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〃How are you？〃 I asked him as I pulled out of the garage。
〃How do you think？〃 Jacob asked bitingly。 〃I'm sick of all these reeking bloodsuckers。〃 He saw my
expression and spoke before I could answer。 〃Yeah； I know； I know。 They're the good guys； they're
here to help； they're going to save us all。 Etcetera； etcetera。 Say what you want； I still think Dracula One
and Dracula Two are creeptacular。〃
I had to smile。 The Romanians weren't my favorite guests； either。 〃I don't disagree with you there。〃
Renesmee shook her head but said nothing； unlike the rest of us； she found the Romanians strangely
fascinating。 She'd made the effort to speak to them aloud since they would not let her touch them。 Her
question was about their unusual skin and； though I was afraid they might be offended； I was kind of glad
she'd asked。 I was curious； too。
They hadn't seemed upset by her interest。 Maybe a little rueful。
〃We sat still for a very long time； child；〃 Vladimir had answered； with Stefan nodding along but not
continuing Vladimir's sentences as he often did。 〃Contemplating our own divinity。 It was a sign of our
power that everything came to us。 Prey； diplomats； those seeking our favor。 We sat on our thrones and
thought ourselves gods。 We didn't notice for a long time that we were changing—almost petrifying。 I
suppose the Volturi did us one favor when they burned our castles。 Stefan and I； at least； did not
continue to petrify。 Now the Volturi's eyes are filmed with dusty scum； but ours are bright。 I imagine that
will give us an advantage when we gouge theirs from their sockets。〃
I tried to keep Renesmee away from them after that。
〃How long do we get to hang out with Charlie？〃 Jacob asked； interrupting my thoughts。 He was visibly
relaxing as we pulled away from the house and all its new inmates。 It made me happy that I didn't really
count as a vampire to him。 I was still just Bella。
〃For quite a while； actually。〃
The tone of my voice caught his attention。
〃Is something going on here besides visiting your dad？〃
〃Jake； you know how you're pretty good at controlling your thoughts around Edward？〃
He raised one thick black brow。 〃Yeah？〃
I just nodded； cutting my eyes to Renesmee。 She was looking out the window； and I couldn't tell how
interested she was in our conversation； but I decided not to risk going any further。
Jacob waited for me to add something else； and then his lower lip pushed out while he thought about
what little
I'd said。
As we drove in silence； I squinted through the annoying contacts into the cold rain； it wasn't quite cold
enough for snow。 My eyes were not as ghoulish as they had been in the beginning—definitely closer to a
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dull reddish orange than to bright crimson。 Soon they'd be amber enough for me to quit the contacts； i
hoped the change wouldn't upset Charlie too much。
Jacob was still chewing over our truncated conversation when we got to Charlie's。 We didn't talk as we
walked at a quick human pace through the falling rain。 My dad was waiting for us； he had the door open
before I could knock。
〃Hey； guys！ It seems like it's been years！ Look at you； Nessie！ e to Grampa！ I swear you've grown
half a foot。 And you look skinny； Ness。〃 He glared at me。 〃Aren't they feeding you up there？〃
〃It's just the growth spurt；〃 I muttered。 〃Hey； Sue；〃 I called over his shoulder。 The smell of chicken；
tomato； garlic； and cheese issued from the kitchen； it probably smelled good to everyone else。 I could
also smell fresh pine and packing dust。
Renesmee flashed her dimples。 She never spoke in front of Charlie。
〃Well； e on in out of the cold； kids。 Where's my soninlaw？〃
〃Entertaining friends；〃 Jacob said； and then snorted。 〃You're so lucky you're out of the loop； Charlie。
That's all I'm going to say。〃
I punched Jacob lightly in the kidney while Charlie cringed。
〃Ow；〃 Jacob plained under his breath； well； I'd thought I'd punched lightly。
〃Actually； Charlie； I have some errands to run。〃
Jacob shot a glance at me but said nothing。
〃Behind on your Christmas shopping； Bells？ You only have a few days； you know。〃
〃Yeah； Christmas shopping；〃 I said lamely。 That explained the packing dust。 Charlie must have put the
old decorations up。
〃Don't worry； Nessie；〃 he whispered in her ear。 〃I got you covered if your mom drops the ball。〃
I rolled my eyes at him； but in truth； I hadn't thought about the holidays at all。
〃Lunch's on the table；〃 Sue called from the kitchen。 〃C'mon； guys。〃
〃See you later； Dad；〃 I said； and exchanged a quick look with Jacob。 Even if he couldn't help but think
about this near Edward； at least there wasn't much for him to share。 He had no idea what I was up to。
Of course； I thought to myself as I got into the car； it wasn't like I had much idea； either。
The roads were slick and dark； but driving didn't intimidate me anymore。 My reflexes were well up to
the job； and I barely paid attention to the road。 The problem was keeping my speed from attracting
attention when I had pany。 I wanted to be done with today's mission； to have the mystery sorted out
so that I could get back to the vital task of learning。 Learning to protect some； learning to kill others。
I was getting better and better with my shield。 Kate didn't feel the need to motivate me anymore—it
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wasn't hard to find reasons to feel angry； now that I knew that was the key—and so I mostly worked
with Zafrina。 She was
pleased with my extension； I was able to cover almost a tenfoot area for more than a minute； though it
exhausted me。 This morning she'd been trying to find out if I could push the shield away from my mind
altogether。 I didn't see what the use of that would be； but Zafrina thought it would help strengthen me；
like exercising muscles in the stomach and back rather than just the arms。 Eventually； you could lift more
weight when all the muscles were stronger。
I wasn't very good at it。 I had only gotten one glimpse of the jungle river she was trying to show me。
But there were different ways to prepare for what was ing； and with only two weeks left； I worried
that I might be neglecting the most important。 Today I would rectify that oversight。
I'd memorized the appropriate maps； and I had no problem finding my way to the address that didn't
exist online； the one for J。 Jenks。 My next step would be Jason Jenks at the other address； the one Alice
had not given me。
To say that it wasn't a nice neighborhood would be an understatement。 The most nondescript of all the
Cullens' cars was still outrageous on this street。 My old Chevy would have looked healthy here。 During
my human years； I would have locked the doors and driven away as fast as I dared。 As it was； I was a
little fascinated。 I tried to imagine Alice in this place for any reason； and failed。
The buildings—all three stories； all narrow； all leaning slightly as if bowed by the pounding rain—were
mostly old houses divided up into multiple apartments。 It was hard to tell what color the peeling paint was
supposed to be。 Everything had faded to shades of gray。 A few of the buildings had businesses on the
first floor： a dirty bar with the windows painted black； a psychic's supply store with neon hands and tarot
cards glowing fitfully on the door； a tattoo parlor； and a daycare with duct tape holding the broken front
window together。 There were no lamps on inside any of the rooms； though it was grim enough outside
that the humans should have needed the light。 I could hear the low mumbling of voices in the distance； it
sounded like TV。
There were a few people about； two shuffling through the rain in opposite directions and one sitting on
the shallow porch of a boardedup cutrate law office； reading a wet newspaper and whistling。 The
sound was much too cheerful for the setting。
I was so bemused by the carefree whistler； I didn't realize at first that the abandoned building was