Chapter 9

Egypt

Leah watched Demetri pace back and forth across the airport floor. She knew he was focusing all of his attention on the map in his head, watching Joham's mind move across the earth. The group had travelled to Moscow by plane. They had been in Russia for all of five minutes before Demetri leapt to his feet looking agitated.

"They're gone," He had said with a growl. "They're on a plane headed towards the Mediterranean. Well, Joham and his two eldest children are anyways."

"Serena and Maysun," Carlisle reminded him.

Leah had a feeling Demetri didn't give a shit what their names were.

They quickly debated the idea of splitting up. Emmett, Embry, Tanya, Leah and Felix were in favor. They argued it would be smarter for half the group to go after Joham and his two daughters while the other half kept watch over Joham's new 'assistant' and possible child.

Demetri, Carlisle and Seth seemed to think they should stay together. Demetri argued that the mission was to reprimand Joham, he was their target. Carlisle and Seth just didn't think it was wise to break the group up.

"We don't know what this guy has up his sleeve," Seth pointed out, "what if he's got a bunch of new helpers or whatever that Demetri just didn't see."

It was a valid point, and Leah was impressed, but her group won out. They divided; Felix with Emmett, Tanya, Seth and Demetri with Leah, Carlisle and Embry. Felix's group would stay in Russia while Demetri's would board the next plane to the Mediterranean.

Leah was glad when Carlisle and Embry sat in between her and Demetri. She felt badly for her comment, but her guilt also made her mad. She shouldn't feel bad for insulting a leech. She had killed leeches before and not batted an eyelash. But she hadn't known those vampires. Never spoke to them or laughed with them or been carried across Florence by them.

Plus, it annoyed her that she was still thinking about it. Demetri had definitely moved on. She snuck a glance his way. He was resting his head back against the seat with his eyes closed. Focused on the map in his head. Leah watched the people around them wander to and fro.

"Egypt," he said calmly to Carlisle. The four of them stood and purchased tickets on the next flight to Egypt which left in one hour.

"Lucky, very lucky," Carlisle remarked.

Leah found absolutely nothing lucky about their situation and cringed upon discovering her plane seat was next to Demetri's.

She debated quickly swapping with Carlisle while they boarded, but figured that he would think it immature of her. She sat down carefully and gave Demetri a quick nod. She noticed his eyes were blue.

"New contacts?" she asked half in an attempt to be civil and half legitimately curious.

He looked surprised by her question or maybe he was just surprised she was talking to him.

"Yeah, I like the brown better though."

"Why?"

He paused before speaking, "that was the color of my eyes when I was human."

His gaze had turned intense. Leah knew he was looking at her own brown eyes. She reflected on the story Carlisle had told her about Demetri. He had been a human in Egypt. She wondered if he was thinking about that or if it had been so long it hadn't even occurred to him.

The flight attendants flocked around Demetri and Carlisle nearly the whole flight. Leah put her headphones in and blasted her music so she didn't need to listen to their annoying chatter. Somehow, she drifted off.

She woke up some hours later with her head on Demetri's shoulder. Typical. She jerked her head away from him. She thought maybe he shot her a disappointed look, but it happened so fast she wasn't sure. She looked cautiously towards Carlisle and Embry to see if they had noticed. But Carlisle was engaged in a book and Embry was out cold with his mouth hanging open.

She sat up straighter in her seat and cleared her throat. She was careful to avoid looking at Demetri again and, instead, stared out the window at the clouds for the remainder of the journey.

They landed in Cairo just as the sun began to set. Leah received a major culture shock as she walked out into the Egyptian air. She stared at the women, covered from head to toe, with scarves wrapped around their heads. Some of the men wore clothing Leah was used to, but others dressed in garb Leah had never seen before.

The streets were cluttered even more so than Florence or Seattle. Everyone meaning people, horses, carts and cars fought for space in the narrow roads. Leah and her group stayed off to the side. People shot curious glances towards Demetri and Carlisle who had cloaks drooped over their shoulders and heads to block their skin from the sunlight.

