Sweet Serendipity

Chapter Eighteen : Catching Up

Alice barely saw anyone else walking through the entrance of the large mansion as the Major pulled her forwards, tailing Peter and Charlotte as they waited for the Major to take the lead before them. Unnaturally beautiful beings surrounded them as Alice felt like confidence sinking by the second. They were all dressed in upper class ball gowns and tuxedo's, much like that of the Major's coven.

"Relax darlin'…" the Major's whispering voice flooded through Alice's ears as she shivered at the cool breath that ran over her skin.

The Major lead her through a maze of twists and turns until they were eventually led out back. Alice gasped at the yard laid out before them. It was the most spectacular backyard she'd ever seen. Like something out of a Hollywood movie. The long pool right down the middle was absolutely gorgeous, lights along the inside edges and crystal clear water with jets of water shooting off from the sides. Uniquely, there was a large built fountain in the middle of the pool, and all around was paved in beautiful field stone. Exotic plants were perfectly placed around the yard, and beautiful sculptures of all designs were forged and placed periodically through the gardens.

"It's beautiful." Alice complimented as she turned, grinning, to see the Major staring at her with his intense red eyes. Alice shrunk back initially until she saw the look of utter amazement and adoration in his eyes… or at least what she thought was adoration. What she hoped was adoration.

"You know I have lived over a century, and I've never seen someone as beautiful as you are tonight darlin'." he smiled before continuing to walk as Alice fell in step beside him, cheeks still flushed from his compliment.

"Major…" she called out, stopping suddenly as he turned to look at her. At the moment they were standing under a black cast iron archway, ivy growing up and over the sides as she searched his eyes for something… anything that would prove to her that this connection she felt was returned. To prove that he actually cared. The more Alice searched, the more she felt that he'd locked his heart away so far within himself that he just didn't know how to use it. He didn't know how to open up, to show he cared… he didn't know how to care at all. It was just how it worked. "I'm never going to see them again… am I?" she asked suddenly, that falling feeling in the pit of her stomach dropping as she took a deep breath and pulled away from him, stepping out of his grasp as his eyes remained locked on her face. "I'm never going home." she finally admitted out loud before turned back to stare into her eyes again.

"We had this discussion."

"But my family. Where were they? Where did they go? What happened to them?" she asked, keeping her tone low so the others back in the house still wouldn't hear her as her heart hammered in her chest behind her ribcage. "The last time I was home, they were gone. No trace…"

"There was a trace, you just never looked close enough." the Major suddenly stated in a distantly cold voice. One that made Alice cringe back in horror.

"Wha-"

"That information is my insurance… Alice Brandon." he exclaimed as if it were the easiest thing in the world. "That information, keeps you in check. It keeps you compliant without the force." he added. "I know you consider leaving. I can see it in your face, your eyes. You think that it's hidden, but I see the defiance that lingers." he stated as Alice gulped and moved to step further away from him, that was until his hands snuck out and grabbed hold of both her forearms in the crook of her elbows, keeping her in place as she felt her heart stutter.

She knew it was too good to be true. She knew his feelings for her couldn't be real. He was manipulating her… making her feels things that weren't there. That's what he did… that was his 'gift'. "You're doubtful… hurt, all of a sudden." he stated unexpectedly, pulling her from her thoughts, as Alice pulled back in a cringe, hating that her emotions had gotten the better of her already.

All the same, they haunted her in the back of her mind.

And it scared her how transparent she'd become to him. Even now. Even after he'd explained it.

"But it's not about your family." he stated, staring at her as he adjusted himself, watching her every move, reading into her as Alice tried to pull away to no avail. He was reading her like an open book. "The ball?" he inquired. "No… not the dance."

"Enough… just drop it. Please." she asked almost desperate as he shook his head and lifted her chin so she'd meet his eyes when she tried to avoid his gaze.

"No… the hurt is still there." he read as she took a deep breath to take herself in and put her emotions at rest. "Now some of the others are being drowned out by embarrassment. But if one looks closer… the doubt, the pain, the humility, the embarrassment. And there's still… something." he smirked as Alice flushed and finally pulled herself from his grasp, shaking her head as she stumbled away.

Her heart raced. She'd never felt so exposed. He made her angry, and sad, and lustful, and… and it hurt. Knowing that he'd never feel the same way. Knowing she was just being played for the fool she was. Realizing who she actually was in this life. To him. A human patron… and nothing else.

"Oh… now it hurts more. And you're angry." he observed as Alice gave him one look before striding away, trying to keep her feelings at bay as she heard his footsteps following her close behind. "Is it the thought of being controlled? Captured? Held hostage?" he asked as she huffed and continued, weaving in and out of the paths through the gardens, trying to evade the ever frustrating Major. "No… a part of you excites at that thought. You like the idea of being controlled by a man." he grinned maliciously as Alice shivered at the husky tone in his voice.

