Journey to the Past

[princesssexci]

She could see the shock registering on his face as if he too were shocked with himself...or maybe he was shocked that she had pulled awy. She wasn't quite certain what to read from his face or even how to read it. She looked down at the ground as he spoke.

"Jessica... I... no, please. It's my fault. I'm sorry. I don't what came over me."

She gave him a timid smile. "As with me. You know, I'm not the kind of the girl to just..kiss a guy out of nowhere."

He handed her the ring back, apoligizing to her once more. "I um...you keep it. I mean, it fit you perfectly. Besides, I wouldn't know what to do with it."

 

[Malvolio]

"I um...you keep it. I mean, it fit you perfectly. Besides, I wouldn't know what to do with it."

Owen wordlessly slipped it back on his finger. For a brief moment, he mentally scolded himself for acting like a ring-hungry Gollum, but his attention quickly shifted.

"Well, hey, it's getting late in the day. Why don't we walk back? If you'd like, I could light up the grill and make some of my ma's famous barbeque for dinner? That'd give Mrs Shaffer the night off."

He smiled warmly as they began to walk. He subtley brushed her hand with his and wondered if she'd take it for the walk back to the mansion.

 

[princesssexci]

"Well, hey, it's getting late in the day. Why don't we walk back? If you'd like, I could light up the grill and make some of my ma's famous barbeque for dinner? That'd give Mrs Shaffer the night off."

Jessica's attention was quickly shifted from his earlier...strange behavior to his mothers famous barbeque. "Mmm, I haven't had barbeque for what seems like ages. Sure, why not." She gave a smile.

Still, in the back of her mind, she wondered what the hell had happened and why she had acted the way she did. It had felt...right, but at the same time..wrong, like...like something had been missing.

 

[Malvolio]

Owen smiled when she agreed and went off to make preparations for the barbeque. As he went, he found himself also wondering what had come over him. Why had he done that? His goal had been to seduce her, but... he almost felt like she was already his, or should know that she SHOULD be his... and not... another's? The thought of her in the arms of another angered him. No, it enraged him. And not just any other, but one specific other.

A name. Eric.

Eric who, he wondered.

As Jessica looked out upon the lands of her grandmother's estate, now HER estate, a short, heavy set Asian man with a shaved head and thin moustache and goatee approached from the direction of the driveway. The driveway wrapped around the back of the estate to a 4 car garage like structure.

"Ms Elliot? So very nice to finally meet you. I am Mr Chow, your grandmother's... and now your... personal driver. Mr Dinkins had asked me to send word to Mr Edwards to invite him to dinner tonight at your request. Mr Edwards sends word that he accepts your offer and looks forward to meeting you this evening at 6pm."

Mr Chow smiled politely.

"Forgive me for staring. I remember you as a little girl and to see you grown up now, looking so beautiful, it warms my heart. Your grandmother was very proud of you. She liked to talk of you often when she went places. Although in the last few years, that was less and less and I mostly maintained the cars."

He motioned and Jessica noticed a large, black antique Rolls Royce parked in front of the garage. Inside one of the open garage doors, she made out a red two seater 1920s roadster. Both looked as polished as the day they left the factory.

"Ah," Mr Chow chuckled, noticing Jessica eyeing the cars. "The Rolls was your grandmother's. The sports car was your grandfather's. Your father always wanted it, but your grandmother insisted there were strings attached or something. None of my business. It has barely left the garage since your grandfather died 30 years ago. I maintain it and drive it down the driveway every 6 months for maintenance. I don't think there's been more than 5 miles put on it since he died.

"It's yours now," he chuckled as if inviting Jessica to play with a toy he'd longed to see taken out of it's box.

 

[princesssexci]

Jessica had pushed all thoughts of what had happened earlier in the woods behind her. She didn't need to concentrate on that right now, it wasn't the most imperative (though very important) thing to think about it. It could wait until later, she assured herself while also brushing it off as Owen had a crush on her and couldn't find a way to express himself.

When Jessica reached the driveway, she saw an asian older looking man dressed in a tux. It was obvious that he had been the driver or still was, depending on if she didn't sell the mansion, though part of her was feeling like she shouldn't.

