that I might recognize someone in the smoldering pyres。
The Volturi soldiers stood in a circle around something or someone； and I heard their whispery voices
raised in agitation。 I edged closer to the cloaks； pelled by the dream to see whatever thing or person
they were examining with such intensity。 Creeping carefully between two of the tall hissing shrouds； I
finally saw the object of their debate； raised up on a little hillock above them。
He was beautiful； adorable； just as Carlisle had described。 The boy was a toddler still； maybe two years
of age。 Light brown curls framed his cherubic face with its round cheeks and full lips。 And he was
trembling； his eyes closed as if he was too frightened to watch death ing closer every second。
I was struck with such a powerful need to save the lovely； terrified child that the Volturi； despite all their
devastating menace； no longer mattered to me。 I shoved past them； not caring if they realized my
presence。 Breaking free of them altogether； I sprinted toward the boy。
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Only to stagger to a halt as I got a clear view of the hillock that he sat upon。 It was not earth and rock；
but a pile of human bodies； drained and lifeless。 Too late not to see these faces。 I knew them all
—Angela； Ben； Jessica； Mike。。。。 And directly beneath the adorable boy were the bodies of my father
and my mother。
The child opened his bright； bloodred eyes。
3。 BIG DAY
My own eyes flew open。
I lay shivering and gasping in my warm bed for several minutes； trying to break free of the dream。 The
sky outside my window turned gray and then pale pink while I waited for my heart to slow。
When I was fully back to the reality of my messy； familiar room； I was a little annoyed with myself。 What
a dream to have the night before my wedding！ That's what I got for obsessing over disturbing stories in
the middle of the night。
Eager to shake off the nightmare； I got dressed and headed down to the kitchen long before I needed to。
First I cleaned the already tidy rooms； and then when Charlie was up I made him pancakes。 I was much
too keyed up to have any interest in eating breakfast myself—I sat bouncing in my seat while he ate。
〃You're picking up Mr。 Weber at three o'clock；〃 I reminded him。
〃I don't have that much to do today besides bring the minister； Bells。 I'm not likely to forget my only
job。〃 Charlie had taken the entire day off for the wedding； and he was definitely at loose ends。 Now and
then； his eyes flickered furtively to the closet under the stairs； where he kept his fishing gear。
〃That's not your only job。 You also have to be dressed and presentable。〃
He scowled into his cereal bowl and muttered the words 〃monkey suit〃 under his breath。
There was a brisk tapping on the front door。
〃You think you have it bad；〃 I said； grimacing as I rose。 〃Alice will be working on me all day long。〃
Charlie nodded thoughtfully； conceding that he did have the lesser ordeal。 I ducked in to kiss the top of
his head as I passed—he blushed and harrumphed —and then continued on to get the door for my best
girlfriend and soontobe sister。
Alice's short black hair was not in its usual spiky do—it was smoothed into sleek pin curls around her
pixie face； which wore a contrastingly businesslike expression。 She dragged me from the house with
barely a 〃Hey； Charlie〃
called over her shoulder。
Alice appraised me as I got into her Porsche。
〃Oh； hell； look at your eyes！〃 She tsked in reproach。 〃What did you do？ Stay up all night？〃
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〃Almost。〃
She glowered。 〃I've only allotted so much time to make you stunning； Bella—you might have taken
better care of my raw material。〃
〃No one expects me to be stunning。 I think the bigger problem is that I might fall asleep during the
ceremony and not be able to say 1 do' at the right part； and then Edward will make his escape。〃
She laughed。 〃I'll throw my bouquet at you when it gets close。〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃At least you'll have plenty of time to sleep on the plane tomorrow。〃
I raised one eyebrow。 Tomorrow； I mused。 If we were heading out tonight after the reception； and we
would still be on a plane tomorrow。。。 well； we weren't going to Boise； Idaho。 Edward hadn't dropped a
single hint。 I wasn't too stressed about the mystery； but it was strange not knowing where I would be
