2 new moon新月- 第63部分

〃Opportunity　cost。〃　

Aro　laughed。　〃If　I　hadn't　smelled　her　through　your　memories；　I　wouldn't　have　believed　the　call　of　anyone's　
blood　could　be　so　strong。　I've　never　felt　anything　like　it　myself。　Most　of　us　would　trade　much　for　such　a　
gift；　and　yet　you…〃　

〃Waste　it；〃　Edward　finished；　his　voice　sarcastic　now。　

Aro　laughed　again。　〃Ah；　how　I　miss　my　friend　Carlisle！　You　remind　me　of　him—only　he　was　not　so　
angry。〃　

〃Carlisle　outshines　me　in　many　other　ways　as　well。〃　

〃I　certainly　never　thought　to　see　Carlisle　bested　for　self…control　of　all　things；　but　you　put　him　to　shame。〃　

〃Hardly。〃　Edward　sounded　impatient。　As　if　he　were　tired　of　the　preliminaries。　It　made　me　more　afraid；　I　
couldn't　help　but　try　to　imagine　what　he　expected　would　follow。　

〃I　am　gratified　by　his　success；〃　Aro　mused。　〃Your　memories　of　him　are　quite　a　gift　for　me；　though　they　
astonish　me　exceedingly。　I　am　surprised　by　how　it…　pleases　me；　his　success　in　this　unorthodox　path　he's　
chosen。　I　expected　that　he　would　waste；　weaken　with　time。　I'd　scoffed　at　his　plan　to　find　others　who　
would　share　his　peculiar　vision。　Yet；　somehow；　I'm　happy　to　be　wrong。〃　

Edward　didn't　reply。　

〃But　your　restraint！〃　Aro　sighed。　〃I　did　not　know　such　strength　was　possible。　To　inure　yourself　against　
such　a　siren　call；　not　just　once　but　again　and　again—if　I　had　not　felt　it　myself；　I　would　not　have　believed。〃　

Edward　gazed　back　at　Aro's　admiration　with　no　expression。　I　knew　his　face　well　enough—time　had　not　
changed　that—to　guess　at　something　seething　beneath　the　surface。　I　fought　to　keep　my　breathing　even。　

〃Just　remembering　how　she　appeals　to　you…〃　Aro　chuckled。　〃It　makes　me　thirsty。〃　

Edward　tensed。　

〃Don't　be　disturbed；〃　Aro　reassured　him。　〃I　mean　her　no　harm。　But　I　am　so　curious；　about　one　thing　in　
particular。〃　He　eyed　me　with　bright　interest。　〃May　I？〃　he　asked　eagerly；　lifting　one　hand。　

〃Ask　her；〃　Edward　suggested　in　a　flat　voice。　

〃Of　course；　how　rude　of　me！〃　Aro　exclaimed。　〃Bella；〃　he　addressed　me　directly　now。　〃I'm　fascinated　that　
you　are　the　one　exception　to　Edward's　impressive　talent—so　very　interesting　that　such　a　thing　should　
occur！　And　I　was　wondering；　since　our　talents　are　similar　in　many　ways；　if　you　would　be　so　kind　as　to　
allow　me　to　try—to　see　if　you　are　an　exception　for　me；　as　well？〃　

My　eyes　flashed　up　to　Edward's　face　in　terror。　Despite　Aro's　overt　politeness；　I　didn't　believe　I　really　had　
a　choice。　I　was　horrified　at　the　thought　of　allowing　him　to　touch　me；　and　yet　also　perversely　intrigued　by　
the　chance　to　feel　his　strange　skin。　

Edward　nodded　in　encouragement—whether　because　he　was　sure　Aro　would　not　hurt　me；　or　because　
there　was　no　choice；　I　couldn't　tell。　

I　turned　back　to　Aro　and　raised　my　hand　slowly　in　front　of　me。　It　was　trembling。　

He　glided　closer；　and　I　believe　he　meant　his　expression　to　be　reassuring。　But　his　papery　features　were　
too　strange；　too　alien　and　frightening；　to　reassure。　The　look　on　his　face　was　more　confident　than　his　
words　had　been。　

Aro　reached　out；　as　if　to　shake　my　hand；　and　pressed　his　insubstantial…looking　skin　against　mine。　It　was　
hard；　but　felt　brittle—shale　rather　than　granite—and　even　colder　than　I　expected。　

His　filmy　eyes　smiled　down　at　mine；　and　it　was　impossible　to　look　away。　They　were　mesmerizing　in　an　
odd；　unpleasant　way。　

Aro's　face　altered　as　I　watched。　The　confidence　wavered　and　became　first　doubt；　then　incredulity　before　
he　calmed　it　into　a　friendly　mask。　

