DARK MEMORY

"You have finals tommorrow so try pushing that idiot Micheal out of your mind and getting some sleep."

Her willowly elder sister Catriona was feeling helpless to help her sibling but knew Aisling had to get through this and all like it on her own. This had happened every time. Aisling had perfect memory of every time including their own parents. Catronia was the only one who noticed and remembered. It killed her heart a little more each time. Her mother claimed she inherited the green witch eyes while calling Aisling's plain hazel. Cat snorted at the thought then but as she saw that the second her sister was out of sight people forgot she seethed. It was slowly destroying the younger since she always had perfect memory.

Cat hoped Aisling would someday get pulled out of this phantom life into sight but until then this would continue. Cat's physical sight had lapsed into legally blind but with Selene, her calico cat,'s aid she could see. When she was working, she had the cat perched on her shoulder. It was a good thing because their parents had left a computer so she could work at home.

Her weaving fetched a good price and her sister designed the page to sell her designs. She earned other income on the Net but that was the best source they had.

Present day...
Ellis was pacing. It was inconcievable that his people could possibly forget someone who'd worked here for a year and a half. Everyone he talked to in the building couldn't remember a single thing except for the single thing that had been brought to his attention. She'd moved various times and her forwarding address was 6 or 7 times behind. He'd tracked each apartment and each claimed they didn't know a thing about her. He was swiftly becoming more convinced that this Aisling Moonshine must be a spy by a vampire.

There wasn't even a photo in her personel file. Fangs exploded in his mouth at the thought those he trusted had possibly let a human puppet through. Noone was so forgettable as having noone remembering anything about her. When her previous landlords had checked her records they all had down that she hadn't paid past the first and last month's rent when signing her contract for each apartment. He finally spotted a small section on the insurance section of her form.

"Next of kin Catronia Moonshine. Perhaps she could give enough information to track her down instead of this fruitless search from apartment to apartment. Milly could you call this Ms. Catronia Moonshine and see if she can help get the HR records updated."

Ais was running down the halls trying to get home early enough her landlady wouldn't pull what the others did. She had had to get up early to get a cashier's check made before she went in to work so the problem caused by paying cash didn't occur again. A man she didn't recognize opened the door to the next hall and knocked her down.

Her shocked eyes met his gold-flecked green ones. *Wow I bet he doesn't have trouble with women remembering him it's probably trying to get women to forget or at least let go.* She sat and mused over the whipcord strength apparent in his arms for a moment before shaking herself out of it snaring her papers and running. The front office closed at nine and it was already 8:30.

Ellis snapped back to himself. He saw colors for a moment but they left with her. The intensity had taken him by surprise. Her eyes were an unusual spiral pattern going from grey to blue to green to a gold circle banding the whole. If he hadn't been so preoccupied trying to find more about that blasted woman he might have sensed her, started the process of claiming her, but instead she slipped out without even finding out her name or helping her pick her things up.

His eyes spotted a piece she missed. He turned it over. It was a receipt to a cashier's check made out Aisling Moonshine to be paid to Lilly Young. He would check on this Lilly. It seemed he had even more reason to hunt out Aisling then he first thought. He smiled and decided to also learn even more about the sister as well in case she was close enough to remember.

For now though, he had to feed.

Catronia was viewing her sister's new address and sighing. At least the phone company kept re-activating her phone. Cat just always had to have Ais's number and current address written down but Ais at least called weekly just in case. She wasn't expecting her sister to call that night until 10 minutes ahead of time though.

"Ais what's wrong?" Cat barely kept the panic out of her voice.

"I didn't make it in time to pay my rent. I'm probably going to have to move with you. I might have made it except I had my nose get knocked as I was rushing out the door. The guy who knocked me down was cute but a bit rude. He didn't even help me up. I know people seem to forget me quickly but it's never happened face-to-face before."

Cat disguised her laughter as coughing. Not hard to do since she had a minor cold. It seemed her sister had never noticed some guys if they looked at the right woman were struck dumb. She looked at the box she'd just finished packing and sighed.

"As soon as you get your stuff back or out come here. I'll be waiting."

She hung up the phone her eyes sparkling *Though maybe this man you met but briefly won't forget you as easily as the others.*

She was smiling widly and Selene and the kitten she was training to take her place as she took her mother's.

