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。
First I cleaned the already tidy rooms； and then when Charlie was up I made him pancakes。 I was much
too keyed up to have any interest in eating breakfast myself—I sat bouncing in my seat while he ate。
〃You're picking up Mr。 Weber at three o'clock；〃 I reminded him。
〃I don't have that much to do today besides bring the minister； Bells。 I'm not likely to forget my only
job。〃 Charlie had taken the entire day off for the wedding； and he was definitely at loose ends。 Now and
then； his eyes flickered furtively to the closet under the stairs； where he kept his fishing gear。
〃That's not your only job。 You also have to be dressed and presentable。〃
He scowled into his cereal bowl and muttered the words 〃monkey suit〃 under his breath。
There was a brisk tapping on the front door。
〃You think you have it bad；〃 I said； grimacing as I rose。 〃Alice will be working on me all day long。〃
Charlie nodded thoughtfully； conceding that he did have the lesser ordeal。 I ducked in to kiss the top of
his head as I passed—he blushed and harrumphed —and then continued on to get the door for my best
girlfriend and soontobe sister。
Alice's short black hair was not in its usual spiky do—it was smoothed into sleek pin curls around her
pixie face； which wore a contrastingly businesslike expression。 She dragged me from the house with
barely a 〃Hey； Charlie〃
called over her shoulder。
Alice appraised me as I got into her Porsche。
〃Oh； hell； look at your eyes！〃 She tsked in reproach。 〃What did you do？ Stay up all night？〃
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〃Almost。〃
She glowered。 〃I've only allotted so much time to make you stunning； Bella—you might have taken
better care of my raw material。〃
〃No one expects me to be stunning。 I think the bigger problem is that I might fall asleep during the
ceremony and not be able to say 1 do' at the right part； and then Edward will make his escape。〃
She laughed。 〃I'll throw my bouquet at you when it gets close。〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃At least you'll have plenty of time to sleep on the plane tomorrow。〃
I raised one eyebrow。 Tomorrow； I mused。 If we were heading out tonight after the reception； and we
would still be on a plane tomorrow。。。 well； we weren't going to Boise； Idaho。 Edward hadn't dropped a
single hint。 I wasn't too stressed about the mystery； but it was strange not knowing where I would be
sleeping tomorrow night。 Or hopefully not sleeping 。。。
Alice realized that she'd given something away； and she frowned。
〃You're all packed and ready；〃 she said to distract me。
It worked。 〃Alice； I wish you would let me pack my own things！〃
〃It would have given too much away。〃
〃And denied you an opportunity to shop。〃
〃You'll be my sister officially in ten short hours。。。 it's about time to get over this aversion to new clothes。〃
I glowered groggily out the windshield until we were almost to the house。
〃Is he back yet？〃 I asked。
〃Don't worry； he'll be there before the music starts。 But you don't get to see him； no matter when he gets
back。 We're doing this the traditional way。〃
I snorted。 〃Traditional！〃
〃Okay； aside from the bride and groom。〃
〃You know he's already peeked。〃
〃Oh no—that's why I'm the only one who's seen you in the dress。 I've been very careful to not think
about it when he's around。〃
〃Well；〃 I said as we turned into the drive； 〃I see you got to reuse your graduation decorations。〃 Three
miles of drive were once again wrapped in hundreds of thousands of twinkle lights。 This time； she'd
added white satin bows。
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〃Waste not； want not。 Enjoy this； because you don't get to see the inside decorations until it's time。〃 She
pulled into the cavernous garage north of the main house； Emmett's big Jeep was still gone。
〃Since when is the bride not allowed to see the decorations？〃 I protested。
〃Since she put me in charge。 I wa