〃So　very　interesting；〃　he　said　as　he　released　my　hand　and　drifted　back。　

My　eyes　flickered　to　Edward；　and；　though　his　face　was　composed；　I　thought　he　seemed　a　little　smug。　

Aro　continued　to　drift　wnh　a　thoughtful　expression。　He　was　quiet　for　a　moment；　his　eyes　flickering　
between　the　three　of　us。　Then；　abruptly；　he　shook　his　head。　

〃A　first；〃　he　said　to　himself　〃I　wonder　if　she　is　immune　to　our　other　talents…　Jane；　dear？〃　

〃No！〃　Edward　snarled　the　word。　Alice　grabbed　his　arm　with　a　restraining　hand。　He　shook　her　off。　

Little　Jane　smiled　up　happily　at　Aro。　〃Yes；　Master？〃　

Edward　was　truly　snarling　now；　the　sound　ripping　and　tearing　from　him；　glaring　at　Aro　with　baleful　eyes。　
The　room　had　gone　still；　everyone　watching　him　with　amazed　disbelief；　as　if　he　were　committing　some　
embarrassing　social　faux　pas。　I　saw　Felix　grin　hopefully　and　move　a　step　forward。　Aro　glanced　at　him　
once；　and　he　froze　in　place；　his　grin　turning　to　a　sulky　expression。　

Then　he　spoke　to　Jane。　〃I　was　wondering；　my　dear　one；　if　Bella　is　immune　to　you。〃　

I　could　barely　hear　Aro　over　Edward's　furious　growls。　He　let　go　of　me；　moving　to　hide　me　from　their　
view。　Caius　ghosted　in　our　direction；　with　his　entourage；　to　watch。　

Jane　turned　toward　us　with　a　beatific　smile。　

〃Don't！〃　Alice　cried　as　Edward　launched　himself　at　the　little　girl。　

Before　I　could　react；　before　anyone　could　jump　between　them；　before　Aro's　bodyguards　could　tense；　
Edward　was　on　the　ground。　

No　one　had　touched　him；　but　he　was　on　the　stone　floor　writhing　in　obvious　agony；　while　I　stared　in　
horror。　

Jane　was　smiling　only　at　him　now；　and　it　all　clicked　together。　What　Alice　had　said　about　formidable　gifts　
；　why　everyone　treated　Jane　with　such　deference；　and　why　Edward　had　thrown　himself　in　her　path　before　
she　could　do　that　to　me。　

〃Stop！〃　I　shrieked；　my　voice　echoing　in　the　silence；　jumping　forward　to　put　myself　between　them。　But　
Alice　threw　her　arms　around　me　in　an　unbreakable　grasp　and　ignored　my　struggles。　No　sound　escaped　
Edward's　lips　as　he　cringed　against　the　stones。　It　felt　like　my　head　would　explode　from　the　pain　of　
watching　this。　

〃Jane；〃　Aro　recalled　her　in　a　tranquil　voice。　She　looked　up　quickly；　still　smiling　with　pleasure；　her　eyes　
questioning。　As　soon　as　Jane　looked　away；　Edward　was　still。　

Aro　inclined　his　head　toward　me。　

Jane　turned　her　smile　in　my　direction。　

I　didn't　even　meet　her　gaze。　I　watched　Edward　from　the　prison　of　Alice's　arms；　still　struggling　pointlessly。　

〃He's　fine；〃　Alice　whispered　in　a　tight　voice。　As　she　spoke；　he　sat　up；　and　then　sprang　lightly　to　his　feet。　
His　eyes　met　mine；　and　they　were　horror…struck。　At　first　I　thought　the　horror　was　for　what　he　had　just　
suffered。　But　then　he　looked　quickly　at　Jane；　and　back　to　me—and　his　face　relaxed　into　relief。　

I　looked　at　Jane；　too；　and　she　no　longer　smiled。　She　glared　at　me；　her　jaw　clenched　with　the　intensity　of　
her　focus。　I　shrank　back；　waiting　for　the　pain。　

Nothing　happened。　

Edward　was　by　my　side　again。　He　touched　Alice's　arm；　and　she　surrendered　me　to　him。　

Aro　started　to　laugh。　〃Ha；　ha。　ha；〃　he　chuckled。　〃This　is　wonderful！〃　

Jane　hissed　in　frustration；　leaning　forward　like　she　was　preparing　to　spring。　

〃Don't　be　put　out；　dear　one；〃　Aro　said　in　a　comforting　tone；　placing　a　powder…light　hand　on　her　shoulder。　
〃She　confounds　us　all。〃　