"Ms Elliot? So very nice to finally meet you. I am Mr Chow, your grandmother's... and now your... personal driver. Mr Dinkins had asked me to send word to Mr Edwards to invite him to dinner tonight at your request. Mr Edwards sends word that he accepts your offer and looks forward to meeting you this evening at 6pm."

"It's nice to meet you as well." Mr. Edwards? She nodded, "Yes, that is wonderful." He seemed to be staring at her, hard. It made her slightly nervous.

"Forgive me for staring. I remember you as a little girl and to see you grown up now, looking so beautiful, it warms my heart. Your grandmother was very proud of you. She liked to talk of you often when she went places. Although in the last few years, that was less and less and I mostly maintained the cars."

Her eyes wandered to the classic Rolls Royce. It was black and absolutely beautiful.

"Ah," Mr Chow chuckled, noticing Jessica eyeing the cars. "The Rolls was your grandmother's. The sports car was your grandfather's. Your father always wanted it, but your grandmother insisted there were strings attached or something. None of my business. It has barely left the garage since your grandfather died 30 years ago. I maintain it and drive it down the driveway every 6 months for maintenance. I don't think there's been more than 5 miles put on it since he died.

"Oh." Jessica said, her eyes still glued to the cars in a dreamy sort of way.

It's yours now," he chuckled as if inviting Jessica to play with a toy he'd longed to see taken out of it's box.

Jessica smiled, "Mine huh? I can't wait to use them then. Sadly, i must go make sure everything is prepared for this evening's dinner though. Again, it was nice meeting you." She walked into the house and gave directions to all of the cooks, telling them what ingredients needed to be pulled out for the barbeque then directed them to make salad and desserts.

 

[Malvolio]

Mrs Shaffer was a plump, round faced woman in her mid-40s who's polite and respectful demeanor instantly won Jessica over. Mrs Shaffer smiled at Owen as he scurried about the kitchen, gather the assorted ingredients for the evening dinner.

"He's such a nice boy," she whispered to Jessica. "He's been looking forward to your return more than anybody here!"

As Mrs Shaffer began putting together the salads and other items, Mr Dinkins entered the kitchen.

"How many place settings shall I set, Miss Elliot? I could two with you and Mr Edwards."

Owen was briefly stopped mixing a sauce he was whipping up, glancing over in Jessica's direction, a semi-sad look on his face that seemed to beg "Am I invited too?"

Inside he wondered for a moment whether he'd been presumptuous in assuming he'd be dining with her since she was having a guest over. Her grandmother, while friendly to all of the servants, never dined with them when guests visited.

 

[princesssexci]

Jessica caught Owens pleaful glance. Part of her wanted to tell him he could come but another part wanted to push him away, as though...him being there could be dangerous with the mysterious Mr. Edwards. "3 seats, Jinkins." She said finally coming to a decision.

What a silly think that Owen could be dangerous. After all, he hadn't done anything threatening to her. Had he? No, he hadn't and it was foolish to think of him as a dangerous man. The only unpredictable thing he'd done so far was kiss her.

Jessica rushed upstairs and order the maid to help her get dressed. She only had about an hour and a half to get ready. She picked out a lovely dark purple dress. It hugged her curves perfectly, showing off her hips and a bit of her clevage could be seen. Also she was given a a rign but not really wanting to wear it, she put it on the gold chain she was wearing.

"Thank you." She told the maid, then walked downstairs to make sure everything was prepared and at it's best.

 

[Malvolio]

As Jessica made her way down the stairs, the ring on the chain around her neck felt warm against her skin. She reached up to adjust and as she touched it, her world seemed to blur. The furniture in the Great Hall was different. Her simple purple dress had morphed into a great velvet ball gown. There were people milling about that she didn't recognize. Men and women wearing regal looking clothing with an almost colonial era look to it. They nodded to her as she passed them.

"Miss Hawkins."

As she reached the sitting room, all of the guests in attendance rose to their feet and nodded to her in acknowledgement of her entrance. She was truly the belle of the ball. She extended her hand and a handsome gentleman with a thin mustache accepted it and bowed as he kissed it.

"Miss Hawkins, your beauty takes my breath away."

