Chapter 10

Kate

"Kristen." Donovan called to me as I descended the stairs, standing with a hand to escort me to a chair. "Samuels, I'd like you to meet my escort, Kristen Arriva. Kristen, Seth Samuels."

Seth produced a devious smile and reached out to kiss my other free hand, while I tried my best to simply nod conspiratorially at Donovan's introduction of us.

"I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this young man had the audacity to strike up a conversation with me," Donovan carried on to explain as we all sat down, "He tells me he's a young scientist, one who has closely followed my scientific career."

"All two papers of it." Seth interjected, making them both chuckle at some secret joke between them. Somehow, Seth had managed to make his inward appearance just as distinguished as his outside one gaining favour with the paranoid but professional Donovan Chaser… Impressive as it was, all I wanted to do was berate him for it.

"Well anyway, I immediately wanted to introduce you two." He gave me a significant look, "I remembered that Lilly… she might be needing someone her own age to talk too right about now, but I see you didn't bring her with you." He squeezed my knee tightly, before turning his attention back to Seth, "You see, with me being the main male figure in her life, I think of these things you understand."

Seth nodded, his jaw imperceptibly clenching, "Of course."

It was obvious to both of us that Donovan was trying to bait me. It was a reminder that he hadn't forgotten Lilly's absence and, as Kristen, Lilly's mother, he must have thought I knew where Lilly was and would do anything to be with her again. Ultimately he must have thought reminding her about her daughter, she would lead him straight to her and be able to bring both of them back to the hotel… it was a good thing we had them as far away from here as possible.

"How old did you say you were Samuels?"

"21, sir."

"Ah. I was that age when I -"

"-wrote your first paper, I know." Seth interrupted, causing them both to laugh again. Donovan especially.

"I'm in such a good mood now; I didn't get much recognition for my work. I think I'll fetch us both another whisky." He got up and walked straight to the bar.

When Chaser was out of earshot, I whirled on Seth, "21?! Samuels?! Science?!"

He shrugged, a boyish grin breaking through his facade, "Yeah. Why not?"

"You're 18," I hissed as quietly as possible, "and barely just. You can't be drinking alcohol."

He pretended to pout, "You're no fun, Katie."

Donovan looked over at us quickly and I leaned back, retaining the illusion we were calmly talking.

"Course I'm not, Mr. Samuels."

He rolled his eyes at my quip, "I have family you know. However and whenever we escape from here, I don't want my name to lead back to them."

I blinked, "That was… smart."

"I'm wounded you think I'm not smart."

"No, it's not that it's just… how did you come up with all this so fast?"

"The Cullens called me right after you called them and told me as much as they could… if the guy was, slash is, a devoted scientist, he has to have work somewhere; I thought the best way to get close to him was to show an interest in it."

"But you don't even look like a scientist!"

"Looks can be deceiving, my dear Kristen." Donovan cut in, returning with two small glasses. He passed one to Seth, but I glared at him until he relented, instead holding it out to me.

"Why don't you take this Miss?"

"Why thank you Mr. Samuels."

I watched the two talk for what felt like hours about work and such. I had to hand it to Seth; he had done his research, and it seemed like there was a lot of it.

He questioned Donovan on some of his past experiments, things he hadn't thought about in a long time, and wondered what he had done to give it up and become the manager of a hotel. Donovan evaded some of his questions, probably to avoid the fact that he had a vampire feeding ground underneath his hotel as well as the cure to all diseases. Seth was smart enough not to push the subject.

When their chat was finally over, Seth offered to escort me to my room when Donovan explained he had some business to attend too. In the elevator, we were finally allowed to talk normally.

"Not so bad then huh, Katie?"

I laughed despite of myself, "Indeed, not so so bad at all, though I still don't know how you managed it."

"Just give me some credit," he winked, "and some trust." The elevators hummed as we kept travelling up. "So should we meet Garrett and call the Cullens together or-"

"I don't think that's a good idea, for me to be in the same room as him right now." I told him, speaking quickly.

He became very quiet, "Has… has something else happened?"

"Seth, I don't want to talk about it."

He nodded, looking away. After a moment he said, "You look stunning in that dress… would've thought you'd want to show him that one…"

"Seth!" I hissed again, this time far louder and more menacing.

I made him flinch, but he managed to keep his voice strong, "Look. We need to work as a team alright; whatever's bothering you two needs to be put aside right now-"

"He tried to bite me."

The words hung painfully in the air.

Seth's voice had devolved into a whisper, "He tried to what?"

"You heard me."

The Elevator dinged on Garrett's floor.

"You can get to your room on your own can't you?"

"Yes, but-"

"I'll see you later, Kate."

