The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 25. MIRROR

I FORCED MYEYES FROZEN WIDE turn emerge WITH SHOCK to move, so that I could not exa exploit too well-nigh the oval object wrapped in tendrils of shivering, fiery hair.Edward was in act again. Swift and coolly business wish, he dismembered the headless corpse.I could not go to him I could not make my feet respond they were bolted to the st whizz beneath them. notwithstanding I scrutinized his e really action minutely, take ining for some(prenominal) evidence that he had been psychic traumaed. My noticet slowed to a healthier rhythm when I found nothing. He was lithe and graceful as ever. I couldnt even receive a extract in his clothes.He did not look at me where I stood frozen to the cliff w al unrivaled, horrified composition he piled the quivering, twitching limbs and therefore c everywhereed them with dry pine needles. He nonoperational did not amass my rever square awayd stare as he darted into the fo counterbalance after curing.I didnt stir time to recover before twain he and solidification were blanket, Edward with his gird full of Riley. Seth was carrying a large chunk the soundbox in his mouth. They added their burden to the pile, and Edward pulled a silver rectangle from his pocket. He flipped receptive the providedane luminance and held the flame to the dry tinder. It caught at erst keen-sighted tongues of orange erect licked rapidly across the pyre.Get every piece, Edward express in a low a array to Seth.To blend inher, the vampire and the werewolf scoured the campsite, occasion everyy tossing small lumps of white s touch into the blaze. Seth handled the pieces with his teeth. My originator wasnt be givening soundly copious for me to understand why he didnt change patronise to a form with transfer.Edward kept his look on his work.And so they were d unmatchable(a) and only(a), and the raging sack up was sending a pillar of choking purple toward the sky. The thick forage curl up slowly, looking mor e solid than it should it smelled like suntan incense, and the essence was uncomfort qualified. It was heavy, too strong.Seth do that snickering sound again, deep in his chest.A smile flickered across Edwards tense organization.Edward stretched out his arm, his hand curl into a fist. Seth grinned, revealing the yearn row of dagger teeth, and bumped his irrupt against Edwards hand.Nice teamwork, Edward murmured.Seth coughed a laugh. indeed Edward took a deep breath, and move slowly to expression me.I did not understand his expression. His eyeball were as wary as if I were other(prenominal) enemy more than wary, they were afraid. hitherto hed shown no fear at all when hed exampled capital of Seychelles and Riley. . . . My sagacity was stuck, stunned and useless as my tree trunk. I st ard at him, disordered.Bella, love, he said in his softest tone, walking toward me with exaggerated slowness, his hands held up, manages before. Dazed as I was, it reminded me funnily of a suspect approaching a policeman, showing that he wasnt armed. . . .Bella, force out you drop the rock, please? C befully. Dont digest yourself.Id forgotten all astir(predicate) my crude weapon, though I realized now that I was envious it so hard that my knuckle was scream in protest. Was it rebroken? Carlisle would get me in a cast for indisputable as shooting this time.Edward hesitated a few feet from me, his hands s money box in the air, his eye still fearful.It took me a few coherent encourages to rally how to move my fingers. Then the rock clattered to the ground, while my hand stayed frozen in the same position.Edward relaxed slightly when my hands were empty, but came no closer.You dont have to be afraid, Bella, Edward murmured. Youre safe. I wont brook you.The mystifying promise save wooly me further. I stared at him like an imbecile, nerve-wracking to understand.Its deviation to be all chasten, Bella. I bash youre frightened now, but its over. No one is pass to hurt you. I wont touch you. I wont hurt you, he said again.My eyes blinked furiously, and I found my spokesperson. Why do you keep saying that?I took an unsteady step toward him, and he leaned external from my advance.Whats wrong? I whispered. What do you mean?Are you . . . His golden eyes were suddenly as confused as I felt. Arent you afraid of me?Afraid of you? Why?I staggered forward another step, and indeed tripped over something my own feet probably. Edward caught me, and I buried my flavor in his chest and started to sob.Bella, Bella, Im so sorry. Its over, its over.Im fine, I gasped. Im very well. Im and. Freaking out. Give me. A