3 eclipse月食-第77部分

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　the　
thick；　purpleblack　smoke；　hovering　like　a　disease　against　the　bright　grass。　Jasper　stood　closest　to　the　solid　
seeming　haze；　in　its　shadow　so　that　his　skin　did　not　glitter　brilliantly　in　the　sun　the　way　the　others　did。　He　had　
his　back　to　me；　his　shoulders　tense；　his　arms　slightly　extended。　There　was　something　there；　in　his　shadow。　
Something　he　crouched　over　with　wary　intensity。　。　。　。　
I　was　too　numb　to　feel　more　than　a　mild　shock　when　I　realized　what　it　was。　
There　were　eight　vampires　in　the　clearing。　
The　girl　was　curled　into　a　small　ball　beside　the　flames；　her　arms　wrapped　around　her　legs。　She　was　very　
young。　Younger　than　me　—　she　looked　maybe　fifteen；　darkhaired　and　slight。　Her　eyes　were　focused　on　me；　
and　the　irises　were　a　shocking；　brilliant　red。　Much　brighter　than　Riley’s；　almost　glowing。　They　wheeled　wildly；　
out　of　control。　
Edward　saw　my　bewildered　expression。　
“She　surrendered；”　he　told　me　quietly。　“That’s　one　I’ve　never　seen　before。　Only　Carlisle　would　think　of　
offering。　Jasper　doesn’t　approve。”　
I　couldn’t　tear　my　gaze　away　from　the　scene　beside　the　fire。　Jasper　was　rubbing　absently　at　his　left　
forearm。　
“Is　Jasper　all　right？”　I　whispered。　
“He’s　fine。　The　venom　stings。”　
“He　was　bitten？”　I　asked；　horrified。　
“He　was　trying　to　be　everywhere　at　once。　Trying　to　make　sure　Alice　had　nothing　to　do；　actually。”　Edward　
shook　his　head。　“Alice　doesn’t　need　anyone’s　help。”　
Alice　grimaced　toward　her　true　love。　“Overprotective　fool。”　
The　young　female　suddenly　threw　her　head　back　like　an　animal　and　wailed　shrilly。　
Jasper　growled　at　her　and　she　cringed　back；　but　her　fingers　dug　into　the　ground　like　claws　and　her　head　
whipped　back　and　forth　in　anguish。　Jasper　took　a　step　toward　her；　slipping　deeper　into　his　crouch。　Edward　
moved　with　overdone　casualness；　turning　our　bodies　so　that　he　was　between　the　girl　and　me。　I　peeked　around　
his　arm　to　watch　the　thrashing　girl　and　Jasper。　
Carlisle　was　at　Jasper’s　side　in　an　instant。　He　put　a　restraining　hand　on　his　most　recent　son’s　arm。　
“Have　you　changed　your　mind；　young　one？”　Carlisle　asked；　calm　as　ever。　“We　don’t　want　to　destroy　you；　
but　we　will　if　you　can’t　control　yourself。”　
“How　can　you　stand　it？”　the　girl　groaned　in　a　high；　clear　voice。　“I　want　her。”　Her　bright　crimson　irises　
focused　on　Edward；　through　him；　beyond　him　to　me；　and　her　nails　ripped　through　the　hard　soil　again。　
“You　must　stand　it；”　Carlisle　told　her　gravely。　“You　must　exercise　control。　It　is　possible；　and　it　is　the　only　
thing　that　will　save　you　now。”　
The　girl　clutched　her　dirtencrusted　hands　around　her　head；　yowling　quietly。　
“Shouldn’t　we　move　away　from　her？”　I　whispered；　tugging　on　Edward’s　arm。　The　girl’s　lips　pulled　back　
over　her　teeth　when　she　heard　my　voice；　her　expression　one　of　torment。　
“We　have　to　stay　here；”　Edward　murmured。　“They　are　ing　to　the　north　end　of　the　clearing　now。”　
My　heart　burst　into　a　sprint　as　I　scanned　the　clearing；　but　I　couldn’t　see　anything　past　the　thick　pall　of　
smoke。　
After　a　second　of　fruitless　searching；　my　gaze　crept　back　to　the　young　female　vampire。　She　was　still　
watching　me；　her　eyes　halfmad。　
I　met　the　girl’s　stare　for　a　long　moment。　Chinlength　dark　hair　framed　her　face；　which　was　alabaster　pale。　
It　was　hard　to　tell　if　her　features　were　beautiful；　twisted　as　they　were　by　rage　and　thirst。　The　feral　red　eyes　