As he raised his head, she recognized the man as Owen Tanner!

"Ever the flatterer, Kelly."

The words had come from her own mouth, but she didn't feel surprised. She had known Kelly Slater since he was a child. He was an orphan, raised on the estate as a ward of her father. Despite their having grown up together and close age, she'd developed strong feelings for him as a teenager and he for her. All of the guests were watching them. Their romance was the worst kept secret in these parts.

Suddenly the world blurred again and Jessica was back in the present. She was standing in the sitting room, alone, her arm still outstrected and lingering after Kelly's kiss to her hand.

"Ms Elliot?" she heard Mrs Collins calling for her.

She whirled around as Mrs Collins entered the room.

"Your guest, Mr Edwards, has arrived. Do you wish to greet him or should I and bring him to you? Mr Dinkins as set a table in the back garden as it should be a lovely evening to dine outside."

 

[princesssexci]

"Ms Elliot?"

She was snapped out of her reverie. What an odd...daydream. She'd been the same person, for the most part but Owen...Owen hadn't been. What was that name she'd used on him? Ah, yes..Kelly. She'd always thought of that as a feminine name but oddly enough it fit him superbly.

"Yes, Mrs. Collins?" Jessica said, turning her attention to the older woman.

"Your guest, Mr Edwards, has arrived. Do you wish to greet him or should I and bring him to you? Mr Dinkins as set a table in the back garden as it should be a lovely evening to dine outside."

"Hm, no I'll greet him and yes I think dining outside would be lovely." Jessica said before she moved towards the door to answer it and greet this Mr.Edwards. The man, Mr.Edwards was it? He looked so utterly familiar, she frowned at that and shook it off.

"Hello, I'm Jessica Elliot. It's a pleasure to meet you." She said with a gracious smile.

 

[Malvolio]

Eric Edwards had walked the three miles down the road to the Elliot Estate. He wore a crisp white button up shirt and dark blue designer jeans and carried a casual blazer jacket over his shoulder. His dark brown hair was a bit shaggy, but well tamed with product and hung down slightly over his brow in a stylish way. His cheeks sported a thin, well kept shadow beard, giving him a slightly scruffy Brad Pitt sort of look.

Eric had been saddened when Mrs Elliot had passed away. She had always been very friendly to him, something of a motherly figure. His mother had died in childbirth and his father raised him alone before passing away from cancer when Eric was a teen. Coming from 'old money', Eric had been denied nothing in his life... the best boarding schools, the best vacations, a beautiful and storied home. He'd spent a few years traveling the world, living as something of a vagabond playboy of sorts before growing weary of it and heeding the siren song that brought him back home. Now in his early 30s, Eric had become good friends with Mrs Elliot and had dined with her every Sunday evening. She'd explained that their families had business ties going back to the late 18th century and that one of the portraits in her dining room was actually of one of his ancestors who bore a striking resemblance to Eric.

Eric was looking forward to meeting Mrs Elliot's granddaughter, Jessica. He'd seen photos of her around the house. She was a pretty girl who'd grown into a beautiful young woman. He made his way up the steps of the estate, steps he'd known well from his many Sunday visits.

Jessica met him at the door and he instantly felt as if the air had been sucked out of his lungs. She was even more beautiful than the last pictures her grandmother had. Their eyes met, he took her hand meaning to shake it and the world seemed to blur around them. Without consciously thinking about what he was doing, Eric bowed his head and gently kissed her hand. Her skin was so soft and her fragrant scent practically compelled him to take a subtle sniff of her hand as he kissed it. Deep inside, he felt an odd stirring, a familiar, yet distant feeling like something long forgotten was stirring. For an instant, he almost felt compelled to... growl?

As he raised his head, he never lost the lock he had on her eyes. They were both dressed differently, wearing clothing from an earlier age and their speech patterns and mannerisms were different, yet it all felt familiar to him.

"So very good to make your acquaintance, Jessica." The words practically purred off his lips.

Suddenly the surroundings blurred and they were back in today's world.

 

[princesssexci]

Jessica was motionless for the briefest of seconds as Eric Edwards grabbed her hand and was pulled back into the world that she'd been in once before after putting on the dress that day.

