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the　Volturi　would　e　to　punish　us。　It's　not　the　way　they　do　things。　Certainly；　we　are　the　biggest　mature　
coven　they've　dealt　with；　but　in　the　past　other　covens　have　joined　to　protect　themselves；　and　they　never　
presented　much　of　a　challenge　despite　their　numbers。　We　are　more　closely　bonded；　and　that's　a　factor；　
but　not　a　huge　one。　

〃He　was　remembering　other　times　that　covens　have　been　punished；　for　one　thing　or　the　other；　and　a　
pattern　occurred　to　him。　It　was　a　pattern　that　the　rest　of　the　guard　would　never　have　noticed；　since　
Eleazar　was　the　one　passing　the　pertinent　intelligence　privately　to　Aro。　A　pattern　that　only　repeated　every　
other　century　or　so。〃　

〃What　was　this　pattern？〃　Carmen　asked；　watching　Eleazar　as　Edward　was。　

〃Aro　does　not　often　personally　attend　a　punishing　expedition；〃　Edward　said。　〃But　in　the　past；　when　Aro　



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wanted　something　in　particular；　it　was　never　long　before　evidence　turned　up　proving　that　this　coven　or　
that　coven　had　mitted　some　unpardonable　crime。　The　ancients　would　decide　to　go　along　to　watch　the　
guard　administer　justice。　And　then；　once　the　coven　was　all　but　destroyed；　Aro　would　grant　a　pardon　to　
one　member　whose　thoughts；　he　would　claim；　were　particularly　repentant。　Always；　it　would　turn　out　that　
this　vampire　had　the　gift　Aro　had　admired。　Always；　this　person　was　given　a　place　with　the　guard。　The　
gifted　vampire　was　won　over　quickly；　always　so　grateful　for　the　honor。　There　were　no　exceptions。〃　

〃It　must　be　a　heady　thing　to　be　chosen；〃　Kate　suggested。　

〃Ha！〃　Eleazar　snarled；　still　in　motion。　

〃There　is　one　among　the　guard；〃　Edward　said；　explaining　Eleazar's　angry　reaction。　〃Her　name　is　Chelsea。　
She　has　influence　over　the　emotional　ties　between　people。　She　can　both　loosen　and　secure　these　ties。　She　
could　make　someone　feel　bonded　to　the　Volturi；　to　want　to　belong；　to　want　to　please　them___〃　

Eleazar　came　to　an　abrupt　halt。　〃We　all　understood　why　Chelsea　was　important。　In　a　fight；　if　we　could　
separate　allegiances　between　allied　covens；　we　could　defeat　them　that　much　more　easily。　If　we　could　
distance　the　innocent　members　of　a　coven　emotionally　from　the　guilty；　justice　could　be　done　without　
unnecessary　brutality—the　guilty　could　be　punished　without　interference；　and　the　innocent　could　be　
spared。　Otherwise；　it　was　impossible　to　keep　the　coven　from　fighting　as　a　whole。　So　Chelsea　would　
break　the　ties　that　bound　them　together。　It　seemed　a　great　kindness　to　me；　evidence　of　Aro's　mercy。　I　
did　suspect　that　Chelsea　kept　our　own　band　more　tightly　knit；　but　that；　too；　was　a　good　thing。　It　made　us　
more　effective。　It　helped　us　coexist　more　easily。〃　

This　clarified　old　memories　for　me。　It　had　not　made　sense　to　me　before　how　the　guard　obeyed　their　
masters　so　gladly；　with　almost　loverlike　devotion。　

〃How　strong　is　her　gift？〃　Tanya　asked　with　an　edge　to　her　voice。　Her　gaze　quickly　touched　on　each　
member　of　her　family。　

Eleazar　shrugged。　〃I　was　able　to　leave　with　Carmen。〃　And　then　he　shook　his　head。　〃But　anything　weaker　
than　the　bond　between　partners　is　in　danger。　In　a　normal　coven；　at　least。　Those　are　weaker　bonds　than　
those　in　our　family；　though。　Abstaining　from　human　blood　makes　us　more　civilized—lets　us　form　true　
bonds　of　love。　I　doubt　she　could　turn　our　allegiances；　Tanya。〃　

