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　of　attention。　I　could　sense　her　shyness　from　the　way　she　held　her　fraillooking　shoulders；　slightly　hunched；　as　if　she　was　expecting　a　rebuff　at　any　moment。　And　yet　I　could　only　sense；　could　only　see；　could　only　imagine。　There　was　nothing　but　silence　from　the　very　unexceptional　human　girl。　I　could　hear　nothing。　Why？　Shall　we？　Rosalie　murmured；　interrupting　my　focus。　I　looked　away　from　the　girl　with　a　sense　of　relief。　I　didn　t　want　to　continue　to　fail　at　this　it　irritated　me。　And　I　didn　t　want　to　develop　any　interest　in　her　hidden　thoughts　simply　because　they　were　hidden　from　me。　No　doubt；　when　I　did　decipher　her　thoughts　and　I　would　find　a　way　to　do　so　they　would　be　just　as　petty　and　trivial　as　any　human　s　thoughts。　Not　worth　the　effort　I　would　expend　to　reach　them。　So；　is　the　new　one　afraid　of　us　yet？　Emmett　asked；　still　waiting　for　my　response　to　his　question　before。　I　shrugged。　He　wasn　t　interested　enough　to　press　for　a　more　information。　should　I　be　interested。　We　got　up　from　the　table　and　walked　out　of　the　cafeteria。　Emmett；　Rosalie；　and　Jasper　were　pretending　to　be　seniors；　they　left　for　their　classes。　I　was　playing　a　younger　role　than　they。　I　headed　off　for　my　junior　level　biology　class；　preparing　my　mind　for　the　tedium。　It　was　doubtful　Mr。　Banner；　a　man　of　no　more　than　average　intellect；　would　manage　to　pull　out　anything　in　his　lecture　that　would　surprise　someone　holding　two　graduate　degrees　in　medicine。　Nor

In　the　classroom；　I　settled　into　my　chair　and　let　my　books　props；　again；　they　held　nothing　I　didn　t　already　know　spill　across　the　table。　I　was　the　only　student　who　had　a　table　to　himself。　The　humans　weren　t　smart　enough　to　know　that　they　feared　me；　but　their　survival　instincts　were　enough　to　keep　them　away。　The　room　slowly　filled　as　they　trickled　in　from　lunch。　I　leaned　back　in　my　chair　and　waited　for　the　time　to　pass。　Again；　I　wished　I　was　able　to　sleep。　Because　I　d　been　thinking　about　her；　when　Angela　Weber　escorted　the　new　girl　through　the　door；　her　name　intruded　on　my　attention。　Bella　seems　just　as　shy　as　me。　I　ll　bet　today　is　really　hard　for　her。　could　say　something　but　it　would　probably　just　sound　stupid　Yes！　I　wish　I　Mike　Newton　thought；　turning　in　his　seat　to　watch　the　girls　enter。　The　empty　space　where　her　Still；　from　the　place　where　Bella　Swan　stood；　nothing。　thoughts　should　be　irritated　and　unnerved　me。　She　came　closer；　walking　down　the　aisle　beside　me　to　get　to　the　teacher　s　desk。　Poor　girl；　the　seat　next　to　me　was　the　only　one　available。　Automatically；　I　cleared　what　would　be　her　side　of　the　desk；　shoving　my　books　into　a　pile。　I　doubted　she　would　feel　very　fortable　there。　She　was　in　for　a　long　semester　in　this　class；　at　least。　Perhaps；　though；　sitting　beside　her；　I　d　be　able　to　flush　out　her　secrets　not　that　I　d　ever　needed　close　proximity　before　not　that　I　would　find　anything　worth　listening　to　Bella　Swan　walked　into　the　flow　of　the　heated　air　that　blew　toward　me　from　the　vent。　Her　scent　hit　me　like　wrecking　ball；　like　a　battering　ram。　