第58部分(第1/7 頁)

regards　to　my　friend

Carlisle。〃　His　expression　turned　more　hesitant。　〃But　I'm　afraid　you　would　have

to　mean　it。〃

Aro　raised　his　hand　in　front　of　him。

Caius；　who　had　begun　to　scowl　furiously；　relaxed。

Edward's　lips　tightened　into　a　fierce　line。　He　stared　into　my　eyes；　and　I

stared　back。

〃Mean　it；〃　I　whispered。　〃Please。〃

Was　it　really　such　a　loathsome　idea？　Would　he　rather　die　than　change　me？　I

felt　like　I'd　been　kicked　in

the　stomach。

Edward　stared　down　at　me　with　a　tortured　expression。

And　then　Alice　stepped　away　from　us；　forward　toward　Aro。　We　turned　to　watch

her。　Her　hand　was

raised　like　his。

She　didn't　say　anything；　and　Aro　waved　off　his　anxious　guard　as　they　moved　to

block　her　approach。　Aro

met　her　halfway；　and　took　her　hand　with　an　eager；　acquisitive　glint　in　his

eyes。

He　bent　his　head　over　their　touching　hands；　his　eyes　closing　as　he

concentrated。　Alice　was　motionless；

her　face　blank。　I　heard　Edward's　teeth　snap　together。

No　one　moved。　Aro　seemed　frozen　over　Alice's　hand。　The　seconds　passed　and　I

grew　more　and　more

stressed；　wondering　how　much　time　would　pass　before　it　was　too　much　time。

Before　it　meant　something

was　wrong—more　wrong　than　it　already　was。

Another　agonizing　moment　passed；　and　then　Aro's　voice　broke　the　silence。

〃Ha；　ha；　ha；〃　he　laughed；　his　head　still　bent　forward。　He　looked　up　slowly；

his　eyes　bright　with

excitement。　〃That　was　fascinating！〃

Alice　smiled　dryly。　〃I'm　glad　you　enjoyed　it。〃

〃To　see　the　things　you've　seen—especially　the　ones　that　haven't　happened

yet！〃　He　shook　his　head　in

wonder。

〃But　that　w