CHAPTER 14

Invitation - Sarah Vaughan

"Shall we begin?" The vampire had asked.

Demetri. His name. Their tracker.

The longish black hair curled to his shoulders. A straight nose, a strong jaw, and deep set eyes. He wasn't bad looking for a leech, she had to admit. Although those eyes were red and that's enough for Leah to pass judgment that he's awful, arrogant, and she hates him.

Leah kept on pretending to read. The book, a collection of poetry by Joy Harjo, was one she had read multiple times before and could quote from memory. It brings her comfort, and she often takes Joy or Sylvia Plath or Maya Angelou with her whenever she travels.

She had no idea what they were supposed to begin.

"Your proposal is accepted, but only on the condition that certain members shall present themselves to the Masters beforehand."

What are they talking about?

They had invited her here via Seth who was uncharacteristically quiet about the whole thing.

"Is that necessary?" Carlisle asked.

"Your request warrants it, don't you think?" Demetri replied.

What was the request? Leah thought frantically. Did they involve Seth in something dangerous? Stay calm stay calm stay calm, Leah chanted to herself.

"No, absolutely not!" Garrett exclaimed. "You have no right to limit our movements. Unless you declare open war and cease these…"

"Oh no, not another speech from this guy," Leah muttered, before realizing she said it out loud. Covering for herself, "Well, at least make it shorter this time."

Demetri eyes remained neutral, but he was inwardly amused.

"As I was saying," he continued, "A visit to Italy is not prohibited, of course. Our request is a matter of courtesy…"

"Umm, say that again…" Leah interrupted. "A what to where?"

A tittering rose in the room. Except for Demetri who stayed perfectly still.

Carlisle cleared his throat, "A visit to Italy, Leah. Renesmee asked for this for her birthday. Her ninth, you see…"

Something in Leah's expression must have prompted him to stop mid-sentence.

"You all are seriously going to drag my little brother off to Vamp Central? For a vacay? Did North America run out of designer stores?"

Leah was fuming.

"Lee! It's OK…" Seth started.

"No, Seth, it's actually not OK," Leah said, her anger was rising. No wonder Seth didn't tell her why she needed to be here today. She would have come through the door with a flame thrower. She still might get one from the hardware store.

"At least hear them out," Seth said, trying to calm her.

This is fine. It's fine. I'll talk Seth out of going along with this dumb idea later. Everything's fine. Leah sat back down.

"As I was saying," Demetri repeated himself. "As a matter of courtesy, we request the presence of Carlisle, Young Edward, Miss Renesmee, Jacob Black, and Miss Clearwater."

"Wait, what? Why am I in it?" Leah asked.

"No!" Bella exclaimed. She drew close to Edward. "Edward, it's too dangerous for you. I can't lose you."

Leah made a face. Funny how Bella didn't mention concern for her daughter or Jacob, her 'best friend'. For a moment, she felt sorry for Renesmee. Saddled by a weird name and self-absorbed parents.

Demetri, likewise, worked to keep a grimace off his face. Why are mated vampires so embarrassing? At least, avoid other people if you need to act in such a way.

His and Leah's eyes accidentally met.

Both turned away.

"What will you do if we don't comply with your request?" Edward spat the last word out with venom, a challenge.

Aro said this witless fool killed me in Alice's vision, Demetri thought. That alone is enough to believe the vision to be false. "Well we certainly can't force you to comply to our perfectly reasonable request. Truly, it's up to you."

The gauntlet was thrown in this very polite and genteel way. If the Cullens refuse, they would show themselves to be wild agitators challenging the Volturi who made of them a very simple request.

"Well… that seems to conclude…" Demetri rose slowly.

"Where's Leah?" Seth asked, looking around. His sister was next to him just a few moments ago. The sound of a motorcycle starting outside answered him. He rushed out.

"Leah!"

"This meeting could have been an email. Reimburse me for the gas, assholes," she was muttering under her breath.

"You're leaving already?"