Flashback:
She stared at Eric, or at least she assumed it was Eric. He was bowing towards her, after grazing his lips over her palm. She'd felt like she couldn't breathe, Kelly had briefly left her mind as she stared at the breathtaking man.

"So very good to make your acquaintance, Jessica."

Lady Jessica gave the man her most dazzling smile. It was the smile she used on men, on her father, on Kelly to get what she wanted. "Indeed it is. "
*End of flashback*

Jessica smiled at Eric, "Thank you, my grandmother used to speak a great deal of you over the phone. I think you were like the grandson she'd never had." She stepped back so that he'd be able to move inside the house. "Won't you come in?"

 

[Malvolio]

Eric smiled and boldly strutted through the front door. He offered his arm to Jessica.

"May I accompany you to dinner, my dear?"

As they walked through the house, Eric mentioned how kind her grandmother had been to him and how he missed her. He then inquired about Jessica's own life and interests. Eric listened carefully and explained that he was spending a lot of time working with nature and environmental non-profits to help them seek out affluent donor for fund raising. He seemed passionate about the earth, nature and the social responsibility of the affluent to give back to society.

They stepped out the back doors into the garden. Eric's hand now rested upon Jessica's, hold it securely on his arm. They paused, staring into one another's eyes. For a moment, both almost expected another flash to a different time, but one never came.

"Ah-hem!"

They looked up. Standing a few feet away was Owen. The grill was giving off a lot of smoke and the smell of fresh barbeque wafted through the air.

"Dinner," muttered Owen, "is served."

"I'm Owen, by the way. An old friend of Jessica's."

He gave Eric a sour glance and carried a plate of chicken over to the table, not waiting for Eric to introduce himself.

Eric's eyes narrowed as he watched Owen set the chicken down.

"Nice to meet you, Owen. I've seen you before. Thought you worked here. Assistant groundskeeper or something, right?"

 

[princesssexci]

Eric asked her about her interests, about her life after he spoke so highly of her grandmother. She told him she’d grown up in the rich part of California, Beverly Hills. How she’d basically been thought of as the pretty girl with no brain, the typical rich spoiled brat but then quickly told him that she wasn’t a spoiled brat, at least she’d never considered herself spoiled. She then told him about her interests, she enjoyed dining out at expensive restaurants, shopping, the normal girl stuff.

He told her about his life, how…environmental he was. For a brief moment, she wondered if he was a vegetarian and thought that maybe barbeque hadn’t been such a good idea. It was much too late now, though wasn’t it? They walked towards the garden, with her hand firmly pressed against his arm as he lead her there. Jessica’s heart pounded, would she see any more of those odd visions again? Part of her wanted to see them. Jessica looked over at Eric, wondering if it would happen. It didn’t.

"Ah-hem!"

Jessica looked over at Owen and for the briefest of moments felt a bit upset to see him. She’d actually forgotten that she’d invited him as well. How disappointing. She shook off the thought for the millionth time today.

"Dinner," muttered Owen, "is served."

“Oh um, Eric this is…is…” Her voice trailed off forgetting his name. Odd. She knew his name earlier that day.

"I'm Owen, by the way. An old friend of Jessica's."

Oh, yeah…Owen.

Jessica watched the hostility pass between the two men and again she felt odd, almost like she enjoyed having them compete for her attention.

"So, I hope you aren't vegetarian. It would be a shame to let all this meat go to waste, but if you are...I'm certain I could have the cooks make a quick salad or something." Jessica said, quickly changing the subject.

 

[Malvolio]

"So, I hope you aren't vegetarian. It would be a shame to let all this meat go to waste, but if you are...I'm certain I could have the cooks make a quick salad or something."

"Oh, quite the opposite. I'm a 100% pure carnivore," Eric chuckled as they seated themselves with Eric and Owen opposite one another and Jessica in the middle.

Owen looked annoyed at Eric's groundskeeper remark.

"Yeah, I do work here. But Mrs Elliot was like a grandmother to me."

Eric smiled. "Really? She never mentioned you. And we dined together every Sunday.

He smiled as at Jessica.

"She always let it be known that her pride and joy was her beautiful granddaughter, Jessica."

