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inevitable　part　of　life。　I　couldn't　always　blend　in　with　the　scenery。　However；　I　did　have　a　few　specific　
worries　that　were　pletely　valid。　

First　there　was　the　wedding　dress's　train。　Alice　clearly　had　let　her　artistic　sense　overpower　practicalities　
on　that　one。　Maneuvering　the　Cullens'　staircase　in　heels　and　a　train　sounded　impossible。　I　should　have　
practiced。　

Then　there　was　the　guest　list。　

Tanya's　family；　the　Denali　clan；　would　be　arriving　sometime　before　the　ceremony。　

It　would　be　touchy　to　have　Tanya's　family　in　the　same　room　with　our　guests　from　the　Quileute　
reservation；　Jacob's　father　and　the　Clearwaters。　The　Denalis　were　no　fans　of　the　werewolves。　In　fact；　
Tanya's　sister　irina　was　not　ing　to　the　wedding　at　all。　She　still　nursed　a　vendetta　against　the　
werewolves　for　killing　her　friend　Laurent　（just　as　he　was　about　to　kill　me）。　Thanks　to　that　grudge；　the　
Denalis　had　abandoned　Edward's　family　in　their　worst　hour　of　need。　It　had　been　the　unlikely　alliance　with　
the　Quileute　wolves　that　had　saved　all　our　lives　when　the　horde　of　newborn　vampires　had　attacked___　

Edward　had　promised　me　it　wouldn't　be　dangerous　to　have　the　Denalis　near　the　Quileutes。　Tanya　and　all　
herfamily—besides　Irina—felt　horribly　guilty　for　that　defection。　A　truce　with　the　werewolves　was　a　small　
price　to　make　up　some　of　that　debt；　a　price　they　were　prepared　to　pay。　

That　was　the　big　problem；　but　there　was　a　small　problem；　too：　my　fragile　selfesteem。　

I'd　never　seen　Tanya　before；　but　I　was　sure　that　meeting　her　wouldn't　be　a　pleasant　experience　for　my　
ego。　Once　upon　a　time；　before　I　was　born　probably；　she'd　made　her　play　for　Edward—not　that　I　blamed　
her　or　anyone　else　for　wanting　him。　Still；　she　would　be　beautiful　at　the　very　least　and　magnificent　at　best。　
Though　Edward　clearly—if　inconceivably—preferred　me；　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　help　making　
parisons。　

I　had　grumbled　a　little　until　Edward；　who　knew　my　weaknesses；　made　me　feel　guilty。　

〃We're　the　closest　thing　they　have　to　family；　Bella；'7he'd　reminded　me。　〃They　still　feel　like　orphans；　you　
know；　even　after　all　this　time。〃　

So　I'd　conceded；　hiding　my　frown。　

Tanya　had　a　big　family　now；　almost　as　big　as　the　Cullens。　There　were　five　of　them；　Tanya；　Kate；　and　
Irina　had　been　joined　by　Carmen　and　Eleazar　much　the　same　way　the　Cullens　had　been　joined　by　Alice　
and　Jasper；　all　of　them　bonded　by　their　desire　to　live　more　passionately　than　normal　vampires　did。　

For　all　the　pany；　though；　Tanya　and　her　sisters　were　still　alone　in　one　way。　Still　in　mourning。　Because　
a　very　long　time　ago；　they'd　had　a　mother；　too。　

I　could　imagine　the　hole　that　loss　would　leave；　even　after　a　thousand　years；　I　tried　to　visualize　the　Cullen　
family　without　their　creator；　their　center；　and　their　guide—their　father；　Carlisle。　I　couldn't　see　it。　

Carlisle　had　explained　Tanya's　history　during　one　of　the　many　nights　I'd　stayed　late　at　the　Cullens'　home；　



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learning　as　much　as　I　could；　preparing　as　much　as　was　possible　for　the　future　I'd　chosen。　Tanya's　
mother's　story　was　one　among　many；　a　cautionary　tale　illustrating　just　one　of　the　rules　I　would　need　to　be　
aware　of　when　I　joined　the　immortal　world。　Only　one　rule；　actually—one　law　that　broke　down　into　a　
thousand　different　facets：　Keep　the　secret。　

Keeping　the　secret　meant　a　lot　of　things—living　inconspicuously　like　the　Cullens；　moving　on　before　
humans　could　suspect　they　weren't　aging。　Or　keeping　clear　of　humans　altogether—except　at　
mealtime—the　way　nomads　like　James　and　Victoria　had　lived；　the　way　Jasper's　friends；　Peter　and　
Charlotte；　still　lived。　It　meant　keeping　control　of　whatever　new　vampires　you　created；　like　Jasper　had　
done　when　he'd　lived　with　Maria。　Like　Victoria　had　failed　to　do　with　her　newborns。　

