按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 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 icehard 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 twentyfour 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