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It can't possibly be. This isn't possible. It is utterly impossible.

"Listen to me, you damn leeches. Bella is not with Edward. He doesn't love her. He never did. Bella and I are married. Would you like to see my ring?"

Jake's voice is soft, warm, and ridiculous. He can't believe this. It is as ludicrous as the suggestion I left Edward.

"This isn't the issue, dog. We're here for revenge."

"What do you need revenge for?"

"Our dead mates and hopes, respectively. If you are willing to sacrifice yourself and your pack for Bella, then Irena will simply deal with you… though Edward will still have me to contend with. Are you willing to make that sacrifice?"

I don't even understand the conversation, so I listen. Is Jacob trying to convince them I am no longer a threat to Tanya? How'd he get here? What about Aliene?

I don't get it.

"No. No… I love her… but I can't. I just beg you. Have a little decency. Good-bye."

I hear Jacob's heavy footfalls. The door creaks open and falls closed.

The vampires bicker, loud enough for only my hearing.

Tanya's voice is attractive. "He has a point."

Jane's is even more sparkling. "He's a dog."

"But they're practically family. Look, Irena, if you want to keep going with this, I'll back you up. If Bella's with the dogs now, I don't see any reason to keep fighting for myself… for Edward. I guess I should find a better way to deal with rejection."

"Tanya…"

"No, Kate. She's right. It's time for us to grow up," says a male voice that is not Alec's. I assume it is Carmen's mate, Eleazer.

"We can't be punishing a man for having too much self-control to be tempted. We can't kill our closest friends because I've got hurt feelings. You're right."

It seems my powers shan't be needed at all. That is pleasing. I hope nothing more goes wrong. Of course, it does. That is just the way life works, isn't it. Is there no such thing as rest for the weary? I grimace at the next words.

Jane speaks cruelly, harshly. "The rest of the world already thinks you're fools! Will you let these Cullens taunt you like this? Do you cherish yourselves and your mates so little you'll let them die unpunished?"

"She has a point. Sisters, I've been with many men, but Laurent is the only one I've ever been meant to be with. It was even stronger than what I feel for you, my own dear family. Please, let me revenge my love."

"All right. We're back on."

There are murmurs of agreement.

"That mutt-loving secret-telling Edward first?" Alec proposes coolly.

And it is too much. I can't sit here. This can't happen. I can't let it slip away. I can't watch Jake walk away, having risked his life for me, probably out of guilt. I can't let Edward be hurt. Before I can protest, a syllable escapes.

"NO!"

I can't contain the cry. And I can't let them threaten him. Me, of course. I am nothing. But his life is precious. It must be maintained at all and any costs.

I will allow my own death, but I must save his life.

Nothing matters more. I charge down the stairs before anyone can come up to discover the source of my yell. I will from now on, even if now on is only a few more minutes, live life on my own terms. I am through with waiting.

"Hello."

The seven gorgeous faces turn to me. I see Tanya for the first time, and sob silently… she is so beautiful. She deserves him much more than I ever can. Her golden hair shines subtly reddish, glinting perfectly, showing mirrored features of ideal symmetry and straightness. She looks like a diagram out of a geometry textbook, all straight lines and perfect reflections.

Jane and Alec are sitting side by side. All vampires, I think, are meant to focus their existence on someone. Edward was so lonely for so long because he lived only for Carlisle, when Carlisle had Esme. Before her, Carlisle lived for God. Now, each of my family members lives for their spouse. Alec and Jane, though gifted formidably and living darkly, are little more than children for all their thousand years. Jane, at least, worships Aro like a distant, charming father… but the core of their existence is each other. Their identical faces so close together is almost too much beauty to bear. This is what angels look like… two twin cherubs smiling in demonic hate, an emotion one can scarcely notice beyond their perfect faces.

Carmen is dark-haired, her skin sallow beneath the vampire pale. She holds hands with a black-haired male of similar coloring and exceptionally large nose. In a human, it would be most unattractive. However, the protruding feature is so perfectly framed it merely adds to the distinction of his features. They are truly a perfect couple… similar enough in appearance that they're cute together, unlike enough they don't seem siblings.

I don't know which is Irena and which is Kate, though I'd guess from the hate open in the shorter woman's eyes that Irena is the one with white-blonde hair. She has plucked eyebrows, a tiny nose, and a grimace that would put The Grinch to shame. Her companion is possessed of at least six feet and three more of swinging black hair, draping down a perfectly angled back.

Four red eyes, ten gold, and none of them friendly. I sigh and draw in a thick breath.

"I'm Bella. As you may have guessed, I didn't marry Jake. Actually, I'm engaged to Edward. I'm a vampire, obviously. And I'd really love it if none of you killed my family."

I reinforce these words in their minds, each of which becomes blank and supple under my touch. No hate. You don't hate us. None of this ever happened.

A moment passes. I hope and pray it has been enough.

It hasn't.

Jane is the first to leap.

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