The feeling remained with her all day until the evening, when Elliot rang to say he couldn’t take her out after all and would call her in the morning, and then Catherine felt doubly miserable and never had she felt more like pouring herself a stiff drink but she had no alcohol on the premises not even a bottle of wine.

Flicking on the television afforded her little respite, nothing worth watching, and with nothing to read that she hadn’t read before Catherine’s walked aimlessly out onto the terrace to gaze at the shimmering stars above that usually had her wondering about the never-ending things that set her soul soaring.

Even so her sadness remained, just there, just as a pinprick deep within and Catherine at a loss as to know what to do to make herself feel brighter she donned a jacket and with a flashlight she set off out of her apartment with intent to visit Vincent.

It wasn’t easy going into the park that late at night, well it was after eight, not late by anyone’s standards, but a jaunt through the park at that hour was entirely different. Catherine kept to the lighted pathways avoided bushes and rounded trees cautiously almost expecting someone to step out behind a trunk. When no one did and she safely crossed to the storm drain she took a quick look around before ducking inside and then locating the secret mechanism drew open the large metal door.

Sentries announced her arrival and Catherine hurried through the tunnels with their unseen eyes upon her, feeling a little alarmed that they could do that, but comforted to know that they were her friends as it was a long way to the hub and Catherine had to use the flashlight in places but knowing she wasn’t entirely alone made all the difference. All the way she half expected Vincent to meet her and when he did not she wondered as to why and hoped that he was not ill.

Finally she rounded the final bend and made her way first to Father’s chamber. The tunnels were quiet, most of the children were in bed and many couples had settled down for the night in chambers of their own. Catherine paused at the entrance to Father’s chamber, visualising the scene to come, cosy candlelight that swathed the old man as he sat bent at his desk reading a book.
Catherine tip toed around the entrance and sought the sight she hoped for and was not disappointed. There he sat engrossed, not even hearing her footsteps as she entered and afraid she would give him a fright she announced her arrival with a tentative, “Good evening, Father.”

Pushing his spectacles up upon his nose Father stared at her, as many emotions raced through him, but since she was standing awaiting a welcome he settled down and bid her enter with a wave of one hand, “Catherine…to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit at this hour? Are you well?”

“Yes Father, thank you. I had a free evening, “she told him the half truth, “and I thought what better way to spend it than here. Is Vincent free?”

“I haven’t seen him since dinner. But I know that he hasn’t gone above, he’s not himself today, Devin has returned to England and Vincent is infinitely sad about his departure.” Catherine gasped.

“He is?”

“Yes, what is it my dear, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost?” Father asked concerned.

“I’ve received a shock.” Catherine told him then gave the same to him when she told him, “Father, all day I’ve felt so overwhelmingly sad and yet there is no reason why I should feel like this, everything in my life is going well…(‘now’ she added under her breath) and I could not understand why I should feel such infinite sadness…” She paused then launched her worst fear, “Father you don’t suppose that the connection Vincent has with me works both ways do you?”

“You know about the bond?” Were Father’s first words then he gasped as the full import of what she had said hit him.

“Vincent told me, last night.” Had it really only been last night? It had seemed a lifetime ago, so much had happened since.

“I think this is something you must talk over with Vincent, hold on my dear I’ll ask him to come to my chamber. Wherever he is, he’ll hear my message.” Father rose and Catherine watched as he tapped out a tune on the pipes with the marble end of his cane at least it sounded like a tune to Catherine. That done, he listened a moment then sat down again satisfied that he had been heard when Vincent replied, ‘Coming Father.’

“He’s on his way, now Catherine would you like some tea while you wait?”

Catherine shook her head, it was all she could do to stay put, because the revelation that she had told Father was as new to her as it was to him and more besides…if she were also connected to Vincent…then what did it mean?

“Catherine!” The sound of Vincent’s voice highlighted his arrival and he came down the steps two at a time, his long stride making easy work of them. “When did you arrive?” Father searched his son’s face for clues, “You didn’t know she was here?”

