4 breaking dawn破晓-第100部分

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the　side；　confusion　crossed　her　features。　

〃Well？〃　Caius　snarled。　

〃I。。。　I'm　not　sure；〃　she　said；　her　tone　perplexed。　

Caius's　hand　twitched　as　if　he　wanted　to　slap　her　again。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　said　in　a　steely　
whisper。　

〃She's　not　the　same；　but　I　think　it's　the　same　child。　What　I　mean　is；　she's　changed。　This　child　is　bigger　
than　the　one　I　saw；　but—〃　

Caius's　furious　gasp　crackled　through　his　suddenly　bared　teeth；　and　Irina　broke　off　without　finishing。　Aro　
flitted　to　Caius's　side　and　put　a　restraining　hand　on　his　shoulder。　

〃Be　posed；　brother。　We　have　time　to　sort　this　out。　No　need　to　be　hasty。〃　

With　a　sullen　expression；　Caius　turned　his　back　on　Irina。　

〃Now；　sweetling；〃　Aro　said　in　a　warm；　sugary　murmur。　〃Show　me　what　you're　trying　to　say。〃　He　held　his　
hand　out　to　the　bewildered　vampire。　

Uncertainly；　Irina　took　his　hand。　He　held　hers　for　only　five　seconds。　

〃You　see；　Caius？〃　he　said。　〃It's　a　simple　matter　to　get　what　we　need。〃　

Caius　didn't　answer　him。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Aro　glanced　once　at　his　audience；　his　mob；　and　
then　turned　back　to　Carlisle。　

〃And　so　we　have　a　mystery　on　our　hands；　it　seems。　It　would　appear　the　child　has　grown。　Yet　Irina's　first　
memory　was　clearly　that　of　an　immortal　child。　Curious。〃　




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〃That's　exactly　what　I'm　trying　to　explain；〃　Carlisle　said；　and　from　the　change　in　his　voice；　I　could　guess　
at　his　relief。　This　was　the　pause　we　had　pinned　all　our　nebulous　hopeson。　

I　feltno　relief。　I　waited；　almost　numb　with　rage；　for　the　layers　of　strategy　Edward　had　promised。　

Carlisle　held　out　his　hand　again。　

Aro　hesitated　for　a　moment。　〃I　would　rather　have　the　explanation　from　someone　more　central　to　the　
story；　my　friend。　Am　I　wrong　to　assume　that　this　breach　was　not　of　your　making？〃　

〃Therewas　no　breach。〃　

〃Be　that　as　it　may；　I　will　have　every　facet　of　the　truth。〃　Aro's　feathery　voice　hardened。　〃And　the　best　
way　to　get　that　is　to　have　the　evidence　directly　from　your　talented　son。〃　He　inclined　his　head　in　Edward's　
direction。　〃As　the　child　clings　to　his　newborn　mate；　I'm　assuming　Edward　is　involved。〃　

Of　course　he　wanted　Edward。　Once　he　could　see　into　Edward's　mind；　he　would　know　all　our　thoughts。　
Except　mine。　

Edward　turned　to　quickly　kiss　my　forehead　and　Renesmee's；　not　meeting　my　eyes。　Then　he　strode　
across　the　snowy　field；　clapping　Carlisle　on　the　shoulder　as　he　passed。　I　heard　a　low　whimper　from　
behind　me—Esme's　terror　breaking　through。　

The　red　haze　I　saw　around　the　Volturi　army　flamed　brighter　than　before；　i　could　not　bear　to　watch　
Edward　cross　the　empty　white　spacealone—but　I　alsocould　not　endure　to　have　Renesmee　one　step　
closer　to　our　adversaries。　The　opposing　needs　tore　at　me；　I　was　frozen　so　tightly　it　felt　like　my　bones　
might　shatter　from　the　pressure　of　it。　

I　saw　Jane　smile　as　Edward　crossed　the　midpoint　in　the　distance　between　us；　when　he　was　closer　to　
them　than　he　was　to　us。　

That　smug　little　smile　did　it。　My　fury　peaked；　higher　even　than　the　raging　bloodlust　I'd　felt　the　moment　the　
wolves　had　mitted　to　this　doomed　fight。　I　could　taste　madness　on　my　tongue—I　felt　it　flow　through　
me　like　a　tidal　wave　of　pure　power。　My　muscles　tightened；　and　I　acted　automatically。　I　threw　my　shield　
with　all　the　force　in　my　mind；　flung　it　across　the　impossible　expanse　of　the　field—ten　times　my　best　
distance—like　a　javelin。　My　breath　rushed　out　in　a　huff　with　the　exertion。　

