2 new+moon新月- 第93部分

It　was　heaven—right　smack　in　the　middle　of　hell。　

I　lost　track　of　the　time　pletely。　So　when　Edward's　arms　tightened　around　me；　and　both　he　and　Alice　
looked　to　the　back　of　the　room　with　wary　eyes；　I　panicked。　I　cringed　into　Edward's　chest　as　Alec—his　
eyes　now　a　vivid　ruby；　but　still　spotless　in　his　light　gray　suit　despite　the　afternoon　meal—walked　through　
the　double　doors。　

It　was　good　news。　

〃You're　free　to　leave　now；〃　Alec　told　us；　his　tone　so　warm　you'd　think　we　were　all　lifelong　friends。　〃We　
ask　that　you　don't　linger　in　the　city。〃　

Edward　made　no　answering　pretence；　his　voice　was　ice　cold。　〃That　won't　be　a　problem。〃　

Alec　smiled；　nodded；　and　disappeared　again。　

〃Follow　the　right　hallway　around　the　corner　to　the　first　set　of　elevators；〃　Gianna　told　us　as　Edward　helped　
me　to　my　feet。　〃The　lobby　is　two　floors　down；　and　exits　to　the　street。　Goodbye；　now；〃　she　added　
pleasantly。　I　wondered　if　her　petence　would　be　enough　to　save　her。　

Alice　shot　her　a　dark　look。　

I　was　relieved　there　was　another　way　out；　I　wasn't　sure　if　I　could　handle　another　tour　through　the　
underground。　

We　left　through　a　tastefully　luxurious　lobby。　I　was　the　only　one　who　glanced　back　at　the　medieval　castle　
that　housed　the　elaborate　business　facade　I　couldn't　see　the　turret　from　here；　for　which　I　was　grateful。　

The　party　was　still　in　full　swing　in　the　streets。　The　street　lamps　were　just　ing　on　as　we　walked　swiftly　
through　the　narrow；　cobbled　lanes。　The　sky　was　a　dull；　fading　gray　overhead；　but　the　buildings　crowded　
the　streets　so　closely　that　it　felt　darker。　

The　party　was　darker；　too。　Edward's　long；　trailing　cloak　did　not　stand　out　in　the　way　it　might　have　on　a　
normal　evening　in　Volterra。　There　were　others　in　black　satin　cloaks　now；　and　the　plastic　fangs　I'd　seen　on　
the　child　in　the　square　today　seemed　to　be　very　popular　with　the　adults。　

〃Ridiculous；〃　Edward　muttered　once。　

I　didn't　notice　when　Alice　disappeared　from　beside　me。　I　looked　over　to　ask　her　a　question；　and　she　was　
gone。　

〃Where's　Alice？〃　I　whispered　in　a　panic。　

〃She　went　to　retrieve　your　bags　from　where　she　stashed　them　this　morning。〃　

I'd　forgotten　that　I　had　access　to　a　toothbrush。　It　brightened　my　outlook　considerably。　

〃She's　stealing　a　car；　too；　isn't　she？〃　I　guessed。　

He　grinned。　〃Not　till　we're　outside。〃　

It　seemed　like　a　very　long　way　to　the　entryway。　Edward　could　see　that　I　was　spent；　he　wound　his　arm　
around　my　waist　and　supported　most　of　my　weight　as　we　walked。　

I　shuddered　as　he　pulled　me　through　the　dark　stone　archway。　The　huge；　ancient　portcullis　above　was　like　
a　cage　door；　threatening　to　drop　on　us；　to　lock　us　in。　

He　led　me　toward　a　dark　car；　waiting　in　a　pool　of　shadow　to　the　right　of　the　gate　with　the　engine　running。　
To　my　surprise；　he　slid　into　the　backseat　with　me；　instead　of　insisting　on　driving。　

Alice　was　apologetic。　〃I'm　sorry。〃　She　gestured　vaguely　toward　the　dashboard。　〃There　wasn't　much　to　
choose　from。〃　

〃It's　fine；　Alice。〃　He　grinned。　〃They　can't　all　be　911　Turbos。〃　

She　sighed。　〃I　may　have　to　acquire　one　of　those　legally。　It　was　fabulous。〃　

〃I'll　get　you　one　for　Christmas；〃　Edward　promised。　

Alice　turned　to　beam　at　him；　which　worried　me；　as　she　was　already　speeding　down　the　dark　and　curvy　
hillside　at　the　same　time。　

〃Yellow；〃　she　told　him。　

Edward　kept　me　tight　in　his　arms。　Inside　the　gray　cloak；　I　was　warm　and　fortable。　More　than　
fortable。　

〃You　can　sleep　now；　Bella；〃　he　murmured。　〃It's　over。〃　

I　knew　he　meant　the　danger；　the　nightmare　in　the　ancient　city；　but　I　still　had　to　swallow　hard　before　I　
could　answer。　