"Joham is at the outskirts of the city, on the South side," Demetri murmured to the group. "He's moving around quite a bit. I can't be sure where he's headed."

"What are our chances of finding him in this?" Carlisle asked.

"Could take a few hours," said Demetri, "but we'll get him."

Suddenly, Demetri stopped in his brisk pace. Embry walked right into his back.

"I think your friends want a word with you, Carlisle."

"Uncanny, very uncanny." A smiling, ebony skinned vampire emerged from the crowd behind them. He had a genuine smile and was very young. Leah knew that, even though he appeared young, he was a vampire of immense power. Power no one had ever seen the likes of; the ability to manipulate the elements.

"Benjamin, how have you been?" Carlisle smiled and embraced the young vampire. "Tia, it's nice to see you, as well." Benjamin's beautiful mate appeared at his side. She, too, hugged Carlisle in greeting.

"Demetri," said Benjamin nodding toward the Volturi vampire, "Leah, Embry."

Leah and Embry smiled and nodded. Leah was surprised he had remembered their names.

"Amun has taken a vacation this past month in South America. I'm sure he will be very disappointed to have missed you all."

Again, Leah was forcefully reminded of the story Carlisle had told her. She observed Demetri's expression at the mention of Amun. She wondered what he thought of the vampire that had altered the course of his life. He gave no outward reaction to Benjamin's words, but continued to look the young, Egyptian vampire up and down curiously.

"What brings you all to this part of the world?" Tia inquired her voice bordering on suspicion.

Leah realized how ridiculous of a group they must have appeared to Tia and Benjamin. Hadn't, a little over a year ago, the same group of people gathered together, with many others, prepared to kill and die? If she had been Benjamin or Tia she would have been pretty pissed off, not to mention taken aback, by the apparent comradeship between Demetri and the rest of them.

"Joham," said Carlisle after an exchanged look with Demetri.

"Ah," understanding shown in the Egyptian vampires' eyes.

"He's on the south side of Cairo," said Demetri, "perhaps you could help us find him? The city has changed drastically since I was last here."

"Of course," said Benjamin, "You tell us where to go and we'll show you the fastest way to get there."

Between the combined efforts of Benjamin and Demetri, they made it to the south side in an hour's time. At this point, Embry's stomach had began to grumble loudly. Leah was hungry also, but careful to not complain. She wanted this whole thing over with as fast as possible. The foreign atmosphere and company of so many vampires was putting her on edge.

"There's the best restaurant a couple blocks to the right," Tia offered, "Well, I have heard great things about it at least."

Embry smiled graciously, "I don't take long to eat, I promise."

None of the vampires complained about the break, but Leah could see the stress in Demetri's face. He wanted this whole thing over as badly as she did. She noticed the sun had begun to set and she hoped they wouldn't have to stay the night.

At the restaurant, she ate a good deal faster than Embry who ordered nearly half the menu. While she ate, she listened to Tia and Benjamin talk.

"I remember when your uncle use to sell fish from the river right in this spot," Said Tia smiling towards Benjamin.

"And use to always have some freshly smoked for us," Said Benjamin smiling back.

"You knew each other when you were human?" Asked Embry through a mouth full of food.

"Yes, we were best friends, actually," said Benjamin, smiling, eyes glazed over as he stared at Tia.

"Well, I was madly in love with him, but he wasn't interested."

"Not uninterested, just immature," Said Benjamin. "I never realized how much I loved her until after I had changed and, for awhile, I thought it was too late. But, after a couple years, I realized a life of eternity was worth nothing without Tia. Amun didn't think it wise, and he was probably right, but I went to find her."

"I had married a merchant," Tia continued, "but, I was unhappy. He was a cruel, old man. Even after the years, I never stopped loving Benjamin. When he came to me I could not bear the thought of losing him again."