"Then is it yourself? Disappointed in yourself? Angry with yourself?" he asked as Alice glared at him, the Major simply laughing as she shook her head. "What could it possibly be?" he mused. "Hmm… is it me?" he asked as Alice took a deep breath, trying to find a highlight still left in her night… trying to find something to redeem the evening she'd originally been excited to attend. "And fright? Afraid I've gotten it right. It bothers you… you're scared I'm right. So what about me pains you?" he circled her, like a predator circling his prey.

Alice shuddered. Her anger now had intensified tenfold, as had her hurt and irritation. She wanted to hit him. She wanted to hit him more than she'd wanted to hit any one she'd ever met. More than she'd wanted to hit Thomas Kerrigan in the fifth grade that had cut one of her pigtails off and Alice had turned around and punched his lights out. He'd carried the shiner for about a week, and Alice had proudly accepted her one day suspension.

"You want to know what pains me?" she finally demanded angrily, fed up with his scrutiny as the Major just sat back and watched her insides tear themselves apart. It killed her that he'd so easily broken through every one of her defences, and yet she couldn't even get through to him.

"Please…"

"It pains me that this… all of this. Is fake." she stated, disbelief and hurt plaguing her every thought as the Major watched her, his expression guarded and warranted. "That you feel nothing, and that I actually thought that you might care for me, despite how little we know about one another. That I was so stupid to think you cared for me as anything other than just your blood bag." she spat before turning and storming back towards the house when the Major suddenly appeared directly in front of her, stopping her in her tracks as Alice took a deep breath and avoided his gaze. "It's fine." she spat. "I finally get it…" she added distantly.

"I will not be embarrassed at this ball by your pointless teenage stupidity." he spat, his tone sending Alice flinching away before she straightened herself, her bruised ego slightly diminishing anything left of her sense of pride. "You understand nothing." he added angrily as Alice took a deep breath, and turned to look him directly in the eye.

"I understand enough." she stated, again, distanced as the Major simply regarded her emotional pallet, once all over the place, but now empty… like she'd completely shut herself down.

Brushing past him, she sauntered towards the house. The confident stand she retook surprised the Major as he watched her back in awe. The sway of her hips had returned, deliciously poised and alluring as her chin-up saunter stirred up something within the Major that made him hunger for her even more.

Watching, Alice stopped and turned to him, her eyes cold and distant, her stance slightly more rigid. "You know… I think I really was capable of falling for you." she whispered, knowing he'd hear… even if her voice was only just a whisper at that. "But you know wanna know the worst thing about falling?" she asked as the Major just regarded, still cooling himself off from their previous engagement. "When no one shows up to catch you…"

almost hitting up 100 reviews! thank you all so much! and I'm so glad to hear back about the links on my profile, I'm glad you all like them!

hope you like the little angst between the Major and Alice, I know you guys want them together... but Ali has gotta have a backbone... she'd never just sit there and take this.

deltagirl74 - I know right. jasper... human? woooooo hahaha. glad you're still enjoying it ;) lemme know what you thought of this chapter as well! little more talkative Major out towards the ending, and a little of that oh so delicious drama between the two (soon to be) love birds !

EriksAngeldeMusica - I knooowwwww... but I gotta split them all up! otherwise it's not as intense all the time! ;p lol. hahahaha. and yaayyyy im so glad that you saw all the links! wait until you see the ballroom, and DORIAN! ... oops... did I say too much? oh noooooo ;) hahaha. um, the jasper/major and the love/lust kinda thing will be explained, but i'll tell you now so it's a little easier to follow. the Major and Jasper are two different personalities/people kind of right? So Alice is actually the Major's mate, but she's Jasper's blood singer. So while Jasper craves her blood, the Major loves/loves Alice. so it's all at an impasse. hope that helps!

Guest - I'm not as tech savy as people tend to think... lol. which link to you mean? the website link?

danny2631 - hahaha OH MY GOD! I have a story called Trance! hahaha idk if that was accidental, or if you meant to do that, but it literally made my entire freaking day. if that was a pun for my other story being called 'Trance', you are no doubt the greatest person of life! hahahahaha. too funny! and I'm glad you're liking it so far!

Hellangel15 - hahaha, why thank you! I'm glad my visual descriptions aren't complete crap, you'd be surprised how happy I am to hear that ;). hope you like this chapter as much as the rest of the story! lemme know what you thought!

Anabeth601 - ohhhhh... hahaha, glad you like the mansion, and Alice is gonna be a beaut! lol haha. the vision will have some what of an appearance, but it's a little different then I imagine you think it'll be ;) haha. hope you enjoyed the chapter!

lowe101 - hahahaha, okay that statement was so simple, but I won't lie... I laughed my ass off!

LilaDanes - glad your still enjoying it, and definitely glad you're into chapter seventeen! I'm totally in love with this Jasper/Major split personality/trying to win after Alice character as well if I don't say so myself. Alice's character will develop a little different then most of my other characters would usually. just because she's so young, and all the variables contributing to the situation, and the people she's being surrounded with. but don't worry... Alice Brandon is DEFINITELY not going to be one easy case to crack!

hope you enjoyed! let me know what you thought