Spring Won't Come

Nineteen: Blake

The door opened just before his knuckles knocked against the wood. Blake held his hand in the air for a moment and then let it drop to his side. He shouldn't have been surprised that Alice had known that he was coming; she knew everything, but that might not be enough this time.

"Hello, Blake," Alice said. She was wearing her usual black dress and her hair was up in a bun, bangs sweeping to both sides of her face.

"Can we talk?" Blake asked, trying not to show the fear and nervousness that seemed to be crushing his head and chest.

"Of course," Alice said. "I already put the kettle on." She opened the door further and moved to the side for him to pass.

A floral and fruity smell wafted through the apartment, followed closely by the sharpness of the herb that Alice brewed her tea with. The lamps near the coffee table were on, setting a low and soothing light over the room. Blake sat down on the couch and took the tea cup that Alice held out to him.

They sipped their tea for a few moments in silence. Blake could feel Alice's eyes on him, excited and expectant. He knew that it was likely that she was already aware of his reasons for coming here. Still, he found it difficult to bring the words out; he felt like what he had to say was an act of betrayal, more than the betrayal he had planned.

"Kayla's been acting weird," he blurted out. He put his cup onto the saucer and folded his hands.

Alice crossed her legs and tapped the toes of her Mary Janes in the air. She took a final sip of her tea, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and placed the cup onto the saucer. Her movements were slow and precise, totally unhurried and unreflective of Blake's mood.

"She's made a poor choice," Alice said flatly, "hasn't she?"

Blake nodded. "She's got religion or something. I don't think it's that big of a deal," the voice told him otherwise, "she's just been different."

"It's more serious than you might believe," Alice said. She pursed her lips in thought, eyes glued to Blake. "This is a betrayal, Blake. She could undo all that we've been working towards. The shadows could take her.

Blake tensed. Did Alice know what he had been planning? What would she do to him if she did? "It's just some hokey bible stuff," he said. "Besides, what do the shadows have to do with being a lame Jesus Freak?"

"The shadows would love nothing more than for innocent Kayla to play the role of the catholic school girl. Evil is drawn to a purity such as hers."

Alice said this without moving a muscle. In fact, Blake wondered if she had even moved her mouth. It was crazy, he knew, so he banished the thought to the back of his mind. He was starting to feel dizzy. Maybe the pressure was getting to him.

"The shadows are moving," Alice continued. "They may have already infected Manny. He's been abusing the power, he's become dangerous."

The hair on the back of Blake's neck stood up. "You know about what he did to Eichman?"

"Of course I do," Alice said lightly.

"Oh," Bake cleared his throat. "Uh, have you seen him lately?"

"I have not," Alice said, her eyes boring into him. "I did sense power," she ran her fingers across her bare neck, "and great pain."

Blake's head was spinning. He hadn't anticipated Manny going rogue, nor had he ever thought that Alice would speak about him this way. Blake had always thought the two of them were close.

"I need your help," Alice said. She unfolded her legs and leaned forward, the darks of her eyes fixing Blake with a disarming gaze.

"What do you need me to do?" Blake asked. If he played his cards right, he might be able to have Alice's power to himself. Then he could protect Kayla and get Manny out of the way.