There　was　no　image　violent　enough　to　encapsulate　the　force　of　what　happened　to　me　in　that　moment。　In　that　instant；　I　was　nothing　close　to　the　human　I　d　once　been；　no　trace　of　the　shreds　of　humanity　I　d　managed　to　cloak　myself　in　remained。　I　was　a　predator。　that　truth。　She　was　my　prey。　There　was　nothing　else　in　the　whole　world　but　There　was　no　room　full　of　witnesses　they　were　already　collateral　damage　in　my　head。　The　mystery　of　her　thoughts　was　forgotten。　Her　thoughts　meant　nothing；　for　she　would　not　go　on　thinking　them　much　longer。　I　was　a　vampire；　and　she　had　the　sweetest　blood　I　d　smelled　in　eighty　years。　I　hadn　t　imagined　such　a　scent　could　exist。　If　I　d　known　it　did；　I　would　have　gone　searching　for　it　long　ago。　I　would　have　bed　the　pla　for　her。　I　could　imagine　the　taste　Thirst　burned　through　my　throat　like　fire。　My　mouth　was　baked　and　desiccated。　The　fresh　flow　of　venom　did　nothing　to　dispel　that　sensation。　My　stomach　twisted　with　the　hunger　that　was　an　echo　of　the　thirst。　My　muscles　coiled　to　spring。　Not　a　full　second　had　passed。　downwind　from　me。　She　was　still　taking　the　same　step　that　had　put　her　As　her　foot　touched　the　ground；　her　eyes　slid　toward　me；　a　movement　she　clearly

meant　to　be　stealthy。　mirror　of　her　eyes。　Her　glance　met　mine；　and　I　saw　myself　reflected　in　the　wide　The　shock　of　the　face　I　saw　there　saved　her　life　for　a　few　thorny　moments。　She　didn　t　make　it　easier。　When　she　processed　the　expression　on　my　face；　blood　flooded　her　cheeks　again；　turning　her　skin　the　most　delicious　color　I　d　ever　seen。　The　scent　was　a　thick　haze　in　my　brain。　I　could　barely　think　through　it。　My　thoughts　raged；　resisting　control；　incoherent。　She　walked　more　quickly　now；　as　if　she　understood　the　need　to　escape。　Her　haste　made　her　clumsy　she　tripped　and　stumbled　forward；　almost　falling　into　the　girl　seated　in　front　of　me。　Vulnerable；　weak。　Even　more　than　usual　for　a　human。　I　tried　to　focus　on　the　face　I　d　seen　in　her　eyes；　a　face　I　recognized　with　revulsion。　The　face　of　the　monster　in　me　the　face　I　d　beaten　back　with　decades　of　effort　and　unpromising　discipline。　How　easily　it　sprang　to　the　surface　now！　The　scent　swirled　around　me　again；　scattering　my　thoughts　and　nearly　propelling　me　out　of　my　seat。　No。　My　hand　gripped　under　the　edge　of　the　table　as　I　tried　to　hold　myself　in　my　chair。　The　wood　was　not　up　to　the　task。　My　hand　crushed　through　the　strut　and　came　away　with　a　palmful　of　splintered　pulp；　leaving　the　shape　of　my　fingers　carved　into　the　remaining　wood。　Destroy　evidence。　That　was　a　fundamental　rule。　I　quickly　pulverized　the　edges　of　the　shape　with　my　fingertips；　leaving　nothing　but　a　ragged　hole　and　a　pile　of　shavings　on　the　floor；　which　I　scattered　with　my　foot。　Destroy　evidence。　Collateral　damage　。　The　girl　would　have　to　e　sit　beside　me；　and　I　I　knew　what　had　to　happen　now。　would　have　to　kill　her。　The　innocent　bystanders　in　this　classroom；　eighteen　other　children　and　one　man；　could　not　be　allowed　to　leave　this　room；　having　seen　what　they　would　soon　see。　I　flinched　at　the　thought　of　what　I　must　do。　Even　at　my　very　worst；　I　had　never　mitted　this　kind　of　atrocity。　