Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [121]
Maybe Carlisle, maybe I was too late. His voice was muffled; it broke on the word late.
My resolve wavered for a second.
Listen to her heart, Edward. Its stronger than even Emmetts was. Ive never heard anything so vital. Shell be perfect.
Yes, I was right to keep quiet. Carlisle would reassure him. He didnt need to suffer with me.
And her-her spine?
Her injuries werent so much worse than Esmes. The venom will heal her as it did Esme.
But shes so still. I must have done something wrong.
Or something right, Edward. Son, you did everything I could have and more. Im not sure I would have had the persistence, the faith it took to save her. Stop berating yourself. Bella is going to be fine.
A broken whisper. She must be in agony.
We dont know that. She had so much morphine in her system. We dont know the effect that will have on her experience.
Faint pressure inside the crease of my elbow. Another whisper. Bella, I love you. Bella, Im sorry.
I wanted so much to answer him, but I wouldnt make his pain worse. Not while I had the strength to hold myself still.
Through all this, the racking fire went right on burning me. But there was so much space in my head now. Room to ponder their conversation, room to remember what had happened, room to look ahead to the future, with still endless room left over to suffer in.
Also room to worry.
Where was my baby? Why wasnt she here? Why werent they talking about her?
No, Im staying right here, Edward whispered, answering an unspoken thought. Theyll sort it out.
An interesting situation, Carlisle responded. And Id thought Id seen just about everything.
Ill deal with it later. Well deal with it. Something pressed softly to my blistering palm.
Im sure, between the five of us, we can keep it from turning into bloodshed.
Edward sighed. I dont know which side to take. Id love to flog them both. Well, later.
I wonder what Bella will think-whose side shell take, Carlisle mused.
One low, strained chuckle. Im sure shell surprise me. She always does.
Carlisles footsteps faded away again, and I was frustrated that there was no further explanation. Were they talking so mysteriously just to annoy me?
I went back to counting Edwards breaths to mark the time.
Ten thousand, nine hundred forty-three breaths later, a different set of footsteps whispered into the room. Lighter. More rhythmic.
Strange that I could distinguish the minute differences between footsteps that Id never been able to hear at all before today.
How much longer? Edward asked.
It wont be long now, Alice told him. See how clear shes becoming? I can see her so much better. She sighed.
Still feeling a little bitter?
Yes, thanks so much for bringing it up, she grumbled. You would be mortified, too, if you realized that you were handcuffed by your own nature. I see vampires best, because I am one; I see humans okay, because I was one. But I cant see these odd half- breeds at all because theyre nothing Ive experienced. Bah!
Focus, Alice.
Right. Bellas almost too easy to see now.
There was a long moment of silence, and then Edward sighed. It was a new sound, happier.
Shes really going to be fine, he breathed.
Of course she is.
You werent so sanguine two days ago.
I couldnt see right two days ago. But now that shes free of all the blind spots, its a piece of cake.
Could you concentrate for me? On the clock- give me an estimate.
Alice sighed. So impatient. Fine. Give me a sec-
Quiet breathing.
Thank you, Alice. His voice was brighter.
How long? Couldnt they at least say it aloud for me? Was that too much to ask? How many more seconds would I burn? Ten thousand? Twenty? Another day-eighty-six thousand, four hundred? More than that?
Shes going to be dazzling.
Edward growled quietly. She always has been.
Alice snorted. You know what I mean. Look at her.
Edward didnt answer, but Alices words gave me hope that maybe I didnt resemble the charcoal briquette I felt like. It seemed as if I must be just a pile of charred bones by now. Every cell in my body had been razed to ash.
I heard Alice breeze out of the room.