"Even seeing what he had become?" Asked Leah, shocked.

"Yes, I saw that it was still Benjamin even though his appearance had changed."

And diet.

"I would become anything for Benjamin," She said, so softly, staring into his eyes with such passion that Leah looked away, blushing.

"And I, would be anything for her," Said Benjamin taking Tia's hand in his own.

"It's quite remarkable you managed to change her successfully being so young, yourself, at the time." Carlisle noted, appraising the couple.

Benjamin shrugged, "My love is stronger than any desire for blood. It was then and is now. I did not find it difficult to stop knowing I endangered her life."

Leah began tapping her foot quickly. All of the love talk was stressing her out. Suddenly, the restaurant was far too warm. She needed air.

Demetri beat her to it. "Joham's on the move again," He said standing abruptly. "I'll wait outside, I don't want to lose him."

Leah sat, torn, but then stood. "I'll wait outside, too." She announced quickly, then she followed after Demetri.

She found him standing up against a wall with his arms crossed. He was grinding his teeth together and he looked, almost, like he were in pain. She stopped her approach some ten feet away. He probably didn't want to talk to her. She turned to leave him to his thoughts, but a group of rowdy, loud men turned the corner.

They saw her and let out wolf whistles. They made kissy faces her way and started speaking in a language she didn't understand. Their eyes stared, unabashed, at her chest and hips.

She bared her teeth at them, ready to defend herself, if necessary. She didn't appear it, but she was stronger than any of the men due to her greater strength as a shape-shifter.

One of the men reached to touch her hair. She spun and kicked him in the face. The force broke his nose and sent him onto his back. He groaned in pain and clutched at his face. Another one came at her with a drawn fist. She ducked and jabbed her elbow into his crotch. He whimpered and fell to his knees. Two attacked at the same time, from the left and the right. She tripped the one on the right and ducked around the other. She slammed her left arm into the back of his head and he fell over on his face.

The drunk men struggled back to their feet and limped away murmuring darkly in their language.

Laughter filled the air and Leah turned back to Demetri who was grinning at their retreating backs. He walked over and put his arm around her calling out something in their language. One of them turned around and gave him an obscene gesture.

"I'm glad I let you have that one. I didn't know you could fight like that when you were human." He realized his arm was still draped around her shoulders and dropped it.

Leah couldn't help, but smile. "Neither did they. I hope they remember that for the future."

"They will." said Demetri, confidently. "I'm never going to forget that." He sighed and leaned back up against his wall. "It's amazing, there are just some things, some situations, that are impossible to forget. I find, it's usually the bad memories that stay." He frowned into the street. The look of pain had returned.

Leah felt a stab of sympathy. "Well, that was morbid." She remarked glancing at him. "I mean, I agree with you, though." She frowned, "Those men were scum bags." Part of her wanted to hunt them down and threaten them or something. She worried about the women they would, no doubt, abuse in the future. Women who could not defend themselves.

"I use to hunt that type," said Demetri, as if he had read her thoughts, "when I was first changed. I thought it justified the whole thing."

Leah was surprised by his honesty. She was even more surprised when she found she had no cruel reply to his statement. He looked like he was in too much pain already.

"Sorry, that must have been uncomfortable for you to hear." He muttered after a moment of her silence.

She cleared her throat and began, uncertainly, "You were changed here, right? Carlisle said that, I think." She discreetly avoided his eyes, but a slight blush crept into her cheek. She felt guilty for knowing so much about him from Carlisle's story.

His eyes locked on hers. He straightened up and stepped closer to her a dark shadow falling over his face.

"Yes, I was a human here, centuries ago. What else did Carlisle tell you?"

"Just that Amun changed you because he could tell you would have gifts as a vampire," said Leah tripping over her words. Demetri hadn't looked so dangerous since the encounter with the immortal child.

He closed his eyes and fell backwards against the wall again. "I haven't been here for centuries." He paused for a minute looking around, agitated.