I　had　never　killed　innocents；　not　in　over　eight　decades。　And　now　I　planned　to　slaughter　twenty　of　them　at　once。　The　face　of　the　monster　in　the　mirror　mocked　me。　Even　as　part　of　me　shuddered　away　from　the　monster；　another　part　was　planning　it。　If　I　killed　the　girl　first；　I　would　have　only　fifteen　or　twenty　seconds　with　her　before　the　humans　in　the　room　would　react。　Maybe　a　little　bit　longer；　if　at　first　they　did　not　realize　what　I　was　doing。　She　would　not　have　time　to　scream　or　feel　pain；　I　would　not　kill　her　cruelly。　That　much　I　could　give　this　stranger　with　her　horribly　desirable　blood。　But　then　I　would　have　to　stop　them　from　escaping。　I　wouldn　t　have　to　worry　about　the　windows；　too　high　up　and　small　to　provide　an　escape　for　anyone。　Just　the

door　block　that　and　they　were　trapped。　It　would　be　slower　and　more　difficult；　trying　to　take　them　all　down　when　they　were　panicked　and　scrambling；　moving　in　chaos。　Not　impossible；　but　there　would　be　much　more　noise。　Time　for　lots　of　screaming。　Someone　would　hear　and　I　d　be　forced　to　kill　even　more　innocents　in　this　black　hour。　And　her　blood　would　cool；　while　I　murdered　the　others。　The　scent　punished　me；　closing　my　throat　with　dry　aching　So　the　witnesses　first　then。　I　mapped　it　out　in　my　head。　I　was　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　the　furthest　row　in　the　back。　I　would　take　my　right　side　first。　I　could　snap　four　or　five　of　their　necks　per　second；　I　estimated。　It　would　not　be　noisy。　The　right　side　would　be　the　lucky　side；　they　would　not　see　me　ing。　Moving　around　the　front　and　back　up　the　left　side；　it　would　take　me；　at　most；　five　seconds　to　end　every　life　in　this　room。　Long　enough　for　Bella　Swan　to　see；　briefly；　what　was　ing　for　her。　Long　enough　for　her　to　feel　fear。　Long　enough；　maybe；　if　shock　didn　t　freeze　her　in　place；　for　her　to　work　up　a　scream。　One　soft　scream　that　would　not　bring　anyone　running。　I　took　a　deep　breath；　and　the　scent　was　a　fire　that　raced　through　my　dry　veins；　burning　out　from　my　chest　to　consume　every　better　impulse　that　I　was　capable　of。　She　was　just　turning　now。　me。　In　a　few　seconds；　she　would　sit　down　inches　away　from　The　monster　in　my　head　smiled　in　anticipation。　Someone　slammed　shut　a　folder　on　my　left。　I　didn　t　look　up　to　see　which　of　the　doomed　humans　it　was。　But　the　motion　sent　a　wave　of　ordinary；　unscented　air　wafting　across　my　face。　For　one　short　second；　I　was　able　to　think　clearly。　two　faces　in　my　head；　side　by　side。　In　that　precious　second；　I　saw　One　was　mine；　or　rather　had　been：　the　redeyed　monster　that　had　killed　so　many　people　that　I　d　stop　counting　their　numbers。　Rationalized；　justified　murders。　A　killer　of　killers；　a　killer　of　other；　less　powerful　monsters。　It　was　a　god　plex；　I　acknowledged　that　deciding　who　deserved　a　death　sentence。　It　was　a　promise　with　myself。　I　had　fed　on　human　blood；　but　only　by　the　loosest　definition。　My　victims　were；　in　their　various　dark　pastimes；　barely　more　human　than　I　was。　The　other　face　was　Carlisle　s。　There　was　no　resemblance　between　the　two　faces。　night。　They　were　bright　day　and　blackest　There　was　no　reason　for　there　to　be　a　resemblance。　Carlisle　was　not　my　father　in　the　basic　biological　sense。　We　shared　no　mon　features。　The　similarity　in　our　coloring　was　a　product　of　what　we　were；　every　vampire　had　the　same　ice　pale　skin。　The　similarity　in　the　color　of　our　eyes　was　another　matter　a　reflection　of　a　mutual　choice。　And　yet；　though　there　was　no　basis　for　a　resemblance；　I　d　imagined　that　my　face　had　begun　to　reflect　his；　to　an　extent；　in　the　last　seventyodd　years　that　I　had

