Me: Okay, sorry for the wait for this chapter but she did send it to be a while ago and I was just too lazy to post. Enjoy anyway!!

Chapter 2 -1948

I wandered the country continuously for several years, unemotional and insensitive to everything but the feelings of depression developing in my ever-deteriorating frame of mind.

I was out of hope.

I continued to use humans as my food source. What other choice did I have? There was no alternative. I was forced to exist in the never ending world, timeless and terrible, with no chance of escape.

I was a monster. The emotions around me didn't help. They ranged from incense to calming, from grief to exuberance. They confused me, leaving me in more of a muddled, senseless state than before. I had no control over my life, much less my thirst. I was hopeless. I knew that I would never be happy again, much less healthy.

So I stopped trying.

I gave in every time the thirst came over me, furious with myself, yet helpless. I had nothing left.

Then, fate intervened, and for the first time, gave me a good hand in the game.

It was raining, and I was cursing myself for coming to Philadelphia. The streets were emptied of citizens, thank goodness, all gone home to avoid the storm. I had not fed in days, maybe a week. I knew I would attract more attention staying out in the rain, so, against my will, i walked towards a local diner. I was glad that it was cloudy. I never would have been able to walk down the street during the day otherwise. I hesitantly pushed open the door and entered the room.

Almost immediately I realized that I had been foolish. Her scent hit me the moment I stepped through the door.

There was another vampire in the diner.

I took a step backwards, ready to run as I looked around to find her. I saw a movement at the counter, and knew that it was her. She slid gracefully from the stool she had been perched upon, and as I watched, she walked towards me. My mood shifted to confusion. This vampire was so...tiny! It was absurd that I should fear her, but I had no other explanation for her actions. The strangest thing was...I didn't want to fight her.

As she came towards me, I realized something stranger yet. She did not want to fight me either. Far from it. Her emotions were unknown to me, but they were intoxicatingly pleasant, and I couldn't bring myself to leave. She danced over and stood not a foot from me, gazing up into my eyes. I noticed in shock that her eyes were not the blood red colour that mine were after so many years, but they were golden. They were beautiful golden eyes. Another wave of shock hit me as she spoke, her voice so smooth I was sure she was an angel.

"You've kept me waiting a long time." She said. I could feel the excitement mixed in with her unknown emotions. I smiled down at her.

"I'm sorry ma'am." I replied, tipping my hat to her, as I would have done for any woman. She smiled back, and reached out her hand to me. I took it. She pulled me out of the diner and into the rain. Then we began to run. We ran for miles without stopping, until we reached a small field on the outskirts of a town in what I believed to be West Virginia. There we sat, a few feet apart from each other. Neither of us spoke for a time, until at last, the questions that had been forming in my mind forced their way to my mouth.

"Pardon me for being so frank, but...who are you!?" I exclaimed, frustrated that I was unable to be any politer to this incredibly fragile looking creature. My impolite manner did not seem to bother her, however, as she moved slightly closer to me, smiling, and responded with her angelic voice.

"My name is Alice. " She said simply, " I've been waiting for you for years."

Again, there was that unexplained emotion. Her answer created yet another question from me. "Then...how did you know about me? I've never met you before, never heard that anyone was searching for me...why would you wait for someone...someone like me?"

Suddenly, I wondered what she really knew about me. How much had she learned? Did she know what a monster I was? How could this beautiful, caring creature stand to be near me?

"Jasper," Her voice brought me out of my frantic thoughts, "Jasper, please. You have a talent, correct?" I managed a nod. She smiled again, and the unknown emotion grew stronger.

"Good. Well, Jasper, I have a talent as well. I am...well...psychic is the best word for it I suppose. I see the future. Many years ago, I saw you in a vision, and I knew that I had to meet you. I had visions of you and I together, and then..." She paused. I felt uncertainty for the first time from her.

"Continue...please." I said quietly. I wanted to hear her angel voice again.

She sighed. "I have seen us joining a...family. A coven, if that makes more sense. You and I, together."

I stared at her in shock as the pieces fell into place. Love. That was the unknown emotion. No one had ever truly cared for me until now. I felt a sudden rush of affection for her, for Alice. No, I corrected myself, for my Alice. She wanted to be with me, and I had never felt so sure of anything in my existence. I wanted to stay with her, to protect her. To learn. I moved closer to her, taking her small, slender hand into mine.

"Alice...I will go with you. I will stay with you forever and eternity, for as long as you wish to be with me."

