6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第19部分

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could　see　he　was　still　wary。　　“We　have　no　wish　to　harm　you；”　the　woman　said　to　me。　She　had　a　soft；　soothing　voice。　“We　didn’t　want　to　fight　any　of　you。”　　“I’m　sorry；”　I　whispered　again。　　I　couldn’t　make　sense　of　the　mess　in　my　head。　Diego　was　dead；　and　that　was　the　main　thing；　the　devastating　thing。　Other　
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than　that；　the　fight　was　over；　my　coven　had　lost　and　my　enemies　had　won。　But　my　dead　coven　was　full　of　people　who　would　have　loved　to　watch　me　burn；　and　my　enemies　were　speaking　to　me　kindly　when　they　had　no　reason　to。　Moreover；　I　felt　safer　with　these　two　strangers　than　I’d　ever　felt　with　Raoul　and　Kristie。　I　was　relieved　that　Raoul　and　Kristie　were　dead。　It　was　so　confusing。　　“Child；”　Carlisle　said；　“will　you　surrender　to　us？　If　you　do　not　try　to　harm　us；　we　promise　we　will　not　harm　you。”　　And　I　believed　him。　　“Yes；”　I　whispered。　“Yes；　I　surrender。　I　don’t　want　to　hurt　anybody。”　　He　held　out　his　hand　encouragingly。　“e；　child。　Let　our　family　regroup　for　a　moment；　then　we’ll　have　some　questions　for　you。　If　you　answer　honestly；　you　have　nothing　to　fear。”　　I　got　up　slowly；　making　no　movements　that　could　be　considered　threatening。　　“Carlisle？”　a　male　voice　called。　　And　then　another　yelloweyed　vampire　joined　us。　Any　sort　of　safety　I’d　felt　with　these　strangers　vanished　as　soon　as　I　saw　him。　　He　was　blond；　like　the　first；　but　taller　and　leaner。　His　skin　was　absolutely　covered　in　scars；　spaced　most　thickly　together　on　his　neck　and　jaw。　A　few　small　marks　on　his　arm　were　fresh；　but　the　rest　were　not　from　the　brawl　today。　He　had　been　in　more　fights　than　I　could　have　imagined；　and　he’d　never　lost。　His　tawny　eyes　blazed　and　his　stance　exuded　the　barely　contained　violence　of　an　angry　lion。　
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　As　soon　as　he　saw　me　he　coiled　to　spring。　　“Jasper！”　Carlisle　warned。　　Jasper　pulled　up　short　and　stared　at　Carlisle　with　wide　eyes。　“What’s　going　on？”　　“She　doesn’t　want　to　fight。　She’s　surrendered。”　　The　scarred　vampire’s　brow　clouded；　and　suddenly　I　felt　an　unexpected　surge　of　frustration；　though　I　had　no　idea　what　I　was　frustrated　with。　　“Carlisle；　I…”　He　hesitated；　then　continued；　“I’m　sorry；　but　that’s　not　possible。　We　can’t　have　any　of　these　newborns　associated　with　us　when　the　Volturi　e。　Do　you　realize　the　danger　that　would　put　us　in？”　　I　didn’t　understand　exactly　what　he　was　saying；　but　I　got　enough。　He　wanted　to　kill　me。　　“Jasper；　she’s　only　a　child；”　the　woman　protested。　“We　can’t　just　murder　her　in　cold　blood！”　　It　was　strange　to　hear　her　speak　like　we　both　were　people；　like　murder　was　a　bad　thing。　An　avoidable　thing。　　“It’s　our　family　on　the　line　here；　Esme。　We　can’t　afford　to　have　them　think　we　broke　this　rule。”　　The　woman；　Esme；　walked　between　me　and　the　one　who　wanted　to　kill　me。　Inprehensibly；　she　turned　her　back　to　me。　　“No。　I　won’t　stand　for　it。”　　Carlisle　shot　me　an　anxious　glance。　I　could　see　that　he　cared　a　lot　for　this　woman。　I　would　have　looked　the　same　way　at　anyone　behind　Diego’s　back。　I　tried　to　appear　as　docile　as　I　felt。　　“Jasper；　I　think　we　have　to　take　the　chance；”　he　said　slowly。　
