stephaniemayer new moon

8/14/2019 StephanieMayer New Moon

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New Moon

Text copyright 2006 by Stephenie Meyer

All rights reserved

Little, Brown rd !o"pny

#chette Boo$ %ro&p 'SA

(2)( Aven&e o* the A"erics, New +or$, N+ (0020 isit o&r -eb site t www.lbteens co"

/irst dition Septe"ber 2006

The chrcters nd events portryed in this boo$ re *ictitio&s. Any si"ilrity to rel persons,

living or ded, is coincidentl nd not intended by the &thor

Meyer, Stephenie, (1)3New Moon novel 4 b5 Stephe"e Meyer3(st ed p c"

S&""ry -hen the !&llens, incl&ding her beloved dwrd, leve /or$s rther thn ris$

reveling tht they re v"pires, it is l"ost too "&ch *or eighteenyerold Bell to ber, b&t

she *inds solce in her *riend 7cob &ntil he is drwn into c&lt nd chnges in terrible wys

8SBN( 1)90 (6(60(1

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//

?rinted in the 'nited Sttes o* A"eric

For my dad, Stephen Morgan3

No one has ever been given more loving and unconditional

support than I have been given by you.

I love you, too.

These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and poder, !hich, as

they kiss, consume.

o"eo nd 7&liet,Act II, Scene "I

PREFACE

8 /LT L8C 8 -AS TA??D 8N EN E/ T#ES T8/+8N% night"res, the one where

yo& hve to r&n, r&n till yo&r l&ngs b&rst, b&t yo& cnFt "$e yo&r body "ove *st eno&gh. My

legs see"ed to "ove slower nd slower s 8 *o&ght "y wy thro&gh the cllo&s crowd, b&t the

hnds on the h&ge cloc$ tower didnFt slow. -ith relentless, &ncring *orce, they t&rned

inexorbly towrd the end3the end o* everything.

B&t this ws no dre", nd, &nli$e the night"re, 8 wsnFt r&nning *or myli*eG 8 ws rcing to

sve so"ething in*initely "ore precio&s. My own li*e "ent little to "e tody.

Alice hd sid there ws good chnce we wo&ld both die here. ?erhps the o&tco"e wo&ld be

di**erent i* she werenFt trpped by the brillint s&nlightG only 8 ws *ree to r&n cross this bright,

crowded sH&re.

And 8 co&ldnFt r&n *st eno&gh.


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So it didnFt "tter to "e tht we were s&rro&nded by o&r extrordinrily dngero&s ene"ies. As

the cloc$ begn to toll o&t the ho&r, vibrting &nder the soles o* "y sl&ggish *eet, 8 $new 8 ws

too lte3nd 8 ws gld so"ething bloodthirsty wited in the wings. /or in *iling t this, 8

*or*eited ny desire to live.

The cloc$ tolled gin, nd the s&n bet down *ro" the exct center point o* the s$y.

1. PARTY

8 -AS N8NT+N8N ?E8NT N8N ?!NT S' 8 -AS dre"ing.

The resons 8 ws so certin were tht, *irst, 8 ws stnding in bright sh*t o* s&nlight3the

$ind o* blinding cler s&n tht never shone on "y driIIly new ho"etown in /or$s, -shington

3nd second, 8 ws loo$ing t "y %rnd" Mrie. %rn hd been ded *or six yers now, so

tht ws solid evidence towrd the dre" theory.

%rn hdnFt chnged "&chG her *ce loo$ed J&st the s"e s 8 re"e"bered it. The s$in ws so*t

nd withered, bent into tho&snd tiny creses tht cl&ng gently to the bone &nderneth. Li$e

dried pricot, b&t with p&** o* thic$ white hir stnding o&t in clo&d ro&nd it.

E&r "o&ths3hers wiIened pic$er3spred into the s"e s&rprised hl*s"ile t J&st the s"e

ti"e. Apprently, she hdnFt been expecting to see "e, either.

8 ws bo&t to s$ her H&estionG 8 hd so "ny3-ht ws she doing here in "y cre"K -ht

hd she been &p to in the pst six yersK -s ?op o$y, nd hd they *o&nd ech other, whereverthey wereK3b&t she opened her "o&th when 8 did, so 8 stopped to let her go *irst. She p&sed,

too, nd then we %oth s"iled t the little w$wrdness.

Bell

8t wsnFt %rn who clled "y n"e, nd we both t&rned to see the ddition to o&r s"ll re&nion.

8 didnFt hve to loo$ to $now who it wsG this ws voice 8 wo&ld $now nywhere3$now, nd

respond to, whether 8 ws w$e or sleep or even ded, 8Fd bet. The voice 8Fd wl$ thro&gh

*ire *or3or, less dr"ticlly, slosh every dy thro&gh the cold nd endless rin *or.

dwrd.

ven tho&gh 8 ws lwys thrilled to see hi"3conscio&s or otherwise3nd even tho&gh 8 ws

almostpositive tht 8 ws dre"ing, 8 pnic$ed s dwrd wl$ed towrd &s thro&gh the glring

s&nlight.

8 pnic$ed bec&se %rn didnFt $now tht 8 ws in love with v"pire3nobody $new tht3so

how ws 8 s&pposed to explin the *ct tht the brillint s&nbe"s were shttering o** his s$in

into tho&snd rinbow shrds li$e he ws "de o* crystl or di"ondK

!ell, #ran, yon might have noticed that my boyfriend glitters. It$s %ust something he does in the

sun. &on$t orry about it'


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-ht ws he doingK The whole reson he lived in /or$s, the riniest plce in the world, ws so

tht he co&ld be o&tside in the dyti"e witho&t exposing his *"ilyFs secret. +et here he ws,

strolling grce*&lly towrd "e3with the "ost be&ti*&l s"ile on his ngelFs *ce3s i* 8 were

the only one here.

8n tht second, 8 wished tht 8 ws not the one exception to his "ysterio&s tlentG 8 &s&lly *elt

grte*&l tht 8 ws the only person whose tho&ghts he co&ldnFt her J&st s clerly s i* they werespo$en lo&d. B&t now 8 wished he co&ld her "e, too, so tht he co&ld her the wrning 8 ws

scre"ing in "y hed.

8 shot pnic$ed glnce bc$ t %rn, nd sw tht it ws too lte. She ws J&st t&rning to stre

bc$ t "e, her eyes s lr"ed s "ine.

dwrd3still s"iling so be&ti*&lly tht "y hert *elt li$e it ws going to swell &p nd b&rst

thro&gh "y chest3p&t his r" ro&nd "y sho&lder nd t&rned to *ce "y grnd"other.

%rnFs expression s&rprised "e. 8nsted o* loo$ing horri*ied, she ws string t "e sheepishly, s

i* witing *or scolding. And she ws stnding in s&ch strnge position3one r" heldw$wrdly wy *ro" her body, stretched o&t nd then c&rled ro&nd the ir. Li$e she hd her

r" ro&nd so"eone 8 co&ldnFt see, so"eone invisible

Enly then, s 8 loo$ed t the bigger pict&re, did 8 notice the h&ge gilt *r"e tht enclosed "y

grnd"otherFs *or". 'nco"prehending, 8 rised the hnd tht wsnFt wrpped ro&nd dwrdFs

wist nd reched o&t to to&ch her. She "i"ic$ed the "ove"ent exctly, "irrored it. B&t where

o&r *ingers sho&ld hve "et, there ws nothing b&t cold glss

-ith diIIying Jolt, "y dre" br&ptly bec"e night"re.

There ws no %rn.

Tht ws me. Me in "irror. Me3ncient, cresed, nd withered.

dwrd stood beside "e, csting no re*lection, excr&citingly lovely nd *orever seventeen.

#e pressed his icy, per*ect lips ginst "y wsted chee$.

#ppy birthdy, he whispered.

8 wo$e with strt3"y eyelids popping open wide3nd gsped. D&ll gry light, the *"ilir

light o* n overcst "orning, too$ the plce o* the blinding s&n in "y dre".

(ust a dream, 8 told "ysel*.It as only a dream. 8 too$ deep breth, nd then J&"ped gin

when "y lr" went o**. The little clendr in the corner o* the cloc$Fs disply in*or"ed "e tht

tody ws Septe"ber thirteenth.

Enly dre", b&t prophetic eno&gh in one wy, t lest. Tody ws "y birthdy. 8 ws o**icilly

eighteen yers old.

8Fd been dreding this dy *or "onths.


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All thro&gh the per*ect s&""er3the hppiest s&""er 8 hd ever hd, the hppiest s&""er

anyone anyherehd ever hd, nd the riniest s&""er in the history o* the Ely"pic ?enins&l

3this ble$ dte hd l&r$ed in "b&sh, witing to spring.

And now tht it hd hit, it ws even worse thn 8Fd *ered it wo&ld be. 8 co&ld *eel it38 ws

older. very dy 8 got older, b&t this ws di**erent, worse, H&nti*ible. 8 ws eighteen.

And dwrd never wo&ld be.

-hen 8 went to br&sh "y teeth, 8 ws l"ost s&rprised tht the *ce in the "irror hdnFt chnged.

8 stred t "ysel*, loo$ing *or so"e sign o* i"pending wrin$les in "y ivory s$in. The only

creses were the ones on "y *orehed, tho&gh, nd 8 $new tht i* 8 co&ld "nge to relx, they

wo&ld dispper. 8 co&ldnFt. My eyebrows styed lodged in worried line over "y nxio&s

brown eyes.

It as %ust a dream, 8 re"inded "ysel* gin. 7&st dre" b&t lso "y worst night"re.

8 s$ipped bre$*st, in h&rry to get o&t o* the ho&se s H&ic$ly s possible. 8 wsnFt entirely bleto void "y dd, nd so 8 hd to spend *ew "in&tes cting cheer*&l. 8 honestly tried to be

excited bo&t the gi*ts 8Fd s$ed hi" not toget"e, b&t every ti"e 8 hd to s"ile, it *elt li$e 8

"ight strt crying.

8 str&ggled to get grip on "ysel* s 8 drove to school. The vision o* %rn38 wo&ld notthin$ o*

it s "e3ws hrd to get o&t o* "y hed. 8 co&ldnFt *eel nything b&t despir &ntil 8 p&lled into

the *"ilir pr$ing lot behind /or$s #igh School nd spotted dwrd lening "otionlessly

ginst his polished silver olvo, li$e "rble trib&te to so"e *orgotten pgn god o* be&ty.

The dre" hd not done hi" J&stice. And he ws witing there *or me, J&st the s"e s every

other dy.

Despir "o"entrily vnishedG wonder too$ its plce. ven *ter hl* yer with hi", 8 still

co&ldnFt believe tht 8 deserved this degree o* good *ort&ne.

#is sister Alice ws stnding by his side, witing *or "e, too.

E* co&rse dwrd nd Alice werenFt relly relted =in /or$s the story ws tht ll the !&llen

siblings were dopted by Dr. !rlisle !&ller nd his wi*e, s"e, both plinly too yo&ng to hve

teenge children5, b&t their s$in ws precisely the s"e ple shde, their eyes hd the s"e

strnge golden tint, with the s"e deep, br&iseli$e shdows beneth the". #er *ce, li$e his,

ws lso strtlingly be&ti*&l. To so"eone in the $now3so"eone li$e "e3these si"ilrities"r$ed the" *or wht they were.

The sight o* Alice witing there3her twny eyes brillint with excite"ent, nd s"ll silver

wrpped sH&re in her hnds3"de "e *rown. 8Fd told Alice 8 didnFt wnt nything, anything,

not gi*ts or even ttention, *or "y birthdy. Ebvio&sly, "y wishes were being ignored.

8 sl""ed the door o* "y F


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Shh 8 hissed, glncing ro&nd the lot to "$e s&re no one hd herd her. The lst thing 8

wnted ws so"e $ind o* celebrtion o* the blc$ event.

She ignored "e. Do yo& wnt to open yo&r present now or lterK she s$ed egerly s we "de

o&r wy to where dwrd still wited.

No presents, 8 protested in "&"ble.

