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I flinched away from Kate automatically； and she laughed。
〃I'm not sadistic about it；〃 she assured me。 〃It's just something that es in handy during a fight。〃
Kate's words were sinking in； beginning to make connections in my mind。 Shield someone besides
yourself she'd said。 As if there were some way for me to include another person in my strange； quirky
silent head。
I remembered Edward cringing on the ancient stones of the Volturi castle turret。 Though this was a
human memory； it was sharper； more painful than most of the others—like it had been branded into the
tissues of my brain。
What if I could stop that from happening ever again？ What if I could protect him？ Protect Renesmee？
What if there was even the faintest glimmer of a possibility that I could shield them； too？
〃You have to teach me what to do！〃 I insisted； unthinkingly grabbing Kate's arm。 〃You have to show me
how！〃
Kate winced at my grip。 〃Maybe—if you stop trying to crush my radius。〃
〃Oops！ Sorry！〃
〃You're shielding； all right；〃 Kate said。 〃That move should have about shocked your arm off。 You didn't
feel
anything just now？〃
〃That wasn't really necessary； Kate。 She didn't mean any harm；〃 Edward muttered under his breath。
Neither of us paid attention to him。
〃No； I didn't feel anything。 Were you doing your electric current thing？〃
〃I was。 Hmm。 I've never met anyone who couldn't feel it； immortal or otherwise。〃
〃You said you project it？ On your skin？〃
Kate nodded。 〃It used to be just in my palms。 Kind of like Aro。〃
〃Or Renesmee；〃 Edward interjected。
〃But after a lot of practice； I can radiate the current all over my body。 It's a good defense。 Anyone who
tries to touch me drops like a human that's been Tasered。 It only downs him for a second； but that's long
enough。〃
I was only halflistening to Kate； my thoughts racing around the idea that I might be able to protect my
little family if I could just learn fast enough。 I wished fervently that I might be good at this projecting thing；
too； like I was somehow mysteriously good at all the other aspects of being a vampire。 My human life
had not prepared me for things that came naturally； and I couldn't make myself trust this aptitude to last。
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It felt like I had never wanted anything so badly before this； to be able to protect what I loved。
Because I was so preoccupied； I didn't notice the silent exchange going on between Edward and Eleazar
until it became a spoken conversation。
〃Can you think of even one exception； though？〃 Edward asked。
I looked over to make sense of his ment and realized that everyone else was already staring at the
two men。 They were leaning toward each other intently； Edward's expression tight with suspicion；
Eleazar's unhappy and reluctant。
〃I don't want to think of them that way；〃 Eleazar said through his teeth。 I was surprised at the sudden
change in the atmosphere。
〃If you're right—；〃 Eleazar began again。
Edward cut him off。 〃The thought was yours； not mine。〃
〃If I'm right。。。 I can't even grasp what that would mean。 It would change everything about the world
we've created。 It would change the meaning of my life。 What I have been a part of。〃
〃Your intentions were always the best； Eleazar。〃
〃Would that even matter？ What have I done？ How many lives 。。。〃
Tanya put her hand on Eleazar's shoulder in a forting gesture。 〃What did we miss； my friend？ I want
to know so that I can argue with these thoughts。 You've never done anything worth castigating yourself
this way。〃
〃Oh； haven't I？〃 Eleazar muttered。 Then he shrugged out from under her hand and began his pacing
again； faster even than before。
Tanya watched him for half a second and then focused on Edward。 〃Explain。〃
Edward nodded； his tense eyes following Eleazar as he spoke。 〃He was trying to understand why so
many of
the Volturi would e to punish us。 It's not the way they do things。 Certainly； we are the biggest mature
coven they've dealt with； but in the past other covens have joined to protect themselves； and they never
presented much of a challenge despite their numbers。 We are more closely bonded； and that's a factor；
but not a huge one。
〃He was remembering other times that covens have been punished； for one thing or the other； and a
pattern occurred to him。 It was a pattern that the rest of the guard would never have noticed； since
Eleazar was the one passing the pertinent intelligence privately to Aro。 A pattern that only repeated every
other century or so。〃
〃What was this pattern？〃 Carmen asked； watching Eleazar as Edward was。
〃Aro does not often personally attend a punishing expedition；〃 Edward said。 〃But in the past； when Aro
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wanted something in particular； it was never long before evidence turned up proving that this coven or
that coven had mitted some unpardonable crime。 The ancients would decide to go along to watch the
guard administer justice。 And then； once the coven was all but destroyed； Aro would grant a pardon to
one member whose thoughts； he would claim； were particularly repentant。 Always； it would turn out that
this vampire had the gift Aro had admired。 Always； this person was given a place with the guard。 The
gifted vampire was won over quickly； always so grateful for the honor。 There were no exceptions。〃
〃It must be a heady thing to be chosen；〃 Kate suggested。
〃Ha！〃 Eleazar snarled； still in motion。
〃There is one among the guard；〃 Edward said； explaining Eleazar's angry reaction。 〃Her name is Chelsea。
She has influence over the emotional ties between people。 She can both loosen and secure these ties。 She
could make someone feel bonded to the Volturi； to want to belong； to want to please them___〃
Eleazar came to an abrupt halt。 〃We all understood why Chelsea was important。 In a fight； if we could
separate allegiances between allied covens； we could defeat them that much more easily。 If we could
distance the innocent members of a coven emotionally from the guilty； justice could be done without
unnecessary brutality—the guilty could be punished without interference； and the innocent could be
spared。 Otherwise； it was impossible to keep the coven from fighting as a whole。 So Chelsea would
break the ties that bound them together。 It seemed a great kindness to me； evidence of Aro's mercy。 I
did suspect that Chelsea kept our own band more tightly knit； but that； too； was a good thing。 It made us
more effective。 It helped us coexist more easily。〃
This clarified old memories for me。 It had not made sense to me before how the guard obeyed their
masters so gladly； with almost loverlike devotion。
〃How strong is her gift？〃 Tanya asked with an edge to her voice。 Her gaze quickly touched on each
member of her family。
Eleazar shrugged。 〃I was able to leave with Carmen。〃 And then he shook his head。 〃But anything weaker
than the bond between partners is in danger。 In a normal coven； at least。 Those are weaker bonds than
those in our family； though。 Abstaining from human blood makes us more civilized—lets us form true
bonds of love。 I doubt she could turn our allegiances； Tanya。〃
Tanya nodded； seeming reassured； while Eleazar continued with his analysis。
〃I could only think that the reason Aro had decided to e himself； to bring so many with him； is
because his goal is not punishment but acquisition；〃 Eleazar said。 〃He needs to be there to control the
situation。 But he needs the entire guard for protection from such a large； gifted coven。 On the other hand；
that leaves the other ancients unprotected in Volterra。 Too risky—someone might try to take advantage。
So they all e together。 How else could he be sure to preserve the gifts that he wants？ He must want
them very badly；〃 Eleazar mused。
Edward's voice was low as a breath。 〃From what I saw of his thoughts last spring； Aro's never wanted
anything more than he wants Alice。〃
I felt my mouth fall open； remembering the nightma