Promises

How Did We First Meet?

"Hey, good morning my dear Elaina!" Drake woke me up, serving me breakfast in bed. The sun was shining today brightly through the window.

"Good morning, Drake." I took a sip of orange juice and looked at the leather journal on the nightstand next to our bed. I always wondered what secrets Drake held in that little journal of his.

"What shall we do today? I was thinking of a little work and then coming home to spend tonight by the fire with you."

"Well that sounds wonderful! I'll go for a walk while you're away!" I got my corset on along with my green and blue dress. The elegance of the dress was outstanding. I walked through the garden admiring the newly grown flowers and herbs. They were gorgeous.

The trees provided much needed shade on this hot summer day. As I continued walking throughout the forest, an eerie feeling overcame me. I turned around to find a destitute young girl. She was beautiful, but she had no money. "Yes?"

"Hello Mrs. Elaina Monroe," she said softly.

"Who are you? Are you looking to be one of our servants?"

"I'm an old friend of your husband's. I used to be his lover, you see. He's mine. Back off."

"Excuse me! If you're going to insult me than off with you. He is my husband now, not yours, so leave my property. I don't even see how such a monstrosity as yourself was allowed on my property."

"It's because your workers are dead, ma'am," she said. Her eyes turned black and red. She was at my neck the next second, biting into it and sucking the blood. I could feel my head getting lighter and lighter. In the background, I could hear Drake calling my name, shouting for me. I could feel the rain pelting my cheeks from clouds that gathered along my walk. I couldn't do anything about it, so I just closed my eyes...

I awoke from my dream, startled. I was in a car, my car, back in Florida. Drake was in the passenger seat driving. "Where are we?" I asked him. He looked over in shock.

"Thank goodness you're awake! You've been asleep for a while. We're almost home. Don't worry."

"Can I ask you something?" Maybe the dream I had wasn't only a dream but a memory.

"Yes, anything." His face was serious.

"In... well... how did we first meet. Like in my past life?"

His face lit up with a smile. "Well, we were at the masquerade ball. You had a french name, Elaina, meaning light. You were rich, but I was in poverty. I made my way in by convincing security. You were dressed in a red and black ball gown with a crimson red mask, covering only around your eyes. I was in a suit with a black mask covering the left side of my face."

He glanced at me to see if I was listening. "Sometime during the night we 'bumped into each other' and started dancing. I discovered how perfect you were that night and knew I had to be with you. I couldn't be without you. You were so gorgeous and charming, although you were a bit spoiled." He laughed.

"You were perfect. Later that year, we got together. You, by then, had discovered about my vampirism and my sneaking into your party, but you didn't care. We ended up getting married and living happily rich in a very large mansion."

"So then what happened?" I asked. I had to know if that dream hinted to my past life. Maybe if it did, than I'll eventually remember all of my past life. He got a sad look to his eye before he spoke.

"We were in love. Neither of us could imagine a life without each other. We were inseparable. We had a child on the way. You were about 2 months pregnant. That's when it happened. That was the day Jayde interfered. We were married for 4 years when you died. It was a week after our 4 years. You wanted to go for a walk in the woods. It was your favorite place."

He paused, trying not to cry. "I was away for work was what I told you. I was really bringing you home a new set of jewelry to goes with some new shoes. I had them custom made. You were so beautiful. You deserved the world. I came home about a half hour later, but you hadn't arrived yet. I ran into the woods. Clouds had gathered in the sky. It was storming. I was so worried about you. I smelled blood. I knew it was yours from when you had let me drink from you. I ran as fast as I could. I saw Jayde drinking from you. I screamed your name, but you didn't move. I knew by then it was too late." I looked over as he continued his story.

"I was heartbroken ever since. I made stupid decisions. Once I saw you in that car crash that day, my heart felt as though it was breaking all over again. I knew how I had felt though when I lost my family, so I let you chose. Once you had woken up, I followed you here. I couldn't stand to see you hurt again. I came here to protect you. All I've ever wanted is to protect you. I promised, and I intend on keeping that promise."

He looked over at me, tears in his perfect eyes. "Drake?" I said, more like a question than a statement. He raised his eyebrows. "Do you... nevermind..."

"Please, tell me. You know I don't like when you hide your feelings from me."

"Okay," I said. "Well, do you like me more now or then?" He gazed at me.

"I love you just the same, if not more. Everytime I see your face, I fall more and more in love. Everyday I know I get to see you and even call you my friend, I fall in love all over again. Nothing will ever change the way I feel about you."

I blushed. He was perfect in so many ways. I wish he could be mine all over again. I'm just not pretty enough or smart enough or rich enough... Even though I only met him in this life last weekend, I feel as though I've known him an eternity. I can feel my love for him from my past life.

"You know, if you wanted us to be together again, you could've just asked." He smiled.

"Wait, can you read my mind?"

"Of course I can," he smiled. As we pulled into the driveway, he turned off the car and turned towards me, my hands in his. "Will you do me the honor of being mine forever until the end of time?"