“No Father, my mind was elsewhere.” He explained knowing his father would understand why he had not known of Catherine’s whereabouts through the bond. The distorted connection had been partly closed off from her as Vincent had dwelt on other things with Devin’s departure being only one of them.

“Well Catherine came to while away the time with us and she has made a startling discovery while she’s been here…I think perhaps the two of you should go somewhere private and discuss this don’t you Catherine? Vincent take Catherine to your chamber, I’ll see that the two of you aren’t disturbed.”

Confused Vincent stared down at his parent and their guest but when Catherine agreed, stood and took Vincent’s hand in hers he followed without complaint, only too delighted to feel her so close again but once inside his chamber Catherine seemed to deem that closeness unnecessary as she let go of his hand and standing a few paces from him announced, “Vincent, this might sound strange to you…” she laughed nervously, “hell what am I saying, it sounds strange to me…but I think I can feel you.”

Humorously Vincent laughed, “Feel me? What do you mean you can feel me?”

“You know, that gift that you have, that connection, I think I’ve got it too.” Vincent gasped, “No Catherine!” And shook his head, “Impossible, its something to do with me, some makeup of mine, you can’t share in it.”

“Then how do you explain that I’ve felt your sadness all day, such sadness Vincent, when I should be happy. I have nothing to feel sad for, and its not my hormones I thought of that, so don’t try suggesting it is.”

Vincent’s mouth was open with surprise, and Catherine thought he looked awfully cute like that. “Look, I can see it’s a shock, it is to me too you know, but it would explain a lot of things…feelings I’ve had lately…like the other night I knew that you were still up on the roof, I could feel that you were there.”

“Coincidence.” Vincent told her, “All the same, I’ll set you a test to prove that you can’t feel me the same as I can feel you. Hold on.” He turned and sat with his back to her, straight up against the chair and asked, “What can you feel from me now?” And he thought of something that angered him, which wasn’t hard he simply thought of Catherine and Elliot together intimately.

Catherine concentrated. There was still that feeling of sadness, but it was being quickly covered by something stronger, “You’re angry…but it’s more than that…you’re jealous, it’s a jealous rage I’m feeling Vincent.”

Vincent gasped, he had known that he was angry, but Catherine had felt the underlying emotion the one he wouldn’t allow himself to face.

“Try again.” He told her gruffly.

“Was I right?”

“Yes.”

“What are you jealous of Vincent? Even play-acting few people can feel it as strong as that, it so deep Vincent, it hurts even me.”

“I was thinking of something…someone I despise…” He told her hoping she wouldn’t ask anything more on the subject and reminded her, “Now try this one, see if you can feel this.” From deep down inside Vincent forced up all the love that he felt for her, holding nothing back even so when she told him he felt ashamed that he had.

“My God…” Catherine gasped, “Such love…Vincent such love…who do you love as much as that…” And then by the sudden slump of his shoulders and his silence she knew “Is it me?”

“Yes.” There was no denying it, if Catherine could feel his emotions she had to know the truth.

“Like that? I never knew, I’m so sorry, Vincent, Oh God Vincent…” Swiftly Catherine began to piece a few things together, the evening just gone, what she had told him, the times he had visited, the occasions when he had been there for her…the time when he’d told her he would never force himself on a woman unless they were married…the day she had begged him to make love to her…”Oh my God.” Catherine covered her face with her hands and still Vincent did not move and Catherine felt his shame stabbing through her heart like a white-hot knife and she crossed the floor to where he was, and without forethought wrapped her arms around his shoulders leaning her cheek against his, “Oh baby I’m so sorry.” She whispered wanting nothing more than to ease his pain, “oh God Vincent it hurts, it hurts so much.”

“Yes.” He told her quietly, “It does.” Her endearment said to pacify him had only added to his pain and having her so close and feeling sorry for him only heightened his need to run from her but he needed this, he needed to be in her arms so much that Vincent lingered, rooted to the spot, his face turned away from her so that she wouldn’t see his pain as well as feel it.