She *inlly see"ed to process "y "ood. E$y lter, then. Did yo& li$e the scrpboo$ yo&r

"o" sent yo&K And the c"er *ro" !hrlieK

8 sighed. E* co&rse she wo&ld $now wht "y birthdy presents were. dwrd wsnFt the only

"e"ber o* his *"ily with &n&s&l s$ills. Alice wo&ld hve seen wht "y prents were

plnning s soon s theyFd decided tht the"selves.

+eh. TheyFre gret.

Ithin$ itFs nice ide. +o&Fre only senior once. Might s well doc&"ent the experience.

#ow "ny ti"es hveyoubeen seniorK

ThtFs di**erent.

-e reched dwrd then, nd he held o&t his hnd *or "ine. 8 too$ it egerly, *orgetting, *or

"o"ent, "y gl&" "ood. #is s$in ws, s lwys, s"ooth, hrd, nd very cold. #e gve "y

*ingers gentle sH&eeIe. 8 loo$ed into his liH&id top2 eyes, nd "y hert gve notH&iteso

gentle sH&eeIe o* its own. #ering the st&tter in "y hertbets, he s"iled gin.

#e li*ted his *ree hnd nd trced one cool *ingertip ro&nd the o&tside o* "y lips s he spo$e.

So, s disc&ssed, 8 " not llowed to wish yo& hppy birthdy, is tht correctK

+es. Tht is correct. 8 co&ld never H&ite "i"ic the *low o* his per*ect, *or"l rtic&ltion. 8t

ws so"ething tht co&ld only be pic$ed &p in n erlier cent&ry.

7&st chec$ing. #e rn his hnd thro&gh his to&sled bronIe hir. +o& mighthve chnged yo&r

"ind. Most people see" to enJoy things li$e birthdys nd gi*ts.

Alice l&ghed, nd the so&nd ws ll silver, wind chi"e. E* co&rse yo&Fll enJoy it. veryone is

s&pposed to be nice to yo& tody nd give yo& yo&r wy, Bell. -htFs the worst tht co&ldhppenK She "ent it s rhetoricl H&estion.

%etting older, 8 nswered nywy, nd "y voice ws not s stedy s 8 wnted it to be.

Beside "e, dwrdFs s"ile tightened into hrd line.

ighteen isnFt very old, Alice sid. DonFt wo"en &s&lly wit till theyFre twentynine to get

&pset over birthdysK

8tFs older thn dwrd, 8 "&"bled.

#e sighed.


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Techniclly, she sid, $eeping her tone light. 7&st by one little yer, tho&gh.

And 8 s&pposed i* 8 co&ld besureo* the *&t&re 8 wnted, s&re tht 8 wo&ld get to spend *orever

with dwrd, nd Alice nd the rest o* the !&llens =pre*erbly not s wrin$led little old ldy5

then yer or two one direction or the other wo&ldnFt "tter to "e so "&ch. B&t dwrd ws

ded set ginst ny *&t&re tht chnged "e. Any *&t&re tht "de "e li$e hi"3tht "de "e

i""ortl, too.

An i"psse, he clled it.

8 co&ldnFt relly see dwrdFs point, to be honest. -ht ws so gret bo&t "ortlityK Being

v"pire didnFt loo$ li$e s&ch terrible thing3not the wy the !&llens did it, nywy.

-ht ti"e will yo& be t the ho&seK Alice contin&ed, chnging the s&bJect. /ro" her

expression, she ws &p to exctly the $ind o* thing 8Fd been hoping to void.

8 didnFt $now 8 hd plns to be there.

Eh, be *ir, Bell she co"plined. +o& renFt going to r&in ll o&r *&n li$e tht, re yo&K

8 tho&ght "y birthdy ws bo&t whtIwnt.

8Fll get her *ro" !hrlieFs right *ter school, dwrd told her, ignoring "e ltogether.

8 hve to wor$, 8 protested.

+o& donFt, ct&lly, Alice told "e s"&gly. 8 lredy spo$e to Mrs. Newton bo&t it. SheFs

trding yo&r shi*ts. She sid to tell yo& F#ppy Birthdy.F

838 still cnFt co"e over, 8 st""ered, scr"bling *or n exc&se. 8, well, 8 hvenFt wtched

)omeo and (ulietyet *or nglish.

Alice snorted. +o& hve)omeo and (uliet"e"oriIed.

B&t Mr. Berty sid we needed to see it per*or"ed to *&lly pprecite it3thtFs how Sh$espere

intended it to be presented.

dwrd rolled his eyes.

+o&Fve lredy seen the "ovie, Alice cc&sed.

B&t not the nineteensixties version. Mr. Berty sid it ws the best.

/inlly, Alice lost the s"&g s"ile nd glred t "e. This cn be esy, or this cn be hrd, Bell,

b&t one wy or the other3

dwrd interr&pted her thret. elx, Alice. 8* Bell wnts to wtch "ovie, then she cn. 8tFs

her birthdy.

So there, 8 dded.

8Fll bring her over ro&nd seven, he contin&ed. Tht will give yo& "ore ti"e to set &p.


8/315

AliceFs l&ghter chi"ed gin. So&nds good. See yo& tonight, Bell 8tFll be *&n, yo&Fll see. She

grinned3the wide s"ile exposed ll her per*ect, glistening teeth3then pec$ed "e on the chee$

nd dnced o** towrd her *irst clss be*ore 8 co&ld respond.

dwrd, plese3 8 strted to beg, b&t he pressed one cool *inger to "y lips.

LetFs disc&ss it lter. -eFre going to be lte *or clss.

No one bothered to stre t &s s we too$ o&r &s&l sets in the bc$ o* the clssroo" =we hd

l"ost every clss together now3it ws "Iing the *vors dwrd co&ld get the *e"le

d"inistrtors to do *or hi"5. dwrd nd 8 hd been together too long now to be n obJect o*

gossip ny"ore. ven Mi$e Newton didnFt bother to give "e the gl&" stre tht &sed to "$e

"e *eel little g&ilty. #e s"iled now insted, nd 8 ws gld he see"ed to hve ccepted tht we

co&ld only be *riends. Mi$e hd chnged over the s&""er3his *ce hd lost so"e o* the

ro&ndness, "$ing his chee$bones "ore pro"inent, nd he ws wering his ple blond hir

new wyG insted o* bristly, it ws longer nd gelled into cre*&lly cs&l disrry. 8t ws esy

to see where his inspirtion c"e *ro"3b&t dwrdFs loo$ wsnFt so"ething tht co&ld be

chieved thro&gh i"ittion.

As the dy progressed, 8 considered wys to get o&t o* whtever ws going down t the !&llen

ho&se tonight. 8t wo&ld be bd eno&gh to hve to celebrte when 8 ws in the "ood to "o&rn.

B&t, worse thn tht, this ws s&re to involve ttention nd gi*ts.

Attention is never good thing, s ny other ccidentprone $l&tI wo&ld gree. No one wnts

spotlight when theyFre li$ely to *ll on their *ce.

And 8Fd very pointedly s$ed3well, ordered relly3tht no one give "e ny presents this yer.

8t loo$ed li$e !hrlie nd enee werenFt the only ones who hd decided to overloo$ tht.

8Fd never hd "&ch "oney, nd tht hd never bothered "e. enee hd rised "e on

$indergrten techerFs slry. !hrlie wsnFt getting rich t his Job, either3he ws the police

chie* here in the tiny town o* /or$s. My only personl inco"e c"e *ro" the three dys wee$ 8

wor$ed t the locl sporting goods store. 8n town this s"ll, 8 ws l&c$y to hve Job. very

penny 8 "de went into "y "icroscopic college *&nd. =!ollege ws ?ln B. 8 ws still hoping *or

?ln A, b&t dwrd ws J&st so st&bborn bo&t leving "e h&"n5

dwrd hd loto* "oney38 didnFt even wnt to thin$ bo&t how "&ch. Money "ent next to

nothing to dwrd or the rest o* the !&llens. 8t ws J&st so"ething tht cc&"&lted when yo&

hd &nli"ited ti"e on yo&r hnds nd sister who hd n &ncnny bility to predict trends in thestoc$ "r$et. dwrd didnFt see" to &nderstnd why 8 obJected to hi" spending "oney on "e3

why it "de "e &nco"*ortble i* he too$ "e to n expensive rest&rnt in Settle, why he wsnFt

llowed to b&y "e cr tht co&ld rech speeds over *i*ty*ive "iles n ho&r, or why 8 wo&ldnFt

let hi" py "y college t&ition =he ws ridic&lo&sly enth&sistic bo&t ?ln B5. dwrd tho&ght 8

ws being &nnecessrily di**ic&lt.

B&t how co&ld 8 let hi" give "e things when 8 hd nothing to reciprocte withK #e, *or so"e

&n*tho"ble reson, wnted to be with "e. Anything he gve "e on top o* tht J&st threw &s

"ore o&t o* blnce.

As the dy went on, neither dwrd nor Alice bro&ght "y birthdy &p gin, nd 8 begn to relx little.


9/315

-e st t o&r &s&l tble *or l&nch.

A strnge $ind o* tr&ce existed t tht tble. The three o* &s3dwrd, Alice, nd 83st on the

extre"e so&thern end o* the tble. Now tht the older nd so"ewht scrier =in ""ettFs cse,

certinly5 !&llen siblings hd grd&ted, Alice nd dwrd did not see" H&ite so inti"idting,

nd we did not sit here lone. My other *riends, Mi$e nd 7essic =who were in the w$wrd

postbre$&p *riendship phse5, Angel nd Ben =whose reltionship hd s&rvived the s&""er5,ric, !onner, Tyler, nd L&ren =tho&gh tht lst one didnFt relly co&nt in the *riend ctegory5

ll st t the s"e tble, on the other side o* n invisible line. Tht line dissolved on s&nny dys

when dwrd nd Alice lwys s$ipped school, nd then the converstion wo&ld swell o&t

e**ortlessly to incl&de "e.

dwrd nd Alice didnFt *ind this "inor ostrcis" odd or h&rt*&l the wy 8 wo&ld hve. They

brely noticed it. ?eople lwys *elt strngely ill t ese with the !&llens, l"ost *rid *or so"e

reson they co&ldnFt explin to the"selves. 8 ws rre exception to tht r&le. So"eti"es it

bothered dwrd how very co"*ortble 8 ws with being close to hi". #e tho&ght he ws

hIrdo&s to "y helth3n opinion 8 reJected vehe"ently whenever he voiced it.

The *ternoon pssed H&ic$ly. School ended, nd dwrd wl$ed "e to "y tr&c$ s he &s&lly

did. B&t this ti"e, he held the pssenger door open *or "e. Alice "&st hve been t$ing his cr

ho"e so tht he co&ld $eep "e *ro" "$ing r&n *or it.

8 *olded "y r"s nd "de no "ove togeto&t o* the rin. 8tFs "y birthdy, donFt 8 get to driveK

8F" pretending itFs not yo&r birthdy, J&st s yo& wished.

8* itFs not "y birthdy, then 8 donFt hve to go to yo&r ho&se tonight

All right. #e sh&t the pssenger door nd wl$ed pst "e to open the driverFs side. #ppy

birthdy.

Shh, 8 sh&shed hi" hl*hertedly. 8 cli"bed in the opened door, wishing heFd t$en the other

o**er.

dwrd plyed with the rdio while 8 drove, sh$ing his hed in dispprovl.

+o&r rdio hs horrible reception.

8 *rowned. 8 didnFt li$e it when he pic$ed on "y tr&c$. The tr&c$ ws gret3it hd personlity.

+o& wnt nice stereoK Drive yo&r own cr. 8 ws so nervo&s bo&t AliceFs plns, on top o*

"y lredy gloo"y "ood, tht the words c"e o&t shrper thn 8Fd "ent the". 8 ws hrdly

ever bdte"pered with dwrd, nd "y tone "de hi" press his lips together to $eep *ro"

s"iling.

-hen 8 pr$ed in *ront o* !hrlieFs ho&se, he reched over to t$e "y *ce in his hnds. #e

hndled "e very cre*&lly, pressing J&st the tips o* his *ingers so*tly ginst "y te"ples, "y

chee$bones, "y Jwline. Li$e 8 ws especilly bre$ble. -hich ws exctly the cse3

co"pred with hi", t lest.

