Alice's Jasper

Everything went black for a moment.

I returned to the world, staring at the glass, horrified at what had become of me. I was no longer myself; I was a thing with Mary Alice Brandon's features. And those eyes, so

startling red, like blood. And then I went blank again. And then I saw him.

His eyes, too, were red, though not crimson like mine. They were a deep burgundy, rimmed closer to black around the pupil. Snow white skin and honey blond hair, he was the first

I could remember seeing. I started, mesmerized at his face and suddenly I knew who he was. He was my future. My destiny. I would find him, no matter what the cost. He was the

other half of my soul.

This was how I wandered for years though over time I saw many other people. I saw another male, older, a woman with light brown hair, two boys, one large, muscular, the other

lankier, graceful and a girl – startling beautiful, although she was the same existence as I was. The same way I was. Their golden eyes were such a contrast to those of my soul

mate's, a reflection of what was still good in our being. I had not found him for years now and I worried that I never would, yet every day his face appeared in my mind, regularly,

like a pendulum. He is my future, I reminded myself. This would not change. I knew it.

It was misting in Philadelphia when I entered the diner. Why I did this, I had no idea, for I had no reason to eat human food. I knew I would see him soon; he had appeared more

regularly in my visions for the past few months. I longed to see him and I knew he longed to see me – even though he did not know it.

I heard the diner door open and the damp air rushed in as well as something else. A smell so luscious, yet it did not make my mouth water with its venom. I could hear his footsteps,

light as they may be, graceful and wavering over the tiles. I smiled to myself.

I hopped down from the stool I had been sitting on, ignoring the lustful stares of the men in the surrounding booths. I walked over to him and almost giggled. I know I seemed

absurdly happy to him but for once I did not care. This was my moment. I could see the confusion on his face, yet happiness took over when I extended my hand. Quickly, he

placed his own in mine. I smiled up, tentatively this time, at his tall frame. And I knew that for the first time in a long time, he smiled back.