"My parents died here. In this city. I hardly remember them now. I started picking pockets right after their deaths. I was eleven, I think. My sister was six. We worked together. She would do flips and cart wheels. She was the cutest thing. I would rob people of everything they had on them while she acted as a distraction. I started stealing form carts then houses. It was a natural skill for me. My sister and I had a group of street kids we lived with. Life was, well, it was good. Of course, I had no idea how good it was, at the time. Amun changed me and I was enchanted by the new life before me. I was improved in every way I could imagine. Furthermore, I had a gift, as Amun and I soon discovered. Have I ever explained it to you? Really explained how it works?" He inquired.

Leah shook her head, fascinated by his story. His voice had softened and she took a step closer to him leaning against her right arm the wall for support.

"It's like I have this map of the world in my head. It's always there. When I move I automatically know what sea level I'm at, what material and elements I'm on, surrounded by, and the presence of the minds of the people I'm around. Whenever I think of someone, I automatically locate them and I note on everything about their location. I don't have to make an effort, I just know, it's a reflex, an instinct."

He paused. "The mind. Now that's something I don't know if I can explain. Everyone's mind is unique. It has its own texture, color, flavor, heat. Yours and your pack's are oddly similar. Usually minds don't resemble each other in any way. For example, there are millions of minds with bluish coloring, but each blue is different. I have billions of different shades of colors spinning in my head all the time. When I was young, it use to drive me insane."

He looked at her with a bothered expression. "I never lose track of a mind once I've come in contact with it, but your mind is...fuzzy. And I can't see it at all when you shift into a wolf."

"Alice can't see us either, or, not well. But Edward can read our thoughts."

"Interesting, I wonder if Jane could torture you." He smiled, "See, you are truly baffling to all us "leeches", Leah Clearwater. We know nothing about you. It's not a feeling we're use to."

Leah shrugged, not sure whether it was a compliment or not. It was strange hearing her full name pronounced by him.

A group of Egyptian kids ran by them. They were skinny, dirty and had no shoes. Leah tried to imagine a younger, human Demetri among them. She had a feeling Demetri was doing the same thing.

"I came back for her," his voice was soft, softer than a whisper. "Amun told me not to. He told me I was too young to turn anyone, that I wouldn't be able to control myself. But I couldn't stand being away from the only family I had. I found her where I had left her. She was so malnourished, so fragile, smoking whatever her and kids I left her with could get their hands on. To me, human life was an inferior way of living. I wanted her to be part of the incredible world I had joined. I didn't want her to suffer the limitations of mortality any longer."

Demetri stared across the street, watching the small children laugh amongst each other. "There's always risks that come with changing anyone into a vampire. First, you could lose control and give in to the taste of the blood. It's almost impossible to stop once you have begun feeding. Second, sometimes the venom doesn't coincide with the human. Often, this occurs when the human is weak in physical strength and health. I knew about the first, but not the second. I managed to stop drinking her blood when I tried to change her, but I had taken too much. She was so weak already. The venom killed her halfway through the transformation. Her heart stopped. I thought it had worked, but she didn't move. She didn't open her eyes. I wanted to give her an eternity of a better life, but, instead, I gave her death."

He looked at her and, in his eyes, Leah saw a familiar pain. And a familiar guilt. She managed to draw in air and Demetri's scent filled her lungs, but it was laced with something else, something hostile.

Demetri threw himself to the left where he collided with another vampire. The next second, they were surrounded.

Leah phased and launched herself at the closest vampire. She locked her jaw on its arm and ripped it from its body. The leech screeched like nothing Leah had ever heard before. She watched blood trickle out of the hole in its side and, at that moment, became aware of the heartbeats. They were halfies like Renesmee.

Carlisle, Benjamin and Embry ran out to join the madness. Embry phased and their minds connected. It felt good to be in her wolf form again. And even better to feel the comforting presence of Embry's mind.