〃I　don't　want　to　sleep。　I'm　not　tired。〃　Just　the　second　part　was　a　lie。　I　wasn't　about　to　close　my　eyes。　The　
car　was　only　dimly　lit　by　the　dashboard　controls；　but　it　was　enough　that　I　could　see　his　face。　

He　pressed　his　lips　to　the　hollow　under　my　ear。　〃Try；〃　he　encouraged。　

I　shook　my　head。　

He　sighed。　〃You're　still　just　as　stubborn。〃　

I　was　stubborn；　I　fought　with　my　heavy　lids；　and　I　won。　

The　dark　road　was　the　hardest　part；　the　bright　lights　at　the　airport　in　Florence　made　it　easier；　as　did　the　
chance　to　brush　my　teeth　and　change　into　clean　clothes；　Alice　bought　Edward　new　clothes；　too；　and　he　
left　the　dark　cloak　on　a　pile　of　trash　in　an　alley。　The　plane　trip　to　Rome　was　so　short　that　there　wasn't　
really　a　chance　for　the　fatigue　to　drag　me　under。　I　knew　the　flight　from　Rome　to　Atlanta　would　be　another　
matter　entirely；　so　I　asked　the　flight　attendant　if　she　could　bring　me　a　Coke。　

〃Bella；〃　Edward　said　disapprovingly。　He　knew　my　low　tolerance　for　caffeine。　

Alice　was　behind　us。　I　could　hear　her　murmuring　to　Jasper　on　the　phone。　

〃I　don't　want　to　sleep；〃　I　reminded　him。　I　gave　him　an　excuse　that　was　believable　because　it　was　true。　〃If　
I　close　my　eyes　now；　I'll　see　things　I　don't　want　to　see。　I'll　have　nightmares。〃　

He　didn't　argue　with　me　after　that。　

It　would　have　been　a　very　good　time　to　talk；　to　get　the　answers　I　needed—needed　but　not　really　wanted；　
I　was　already　despairing　at　the　thought　of　what　I　might　hear。　We　had　an　uninterrupted　block　of　tirre　
ahead　of　us；　and　he　couldn't　escape　me　on　an　airplane—well；　not　easily；　at　least。　No　one　would　hear　us　
except　Alice；　it　was　late；　and　most　of　the　passengers　were　turning　off　lights　and　asking　for　pillows　in　
muted　voices。　Talk　would　help　me　fight　off　the　exhaustion。　

But；　perversely；　I　bit　my　tongue　against　the　flood　of　questions。　My　reasoning　was　probably　flawed　by　
exhaustion；　but　I　hoped　that　by　postponing　the　discussion；　I　could　buy　a　few　more　hours　with　him　at　
some　later　time—spin　this　out　for　another　night；　Scheherazadestyle。　

So　I　kept　drinking　soda；　and　resisting　even　the　urge　to　blink。　Edward　seemed　perfectly　content　to　hold　
me　in　his　arms；　his　fingers　tracing　my　face　again　and　again。　I　touched　his　face；　too。　I　couldn't　stop　myself；　
though　I　was　afraid　it　would　hurt　me　later；　when　I　was　alone　again。　He　continued　to　kiss　my　hair；　my　
forehead；　my　wrists…　but　never　my　lips；　and　that　was　good。　After　all；　how　many　ways　can　one　heart　be　
mangled　and　still　be　expected　to　keep　beating？　I'd　lived　through　a　lot　that　should　have　finished　me　in　the　
last　few　days；　but　it　didn't　make　me　feel　strong。　Instead；　I　felt　horribly　fragile；　like　one　word　could　shatter　
me。　

Edward　didn't　speak。　Maybe　he　was　hoping　I　would　sleep。　Maybe　he　had　nothing　to　say。　

I　won　the　fight　against　my　heavy　lids。　I　was　awake　when　we　reached　the　airport　in　Atlanta；　and　I　even　
watched　the　sun　beginning　to　rise　over　Seattle's　cloud　cover　before　Edward　slid　the　window　shut。　I　was　
proud　of　myself。　I　hadn't　missed　one　minute。　

Neither　Alice　nor　Edward　was　surprised　by　the　reception　that　waited　for　us　at　SeaTac　airport；　but　it　
caught　me　off　guard。　Jasper　was　the　first　one　I　saw—he　didn't　seem　to　see　me　at　all。　His　eyes　were　only　
for　Alice。　She　went　quickly　to　his　side；　they　didn't　embrace　like　other　couples　meeting　there。　They　only　
stared　into　each　other's　faces；　yet；　somehow；　the　moment　was　so　private　that　I　still　felt　the　need　to　look　
away。　

Carlisle　and　Esme　waited　in　a　quiet　corner　far　from　the　line　for　the　metal　de