After losing the crystal, I lived my life on a constant time stamp. A sense of anesthetic numbness settled over my daily routine. Although I felt nothing inside, I've continued to live up to what Ophelia had asked of me.

I protected my kind. The innovative and developed drug was introduced to our kind just recently, and we have been successful in breeding and prospering. My reign continued to be steadfast and strong with the help of Silas.

When I was not reigning, I sat on the sofa in my room and looked out the window. During that time, I allowed myself a chance to be vulnerable. Looking at the glistening star, I would talk to it as if I was talking to Ophelia. My mourning and depression worsened around Ophelia's death day. I would spend days in the bedroom and allow my pain to envelop me whole because it was the only thing I had left for her. The only thing that proved to me was that she was real.

It continued like this for another two decades.

Finally, Silas suggested we spend some time away from the castle.

Waking up in Paris could be said to be luxurious. The sun stretched its golden hues across the blue skies and illuminated the tall Eiffel Tower. There was a light breeze bringing in the smell of freshly cooked and baked breakfast meals. A sense of tranquility befalls over the city of light.

Although the weather was fair and it was early in the morning, I had dressed in custom UV protection clothes, jacket, UV protected contacts, thin UV protected gloves, and even worn a hat to ward off the sunlight as much as possible.

A change of scenery could help me. Walking through Haussmann's architecture and bustling streets, I remembered the years of living in Paris. It was during an undercover mission. Good days, but I quite enjoyed a small coffee shop. It had under 10 seats, but their imported coffee was distinct and affluent.

My phone buzzed, and I took it out of my trouser pocket to view. Just as I turned the corner, someone ran into me. My phone dropped to the concrete walkway.

"Je suis désolée! Je suis désolée!" The unknown woman apologized profusely.

I bent down to grab my phone.

"ce n'est pas grave." I forgave her before getting up. I turned to look but only caught sight of her backside.

I looked at my phone again and noticed the screen broke. Swearing under my breath, I stuffed my phone back into my pocket before walking hurriedly to the coffee shop.

Silas was already waiting for me at our usual table. I sat right in and waved for the waiter. He came and took my order. After the waiter left, I stuffed my hand back into my pocket and pulled out my phone. I slid it over to Silas.

"Get my phone screen fixed after this."

Silas picked up the phone and saw the damage to the screen before taking it and slipping it into his own pocket.

"I'll get right on it." Silas grabbed for his Danish and took a bite. "So what are your plans today?"

"It's been a while. I wanted to visit a few archaeologists' friends and attend a lecture at the university."

"Did you need me to come with you?" Silas asked.

I shook my head. "Do whatever you want. I should be fine."

The server brought my coffee, and I leaned back in my seat to sip my coffee while observing the scenery before me.

After my morning with Silas, I stopped by the museum to meet a few friends. They had wanted my opinions on a few ancient artifacts that were shipped in a few days ago. After I helped them with the shipment, they offered for drinks afterward, but I declined respectfully, as I had other plans. Silas managed to get my phone to me before I left the museum.

When I made it to the university, I walked through the arched hallway to the lecture hall that the history professor had emailed me about. We've never met before, but he wanted to invite a guest to teach his class about ancient architecture and castles. There were a few students lingering in the hallways and walking to their classrooms.

I texted the professor that I was almost at the location. Immediately after, he texted back that the lecture had already started and to walk up to the stage upon entering.

After I reached the lecture hall, I opened the large double doors and walked inside. The lecture hall was dark as a projector slide was playing. The professor stood at the podium while speaking to the classroom.

With the lecture hall so dark, I felt safe to remove the rest of my clothing. I took off my hat, gloves, and jacket before walking onto the stage.

The professor turned and shook my hand.

"Thank you for coming, Atlas."

"Not a problem, Matis."

Matis turned back to his students.

"This is Mr. Wilder. He is well known for collecting artifacts and contributing to restorations of ancient ruins and buildings. I've asked him to join us today to teach us a little about the unique process of restoration."

"Thank you, everyone, for inviting me here today. There are many techniques to restore any ancient artifacts..."

An hour later, I ended my lecture, and the lights came on. Several students walked up on stage to shake my hand and thank me for my time. As the bodies in the lecture hall thinned down, another student walked up to me.

She wore a French beret that reminded me of the woman who bumped into me this morning. She was looking through her book bag before she fished out a book that I had written eight years ago.