+o& sho&ld be in good "ood, tody o* ll dys, he whispered. #is sweet breth *nned cross

"y *ce.


10/315

And i* 8 donFt wnt to be in good "oodK 8 s$ed, "y brething &neven.

#is golden eyes s"oldered. Too bd.

My hed ws lredy spinning by the ti"e he lened closer nd pressed his icy lips ginst "ine.

As he intended, no do&bt, 8 *orgot ll bo&t "y worries, nd concentrted on re"e"bering how

to inhle nd exhle.

#is "o&th lingered on "ine, cold nd s"ooth nd gentle, &ntil 8 wrpped "y r"s ro&nd his

nec$ nd threw "ysel* into the $iss with little too "&ch enth&sis". 8 co&ld *eel his lips c&rve

&pwrd s he let go o* "y *ce nd reched bc$ to &nloc$ "y grip on hi".

dwrd hd drwn "ny cre*&l lines *or o&r physicl reltionship, with the intent being to $eep

"e live. Tho&gh 8 respected the need *or "intining s*e distnce between "y s$in nd his

rIorshrp, veno"coted teeth, 8 tended to *orget bo&t trivil things li$e tht when he ws

$issing "e.

Be good, plese, he brethed ginst "y chee$. #e pressed his lips gently to "ine one "oreti"e nd then p&lled wy, *olding "y r"s cross "y sto"ch.

My p&lse ws th&dding in "y ers. 8 p&t one hnd over "y hert. 8t dr&""ed hyperctively

&nder "y pl".

Do yo& thin$ 8Fll ever get better t thisK 8 wondered, "ostly to "ysel*. Tht "y hert "ight

so"edy stop trying to J&"p o&t o* "y chest whenever yo& to&ch "eK

8 relly hope not, he sid, bit s"&g.

8 rolled "y eyes. LetFs go wtch the !p&lets nd Montg&es hc$ ech other &p, ll rightK

+o&r wish, "y co""nd.

dwrd sprwled cross the co&ch while 8 strted the "ovie, *st*orwrding thro&gh the

opening credits.

-hen 8 perched on the edge o* the so* in *ront o* hi", he wrpped his r"s ro&nd "y wist

nd p&lled "e ginst his chest. 8t wsnFt exctly s co"*ortble s so* c&shion wo&ld be,

wht with his chest being hrd nd cold3nd per*ect3s n ice sc&lpt&re, b&t it ws de*initely

pre*erble. #e p&lled the old *ghn o** the bc$ o* the co&ch nd drped it over "e so 8wo&ldnFt *reeIe beside his body.

+o& $now, 8Fve never hd "&ch ptience with o"eo, he co""ented s the "ovie strted.

-htFs wrong with o"eoK 8 s$ed, little o**ended. o"eo ws one o* "y *vorite *ictionl

chrcters. 'ntil 8Fd "et dwrd, 8Fd sort o* hd thing *or hi".

-ell, *irst o* ll, heFs in love with this osline3donFt yo& thin$ it "$es hi" see" little

*ic$leK And then, *ew "in&tes *ter their wedding, he $ills 7&lietFs co&sin. ThtFs not very

brillint. Mist$e *ter "ist$e. !o&ld he hve destroyed his own hppiness ny "ore

thoro&ghlyK

8 sighed. Do yo& wnt "e to wtch this loneK


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No, 8Fll "ostly be wtching yo&, nywy. #is *ingers trced ptterns cross the s$in o* "y r",

rising goose b&"ps. -ill yo& cryK

?robbly, 8 d"itted, i* 8F" pying ttention.

8 wonFt distrct yo& then. B&t 8 *elt his lips on "y hir, nd it ws very distrcting.

The "ovie event&lly cpt&red "y interest, thn$s in lrge prt to dwrd whispering o"eoFs

lines in "y er3his irresistible, velvet voice "de the ctorFs voice so&nd we$ nd corse by

co"prison. And 8 did cry, to his "&se"ent, when 7&liet wo$e nd *o&nd her new h&sbnd

ded.

8Fll d"it, 8 do sort o* envy hi" here, dwrd sid, drying the ters with loc$ o* "y hir.

SheFs very pretty.

#e "de disg&sted so&nd. 8 donFt envy hi" thegirl3J&st the ese o* the s&icide, he clri*ied

in tesing tone. +o& h&"ns hve it so esy All yo& hve to do is throw down one tiny vil o*plnt extrcts

-htK 8 gsped.

8tFs so"ething 8 hd to thin$ bo&t once, nd 8 $new *ro" !rlisleFs experience tht it wo&ldnFt

be si"ple. 8F" not even s&re how "ny wys !rlisle tried to $ill hi"sel* in the beginning

*ter he reliIed wht heFd beco"e #is voice, which hd grown serio&s, t&rned light gin.

And heFs clerly still in excellent helth.

8 twisted ro&nd so tht 8 co&ld red his *ce. -ht re yo& tl$ing bo&tK 8 de"nded. -ht

do yo& "en, this so"ething yo& hd to thin$ bo&t onceK

Lst spring, when yo& were nerly $illed #e p&sed to t$e deep breth, sn&ggling to

ret&rn to his tesing tone. E* co&rse 8 ws trying to *oc&s on *inding yo& live, b&t prt o* "y

"ind ws "$ing contingency plns. Li$e 8 sid, itFs not s esy *or "e s it is *or h&"n.

/or one second, the "e"ory o* "y lst trip to ?hoenix wshed thro&gh "y hed nd "de "e

*eel diIIy. 8 co&ld see it ll so clerly3the blinding s&n, the het wves co"ing o** the concrete

s 8 rn with desperte hste to *ind the sdistic v"pire who wnted to tort&re "e to deth.

7"es, witing in the "irrored roo" with "y "other s his hostge3or so 8Fd tho&ght. 8 hdnFt

$nown it ws ll r&se. 7&st s 7"es hdnFt $nown tht dwrd ws rcing to sve "eG dwrd"de it in ti"e, b&t it hd been close one. 'nthin$ingly, "y *ingers trced the crescentshped

scr on "y hnd tht ws lwys J&st *ew degrees cooler thn the rest o* "y s$in.

8 shoo$ "y hed3s i* 8 co&ld sh$e wy the bd "e"ories3nd tried to grsp wht dwrd

"ent. My sto"ch pl&nged &nco"*ortbly. !ontingency plnsK 8 repeted.

-ell, 8 wsnFt going to live witho&t yo&. #e rolled his eyes s i* tht *ct were childishly

obvio&s. B&t 8 wsnFt s&re how to doit38 $new ""ett nd 7sper wo&ld never help so 8

ws thin$ing "ybe 8 wo&ld go to 8tly nd do so"ething to provo$e the olt&ri.

8 didnFt wnt to believe he ws serio&s, b&t his golden eyes were brooding, *oc&sed on so"ething*r wy in the distnce s he conte"plted wys to end his own li*e. Abr&ptly, 8 ws *&rio&s.


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-ht is "olturiK 8 de"nded.

The olt&ri re *"ily, he explined, his eyes still re"ote. A very old, very power*&l *"ily

o* o&r $ind. They re the closest thing o&r world hs to royl *"ily, 8 s&ppose. !rlisle lived

with the" brie*ly in his erly yers, in 8tly, be*ore he settled in A"eric3do yo& re"e"ber the

storyK

E* co&rse 8 re"e"ber.

8 wo&ld never *orget the *irst ti"e 8Fd gone to his ho"e, the h&ge white "nsion b&ried deep in

the *orest beside the river, or the roo" where !rlisle3dwrdFs *ther in so "ny rel wys3

$ept wll o* pintings tht ill&strted his personl history. The "ost vivid, "ost wildly color*&l

cnvs there, the lrgest, ws *ro" !rlisleFs ti"e in 8tly. E* co&rse 8 re"e"bered the cl"

H&rtet o* "en, ech with the exH&isite *ce o* serph, pinted into the highest blcony

overloo$ing the swirling "yhe" o* color. Tho&gh the pinting ws cent&ries old, !rlisle3the

blond ngel3re"ined &nchnged. And 8 re"e"bered the three others, !rlisleFs erly

cH&intnces. dwrd hd never &sed the n"e "olturi*or the be&ti*&l trio, two blc$hired,

one snow white. #eFd clled the" Aro, !i&s, nd Mrc&s, nightti"e ptrons o* the rts

Anywy, yo& donFt irritte the olt&ri, dwrd went on, interr&pting ry reverie. Not &nless

yo& wnt to die3or whtever it is we do. #is voice ws so cl", it "de hi" so&nd l"ost

bored by the prospect.

My nger t&rned to horror. 8 too$ his "rble *ce between "y hnds nd held it very tightly.

+o& "&st never, never, never thin$ o* nything li$e tht gin 8 sid. No "tter wht "ight

ever hppen to "e, yo& re not alloedto h&rt yo&rsel*

8Fll never p&t yo& in dnger gin, so itFs "oot point.

*ut"e in dnger 8 tho&ght weFd estblished tht ll the bd l&c$ is "y *&ltK 8 ws getting

ngrier. #ow dre yo& even thin$ li$e thtK The ide o* dwrd cesing to exist, even i* 8 were

ded, ws i"possibly pin*&l.

-ht wo&ld yo& do, i* the sit&tion were reversedK he s$ed.

ThtFs not the s"e thing.

#e didnFt see" to &nderstnd the di**erence. #e ch&c$led.

-ht i* so"ething did hppen to yo&K 8 blnched t the tho&ght. -o&ld yo& wnt "e to go

off"ysel*K

A trce o* pin to&ched his per*ect *et&res.

8 g&ess 8 see yo&r point little, he d"itted. B&t wht wo&ld 8 do witho&t yo&K

-htever yo& were doing be*ore 8 c"e long nd co"plicted yo&r existence.

#e sighed. +o& "$e tht so&nd so esy.

8t sho&ld be. 8F" not relly tht interesting.


13/315


14/315

dwrd s"iled, tri&"phnt, nd too$ "y hnd to p&ll "e *ro" the $itchen.

-hen we got to the tr&c$, he opened the pssenger door *or "e gin, nd this ti"e 8 didnFt

rg&e. 8 still hd hrd ti"e *inding the obsc&re t&rno** to his ho&se in the dr$.

dwrd drove north thro&gh /or$s, visibly ch*ing t the speed li"it en*orced by "y prehistoric

!hevy. The engine groned even lo&der thn &s&l s he p&shed it over *i*ty.

T$e it esy, 8 wrned hi".

+o& $now wht yo& wo&ld loveK A nice little A&di co&pe. ery H&iet, lots o* power

ThereFs nothing wrong with "y tr&c$. And spe$ing o* expensive nonessentils, i* yo& $now

whtFs good *or yo&, yo& didnFt spend ny "oney on birthdy presents.

Not di"e, he sid virt&o&sly.

%ood.

!n yo& do "e *vorK

Tht depends on wht it is.

#e sighed, his lovely *ce serio&s. Bell, the lst rel birthdy ny o* &s hd ws ""ett in

(1


15/315

ply*&l ber o* brother, 8 did"iss. #e ws in "ny wys J&st li$e the big brother 8Fd lwys

wnted only "&ch, "&ch "ore terri*ying.

dwrd decided to chnge the s&bJect. So, i* yo& wonFt let "e get yo& the A&di, isnFt there

nything tht yo&Fd li$e *or yo&r birthdyK

The words c"e o&t in whisper. +o& $now wht 8 wnt.

A deep *rown crved creses into his "rble *orehed. #e obvio&sly wished heFd st&c$ to the

s&bJect o* oslie.

8t *elt li$e weFd hd this rg&"ent lot tody.

Not tonight, Bell. ?lese.

-ell, "ybe Alice will give "e wht 8 wnt.

dwrd growled3 deep, "encing so&nd. This isnFt going to be yo&r lst birthdy, Bell, hevowed.

ThtFs not *ir

8 tho&ght 8 herd his teeth clench together.

-e were p&lling &p to the ho&se now. Bright light shined *ro" every window on the *irst two

*loors. A long line o* glowing 7pnese lnterns h&ng *ro" the porch eves, re*lecting so*t

rdince on the h&ge cedrs tht s&rro&nded the ho&se. Big bowls o* *lowers3pin$ roses3lined

the wide stirs &p to the *ront doors.

