lock of my hair and sniffed at it delicately。 Then he gently patted the
strand back into place； and I felt his cool fingertips against my throat。
He reached up to stroke my cheek once quickly with his thumb； his face
curious。 I wanted so badly to run； but I was frozen。 I couldn't even
flinch away。
〃No；〃 he murmured to himself as he dropped his hand； 〃I don't
understand。〃 He sighed。 〃Well； I suppose we should get on with it。 And
then I can call your friends and tell them where to find you； and my
little message。〃
I was definitely sick now。 There was pain ing； I could see it in his
eyes。 It wouldn't be enough for him to win； to feed and go。 There would
be no quick end like I'd been counting on。 My knees began to shake； and I
was afraid I was going to fall。
He stepped back； and began to circle； casually； as if he were trying to
get a better view of a statue in a museum。 His face was still open and
friendly as he decided where to start。
Then he slumped forward； into a crouch I recognized； and his pleasant
smile slowly widened； grew； till it wasn't a smile at all but a
contortion of teeth； exposed and glistening。
I couldn't help myself— I tried to run。 As useless as I knew it would be；
as weak as my knees already were； panic took over and I bolted for the
emergency door。
He was in front of me in a flash。 I didn't see if he used his hand or his
foot； it was too fast。 A crushing blow struck my chest — I felt myself
flying backward； and then heard the crunch as my head bashed into the
mirrors。 The glass buckled； some of the pieces shattering and splintering
on the floor beside me。
I was too stunned to feel the pain。 I couldn't breathe yet。
He walked toward me slowly。
〃That's a very nice effect；〃 he said； examining the mess of glass； his
voice friendly again。 〃I thought this room would be visually dramatic for
my little film。 That's why I picked this place to meet you。 It's perfect；
isn't it？〃
I ignored him； scrambling on my hands and knees； crawling toward the
other door。
He was over me at once； his foot stepping down hard on my leg。 I heard
the sickening snap before I felt it。 But then I did feel it； and I
couldn't hold back my scream of agony。 I twisted up to reach for my leg；
and he was standing over me； smiling。
〃Would you like to rethink your last request？〃 he asked pleasantly。 His
toe nudged my broken leg and I heard a piercing scream。 With a shock； I
realized it was mine。
〃Wouldn't you rather have Edward try to find me？〃 he prompted。
〃No！〃 I croaked。 〃No； Edward； don't—〃 And then something smashed into my
face； throwing me back into the broken mirrors。
Over the pain of my leg； I felt the sharp rip across my scalp where the
glass cut into it。 And then the warm wetness began to spread through my
hair with alarming speed。 I could feel it soaking the shoulder of my
shirt； hear it dripping on the wood below。 The smell of it twisted my
stomach。
Through the nausea and dizziness I saw something that gave me a sudden；
final shred of hope。 His eyes； merely intent before； now burned with an
uncontrollable need。 The blood — spreading crimson across my white shirt；
pooling rapidly on the floor — was driving him mad with thirst。 No matter
his original intentions； he couldn't draw this out much longer。
Let it be quick now； was all I could hope as the flow of blood from my
head sucked my consciousness away with it。 My eyes were closing。
I heard； as if from underwater； the final growl of the hunter。 I could
see； through the long tunnels my eyes had bee； his dark shape ing
toward me。 With my last effort； my hand instinctively raised to protect
my face。 My eyes closed； and I drifted。
===========================================================================
23。 THE ANGEL
As I drifted； I dreamed。
Where I floated； under the dark water； I heard the happiest sound my mind
could conjure up — as beautiful； as uplifting； as it was ghastly。 It was
another snarl； a deeper； wilder roar that rang with fury。
I was brought back； almost to the surface； by a sharp pain slashing my
upraised hand； but I couldn't find my way back far enough to open my eyes。
And then I knew I was dead。
Because； through the heavy water； I heard the sound of an angel calling
my name； calling me to the only heaven I wanted。
〃Oh no； Bella； no！〃 the angel's voice cried in horror。
Behind that longedfor sound was another noise — an awful tumult that my
mind shied away from。 A vicious bass growling； a shocking snapping sound；
and a high keening； suddenly breaking off…
I tried to concentrate on the angel's voice instead。
〃Bella； please！ Bella； listen to me； please； please； Bella； please！〃 he
begged。
Yes； I wanted to say。 Anything。 But I couldn't find my lips。
〃Carlisle！〃 the angel called； agony in his perfect voice。 〃Bella； Bella；
no； oh please； no； no！〃 And the angel was sobbing tearless； broken sobs。
The angel shouldn't weep； it was wrong。 I tried to find him； to tell him