Sliding her arms about him Catherine walked around until she could kneel between his legs, her hands sliding from his shoulders to his chest, where she felt the hammering of his heart both within and without. Her eyes when they looked at him were infinitely sad, sorrow flooded her soul and she wanted so much to help him, but was at a loss to know how. He loved her so deeply, and she was engaged to another man…was that the jealous rage she had felt too? Had it been directed at Elliot?

“Yes.” Surprised Catherine stared at him. “You know what I’m thinking?”

“Only at times of immense pressure.” He told her, “Like now. Don’t feel sorry for me Catherine, it is hard enough.”

“Why do we have it Vincent, why are we connected?”

“I don’t know Catherine.” Vincent replied simply.

“How long have you been in love with me?” She asked him gently, and he knew that she genuinely wanted to know.

“Years.”

“You’ve carried it for years? Like this? Oh Vincent…I’m so sorry.” She laughed then told him, “I felt that. You wanted to clown me didn’t you if I apologised one more time?” Vincent gasped but he did not deny it.

“Why now Vincent? Why has it happened to me now? Just when…” Her words trailed away but he heard them nevertheless, “when you are going to marry Elliot? I don’t know Catherine…”

“I think I do.” Vincent felt her emotions tearing through her, one of disbelief another of relief, another of acceptance and then an underlying sliver of love like a new moon in a night sky.

“It might not be what I want Vincent, not exactly, not right now, but with a love such as you have for me…” Catherine shook her head in wonderment, “Its so deep Vincent…I feel overwhelmed by its intensity…and I think…I think…” Vincent was ahead of her, “No, Catherine…you’re with Elliot now, you have a life above…”

“But don’t you see, what if I’m not meant to have that life…I asked why now…after all this time…just when I’m engaged to marry another man I begin to feel you through this connection just as you can feel me…Vincent it has to have meaning, it has to…and you can’t deny it…because to deny it would be to deny destiny and no one can out run that…”

Hope flared in Vincent’s heart as he recognised the signs within hers, but gallantly he tried to refuse what she was about to offer, but she placed two fingers over his lips to silence him and told him, “Its not Elliot I must marry Vincent…its you.” They stared at one another and their two hearts seemed to fold each around the other entwined, both could picture it happening in their mind’s eye and both knew the truth of her words, “But you do not love me…as I love you.” Vincent reminded her.

“It will come. Now that I know how it is…it will come…we have only to spend some time together…get to know one another…truly know one another…” Catherine told him with tears in her eyes. He saw her hopes for life above die in those eyes, and it was killing him, but something stronger was at work between them something neither could deny. ”Do you think at some time in the history of mankind we were soul mates, Vincent?” Catherine asked him thoughtfully, “Do you think we were lovers in another time?”

“I don’t know Catherine. But it would answer every question.”

“Yes,” Catherine smiled up at him, “It would.” She gazed into his eyes, such love she saw reflected in their depths, love for her how had she ever missed it before? He must have hidden it well.

Vincent chuckled, “It was not easy.” And Catherine frowned, “That’s a very disconcerting little habit you have there Vincent, my thoughts are not my own anymore.”

“Sorry, but it is something new, and its happening more and more. I’ll try to keep quiet.”

Again Catherine smiled at him, and then both of them felt it when he smiled back at her and her heart missed a beat and a great wealth of love for him flowed through her veins. Vincent was startled, but it warmed him through and through, and Catherine equally as startled couldn’t believe that one moment she had felt next to nothing for him and suddenly…well suddenly it was as if it had been there all along but she had not known of its existence. “We have to have been soul mates, Vincent.” She told him honestly, “And their spirits are guiding us, bringing us together so our past selves can be back together again..” Purposefully Catherine leaned upward her intention plain and Vincent met her half way his lips brushing against hers in so simple a touch yet it left them both reeling by the intensity that they felt within their hearts at its contact.