minute.His munition tightened close to me. Im so sorry, he murmured again and again.I clung to him until I could breathe, and then I was kissing him his chest, his shoulder, his neck every part of him that I could reach. Slowly, my brain started to work again.Are you okay? I demanded between kisses. Did she hurt you at all?I am absolutely fine, he promised, burying his aspect in my hair.Seth?Edward chuckled. More than fine. really pleased with himself, in fact.The others? Alice, Esme? The wolves? every fine. Its over there, too. It went just as smoothly as I promised. We got the smite of it here.I let myself absorb that for a moment, let it sink in and settle in my head.My family and my friends were safe. Victoria was never coming after me again. It was over.We were all going to be fine. moreover I couldnt completely take in the good news while I was still so confused. break up me why, I insisted. Why did you think I would be afraid of you?Im sorry, he said, apologizing yet again for what? I had no idea. So sorry. I didnt unavoidableness you to check into that. See me like that. I whap I moldiness have terrified you.I had to think almost that for another minute, about the hesitant way hed approached me, his hands in the air. worry I was going to run if he moved too disruptive. . . .Seriously? I ultimately asked. You . . . what? Thought youd scared me reach? I snorted. Snorting was good a vocalisation couldnt tremble or break during a snort. It sounded impressively offhand.He put his hand under my chin and tilted my head backside to read my face.Bella, I just he hesitated and then forced the course out I just beheaded and dismembered a sentient instrument not twenty yards from you. That doesnt bother you?He frowned at me.I shrugged. Shrugging was good, too. Very blas. Not really. I was only afraid that you and Seth were going to quarter hurt. I wanted to help, but theres only so much I can do. . . .His suddenly livid expression make my voice breathe out.Yes, he said, his tone clipped. Your little stunt with the rock. You know that you or so gave me a heart attack? Not the easiest thing to do, that.His furious glower do it hard to answer.I wanted to help . . . Seth was hurt. . . .Seth was only feigning that he was hurt, Bella. It was a trick. And then you . . . He shook his head, ineffectual to finish. Seth couldnt see what you were doing, so I had to step in. Seths a bit disgruntled that he cant claim a single-handed defeat now.Seth was . . . faking?Edward nodded sternly.Oh.We both looked at Seth, who was studiously ignoring us, talent scouting the flames. Smugness radiated from every hair in his fur. simplified, I didnt know that, I said, on the offense now. And its not slowly being the only helpless person around. Just you wait till Im a vampire Im not going to be sitting on the sidelines next time.A dozen emotions flitted across his face before he settled on being amused. Next time? Did you anticipate another war in short?With my luck? Who knows?He rolled his eyes, but I could see that he was flying the relief was making us both lightheaded. It was over.Or . . . was it?Hold on. Didnt you say something before ? I flinched, remembering what incisively it had been before what was I going to say to Jacob? My splintered heart throbb ed out a painful, aching beat. It was hard to believe, almost impossible, but the hardest part of this day was not behind me and then I soldiered on. About a complication? And Alice, needing to demolish down the schedule for surface-to-air missile. You said it was going to be close. What was going to be close?Edwards eyes flickered back to Seth, and they exchanged a loaded glance.Well? I asked.Its nothing, really, Edward said quickly. besides we do need to be on our way. . . .He started to pull me into place on his back, but I stiffened and displace away.Define nothing.Edward took my face between his palms. We only have a minute, so dont panic, all right? I told you that you had no reason to be afraid. consider me on that, please?I nodded, trying to hide the sudden alarm how much more could I handle before I collapsed? No reason to be afraid. Got it.He pursed his lips for a second, deciding what to say. And then he glanced abruptly at Seth, as if the wolf had called him.Whats she doing? Edward asked.Seth whined it was an anxious, uneasy sound. It made the hair on the back of my neck rise.Everything was dead silent for one endless second.And then Edward gasped, No and one of his hands flew out as if to grab something that I couldnt see. Dont -A spasm rocked by means of Seths body, and a howl, raging with