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I thought about the reason for that； and shuddered。
〃Esme and Carlisle… ？〃 I continued quickly； to keep him from noticing。
〃Are happy to see me happy。 Actually； Esme wouldn't care if you had a
third eye and webbed feet。 All this time she's been worried about me；
afraid that there was something missing from my essential makeup； that I
was too young when Carlisle changed me… She's ecstatic。 Every time I
touch you； she just about chokes with satisfaction。〃
〃Alice seems very… enthusiastic。〃
〃Alice has her own way of looking at things；〃 he said through tight lips。
〃And you're not going to explain that； are you？〃
A moment of wordless munication passed between us。 He realized that I
knew he was keeping something from me。 I realized that he wasn't going to
give anything away。 Not now。
〃So what was Carlisle telling you before？〃
His eyebrows pulled together。 〃You noticed that； did you？〃
I shrugged。 〃Of course。〃
He looked at me thoughtfully for a few seconds before answering。 〃He
wanted to tell me some news — he didn't know if it was something I would
share with you。〃
〃Will you？〃
〃I have to； because I'm going to be a little… overbearingly protective
over the next few days — or weeks — and I wouldn't want you to think I'm
naturally a tyrant。〃
〃What's wrong？〃
〃Nothing's wrong； exactly。 Alice just sees some visitors ing soon。
They know we're here； and they're curious。〃
〃Visitors？〃
〃Yes… well； they aren't like us； of course — in their hunting habits； I
mean。 They probably won't e into town at all； but I'm certainly not
going to let you out of my sight till they're gone。〃
I shivered。
〃Finally； a rational response！〃 he murmured。 〃I was beginning to think
you had no sense of selfpreservation at all。〃
I let that one pass； looking away； my eyes wandering again around the
spacious room。
He followed my gaze。 〃Not what you expected； is it？〃 he asked； his voice
smug。
〃No；〃 I admitted。
〃No coffins； no piled skulls in the corners； I don't even think we have
cobwebs… what a disappointment this must be for you；〃 he continued slyly。
I ignored his teasing。 〃It's so light… so open。〃
He was more serious when he answered。 〃It's the one place we never have
to hide。〃
The song he was still playing； my song； drifted to an end； the final
chords shifting to a more melancholy key。 The last note hovered
poignantly in the silence。
〃Thank you；〃 I murmured。 I realized there were tears in my eyes。 I dabbed
at them； embarrassed。
He touched the corner of my eye； trapping one I missed。 He lifted his
finger； examining the drop of moisture broodingly。 Then； so quickly I
couldn't be positive that he really did； he put his finger to his mouth
to taste it。
I looked at him questioningly； and he gazed back for a long moment before
he finally smiled。
〃Do you want to see the rest of the house？〃
〃No coffins？〃 I verified； the sarcasm in my voice not entirely masking
the slight but genuine anxiety I felt。
He laughed； taking my hand； leading me away from the piano。
〃No coffins；〃 he promised。
We walked up the massive staircase； my hand trailing along the
satinsmooth rail。 The long hall at the top of the stairs was paneled
with a honeycolored wood； the same as the floorboards。
〃Rosalie and Emmett's room… Carlisle's office… Alice's room…〃 He gestured
as he led me past the doors。
He would have continued； but I stopped dead at the end of the hall；
staring incredulously at the ornament hanging on the wall above my head。
Edward chuckled at my bewildered expression。
〃You can laugh；〃 he said。 〃It is sort of ironic。〃
I didn't laugh。 My hand raised automatically； one finger extended as if
to touch the large wooden cross； its dark patina contrasting with the
lighter tone of the wall。 I didn't touch it； though I was curious if the
aged wood would feel as silky as it looked。
〃It must be very old；〃 I guessed。
He shrugged。 〃Early sixteenthirties； more or less。〃
I looked away from the cross to stare at him。
〃Why do you keep this here？〃 I wondered。
〃Nostalgia。 It belonged to Carlisle's father。〃
〃He collected antiques？〃 I suggested doubtfully。
〃No。 He carved this himself。 It hung on the wall above the pulpit in the
vicarage where he preached。〃
I wasn't sure if my face betrayed my shock； but I returned to gazing at
the simple； ancient cross； just in case。 I quickly did the mental math；
the cross was over three hundred and seventy years old。 The silence
stretched on as I struggled to wrap my mind around the concept of so many
years。
〃Are you all right？〃 He sounded worried。
〃How old is Carlisle？〃 I asked quietly； ignoring his question； still
staring up。
〃He just celebrated his three hundred and sixtysecond birthday；〃 Edward
said。 I looked back at him； a million questions in my eyes。
He watched me carefully as he spoke。
〃Carlisle was born in London； in the sixteenforties； he believes。 Time
wasn't marked as accurately then； for the mon people anyway。 It was
just before Cromwell's rule； though。〃
I kept my face posed； aware of his scrutiny as I listened。 It was
easier if I didn't try to believe。
〃He was the only son of an Anglican pastor。 His mother died giving birth
to him。 His father was an intolerant man。 As the Protestants came into
power； he was enthusiastic in his persecution of Roman Catholics and
other religions。 He also believed very strongly in the reality of evil。
He led hunts for witches； werewolves… and vampires。〃 I grew very still at
the word。 I'm sure he noticed； but he went on without pausing。
〃They burned a lot of innocent people — of course the real creatures that
he sought were not so easy to catch。
〃When the pastor grew old； he placed his obedient son in charge of the
raids。 At first Carlisle was a disappointment； he was not quick to
accuse； to see demons where they did not exist。 But he was persistent；
and more clever than his father。 He actually discovered a coven of true
vampires that lived hidden in the sewers of the city； only ing out by
night t