Hey Jake, thought you said you wanted me at dusk. How come you didnโt have Leah wake me up before she crashed?
โCause I didnโt need you. Iโm still good.
He was already picking up the north half of the circle.ย Anything? Nope. Nothing but nothing.
You did some scouting?
Heโd caught the edge of one of my side trips. He headed up the new trail.
YeahโI ran a few spokes. You know, just checking. If the Cullens are going to make a hunting tripโฆ
Good call.
Seth looped back toward the main perimeter.
It was easier to run with him than it was to do the same with Leah. Though she was tryingโtrying hardโthere was always an edge to her thoughts. She didnโt want to be here. She didnโt want to feel the softening toward the vampires that was going on in my head. She didnโt want to deal with Sethโs cozy friendship with them, a friendship that was only getting stronger.
Funny, though, Iโdโve thought her biggest issue would just beย me. Weโd always gotten on each otherโs nerves when we were in Samโs pack. But there was no antagonism toward me now at all, just the Cullens and Bella. I wondered why. Maybe it was simply gratitude that I wasnโt forcing her to leave. Maybe it was because I understood her hostility better now.
Whichever, running with Leah wasnโt nearly as bad as Iโd expected.
Of course, she hadnโt eased upย thatย much. The food and clothes Esme had sent for her were all taking a trip downriver right now. Even after Iโd eaten my shareโnot because it smelled nearly irresistible away from the
vampire burn, but to set a good example of self-sacrificing tolerance for Leahโsheโd refused. The small elk sheโd taken down around noon had not totally satisfied her appetite. Did make her mood worse, though. Leah hated eating raw.
Maybe we should run a sweep east?ย Seth suggested.ย Go deep, see if theyโre out there waiting.
I was thinking about that,ย I agreed.ย But letโs do it when weโre all awake. I donโt want to let down our guard. We should do it before the Cullens give it a try, though. Soon.
Right.
That got me thinking.
If the Cullens were able to get out of the immediate area safely, they really ought to keep on going. They probably should have taken off the second weโd come to warn them. They had to be able to afford other digs. And they had friends up north, right? Take Bella and run. It seemed like an obvious answer to their problems.
I probably ought to suggest that, but I was afraid they would listen to me. And I didnโt want to have Bella disappearโto never know whether sheโd made it or not.
No, that was stupid. I would tell them to go. It made no sense for them to stay, and it would be betterโnot less painful, but healthierโfor me if Bella left.
Easy to say now, when Bella wasnโt right there, looking all thrilled to see me and also clinging to life by her fingernails at the same timeโฆ
Oh, I already asked Edward about that,ย Seth thought.
What?
I asked him why they hadnโt taken off yet. Gone up to Tanyaโs place or something. Somewhere too far for Sam to come after them.
I had to remind myself that Iโd just decided to give the Cullens that exact advice. That it was best. So I shouldnโt be mad at Seth for taking the chore out of my hands. Not mad at all.
So what did he say? Are they waiting for a window? No. Theyโre not leaving.
And that shouldnโt sound like good news.
Why not? Thatโs just stupid.
Not really,ย Seth said, defensive now.ย It takes some time to build up the kind of medical access that Carlisle has here. Heโs got all the stuff he needs to take care of Bella, and the credentials to get more. Thatโs one of the reasons they want to make a hunting run. Carlisle thinks theyโre going to need more blood for Bella soon. Sheโs using up all the O negative they stored for her. He doesnโt like depleting the stockpile. Heโs going to buy some more. Did you know you canย buyย blood? If youโre a doctor.
I wasnโt ready to be logical yet.ย Still seems stupid. They could bring most of it with them, right? And steal what they need wherever they go. Who cares about legal crap when youโre the undead?
Edward doesnโt want to take any risks moving her. Sheโs better than she was.
Seriously,ย Seth agreed. In his head, he was comparing my memories of Bella hooked up to the tubes with the last time heโd seen her as heโd left the house. Sheโd smiled at him and waved.ย But she canโt move around much, you know. That thing is kicking the hell out of her.
