4 breaking dawn破晓- 第101部分

〃I　think　a　promise　on　this　one　point　is　certainly　acceptable；　under　the　circumstance。　We　will　meet　in　
the　middle。〃　

Aro　released　his　hand。　Edward　turned　back　toward　us；　and　Aro　joined　him；　throwing　one　arm　casually　
over　Edward's　shoulder　like　they　were　the　best　of　friends—all　the　while　maintaining　contact　with　
Edward's　skin。　They　began　to　cross　the　field　back　to　our　side。　

The　entire　guard　fell　into　step　behind　them。　Aro　raised　a　hand　negligently　without　looking　at　them。　




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〃Hold；　my　dear　ones。　Truly；　they　mean　us　no　harm　if　we　are　peaceable。〃　

The　guard　reacted　to　this　more　openly　than　before；　with　snarls　and　hisses　of　protest；　but　held　their　
position。　Renata；　clinging　closer　to　Aro　than　ever；　whimpered　in　anxiety。　

〃Master；〃　she　whispered。　

〃Don't　fret；　my　love；〃　he　responded。　〃All　is　well。〃　

〃Perhaps　you　should　bring　a　few　members　of　your　guard　with　us；〃　Edward　suggested。　〃It　will　make　them　
more　fortable。〃　

Aro　nodded　as　if　this　was　a　wise　observation　he　should　have　thought　of　himself。　He　snapped　his　fingers　
twice。　〃Felix；　Demetri。〃　

The　two　vampires　were　at　his　side　instantaneously；　looking　precisely　the　same　as　the　last　time　I'd　met　
them。　Both　were　tall　and　darkhaired；　Demetri　hard　and　lean　as　the　blade　of　a　sword；　Felix　hulking　and　
menacing　as　an　ironspiked　cudgel。　

The　five　of　them　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　snowy　field。　

〃Bella；〃　Edward　called。　〃Bring　Renesmee。。。　and　a　few　friends。〃　

I　took　a　deep　breath。　My　body　was　tight　with　opposition。　The　idea　of　taking　Renesmee　into　the　center　
of　the　conflict。。。　But　I　trusted　Edward。　He　would　know　if　Aro　was　planning　any　treachery　at　this　point。　

Aro　had　three　protectors　on　his　side　of　the　summit；　so　I　would　bring　two　with　me。　It　took　me　only　a　
second　to　decide。　

〃Jacob？　Emmett？〃　I　asked　quietly。　Emmett；　because　he　would　be　dying　to　go。　Jacob；　because　he　
wouldn't　be　able　to　bear　being　left　behind。　

Both　nodded。　Emmett　grinned。　

I　crossed　the　field　with　them　flanking　me。　I　heard　another　rumble　from　the　guard　as　they　saw　my　choices　
—clearly；　they　did　not　trust　the　werewolf。　Aro　lifted　his　hand；　waving　away　their　protest　again。　

〃Interesting　pany　you　keep；〃　Demetri　murmured　to　Edward。　

Edward　didn't　respond；　but　a　low　growl　slipped　through　Jacob's　teeth。　

We　stopped　a　few　yards　from　Aro。　Edward　ducked　under　Aro's　arm　and　quickly　joined　us；　taking　my　
hand。　

For　a　moment　we　faced　each　other　in　silence。　Then　Felix　greeted　me　in　a　low　aside。　

〃Hello　again；　Bella。〃　He　grinned　cockily　while　still　tracking　Jacob's　every　twitch　with　his　peripheral　vision。　

I　smiled　wryly　at　the　mountainous　vampire。　〃Hey；　Felix。〃　

Felix　chuckled。　〃You　look　good。　Immortality　suits　you。〃　



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〃Thanks　so　much。〃　

〃You're　wele。　It's　too　bad　。。。〃　

He　let　his　ment　trail　off　into　silence；　but　I　didn't　need　Edward's　gift　to　imagine　the　end。　It's　too　bad　
were　going　to　kill　you　in　a　sec。　

〃Yes；　too　bad；　isn't　it？〃　I　murmured。　

Felix　winked。　

Aro　paid　no　attention　to　our　exchange。　He　leaned　his　head　to　one　side；　fascinated。　〃I　hear　her　strange　
heart；〃　he　murmured　with　an　almost　musical　lilt　to　his　words。　〃I　smell　her　strange　scent。〃　Then　his　hazy　
eyes　shifted　to　me。　〃In　truth；　young　Bella；　immortality　does　bee　you　most　extraordinarily；〃　he　said。　〃It　
is　as　if　you　were　designed　for　this　life。〃　

