ill；〃　she　reminded　him；　voice　calm。

〃Yes；　yes；　it's　quite　determined。　Certainly　there's　no　problem。〃

Caius　looked　bitterly　disappointed—a　feeling　he　seemed　to　share　with　Felix

and　Jane。

〃Aro；〃　Caius　plained。

〃Dear　Caius；〃　Aro　smiled。　〃Do　not　fret。　Think　of　the　possibilities！　They　do

not　join　us　today；　but　we　can

always　hope　for　the　future。　Imagine　the　joy　young　Alice　alone　would　bring　to

our　little　household

Besides；　I'm　so　terribly　curious　to　see　how　Bella　turns　out！〃

Aro　seemed　convinced。　Did　he　not　realize　how　subjective　Alice's　visions　were。'

That　she　could　make　up

her　mind　to　transform　me　today；　and　then　change　it　tomorrow？　A　million　tiny

decisions；　her　decisions　and

so　many　others'；　too—Edward's—could　alter　her　path；　and　with　that；　the

future。

And　would　it　really　matter　that　Alice　was　willing；　would　it　make　any

difference　if　I　did　bee　a　vampire；

when　the　idea　was　so　repulsive　to　Edward？　If　death　was；　to　him；　a　better

alternative　than　having　me

around　forever；　an　immortal　annoyance？　Terrified　as　I　was；　I　felt　myself

sinking　down　into　depression；

drowning　in　it

〃Then　we　are　free　to　go　now？〃　Edward　asked　in　an　even　voice。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　Aro　said　pleasantly。　〃But　please　visit　again。　It's　been　absolutely

enthralling！〃

〃And　we　will　visit　you　as　well；〃　Caius　promised；　his　eyes　suddenly　half…closed

like　the　heavy…lidded　gaze

of　a　lizard。　〃To　be　sure　that　you　follow　through　on　your　side。　Were　I　you；　I

would　not　delay　too　long。　We

do　not　offer　second　chances。〃

Edward's　jaw　clenched　tight；　but　he　nodded　once。

Caius　smirked　and　drifted　back　to　where　Marcus　st