8 "oned.

dwrd too$ *ew deep breths to cl" hi"sel*. This is prty, he re"inded "e. Try to be

good sport.

S&re, 8 "&ttered.

#e c"e ro&nd to get "y door, nd o**ered "e his hnd.

8 hve H&estion.

#e wited wrily.

8* 8 develop this *il", 8 sid, toying with the c"er in "y hnds, will yo& show &p in the

pict&reK

dwrd strted l&ghing. #e helped "e o&t o* the cr, p&lled "e &p the stirs, nd ws still

l&ghing s he opened the door *or "e.

They were ll witing in the h&ge white living roo"G when 8 wl$ed thro&gh the door, they

greeted "e with lo&d chor&s o* #ppy birthdy, Bell while 8 bl&shed nd loo$ed down.Alice, 8 ss&"ed, hd covered every *lt s&r*ce with pin$ cndles nd doIens o* crystl bowls

*illed with h&ndreds o* roses. There ws tble with white cloth drped over it next to


16/315

dwrdFs grnd pino, holding pin$ birthdy c$e, "ore roses, stc$ o* glss pltes, nd

s"ll pile o* silverwrpped presents.

8t ws h&ndred ti"es worse thn 8Fd i"gined.

dwrd, sensing "y distress, wrpped n enco&rging r" ro&nd "y wist nd $issed the top o*

"y hed.

dwrdFs prents, !rlisle nd s"e3i"possibly yo&th*&l nd lovely s ever3were the closest

to the door. s"e h&gged "e cre*&lly, her so*t, cr"elcolored hir br&shing ginst "y chee$

s she $issed "y *orehed, nd then !rlisle p&t his r" ro&nd mysho&lders.

Sorry bo&t this, Bell, he stgewhispered. -e co&ldnFt rein Alice in.

oslie nd ""ett stood behind the". oslie didnFt s"ile, b&t t lest she didnFt glre.

""ettFs *ce ws stretched into h&ge grin. 8t hd been "onths since 8Fd seen the"G 8Fd

*orgotten how glorio&sly be&ti*&l oslie ws3it l"ost h&rt to loo$ t her. And hd ""ett

lwys been so bigK

+o& hvenFt chnged t ll, ""ett sid with "oc$ disppoint"ent. 8 expected perceptible

di**erence, b&t here yo& re, red*ced J&st li$e lwys.

Thn$s lot, ""ett, 8 sid, bl&shing deeper.

#e l&ghed, 8 hve to step o&t *or second3he p&sed to win$ conspic&o&sly t Alice

3DonFt do nything *&nny while 8F" gone.

8Fll try.

Alice let go o* 7sperFs hnd nd s$ipped *orwrd, ll her teeth spr$ling in the bright light.

7sper s"iled, too, b&t $ept his distnce. #e lened, long nd blond, ginst the post t the *oot

o* the stirs. D&ring the dys weFd hd to spend cooped &p together in ?hoenix, 8Fd tho&ght heFd

gotten over his version to "e. B&t heFd gone bc$ to exctly how heFd cted be*ore3voiding

"e s "&ch s possible3the "o"ent he ws *ree *ro" tht te"porry obligtion to protect "e. 8

$new it wsnFt personl, J&st prec&tion, nd 8 tried not to be overly sensitive bo&t it. 7sper

hd "ore tro&ble stic$ing to the !&llensF diet thn the rest o* the"G the scent o* h&"n blood ws

"&ch hrder *or hi" to resist thn the others3he hdnFt been trying s long.

Ti"e to open presents, Alice declred. She p&t her cool hnd &nder "y elbow nd towed "e tothe tble with the c$e nd the shiny pc$ges.

8 p&t on "y best "rtyr *ce. Alice, 8 $now 8 told yo& 8 didnFt wnt nything3

B&t 8 didnFt listen, she interr&pted, s"&g. Epen it. She too$ the c"er *ro" "y hnds nd

replced it with big, sH&re silver box.

The box ws so light tht it *elt e"pty. The tg on top sid tht it ws *ro" ""ett, oslie, nd

7sper. Sel*conscio&sly, 8 tore the pper o** nd then stred t the box it conceled.

8t ws so"ething electricl, with lots o* n&"bers in the n"e. 8 opened the box, hoping *or*&rther ill&"intion. B&t the box ase"pty.


17/315

'" thn$s.

oslie ct&lly crc$ed s"ile. 7sper l&ghed. 8tFs stereo *or yo&r tr&c$, he explined.

""ettFs instlling it right now so tht yo& cnFt ret&rn it.

Alice ws lwys one step hed o* "e. Thn$s, 7sper, oslie, 8 told the", grinning s 8

re"e"bered dwrdFs co"plints bo&t "y rdio this *ternoon3ll set&p, pprently.Thn$s, ""ett 8 clled "ore lo&dly.

8 herd his boo"ing l&gh *ro" "y tr&c$, nd 8 co&ldnFt help l&ghing, too.

Epen "ine nd dwrdFs next, Alice sid, so excited her voice ws highpitched trill. She

held s"ll, *lt sH&re in her hnd.

8 t&rned to give dwrd bsilis$ glre. +o& pro"ised.

Be*ore he co&ld nswer, ""ett bo&nded thro&gh the door. 7&st in ti"e he crowed. #e

p&shed in behind 7sper, who hd lso dri*ted closer thn &s&l to get good loo$.

8 didnFt spend di"e, dwrd ss&red "e. #e br&shed strnd o* hir *ro" "y *ce, leving

"y s$in tingling *ro" his to&ch.

8 inhled deeply nd t&rned to Alice. %ive it to "e, 8 sighed.

""ett ch&c$led with delight.

8 too$ the little pc$ge, rolling "y eyes t dwrd while 8 st&c$ "y *inger &nder the edge o* the

pper nd Jer$ed it &nder the tpe.

Shoot, 8 "&ttered when the pper sliced "y *ingerG 8 p&lled it o&t to ex"ine the d"ge. A

single drop o* blood ooIed *ro" the tiny c&t.

8t ll hppened very H&ic$ly then.

No dwrd rored.

#e threw hi"sel* t "e, *linging "e bc$ cross the tble. 8t *ell, s 8 did, scttering the c$e nd

the presents, the *lowers nd the pltes. 8 lnded in the "ess o* shttered crystl.

7sper sl""ed into dwrd, nd the so&nd ws li$e the crsh o* bo&lders in roc$ slide.

There ws nother noise, grisly snrling tht see"ed to be co"ing *ro" deep in 7sperFs chest.

7sper tried to shove pst dwrd, snpping his teeth J&st inches *ro" dwrdFs *ce.

""ett grbbed 7sper *ro" behind in the next second, loc$ing hi" into his "ssive steel grip,

b&t 7sper str&ggled on, his wild, e"pty eyes *oc&sed only on "e.

Beyond the shoc$, there ws lso pin. 8Fd t&"bled down to the *loor by the pino, with "y r"s

thrown o&t instinctively to ctch "y *ll, into the Jgged shrds o* glss. Enly now did 8 *eel the

sering, stinging pin tht rn *ro" "y wrist to the crese inside "y elbow.


18/315

DIed nd disoriented, 8 loo$ed &p *ro" the bright red blood p&lsing o&t o* "y r"3into the

*evered eyes o* the six s&ddenly rveno&s v"pires.

2 STITCHES

!AL8SL -AS NET T# ENL+ EN -#E STA+D cl". !ent&ries o* experience in the

e"ergency roo" were evident in his H&iet, &thorittive voice.

""ett, ose, get 7sper o&tside.

'ns"iling *or once, ""ett nodded. !o"e on, 7sper.

7sper str&ggled ginst ""ettFs &nbre$ble grsp, twisting ro&nd, reching towrd his

brother with his bred teeth, his eyes still pst reson.

dwrdFs *ce ws whiter thn bone s he wheeled to cro&ch over "e, t$ing clerly de*ensive

position. A low wrning growl slid *ro" between his clenched teeth. 8 co&ld tell tht he wsnFt

brething.

oslie, her divine *ce strngely s"&g, stepped in *ront o* 7sper3$eeping cre*&l distnce

*ro" his teeth3nd helped ""ett wrestle hi" thro&gh the glss door tht s"e held open, one

hnd pressed over her "o&th nd nose.

s"eFs hertshped *ce ws sh"ed. 8F" so sorry, Bell, she cried s she *ollowed the

others into the yrd.

Let "e by, dwrd, !rlisle "&r"&red.

A second pssed, nd then dwrd nodded slowly nd relxed his stnce.

!rlisle $nelt beside "e, lening close to ex"ine "y r". 8 co&ld *eel the shoc$ *roIen on "y

*ce, nd 8 tried to co"pose it.

#ere, !rlisle, Alice sid, hnding hi" towel.

#e shoo$ his hed. Too "&ch glss in the wo&nd. #e reched over nd ripped long, thinscrp *ro" the botto" o* the white tblecloth. #e twisted it ro&nd "y r" bove the elbow to

*or" to&rniH&et. The s"ell o* the blood ws "$ing "e diIIy. My ers rng.

Bell, !rlisle sid so*tly. Do yo& wnt "e to drive yo& to the hospitl, or wo&ld yo& li$e "e

to t$e cre o* it hereK

#ere, plese, 8 whispered. 8* he too$ "e to the hospitl, there wo&ld be no wy to $eep this

*ro" !hrlie.

8Fll get yo&r bg, Alice sid.

LetFs t$e her to the $itchen tble, !rlisle sid to dwrd.


19/315

dwrd li*ted "e e**ortlessly, while !rlisle $ept the press&re stedy on "y r".

#ow re yo& doing, BellK !rlisle s$ed.

8F" *ine. My voice ws resonbly stedy, which plesed "e.

dwrdFs *ce ws li$e stone.

Alice ws there. !rlisleFs blc$ bg ws lredy on the tble, s"ll b&t brillint des$ light

pl&gged into the wll. dwrd st "e gently into chir, nd !rlisle p&lled &p nother. #e went

to wor$ t once.

dwrd stood over "e, still protective, still not brething.

7&st go, dwrd, 8 sighed.

8 cn hndle it, he insisted. B&t his Jw ws rigidG his eyes b&rned with the intensity o* the

thirst he *o&ght, so "&ch worse *or hi" thn it ws *or the others.

+o& donFt need to be hero, 8 sid. !rlisle cn *ix "e &p witho&t yo&r help. %et so"e *resh

ir.

8 winced s !rlisle did so"ething to "y r" tht st&ng.

8Fll sty, he sid.

-hy re yo& so "sochisticK 8 "&"bled.

!rlisle decided to intercede. dwrd, yo& "y s well go *ind 7sper be*ore he gets too *r. 8F"

s&re heFs &pset with hi"sel*, nd 8 do&bt heFll listen to nyone b&t yo& right now.

+es, 8 egerly greed. %o *ind 7sper.

+o& "ight s well do so"ething &se*&l, Alice dded.

dwrdFs eyes nrrowed s we gnged &p on hi", b&t, *inlly, he nodded once nd sprinted

s"oothly thro&gh the $itchenFs bc$ door. 8 ws s&re he hdnFt t$en breth since 8Fd sliced "y

*inger.

A n&"b, ded *eeling ws spreding thro&gh "y r".

Tho&gh it ersed the sting, it re"inded "e o* the gsh, nd 8 wtched !rlisleFs *ce cre*&lly to

distrct "e *ro" wht his hnds were doing. #is hir gle"ed gold in the bright light s he bent

over "y r". 8 co&ld *eel the *int stirrings o* &nese in the pit o* "y sto"ch, b&t 8 ws

deter"ined not to let "y &s&l sH&e"ishness get the best o* "e. There ws no pin now, J&st

gentle t&gging senstion tht 8 tried to ignore. No reson to get sic$ li$e bby.

8* she hdnFt been in "y line o* sight, 8 wo&ldnFt hve noticed Alice give &p nd stel o&t o* the

roo". -ith tiny, pologetic s"ile on her lips, she disppered thro&gh the $itchen doorwy.

-ell, thtFs everyone, 8 sighed. 8 cn cler roo", t lest.


