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！
impatience。 〃What do we do？〃 I begged Alice。 There had to be something。 〃Can't we call him？ Can
Carlisle？〃
She was shaking her head。 〃That was the first thing I tried。 He left his phone in a trash can in
Rio—someone answered it…〃 she whispered。
〃You said before we had to hurry。 Hurry how？ Let's do it； whatever it is！〃
〃Bella； I—I don't think I can ask you to…〃 She trailed off in indecision。
〃Ask me！〃 I commanded。
She put her hands on my shoulders； holding me in place； her fingers flexing sporadically to emphasize her
words。 〃We may already be too late。 I saw him going to the Volturi… and asking to die。〃 We both
cringed； and my eyes were suddenly blind。 I blinked feverishly at the tears。 〃It all depends on what they
choose。 I can't see that till they make a decision。
〃But if they say no； and they might—Aro is fond of Carlisle； and wouldn't want to offend him—Edward
has a backup plan。 They're very protective of their city。 If Edward does something to upset the peace； he
thinks they'll act to stop him。 And he's right。 They will。〃
I stared at her with my jaw clenched in frustration。 I'd heard nothing yet that would explain why we were
still standing here。
〃So if they agree to grant his favor； we're too late。 If they say no； and he comes up with a plan to offend
them quickly enough； we're too late。 If he gives into his more theatrical tendencies… we might have
time。〃
〃Let's go！〃
〃Listen； Bella！ Whether we are in time or not； we will be in the heart of the Volturi city。 I will be
considered his accomplice if he is successful。 You will be a human who not only knows too much； but
also smells too good。 There's a very good chance that they will eliminate us all—though in your case it
won't be punishment so much as dinnertime。〃
〃This is what's keeping us here？〃 I asked in disbelief。 〃I'll go alone if you're afraid。〃 I mentally tabulated
what money was left in my account； and wondered if Alice would lend me the rest。
〃I'm only afraid of getting you killed。〃
I snorted in disgust。 〃I almost get myself killed on a daily basis！ Tell me what I need to do！〃
〃You write a note to Charlie。 I'll call the airlines。〃
〃Charlie；〃 I gasped。
Not that my presence was protecting him； but could I leave him here alone to face…
〃I'm not going to let anything happen to Charlie。〃 Jacob's low voice was gruff and angry。 〃Screw the
treaty。〃
I glanced up at him； and he scowled at my panicked expression。
〃Hurry； Bella；〃 Alice interrupted urgently。
I ran to the kitchen； yanking the drawers open and throwing the contents all over the floor as I searched
for a pen。 A smooth； brown hand held one out to me。
〃Thanks；〃 I mumbled； pulling the cap off with my teeth。 He silently handed me the pad of paper we wrote
phone messages on。 I tore off the top sheet and threw it over my shoulder。
Dad； I wrote。 I'm with Alice。 Edward's in trouble。 You can ground me when I get back。 I know it's
a bad time。 So sorry。 Love you so much。 Bella。
〃Don't go；〃 Jacob whispered。 The anger was all gone now that Alice was out of sight。
I wasn't about to waste time arguing with him。 〃Please； please； please take care of Charlie；〃 I said as I
dashed back out to the front room。 Alice was waiting in the doorway with a bag over her shoulder。
〃Get your wallet—you'll need ID。 Please tell me you have a passport。 I don't have time to forge one。〃
I nodded and then raced up the stairs； my knees weak with gratitude that my mother had wanted to
marry Phil on a beach in Mexico。 Of course； like all her plans； it had fallen through。 But not before I'd
made all the practical arrangements I could for her。
I tore through my room。 I stuffed my old wallet； a clean T…shirt； and sweatpants into my backpack； and
then threw my toothbrush on top。 I hurled myself back down the stairs。 The sense of deja vu was nearly
stifling by this point。 At least； unlike the last time—when I'd run away from Forks to escape thirsty
vampires rather than to find them—I wouldn't have to say goodbye to Charlie in person。
Jacob and Alice were locked in some kind of confrontation in front of the open door； standing so far
apart you wouldn't assume at first that they were having a conversation。 Neither one seemed to notice my
noisy reappearance。
〃You might control yourself on occasion； but these leeches you're taking her to—〃 Jacob was furiously
accusing her。
〃Yes。 You're right； dog。〃 Alice was snarling； too。 〃The Volturi are the very essence of our kind—they're