Tanya　nodded；　seeming　reassured；　while　Eleazar　continued　with　his　analysis。　

〃I　could　only　think　that　the　reason　Aro　had　decided　to　e　himself；　to　bring　so　many　with　him；　is　
because　his　goal　is　not　punishment　but　acquisition；〃　Eleazar　said。　〃He　needs　to　be　there　to　control　the　
situation。　But　he　needs　the　entire　guard　for　protection　from　such　a　large；　gifted　coven。　On　the　other　hand；　
that　leaves　the　other　ancients　unprotected　in　Volterra。　Too　risky—someone　might　try　to　take　advantage。　
So　they　all　e　together。　How　else　could　he　be　sure　to　preserve　the　gifts　that　he　wants？　He　must　want　
them　very　badly；〃　Eleazar　mused。　

Edward's　voice　was　low　as　a　breath。　〃From　what　I　saw　of　his　thoughts　last　spring；　Aro's　never　wanted　
anything　more　than　he　wants　Alice。〃　

I　felt　my　mouth　fall　open；　remembering　the　nightmarish　pictures　I　had　imagined　long　ago：　Edward　and　
Alice　in　black　cloaks　with　bloodred　eyes；　their　faces　cold　and　remote　as　they　stood　close　as　shadows；　
Aro's　hands　on　theirs。。。。　Had　Alice　seen　this　more　recently？　Had　she　seen　Chelsea　trying　to　strip　away　
her　love　for　us；　to　bind　her　to　Aro　and　Caius　and　Marcus？　



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〃Is　that　why　Alice　left？〃　I　asked；　my　voice　breaking　on　her　name。　

Edward　put　his　hand　against　my　cheek。　〃I　think　it　must　be。　To　keep　Aro　from　gaining　the　thing　he　wants　
most　of　all。　To　keep　her　power　out　of　his　hands。〃　

I　heard　Tanya　and　Kate　murmuring　in　disturbed　voices　and　remembered　that　they　hadn't　known　about　
Alice。　

〃He　wants　you；　too；〃　I　whispered。　

Edward　shrugged；　his　face　suddenly　a　little　too　posed。　〃Not　nearly　as　much。　I　can't　really　give　him　
anything　more　than　he　already　has。　And　of　course　that's　dependent　on　his　finding　a　way　to　force　me　to　do　
his　will。　He　knows　me；　and　he　knows　how　unlikely　that　is。〃　He　raised　one　eyebrow　sardonically。　

Eleazar　frowned　at　Edward's　nonchalance。　〃He　also　knows　your　weaknesses；〃　Eleazar　pointed　out；　and　
then　he　looked　at　me。　

〃It's　nothing　we　need　to　discuss　now；〃　Edward　said　quickly。　

Eleazar　ignored　the　hint　and　continued。　〃He　probably　wants　your　mate；　too；　regardless。　He　must　have　
been　intrigued　by　a　talent　that　could　defy　him　in　its　human　incarnation。〃　

Edward　was　unfortable　with　this　topic。　I　didn't　like　it；　either。　If　Aro　wanted　me　to　do　something　
—anything—all　he　had　to　do　was　threaten　Edward　and　I　would　ply。　And　vice　versa。　

Was　death　the　lesser　concern？　Was　it　really　capture　we　should　fear？　

Edward　changed　the　subject。　〃I　think　the　Volturi　were　waiting　for　this—for　some　pretext。　They　couldn't　
know　what　form　their　excuse　would　e　in；　but　the　plan　was　already　in　place　for　when　it　did　e。　
That's　why　Alice　saw　their　decision　before　Irina　triggered　it。　The　decision　was　already　made；　just　waiting　
for　the　pretense　of　a　justification。〃　

〃If　the　Volturi　are　abusing　the　trust　all　immortals　have　placed　in　them。。。；〃　Carmen　murmured。　

〃Does　it　matter？〃　Eleazar　asked。　〃Who　would　believe　it？　And　even　if　others　could　be　convinced　that　the　
Volturi　are　exploiting　their　power；　how　would　it　make　any　difference？　No　one　can　stand　against　them。〃　

〃Though　some　of　us　are　apparently　insane　enough　to　try；〃　Kate　muttered。　

Edward　shook　his　head。　〃You're　only　here　to　witness；　Kate。　Whatever　Aro's　goal；　I　don't　think　he's　
ready　to　

tarnish　the　Volturi's　reputation　for　it。　If　we　can　take　away　his　argument　against　us；　he'll　be　forced　to　leave　
us　in　peace。〃　