20/315

8tFs not yo&r *&lt, !rlisle co"*orted "e with ch&c$le. 8t co&ld hppen to nyone.

+ould8 repeted. B&t it &s&lly J&st hppens to "e.

#e l&ghed gin.

#is relxed cl" ws only "ore "Iing set in direct contrst with everyone elseFs rection. 8co&ldnFt *ind ny trce o* nxiety in his *ce. #e wor$ed with H&ic$, s&re "ove"ents. The only

so&nd besides o&r H&iet brething ws the so*tplink, plinks the tiny *rg"ents o* glss dropped

one by one to the tble.

#ow cn yo& do thisK 8 de"nded. ven Alice nd s"e 8 triled o**, sh$ing "y hed in

wonder. Tho&gh the rest o* the" hd given &p the trditionl diet o* v"pires J&st s bsol&tely

s !rlisle hd, he ws the only one who co&ld ber the s"ell o* "y blood witho&t s&**ering

*ro" the intense te"pttion. !lerly, this ws "&ch "ore di**ic&lt thn he "de it see".

+ers nd yers o* prctice, he told "e. 8 brely notice the scent ny"ore.

Do yo& thin$ it wo&ld be hrder i* yo& too$ vction *ro" the hospitl *or long ti"e. And

werenFt ro&nd ny bloodK

Mybe. #e shr&gged his sho&lders, b&t his hnds re"ined stedy. 8Fve never *elt the need *or

n extended holidy. #e *lshed brillint s"ile in "y direction. 8 enJoy "y wor$ too "&ch.

*link, plink, plink. 8 ws s&rprised t how "&ch glss there see"ed to be in "y r". 8 ws

te"pted to glnce t the growing pile, J&st to chec$ the siIe, b&t 8 $new tht ide wo&ld not be

help*&l to "y novo"iting strtegy.

-ht is it tht yo& enJoyK 8 wondered. 8t didnFt "$e sense to "e3the yers o* str&ggle nd

sel*denil he "&st hve spent to get to the point where he co&ld end&re this so esily. Besides, 8

wnted to $eep hi" tl$ingG the converstion $ept "y "ind o** the H&esy *eeling in "y

sto"ch.

#is dr$ eyes were cl" nd tho&ght*&l s he nswered. #"". -ht 8 enJoy the very "ost is

when "y enhnced bilities let "e sve so"eone who wo&ld otherwise hve been lost. 8tFs

plesnt $nowing tht, thn$s to wht 8 cn do, so"e peopleFs lives re better bec&se 8 exist.

ven the sense o* s"ell is &se*&l dignostic tool t ti"es. Ene side o* his "o&th p&lled &p in

hl* s"ile.

8 "&lled tht over while he po$ed ro&nd, "$ing s&re ll the glss splinters were gone. Then he

r&""ged in his bg *or new tools, nd 8 tried not to pict&re needle nd thred.

+o& try very hrd to "$e &p *or so"ething tht ws never yo&r *&lt, 8 s&ggested while new

$ind o* t&gging strted t the edges o* "y s$in. -ht 8 "en is, itFs not li$e yo& s$ed *or this.

+o& didnFt choose this $ind o* li*e, nd yet yo& hve to wor$ so hardto be good.

8 donFt $now tht 8F" "$ing &p *or nything, he disgreed lightly. Li$e everything in li*e, 8

J&st hd to decide wht to do with wht 8 ws given.

Tht "$es it so&nd too esy.


21/315

#e ex"ined "y r" gin. There, he sid, snipping thred. All done. #e wiped n

oversiIed tip, dripping with so"e syr&pcolored liH&id, thoro&ghly cross the opertion site.

The s"ell ws strngeG it "de "y hed spin. The syr&p stined "y s$in.

8n the beginning, tho&gh, 8 pressed while he tped nother long piece o* g&Ie sec&rely in

plce, seling it to "y s$in. -hy did yo& even thin$ to try di**erent wy thn the obvio&s

oneK

#is lips t&rned &p in privte s"ile. #snFt dwrd told yo& this storyK

+es. B&t 8F" trying to &nderstnd wht yo& were thin$ing

#is *ce ws s&ddenly serio&s gin, nd 8 wondered i* his tho&ghts hd gone to the s"e plce

tht "ine hd. -ondering wht 8 wo&ld be thin$ing when38 re*&sed to thin$ if3it ws "e.

+o& $now "y *ther ws clergy"n, he "&sed s he clened the tble cre*&lly, r&bbing

everything down with wet g&Ie, nd then doing it gin. The s"ell o* lcohol b&rned in "y

nose. #e hd rther hrsh view o* the world, which 8 ws lredy beginning to H&estion be*orethe ti"e tht 8 chnged. !rlisle p&t ll the dirty g&Ie nd the glss slivers into n e"pty

crystl bowl. 8 didnFt &nderstnd wht he ws doing, even when he lit the "tch. Then he threw it

onto the lcoholso$ed *ibers, nd the s&dden blIe "de "e J&"p.

Sorry, he pologiIed. Tht o&ght to do it So 8 didnFt gree with "y *therFs prtic&lr brnd

o* *ith. B&t never, in the nerly *o&r h&ndred yers now since 8 ws born, hve 8 ever seen

nything to "$e "e do&bt whether %od exists in so"e *or" or the other. Not even the

re*lection in the "irror.

8 pretended to ex"ine the dressing on "y r" to hide "y s&rprise t the direction o&r

converstion hd t$en. eligion ws the lst thing 8 expected, ll things considered. My own

li*e ws *irly devoid o* belie*. !hrlie considered hi"sel* L&thern, bec&se thtFs wht his

prents hd been, b&t S&ndys he worshipped by the river with *ishing pole in his hnd. enee

tried o&t ch&rch now nd then, b&t, "&ch li$e her brie* **irs with tennis, pottery, yog, nd

/rench clsses, she "oved on by the ti"e 8 ws wre o* her newest *d.

8F" s&re ll this so&nds little biIrre, co"ing *ro" v"pire. #e grinned, $nowing how their

cs&l &se o* tht word never *iled to shoc$ "e. B&t 8F" hoping tht there is still point to this

li*e, even *or &s. 8tFs long shot, 8Fll d"it, he contin&ed in n o**hnd voice. By ll cco&nts,

weFre d"ned regrdless. B&t 8 hope, "ybe *oolishly, tht weFll get so"e "es&re o* credit *or

trying.

8 donFt thin$ thtFs *oolish, 8 "&"bled. 8 co&ldnFt i"gine nyone, deity incl&ded, who wo&ldnFt

be i"pressed by !rlisle. Besides, the only $ind o* hevenIco&ld pprecite wo&ld hve to

incl&de dwrd. And 8 donFt thin$ nyone else wo&ld, either.

Act&lly, yo&Fre the very *irst one to gree with "e.

The rest o* the" donFt *eel the s"eK 8 s$ed, s&rprised, thin$ing o* only one person in

prtic&lr.

!rlisle g&essed the direction o* "y tho&ghts gin. dwrdFs with "e &p to point. %od ndheven exist nd so does hell. B&t he doesnFt believe there is n *terli*e *or o&r $ind.


22/315

!rlisleFs voice ws very so*tG he stred o&t the big window over the sin$, into the dr$ness.

+o& see, he thin$s weFve lost o&r so&ls.

8 i""editely tho&ght o* dwrdFs words this *ternoonO unless you ant to die3or hatever it

is that e do. The lightb&lb *lic$ed on over "y hed.

ThtFs the rel proble", isnFt itK 8 g&essed. ThtFs why heFs being so di**ic&lt bo&t "e.

!rlisle spo$e slowly. 8 loo$ t "yson. #is strength, his goodness, the brightness tht shines

o&t o* hi"3nd it only *&els tht hope, tht *ith, "ore thn ever. #ow co&ld there not be "ore

*or one s&ch s dwrdK

8 nodded in *ervent gree"ent.

B&t i* 8 believed s he does #e loo$ed down t "e with &n*tho"ble eyes. 8* yo& believed

s he did. !o&ld yo& t$e wy hisso&lK

The wy he phrsed the H&estion thwrted "y nswer.

8* heFd s$ed "e whether 8 wo&ld ris$ "y so&l *or dwrd, the reply wo&ld be obvio&s. B&t

wo&ld 8 ris$ dwrdFs so&lK 8 p&rsed "y lips &nhppily. Tht wsnFt *ir exchnge.

+o& see the proble".

8 shoo$ "y hed, wre o* the st&bborn set o* "y chin.

!rlisle sighed.

8tFs "y choice, 8 insisted.

8tFs his, too. #e held &p his hnd when he co&ld see tht 8 ws bo&t to rg&e. -hether he is

responsible *or doing tht to yo&.

#eFs not the only one ble to do it. 8 eyed !rlisle spec&ltively.

#e l&ghed, br&ptly lightening the "ood. Eh, no +o&Fre going to hve to wor$ this o&t with

him. B&t then he sighed. ThtFs the one prt 8 cn never be s&re o*. 8 think, in "ost other wys,

tht 8Fve done the best 8 co&ld with wht 8 hd to wor$ with. B&t ws it right to doo" the others

to this li*eK 8 cnFt decide.

8 didnFt nswer. 8 i"gined wht "y li*e wo&ld be li$e i* !rlisle hd resisted the te"pttion to

chnge his lonely existence nd sh&ddered.

8t ws dwrdFs "other who "de &p "y "ind. !rlisleFs voice ws l"ost whisper. #e

stred &nseeingly o&t the blc$ windows.

#is "otherK -henever 8Fd s$ed dwrd bo&t his prents, he wo&ld "erely sy tht they hd

died long go, nd his "e"ories were vg&e. 8 reliIed !rlisleFs "e"ory o* the", despite the

brevity o* their contct, wo&ld be per*ectly cler.

+es. #er n"e ws liIbeth. liIbeth Msen. #is *ther, dwrd Senior, never regined

conscio&sness in the hospitl. #e died in the *irst wve o* the in*l&enI. B&t liIbeth ws lert


23/315

&ntil l"ost the very end. dwrd loo$s gret del li$e her3she hd tht s"e strnge bronIe

shde to her hir, nd her eyes were exctly the s"e color green.

#is eyes were greenK 8 "&r"&red, trying to pict&re it.

+es !rlisleFs ocher eyes were h&ndred yers wy now. liIbeth worried obsessively

over her son. She h&rt her own chnces o* s&rvivl trying to n&rse hi" *ro" her sic$bed. 8expected tht he wo&ld go *irst, he ws so "&ch worse o** thn she ws. -hen the end c"e *or

her, it ws very H&ic$. 8t ws J&st *ter s&nset, nd 8Fd rrived to relieve the doctors whoFd been

wor$ing ll dy. Tht ws hrd ti"e to pretend3there ws so "&ch wor$ to be done, nd 8 hd

no need o* rest. #ow 8 hted to go bc$ to "y ho&se, to hide in the dr$ nd pretend to sleep

while so "ny were dying.

8 went to chec$ liIbeth nd her son *irst. 8Fd grown ttched3lwys dngero&s thing to do

considering the *rgile nt&re o* h&"ns. 8 co&ld see t once tht sheFd t$en bd t&rn. The

*ever ws rging o&t o* control, nd her body ws too we$ to *ight ny"ore.

She didnFt loo$ we$, tho&gh, when she glred &p t "e *ro" her cot.

Sve hi"F she co""nded "e in the horse voice tht ws ll her throt co&ld "nge.

8Fll do everything in "y power,F 8 pro"ised her, t$ing her hnd. The *ever ws so high, she

probbly co&ldnFt even tell how &nnt&rlly cold "ine *elt. verything *elt cold to her s$in.

+o& "&st, she insisted, cl&tching t "y hnd with eno&gh strength tht 8 wondered i* she

wo&ldnFt p&ll thro&gh the crisis *ter ll. #er eyes were hrd, li$e stones, li$e e"erlds. F+o&

"&st do everything inyourpower. -ht others cnnot do, tht is wht yo& "&st do *or "y

dwrd.

8t *rightened "e. She loo$ed it "e with those piercing eyes, nd, *or one instnt, 8 *elt certin

tht she $new "y secret. Then the *ever overwhel"ed her, nd she never regined

conscio&sness. She died within n ho&r o* "$ing her de"nd.

