Demetri sat down, realizing he had lost his coat somewhere. He was tired, or something like that, then he tried to remember the times he went on missions with Jane and she told him that vampires didn't get tired. Of course she was right, Jane was always right, that's why she was a leader now, but her decision this time was far from perfect.
Battles were common in the life of the Volturi Guard and Demetri had lost count of how many executions he had witnessed, but face thirty newborns in one battle in a supposedly peaceful era was not normal. If Felix hadn't been with him Demetri probably would have died, and if Santiago hadn't come along they would still have problems. In battles like this they always had help from the gifted members, it wasn't just a matter of physical strength, and in every battle that crossed his mind, Demetri did not feel tired, not even when he was close to death. Maybe now it was because he really feared leaving something behind, so the feeling was strange, alien, and he still had to think about what he would say to Jane when he got back to the castle, when he had to confront her and tell that sending only three clan members was not a good idea.
Felix and Santiago didn't say a word as they collected the bodies for the fire. They were somewhere near La Cetina, and the proximity to Volterra made the situation even worse. Last time it was a small group of nomads supposedly ignorant of the laws of the world, now a group of violent newborns. Something was wrong.
Demetri felt grateful that he had fed the last time he went out with Felix and Renata, as he was strong enough for this battle, and he imagined that Felix thought the same. As for Santiago, the lack of fresh blood affected his strikes, this was not good.
He went to the pile of dismembered bodies, trying to find any familiar features in the torn rags. They had no idea that they would encounter such a large and violent group, and without supervision, so, unlike the other time, when Demetri spared three, he could not spare anyone. Newborns were too dangerous to walk around the area without a guardian, but this also interfered with Demetri in his main work. He didn't have time to track down the creators of that group, not for sure, it was much easier to detect presences in the minds of vampires who were still moving, he learned that over time. After they rip off the head everything became hazy, so Demetri couldn't confirm anything there, he would have to go after an old suspicion, that's why he needed to urgently meet with Jane and Caius so they could create a plan.
- After your burn the bodies, go eat something - Demetri said to Santiago, who seemed confused by that order.
- But Master Caius said...
- You could have died today, but you didn't - Demetri continued making sure he hadn't lost the little box with the contact lenses, which he had luckily put in his pants pocket this time - he will forgive you.
Santiago nodded, trying to hide the smile on his lips a little. He had been starving for a long time.
- Where are you going? - Felix asked, he was about to start the fire.
Demetri sighed, it was about to rain.
- I have a date to interrupt.
The church was far from the city, hidden by trees and green mountains on private land. The airstrip might attract attention if there were properties nearby, but the Volturi made sure that no land near the building was available for sale through the ages. Over time, Demetri could not say for sure when the city's residents themselves had forgotten about that ancient structure that had once been sacred to many.
The church walls looked old and worn, losing their natural color, with stains and sludge covering them, but the entrance gate still maintained its beauty, perhaps because it served to attract the attention of those who were invited to enter. The wood was thick and intricately detailed, too heavy for a single human to push it. There were still some wooden benches inside, with a vault that resembled the one in the castle tunnels, with little carved cherubs flying through the wooden sky.
When Demetri joined the clan, the church still had objects that referred to the Catholic faith, including a large wooden crucifix, but now only a stained glass window remained, representing a dove flying over the city of Volterra in its early days, and the remains of the cherubim for those who knew where to look. It was under that window that Demetri found Alec and Elia, and for a moment Demetri hesitated, contenting himself with watching her from a distance again, afraid of staining it.
Elia said something about music as she munched on a sandwich while Alec held a fat gray cat on his lap, and Demetri could notice the difference in Alec's gestures before and after he realized they were being watched. Before he leaned towards the human like a child seeing a new toy on the shelf, full of curiosity, but after he felt Demetri's presence his posture stiffened, and his smile died. The vampire acted as if the other wasn't there, which made Demetri even angrier. He still didn't understand why Alec's attitude had changed so much, if he was lonely he could simply find a companion anywhere in the world, no one would deny him that. But why Elia? Why not anyone else?
As for Elia, the human was oblivious to her surroundings. She didn't perceive things as quickly as a vampire and perhaps she hadn't even noticed the change in Alec's gestures. Demetri could tell she had prepared herself for the cold since there was a coat folded next to her, she was wearing jeans, rain boots and a short-sleeved blue dress that reached mid-hip. Her hair was loose and swayed as she talked and gestured with her hands about musical artists that Demetri had never heard of before and probably wouldn't listen, as he wasn't a very musical type.