And　it　meant　not　creating　some　things　in　the　first　place；　because　some　creations　were　uncontrollable。　

〃I　don't　know　Tanya's　mother's　name；〃　Carlisle　had　admitted；　his　golden　eyes；　almost　the　exact　shade　of　
his　fair　hair；　sad　with　remembering　Tanya's　pain。　〃They　never　speak　of　her　if　they　can　avoid　it；　never　think　
ofherwillingly。　

〃The　woman　who　created　Tanya；　Kate；　and　Irina—who　loved　them；　I　believe—lived　many　years　before　
I　was　born；　during　a　time　of　plague　in　our　world；　the　plague　of　the　immortal　children。　

〃What　they　were　thinking；　those　ancient　ones；　I　can't　begin　to　understand。　They　created　vampires　out　of　
humans　who　were　barely　more　than　infants。〃　

I'd　had　to　swallow　back　the　bile　that　rose　in　my　throat　as　I'd　pictured　what　he　was　describing。　

〃They　were　very　beautiful；〃　Carlisle　had　explained　quickly；　seeing　my　reaction。　〃So　endearing；　so　
enchanting；　you　can't　imagine。　You　had　but　to　be　near　them　to　love　them；　it　was　an　automatic　thing。　

〃However；　they　could　not　be　taught。　They　were　frozen　at　whatever　level　of　development　they'd　achieved　
before　

being　bitten。　Adorable　twoyearolds　with　dimples　and　lisps　that　could　destroy　half　a　village　in　one　of　
their　tantrums。　If　they　hungered；　they　fed；　and　no　words　of　warning　could　restrain　them。　Humans　saw　
them；　stories　circulated；　fear　spread　like　fire　in　dry　brush___　

〃Tanya's　mother　created　such　a　child。　As　with　the　other　ancients；　i　cannot　fathom　her　reasons。〃　He'd　
taken　a　deep；　steadying　breath。　〃The　Volturi　became　involved；　of　course。〃　

I'd　flinched　as　I　always　did　at　that　name；　but　of　course　the　legion　of　Italian　vampires—royalty　in　their　
own　estimation—was　central　to　this　story。　There　couldn't　be　a　law　if　there　was　no　punishment；　there　
couldn't　be　a　punishment　if　there　was　no　one　to　deliver　it。　The　ancients　Aro；　Caius；　and　Marcus　ruled　the　
Volturi　forces；　I'd　only　met　them　once；　but　in　that　brief　encounter；　it　seemed　to　me　that　Aro；　with　his　
powerful　mindreading　gift—one　touch；　and　he　knew　every　thought　a　mind　had　ever　held—was　the　true　
leader。　

〃The　Volturi　studied　the　immortal　children；　at　home　in　Volterra　and　all　around　the　world。　Caius　decided　
the　young　ones　were　incapable　of　protecting　our　secret。　And　so　they　had　to　be　destroyed。　

〃I　told　you　they　were　loveable。　Well；　covens　fought　to　the　last　man—were　utterly　decimated—to　protect　
them。　The　carnage　was　not　as　widespread　as　the　southern　wars　on　this　continent；　but　more　devastating　in　
its　own　way。　Longestablished　covens；　old　traditions；　friends。。。　Much　was　lost。　In　the　end；　the　practice　



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was　pletely　eliminated。　The　immortal　children　became　unmentionable；　a　taboo。　

〃When　I　lived　with　the　Volturi；　I　met　two　immortal　children；　so　I　know　firsthand　the　appeal　they　had。　
Aro　studied　the　little　ones　for　many　years　after　the　catastrophe　they'd　caused　was　over。　You　know　his　
inquisitive　disposition；　he　was　hopeful　that　they　could　be　tamed。　But　in　the　end；　the　decision　was　
unanimous：　the　immortal　children　could　not　be　allowed　to　exist。〃　

I'd　all　but　forgotten　the　Denali　sisters'　mother　when　the　story　returned　to　her。　

〃It　is　unclear　precisely　what　happened　with　Tanya's　mother；〃　Carlisle　had　said。　〃Tanya；　Kate；　and　irina　
were　entirely　oblivious　until　the　day　the　Volturi　came　for　them；　their　mother　and　her　illegal　creation　
already　their　prisoners。　It　was　ignorance　that　saved　Tanya's　and　her　sisters'　lives。　Aro　touched　them　and　
saw　their　total　innocence；　so　they　were　not　punished　with　their　mother。　

〃None　of　them　had　ever　seen　the　boy　before；　or　dreamed　of　his　existence；　until　the　day　they　watched　
him　burn　in　their　mother's　arms。　I　can　only　guess　that　their　mother　had　kept　her　secret　to　protect　them　
from　this　exact　oute。　But　why　had　she　created　him　in　the　first　place？　Who　was　he；　and　what　had　he　
meant　to　her　that　would　cause　her　to　cross　this　most　uncrossable　of　lines？　Tanya　and　the　others　never　
received　an　answer　to　any　of　these　questions。　But　they　could　not　doubt　their　mother's　guilt；　and　I　don't　
think　they've　ever　truly　forgiven　her。　

