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〃No； no—〃
He pulled me against his chest。 〃Don't be afraid。 We'll be home in sixteen hours。 You'll be fine。 Carlisle
will be ready when we get there。 We'll take care of this； and you'll be fine； you'll be fine。〃
〃Take care of this？ What do you mean？〃
He leaned away and looked me in the eye。 〃We're going to get that thing out before it can hurt any part
of you。 Don't be scared。 I wont let it hurt you。〃
〃That thing？〃 Igasped。
He looked sharply away from me； toward the front door。 〃Dammit！ I forgot Gustavo was due today。 HI
get rid of him and be right back。〃 He darted out of the room。
I clutched the counter for support。 My knees were wobbly。
Edward had just called my little nudger a thing。 He said Carlisle would get it out。
〃No；〃 I whispered。
I'd gotten it wrong before。 He didn't care about the baby atall。 He wanted to hurt him。 The beautiful
picture in my head shifted abruptly； changed into something dark。 My pretty baby crying； my weak arms
not enough to protect him。。。。
What could I do？ Would I be able to reason with them？ What if I couldn't？ Did this explain Alice's
strange silence on the phone？ Is that what she'd seen？ Edward and Carlisle killing that pale； perfect child
before he could live？
〃No；〃 I whispered again； my voice stronger。 That could not be。 I would not allow it。
I heard Edward speaking Portuguese again。 Arguing again。 His voice got closer； and I heard him grunt in
exasperation。 Then I heard another voice； low and timid。 A woman's voice。
He came into the kitchen ahead of her and went straight to me。 He wiped the tears from my cheeks and
murmured in my ear through the thin； hard line of his lips。
〃She's insisting on leaving the food she brought—she made us dinner。〃 If he had been less tense； less
furious； I knew he would have rolled his eyes。 〃It's an excuse—she wants to make sure I haven't killed
you yet。〃 His voice went ice cold at the end。
Kaure edged nervously around the corner with a covered dish in her hands。 I wished I could speak
Portuguese； or that my Spanish was less rudimentary； so that I could try to thank this woman who had
dared to anger a vampire just to check on me。
Her eyes flickered between the two of us。 I saw her measuring thecolor in my face； the moisture in my
eyes。 Mumbling something I didn't understand； she put the dish on the counter。
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Edward snapped something at her； I'd never heard him be so impolite before。 She turned to go； and the
whirling motion of her long skirt wafted the smell of the food into my face。 It was strong—onions and
fish。 I gagged and whirled for the sink。 I felt Edward's hands on my forehead and heard his soothing
murmur through the roaring in my ears。 His hands disappeared for a second； and I heard the refrigerator
slam shut。 Mercifully； the smell disappeared with the sound； and Edward's hands were cooling my
clammy face again。 It was over quickly。
I rinsed my mouth in the tap while he caressed the side of my face。
There was a tentative little nudge in my womb。
It's okay。 We're okay；I thought toward the bump。
Edward turned me around； pulling me into his arms。 I rested my head on his shoulder。 My hands；
instinctively； folded over my stomach。
I heard a little gasp and I looked up。
The woman was still there； hesitating in the doorway with her hands half…outstretched as if she had been
looking for some way to help。 Her eyes were locked on my hands； popping wide with shock。 Her mouth
hung open。
Then Edward gasped； too； and he suddenly turned to face the woman； pushing me slightly behind his
body。 His arm wrapped across my torso； like he was holding me back。
Suddenly； Kaure was shouting at him—loudly； furiously； her unintelligible words flying across the room
like knives。 She raised her tiny fist in the air and took two steps forward； shaking it at him。 Despite her
ferocity； it was easy to see the terror in her eyes。
Edward stepped toward her； too； and I clutched at his arm； frightened for the woman。 But when he
interrupted her tirade； his voice took me by surprise； especially considering how sharp he'd been with her
when she wasn't screeching at him。 It was low now； it was pleading。 Not only that； but the sound was
different； more guttural； the cadence off。 I didn't think he was speaking Portuguese anymore。
For a moment； the woman stared at him in wonder； and then her eyes narrowed as she barked out a
long question in the same alien tongue。
I watched as his face grew sad and serious； and he nodded once。 She took a quick step back and
crossed herself。
He reached out to her； gesturing toward me and then resting his hand against my cheek。 She replied
angrily again； waving her hands accusingly toward him； and then gestured to him。 When she finished； he
pleaded again with the same low； urgent voice。
Her expression changed—she stared at him with doubt plain on her face as he spoke； her eyes
repeatedly flashing to my confused face。 He stopped speaking； and she seemed to be deliberating
something。 She looked back and forth between the two of us； and then； unconsciously it seemed； took a
step forward。
She made a motion with her hands； miming a shape like a balloon jutting out from her stomach。 I started
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—did her legends of the predatory blood…drinker include this？ Could she possibly know something
about what was growing inside me？
She walked a few steps forward deliberately this time and asked a few brief questions； which he
responded to tensely。 Then he became the questioner—one quick query。 She hesitated and then slowly
shook her head。 When he spoke again； his voice was so agonized that I looked up at him in shock。 His
face was drawn with pain。
In answer； she walked slowly forward until she was close enough to lay her small hand on top of mine；
over my stomach。 She spoke one word in Portuguese。
〃Morte；〃she sighed quietly。 Then she turned； her shoulders bent as if the conversation had aged her； and
left the room。
I knew enough Spanish for that one。
Edward was frozen again； staring after her with the tortured expression fixed on his face。 A few
moments later； I heard a boat's engine putter to life and then fade into the distance。
Edward did not move until I started for the bathroom。 Then his hand caught my shoulder。
〃Where are you going？〃 His voice was a whisper of pain。
〃To brush my teeth again。〃
〃Don't worry about what she said。 It's nothing but legends； old lies for the sake of entertainment。〃
〃I didn't understand anything；〃 I told him； though it wasn't entirely true。 As if I could discount something
because it was a legend。 My life was circled by legend on every side。 They were all true。
〃I packed your toothbru