If Demetri left now, he knew Alec would have a clear path, and he would probably have to live with them for ages and ages and swallow anything he had ever felt before, but he couldn't find the courage to step forward like he did that day. He still had the girl's horrified expression vividly in his mind when she realized he was cold and lifeless, therefore different.
He didn't know how Alec could not care about this, and didn't want Alec to know what happened, to anyone to know, but he came home groaning in disgust for himself, so it was impossible for the others not to notice that something had happened. Only Alec knew the reason and not even Renata's pranks could make him smile. Not even Elia's apology could change what happened, it only made him feel less dead inside.
Demetri spent so long ruminating on whether he should speak or not that Elia ended up noticing his presence in the corner of the room.
- What happened to you?! - The question and the human's frightened expression made Demetri finally aware of his appearance. He didn't care how he got out of a battle, none of his clanmates cared, but it must be different for a human who was seeing this for the first time.
"Great, another wonderful impression," he thought as Alec shook his head in disapproval.
His pants were full of dirt and one of his shirt sleeves was torn, leaving some silvery scars visible, Demetri placed his hands behind his back as Elia approached, dropping the sandwich on the floor, wondering if the scars would scare her or not.
- It was nothing - Demetri said, unconvincingly, for the first time in years wondering if his hair looked presentable
He made sure to put on the contact lenses he got from Gianna before entering the church, as he still didn't feel safe facing Elia with his red eyes. At least that was correct.
- But you look hurt... – she tried to reach the arm that Demetri was trying to hide - Wait!
They went around twice until Demetri finally stopped. He noticed that Elia tried hard not to hesitate in touching his skin, thinking about the horror she must have been feeling in his presence.
- This is old - Demetri said when Elia tried to touch one of his scars - it doesn't hurt anymore.
She sighed, and Demetri didn't know if she was still disgusted by him or worried, either situation was uncomfortable. When their eyes met, Demetri caught a glimpse of his reflection in her dark eyes, and Elia finally let go of his arm.
- You don't need to worry so much - Alec intervened, he was no longer holding the cat - sometimes we get hurt, sometimes we don't, Demetri was careless for coming here looking like that.
From the way Alec placed himself between the two, Demetri imagined he was doing something right, he just didn't know what. So he tried to take advantage of the situation.
- You should see your sister, there is a lot to be discussed.
Alec's mouth twisted, it was as if all the boldness left his system. He knew why Demetri had left with Felix and Santiago, he knew it was important but it didn't care, now he had to come back.
- What? - Elia stared at Alec, and to Demetri it was as if she was simply ignoring his existence - Do you really have to go?
- I'm afraid so, we'll have to leave the rest of the tour for another day - the vampire said dramatically, then took Elia's hand in an act that Demetri considered as exaggerated exhibitionism.
Demetri feared that Alec would order him to come along, but the vampire no longer addressed him. It was Elia who spoke again:
-I told I would give you this - she ran back to where her things were and handed a small electronic device to Alec - I tried to make a portrait of you, but I don't think it turned out good...
Demetri sat quietly, watching as Elia and Alec once again seemed to belong to a different world, as she gave him parting gifts in the same way a betrothed would have given her fiancé in the time he was alive. There was also another thing that impressed Demetri, how relaxed Elia seemed when she was with Alec. He tried not to stare at the two, hiding his jealousy.
- I'll leave it where I found it - Alec picked up the cat again and Elia approached to pet the little creature that had eaten the rest of the sandwich that she dropped on the floor.
Demetri didn't really like cats, or animals in general, they always ran away from him, maybe because he was very good at hunting.
- Demetri will take you home - were Alec's last words before following the path that led to the old altar, disappearing behind the walls that hid the entrance to the tunnels used by Heidi to take the humans she fished.
Elia followed him with her gaze, perhaps impressed by him taking that path. When Elia took a step forward towards the altar, Demetri grabbed her wrist, making her sit next to him. It had been ages since he touched a human gently, so he used too much strength, causing an unwanted reaction.
- Sorry! - he said as soon as Elia withdrew her hand, pressing the wrist against her chest - Forgive me, I didn't mean to.
- What are you? - Elia asked.
Demetri was a little put off by how direct she was, and deduced that she must have been asking questions that Alec was rightfully reluctant to answer.
- You do not know?