〃Even　with　Aro's　perfect　assurance　that　Tanya；　Kate；　and　Irina　were　innocent；　Caius　wanted　them　to　
burn。　Guilty　by　association。　They　were　lucky　that　Aro　felt　like　being　merciful　that　day。　Tanya　and　her　
sisters　were　pardoned；　but　left　with　unhealing　hearts　and　a　very　healthy　respect　for　the　law___〃　

I'm　not　sure　where　exactly　the　memory　turned　into　a　dream。　One　moment　it　seemed　that　I　was　listening　
to　Carlisle　in　my　memory；　looking　at　his　face；　and　then　a　moment　later　I　was　looking　at　a　gray；　barren　
field　and　smelling　

the　thick　scent　of　burning　incense　in　the　air。　I　was　not　alone　there。　

The　huddle　of　figures　in　the　center　of　the　field；　all　shrouded　in　ashy　cloaks；　should　have　terrified　me　
—they　could　only　be　Volturi；　and　I　was；　against　what　they'd　decreed　at　our　last　meeting；　still　human。　But　
I　knew；　as　I　sometimes　did　in　dreams；　that　I　was　invisible　to　them。　

Scattered　all　around　me　were　smoking　heaps。　I　recognized　the　sweetness　in　the　air　and　did　not　examine　
the　mounds　too　closely。　I　had　no　desire　to　see　the　faces　of　the　vampires　they　had　executed；　half　afraid　
that　I　might　recognize　someone　in　the　smoldering　pyres。　

The　Volturi　soldiers　stood　in　a　circle　around　something　or　someone；　and　I　heard　their　whispery　voices　
raised　in　agitation。　I　edged　closer　to　the　cloaks；　pelled　by　the　dream　to　see　whatever　thing　or　person　
they　were　examining　with　such　intensity。　Creeping　carefully　between　two　of　the　tall　hissing　shrouds；　I　
finally　saw　the　object　of　their　debate；　raised　up　on　a　little　hillock　above　them。　

He　was　beautiful；　adorable；　just　as　Carlisle　had　described。　The　boy　was　a　toddler　still；　maybe　two　years　
of　age。　Light　brown　curls　framed　his　cherubic　face　with　its　round　cheeks　and　full　lips。　And　he　was　
trembling；　his　eyes　closed　as　if　he　was　too　frightened　to　watch　death　ing　closer　every　second。　

I　was　struck　with　such　a　powerful　need　to　save　the　lovely；　terrified　child　that　the　Volturi；　despite　all　their　
devastating　menace；　no　longer　mattered　to　me。　I　shoved　past　them；　not　caring　if　they　realized　my　
presence。　Breaking　free　of　them　altogether；　I　sprinted　toward　the　boy。　



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Only　to　stagger　to　a　halt　as　I　got　a　clear　view　of　the　hillock　that　he　sat　upon。　It　was　not　earth　and　rock；　
but　a　pile　of　human　bodies；　drained　and　lifeless。　Too　late　not　to　see　these　faces。　I　knew　them　all　
—Angela；　Ben；　Jessica；　Mike。。。。　And　directly　beneath　the　adorable　boy　were　the　bodies　of　my　father　
and　my　mother。　

The　child　opened　his　bright；　bloodred　eyes。　

3。　BIG　DAY　

My　own　eyes　flew　open。　

I　lay　shivering　and　gasping　in　my　warm　bed　for　several　minutes；　trying　to　break　free　of　the　dream。　The　
sky　outside　my　window　turned　gray　and　then　pale　pink　while　I　waited　for　my　heart　to　slow。　

When　I　was　fully　back　to　the　reality　of　my　messy；　familiar　room；　I　was　a　little　annoyed　with　myself。　What　
a　dream　to　have　the　night　before　my　wedding！　That's　what　I　got　for　obsessing　over　disturbing　stories　in　
the　middle　of　the　night。　

Eager　to　shake　off　the　nightmare；　I　got　dressed　and　headed　down　to　the　kitchen　long　before　I　needed　to。　
First　I　cleaned　the　already　tidy　rooms；　and　then　when　Charlie　was　up　I　made　him　pancakes。　I　was　much　
too　keyed　up　to　have　any　interest　in　eating　breakfast　myself—I　sat　bouncing　in　my　seat　while　he　ate。　

