Chapter 24: Alice's Warning

Carlisle began to make house calls to see if Thatcher was alright. However, Meredith knew the reason Carlisle was really there. No doubt it was to keep an eye on the nomads' choice of target. Though it seemed futile now. The three hadn't made an appearance since the failed trap. Meredith hardly thought they were gone, as they had pulled this stunt before. Still, she was glad she had gotten a little peace. Besides that, even if they weren't gone, they still did as they pleased, no matter who was watching Meredith. True, Carlisle's visits did help her sleep a little better at night, but not by much. At least, in the beginning of his visits. Towards the end, Meredith found herself merging back into a life of ease. Just as she had predicted, she missed the last bit of school before winter break. But it didn't matter much; at least now she had ample time to catch up on her studies. She devoted entire days to doing just that, making sure she'd have everything done by the time break was over. Besides, she also needed time for her friends. During one visit, Jessica said that there would be a New Year's party at Tyler's house. She also mentioned that if she missed this one, she would be forever damned by the party gods. Meredith laughed at that, glad things were starting to revert back to their old ways.

"I'll be sure not to miss it," she had told her.

"Well you better!" Jessica threatened lamely. "It's the biggest party of the year. See... Tyler doesn't like to tell people, but his family's loaded! He has such a big house!"

Meredith bit her bottom lip. "Would you mind... if I brought Derek with me?"

Jessica frowned at her, obviously not keen on the idea. But then, she sighed and ran her hand through her long hair. "If you must," she said, exasperated. "I don't know what you see in that guy, quite honestly. He freaks me out..."

"He can be a little intimidating," Meredith admitted. "But really... you just haven't seen his sweet side."

Jessica snorted in disbelief. "Let me guess? Hard candy shell but soft and chewy center?" Meredith nodded with a bright smile. Jessica shook her head. "Well... I can't say I like the idea... But what the hell. I'll try to see through his emo-tastic persona. Just for you."

Meredith hugged her. "Thank you," she said kindly.

That was just a few days ago. This night, she lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She still had yet to ask Derek to go with her. But it was at night, so there shouldn't be too much of a problem. Besides, Meredith still strove to push Derek into a more sociable state of mind. Despite him being a vampire. She turned her eyes and spotted the schoolbooks that rested on her bedside table. For lack of a better observation – what an odd year. And it was really only starting. She still had spring and summer to knock out. Then her senior year... And that was only high school. What did the future have for her after high school? What about college? She put a hand to her forehead. Her mind was whirling. She was thinking about too many things all at once. She wished she could just calm it, but it was no use. There was just too much...

"Meredith..."

Something clicked inside her. She felt a familiar warmth spread over her body. Slowly, she sat up, her eyes turning to the window. A face sat behind the glass. Alice's face... What a beautiful face it was. Her smooth, rounded features sat within her perfect hair, her eyes glistening. She let her long fingers trail against the glass, the azure dress she wore fluttering against the cold wind. "Meredith..." she cooed. "Please let me in, my dear... It's so cold out... let me in..." In a trance, Meredith slipped off of her bed and went to the window, her fingers stopping just inches from the ledge. She shouldn't... something within her told her she shouldn't open the window. It clawed at the inside of her brain, begging her not to open the window. Meredith looked to Alice. She had such a sweet face. "Please, my darling... open the window... let me in..." She pleaded with such a silken, gentle voice. Her beautiful countenance made Meredith's brain numb over with warmth. Slowly, she unlocked the new window and opened it (Mark had replaced it after he and Derek had their falling out). "Now tell me I can come in..."

"You can come in..."

Suddenly, a rush of cold air knocked her back and she fell to the bed, coming to her senses. Alice slipped into her room, closing the window behind her. Her soft, angelic features once more became bony and angular. She turned to Meredith, her cunning eyes burning into the human's. Meredith scrambled to the head of her bed, gripping her cross tightly. She held up a thin hand. "Relax. I am only here to talk to you." Meredith didn't let her guard down.

"Then why did you trick me into letting you in?" she demanded.

"I didn't think you would otherwise," said Alice honestly. She began to slowly move about the room, taking in its details. Her fingers trailed along the walls; her step lighter than air. It almost looked as though she was some daunting ghost, hovering about her bedroom, rather than walking. "So... you seem to have gotten much closer to Derek..." She turned her sharp gaze to Meredith. She swallowed hard but said nothing. A low laugh made it out of Alice's slim throat. "Are you aware of the tale of Lenore, Meredith?"

"L...Lenore?" Meredith had heard that name before. She racked her brains. "Isn't it... the woman in 'The Raven'? The poem by Poe, right?"

