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〃We　don't　have　time　to　do　this　gently；　Edward。　We're　going　to　have　to　push　her。　We　only　have　a　few　
weeks；　and　she's　got　the　potential　to—〃　

〃Back　off　for　a　minute；　Kate。〃　

Kate　frowned　but　took　Edward's　warning　more　seriously　than　she'd　taken　mine。　

Renesmee's　hand　was　on　my　neck；　she　was　remembering　Kate's　attack；　showing　me　that　no　harm　was　
meant；　that　Daddy　was　in　on　it。。。。　

This　did　not　pacify　me。　The　spectrum　of　light　I　saw　still　seemed　tainted　with　crimson。　But　I　was　in　better　
control　of　myself；　and　I　could　see　the　wisdom　of　Kate's　words。　The　anger　helped　me。　I　would　learn　
faster　under　pressure。　

That　didn't　mean　I　liked　it。　




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〃Kate；〃　I　growled。　I　rested　my　hand　on　the　small　of　Edward's　back。　I　could　still　feel　my　shield　like　a　
strong；　flexible　sheet　around　Renesmee　and　me。　I　pushed　it　farther；　forcing　it　around　Edward。　There　was　
no　sign　of　a　flaw　in　the　stretchy　fabric；　no　threat　of　a　tear。　I　panted　with　the　effort；　and　my　words　came　
out　sounding　breathless　rather　than　furious。　〃Again；〃　I　said　to　Kate。　〃Edward　only。〃　

She　rolled　her　eyes　but　flitted　forward　and　pressed　her　palm　to　Edward's　shoulder。　

〃Nothing；〃　Edward　said。　I　heard　the　smile　in　his　voice。　

〃And　now？〃　Kate　asked。　

〃Stillnothing。〃　

〃And　now？〃　This　time；　there　was　the　sound　of　strain　in　her　voice。　

〃Nothing　at　all。〃　

Kate　grunted　and　stepped　away。　

〃Can　you　see　this？〃　Zafrina　asked　in　her　deep；　wild　voice；　staring　intently　at　the　three　of　us。　Her　English　
was　strangely　accented；　her　words　pulling　up　in　unexpected　places。　

〃I　don't　see　anything　I　shouldn't；〃　Edward　said。　

〃And　you；　Renesmee？〃　Zafrina　asked。　

Renesmee　smiled　at　Zafrina　and　shook　her　head。　

My　fury　had　almost　entirely　ebbed；　and　I　clenched　my　teeth　together；　panting　faster　as　I　pushed　out　
against　the　elastic　shield；　it　felt　like　it　was　getting　heavier　the　longer　I　held　it。　It　pulled　back；　dragging　
inward。　

〃No　one　panic；〃　Zafrina　warned　the　little　group　watching　me。　〃I　want　to　see　how　far　she　can　extend。〃　

There　was　a　shocked　gasp　from　everyone　there—Eleazar；　Carmen；　Tanya；　Garrett；　Benjamin；　Tia；　
Siobhan；　Maggie—everyone　but　Senna；　who　seemed　prepared　for　whatever　Zafrina　was　doing。　The　
others'　eyes　were　blank；　their　expressions　anxious。　

〃Raise　your　hand　when　you　get　your　sight　back；〃　Zafrina　instructed。　〃Now；　Bella。　See　how　many　you　
can　shield。〃　

My　breath　came　out　in　a　huff。　Kate　was　the　closest　person　to　me　besides　Edward　and　Renesmee；　but　
even　she　was　about　ten　feet　away。　I　locked　my　jaw　and　shoved；　trying　to　heave　the　resisting；　resilient　
safeguard　farther　from　myself。　Inch　by　inch　I　drove　it　toward　Kate；　fighting　the　reaction　that　fought　back　
with　every　fraction　that　I　gained。　I　only　watched　Kate's　anxious　expression　while　I　worked；　and　I　
groaned　quietly　with　relief　when　her　eyes　blinked　and　focused。　She　raised　her　hand。　

〃Fascinating！〃　Edward　murmured　under　his　breath。　〃It's　like　oneway　glass。　I　can　read　everything　they're　
thinking；　but　they　can't　reach　me　behind　it。　And　I　can　hear　Renesmee；　though　I　couldn't　when　I　was　on　
the　outside。　I'll　bet　Kate　could　shock　me　now；　because　she's　underneath　the　umbrella。　I　still　can't　hear　
you。。。　hmmm。　How　does　that　work？　I　wonder　if。。。〃　



