nodded　in　encouragement—whether　because　he　was　sure　Aro　would　not　hurt

me；　or　because

there　was　no　choice；　I　couldn't　tell。

I　turned　back　to　Aro　and　raised　my　hand　slowly　in　front　of　me。　It　was

trembling。

He　glided　closer；　and　I　believe　he　meant　his　expression　to　be　reassuring。　But

his　papery　features　were

too　strange；　too　alien　and　frightening；　to　reassure。　The　look　on　his　face　was

more　confident　than　his

words　had　been。

Aro　reached　out；　as　if　to　shake　my　hand；　and　pressed　his　insubstantial…looking

skin　against　mine。　It　was

hard；　but　felt　brittle—shale　rather　than　granite—and　even　colder　than　I

expected。

His　filmy　eyes　smiled　down　at　mine；　and　it　was　impossible　to　look　away。　They

were　mesmerizing　in　an

odd；　unpleasant　way。

Aro's　face　altered　as　I　watched。　The　confidence　wavered　and　became　first

doubt；　then　incredulity　before

he　calmed　it　into　a　friendly　mask。

〃So　very　interesting；〃　he　said　as　he　released　my　hand　and　drifted　back。

My　eyes　flickered　to　Edward；　and；　though　his　face　was　posed；　I　thought　he

seemed　a　little　smug。

Aro　continued　to　drift　wnh　a　thoughtful　expression。　He　was　quiet　for　a　moment；

his　eyes　flickering

between　the　three　of　us。　Then；　abruptly；　he　shook　his　head。

〃A　first；〃　he　said　to　himself　〃I　wonder　if　she　is　immune　to　our　other　talents

Jane；　dear？〃

〃No！〃　Edward　snarled　the　word。　Alice　grabbed　his　arm　with　a　restraining　hand。

He　shook　her　off。

Little　Jane　smiled　up　happily　at　Aro。　〃Yes；　Master？〃

Edward　was　truly　snarling　now；　the　sound　ripping　and　tearing　from　him；　glaring

at　Aro　with　baleful　eyes。

The　room　had　gone　still；