2 new moon新月-第72节

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desk。　

〃I　think　she's　having　hysterics。　Maybe　you　should　slap　her；〃　Alice　suggested。　

Edward　threw　a　frantic　glance　at　her。　

Then　I　understood。　Oh。　The　noise　was　me。　The　ripping　sound　was　the　sobs　coming　from　my　chest。　
That's　what　was　shaking　me。　

〃It's　all　right；　you're　safe；　it's　all　right；〃　he　chanted　again　and　again。　He　pulled　ne　onto　his　lap　and　tucked　
the　thick　wool　cloak　around　me；　protecting　me　from　his　cold　skin。　

I　knew　it　was　stupid　to　react　like　this。　Who　knew　how　much　time　I　had　to　look　at　his　race？　He　was　
saved；　and　I　was　saved；　and　he　could　leave　me　as　soon　as　we　were　free。　To　have　my　eyes　so　filled　with　
tears　that　I　could　not　see　his　features　clearly　was　wasteful—insanity。　

But；　behind　my　eyes　where　the　tears　could　not　wash　the　image　away；　I　could　still　see　the　panicked　face　
of　the　tiny　woman　with　the　rosary。　

〃All　those　people；〃　I　sobbed。　

〃I　know；〃　he　whispered。　

〃It's　so　horrible。〃　

〃Yes；　it　is。　I　wish　you　hadn't　had　to　see　that。〃　

I　rested　my　head　against　his　cold　chest；　using　the　thick　cloak　to　wipe　my　eyes。　I　took　a　few　deep　breaths；　
trying　to　calm　myself。　

〃Is　there　anything　I　can　get　you？〃　a　voice　asked　politely。　It　was　Gianna；　leaning　over　Edward's　shoulder　
with　a　look　that　was　both　concerned　and　yet　still　professional　and　detached　at　the　same　time。　It　didn't　
seem　to　bother　her　that　her　face　was　inches　from　a　hostile　vampire。　She　was　either　totally　oblivious；　or　
very　good　at　her　job。　

〃No；〃　Edward　answered　coldly。　

She　nodded；　smiled　at　me；　and　then　disappeared。　

I　waited　until　she　was　out　of　hearing　range。　〃Does　she　know　what's　going　on　here？〃　I　demanded；　my　
voice　low　and　hoarse。　I　was　getting　control　of　myself；　my　breathing　evening　out。　

〃Yes。　She　knows　everything；〃　Edward　told　me。　

〃Does　she　know　they're　going　to　kill　her　someday？〃　

〃She's　knows　it's　a　possibility；〃　he　said。　

That　surprised　me。　

Edward's　face　was　hard　to　read。　〃She's　hoping　they'll　decide　to　keep　her。〃　

I　felt　the　blood　leave　my　face。　〃She　wants　to　be　one　of　them？〃　

He　nodded　once；　his　eyes　sharp　on　my　face；　watching　my　reaction。　

I　shuddered。　〃How　can　she　want　that？〃　I　whispered；　more　to　myself　than　really　looking　for　an　answer。　
〃How　can　she　watch　those　people　file　through　to　that　hideous　room　and　want　to　be　a　part　of　that？〃　

Edward　didn't　answer。　His　expression　twisted　in　response　to　something　I'd　said。　

As　I　stared　at　his　too　beautiful　face；　trying　to　understand　the　change；　it　suddenly　struck　me　that　I　was　
really　here；　in　Edward's　arms；　however　fleetingly；　and　that　we　were　not—at　this　exact　moment—about　to　
be　killed。　

〃Oh；　Edward；〃　I　cried；　and　I　was　sobbing　again。　It　was　such　a　stupid　reaction。　The　tears　were　too　thick　
for　me　to　see　his　face　again；　and　that　was　inexcusable。　I　only　had　until　sunset　for　sure。　Like　a　fairy　tale　
again；　with　deadlines　that　ended　the　magic。　

〃What's　wrong？〃　he　asked；　still　anxious；　rubbing　my　back　with　gentle　pats。　

I　wrapped　my　arms　around　his　neck—what　was　the　worst　he　could　do？　Just　push　me　away—and　
hugged　myself　closer　to　him。　〃Is　it　really　sick　for　me　to　be　happy　right　now？〃　I　asked。　My　voice　broke　
twice。　