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He　continued　to　mumble　to　himself；　but　I　couldn't　listen　to　the　words。　I　ground　my　teeth　together；　
struggling　to　force　the　shield　out　to　Garrett；　who　was　closest　to　Kate。　His　hand　came　up。　

〃Very　good；〃　Zafrina　plimented　me。　〃Now—〃　

But　she'd　spoken　too　soon；　with　a　sharp　gasp；　I　felt　my　shield　recoil　like　a　rubber　band　stretched　too　far；　
snapping　back　into　its　original　shape。　Renesmee；　experiencing　for　the　first　time　the　blindness　Zafrina　had　
conjured　for　the　others；　trembled　against　my　back。　Wearily；　I　fought　back　against　the　elastic　pull；　forcing　
the　shield　to　include　her　again。　

〃Can　I　have　a　minute？〃　I　panted。　Since　I'd　bee　a　vampire；　I　hadn't　felt　the　need　to　rest　even　once　
before　this　moment。　It　was　unnerving　to　feel　so　drained　and　yet　so　strong　at　the　same　time。　

〃Of　course；〃　Zafrina　said；　and　the　spectators　relaxed　as　she　let　them　see　again。　

〃Kate；〃　Garrett　called　as　the　others　murmured　and　drifted　slightly　away；　disturbed　by　the　moment　of　
blindness；　vampires　were　not　used　to　feeling　vulnerable。　The　tall；　sandyhaired　Garrett　was　the　only　
nongifted　immortal　who　

seemed　drawn　to　my　practice　sessions。　I　wondered　what　the　lure　was　for　the　adventurer。　

〃I　wouldn't；　Garrett；〃　Edward　cautioned。　

Garrett　continued　toward　Kate　despite　the　warning；　his　lips　pursed　in　speculation。　〃They　say　you　can　put　
a　vampire　flat　on　his　back。〃　

〃Yes；〃　she　agreed。　Then；　with　a　sly　smile；　she　wiggled　her　fingers　playfully　at　him。　〃Curious？〃　

Garrett　shrugged。　〃That's　something　I've　never　seen。　Seems　like　it　might　be　a　bit　of　an　exaggeration___〃　

〃Maybe；〃　Kate　said；　her　face　suddenly　serious。　〃Maybe　it　only　works　on　the　weak　or　the　young。　I'm　not　
sure。　You　look　strong；　though。　Perhaps　you　could　withstand　my　gift。〃　She　stretched　her　hand　out　to　him；　
palm　up—a　clear　invitation。　Her　lips　twitched；　and　I　was　pretty　sure　her　grave　expression　was　an　attempt　
to　hustle　him。　

Garrett　grinned　at　the　challenge。　Very　confidently；　he　touched　her　palm　with　his　index　finger。　

And　then；　with　a　loud　gasp；　his　knees　buckled　and　he　keeled　over　backward。　His　head　hit　a　piece　of　
granite　with　a　sharp　cracking　noise。　It　was　shocking　to　watch。　My　instincts　recoiled　against　seeing　an　
immortal　incapacitated　that　way；　it　was　profoundly　wrong。　

〃I　told　you　so；〃　Edward　muttered。　

Garrett's　eyelids　trembled　for　a　few　seconds；　and　then　his　eyes　opened　wide。　He　stared　up　at　the　
smirking　Kate；　and　a　wondering　smile　lit　his　face。　

〃Wow；〃　he　said。　

〃Did　you　enjoy　that？〃　she　asked　skeptically。　




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〃I'm　not　crazy；〃　he　laughed；　shaking　his　head　as　he　got　slowly　to　his　knees；　〃but　that　was　sure　
something！〃　

〃That's　what　I　hear。〃　

Edward　rolled　his　eyes。　

And　then　there　was　a　low　motion　from　the　front　yard。　I　heard　Carlisle　speaking　over　a　babble　of　
surprised　voices。　

〃Did　Alice　send　you？〃　he　asked　someone；　his　voice　unsure；　slightly　upset。　

Another　unexpected　guest？　

Edward　darted　into　the　house　and　most　of　the　others　imitated　him。　I　followed　more　slowly；　Renesmee　
still　perched　on　my　back。　I　would　give　Carlisle　a　moment。　Let　him　warm　up　the　new　guest；　prepare　him　
or　her　or　them　for　the　idea　of　what　was　ing。　

