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bright in the shadows； just over his shoulder。 I hurtled toward them； trying
to see past the stinging tears。
The clock tolled； and the littlest girl clamped her hands over her ears。
The older girl； just waist high on her mother； hugged her mother's leg and
stared into the shadows behind
them。 As I watched； she tugged on her mother's elbow and pointed toward the
darkness。 The clock
tolled； and I was so close now。
I was close enough to hear her high…pitched voice。 Her father stared at me in
surprise as I bore down on
them； rasping out Edward's name over and over again。
The older girl giggled and said something to her mother； gesturing toward the
shadows again impatiently。
I swerved around the father—he clutched the baby out of my way—and sprinted
for the gloomy breach
behind them as the clock tolled over my head。
〃Edward； no！〃 I screamed； but my voice was lost in the roar of the chime。
I could see him now。 And I could see that he could not see me。
It was really him； no hallucination this time。 And I realized that my
delusions were more flawed than I'd
realized； they'd never done him justice。
Edward stood； motionless as a statue； just a few feet from the mouth of the
alley。 His eyes were closed；
the rings underneath them deep purple； his arms relaxed at his sides； his
palms turned forward。 His
expression was very peaceful； like he was dreaming pleasant things。 The marble
skin of his chest was
bare—there was a small pile of white fabric at his feet。 The light reflecting
from the pavement of the
square gleamed dimly from his skin。
I'd never seen anything more beautiful—even as I ran； gasping and screaming；
I could appreciate that。
And the last seven months meant nothing。 And his words in the forest meant
nothing。 And it did not
matter if he did not want me。 I would never want anything but him； no matter
how long I lived。
The clock tolled； and he took a large stride toward the light。
〃No！〃 I screamed。 〃Edward； look at me！〃
He wasn't listening。 He smiled very slightly。 He raised his foot to take the
step that would put him directly
in the path of the sun。
I slammed into him so hard that the force would have hurled me to the ground
if his arms hadn't caught
me and held me up。 It knocked my breath out of me and snapped my head back。
His dark eyes opened slowly as the clock tolled again。
He looked down at me with quiet surprise。
〃Amazing；〃 he said； his exquisite voice full of wonder； slightly amused。
〃Carlisle was right。〃
〃Edward；〃 I tried to gasp； but my voice had no sound。 〃You've got to get back
into the shadows。 You
have to move！〃
He seemed bemused。 His hand brushed softly against my cheek。 He didn't appear
to notice that I was
trying to force him back。 I could have been pushing against the alley walls
for all the progress I was
making。 The clock tolled； but he didn't react。
It was very strange； for I knew we were both in mortal danger。 Still； in that
instant； I felt well。 Whole。 I
could feel my heart racing in my chest； the blood pulsing hot and fast through
my veins again。 My lungs
filled deep with the sweet scent that came off his skin。 It was like there had
never been any hole in my
chest。 I was perfect—not healed； but as if there had been no wound in the
first place。
〃I can't believe how quick it was。 I didn't feel a thing—they're very good；〃
he mused； closing his eyes
again and pressing his lips against my hair。 His voice was like honey and
velvet。 〃Death； that hath
sucked the honey of thy breath； hath had no power yet upon thy beauty；〃 he
murmured； and I
recognized the line spoken by Romeo in the tomb。 The clock boomed out its
final chime 〃You smell just
exactly the same as always；〃 he went on。 〃So maybe this is hell。 I don't care。
I'll take it。〃
〃I'm not dead；〃 I interrupted。 〃And neither are you！ Please Edward； we have to
move。 They can't be far
away！〃
I struggled in his arms； and his brow furrowed in confusion。
〃What was that？〃 he asked politely。
〃We're not dead； not yet！ But we have to get out of here before the Volturi—〃
prehension flickered on his face as I spoke。 Before I could finish； he
suddenly yanked me away
from the edge of the shadows； spinning me effortlessly so that my back was
tight against the brick wall；
and his back was to me as he faced away into the alley。 His arms spread wide；
protectively； in front of
me。
I peeked under his arm to see two dark shapes detach themselves from the
gloom。
〃Greetings； gentlemen；〃 Edward's voice was calm and pleasant； on the surface。
〃I don't think I'll be
requiring your services today。 I would appreciate it very much； however； if
you would send my thanks to
your masters。〃
〃Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue？〃 a smooth voice
whispered menacingly。
〃I don't believe that will be necessary。〃 Edward's voice was harder now。 〃I
know your instructions； Felix。
I haven't broken any rules。〃
〃Felix merely meant to point out the proximity of the sun；〃 the other shadow
said in a soothing tone。 They
were both concealed within smoky gray cloaks that reached to the ground and
undulated in the wind。
〃Let us seek better cover。〃
〃I'll be right behind you；〃 Edward said dryly。 〃Bella； why don't you go back
to the square and enjoy the
festival？〃
〃No； bring the girl；〃 the first shadow said； somehow injecting a leer into his
whisper。
〃I don't think so。〃 The pretense of civility disappeared。 Edward's voice was
flat and icy。 His weight
shifted infinitesimally； and I could see that he was preparing to fight。
〃No。〃 I mouthed the word。
〃Shh；〃 he murmured； only for me。
〃Felix；〃 the second； more reasonable shadow cautioned。 〃Not here。〃 He turned
to Edward。 〃Aro would
simply like to speak with you again； if you have decided not to force our hand
after all。〃
〃Certainly；〃 Edward agreed。 '〃But the girl goes free。〃
〃I'm afraid that's not possible；〃 the polite shadow said regretfully。 〃We do
have rules to obey。〃
〃Then I'm afraid that I'll be unable to accept Aro's invitation； Demetri。〃
〃That's just fine；〃 Felix purred。 My eyes were adjusting t