CHAPTER 29

Kiss from a Rose - Seal

While shopping in Milan, Seth saw an old woman's wallet fall. He returned it to her, only to have the woman turn around and angrily accuse him of stealing.

Demetri and Carlisle stepped in before Leah could intervene. But that didn't stop her from shouting expletives at the woman in Italian as they exited the store.

"Didn't realize your vocabulary was so advanced," he teased her in the language.

"Fuck off!" she cussed at him. He sighed. When Leah gets mad, the whole world needs to burn in her fury.

And she was still mad about the stunts that the Guard pulled yesterday. Somehow, Demetri knew that Santiago was the instigator and it was for the best that he was nowhere nearby today.

He trusted Felix to punish the new recruits. Felix was their trainer, as he had been Demetri's. He would know best. Though the thought didn't help abate Demetri's anger at how they mocked Leah's brother and culture.

Of course, this is only because he didn't want to make Miss Clearwater wary of his company.

For him to continue his research, of course.

That is all.

Of course.

He mostly wished that he wouldn't get caught up in her rages.

His thoughts were interrupted by a drop of rain falling on his lashes. He didn't feel the drizzle that had begun. Vampires simply don't. Raindrops are much too gentle for their hardened skin.

Leah reached out a hand, letting droplets play on her skin before they evaporate into steam. Her temperature after phasing would cause rain to vaporize seconds after contact. It irritated her because she loved the rain.

To Demetri's eyes though, the steam created a kind of halo around her. Not something that humans would flag as strange, but it lent her an aura.

To his eyes, anyway.

"You like the rain?" he asked. Trying to make conversation, but actually curious about her answer.

"Yes, always have," Leah replied.

"We don't feel it, you know. It's too light and delicate for vampires to notice."

Leah rolled her eyes, "Another ringing endorsement of vampirism."

Demetri laughed. "I've seen far too much rain in my lifetime to still miss it. It's become quite unremarkable."

The drizzle slowed until it stopped, as quickly as it began.

"I can't imagine having something I like so much lose its appeal because I've lived for such a long time and I've seen so much if it. Another reason for why immortality will never be ideal for me."

She stepped out from under the awning. Immediately, Demetri took a step to follow. It's instinct at this point for him to be two steps behind her. Whether they're walking, or running, or arguing.

He stops himself in time.

The sun was out.

She looks behind her. It's instinct for her at this point to expect him to be nearby. Seeing that he's fallen behind, and understanding the reason why, she gave him a sad, wry smile.

Then, kept walking, leaving him behind.

XXXXX

Leah answered her phone on the first ring, a smile playing on her face.

"Hey, old man," she greeted the caller.

"Leah, hey. Haven't heard from you in days. Was getting worried," Charlie said on the other line.

"We're all somehow still kicking. Don't worry."

"Can't believe they thought it'd be a good idea to go there," Charlie said.

"Not sure why, but I know Renesmee wasn't being malicious when she asked for this trip."

"It can't be that hard to say no to your kid. But then, what do I know?," he sounded so sad.

"They're dumb, that's not your fault," Leah reassured him in her own blunt way. It earned her a chuckle on the other line. Neither of them were good with expressing their emotions, but if there was someone who got railroaded and dragged innocently into this whole supernatural world, it's Charlie. She was still mad at Jacob for introducing Bella's dad into this world. But he had also been a source of comfort (and information) to her these past years.

"How's everything else?" she asked. She checked in regularly with Charlie. She stayed clear whenever Bella or any of the Cullens were around. But it was a regular thing for him and Leah to drink beer on his porch.

"Well, to be honest, kid, not good," Charlie sighed. "The other night, three of the young ones, you know, from the group, got into a fight with a biker gang passing through. They won, of course, but it got some attention since they're a bunch of ten year olds even if they don't look it cause they're so tall. Luckily, three of the bikers got rap sheets thicker than my divorce settlement. I got everybody to just walk away. But Lee, it can't go on like this. Eventually, those kids are gonna get into trouble I won't be able to get them out of."

"Did you talk to Billy?"

Why is everything always such a goddamn mess in that place?

"I talked to the whole damn council and Sam. And Jacob. Now I don't get the whole thing, alright. Or how it all works. The whole true alpha thing or what, but I know that those kids need help and they're not getting it. They're outta control."

Leah sighed. What can she do? She had so little influence in the tribe and the pack. The best that she can do is maybe yell at Jacob and Sam. She's done that a few times, and the problem fixes itself for about two weeks, before she has to go nag them again.

"Just… keep doing your best, Charlie. You know we appreciate it. I appreciate it. And they are just kids."

"I know, I know…" then he chuckled "Never thought being a cop meant covering for werewolves. Damn."

Leah laughed on the other line. She liked that he never censored his language around her. He cussed and spoke openly. He knows she won't be clutching at literal pearls.

"But hey, Lee, there's shit going down with Paul and Rachel. Jared and his wife, too. I think you all should come back soon."

"Why? What's going on?"

"You know, I'm not a hundred percent sure yet. I think it has to do with that imprint thing. I gotta go dig up a bit more. I'll keep my ear on the ground. I'll let you know what I find out."

"OK. Thank you. I'll talk to you soon."

"Take care, kiddo."

"You, too, old man."

"And Lee?"

She already knew what was coming because their talks always ended this way. She suppressed her sigh.

"Call your mom sometime."

She made a non-committal hmm before hanging up.

She sensed them nearby, and ended the call sooner than she would have liked.

She would never intentionally put a human on the path of vampires. She's not a Cullen.

"Who was that?" Seth asked.

Behind him were Bella, Felix, Renesmee and Jacob. Demetri stood a few yards away from them.

"My travel agent," she replied, sounding bored.