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“We　are　not　the　Volturi。　We　follow　their　rules；　but　we　do　not　take　lives　lightly。　We　will　explain。”　　“They　might　think　we　created　our　own　newborns　in　defense。”　　“But　we　didn’t。　And　even　had　we；　there　was　no　indiscretion　here；　only　in　Seattle。　There　is　no　law　against　creating　vampires　if　you　control　them。”　　“This　is　too　dangerous。”　　Carlisle　touched　Jasper’s　shoulder　tentatively。　“Jasper。　We　cannot　kill　this　child。”　　Jasper　glowered　at　the　man　with　the　kind　eyes；　and　I　was　suddenly　angry。　Surely　he　wouldn’t　hurt　this　gentle　vampire　or　the　woman　he　loved。　Then　Jasper　sighed；　and　I　knew　it　was　okay。　My　anger　evaporated。　　“I　don’t　like　this；”　he　said；　but　he　was　calmer。　“At　least　let　me　take　charge　of　her。　You　two　don’t　know　how　to　deal　with　someone　who’s　been　running　wild　so　long。”　　“Of　course；　Jasper；”　the　woman　said。　“But　be　kind。”　　Jasper　rolled　his　eyes。　“We　need　to　be　with　the　others。　Alice　said　we　don’t　have　long。”　　Carlisle　nodded。　He　held　his　hand　out　to　Esme；　and　they　headed　past　Jasper　back　toward　the　open　field。　　“You　there；”　Jasper　said　to　me；　his　face　a　glower　again。　“e　with　us。　Don’t　make　one　rash　move　or　I　will　take　you　down。”　　I　felt　angry　again　as　he　glared　at　me；　and　a　small　part　of　me　wanted　to　snarl　and　show　my　teeth；　but　I　had　a　feeling　he　was　looking　for　just　that　kind　of　excuse。　　Jasper　paused　as　if　he’d　just　thought　of　something。　“Close　
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your　eyes；”　he　manded。　　I　hesitated。　Had　he　decided　to　kill　me　after　all？　　“Do　it！”　　I　gritted　my　teeth　and　shut　my　eyes。　I　felt　twice　as　helpless　as　I　had　before。　　“Follow　the　sound　of　my　voice　and　don’t　open　your　eyes。　You　look；　you　lose；　got　it？”　　I　nodded；　wondering　what　he　didn’t　want　me　to　see。　I　felt　some　relief　that　he　was　bothering　to　protect　a　secret。　There　was　no　reason　to　do　so　if　he　was　just　going　to　kill　me。　　“This　way。”　　I　walked　slowly　after　him；　careful　to　give　him　no　excuses。　He　was　considerate　in　the　way　he　led；　not　walking　me　into　any　trees；　at　least。　I　could　hear　the　way　the　sound　changed　when　we　were　in　the　open；　the　feel　of　the　wind　was　different；　too；　and　the　smell　of　my　coven　burning　was　stronger。　I　could　feel　the　warmth　of　the　sun　on　my　face；　and　the　insides　of　my　eyelids　were　brighter　as　I　sparkled。　　He　led　me　closer　and　closer　to　the　muffled　crackle　of　the　flames；　so　close　that　I　could　feel　the　smoke　brush　my　skin。　I　knew　he　could　have　killed　me　at　any　time；　but　the　nearness　of　the　fire　still　made　me　nervous。　　“Sit　here。　Eyes　closed。”　　The　ground　was　warm　from　the　sun　and　the　fire。　I　kept　very　still　and　tried　to　concentrate　on　looking　harmless；　but　I　could　feel　his　glare　on　me；　and　it　made　me　agitated。　Though　I　was　not　mad　at　these　vampires；　who　I　truly　believed　had　only　been　defending　themselves；　I　felt　the　oddest　stirrings　of　fury。　It　was　
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almost　outside　myself；　as　if　it　were　some　leftover　echo　from　the　battle　that　had　just　taken　place。　　The　anger　didn’t　make　me　stupid；　though；　because　I　was　too　sad　miserable　to　my　core。　Diego　was　aways　in　my　mind；　and　I　couldn’t　help　thinking　about　how　he　must　have　died。　　I　was　sure　there　was　no　way　he　would　have　voluntarily　told　Riley　our　secrets　　secrets　that　had　given　me　a　reason　to　trust　Riley　just　enough　until　it　was　too　late。　In　my　head；　I　saw　Riley’s　face　again　　that　cold；　smooth　expression　that　had　formed　as　he’d　threatened　to　punish　any　of　us　who　wouldn’t　behave。　I　heard　again　his　macabre　and　oddly　detailed　description　　when　I　take　you　to　her　and　hold　you　as　she　tears　off　your　legs　and　then　slowly；　slowly　burns　off　your　fingers；　ears；　lips；　tongue；　and　every　other　superfluous　appendage　one　by　one。　　I　realized　now　that　I’d　been　hearing　the　description　of　Diego’s　death。　　