I swallowed back the stomach acid in my throat.ย Yeah, I know. Broke another of her ribs,ย he told me somberly.
My stride faltered, and I staggered a step before I regained my rhythm.ย Carlisle taped her up again. Just another crack, he said. Then Rosalie said something about how even normal human babies have been known to
crack ribs. Edward looked like he was gonna rip her head off.
Too bad he didnโt.
Seth was in full report mode nowโknowing it was all vitally interesting to me, though Iโd neverโve asked to hear it.ย Bellaโs been running a fever off and on today. Just low gradeโsweats and then chills. Carlisleโs not sure what to make of itโsheย mightย just be sick. Her immune system canโt be in peak form right now.
Yeah, Iโm sure itโs just a coincidence.
Sheโs in a good mood, though. She was chatting with Charlie, laughing and allโ
Charlie!ย What?!ย What do you mean, she was talking to Charlie?!
Now Sethโs pace stuttered; my fury surprised him.ย Guess he calls every day to talk to her. Sometimes her mom calls, too. Bella sounds so much better now, so she was reassuring him that she was on the mendโ
On theย mend? What theย hellย are they thinking?! Get Charlieโs hopes up just so that he can be destroyed even worse when she dies? I thought they were getting him ready for that! Trying to prepare him! Why would she set him up like this?
She might not die,ย Seth thought quietly.
I took deep breath, trying to calm myself.ย Seth. Even if she pulls through this, sheโs not doing it human. She knows that, and so do the rest of them. If she doesnโt die, sheโs going to have to do a pretty convincing impersonation of a corpse, kid. Either that, or disappear. I thought they were trying to make this easier on Charlie. Whyโฆ ?
Think itโs Bellaโs idea. No one said anything, but Edwardโs face kinda went right along with what youโre thinking now.
On the same wavelength with the bloodsucker yet again.
We ran in silence for a few minutes. I started off along a new line, probing south.
Donโt get too far. Why?
Bella asked me to ask you to stop by.
My teeth locked together.
Alice wants you, too. She says sheโs tired of hanging out in the attic like the vampire bat in the belfry.ย Seth snorted a laugh.ย I was switching off with Edward before. Trying to keep Bellaโs temperature stable. Cold to hot, as needed. I guess, if you donโt want to do it, I could go backโ
No. I got it,ย I snapped.
Okay.ย Seth didnโt make any more comments. He concentrated very hard on the empty forest.
I kept my southern course, searching for anything new. I turned around when I got close to the first signs of habitation. Not near the town yet, but I didnโt want to get any wolf rumors going again. Weโd been nice and invisible for a long while now.
I passed right through the perimeter on my way back, heading for the house. As much as I knew it was a stupid thing to do, I couldnโt stop myself. I must be some kind of masochist.
Thereโs nothing wrong with you, Jake. This isnโt the most normal situation.
Shut up, please, Seth.
Shutting.
I didnโt hesitate at the door this time; I just walked through like I owned the place. I figured that would piss Rosalie off, but it was a wasted effort.
Neither Rosalie or Bella were anywhere in sight. I looked around wildly, hoping Iโd missed them somewhere, my heart squeezing against my ribs in a weird, uncomfortable way.
โSheโs all right,โ Edward whispered. โOr, the same, I should say.โ
Edward was on the couch with his face in his hands; he hadnโt looked up to speak. Esme was next to him, her arm wrapped tight around his shoulders.
โHello, Jacob,โ she said. โIโm so glad you came back.โ
โMe, too,โ Alice said with a deep sigh. She came prancing down the stairs, making a face. Like I was late for an appointment.
โUh, hey,โ I said. It felt weird to try to be polite. โWhereโs Bella?โ
โBathroom,โ Alice told me. โMostly fluid diet, you know. Plus, the whole pregnancy thing does that to you, I hear.โ
โAh.โ
I stood there awkwardly, rocking back and forth on my heels.