 

[princesssexci]

A tiny blush crept over her cheeks. Did her grandmother really talk about her frequently. How embarassing! She hoped her grandmother didn't mention anything, embarassing. She chewed on her bottom lip, causing it to look a bit more plump than her lips were.

"Nothing too embarassing I hope." Jessica said as Mr. Dinkins brought in three glasses of wine for Jessica, Owen, and Eric. She smiled at Mr.Dinkins, "Thank you Dinkins."

She took a tiny sip of her wine after swirling it around in the glass. Some of the red liquid covered her lips and she licked it off seductively, not even realizing she was being slightly provacitive.

 

[Malvolio]

Eric smiled at Jessica and continued.

"She was so proud of you, graduating at the top of your class from college. She spoke of how driven you were, determined to be your own woman. I think she rather admired and envied you a tad. She spoke of the endless possibilities that you had, things that she could never hope to do in the time when she was your age."

Owen suddenly spoke up.

"Mrs Elliot also spoke of the neighbors from time to time. She said some of them were resting on the laurels of 'old money'. Some never did a hard day's work in their life. That was part of why she was so proud of Jessica. That she was never spoiled."

Eric took a long draw from his wine glass before he spoke again.

"Tell me, Jessica. What are your plans? Will you be staying here for awhile? If you are, perhaps I can show you around, introduce you to a few people and the lands."

 

[princesssexci]

Jessica flicked her eyes over to Eric and then Owen. Another surge of pride rushed through her, the feeling of....being so utterly irresistable rested upon her. It felt kind of nice. She didn't even understand why they felt so competitive over her, or rather why Owen felt so...compelled to be competitive.

She turned her attention to Eric. "Well, I was planning on selling the estate but, I think before I make any definite decisions I'm going to stay here for awhile. Don't want to jump the gun too soon." She paused briefly to take a sip of wine.

"It would be lovely for you to take me to meet some of the people around here though."

 

[Malvolio]

OOC: The next two posts are a joint effort betwen the two authors.

"It would be lovely for you to take me to meet some of the people around here though."

Eric smiled triumphantly at Owen.

"Well, perhaps I might show you around the house tonight? Your grandmother showed me many things here. She always said the house was full of mysteries."

Owen's eyes narrowed.

Jessica smiled at Eric. "That would be lovely. I always did enjoy mysteries when I was a child." She had completely forgot that Owen was there for a brief second and ignored his prescence.

"What sort of mysteries?"

Owen: "As did I. We had such fun times together..."

Eric interrupted Owen to answer Jessica's question.

"Now, now, boy. Let the adults talk here."

He smiled and continued while Owen fumed.

"All sorts. The library is full of old books detailing the history of these lands and the surrounding counties. There might even be some buried treasure."

Owen snorted.

Jessica gave Owen a look that said, ' Be nice!' then turned her attention back to Eric.

"Really? I did actually find an old journal that one of my ancestors wrote...well, my grandmother gave it to me actually."

Eric: "I'd love to have a look at it, if you wouldn't mind. I'd love to see what it says about my ancestors. Probably scoundrels and thieves, the lot of them."

Owen muttered something inaudible under his breath.

Eric rolled his eyes.

Jessica gave Owen another deadly look. This was the last time she was going to invite him to dinner if he was to be impolite.

"Yes, of course. I wouldn't mind doing so. I've only ready the first page, it already seems like it would have been a wonderful romance novel."

Sensing Jessica's anger, Owen sat back in silence, picking at his food.

Eric smiled again. "Then perhaps we could relax in the library after dinner. Your grandmother actually had a rather nice collection of apertifs that might make for some fine tasting. Or, if you'd prefer, I could fetch some of my father's vintage brandy. Some would consider it a waste, but it's excellent in a cup of coffee after dinner."

Jessica smiled at the thought and for a brief moment she thought, I've finally got him in my hands. It was an odd thought at the moment but she didn't dwell too long on it.

"That sounds lovely, I'm not that huge of a drinker so either doesn't really matter to me."

As the meal drew to a close, Jenkins cleared away the plates brought out after dinner drinks as Eric suggested. Owen excused himself and said he'd speak with Jessica later. He was clearly unhappy and feeling underappreciated after having cooked the meal and being largely ignored and outcharmed by the more worldly and eloquent Eric.