“Marry me.” Vincent asked her huskily.

Without hesitation Catherine agreed, “Yes.”

Pulling her up to her feet, Vincent also stood and drew her into his arms, “I love you, but then you know that.” He told her, “and life down here won’t be easy, but I will never stop loving you and you will be happy, I promise.”

“I know that, Vincent.” Catherine had absolute faith that it would be exactly as he’d told her and she would be happy, she knew that too. “Kiss me.”

“Yes.”

He leaned down just slightly as Catherine wound her arms around his neck and on tip toes pressed her lips to his…it was a kiss to surpass all other kisses, and Catherine’s head reeled with its intensity. On and on he kissed her racking fire through her soul until Catherine thought she needed air or she’d die and he knew and pulled away just long enough for her to take a breath before taking her lips once more. With her hands fastened in his mane Catherine lost all sense of everything but the two of them there together, kissing and deep inside, deep, deep inside both of them felt it, the turning of the hands of time, anticlockwise, far, far away to another time, another place another couple, similar in stature and appearance and so very much in love and they knew in that instance that they had come home…they were soul mates…and so they would be from now on…always and forever…

Meanwhile up top Melanie was waiting outside the Burch building, where Elliot’s saloon waited at the curb, she’d taken a long shot coming all the way down here by changing trains twice on the subway, but calls to his office had been fruitless and at his home his housekeeper had informed her that he was working late. Of course Mrs Downy would never have given away that information had Melanie not told her she was Catherine Chandler.
So here she was waiting, idly flicking the ash from her cigarette just yards from where the chauffer sat in the sleek dark blue car waited for Mr Burch to finish work.

Finally, Mel saw movement of some kind and everything seeming to happen at once, the doors of the building opened and out came two men, one carrying a briefcase, the other an umbrella as it had just started to rain, and between them the object of her patience, Mr Burch himself.

“Mr Burch, Elliot?” Mel stepped forward as one of the two men with him opened the back door of the saloon and Elliot hesitated, “Who wants to know?” one of his two bodyguards barked with one hand not discreetly enough on the gun strapped across his chest and to one side of him. “My name is Melanie, I’m a friend of Cathy Chandler’s.” The rain began to fall steadily, and Mel watched Elliot’s discomfort, finally deciding, “Come inside the building, what is it you want?” Elliot asked brusquely.

“Can we speak privately?” Mel asked as she walked toward the now open door of the office block where Elliot had walked in ahead of her.

“No, anything you want to tell me, my men can hear, they are very discreet.”

“Very well, Mr Burch, but I wouldn’t think that they would want to know that their boss’s fiancé of less than twenty four hours is seeing another man behind your back.” Elliot sucked in a breath, “How do you know this? I thought you said you were Cathy’s friend?”

“Oh we were friends once, before she stole my boyfriend.”

“Tom?”

“Tom who?” Melanie asked and Elliot went on, “Tom was her boyfriend before me.”

“Then Devin must have been her boyfriend before Tom.” Elliot decided he didn’t like the young woman but he was intrigued and listened anyway especially since he was interested in the topic at hand. “Did she sleep with him?”

“I don’t know, they were going to do, I don’t think she ever did though, although she told me yesterday that he had been in Europe for two years but that he is back now and she last saw him four months ago, but that isn’t the issue here Mr Burch, its not Devin that Catherine is seeing its his brother.”

“How do you know this?” Elliot demanded hotly.

“I was at her apartment yesterday when the phone rang, Devin left her a message. Cathy was in the shower, Devin told her to leave his brother alone, said his brother was running to her in the middle of the night and she was driving him nuts.”

“Do you have the tape?” Elliot demanded.

“No I wiped it, didn’t want Cathy to know I’d heard and I thought I could use it against her.”

“With friends like you she wouldn’t need enemies.” Elliot laughed derisively, “What do you want money?” He fished into his breast pocket where he kept his wallet, “Here, will this do?”