the reason your hair stands on end when you smell me。 They are the substance of your nightmares； the
dread behind your instincts。 I'm not unaware of that。〃
〃And you take her to them like a bottle of wine for a party！〃 he shouted。
〃You think she'd be better off if I left her here alone； with Victoria stalking her？〃
〃We can handle the redhead。〃
〃Then why is she still hunting？〃
Jacob growled； and a shudder rippled through his torso。
〃Stop that！〃 I shouted at them both； wild with impatience。 〃Argue when we get back； let's go！〃
Alice turned for the car； disappearing in her haste。 I hurried after her； pausing automatically to turn and
lock the door。
Jacob caught my arm with a shivering hand。 〃Please； Bella。 I'm begging。〃
His dark eyes were glistening with tears。 A lump filled my throat。
〃Jake； I have to—〃
〃You don't； though。 You really don't。 You could stay here with me。 You could stay alive。 For Charlie。
For me。〃
The engine of Carlisle's Mercedes purred； the rhythm of the thrumming spiked when Alice revved it
impatiently。
I shook my head； tears spattering from my eyes with the sharp motion。 I pulled my arm free； and he
didn't fight me。
〃Don't die； Bella；〃 he choked out。 〃Don't go。 Don't。〃
What if I never saw him again？
The thought pushed me past the silent tears； a sob broke out from my chest。 I threw my arms around his
waist and hugged for one too…short moment； burying my tear…wet face against his chest。 He put his big
hand on the back of my hair； as if to hold me there。
〃Bye； Jake。〃 I pulled his hand from my hair； and kissed his palm。 I couldn't bear to look at his face。
〃Sorry；〃 I whispered。
Then I spun and raced for the car。 The door on the passenger side was open and waiting。 I threw my
backpack over the headrest and slid in； slamming the door behind me。
〃Take care of Charlie！〃 I turned to shout out the window； but Jacob was nowhere in sight。 As Alice
stomped on the gas and—with the tires screeching like human screams—spun us around to face the
road； I caught sight of a shred of white near the edge of the trees。 A piece of a shoe。
19。 HATE
WE MADE OUR FLIGHT WITH SECONDS TO SPARE； AND THEN the true torture began。 The
plane sat idle on the tarmac while the flight attendants strolled—so casually—up and down the aisle；
patting the bags in the overhead compartments to make sure everything fit。 The pilots leaned out of the
cockpit； chatting with them as they passed。 Alice's hand was hard on my shoulder； holding me in my seat
while I bounced anxiously up and down。
〃It's faster than running；〃 she reminded me in a low voice。
I just nodded in time with my bouncing。
At last the plane rolled lazily from the gate； building speed with a gradual steadiness that tortured me
further。 I expected some kind of relief when we achieved liftoff； but my frenzied impatience didn't lessen。
Alice lifted the phone on the back of the seat in front of her before we'd stopped climbing； turning her
back on the stewardess who eyed her with disapproval。 Something about my expression stopped the
stewardess from coming over to protest。
I tried to tune out what Alice was murmuring to Jasper； I didn't want to hear the words again； but some
slipped through。
〃I can't be sure； I keep seeing him do different things； he keeps changing his mind… A killing spree
through the city； attacking the guard； lifting a car over his head in the main square… mostly things that
would expose them—he knows that's the fastest way to force a reaction…〃
〃No； you can't。〃 Alice's voice dropped till it was nearly inaudible； though I was sitting inches from her。
Contrarily； I listened harder。 〃Tell Emmett no… Well； go after Emmett and Rosalie and bring them
back… Think about it； Jasper。 If he sees any of us； what do you think he will do？〃
She nodded。 〃Exactly。 I think Bella is the only chance—if there is a chance… I'll do everything that can
be done； but prepare Carlisle； the odds aren't good。〃
She laughed then； and there was a catch in her voice。 〃I've thought of that… Yes； I promise。〃 Her voice
became pleading。 〃Don't follow me。 I promise； Jasper。 One way or another； I'll get out… And I love
you。〃
She hung up； and leaned back in her seat with her eyes closed。 〃I hate lying to him。〃
〃Tell me everything； Alice；〃 I begged。 〃I don't understand。 Why did you tell Jasper to stop Emmett； why
can't they come help us？〃
〃Two reasons；〃 she whispered； her eyes still closed。 〃The first I told him。 We could try to stop Edward
ourselves—if Emmett could get his hands on him； we might be