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all for him； of course。 You're simply a human； who unfortunately was in
the wrong place； at the wrong time； and indisputably running with the
wrong crowd； I might add。〃
He stepped toward me； smiling。 〃Before we begin…〃
I felt a curl of nausea in the pit of my stomach as he spoke。 This was
something I had not anticipated。
〃I would just like to rub it in； just a little bit。 The answer was there
all along； and I was so afraid Edward would see that and ruin my fun。 It
happened once； oh； ages ago。 The one and only time my prey escaped me。
〃You see； the vampire who was so stupidly fond of this little victim made
the choice that your Edward was too weak to make。 When the old one knew I
was after his little friend； he stole her from the asylum where he worked
— I never will understand the obsession some vampires seem to form with
you humans — and as soon as he freed her he made her safe。 She didn't
even seem to notice the pain； poor little creature。 She'd been stuck in
that black hole of a cell for so long。 A hundred years earlier and she
would have been burned at the stake for her visions。 In the
nieentwenties it was the asylum and the shock treatments。 When she
opened her eyes； strong with her fresh youth； it was like she'd never
seen the sun before。 The old vampire made her a strong new vampire； and
there was no reason for me to touch her then。〃 He sighed。 〃I destroyed
the old one in vengeance。〃
〃Alice；〃 I breathed； astonished。
〃Yes； your little friend。 I was surprised to see her in the clearing。 So
I guess her coven ought to be able to derive some fort from this
experience。 I get you； but they get her。 The one victim who escaped me；
quite an honor； actually。
〃And she did smell so delicious。 I still regret that I never got to
taste… She smelled even better than you do。 Sorry — I don't mean to be
offensive。 You have a very nice smell。 Floral； somehow…〃
He took another step toward me； till he was just inches away。 He lifted a
lock of my hair and sniffed at it delicately。 Then he gently patted the
strand back into place； and I felt his cool fingertips against my throat。
He reached up to stroke my cheek once quickly with his thumb； his face
curious。 I wanted so badly to run； but I was frozen。 I couldn't even
flinch away。
〃No；〃 he murmured to himself as he dropped his hand； 〃I don't
understand。〃 He sighed。 〃Well； I suppose we should get on with it。 And
then I can call your friends and tell them where to find you； and my
little message。〃
I was definitely sick now。 There was pain ing； I could see it in his
eyes。 It wouldn't be enough for him to win； to feed and go。 There would
be no quick end like I'd been counting on。 My knees began to shake； and I
was afraid I was going to fall。
He stepped back； and began to circle； casually； as if he were trying to
get a better view of a statue in a museum。 His face was still open and
friendly as he decided where to start。
Then he slumped forward； into a crouch I recognized； and his pleasant
smile slowly widened； grew； till it wasn't a smile at all but a
contortion of teeth； exposed and glistening。
I couldn't help myself— I tried to run。 As useless as I knew it would be；
as weak as my knees already were； panic took over and I bolted for the
emergency door。
He was in front of me in a flash。 I didn't see if he used his hand or his
foot； it was too fast。 A crushing blow struck my chest — I felt myself
flying backward； and then heard the crunch as my head bashed into the
mirrors。 The glass buckled； some of the pieces shattering and splintering
on the floor beside me。
I was too stunned to feel the pain。 I couldn't breathe yet。
He walked toward me slowly。
〃That's a very nice effect；〃 he said； examining the mess of glass； his
voice friendly again。 〃I thought this room would be visually dramatic for
my little film。 That's why I picked this place to meet you。 It's perfect；
isn't it？〃
I ignored him； scrambling on my hands and knees； crawling toward the
other door。
He was over me at once； his foot stepping down hard on my leg。 I heard
the sickening snap before I felt it。 But then I did feel it； and I
couldn't hold back my scream of agony。 I twisted up to reach for my leg；
and he was standing over me； smiling。
〃Would you like to rethink your last request？〃 he asked pleasantly。 His
toe nudged my broken leg and I heard a piercing scream。 With a shock； I
realized it was mine。
〃Wouldn't you rather have Edward try to find me？〃 he prompted。
〃No！〃 I croaked。 〃No； Edward； don't—〃 And then something smashed into my
face； throwing me back into the broken mirrors。
Over the pain of my leg； I felt the sharp rip across my scalp where the
glass cut into it。 And then the warm wetness began to spread through my
hair with alarming speed。 I could feel it soaking the shoulder of my
shirt； hear it dripping on the wood below。 The smell of it twisted my
stomach。
Through the nausea and dizziness I saw something that gave me a sudden；
final shred of hope。 His eyes； merely intent before； now burned with an
uncontrollable need。 The blood — spreading crimson across my white shirt；
pooling rapidly on the floor — was driving him mad with thirst。 No matter
his original intentions； he couldn't draw this out much longer。
Let it be quick now； was all I could hope as the flow of blood from my
head sucked my consciousness away with it。 My eyes were closing。
I heard； as if from underwater； the final growl of the hunter。 I could
see； through the long tunnels my eyes had bee； his dark shape ing
toward me。 With my last effort； my hand instinctively raised to protect
my face。 My eyes closed； and I drifted。
===========================================================================
23。 THE ANGEL
As I drifted； I dreamed。
Where I floated； under the dark water； I heard the happiest sound my mind
could conjure up — as beautiful； as uplifting； as it was ghastly。 It was
another snarl； a deeper； wilder roar that rang with fury。
I was brought back； almost to the surface； by a sharp pain slashing my
upraised hand； but I couldn't find my way back far enough to open my eyes。
And then I knew I was dead。
Because； through the heavy water； I heard the sound of an angel calling
my name； calling me to the only heaven I wanted。
〃Oh no； Bella； no！〃 the angel's voice cried in horror。
Behind that longedfor sound was another noise — an awful tumult that my
mind shied away from。 A vicious bass growling； a shocking snapping sound；
and a high keening； suddenly breaking off…
I tried to concentrate on the angel's voice instead。
〃Bella； please！ Bella； listen to me； please； please； Bella； please！〃 he
begged。
Yes； I wanted to say。 Anything。 But I couldn't find my lips。
〃Carlisle！〃 the angel called； agony in his perfect voice。 〃Bella； Bella；
no； oh please； no； no！〃 And the angel was sobbing tearless； broken sobs。
The angel shouldn't weep； it was wrong。 I tried to find him； to tell him
everything was fine； but the water was so deep； it was pressing on me；
and I couldn't breathe。
There was a point of pressure against my head。 It hurt。 Then； as that
pain broke through the darkness to me； other pains came； stronger pains。
I cried out； gasping； breaking through the dark pool。
〃Bella！〃 the angel cried。
〃She's lost some blood； but the head wound isn't deep；〃 a calm voice
informed me。 〃Watch out for her leg； it's broken。〃
A howl of rage strangled on the angel's lips。
I felt a sharp stab in my side。 This couldn't be heaven； could it？ There
was too much pain for that。
〃Some ribs； too； I think；〃 the methodical voice continued。
But the sharp pains were fading。 There was a new pain； a scalding pain in
my hand that was overshadowing everything else。
Someone was burning me。
〃Edward。〃 I tried to tell him； but my voice was so heavy and slow。 I
couldn't understand myself。
〃Bella； you're going to be fine。 Can you hear me； Bella？ I love you。〃
〃Edward；〃 I tried again。 My voice was a little clearer。
〃Yes； I'm here。〃
〃It hu