โOh, wonderful,โ Rosalie grumbled. I whipped my head around and saw her coming from a hall half-hidden behind the stairway. She had Bella cradled gently in her arms, a harsh sneer on her face for me. โI knew I smelled something nasty.โ
And, just like before, Bellaโs face lit up like a kidโs on Christmas morning. Like Iโd brought her the greatest gift ever.
It was so unfair.
โJacob,โ she breathed. โYou came.โ โHi, Bells.โ
Esme and Edward both got up. I watched how carefully Rosalie laid Bella out on the couch. I watched how, despite that, Bella turned white and held her breathโlike she was set on not making any noise no matter how much it hurt.
Edward brushed his hand across her forehead and then along her neck.
He tried to make it look as if he was just sweeping her hair back, but it looked like a doctorโs examination to me.
โAre you cold?โ he murmured.
โIโm fine.โ
โBella, you know what Carlisle told you,โ Rosalie said. โDonโt downplayย anything. It doesnโt help us take care of either of you.โ
โOkay, Iโm a little cold. Edward, can you hand me that blanket?โ I rolled my eyes. โIsnโt that sort of the point of me being here?โ
โYou just walked in,โ Bella said. โAfter running all day, Iโd bet. Put your feet up for a minute. Iโll probably warm up again in no time.โ
I ignored her, going to sit on the floor next the sofa while she was still telling me what to do. At that point, though, I wasnโt sure how.โฆ She looked pretty brittle, and I was afraid to move her, even to put my arms around her. So I just leaned carefully against her side, letting my arm rest along the length of hers, and held her hand. Then I put my other hand against her face. It was hard to tell if she felt colder than usual.
โThanks, Jake,โ she said, and I felt her shiver once. โYeah,โ I said.
Edward sat on the arm of the sofa by Bellaโs feet, his eyes always on her face.
It was too much to hope, with all the super-hearing in the room, that no one would notice my stomach rumbling.
โRosalie, why donโt you get Jacob something from the kitchen?โ Alice said. She was invisible now, sitting quietly behind the back of the sofa.
Rosalie stared at the place Aliceโs voice had come from in disbelief. โThanks, anyway, Alice, but I donโt think Iโd want to eat something
Blondieโs spit in. Iโd bet my system wouldnโt take too kindly to venom.โ โRosalie would never embarrass Esme by displaying such a lack of
hospitality.โ
โOfย courseย not,โ Blondie said in a sugar-sweet voice that I immediately distrusted. She got up and breezed out of the room.
Edward sighed.
โYouโd tell me if she poisoned it, right?โ I asked. โYes,โ Edward promised.
And for some reason I believed him.
There was a lot of banging in the kitchen, andโweirdlyโthe sound of metal protesting as it was abused. Edward sighed again, but smiled just a little, too. Then Rosalie was back before I could think much more about it. With a pleased smirk, she set a silver bowl on the floor next to me.
โEnjoy, mongrel.โ
It had once probably been a big mixing bowl, but sheโd bent the bowl back in on itself until it was shaped almost exactly like a dog dish. I had to be impressed with her quick craftsmanship. And her attention to detail.
Sheโd scratched the wordย Fidoย into the side. Excellent handwriting.
Because the food looked pretty goodโsteak, no less, and a big baked potato with all the fixingsโI told her, โThanks, Blondie.โ
She snorted.
โHey, do you know what you call a blonde with a brain?โ I asked, and then continued on the same breath, โa golden retriever.โ
โIโve heard that one, too,โ she said, no longer smiling. โIโll keep trying,โ I promised, and then I dug in.
She made a disgusted face and rolled her eyes. Then she sat in one of the armchairs and started flicking through channels on the big TV so fast that there was no way she could really be surfing for something to watch.
The food was good, even with the vampire stink in the air. I was getting really used to that. Huh. Not something Iโd been wanting to do, exactlyโฆ
When I was finishedโthough I was considering licking the bowl, just to give Rosalie something to complain aboutโI felt Bellaโs cold fingers pulling softly through my hair. She patted it down against the back of my neck.
