new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第58部分

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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　plained。　
〃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　bee　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　e　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—ing　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　ing　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。　
〃Wele；　guests！　Wele　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。　
〃Wele　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　plimented　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　ing？〃　
〃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　
ing　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　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　ing　
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