That　night；　I’d　been　sure　that　something　had　changed　in　Riley。　Killing　Diego　was　what　had　changed　Riley；　had　hardened　him。　I　believed　only　one　thing　that　Riley　had　ever　told　me：　he　had　valued　Diego　more　than　any　of　the　rest　of　us。　Had　even　been　fond　of　him。　And　yet　he’d　watched　our　creator　hurt　him。　No　doubt　he’d　helped　her。　Killed　Diego　with　her。　　I　wondered　how　much　pain　it　would　have　taken　to　make　me　betray　Diego。　I　imagined　it　would　have　taken　quite　a　lot。　And　I　was　sure　it　had　taken　at　least　that　much　to　make　Diego　betray　me。　　I　felt　sick。　I　wanted　the　image　of　Diego　screaming　in　agony　out　of　my　head；　but　it　wouldn’t　leave。　
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　And　then　there　was　screaming　there　in　the　field。　　My　eyelids　fluttered；　but　Jasper　snarled　furiously　and　I　clenched　them　together　at　once。　I’d　seen　nothing　but　heavy　lavender　smoke。　　I　heard　shouting　and　a　strange；　savage　howling。　It　was　loud；　and　there　was　a　lot　of　it。　I　couldn’t　imagine　how　a　face　would　have　to　contort　to　create　such　a　noise；　and　the　not　knowing　made　the　sound　more　frightening。　These　yelloweyed　vampires　were　so　different　from　the　rest　of　us。　Or　different　from　me；　I　guess；　since　I　was　the　only　one　left。　Riley　and　our　creator　were　long　gone　by　now。　　I　heard　names　called；　Jacob；　Leah；　Sam。　There　were　lots　of　distinct　voices；　though　the　howls　continued。　Of　course　Riley　had　lied　to　us　about　the　number　of　vampires　here；　too。　　The　sound　of　the　howling　tapered　off　until　it　was　just　one　voice；　one　agonized；　inhuman　yowling　that　made　me　grit　my　teeth。　I　could　see　Diego’s　face　so　clearly　in　my　mind；　and　the　sound　was　like　him　screaming。　　I　heard　Carlisle　talking　over　the　other　voices　and　the　howling。　He　was　begging　to　look　at　something。　“Please　let　me　take　a　look。　Please　let　me　help。”　I　didn’t　hear　anyone　arguing　with　him；　but　for　some　reason　his　tone　made　it　sound　like　he　was　losing　the　dispute。　　And　then　the　yowling　reached　a　strident　new　pitch；　and　suddenly　Carlisle　was　saying　“thank　you”　in　a　fervent　voice；　and　under　the　yowl　there　was　the　sound　of　a　lot　of　movement　by　a　lot　of　bodies。　Many　heavy　footsteps　ing　closer。　　I　listened　harder　and　heard　something　unexpected　and　
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impossible。　Along　with　some　heavy　breathing　　　and　I’ve　never　heard　anyone　in　my　coven　breathe　like　that　there　were　dozens　of　deep　thumping　noises。　Almost　like…　heartbeats。　But　definitely　not　human　hearts。　I　knew　that　particular　sound　well。　I　sniffed　hard；　but　the　wind　was　blowing　from　the　other　direction；　and　I　could　only　smell　the　smoke。　　Without　a　warning　sound；　something　touched　me；　clapped　down　firmly　on　either　side　of　my　head。　　My　eyes　started　open　in　panic　as　I　lurched　up；　straining　to　jerk　free　of　this　hold；　and　instantly　met　Jasper’s　warning　gaze　about　two　inches　from　my　face。　　“Stop　it；”　he　snapped；　yanking　me　back　down　on　my　butt。　I　could　only　just　hear　him；　and　I　realized　that　his　hands　were　sealed　tight　against　my　head；　covering　my　ears　entirely。　　“Close　your　eyes；”　he　instructed　again；　probably　at　a　normal　volume；　but　it　was　hushed　for　me。　　I　struggled　to　calm　myself　and　shut　my　eyes　again。　There　were　things　they　didn’t　want　me　to　hear；　either。　I　could　live　with　thatif　it　meant　I　could　live。　　For　a　second　I　saw　Fred’s　face　behind　my　eyelids。　He　had　said　he　would　wait　for　one　day。　I　wondered　if　he　would　keep　his　word。　I　wished　I　could　tell　him　the　truth　about　the　yelloweyes；　and　how　much　more　there　seemed　to　be　that　we　d