Lilly

The waiting game for another call had everyone on edge, especially Alice. I hadn't been around for long enough yet to know everyone's story. But I did know that some of the other vampire's in the Cullen family had gifts too, just like me and Edward. Alice could see glimpses of the future, that's how the Cullen's had found me… but at the moment she wasn't doing all that well.

She sat in the corner with Jasper hovering over her, muttering words I couldn't hear. Edward came over to me on the couch, interrupting my concentration on the room.

"She can't see anything when the wolves are involved."

"Huh?" I turned my full attention towards him.

"It's been pretty crazy since you got here; between you, Kate and your mother, we haven't been as informative with you as we could have been."

"No it's okay. I understand, there will be time for that later. I know you did all this to help me and I'm happy to return the favour."

He smiled sweetly and gave my hand a squeeze, "I owe you a little explanation though, for now. You know Jacob and all his friends who were here? Seth?"

"Yeah."

"Well for now, I'll just simply explain them as wolves. They have a pack and everything… their presence… it creates a blank spot in Alice's visions. She can only see possibilities of what might happen in the future, but with Seth along on the trip with Kate and Garrett, she can't see anything that's going on. It frustrates her, just like it used to frustrate me when I couldn't read Bella's thoughts."

He looked over at his mate who was sitting with the Denali. I hadn't seen much of them when I'd first arrived, other than Eleazar, but Esme had told me that they were Kate's family and they had been really worried about her before I'd shown up.

None of them had come with us to the hotel, and had stayed to themselves mostly. I wondered if it had anything to do with me.

"I think they're just scared that Kate may be a challenge for them to be around. Eleazer is the only one to get close to her and he says it's strange to be near her. They didn't want to put her in jeopardy, so they left for a while; I don't think Kate even noticed they were gone, but they were just protecting her. They came back after Garrett and Kate left for the hotel, wanting to be here to know what was going on."

"I didn't mean to make so many problems for them."

"It's okay. Everyone's frustrated."

"Why did you let him go?" Alice asked aloud all of a sudden, grabbing everyone's attention. She stood from her place in the corner and in a flash loomed over Jacob, who I understood to be some sortof leader of the other boys.

"He wanted to go." he replied simply.

"Yes, but why? This doesn't affect your kind in any way."

"Kate is his friend."

Edward stiffened next to me; he must have heard something Jacob's thoughts

"Edward." Jacob said his name in warning.

Edward didn't even rise from his seat, "Garrett won't like it when he finds out."

"It's not what you think."

"Not like what?" Alice asked, looking as if she hated to be left out.

Edward rested a hand on her shoulder, now standing, a sign that he would tell her later.

"How is it not like that Jacob?" His eyes flicked towards Renesmee, Edwards… daughter.

"If it had been like that, I never would have let him go; all he wants is to protect her and see her happy. Garrett and Kate together is what makes her happy, so if that's what she wants, that's what he wants too."

Garrett

The sound of hard knocking at my door was the only thing that shook me out of my statuesque thinking; I hadn't moved since Kate had left… I was too in awe of myself.

When I managed to get up, Seth had already barged through the door… and in a suit of all things.

"We need to talk." he huffed.

"Is Kate with you?" I asked immediately, hopeful.

He gave me the most incredulous of looks, "What do you think?" I stared at his tight shoulders and angry expression and instantly knew…

"Oh… she told you."

He relaxed somewhat, now that I had said it openly, "She didn't want too." He walked over to the window before he turned back to talk to me, "I mean, how could you?"

I couldn't think of an answer, "I was weak."

"That's not good enough."

"Look, I know you care for her-"

"No, it's more than that, Garrett. You have to think now. Kate is HUMAN; She is vulnerable, she is fragile and she is tempting of all things, to you, and fifty percent of the people in this building."

"I know that. Don't you think I know that?"

"She's strong Garrett… she's not used to being in a vulnerable state with anyone, not just because she's human but because she doesn't know how to handle herself.. I can see it."

"I… I can see it too."

He gave me a small nod. "But if I have to protect her from you too-"

"Then so be it." I told him straight away.

I stared at the boy I once knew three years ago and knew that somehow he had vastly matured. He wasn't just here to be angry at me, he was determined and tactful to make something good come out of it. I knew Kate had picked a good friend in him, and found some of my previous jealousies slipping away. We both wanted her safe, and at the moment, that was enough.

"Good." He nodded once and then took out his phone. We prepared to talk to the Cullens together.

Author's note:

Guys I'm so sorry about the impossible hiatus. I just had a seriously stressful part of my life come to a close, but I am invested into this story. Kate + Garrett forever.

I won't cling to the past though, I'll just say, I tried to fix some details I noticed were missing, like the fact that the Denalis were practically NON-EXISTENT (like why would I do that?)… but hopefully that didn't confuse you too much. Other than that, hope you get something out of this and it will develop into the future. :D