I　nodded　once　in　acknowledgment　of　his　flattery。　

〃You　liked　my　gift？〃　he　asked；　eyeing　the　pendant　I　wore。　

〃It's　beautiful；　and　very；　very　generous　of　you。　Thank　you。　I　probably　should　have　sent　a　note。〃　

Aro　laughed　delightedly。　〃It's　just　a　little　something　I　had　lying　around。　I　thought　it　might　plement　
your　new　face；　and　so　it　does。〃　

I　heard　a　little　hiss　from　the　center　of　the　Volturi　line。　I　glanced　over　Aro's　shoulder。　

Hmm。　It　seemed　Jane　wasn't　happy　about　the　fact　that　Aro　had　given　me　a　present。　

Aro　cleared　his　throat　to　reclaim　my　attention。　〃May　I　greet　your　daughter；　lovely　Bella？〃　he　asked　
sweetly。　

This　was　what　we'd　hoped　for；　I　reminded　myself。　Fighting　the　urge　to　take　Renesmee　and　run　for　it；　I　
walked　two　slow　steps　forward。　My　shield　rippled　out　behind　me　like　a　cape；　protecting　the　rest　of　my　
family　while　Renesmee　was　left　exposed。　It　felt　wrong；　horrible。　

Aro　met　us；　his　face　beaming。　

〃But　she's　exquisite；〃　he　murmured。　〃So　like　you　and　Edward。〃　And　then　louder；　〃Hello；　Renesmee。〃　

Renesmee　looked　at　me　quickly。　I　nodded。　

〃Hello；　Aro；〃　she　answered　formally　in　her　high；　ringing　voice。　

Aro's　eyes　were　bemused。　

〃What　is　it？〃　Caius　hissed　from　behind。　He　seemed　infuriated　by　the　need　to　ask。　

〃Half　mortal；　half　immortal；〃　Aro　announced　to　him　and　the　rest　of　the　guard　without　turning　his　
enthralled　gaze　from　Renesmee。　〃Conceived　so；　and　carried　by　this　newborn　while　she　was　still　human。〃　



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〃Impossible；〃　Caius　scoffed。　

〃Do　you　think　they've　fooled　me；　then；　brother？〃　Aro's　expression　was　greatly　amused；　but　Caius　
flinched。　〃Is　the　heartbeat　you　hear　a　trickery　as　well？〃　

Caius　scowled；　looking　as　chagrined　as　if　Aro's　gentle　questions　had　been　blows。　

〃Calmly　and　carefully；　brother；〃　Aro　cautioned；　still　smiling　at　Renesmee。　〃I　know　well　how　you　love　
your　justice；　but　there　is　no　justice　in　acting　against　this　unique　little　one　for　her　parentage。　And　so　much　
to　learn；　so　much　to　learn！　I　know　you　don't　have　my　enthusiasm　for　collecting　histories；　but　be　tolerant　
with　me；　brother；　as　I　add　a　chapter　that　stuns　me　with　its　improbability。　We　came　expecting　only　justice　
and　the　sadness　of　false　friends；　but　look　what　we　have　gained　instead！　A　new；　bright　knowledge　of　
ourselves；　our　possibilities。〃　

He　held　out　his　hand　to　Renesmee　in　invitation。　But　this　was　not　what　she　wanted。　She　leaned　away　from　
me；　stretching　upward；　to　touch　her　fingertips　to　Aro's　face。　

Aro　did　not　react　with　shock　as　almost　everyone　else　had　reacted　to　this　performance　from　Renesmee；　
he　was　as　used　to　the　flow　of　thought　and　memory　from　other　minds　as　Edward　was。　

His　smile　widened；　and　he　sighed　in　satisfaction。　〃Brilliant；〃　he　whispered。　

Renesmee　relaxed　back　into　my　arms；　her　little　face　very　serious。　

〃Please？〃　she　asked　him。　

His　smile　turned　gentle。　〃Of　course　I　have　no　desire　to　harm　your　loved　ones；　precious　Renesmee。〃　

Aro's　voice　was　so　forting　and　affectionate；　it　took　me　in　for　a　second。　And　then　I　heard　Edward's　
teeth　grind　together　and；　far　behind　us；　Maggie's　outraged　hiss　at　the　lie。　