Mel counted the money, and whistled, “A thousand dollars! Thank you Mr Burch, I wish I could tell you I didn’t need it, but money like this…only comes along once in a blue moon…I actually told you these things for revenge, as I say Catherine stole my boyfriend, and I’ve waited a long time for this.”

“And you don’t care how it makes me feel? I loved Cathy.”

“In the past tense so soon Mr Burch? Something must have given you doubts already, how do you know I’m not making it all up?” Melanie asked sweetly.

“And are you?”

“No.”

“But then you would say that.”

“Perhaps. But its taken me two trains and a bus to get here not to mention a two hour wait outside your building so why would I do that if I didn’t consider it worth my while?”

“True. So can I give you a lift home? Its started to rain and it’s a long walk to the nearest subway.”

Mel smiled, “Thank you Mr Burch I’d like that, I’ve never ridden in a saloon before.”

“Well now’s your chance. Do you have an address for this Devin or his brother?”

“No, but Devin always used to cross the park to reach home, so its somewhere in that general direction. He was always so secretive, although he did live with Peter Alcott for a while.”

“The doctor?”

“Yes, and Cathy’s doctor too.”

“I know.”

Elliot walked back outside, holding the door open for Melanie, and ushered her into the back of his car. One of his men got into the front seat alongside the chauffer and the other made to slide in next to Elliot, when Elliot stopped him. “There’s something I want you to do for me.” Elliot told him and from the inside of his jacket handed him a slim white envelope, “Read it when we’re gone, you’ll know how to handle it.”

“Very good Mr Burch.”

Elliot closed the door satisfied that he had taken care of Mick Clarke and then turned to Melanie, “So what’s a good looking girl like you doing out alone?” Elliot asked placing one hand on her knee, “If I’d worked all night and believe me sometimes I do, you’d have picked up by someone walking these streets at this time of night, doesn’t that frighten you?”

“I’m streetwise.” Mel told him, “I might frighten anyone that attempts anything.” And with that she blatantly picked up his hand and removed it from her knee, “And I’m not desperate.”

Elliot chuckled, “Can’t blame a fellow for trying. Could have made yourself a few more dollars.”

Mel laughed, “No thank you Mr Burch, I’ve earned enough already.”

“There would be some that would say I paid you too highly for so little information, honey.” Elliot told her as the car pulled away from the curb.

“Would they? Well since I never expected payment of any kind, I see what you gave me as a gift and unless you’re an Indian giver Mr Burch you’re not having it back.”

“You’re welcome to keep it.” Elliot replaced his hand to her knee, “But what assurance do I have that you won’t tell Cathy that I haven’t done anything to you? I may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.” Elliot told her smoothly.

Mel laughed, “Well since you put it like that Mr Burch.”

“Its Elliot, call me Elliot.”

“Elliot.”

Closing off the glass and dark panel as he had the night before, Elliot could hardly believe this was happening, but then he hadn’t only taken Mel’s word for it. Around nine o’clock he had checked with George Webster and discovered that Catherine had left her apartment around eight and armed with a flashlight had entered the park and he had followed only losing her when she had entered a storm drain and just before nine still hadn’t come out. Elliot had laughed at George’s suggestion that Cathy and some guy were rolling around in the muck down there, but with Mel’s news of the guy Devin using the park as a route to his home and with the phone call she had intercepted only that morning Elliot had very quickly put two and two together and decided so what was sauce for the goose…

It was more than that though, Elliot was bitter…Catherine had held him at bay and all the while she had been seeing another man behind his back, a man that ran to her in the middle of the night to her apartment, a place where Catherine had always made Elliot leave at a decent hour and certainly a place where he had never done more than kiss her.

Cathy had played him for a fool, and he had fallen for it, hook line and sinker…

One tap on the glass panel told his bodyguard and chauffer exactly what he intended and they stopped in the same place as the night before leaving Mr Burch and his lady friend while they went for a coffee and a game of cards and the moment Elliot deemed it was safe to do so, he pulled Mel into his arms and began kissing her.