embraced　his　choice　and　followed　in　his　steps。　My　features　had　not　changed；　but　it　seemed　to　me　like　some　of　his　wisdom　had　marked　my　expression；　that　a　little　of　his　passion　could　be　traced　in　the　shape　of　my　mouth；　and　hints　of　his　patience　were　evident　on　my　brow。　All　those　tiny　improvements　were　lost　in　the　face　of　the　monster。　In　a　few　moments；　there　would　be　nothing　left　in　me　that　would　reflect　the　years　I　d　spent　with　my　creator；　my　mentor；　my　father　in　all　the　ways　that　counted。　My　eyes　would　glow　red　as　a　devil　s；　all　likeness　would　be　lost　forever。　In　my　head；　Carlisle　s　kind　eyes　did　not　judge　me。　I　knew　that　he　would　forgive　me　for　this　horrible　act　that　I　would　do。　Because　he　loved　me。　Because　he　thought　I　was　better　than　I　was。　And　he　would　still　love　me；　even　as　I　now　proved　him　wrong。　Bella　Swan　sat　down　in　the　chair　next　to　me；　her　movements　stiff　and　awkward　with　fear？　and　the　scent　of　her　blood　bloomed　in　an　inexorable　cloud　around　me。　I　would　prove　my　father　wrong　about　me。　much　as　the　fire　in　my　throat。　The　misery　of　this　fact　hurt　almost　as　I　leaned　away　from　her　in　revulsion　revolted　by　the　monster　aching　to　take　her。　Why　did　she　have　to　e　here？　Why　did　she　have　to　exist？　Why　did　she　have　to　ruin　the　little　peace　I　had　in　this　nonlife　of　mine？　Why　had　this　aggravating　human　ever　been　born？　She　would　ruin　me。　I　turned　my　face　away　from　her；　as　a　sudden　fierce；　unreasoning　hatred　washed　through　me。　Who　was　this　creature？　Why　me；　why　now？　Why　did　I　have　to　lose　everything　just　because　she　happened　to　choose　this　unlikely　town　to　appear　in？　Why　had　she　e　here！　I　didn　t　want　to　be　the　monster！　I　didn　t　want　to　kill　this　room　full　of　harmless　children！　I　didn　t　want　to　lose　everything　I　d　gained　in　a　lifetime　of　sacrifice　and　denial！　I　wouldn　t。　She　couldn　t　make　me。　The　scent　was　the　problem；　the　hideously　appealing　scent　of　her　blood。　If　there　was　only　some　way　to　resist　if　only　another　gust　of　fresh　air　could　clear　my　head。　Bella　Swan　shook　out　her　long；　thick；　mahogany　hair　in　my　direction。　Was　she　insane？　It　was　as　if　she　were　encouraging　the　monster！　Taunting　him。　All　would　soon　There　was　no　friendly　breeze　to　blow　the　smell　away　from　me　now。　be　lost。　No；　there　was　no　helpful　breeze。　But　I　didn　t　have　to　breathe。　I　stopped　the　flow　of　air　through　my　lungs；　the　relief　was　instantaneous；　but　inplete。　I　still　had　the　memory　of　the　scent　in　my　head；　the　taste　of　it　on　the　back　of　my　tongue。　I　wouldn　t　be　able　to　resist　even　that　for　long。　But　perhaps　I　could　resist　for　an　hour。　One　hour。　Just　enough　time　to　get　out　of

