Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [195]
Which one had been right? Was there more I could do? A name and a category for what I was?
Can you project? Kate asked interestedly.
Project? I asked.
Push it out from yourself, Kate explained. Shield someone besides yourself.
I dont know. Ive never tried. I didnt know I should do that.
Oh, you might not be able to, Kate said quickly. Heavens knows Ive been working on it for centuries and the best I can do is run a current over my skin.
I stared at her, mystified.
Kates got an offensive skill, Edward said. Sort of like Jane.
I flinched away from Kate automatically, and she laughed.
Im not sadistic about it, she assured me. Its just something that comes in handy during a fight.
Kates words were sinking in, beginning to make connections in my mind. Shield someone besides yourself, shed said. As if there were some way for me to include another person in my strange, quirky silent head.
I remembered Edward cringing on the ancient stones of the Volturi castle turret. Though this was a human memory, it was sharper, more painful than most of the others-like it had been branded into the tissues of my brain.
What if I could stop that from happening ever again? What if I could protect him? Protect Renesmee? What if there was even the faintest glimmer of a possibility that I could shield them, too?
You have to teach me what to do! I insisted, unthinkingly grabbing Kates arm. You have to show me how!
Kate winced at my grip. Maybe-if you stop trying to crush my radius.
Oops! Sorry!
Youre shielding, all right, Kate said. That move should have about shocked your arm off. You didnt feel anything just now?
That wasnt really necessary, Kate. She didnt mean any harm, Edward muttered under his breath. Neither of us paid attention to him.
No, I didnt feel anything. Were you doing your electric current thing?
I was. Hmm. Ive never met anyone who couldnt feel it, immortal or otherwise.
You said you project it? On your skin?
Kate nodded. It used to be just in my palms. Kind of like Aro.
Or Renesmee, Edward interjected.
But after a lot of practice, I can radiate the current all over my body. Its a good defense. Anyone who tries to touch me drops like a human thats been Tasered. It only downs him for a second, but thats long enough.
I was only half-listening to Kate, my thoughts racing around the idea that I might be able to protect my little family if I could just learn fast enough. I wished fervently that I might be good at this projecting thing, too, like I was somehow mysteriously good at all the other aspects of being a vampire. My human life had not prepared me for things that came naturally, and I couldnt make myself trust this aptitude to last.
It felt like I had never wanted anything so badly before this: to be able to protect what I loved.
Because I was so preoccupied, I didnt notice the silent exchange going on between Edward and Eleazar until it became a spoken conversation.
Can you think of even one exception, though? Edward asked.
I looked over to make sense of his comment and realized that everyone else was already staring at the two men. They were leaning toward each other intently, Edwards expression tight with suspicion, Eleazars unhappy and reluctant.
I dont want to think of them that way, Eleazar said through his teeth. I was surprised at the sudden change in the atmosphere.
If youre right-, Eleazar began again.
Edward cut him off. The thought was yours, not mine.
If Im right I cant even grasp what that would mean. It would change everything about the world weve created. It would change the meaning of my life. What I have been a part of.
Your intentions were always the best, Eleazar.
Would that even matter? What have I done? How many lives
Tanya put her hand on Eleazars shoulder in a comforting gesture. What did we miss, my friend? I want to know so that I can argue with these thoughts. Youve never done anything worth castigating