Sweet Serendipity

Chapter Twenty-Five : Show and Tell

A. Brandon

Her dress was ripped. Torn, dirty, bloody, and hanging off her in scraps.

The once soft, smooth, milky-fair skin that graced her body had long since been lost under a horrendous sheen of mud, blood, sweat and tears… and it scared her.

She was running, her feet bare and openly being torn at she tripped and fell across the forest around her. Behind, she could see the mansion in the background. Standing out tall and strong against the threatening grey hues of the sky and storm clouds above. The wind howled across the open pasture and through the thicket of trees that progressively got denser as she continued to run. Thunder cracked across the sky as continuous flashes of angry lightning lit her ways towards her unknown destination. All she wanted to do was run, and run, and run, and never stop.

She was scared.

Terrified, actually. And the more she ran, the quieter it got in contrast to the blistering storm accumulating across the state.

Tears blurred her vision as she fell to the ground, smashing her foot off a fallen log as it split the skin and crimson poured from her open wound. Limping, she struggled to her feet and tried to push onwards, but the exhaustion and her new found wound made moving practically impossible for her.

Alice was going to die.

She could feel it. That growing sense of dread and fear that slowly burned in the pit of her stomach as her tunnelled vision struggled to focus on the blurred figure that was consciously approaching. The pain in her ankle sent black spots whirling across her vision, and made her sick to her stomach… but she knew death when she saw it… and this… this was Alice Brandon's end.

"Alice…" the voice whispered. She couldn't help but cringe away from the taunting falseness of safety and security that rushed her system in that single word alone. "Alice…" it called out again when she shot up suddenly. The darkness of the room making it difficult to focus along with the tears in her eyes as she tried to piece together the strange room she'd woken up in.

"Alice darlin'… what's wrong?"

A cool hand touched her shoulder as Alice instinctively shrieked and jumped away from the stark contact so closely delivered after her nightmare. She could feel the thin layer of sweat that coated her body turn ice cold in the chilly night air, but her heart was beating so rapidly she thought for a second it was ready to leap out of her chest. "Shhhh… shhh…" the same soothing voice called out as her hands wrapped around her torso, trying to hold herself together as the sound of wracking sobs filled the night air.

It was at that point Alice realized it was her own sobs that were so loud in the silence as she struggled to contain her hysterics. "Yer fine Alice… yer safe hun. No ones going to hurt you." the voice called out again as she watched with back breaking tremors as the Major slowly lifted himself off the bed and took a step towards her. His well defined chest and abs flexing as he approached. Even still, in early hours of the morning he looked like a God. Wide awake, with those soul-piercing eyes and deathly handsome. "Come on darlin'… yer gonna be alright… I'm not gonna let anythin' happen to you."

And as much as Alice hated to admit… she believed him.

Slowly, her shaking legs found themselves carrying her back to bed as the Major's open arms wrapped around Alice like a safety net. Engulfing her in security and safety as she struggled to real in her raging fear and shakes. "Nothing's gonna happen to ye Alice… not while I'm here." he whispered in her ear. "Do ye understand?" he asked as she nodded slightly, her back to his chest while she clutched the blankets to her body like a lifeline as his arms remained around her. His body against her as he tried to lull her back to sleep.

Alice was scared. She didn't want to go back to sleep. She didn't want to sleep ever again. Not of that was what it was going to be like from there on out.

She'd stay away forever if she had too.

"Go back to sleep darlin'… nothing's going to happen to you I swear." he whispered as a calm serenity slowly crept over her like a plague infecting her body. Her eyelids closed as if the weight of the world had dragged them down, and her breathing evened out as the Major smiled slightly at the innocence of her sleeping form. How young and naïve she looked while she was completely and utterly relaxed.

His transfixion with her peacefulness was quickly interrupted when he felt her wrestle in his arms once more. The slick sheen of sweat returning as she whimpered in her sleep. The Major frowned, outraged at the nightmares that harassed her dreams. Even his strongest wave of collected calmness only proved to suppress the tremors of her body for a moment while they regrouped then proceeded to hit her twice as hard. It was like watching an ongoing battle and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He'd tried waking her, but she was lost in her own nightmarish world.

This time… Alice wasn't running.

She was tied down to a chair. The ropes burned her torso, wrists, and ankles where it came in contact with skin, and the long-sleeved shirt she wore did little to protect her from the biting cold. Her feet were bare, and frozen. Numbed by the coldness of the room as she shivered and cursed the shorts she was wearing. Her hair was matted and dirty. Her skin felt grimy and disgusting, as if she hadn't washed for weeks, and she was starved. She couldn't remember a time where she'd ever felt so hungry.

Her neck and body ached, covered in angry bruises as she felt the sticky, crusty liquid covering her neck crack and peel away at the movement her body made as she tried to look around for any indication as to where she was. Alice soon realized it was blood that coated her neck, and cringed to think as from where it came from.

A heavy metal door suddenly slid open as her eyes peeled towards the figure walking in. She was tall, and beautiful… and Alice recognized her, but she couldn't remember where from. A man followed her in, she recognized him as well, but in her groggy state, she couldn't put a name to the face she saw in front of her.

"You would have been such a marvellous addition to our cause Alice Brandon." his voice was chilling, and made her sick to her stomach. But alas despite her wretched gagging, apparently it was too empty to produce anything for her to possibly be sick with.

The woman glared at her in disgust while the man smiled.

