Bella dying。 Still。。。 I remembered how it felt to be broken on the ground under Sam—to have no choice
but be involved in the murder of someone I loved。 It wasn't the same； though。 Sam was wrong。 And
Bella loved things she shouldn't。
〃Do you think there's any chance she'll make it？ I mean； as a vampire and all that。 She told me about。。。
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about Esme。〃
Tel say there's an even chance at this point；〃 he answered quietly。 〃I've seen vampire venom work
miracles； but there are conditions that even venom cannot overe。 Her heart is working too hard now；
if it should fail。。。 there won't be anything for me to do。〃
Bella's heartbeat throbbed and faltered； giving an agonizing emphasis to his words。
Maybe the pla had started turning backward。 Maybe that would explain how everything was the
opposite of what it had been yesterday—how I could be hoping for what had once seemed like the very
worst thing in the world。
〃What is that thing doing to her？〃 I whispered。 〃She was so much worse last night。 I saw。。。 the tubes and
all that。 Through the window。〃
〃The fetus isn't patible with her body。 Too strong； for one thing； but she could probably endure that
for a while。 The bigger problem is that it won't allow her to get the sustenance she needs。 Her body is
rejecting every form of nutrition。 I'm trying to feed her intravenously； but she's just not absorbing it。
Everything about her condition is accelerated。 I'm watching her—and not just her； but the fetus as
well—starve to death by the hour。 I can't stop it and I can't slow it down。 I can't figure out what it
wants〃 His weary voice broke at the end。
I felt the same way I had yesterday； when I'd seen the black stains across her stomach—furious； and a
little crazy。
I clenched my hands into fists to control the shaking。 I hated the thing that was hurting her。 It wasn't
enough for the monster to beat her from the inside out。 No； it was starving her； too。 Probably just looking
for something to sink its teeth into—a throat to suck dry。 Since it wasn't big enough to kill anyone else
yet； it settled for sucking Bella's life from her。
I could tell them exactly what it wanted： death and blood； blood and death。
My skin was all hot and prickly。 I breathed slowly in and out； focusing on that to calm myself。
〃I wish I could get a better idea of what exactly it is；〃 Carlisle murmured。 〃The fetus is well protected。 I
haven't been able to produce an ultrasonic image。 I doubt there is any way to get a needle through the
amniotic sac； but Rosalie won't agree to let me try； in any case。〃
〃A needle？〃 I mumbled。 〃What good would that do？〃
〃The more I know about the fetus； the better I can estimate what it will be capable of。 What I wouldn't
give for even a little amniotic fluid。 If I knew even the chromosomal count。。。〃
〃You're losing me； Doc。 Can you dumb it down？〃
He chuckled once—even his laugh sounded exhausted。 〃Okay。 How much biology have you taken？ Did
you study chromosomal pairs？〃
〃Think so。 We have twentythree； right？〃
〃Humans do。〃
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I blinked。 〃How many do you have？〃
〃Twentyfive。〃
I frowned at my fists for a second。 〃What does that mean？〃
〃I thought it meant that our species were almost pletely different。 Less related than a lion and a
house cat。 But this new life—well； it suggests that we're more geically patible than I'd thought。〃 He
sighed sadly。 〃I didn't know to warn them。〃
I sighed； too。 It had been easy to hate Edward for the same ignorance。 I still hated him for it。 It was just
hard to feel the same way about Carlisle。 Maybe because I wasn't ten shades of jealous in Carlisle's
case。
〃It might help to know what the count was—whether the fetus was closer to us or to her。 To know what
to expect。〃 Then he shrugged。 〃And maybe it wouldn't help anything。 I guess I just wish I had something
to study； anything to do。〃
〃Wonder what my chromosomes are like；〃 I muttered randomly。 I thought of those Olympic steroids
tests again。 Did they run DNA scans？
Carlisle coughed selfconsciously。 〃You have twentyfour pairs； Jacob。〃
I turned slowly to stare at him； raising my eyebrows。
He looked embarrassed。 〃I was。。。 curious。 I took the liberty when I was treating you last June。〃
I thought about it for a second。 〃I guess that should piss me off。 But I don't really care。〃
〃I'm sorry。 I should have asked。〃
