Prologue

There she was. Sleeping so peacefully, blissfully unaware of what was to come; how life was about to change. He thought she looked like an angel, even when sleeping. Her raven curls framed her face wildly. Her pure ivory skin glowed softly beneath the candlelight. His leathery hand hovered over her cheek. He dared not touch her fearing that she would only be an extraordinary vision and disappear.

Tears stung the back of his eyelids as he breathed in her familiar scent. A wave of fear crashed over him suddenly, he was sure that he would drown in it. Quickly, he stumbled away from her bed. He found his way to the large window like a blind man. But this was no better an escape. The whispers burned fiercely in his ears… feeble voices of those who could not be seen by most, those who were dead. But he saw them now… he did now.

She had always seen them.

"Traitor!" a tiny voiced hissed at him from below.

"Who goes there?" The man called out quietly into the vast darkness. "Show yourself."

"Traitor, traitor!" an emaciated little boy emerged swiftly from the darkness. He couldn't have been more than six years old. Several others appeared noiselessly, joining in the wicked chant. The little boy fell to the earthen ground rolling with wild laughter.

"Quiet!" another one appeared, a woman. They all suddenly fell silent in her presence. With grace she approached him. "You cannot save her." Her small voice cooed in his ear.

That was what he feared most.

"They are coming." She spoke again, her voice and light and gentle as a summer breeze. Her silvery fingers ran lightly against his cheek. "They will take her. But… I can save her." She smiled wickedly.

"No!" the man spat. She shrunk away from him, startled by his outburst. But her gaze quickly turned to ice. "Be gone." He glared at her, her eyes quickly dimming. Before his eyes she disappeared, the wind blowing the leaves softly. He was alone once more.

If only things had not come down to this. If only her had never told Alfred the truth. If only he could reverse all of the mistakes he had made in his life. It was all a matter of if-only's.

The ancient grandfather clock droned on and on matching her even breathing perfectly.

Tick, tock, tick tock

Time was going by quickly, time that they did not have. Drawing the thick burgundy drapes shut he returned to her bedside.

"My dear." He whispered so quietly he wondered if he had said it at all.

She stirred in her sleep. "Yes?" she whispered a tiny smile playing at her full mouth. Her eyes were still closed, their long lashes casting shadows upon her cheek bones. A withered sigh escaped from his lips. Was this really happening?

"What is it?" she opened her eyes turning toward him.

Soundlessly he held a candle up to her face. Her green eyes glittered like gems. He looked away, a sharp pain rising in his chest. He could not even bear to look at her now.

"Honey… is something the matter?" she turned his face towards her. She seemed so calm now.

He ran his fingers along the planes of her smooth face. He had to memorize every inch of her, every part he might lose. "They're coming." The words settled in his mouth leaving a bitter metallic taste.

"What?" she asked staring at his snow-white hair.

"They… they are coming for you." He felt like he was choking on his words. "They know your secret… our secret."

He watched painfully as the joy diminished from her wide eyes. "W-what?" she struggled to sit up in the sea of blankets. "What do you mean?" She was trying ever so hard to stay calm.

"They told him… everything." What was wrong with him? Why could he not just tell her the truth?

"What!" she exploded out of the bed. "H-h-how did this happen? Who found out… who would have dared tell?" she was pacing about the room wildly.

"I don't know… I have no idea." He lied. He was the true reason why all of this was happening.

"Oh my." The young lady sank to the floor struggling to breathe. She cried out loudly. It was happening again.

Oh God. The man panicked. "My dear." His voice was high with fear. He cupped his hands around her face. "Please, look at me. Look at me… focus on me!" He shook her slightly as her eyes clouded over. "No!" he stomped his foot in frustration.

Her breath was labored and she could no longer see she was so blinded by pain. She tried with all her might to fight it, but still yet she could not. She could hear him in the distance, calling to her frantically. "Please." She whispered hoarsely, a tear ran down her cheek.

"Look at me. You have to control it!" he growled.

She held tightly to his face as her body went rigid, as the words were locked in her throat. She cried out from the horrific pain, crumbling in his arms. He held her limp frame closely rocking back and forth.

From somewhere below them she could hear the angry shouts of men.

"No!" the girl shrieked again.

"No! Now don't do this again." he whispered in frenzy. "It's going to be ok… it will. I promise you my dear. I will never let them take you away from me."

Pandemonium was ringing in their ears. "Stay here." The man said tersely as he stood up running for the door. His mind was racing uncontrollably. He had betrayed the one he loved most by pure accident. He felt his stomach rolling viciously with fear. She looked like a blur crying out for him. But he couldn't hear her. Without a second glance he ran out of the room and into the gunshots.

A/N

So yes! if this story looks familiar that is because it is back and with new revisions. i was not pleased with how it was turning out so i started over in some areas!

please r&r

-thanks