The　shield　blew　out　from　me　in　a　bubble　of　sheer　energy；　a　mushroom　cloud　of　liquid　steel。　It　pulsed　like　
alivingthing—I　could　feel　it；　from　the　apex　to　the　edges。　

There　was　no　recoil　to　the　elastic　fabric　now；　in　that　instant　of　raw　force；　I　saw　that　the　backlash　I'd　felt　
before　was　of　my　own　making—I　had　been　clinging　to　that　invisible　part　of　me　in　selfdefense；　
subconsciously　unwilling　to　let　it　go。　Now　I　set　it　free；　and　my　shield　exploded　a　good　fifty　yards　out　from　
me　effortlessly；　taking　only　a　fraction　of　my　concentration。　I　could　feel　it　flex　like　just　another　muscle；　
obedient　to　my　will。　I　pushed　it；　shaped　it　to　a　long；　pointed　oval。　Everything　underneath　the　flexible　iron　
shield　was　suddenly　a　part　of　me—I　could　feel　the　life　force　of　everything　it　covered　like　points　of　bright　
heat；　dazzling　sparks　of　light　surrounding　me。　I　thrust　the　shield　forward　the　length　of　the　clearing；　and　
exhaled　in　relief　when　I　felt　Edward's　brilliant　light　within　my　protection。　I　held　there；　contracting　this　new　
muscle　so　that　it　closely　surrounded　Edward；　a　thin　but　unbreakable　sheet　between　his　body　and　our　
enemies。　




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Barely　a　second　had　passed。　Edward　was　still　walking　to　Aro。　Everything　had　changed　absolutely；　but　
no　one　had　noticed　the　explosion　except　for　me。　A　startled　laugh　burst　through　my　lips。　I　felt　the　others　
glancing　at　me　and　saw　Jacob's　big　black　eye　roll　down　to　stare　at　me　like　I'd　lost　my　mind。　

Edward　stopped　a　few　steps　away　from　Aro；　and　I　realized　with　some　chagrin　that　though　I　certainly　
could；　I　should　not　prevent　this　exchange　from　happening。　This　was　the　point　of　all　our　preparations：　
getting　Aro　to　hear　our　side　of　the　story。　It　was　almost　physically　painful　to　do　it；　but　reluctantly　I　pulled　
my　shield　back　and　left　Edward　exposed　again。　The　laughing　mood　had　vanished。　I　focused　totally　on　
Edward；　ready　to　shield　him　instantly　if　something　went　wrong。　

Edward's　chin　came　up　arrogantly；　and　he　held　his　hand　out　to　Aro　as　if　he　were　conferring　a　great　
honor。　Aro　seemed　only　delighted　with　his　attitude；　but　his　delight　was　not　universal。　Renata　fluttered　
nervously　in　Aro：s　shadow。　Caius's　scowl　was　so　deep　it　looked　like　his　papery；　translucent　skin　would　
crease　permanently。　Little　Jane　showed　her　teeth；　and　beside　her　Alec's　eyes　narrowed　in　concentration。　
I　guessed　that　he　was　ready；　like　me；　to　act　at　a　second's　notice。　

Aro　closed　the　distance　without　pause—and　really；　what　did　he　have　to　fear？　The　hulking　shadows　of　
the　lighter　gray　cloaks—the　brawny　fighters　like　Felix—were　but　a　few　yards　away。　Jane　and　her　burning　
gift　could　throw　Edward　on　the　ground；　writhing　in　agony。　Alec　could　blind　and　deafen　him　before　he　
could　take　a　step　in　Aro's　direction。　No　one　knew　that　I　had　the　power　to　stop　them；　not　even　Edward。　

With　an　untroubled　smile；　Aro　took　Edward's　hand。　His　eyes　snapped　shut　at　once；　and　then　his　
shoulders　hunched　under　the　onslaught　of　information。　

Every　secret　thought；　every　strategy；　every　insight—everything　Edward　had　heard　in　the　minds　around　
him　during　the　last　month—was　now　Aro's。　And　further　back—every　vision　of　Alice's；　every　quiet　
moment　with　our　family；　every　picture　in　Renesmee's　head；　every　kiss；　every　touch　between　Edward　and　
me。。。　All　of　that　was　Aro's　now；　too。　

