AN: Enjoy this new story! Happy Reading!

Chapter 1

SPOV

I'm in a panic, my heart racing fitfully as I continue to drive erratically through the pelting rain that's drilling the windshield fast enough to blind. Faster. I have to drive faster. I have to get away. Bright lights in the rearview are blinding me, hindering my already impaired vision.

I can't let them catch up. I must get away. Survive. The tires slide along the muddy roads then, bringing me ever closer to the steep ravine to my right, forcing me to correct the wheel abruptly. Breathe. Concentrate. I have to get gone, I must.

Everything went wrong. This shouldn't be happening. It wasn't supposed to go like this. It was supposed to be simple. It was supposed to be easy. I lean forward, squinting into the rain drenched night, trying desperately to make out the outlines of the muck covered road before me as I push steadily ahead.

I bring up my phone once more only to find there's still no reception. I can't call for help. I'm left to my own devices. All alone. I clench my jaw in concentration, calling up every ounce of inner strength from deep within. I can do this. I can make a clean escape. Get away or die. Death is not the option I choose to accept.

Thunder rumbles loud enough to send vibrations through the car only seconds before the starless sky is lit up with bright, blinding lightning stretching over the sky, lighting up the tree covered bayou. The storm rages on outside, picking up to a violent crescendo as I drive on, pushing forward with unrivaled resolve.

Blinding headlights are drawing ever closer as they gain ground, closing the ever shrinking gap between us. My foot presses further into the accelerator, but it's to no avail as I'm violently slammed into from behind. My head is thrown forward, before slamming harshly into the wheel. Blinding pain. Flashes of white cloud my vision momentarily, disorienting me further.

I struggle to shake off the pain. Ignore it. Get past it. Don't let it slow you down. Liquid trails over my brow and I lift my hand to inspect before pulling away bloody fingers. It's just a cut, no big deal. Keep pressing on. Endure.

Suddenly, there's another crashing impact from behind as metal screeches deafeningly against metal. I grit my teeth, gripping the wheel tighter as I veer sharply away from the ravine's steep edge once more. I straighten the car before adding more pressure to the accelerator with grim determination.

The headlights begin to fade and I glance up to the rearview and see I'm finally gaining a decent lead. A small smile curls my lips. I've got this. Freedom is within reach. Suddenly, bright lights shine from my left, leaving me squinting and bringing my arm up to shield my eyes.

I have mere seconds to panic before the violent impact sends my car careening over the steep, mud covered ravine wall. The sounds are deafening as glass shatters and metal scrapes harshly all around me. I find my body being flung like a rag doll, slamming into one hard surface after another. White hot pain sears through my left leg just before my right arm is gashed wide in a wave of searing agony.

It's all happening so fast, lasting only seconds in reality, but it feels as like an eternity before I find myself being ejected from the wrecked car, thrown through the drenched, moonless night air. My head slams harshly against an unknown, rigid surface and white light flashes across my vision before the blackness mercifully takes me under.

I wake with a start, sitting up in a rush before swallowing down large lungfuls of air as I try to slow my racing heart. I reach up to wipe perspiration from by brow and push back my sweat drenched locks. As awful as the reoccurring nightmare is, it's one of the only memories I have of my past life.

It was a year ago that I woke up only days after the horrific ordeal to find myself hooked up to IVs in the ICU, not knowing who I was with absolutely no memories of my past. I know what you're thinking, it sounds like the start of some crappy movie, but it's my life. It's what I have to live with day in and day out.

I have other dreams sometimes, flashes of a past life I can't remember. I see faces of people whose names I can't remember and I see different places though I have no idea what might have happened at the various locations or why I might have been there.

Besides the dreams, I have very few clues about my past. My purse was the only thing salvaged from the wreck with a wallet holding only my drivers license and eighty dollars in cash. Evidently my name is Ellie Mae Corvo, and I'm twenty five years old, but I only know this as it was the name and age printed on a little piece of plastic. I've typed the name into numerous search engines, but so far have come up with diddly-squat. Seems I must be a rather boring person.

The only other clues to a past life are the tattoos. I have three separate images inked into my skin with no memory of their meaning or relevance. The most noticeable is a simple, black, Celtic trinity knot decorating the inside of my left wrist.

The second is located on my inner right forearm and it's a bit more ornate than the first. It's an image of a shield, a dagger and dragon decorating either side. It's topped off with an ornately designed crown. The piece is beautifully done with swirling filigree outlining it in elegant, flowing lines. I assume this must be my family crest, but try as I may; I haven't been able to find a like one no matter how many times and places I've searched.

The third and final tattoo I didn't even realize I had until someone in the hospital pointed it out to me as it's stretched over the length of my back. Two black, feathered wings trail from each of my shoulder blades, sweeping down nearly to my waist. The piece is intricate and incredibly life like, with each feather having been detailed by an artist gifted with obvious skill. I wish I knew what any of them meant. They're obviously important to me somehow if I decided to have them permanently marked upon my skin.