Alice tilted her head to the side, an amused smirk on her face. "Not quite," she corrected. "This story was written much earlier than anything Mr. Poe ever wrote. You see, Lenore... was a foolish young woman. Perhaps no older than you yourself. Her love leaves her one day for war. She waits for him, as she promises to do. When he returns, he is nothing more than a moving corpse. And yet, she cannot push him away. For to her, he is still her love. He takes her to a grave and pulls her in, where the woman is doomed to a life of damnation." Alice rounded to the girl, moving closer. "Right now, your adorable relationship may seem quite fun. But it is only a matter of time before it becomes sour, my dear..."

Meredith felt herself shutter and frowned. "What are you talking about...?" Though her cheeks filled with red. Did she already know of she and Derek's romance? Meredith had chalked it up to that, as she had no other real label for what they had. "And besides... how do you know it'll get bad? Or that it'll even last long enough?"

Alice kept her knowing smile and stood up straight, looming well over Meredith. She spun around and continued to walk around the room. "Yes, I suppose you have a point." She looked over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling with a malicious playfulness. "But you see... aside from my dark gift, I have a bit of a knack for... predicting things." She turned and leaned against the wall she stood by, the silken fabric of her mid evil dress shimmering against Meredith's lamp light. "It's something I developed when I was human. I suppose I was born with it. It's more of a feeling, really. There are some things... that I know will happen in the future." She looked at her nails casually. "You can stop your petty little tryst right now, and nothing will come of it. Wait until it is no longer dangerous and move. Far away. Never seek him out, never cross paths with him again." Alice's eyes shifted upwards, staring into Meredith's.

"Because if you don't... then I'm afraid you will suffer."

"Suffer...?" Meredith repeated, her blood running cold. "What do you mean...? None of this is making sense!" Her mind was reeling. What was Alice talking about, suffer? Was she trying to scare her? Indeed, Alice seemed to be the type of person who would play with another person's well-being for her enjoyment. Like a cat, toying with a scared, half-starved mouse.

"I mean, you will suffer," Alice repeated. "In fact, you will suffer to the point of no longer wanting to live. Your worst nightmares will be realized... and you will lose yourself in a spiral of misery and despair."

Meredith began to grow angry. Alice was being plain as day, but at the same time, it was like she was talking in riddles. Meredith shook her head. "Quit it!" she snapped, growing even more confused and irritated. "Just leave me alone, Alice!" She was just trying to scare her. That was all. She was trying to frighten her for her own enjoyment. And Meredith didn't like the idea of being used for amusement. Alice shrugged, turning to the window.

"Well... you can't say I didn't warn you." She moved to the window and opened it, turning to look at Meredith with a deep gaze. "But to love a vampire is to curse yourself to hell. Remember that in the time to come." Turning, she jumped from the room and vanished into the night. In a rush of frustration, Meredith hurried to the window and slammed it shut, locking it. She then went to her bed and flopped onto it, yanking her pillow to her chest. Why did Alice love to torment her? Had she done something offensive? Or was it simply because she and Derek were now close? Meredith shut her eyes, furrowing her brow as she tried to calm herself. Alice's words had made her inexplicably angry. She surprised herself at just how furious she was. Perhaps it was because things were finally starting to become pleasant with the boy? And now... Meredith had Alice's words hovering over her like a daunting spirit. She ground her teeth, her nails digging into the pillow.

She refused to believe such nonsense. She wouldn't even classify her affection as love, anyway. She liked him, surely. They connected on an emotional level, and she doubted either of them would do any less then their best at making the other happy. But after Finn, she was not eager to admit that she was in love with anyone. Her body became less tense and she opened her eyes to slits. Yes... the way she felt around Finn... it was much different to the way she was feeling now. Back then, she was charmed. Swept away even by the boy's dashing personality and handsome face. Derek... was the complete opposite. He did not try to woo her, as Finn had done. Their relationship was not "boyfriend, girlfriend" status. It was something... deeper then that. Meredith sighed. She had only really started facing these feelings for a couple days, and already she was classifying their relationship as a deep one. She put a palm to her forehead. How much of an idiot did she have to be? Her heart was nearly shredded by her last boyfriend, and here she was wanting to be in a deep engagement.

Meredith sat back up, staring at her shoes. No... she couldn't let these things weigh her down. She decided then that she would let whatever happen happen. Even if it did end terribly, she knew that Derek's heart was in the right place. She could feel safe with him, ironic as it was. As for Alice's warning... so what? It wasn't as though they were married... And if Derek so much as mentions a grave, Meredith would stay well away from it. Of course, she doubted that the same situation would arise... but still...

She nodded, determined. She would not let Alice's words deter her. She steadfastly refused to allow Alice – the cunning, sly, seductive Alice – to ruin what she and Derek had. It wasn't much of anything, in reality, but Meredith still wanted it to exist.

"My head hurts." Meredith put her face in her hands. All this thinking... and so late at night! She laid along the bed, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't think anymore. So, turning off her light, she rolled to her side and forced her eyes closed, drifting off into a dreamless sleep