smooth it was somehow soft； though it was hard as stone； too。
Edward dropped his arms and took my other hand； tugging gently。 〃Let's hunt； Bella。〃
My eyes opened wider and the pain of the thirst receded； shock taking its place。
Me？ Hunt？ With Edward？ But。。。 how？ I didn't know what to do。
He read the alarm in my expression and smiled encouragingly。 〃It's quite easy； love。 Instinctual。 Don't
worry； I'll show you。〃 When I didn't move； he grinned his crooked smile and raised his eyebrows。 〃I was
under the impression that you'd always wanted to see me hunt。〃
I laughed in a short burst of humor （part of me listened in wonder to the pealing bell sound） as his words
reminded me of cloudy human conversations。 And then I took a whole second to run quickly through
those first days
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with Edward—the true beginning of my life—in my head so that I would never forget them。 I did not
expect that it would be so unfortable to remember。 Like trying to squint through muddy water。 I
knew from Rosalie's experience that if I thought of my human memories enough； I would not lose them
over time。 I did not want to forget one minute I'd spent with Edward； even now； when eternity stretched
in front of us。 i would have to make sure those human memories were cemented into my infallible vampire
mind。
〃Shall we？〃 Edward asked。 He reached up to take the hand that was still at my neck。 His fingers
smoothed down the column of my throat。 〃I don't want you to be hurting；〃 he added in a low murmur。
Something I would not have been able to hear before。
Tm fine；〃 I said out of lingering human habit。 〃Wait。 First。〃
There was so much。 I'd never gotten to my questions。 There were more important things than the ache。
It was Carlisle who spoke now。 〃Yes？〃
〃I want to see her。 Renesmee。〃
It was oddly difficult to say her name。 My daughter； these words were even harder to think。 It all
seemed so distant。 I tried to remember how I had felt three days ago； and automatically； my hands pulled
free of Edward's and dropped to my stomach。
Flat。 Empty。 I clutched at the pale silk that covered my skin； panicking again； while an insignificant part
of my mind noted that Alice must have dressed me。
I knew there was nothing left inside me； and I faintly remembered the bloody removal scene； but the
physical proof was still hard to process。 All I knew was loving my little nudger inside of me。 Outside of
me； she seemed like something I must have imagined。 A fading dream—a dream that was half nightmare。
While I wrestled with my confusion； I saw Edward and Carlisle exchange a guarded glance。
〃What？〃 I demanded。
〃Bella；〃 Edward said soothingly。 〃That's not really a good idea。 She's half human； love。 Her heart beats；
and blood runs in her veins。 Until your thirst is positively under control。。。 You don't want to put her in
danger； do you？〃
I frowned。 Of course I must not want that。
Was I out of control？ Confused； yes。 Easily unfocused； yes。 But dangerous？ To her？ My daughter？
I couldn't be positive that the answer was no。 So I would have to be patient。 That sounded difficult。
Because until I saw her again； she wouldn't be real。 Just a fading dream。。。 of a stranger。。。
〃Where is she？〃 I listened hard； and then I could hear the beating heart on the floor below me。 I could
hear more than one person breathing—quietly； like they were listening； too。 There was also a fluttering
sound； a thrumming； that I couldn't place___
And the sound of the heartbeat was so moist and appealing； that my mouth started watering。
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So I would definitely have to learn how to hunt before I saw her。 My stranger baby。
〃Is Rosalie with her？〃
〃Yes；〃 Edward answered in a clipped tone； and I could see that something he'd thought of upset him。 I'd
thought
he and Rose were over their differences。 Had the animosity erupted again？ Before I could ask； he pulled
my hands away from my flat stomach； tugging gently again。
〃Wait；〃 I protested again； trying to focus。 〃What about Jacob？ And Charlie？ Tell me everything that I
missed。 How long was I。。。 unconscious？〃
Edward didn't seem to notice my hesitation over the last word。 Instead； he was exchanging another wary
glance with Carlisle。
〃What's wrong？〃 I whispered。
〃Nothing is wrong〃 Carlisle told me； emphasizing the last word in a strange way。 〃Nothing has changed