I missed this. Embry remarked and Leah could hear the smirk in his voice. She knew he was talking about fighting vampires. He launched himself at one of the halfies' necks. Leah finished off the one without the arm and, quickly, took in the situation. With the new additions, Leah's side had gained the upper hand. Demetri fought the only actual vampire of the bunch who Leah assumed to be Joham

Two halfies attacked him at the same time. The vampire spun on his heel and fled. Carlisle, Embry and Benjamin were stuck in their own battles. Demetri struggled to throw off the halfies who were skillfully blocking his path to Joham.

Before he could escape, Leah rocketed after him. She was the fastest of the wolves. She had run track in high school. As a wolf, she liked to run in the forest. Running came naturally, easily. Leah stretched out her legs, feeling her muscles pump her forward faster than any other wolf could move. She drew in the scent of the vampire.

This was what she liked best. The hunt. That chase. The thrill. People shouted in shock and surprise as she raced through the busy streets. Many had never seen a wolf before and none had ever seen a wolf of her size. She hoped she was moving too fast for their cameras.

The leech ran out into the desert. The sand shifted under Leah's paws and she stumbled slightly in her pursuit. Defeat settled in her stomach as Joham gained ground. He was headed toward the Nile River. If he reached it, she would never catch him, the water would slow her too much.

But, she had no need to worry. The vampire, joined by two others, stopped his advance. They stood and waited for her. Leah slowed and stopped.

Be there in 30 seconds. Leah could see Embry making his way through the desert after her. When he was only a few paces behind her, Leah sprang towards the vampires.

She leapt into the air at Joham, jaw aimed at his head. She felt her teeth sink into his neck, but a sharp pain shot up her stomach at the same moment. She jumped away from him.

His head hung on his neck by a few inches of skin. In his hands was a large syringe coated with blood. Leah looked down at the blood on her stomach. Suddenly, weakness spread throughout her body. She collapsed into the sand, unable to move. Her body phased back into a human seemingly on its own accord. She couldn't even turn her head to take in Embry's situation.

Joham, his head flapping precariously, approached her and lifted her over his shoulder.

"Goodbye, female shape-shifter," he murmured, then, threw her into the Nile.

Leah hit the water hard. She gasped for a last breath before the current dragged her under. The raging tide pushed her downstream. Her body was thrown above and below the water. She couldn't tell which direction was up or down. She attempted to draw breath when she could, but water was forcing its way up her nose and down her throat.

Leah began to see stars. She couldn't believe she was going to die drowning. She had always imagined it would be in battle against a leech defending the people she loved. She didn't want to die like this. Helpless.

Something sharp sank into her arm. It felt like teeth. Next thing she knew, she was being dragged out of the river and onto the sand. She coughed ferociously, while blinking rapidly, trying to see who it was that had saved her. She saw it only briefly, for hardly a couple seconds, but, this time, she was entirely certain. It was a wolf. A huge, shaggy, gray wolf. The same one from the bus station. The next moment, gone.

Leah laid, alone. The wolf had fled. She wiggled her fingers and a prickling feeling began spreading down her fingers into her hands then arms. She managed to sit up just as a shout reached her ears.

"Leah! Leah, what happened?" Demetri materialized by her side on his knees. She blinked, still trying to regain her bearings. She realized she was totally naked. Demetri seemed to realize the same thing at that same moment. He looked away and pulled off his cloak handing it to her. Leah thanked every god ever known to the human race that the night was dark.

She pulled the cloak around her tightly. "I don't know," her voice shook more than she had expected. "They injected us with some sort of stuff, I think. They had a syringe." She touched her stomach where the cut had long healed and disappeared.

"Embry's passed out," said Demetri. "We found him on the river bank. Joham and his children are gone."

"Where are they headed?" Asked Leah as she attempted to climb to her feet. Demetri pulled her up while answering.

"Airport. Back to Russia is my guess."