โTime for a haircut, huh?โ
โYouโre getting a little shaggy,โ she said. โMaybeโโ
โLet me guess, someone around here used to cut hair in a salon in Paris?โ
She chuckled. โProbably.โ
โNo thanks,โ I said before she could really offer. โIโm good for a few more weeks.โ
Which made me wonder how longย sheย was good for. I tried to think of a polite way to ask.
โSoโฆ umโฆ whatโs the, er, date? You know, the due date for the little monster.โ
She smacked the back of my head with about as much force as a drifting feather, but didnโt answer.
โIโm serious,โ I told her. โI want to know how long Iโm gonna have to be here.โย How longย youโreย gonna be here, I added in my head. I turned to look
at her then. Her eyes were thoughtful; the stress line was there between her brows again.
โI donโt know,โ she murmured. โNot exactly. Obviously, weโre not going with the nine-month model here, and we canโt get an ultrasound, so Carlisle is guesstimating from how big I am. Normal people are supposed to be about forty centimeters hereโโshe ran her finger right down the middle of her bulging stomachโโwhen the baby is fully grown. One centimeter for every week. I was thirty this morning, and Iโve been gaining about two centimeters a day, sometimes more. โ
Two weeks to a day, the days flying by. Her life speeding by in fast- forward. How many days did that give her, if she was counting to forty? Four? It took me a minute to figure out how to swallow.
โYou okay?โ she asked.
I nodded, not really sure how my voice would come out.
Edwardโs face was turned away from us as he listened to my thoughts, but I could see his reflection in the glass wall. He was the burning man again.
Funny how having a deadline made it harder to think about leaving, or having her leave. I was glad Sethโd brought that up, so I knew they were staying here. It would be intolerable, wondering if they were about to go, to take away one or two or three of those four days. My four days.
Also funny how, even knowing that it was almost over, the hold she had on me only got harder to break. Almost like it was related to her expanding bellyโas if by getting bigger, she was gaining gravitational force.
For a minute I tried to look at her from a distance, to separate myself from the pull. I knew it wasnโt my imagination that my need for her was stronger than ever. Why was that? Because she was dying? Or knowing that even if she didnโt, stillโbest case scenarioโsheโd be changing into something else that I wouldnโt know or understand?
She ran her finger across my cheekbone, and my skin was wet where she touched it.
โItโs going to be okay,โ she sort of crooned. It didnโt matter that the words meant nothing. She said it the way people sang those senseless nursery rhymes to kids. Rock-a-bye, baby.
โRight,โ I muttered.
She curled against my arm, resting her head on my shoulder. โI didnโt think you would come. Seth said you would, and so did Edward, but I didnโt believe them.โ
โWhy not?โ I asked gruffly.
โYouโre not happy here. But you came anyway.โ โYou wanted me here.โ
โI know. But you didnโt have to come, because itโs not fair for me to want you here. I would have understood.โ
It was quiet for a minute. Edwardโd put his face back together. He looked at the TV as Rosalie went on flipping through the channels. She was into the six hundreds. I wondered how long it would take to get back to the beginning.
โThank you for coming,โ Bella whispered. โCan I ask you something?โ I asked.
โOf course.โ
Edward didnโt look like he was paying attention to us at all, but he knew what I was about to ask, so he didnโt fool me.
โWhyย doย you want me here? Seth could keep you warm, and heโs probably easier to be around, happy little punk. But whenย Iย walk in the door, you smile like Iโm your favorite person in the world.โ
โYouโre one of them.โ โThat sucks, you know.โ
โYeah.โ She sighed. โSorry.โ
โWhy, though? You didnโt answer that.โ
Edward was looking away again, like he was staring out the windows.
His face was blank in the reflection.
โIt feelsโฆย completeย when youโre here, Jacob. Like all my family is together. I mean, I guess thatโs what itโs likeโIโve never had a big family before now. Itโs nice.โ She smiled for half a second. โBut itโs just not whole unless youโre here.โ
โIโll never be part of your family, Bella.โ
I could have been. I would have been good there. But that was just a distant future that died long before it had a chance to live.
