Thanks to Incarnated Soul and jez101 for reviewing oh so long ago. The song is Serenity by Godsmack. Remember reviews are loved and reviewers worshiped.

Chapter 3

As I sit here and slowly close my eyes
I take another deep breath
And feel the wind pass through my body
I'm the one in your soul
Reflecting inner light
Protect the ones who hold you
Cradling your inner child

She said nothing and didn't move. "I could kill you for this, you know? No one would stop me."

Emily turned around but remained sitting. Tears were still streaming down her face, but she was done sobbing. "I never promised not to run."

"You gave me your word!" he took a step towards her, and knelt down, his face was inches away, "Does a person's word mean nothing where you are from?"

"Are you stupid, or just dense? I said I wouldn't run from you. Have I?" She wiped her face with her bloody hands, leaving red trails where the tears had been, and crossed her arms.

That caught him off guard. "You would not run from me?"

"No," she sniffed, "I gave you my word."

"Who are you?"

She looked into his eyes. They were deep blue, but, contrary to popular belief, she couldn't see into his soul. "I'm just a girl who wants to go home, Lord Varrick."

"You will not run if I take you back to the Manor?"

Emily smiled, more a show of teeth, "Not tonight. I can't make any promises past that." He nodded, stood up, and offered her his hand.

Emily stared at it. After a moment she grabbed it, and received quite a shock.

"Soulmates," Shea began, "It's all the BS about having one person in the entire world that's perfect for you in all ways, blah, blah, blah. Except it's real. There's this connection the first time bare skin touches bare skin, like an electric shock times ten, I guess."

This was it. Emily was sure, why else would she feel like she was getting electrical shocks up and down her arm? And the world was a little hazy. But then, all of the sudden, it was gone and she was somewhere else.

With Bligh Varrick.

"Where are we?" He asked, "What is this?"

Emily stared at him. "You mean you don't know?" He shook his head. "It's the soulmate connection." The word soulmate echoed around them, "Okay," she said, "That was freaky, where did the echo come from?"

He almost smiled. "The soulmate connection doesn't exist, at least not anymore. It hasn't for thousands of years."

"Have you got a better explanation?" She crossed her arms, somehow the little discovery of a soulmate had invigorated her.

He ignored her, "Why do you speak so strangely?"

"It's really a matter of perspective."

He narrowed his eyes. "You won't answer me?"

"Where would the fun be in that?" He was looking behind her. Emily turned around. It seemed like a screen at a drive in movie theatre. A memory of her walking down the streets in Arizona with Rena was playing. They were discussing the Matrix.

"I want that power," said Rena, "I'll be all like, I need to know how to hotwire a BMW z3, now, dammit! Then I'd steal it."

Emily laughed and said, "Unfortunately, I think I'd use my powers for good. It sucks, having a conscience."

This time Rena laughed, "Come on, let's get some ice cream at Cold Stone." They walked into the shop.

The memory faded. "What was that?" he asked.

"She's my best friend, Rena Hedwynn." Emily leaned her head back, "I don't know if you'll accept this, but I don't want you to know everything there is to know about me, alright? I accept that you're my soulmate, there's no escaping that, but…but I just can't tell you, or show you just yet."

He nodded, but another memory was appearing onscreen. This time it was his. There was a girl, the only way to describe her was stunning.

Her blonde hair fell in ringlets far past her shoulders, her skin was creamy, she was tall, slender, and looked like your standard Scandinavian supermodel. Varrick looked disgusted. "Aithne, I have repelled your advances time and time again. Now, I shall be blunt. You are repulsive, I cannot stand your very presence. Leave this place."

Her jaw dropped, "But, sir…"

"Now, Aithne, go." She walked out, her footsteps echoed.

The memory faded. "I do not need to know more about you, Miss Braxton, and my memory makes us even." He looked around, "Do you know how we return?"

Emily smirked, "Click your feet together three times and say 'There's no place like home.'" He didn't understand the joke, but he followed her advice. Before she knew it they were back in the forest, both of them were on their knees, leaning on each other. "Whoa, that wasn't supposed to work."

This time he did smile. Then he stood up, "Come with me." He didn't offer his hand. She pushed herself off the ground and followed him. They walked back to the village, it was almost dark. When they reached the horses he said, "You are not comfortable riding, are you?"

"I'll manage," she replied. She was missing the future already. They headed for the Manor at a much slower pace than when they had come to the village. Maybe the English Lord understood her better than she thought.

When they arrived at the stables, Emily was surprised to realize that it had been less than a day since she had been captured. They went to the house, it was huge. "Molly," he addressed a servant when they entered, "Show Miss Braxton to a guest room, make sure that all of her needs are met."

She nodded, "Right away, sir. If you'll follow me, Miss."

"We'll discuss further arrangements in the morning," said Varrick. Emily nodded and followed Molly. Portraits of stern Lords and Ladies were hanging on the walls.

Molly was shooting sidelong glances at her, but she didn't say anything. "What?" Emily finally asked.

"Nothing, miss." She looked down.

"You've been looking at me since we started walking. Obviously you're thinking something."

She opened a door, "Your room, miss." She pointed everything out, "And if you need anything, just ring this bell." She walked out the door and shut it.

"Thank you," Emily tried to say. 'Room service, awesome,' she thought. There was a frilly, lacy nightgown in the armoire, Emily didn't take it out. It looked like more trouble than it was worth. She pulled her dress off over her head and crawled under the warm covers in just her underwear. Looking up at the canopy she muttered, "I feel like a freaking princess."

In another room in the Manor, Varrick was talking to Henry. "What do you think I should do with her?"

Henry was quiet for a moment. "She wasn't sent from Aithne?"

"I do not believe so," He looked out the window, "Aithne would never use someone like her."

"She's not attractive enough?"

Varrick smiled, "No, not that. She's too smart, and too powerful. Aithne is a very jealous woman, she wouldn't use someone like Miss Braxton."

"Then why is she here? What does she want?"

"I don't know." He turned from the window. "I just don't know."

Where do we go when we just don't know
And how do we relight the flame when it's cold
Why do we dream when our thoughts mean nothing
And when will we learn to control

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