I　pulled　Renesmee　into　my　arms　as　I　walked　cautiously　around　the　house　to　enter　through　the　kitchen　
door；　listening　to　what　I　couldn't　see。　

〃No　one　sent　us；〃　a　deep　whispery　voice　answered　Carlisle's　question。　I　was　immediately　reminded　of　
the　ancient　voices　of　Aro　and　Caius；　and　I　froze　just　inside　the　kitchen。　

I　knew　the　front　room　was　crowded—almost　everyone　had　gone　in　to　see　the　newest　visitors—but　
there　was　barely　any　noise。　Shallow　breathing；　that　was　all。　

Carlisle's　voice　was　wary　as　he　responded。　〃Then　what　brings　you　here　now？〃　

〃Word　travels；〃　a　different　voice　answered；　just　as　feathery　as　the　first。　〃We　heard　hints　that　Volturi　were　
moving　against　you。　There　were　whispers　that　you　would　not　stand　alone。　Obviously；　the　whispers　were　
true。　This　is　an　impressive　gathering。〃　

〃We　are　not　challenging　the　Volturi；〃　Carlisle　answered　in　a　strained　tone。　〃There　has　been　a　
misunderstanding；　that　is　all。　A　very　serious　misunderstanding；　to　be　sure；　but　one　we're　hoping　to　clear　
up。　What　yousee　are　witnesses。　We　just　need　the　Volturi　to　listen。　We　didn't—〃　

〃We　don't　care　what　they　say　you　did；〃　the　first　voice　interrupted。　〃And　we　don't　care　if　you　broke　the　
law。〃　

〃No　matter　how　egregiously；〃　the　second　inserted。　

〃We've　been　waiting　a　millennium　and　a　half　for　the　Italian　scum　to　be　challenged；〃　said　the　first。　〃If　there　
is　any　chance　theywill　fall；　we　will　be　here　to　see　it。〃　

〃Or　even　to　help　defeat　them；〃　the　second　added。　They　spoke　ina　smooth　tandem；　their　voices　so　similar　
that　less　sensitive　ears　would　assume　there　was　only　one　speaker。　〃If　we　think　you　havea　chance　of　
success。〃　

〃Bella？〃Edward　called　to　me　ina　hard　voice。　〃Bring　Renesmee　here；　please。　Maybe　we　should　test　our　
Romanian　visitors'　claims。〃　



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It　helped　to　know　that　probably　half　of　the　vampires　in　the　other　room　would　e　to　Renesmee's　
defense　if　these　Romanians　were　upset　by　her。　I　didn't　like　the　sound　of　their　voices；　or　the　dark　menace　
in　their　words。　As　I　walked　into　the　room；　I　could　see　that　I　was　not　alone　in　that　assessment。　Most　of　
the　motionless　vampires　glared　with　hostile　eyes；　anda　few—Carmen；　Tanya；　Zafrina；　and　
Senna—repositioned　themselves　subtly　into　defensive　poses　between　the　newers　and　Renesmee。　

The　vampires　at　the　door　were　both　slight　and　short；　one　darkhaired　and　the　other　with　hair　so　ashy　
blond　that　it　looked　pale　gray。　They　had　the　same　powdery　look　to　their　skin　as　the　Volturi；　though　I　
thought　it　was　not　so　pronounced。　I　couldn't　be　sure　about　that；　as　I　had　never　seen　the　Volturi　except　
with　human　eyes；　I　could　not　make　a　perfect　parison。　Their　sharp；　narrow　eyes　were　dark　burgundy；　
with　no　milky　film。　They　wore　very　simple　black　clothes　that　could　pass　as　modern　but　hinted　at　older　
designs。　

The　dark　one　grinned　when　I　came　into　view。　〃Well；　well；　Carlisle。　You　have　been　naughty；　haven't　
you？〃　

〃She's　not　what　you　think；　Stefan。〃　

〃And　we　don't　care　either　way；〃　the　blonde　responded。　〃As　we　said　before。〃　

〃Then　you're　wele　to　observe；　Vladimir；　but　it　is　definitely　not　our　plan　to　challenge　the　Volturi；　as　
we　said　before。〃　

〃Then　we'lljust　cross　our　fingers；〃　Stefan　began。　

〃And　hope　we　get　lucky；〃　finished　Vladimir。　

In　the　end；　we　had　pulled　together　seventeen　witnesses—the　Irish；　Siobhan；　Liam；　and　Maggie；　the　
Egyptians；　Amun；　Kebi；　Benjamin；　and　Tia；　the　Amazons；