"Yeah, puppy. I got bored like twenty minutes ago."

"But you were only here for ten, Lee…"

"We'll talk later," because it's not like she can be open about what she wants to say.

A gust of wind, and a vampire was blocking her bike. The others in the house were bewildered by the speed with which Demetri left them.

"Miss Clearwater," he bowed a polite greeting. From inside, Leah can hear growling that sounded like Sam. "Regardless of what the Cullen faction may decide, the Volturi would like to extend an open invitation to yourself." He reached into the pocket of his suit blazer and pulled out what's probably the most expensive invitation Leah had ever seen. Fancy cursive handwriting spelled out her name. The paper looked heavy enough to be a paper weight.

She stared at the invitation. Not sure how to react.

"At least, consider…" Demetri said, sounding all nice and imploring.

"Get away from her! She doesn't want to have anything to do with you!" Sam said from the porch, looking ready to phase.

"Shut up, Sam!" Leah shot back, embarrassing her ex enough to make him pause. She was half irritated by him speaking for her, half worried he'll start a fight he can't finish. She had no faith he can win against this vampire.

She snatched the invite before any of the agitated vampires and wolves attacked.

Demetri smiled.

She glared at his smile.

XXXXX

"Ha!" Demetri thought, relaxing his mind as he drove closer to the location of the private plane he'd used. The Cullens must take them for fools! A European vacation, indeed! They could not possibly be so capricious as to plan a 'family vacation' under the circumstances. They are most certainly planning some sort of attack. Their massive number could only indicate as such. They must have been planning for this over the decade that had passed. "We shall be ready for them."

XXXXX

There must be a plan. They can't possibly just want a European vacation.

They can't actually be that dumb.

They must be planning an attack, Leah thought. She drove off but texted Seth to meet her at the border later. The vacation would be a cover, a distraction. Take the Volturi out once they're there. They must have found a way to conceal their thoughts and locations.

"You need to tell me what the plan is, Seth," Leah said. "If they're dragging you into this mess, there has to be a plan. You can't go on the attack like this without one. And there's no point in keeping me out of it, if you want me to come with you."

"Well… no… see, Carlisle said it might be best not to antagonize the Volturi."

"So, appeasement then." It isn't a bad strategy. In her years of contact with other supernaturals, she learned that the Volturi members might be distrusted, hated even, but their mission to control their own kind and keep their world a secret from humans is valued. It would be best to just co-exist for as long as possible. Less deaths than if they were to fight head on. A cold war rather than a hot one.

"Well… also, no. See, Renesmee is kind of sheltered. And with her growing up, they wanted her to see more of the world."

Leah processed his words. "Did they tell you to keep the plan a secret from me? You know you gotta bring me into it at some point. The sooner the better, so we're all on the same page."

But Seth's face was open and honest. "No, Lee, there is no plan. They really just wanted Renesmee to travel more, and gain more experience."

"But in Italy? Can't she gain experience in like South America or Asia or literally anywhere else?" Leah still didn't believe it. It was way too dangerous. They would be watched every step of the way . The slight mistake could be translated as a provocation. They must be keeping secrets from Seth. It made her angry that they would lie to him.

Seth looked at his sister seriously, "I know what you're thinking. We all went back and forth on this. I saw how worried Jacob was in his mind. But they really just wanted to humor Renesmee and encourage this interest. They're hoping she'll show… growth."

"So then why invite me? I'm not exactly the most relaxing travel companion." Especially for the Cullens. She despises them.

"Alice. She said the only way they can pull this off is if you come with us. In all other possibilities, the future goes dark. For everyone. They can't make it out. But it's like the world disappears."

"You're not going," Leah said firmly.

"Leah, come on! I want to go!"

"It's too dangerous. No!"

"If shit goes down, I should be there!"

Leah knows she wasn't going to get anywhere today. She'll have to wear Seth down over time.

"So the future goes dark if they go, but they go anyway?"

Maybe they really are that dumb…