2 new moon新月-第71节

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Edward　bared　his　teeth。　

〃That's　what　I　thought；〃　Caius　said；　with　something　akin　to　pleasure。　Felix　leaned　forward；　eager。　

〃Unless…〃　Aro　interrupted。　He　looked　unhappy　with　the　way　the　conversation　had　gone。　〃Unless　you　do　
intend　to　give　her　immortality？〃　

Edward　pursed　his　lips；　hesitating　for　a　moment　before　he　answered。　〃And　if　I　do？〃　

Aro　smiled；　happy　again。　〃Why；　then　you　would　be　free　to　go　home　and　give　my　regards　to　my　friend　
Carlisle。〃　His　expression　turned　more　hesitant。　〃But　I'm　afraid　you　would　have　to　mean　it。〃　

Aro　raised　his　hand　in　front　of　him。　

Caius；　who　had　begun　to　scowl　furiously；　relaxed。　

Edward's　lips　tightened　into　a　fierce　line。　He　stared　into　my　eyes；　and　I　stared　back。　

〃Mean　it；〃　I　whispered。　〃Please。〃　

Was　it　really　such　a　loathsome　idea？　Would　he　rather　die　than　change　me？　I　felt　like　I'd　been　kicked　in　
the　stomach。　

Edward　stared　down　at　me　with　a　tortured　expression。　

And　then　Alice　stepped　away　from　us；　forward　toward　Aro。　We　turned　to　watch　her。　Her　hand　was　
raised　like　his。　

She　didn't　say　anything；　and　Aro　waved　off　his　anxious　guard　as　they　moved　to　block　her　approach。　Aro　
met　her　halfway；　and　took　her　hand　with　an　eager；　acquisitive　glint　in　his　eyes。　

He　bent　his　head　over　their　touching　hands；　his　eyes　closing　as　he　concentrated。　Alice　was　motionless；　
her　face　blank。　I　heard　Edward's　teeth　snap　together。　

No　one　moved。　Aro　seemed　frozen　over　Alice's　hand。　The　seconds　passed　and　I　grew　more　and　more　
stressed；　wondering　how　much　time　would　pass　before　it　was　too　much　time。　Before　it　meant　something　
was　wrong—more　wrong　than　it　already　was。　

Another　agonizing　moment　passed；　and　then　Aro's　voice　broke　the　silence。　

〃Ha；　ha；　ha；〃　he　laughed；　his　head　still　bent　forward。　He　looked　up　slowly；　his　eyes　bright　with　
excitement。　〃That　was　fascinating！〃　

Alice　smiled　dryly。　〃I'm　glad　you　enjoyed　it。〃　

〃To　see　the　things　you've　seen—especially　the　ones　that　haven't　happened　yet！〃　He　shook　his　head　in　
wonder。　

〃But　that　will；〃　she　reminded　him；　voice　calm。　

〃Yes；　yes；　it's　quite　determined。　Certainly　there's　no　problem。〃　

Caius　looked　bitterly　disappointed—a　feeling　he　seemed　to　share　with　Felix　and　Jane。　

〃Aro；〃　Caius　complained。　

〃Dear　Caius；〃　Aro　smiled。　〃Do　not　fret。　Think　of　the　possibilities！　They　do　not　join　us　today；　but　we　can　
always　hope　for　the　future。　Imagine　the　joy　young　Alice　alone　would　bring　to　our　little　household…　
Besides；　I'm　so　terribly　curious　to　see　how　Bella　turns　out！〃　

Aro　seemed　convinced。　Did　he　not　realize　how　subjective　Alice's　visions　were。'　That　she　could　make　up　
her　mind　to　transform　me　today；　and　then　change　it　tomorrow？　A　million　tiny　decisions；　her　decisions　and　
so　many　others'；　too—Edward's—could　alter　her　path；　and　with　that；　the　future。　

And　would　it　really　matter　that　Alice　was　willing；　would　it　make　any　difference　if　I　did　become　a　vampire；　
when　the　idea　was　so　repulsive　to　Edward？　If　death　was；　to　him；　a　better　alternative　than　having　me　
around　forever；　an　immortal　annoyance？　Terrified　as　I　was；　I　felt　myself　sinking　down　into　depression；　
drowning　in　it…　

