Reid is here.”
“Ah,” he said. “Show him in.”
Mabel opened the door wide and the aging doctor walked in. Ally glanced at him briefly. Her thoughts and emotions still jumbled from Vincent’s plea.
“Good evening Alessandra,” the doctor greeted her warmly.
Studying the portly man with rosy cheeks and greying hair around his temples, she returned the greeting.
“I’m glad to see you’re awake and moving about.” He walked closer to her and gestured to take a seat.
She sat and continued to stare at him.
“Do you remember anything at all yet?” He asked undisturbed by her inspection.
“No, not yet.” She tried to keep the panic to a minimum, but given the situation it was proving to be difficult.
“Well it will all come back in time,” he reassured her. Ally decided that she liked the doctor. He appeared to be a jolly sort of fellow that one could trust. She noticed Vincent watching with interest out of the corner of her eye and wondered what he was thinking. He was a stranger to her. But something about him, something that she couldn’t put her finger on was bothering her. Her emotions around him in such a short time had been confusing to say the least. She decided to let it rest for the moment and focus on what the good doctor might be able to tell her.
Dr Reid finished performing the quick once over. Murmuring a few questions, shining a bright light into her eye and promptly presumed her in good health, despite the amnesia. Ally felt a little reassured that at least physically she was alright. Mentally however was a whole different story. “When do you think my memory will return?”
The jolly doctor shrugged non-commitally. “It’s not something that I can put a time span on. Even with all the advancements in medicine, amnesia is still something that is too unpredictable. Every person recovers their memories at a different time…”
“If at all,” Ally finished for him.
“Well…yes it’s not guaranteed that your memories will return.”
Ally felt the fight go out of her at the thought of never getting her memories back. Vincent must have guessed what she was feeling or it was written all over her face for she felt his hand on her back, rubbing in small circular motions. “If the worst happens and you don’t recover your memories then we’ll simply make new ones…better ones.”
Ally tried to smile but she couldn’t find the energy for even that.
“Perhaps we should leave you to rest for a while, my darling,” Vincent moved to kneel in front her. “Today has not been an easy day for you.”
Ally met his concerned gaze and found herself nodding in agreement. “Maybe it’s what I need.”
Without warning, Vincent swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. Ally shuddered violently at the surprise and physical reaction she had whenever he touched her, but this was much more intense. His arms were wrapped around her and she was pressed up against his firm chest. It should have been a peaceful moment, a secure moment…but all she felt was a deep fear uncoiling in her stomach. Whether it was fear of him or fear of her intense attraction to him, she didn’t know.
He laid her gently on the bed and pulled the blankets over her. “Get some sleep and I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Ally wasn’t sure whether to take that as consoling or threatening…perhaps it was a bit of both. She closed her eyes and felt the oblivion of exhaustion crawling up her body. Her mind was more relaxed and three words slipped to the surface…
“Forbidden love,” she mumbled as the oblivion sucked her in. “Olivia.”
Vincent stopped dead in his tracks. Slowly he turned around and looked at Ally with tortured eyes.
“Olivia,” he whispered, the words dredged up from deep inside of him. “How do you know about Olivia?”
She didn’t reply. She hadn’t heard a word he’d said. With a huff, he turned around and left the room. Natalia was waiting eagerly outside the door. He shoved past her and continued walking down the hallway, not even bothering to acknowledge her presence.
“Vincent,” she hissed after him. “What’s wrong?”
Vincent whipped around. His eyes glowed a vibrant red. Natalia gasped. Vincent hadn’t shown his true self in centuries. For reasons she couldn’t understand, he wanted to keep a human façade at all times and had the strength to maintain it forever. What had happened to him that he’d lost the will to do that? She looked back at the door he’d come from half expecting the answer to be plain as day, but of course it wasn’t.
Vincent realised what he’d done. He growled menacingly and stalked out of the house mumbling one name over and over, “Olivia.”