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I pinched her lips together between my thumb and finger。
〃Jake；〃 she mumbled； trying to pull my hand away。 Her attempt was so weak it was hard to believe that
she was really trying。
I shook my head。 〃You can talk when you're not being stupid。〃
〃Fine；I won't say it；〃 it sounded like she mumbled。
I pulled my hand away。
〃Sorry！〃 she finished quickly； and then grinned。
I rolledmy eyes and then smiled back at her。
When I stared into her eyes； I saw everything that I'd been looking for in the park。
Tomorrow； she'd be someone else。 But hopefully alive； and that was what counted； right？ She'd look at
me with the same eyes； sort of。 Smile with the same lips； almost。 She'd still know me better than anyone
who didn't havefull access to the inside of my head。
Leah might be an interesting panion； maybe even a true friend—someone who would stand up for
me。 But
she wasn't my best friend the way thatBella was。 Aside from the impossible love I felt for Bella； there
was also that other bond； and it ran bone deep。
Tomorrow； she'd be my enemy。 Or she'd be myally。 And； apparently； that distinction was up to me。
I sighed。
Fine！I thought； giving up the very last thing i had to give。 It made me feel hollow。 Go ahead。 Save her。
As Ephraim's heir； you have my permission； my word； that this will not violate the treaty。 The
others will just have to blame me。 You were right— they can't deny that it's my right to agree to
this。
'Thank you。〃 Edward's whisper was low enough that Bella didn't hear anything。 But the words were so
fervent that； from the corner of my eye； I saw the other vampires turning to stare。
〃So；〃Bella asked； working to be casual。 〃How was your day？〃
〃Great。 Went for a drive。 Hung out in the park。〃
〃Sounds nice。〃
〃Sure； sure。〃
Suddenly； she made a face。 〃Rose？〃 she asked。
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I heard Blondie chuckle。 〃Again？〃
〃I think I've drunk two gallons in the last hour；〃 Bella explained。
Edward and I both got out of the way while Rosalie came to lift Bella from the couch and take her to the
bathroom。
〃Can I walk？〃 Bella asked。 〃My legs are so stiff。〃
〃Are you sure？〃 Edward asked。
〃Rose'llcatch me if I trip over my feet。 Which could happen pretty easily； since I can't see them。〃
Rosalie set Bellacarefully on her feet； keeping her hands right atBella's shoulders。 Bella stretched her
arms out in front of her； wincing a little。
〃That feels good；〃 she sighed。 〃Ugh； but I'm huge。〃
She really was。 Her stomach was its own continent。
〃One more day；〃 she said； and patted her stomach。
I couldn't help the pain that shot through me in a sudden； stabbing burst； but I tried to keep it off my
face。 I could hide it for one more day； right？
〃All righty； then。 Whoops—oh； no！〃
The cup Bella had left on the sofa tumbled to one side； the dark red blood spilling out onto the pale
fabric。
Automatically； though three other hands beat her there； Bella bent over； reaching out to catch it。
There was the strangest； muffled ripping sound from the center of her body。
〃Oh！〃 she gasped。
And then she went totally limp； slumping toward the floor。 Rosalie caught her in the same instant； before
she could fall。 Edward was there； too； hands out； the mess on the sofa forgotten。
〃Bella？〃 he asked； and then his eyes unfocused； and panic shot across his features。
A half second later；Bella screamed。
Itwas not justa scream； it was a bloodcurdling shriek of agony。 The horrifying sound cut off with a
gurgle； and her eyes rolled back into her head。 Her body twitched； arched in Rosalie's arms； and then
Bella vomited a fountain of blood。
18。 THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR THIS。
Bella's body； streaming with red； started to twitch； jerking around in Rosalie's arms like she was being
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electrocuted。 All the while； her face was blank—unconscious。 It was the wild thrashing from inside the
center of her body that moved her。 As she convulsed； sharp snaps and cracks kept time with the spasms。
Rosalie and Edward were frozen for the shortest half second； and then they broke。 Rosalie whipped
Bella's body into her arms； and； shouting so fast it was hard to separate the individual words； she and
Edward shot up the staircase to the second floor。
I sprinted after them。
〃Morphine！〃 Edward yelled at Rosalie。
〃Alice—get Carlisle on the phone！〃 Rosalie screeched。
The room I followed them to looked like an emergency ward set up in the middle of a library。 The lights
were brilliant and white。 Bella was on a table under the glare； skin ghostly in the spotlight。 Her body
flopped； a fish on the sand。 Rosalie pinned Bella down； yanking and ripping her clothes out of the way；
while Edward stabbed a syringe into her arm。
How many times had I imagined her naked？ Now I couldn't look。 I was afraid to have these memories
in my head。
〃What's happening； Edward？〃
〃He's suffocating！〃
〃The placenta must have detached！〃
Somewhere in this； Bella came around。 She responded to their words with a shriek that clawed at my
eardrums。
〃Get him OUT！〃 she screamed。 〃He can't BREATHE！ Do it NOW！〃
I saw the red spots pop out when her scream broke the blood vessels in her eyes。
'The morphine—；〃 Edward growled。
〃NO！ NOW—！〃 Another gush of blood choked off what she was shrieking。 He held her head up；
desperately trying to clear her mouth so that she could breathe again。
Alice darted into the room and clipped a little blue earpiece under Rosalie's hair。 Then Alice backed
away； her gold eyes wide and burning； while Rosalie hissed frantically into the phone。
In the bright light； Bella's skin seemed more purple and black than it was white。 Deep red was seeping
beneath the skin over the huge； shuddering bulge of her stomach。 Rosalie's hand came up with a scalpel。
〃Let the morphine spread！〃 Edward shouted at her。
〃There's no time；〃 Rosalie hissed。 〃He's dying！〃
Her hand came down on