Layla's POV:
After speaking to the woman in the front office and getting directions I head to Lorie's classroom. The door to the room is open when I arrive and I see other adult's standing inside. I step into the room and immediately hear Lorie's voice.
"Layla!" Lorie cries out excitedly as she runs up to me wrapping herself around my legs.
"Told you I would come!" I say as I ruffle Lorie's hair.
Lorie looks up at me with a bright smile. The teacher claps her hands together and all the children return to their seats. Soon all the children line up one by one and begin walking towards the large open courtyard. Lorie is bobbing happily down the hall and I smile at the thought of making her day a bit brighter.
Nicolae's POV:
I stand and stare out the living room windows as the clock on the wall strikes two. Lorie will be getting out of school soon. I grab the jacket hanging on the rack as I head out the door. My father has left on another of his trips again. Usually he waits until Victor or myself has returned home before leaving but this time he was in such a hurry he hired a live-in sitter for Lorie. I wonder who this lucky person could be. My father didn't give me any information regarding who exactly he had hired but the house seemed warmer and more friendly than it did when I left.
My feet stop in front of the fence surrounding the courtyard at Lorie's school. There are children and parents everywhere playing happily. I frown upon remembering that today was the day the children were able to invite a family member for lunch. Lorie must be devastated. I lean against the fence looking for Lorie when my eyes catch a glimpse of something impossible. There's no possible way it can be her. She's been dead for decades! I look down and stare at the gold band on my finger as a feeling of hope rises within me.I search the court yard again and sure enough I see her.
She's still just as beautiful as ever. But how is she here and how is she alive? I ask myself. I watch the familiar woman running around the courtyard with the children. Her long brown hair shines in the sun. Her uniform hugs her slender figure accentuating her womanly assets. Her skin is as fair as ever and I suddenly remember how deep blue her eyes used to be. They would take the very breath from me and I longed to get closer and look into those eyes again. I'm just about to call out to her when I hear a child's voice calling my name.
"Nicolae your here!" Lorie shouts as she runs to the fence.
I walk down the fence and enter the gates leading into the courtyard. Lorie begins to run up to me but suddenly stops.
"Oh wait!" She shouts as she runs back to the large group of playing children.
Suddenly Lorie reemerges, dragging the girl I had just seen behind her. They both stop just in front of me as a moment of confusion and disbelief flash across the girls face.
"This is Nicolae!" Lorie says as I study the young woman's face.
She smiles suddenly at me and I feel my heart being squeezed in my chest. Her eyes are as deep a blue as I remember.
"Hi. I'm Layla Ambrigino! Your father hired me to watch Lorie while you were away. It's nice to finally meet you!" Layla says as she extends her hand out to me shaking me from my day dream.
Does she not remember who I am? I think to myself as a sadness fills my chest. I quickly reach out and take her hand in mine. Her skin is soft and cool to the touch and I find myself not wanting to let go.
"I am Nicolae Draven. It's a pleasure to meet you Layla. I want to apologize for my father leaving so abruptly and leaving you two alone." I reply with a forced smile.
I release Layla's hand and it feels as if my chest is being ripped open and it begins to hurt to breath.
"It's perfectly alright! Lorie and I managed and had plenty of fun!" Layla exclaimed as she looked down at Lorie who was clinging firmly to her.
"You have to try Layla's happy jacks Nicolae! They're the best! Everything she cooks is so good!" Lorie says enthusiastically.
I look at Layla somewhat confused.
"What are happy jacks?" I ask dubiously.
"You'll have to wait and see the next time I make them! " Layla says as her and Lorie giggle together.
The bell suddenly rings signalling the time for the children to go home.
"I need to get my stuff!" Lorie exclaims.
"So do I." Layla replies.
"Let's go together!" Lorie says as she takes Layla's hand.
"Don't move Nicolae, we'll be right back!" Lorie says to me before turning and pulling Layla into the school.
A few moments later they return and we begin to head back to the manor. Lorie takes mine and Layla's hand as we begin walking. Questions begin to swirl in my mind and it suddenly feels like my body is on fire. Lorie who was chatting away between Layla and I moments ago has now become silent.
"Are you ok Lorie?" Layla asks.
"Yeah I'm just hungry." Lorie says as she bites her lower lip.
"I'll make you a snack as soon as we get back home." Layla replies.
My heart jumps in my chest at her use of the word home.
"Can I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" Lorie asks.
"Sure!" Layla replies with a smile.