He　didn't　push　me　away。　He　pulled　me　tight　against　his　ice…hard　chest；　so　tight　it　was　hard　to　breathe；　
even　with　my　lungs　securely　intact。　〃I　know　exactly　what　you　mean；〃　he　whispered。　〃But　we　have　lots　of　
reasons　to　be　happy。　For　one；　we're　alive。〃　

〃Yes；〃　I　agreed。　〃That's　a　good　one。〃　

〃And　together；〃　he　breathed。　His　breath　was　so　sweet　it　made　my　head　swim。　

I　just　nodded；　sure　that　he　did　not　place　the　same　weight　on　that　consideration　as　I　did。　

〃And；　with　any　luck；　we'll　still　be　alive　tomorrow。〃　

〃Hopefully；〃　I　said　uneasily。　

〃The　outlook　is　quite　good；〃　Alice　assured　me。　She'd　been　so　quiet；　I'd　almost　forgotten　her　presence。　
〃I'll　see　Jasper　in　less　than　twenty…four　hours；〃　she　added　in　a　satisfied　tone。　

Lucky　Alice。　She　could　trust　her　future。　

I　couldn't　keep　my　eyes　off　of　Edward's　face　for　long。　I　stared　at　him；　wishing　more　than　anything　that　the　
future　would　never　happen。　That　this　moment　would　last　forever；　or；　if　it　couldn't；　that　I　would　stop　
existing　when　it　did。　

Edward　stared　right　back　at　me；　his　dark　eyes　soft；　and　it　was　easy　to　pretend　that　he　felt　the　same　way。　
So　that's　what　I　did。　I　pretended；　to　make　the　moment　sweeter。　

His　fingertips　traced　the　circles　under　my　eyes。　〃You　look　so　tired。〃　

〃And　you　look　thirsty；〃　I　whispered　back；　studying　the　purple　bruises　under　his　black　irises。　

He　shrugged。　〃It's　nothing。〃　

〃Are　you　sure？　I　could　sit　with　Alice；〃　I　offered；　unwilling；　I'd　rather　he　killed　me　now　than　move　one　inch　
from　where　I　was。　

〃Don't　be　ridiculous。〃　He　sighed；　his　sweet　breath　caressed　my　face。　〃I've　never　been　in　better　control　of　
that　side　of　my　nature　than　right　now。〃　

I　had　a　million　questions　for　him。　One　of　them　bubbled　to　my　lips　now；　but　I　held　my　tongue。　I　didn't　
want　to　ruin　the　moment；　as　imperfect　as　it　was；　here　in　this　room　that　made　me　sick；　under　the　eyes　of　
the　would…be　monster。　

Here　in　his　arms；　it　was　so　easy　to　fantasize　that　he　wanted　me。　I　didn't　want　to　think　about　his　
motivations　now—about　whether　he　acted　this　way　to　keep　me　calm　while　we　were　still　in　danger；　or　if　
he　just　felt　guilty　for　where　we　were　and　relieved　that　he　wasn't　responsible　for　my　death。　Maybe　the　time　
apart　had　been　enough　that　I　didn't　bore　him　for　the　moment。　But　it　didn't　matter。　I　was　so　much　happier　
pretending。　

I　lay　quiet　in　his　arms；　re…memorizing　his　face；　pretending…　

He　stared　at　my　face　like　he　was　doing　the　same；　while　he　and　Alice　discussed　how　to　get　home。　Their　
voices　were　so　quick　and　low　that　I　knew　Gianna　couldn't　understand。　I　missed　half　of　it　myself。　It　
sounded　like　more　theft　would　be　involved；　though。　I　wondered　idly　if　the　yellow　Porsche　had　made　it　
back　to　its　owner　yet。　

〃What　was　all　that　talk　about　singers？〃　Alice　asked　at　one　point。　

〃La　tua　cantante；〃　Edward　said。　His　voice　made　the　words　into　music。　

〃Yes；　that；〃　Alice　said；　and　I　concentrated　for　a　moment。　I'd　wondered　about　that；　too；　at　the　time。　