It was getting late so she wanted to get home soon but if she started walking she'd give up all chance of catching a bus. She sighed. *Oh well they don't run much longer anyway. Come on feet we've got a thirtysix block walk ahead unless I call a cab. Let's see the payphones are there so that's the fastest and best lit route.* Goal in mind she walked quickly to where her mind had the phone that she could remember first. *Out of Order. Figures the way this week has been going.*

She felt uneasy knowing he had been coming out near where the next one was. She came upon it at a dead run and felt sadder(though what for she had no clue) and easier that no light was on in the offices. She pulled out her phone card and was told all the cabs at the company she'd had to rely on were busy and to call back in an hour. *Forget this. There's got to be other companies.*

She closed her eyes remembering back to the day she'd first opened the phone book for a cab company and scanned down the list in her head calling each. A few of the dispatch were surly saying it wasn't possible to get one out to her. It wasn't until one was kind enough to tell her there were at least three large conventions in town she sighed and gave up. *Well looks like I'll be walking anyway. Just hope the storm that feels like it's brewing holds off. Too bad I forgot the asprin to keep the pressure pounding down.*

He swore in six languages when he saw her going by on foot. It was 9:30 at night and what the hell did she think she was doing WALKING. Why didn't she ask someone else to give her a lift home? He snarled that security was so unable to see past the nose on its face that it'd let any woman let alone his walk out the door this late unescorted. When he got back after seeing her safely home heads would roll. It was an effort to rein himself in enough to not storm back to make it literally.

He decided to trail behind since he didn't want to scare her with the glimpse of the barely leashed demon in his eyes. He watched and brushed butterfly wings through her mind. She started and glanced around stopping to stare in the shadows concealing him just long enough he wondered whether his blazing red eyes showed in the darkness. She finally seemed to shrug and walk away and he pulled back jst to be certain. He'd known he had a mild reputation for game playing when he was a fledgeling. This could actually be fun.

After numerous blocks, some through some of the worst parts of town he realized he owed his hiring staff a large apology. It seemed she could walk with none noticing her though he'd be damned if he could figure out how those eyes alone could be forgotten. She walked into the door and he memorized the location deciding to send flowers. It was time to get down to seriously court her since otherwise he wouldn't stand out from the crowd in her mind and heart.

The places that would be his no matter what.

Cat smiled at the morning delivery of flowers knowing her little sister was going to be annoyed. For days some trinket kept arriving. She'd been able to save the bracelet from the compactor but she hadn't yet been able to save a single one of the invitations.

She saw the flashes of pain every time but this mysterious suitor was going about this the wrong way. Making her decision, she snagged the invite out of the flowers leaving only the card which didn't mention the ticket only a phone number. She'd meet this Mr. Lunian and IF she liked what she saw she'd help his cause and help make opportunities to see her.

Aisling stretched. Her eyes caught sight of the flowers and flared. "Why doesn't this guy get the hint and I won't go out with him just because he sends dying plants?"

Cat bit her lip to keep from laughing even though the amount she'd rescued of the flowers had caused the cats to sneeze. Much as she hated to admit it(since she really enjoyed seeing someone lavish attention like this over her sister) she'd have to mention moderation and if that didn't work throwing her sister over his shoulder and making off with for a few days.

Aisling lit a candle and crying as she watched it burned destroyed the card which was probably yet another date. For years she'd gone without a single date and now someone decided to make a sick joke of it.

She wouldn't let her heart open enough to get hurt no matter what inside her was screaming she was an idiot. She showered while she let misery and the emptiness that seemed to be growing since the first single velvet red rose came to the door rule for a moment before dressing and slipping out to work.

Cat sighed and stared at the ticket. An opera. *It looks like I'll have to find one of mother's dresses and hope they still fit.* Selene curled around her legs giving a pitious mew.

Ellis snarled at the clock. If she didn't show tonight God help him but he'd have his temper too frayed to not let his instincts rule. It killed him to be patient hoping to lure her from her sanctuaries into his life, his world, his soul. He had been forced to hire female bodyguards to discreetly shadow her since if he did it his control would slip until he plunged his fangs into that throat and drank.

He stayed precisly one hour each day to make sure the current bodyguard remembered who she was supposed to be watching. He was sitting in the private box. The curtain parted and he was about to howl with frustration seeing it wasn't his siren. Cat's lips twitched recognizing him from her sister's descriptions of the guy who injured her nose and sleeptalking. When he sank down into his seat, she looked even more amused.

She leaned in close. "Well you may not be human but you should be good for her."

His eyes narrow and his mind tried to read hers but somehow she'd learned evasion. "I don't know who you're talking about."

