turned around; but I hated to waste the effort I'd already expended。
The rhythm of my footsteps started to numb my mind and my pain as I trudged on。 My breathing evened
out eventually; and I was glad I hadn't quit。 I was getting better at this bushwhacking thing; I could tell I
was faster。
I didn't realize quite how much more efficiently I was moving。 I thought I'd covered maybe four miles;
and I wasn't even starting to look around for it yet。 And then; with an abruptness that disoriented me; I
stepped through a low arch made by two vine maples—pushing past the chesthigh ferns—into the
meadow。
It was the same place; of that I was instantly sure。 I'd never seen another clearing so symmetrical。 It was
as perfectly round as if someone had intentionally created the flawless circle; tearing out the trees but
leaving no evidence of that violence in the waving grass。 To the east; I could hear the stream bubbling
quietly。
The place wasn't nearly so stunning without the sunlight; but it was still very beautiful and serene。 It was
the wrong season for wildflowers; the ground was thick with tall grass that swayed in the light breeze like
ripples across a lake。
It was the same place… but it didn't hold what I had been searching for。
The disappointment was nearly as instantaneous as the recognition。 I sank down right where I was;
kneeling there at the edge of the clearing; beginning to gasp。
What was the point of going any farther? Nothing lingered here。 Nothing more than the memories that I
could have called back whenever I wanted to; if I was ever willing to endure the corresponding
pain—the pain that had me now; had me cold。 There was nothing special about this place without him。 I
wasn't exactly sure what I'd hoped to feel here; but the meadow was empty of atmosphere; empty of
everything; just like everywhere else。 Just like my nightmares。 My head swirled dizzily。
At least I'd e alone。 I felt a rush of thankfulness as I realized that。 If I'd discovered the meadow with
Jacob… well; there was no way I could have disguised the abyss I was plunging into now。 How could I
have explained the way I was fracturing into pieces; the way I had to curl into a ball to keep the empty
hole from tearing me apart? It was so much better that I didn't have an audience。
And I wouldn't have to explain to anyone why I was in such a hurry to leave; either。 Jacob would have
assumed; after going to so much trouble to locate the stupid place; I would want to spend more than a
few seconds here。 But I was already trying to find the strength to get to my feet again; forcing myself out
of the ball so that I could escape。 There was too much pain in this empty place to bear—I would crawl
away if I had to。
How lucky that I was alone!
Alone。 I repeated the word with grim satisfaction as I wrenched myself to my feet despite the pain。 At
precisely that moment; a figure stepped out from the trees to the north; some thirty paces away。
A dizzying array of emotions shot through me in a second。 The first was surprise; I was far from any trail
here; and I didn't expect pany。 Then; as my eyes focused on the motionless figure; seeing the utter
stillness; the pallid skin; a rush of piercing hope rocked through me。 I suppressed it viciously; fighting
against the equally sharp lash of agony as my eyes continued to the face beneath the black hair; the face
that wasn't the one I wanted to see。 Next was fear; this was not the face I grieved for; but it was close
enough for me to know that the man facing me was no stray hiker。
And finally; in the end; recognition。
〃Laurent!〃 I cried in surprised pleasure。
It was an irrational response。 I probably should have stopped at fear。
Laurent had been one of James's coven when we'd first met。 He hadn't been involved with the hunt that
followed—the hunt where I was the quarry—but that was only because he was afraid; I was protected
by a bigger coven than his own。 It would have been different if that wasn't the case—he'd had no
punctions; at the time; against making a meal of me。 Of course; he must have changed; because he'd
gone to Alaska to live with the other civilized coven there; the other family that refused to drink human
blood for ethical reasons。 The other family like… but I couldn't let myself think the name。
Yes; fear would have made more sense; but all I felt was an overwhelming satisfaction。 The meadow was
a magic place again。 A darker magic than I'd expected; to be sure; but magic all the same。 Here was the
connection I'd sought。 The proof; however remote; that—somewhere in the same world where I lived—
he did exist。
It was impossible how exactly the same Laurent looked。 I suppose it was very silly and human to expect
some kind of change in the last year。 But there was something… I couldn't quite put my finger on it。
〃Bella?〃 he asked; looking more astonished than I felt。
〃You remember。〃 I smiled。 It was ridiculous that I should be so elated because a vampire knew my
name。
He grinned。 〃I didn't expect to see you here。〃 He strolled toward me; his expression bemused。
〃Isn't it the other way around? I do live here。 I thought you'd gone to Alaska。〃
He stopped about ten paces away; cocking his head to the side。 His face was the most beautiful face I'd
seen in what felt like an eternity。 I studied his features with a strangely greedy sense of release。 Here was
someone I didn't have to pretend for—someone who already knew everything I could never say。
〃You're right;〃 he agreed。 〃I did go to Alaska。 Still; I didn't expect… When I found the Cullen place
empty; I thought they'd moved on。〃
〃Oh。〃 I bit my lip as the name set the raw edges of my wound throbbing。 It took me a second to
pose myself。 Laurent waited with curious eyes。
〃They did move on;〃 I finally managed to tell him。
〃Hmm;〃 he murmured。 〃I'm surprised they left you behind。 Weren't you sort of a pet of theirs?〃 His eyes
were innocent of any intended offense。
I smiled wryly。 〃Something like that。〃
〃Hmm;〃 he said; thoughtful again。
At that precise moment; I realized why he looked the same—too much the same。 After Carlisle told us
that Laurent had stayed with Tanya's family; I'd begun to picture him; on the rare occasions that I thought
of him at all; with the same golden eyes that the… Cullens—I forced the name out; wincing—had。 That
all good vampires had。
I took an involuntary step back; and his curious; dark red eyes followed the movement。
〃Do they visit often?〃 he asked; still casual; but his weight shifted toward me。
〃Lie;〃 the beautiful velvet voice whispered anxiously from my memory。
I started at the sound of his voice; but it should not have surprised me。 Was I nor in the worst danger
imaginable? The motorcycle was safe as kittens next to this。
I did what the voice said to do。
〃Now and again。〃 I tried to make my voice light; relaxed。 〃The time seems longer to me; I imagine。 You
know how they get distracted…〃 I was beginning to babble。 I had to work to shut myself up。
〃Hmm;〃 he said again。 〃The house smelled like it had
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