I never remembered what life was like when I was human. I guess the memories were just too weak to leave any lasting impression on my brain. Looking back to that day in the meadow with my family I remember those words he said. They cut through me like a knife.

"lovely to see you again Alice" he whispers, desire dripping through his voice.

I was so confused. How did he know me? Thos violent scarlet eyes and that twisted smile that seemed so evil. It was then that I remembered. James. His was the only face I remembered from being human. It was emblazoned on my memory like venom in a human. Excruciating pain ripped through my mind. And I knew I had somewhere to start. If a face like his was able to create such emotional eruptions from my otherwise blank memory I needed to find out more. He looked at me with such lust. Not in the way he looked at the red head, Victoria but bloodlust.

I didn't understand then, but I do now. Sitting in my room with my painting easel at the open window I sighed. Leaning into the comfortable cushion I smiled. And remembered how I figured it out.

................................................................................................................................

I was sixteen when I first saw him. His dark, almost black eyes were perfect, his face was narrow yet gentle. He was only a painting but I knew that if I found him one day I would love him helplessly and unconditionally. I looked at the name plate on the frame and smiled.

'Major Jasper - - - - -'

The rest of the name was smudged from many women admiring him. There was a look too old for his young face. His eyes were hard to look into but I saw a sadness in them as if they were empty and longed for a future that would not claim his life. I would spend hours just looking at his face in the art gallery. My family had to drag me away from it some days.

After one particular day of sitting and looking at the face of the man I loved it happened for the first time. My sister was sitting next to me bored stiff. She had brought her favourite book with her and she sighed noisily as I gazed. Pulling out of my trance I turned to her.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to. I just"

"-can't help it, I know. If mother catches you here again she will ask the guards not to let you in again you do know that."

I smiled demurely at her. For some reason I had a feeling that I was safe for today from her but I also know that a very important man would talk to me today. I had seen him several times watching me from the corner. He seemed as fixated on me as I was on jasper's painting.

"Mother won't bother me today, little sister. You go on home and I will see you in a few short hours."

My sister pushed herself off the chair next to me and padded silently homeward. I smiled contented once more to be almost alone with my man. He approached me then. Silently. I also didn't realise he was there until I heard him call my name.

"Alice" he whispered into my ear "you are a fascinating woman"

I looked slightly flushed (I could blush in those days) into his almost black eyes. I thought I saw a tinge of red in them but I brushed it aside. I was seeing all sorts of colours from starring at paintings all afternoon.

"Thank you sir but I am not yet seventeen. I will not yet be a woman until I turn twenty-one"

"Such a rich beautiful voice for one so young as well. Can you sing Miss Alice?"

"A little" I replied "I am not much of a musician I am afraid. The piano escapes my fingers most of the time. But I am able to paint. Mama says I do it too much and I will hurt my eyes for detail but I can't help it."

"I doubt you can, you eyes see so much young Alice. May I walk you home" he said slowly getting up.

I placed my hand on his outstretched arm.

"Oh I am silly; I do not yet know your name sir."

"My name is James miss Alice. James Perez"

"Lovely to meet you Mr Perez"

"And lovely to finally meet you Miss Alice"

I never asked how he knew my name. And I didn't care then. Everything seemed to be perfect that day. I was looking at my perfect prince charming, and then my real life prince charming talks to me. With his dark deep eyes and his narrow yet kind face.

How wrong I was, how silly, how stupid.