world。 They are very similar people； both very passionate for vampires。〃 He smiled again。 〃They met
Tanya and her sisters； and they never looked back。 They are well suited to this lifestyle。 If they'd never
found Tanya； I imagine they would have eventually discovered a way to live without human blood on their
own。〃
The pictures in my head were jarring。 I couldn't make them match up。 A passionate Volturi soldier？
Edward glanced at Jacob and answered a silent question。 〃No； he wasn't one of their warriors； so to
speak。 He had a gift they found convenient。〃
Jacob must have asked the obvious followup question。
〃He has an instinctive feel for the gifts of others—the extra abilities that some vampires have；〃 Edward
told him。 〃He could give Aro a general idea of what any given vampire was capable of just by being in
proximity with him or her。 This was helpful when the Volturi went into battle。 He could warn them if
someone in the opposing coven had a skill that might give them some trouble。 That was rare； it takes
quite a skill to even inconvenience the Volturi for a moment。 More often； the warning would give Aro the
chance to save someone who might be useful to him。 Eleazar's gift works even with humans； to an extent。
He has to really concentrate with humans； though； because the latent ability is so nebulous。 Aro would
have him test the people who wanted to join； to see if they had any potential。 Aro was sorry to see him
go。〃
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〃They let him go？〃 I asked。 〃Just like that？〃
His smile was darker now； a little twisted。 'The Volturi aren't supposed to be the villains； the way they
seem to you。 They are the foundation of our peace and civilization。 Each member of the guard chooses to
serve them。 It's quite prestigious； they all are proud to be there； not forced to be there。〃
I scowled at the ground。
〃They're only alleged to be heinous and evil by the criminals； Bella。〃
〃We're not criminals。〃
Jacob huffed in agreement。
〃They don't know that。〃
〃Do you really think we can make them stop and listen？〃
Edward hesitated just the tiniest moment and then shrugged。 〃If we find enough friends to stand beside
us。 Maybe。〃
If。 I suddenly felt the urgency of what we had before us today。 Edward and I both started to move
faster； breaking into a run。 Jacob caught up quickly。
〃Tanya shouldn't be too much longer；〃 Edward said。 〃We need to be ready。〃
How to be ready； though？ We arranged and rearranged； thought and rethought。 Renesmee in full view？
Or hidden at first？ Jacob in the room？ Or outside？ He'd told his pack to stay close but invisible。 Should
he do the same？
In the end； Renesmee； Jacob—in his human form again—and I waited around the corner from the front
door in the dining room； sitting at the big polished table。 Jacob let me hold Renesmee； he wanted space in
case he had to phase quickly。
Though I was glad to have her in my arms； it made me feel useless。 It reminded me that in a fight with
mature vampires； I was no more than an easy target； I didn't need my hands free。
I tried to remember Tanya； Kate； Carmen； and Eleazar from the wedding。 Their faces were murky in my
illlit memories。 I only knew they were beautiful； two blondes and two brutes。 I couldn't remember if
there was any kindness in their eyes。
Edward leaned motionlessly against the back window wall； staring toward the front door。 It didn't look
like he was seeing the room in front of him。
We listened to the cars zooming past out on the freeway； none of them slowing。
Renesmee nestled into my neck； her hand against my cheek but no images in my head。 She didn't have
pictures for her feelings now。
〃What if they don't like me？〃 she whispered； and all our eyes flashed to her face。
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〃Of course they'll—；〃 Jacob started to say； but I silenced him with a look。
'They don't understand you； Renesmee； because they've never met anyone like you；〃 I told her； not
wanting to lie to her with promises that might not e true。 〃Getting them to understand is the problem。〃
She sighed； and in my head flashed pictures of all of us in one quick burst。 Vampire； human； werewolf。
She fit nowhere。
〃You're special； that's not a bad thing。〃
She shook her head in disagreement。 She thought of our strained faces and said； 〃This is my fault。〃
〃No；〃 Jacob； Edward； and I all said at exactly the same time； but before we could argue further； we
