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she'd hurt her family； hurt her
brother
〃Bella；〃 Alice whispered。 〃Edward won't call again。 He believed her。〃
〃I。 Don't。 Understand。〃 My mouth framed each word in silence。 I couldn't push
the air out to actually say
the words that would make her explain what that meant。
〃He's going to Italy。〃
It took the length of one heartbeat for me to prehend。
When Edward's voice came back to me now； it was not the perfect imitation of
my delusions。 It was just
the weak； flat tone of my memories。 But the words alone were enough to shred
through my chest and
leave it gaping open。 Words from a time when I would have bet everything that
I owned or could borrow
on that fact that he loved me。
Well； I wasn't going to live without you； he'd said as we watched Romeo and
Juliet die； here in this
very room。 But I wasn't sure how to do it I knew Emmett and Jasper would
never help so I
was thinking maybe I would go to Italy and do something to provoke the Volturi
You don't
irritate them。 Not unless you want to die。
Not unless you want to die。
〃NO！〃 The half…shrieked denial was so loud after the whispered words； it made
us all jump。 I felt the
blood rushing to my face as I realized what she'd seen。 〃No！ No； no； no！ He
can't！ He can't do that！〃
〃He made up his mind as soon as your friend confirmed that it was too late to
save you。〃
〃But he he left！ He didn't want me anymore！ What difference does it make
now？ He knew I would
die sometime！〃
〃I don't think he ever planned to outlive you by long；〃 Alice said quietly。
〃How dare he！〃 I screamed。 I was on my feet now； and Jacob rose uncertainly to
put himself between
Alice and me again。
〃Oh； get out of the way； Jacob！〃 I elbowed my way around his trembling body
with desperate
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 manded。
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
es 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 acplice 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