5 5- Let Me See Your Soul

Nicolae's POV:

Home. I begin to reminisce about what home was like for us all those decades ago. And before I know it we are back at the manor. Once inside Lorie and Layla head straight for the kitchen. Layla quickly prepares Lorie's snack and seats her at the table before returning to the kitchen.

I walk into the kitchen and get a bottle of water from the fridge as Layla begins to wash up the dishes. I watch her for a moment and decide to find out just how much of her memory of me is lost.

"So little immortal one, where are you from?" I ask as I open my water bottle and observe Layla's reaction.

She freeze's instantly upon hearing my words. I notice her reflection in the window and see her frown. I can sense a hint of unease in the atmosphere and I begin to step closer.

"Don't you know what your last name means?" I say in a teasing tone.

Her stiff posture begins to loosen.

"Oh. Of course." She replies hesitantly.

The room fall's silent as Layal washes each dish carefully. I casually lean against the counter next to her.

"So are you going to tell me where you're from?" I say as I place my bottle on the counter next to me.

"I...um. I don't really know where I'm from." She replies as she stares blankly out the window that is just above the sink in front of her.

"How do you not know where you're from? Even us vampires know where we are from." I reply in an amused tone.

"A Lot of my life is a blur. Some things come back in pieces but there is still a lot I can't recall." She replies as she shakes her head.

"Comes back in pieces? Like visions?" I say with a chuckle.

Layla stiffens slightly again and lowers her head. Maybe I shouldn't have poked fun at her. Not remembering your past would undoubtedly leave a sore spot.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to poke fun." I reply.

"I have very vivid dreams and when I wake up sometimes there are new pieces I can remember. There are alot of broken pieces that I don't understand but I've managed." She replies with a forced grin and I can tell there is more that she's not telling me.

Just then Lorie comes running in with her plate handing it to me before declaring she's going out to play in the garden. Layla takes Lorie's dish, cleans it and puts it away. I stand from my leaning position and when Layla turns towards me we almost collide. Our eyes meet and I instinctively grab her. I suddenly can't stop myself from looking deep into the depths of her soul. I want to know the secrets she's holding inside. I lean towards her until our noses are almost touching.

I can feel her breath on my lips as her cheeks become red and her breathing gets heavy. I'm tempted only for a moment as I search every inch of her soul scanning these memories and dreams as she calls them. I suddenly realize that Layla isn't an ordinary human. I see a recent vision of my mother in the familiar garden in ghostly form and one memory in particular replays over and over. I immediately recognize the scene within the memory. I'm just about to delve deeper into her soul when I hear shouting.

"Nicolae! NIcolae stop!" Lorie shouts as she tugs on my arm.

"Nicolae stop! You're scaring Layla!" Lorie screams frantically.

I lose my focus as Lorie yanks Layla's arm causing her to stumble back into the counter. Layla regains her senses and looks down at Lorie who has tears in her eyes.

"Lorie are you ok?" Layla exclaims as she searches Lorie over and pushes her own emotions to the side.

"What happened?" Layla asks as she brings her hand to Lorie's forehead.

Lorie Turns to me angrily.

"Nicolae! What were you doing!" Lorie says as she starts to throw a tantrum.

I give Lorie a stern look and she immediately starts pouting.

"Come on Layla, let's go outside." Lorie says as she grabs Layla's hand and drags her from the kitchen.

I stand in the kitchen a while longer after they have left. She has seen me in some of her dreams in both my animal and human form. She doesn't remember me or our relationship and who she was and until today she has only ever seen me in her mind. She has no recollection of her death. I suddenly feel an increasing ache in my chest. What kind of cruel trick is this? I ask myself as I clench my fists. I'll have to be more careful how I get information from her from now on. Lorie, like me, can see into people's souls. She can see their fears, their dreams, their energies, and even their memories though she's never tried to see someone's memories herself or seen it done before. She's still young and has much to learn.

Layla's POV:

I'm laying in my bed staring at the ceiling as I recall the day's events. It's 10 pm and Lorie is already fast asleep in her room. I think about the moment I met Nicolae today. I've seen him before in my visions but who was he to my past self? How did I know him? Does he know who I am? And his eyes, I've seen those eyes so many times in my dreams but how could that be possible? I sigh aloud in the lonely room as I close my eyes and force sleep to take me.