Once Owen was gone, Eric proposed a toast.

"To new friends. To start."

His eyes twinkled.

Jessica lifted her glass until it made a clinking sound. "Yes, to new friends." Although, she had the feeling there would be something alot more then friendship.

Eric reached out and took Jessica's palm and ran his other hand over the back of it.

"There's something... so familiar about you, Jessica. I just can't seem to place it."

Jessica nodded. "You felt it too? I just believed that you were one of those familiar looking guys that you see in a magazine and swear you knew them in highschool but really they just had one of those faces... "

Jessica bit her lip and looked down, feeling that his touch was...warm, not because he was warm...just it stirred certain emotions inside of her.

"Sorry, I must sound so foolish, huh?"

"Not at all. I, too, wondered about this. I felt a strong deja vu the moment I shook your hand. It was... surreal. I felt as if I was in another place and time."

Jessica smiled "Well, at least I know I'm not going crazy. Thats a relief." She gave another smile.

Eric rose from the table, drawing her with him. They took their glasses and the bottle with them and made their way to the library. They wandered around the large room for a few minutes, glancing up and down over the shelves and eyeing the assorted stuffed animal heads and other objects on the walls. A large family tree hung from one way, spanning the current generation (Jessica) and running back to the 1800s.

ooc: more later

 

[Malvolio]

Jessica looked over the family tree. She'd never really bothered to look over her family tree before. She hadn't known she'd had so many relatives, all of them seemed to be rich in some sort of way. One picture caught her eye though, it was of the girl whom looked like her, not like her but similar. Her eyes stayed focused on that one painting for awhile.

Eric noticed Jessica's glance and leaned forward to have a look.

"Ah, yes, her. Your namesake. Lady Jessica Hawkins. Her's is one of the oldest portraits hanging in the dining room. The resemblance is quite striking."
His hand rested upon Jessica's shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze.

"She's beautiful..."

Jessica said then blushed at his comment of her having the same striking resemblance. She forced a smile, still awed by the painting.

"I'm excited to see these...mysteries you've spoken of. Shall we continue?"

"Yes, lets."

Eric went to the desk and motioned to the journal Jessica had begun reading earlier.

"Ah yes. This old thing. You know, it was started by Lady Jessica and all of your family members added to it. Hence, its as thick as it is. Your grandmother once called it the Elliot book of secrets. The hopes and dream, plots and schemes, fears and doubts, love and affairs of over 200 years."

"Do you know about Lady Jessica's love affairs?"

Jessica shook her head, "No, I never really...bothered to lookin to you."

She gave a tiny blush.

"I mean, it hasn't really seemed that important, until now that is. I guess it would be good to know more about my ancestory, right?"

Eric sat down at the desk and motioned for Jessica to squeeze into the large chair with him.

"I won't bite."

Jessica couldn't help but smile at his last words, he wouldn't bite. A surge of being the tempest, the wanton lady whom no one could ever touch but loved being fawned over immediately seeped through her.

The ring that was on necklace, glinted for a brief second as she responded, "Oh? What a shame." She winked at him, then...was herself again.

Eric grinned wickedly at Jessica. "You're quite the flirt, aren't you, love? Well it will take more than that to win me over."

Chuckling, he opened the journal and thumbed through a few pages. He slid his chair forward, leaving Jessica standing beside him as he pored over the book.

Jessica looked over his shoulder peeking at the book. The pages were old of course and slightly tattered, she wondered what they said, She hadn't really gotten a good look at it.Suddenly as his reached the 5th page, she stopped him. "Could we read this one?"

"Alright."

Eric stopped on the page and began to read aloud.

"Lord Eric took me riding today..."

"Oh, nice name," Eric laughed.

As Eric read, the tale began to unfold. Lady Jessica Hawkins, the black widow of the Hawkins Estate, had become smitten with Lord Eric Elliot, the neighbor. Soon, Jessica and Lord Eric began a quiet romance.

However, Jessica was also secretly infatuated with Kelly Slater, her father's ward, whom she'd grown up with. Her infatuation with Kelly only grew when he learned about her affair with Eric and bitterly turned his back on her. He, too, had loved her for many years, but now felt betrayed to learn she was in love with Lord Eric.

