Final Destination: Death Played Dirty

Morning.

Rain fell in a fine mist.

The fire in the hearth was still burning, steadily warming the little villa.

It wasn't that the charcoal burned especially long. Something supernatural mingled with the flames, allowing them to give off heat continuously.

Isabella woke, checked the time, and realized she was late. She snapped fully awake.

As soon as she stirred, Li Dan and Selene woke too.

Li Dan saw how anxious she was and asked what was wrong.

"I'm late, and I didn't go home yesterday. My dad went looking for me at school."

Isabella was genuinely frantic. She ran upstairs in a thin blouse; because of the rain, the clothes she'd changed out of yesterday still weren't dry.

Li Dan got up at his own pace and said calmly,

"Being late takes one word to fix. Selene can explain things to your dad."

The moment Li Dan spoke, Isabella relaxed. There was something about him that made her feel utterly safe.

What felt like the sky falling to her was only a small matter to him.

At school.

Isabella's father had looked stern, suspecting his daughter had gone off with some no-good boy. But once Selene stepped in, the problem resolved itself. If she'd been with her best friend, that was fine.

Like any protective father, he suspected every man of eyeing his precious daughter, especially when she was so pretty.

But a female friend was different. No problem there.

Even if she had designs on Isabella, that would take some doing.

The old man went home satisfied, leaving Isabella visibly relieved. Honestly, she'd been terrified at first.

Classes went on as usual.

These might be Li Dan's last few days attending school in Forks. Once he visited the Vampire Progenitor, he planned to leave.

Selene knew too.