โYouโve always been a part of my family,โ she disagreed. My teeth made a grinding sound. โThatโs a crap answer.โ โWhatโs a good one?โ
โHow about, โJacob, I get a kick out of your pain.โโ I felt her flinch.
โYouโd like that better?โ she whispered.
โItโs easier, at least. I could wrap my head around it. I could deal with it.โ
I looked back down at her face then, so close to mine. Her eyes were shut and she was frowning. โWe got off track, Jake. Out of balance. Youโre supposed to be part of my lifeโI can feel that, and so can you.โ She paused for a second without opening her eyesโlike she was waiting for me to deny it. When I didnโt say anything, she went on. โBut not like this. We did something wrong. No. I did. I did something wrong, and we got off track. . .
.โ
Her voice trailed off, and the frown on her face relaxed until it was just a little pucker at the corner of her lips. I waited for her to pour some more lemon juice into my paper cuts, but then a soft snore came from the back of her throat.
โSheโs exhausted,โ Edward murmured. โItโs been a long day. A hard day.
I think she would have gone to sleep earlier, but she was waiting for you.โ I didnโt look at him.
โSeth said it broke another of her ribs.โ โYes. Itโs making it hard for her to breathe.โ โGreat.โ
โLet me know when she gets hot again.โ โYeah.โ
She still had goose bumps on the arm that wasnโt touching mine. Iโd barely raised my head to look for a blanket when Edward snagged one draped over the arm of the sofa and flung it out so that it settled over her.
Occasionally, the mind-reading thing saved time. For example, maybe I wouldnโt have to make a big production out of the accusation about what was going on with Charlie. That mess. Edward would justย hearย exactly how furiousโ
โYes,โ he agreed. โItโs not a good idea.โ
โThen why?โ Why was Bella telling her father she wasย on the mend
when it would only make him more miserable? โShe canโt bear his anxiety.โ
โSo itโs betterโโ
โNo. Itโsย notย better. But Iโm not going to force her to do anything that makes her unhappy now. Whatever happens, this makes her feel better. Iโll deal with the rest afterward.โ
That didnโt sound right. Bella wouldnโt just shuffle Charlieโs pain off to some later date, for someone else to face. Even dying. That wasnโt her. If I knew Bella, she had to have some other plan.
โSheโs very sure sheโs going to live,โ Edward said. โBut not human,โ I protested.
โNo, not human. But she hopes to see Charlie again, anyway.โ Oh, this just got better and better.
โSee. Charlie.โ I finally looked at him, my eyes bugging. โAfterwards. See Charlie when sheโs all sparkly white with the bright red eyes. Iโm not a bloodsucker, so maybe Iโm missing something, butย Charlieย seems like kind of a strange choice for her first meal.โ
Edward sighed. โShe knows she wonโt be able to be near him for at least a year. She thinks she can stall. Tell Charlie she has to go to a special hospital on the other side of the world. Keep in contact through phone calls.
. . .โ
โThatโs insane.โ โYes.โ
โCharlieโs not stupid. Even if she doesnโt kill him, heโs going to notice a difference.โ
โSheโs sort of banking on that.โ
I continued to stare, waiting for him to explain.
โShe wouldnโt be aging, of course, so that would set a time limit, even if Charlie accepted whatever excuse she comes up with for the changes.โ He smiled faintly. โDo you remember when you tried to tell her about your transformation? How you made her guess?โ
My free hand flexed into a fist. โShe told you about that?โ
โYes. She was explaining herโฆ idea. You see, sheโs not allowed to tell Charlie the truthโit would be very dangerous for him. But heโs a smart, practical man. She thinks heโll come up with his own explanation. She assumes heโll get it wrong.โ Edward snorted. โAfter all, we hardly adhere to vampire canon. Heโll make some wrong assumption about us, like she did in the beginning, and weโll go along with it. She thinks sheโll be able to see himโฆ from time to time.โ
โInsane,โ I repeated. โYes,โ he agreed again.
