Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [45]
I watched as his face grew sad and serious, and he nodded once. She took a quick step back and crossed herself.
He reached out to her, gesturing toward me and then resting his hand against my cheek. She replied angrily again, waving her hands accusingly toward him, and then gestured to him. When she finished, he pleaded again with the same low, urgent voice.
Her expression changed-she stared at him with doubt plain on her face as he spoke, her eyes repeatedly flashing to my confused face. He stopped speaking, and she seemed to be deliberating something. She looked back and forth between the two of us, and then, unconsciously it seemed, took a step forward.
She made a motion with her hands, miming a shape like a balloon jutting out from her stomach. I started-did her legends of the predatory blood-drinker include this? Could she possibly know something about what was growing inside me?
She walked a few steps forward deliberately this time and asked a few brief questions, which he responded to tensely. Then he became the questioner-one quick query. She hesitated and then slowly shook her head. When he spoke again, his voice was so agonized that I looked up at him in shock. His face was drawn with pain.
In answer, she walked slowly forward until she was close enough to lay her small hand on top of mine, over my stomach. She spoke one word in Portuguese.
Morte, she sighed quietly. Then she turned, her shoulders bent as if the conversation had aged her, and left the room.
I knew enough Spanish for that one.
Edward was frozen again, staring after her with the tortured expression fixed on his face. A few moments later, I heard a boats engine putter to life and then fade into the distance.
Edward did not move until I started for the bathroom. Then his hand caught my shoulder.
Where are you going? His voice was a whisper of pain.
To brush my teeth again.
Dont worry about what she said. Its nothing but legends, old lies for the sake of entertainment.
I didnt understand anything, I told him, though it wasnt entirely true. As if I could discount something because it was a legend. My life was circled by legend on every side. They were all true.
I packed your toothbrush. Ill get it for you.
He walked ahead of me to the bedroom.
Are we leaving soon? I called after him.
As soon as youre done.
He waited for my toothbrush to repack it, pacing silently around the bedroom. I handed it to him when I was finished.
Ill get the bags into the boat.
Edward-
He turned back. Yes?
I hesitated, trying to think of some way to get a few seconds alone. Could you pack some of the food? You know, in case I get hungry again.
Of course, he said, his eyes suddenly soft. Dont worry about anything. Well get to Carlisle in just a few hours, really. This will all be over soon.
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
He turned and left the room, one big suitcase in each hand.
I whirled and scooped up the phone hed left on the counter. It was very unlike him to forget things-to forget that Gustavo was coming, to leave his phone lying here. He was so stressed he was barely himself.
I flipped it open and scrolled through the preprogrammed numbers. I was glad he had the sound turned off, afraid that he would catch me. Would he be at the boat now? Or back already? Would he hear me from the kitchen if I whispered?
I found the number I wanted, one I had never called before in my life. I pressed the send button and crossed my fingers.
Hello? the voice like golden wind chimes answered.
Rosalie? I whispered. Its Bella. Please. You have to help me.
BOOK TWO: JACOB
And yet, to say the truth,
reason and love keep little company together nowadays.
William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Act III, Scene i
* * *
PREFACE
Life sucks, and then you die.
Yeah, I should be so lucky.
* * *
8. WAITING FOR THE DAMN FIGHT TO START ALREADY
Jeez, Paul, dont you freaking have a home of your own?
Paul, lounging across my whole couch, watching some stupid baseball game on my crappy TV,