t？〃

〃No；〃　I　said　curtly。

My　tone　made　him　thoughtful　for　a　moment。

〃Say；　why'd　your　bloodsucker　kill　that　James；　anyway？〃　he　asked　suddenly。

〃James　was　trying　to　kill　me—it　was　like　a　game　for　him。　He　lost。　Do　you

remember　last　spring　when　I

was　in　the　hospital　down　in　Phoenix？〃

Jacob　sucked　in　a　breath。　〃He　got　that　close？〃

〃He　got　very；　very　close。〃　I　stroked　my　scar。　Jacob　noticed；　because　he　held

the　hand　I　moved。

〃What's　that？〃　He　traded　hands；　examining　my　right。　〃This　is　your　funny　scar；

the　cold　one。〃　He　looked　at

it　closer；　with　new　eyes；　and　gasped。

〃Yes；　it's　what　you　think　it　is；〃　I　said。　〃James　bit　me。〃

His　eyes　bulged；　and　his　face　turned　a　strange；　sallow　color　under　the　russet

surface。　He　looked　like　he

was　about　to　be　sick。

〃But　if　he　bit　you　？　Shouldn't　you　be　？〃　He　choked。

〃Edward　saved　me　twice；〃　I　whispered。　〃He　sucked　the　venom　out—you　know；　like

with　a　rattlesnake。〃

I　twitched　as　the　pain　lashed　around　the　edges　of　the　hole。

But　I　wasn't　the　only　one　twitching。　I　could　feel　Jacob's　whole　body　trembling

next　to　mine。　Even　the　car

shook。

〃Careful；　Jake。　Easy。　Ca　in　down。〃

〃Yeah；〃　he　panted。　〃Calm。〃　He　shook　his　head　back　and　forth　quickly。　After　a

moment；　only　his　hands

were　shaking。

〃You　okay？〃

〃Yeah；　almost。　Tell　me　something　else。　Give　me　something　else　to　think　about。〃

〃What　do　you　want　to　know？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃　He　had　his　eyes　closed；　concentrating。　〃The　extra　stuff　I

guess。　Did　any　of　the　other

Cullens　have　extra　talents？　Like　th