It was weak of him to let her get her way on this, just to keep her happy now. It wouldnโt turn out well.
Which made me think that he probably wasnโt expecting her to live to try out her crazy plan. Placating her, so that she could be happy for a little while longer.
Like four more days.
โIโll deal with whatever comes,โ he whispered, and he turned his face down and away so that I couldnโt even read his reflection. โI wonโt cause her pain now.โ
โFour days?โ I asked.
He didnโt look up. โApproximately.โ โThen what?โ
โWhat do you mean, exactly?โ
I thought about what Bella had said. About the thing being wrapped up nice and tight in something strong, something like vampire skin. So how did that work? How did it get out?
โFrom what little research weโve been able to do, it would appear the creatures use their own teeth to escape the womb,โ he whispered.
I had to pause to swallow back the bile. โResearch?โ I asked weakly.
โThatโs why you havenโt seen Jasper and Emmett around. Thatโs what Carlisle is doing now. Trying to decipher ancient stories and myths, as much as we can with what we have to work with here, looking for anything that might help us predict the creatureโs behavior.โ
Stories? If there were myths, thenโฆ
โThen is this thing not the first of its kind?โ Edward asked, anticipating my question. โMaybe. Itโs all very sketchy. The myths could easily be the products of fear and imagination. Though . . .โโhe hesitatedโโyour myths are true, are they not? Perhaps these are, too. They do seem to be localized, linked. โ
โHow did you findโฆ ?โ
โThere was a woman we encountered in South America. Sheโd been raised in the traditions of her people. Sheโd heard warnings about such creatures, old stories that had been passed down.โ
โWhat were the warnings?โ I whispered.
โThat the creature must be killed immediately. Before it could gain too much strength.โ
Just like Sam thought. Was he right?
โOf course, their legends say the same of us. That we must be destroyed.
That we are soulless murderers.โ Two for two.
Edward laughed one hard chuckle.
โWhat did their stories say about theโฆ mothers?โ
Agony ripped across his face, and, as I flinched away from his pain, I knew he wasnโt going to give me an answer. I doubted he could talk.
It was Rosalieโwhoโd been so still and quiet since Bellaโd fallen asleep that Iโd nearly forgotten herโwho answered.
She made a scornful noise in the back of her throat. โOf course there were no survivors,โ she said.ย No survivors, blunt and uncaring. โGiving birth in the middle of a disease-infested swamp with a medicine man smearing sloth spit across your face to drive out the evil spirits was never the safest method. Even the normal births went badly half the time. None of them had what this baby hasโcaregivers with an idea of what the baby needs, who try to meet those needs. A doctor with a totally unique knowledge of vampire nature. A plan in place to deliver the baby as safely as possible. Venom that will repair anything that goes wrong. The baby will be fine. And those other mothers would probably have survived if theyโd had thatโif they even existed in the first place. Something I am not convinced of.โ She sniffed disdainfully.
The baby, the baby. Like that was all that mattered. Bellaโs life was a minor detail to herโeasy to blow off.
Edwardโs face went white as snow. His hands curved into claws. Totally egotistical and indifferent, Rosalie twisted in her chair so that her back was to him. He leaned forward, shifting into a crouch.
Allow me,ย I suggested.
He paused, raising one eyebrow.
Silently, I lifted my doggy bowl off the floor. Then, with a quick, powerful flip of my wrist, I threw it into the back of Blondieโs head so hard thatโwith an earsplittingย bangโit smashed flat before it ricocheted across
the room and snapped the round top piece off the thick newel post at the foot of the stairs.
Bella twitched but didnโt wake up. โDumb blonde,โ I muttered.
Rosalie turned her head slowly, and her eyes were blazing. โYou. Got. Food. In. My. Hair.โ
That did it.
I busted up. I pulled away from Bella so that I wouldnโt shake her, and laughed so hard that tears ran down my face. From behind the couch, I heard Aliceโs tinkling laugh join in.
