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learning as much as I could； preparing as much as was possible for the future I'd chosen。 Tanya's
mother's story was one among many； a cautionary tale illustrating just one of the rules I would need to be
aware of when I joined the immortal world。 Only one rule； actually—one law that broke down into a
thousand different facets： Keep the secret。
Keeping the secret meant a lot of things—living inconspicuously like the Cullens； moving on before
humans could suspect they weren't aging。 Or keeping clear of humans altogether—except at
mealtime—the way nomads like James and Victoria had lived； the way Jasper's friends； Peter and
Charlotte； still lived。 It meant keeping control of whatever new vampires you created； like Jasper had
done when he'd lived with Maria。 Like Victoria had failed to do with her newborns。
And it meant not creating some things in the first place； because some creations were uncontrollable。
〃I don't know Tanya's mother's name；〃 Carlisle had admitted； his golden eyes； almost the exact shade of
his fair hair； sad with remembering Tanya's pain。 〃They never speak of her if they can avoid it； never think
ofherwillingly。
〃The woman who created Tanya； Kate； and Irina—who loved them； I believe—lived many years before
I was born； during a time of plague in our world； the plague of the immortal children。
〃What they were thinking； those ancient ones； I can't begin to understand。 They created vampires out of
humans who were barely more than infants。〃
I'd had to swallow back the bile that rose in my throat as I'd pictured what he was describing。
〃They were very beautiful；〃 Carlisle had explained quickly； seeing my reaction。 〃So endearing； so
enchanting； you can't imagine。 You had but to be near them to love them； it was an automatic thing。
〃However； they could not be taught。 They were frozen at whatever level of development they'd achieved
before
being bitten。 Adorable twoyearolds with dimples and lisps that could destroy half a village in one of
their tantrums。 If they hungered； they fed； and no words of warning could restrain them。 Humans saw
them； stories circulated； fear spread like fire in dry brush___
〃Tanya's mother created such a child。 As with the other ancients； i cannot fathom her reasons。〃 He'd
taken a deep； steadying breath。 〃The Volturi became involved； of course。〃
I'd flinched as I always did at that name； but of course the legion of Italian vampires—royalty in their
own estimation—was central to this story。 There couldn't be a law if there was no punishment； there
couldn't be a punishment if there was no one to deliver it。 The ancients Aro； Caius； and Marcus ruled the
Volturi forces； I'd only met them once； but in that brief encounter； it seemed to me that Aro； with his
powerful mindreading gift—one touch； and he knew every thought a mind had ever held—was the true
leader。
〃The Volturi studied the immortal children； at home in Volterra and all around the world。 Caius decided
the young ones were incapable of protecting our secret。 And so they had to be destroyed。
〃I told you they were loveable。 Well； covens fought to the last man—were utterly decimated—to protect
them。 The carnage was not as widespread as the southern wars on this continent； but more devastating in
its own way。 Longestablished covens； old traditions； friends。。。 Much was lost。 In the end； the practice
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was pletely eliminated。 The immortal children became unmentionable； a taboo。
〃When I lived with the Volturi； I met two immortal children； so I know firsthand the appeal they had。
Aro studied the little ones for many years after the catastrophe they'd caused was over。 You know his
inquisitive disposition； he was hopeful that they could be tamed。 But in the end； the decision was
unanimous： the immortal children could not be allowed to exist。〃
I'd all but forgotten the Denali sisters' mother when the story returned to her。
〃It is unclear precisely what happened with Tanya's mother；〃 Carlisle had said。 〃Tanya； Kate； and irina
were entirely oblivious until the day the Volturi came for them； their mother and her illegal creation
already their prisoners。 It was ignorance that saved Tanya's and her sisters' lives。 Aro touched them and
saw their total innocence； so they were not punished with their mother。
〃None of them had ever seen the boy before； or dreamed of his existence； until the day they watched
him burn in their mother's arms。 I can only guess that their mother had kept her secret to protect them
from this exact oute。 But why had she created him in the first place？ Who was he； and what had he
meant to her that would cause her to cross this most uncrossable of lines？ Tanya and the others never
received an answer to any of these questions。 But they could not doubt their mother's guilt； and I don't
think they've ever truly forgiven her。
〃Even with Aro's perfect assurance that Tanya； Kate； and Irina were innocent； Caius wanted them to
burn。 Guilty by association。 They were lucky that Aro felt like being merciful that day。 Tanya and her
sisters were pardoned； but left with unhealing hearts and a very healthy respect for the law___〃
I'm not sure where exactly the memory turned into a dream。 One moment it seemed that I was listening
to Carlisle in my memory； looking at his face； and then a moment later I was looking at a gray； barren
field and smelling
the thick scent of burning incense in the air。 I was not alone there。
The huddle of figures in the center of the field； all shrouded in ashy cloaks； should have terrified me
—they could only be Volturi； and I was； against what they'd decreed at our last meeting； still human。 But
I knew； as I sometimes did in dreams； that I was invisible to them。
Scattered all around me were smoking heaps。 I recognized the sweetness in the air and did not examine
the mounds too closely。 I had no desire to see the faces of the vampires they had executed； half afraid
that I might recognize someone in the smoldering pyres。
The Volturi soldiers stood in a circle around something or someone； and I heard their whispery voices
raised in agitation。 I edged closer to the cloaks； pelled by the dream to see whatever thing or person
they were examining with such intensity。 Creeping carefully between two of the tall hissing shrouds； I
finally saw the object of their debate； raised up on a little hillock above them。
He was beautiful； adorable； just as Carlisle had described。 The boy was a toddler still； maybe two years
of age。 Light brown curls framed his cherubic face with its round cheeks and full lips。 And he was
trembling； his eyes closed as if he was too frightened to watch death ing closer every second。
I was struck with such a powerful need to save the lovely； terrified child that the Volturi； despite all their
devastating menace； no longer mattered to me。 I shoved past them； not caring if they realized my
presence。 Breaking free of them altogether； I sprinted toward the boy。
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Only to stagger to a halt as I got a clear view of the hillock that he sat upon。 It was not earth and rock；
but a pile of human bodies； drained and lifeless。 Too late not to see these faces。 I knew them all
—Angela； Ben； Jessica； Mike。。。。 And directly beneath the adorable boy were the bodies of my father
and my mother。
The child opened his bright； bloodred eyes。
3。 BIG DAY
My own eyes flew open。
I lay shivering and gasping in my warm bed for several minutes； trying to break free of the dream。 The
sky outside my window turned gray and then pale pink while I waited for my heart to slow。
When I was fully back to the reality of my messy； familiar room； I was a little annoyed with myself。 What
a dream to have the night before my wedding！ That's what I got for obsessing over disturbing stories in
the middle of the night。
Eager to shake off the nightmare； I got dressed and headed down to the kitchen long before I needed to。
Fir