One night, Jessica went to Kelly to plead his forgiveness and assurance that their friendship would last, no matter what future she and Lord Eric might have together. It was a dark, stormy night. Jessica had followed Kelly outside the mansion as he fled into the night in anger. She caught up to him in the woods, under the great weeping willow tree. There, he confessed his love for her and revealed that that Lord Eric had secretly seduced his mother when he was an infant. He had romanced her, but she ultimately rejected him upon learning some sort of dark secret of his.

Rather than lose her, Eric had somehow forced the burden of this dark secret upon Kelly's mother. In despair, she committed suicide by stabbing herself in the heart with a silver dagger. Kelly had found his mother's journal and suicide entry that revealed all of this. He held Lord Eric personnally responsible and felt he would bring Jessica nothing but pain with whatever this dark secret was. And then, overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment, Jessica and Kelly finally gave into years of temptation and passion and made love under the tree.

Jessica vowed to confront Eric the next day and learn what this secret was.

Jessica felt like she'd been there, like all of that had happened...to her and Kelly, no Owen. She blinked and stared unsure of what to say. As she looked at Eric for a moment, she saw someone else. Yes it had been him but at the same time it wasn't Eric, not the one who lived in this day and age, it was another one, her Eric looking much older than this one was. Then, she was back to the present.

"Wow, thats...deep." was the only thing uttered from her lips.

Eric looked up from the journal, his eyes staring deeply into Jessica's.

"That... that is. Your grandmother never told me that one."

He flipped forward a few pages.

"Apparently she continued her romance with Eric, but felt torn between the two men. And she finally decided she wanted to be with Eric... forever. Interesting choice of words, eh?"

"Yeah, interesting choice." Jessica paused for a second, thinking things over. "But, I mean if they actually thought they could live forever, I suppose the words were fitting."

"I don't know that she meant 'live forever' as much as 'be together forever'... soulmates, I suppose.

"Her entries stop there. Strange."

Eric looked at the family tree again and the date in the journal.

"She... died," he stammered in surprise. "It seems a cousin inherited the estate then. And he... he... oh! That's strange. He took the Elliot name for his own. That means our families are not related by blood, but merely name. Odd."

"Very odd..." Jessica murmured, she was still in a state of shock, awe, confusion.

"Oh!" She walked towards the fireplace was, where the cane had been standing.

"My grandmother also gave me this. I wouldn't need it though. It only had a map to treasure inside of it..You could have it if you like. Not to say that you do need it..."

She blushed, "I just wouldn't know what to do with the thing."

She picked up the cane then handed it to Eric.

Eric stared at the cane for a moment, wondering what had compelled Jessica to offer him this heirloom.

"That... resembles a cane I saw Lord Eric holding in a potrait in my home."

Eric reached out, taking the cane from Jessica. He seemed to freeze a moment, as if jolted by some sort of shock. Eric gripped the cane tightly, seeming to stare at it for a moment, then slowly looked up at Jessica.

"Jessica... my love..."

The world blurred. They were standing in the woods together at dusk. The full moon was rising, casting its pale rays down upon them. Eric's eyes seemed to glow a pale yellow...

Suddenly they were back in the study, staring at one another again.

Eric slowly rose from his chair.

"I... I'm sorry, Jessica, I think I need to get some air..."

 

[princesssexci]

Jessica nodded, still feeling slightly flustered from what had just been read, what he said to her. Had he just...called her, his love? They'd barely known one another.It was an odd thing indeed, but again she'd had that feeling that when he said it, it was all too right, too perfect.

On a feeling of impulse Jessica bit her lip before saying, "I could come with you, if you'd like."

She felt that strange sensation of not wanting to be out of his presence like, if he left then she might never see him again. This was really starting to freak her out, all these odd feelings, sensations. For instance, she wanted to kiss him, tell him how she missed him. It was utterly absurd but she wanted to say it, none the less.

She held back that impulse. "I need some fresh air as well."

 

[Malvolio]

"I could come with you, if you'd like."

