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black hair； a large sack of more feathers in her arms； an expression of horror on her face。 She stared at
me； her eyes bugging out； as I blushed and looked down。 Then she recovered herself and murmured
something that； even in an unfamiliar language； was clearly an apology。 Edward smiled and answered in a
friendly tone。 She turned her dark eyes away
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and continued down the hall。
〃She was thinking what I think she was thinking； wasn't she？〃 I muttered。
He laughed at my convoluted sentence。 〃Yes。〃
〃Here；〃 I said； reaching out at random and grabbing a movie。 〃Put this on and we can pretend to watch
it。〃
It was an old musical with smiling faces and fluffy dresses on the front。
〃Very honeymoonish；〃 Edward approved。
While actors on the screen danced their way through a perky introduction song； I lolled on the sofa；
snuggled into Edward's arms。
〃Will we move back into the white room now？〃 I wondered idly。
〃I don't know。。。。 I've already mangled the headboard in the other room beyond repair—maybe if we
limit the destruction to one area of the house； Esme might invite us back someday。〃
I smiled widely。 〃So there will be more destruction？〃
He laughed at my expression。 〃I think it might be safer if it's premeditated； rather than if I wait for you to
assault me again。〃
〃It would only be a matter of time；〃 I agreed casually； but my pulse was racing in my veins。
〃Is there something the matter with your heart？〃
〃Nope。 Healthy as a horse。〃 I paused。 〃Did you want to go survey the demolition zone now？〃
〃Maybe it would be more polite to wait until we're alone。 You may not notice me tearing the furniture
apart； but it would probably scare them。〃
In truth； I'd already forgotten the people in the other room。 〃Right。 Drat。〃
Gustavo and Kaure moved quietly through the house while I waited impatiently for them to finish and
tried to pay attention to the happilyeverafter on the screen。 I was starting to get sleepy—though；
according to Edward； I'd slept half the day—when a rough voice startled me。 Edward sat up； keeping
me cradled against him； and answered Gustavo in flowing Portuguese。 Gustavo nodded and walked
quietly toward the front door。
〃They're finished；〃 Edward told me。
〃So that would mean that we're alone now？〃
〃How about lunch first？〃 he suggested。
I bit my lip； torn by the dilemma。 I was pretty hungry。
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With a smile； he took my hand and led me to the kitchen。 He knew my face so well； it didn't matter that
he couldn't read my mind。
〃This is getting out of hand；〃 I plained when I finally felt full。
〃Do you want to swim with the dolphins this afternoon—burn off the calories？〃 he asked。
〃Maybe later。 I had another idea for burning calories。〃
〃And what was that？〃
〃Well； there's an awful lot of headboard left—〃
But I didn't finish。 He'd already swept me up into his arms； and his lips silenced mine as he carried me
with inhuman speed to the blue room。
7。 UNEXPECTED
The line of black advanced on me through the shroudlike mist。 I could see their dark ruby eyes glinting
with desire； lusting for the kill。 Their lips pulled back over their sharp； wet teeth—some to snarl； some to
smile。
I heard the child behind me whimper； but I couldn't turn to look at him。 Though I was desperate to be
sure that he was safe； I could not afford any lapse in focus now。
They ghosted closer； their black robes billowing slightly with the movement。 I saw their hands curl into
bonecolored claws。 They started to drift apart； angling to e at us from all sides。 We were
surrounded。 We were going to die。
And then； like a burst of light from a flash； the whole scene was different。 Yet nothing changed—the
Volturi still stalked toward us； poised to kill。 All that really changed was how the picture looked to me。
Suddenly； I was hungry for it。 I tvanfecthem to charge。 The panic changed to bloodlust as I crouched
forward； a smile on my face； and a growl ripped through my bared teeth。
I jolted upright； shocked out of the dream。
The room was black。 It was also steamy hot。 Sweat matted my hair at the temples and rolled down my
throat。
I groped the warm sheets and found them empty。
〃Edward？〃
Just then； my fingers encountered something smooth and flat and stiff。 One sheet of paper； folded in half。
I took the note with me and felt my way across the room to the light switch。
The outside of the note was addressed to Mrs。 Cullen。
I'm hoping you won't wake and notice my absence； but； if you should； I'll be back very soon。 I've just
gone to the mainland to hunt Go back to sleep and I'll be here when you wake again。 I love you。
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I sighed。 We'd been here about two weeks now； so I should have been expecting that he would have to
leave； but I hadn't been thinking about time。 We seemed to exist outside of time here； just drifting along in
a perfect state。
I wiped the sweat off my forehead。 I felt absolutely wide awake； though the clock on the dresser said it
was after one。 I knew i would never be able to sleep as hot and sticky as I felt。 Not to mention the fact
that if I shut off the light and closed my eyes； I was sure to see those prowling black figures in my head。
I got up and wandered aimlessly through the dark house； flipping on lights。 It felt so big and empty
without Edward there。 Different。
I ended up in the kitchen and decided that maybe fort food was what I needed。
I poked around in the fridge until I found all the ingredients for fried chicken。 The popping and sizzling of
the chicken in the pan was a nice； homey sound； I felt less nervous while it filled the silence。
It smelled so good that I started eating it right out of the pan； burning my tongue in the process。 By the
fifth or sixth bite； though； it had cooled enough for me to taste it。 My chewing slowed。 Was there
something off about the flavor？ I checked the meat； and it was white all the way through； but I wondered
if it was pletely done。 I took another experimental bite； I chewed twice。 Ugh—definitely bad。 I
jumped up to spit it into the sink。 Suddenly； the chickenandoil smell was revolting。 I took the whole
plate and shook it into the garbage； then opened the windows to chase away the scent。 A coolish breeze
had picked up outside。 It felt good on my skin。
I was abruptly exhausted； but i didn't want to go back to the hot room。 So I opened more windows in
the TV room and lay on the couch right beneath them。 I turned on the same movie we'd watched the
other day and quickly fell asleep to the bright opening song。
When I opened my eyes again； the sun was halfway up the sky； but it was not the light that woke me。
Cool arms were around me； pulling me against him。 At the same time； a sudden pain twisted in my
stomach； almost like the aftershock of catching a punch in the gut。
Tm sorry；〃 Edward was murmuring as he wiped a wintry hand across my clammy forehead。 〃So much
for thoroughness。 I didn't think about how hot you would be with me gone。 I'll have an air conditioner
installed before I leave again。〃
I couldn't concentrate on what he was saying。 〃Excuse me！〃 I gasped； struggling to get free of his arms。
He dropped his hold automatically。 〃Bella？〃
I streaked for the bathroom with my hand clamped over my mouth。 I felt so horrible that I didn't even
care—at first—that he was with me while I crouched over the toilet and was violently sick。
〃Bella？ What's wrong？〃
I couldn't answer yet。 He held me anxiously； keeping my hair out of my face； waiting till I could breathe
again。
〃Damn rancid chicken；〃 I moaned。
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〃Are you all right？〃 His voice was strained。
〃Fine；〃 I panted。 〃It's just food poisoning。 You don't need to see this。 Go away。〃
〃Not likely；Bella。〃
〃Go away