〃S'okay； Doc。 You didn't mean any harm。〃
〃No； I promise you that I did not mean you any harm。 It's just that。。。 I find your species fascinating。 I
suppose that the elements of vampiric nature have e to seem monplace to me over the centuries。
Your family's divergence from humanity is much more interesting。 Magical； almost。〃
〃BibbidiBobbidiBoo；〃 I mumbled。 He was just like Bella with all the magic garbage。
Carlisle laughed another weary laugh。
Then we heard Edward's voice inside the house； and we both paused to listen。
〃I'll be right back； Bella。 I want to speak with Carlisle for a moment。 Actually； Rosalie； would you mind
acpanying me？〃 Edward sounded different。 There was a little life in his dead voice。 A spark of
something。 Not hope exactly； but maybe the desire to hope。
〃What is it； Edward？〃 Bella asked hoarsely。
〃Nothing you need to worry about； love。 It will just take a second。 Please； Rose？〃
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〃Esme？〃 Rosalie called。 〃Can you mindBella for me？〃
Iheard the whisper of wind as Esme flitted down the stairs。
〃Of course；〃 she said。
Carlisle shifted； twisting to look expectantly at the door。 Edward was through the door first； with Rosalie
right on his heels。 His face was； like his voice； no longer dead。 He seemed intensely focused。 Rosalie
looked suspicious。
Edward shut the door behind her。
〃Carlisle；〃 he murmured。
〃What is it； Edward？〃
〃Perhaps we've been going about this the wrong way。 I was listening to you and Jacob just now； and
when you were speaking of what the。。。 fetus wants； Jacob had an interesting thought。〃
Me？What had thought？ Besides my obvious hatred for the thing？ At least I wasn't alone in that。 I could
tell that Edward had a difficult time using a term as mild as fetus。
〃We haven't actually addressed that angle；〃 Edward went on。 〃We've been trying to get Bella what she
needs。 And her body is accepting it about as well as one of ours would。 Perhaps we should address the
needs of the。。。 fetus first。 Maybe if we can satisfy it； we'll be able to help her more effectively。〃
〃I'm not following you； Edward；〃 Carlisle said。
〃Think about it； Carlisle。 If that creature is more vampire than human； can't you guess what it craves
—what it's not getting？ Jacob did。〃
I did？ I ran through the conversation； trying to remember what thoughts I'd kept to myself。 I
remembered at the same time that Carlisle understood。
〃Oh；〃 he said in a surprised tone。 〃You think it is。。。 thirsty？〃
Rosalie hissed under her breath。 She wasn't suspicious anymore。 Her revoltingly perfect face wasall lit
up； her eyes wide with excitement。 〃Of course；〃 she muttered。 〃Carlisle； we have all that type O negative
laid aside for Bella。 It's a good idea；〃 she added； not looking at me。
〃Hmm。〃 Carlisle put his hand to his chin； lost in thought。 〃I wonder。。。 And then； what would be the best
way to administer___〃
Rosalie shook her head。 〃We don't have time to be creative。 I'd say we should start with the traditional
way。〃
〃Wait a minute；〃 i whispered。 〃Just hold on。 Are you—are you talking about making Bella drink blood？〃
〃It was your idea； dog；〃 Rosalie said； scowling at me without ever quite looking at me。
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I ignored her and watched Carlisle。 That same ghost of hope that had been in Edward's face was now in
the doctor's eyes。 He pursed his lips； speculating。
〃That's just。。。〃 I couldn't find the right word。
〃Monstrous？〃 Edward suggested。 〃Repulsive？〃
〃Pretty much。〃
〃But what if it helps her？〃 he whispered。
I shook my head angrily。 〃What are you gonna do； shove a tube down her throat？〃
〃I plan to ask her what she thinks。 I just wanted to run it past Carlisle first。〃
Rosalie nodded。 〃If you tell her it might help the baby； she'll be willing to do anything。 Even if we do have
to feed them through a tube。〃
I realized then—when I heard how her voice got all loveydovey as she said the word baby—that
Blondie would be in line with anything that helped the little lifesucking monster。 Was that what
was going on； the mystery factor that was bonding the two of them？ Was Rosalie after the kid？
From the corner of my eye； I saw Edward nod once； absently； not looking in my direction。 But I knew
he was answering my questions。
Huh。 I wouldn't have thought the icecold Barbie would have a maternal side。 So much for protecting
Bella—Rosalie'd probabl