Surprise

"What's the difference?" Alice asked.

"Maybe he wants to prove himself." Rife suggested and printed Jace's face. Long, hollow cheeks, crooked nose, wiry tousled blond hair with matching eyebrows, his piercing blue eyes that created the most focus.

"He looks Russian." Tanith said and crushed the Chinese box.

"Is that a clue as to who hired him?" She examined his portfolio and passed it to Valkyrie.

"Maybe." Tanith tugged the sheet away, "Hey, I'm gonna' show Fletcher this- if you don't mind." she smiled and walked out.

"No prob." Rife quietly answered and printed another sheet.

"Is this the guy?" she asked him, holding up the paper.

"Yeah, that's him." he smiled, "Still single?" knowing she wasn't.

She showed her left hand, "Soon to be married, actually."

"Is it still too late?"

"You seem to be feeling better." Tanith pressed her hand to his forehead.

"Yeah, I can go anytime now. Just choose not to."

"How do you manage that?"

"I cough and moan whenever Clarabelle walks by."

"Smart. OK, while you have fun in Hotel La Infirmary, I have work to do."

"Hey, do I not get a good-bye kiss?" Tanith grabbed a nearby pillow and beat his face, aiming for the hair. "Jheez, not the hair!" she smiled and walked out.

They gathered further information on what they could get their hands on and left for home.

"Hey, you do know it's only four-thirty. Right?" Alice asked, stepping out of the Coupe.

"Yes, but do you want to do more work?" Valkyrie replied from the window.

She blinked and tilted her head, "Never mind." she waved back, "Bye." Valkyrie waved back. Alice ran behind the house and clumsily got to her window sill.

"Hi, you're early." Her reflection said and closed a textbook. "Would you like to resume?"

She nodded. "Yeah." Alice's fingers tapped the surface and she stifled briefly through her new memories. "Hey, I'm gonna go downstairs. Are my parents here?"

"Yes. Desmond is ironing socks and Melissa is making dinner." it smiled and opened the book. Alice frowned at her image and slid the banister railing.

"Hi, Sweetie." her mom said in greeting. "Did you finish your homework?"

"Uh, yeah. I did." Alice poured herself some Coke and sat down. "Anything new?"

"No, Honey." she frowned at the turkey, "Actually there is something."

"Yes?" she slowly asked, "What's up?"

"Who dropped you off today? I thought you were in your room."

Panicked, she sipped her drink. "Oh, Va- Stephanie gave something I left at school to give back."

"She didn't stop by though."

"Yeah, she was in a hurry. Sorry." thinking it's safe she was about to head back upstairs when-

"What did you forget?"

"Oh, one of my rings." she showed her only ring available, her Necromancer ring.

"I haven't seen that one yet, may I?" Alice handed her mom the ring nervously. "It looks like a hematite and why is it so cold?"

"Probably the weather or something." she falsely chuckled and got the ring back.

"Alright then." Melissa placed the turkey in the oven. Alice smiled and ran upstairs.

"You really should be more careful." it said, swiveling to face her.

"Shut up, I know."

"OK then, I then recommend you turn around." Alice blinked and looked over her shoulder to find Jace leaning in her corner patiently.

"Surprise!" he roared in an unrecognizable accent.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Alice shrieked and ducked the first punch. Returning with a stomp to his foot.

"I didn't think it mattered." it complained.

"We are done here." Jace's fist swung at an alarming speed, he punched the small of her back and she crumpled on the ground.

From what she could see, Jace leaned down when the door swung open.

"ALICE?" Melissa screeched.

Wh-what? Yeah, I know! Sorry for the lack of updates. Finals are soon, bike practice. Ect ect! Anyway peace!