A Pride & Prejudice Soulmate/ Soulmark Variation. Alternate Universe: Regency

Chapter 1

Lizzy

Everyone is born with some kind of Soul Connection. A mythical force that connects us in some way to the person we are destined to be with.

Soul Connections come in many different forms. The most common is found in a soulmark, an image that you are either born with or blessed with once your soulmate is born.

Typically the image you are given is a common interest for you and your soulmate. My parents have a face full of laughter etched onto their right forearm. I always thought it was strange when I was young, for my parents don't have the same kind of humor. But they do enjoy laughter, just with very different interests.

Soulmarks are exactly the same on both soulmates and are found in the exact place. Which always makes Mary go red to the rim, when her mark that is placed on the inside of her right thigh, is spoken of publicly. It's no surprise that Lydia and Kitty often let that information be known whenever they are bored and are looking for a laugh. When they eventually get highly chastised for their conduct, they both roll their eyes and laugh harder.

But Lydia gets her own kind of punishment almost every morning when her Soul Connection appears massively on her face in extreme bright colors that can not be covered up with even the thickest powders. Bright flowers that look like paintings appear on Lydia's skin every time her soulmate becomes injured. Once the injury has healed the massive bright flower disappears. But with the amount of injuries she receives all over her body, all the time we believe the man is a soldier. Obviously rushed while shaving his own face, which is why most mornings Lydia is seen with several blossoms around her chin and cheeks. It is always entertaining in how many you can find on her at one time and all the many types of flowers that we have seen over the years. Kitty tried to keep track of the different types of flowers in a journal, but eventually lost track when it had become so many at a time.

Jane's Soul Connection is her soulmate's name written on the inside of her right wrist. Sadly, the signature is so scribbled that no one can read the writing and has no clue what the name is. I believe the name is Marvin Blue, but no one else agrees. Even though there is great fear that she might never find her soulmate, she remains in good spirits and hopes for the best.

Kitty's Soul Connection is very interesting in the fact that once a day for five minutes she can see through the eyes of her soulmate. It's never the same time of day and always seems to be random. Kitty has kept up to date on her own journal of everything she has seen over the years. With detailed pictures and accounts of everything that flashes in front of her soulmate's eyes. She even has gotten a pretty good picture of the man himself from the multiple times he was looking in the mirror when her vision changed to his. All of us sisters have spent many hours in the evenings trying to piece together what kind of man he is from what all Kitty has seen. Lydia is convinced the man is a thief on the run. But the rest of us feel he is a gentleman but with many brothers. He travels a lot and is found often racing through the forest on his large steed. Nothing so dramatic as Lydia likes to believe.

Then there are my Soul Connections, and yes, there is more than one. Not different soulmates, mind you, but three different Soul Connections to my one soulmate. For some strange, unheard-of reason, Fate decided that one Soul Connection was not enough; I needed three. Three annoying reasons to remind me of the pompous odious man that Fate has decided to shackle me to.

First there is my soulmark, a huge home drawn on to the back of my neck right under my hairline. From what I have seen through multiple mirrors and what has been described to me it is a massive estate. Not a lovely bouquet of flowers, a large tree, a sky full of stars. Sadly nothing so romantic. It is an enormous pretentious looking home. As that has nothing to do with who I am, it frustrates me to no end.

My second Soul Connection is the inked tip of my pointer finger on my left hand. The ink color is a dark green. Which I don't mind, actually. It reminds me of the forest at the beginning of spring. With the tip of my finger I had the ability to connect with my soulmate by writing anywhere on my skin. The message would appear in the same place on his skin. I had high hopes for this Soul Connection. The ability to share poetry and favorite passages with my soulmate sounded lovely. Except all I have ever received were one or two word responses to my hours and hours of writing. When I was twelve, I took the time to write out my favorite Shakespeare sonnet in Italian. Papa always preferred his works in Italian. So naturally I did too. I wrote it from memory. It was perfect. I was so proud of myself. My soulmate's only response was to correct my Italian. If I wasn't a gentle born young woman, I would have written every curse that I had ever heard the servants say when they didn't see me sneaking around. Instead I wrote the play in Italian again, but that time purposely misspelled every word. Knowing it would drive him to his wits end.

My third Soul Connection is the one I detest the most. My soulmate and I share dreams. Every time I dream of falling off a horse, my soulmate is right there beside me, staring at me disapprovingly. Every time he dreams of being at a ball, hiding against a wall, there I am right by his side. I am constantly tied to the tall lurking quiet shadow. I can see clearly his large lean frame, his fine clothing, and his haughty stance. But I can never see his face. No matter how hard I try in the dream, I can never see it fully. I can feel his touch, hear his voice. But I have no idea what his true features are.

From what I know so far of the man, I doubt Fate completely for believing we would be soulmates. Because even with three Soul Connections, I still despise the man.

Whenever my soulmate deems fit to find me, he will be made to marry me as soon as we meet and our skin touches for the first time.

From then on, there is no escaping it. A golden light will emit from our hands and encircle us both. The magic of the soulmate forging the bond between us and trapping us forever. The magical bond only forms once both soulmates have turned eighteen. Causing me to have been on constant guard for the last two years since turning eighteen. Worried any moment that man will show up and all my carefree, happy days will cease to exist.

Oh, Fate! How you have cursed me!