badgering, ripped from his lungs.Edward fell to his knees at the exact same moment, gripping the sides of his head with two hands, his face furrowed in pain.I screamed once in perplex terror, and dropped to my knees beside him. Stupidly, I tried to pull his hands from his face my palms, clammy with sweat, slid off his marble skin.Edward EdwardHis eyes focused on me with obvious effort, he pulled his clenched teeth apart.Its okay. Were going to be fine. Its - He broke off, and winced again.Whats happening? I cried out while Seth howled in anguish.Were fine. Were going to be okay, Edward gasped. surface-to-air missile help him -And I realized in that instant, when he said Sams name, that he was not speaking of himself and Seth. No unseen force was attacking them. This time, the crisis was not here.He was using the claim plural.Id burned through all my adrenaline. My body had nothing left. I sagged, and Edward caught me before I could hit the rocks. He sprang to his feet, me in his arms.Seth Edward shouted.Seth was crouched, still tensed in ache, looking as if he meant to launch himself into the forest.No Edward ordered. You go bully home. Now. As fast as you canSeth whimpered, shaking his great head from side to side.Seth. Trust me.The huge wolf stared into Edwards agonized eyes for one long second, and then he straightened up and flew into the trees, disappearing like a ghost.Edward cradled me tightly against his chest, and then we were also hurtling through the shadowy forest, taking a unalike path than the wolf.Edward. I fought to force the address through my constricted throat. What happened, Edward? What happened to S am? Where are we going? Whats happening?We have to go back to the trippinging, he told me in a low voice. We knew there was a good probability of this happening. Earlier this morning, Alice precept it and passed it through Sam to Seth. The Volturi decided it was time to intercede.The Volturi. also much. My mind refused to make sense of the talking to, pretended it couldnt understand.The trees jolted past(a) us. He was running downhill so fast that it felt as if we were plummeting, go out of suppress.Dont panic. They arent coming for us. Its just the normal contingent of the guard that unremarkably cleans up this kind of mess. Nothing momentous, theyre merely doing their job. Of course, they come along to have measure their arrival very carefully. Which leads me to believe that no one in Italy would bewail if these newborns had reduced the size of the Cullen family. The words came through his teeth, hard and bleak. Ill know for sure what they were thinking when they get t o the clearing.Is that why were going back? I whispered. Could I handle this? Images of flowing black robes crept into my un entrusting mind, and I flinched away from them. I was close to a breaking point.Its part of the reason. Mostly, it will be safer for us to present a united anterior at this point. They have no reason to harass us, but . . . Janes with them. If she thought we were alone somewhere away from the others, it might tempt her. Like Victoria, Jane will probably guess that Im with you. Demetri, of course, is with her. He could induce me, if Jane asked him to.I didnt want to think that name. I didnt want to see that blindingly exquisite, childlike face in my head. A strange sound came out of my throat.Shh, Bella, shh. Its all going to be fine. Alice can see that.Alice could see? But . . . then where were the wolves? Where was the pack?The pack?They had to leave quickly. The Volturi do not remark truces with werewolves.I could hear my breathing get faster, but I could nt control it. I started to gasp.I swear they will be fine, Edward promised me. The Volturi wont recognize the scent they wont realize the wolves are here this isnt a species they are familiar with. The pack will be fine.I couldnt process his explanation. My concentration was ripped to shreds by my fears. Were going to be fine, he had said before . . . and Seth, howling in agony . . . Edward had avoided my first question, distracted me with the Volturi. . . .I was very close to the edge just clinging by my fingertips.The trees were a racing blur that flowed around him like wad waters.What happened? I whispered again. Before. When Seth was howling? When you were hurt?Edward hesitated.Edward Tell meIt was all over, he whispered. I could notwithstanding hear him over the wind his revivify created. The wolves didnt count their half . . . they thought they had them all. Of course, Alice couldnt see. . . .What happened?One of the newborns was hiding. . . . Leah found him she was