"Oh and you didn't invite my sister here to partly makeup for being stunned I suppose. I'm sorry if you think I meant anything rude by the not human remark but my sister doesn't know that you were foretold by our grandmother. I think she'd be surprised Gran even knew of her." Cat sat back closing her eyes. "You're going about this the wrong way, you know. Ais.... she's outwardly tried convincing herself that she could have been normal, that the broken dates were due to lack of beauty" she felt his outrage as he sputtered "but the truth is she has been hiding since she was 2. Until you find a way past her defenses and to the innermost heart of her, which requires spending time with her, she'll never believe you're sincere. As it is she thinks it's all some sick joke. Not even a stalker in her mind would be desperate enough to consider her beautiful as far as she's concerned. You have to convince her otherwise and try aiding her ducttaped heart to heal. The only guys who asked her in high school and college were those who thought she'd help them cheat their homework. Photographic memory is more a curse than a blessing to her. Now if you'll excuse me I have to try to get home before her. Drop by anytime that's half-way decent and even indecent if you need to talk."

Ellis was stunned. He wasn't sure what he was in for if that was his future sister-in-law but it was going to be different.

Cat came in the house and was surprised but only mildly to smell pepperoni and bacon. What made her stomach clench is mixed in there was also pineapple. "How can you eat that stuff?"

"Well if I knew you were coming hom I'd've probably ordered in Italian as well after all remember what happened when I tried nuking the lasagna the other night." Aisling smirked.

Catronia guessed but knew she couldn't prove that the "exploding cheese" was somehow on purpose since her little sister hated pasta. "But I did get the two pizzas for one price deal so your straight cheese is in the fridge. So where were you?"

Cat looked a tad disconcerted but said only "Here and there. So how come you haven't tracked down your mystery man from work?"

"Nah. Haven't seem him since and I doubt anyone would tell me anyway. probably just look at me pitingly thinking even if such guy did exsist I could never win. After all how does one tame the wind. Well I'm for bed. Good night."

"Good night." *And who said you had to tame the wind. It'll blow your way here soon.*

Cat tapped the invitation and decided to call the RSVP number. "Mr. Lunian, if you want to catch my sister in a neutral environment try the Osco at 9th and Main. She'll be there and more than likely with her guard down enough if you work quickly."

Selene looked up at her human reproachfully. The cat had just been giving the litter a bath since they were heading to new homes today except for her "apprentice" daughter. "What was I supposed to do let her keep moping as she's done for the twenty-two years since Mom made that stupid comment? No sweetness, not for my sister. I don't care when every female until somehow Gran had a boy acted. Much as sometimes wish it we're not felines like you. I can't let her go through life alone except for me anymore. It's time for her to grow up and have her own family instead of watching after me when she thinks she can get away with it. If she needs a push into eternity with him so be it. I approve of him and you would if you met him as well."

Ellis had to bite his lip to keep his bile from rising. *How can humans eat this stuff.* Unconciously echoing Cat's sentiment but the sister he hunted was here. He could feel her with every pore. It was time to start binding her to her, to leash the demons within as strong as possible before luring her to his lair.

He was so withdrawn into thought he hadn't noticed that the sound if carts had stopped until he finally was able to follow her scent. Fangs exploded in his mouth as he saw a masked hoodlum holding a gun to Aisling's head. He barely tamped down the beast enough to rip into the gangster's throat in the middle of the supermarket. he moved quickly but still within the human range keeping the thief's mind clouded and punched hard enough to knock him out.

He grabbed his woman, picked her up, and placed her on her feet in the parking lot when he felt the calm caused by shock start to wear off. He pulled her into his arms and held her as she shook with the sobs tearing from inside her. He had no clue when thinking about it later of when it turned from him comforting her to drinking her to the point of weakness.

When she fainted he ripped him wrist open and forced her to drink saying the ancient ritual words between lifemates. "I claim you as my lifemate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you.I give you my protection,my allegiance, my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time.

You are my lifemate, bound to me for all eternity and always in my care. He knew he saw a slight disappoint in Cat's features as he carried his mate to her room to lay her down upon her bed. He quickly jotted a note and tucked it in her hand. He was obviously further gone than he thought if he couldn't even comfort his mate without it turning sexual.

Aisling stirred and looked out the window. Dusk was falling and she bit her lip to keep from swearing at Cat, even she wasn't in the room. She looked down at the note folded in her hands knowing a feeling a feeling of disorintation a feeling of reality slipping and a pair of haunting gold and green eyes.

Hope you soon feel better. Take it easy.
Will you meet me for dinner?
Ellis Lunian

She stared at it for one heartbeat, two, one minute, an eternity, she had no clue. It seemed Fate was quite the trickster having the male who rescued her, whod's sent her flowers, and who'd swung the door in her face all one and the same. It seemed if destiny was pushing them together she no choice but to comply. With a weird combination of elation and despair she dailed the number to ask where.

Ellis sent a limo to pick her up from her home. She was nervous especially seeing the house. she had the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. The location though whispered not only money but old money despite the unpretensious house the land alone was what whispered money. Something inside her was rebelling saying SO there you've been.. Her heart leapt into her throat at the realization every time the same feeling occured.

