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“I see a room. It’s long, and there are mirrors everywhere. The floor is wooden. He’s in the room, and he’s waiting. There’s gold… a gold stripe across the mirrors.” “Where is the room?” “I don’t know. Something is missing—another decision hasn’t been made yet.”
“I miss you,” I whispered. “I know, Bella. Believe me, I know. It’s like you’ve taken half my self away with you.”
“I love you,” I reminded him. “Could you believe that, despite everything I’ve put you through, I love you, too?” “Yes, I can, actually.” “I’ll come for you soon.” “I’ll be waiting.”
IT HAD TAKEN MUCH LESS TIME THAN I’D THOUGHT—ALL THE terror, the despair, the shattering of my heart.
I could see his face so clearly now… almost hear his voice. And, despite all the horror and hopelessness, I was fleetingly happy. So involved was I in my escapist daydreams, I lost all track of the seconds racing by.
She didn’t even seem to notice the pain, poor little creature. She’d been stuck in that black hole of a cell for so long. A hundred years earlier and she would have been burned at the stake for her visions. In the nineteen-twenties it was the asylum and the shock treatments.
“Alice,” I breathed, astonished. “Yes, your little friend. I was surprised to see her in the clearing. So I guess her coven ought to be able to derive some comfort from this experience. I get you, but they get her. The one victim who escaped me, quite an honor, actually.
heard the sound of an angel calling my name, calling me to the only heaven I wanted. “Oh no, Bella, no!” the angel’s voice cried in horror.
There was an annoying beeping sound somewhere close by. I hoped that meant I was still alive. Death shouldn’t be this uncomfortable.
“It was impossible… to stop,” he whispered. “Impossible. But I did.” He looked up finally, with half a smile. “I must love you.” “Don’t I taste as good as I smell?” I smiled in response.
“What should I apologize for?” “For very nearly taking yourself away from me forever.” “I’m sorry,” I apologized again. “I know why you did it.” His voice was comforting.
“You have saved me,” he said quietly. “I can’t always be Lois Lane,” I insisted. “I want to be Superman, too.” “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“Alice already saw it, didn’t she?” I guessed. “That’s why the things she says upset you. She knows I’m going to be like you… someday.” “She’s wrong. She also saw you dead, but that didn’t happen, either.” “You’ll never catch me betting against Alice.”
“Stay.” The word was slurred. “I will,” he promised. His voice was beautiful, like a lullaby. “Like I said, as long as it makes you happy… as long as it’s what’s best for you.”
I turned my head slightly… searching. He knew what I was after. His lips touched mine gently. “Thanks,” I sighed. “Anytime.”
“Edward?” I struggled to pronounce his name clearly. “Yes?” “I’m betting on Alice,” I mumbled.
“I’m sorry if there’s been some kind of miscommunication, but Bella is unavailable tonight.” Edward’s tone changed, and the threat in his voice was suddenly much more evident as he continued.
“To be perfectly honest, she’ll be unavailable every night, as far as anyone besides myself is concerned. No offense. And I’m sorry about your evening.” He didn’t sound sorry at all.
“Bella, I won’t let anything hurt you—not even yourself. I won’t let go of you once, I promise.”
In Phoenix, they held proms in hotel ballrooms. This dance was in the gym, of course. It was probably the only room in town big enough for a dance.
I was shocked to notice that Jacob didn’t have to look up. He must have grown half a foot since the first time I’d seen him.
“Twilight, again,” he murmured. “Another ending. No matter how perfect the day is, it always has to end.” “Some things don’t have to end,” I muttered through my teeth, instantly tense.
“I brought you to the prom,” he said slowly, finally answering my question, “because I don’t want you to miss anything.
“Is that what you dream about? Being a monster?” “Not exactly,” I said, frowning at his word choice. Monster, indeed. “Mostly I dream about being with you forever.”