bei ng stupid, cocky, trying to prove something. She engaged him alone. . . .Leah, I repeated, and I was too weak to discover shame for the relief that flooded through me. Is she going to be okay?Leah wasnt hurt, Edward mumbled.I stared at him for a long second.Sam help him Edward had gasped. Him, not her.Were almost there, Edward said, and he stared at a fixed point in the sky.Automatically, my eyes adopted his. There was a dark purple cloud reprieve low over the trees. A cloud? But it was so abnormally sunny. . . . No, not a cloud I accepted the thick tug of the skinny, just like the one at our campsite.Edward, I said, my voice nearly inaudible. Edward, someone got hurt.Id heard Seths agony, seen the torture in Edwards face.Yes, he whispered.Who? I asked, though, of course, I already knew the answer.Of course I did. Of course.The trees were slowing around us as we came to our destination.It took him a long moment to answer me.Jacob, he said.I was able to nod once.Of course, I whispered.And then I slipped off the edge I was clinging to inside my head.Everything went black.I was first aware of the cool hands wretched me. More than one pair of hands. Arms holding me, a palm curved to fit my cheek, fingers stroking my forehead, and more fingers pressed lightly into my wrist.Then I was aware of the voices. They were just ahumming at first, and then they grew in hoi polloi and clarity like someone was turning up a radio.Carlisle its been cinque minutes. Edwards voice, anxious.Shell numerate around when shes ready, Edward. Carlisles voice, always calm and sure. Shes had too much to commode with today. Let her mind protect itself.But my mind was not protected. It was detain in the knowledge that had not left me, even in apathy the pain that was part of the blackness.I felt totally disconnected from my body. Like I was caged in some small corner of my head, no thirster at the controls. But I couldnt do anything about it. I couldnt think. The agony was too strong for that. There was no consort from it.Jacob.Jacob.No, no, no, no, no . . .Alice, how long do we have? Edward demanded, his voice still tense Carlisles soothing words had not helped.From farther away, Alices voice. It was brightly chipper. Another five minutes. And Bella will open her eyes in thirty-seven seconds. I wouldnt doubt that she can hear us now.Bella, honey? This was Esmes soft, comforting voice. Can you hear me? Youre safe now, dear.Yes, I was safe. Did that really matter?Then cool lips were at my ear, and Edward was speaking the words that allowed me to escape from the torture that had me caged inside my own head.Hes going to live, Bella. Jacob Black is heal as I speak. Hell be fine.As the pain and dread eased, I found my way back to my body. My eyelids fluttered.Oh, Bella, Edward sighed in relief, and his lips touched mine.Edward, I whispered.Yes, Im here.I got my lids to open, and I stared into warm gold.Jacob is okay? I asked.Yes, he promised.I watched hi s eyes carefully for some sign that he was placating me, but they were suddenly clear.I examined him myself, Carlisle said then I turned my head to find his face, only a few feet away. Carlisles expression was serious and reassuring at the same time. It was impossible to doubt him. His life is not in any danger. He was healing at an incredible rate, though his injuries were extensive bounteous that it will still be a few days before he is back to normal, even if the rate of repair holds steady. As soon as were done here, I will do what I can to help him. Sam is trying to get him to phase back to his tender-hearted form. That will make treating him easier. Carlisle smiled slightly. Ive never been to veterinarian school.What happened to him? I whispered. How bad are his injuries?Carlisles face was serious again. Another wolf was in trouble -Leah, I breathed.Yes. He knocked her out of the way, but he didnt have time to make up himself. The newborn got his arms around him. Most of t he bones on the right half of his body were shattered.I flinched.Sam and Paul got there in time. He was already improving when they took him back to La Push.Hell be back to normal? I asked.Yes, Bella. He wont have any permanent damage.I took a deep breath.Three minutes, Alice said quietly.I struggled, trying to get vertical. Edward realized what I was doing and helped me to my feet.I stared at the scene in front of me.The Cullens stood in a loose semicircle around the bonfire. There were hardly any flames visible, just the thick, purple-black smoke, hovering like a disease against the bright grass. Jasper stood walk-to(prenominal) to the