8Fd spent decdes considering the ide o* creting co"pnion *or "ysel*. 7&st one other

cret&re who co&ld relly $now "e, rther thn wht 8 pretended to be. B&t 8 co&ld never J&sti*y

it to "ysel*3doing wht hd been done to "e.

There dwrd ly, dying. 8t ws cler tht he hd only ho&rs le*t. Beside hi", his "other, her

*ce so"ehow not yet pece*&l, not even in deth.

!rlisle sw it ll gin, his "e"ory &nbl&rred by the intervening cent&ry. 8 co&ld see it clerly,

too, s he spo$e3the despir o* the hospitl, the overwhel"ing t"osphere o* deth. dwrd

b&rning with *ever, his li*e slipping wy with ech tic$ o* the cloc$ 8 sh&ddered gin, nd

*orced the pict&re *ro" "y "ind.

liIbethFs words echoed in "y hed. #ow co&ld she g&ess wht 8 co&ld doK !o&ld nyone

relly wnt tht *or her sonK

8 loo$ed t dwrd. Sic$ s he ws, he ws still be&ti*&l. There ws so"ething p&re nd good

bo&t his *ce. The $ind o* *ce 8 wo&ld hve wnted "y son to hve.


24/315

A*ter ll those yers o* indecision, 8 si"ply cted on whi". 8 wheeled his "other to the

"org&e *irst, nd then 8 c"e bc$ *or hi". No one noticed tht he ws still brething. There

werenFt eno&gh hnds, eno&gh eyes, to $eep trc$ o* hl* o* wht the ptients needed. The

"org&e ws e"pty3o* the living, t lest. 8 stole hi" o&t the bc$ door, nd crried hi" cross

the roo*tops bc$ to "y ho"e.

8 wsnFt s&re wht hd to be done. 8 settled *or recreting the wo&nds 8Fd received "ysel*, so"ny cent&ries erlier in London. 8 *elt bd bo&t tht lter. 8t ws "ore pin*&l nd lingering

thn necessry.

8 wsnFt sorry, tho&gh. 8Fve never been sorry tht 8 sved dwrd. #e shoo$ his hed, co"ing

bc$ to the present. #e s"iled t "e. 8 s&ppose 8 sho&ld t$e yo& ho"e now.

8Fll do tht, dwrd sid. #e c"e thro&gh the shdowy dining roo", wl$ing slowly *or hi".

#is *ce ws s"ooth, &nredble, b&t there ws so"ething wrong with his eyes3so"ething he

ws trying very hrd to hide. 8 *elt sps" o* &nese in "y sto"ch.

!rlisle cn t$e "e, 8 sid. 8 loo$ed down t "y shirtG the light bl&e cotton ws so$ed ndspotted with "y blood. My right sho&lder ws covered in thic$ pin$ *rosting.

8F" *ine. dwrdFs voice ws &ne"otionl. +o&Fll need to chnge nywy. +o&Fd give !hrlie

hert ttc$ the wy yo& loo$. 8Fll hve Alicegetyo& so"ething. #e strode o&t the $itchen

door gin.

8 loo$ed t !rlisle nxio&sly. #eFs very &pset.

+es, !rlisle greed. Tonight is exctly the $ind o* thing tht he *ers the "ost. +o& being p&t

in dnger, bec&se o* wht we re.

8tFs not his *&lt.

8tFs not yo&rs, either.

8 loo$ed wy *ro" his wise, be&ti*&l eyes. 8 co&ldnFt gree with tht.

!rlisle o**ered "e his hnd nd helped "e &p *ro" the tble. 8 *ollowed hi" o&t into the "in

roo". s"e hd co"e bc$G she ws "opping the *loor where 8Fd *llen3with stright blech

*ro" the s"ell o* it.

s"e, let "e do tht. 8 co&ld *eel tht "y *ce ws bright red gin.

8F" lredy done. She s"iled &p t "e. #ow do yo& *eelK

8F" *ine, 8 ss&red her. !rlisle sews *ster thn ny other doctor 8Fve hd.

They both ch&c$led.

Alice nd dwrd c"e in the bc$ doors. Alice h&rried to "y side, b&t dwrd h&ng bc$, his

*ce indecipherble.

!F"on, Alice sid. 8Fllgetyo& so"ething less "cbre to wer.


25/315

She *o&nd "e shirt o* s"eFs tht ws close to the s"e color "ine hd been. !hrlie wo&ldnFt

notice, 8 ws s&re. The long white bndge on "y r" didnFt loo$ nerly s serio&s when 8 ws

no longer spttered in gore. !hrlie ws never s&rprised to see "e bndged.

Alice, 8 whispered s she heded bc$ to the door.

+esK She $ept her voice low, too, nd loo$ed t "e c&rio&sly, her hed coc$ed to the side.

#ow bd is itK 8 co&ldnFt be s&re i* "y whispering ws wsted e**ort. ven tho&gh we were

&pstirs, with the door closed, perhps he co&ld her "e.

#er *ce tensed. 8F" not s&re yet.

#owFs 7sperK

She sighed. #eFs very &nhppy with hi"sel*. 8tFs ll so "&ch "ore o* chllenge *or hi", nd he

htes *eeling we$.

8tFs not his *&lt. +o&Fll tell hi" tht 8F" not "d t hi", not t ll, wonFt yo&K

E* co&rse.

dwrd ws witing *or "e by the *ront door. As 8 got to the botto" o* the stircse, he held it

open witho&t word.

T$e yo&r things Alice cried s 8 wl$ed wrily towrd dwrd. She scooped &p the two

pc$ges, one hl*opened, nd "y c"er *ro" &nder the pino, nd pressed the" into "y good

r". +o& cn thn$ "e lter, when yo&Fve opened the".

s"e nd !rlisle both sid H&iet goodnight. 8 co&ld see the" steling H&ic$ glnces t their

i"pssive son, "&ch li$e 8 ws.

8t ws relie* to be o&tsideG 8 h&rried pst the lnterns nd the roses, now &nwelco"e re"inders.

dwrd $ept pce with "e silently. #e opened the pssenget side *or "e, nd 8 cli"bed in

witho&t co"plint.

En the dshbord ws big red ribbon, st&c$ to the new stereo. 8 p&lled it o**, throwing it to the

*loor. As dwrd slid into the other side, 8 $ic$ed the ribbon &nder "y set.

#e didnFt loo$ t "e or the stereo. Neither o* &s switched it on, nd the silence ws so"ehow

intensi*ied by the s&dden th&nder o* the engine. #e drove too *st down the dr$, serpentine lne.

The silence ws "$ing "e insne.

Sy so"ething, 8 *inlly begged s he t&rned onto the *reewy.

-ht do yo& wnt "e to syK he s$ed in detched voice.

8 cringed t his re"oteness. FTell "e yo& *orgive "e.

Tht bro&ght *lic$er o* li*e to his *ce3 *lic$er o* nger. /orgive youK /or whtK


26/315

8* 8Fd been "ore cre*&l, nothing wo&ld hve hppened.

Bell, yo& gve yo&rsel* pper c&t3tht hrdly deserves the deth penlty.

8tFs still "y *&lt.

My words opened &p the *loodgte.

+o&r *&ltK 8* yo&Fd c&t yo&rsel* t Mi$e NewtonFs ho&se, with 7essic there nd Angel nd

yo&r other nor"l *riends, the worst tht co&ld possibly hve hppened wo&ld be whtK Mybe

they co&ldnFt *ind yo& bndgeK 8* yo&Fd tripped nd $noc$ed over pile o* glss pltes on yo&r

own3witho&t so"eone throwing yo& into the"3even then, whtFs the worstK +o&Fdgetblood

on the sets when they drove yo& to the e"ergency roo"K Mi$e Newton co&ld hve held yo&r

hnd while they stitched yo& &p3nd he wo&ldnFt be righting the &rge to $ill yo& the whole ti"e

he ws there. DonFt try to t$e ny o* this on yo&rsel*, Bell. 8t will only "$e "e "ore

disg&sted with "ysel*.

#ow the hell did Mi$e Newton end &p in this converstionK 8 de"nded.

Mi$e Newton ended &p in this converstion bec&se Mi$e Newton wo&ld be hell o* lot

helthier *or yo& to be with, he growled.

8Fd rther die thn be with Mi$e Newton, 8 protested. 8Fd rther die thn be with nyone b&t

yo&.

DonFt be "elodr"tic, plese.

-ell then, donFt yo& be ridic&lo&s.

#e didnFt nswer. #e glred thro&gh the windshield, his expression blc$.

8 rc$ed "y brin *or so"e wy to slvge the evening. -hen we p&lled &p in *ront o* "y ho&se,

8 still hdnFt co"e &p with nything.

#e $illed the engine, b&t his hnds styed clenched ro&nd the steering wheel.

-ill yo& sty tonightK 8 s$ed.

8 sho&ld go ho"e.

The lst thing 8 wnted ws *or hi" to go wllow in re"orse.

/or "y birthdy, 8 pressed.

+o& cnFt hve it both wys3either yo& wnt people to ignore yo&r birthdy or yo& donFt. Ene

or the other.

#is voice ws stern, b&t not .is serio&s s be*ore. 8 brethed silent sigh o* relie*.

E$y. 8Fve decided tht 8 donFt wnt yo& to ignore "y birthdy. 8Fll see yo& &pstirs.

8 hopped o&t, reching bc$ in *or "y pc$ges. #e *rowned.


27/315

+o& donFt hve to t$e those.

8 wnt the", 8 responded &to"ticlly, nd then wondered i* he ws &sing reverse

psychology.

No, yo& donFt. !rlisle nd s"e spent "oney on yo&.

8Fll live. 8 t&c$ed the presents w$wrdly &nder "y good r" nd sl""ed the door behind

"e. #e ws o&t o* the tr&c$ nd by "y side in less thn second.

Let "e crry the", t lest. he sid s he too$ the" wy. 8Fll be in yo&r roo".

8 s"iled. Thn$s.

#ppy birthdy, he sighed, nd lened down to to&ch his lips to "ine.

8 reched &p on "y toes to "$e the $iss lst longer when he p&lled wy. #e s"iled "y *vorite

croo$ed s"ile, nd then he disppered into the dr$ness.

The g"e ws still onG s soon s 8 wl$ed thro&gh the *ront door 8 co&ld her the nno&ncer

r"bling over the bbble o* the crowd.

BellK !hrlie clled.

#ey, Dd, 8 sid s 8 c"e ro&nd the corner. 8 held "y r" close to "y side. The slight

press&re b&rned, nd 8 wrin$led "y nose. The nesthetic ws pprently losing its e**ectiveness.

#ow ws itK !hrlie lo&nged cross the so* with his bre *eet propped &p on the r". -ht

ws le*t o* his c&rly brown hir ws cr&shed *lt on one side.

Alice went overbord. /lowers, c$e, cndles, presents3the whole bit.

-ht did they get yo&K

A stereo *or "y tr&c$. And vrio&s &n$nowns.

-ow.

+eh, 8 greed. -ell, 8F" clling it night.

8Fll see yo& in the "orning.

8 wved. See y.

-ht hppened to yo&r r"K

8 *l&shed nd c&rsed silently. 8 tripped. 8tFs nothing.

Bell, he sighed, sh$ing his hed.

%oodnight, Dd.


28/315

8 h&rried &p to the bthroo", where 8 $ept "y pJ"s *or J&st s&ch nights s these. 8 shr&gged

into the "tching tn$ top nd cotton pnts tht 8Fd gotten to replce the holey swets 8 &sed to

wer to bed, wincing s the "ove"ent p&lled t the stitches. 8 wshed "y *ce onehnded,

br&shed "y teeth, nd then s$ipped to "y roo".

#e ws sitting in the center o* "y bed, toying idly with one o* the silver boxes.

#i, he sid. #is voice ws sd. #e ws wllowing.

8 went to the bed, p&shed the presents o&t o* his hnds, nd cli"bed into his lp.

#i. 8 sn&ggled into his stone chest. !n 8 open "y presents nowK

-here did the enth&sis" co"e *ro"K he wondered.

+o& "de "e c&rio&s.

