Xander's Love

Chapter twenty

Alice's POV

I wish I still had the satisfaction of a great workout to relieve stress. Now when I try to go for a run, I've done nothing. There is so much you have to give up to live forever.
"Good morning, Alice" I looked up to see Dedra coming outside the front doors as I came in from my walk.
"Morning" she carried an empty woven basket.
"Would you like to join me in the garden?"
"Uh sure" I followed her around the back and down the stone path to a metal black gate. When she opened the latch it reviled a beautiful and exotic garden of fruits, veggies, and flowers.
"I'm making jam, will you help me pick the berries?" She asked as she bent down to a long line of vines of mixed berries. Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and red berries.
"Which ones?"
"All of them, I make different kinds and sell them at the market" I bent down and started to pick berries I saw that were ripe.
"You go down to the market?"
"I love it, it gives me something to do" Dedra hummed softly as she put berries into her basket.
"Would you like to help me?" She asked.
"Of course" I smiled.

I left the bathroom filled with steam from my hot shower. I changed into shorts and a white silk tank top with lace around the bottom. I walked out to see Dedra and others walking around.

She looks so sad. I wish there was something I could do.

"It's okay, Dedra" I walked over. Her eyes widen and she smiled but it was mostly filled with shock.
"Sorry, I forget about your power" she laughed nervously.
"I'm headed out to town to buy jars, I seem to be short" she snarled to one of the guys sitting on the kitchen counter. He shrugged apologetically.
"Do you want me to tag along?" I asked.
"I'd love that, but you must put on a wig and contacts" I nodded.
"Follow me"

I looked into the mirror and almost appeared human. I had chosen blue contacts and a light brown wig. Nothing of which I had in my human life but I could be whatever I want so what the hell. I grabbed a tan sun hat and placed it onto my fake brown curled locks and went to find Dedra.

We were allowed to drive ourselves, Dedra picked a small red cruiser, it was obviously an antique but still quite beautiful. The smell of grapes from the vineyard hit my nose as we drove into town. The town itself was quaint. The buildings were older and shades of yellow or tan. The streets were narrow and people enjoyed their afternoon in peace. We arrived to a small shop with no door and walked in. I wandered around the shop as Dedra searched for her jars. A couple came in giggling, the girl had her arm intwined with the boy. He kissed her forehead and she blushed sweetly. I couldn't help but watch them intently as they lingered through the shop. The girl grabbed a vine of grapes and before placing it into her basket, she ate one then went to give her lover one. She teased him and ate it herself instead. They laughed and laughed. A hand on my shoulder startled me. I turned around to see Dedra furrowing her eyebrows.

It's hard to love and not be loved.

There was no response to her thoughts, I followed her back out to the car with not a single word.

I miss him so much, it physically hurts. Look at me.... I'm...so...pathetic. I couldn't even help Dedra with her jam. Once we got home she said I looked like I needed a nap. In a way she was right, I got little to no sleep last night when I arrived. I feel so shitty inside like this will never end.

I stared at the roof of my bed for what felt like hours. The sun was creeping in and the house was filled with talking of people who I hadn't even tried to meet yet. I'm so fucking miserable and that cute couple in town made me sick to my stomach. What am I going to do? Ugh! Get yourself together, Alice!!! I sat up in my bed in frustration and stared at my open luggage in the corner.
"Fuck you" I whispered to no one. I'm never going to be at peace if I stay here. I know what I'm going to have to do.

"Where are you going?" I looked up to see Sebastian in the kitchen drinking a cup of water.
"I have to go" he walked over and I noticed he was shirtless. Really? Like your perfectly sculpted abs are going to help me right now.
"How come? What's wrong?" His expression showed true concern and I let my shoulders drop in frustration.
"There's something I have to do back home, I'll return, don't worry" I went on my toes and planted a small peck on Sebastian's cheek and walked out to the driveway where the cab was already waiting for me.

I wasn't going to arrive back to Colorado in about a day or so. My stress level was far past my own head and I'm dying slowly as I have to sit in this airplane. All I need to think about is how I'm going to land all my thoughts on Xander. I need closure. I won't ever be able to move on if I don't tell him what he has done to me. But how do I want to play this? The angry crazy ex-girlfriend? Or the understanding disappointed one? So many options.

I didn't inform anyone of my arrival and instead took a cab from the airport back home. The only sucky part is that I have to tell the driver to leave me in town. No human can know where the cult is.
"Thank you" I said and handed him the cash. I walked through the town that I was so familiar with and was reminded of the double date Xander and I had. I made it to the edge of town and scanned to see if anyone was around. Nope. Coast is clear. I picked up my bag and sped into the forest. Whoa! What was that smell? I stopped right in the middle. I smell...humans.
"Hello" I turned around and a tall white male stood in a black trench coat. Vampire hunter.
"Who are you?" I snarled. I dropped my bag to the forest floor and positioned myself to run away.
"I wouldn't do that, Alice"
"How do you know my name?"
"We've been following you" we? I looked around the trees and saw more hunters. I'm so outnumbered.
"I know your boyfriend too" he knows Xander? I can't read him mind, I'm not relaxed and I'm still learning! God damn it!
"Your little lover, killed my brother"
"Probably for good reason" I kept looking left and right as the hunters made themselves more visible to me. He chuckled and pulled out a gold dagger. Shit. My heart is racing. I've got to get out of here!
"Oh really? Well then, I've got a good reason to kill you" Run, Alice! I turned around to run and a hunter struck me with a needle that was filled with a white fluid. He pulled it out and my vision began to blur. I fell down to my knees.
"What the fuck did you inject me with?!" The man came back around to face me.
"Your own medicine" fuck... Vampire venom.
"Night night, bitch" he pulled out a black mask and covered my face.

Don't lose...conscious....

Everything just went dark.

To be continued......