Aro　smiled。　〃So　convenient；〃　he　repeated　to　himself。　Then　he　spoke　to　us。　〃It

takes　quite　a　bit　to　surprise

Marcus；　I　can　assure　you。〃

I　looked　at　Marcus's　dead　face；　and　I　believed　that。

〃It's　just　so　difficult　to　understand；　even　now；〃　Aro　mused；　staring　at

Edward's　arm　wrapped　around　me。

It　was　hard　for　me　to　follow　Aro's　chaotic　train　of　thought。　I　struggled　to

keep　up。　〃How　can　you　stand

so　close　to　het　like　that？〃

〃It's　not　without　effort；〃　Edward　answered　calmly。

〃Butstill—la　tua　cantante！　What　a　waste！〃

Edward　chuckled　once　without　humor。　〃I　look　at　it　more　as　a　price。〃

Aro　was　skeptical。　〃A　very　high　price。〃

〃Opportunity　cost。〃

Aro　laughed。　〃If　I　hadn't　smelled　her　through　your　memories；　I　wouldn't　have

believed　the　call　of　anyone's

blood　could　be　so　strong。　I've　never　felt　anything　like　it　myself。　Most　of　us

would　trade　much　for　such　a

gift；　and　yet　you〃

〃Waste　it；〃　Edward　finished；　his　voice　sarcastic　now。

Aro　laughed　again。　〃Ah；　how　I　miss　my　friend　Carlisle！　You　remind　me　of　him—

only　he　was　not　so

angry。〃

〃Carlisle　outshines　me　in　many　other　ways　as　well。〃

〃I　certainly　never　thought　to　see　Carlisle　bested　for　self…control　of　all

things；　but　you　put　him　to　shame。〃

〃Hardly。〃　Edward　sounded　impatient。　As　if　he　were　tired　of　the　preliminaries。

It　made　me　more　afraid；　I

couldn't　help　but　try　to　imagine　what　he　expected　would　follow。

〃I　am　gratified　by　his　success；〃　Aro　mused。　〃Your　memories　of　him　are　quite　a

gift　for　me；　though　they

astonish　me　exceedingly。　I　am　surprised　by　how　it　pleases　me；　his　success　in

this　unorthodox　path　he's