I kept my head ducked low as I traced lines over the marble bar top with one hand, the other anxiously tapping away.

The diner was littered with its regular lunch crowd, every other table or so occupied by lonesome humans; in these parts of town, everyone seemed to stick to themselves.

"Ma'am?" a gruff voice asked.

I did not look up at the waiter as he stood on the other side of the counter, cleaning out a glass with his rag.

"Yes?" I answered, working a low hum into my voice to disguise my soprano bells.

"Can I get you something?" He seemed genuinely concerned for me, yet equally cautious of how antsy I was.

"Water would be fine," I said softly.

It was only water, not much of a pain to wretched back up. And I knew it would placate the man for at least a while longer.

He simply nodded, took the glass he had been drying, trudged over to the tap, and returned with a tall glass of cool water.

I picked it up daintily, working to hide my eyes from the man whom now appraised me. The water—as anything other than blood did—tasted like a bland river of lukewarm bitterness surging down my throat.

However, I hid my disgust well, thanking the husky waiter after a short sip. Satisfied, he went to take down an order for a pair of women who had just walked in, both settling themselves a few stools from me.

Too close for comfort, my jaw clenched tightly as their scent burst into my lungs, clouding my head.

But no matter how badly my throat burned and yearned for sweet, scarlet relief, I forced myself to think of other things. Jasper was close, or I was at least hoping so. I could tell it wouldn't be long now as I searched into the future and felt his presence near.

While I waited, I tried to keep from being too anxious. I didn't want the concerned waiter to suspect me any further, and it really was only right that I calm myself down; being jittery never solved anything, even if it was a state I often fell into.

Desperate for distractions, while still trying to avoid my burning throat, I played with the future.

I began with the two women down at the end of the bar, successfully ignoring their pulses and focusing on their chosen paths.

It was sometime later that evening, or rather, the next morning—3 am. Just leaving a grungy night club, extremely intoxicated, each with a gentleman on their arm. A taxi ride to the high end of town. They all enter the loft, fumbling in their stupors. Then, only lust. Gasoline kisses for everyone.

I stopped there. It wasn't fair of me to invade their privacy, no matter how much they truly didn't deserve my honor.

Looking around for my next distraction, I idly sipped my water to keep the waiter at bay, swiveling on my stool so that my back was facing him.

Next, I saw a man, forty-five, a baseball cap pulled over his forehead securely, and pain on his face as he sipped a steaming cup of coffee.

11 pm, later that same day. A parking lot full to the brim, every spot taken. Flashing neon lights boast: "SHOW GIRLS".

Again, I stopped before this one had finished, my eyes falling on the heavy, golden band around his left third finger. I turned away from him, sighing, wondering how little capacity for common sense this man must've had. Despicable.

Humans. I had no recollection of ever being one, therefore, we were set apart; I had no understanding of them, and they no knowledge of me.

Of course, it was odd knowing that—knowing that, to the world, I was simply a fairy tale. I was a figment of some twisted man's mind, or the nightmare of an overly imaginative child; I wasn't real to these people around me. To each human being in my vicinity, I was just another lonely young woman, grabbing some lunch on my break or deciding when it would be best to write my psychology paper or working to sort out a spat I'd gotten in with my boyfriend. They had not one clue of the danger that sat yards from them.

Thus, knowing that I did not exist, and in turn was not feared, I could kill and kill and kill and never be caught—an appealing yet sickening idea.

Just then, my body shuttered. I could feel him, feel Jasper so close. My anxiety returned as my eyes shot to the door and remained fixed there, hungry for the face I had only see in my visions.

Forty-three seconds…

C'mon, c'mon…

Twenty-two seconds…

Hurry up!

Five, four, three…

And there he stood—more real than he had ever been before. I had seen him, anticipated him, expected him. But the feeling that he stood before me now was so surreal. I felt as though I knew him so completely, though I did not.

He walked in, head hung low as mine had been, his hands in his pockets. His golden wavy locks were brought back behind his ears in a fairly groomed matter, revealing a handsomely composed yet painfully scarred face. His eyes were dark with a hint of scarlet, and the way in which his jaw was clenched tightly spoke clearly of how thirsty he must've been—he needed a good, long drink.

"Jasper," I exclaimed, overcome with excitement.

His face changed when he had heard his name, almost as if he had forgotten about the fire in his throat all together. He looked around, confusion and fear in his eyes, unable to find who had called him.

I ran to him then, my elation at its peak, planting myself right before him and meeting his eyes.

He looked at me in such a curious way, then, as if I were a godsend to him; all that fear and confusion vanished, melting into what seemed like pure admiration.

But my mind, racing as it always did, was not one for taking serious note of his change in expression, instead rushing into pleasantries, not bothering to mask the bells in my voice.

"You kept me waiting a long time," I crooned, smiling wide.

He ducked his head politely, seeming ashamed of the wait I'd endured, as if he would have known any better. "I'm sorry, ma'am."

I felt my smile spread once more, and then held my hand out for him. Without missing a beat, and much to my surprise, he took it instantly, his eyes still full of wonderment.

"Now," I said excitedly, "let's get out of here; I know a place."

Our hands not leaving one another's, we made an exit as fast as was possible without notice, out into the clouded, dark and rainy day.

I clasped his hand tightly in mine as we trudged through back alleys under the cover of tall brick walls. I could see that it would remain overcast until dark, but I thought it best we avoid what humans we could.

"Where are we going?" he asked, a certain measure of anxiety in his tone.

"Out of town, I think. The weather will have improved by tomorrow morning, and we ought not to be around when it comes. Do you mind that?" I asked, ready to rearrange my plans if he objected.

"No, that sounds just fine to me. I was planning on doing so regardless; now I'll simply have company."

"You don't mind that so much, do you?" I asked, anxious and unsure.

He laughed then, surprising me. "You've no clue how very much I don't mind it."

I hid my smile from him.

"I'm Alice, by the way." I turned round to look at him now.

Still, he held that same expression, as if he were baffled by me.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," he finally managed; his eyes lit with a spark as he spoke the words.

I giggled embarrassingly, and then turned back to look at where we were headed.

From then on we kept silent as we walked. Only the sound of our light footsteps on the pavement echoed up the walls around us as we fled the city of out sin in an attempt to find salvation.