8 pic$ed &p the long *lt rectngle tht "&st hve been *ro" !rlisle nd s"e.

Allow "e, he s&ggested. #e too$ the gi*t *ro" "y hnd nd tore the silver pper o** with one

*l&id "ove"ent. #e hnded the rectng&lr white box bc$ to "e.

Are yo& s&re 8 cn hndle li*ting the lidK 8 "&ttered, b&t he ignored "e.

8nside the box ws long thic$ piece o* pper with n overwhel"ing "o&nt o* *ine print. 8t

too$ "e "in&te togetthe gist o* the in*or"tion.

-eFre going to 7c$sonvilleK And 8 ws excited, in spite o* "ysel*. 8t ws vo&cher *or plne

tic$ets, *or both "e nd dwrd.

ThtFs the ide.

8 cnFt believe it. enee is going to *lip +o& donFt "ind, tho&gh, do yo&K 8tFs s&nny, yo&Fll hve

to sty inside ll dy.

8 thin$ 8 cn hndle it, he sid, nd then *rowned. 8* 8Fd hd ny ide tht yo& co&ld respond to

gi*t this ppropritely, 8 wo&ld hve "de yo& open it in *ront o* !rlisle nd s"e. 8 tho&ght

yo&Fd co"plin.

-ell, o* co&rse itFs too "&ch. B&t 8 get to t$e yo& with "e

#e ch&c$led. Now 8 wish 8Fd spent "oney on yo&r present. 8 didnFt reliIe tht yo& were cpble

o* being resonble.

8 set the tic$ets side nd reched *or his present, "y c&riosity re$indled. #e too$ it *ro" "e nd

&nwrpped it li$e the *irst one.

#e hnded bc$ cler !D Jewel cse, with bln$ silver !D inside.

-ht is itK 8 s$ed, perplexed.


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#e didnFt sy nythingG he too$ the !D nd reched ro&nd "e to p&t it in the !D plyer on the

bedside tble. #e hit ply, nd we wited in silence. Then the "&sic begn.

8 listened, speechless nd wideeyed. 8 $new he ws witing *or "y rection, b&t 8 co&ldnFt tl$.

Ters welled &p, nd 8 reched &p to wipe the" wy be*ore they co&ld spill over.

Does yo&r r" h&rtK he s$ed nxio&sly.

No, itFs not "y r". 8tFs be&ti*&l, dwrd. +o& co&ldnFt hve given "e nything 8 wo&ld love

"ore. 8 cnFt believe it. 8 sh&t &p, so 8 co&ld listen.

8t ws his "&sic, his co"positions. The *irst piece on the !D ws "y l&llby.

8 didnFt thin$ yo& wo&ld let "e get pino so 8 co&ld ply *or yo& here, he explined.

+o&Fre right.

#ow does yo&r r" *eelK

7&st *ine. Act&lly, it ws strting to blIe &nder the bndge. 8 wnted ice. 8 wo&ld hve

settled *or his hnd, b&t tht wo&ld hve given "e wy.

8Fll get yo& so"e Tylenol.

8 donFt need nything, 8 protested, b&t he slid "e o** his lp nd heded *or the door.

!hrlie, 8 hissed. !hrlie wsnFt exctly wre tht dwrd *reH&ently styed over. 8n *ct, he

wo&ld hve stro$e i* tht *ct were bro&ght to his ttention. B&t 8 didnFt *eel too g&ilty *or

deceiving hi" 8t wsnFt s i* we were &p to nything he wo&ldnFt wnt "e to be &p to. dwrd

nd his r&les

#e wonFt ctch "e, dwrd pro"ised s he disppered silently o&t the door . . nd ret&rned,

ctching the door be*ore it hd sw&ng bc$ to to&ch the *r"e. #e hd the glss *ro" the

bthroo" nd the bottle o* pills in one hnd.

8 too$ the pills he hnded "e witho&t rg&ing38 $new 8 wo&ld lose the rg&"ent And "y r"

relly ws strting to bother "e.

My l&llby contin&ed, so*t nd lovely, in the bc$gro&nd.

8tFs lte, dwrd noted. #e scooped "e &p o** the bed with one r", nd p&lled the cover bc$

with the other. #e p&t "e down with "y hed on "y pillow nd t&c$ed the H&ilt ro&nd "e. #e

ly down next to "e3on top o* the bln$et so 8 wo&ldnFt get chilled3nd p&t his r" over "e.

8 lened "y hed ginst his sho&lder nd sighed hppily.

Thn$s gin, 8 whispered.

+o&Fre welco"e.

8t ws H&iet *or long "o"ent s 8 listened to "y l&llby dri*t to close. Another song begn. 8

recogniIed s"eFs *vorite.


30/315


31/315

Trying to be sne$y bo&t it, 8 pressed "y inJ&red r" ginst his sho&lder, so his cool s$in

wo&ld sooth the b&rning. 8t *elt better t once.

8 ws hl*wy sleep, "ybe "ore, when 8 reliIed wht his $iss hd re"inded "e o*O lst

spring, when heFd hd to leve "e to throw 7"es o** "y tril, dwrd hd $issed "e goodbye,

not $nowing when3or i*3we wo&ld see ech other gin. This $iss hd the s"e l"ost pin*&l

edge *or so"e reson 8 co&ldnFt i"gine. 8 sh&ddered into &nconscio&sness, s i* 8 were lredyhving night"re.

3. THE END

8 /LT ABSEL'TL+ #8DE'S 8N T# MEN8N%. 8 #ADNFT slept wellG "y r" b&rned

nd "y hed ched. 8t didnFt help "y o&tloo$ tht dwrdFs *ce ws s"ooth nd re"ote s he

$issed "y *orehed H&ic$ly nd d&c$ed o&t "y window. 8 ws *rid o* the ti"e 8Fd spent

&nconscio&s, *rid tht he "ight hve been thin$ing bo&t right nd wrong gin while he

wtched "e sleep. The nxiety see"ed to rtchet &p the intensity o* the po&nding in "y hed.

dwrd ws witing *or "e t school, s &s&l, b&t his *ce ws still wrong. There ws

so"ething b&ried in his eyes tht 8 co&ldnFt be s&re o*3nd it scred "e. 8 didnFt wnt to bring

&p lst night, b&t 8 wsnFt s&re i* voiding the s&bJect wo&ld be worse.

#e opened "y door *or "e.

#ow do yo& *eelK

?er*ect, 8 lied, cringing s the so&nd o* the sl""ing door echoed in "y hed.

-e wl$ed in silence, he shortening his stride to "tch "ine. There were so "ny H&estions 8

wnted to s$, b&t "ost o* those H&estions wo&ld hve to wit, bec&se chey were *or AliceO

#ow ws 7sper this "orningK -ht hd they sid when 8 ws goneK -ht hd oslie sidK

And "ost i"portntly, wht co&ld she see hppening now in her strnge, i"per*ect visions o* the

*&t&reK !o&ld she g&ess wht dwrd ws thin$ing, why he ws so gloo"yK -s there

*o&ndtion *or the ten&o&s, instinctive *ers tht 8 co&ldnFt see" to sh$eK

The "orning pssed slowly. 8 ws i"ptient to see Alice, tho&gh 8 wo&ldnFt be ble to relly tl$

to her with dwrd there. dwrd re"ined loo*. Eccsionlly he wo&ld s$ bo&t "y r", nd8 wo&ld lie.

Alice &s&lly bet &s to l&nchG she didnFt hve to $eep pce with sloth li$e "e. B&t she wsnFt

t the tble, witing with try o* *ood she wo&ldnFt et.

dwrd didnFt sy nything bo&t her bsence. 8 wondered to "ysel* i* her clss ws r&nning lte

3&ntil 8 sw !onner nd Ben, who were in her *o&rth ho&r /rench clss.

-hereFs AliceK 8 s$ed dwrd nxio&sly.

#e loo$ed t the grnol br he ws slowly p&lveriIing between his *ingertips while henswered. SheFs with 7sper.


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8s he o$yK

#eFs gone wy *or while.

-htK -hereK

dwrd shr&gged. Nowhere in prtic&lr.

And Alice, too, 8 sid with H&iet despertion. E* co&rse, i* 7sper needed her, she wo&ld go.

+es. SheFll be gone *or while. She ws trying to convince hi" to go to Denli.

Denli ws where the one other bnd o* &niH&e v"pires3good ones li$e the !&llens3lived.

Tny nd her *"ily. 8Fd herd o* the" now nd gin. dwrd hd r&n to the" lst winter

when "y rrivl hd "de /or$s di**ic&lt *or hi". L&rent, the "ost civiliIed "e"ber o* 7"esFs

little coven, hd gone there rther thn siding with 7"es ginst the !&llens. 8t "de sense *or

Alice to enco&rge 7sper to go there.

8 swllowed, trying to dislodge the s&dden l&"p in "y throt. The g&ilt "de "y hed bow nd

"y sho&lders sl&"p. 8Fd r&n the" o&t o* their ho"e, J&st li$e oslie nd ""ett. 8 ws

plg&e.

8s yo&r r" bothering yo&K he s$ed solicito&sly.

-ho cres bo&t "y st&pid r"K 8 "&ttered in disg&st.

#e didnFt nswer, nd 8 p&t "y hed down on the tble.

By the end o* the dy, the silence ws beco"ing ridic&lo&s. 8 didnFt wnt to be the one to bre$

it, b&t pprently tht ws "y only choice i* 8 ever wnted hi" to tl$ to "e gin.

+o&Fll co"e over lter tonightK 8 s$ed s he wl$ed "e3silently3to "y tr&c$. #e lwys

c"e over.

LterK

8t plesed "e tht he see"ed s&rprised. 8 hve to wor$. 8 hd to trde with Mrs. Newton to get

yesterdy o**.

Eh, he "&r"&red.

So yo&Fll co"e over when 8F" ho"e, tho&gh, rightK 8 hted tht 8 *elt s&ddenly &ns&re bo&t

this.

8* yo& wnt "e to.

8 lwys wnt yo&, 8 re"inded hi", with perhps little "ore intensity thn the converstion

reH&ired.

8 expected he wo&ld l&gh, or s"ile, or rect so"ehow to "y words.

All right, then, he sid indi**erently.


33/315

#e $issed "y *orehed gin be*ore he sh&t the door on "e. Then he t&rned his bc$ nd loped

grce*&lly towrd his cr.

8 ws ble to drive o&t o* the pr$ing lot be*ore the pnic relly hit, b&t 8 ws hyperventilting by

the ti"e 8 got to NewtonFs.

#e J&st needed ti"e, 8 told "ysel*. #e wo&ld get over this. Mybe he ws sd bec&se his *"ilyws disppering. B&t Alice nd 7sper wo&ld co"e bc$ soon, nd oslie nd ""ett, too. 8*

it wo&ld help, 8 wo&ld sty wy *ro" the big white ho&se on the river38Fd never set *oot there

gin. Tht didnFt "tter. 8Fd still see Alice t school. She wo&ld hve to co"e bc$ *or school,

rightK And she ws t "y plce ll the ti"e nywy. She wo&ldnFt wnt to h&rt !hrlieFs *eelings

by stying wy.

No do&bt 8 wo&ld lso r&n into !rlisle with reg&lrity3in the e"ergency roo".

A*ter ll, wht hd hppened lst night ws nothing. Nothing hadhppened. So 8 *ell down3tht

ws the story o* "y li*e. !o"pred to lst spring, it see"ed especilly &ni"portnt. 7"es hd

le*t "e bro$en nd nerly ded *ro" loss o* blood3nd yet dwrd hd hndled theinter"inble wee$s in the hospitl muchbetter thn this. -s it bec&se, this ti"e, it wsnFt n

ene"y heFd hd to protect "e *ro"K Bec&se it ws his brotherK

Mybe it wo&ld be better i* he too$ "e wy, rther thn his *"ily being scttered. 8 grew

slightly less depressed s 8 considered ll the &ninterr&pted lone ti"e. 8* he co&ld J&st lst

thro&gh the school yer, !hrlie wo&ldnFt be ble to obJect. -e co&ld go wy to college, or

pretend thtFs wht we were doing, li$e oslie nd ""ett this yer. S&rely dwrd co&ld wit

yer. -ht ws yer to n i""ortlK 8t didnFt even see" li$e tht "&ch to "e.