〃Of　course；〃　Tanya　murmured。　

No　one　looked　convinced。　For　a　few　long　minutes；　nobody　said　anything。　

Then　Iheard　the　sound　of　tires　turning　off　the　highway　pavement　onto　the　Cullens'　dirt　drive。　



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〃Oh　crap；　Charlie；〃　I　muttered。　〃Maybe　the　Denalis　could　hang　out　upstairs　until—〃　

〃No；〃　Edward　said　in　a　distant　voice。　His　eyes　were　far　away；　staring　blankly　at　the　door。　〃It's　not　your　
father。〃　His　gaze　focused　on　me。　〃Alice　sent　Peter　and　Charlotte；　afterall。　Time　to　get　ready　for　the　next　
round。〃　

32。　PANY　

The　Cullens'　enormous　house　was　more　crowded　with　guests　than　anyone　would　assume　could　possibly　
be　fortable。　It　only　worked　out　because　none　of　the　visitors　slept。　Mealtimes　were　dicey；　though。　
Our　pany　cooperated　as　best　they　could。　They　gave　Forks　and　La　Push　a　wide　berth；　only　hunting　
out　of　state；　Edward　was　a　gracious　host；　lending　out　his　cars　as　needed　without　so　much　as　a　wince。　
The　promise　made　me　very　unfortable；　though　I　tried　to　tell　myself　that　they'd　all　be　hunting　
somewhere　in　the　world；　regardless。　

Jacob　was　even　more　upset。　The　werewolves　existed　to　prevent　the　loss　of　human　life；　and　here　was　
rampant　murder　being　condoned　barely　outside　the　packs'　borders。　But　under　these　circumstances；　with　
Renesmee　in　acute　danger；　he　kept　his　mouth　shut　and　glared　at　the　floor　rather　than　the　vampires。　

I　was　amazed　at　the　easy　acceptance　the　visiting　vampires　had　for　Jacob；　the　problems　Edward　had　
anticipated　had　never　materialized。　Jacob　seemed　more　or　less　invisible　to　them；　not　quite　a　person；　but　
also　not　food；　either。　They　treated　him　the　way　people　who　are　not　animallovers　treat　the　pets　of　their　
friends。　

Leah；　Seth；　Quil；　and　Embry　were　assigned　to　run　with　Sam　for　now；　and　Jacob　would　have　happily　
joined　them；　except　that　he　couldn't　stand　to　be　away　from　Renesmee；　and　Renesmee　was　busy　
fascinating　the　strange　collection　of　Carlisle's　friends。　

We'd　replayed　the　scene　of　Renesmee's　introduction　to　the　Denali　coven　a　half　dozen　times。　First　for　
Peter　and　Charlotte；　whom　Alice　and　Jasper　had　sent　our　way　without　giving　them　any　explanation　at　all；　
like　most　people　who　knew　Alice；　they　trusted　her　instructions　despite　the　lack　of　information。　Alice　had　
told　them　nothing　about　which　direction　she　and　Jasper　were　heading。　She'd　made　no　promise　to　ever　
see　them　again　in　the　future。　

Neither　Peter　nor　Charlotte　had　ever　seen　an　immortal　child。　Though　they　knew　the　rule；　their　negative　
reaction　was　not　as　powerful　as　the　Denali　vampires'　had　been　at　first。　Curiosity　had　driven　them　to　allow　
Renesmee's　〃explanation。〃　And　that　was　it。　Now　they　were　as　mitted　to　witnessing　as　Tanya's　family。　

Carlisle　had　sent　friends　from　Ireland　and　Egypt。　

The　Irish　clan　arrived　first；　and　they　were　surprisingly　easy　to　convince。　Siobhan—a　woman　of　immense　
presence　whose　huge　body　was　both　beautiful　and　mesmerizing　as　it　moved　in　smooth　undulations—was　
the　leader；　but　she　and　her　hardfaced　mate；　Liam；　were　long　used　to　trusting　the　judgment　of　their　
newest　coven　member。　Little　Maggie；　with　her　bouncy　red　curls；　was　not　physically　imposing　like　the　
other　two；　but　she　had　a　gift　for　knowing　when　she　was　being　lied　to；　and　her　verdi