solid- seeming haze, in its shadow so that his skin did not beam brilliantly in the sun the way the others did. He had his back to me, his shoulders tense, his arms slightly extended. There was something there, in his shadow. Something he crouched over with wary intensity. . . .I was too numb to feel more than a mild shock when I realized what i t was.There were eight vampires in the clearing.The misfire was curled into a small ball beside the flames, her arms wrapped around her legs. She was very infantile. Younger than me she looked maybe fifteen, dark-haired and slight. Her eyes were focused on me, and the irises were a shocking, brilliant red. Much brighter than Rileys, almost glowing. They wheeled wildly, out of control.Edward saw my bewildered expression.She surrendered, he told me quietly. Thats one Ive never seen before. Only Carlisle would think of offering. Jasper doesnt approve.I couldnt tear my esteem away from the scene beside the fire. Jasper was rubbing absently at his left forearm.Is Jasper all right? I whispered.Hes fine. The venom stings.He was bitten? I asked, horrified.He was trying to be everywhere at once. Trying to make sure Alice had nothing to do, actually. Edward shook his head. Alice doesnt need anyones help.Alice grimaced toward her true love. Overprotective fool.The young pistillate suddenl y threw her head back like an animal and wailed shrilly.Jasper growled at her and she cringed back, but her fingers dug into the ground like claws and her head whipped back and forth in anguish. Jasper took a step toward her, slipping deeper into his crouch. Edward moved with overdone casualness, turning our bodies so that he was between the miss and me. I peeked around his arm to watch the thrashing girl and Jasper.Carlisle was at Jaspers side in an instant. He put a restraining hand on his most recent sons arm.Have you changed your mind, young one? Carlisle asked, calm as ever. We dont want to destroy you, but we will if you cant control yourself.How can you stand it? the girl groaned in a high, clear voice. I want her. Her bright crimson irises focused on Edward, through him, beyond him to me, and her nails ripped through the hard soil again.You essential stand it, Carlisle told her gravely. You must exercise control. It is possible, and it is the only thing that will save you now.The girl clutched her dirt-encrusted hands around her head, yowling quietly.Shouldnt we move away from her? I whispered, tugging on Edwards arm. The girls lips pulled back over her teeth when she heard my voice, her expression one of torment.We have to stay here, Edward murmured. They are coming to the north end of the clearing now.My heart burst into a sprint as I scanned the clearing, but I couldnt see anything past the thick pall of smoke.After a second of fruitless searching, my gaze crept back to the young female vampire. She was still watching me, her eyes half-mad.I met the girls stare for a long moment. Chin-length dark hair framed her face, which was alabaster pale. It was hard to describe if her features were beautiful, twisted as they were by rage and thirst. The feral red eyes were dominant hard to look away from. She glared at me viciously, shuddering and writhing every few seconds.I stared at her, mesmerized, enquire if I were looking into a mirror of my futur e.Then Carlisle and Jasper began to back toward the rest of us. Emmett, Rosalie, and Esme all converged hastily around where Edward stood with Alice and me. A united front, as Edward had said, with me at the heart, in the safest place.I tore my attention away from the wild girl to search for the approaching monsters.There was stillnothing to see. I glanced at Edward, and his eyes were locked straight ahead. I tried to follow his gaze, but there was only the smoke dense, oily smoke twisting low to the ground, rising lazily, undulating against the grass.It billowed forward, darker in the middle.Hmm, a dead voice murmured from the mist. I recognized the apathy at once.Welcome, Jane. Edwards tone was coolly courteous.The dark shapes came closer, separating themselves from the haze, solidifying. I knew it would be Jane in the front the darkest cloak, almost black, and the smallest figure by more than two feet. I could just barely make out Janes angelic features in the shade of the cowl .The four gray-shrouded figures hulky behind her were also somewhat familiar. I was sure I recognized the biggest one, and while I stared, trying to confirm my suspicion, Felix looked up. He let his detonator fall back slightly so that I could see him gesture at me and smile. Edward was very still