〃Then　we　are　free　to　go　now？〃　Edward　asked　in　an　even　voice。　

〃Yes；　yes；〃　Aro　said　pleasantly。　〃But　please　visit　again。　It's　been　absolutely　enthralling！〃　

〃And　we　will　visit　you　as　well；〃　Caius　promised；　his　eyes　suddenly　half…closed　like　the　heavy…lidded　gaze　
of　a　lizard。　〃To　be　sure　that　you　follow　through　on　your　side。　Were　I　you；　I　would　not　delay　too　long。　We　
do　not　offer　second　chances。〃　

Edward's　jaw　clenched　tight；　but　he　nodded　once。　

Caius　smirked　and　drifted　back　to　where　Marcus　still　sat；　unmoving　and　uninterested。　

Felix　groaned。　

〃Ah；　Felix。〃　Aro　smiled；　amused。　〃Heidi　will　be　here　at　any　moment。　Patience。〃　

〃Hmm。〃　Edward's　voice　had　a　new　edge　to　it。　〃In　that　case；　perhaps　we'd　better　leave　sooner　rather　than　
later。〃　

〃Yes；〃　Aro　agreed。　〃That's　a　good　idea。　Accidents　do　happen。　Please　wait　below　until　after　dark；　though；　
if　you　don't　mind。〃　

〃Of　course；〃　Edward　agreed；　while　I　cringed　at　the　thought　of　waiting　out　the　day　before　we　could　
escape。　

〃And　here；〃　Aro　added；　motioning　to　Felix　with　one　finger。　Felix　came　forward　at　once；　and　Aro　
unfastened　the　gray　cloak　the　huge　vampire　wore；　pulling　from　his　shoulders。　He　tossed　it　to　Edward。　
〃Take　this。　You're　a　little　conspicuous。〃　

Edward　put　the　long　cloak　on；　leaving　the　hood　down。　

Aro　sighed。　〃It　suits　you。〃　

Edward　chuckled；　but　broke　off　suddenly；　glancing　over　his　shoulder。　〃Thank　you；　Aro。　We'll　wait　
below。〃　

〃Goodbye；　young　friends；〃　Aro　said；　his　eyes　bright　as　he　stared　in　the　same　direction。　

〃Let's　go；〃　Edward　said；　urgent　now。　

Demetri　gestured　that　we　should　follow；　and　then　set　off　the　way　we'd　come　in；　the　only　exit　by　the　look　
of　things。　

Edward　pulled　me　swiftly　along　beside　him。　Alice　was　close　by　my　other　side；　her　face　hard。　

〃Not　fast　enough；〃　she　muttered。　

I　stared　up　at　her；　frightened；　but　she　only　seemed　chagrined。　It　was　then　that　I　first　heard　the　babble　of　
voices—loud；　rough　voices—coming　from　the　antechamber。　

〃Well　this　is　unusual；〃　a　man's　coarse　voice　boomed。　

〃So　medieval；〃　an　unpleasantly　shrill；　female　voice　gushed　back。　

A　large　crowd　was　coming　through　the　little　door；　filling　the　smaller　stone　chamber。　Demetri　motioned　for　
us　to　make　room。　We　pressed　back　against　the　cold　wall　to　let　them　pass。　

The　couple　in　front；　Americans　from　the　sound　of　them；　glanced　around　themselves　with　appraising　eyes。　

〃Welcome；　guests！　Welcome　to　Volterra！〃　I　could　hear　Aro　sing　from　the　big　turret　room。　

The　rest　of　them；　maybe　forty　or　more；　filed　in　after　the　couple。　Some　studied　the　setting　like　tourists。　A　
few　even　snapped　pictures。　Others　looked　confused；　as　if　the　story　that　had　led　them　to　this　room　was　
not　making　sense　anymore。　I　noticed　one　small；　dark　woman　in　particular。　Around　her　neck　was　a　
rosary；　and　she　gripped　the　cross　tightly　in　one　hand。　She　walked　more　slowly　than　the　others；　touching　
someone　now　and　then　and　asking　a　question　in　an　unfamiliar　language。　No　one　seemed　to　understand　
her；　and　her　voice　grew　more　panicked。　