Despite all her brags, Mel was out of her depth but overwhelmed by Elliot’s attention and all too soon he had removed her panties and was kneeling between her thighs doing things to her that she had only ever heard of. “You ready honey?” Elliot asked through the fog that surrounded her, Mel didn’t understand, “Ready?” she panted, intending to add, ‘for what?’ when he lowered himself between her legs and with one mighty thrust impaled her. Mel screamed, the sound ringing in her ears and in his as he quickly withdrew from the tight heat of her body. “You’re a virgin?” He asked stunned.

Mel sobbed, “I was…I didn’t know you were going to do that!” She cried, “You should have asked me!”

“I thought I had, I thought you realised…I thought you wanted this…” Elliot struggled with his pants pulling them up and over his hips as he handed her underclothes to her, “Put these on, I’ll take you home.” “I’ll take you myself.”

“No”. Mel pulled on her panties and straightened her clothing, “I’ll walk or catch a cab.”

Elliot fished into his wallet, “Here let me pay for one for you.” He thrust the entire contents of his wallet into her hand. Mel couldn’t count it but by the feel of the wad it was more than he’d given her before. “This stays between us.” He told her. Mel said nothing, just alighted from his car before he could detain her further and as luck would have it a cab was waiting at the curb behind the saloon. Mel hailed it and got inside before Elliot had time to pull on his shoes and come after her and the last he saw of her mascara stained face was as she glared at him through the passenger window and he never saw her again.

Hand in hand and with their bodies touching Vincent and Catherine made their way to the falls, they said little, didn’t need to, their hearts were one, and each knew what the other was thinking and feeling.

Arriving at Vincent’s perch, the place he came for solitude, Vincent spread out the rug he had brought with him and sitting he tucked Catherine between his opened legs and draped his cloak around her. She sighed, “This is bliss, Vincent, your world never ceases to amaze me.” Vincent kissed the crown of her head before replying, “It is your world now, my love.”

“Yes.”

“And there’s more than you’ve seen, Catherine. This is just part of its splendour. You’ve never seen the crystal cavern have you?”

“The crystal cavern? That sounds wonderful Vincent, where is it, can we go there now?” Turning Catherine leaned her chin on his bent knee her eyes sparkling. “Its too far and we’re not prepared, but I will take you. It is a beautiful place though the way there is not easy. We’d need to allow three days to make it there and back at a steady pace.”

“Really? Three days?”

“You sound surprised.”

“I never realised your world was that extensive. Would we travel horizontally or down?”

“Down, to subterranean level. There is a river down there, Devin and I used to sail a raft.” Catherine’s eyes opened wider and wider with disbelief, “It sounds heaven.”

“It is but it has its pitfalls. Danger lurks at every corner and so far from the hub any accident can prove fatal. Although things have improved in recent years with the creation of way stations every three miles or so, but Father feels that just as soon as it can be arranged more should be installed. To an injured person a mile can feel like a hundred and Father has suggested one way station every half mile.”

“How many miles is it to the crystal cavern?”

“We’ve never measured it, but I would say around four miles. Not far on the level but the terrain makes it a difficult journey. There are crawl ways and shafts to negotiate, its not easy. If we go I will cut a stone for your ring from there, and Mouse will shape it, do you have a gold band that we could use to form it into an engagement ring?”

Catherine smiled and touched his cheek with the tips of her fingers, “My father gave me my mother’s ring we could use that. The stone is missing, we could replace it with crystal.”

“Or there’s amethyst, you may choose whichever you like, they are easy to cut and you may take some for other jewellery too. “

Catherine smiled deeply thinking of something but unsure whether to speak of it and Vincent inclined his head, “What? What’s on your mind?” Her eyes had been bright with happiness and he detected a cloud but Catherine made a decision and nodded, “I suppose there will come times when I will speak about people I’ve known, I won’t ever do it to cause you pain Vincent, know that.”