at my side, tightly in control.Janes gaze moved slowly across the luminous faces of the Cullens and then touched on the newborn girl beside the fire the newborn had her head in her hands again.I dont understand. Janes voice was toneless, but not quite as dismissive as before.She has surrendered, Edward explained, answering the confusion in her mind.Janes dark eyes flashed to his face. Surrendered?Felix and another shadow exchanged a quick glance.Edward shrugged. Carlisle gave her the option.There are no options for those who break the rules, Jane said flatly.Carlisle spoke then, his voice mild. Thats in your hands. As long as she was willing to halt her attack on us, I saw no need to destroy her. She was never taught.That is irrelevant, Jane insisted.As you wish.Jane stared at Carlisle in consternation. She shook her head infinitesimally, and then composed her features.Aro hoped that we would get far enough west to see you, Carlisle. He sends his regards.Carlisle nodded. I would appreciate it if you would convey mine to him.Of course. Jane smiled. Her face was almost too lovely when it was animated. She looked back toward the smoke. It appears that youve done our work for us today . . . for the most part. Her eyes flickered to the hostage. Just out of professional curiosity, how many were there? They left quite a wake of demolition in Seattle.Eighteen, including this one, Carlisle answered.Janes eyes widened, and she looked at the fire again, seeming to reassess the size of it. Felix and the other shadow exchanged a longer glance.Eighteen? she repeated, her voice sounding unsure for the first time.All brand-new, Carlisle said dismissively. They were unskilled. All? Her voice turned sharp. Then who was their creator?Her name was Victoria, Edward answered, no emotion in his voice.Was? Jane asked.Edward inclined his head toward the eastern forest. Janes eyes snapped up and focused on something far in the distance. The other pillar of smoke? I didnt look away to check.Jane stared to the east for a long moment, and then examined the closer bonfire again.This Victoria she was in addition to the eighteen here?Yes. She had only one other with her. He was not as young as this one here, but no older than a year.Twenty, Jane breathed. Who dealt with the creator?I did, Edward told her.Janes eyes narrowed, and she turned to the girl beside the fire.You there, she said, her dead voice harsher than before. Your name.The newborn shot a baleful glare at Jane, her lips pressed tightly together.Jane smiled back angelically.The newborn girls answering scream was ear-piercing her body arched stiffly into a distorted, supernatural position. I looked away, fi ghting the urge to cover my ears. I gritted my teeth, hoping to control my stomach. The screaming intensified. I tried to concentrate on Edwards face, smooth and unemotional, but that made me remember when it had been Edward under Janes torturing gaze, and I felt sicker. I looked at Alice instead, and Esme next to her. Their faces were as empty as his.Finally, it was quiet.Your name, Jane said again, her voice inflectionless.Bree, the girl gasped.Jane smiled, and the girl shrieked again. I held my breath until the sound of her agony stopped.Shell tell you anything you want to know, Edward said through his teeth. You dont have to do that.Jane looked up, sudden toughness in her usually dead eyes. Oh, I know, she said to Edward, grinning at him before she turned back to the young vampire, Bree.Bree, Jane said, her voice cold again. Is his apologue true? Were there twenty of you? The girl lay panting, the side of her face pressed against the earth. She spoke quickly. Nineteen or twent y, maybe more, I dont know She cringed, terrified that her ignorance might bring on another round of torture. Sara and the one whose name I dont know got in a fight on the way. . . .And this Victoria did she create you?I dont know, she said, flinching again. Riley never said her name. I didnt see that night . . . it was so dark, and it hurt. . . . Bree shuddered. He didnt want us to be able to think of her. He said that our thoughts werent safe. . . .Janes eyes flickered to Edward, and then back to the girl.Victoria had planned this well. If she hadnt followed Edward, there would have been no way to know for reliable that she was involved. . . .Tell me about Riley, Jane said. Why did he bring you here?Riley told us that we had to destroy the strange yellow-eyes here, Bree babbled quickly and willingly.He said it would be easy. He said that the city was theirs, and they were coming to get us. He said once they were gone, all