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And then； as clearly as if I were in immediate danger； Edward's velvet voice whispered in my ear。
〃Be happy；〃 he told me。
I froze。
Jacob felt me stiffen and released me automatically； reaching for the door。
Wait； I wanted to say。 Just a minute。 But I was still locked in place； listening to the echo of Edward's
voice in my head。
Stormcooled air blew through the cab of the truck。
〃OH！〃 The breath whooshed out of Jacob like someone had punched him in the gut。 〃Holy crap！〃
He slammed the door and twisted the keys in the ignition at the same moment。 His hands were shaking
so hard I didn't know how he managed it。
〃What's wrong？〃
He revved the engine too fast； it sputtered and faltered。
〃Vampire；〃 he spit out。
The blood rushed from my head and left me dizzy。 〃How do you know？〃
〃Because I can smell it。 Dammit！〃
Jacob's eyes were wild； raking the dark street。 He barely seemed aware of the tremors that were rolling
through his body。 〃Phase or get her out of here？〃 he hissed at himself。
He looked down at me for a split second； taking in my horrorstruck eyes and white face； and then he
was scanning the street again。 〃Right。 Get you out。〃
The engine caught with a roar。 The tires squealed as he spun the truck around； turning toward our only
escape。 The headlights washed across the pavement； lit the front line of the black forest； and finally
glinted off a car parked across the street from my house。
〃Stop！〃 I gasped。
It was a black car—a car I knew。 I might be the furthest thing from an autophile； but I could tell you
everything about that particular car。 It was a Mercedes S55 AMG。 I knew the horsepower and the color
of the interior。 I knew the feel of the powerful engine purring through the frame。 I knew the rich smell of
the leather seats and the way the extradark tint made noon look like dusk through those windows。
It was Carlisle's car。
〃Stop！〃 I cried again； louder this time； because Jacob was gunning the truck down the street。
〃What？！〃
〃It's not Victoria。 Stop； stop！ I want to go back。〃
He stomped on the brake so hard I had to catch myself against the dashboard。
〃What？〃 he asked again； aghast。 He stared at me with horror in his eyes。
〃It's Carlisle's car！ It's the Cullens。 I know it。〃
He watched dawn break across my face； and a violent tremor rocked his frame。
〃Hey； calm down； Jake。 It's okay。 No danger； see？ Relax。〃
〃Yeah； calm；〃 he panted； putting his head down and closing his eyes。 While he concentrated on not
exploding into a wolf； I stared out the back window at the black car。
It was just Carlisle； I told myself。 Don't expect anything more。 Maybe Esme… Stop right there； I told
myself。 Just Carlisle。 That was plenty。 More than I'd ever hoped to have again。
〃There's a vampire in your house；〃 Jacob hissed。 〃And you want to go back？〃
I glanced at him； ripping my unwilling eyes off the Mercedes—terrified that it would disappear the second
I looked away。
〃Of course；〃 I said； my voice blank with surprise at his question。 Of course I wanted to go back。
Jacob's face hardened while I stared at him； congealing into the bitter mask that I'd thought was gone for
good。 Just before he had the mask in place； I caught the spasm of betrayal that flashed in his eyes。 His
hands were still shaking。 He looked ten years older than me。
He took a deep breath。 〃You're sure it's not a trick？〃 he asked in a slow； heavy voice。
〃It's not a trick。 It's Carlisle。 Take me back！〃
A shudder rippled through his wide shoulders； but his eyes were flat and emotionless。 〃No。〃
〃Jake； it's okay—〃
〃No。 Take yourself back； Bella。〃 His voice was a slap—I flinched as the sound of it struck me。 His jaw
clenched and unclenched。
〃Look； Bella；〃 he said in the same hard voice。 〃I can't go back。 Treaty or no treaty； that's my enemy in
there。〃
〃It's not like that—〃
〃I have to tell Sam right away。 This changes things。 We can't be caught on their territory。〃
〃Jake； it's not a war！〃
He didn't listen。 He put the truck in neutral and jumped out the door； leaving it running。
〃Bye； Bella；〃 he called back over his shoulder。 〃I really hope you don't die。〃 He sprinted into the
darkness； shaking so hard that his shape seemed blurred； he disappeared before I could open my mouth
to call him back。
Remorse pinned me against the seat for one long second。 What had I just done to Jacob'？
But remorse couldn't hold me very long。
I slid across the seat and put the truck back in drive。 My hands were shaking almost as hard as Jake's
had been； and this took a minute of concentration。 Then I carefully turned the truck around and drove it
back to my house。
It was very dark when I turned off the headlights。 Charlie had left in such a hurry that he'd forgotten to
leave the porch lamp on。 I felt a pang of doubt； staring at the house； deep in shadow。 What if it was a
trick？
I looked back at the black car； almost invisible in the night。 No。 I knew that car。
Still； my hands were shaking even worse than before as I reached for the key above the door。 When I
grabbed the doorknob to unlock it； it twisted easily under my hand。 I let the door fall open。 The hallway
was black。
I wanted to call out a greeting； but my throat was too dry。 I couldn't quite seem to catch my breath。
I took a step inside and fumbled for the light switch。 It was so black—like the black water… Where was
that switch？
Just like the black water； with the orange flame flickering impossibly on top of it。 Flame that couldn't be a
fire； but what then… ？ My fingers traced the wall； still searching； still shaking—
Suddenly； something Jacob had told me this afternoon echoed in my head； finally sinking in… She took
off into the water； he'd said。 The bloodsuckers have the advantage there。 That's why I raced home
—I was afraid she was going to double back swimming。
My hand froze in its searching； my whole body froze into place； as I realized why I recognized the
strange orange color on the water。
Victoria's hair； blowing wild in the wind； the color of fire…
Sh