He nodded, “Who do you wish to mention? Elliot?”

Gazing at him, and probing his feelings Catherine assessed the situation unsure by what appeared to be so, “You really don’t mind?”

“Why should I mind…now?”

Catherine’s face lit up when she smiled back at him, “Then I was thinking, for all the wealth that Elliot has acclaimed he does not own his own diamond mine…but you…” She laughed and he told her, “They aren’t diamonds Catherine.” And she replied, “Diamonds aren’t always a girl’s best friend Vincent, neither are they always forever, my mother’s solitaire fell out of her ring…but love…now that’s forever…and we have that…and we have our own fresh supply of gems at our disposal just for the taking…it sounds good to me Vincent.”

Gazing at one another Catherine leaned up and brushed her lips against his and to the surprise of them both she told him, “I love you, Vincent.” Catherine gasped her eyes wide and with an enigmatic look followed through with, “Now I don’t know where that came from, my love…but its true…I do love you.” She could feel it deep down inside and it warmed her through and through. Vincent gazed into her eyes, his happiness warred with disbelief, everything was happening so soon and it was magical and amazing rolled into one. “Where do you think they came from,” Catherine mused, “What era did they live in?”

“Ours soul mates?”

“Yes.”

“When I think of them I think of the tapestry, you know the one in the Great Hall? I imagine them coming from that era, I can see myself dressed like those people are dressed and I can see you dressed similarly.”

“There’s something else though, isn’t there?” Catherine had ticked it over in her mind ever since discovering that they were soul mates. Vincent might not have noticed or he had chosen to overlook the fact, or perhaps he had just seen what he wanted to see and not what was actually so. “Can you see her, Vincent, can you see me?”

“A bit. She is beautiful as you are but her hair is a different colour more golden and flowing, it shields her face…” Slightly, Catherine smiled waiting for him to see what she had seen clearly for the last hour or so. In his mind’s eye Vincent willed his soul mate of old to turn around so that he might see her clearly, and when she turned ever so slight he gasped, needing to see no more. Catherine chuckled, “I take it she is revealed to you now?”

“She’s like me!” He cried, touching his face, “She is leonine like me!”

Tears in her eyes, Catherine nodded, “And you are like me, as I am now, a normal human face. Vincent we’re as old as time, but time has been kind, it has reversed our roles so that we can understand and know how it feels to be the other and because our love has stood that test of time, do you know what lies in store for our future selves?”

Again Vincent was thoughtful his full concentration inward, “They will become either one of the two…” he spoke slowly, “they will become the same, but the picture is unclear it does not tell me whom they will favour.”

“That’s because only time will tell them the best way to be. Whether they will both be leonine, or both be human and whatever we do Vincent, and however we handle life, will be the basis for them to decide. Personally, if it were down to me I’d choose leonine.”

Surprised Vincent gasped, “But then you’d be forced to live away from society, and be shut off from all that you have known.”

“And I’d be with you, safe and secure in a world of our making…Vincent there is something else…they were happy true, and so much in love but throughout all the generations they were unsuccessful in one aspect of their lives…can you see it Vincent…can you see the longing in their eyes when they gaze at someone else’s…”

“Child?” Vincent could see it and he could feel it. The longing so deep and so unfulfilled…”They never had a child! But then how…did I come to be…if I never came from them?”

“Because you were a chosen one Vincent…somehow, someway destiny chose to bestow you with that face, with that beautiful spirit and that connection and it chose me to share it with you. You re-shaped me Vincent, turned my life around, made me the person that I am, and they knew that you could do that…they knew that you were the one for me, just as I recognise that fact wholly now. I love you, I do love you.” Catherine nodded in earnest and through her Vincent could feel her love reaching out and enveloping him like a warm caress.

“Catherine…” He leaned forward until the tips of their noses were touching, “I love you so much.”