were　dominant　—　hard　to　look　away　from。　She　glared　at　me　viciously；　shuddering　and　writhing　every　few　

seconds。　
I　stared　at　her；　mesmerized；　wondering　if　I　were　looking　into　a　mirror　of　my　future。　
Then　Carlisle　and　Jasper　began　to　back　toward　the　rest　of　us。　Emmett；　Rosalie；　and　Esme　all　converged　
hastily　around　where　Edward　stood　with　Alice　and　me。　A　united　front；　as　Edward　had　said；　with　me　at　the　
heart；　in　the　safest　place。　
I　tore　my　attention　away　from　the　wild　girl　to　search　for　the　approaching　monsters。　
There　was　stillnothing　to　see。　I　glanced　at　Edward；　and　his　eyes　were　locked　straight　ahead。　I　tried　to　
follow　his　gaze；　but　there　was　only　the　smoke　—　dense；　oily　smoke　twisting　low　to　the　ground；　rising　lazily；　
undulating　against　the　grass。　
It　billowed　forward；　darker　in　the　middle。　
“Hmm；”　a　dead　voice　murmured　from　the　mist。　I　recognized　the　apathy　at　once。　
“Wele；　Jane。”　Edward’s　tone　was　coolly　courteous。　
The　dark　shapes　came　closer；　separating　themselves　from　the　haze；　solidifying。　I　knew　it　would　be　Jane　in　
the　front　—　the　darkest　cloak；　almost　black；　and　the　smallest　figure　by　more　than　two　feet。　I　could　just　barely　
make　out　Jane’s　angelic　features　in　the　shade　of　the　cowl。　
The　four　grayshrouded　figures　hulking　behind　her　were　also　somewhat　familiar。　I　was　sure　I　recognized　
the　biggest　one；　and　while　I　stared；　trying　to　confirm　my　suspicion；　Felix　looked　up。　He　let　his　hood　fall　back　
slightly　so　that　I　could　see　him　wink　at　me　and　smile。　Edward　was　very　still　at　my　side；　tightly　in　control。　
Jane’s　gaze　moved　slowly　across　the　luminous　faces　of　the　Cullens　and　then　touched　on　the　newborn　girl　
beside　the　fire；　the　newborn　had　her　head　in　her　hands　again。　
“I　don’t　understand。”　Jane’s　voice　was　toneless；　but　not　quite　as　uninterested　as　before。　
“She　has　surrendered；”　Edward　explained；　answering　the　confusion　in　her　mind。　
Jane’s　dark　eyes　flashed　to　his　face。　“Surrendered？”　
Felix　and　another　shadow　exchanged　a　quick　glance。　
Edward　shrugged。　“Carlisle　gave　her　the　option。”　
“There　are　no　options　for　those　who　break　the　rules；”　Jane　said　flatly。　
Carlisle　spoke　then；　his　voice　mild。　“That’s　in　your　hands。　As　long　as　she　was　willing　to　halt　her　attack　on　
us；　I　saw　no　need　to　destroy　her。　She　was　never　taught。”　
“That　is　irrelevant；”　Jane　insisted。　
“As　you　wish。”　
Jane　stared　at　Carlisle　in　consternation。　She　shook　her　head　infinitesimally；　and　then　posed　her　
features。　
“Aro　hoped　that　we　would　get　far　enough　west　to　see　you；　Carlisle。　He　sends　his　regards。”　
Carlisle　nodded。　“I　would　appreciate　it　if　you　would　convey　mine　to　him。”　
“Of　course。”　Jane　smiled。　Her　face　was　almost　too　lovely　when　it　was　animated。　She　looked　back　toward　
the　smoke。　“It　appears　that　you’ve　done　our　work　for　us　today　。　。　。　for　the　most　part。”　Her　eyes　flickered　to　
the　hostage。　“Just　out　of　professional　curiosity；　how　many　were　there？　They　left　quite　a　wake　of　destruction　in　
Seattle。”　
“Eighteen；　including　this　one；”　Carlisle　answered。　
Jane’s　eyes　widened；　and　she　looked　at　the　fire　again；　seeming　to　reassess　the　size　of　it。　Felix　and　the　
other　shadow　exchanged　a　longer　glance。　
“Eighteen？”　she　repeated；　her　voice　sounding　unsure　for　the　first　time。　
“All　brandnew；”　Carlisle　said　dismissively。　“They　were　unskilled。”　