everything was fine； but the water was so deep； it was pressing on me；
and I couldn't breathe。
There was a point of pressure against my head。 It hurt。 Then； as that
pain broke through the darkness to me； other pains came； stronger pains。
I cried out； gasping； breaking through the dark pool。
〃Bella！〃 the angel cried。
〃She's lost some blood； but the head wound isn't deep；〃 a calm voice
informed me。 〃Watch out for her leg； it's broken。〃
A howl of rage strangled on the angel's lips。
I felt a sharp stab in my side。 This couldn't be heaven； could it？ There
was too much pain for that。
〃Some ribs； too； I think；〃 the methodical voice continued。
But the sharp pains were fading。 There was a new pain； a scalding pain in
my hand that was overshadowing everything else。
Someone was burning me。
〃Edward。〃 I tried to tell him； but my voice was so heavy and slow。 I
couldn't understand myself。
〃Bella； you're going to be fine。 Can you hear me； Bella？ I love you。〃
〃Edward；〃 I tried again。 My voice was a little clearer。
〃Yes； I'm here。〃
〃It hurts；〃 I whimpered。
〃I know； Bella； I know〃 — and then； away from me； anguished — 〃can't you
do anything？〃
〃My bag； please… Hold your breath； Alice； it will help；〃 Carlisle
promised。
〃Alice？〃 I groaned。
〃She's here； she knew where to find you。〃
〃My hand hurts；〃 I tried to tell him。
〃I know； Bella。 Carlisle will give you something； it will stop。〃
〃My hand is burning！〃 I screamed； finally breaking through the last of
the darkness； my eyes fluttering open。 I couldn't see his face； something
dark and warm was clouding my eyes。 Why couldn't they see the fire and
put it out？
His voice was frightened。 〃Bella？〃
〃The fire！ Someone stop the fire！〃 I screamed as it burned me。
〃Carlisle！ Her hand！〃
〃He bit her。〃 Carlisle's voice was no longer calm； it was appalled。
I heard Edward catch his breath in horror。
〃Edward； you have to do it。〃 It was Alice's voice； close by my head。 Cool
fingers brushed at the wetness in my eyes。
〃No！〃 he bellowed。
〃Alice；〃 I moaned。
〃There may be a chance；〃 Carlisle said。
〃What？〃 Edward begged。
〃See if you can suck the venom back out。 The wound is fairly clean。〃 As
Carlisle spoke； I could feel more pressure on my head； something poking
and pulling at my scalp。 The pain of it was lost in the pain of the fire。
〃Will that work？〃 Alice's voice was strained。
〃I don't know；〃 Carlisle said。 〃But we have to hurry。〃
〃Carlisle； I…〃 Edward hesitated。 〃I don't know if I can do that。〃 There
was agony in his beautiful voice again。
〃It's your decision； Edward； either way。 I can't help you。 I have to get
this bleeding stopped here if you're going to be taking blood from her
hand。〃
I writhed in the grip of the fiery torture； the movement making the pain
in my leg flare sickeningly。
〃Edward！〃 I screamed。 I realized my eyes were closed again。 I opened
them； desperate to find his face。 And I found him。 Finally； I could see
his perfect face； staring at me； twisted into a mask of indecision and
pain。
〃Alice； get me something to brace her leg！〃 Carlisle was bent over me；
working on my head。 〃Edward； you must do it now； or it will be too late。〃
Edward's face was drawn。 I watched his eyes as the doubt was suddenly
replaced with a blazing determination。 His jaw tightened。 I felt his
cool； strong fingers on my burning hand； locking it in place。 Then his
head bent over it； and his cold lips pressed against my skin。
At first the pain was worse。 I screamed and thrashed against the cool
hands that held me back。 I heard Alice's voice； trying to calm me。
Something heavy held my leg to the floor； and Carlisle had my head locked
in the vise of his stone arms。
Then； slowly； my writhing calmed as my hand grew more and more numb。 The
fire was dulling； focusing into an eversmaller point。
I felt my consciousness slipping as the pain subsided。 I was afraid to
fall into the black waters again； afraid I would lose him in the darkness。
〃Edward；〃 I tried to say； but I couldn't hear my voice。 They could hear
me。
〃He's right here； Bella。〃
〃Stay； Edward； stay with me…〃
〃I will。〃 His voice was strained； but somehow triumphant。
I sighed contentedly。 The fire was gone； the other pains dulled by a
sleepiness seeping through my body。
〃Is it all out？〃 Carlisle asked from somewhere far away。
〃Her blood tastes clean；〃 Edward said quietly。 〃I can taste the morphine。〃
〃Bella？〃 Carlisle called to me。
I tried to answer。 〃Mmmmm？〃
〃Is the fire gone？〃
〃Yes；〃 I sighed。 〃Thank you； Edward。〃
〃I love you；〃 he answered。
〃I know；〃 I breathed； so tired。
I heard my favorite sound in the world： Edward's quiet laugh； weak with
relief。
〃Bella？〃 Carlisle asked again。
I frowned； I wanted to sleep。 〃What？〃
〃Where is your mother？〃
〃In Florida；〃 I sighed。 〃He tricked me； Edward。 He watched our videos。〃
The outrage in my voice was pitifully frail。
But that reminded me。
〃Alice。〃 I tried to open my eyes。 〃Alice； the video