 with stress.

Then letsgo,  Emmett almost roared. What are we waiting for?

Carlisle and Edward exchanged a long glance. Edward nodded once.

Well need you to teach us, Jasper, Carlisle finally said. How to destroy them. Carlisles jaw was hard, but I could see the pain in his eyes as he said the words. No one hated violence more than Carlisle.

There was something bothering me, and I couldnt put my finger on it. I was numb, horrified, deathly afraid. And yet, under that, I could feel that I was missing something important. Something that would make some sense out of the chaos. That would explain it.

Were going to need help, Jasper said. Do you think Tanyas family would be willing . . . ? Another five mature vampires would make an enormous difference. And then Kate and Eleazar would be especially advantageous on our side. It would be almost easy, with their aid.

Well ask, Carlisle answered.

Jasper held out a cell phone. We need to hurry.

Id never seen Carlisles innate calm so shaken. He took the phone, and paced toward the windows. He dialed a number, held the phone to his ear, and laid the other hand against the glass. He stared out into the foggy morning with a pained and ambivalent expression.

Edward took my hand and pulled me to the white loveseat. I sat beside him, staring at his face while he stared at Carlisle.

Carlisles voice was low and quick, difficult to hear. I heard him greet Tanya, and then he raced through the situation too fast for me to understand much, though I could tell that the Alaskan vampires were not ignorant of what was going on in Seattle.

Then something changed in Carlisles voice.

Oh, he said, his voice sharper in surprise. We didnt realize . . . that Irina felt that way.

Edward groaned at my side and closed his eyes. Damn it. Damn Laurent to the deepest pit of hell where he belongs.

Laurent? I whispered, the blood emptying from my face, but Edward didnt respond, focused on Carlisles thoughts.

My short encounter with Laurent early this spring was not something that had faded or dimmed in my mind. I still remembered every word hed said before Jacob and his pack had interrupted.

I actually came here as a favor to her. . . .

Victoria. Laurent had been her first maneuver  shed sent him to observe, to see how hard it might be to get to me. He hadnt survived the wolves to report back.

Though hed kept up his old ties with Victoria after Jamess death, hed also formed new ties and new relationships. Hed gone to live with Tanyas family in Alaska  Tanya the strawberry blonde  the closest friends the Cullens had in the vampire world, practically extended family. Laurent had been with them for almost a year previous to his death.

Carlisle was still talking, his voice not quite pleading. Persuasive, but with an edge. Then the edge abruptly won out over the persuasion.

Theres no question of that, Carlisle said in a stern voice. We have a truce. They havent broken it, and neither will we. Im sorry to hear that. . . . Of course. Well just have to do our best alone.

Carlisle shut the phone without waiting for an answer. He continued to stare out into the fog.

Whats the problem? Emmett murmured to Edward.

Irina was more involved with our friend Laurent than we knew. Shes holding a grudge against the wolves for destroying him to save Bella. She wants  He paused, looking down at me.

Go on, I said as evenly as I could.

His eyes tightened. She wants revenge. To take down the pack. They would trade their help for our permission.

No! I gasped.

Dont worry, he told me in a flat voice. Carlisle would never agree to it. He hesitated, then sighed. Nor would I. Laurent had it coming  this was almost a growl  and I still owe the wolves for that.

This isnt good, Jasper said. Its too even a fight. Wed have the upper hand in skill, but not numbers. Wed win, but at what price? His tense eyes flashed to Alices face and away.

I wanted to scream out loud as I grasped what Jasper meant.

We would win, but we would lose. Some wouldnt survive.

I looked around the room at their faces  Jasper, Alice, Emmett, Rose, Esme, Carlisle . . . Edward  the faces of my family.




14. DECLARATION

YOU CANT BE SERIOUS, I SAID WEDNESDAY AFTERnoon. Youve completely lost your mind!

Say whatever you like about me, Alice answered. The party is still on.

I stared at her, my eyes so wide with disbelief it felt like they might fall out and land on my lunch tray.

Oh, calm down, Bella! Theres no reason not to go through with it. Besides, the invitations are already sent.

But . . . the . . . you . . . I . . . insane! I spluttered.

Youve already bought my present, she reminded me. You dont have to do anything but show up.

I made an effort to calm myself. With everything that is going on right now, a party is hardly appropriate.

Graduation is whats going on right now, and a party is so appropriate its almost pass.

Alice!

She sighed, and tried to be serious. There are a few things we need to get in order now, and thats going to take a little time. As long as were sitting here waiting, we might as well commemorate the good stuff. Youre only going to graduate from high school  for the first time  once. You dont get to be human again, Bella. This is a once-in-a-lifetime shot.

Edward, silent through our little argument, flashed her a warning look. She stuck out her tongue at him. She was right  her soft voice would never carry over the babble of the cafeteria. And no one would understand the meaning behind her words in any case.

What few things do we need to get in order? I asked, refusing to be sidetracked.

Edward answered in a low voice. Jasper thinks we could use some help. Tanyas family isnt the only choice we have. Carlisles trying to track down a few old friends, and Jasper is looking up Peter and Charlotte. Hes considering talking to Maria . . . but no one really wants to involve the southerners.

Alice shuddered delicately.

It shouldnt be too hard to convince them to help, he continued. Nobody wants a visit from Italy.

But these friends  theyre not going to be . . .vegetarians, right? I protested, using the Cullens tongue-in-cheek nickname for themselves.

No, Edward answered, suddenly expressionless.

Here? In Forks?

Theyre friends, Alice reassured me. Everythings going to be fine. Dont worry. And then, Jasper has to teach us a few courses on newborn elimination. . . .

Edwards eyes brightened at that, and a brief smile flashed across his face. My stomach suddenly felt like it was full of sharp little splinters of ice.

When are you going? I asked in a hollow voice. I couldnt stand this  the idea that someone might not come back. What if it was Emmett, so brave and thoughtless that he was never the least bit cautious? Or Esme, so sweet and motherly that I couldnt even imagine her in a fight? Or Alice, so tiny, so fragile-looking? Or . . . but I couldnt even think the name, consider the possibility.

A week, Edward said casually. That ought to give us enough time.

The icy splinters twisted uncomfortably in my stomach. I was suddenly nauseated.

You look kind of green, Bella, Alice commented.

Edward put his arm around me and pulled me tightly against his side. Its going to be fine, Bella. Trust me.

Sure,I thought to myself. Trust him. He wasnt the one who was going to have to sit behind and wonder whether or not the core of his existence was going to come home.

And then it occurred to me. Maybe I didnt need to sit behind. A week was more than enough time.

Youre looking for help, I said slowly.

Yes. Alices head cocked to the side as she processed the change in my tone.

I looked only at her as I answered. My voice was just slightly louder than a whisper. Icould help.

Edwards body was suddenly rigid, his arm too tight around me. He exhaled, and the sound was a hiss.

But it was Alice, still calm, who answered. That 