Gazing into one another’s eyes, an elusive thought swept through Catherine’s mind and she tried to keep up with it, snatching at it as it sped by. Again and again it swept through her mind and she visualised herself chasing it, until at last it slowed and allowed itself to be captured. Vincent watched her face carefully, he could tell that she was concentrating on something and through the connection he followed her, “What is it?” He whispered when she paused and her face relaxed, “What have you seen?”

“Tragedy.” Catherine leaned forward and hugged him tight, “Time after time after time…Vincent tragedy befell them.” Tears glistened in Catherine’s eyes, “They had no safe place such as this. No underground kingdom and they were sought by the rulers of the land…” Suddenly Catherine lurched forward and cried, “ Oh Vincent!” and she grabbed his shoulders as the past swept through her revealing everything. “Can you not see it?” Her heart thudded painfully and taken back she screamed as the effects of all her past selves had undergone were brought forcibly to mind.

“They were killed.” She gasped and clung to Vincent, shaking she sobbed against his chest and he held her closer than a heartbeat his own body trembling by the intensity of her feelings.

Entwined, their memories swirled around them and Vincent joined Catherine in the past as time after time, the people that they’d been met with some ghastly end, portrayed as witches, or werewolves, or demonic forces that were a threat to mankind.

“Ignorance.” Vincent whispered painfully.

“Yes.” Catherine agreed, “Ignorance.”

The images stayed within her, but the fear and the grief subsided and Catherine was able to tell him, “They never had a chance of a happy life Vincent. Though they loved deeply, the chance for a life together was always denied them, by someone, some well meaning group of persons that through ignorance did not understand that they were no threat to society, that they simply wanted to be allowed to live their lives together as any other normal couple. In the past she’s looked like you and she’s looked like me, but the import is that at all times one of them has been leonine…I think I was right earlier Vincent when I said personally I’d like to be leonine…that’s the way of it, oh Vincent…they’re a new strain…they’re sent time after time to face the world and find the generation that will accept them!”

The moment Catherine told him this, Vincent knew it was true, his mouth dropped open in stunned surprise and he suddenly realised that Catherine knew all of these things because she found him beautiful and he did not look upon himself that way. He had always despised the way he looked and often wished he was dead. By that thought alone he had blocked the connection from those of the past and it had taken Catherine to unlock that insight.

“So its up to us my love.” Catherine told him, “its up to us and what we can achieve that will decide the future of the leonine ones. Vincent we know what we have to do don’t we?”

Vincent nodded, tears in his eyes, he had to agree to something he had always vowed would never be, even if there ever became a slight possibility of finding someone that loved him for who he was. “I must give you a child.”

“Yes. And the sooner the better.”

“Then we must make arrangements for our marriage Catherine, but…” He hesitated and she understood his doubts, “Yes I know, there is some unfinished business above, and there is another thing I have to face…” She exhaled a deep sigh, “whatever am I going to tell my father?”

Vincent hugged her close and smiled reassuringly, “My love, we’ve fought dragons and demons and witch hunters and risen again what can your father do to prevent the path of destiny?”

“You’re right, and daddy will understand.” Catherine was touched by his understanding and felt positive about that, “Perhaps he will understand more than I know…maybe whomsoever souls we carry has touched his already…one can but hope…” And she laughed troubled no more.

“We should go, get some sleep, tomorrow will soon be upon us and there is much to prepare, will you stay here tonight Catherine you can have the guest chamber.”

“I’d sooner be close to you.” Catherine told him as images of their past selves and all they had endured in the name of love flitted through her mind, “We don’t have to do anything, but just to be close, in your arms, that’s all I ask.”

For a long moment Vincent thought about that until he decided that Catherine was right, they were both tired and they did both know how important it was to remain virgins until they were wed, and so Vincent nodded, “Come then my love, our future awaits.” Her eyes bright with love for him, Catherine nodded, and slipping her hand into his they rose together and slowly walked side by side as close as they could be until they made the journey back to the hub where Vincent’s family were sleeping oblivious of the joy to come.

To be continued in Chapter Eight