I remained still, shocked. How did this girl know my name? Who was she? I didn't know her, did I? Maybe I'd seen her in my human life…She was looking at me intently, curious. Her head was cocked to the side, like a child. She kept balancing her feet, relaxed. I noticed her dress was very worn down, and dirty. But it smelled like she did: roses and fruit. Though the smell burned my nose a bit, it didn't bother me.
"I saved you some food." She said, motioning to a dark mass at her feet with her eyes. I'd been so focused on her I'd barely noticed the shape lying below her. I had no idea what it was, but I lunged at it, unable to control myself. I tore the creature apart effortlessly. The warm blood wasn't what I'd expected. It didn't soothe my throat like it normally would have. It tasted different, too. A bit smoked…like grilled meat. Or at least what I remember grilled meat tasted like. But nonetheless, it did help, and I could stop feeding until the burning ache in my throat was reduced to a small scratching. I looked up slightly at the girl. She was looking up, at the stars. Her feet still moved in the air. She really was pretty. In a different way than Maria. Her features were…so young. Her cheeks were still somewhat round, and her nose was curvy, like a child. She reminded me of fairies I'd read about in books as a young boy. She was extremely small. I wiped my mouth and shoved the creature away.
"Thank you." I said, standing up. She turned her wide eyes to me, smiling.
"You're welcome." She had a slight southern accent. Her voice sounded like singsong.
"Did you like it?" she added.
"What was it?" I asked. The strange flavor was not human, I knew.
"Deer. It's my favorite, so far." She said simply. Deer? What kind of vampire drank deer? I was confused. She must have noticed, because she smiled widely.
"I don't eat human. I've tried it but…I didn't like the experience much."
"You don't…" I stopped. I'd never heard of this. She leaped from the fence and stood in front of me. At her full height she reached my chest. She must have been only about five feet tall, a big contrast with my own tall body.
"No, I don't." she said calmly. "Soon, you won't either." She added after a pause.
I blinked and shook my head, confused.
"What does that mean?" I asked, my voice shaking a bit, I realized.
"I'll explain, don't worry." She laughed. "But now's not the time, Jasper."
"How do you know my name?"
"I know some stuff about you. You're from Texas, and you were changed a long time ago…about 80 years ago. And your name, obviously." She said. What the…? I was being stalked?
"How do you know all this?" I said, shocked.
"I have my ways." She said, turning around suddenly. "Ooh, darn. It's going to rain." She said, pouting. She put her fists her hips. "Now, come with me. We should find some lodging." She took my hand and started to walk. She walked strange, I noticed. She almost…danced. It looked like she floated. I refocused on the situation after a few seconds of admiring her walk.
"Woah, hey, wait a minute! I don't even know who you are! What's your name?"
She paused. Turning towards me, I could see that her eyes were on the ground, focused on her memories.
"Alice…I think." She said after a few seconds. "I don't really remember it. It's been almost thirty years since I was asked."
"Alice." I said, smiling slightly. "Alice, I can't…I…don't…" But I couldn't really think of a reason as to why I wouldn't follow her. After all, I had no family, no friends. Peter and Charlotte had gone off together, and the rest were…the past. I had to go on, to make my own path.
"You are, though. I saw it. Don't prove me wrong, it annoys me." She saw it? I didn't ask questions this time. A voice in my head was pushing me towards her. I didn't fear her, I didn't have to. She was so intriguing, too…so strange.
And so pretty.
I sighed at the very moment Alice giggled again.
"Oh good, then, that make me happy." She said. "Good decision making." She smiled. Taking my hand once more, she walked me on as the rain drops started falling from the grey clouds of night.