the blood would be ours. He gave us her scent. Bree lifte d one hand and stabbed a finger in my direction. He said we would know that we had the right coven, because she would be with them. He said whoever got to her first could have her.I heard Edwards jaw flex beside me.It looks like Riley was wrong about the easy part, Jane noted.Bree nodded, seeming relieved that the conversation had taken this non-painful course. She sat up carefully. I dont know what happened. We split up, but the others never came. And Riley left us, and he didnt come to help like he promised. And then it was so confusing, and everybody was in pieces. She shuddered again. I was afraid. I wanted to run away. That one she looked at Carlisle said they wouldnt hurt me if I stopped fighting.Ah, but that wasnt his gift to offer, young one, Jane murmured, her voice oddly gentle now. Broken rules demand a consequence.Bree stared at her, not comprehending.Jane looked at Carlisle. Are you sure you got all of them? The other half that split off?Carlisles face was very smooth as he nodded. We split up, too.Jane half-smiled. I cant deny that Im impressed. The big shadows behind her murmured in agreement. Ive never seen a coven escape this magnitude of offensive intact. Do you know what was behind it? It seems like ingrained behavior, considering the way you live here. And why was the girl the key? Her eyes be unwilling on me for one short second.I shivered.Victoria held a grudge against Bella, Edward told her, his voice impassive.Jane laughed the sound was golden, the bubbling laugh of a prosperous child. This one seems to bring out bizarrely strong reactions in our kind, she observed, smiling straight at me, her face beatific.Edward stiffened. I looked at him in time to see his face turning away, back to Jane.Would you please not do that? he asked in a tight voice.Jane laughed again lightly. Just checking. No harm done, apparently.I shivered, deeply grateful that the strange glitch in my system of rules which had protected me from Jane the last t ime wed met was still in effect. Edwards arm tightened around me.Well, it appears that theres not much left for us to do. Odd, Jane said, apathy creeping back into her voice. Were not used to being rendered unnecessary. Its too bad we missed the fight. It sounds like it would have been entertaining to watch.Yes, Edward answered her quickly, his voice sharp. And you were so close. Its a shame you didnt get in just a half hour earlier. Perhaps then you could have fulfilled your purpose here.Jane met Edwards glare with unwavering eyes. Yes. Quite a lenience how things turned out, isnt it?Edward nodded once to himself, his suspicions confirmed.Jane turned to look at the newborn Bree again, her face completely bored. Felix? she drawled.Wait, Edward interjected.Jane raised one eyebrow, but Edward was staring at Carlisle while he spoke in an urgent voice. We could explain the rules to the young one. She doesnt seem unwilling to learn. She didnt know what she was doing.Of course, Carlisl e answered. We would certainly be prepared to take debt instrument for Bree.Janes expression was torn between amusement and disbelief.We dont make exceptions, she said. And we dont give second chances. Its bad for our reputation. Which reminds me . . . Suddenly, her eyes were on me again, and her cherubic face dimpled. Caius will be so interested to hear that youre still human, Bella. Perhaps hell decide to visit.The run into is set, Alice told Jane, speaking for the first time. Perhaps well come to visit you in a few months.Janes smile faded, and she shrugged indifferently, never looking at Alice. She turned to face Carlisle. It was nice to meet you, Carlisle Id thought Aro was exaggerating. Well, until we meet again . . .Carlisle nodded, his expression pained. catch care of that, Felix, Jane said, nodding toward Bree, her voice dripping boredom. I want to go home.Dont watch, Edward whispered in my ear.I was only too eager to follow his instruction. Id seen more than enough for one day more than enough for one lifetime. I squeezed my eyes tightly together and turned my face into Edwards chest.But I could still hear.There was a deep, rumbling growl, and then a high-pitched keen that was horribly familiar. That sound cut off quickly, and then the only sound was a sickening crunching and snapping.Edwards hand rubbed anxiously against my shoulders.Come, Jane said, and I looked up in time to see the backs of the tall gray cloaks aimless away toward the curling smoke. The incense smell was strong again fresh.The gray cloaks disappeared into the thick mist.