"We have to go then! We need to catch them before they get on an airplane again!" Leah exclaimed strength returning to her muscles with each passing second. "Here, I'll phase and we can catch them." She focused on the transformation, but nothing happened. She stood, face scrunched up in concentration, but she couldn't, just simply couldn't. Panic set in.

"I can't phase," she gasped.

"That's probably a result of the medicine," said Demetri clearly just as baffled as her.

Leah struggled to refocus. Her own wolf issues could wait. Joham had hurt her and her pack. She thought of Embry, unconscious. Now, it was personal, and she would indefinitely help hunt Joham and bring him to justice.

Mabye the Volturi do serve a legitimate purpose.

Out loud she said, "We still have to go after him. We can't let him escape."

"You need clothes," Demetri pointed out. "First."

Leah hissed in frustration. "Ok, go get me some clothes then!"

Demetri turned and disappeared into the night. Leah walked slowly upstream keeping her eyes open for the wolf, Carlisle or Embry.

"Here," Demetri had returned hardly a minute later. He handed her a small pile of clothing. He turned around while she changed.

He had guessed her size almost perfectly on everything. She pulled on a blue bra, loose white v-neck and jeans that were just slightly too large.

"I went into some girl's bag who looked about your size," said Demetri appraising his outfit choice. "A tourist, I figured you wouldn't be too thrilled with the regional garb."

"Thanks," said Leah quickly, "can we catch Joham now? Is he still at the airport? Where are Embry and Carlisle?"

"Yes, he is," said Demetri, eyes darkening. He lifted Leah into his arms without warning and sprinted through the desert so quickly all of her surroundings blurred. While he ran he informed her, "Carlisle brought Embry to the hospital."

Leah's stomach clenched with worry. She could not imagine reporting to Jake, Quil and Seth if Embry never recovered. But what if she never recovered? She pushed the thoughts from her mind. They were too frightening to focus on.

It took five minutes to reach the airport. "He's moving," said Demetri urgently. He broke into a human run and Leah ran after him. They dove, shuffled and squeezed around people who shouted after them indignantly.

Guards attempted to stop them, but Demetri spoke quick, urgent Arabic. They hesitated and Demetri pushed them to the side. He had just made it into the terminal area when a halfy flung itself on top of him. Leah put on a burst of speed as Demetri threw it against a bench.

She hurdled herself, 100 percent still human, onto the halfy slamming its head back into the seat of the bench. "Get Joham!" She shouted at Demetri.

He paused in a moment of uncertainty before he turned and disappeared. The halfy regained itself and slammed Leah onto her back. Leah slammed her fist into its face. It was like punching concrete. She felt her hand break, but she had also, successfully, disoriented her opponent.

She kicked it in the chest, then the face, so it fell on its back onto the floor. She had to keep it from going after Demetri and interfering with his pursuit of Joham.

The creature was mad. It twisted its face into a snarl. Leah realized it was a girl who appeared about her own age. The girl launched herself back at Leah with enough force to send them both sliding across the airport floor a good fifteen feet.

She gripped into Leah's hair and Leah desperately ripped her head from its hold. The girl kneed her in the stomach and Leah blanched as pain spread up her torso. The girl went for her hair again and tried to pull Leah's head to the left, but Leah grabbed her arm. The girl was trying to break her neck. Or rip her head off. Leah wasn't excited by either option.

The guards and other humans were trying to break them apart. A large guard grabbed the girl's arm, but she turned, too quick for him, and snapped his arm. Leah managed to escape from underneath her. Another guard attempted to restrain the girl, but she kicked him in the leg and Leah heard another snap.

Distracted, she had no time to react when a hand grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled her away from the crazed scene. She whipped her head around and was relieved to see Demetri. But then she noted the look on his face.

"He got to the plane."

"When does the next one leave?"

"Five minutes."

Not Mine all Stephanie Meyer's! Thank you so much for the reviews they are so encouraging! :)