He met her at the door and his breath caught. He didn't think but leaned down to kiss her.

She stiffened for a moment and relaxed into the kiss and curiosity lead her to start kissing him back. He broke away reluctantly.

The plates were set but suddenly she realized she wasn't hungry for food. The very smell caused her stomach to clench unpleasantly. The smoldering look he was still giving her made it too hard to think. He appeared to notice and a slightly amused quirk appeared on the set of his mouth. "Not hungry?"

"Sorry. I'm sure it's great but... maybe I'm coming down with something since I slept longer than I usually do. In fact I'm I'm supposed to be at work. How about you?"

"I set my own hours. I guess you could call me a company troubleshooter." Ellis's eyes glinted. "It makes me notice things it seems most people overlook, especially treasures."

Aisling flushed but when trying to return the compliment or be witty or anything her tongue felt heavy and unable to get a single word out. She watched his nostrils flare and knew if tonight was the only possibility then she had to accept. If it was longer, well just take a day at a time. He reached his hand out and she gingerly placed hers in it. He escorted her upstairs feeling as her mind was being made up. Much later a dragon's bellow worth of triumph was heard echoing through the grounds.

Aisling woke and looked at the bruise. *AT least I'm not going nuts. I just wish I'd been wrong. Those memories that flashed though my mind were his. He's too violent to know how to Love. I have no choice but to leave.*

"Darling, what's wrong? Why are you pulling away from me?" Ellis's eyes narrowed as felt her pulling back.

"This isn't going to work. I'm sorry but I just can't" She started to run. He grabbed her arm. "DON'T TOUCH ME!!" Ellis let go.

"Dearheart, we'll work this out."

"No we can't and if you have any honor, keep any of your promises, since you promised to see to see to my happiness stay out of my life. I don't need or want you." came out in a ragged voice.

Ellis felt her panic and torn between the fact she hadn't known and hadn't been allowed to understand what he was and the fact he couldn't let her leave lowered his head while leashing the beast. When he looked up, she was gone and he let out a mournful howl of a wounded animal.

Cat held her sister as she wept as if her heart was breaking. She finally had accepted it all happened but because of her making Ellis promise to never come near again Aisling was miserable and more lonely than she'd ever been before.

"I never should have rejected him like that, Cat. I made him think he was a monster and it's not true. I love him. I don't care what it'd take but I just want to be with him. My heart and soul feel as if they'd been ripped from me and I just want him back." Two days had past and Cat couldn't get any human sustance down her throat and stay down. Ellis had to come back soon or she would fade away anyway.

"Shush. He loves you and is just as confused." Cat suddenly sat up alert. She opened her mouth to yell at her sister to hide when the door slammed open with heavy gusts of wind knocking them against the walls. Just before she slipped into the beckoning darkness and seeing her blood on the wall and the vampire's smirk she whispered in her mind

Ellis burst from the Earth wanted to give the hunting cry of the wolf. His mate was in danger because of his stupid pride. He had to save her even though it meant she'd undergo conversion without her consent. He'd have to live with that. For neither would truly be alive without it. As he burst through the door the vampire was trying to force the tainted blood through Aisling's lips. He'd never been prouder of his mate's innate stubborness than watching her fight even unconcious against the vampire.

It turned his heart over knowing for the first time she had someone's attention on her to keep them from seeing her sister. He moved quickly. The vampire had turned that long ago so was an easy kill but Ellis's heart was heavy as he sipped and sealed the gash on Aisling's head. He pierced his throat and forced his mate to drink. She was barely breathing and he paniced that he couldn't
find her mind.
It's time.
Aisling turned and looked at herself. She felt a shudder of the muscle spasms happening to her body but it was all very vague.
What's time?

It's time to shed the illusion held for so long. To return to sight even if it's only in the night. Aisling watched as her doppleganger first had her hair shift to not nearly as plain a brown as she thought she had then faded completely away.

She saw a a mirror in the shadow world and saw Yes, she wasn't totally plain even if she wasn't drop dead beautiful. She had natural highlights in hair hair and unusual patterned eyes and was truly time to grow up and accept her destiny. She turned to the light and walked out of the shadows. She woke and saw Ellis's sorrow and he started to pull away.

"Ellis, don't go. Please." He fought against himself but he remembered her injunction to stay out of her life. He could probably tell the Prince where she was and he'd find a guide for her.

"Ellis, I will need someone to teach me this new life and you're elected. If that's not enough, I love you and you are not leaving me ever again."

Cat stirred slightly in the corner but stayed silent. Ellis melded his mind and seeing her determination nodded. "Just remember you chose and now you'll never be free of me. Ever."

"Same goes." She smiled and snuggled into his arms.