Her eyes came open very slowly。 She shook her head from side to side for a moment。
〃Anything new？〃 I asked in a low voice； conscious of the man listening on the other side of me。
〃Not exactly；〃 she breathed in a voice I could barely catch。 〃He's getting closer。 He's deciding how he's
going to ask。〃
We had to run for our connection； but that was good—better than having to wait。 As soon as the plane
was in the air； Alice closed her eyes and slid back into the same stupor as before。 I waited as patiently as
I could。 When it was dark again； I opened the window to stare out into the flat black that was no better
than the window shade。
I was grateful that I'd had so many months' practice with controlling my thoughts。 Instead of dwelling on
the terrifying possibilities that； no matter what Alice said； I did not intend to survive； I concentrated on
lesser problems。 Like； what I was going to say to Charlie if I got back：' That was a thorny enough
problem to occupy several hours。 And Jacob？ He'd promised to wait for me； but did that promise still
apply？ Would I end up home alone in Forks； with no one at all？ Maybe I didn't want to survive； no
matter what happened。
It felt like seconds later when Alice shook my shoulder—I hadn't realized I'd fallen asleep。
〃Bella；〃 she hissed； her voice a little too loud in the darkened cabin full of sleeping humans。
I wasn't disoriented—I hadn't been out long enough for that。
〃What's wrong？〃
Alice's eyes gleamed in the dim light of a reading lamp in the row behind us。
〃It's not wrong。〃 She smiled fiercely。 〃It's right。 They're deliberating； but they've decided to tell him no。〃
〃The Volturi？〃 I muttered； groggy。
〃Of course； Bella； keep up。 I can see what they're going to say。〃
〃Tellme。〃
An attendant tiptoed down the aisle to us。 〃Can I get you ladies a pillow？〃 His hushed whisper was a
rebuke to our paratively loud conversation。
〃No； thank you。〃 Alice beamed at up at him； her smile shockingly lovely。 The attendant's expression was
dazed as he turned and stumbled his way back。
〃Tell me；〃 I breathed almost silently。
She whispered into my ear。 〃They're interested in him—they think his talent could be uselul。 They're going
to offer him a place with them。〃
〃What will he say？〃
〃I can't see that yet； but I'll bet it's colorful。〃 She grinned again。 〃This is the first good news—the first
break。 They're intrigued； they truly don't want to destroy him—'wasteful；' that's the word Aro will
use—and that may be enough to force him to get creative。 The longer he spends on his plans； the better
for us。〃
It wasn't enough to make me hopeful； to make me feel the relief she obviously felt。 There were still so
many ways that we could be too late。 And if I didn't get through the walls into the Volturi city； I wouldn't
be able to stop Alice from dragging me back home。
〃Alice？〃
〃What？〃
〃I'm confused。 How are you seeing this so clearly？ And then other times； you see things far away—things
that don't happen？〃
Her eyes tightened。 I wondered if she guessed what I was thinking of。
〃It's clear because it's immediate and close； and I'm really concentrating。 The faraway things that e on
their own—those are just glimpses； faint maybes。 Plus； I see my kind more easily than yours。 Edward is
even easier because I'm so attuned to him。〃
〃You see me sometimes；〃 I reminded her。
She shook her head。 〃Not as clearly。〃
I sighed。 〃I really wish you could have been right about me。 In the beginning； when you first saw things
about me； before we even met…〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃You saw me bee one of you。〃 I barely mouthed the words。
She sighed。 〃It was a possibility at the time。〃
〃At the time；〃 I repeated。
〃Actually； Bella…〃 She hesitated； and then seemed to make a choice。 〃Honestly； I think it's all gotten
beyond ridiculous。 I'm debating whether to just change you myself。〃
I stared at her； frozen with shock。 Instantly； my mind resisted her words。 I couldn't afford that kind of
hope if she changed her mind。
〃Did I scare you？〃 she wondered。 〃I thought that's what you wanted。〃
〃I do！〃 I gasped。 〃Oh； Alice； do it now！ I could help you so much—and I wouldn't slow you down。 Bite
me！〃
〃Shh；〃 she cautioned。 The attendant was looking in our direction again。 〃Try to be reasonable；〃 she
whispered。 〃We don't have enough time。 We have to get into Volterra tomorrow。 You'd be writhing in
pain for days。〃 She made a face。 〃And I don't think the other passengers would react well。〃
I bit my lip。 〃If you don't do it now； you'll change your mind。〃
〃No。〃 She frowned； her expression unhappy。 〃I don't think I will。 He'll be furious； but what will he be able
to do about it？〃
My heart beat faster。 〃Nothing at all。〃
She laughed quietly； and then sighed。 〃You have too much faith in me； Bella。 I'm not sure that I can。 I'll
probably just end up killing you。〃
〃I'll take my chances。〃
〃You are so bizarre； even for a human。〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃Oh well； this is purely hypothetical at this point； anyway。 First we have to live through tomorrow。〃
〃Good point。〃 But at least I had something to hope for if we did。 If Alice made good on her
promise—and if she didn't kill me—then Edward could run after his distractions all he wanted； and I
could follow。 I wouldn't let him be distracted。 Maybe； when I was beautiful and strong； he wouldn't want
distractions。
〃Go back to sleep；〃 she encouraged me。 〃I'll wake you up when there's something new。〃
〃Right；〃 I grumbled； certain that sleep was a lost cause now。 Alice pulled her legs up on the seat；
wrapping her arms around them and leaning her forehead against her knees。 She rocked back and forth
as she concentrated。
I rested my head against the seat； watching her； and the next thing I knew； she was snapping the shade
closed against the faint brightening in the eastern sky。
〃What's happening？〃 I mumbled。
〃They've told him no；〃 she said quietly。 I noticed at once that her enthusiasm was gone。
My voice choked in my throat with panic。 〃What's he going to do？〃
〃It was chaotic at first。 I was only getting flickers； he was changing plans so quickly。〃
〃What kinds of plans？〃 I pressed。
〃There was a bad hour；〃 she whispered。 〃He'd decided to go hunting。〃
She looked at me； seeing the prehension in my face。
〃In the city；〃 she explained。 〃It got very close。 He changed his mind at the last minute。〃
〃He wouldn't want to disappoint Carlisle；〃 I mumbled。 Not at the end。
〃Probably；〃 she agreed。
〃Will there be enough time？〃 As I spoke； there was a shift in the cabin pressure。 I could feel the plane
angling downward。
〃I'm hoping so—if he sticks to his latest decision； maybe。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃He's going to keep it simple。 He's just going to walk out into the sun。〃
Just walk out into the sun。 That was all。
It would be enough。 The image of Edward in the meadow—glowing； shimmering like his skin was made
of a million diamond facets—was burned into my memory。 No human who saw that would ever forget。
The Volturi couldn't possibly allow it。 Not