didn't　want　me　anymore！　What　difference　does　it　make

now？　He　knew　I　would

die　sometime！〃

〃I　don't　think　he　ever　planned　to　outlive　you　by　long；〃　Alice　said　quietly。

〃How　dare　he！〃　I　screamed。　I　was　on　my　feet　now；　and　Jacob　rose　uncertainly　to

put　himself　between

Alice　and　me　again。

〃Oh；　get　out　of　the　way；　Jacob！〃　I　elbowed　my　way　around　his　trembling　body

with　desperate

impatience。　〃What　do　we　do？〃　I　begged　Alice。　There　had　to　be　something。　〃Can't

we　call　him？　Can

Carlisle？〃

She　was　shaking　her　head。　〃That　was　the　first　thing　I　tried。　He　left　his　phone

in　a　trash　can　in

Rio—someone　answered　it〃　she　whispered。

〃You　said　before　we　had　to　hurry。　Hurry　how？　Let's　do　it；　whatever　it　is！〃

〃Bella；　I—I　don't　think　I　can　ask　you　to〃　She　trailed　off　in　indecision。

〃Ask　me！〃　I　manded。

She　put　her　hands　on　my　shoulders；　holding　me　in　place；　her　fingers　flexing

sporadically　to　emphasize　her

words。　〃We　may　already　be　too　late。　I　saw　him　going　to　the　Volturi　and

asking　to　die。〃　We　both

cringed；　and　my　eyes　were　suddenly　blind。　I　blinked　feverishly　at　the　tears。

〃It　all　depends　on　what　they

choose。　I　can't　see　that　till　they　make　a　decision。

〃But　if　they　say　no；　and　they　might—Aro　is　fond　of　Carlisle；　and　wouldn't

want　to　offend　him—Edward

has　a　backup　plan。　They're　very　protective　of　their　city。　If　Edward　does

something　to　upset　the　peace；　he

thinks　they'll　act　to　stop　him。　And　he's　right。　They　will。〃

I　stared　at　her　with　my　jaw　clenched　in　frustration。　I'd　heard　nothing　yet

that　would　explain　why　we　were

still　standing　here。

〃So　if　they　agree　to　grant　hi