When she finally looked up, my heart seemed to have kicked itself back into gear. It skipped and thumped against my ribcage. Her fiery, ruby hair fell in waves down to her waist. She even had gray-blue eyes.

"Hello, my name is Ophelia. I read a book of yours a while back. I am a huge fan of yours. I'm wondering if I could get a signature." She presented her book.

Ophelia...

There was a lump in my throat, and all the emotions I held back came running to the forefront. Like a tidal wave, it crashed into me.

"Mr. Wilder?" Ophelia tilted her head slightly in confusion.

I blinked and snapped out of my stupor. Clearing my throat, I turned slightly away to wipe away the wetness brimming around my eyes. Grabbing for my pen in my jacket that I placed on a high stool, I turned back to her.

I grabbed the book and opened it to the first page before signing my name into the book. I handed the book back to her. She took the book and hugged it to her chest. An excited smile stretched over her delicate features. My hands itched to touch her.

Was I dreaming?

Is there such a thing as reincarnation?

I licked my suddenly dry lips before clearing my throat.

"You said your name was Ophelia?" I reiterated.

She nodded her head, still smiling.

"Have you always lived in Paris?"

"No, I was born in America, but I moved to Paris when I was ten. Been living here for 10 years now."

Her accent told me as much.

"You have family here too, as well?"

Ophelia's grin widened at the mention of family. She quickly nodded her head.

"My parents and brother."

She has a family. Ophelia always wanted to live a normal life. My heart twisted in my chest and I felt an overwhelming urge to yank her into my arms, but I resisted. If she wasn't Ophelia, she'd be frightened. I need to know what was going on first.

"It's nice to meet you."

She shook my hand again. I watched her walk to the door and leave the hall. Matis appeared in my line of vision. He thanked me for attending the lecture on short notice.

As soon as I exited the campus, I called Silas.

"What's up?" There was some background music. Was he at a bar?

The sun has set at this point. I hung my jacket around my arm and took off my hat.

"I saw Ophelia."

"What?" Silas said in surprise. "Hold on, are you sure you weren't hallucinating? Have you been drinking?"

"I think I saw her..." I saw her, but maybe it wasn't her? I still couldn't grasp what had just happened.

"You think? So, you might have not seen her."

I released a sigh of frustration before rubbing my temple.

"I saw her. I touched her. She's real, but she didn't recognize me. Plus, she has family--parents and a brother. How is this even possible?"

"Hold on," Silas murmured something to someone. I heard the music dim down before it went quiet. He must have stepped outside.

"I need you to look into this. She told me her name is Ophelia, and she moved here 10 years ago. I want to know everything from the moment she was born to the second she met me."

"Alright. I'll see what I can do. Maybe I'll contact Lazarus. He might be able to find more about her in America. I'll find out more from there."

"Thanks, Silas."

"Not a problem, man. If it's her..."

If it's her...my heart skipped another beat, and the three decades implanted needle surfaced a little like it was taking its first breath of air.

"I don't want to get my hopes up. If it's her, I'll get her back. If it's not her, even if she looks like Ophelia, I won't pursue it. It'll be the end."

I hung up and stuffed the phone back into my pocket. I walked down the streets in silence. My thoughts are filled with all kinds of possibilities. I headed for the nearest library.

When I arrived at the library, it was quiet, but there were still several people sitting around reading and studying. I walked to the nearest computer and searched for everything I could about reincarnation.

An hour later, I discovered that there are many religions and beliefs about reincarnation. Supernatural beings hid amongst humans in the real world. Who was to say that reincarnation was impossible?

My phone rang. I hit the silent button before walking out of the library and outside. I picked up the call.

"Yea?" I said.

"The girl you met, her name, is Ophelia White. She was born in Southern California to Elizabeth and Ryan White. Her brother is several years older than her. He is the heir to the Windsor Corporation. Windsor Corporation works with archaeologists in locating and digging up artifacts."

That explains why Ophelia was in the lecture.

"They moved to Paris ten years ago. The woman you met, she's twenty years old and in her third year of studying Ancient History."

"She's human," I said, even though I already knew. It was a verbal confirmation. This woman was human. I caught a whiff of her scented blood the moment she walked past me in the lecture hall.

"Yes, human."

"So it's not her..." I couldn't hold back the disappointment.

"Not necessarily. I reached out to the warlock that helped us before. He told me they are ancient books that talked about rebirths. They have been studied and similar situations that have been written and stored away."

"Get me those books and meet me back at the residence," I demanded before hanging up and heading straight for the Wilder's residence in Paris.