sleeping tomorrow night。 Or hopefully not sleeping 。。。
Alice realized that she'd given something away； and she frowned。
〃You're all packed and ready；〃 she said to distract me。
It worked。 〃Alice； I wish you would let me pack my own things！〃
〃It would have given too much away。〃
〃And denied you an opportunity to shop。〃
〃You'll be my sister officially in ten short hours。。。 it's about time to get over this aversion to new clothes。〃
I glowered groggily out the windshield until we were almost to the house。
〃Is he back yet？〃 I asked。
〃Don't worry； he'll be there before the music starts。 But you don't get to see him； no matter when he gets
back。 We're doing this the traditional way。〃
I snorted。 〃Traditional！〃
〃Okay； aside from the bride and groom。〃
〃You know he's already peeked。〃
〃Oh no—that's why I'm the only one who's seen you in the dress。 I've been very careful to not think
about it when he's around。〃
〃Well；〃 I said as we turned into the drive； 〃I see you got to reuse your graduation decorations。〃 Three
miles of drive were once again wrapped in hundreds of thousands of twinkle lights。 This time； she'd
added white satin bows。
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〃Waste not； want not。 Enjoy this； because you don't get to see the inside decorations until it's time。〃 She
pulled into the cavernous garage north of the main house； Emmett's big Jeep was still gone。
〃Since when is the bride not allowed to see the decorations？〃 I protested。
〃Since she put me in charge。 I want you to get the full impact ing down the stairs。〃
She clapped her hand over my eyes before she let me inside the kitchen。 I was immediately assailed by
the scent。
〃What is that？〃 I wondered as she guided me into the house。
〃Is it too much？〃 Alice's voice was abruptly worried。 〃You're the first human in here； I hope I got it
right。〃
〃it smells wonderful！〃 I assured her—almost intoxicating； but not at all overwhelming； the balance of the
different fragrances was subtle and flawless。 〃Orange blossoms。。。 lilac。。。 and something else—am I right？〃
〃Very good； Bella。 You only missed the freesia and the roses。〃
She didn't uncover my eyes until we were in her oversized bathroom。 I stared at the long counter；
covered in all the paraphernalia of a beauty salon； and began to feel my sleepless night。
〃Is this really necessary？ I'm going to look plain next to him no matter what。〃
She pushed me down into a low pink chair。 〃No one will dare to call you plain when I'm through with
you。〃
〃Only because they're afraid you'll suck their blood；〃 I muttered。 I leaned back in the chair and closed
my eyes； hoping I'd be able to nap through it。 I did drift in and out a little bit while she masked； buffed；
and polished every surface of my body。
It was after lunchtime when Rosalie glided past the bathroom door in a shimmery silver gown with her
golden hair piled up in a soft crown on top of her head。 She was so beautiful it made me want to cry。
What was even the point of dressing up with Rosalie around？
〃They're back；〃 Rosalie said； and immediately my childish fit of despair passed。 Edward was home。
〃Keep him out of here！〃
〃He won't cross you today；〃 Rosalie reassured her。 〃He values his life too much。 Esme's got them
finishing things up out back。 Do you want some help？ I could do her hair。〃
My jaw fell open。 I floundered around in my head； trying to remember how to close it。
I had never been Rosalie's favorite person in the world。 Then； making things even more strained between
us； she was personally offended by the choice I was making now。 Though she had her impossible beauty；
her loving family； and her soul mate in Emmett； she would have traded it all to be human。 And here I was；
callously throwing away everything she wanted in life like it was garbage。 It didn't exactly warm her to
me。
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〃Sure；〃 Alice said easily。 〃You can start braiding。 I want it intricate。 The veil goes here； underneath。〃 Her
hands started bing through my hair； hefting it； twisting it； illustrating in detail what she wanted。 When
she was done； Rosalie's hands replaced hers； shaping my hair with a featherlight touch。 Alice moved
back to my face。
Once Rosalie received Alice's mendation on my hair； she was sent off to retrieve my dress and then
to locate Jasper； who had been dispatched to pick up my mother and her husband； Phil； from their hotel。
Downstairs； I could faintly hear the door o