Aro smiled。 〃So convenient；〃 he repeated to himself。 Then he spoke to us。 〃It
takes quite a bit to surprise
Marcus； I can assure you。〃
I looked at Marcus's dead face； and I believed that。
〃It's just so difficult to understand； even now；〃 Aro mused； staring at
Edward's arm wrapped around me。
It was hard for me to follow Aro's chaotic train of thought。 I struggled to
keep up。 〃How can you stand
so close to het like that？〃
〃It's not without effort；〃 Edward answered calmly。
〃Butstill—la tua cantante！ What a waste！〃
Edward chuckled once without humor。 〃I look at it more as a price。〃
Aro was skeptical。 〃A very high price。〃
〃Opportunity cost。〃
Aro laughed。 〃If I hadn't smelled her through your memories； I wouldn't have
believed the call of anyone's
blood could be so strong。 I've never felt anything like it myself。 Most of us
would trade much for such a
gift； and yet you〃
〃Waste it；〃 Edward finished； his voice sarcastic now。
Aro laughed again。 〃Ah； how I miss my friend Carlisle！ You remind me of him—
only he was not so
angry。〃
〃Carlisle outshines me in many other ways as well。〃
〃I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self…control of all
things； but you put him to shame。〃
〃Hardly。〃 Edward sounded impatient。 As if he were tired of the preliminaries。
It made me more afraid； I
couldn't help but try to imagine what he expected would follow。
〃I am gratified by his success；〃 Aro mused。 〃Your memories of him are quite a
gift for me； though they
astonish me exceedingly。 I am surprised by how it pleases me； his success in
this unorthodox path he's
chosen。 I expected that he would waste； weaken with time。 I'd scoffed at his
plan to find others who
would share his peculiar vision。 Yet； somehow； I'm happy to be wrong。〃
Edward didn't reply。
〃But your restraint！〃 Aro sighed。 〃I did not know such strength was possible。
To inure yourself against
such a siren call； not just once but again and again—if I had not felt it
myself； I would not have believed。〃
Edward gazed back at Aro's admiration with no expression。 I knew his face well
enough—time had not
changed that—to guess at something seething beneath the surface。 I fought to
keep my breathing even。
〃Just remembering how she appeals to you〃 Aro chuckled。 〃It makes me
thirsty。〃
Edward tensed。
〃Don't be disturbed；〃 Aro reassured him。 〃I mean her no harm。 But I am so
curious； about one thing in
particular。〃 He eyed me with bright interest。 〃May I？〃 he asked eagerly；
lifting one hand。
〃Ask her；〃 Edward suggested in a flat voice。
〃Of course； how rude of me！〃 Aro exclaimed。 〃Bella；〃 he addressed me directly
now。 〃I'm fascinated that
you are the one exception to Edward's impressive talent—so very interesting
that such a thing should
occur！ And I was wondering； since our talents are similar in many ways； if you
would be so kind as to
allow me to try—to see if you are an exception for me； as well？〃
My eyes flashed up to Edward's face in terror。 Despite Aro's overt politeness；
I didn't believe I really had
a choice。 I was horrified at the thought of allowing him to touch me； and yet
also perversely intrigued by
the chance to feel his strange skin。
Edward nodded in encouragement—whether because he was sure Aro would not hurt
me； or because
there was no choice； I couldn't tell。
I turned back to Aro and raised my hand slowly in front of me。 It was
trembling。
He glided closer； and I believe he meant his expression to be reassuring。 But
his papery features were
too strange； too alien and frightening； to reassure。 The look on his face was
more confident than his
words had been。
Aro reached out； as if to shake my hand； and pressed his insubstantial…looking
skin against mine。 It was
hard； but felt brittle—shale rather than granite—and even colder than I
expected。
His filmy eyes smiled down at mine； and it was impossible to look away。 They
were mesmerizing in an
odd； unpleasant way。
Aro's face altered as I watched。 The confidence wavered and became first
doubt； then incredulity before
he calmed it into a friendly mask。
〃So very interesting；〃 he said as he released my hand and drifted back。
My eyes flickered to Edward； and； though his face was posed； I thought he
seemed a little smug。
Aro continued to drift wnh a thoughtful expression。 He was quiet for a moment；
his eyes flickering
between the three of us。 Then； abruptly； he shook his head。
〃A first；〃 he said to himself 〃I wonder if she is immune to our other talents
Jane； dear？〃
〃No！〃 Edward snarled the word。 Alice grabbed his arm with a restraining hand。
He shook her off。
Little Jane smiled up happily at Aro。 〃Yes； Master？〃
Edward was truly snarling now； the sound ripping and tearing from him； glaring
at Aro with baleful eyes。
The room had gone still； everyone watching him with amazed disbelief； as if he
were mitting some
embarrassing social faux pas。 I saw Felix grin hopefully and move a step
forward。 Aro glanced at him
once； and he froze in place； his grin turning to a sulky expression。
Then he spoke to Jane。 〃I was wondering； my dear one； if Bella is immune to
you。〃
I could barely hear Aro over Edward's furious growls。 He let go of me； moving
to hide me from their
view。 Caius ghosted in our direction； with his entourage； to watch。
Jane turned toward us with a beatific smile。
〃Don't！〃 Alice cried as Edward launched himself at the little girl。
Before I could react； before anyone could jump between them； before Aro's
bodyguards could tense；
Edward was on the ground。