〃You're　picking　up　Mr。　Weber　at　three　o'clock；〃　I　reminded　him。　

〃I　don't　have　that　much　to　do　today　besides　bring　the　minister；　Bells。　I'm　not　likely　to　forget　my　only　
job。〃　Charlie　had　taken　the　entire　day　off　for　the　wedding；　and　he　was　definitely　at　loose　ends。　Now　and　
then；　his　eyes　flickered　furtively　to　the　closet　under　the　stairs；　where　he　kept　his　fishing　gear。　

〃That's　not　your　only　job。　You　also　have　to　be　dressed　and　presentable。〃　

He　scowled　into　his　cereal　bowl　and　muttered　the　words　〃monkey　suit〃　under　his　breath。　

There　was　a　brisk　tapping　on　the　front　door。　

〃You　think　you　have　it　bad；〃　I　said；　grimacing　as　I　rose。　〃Alice　will　be　working　on　me　all　day　long。〃　

Charlie　nodded　thoughtfully；　conceding　that　he　did　have　the　lesser　ordeal。　I　ducked　in　to　kiss　the　top　of　
his　head　as　I　passed—he　blushed　and　harrumphed　—and　then　continued　on　to　get　the　door　for　my　best　
girlfriend　and　soontobe　sister。　

Alice's　short　black　hair　was　not　in　its　usual　spiky　do—it　was　smoothed　into　sleek　pin　curls　around　her　
pixie　face；　which　wore　a　contrastingly　businesslike　expression。　She　dragged　me　from　the　house　with　
barely　a　〃Hey；　Charlie〃　

called　over　her　shoulder。　

Alice　appraised　me　as　I　got　into　her　Porsche。　

〃Oh；　hell；　look　at　your　eyes！〃　She　tsked　in　reproach。　〃What　did　you　do？　Stay　up　all　night？〃　




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〃Almost。〃　

She　glowered。　〃I've　only　allotted　so　much　time　to　make　you　stunning；　Bella—you　might　have　taken　
better　care　of　my　raw　material。〃　

〃No　one　expects　me　to　be　stunning。　I　think　the　bigger　problem　is　that　I　might　fall　asleep　during　the　
ceremony　and　not　be　able　to　say　1　do'　at　the　right　part；　and　then　Edward　will　make　his　escape。〃　

She　laughed。　〃I'll　throw　my　bouquet　at　you　when　it　gets　close。〃　

〃Thanks。〃　

〃At　least　you'll　have　plenty　of　time　to　sleep　on　the　plane　tomorrow。〃　

I　raised　one　eyebrow。　Tomorrow；　I　mused。　If　we　were　heading　out　tonight　after　the　reception；　and　we　
would　still　be　on　a　plane　tomorrow。。。　well；　we　weren't　going　to　Boise；　Idaho。　Edward　hadn't　dropped　a　
single　hint。　I　wasn't　too　stressed　about　the　mystery；　but　it　was　strange　not　knowing　where　I　would　be　
sleeping　tomorrow　night。　Or　hopefully　not　sleeping　。。。　

Alice　realized　that　she'd　given　something　away；　and　she　frowned。　

〃You're　all　packed　and　ready；〃　she　said　to　distract　me。　

It　worked。　〃Alice；　I　wish　you　would　let　me　pack　my　own　things！〃　

〃It　would　have　given　too　much　away。〃　

〃And　denied　you　an　opportunity　to　shop。〃　

〃You'll　be　my　sister　officially　in　ten　short　hours。。。　it's　about　time　to　get　over　this　aversion　to　new　clothes。〃　

I　glowered　groggily　out　the　windshield　until　we　were　almost　to　the　house。　

〃Is　he　back　yet？〃　I　asked。　

〃Don't　worry；　he'll　be　there　before　the　music　starts。　But　you　don't　get　to　see　him；　no　matter　when　he　gets　
back。　We're　doing　this　the　traditional　way。〃　

I　snorted。　〃Traditional！〃　

〃Okay；　aside　from　the　bride　and　groom。〃　

〃You　know　he's　already　peeked。〃　

〃Oh　no—that's　why　I'm　the　only　one　who's　seen　you　in　the　dress。　I've　been　very　careful　to　not　think　
about　it　when　he's　around。〃　

〃Well；〃　I　said　as　we　turned　into　the　drive；　〃I　see　you　got　to　reuse　your　graduation　decorations。〃　Three　
miles　of　drive　were　once　again　wrapped　in　hundreds　of　thousands　of　twinkle　lights。　This　time；　she'd　
added　white　satin　bows。　




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〃Waste　not；　want　not。　Enjoy　this；　because　you　don't　get　to　see　the　inside　decorations　until　it's　time。〃　She　
pulled　into　the　cavernous　garage　north　of　the　main　house；　Emmett's　big　Jeep　was　still　gone。　

〃Since　when　is　the　bride　not　allowed　to　see　the　decorations？〃　I　protested。　

〃Since　she　put　me　in　charge。　I　wan