〃I　wonder；〃　Aro　said　thoughtfully；　seeming　unaware　of　the　reaction　to　his　previous　words。　His　eyes　
moved　unexpectedly　to　Jacob；　and　instead　of　the　disgust　the　other　Volturi　viewed　the　giant　wolf　with；　
Aro's　eyes　were　filled　with　a　longing　that　I　did　not　prehend。　

〃It　doesn't　work　that　way；〃　Edward　said；　the　careful　neutrality　gone　from　his　suddenly　harsh　tone。　

〃Just　an　errant　thought；〃　Aro　said；　appraising　Jacob　openly；　and　then　his　eyes　moved　slowly　across　the　
two　lines　of　werewolves　behind　us。　Whatever　Renesmee　had　shown　him；　it　made　the　wolves　suddenly　
interesting　to　him。　

〃They　don't　belong　to　us；　Aro。　They　don't　follow　our　mands　that　way。　They're　here　because　they　
want　to　be。〃　

Jacob　growled　menacingly。　

〃They　seem　quite　attached　to　you；　though；〃　Aro　said。　〃And　your　young　mate　and　your。。。　family。　Loyal〃　
His　voice　caressed　the　word　softly。　

〃They're　mitted　to　protecting　human　life；　Aro。　That　makes　them　able　to　coexist　with　us；　but　hardly　



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with　you。　Unless　you're　rethinking　your　lifestyle。〃　

Aro　laughed　merrily。　〃Just　an　errant　thought；〃　he　repeated。　〃You　well　know　how　that　is。　We　none　of　us　
can　

entirely　control　our　subconscious　desires。〃　

Edward　grimaced。　〃I　do　know　how　that　is。　And　I　also　know　the　difference　between　that　kind　of　thought　
and　the　kind　with　a　purpose　behind　it。　It　could　never　work；　Aro。〃　

Jacob's　vast　head　turned　in　Edward's　direction；　and　a　faint　whine　slipped　from　between　his　teeth。　

〃He's　intrigued　with　the　idea　of。。。　guard　dogs；〃　Edward　murmured　back。　

There　was　one　second　of　dead　silence；　and　then　the　sound　of　the　furious　snarls　ripping　from　the　entire　
pack　filled　the　giant　clearing。　

There　was　a　sharp　bark　of　mand—from　Sam；　I　guessed；　though　I　didn't　turn　to　look—and　the　
plaint　broke　off　into　ominous　quiet。　

〃I　suppose　that　answers　that　question；〃　Aro　said；　laughing　again。　〃This　lot　has　picked　its　side。〃　

Edward　hissed　and　leaned　forward。　I　clutched　at　his　arm；　wondering　what　could　be　in　Aro's　thoughts　
that　would　make　him　react　so　violently；　while　Felix　and　Demetri　slipped　into　crouches　in　synchronization。　
Aro　waved　them　off　again。　They　all　returned　to　their　former　posture；　Edward　included。　

〃So　much　to　discuss；〃　Aro　said；　his　tone　suddenly　that　of　an　inundated　businessman。　〃So　much　to　
decide。　If　you　and　your　furry　protector　will　excuse　me；　my　dear　Cullens；　I　must　confer　with　my　brothers。〃　

37。　CONTRIVANCES　

Aro　did　not　rejoin　his　anxious　guard　waiting　on　the　north　side　of　the　clearing；　instead；　he　waved　them　
forward。　

Edward　started　backing　up　immediately；　pulling　my　arm　and　Emmett's。　We　hurried　backward；　keeping　
our　eyes　on　the　advancing　threat。　Jacob　retreated　slowest；　the　fur　on　his　shoulders　standing　straight　up　as　
he　bared　his　fangs　at　Aro。　Renesmee　grabbed　the　end　of　his　tail　as　we　retreated；　she　held　it　like　a　leash；　
forcing　him　to　stay　with　us。　We　reached　our　family　at　the　same　time　that　the　dark　cloaks　surrounded　Aro　
again。　

Now　there　were　only　fifty　yards　between　them　and　us—a　distance　any　of　us　could　leap　in　just　a　fraction　
of　a　second。　

Caius　began　arguing　with　Aro　at　once。　

〃How　can　you　abide　this　infamy？　Why　do　we　stand　here　impotently　in　the　face　of　such　an　outrageous　
crime；　covered　by　such　a　ridiculous　deception？〃　He　held　his　arms　rigidly　at　his　sides；　his　hands　curled　into　
claws。　I　wondered　wh