this　room　full　of　victims；　victims　that　maybe　didn　t　have　to　be　victims。　could　resist　for　one　short　hour。　If　I　It　was　an　unfortable　feeling；　not　breathing。　My　body　did　not　need　oxygen；　but　it　went　against　my　instincts。　I　relied　on　scent　more　than　my　other　senses　in　times　of　stress。　It　led　the　way　in　the　hunt；　it　was　the　first　warning　in　case　of　danger。　I　did　not　often　came　across　something　as　dangerous　as　I　was；　but　selfpreservation　was　just　as　strong　in　my　kind　as　it　was　in　the　average　human。　Unfortable；　but　manageable。　More　bearable　than　smelling　her　and　not　sinking　my　teeth　through　that　fine；　thin；　seethrough　skin　to　the　hot；　wet；　pulsing　An　hour！　Just　one　hour。　I　must　not　think　of　the　scent；　the　taste。　The　silent　girl　kept　her　hair　between　us；　leaning　forward　so　that　it　spilled　across　her　folder。　I　couldn　t　see　her　face；　to　try　to　read　the　emotions　in　her　clear；　deep　eyes。　Was　this　why　she　d　let　her　tresses　fan　out　between　us？　To　hide　those　eyes　from　me？　Out　of　fear？　Shyness？　To　keep　her　secrets　from　me？　My　former　irritation　at　being　stymied　by　her　soundless　thoughts　was　weak　and　pale　in　parison　to　the　need　and　the　hate　that　possessed　me　now。　For　I　hated　this　frail　womanchild　beside　me；　hated　her　with　all　the　fervor　with　which　I　clung　to　my　former　self；　my　love　of　my　family；　my　dreams　of　being　something　better　than　what　I　was　Hating　her；　hating　how　she　made　me　feel　it　helped　a　little。　Yes；　the　irritation　I　d　felt　before　was　weak；　but　it；　too；　helped　a　little。　I　clung　to　any　emotion　that　distracted　me　from　imagining　what　she　would　taste　like　Hate　and　irritation。　Impatience。　Would　the　hour　never　pass？　And　I　would　do　And　when　the　hour　ended　what？　I　could　introduce　myself。　your　next　class？　Then　she　would　walk　out　of　this　room。　Hello；　my　name　is　Edward　Cullen。　May　I　walk　you　to　She　would　say　yes。　It　would　be　the　polite　thing　to　do。　Even　already　fearing　me；　as　I　suspected　she　did；　she　would　follow　convention　and　walk　beside　me。　It　should　be　easy　enough　to　lead　her　in　the　wrong　direction。　A　spur　of　the　forest　reached　out　like　a　finger　to　touch　the　back　corner　of　the　parking　lot。　I　could　tell　her　I　d　forgotten　a　book　in　my　car　Would　anyone　notice　that　I　was　the　last　person　she　d　been　seen　with？　It　was　raining；　as　usual；　two　dark　raincoats　heading　the　wrong　direction　wouldn　t　pique　too　much　interest；　or　give　me　away。　Except　that　I　was　not　the　only　student　who　was　aware　of　her　today　though　no　one　was　as　blisteringly　aware　as　I　was。　Mike　Newton；　in　particular；　was　conscious　of　every　shift　in　her　weight　as　she　fidgeted　in　her　chair　she　was　unfortable　so　close　to　me；　just　as　anyone　would　be；　just　as　I　d　expected　before　her　scent　had　destroyed　all　charitable　concern。　Mike　Newton　would　notice　if　she　left　the　classroom　with　me。　If　I　could　last　an　hour；　could　I　last　two？

I　flinched　at　the　pain　of　the　burning。　She　would　go　home　to　his　house；　as　I　knew　against　thick　woods；　which　she　would　not；　an　empty　house。　Police　Chief　Swan　worked　a　full　day。　I　knew　every　house　in　the　tiny　town。　His　home　was　nestled　right　up　with　no　close　neighbors。　Even　if　she　had　time　to　scream；　there　would　be　no　one　to　hear。　That　would　be　the　responsible　way　to　deal