I　felt　Edward　shrug　around　me。　〃They　have　a　name　for　someone　who　smells　the　way　Bella　does　to　me。　
They　call　her　my　singer—because　her　blood　sings　for　me。〃　

Alice　laughed。　

I　was　tired　enough　to　sleep；　but　I　fought　against　the　weariness。　I　wasn't　going　to　miss　a　second　of　the　time　
I　had　with　him。　Now　and　then；　as　he　talked　with　Alice；　he　would　lean　down　suddenly　and　kiss　me—his　
glass…smooth　lips　brushing　against　my　hair；　my　forehead；　the　tip　of　my　nose。　Each　time　it　was　like　an　
electric　shock　to　my　long　dormant　heart。　The　sound　of　its　beating　seemed　to　fill　the　entire　room。　

It　was　heaven—right　smack　in　the　middle　of　hell。　

I　lost　track　of　the　time　completely。　So　when　Edward's　arms　tightened　around　me；　and　both　he　and　Alice　
looked　to　the　back　of　the　room　with　wary　eyes；　I　panicked。　I　cringed　into　Edward's　chest　as　Alec—his　
eyes　now　a　vivid　ruby；　but　still　spotless　in　his　light　gray　suit　despite　the　afternoon　meal—walked　through　
the　double　doors。　

It　was　good　news。　

〃You're　free　to　leave　now；〃　Alec　told　us；　his　tone　so　warm　you'd　think　we　were　all　lifelong　friends。　〃We　
ask　that　you　don't　linger　in　the　city。〃　

Edward　made　no　answering　pretence；　his　voice　was　ice　cold。　〃That　won't　be　a　problem。〃　

Alec　smiled；　nodded；　and　disappeared　again。　

〃Follow　the　right　hallway　around　the　corner　to　the　first　set　of　elevators；〃　Gianna　told　us　as　Edward　helped　
me　to　my　feet。　〃The　lobby　is　two　floors　down；　and　exits　to　the　street。　Goodbye；　now；〃　she　added　
pleasantly。　I　wondered　if　her　competence　would　be　enough　to　save　her。　

Alice　shot　her　a　dark　look。　

I　was　relieved　there　was　another　way　out；　I　wasn't　sure　if　I　could　handle　another　tour　through　the　
underground。　

We　left　through　a　tastefully　luxurious　lobby。　I　was　the　only　one　who　glanced　back　at　the　medieval　castle　
that　housed　the　elaborate　business　facade　I　couldn't　see　the　turret　from　here；　for　which　I　was　grateful。　

The　party　was　still　in　full　swing　in　the　streets。　The　street　lamps　were　just　coming　on　as　we　walked　swiftly　
through　the　narrow；　cobbled　lanes。　The　sky　was　a　dull；　fading　gray　overhead；　but　the　buildings　crowded　
the　streets　so　closely　that　it　felt　darker。　

The　party　was　darker；　too。　Edward's　long；　trailing　cloak　did　not　stand　out　in　the　way　it　might　have　on　a　
normal　evening　in　Volterra。　There　were　others　in　black　satin　cloaks　now；　and　the　plastic　fangs　I'd　seen　on　
the　child　in　the　square　today　seemed　to　be　very　popular　with　the　adults。　

〃Ridiculous；〃　Edward　muttered　once。　

I　didn't　notice　when　Alice　disappeared　from　beside　me。　I　looked　over　to　ask　her　a　question；　and　she　was　
gone。　

〃Where's　Alice？〃　I　whispered　in　a　panic。　

〃She　went　to　retrieve　your　bags　from　where　she　stashed　them　this　morning。〃　

I'd　forgotten　that　I　had　access　to　a　toothbrush。　It　brightened　my　outlook　considerably。　

〃She's　stealing　a　car；　too；　isn't　she？〃　I　guessed。　

He　grinned。　〃Not　till　we're　outside。〃　

It　seemed　like　a　very　long　way　to　the　entryway。　Edward　could　see　that　I　was　spent；　he　wou