2 new moon新月-第75章
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I swerved around the father—he clutched the baby out of my way—and sprinted for the gloomy breach
behind them as the clock tolled over my head。
〃Edward； no！〃 I screamed； but my voice was lost in the roar of the chime。
I could see him now。 And I could see that he could not see me。
It was really him； no hallucination this time。 And I realized that my delusions were more flawed than I'd
realized； they'd never done him justice。
Edward stood； motionless as a statue； just a few feet from the mouth of the alley。 His eyes were closed；
the rings underneath them deep purple； his arms relaxed at his sides； his palms turned forward。 His
expression was very peaceful； like he was dreaming pleasant things。 The marble skin of his chest was
bare—there was a small pile of white fabric at his feet。 The light reflecting from the pavement of the
square gleamed dimly from his skin。
I'd never seen anything more beautiful—even as I ran； gasping and screaming； I could appreciate that。
And the last seven months meant nothing。 And his words in the forest meant nothing。 And it did not
matter if he did not want me。 I would never want anything but him； no matter how long I lived。
The clock tolled； and he took a large stride toward the light。
〃No！〃 I screamed。 〃Edward； look at me！〃
He wasn't listening。 He smiled very slightly。 He raised his foot to take the step that would put him directly
in the path of the sun。
I slammed into him so hard that the force would have hurled me to the ground if his arms hadn't caught
me and held me up。 It knocked my breath out of me and snapped my head back。
His dark eyes opened slowly as the clock tolled again。
He looked down at me with quiet surprise。
〃Amazing；〃 he said； his exquisite voice full of wonder； slightly amused。 〃Carlisle was right。〃
〃Edward；〃 I tried to gasp； but my voice had no sound。 〃You've got to get back into the shadows。 You
have to move！〃
He seemed bemused。 His hand brushed softly against my cheek。 He didn't appear to notice that I was
trying to force him back。 I could have been pushing against the alley walls for all the progress I was
making。 The clock tolled； but he didn't react。
It was very strange； for I knew we were both in mortal danger。 Still； in that instant； I felt well。 Whole。 I
could feel my heart racing in my chest； the blood pulsing hot and fast through my veins again。 My lungs
filled deep with the sweet scent that came off his skin。 It was like there had never been any hole in my
chest。 I was perfect—not healed； but as if there had been no wound in the first place。
〃I can't believe how quick it was。 I didn't feel a thing—they're very good；〃 he mused； closing his eyes
again and pressing his lips against my hair。 His voice was like honey and velvet。 〃Death； that hath
sucked the honey of thy breath； hath had no power yet upon thy beauty；〃 he murmured； and I
recognized the line spoken by Romeo in the tomb。 The clock boomed out its final chime 〃You smell just
exactly the same as always；〃 he went on。 〃So maybe this is hell。 I don't care。 I'll take it。〃
〃I'm not dead；〃 I interrupted。 〃And neither are you！ Please Edward； we have to move。 They can't be far
away！〃
I struggled in his arms； and his brow furrowed in confusion。
〃What was that？〃 he asked politely。
〃We're not dead； not yet！ But we have to get out of here before the Volturi—〃
Comprehension flickered on his face as I spoke。 Before I could finish； he suddenly yanked me away
from the edge of the shadows； spinning me effortlessly so that my back was tight against the brick wall；
and his back was to me as he faced away into the alley。 His arms spread wide； protectively； in front of
me。
I peeked under his arm to see two dark shapes detach themselves from the gloom。
〃Greetings； gentlemen；〃 Edward's voice was calm and pleasant； on the surface。 〃I don't think I'll be
requiring your services today。 I would appreciate it very much； however； if you would send my thanks to
your masters。〃
〃Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue？〃 a smooth voice whispered menacingly。
〃I don't believe that will be necessary。〃 Edward's voice was harder now。 〃I know your instructions； Felix。
I haven't broken any rules。〃
〃Felix merely meant to point out the proximity of the sun；〃 the other shadow said in a soothing tone。 They
were both concealed within smoky gray cloaks that reached to the ground and undulated in the wind。
〃Let us seek better cover。〃
〃I'll be right behind you；〃 Edward said dryly。 〃Bella； why don't you go back to the square and enjoy the
festival？〃
〃No； bring the girl；〃 the first shadow said； somehow injecting a leer into his whisper。
〃I don't think so。〃 The pretense of civility disappeared。 Edward's voice was flat and icy。 His weight
shifted infinitesimally； and I could see that he was preparing to fight。
〃No。〃 I mouthed the word。
〃Shh；〃 he murmured； only for me。
〃Felix；〃 the second； more reasonable shadow cautioned。 〃Not here。〃 He turned to Edward。 〃Aro would
simply like to speak with you again； if you have decided not to force our hand after all。〃
〃Certainly；〃 Edward agreed。 '〃But the girl goes free。〃
〃I'm afraid that's not possible；〃 the polite shadow said regretfully。 〃We do have rules to obey。〃
〃Then I'm afraid that I'll be unable to accept Aro's invitation； Demetri。〃
〃That's just fine；〃 Felix purred。 My eyes were adjusting to the deep shade； and I could see that Felix was
very big； tall and thick through the shoulders。 His size reminded me of Emmett。
〃Aro will be disappointed；〃 Demetri sighed。
〃I'm sure he'll survive the letdown；〃 Edward replied。
Felix and Demetri stole closer toward the mouth of the alley； spreading out slightly so they could come at
Edward from two sides。 They meant to force him deeper into the alley； to avoid a scene。 No reflected
light found access to their skin； they were safe inside their cloaks。
Edward didn't move an inch。 He was dooming himself by protecting me。
Abruptly； Edward's head whipped around； toward the darkness of the winding alley； and Demetri and
Felix did the same； in response to some sound or movement too subtle for my senses。
〃Let's behave ourselves； shall we？〃 a lilting voice suggested。 〃There are ladies present。〃
Alice tripped lightly to Edward's side； her stance casual。 There was no hint of any underlying tension。 She
looked so tiny； so fragile。 Her little arms swung like a child's。
Yet Demetri and Felix both straightened up； their cloaks swirling slightly as a gust of wind funneled
through the alley。 Felix's face soured。 Apparently； they didn't like even numbers。
〃We're not alone；〃 she reminded them。
Demetri glanced over his shoulder。 A few yards into the square； the little family； with the girls in their red
dresses； was watching us。 The mother was speaking urgently to her husband； her eyes on the five of us。
She looked away when Demetri met her gaze。 The man walked a few steps farther into the plaza； and
tapped one of the red…blazered men on the shoulder。
Demetri shook his head。 〃Please； Edward； let's be reasonable；〃 he said。
〃Let's；〃 Edward agreed。 〃And we'll leave quietly now； with no one the wiser。〃
Demetri sighed in frustration。 〃At least let us discuss this more privately。〃
Six men in red now joined the family as they watched us with anxious expressions。 I was very conscious
of Edward's protective stance in front of me—sure that this was what caused their alarm。 I wanted to
scream to them to run。
Edward's teeth came together audibly。 〃No。〃
Felix smiled。
〃Enough。〃
The voice was high； reedy； and n came from behind us。
I peeked under Edward's other arm to see a small； dark shape coming toward us。 By the way the edges
billowed； I knew it would be another one of them。 Who else？
At first I thought it was a young boy。 The newcomer was as tiny as Alice； with lank； pale brown hair
trimmed short。 The body under the cloak—which was darker； almost black—was slim and androgynous。
But the face was too pretty for a boy。 The wide…eyed； full…lipped face would make a Botticelli an
