Rio—someone answered it〃 she whispered。
〃You said before we had to hurry。 Hurry how？ Let's do it； whatever it is！〃
〃Bella； I—I don't think I can ask you to〃 She trailed off in indecision。
〃Ask me！〃 I manded。
She put her hands on my shoulders； holding me in place； her fingers flexing
sporadically to emphasize her
words。 〃We may already be too late。 I saw him going to the Volturi and
asking to die。〃 We both
cringed； and my eyes were suddenly blind。 I blinked feverishly at the tears。
〃It all depends on what they
choose。 I can't see that till they make a decision。
〃But if they say no； and they might—Aro is fond of Carlisle； and wouldn't
want to offend him—Edward
has a backup plan。 They're very protective of their city。 If Edward does
something to upset the peace； he
thinks they'll act to stop him。 And he's right。 They will。〃
I stared at her with my jaw clenched in frustration。 I'd heard nothing yet
that would explain why we were
still standing here。
〃So if they agree to grant his favor； we're too late。 If they say no； and he
es up with a plan to offend
them quickly enough； we're too late。 If he gives into his more theatrical
tendencies we might have
time。〃
〃Let's go！〃
〃Listen； Bella！ Whether we are in time or not； we will be in the heart of the
Volturi city。 I will be
considered his acplice if he is successful。 You will be a human who not
only knows too much； but
also smells too good。 There's a very good chance that they will eliminate us
all—though in your case it
won't be punishment so much as dinnertime。〃
〃This is what's keeping us here？〃 I asked in disbelief。 〃I'll go alone if
you're afraid。〃 I mentally tabulated
what money was left in my account； and wondered if Alice would lend me the
rest。
〃I'm only afraid of getting you killed。〃
I snorted in disgust。 〃I almost get myself killed on a daily basis！ Tell me
what I need to do！〃
〃You write a note to Charlie。 I'll call the airlines。〃
〃Charlie；〃 I gasped。
Not that my presence was protecting him； but could I leave him here alone to
face
〃I'm not going to let anything happen to Charlie。〃 Jacob's low voice was gruff
and angry。 〃Screw the
treaty。〃
I glanced up at him； and he scowled at my panicked expression。
〃Hurry； Bella；〃 Alice interrupted urgently。
I ran to the kitchen； yanking the drawers open and throwing the contents all
over the floor as I searched
for a pen。 A smooth； brown hand held one out to me。
〃Thanks；〃 I mumbled； pulling the cap off with my teeth。 He silently handed me
the pad of paper we wrote
phone messages on。 I tore off the top sheet and threw it over my shoulder。
Dad； I wrote。 I'm with Alice。 Edward's in trouble。 You can ground me when I
get back。 I know it's
a bad time。 So sorry。 Love you so much。 Bella。
〃Don't go；〃 Jacob whispered。 The anger was all gone now that Alice was out of
sight。
I wasn't about to waste time arguing with him。 〃Please； please； please take
care of Charlie；〃 I said as I
dashed back out to the front room。 Alice was waiting in the doorway with a bag
over her shoulder。
〃Get your wallet—you'll need ID。 Please tell me you have a passport。 I don't
have time to forge one。〃
I nodded and then raced up the stairs； my knees weak with gratitude that my
mother had wanted to
marry Phil on a beach in Mexico。 Of course； like all her plans； it had fallen
through。 But not before I'd
made all the practical arrangements I could for her。
I tore through my room。 I stuffed my old wallet； a clean T…shirt； and
sweatpants into my backpack； and
then threw my toothbrush on top。 I hurled myself back down the stairs。 The
sense of deja vu was nearly
stifling by this point。 At least； unlike the last time—when I'd run away from
Forks to escape thirsty
vampires rather than to find them—I wouldn't have to say goodbye to Charlie
in person。
Jacob and Alice were locked in some kind of confrontation in front of the open
door； standing so far
apart you wouldn't assume at first that they were having a conversation。
Neither one seemed to notice my
noisy reappearance。
〃You might control yourself on occasion； but these leeches you're taking her
to—〃 Jacob was furiously
accusing her。
〃Yes。 You're right； dog。〃 Alice was snarling； too。 〃The Volturi are the very
essence of our kind—they're
the reason your hair stands on end when you smell me。 They are the substance
of your nightmares； the
dread behind your instincts。 I'm not unaware of that。〃
〃And you take her to them like a bottle of wine for a party！〃 he shouted。
〃You think she'd be better off if I left her here alone； with Victoria
stalking her？〃
〃We can handle the redhead。〃
〃Then why is she still hunting？〃
Jacob growled； and a shudder rippled through his torso。
〃Stop that！〃 I shouted at them both； wild with impatience。 〃Argue when we get
back； let's go！〃
Alice turned for the car； disappearing in her haste。 I hurried after her；
pausing automatically to turn and
lock the door。
Jacob caught my arm with a shivering hand。 〃Please； Bella。 I'm begging。〃
His dark eyes were glistening with tears。 A lump filled my throat。
〃Jake； I have to—〃
〃You don't； though。 You really don't。 You could stay here with me。 You could
stay alive。 For Charlie。
For me。〃
The engine of Carlisle's Mercedes purred； the rhythm of the thrumming spiked
when Alice revved it
impatiently。
I shook my head； tears spattering from my eyes with the sharp motion。 I pulled
my arm free； and he
didn't fight me。
〃Don't die； Bella；〃 he choked out。 〃Don't go。 Don't。〃
What if I never saw him again？
The thought pushed me past the silent tears； a sob broke out from my chest。 I
threw my arms around his
waist and hugged for one too…short moment； burying my tear…wet face against
his chest。 He put his big
hand on the back of my hair； as if to hold me there。
〃Bye； Jake。〃 I pulled his hand from my hair； and kissed his palm。 I couldn't
bear to look at his face。
〃Sorry；〃 I whispered。
Then I spun and raced for the car。 The door on the passenger side was open and
waiting。 I threw my
backpack over the headrest and slid in； slamming the door behind me。
〃Take care of Charlie！〃 I turned to shout out the window； but Jacob was
nowhere in sight。 As Alice
stomped on the gas and—with the tires screeching like human screams—spun us
around to face the
road； I caught sight of a shred of white near the edge of the trees。 A piece
of a shoe。
19。 HATE
WE MADE OUR FLIGHT WITH SECONDS TO SPARE； AND THEN the true torture began。 The
plane sat idle on the tarmac while the flight attendants strolled—so casually
—up and down the aisle；
patting the bags in the overhead partments to make sure everything fit。 The
pilots leaned out of the
cockpit； chatting with them as they passed。 Alice's hand was hard on my
shoulder； holding me in my seat
while I bounced anxiously up and down。
〃It's faster than running；〃 she reminded me in a low voice。
I just nodded in time with my bouncing。
At last the plane rolled lazily from the gate； building speed with a gradual
steadiness that tortured me
further。 I expected some kind of relief when we achi