I wondered why Rosalie didnโt spring. I sort of expected it. But then I realized that my laughing had woken Bella up, though sheโd slept right through the real noise.
โWhatโs so funny?โ she mumbled.
โI got food in her hair,โ I told her, chortling again. โIโm not going to forget this, dog,โ Rosalie hissed.
โSโnot so hard to erase a blondeโs memory,โ I countered. โJust blow in her ear.โ
โGet some new jokes,โ she snapped.
โCโmon, Jake. Leave Rose aloโโ Bella broke off mid-sentence and sucked in a sharp breath. In the same second, Edward was leaning over the top of me, ripping the blanket out of the way. She seemed to convulse, her back arching off the sofa.
โHeโs just,โ she panted, โstretching.โ
Her lips were white, and she had her teeth locked together like she was trying to hold back a scream.
Edward put both hands on either side of her face. โCarlisle?โ he called in a tense, low voice.
โRight here,โ the doctor said. I hadnโt heard him come in.
โOkay,โ Bella said, still breathing hard and shallow. โThink itโs over.
Poor kid doesnโt have enough room, thatโs all. Heโs getting so big.โ
It was really hard to take, that adoring tone she used to describe the thing that was tearing her up. Especially after Rosalieโs callousness. Made me wish I could throw something at Bella, too.
She didnโt pick up on my mood. โYou know, he reminds me of you, Jake,โ she saidโaffectionate toneโstill gasping.
โDoย notย compare me to that thing,โ I spit out through my teeth.
โI just meant your growth spurt,โ she said, looking like Iโd hurt her feelings. Good. โYou shot right up. I could watch you getting taller by the minute. Heโs like that, too. Growing so fast.โ
I bit my tongue to keep from saying what I wanted to sayโhard enough that I tasted blood in my mouth. Of course, it would heal before I could swallow. Thatโs what Bella needed. To be strong like me, to be able to heal.
โฆ
She took an easier breath and then relaxed back into the sofa, her body going limp.
โHmm,โ Carlisle murmured. I looked up, and his eyes were on me. โWhat?โ I demanded.
Edwardโs head leaned to one side as he reflected on whatever was in Carlisleโs head.
โYou know that I was wondering about the fetusโs genetic makeup, Jacob. About his chromosomes.โ
โWhat of it?โ
โWell, taking your similarities into considerationโโ โSimilarities?โ I growled, not appreciating the plural.
โThe accelerated growth, and the fact that Alice cannot see either of you.โ
I felt my face go blank. Iโd forgotten about that other one.
โWell, I wonder if that means that we have an answer. If the similarities are gene-deep.โ
โTwenty-four pairs,โ Edward muttered under his breath. โYou donโt know that.โ
โNo. But itโs interesting to speculate,โ Carlisle said in a soothing voice. โYeah. Justย fascinating.โ
Bellaโs light snore started up again, accenting my sarcasm nicely.
They got into it then, quickly taking the genetics conversation to a point where the only words I could understand were theย theโs and theย andโs. And my own name, of course. Alice joined in, commenting now and then in her chirpy bird voice.
Even though they were talking about me, I didnโt try to figure out the conclusions they were drawing. I had other things on my mind, a few facts I was trying to reconcile.
Fact one, Bellaโd said that the creature was protected by something as strong as vampire skin, something that was too impenetrable for ultrasounds, too tough for needles. Fact two, Rosalieโd said they had a plan to deliver the creature safely. Fact three, Edwardโd said thatโin mythsโ other monsters like this one would chew their way out of their own mothers.
I shuddered.
And that made a sick kind of sense, because, fact four, not many things could cut through something as strong as vampire skin. The half-creatureโs teethโaccording to mythโwere strong enough. My teeth were strong enough.
And vampire teeth were strong enough.
It was hard to miss the obvious, but I sure wished I could. Because I had a pretty good idea exactly how Rosalie planned to get that thing โsafelyโ out.