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ve long。” Carlisle nodded。 He held his hand out to Esme； and they headed past Jasper back toward the open field。 “You there；” Jasper said to me； his face a glower again。 “e with us。 Don’t make one rash move or I will take you down。” I felt angry again as he glared at me； and a small part of me wanted to snarl and show my teeth； but I had a feeling he was looking for just that kind of excuse。 Jasper paused as if he’d just thought of something。 “Close
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your eyes；” he manded。 I hesitated。 Had he decided to kill me after all？ “Do it！” I gritted my teeth and shut my eyes。 I felt twice as helpless as I had before。 “Follow the sound of my voice and don’t open your eyes。 You look； you lose； got it？” I nodded； wondering what he didn’t want me to see。 I felt some relief that he was bothering to protect a secret。 There was no reason to do so if he was just going to kill me。 “This way。” I walked slowly after him； careful to give him no excuses。 He was considerate in the way he led； not walking me into any trees； at least。 I could hear the way the sound changed when we were in the open； the feel of the wind was different； too； and the smell of my coven burning was stronger。 I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face； and the insides of my eyelids were brighter as I sparkled。 He led me closer and closer to the muffled crackle of the flames； so close that I could feel the smoke brush my skin。 I knew he could have killed me at any time； but the nearness of the fire still made me nervous。 “Sit here。 Eyes closed。” The ground was warm from the sun and the fire。 I kept very still and tried to concentrate on looking harmless； but I could feel his glare on me； and it made me agitated。 Though I was not mad at these vampires； who I truly believed had only been defending themselves； I felt the oddest stirrings of fury。 It was
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almost outside myself； as if it were some leftover echo from the battle that had just taken place。 The anger didn’t make me stupid； though； because I was too sad miserable to my core。 Diego was aways in my mind； and I couldn’t help thinking about how he must have died。 I was sure there was no way he would have voluntarily told Riley our secrets secrets that had given me a reason to trust Riley just enough until it was too late。 In my head； I saw Riley’s face again that cold； smooth expression that had formed as he’d threatened to punish any of us who wouldn’t behave。 I heard again his macabre and oddly detailed description when I take you to her and hold you as she tears off your legs and then slowly； slowly burns off your fingers； ears； lips； tongue； and every other superfluous appendage one by one。 I realized now that I’d been hearing the description of Diego’s death。 That night； I’d been sure that something had changed in Riley。 Killing Diego was what had changed Riley； had hardened him。 I believed only one thing that Riley had ever told me： he had valued Diego more than any of the rest of us。 Had even been fond of him。 And yet he’d watched our creator hurt him。 No doubt he’d helped her。 Killed Diego with her。 I wondered how much pain it would have taken to make me betray Diego。 I imagined it would have taken quite a lot。 And I was sure it had taken at least that much to make Diego betray me。 I felt sick。 I wanted the image of Diego screaming in agony out of my head； but it wouldn’t leave。
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And then there was screaming there in the field。 My eyelids fluttered； but Jasper snarled furiously and I clenched them together at once。 I’d seen nothing but heavy lavender smoke。 I heard shouting and a strange； savage howling。 It was loud； and there was a lot of it。 I couldn’t imagine how a face would have to contort to create such a noise； and the not knowing made the sound more frightening。 These yelloweyed vampires were so different from the rest of us。 Or different from me； I guess； since I was the only one left。 Riley and our creator were long gone by now。 I heard names called； Jacob； Leah； Sam。 There were lots of distinct voices； though the howls continued。 Of course Riley had lied to us about the number of vampires here； too。 The sound of the howling tapered off until it was just one voice； one agonized； inhuman yowling that made me grit my teeth。 I could see Diego’s face so clearly in my mind； and the sound was like him screaming。 I heard Carlisle talking over the other voices and the howling。 He was begging to look at something。 “Please let me take a look。 Please let me help。” I didn’t hear anyone arguing with him； but for some reason his tone made it sound like he was losing the dispute。 And then the yowling reached a strident new pitch； and suddenly Carlisle was saying “thank you” in a fervent voice； and under the yowl there was the sound of a lot of movement by a lot of bodies。 Many heavy footsteps ing closer。 I listened harder and heard something unexpected and
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impossible。 Along with some heavy breathing and I’ve never heard anyone in my coven breathe like that there were dozens of deep thumping noises。 Almost like… heartbeats。 But definitely not human hearts。 I knew that particular sound well。 I sniffed hard； but the wind was blowing from the other direction； and I could only smell the smoke。 Without a warning sound； something touched me； clapped down firmly on either side of my head。 My eyes started open in panic as I lurched up； straining to jerk free of this hold； and instantly met Jasper’s warning gaze about two inches from my face。 “Stop it；” he snapped； yanking me back down on my butt。 I could only just hear him； and I realized that his hands were sealed tight against my head； covering my ears entirely。 “Close your eyes；” he instructed again； probably at a normal volume； but it was hushed for me。 I struggled to calm myself and shut my eyes again。 There were things they didn’t want me to hear； either。 I could live with thatif it meant I could live。 For a second I saw Fred’s face behind my eyelids。 He had said he would wait for one day。 I wondered if he would keep his word。 I wished I could tell him the truth about the yelloweyes； and how much more there seemed to be that we didn’t know。 This whole world that we really knew nothing about。 It would be interesting to explore that world。 Particularly with someone who could make me invisible and safe。 But Diego was gone。 He wouldn’t be ing to find Fred with me。 That made imagining the future faintly repugnant。
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I could still hear some of what was going on； but just the howling and a few voices。 Whatever those weird thumping sounds had been； they were too muted now for me to examine them。 I did make out the words when； a few minutes later； Carlisle said； “You have to…” his voice was too low for a second； and then“… from here now。 If we could help we would； but we cannot leave。” There was a growl； but it was oddly unmenacing。 The yowling became a low whine that disappeared slowly； as if it was moving away from me。 It was quiet for a few minutes。 I heard some low voices； Carlisle and Esme among them； but also some I didn’t know。 I wished I could smell something the blindness bined with the muted sound left me straining for some source of sensory information。 But all I could smell was the horribly sweet smoke。 There was one voice； higher and clearer than the others； that I could hear most easily。 “Another five minutes；” I heard whoever it was say。 I was sure it was a girl who was speaking。 “And Bella will open her eyes in thirtyseven seconds。 I wouldn’t doubt that she can hear us now。” I tried to make sense of this。 Was someone else being forced to keep her eyes shut； like me？ Or did she think my name was Bella？ I hadn’t told anyone my name。 I struggled again to smell something。 More mumbling。 I thought that one voice sounded offI couldn’t hear any ring to it at all。 But I couldn’t be sure with
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Jasper’s hands so securely over my ears。 “Three minutes；” the high； clear voice said。 Jasper’s hands left my head。 “You’d better open your eyes now；” he told me from a few steps away。 The way he said this frightened me。 I looked around myself quickly； searching for the danger hinted at