“All？”　Her　voice　turned　sharp。　“Then　who　was　their　creator？”　
“Her　name　was　Victoria；”　Edward　answered；　no　emotion　in　his　voice。　
“Was？”　Jane　asked。　
Edward　inclined　his　head　toward　the　eastern　forest。　Jane’s　eyes　snapped　up　and　focused　on　something　far　
in　the　distance。　The　other　pillar　of　smoke？　I　didn’t　look　away　to　check。　
Jane　stared　to　the　east　for　a　long　moment；　and　then　examined　the　closer　bonfire　again。　
“This　Victoria　—　she　was　in　addition　to　the　eighteen　here？”　
“Yes。　She　had　only　one　other　with　her。　He　was　not　as　young　as　this　one　here；　but　no　older　than　a　year。”　
“Twenty；”　Jane　breathed。　“Who　dealt　with　the　creator？”　

　“I　did；”　Edward　told　her。　
　Jane’s　eyes　narrowed；　and　she　turned　to　the　girl　beside　the　fire。　
　“You　there；”　she　said；　her　dead　voice　harsher　than　before。　“Your　name。”　
　The　newborn　shot　a　baleful　glare　at　Jane；　her　lips　pressed　tightly　together。　
　Jane　smiled　back　angelically。　
　The　newborn　girl’s　answering　scream　was　earpiercing；　her　body　arched　stiffly　into　a　distorted；　unnatural　
position。　I　looked　away；　fighting　the　urge　to　cover　my　ears。　I　gritted　my　teeth；　hoping　to　control　my　stomach。　
The　screaming　intensified。　I　tried　to　concentrate　on　Edward’s　face；　smooth　and　unemotional；　but　that　made　me　
remember　when　it　had　been　Edward　under　Jane’s　torturing　gaze；　and　I　felt　sicker。　I　looked　at　Alice　instead；　
and　Esme　next　to　her。　Their　faces　were　as　empty　as　his。　
　Finally；　it　was　quiet。　
　“Your　name；”　Jane　said　again；　her　voice　inflectionless。　
　“Bree；”　the　girl　gasped。　
　Jane　smiled；　and　the　girl　shrieked　again。　I　held　my　breath　until　the　sound　of　her　agony　stopped。　
　“She’ll　tell　you　anything　you　want　to　know；”　Edward　said　through　his　teeth。　“You　don’t　have　to　do　that。”　
　Jane　looked　up；　sudden　humor　in　her　usually　dead　eyes。　“Oh；　I　know；”　she　said　to　Edward；　grinning　at　
him　before　she　turned　back　to　the　young　vampire；　Bree。　
　“Bree；”　Jane　said；　her　voice　cold　again。　“Is　his　story　true？　Were　there　twenty　of　you？”　
　The　girl　lay　panting；　the　side　of　her　face　pressed　against　the　earth。　She　spoke　quickly。　“Nieen　or　
twenty；　maybe　more；　I　don’t　know！”　She　cringed；　terrified　that　her　ignorance　might　bring　on　another　round　of　
torture。　“Sara　and　the　one　whose　name　I　don’t　know　got　in　a　fight　on　the　way。　。　。　。”　
　“And　this　Victoria　—　did　she　create　you？”　
　“I　don’t　know；”　she　said；　flinching　again。　“Riley　never　said　her　name。　I　didn’t　see　that　night　。　。　。　it　was　so　
dark；　and　it　hurt。　。　。　。”　Bree　shuddered。　“He　didn’t　want　us　to　be　able　to　think　of　her。　He　said　that　our　thoughts　
weren’t　safe。　。　。　。”　
　Jane’s　eyes　flickered　to　Edward；　and　then　back　to　the　girl。　
　Victoria　had　planned　this　well。　If　she　hadn’t　followed　Edward；　there　would　have　been　no　way　to　know　for　
certain　that　she　was　involved。　。　。　。　
　“Tell　me　about　Riley；”　Jane　said。　“Why　did　he　bring　you　here？”　
　“Riley　told　us　that　we　had　to　destroy　the　strange　yelloweyes　here；”　Bree　babbled　quickly　and　willingly。　
“He　said　it　would　be　easy。　He　said　that　the　city　was　theirs；　and　they　were　ing　to　get　us。　He　said　once　they　
were　gone；　all　the　blood　would　be　ours。　He　gave　us　her　scent。”　Bree　lifted　one　hand　and　stabbed　a　finger　in　
my　direction。　“He　said　we　would　know　that　we　had　the　right　coven；　because　she　would　be　with　them。　He　said　
whoever　got　to　her　first　could　have　her。”　
　I　heard　Edward’s　jaw　flex　beside　me。　
　“It　looks　like　Riley　was　wrong　about　t