Chapter 16

The Present

The clearing of a very masculine throat brought Amelia back to the present day. Golden green eyes took in the sight before her, a golden muscular god of music, a towel wrapped around his lean waist. With a long sweeping glance from his head to his toes, she burned his memory into her mind. Time had treated him well as his young, lean, wiry body had morphed into one with sculpted muscle and tone. His chest was lightly less furry and a bit more silver now than when he was younger, but it worked with his physique. A slight smile fleetly passed her lips as she recalled when she read of him waxing in order to work in film. Although covered by a towel, she could remember well what was beneath it. God he was glorious, every single inch of him and she wanted him as much as ever. As her eyes made way back to his face the look in his eyes had her cheeks coloring a furious shade of pink.

“Ya think I could get dressed now babe?” His lips held a quirk as he watched her blush nearly scarlet. He couldn’t remember a lot of things but, as odd as it sounded some things felt right or wrong to him, and her look of desire felt right. He grinned as she, without a word, raced from the room nearly slamming the door behind her. He chuckled softly and reached for the clothing that she had offered him. He could tell they would fit, although would probably be a bit long in the legs, but stranded beggars who couldn’t remember their own name couldn’t be choosy.

Adam looked up as Amelia came barreling from the door and laughed aloud at her perplexed look. “See something you shouldn’t have wench?” She stopped on a dime and looked at her teacher a feminine growl escaping her lips. Reaching behind the chair she was standing beside she pulled her weapon, an intent look on her face. “Ya know Adam, a woman can only take so much, and I have reached my limit.” She turned to walk to the back of the house, motioning for him to follow. “Let’s spar, if I don’t release some tension I’ll end up killing someone for sure.” Adam continued laughing as he pulled his Ivanhoe from his trench coat on the couch and followed her from the room. “Your wish is my command little student.”

She flipped the lights on the huge room located at the back of the house. Originally it had been built as a ballroom, but when Amelia bought the house she had reworked it to be a practice area. The room was well lit thanks to a solid wall of windows to the back of the room. In the left corner of the room were pieces of often used exercise equipment, to the right a huge stereo, to the right was a huge stereo system and a single rack of cds. The middle of the room was bare save for the matting on the floor. She flipped on the lights and made her way over to the stereo and loaded it with every hard pounding song she could find.

Adams laughter started all over again as strains of “Bounce” blasted through the speakers. “You even train to his music? Still carrying that bloody torch I see. I guess him dropping back into your life was a dream come true.”
Her eyes sparked fire as she lifted her sword. “Old man, you aren’t going to bait me into a mistake this time.”

For a few moments they circled each other, deciding upon strong points and weak as the fight began in earnest. Amelia lost herself in the dance of the sword, allowing each parry, thrust or slash take her from the situation at hand. Fighting against Adam took all of her concentration, even more so than usual, but he had planned it that way as he walked down the hall to this room. She needed a break from her past rising up to meet her.

As Jon walked from the bedroom he heard the faint sound of what seemed to be metal on metal encased in some pretty loud music. Not seeing Amelia or her friend around he decided to investigate. Although the sound of metal was odd, the music was grabbing at him. Could what she have said been true? Was he a musician? It was if the words were almost on the tip of his tongue. As he entered the room he looked for a place to watch, yet be out of the way. The window ledges were wide enough for a man to perch so he made his way there and leaned back against the window, his eyes watching the duo duel as the music pounded through his soul.

Jon got lost in the fluid moves of their sword play, his eyes centered on the petite lady. Damn she was grace in motion. He couldn’t believe she could even hold up to the taller man in a sword fight, even if it was just a practice. She was a beautiful thing, all righteous indignation as a sudden move by Adam had her retreating, and a fire goddess as her auburn hair flew about her face when she took the offensive. It was the music though that kept pulling him away. The music was talking to him and it was making his head hurt.

For a few moments he leaned his head back against the cold window as flashes of a strange dark haired man flashed before his eyes during a solo in one of the songs. It was at the edge of his memory, the feel of being in front of thousands of people. He could almost hear their screaming, as the music swirling around him lifted up in a crescendo. He lifted his left hand, as if to caress something in front of him. As the song ended the flash ended, leaving him with an empty place where the music had been and a certain sharp ache in his head. He opened his eyes to see two sets of eyes staring at him, the music quiet and their practice session apparently over.

With a quiet voice he looked at Amelia, his gaze confused and questioning. “That was me right? Why can’t I remember it?”

Amelia gave him a half smile that came out looking almost pained. “Yes that is your group, I am not sure why you don’t remember, but at least I can show you who you were, in words and pictures at least.” She knew that once he knew who he was and where he was from that he would want to return to that life, especially to the wife and kids. She knew that even if he didn’t remember, at his core he was a decent man and he would want to do the right thing. Walking over to the bench she wiped the sweat from her face and laid her sword upon the bench. “Adam close up things here for me?” Turning to Jon she spoke again, “Come on Rock Star, time to teach you about the internet, Google and Jon Bon Jovi.”