heard the sound we'd been waiting for： the slowing of an engine on the freeway； the tires moving from
pavement to soft dirt。
Edward darted around the corner to stand waiting by the door。 Renesmee hid in my hair。 Jacob and I
stared at each other across the table； desperation on our faces。
The car moved quickly through the woods； faster than Charlie or Sue drove。 We heard it pull into the
meadow and stop by the front porch。 Four doors opened and closed。 They didn't speak as they
approached the door。 Edward opened it before they could knock。
〃Edward！〃 a female voice enthused。
〃Hello； Tanya。 Kate； Eleazar； Carmen。〃
Three murmured hellos。
〃Carlisle said he needed to talk to us right away；〃 the first voice said； Tanya。 I could hear that they all
were still outside。 I imagined Edward in the doorway； blocking their entrance。 〃What's the problem？
Trouble with the werewolves？〃
Jacob rolled his eyes。
〃No；〃 Edward said。 〃Our truce with the werewolves is stronger than ever。〃
A woman chuckled。
〃Aren't you going to invite us in？〃 Tanya asked。 And then she continued without waiting for an answer。
〃Where's Carlisle？〃
〃Carlisle had to leave。〃
There was a short silence。
〃What's going on； Edward？〃 Tanya demanded。
〃If you could give me the benefit of the doubt for just a few minutes；〃 he answered。 〃I have something
difficult to explain； and I'll need you to be openminded until you understand。〃
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〃Is Carlisle all right？〃 a male voice asked anxiously。 Eleazar。
〃None of us is all right； Eleazar；〃 Edward said； and then he patted something； maybe Eleazar's shoulder。
〃But physically； Carlisle is fine。〃
〃Physically？〃 Tanya asked sharply。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃I mean that my entire family is in very grave danger。 But before I explain； I ask for your promise。 Listen
to everything I say before you react。 I am begging you to hear me out。〃
A longer silence greeted his request。 Through the strained hush； Jacob and I stared wordlessly at each
other。 His russet lips paled。
〃We're listening；〃 Tanya finally said。 〃We will hear it all before we judge。〃
〃Thank you； Tanya；〃 Edward said fervently。 〃We wouldn't involve you in this if we had any other
choice。〃
Edward moved。 We heard four sets of footsteps walk through the doorway。
Someone sniffed。 〃I knew those werewolves were involved；〃 Tanya muttered。
〃Yes； and they're on our side。 Again。〃
The reminder silenced Tanya。
〃Where's your Bella？〃 one of the other female voices asked。 〃How is she？〃
〃She'll join us shortly。 She's well； thank you。 She's taken to immortality with amazing finesse。〃
〃Tell us about the danger； Edward；〃 Tanya said quietly。 〃We'll listen； and we'll be on your side； where
we belong。〃
Edward took a deep breath。 〃I'd like you to witness for yourselves first。 Listen—in the other room。
What do you hear？〃
It was quiet； and then there was movement。
〃Just listen first； please；〃 Edward said。
〃A werewolf； I assume。 I can hear his heart；〃 Tanya said。
〃What else？〃 Edward asked。
There was a pause。
〃What is that thrumming？〃 Kate or Carmen asked。 〃Is that。。。 some kind of a bird？〃
〃No； but remember what you're hearing。 Now； what do you smell？ Besides the werewolf。〃
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〃Is there a human here？〃 Eleazar whispered。
〃No；〃 Tanya disagreed。 〃It's not human。。。 but。。。 closer to human than the rest of the scents here。 What is
that； Edward？ I don't think I've ever smelled that fragrance before。〃
〃You most certainly have not； Tanya。 Please； please remember that this is something entirely new to you。
Throw away your preconceived notions。〃
〃I promised you I would listen； Edward。〃
〃All right； then。 Bella？ Bring out Renesmee； please。〃
My legs felt strangely numb； but I knew that feeling was all in my head。 I forced myself not to hold back；
not to move sluggishly； as I got to my feet and walked the few short feet to the corner。 The heat from
Jacob's body flamed close behind me as he shadowed my steps。
I took one step into the bigger room and then froze； unable to force myself farther forward。 Renesmee
took a deep breath and then peeped out from under my hair； her little shoulders tight； expecting a rebuff。
I thought I'd prepared myself for their reaction。 For accusations； for shouting； for the motionlessness of
deep stress。
Tanya skittered back four step