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attention； a silent mind to enflame my curiosity； a quiet beauty to hold my eyes； a selfless
soul to earn my awe。 Leave out the natural sense of self…preservation—so that Bella
could bear to be near me—and； finally； add a wide streak of appallingly bad luck。
With a careless laugh； the irresponsible angel propelled her fragile creation
directly into my path； trusting blithely in my flawed morality to keep Bella alive。
In this vision； I was not Bella's sentence； she was my reward。
I shook my head at the fantasy of the unthinking angel。 She was not much better
than the harpy。 I could not think well of a higher power that would behave in such a
dangerous and stupid manner。 At least the ugly fate I could fight against。
And I had no angel。 They were reserved for the good—for people like Bella。 So
where was her angel through all this？ Who was watching over her？
I laughed silently； startled； as I realized that； just now； I was filling that role。
A vampire angel—there was a stretch。
After about a half hour； Bella relaxed out of the tight ball。 Her breathing got
deeper and she started to murmur。 I smiled； satisfied。 It was a small thing； but at least
she was sleeping more comfortably tonight because I was here。
〃Edward；〃 she sighed； and she smiled； too。
I shoved tragedy aside for the moment； and let myself be happy again。
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11。 Interrogations
CNN broke the story first。
I was glad it hit the news before I had to leave for school； anxious to hear how the
humans would phrase the account； and what amount of attention it would garner。
Luckily； it was a heavy news day。 There was an earthquake in South America and a
political kidnapping in the Middle East。 So it ended up only earning a few seconds； a few
sentences； and one grainy picture。
〃Alonzo Calderas Wallace； suspected serial rapist and murderer wanted in the
states of Texas and Oklahoma； was apprehended last night in Portland； Oregon thanks to
an anonymous tip。 Wallace was found unconscious in an alley early this morning； just a
few yards from a police station。 Officials are unable to tell us at this time whether he will
be extradited to Houston or Oklahoma City to stand trial。〃
The picture was unclear； a mug shot； and he'd had a thick beard at the time of the
photograph。 Even if Bella saw it； she would probably not recognize him。 I hoped she
wouldn't； it would make her afraid needlessly。
〃The coverage here in town will be light。 It's too far away to be considered of
local interest；〃 Alice told me。 〃It was a good call to have Carlisle take him out of state。〃
I nodded。 Bella didn't watch much TV regardless； and I'd never seen her father
watching anything besides sports channels。
I'd done what I could。 This monster no longer hunted； and I was not a murderer。
Not recently； anyway。 I'd been right to trust Carlisle； as much as I still wished the
monster had not gotten off quite so easily。 I caught myself hoping he would be extradited
to Texas； where the death penalty was so popular？
No。 That didn't matter。 I would put this behind me； and concentrate on what was
most important。
I'd left Bella's room less than an hour ago。 I was already aching to see her again。
〃Alice； do you mind—〃
She cut me off。 〃Rosalie will drive。 She'll act pissed； but you know she'll enjoy
the excuse to show off her car。〃 Alice trilled a laugh。
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I grinned at her。 〃See you at school。〃
Alice sighed； and my grin became a grimace。
I know； I know； she thought。 Not yet。 I'll wait until you're ready for Bella to
know me。 You should know； though； this isn't just me being selfish。 Bella's going to like
me； too。
I didn't answer her as I hurried out the door。 That was a different way of viewing
the situation。 Would Bella want to know Alice？ To have a vampire for a girlfriend？
Knowing Bella？that idea probably wouldn't bother her in the slightest。
I frowned to myself。 What Bella wanted and what was best for Bella were two
very separate things。
I started to feel uneasy as I parked my car in Bella's driveway。 The human adage
said that things looked different in the morning—that things changed when you slept on
them。 Would I look different to Bella in the weak light of a foggy day？ More sinister or
less sinister than I had in the blackness of night？ Had the truth sunk in while she slept？
Would she finally be afraid？
Her dreams had been peaceful； though； last night。 When she'd spoken my name；
time and time again； she'd smiled。 More than once she'd murmured a plea for me to stay。
Would that mean nothing today？
I waited nervously； listening to the sounds of her inside the house—the fast；
stumbling footsteps on the stairs； the sharp rip of a foil wrapper； the contents of the
refrigerator crashing against each other when the door slammed。 It sounded like she was
in a hurry。 Anxious to get to school？ The thought made me smile； hopeful again。
I looked at the clock。 I supposed that—taking in account the velocity her decrepit
truck must limit her to—she was running a little late。
Bella rushed out of the house； her book bag sliding off her shoulder； her hair
coiled into a messy twist that was already coming apart on the nape of her neck。 The
thick green sweater she wore was not enough to keep her thin shoulders from hunching
against the cold fog。
The long sweater was too big for her； unflattering。 It masked her slender figure；
turning all her delicate curves and soft lines into a shapeless jumble。 I appreciated this
almost as much as I wished that she had worn something more like the soft blue blouse
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she'd worn last night？the fabric had clung to her skin in such an appealing way； cut low
enough to reveal the mesmerizing way her collar bones curled away from the hollow
beneath her throat。 The blue had flowed like water along the subtle shape of her body？
It was better—essential—that I kept my thoughts far； far away from that shape； so
I was grateful to the unbecoming sweater she wore。 I couldn't afford to make mistakes；
and it would be a monumental mistake to dwell on the strange hungers that thoughts of
her lips？her skin？her body？were shaking loose inside of me。 Hungers that had
evaded me for a hundred years。 But I could not allow myself to think of touching her；
because that was impossible。
I would break her。
Bella turned away from the door； in such a hurry that she nearly ran right by my
car without noticing it。
Then she skidded to a stop； her knees locking like a startled colt's。 Her bag slid
further down her arm； and her eyes flew wide as they focused on the car。
I got out； taking no care to move at human speed； and opened the passenger door
for her。 I would not try to deceive her anymore—when we were alone； at least； I would
be myself。
She looked up at me； startled again as I seemingly materialized out of the fog。
And then the surprise in her eyes changed to something else； and I was no longer afraid—
or hopeful—that her feelings for me had changed in the course of the night。 Warmth；