Edward　pulled　my　face　against　his　chest；　but　it　was　too　late。　I　already　understood。　

As　soon　as　the　smallest　break　appeared；　Edward　pushed　me　quickly　toward　the　door。　I　could　feel　the　
horrified　expression　on　my　face；　and　the　tears　beginning　to　pool　in　my　eyes。　

The　ornate　golden　hallway　was　quiet；　empty　except　for　one　gorgeous；　statuesque　woman。　She　stared　at　
us　curiously；　me　in　particular。　

〃Welcome　home；　Heidi；〃　Demetri　greeted　her　from　behind　us。　

Heidi　smiled　absently。　She　reminded　me　of　Rosalie；　though　they　looked　nothing　alike—it　was　just　that　her　
beauty；　too；　was　exceptional；　unforgettable。　I　couldn't　seem　to　look　away。　

She　was　dressed　to　emphasize　that　beauty。　Her　amazingly　long　legs；　darkened　with　tights；　were　exposed　
by　the　shortest　of　miniskirts。　Her　top　was　long…sleeved　and　high…necked；　but　extremely　close…fitting；　and　
constructed　of　red　vinyl。　Her　long　mahogany　hair　was　lustrous；　and　her　eyes　were　the　strangest　shade　of　
violet—a　color　that　might　result　from　blue…tinted　contacts　over　red　irises。　

〃Demetri；〃　she　responded　in　a　silky　voice；　her　eyes　flickering　between　my　face　and　Edward's　gray　cloak。　

〃Nice　fishing；〃　Demetri　complimented　her；　and　I　suddenly　understood　the　attention…grabbing　outfit　she　
wore…　she　was　not　only　the　fisherman；　but　also　the　bait。　

〃Thanks。〃　She　flashed　a　stunning　smile。　〃Aren't　you　coming？〃　

〃In　a　minute。　Save　a　few　for　me。〃　

Heidi　nodded　and　ducked　through　the　door　with　one　last　curious　look　at　me。　

Edward　set　a　pace　that　had　me　running　to　keep　up。　But　we　still　couldn't　get　through　the　ornate　door　at　
the　end　of　the　hallway　before　the　screaming　started。　

22　FLIGHT　




DEMETRI　LEFT　US　IN　THE　CHEERFULLY　OPULENT　RECEPTION　area；　where　the　woman　
Gianna　was　still　at　her　post　behind　the　polished　counter。　Bright；　harmless　music　tinkled　from　hidden　
speakers。　

〃Do　not　leave　until　dark；〃　he　warned　us。　

Edward　nodded；　and　Demetri　hurried　away。　

Gianna　did　not　seem　at　all　surprised　by　the　exchange；　though　she　did　eye　Edward's　borrowed　cloak　with　
shrewd　speculation。　

〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Edward　asked　under　his　breath；　to　low　for　the　human　woman　to　hear。　His　voice　was　
rough—if　velvet　can　be　rough—with　anxiety。　Still　stressed　by　our　situation；　I　imagined。　

〃You'd　better　make　her　sit　before　she　falls；〃　Alice　said。　〃She's　going　to　pieces。〃　

It　was　only　then　that　I　realize　I　was　shaking；　shaking　hard；　my　entire　frame　vibrating　until　my　teeth　
chattered　and　the　room　around　me　seemed　to　wobble　and　blur　in　my　eyes。　For　one　wild　second；　I　
wondered　if　this　was　how　Jacob　felt　just　before　exploding　into　a　werewolf。　

I　heard　a　sound　that　didn't　make　sense；　a　strange；　ripping　counterpart　to　the　otherwise　cheery　
background　music。　Distracted　by　the　shaking；　I　couldn't　tell　where　it　was　coming　from。　

〃Shh；　Bella；　shh；〃　Edward　said　as　he　pulled　me　to　the　sofa　farthest　away　from　the　curious　human　at　the　
desk。　

〃I　think　she's　having　hysterics。　Maybe　you