I　hissed　with　frustration；　and　the　shield　roiled　with　my　irritation；　shifting　its　shape　and　contracting　around　
our　side。　

〃Easy；　Bella；〃　Zafrina　whispered　to　me。　

I　clenched　my　teeth　together。　

Aro　continued　to　concentrate　on　Edward's　memories。　Edward's　head　bowed；　too；　the　muscles　in　his　
neck　locking　tight　as　he　read　back　again　everything　that　Aro　took　from　him；　and　Aro's　response　to　it　all。　

This　twoway　but　unequal　conversation　continued　long　enough　that　even　the　guard　grew　uneasy。　Low　
murmurs　ran　through　the　line　until　Caius　barked　a　sharp　order　for　silence。　Jane　was　edging　forward　like　
she　couldn't　help　herself；　and　Renata's　face　was　rigid　with　distress。　For　a　moment；　I　examined　this　
powerful　shield　that　seemed　so　panicky　and　weak；　though　she　was　useful　to　Aro；　I　could　tell　she　was　no　
warrior。　It　was　not　her　job　to　fight　but　to　protect。　There　was　no　bloodlust　in　her。　Raw　as　I　was；　I　knew　
that　if　this　were　between　her　and　me；　I　would　obliterate　her。　

I　refocused　as　Aro　straightened；　his　eyes　flashing　open；　their　expression　awed　and　wary。　He　did　not　
release　Edward's　hand。　

Edward's　muscles　loosened　ever　so　slightly。　




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〃You　see？〃　Edward　asked；　his　velvet　voice　calm。　

〃Yes；　I　see；　indeed；〃　Aro　agreed；　and　amazingly；　he　sounded　almost　amused。　〃I　doubt　whether　any　two　
among　gods　or　mortals　have　ever　seen　quite　so　clearly。〃　

The　disciplined　faces　of　the　guard　showed　the　same　disbelief　I　felt。　

〃You　have　given　me　much　to　ponder；　young　friend；〃　Aro　continued。　〃Much　more　than　I　expected。〃　Still　
he　did　not　release　Edward's　hand；　and　Edward's　tense　stance　was　that　of　one　who　listens。　

Edward　didn't　answer。　

〃May　I　meet　her？〃　Aro　asked—almost　pleaded—with　sudden　eager　interest。　〃I　never　dreamed　of　the　
existence　of　such　a　thing　in　all　my　centuries。　What　an　addition　to　our　histories！〃　

〃What　is　this　about；　Aro？〃　Caius　snapped　before　Edward　could　answer。　Just　the　question　had　me　pulling　
Renesmee　around　into　my　arms；　cradling　her　protectively　against　my　chest。　

〃Something　you've　never　dreamed　of；　my　practical　friend。　Take　a　moment　to　ponder；　for　the　justice　we　
intended　to　deliver　no　longer　applies。〃　

Caius　hissed　in　surprise　at　his　words。　

〃Peace；　brother；〃　Aro　cautioned　soothingly。　

This　should　have　been　good　news—these　were　the　words　we'd　been　hoping　for；　the　reprieve　we'd　
never　really　

thought　possible。　Aro　had　listened　to　the　truth。　Aro　had　admitted　that　the　law　had　not　been　broken。　

But　my　eyes　were　riveted　on　Edward；　and　I　saw　the　muscles　in　his　back　tighten。　I　replayed　in　my　head　
Aro's　instruction　for　Caius　to　ponder；　and　heard　the　double　meaning。　

〃Will　you　introduce　me　to　your　daughter？〃　Aro　asked　Edward　again。　

Caius　was　not　the　only　one　who　hissed　at　this　new　revelation。　

Edward　nodded　reluctantly。　And　yet；　Renesmee　had　won　over　so　many　others。　Aro　always　seemed　the　
leader　of　the　ancients。　If　he　were　on　her　side；　could　the　others　act　against　us？　

Aro　still　gripped　Edward's　hand；　and　he　now　answered　a　question　that　the　rest　of　us　had　not　heard。　

〃I　think　a　promise　on　this　one　point　is　certainly　acceptable；　under　the　circumstance。　We　will　meet　in　
the　midd