much； actually—you were only unaware for just over two days。 It was very fast； as these things go。
Edward did an excellent job。 Quite innovative—the venom injection straight to your heart was his idea。〃
He paused to smile proudly at his son and then sighed。 〃Jacob is still here； and Charlie still believes that
you are sick。 He thinks you're in Atlanta right now； undergoing tests at the CDC。 We gave him a bad
number； and he's frustrated。 He's been speaking to Esme。〃
〃I should call him。。。；〃 I murmured to myself； but； listening to my own voice； I understood the new
difficulties。 He wouldn't recognize this voice。 It wouldn't reassure him。 And then the earlier surprise
intruded。 〃Hold on—Jacob is still here？〃
Another glance between them。
〃Bella；〃 Edward said quickly。 〃There's much to discuss； but we should take care of you first。 You have
to be in pain___〃
When he pointed that out； I remembered the burn in my throat and swallowed convulsively。 〃But Jacob
—〃
〃We have all the time in the world for explanations； love；〃 he reminded me gently。
Of course。 I could wait a little longer for the answer； it would be easier to listen when the fierce pain of
the fiery thirst was no longer scattering my concentration。 〃Okay。〃
〃Wait； wait； wait；〃 Alice trilled from the doorway。 She danced across the room； dreamily graceful。 As
with Edward and Carlisle； I felt some shock as I really looked at her face for the first time。 So lovely。
〃You promised I could be there the first time！ What if you two run past something reflective？〃
〃Alice—；〃 Edward protested。
〃It will only take a second！〃 And with that； Alice darted from the room。
Edward sighed。
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〃What is she talking about？〃
But Alice was already back； carrying the huge； giltframed mirror from Rosalie's room； which was nearly
twice as tall as she was； and several times as wide。
Jasper had been so still and silent that I'd taken no notice of him since he'd followed behind Carlisle。
Now he moved again； to hover over Alice； his eyes locked on my expression。 Because I was the danger
here。
I knew he would be tasting the mood around me； too； and so he must have felt my jolt of shock as I
studied his face； looking at it closely for the first time。
Through my sightless human eyes； the scars left from his former life with the newborn armies in the South
had been mostly invisible。 Only with a bright light to throw their slightly raised shapes into definition could
I even make out their existence。
Now that I could see； the scars were Jasper's most dominant feature。 It was hard to take my eyes off his
ravaged neck and jaw—hard to believe that even a vampire could have survived so many sets of teeth
ripping into his throat。
Instinctively； I tensed to defend myself。 Any vampire who saw Jasper would have had the same reaction。
The scars were like a lighted billboard。 Dangerous； they screamed。 How many vampires had tried to
kill Jasper？ Hundreds？ Thousands？ The same number that had died in the attempt
Jasper both saw and felt my assessment； my caution； and he smiled wryly。
〃Edward gave me grief for not getting you to a mirror before the wedding；〃 Alice said； pulling my
attention away from her frightening lover。 Tm not going to be chewed out again。〃
〃Chewed out？〃 Edward asked skeptically； one eyebrow curving upward。
〃Maybe I'm overstating things；〃 she murmured absently as she turned the mirror to face me。
〃And maybe this has solely to do with your own voyeuristic gratification；〃 he countered。
Alice winked at him。
I was only aware of this exchange with the lesser part of my concentration。 The greater part was riveted
on the person in the mirror。
My first reaction was an unthinking pleasure。 The alien creature in the glass was indisputably beautiful；
every bit as beautiful as Alice or Esme。 She was fluid even in stillness； and her flawless face was pale as
the moon against the frame of her dark； heavy hair。 Her limbs were smooth and strong； skin glistening
subtly； luminous as a pearl。
My second reaction was horror。
Who was she？ At first glance； I couldn't find my face anywhere in the smooth； perfect planes of her
features。
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And her eyes！ Though I'd known to expect them； her eyes still sent a thrill of terror through me。
All the while I studied and reacted； her face was perfectly posed； a carving of a goddess； showing