8 ws ble to tl$ "ysel* into eno&gh co"pos&re to hndle getting o&t o* the tr&c$ nd wl$ing

to the store. Mi$e Newton hd beten "e here tody, nd he s"iled nd wved when 8 c"e in. 8

grbbed "y vest, nodding vg&ely in his direction. 8 ws still i"gining plesnt scenrios tht

consisted o* "e r&nning wy with dwrd to vrio&s exotic locles.

Mi$e interr&pted "y *ntsy. #ow ws yo&r birthdyK

'gh, 8 "&"bled. 8F" gld itFs over.

Mi$e loo$ed t "e *ro" the corners o* his eyes li$e 8 ws crIy.

-or$ drgged. 8 wnted to see dwrd gin, prying tht he wo&ld be pst the worst o* this,whtever it ws exctly, by the ti"e 8 sw hi" gin. 8tFs nothing, 8 told "ysel* over nd over

gin. verything will go bc$ to nor"l.

The relie* 8 *elt when 8 t&rned onto "y street nd sw dwrdFs silver cr pr$ed in *ront o* "y

ho&se ws n overwhel"ing, hedy thing. And it bothered "e deeply tht it sho&ld be tht wy.

8 h&rried thro&gh the *ront door, clling o&t be*ore 8 ws co"pletely inside.

DdK dwrdK

As 8 spo$e, 8 co&ld her the distinctive the"e "&sic *ro" S?NFs Sports!enter co"ing *ro" theliving roo".


34/315

8n here, !hrlie clled.

8 h&ng "y rincot on its peg nd h&rried ro&nd the corner.

dwrd ws in the r"chir, "y *ther on the so*. Both hd their eyes trined on the T. The

*oc&s ws nor"l *or "y *ther. Not so "&ch *or dwrd.

#i, 8 sid we$ly.

#ey, Bell, "y *ther nswered, eyes never "oving. -e J&st hd cold piII. 8 thin$ itFs still

on the tble.

E$y.

8 wited in the doorwy. /inlly, dwrd loo$ed over t "e with polite s"ile. 8Fll be right

behind yo&, he pro"ised. #is eyes stryed bc$ to the T.

8 stred *or nother "in&te, shoc$ed. Neither one see"ed to notice. 8 co&ld *eel so"ething, pnic"ybe, b&ilding &p in "y chest. 8 escped to the $itchen.

The piII held no interest *or "e. 8 st in "y chir, p&lled "y $nees &p, nd wrpped "y r"s

ro&nd the". So"ething ws very wrong, "ybe "ore wrong thn 8Fd reliIed. The so&nds o*

"le bonding nd bnter contin&ed *ro" the T set.

8 tried togetcontrol o* "ysel*, to reson with "ysel*.

!hat$s the orst that can happenK 8 *linched. Tht ws de*initely the wrong H&estion to s$. 8

ws hving hrd ti"e brething right.

-kay, 8 tho&ght gin, hat$s the orst I can live throughK 8 didnFt li$e tht H&estion so "&ch,

either. B&t 8 tho&ght thro&gh the possibilities 8Fd considered tody.

Stying wy *ro" dwrdFs *"ily. E* co&rse, he wo&ldnFt expect Alice to be prt o* tht. B&t i*

7sper ws o** li"its, tht wo&ld lessen the ti"e 8 co&ld hve with her. 8 nodded to "ysel*38

co&ld live with tht.

Er going wy. Mybe he wo&ldnFt wnt to wit till the end o* the school yer, "ybe it wo&ld

hve to be now.

8n *ront o* "e, on the tble, "y presents *ro" !hrlie nd enee were where 8 hd le*t the", the

c"er 8 hdnFt hd the chnce to &se t the !&llensF sitting beside the lb&". 8 to&ched the pretty

cover o* the scrpboo$ "y "other hd given "e, nd sighed, thin$ing o* enee. So"ehow,

living witho&t her *or s long s 8 hd did not "$e the ide o* "ore per"nent seprtion

esier. And !hrlie wo&ld be le*t ll lone here, bndoned. They wo&ld both be so h&rt

B&t weFd co"e bc$, rightK -eFd visit, o* co&rse, wo&ldnFt weK

8 co&ldnFt be certin bo&t the nswer to tht.

8 lened "y chee$ ginst "y $nee, string t the physicl to$ens o* "y prentsF love. 8Fd $nownthis pth 8Fd chosen ws going to be hrd. And, *ter ll, 8 ws thin$ing bo&t the worstcse

scenrio3the very worst 8 co&ld live thro&gh.


35/315

8 to&ched the scrpboo$ gin, *lipping the *ront cover over. Little "etl corners were lredy in

plce to hold the *irst pict&re. 8t wsnFt hl*bd ide, to "$e so"e record o* "y li*e here. 8

*elt strnge &rge to get strted. Mybe 8 didnFt hve tht long le*t in /or$s.

8 toyed with the wrist strp on the c"er, wondering bo&t the *irst pict&re on the roll. !o&ld it

possibly t&rn o&t nything close to the originlK 8 do&bted it. B&t he didnFt see" worried tht it

wo&ld be bln$. 8 ch&c$led to "ysel*, thin$ing o* his cre*ree l&ghter lst night. The ch&c$ledied wy. So "&ch hd chnged, nd so br&ptly. 8t "de "e *eel little bit diIIy, li$e 8 ws

stnding on n edge, precipice so"ewhere "&ch too high.

8 didnFt wnt to thin$ bo&t tht ny"ore. 8 grbbed the c"er nd heded &p the stirs.

My roo" hdnFt relly chnged ll tht "&ch in the seventeen yers since "y "other hd been

here. The wlls were still light bl&e, the s"e yellowed lce c&rtins h&ng in *ront o* the

window. There ws bed, rther thn crib, b&t she wo&ld recogniIe the H&ilt drped &ntidily

over the top3it hd been gi*t EM %rn.

egrdless, 8 snpped pict&re o* "y roo". There wsnFt "&ch else 8 co&ld do tonight3it wstoo dr$ o&tside3nd the *eeling ws growing stronger, it ws l"ost co"p&lsion now. 8

wo&ld record everything bo&t /or$s be*ore 8 hd to leve it.

!hnge ws co"ing. 8 co&ld *eel it. 8t wsnFt plesnt prospect, not when li*e ws per*ect the

wy it ws.

8 too$ "y ti"e co"ing bc$ down the stirs, c"er in hnd, trying to ignore the b&tter*lies in

"y sto"ch s 8 tho&ght o* the strnge distnce 8 didnFt wnt to see in dwrdFs eyes. #e wo&ld

get over this. ?robbly he ws worried tht 8 wo&ld be &pset when he s$ed "e to leve. 8 wo&ld

let hi" wor$ thro&gh it witho&t "eddling. And 8 wo&ld be prepred when he s$ed.

8 hd the c"er redy s 8 lened ro&nd the corner, being sne$y. 8 ws s&re there ws no

chnce tht 8 hd c&ght dwrd by s&rprise, b&t he didnFt loo$ &p. 8 *elt brie* shiver s

so"ething icy twisted in "y sto"chG 8 ignored tht nd too$ the pict&re.

They both loo$ed t "e then. !hrlie *rowned. dwrdFs *ce ws e"pty, expressionless.

-ht re yo& doing, BellK !hrlie co"plined.

Eh, co"e on. 8 pretended to s"ile s 8 went to sit on the *loor in *ront o* the so* where

!hrlie lo&nged. +o& $now Mo" will be clling soon to s$ i* 8F" &sing "y presents. 8 hve toget to wor$ be*ore she cn get her *eelings h&rt.

-hy re yo& t$ing pict&res o* "e, tho&ghK he gr&"bled.

Bec&se yo&Fre so hndso"e, 8 replied, $eeping it light. And bec&se, since yo& bo&ght the

c"er, yo&Fre obligted to be one o* "y s&bJects.

#e "&"bled so"ething &nintelligible.

#ey, dwrd, 8 sid with d"irble indi**erence. T$e one o* "e nd "y dd together.

8 threw the c"er towrd hi", cre*&lly voiding his eyes, nd $nelt beside the r" o* the so*

where !hrlieFs *ce ws. !hrlie sighed.


36/315

+o& need to s"ile, Bell, dwrd "&r"&red.

8 did "y best, nd the c"er *lshed.

Let "e t$e one o* yo& $ids, !hrlie s&ggested. 8 $new he ws J&st trying to shi*t the c"erFs

*oc&s *ro" hi"sel*.

dwrd stood nd lightly tossed hi" the c"er.

8 went to stnd beside dwrd, nd the rrnge"ent *elt *or"l nd strnge to "e. #e p&t one

hnd lightly on "y sho&lder, nd 8 wrpped "y r" "ore sec&rely ro&nd his wist. 8 wnted to

loo$ t his *ce, b&t 8 ws *rid to.

S"ile, Bell, !hrlie re"inded "e gin.

8 too$ deep breth nd s"iled. The *lsh blinded "e.

no&gh pict&res *or tonight, !hrlie sid then, shoving the c"er into crevice o* the so*c&shions nd rolling over it. +o& donFt hve to &se the whole roll now.

dwrd dropped his hnd *ro" "y sho&lder nd twisted cs&lly o&t o* "y r". #e st bc$

down in the r"chir.

8 hesitted, nd then went to sit ginst the so* gin. 8 ws s&ddenly so *rightened tht "y

hnds were sh$ing. 8 pressed the" into "y sto"ch to hide the", p&t "y chin on "y $nees nd

stred t the T screen in *ront o* "e, seeing nothing.

-hen the show ended, 8 hdnFt "oved n inch. E&t o* the corner o* "y eye, 8 sw dwrd stnd.

8Fd better get ho"e, he sid.

!hrlie didnFt loo$ &p *ro" the co""ercil. See y.

8 got w$wrdly to "y *eet38 ws sti** *ro" sitting so still3nd *ollowed dwrd o&t the *ront

door. #e went stright to his cr.

-ill yo& styK 8 s$ed, no hope in "y voice.

8 expected his nswer, so it didnFt h&rt s "&ch.

Not tonight.

8 didnFt s$ *or reson.

#e got in his cr nd drove wy while 8 stood there, &n"oving. 8 brely noticed tht it ws

rining. 8 wited, witho&t $nowing wht 8 wited *or, &ntil the door opened behind "e.

Bell, wht re yo& doingK !hrlie s$ed, s&rprised to see "e stnding there lone nd

dripping.

Nothing. 8 t&rned nd tr&dged bc$ to the ho&se.


37/315

8t ws long night, with little in the wy o* rest.

8 got &p s soon s there ws *int light o&tside "y window. 8 dressed *or school "echniclly,

witing *or the clo&ds to brighten. -hen 8 hd eten bowl o* cerel, 8 decided tht it ws light

eno&gh *or pict&res. 8 too$ one o* "y tr&c$, nd then the *ront o* the ho&se. 8 t&rned nd snpped

*ew o* the *orest by !hrlieFs ho&se. /&nny how it didnFt see" sinister li$e it &sed to. 8 reliIed

8 wo&ld "iss this3the green, the ti"elessness, the "ystery o* the woods. All o* it.

8 p&t the c"er in "y school bg be*ore 8 le*t. 8 tried to concentrte on "y new proJect rther

thn the *ct tht dwrd pprently hdnFt gotten over things d&ring the night.

Along with the *er, 8 ws beginning to *eel i"ptience. #ow long co&ld this lstK

8t lsted thro&gh the "orning. #e wl$ed silently beside "e, never see"ing to ct&lly loo$ t

"e. 8 tried to concentrte on "y clsses, b&t not even nglish co&ld hold "y ttention. Mr. Berty

hd to repet his H&estion bo&t Ldy !p&let twice be*ore 8 reliIed he ws tl$ing to "e.

dwrd whispered the correct nswer &nder his breth nd then went bc$ to ignoring "e.

At l&nch, the silence contin&ed. 8 *elt li$e 8 ws going to strt scre"ing t ny "o"ent, so, to

distrct "ysel*, 8 lened cross the tbleFs i

stephaniemayer new moon

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