No one had touched him； but he was on the stone floor writhing in obvious
agony； while I stared in
horror。
Jane was smiling only at him now； and it all clicked together。 What Alice had
said about formidable gifts
； why everyone treated Jane with such deference； and why Edward had thrown
himself in her path before
she could do that to me。
〃Stop！〃 I shrieked； my voice echoing in the silence； jumping forward to put
myself between them。 But
Alice threw her arms around me in an unbreakable grasp and ignored my
struggles。 No sound escaped
Edward's lips as he cringed against the stones。 It felt like my head would
explode from the pain of
watching this。
〃Jane；〃 Aro recalled her in a tranquil voice。 She looked up quickly； still
smiling with pleasure； her eyes
questioning。 As soon as Jane looked away； Edward was still。
Aro inclined his head toward me。
Jane turned her smile in my direction。
I didn't even meet her gaze。 I watched Edward from the prison of Alice's arms；
still struggling pointlessly。
〃He's fine；〃 Alice whispered in a tight voice。 As she spoke； he sat up； and
then sprang lightly to his feet。
His eyes met mine； and they were horror…struck。 At first I thought the horror
was for what he had just
suffered。 But then he looked quickly at Jane； and back to me—and his face
relaxed into relief。
I looked at Jane； too； and she no longer smiled。 She glared at me； her jaw
clenched with the intensity of
her focus。 I shrank back； waiting for the pain。
Nothing happened。
Edward was by my side again。 He touched Alice's arm； and she surrendered me to
him。
Aro started to laugh。 〃Ha； ha。 ha；〃 he chuckled。 〃This is wonderful！〃
Jane hissed in frustration； leaning forward like she was preparing to spring。
〃Don't be put out； dear one；〃 Aro said in a forting tone； placing a powder
…light hand on her shoulder。
〃She confounds us all。〃
Jane's upper lip curled back ever her teeth as she continued to glare at me。
〃Ha； ha； ha；〃 Aro chortled again。 〃You're very brave； Edward； to endure in
silence。 I asked Jane to do
that to me once—just out of curiosity。〃 He shook his head in admiration。
Edward glared； disgusted。
〃So what do we do with you now？〃 Aro sighed。
Edward and Alice stiffened。 This was the part they'd been waiting for。 I began
to tremble。
〃I don't suppose there's any chance that you've changed your mind？〃 Aro asked
Edward hopefully。
〃Your talent would be an excellent addition to our little pany。〃
Edward hesitated。 From the corner of my eye； I saw both Felix and Jane
grimace。
Edward seemed to weigh each word before he spoke it。 〃I'd rather not。〃
〃Alice？〃 Aro asked； still hopeful。 〃Would you perhaps be interested in joining
with us？〃
〃No； thank you；〃 Alice said。
〃And you； Bella？〃 Aro raised his eyebrows。
Edward hissed； low in my ears。 I stared at Aro blankly。 Was he joking？ Or was
he really asking me if I
wanted to stay for dinner？
It was the white…haired Caius who broke the silence。
〃What？〃 he demanded of Aro； his voice； though no more than a whisper； was
flat。
〃Caius； surely you see the potential；〃 Aro chided him affectionately。 〃I
haven't seen a prospective talent
so promising since we found Jane and Alec。 Can you imagine the possibilities
when she is one of us？〃
Caius looked away with a caustic expression。 Jane's eyes sparked with
indignation at the parison。
Edward fumed beside me。 I could hear a rumble in his chest； building toward a
growl。 I couldn't let his
temper get him hurt。
〃No； thank you；〃 I spoke up in barely more than a whisper； my voice breaking
in fright。
Aro sighed。 〃That's unfortunate。 Such a waste。〃
Edward hissed。 〃Join or die； is that it？ I suspected as much when we were
brought to this room。 So
much for your laws。〃
The tone of his voice surprised me。 He sounded irate； but there was something
deliberate about his
delivery—as if he'd chosen his words with great care。
〃Of course not。〃 Aro blinked； astonished。 〃We were already convened here；
Edward； awaiting Heidi's
return。 Not for you。〃
〃Aro；〃 Caius hissed。 〃The law claims them。〃
Edward glared at Caius。 〃How so？〃 he demanded。 He must have known what Caius
was thinking； but he
seemed determined to make him speak it aloud。
Caius pointed a skeletal finger at me。 〃She knows too much。 You have exposed
our secrets。〃 His voice
was papery thin； just like his skin。
〃There are a few humans in on your charade here； as well；〃 Edward reminded
him； and I thought of the
pretty receptionist below。
Caius's face twisted into a new expression。 Was it supposed to be a smiled。
〃Yes；〃 he agreed。 〃But when they are no longer useful to us； they will serve
to sustain us。 That is not your
plan for this one。 If she betrays our secrets； are you prepared to destroy
her？ I think not；〃 he scoffed。
〃I wouldn't—；〃 I began； still whispering。 Caius silenced me with an icy look。
〃Nor do you intend to make her one of us；〃 Caius continued。 〃Therefore； she is
a vulnerability。 Though it
is true； for this； only her life is forfeit。 You may leave if you wish。〃
Edward bared his teeth。
〃That's what I thought；〃 Caius said； with something akin to pleasure。 Felix
leaned forward； eager。
〃Unless〃 Aro interrupted。 He looked unhappy with the way the conversation
had gone。 〃Unless you do
intend to give her immortality？〃
Edward pursed his lips； hesitating for a moment before he answered。 〃And if I
do？〃
Aro smiled； happy again。 〃Why； then you would be free to go home and give my
regards to my friend
Carlisle。〃 His expression turned more hesitant。 〃But I'm afraid you w