Jane's　upper　lip　curled　back　ever　her　teeth　as　she　continued　to　glare　at　me。　

〃Ha；　ha；　ha；〃　Aro　chortled　again。　〃You're　very　brave；　Edward；　to　endure　in　silence。　I　asked　Jane　to　do　
that　to　me　once—just　out　of　curiosity。〃　He　shook　his　head　in　admiration。　

Edward　glared；　disgusted。　

〃So　what　do　we　do　with　you　now？〃　Aro　sighed。　

Edward　and　Alice　stiffened。　This　was　the　part　they'd　been　waiting　for。　I　began　to　tremble。　

〃I　don't　suppose　there's　any　chance　that　you've　changed　your　mind？〃　Aro　asked　Edward　hopefully。　
〃Your　talent　would　be　an　excellent　addition　to　our　little　company。〃　

Edward　hesitated。　From　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　both　Felix　and　Jane　grimace。　

Edward　seemed　to　weigh　each　word　before　he　spoke　it。　〃I'd…　rather…　not。〃　

〃Alice？〃　Aro　asked；　still　hopeful。　〃Would　you　perhaps　be　interested　in　joining　with　us？〃　

〃No；　thank　you；〃　Alice　said。　

〃And　you；　Bella？〃　Aro　raised　his　eyebrows。　

Edward　hissed；　low　in　my　ears。　I　stared　at　Aro　blankly。　Was　he　joking？　Or　was　he　really　asking　me　if　I　
wanted　to　stay　for　dinner？　

It　was　the　white…haired　Caius　who　broke　the　silence。　

〃What？〃　he　demanded　of　Aro；　his　voice；　though　no　more　than　a　whisper；　was　flat。　

〃Caius；　surely　you　see　the　potential；〃　Aro　chided　him　affectionately。　〃I　haven't　seen　a　prospective　talent　
so　promising　since　we　found　Jane　and　Alec。　Can　you　imagine　the　possibilities　when　she　is　one　of　us？〃　

Caius　looked　away　with　a　caustic　expression。　Jane's　eyes　sparked　with　indignation　at　the　comparison。　

Edward　fumed　beside　me。　I　could　hear　a　rumble　in　his　chest；　building　toward　a　growl。　I　couldn't　let　his　
temper　get　him　hurt。　

〃No；　thank　you；〃　I　spoke　up　in　barely　more　than　a　whisper；　my　voice　breaking　in　fright。　

Aro　sighed。　〃That's　unfortunate。　Such　a　waste。〃　

Edward　hissed。　〃Join　or　die；　is　that　it？　I　suspected　as　much　when　we　were　brought　to　this　room。　So　
much　for　your　laws。〃　

The　tone　of　his　voice　surprised　me。　He　sounded　irate；　but　there　was　something　deliberate　about　his　
delivery—as　if　he'd　chosen　his　words　with　great　care。　

〃Of　course　not。〃　Aro　blinked；　astonished。　〃We　were　already　convened　here；　Edward；　awaiting　Heidi's　
return。　Not　for　you。〃　

〃Aro；〃　Caius　hissed。　〃The　law　claims　them。〃　

Edward　glared　at　Caius。　〃How　so？〃　he　demanded。　He　must　have　known　what　Caius　was　thinking；　but　he　
seemed　determined　to　make　him　speak　it　aloud。　

Caius　pointed　a　skeletal　finger　at　me。　〃She　knows　too　much。　You　have　exposed　our　secrets。〃　His　voice　
was　papery　thin；　just　like　his　skin。　

〃There　are　a　few　humans　in　on　your　charade　here；　as　well；〃　Edward　reminded　him；　and　I　thought　of　the　
pretty　receptionist　below。　

Caius's　face　twisted　into　a　new　expression。　Was　it　supposed　to　be　a　smiled。　

〃Yes；〃　he　agreed。　〃But　when　they　are　no　longer　useful　to　us；　they　will　serve　to　sustain　us。　That　is　not　your　
plan　for　this　one。　If　she　betrays　our　secrets；　are　you　prepared　to　destroy　her？　I　think　not；〃　he　scoffed。　

〃I　wouldn't—；〃　I　began；　still　whispering。　Caius　silenced　me　with　an　icy　look。　

〃Nor　do　you　intend　to　make　her　one　of　us；〃　Caius　continued。　〃Therefore；　she　is　a　vulnerability。　Though　it　
is　true；　for　this；　only　her　life　is　forfeit。　You　may　leave　if　you　wish。〃　

Edward　bared　his　teeth。　

〃That's　what　I　thought；〃　Caius　said；　with　something　akin　to　pleasure。　Felix　lean