Eric's lips curled into a small predatory smile. His eyes narrowed, taking on a dark, hungry look.

"Yes. I would... like that. All of this reading has made me a bit... lightheaded."

Eric offered his arm to Jessica.

"I need some fresh air as well."

Together they made their way down the stairs and out the back doors and into the garden. It was a beautiful clear night. The moon was not quite full and its rays illuminated the garden as Eric and Jessica wordlessly made their way through it and away from the house.

"I do love moonlit nights like this. I've always felt as if the moon speaks to my soul."

When they were well far away from the back atrium, Eric drew close to Jessica and stopped walking.

"Jessica, I am going to say something you may find odd. I do hope you won't think me mad."

Jessica frowned slightly. Eric's voice seemed deeper and his style and pattern of speech seemed somewhat... more formal and gruff at the same time.

"I feel as if I have known you for a very long time and we have been apart for most of that time. I... cannot explain it, but I somehow... know it to be so. Right now, my heart is soaring because we have been reunited. And I feel... compelled... to share this with you."

Eric turned his back on Jessica and took a few steps away.

"I feel... that we were meant to be together. By... fate, perhaps."

Eric's shoulders suddenly shivered as if overcome by a strong chill and he inhaled deeply.

 

[princesssexci]

Jessica stared at him and her heart pounded rapidly. It seemed that he'd felt the same way as well. All those feelings she had felt from the moment she looked at him, "Like...a long lost lover?" She whispered, looking down. It embarassed her indeed but it was true.

Jessica felt as though he were her long lost lover, someone whom she'd always wanted but could never be with because...there was something, no...someone keeping them apart. She wasn't even sure who that someone could have been.

"It does sound foolish." She said, after a few moments, "But I can't help but feel the same way. It's odd, you know? It's like I've been waiting all my life to see you, again."

She moved towards him closer, craving bodily contacted. Her ring glinted in the moonlight as she brushed her hands down his chest. Strange images and pictures went through her mind as though she were in another world, another time.

 

[Malvolio]

He turned back toward her and moved closer. He brought his right hand up to her face and gently touched her cheek. Leaning forward, his lips kissed hers, the passion growing by the second. As they kissed, he slid his hands down her chest, gently grazing her breasts. As he went by her nipples, he could feel them hardening and his hands continued down to her slim waist.

Their lips parted and they stood gazing into one another's eyes.

"I... feel exactly the same way. Like I have been waiting for you... longer than my entire life. As if such a thing were possible..." his voice trailed off.

He shuddered again, a soft moan escaping his lips.

When he opened his eyes again, they seemed almost dimmly lit, as if faintly glowing in the darkness of the garden.

 

[princesssexci]

His touches felt rough but at the same time soft and loving. It was a touch she could only dream about. She continued to kiss him passionately, as though her body craved it or needed it.

"E-exactly." She stammered.

Another moan left his lips and she frowned. Eric didn't look like he was feeling very well. "E-eric, are you alright?"
Jessica's hand lightly touched his chest again, this time in more of a concerned action then a lusty one. "Your eyes..." she whispered, they'd seemed to change color but she wasn't sure if it was due to the way the moonlight shone on his eyes or her imagination or if he was really sick.

 

[Malvolio]

"Jess... Jessica..." he gasped, his eyes closing.

"I... need you. Want you."

He pulled her closer, suddenly kissing her neck, working his way up, the tip of his tongue snaking about the back of her ear. A low growl eminated from deep within his chest.

His hands gripped her arms, holding her close, his body feeling very warm to touch and seeming to grow warmer by the second. Beads of sweat were beginning to run down his brow and onto her exposed bodice. She could feel his swelling manhood pressing against her through his pants.

Eric continued working his way down, kissing just below her collar and scross the tops of her breasts. The scruff on his face bristled against her delicate skin and his teeth seemed to rub against her more than they had across her cheek and neck.

Eric suddenly let out a louder groan that changed into a growl and let go of Jessica. Stumbling backwards, Eric had dropped his cane and held his hands up to his face as if in great pain.

"Aggghhh! Jessss...iiii....caaaaa...."

He turned and stumbled a few steps away from her.

"Get... AWAY... FROM... MEEEEE!" he suddenly roared.