The human shook her head. The church had no electricity, they depended on the light that came through the stained glass window, Elia's freckles were not as visible to human eyes in low light.
- Alec said I can't know, just that he's not a demon.
Demetri tried not to smile at that answer.
- Yes, maybe we're not that.
Elia picked up her backpack, grabbing the notebook she used to sketch.
- I asked Alec a few questions that he didn't want to answer, of course, but I took notes.
- You shouldn't... - Elia ignored him - I mean, it could be dangerous.
- Is Alec's sister real?
Demetri didn't know why he couldn't assert himself in her presence. It was very different to observe a person from afar and interact with them later.
- Yes, she is - Demetri replied.
Elia picked up the backpack again, taking a red apple out of it, and handing it to Demetri.
- Do you eat? I noticed that Alec never eats.
The way Elia spoke, as if she had observed Alec several times, made Demetri jealous again, but he tried to hide it.
- I don't eat this. - Demetri emphasized the last word, rejecting the apple.
Elia put the apple away and added new notes to the pages. She seemed really focused on what she was doing, and if it weren't dangerous Demetri would probably be proud of her. He wondered if it would be appropriate to say that he used to watch her work, but he was afraid that Elia would be scared again.
- Your eyes aren't violet, are they? - Elia asked suddenly. Demetri didn't know how she had come to that conclusion.
- How do you know that? - There were many things he wanted to say to her first, but the words just wouldn't come out of his mouth, they were stuck in his mind and in his throat, a great set of regrets.
"Could it be because Alec has black eyes now?" Demetri thought, "maybe she thinks we have the same eyes."
- Actually, you remind me a little of someone, and his eyes aren't violet.
She was still staring at her notebook when she said that, and the last rays of sunlight that fought with Volterra clouds' illuminated the freckles on her face. Demetri preferred to focus on that and not on the fact that she probably already had someone in her heart, and it wasn't him, much less Alec.
That's why Demetri didn't want to bring her to his world.
- And also because you and Alec look alike - Elia finally stopped writing and looked at Demetri, without fear or caution this time - and his eyes scare me sometimes.
Demetri cleared his throat even though there was nothing stopping him from speaking. He now had a new goal: to gouge out Alec's eyes.
- I will no longer hide my eyes from you then.
- Good - Elia said - not many secrets now, do you know what that means?
Demetri shook his head, the humans were still too curious.
- That we are friends.
Elia put down the notebook, picking up the apple again and taking a bite, unaware that simple words had caused extreme happiness to the man next to her. It was difficult to contain his excitement, so Demetri decided to say something.
- How did Alec bring you here? We are far from the city gates.
- He told me to get on his back and close my eyes, and suddenly I was at the church entrance. I didn't even know there was something like that so far away from the walls.
Demetri covered his face with his hands for a quick second, but he was afraid that Elia would notice, so he tried to return to normal.
The rain started before Elia finished the apple, and soon the place would be too cold for a human, that's when Demetri asked her to pack her things so she wouldn't get sick, there was a lot of cat hair on her clothes, but she didn't seem to care. The place that seemed like a paradise during the day would soon turn into a dismal and cold atmosphere. Even so, it would still be peaceful.
- Can I make a request to you? - Demetri asked when Elia seemed ready. He made sure she didn't leave any objects behind.
- It depends on what you want.
Demetri smiled. He liked the way she spoke, how she wasn't crying anymore.
- If Alec ever asks you to accompany him through the tunnels, please don't follow him.
He thought the human would rebel or disregard his warning, but Elia just nodded. She liked Alec, but she still admitted there was something about him that wasn't human. Just like Demetri. If she was with them it was by choice and not ignorance.
- And I almost forgot, I have another request to make.
Elia smiled this time, Demetri wanted her to smile more at him that way, so he could memorize her happy features and not just those of sadness.
- Can I send you letters? I'm not like Alec, I can't walk around town and pretend to be a student, can I?
- You really seem like someone who expresses themselves better with written words…Okay, but how can I answer?
- I'll find a way, don't worry.
Elia nodded excitedly. "Humans really liked the unknown", Demetri thought.
- So, will you take me home now? - she looked around as if he was going to pull some kind of teleportation machine out of his pocket.
- Yes, but not on my back, that's not how you should carry a lady.
Demetri wrapped his arms around her back and knees, holding Elia close to his body, almost unable to let go. The human looked startled at first, but then relaxed. Despite being so close, they chose to avoid looking at each other. Then Elia closed her eyes before they left.