"I don't want you to hate me Alice. He's a bad man. And you're the only thing we have that can hurt him, so you understand that we had no choice really." he offered, his finger lifting Alice's chin as she winced and tore her head away from his touch. Repulsed by his very presence. "The smell of your blood should draw him in soon enough." he stated, standing up before dismissing the woman as she huffed and left the cold dark room.

Turning back to her, he grinned at her. Cold and malicious.

"I'll miss having you around Alice." he offered. "You've been a real pleasure. And I regret the day we'll have to kill you in front of him."

Alice shivered.

"I guess I'll just have to enjoy you while I still can." before she had a chance to comprehend what he'd said, he was upon her. His mouth hatched to her neck, his hands latched everywhere else.

This time, Alice woke up screaming. Tears pouring down her face as she felt hard, cold, muscular arms restraining her as she struggled and thrashed around in bed. She was sitting in-between his legs, her back to his chest and his arms wrapped around her body as she struggled.

What felt like a millennium later, she finally calmed down. The tears still fell, but her shivering had stopped, and so had her flailing limbs. Still, though… the Major cradled her in his arms. "Alice," he whispered as she continued staring straight ahead. She didn't want to think, or talk, or converse, or be evaluated by him… and she sure as hell wasn't falling back asleep. "What happened Alice?" he asked as she shook her head, the fear flashing up once more inside of her as she watched the whole scene play out in front of her own eyes again. "Tell me… it will make it better… I promise." he whispered, pressing a feather light kiss to her neck as Alice cringed and suppressed a shudder that threatened to send her body into another fit of uncontrollable tremors. "Please…" he whispered as her resolve seemed to melt away at that single word.

"I-it was cold…" she whispered, her haunted eyes clenching shut at even the fresh memory of the dream still playing out in front of her eyes. "And dark… and there was a chair. And I was tied to it." she continued, her voice small and weak, the Major's quiet, feral growl making her jump momentarily before she realized he was growling at the description of her dream. "The ropes hurt… and there was a woman, a-and a man… and he said that he needed me to hurt someone else." she whispered, tears falling from her eyes as the Major's arms tightened around her, hugging her to his body while another growl pried out of his lips. "He said that he'd have to kill me…"

"A-a-and then he bit me neck…" she cried as suddenly, his comforting arms were gone and his body disappeared from behind Alice's. He was up and pacing back and forth, the angered look in his eyes still instilling fear in Alice… but nothing compared to the dream she'd had.

"What happened?" he demanded as Alice shook her head. She didn't want to relive the rest of the story… she didn't want to tell him what happened.

"What happened?!" he asked again, this time more forceful as Alice cringed slightly before looking up with tear stricken eyes to meet his own steely glare. Her face became void of all emotion as the Major watched her closely. Analysing every part of her body language, face, and eyes while his gift sifted through her emotions.

"It hurt. He bit me, and it hurt like nothing I've ever felt before. It was like every break, and bruise, and sprain, and tear in the world overtaking my body… like he was sucking the life from me and there was nothing I could do to stop it." she explained. "His hands were everywhere, and-and they…"

In an instant, she was in his arms again… his face in her hair as she took in a deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart.

"I-I know we had a deal… but I can't do that again. I don't want to feel that pain-"

"Pain?"

"It hurt to bad." she whispered. "Lock me up forever, kill me… do anything, but please. I can't go through that again, I'm sorry… please, please don't bite me."

"Alice… I… you… that was a nightmare." he whispered, taking his face in her two hands as he lifted it so her eyes could meet his own. "That was nothing like being drank from feels like… didn't Charlotte tell you?" he asked as Alice nodded, remembering clearly the unbelievable description she provided. But that didn't mean it was true. What if they were just saying that to put her at ease? Make her agree to it.

Alice didn't want to be hurt again.

"You don't believe me." he whispered suddenly as Alice's eyes met his.

"I'm sorry."

"Give me your wrist." he said suddenly as she shot him a confused look. "I will show you what it feels like."

ErinksAngeldeMusica - I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW RIGHT?! haha, I know, I fangirled over this as well ;P no, i'll keep it the same, the vampires will not be sleeping, but the can still relax ;)

Animalartist124 - wow, at the library? I cried at a book in the library one time. and not little quiet tears, like I was full out sobbing like crazy, you wouldn't believe it. it was hilarious but the librarian told me if I couldn't control my emotions when reading the book to either put it back or take out the book and remove myself from the area and go somewhere that I could cry freely without disturbing others... no joke.

deltagirl74 - hehehe, well, you got your wish. THAT's how he reacted ;)

Rzweenie - aww, thank you! you're beautiful!

The-Strange-Case-Of - haha, I'm glad you liked it ;p I think that's how it works. lol haha and I know what you mean! it's crazy! it'd be a nightmare!

LizzyWXOX - haha, lol I'm glad you liked it!

LanaLou5 - I'm so glad you're liking it. you're review actually made my day! ;P

LilaDanes - I know what you mean. it's so difficult to decide what to doooo! hahaha. and ohhhh just you wait... you'll like what comes next ;)

lowe101 - lol major sexy? I laughed my ASS off at ur review, it actually cracked me up like you wouldn't believe haha

Wink N Nodd - THANK YOOUUUUU!

Lil-Ruty - glad you like it so far... and I'm all about those smiles haha. enjoy!

hope you guys enjooyy!