Nicolae's POV:Home. I begin to reminisce about what home was like for us all those decades ago. And before I know it we are back at the manor. Once inside Lorie and Layla head straight for the kitchen. Layla quickly prepares Lorie's snack and seats her at the table before returning to the kitchen.I walk into the kitchen and get a bottle of water from the fridge as Layla begins to wash up the dishes. I watch her for a moment and decide to find out just how much of her memory of me is lost."So little immortal one, where are you from?" I ask as I open my water bottle and observe Layla's reaction.She freeze's instantly upon hearing my words. I notice her reflection in the window and see her frown. I can sense a hint of unease in the atmosphere and I begin to step closer."Don't you know what your last name means?" I say in a teasing tone.Her stiff posture begins to loosen."Oh. Of course." She replies hesitantly.The room fall
Layla's POV:It's dark and the air is damp. I open my eyes and see a coffin before me. There are people surrounding me wearing all black attire and from the looks of everything it's around the 1800's. I'm confused for a moment as I try to figure out what is going on and where I am. I look around and realize I am inside a large crypt. I see the familiar face of Nicolae that I have seen so many times before. He walks past me and towards a coffin inside the large crypt. He slowly leans over the top of the coffin placing a gentle kiss on it as he lays something down.His face is tear stained and his silver eyes are brimmed with red. His expression is filled with pain and sorrow. I feel my heart tighten in my chest. It hurts me to see him in this much pain but why? And who is in the coffin. One by one everyone begins to leave the crypt until only Nicolae is left. He suddenly slumps to his knees and weeps into his hands. His whole body is shaking and I feel my heart twist in
Nicolae's POV:Layla and I stand in silence for a moment before she clears her throat. I reach out to push her hair back behind her ear but before I can she steps back and looks down."I will not harm you Layla so you can rest easy and I don't want you to be afraid of me." I say as I put my hand back at my side."I'm not afraid of you Nicolae." She replies softly."It just...there's things about myself I've never shared with anyone. I don't know alot about who I am or what I even am and to have someone pry into my soul...to go into the depths that even I dare not enter and try to forget is...it feels intrusive." She continues."I'm surprised you remember what actually happened. No one's ever remembered or been able to describe how it felt." I reply with a smirk."Then again you're not just anyone." I continue with amusement as I remove the small chain from my neck."I want you to have this. I have a feeling this will be more of use to
Layla's POV:I'm rinsing off the dishes when Lorie rushes in and hands me all her dishes before taking off again. I pour myself one more cup of coffee and head back to the kitchen table. After I sit down Nicolae stands and begins to gather up his papers from the table and I feel like I've disturbed him."I can take my coffee to my room if I'm bothering you." I say gently."No, I am done for the morning, and if we are to go out today, I need to start getting ready." He replies.I look at Nicolae standing across from me over the table only half hearing what he said. His hair falls beautifully over his shoulder and the loose fitting v neck tee gives me glimpses of his chiseled chest. He's wearing a pair of black slacks and my eyes begin to scan his body. I shake my head realizing that my face has gone hot."Where are you going?" I ask then take a sip from my cup."We are going to the town festival." He replies emphasizing the we in his sentence
Layla's POV:As we get the sound of music fills the air and as the festival comes into view Lorie gets increasingly more excited. As we head towards the booths and people that are scattered around the streets Lorie tugs on my arm."What is that?" Lorie asks, pointing to some cotton candy hanging in a booth as I let go of Nicolae and crouch down in front of her."That is cotton candy." I reply."Would you like to try it?" I askLorie nods her head at me and I stand back up and turn towards Nicolae to find him chatting with someone."Let's go get you some. We'll be back before he knows it." I say with a smile.Nicolae is nearly a head taller than the average person and would be hard to lose in a crowd. Then again he isn't an average person I think to myself as we make our way to the cotton candy booth. While I'm making our purchase for the cotton candy a few of Lorie friends from school come bounding over. The girls begin to giggle and
Nicolae's POV:"Shall we leave?" I ask."No, not yet." Layla says as she shakes her head."Do you have problems with that boy often?" I ask as I feel jealousy sting my heart."He doesn't know how to take no for an answer." She replies"Well that doesnt make me feel any better." I reply"Anyways, shall we go do something else." I say before she has a chance to answer."I think I'll go sit and watch Lorie play if that's alright." She replies as she starts to release my hand."That's fine with me lets go." I reply as I grip her hand and begin walking towards the play area."Um, if you want to go do something else you can." She replies."I am perfectly alright spending the rest of our time here with you." I say as we step up to a small bench inside the play area."I thought I was the one that was supposed to be doing the babysitting, not the other way around." She replies with a small laugh."This is far
Layla's POV:On the way back out of the dining room I notice Nicolae's coat laying on the floor next to the rack. I look at it suspiciously but go and pick it up anyways. After I hung it back up and straightened it out on the rack I heard a chilling voice behind me."So father gave us another play thing?" The voice says as I turn around."Who are you?" I ask trying to mask the surprise in my voice."You're bold, aren't you? You are standing in my house but yet you have the audacity to ask me who I am." The man says as he closes the distance between us backing me against the door.His hand is suddenly around my neck and his body is pressed into mine. A strong overpowering scent of cologne burns my nostrils and I feel like I can't breath."Hmm, I bet you taste delicious." The man says in a husky voice and my heart begins to pound in my chest.Nicolae's POV:I'm in the study going through a few books I
Nicolae's POV:Once back in my own room I quietly walk over to my bed and sit down on it. I look back over my shoulder at Layla who is sleeping soundly. I turn back and place my head in my hands as sadness grips at my soul.Layla's POV:I'm standing there in a beautiful gown with Nicolae smiling happily in front of me. There are many guests and people who congratulate us as we walk around what looks to be a courtyard. A familiar face suddenly appears before us."Congratulations NIcolae and Layla. I couldn't be happier for you two. As soon as you two are back in town we must get together for dinner." James says with a smile as he shakes Nicolae's hand."That sounds great doesn't it love." Nicolae says as he looks down at me with a smile."Yes it does." I reply with a smile as I look up at him.Soon James walks away leaving Nicolae and I standing there alone and I have a hard time wrapping my head around the scene before me. Was I ever