This whole situation is beyond frustrating really, not knowing my place in the world. Most the time I just feel lost. The doctors keep telling me I'll remember everything in time; to just be patient and let the memories come back in their own time. I guess there's not much I can do otherwise, but it doesn't make it any easier to accept.

I find myself daydreaming constantly, always wondering about my past. What kind of family do I have, if any? If I do have family, are they out looking for me? Do they even realize or care that I'm gone? Was I married? Divorced? Did I have a steady boyfriend? Hell, do I have kids somewhere missing their mother?

I can really get myself worked up thinking like this so I have to stop and make myself take a deep, calming breath before shaking those thoughts from my damaged and ever racing mind. I just want to remember. I wish I knew who I was.

A small groan sounds then, bringing me from my racing thoughts. I turn my head to see Alcide, my boyfriend, reaching out across the bed for me. A small smile curls my lips before I lay back down, letting him pull me into his warm embrace before he lets out a soft, contented sigh.

The circumstances that brought us together were…well, unique, to say the least. He's the one who found me in that muddy bayou, bleeding and unconscious, presumably knocking at death's door. He likely saved my life that night when he stumbled across the scene and called in the accident.

His was the first face I saw when I woke in the stark, white hospital. He was a total wreck. Apparently he refused to leave my side until he was absolutely sure I'd be okay. He kept visiting after that, bringing me little gifts and flowers. He'd just stay and talk to me for hours and it didn't take long for me to fall for his sweet, Mississippi charms.

He's a good guy. I'm lucky to have him, really. He'd make an ideal husband, just the kind of guy you'd be proud to bring home to your family, you know, if you had one of those. But as much as I'd like to settle down and make a new life, I just can't help wondering what and whom I'm leaving behind.

"You're thinking too loud," Alcide mumbles into my neck in his low, gravelly voice, bringing me from my racing thoughts and making me look over at him with a small smirk.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," I say softly before burrowing down deeper into the bed and wrapping my arms around his firm waist. His emerald eyes flutter open then as he looks at me in concern.

"You had the nightmare again?" he asks, noticing my sweat coated hair. I nod with a small sigh.

"Yeah," I admit as he pulls me closer before running his large hands over my back soothingly.

"I'm so sorry," he whispers before placing a soft kiss to the crown of my head. "I was hoping they might go away after a while."

"Don't be sorry," I tell him with a small sigh. "It's not your fault." He nods, still looking concerned as he looks me over warily. I shake my head at him with a small smirk. He's such a worry wart. "I'm fine," I assure him, pecking the tip of his nose. "I'm not made of glass and I'm not gonna break, I promise."

"Yeah, I know, I know. I just can't help worrying about you," he says with a warm smile.

"That's just because you're so sweet," I tell him, leaning up to place a kiss to his stubble covered cheek. "And kind," I add, kissing his alternate cheek as a wide grin covers his face.

"And sexy?" he interjects, waggling his brows at me as a mischievous glint shines in his emerald eyes. I grin at him, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, you're sexy," I concede as his grin widens. "You're also running late for work," I add with a cocked brow. He glances up at the alarm clock then, letting out a defeated sigh and making a small giggle escape me. He flops back to the bed, burying his face into his pillow with a soft groan as I slip out bed, wrapping my robe around me and grinning down at him.

"Do I have to go to work?" he groans out playfully making me snort at him. Big baby.

"Well, I have to go to work, so yes, you do too," I rationalize before reaching down to swat his sculpted ass playfully. "Come on, jump in the shower and I'll go whip you up something for breakfast," I tell him earning me a cocked brow.

"You're gonna cook?" he asks warily, surely remembering the frozen pizza fiasco that ended with flames and thick clouds of black smoke. Evidently I was not a chef in my past life. I roll my eyes at him, shaking my head.

"No, but I can pour a mean bowl of Wheaties," I tease as he chuckles lowly, crawling out of bed and shooting me a wink before disappearing into the bathroom. I shake my head, smiling lightly as I leave the bedroom.

I open the front door, scooping up the morning paper before shuffling into the kitchen to start my morning coffee. I think I must have been a caffeine addict in my past life as I can't seem to get motivated without my morning cup of joe. I proceed to pull a bowl from the cupboard and pour Alcide's cereal before scanning over the periodical.

A wide grin crosses my face as I take in the front page. I forgot this was coming out today. There I am, surrounded by my fellow coworkers in front of Merlotte's Bar and Grill, promoting the celebration of the bar's tenth anniversary. I pour a cup of coffee then as Alcide joins me, leaning down to place a kiss to my forehead as I take my first, heavenly sip.

"Thanks for breakfast," he tells me with a smirk as he begins spooning his cereal. I grin at him before scooting the paper before him. He looks down as a wide grin crosses his face. "Nice picture," he says between bites. "You look beautiful as always," he adds with a wink. Such a charmer.

I glance back down at the photo and a small smile curls my lips. I'm surrounded by the people I now consider my friends and I look happy, really and truly happy. Maybe I can give this new life of mine a real shot after all.

AN: This story may be updated a bit more slowly as 'Demon's Lust' is my main project for the time being, but this one's been nagging at me for a while, just begging to be written... :)