Later on - Alice Explains

We traveled awhile, until we came upon an abandoned cabin where we could stay. We entered the small room, hand in hand, and Alice took a seat on the rug in the center of the floor. I sat next beside her.

"Now, what do I need to know? What can you tell me?" I asked, eager to understand her. She smiled.

"Well...I guess I should get the hardest part over with first. I assume you've noticed my eyes."

I nodded, my curiosity returning.

"Yes. They're a lovely colour, you know."

She bowed her head slightly, and I realized how much she had liked the compliment.

"Well," She continued, " The reason my eyes are gold is simple. I do not drink from humans." She continued, watching for my reaction.

My jaw dropped. I realized how stupid I must look, and shut my mouth. However, I could not tear my eyes from Alice, and I continued to gaze at her in wonder. She giggled at my bewildered expressions.

"I was waiting for that. I know it sounds completely insane, but it's true. That is how the family feeds as well. They use animals. Carlisle--he's the leader--he has existed that way for hundreds of years. I started years ago, and now I think you should. It makes it slightly more easy to be around people, to fit into society. Will you try, Jasper?"

Her enthusiasm was catching, I found myself grinning down at her.

"Of course I will, Alice. Anything for you. Though..." I paused, not wanting to discourage her. She, however, was even more perceptive than I had given her credit for.

"What is it?" She inquired as she noticed my hesitation, "What's wrong?"

I sighed. "I--I'm sure you know about my past, Alice, or some of it at least, but I'm not sure I can meet your expectations of me. You seem so calm about feeding from animals, so practiced! I don't know if I can ever be that controlled, if you will. After all those years of murder, all that hurt..." I let my voice trail off and glanced over at her.

Instead of the fear and anger that I had expected from her, there was an overwhelming sense of sympathy.

Hesitantly, she reached over and encircled me with her slender arms. I let her. I didn't want to move for fear of hurting her in some way or another. When she spoke, her voice was calm.

"Jasper...personally, I don't give a damn what you've done in the past. I'm sure you had a hard time with everything you've been through, and sometime I'd love to hear it from your point of view. However, in this situation, I don't think it matters. It may be harder for you, I'm not sure yet. But you will be able to resist, I will make sure of that."

I sighed and wrapped my arms around her.

"I believe you, Alice. I just...don't want to hurt you, or disappoint you, or--"

"Jasper!" She cut me off, placing her hands on either side of my head. I looked into her beautiful, trusting golden eyes and saw the sincerity as she spoke.

"Jasper...as long as you try, you'll never hurt me. As long as you try, I'll be happy."

She was so caring! I didn't deserve such an angel, yet I would never think of giving her up.

"You said before that you'd like to hear my story, but...don't you know it all? Also, what is your story, Alice?" I inquired, pulling her closer still, There was a slight pang of sadness from her, and I immediately felt guilty for making her feel that way.

"I'm so sorry. What did I say that bothered you?"

She sighed, but she was glad to get this over with, I cold tell.

"I have no story." She replied simply, "Or, in other words, you are my story."

"But," I protested naively, "Surely--your family?"

She shrugged.

"I remember nothing. Not one bit of my human life. I woke up outside of an Asylum near Biloxi, Mississippi. I don't know who created me, much less who was my family. Luckily, I had an identifying wrist band, and knew my name. Mary-Alice Brandon. I decided that Alice fit me better, so that's the name I use. Finding you was the first thing I ever set out to do."

I gazed at her, shocked. "How long did you search?"

She smiled. "Twenty-eight years."

I sucked in a very unnecessary breath, arms instinctively tightening around her. She didn't fight, but simply allowed me to pull her tiny form into my lap.

"Twenty-eight YEARS!" I exclaimed, completely incredulous. She nodded.

"You were the only thing I knew of."

Overcome with the thought of her persistence, of her compassion, all for me, I kissed her forehead. She leaned into me, and I knew that I couldn't move, even if I'd wanted to.

"Alice." I said, kissing her again, "You have no idea how glad I am that you chose to find me. You are my savior, Alice. My angel." And with that, I sent out a wave of gratitude. Alice gasped at the sudden change in emotion, looked up at me in wonder, then curled up again, content to sit with me. She only had one more question.

"Your story?"

"Tomorrow." I promised, knowing then would be a better time.

"Tomorrow." She agreed.

Me: Please scroll down the page and hit that "Submit Review" button!!