Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [182]
Carlisle put a hand on Edwards shoulder. We have much to do, son. Whatever Alices decision, we would be foolish not to follow her advice now. Lets go home and get to work.
Edward nodded, his face still rigid with pain. Behind me, I could hear Esmes quiet, tearless sobs.
I didnt know how to cry in this body; I couldnt do anything but stare. There was no feeling yet. Everything seemed unreal, like I was dreaming again after all these months. Having a nightmare.
Thank you, Sam, Carlisle said.
Im sorry, Sam answered. We shouldnt have let her through.
You did the right thing, Carlisle told him. Alice is free to do what she will. I wouldnt deny her that liberty.
Id always thought of the Cullens as a whole, an indivisible unit. Suddenly, I remembered that it had not always been so. Carlisle had created Edward, Esme, Rosalie and Emmett; Edward had created me. We were physically linked by blood and venom. I never thought of Alice and Jasper as separate-as adopted into the family. But in truth, Alice had adopted the Cullens. She had shown up with her unconnected past, bringing Jasper with his, and fit herself into the family that was already there. Both she and Jasper had known another life outside the Cullen family. Had she really chosen to lead another new life after shed seen that life with the Cullens was over?
We were doomed, then, werent we? There was no hope at all. Not one ray, one flicker that might have convinced Alice she had a chance at our side.
The bright morning air seemed thicker suddenly, blacker, as if physically darkened by my despair.
Im not going down without a fight, Emmett snarled low under his breath. Alice told us what to do. Lets get it done.
The others nodded with determined expressions, and I realized that they were banking on whatever chance Alice had given us. That they were not going to give in to hopelessness and wait to die.
Yes, we all would fight. What else was there? And apparently we would involve others, because Alice had said so before shed left us. How could we not follow Alices last warning? The wolves, too, would fight with us for Renesmee.
We would fight, they would fight, and we all would die.
I didnt feel the same resolve the others seemed to feel. Alice knew the odds. She was giving us the only chance she could see, but the chance was too slim for her to bet on it.
I felt already beaten as I turned my back on Sams critical face and followed Carlisle toward home.
We ran automatically now, not the same panicked hurry as before. As we neared the river, Esmes head lifted.
There was that other trail. It was fresh.
She nodded forward, toward where she had called Edwards attention on the way here. While we were racing to save Alice
It has to be from earlier in the day. It was just Alice, without Jasper, Edward said lifelessly.
Esmes face puckered, and she nodded.
I drifted to the right, falling a little behind. I was sure Edward was right, but at the same time After all, how had Alices note ended up on a page from my book?
Bella? Edward asked in an emotionless voice as I hesitated.
I want to follow the trail, I told him, smelling the light scent of Alice that led away from her earlier flight path. I was new to this, but it smelled exactly the same to me, just minus the scent of Jasper.
Edwards golden eyes were empty. It probably just leads back to the house.
Then Ill meet you there.
At first I thought he would let me go alone, but then, as I moved a few steps away, his blank eyes flickered to life.
Ill come with you, he said quietly. Well meet you at home, Carlisle.
Carlisle nodded, and the others left. I waited until they were out of sight, and then I looked at Edward questioningly.
I couldnt let you walk away from me, he explained in a low voice. It hurt just to imagine it.
I understood without more explanation than that. I thought of being divided from him now and realized I would have felt the same pain, no matter how short the separation.
There was so little time left to be together.
I held my hand out to him, and he took it.
Lets hurry, he