 thoughts.

Relief again. If it had been the Volturi, we were both dead. But with Victoria, it didnt have to beboth. Edward could survive this. He was a good fighter, as good as Jasper. If she didnt bring too many others, he could fight his way out, back to his family. Edward was faster than anyone. He could make it.

I was so glad hed sent Seth away. Of course, there was no one Seth could run to for help. Victoria had timed her decision perfectly. But at least Seth was safe; I couldnt see the huge sandy wolf in my head when I thought his name  just the gangly fifteen-year-old boy.

Edwards body shifted  only infinitesimally, but it told me where to look. I stared at the black shadows of the forest.

It was like having my nightmares walk forward to greet me.

Two vampires edged slowly into the small opening of our camp, eyes intent, missing nothing. They glistened like diamonds in the sun.

I could barely look at the blond boy  yes, he was just a boy, though he was muscular and tall, maybe my age when he was changed. His eyes  a more vivid red than I had ever seen before  could not hold mine. Though he was closest to Edward, the nearest danger, I could not watch him.

Because, a few feet to the side and a few feet back, Victoria was staring at me.

Her orange hair was brighter than Id remembered, more like a flame. There was no wind here, but the fire around her face seemed to shimmer slightly, as if it were alive.

Her eyes were black with thirst. She did not smile, as she always had in my nightmares  her lips were pressed into a tight line. There was a striking feline quality to the way she held her coiled body, a lioness waiting for an opening to spring. Her restless, wild gaze flickered between Edward and me, but never rested on him for more than a half-second. She could not keep her eyes from my face any more than I could keep mine from hers.

Tension rolled off of her, nearly visible in the air. I could feel the desire, the all-consuming passion that held her in its grip. Almost as if I could hear her thoughts, too, I knew what she was thinking.

She was so close to what she wanted  the focus of her whole existence for more than a year now was justso close.

My death.

Her plan was as obvious as it was practical. The big blond boy would attack Edward. As soon as Edward was sufficiently distracted, Victoria would finish me.

It would be quick  she had no time for games here  but it would be thorough. Something that it would be impossible to recover from. Something that even vampire venom could not repair.

Shed have to stop my heart. Perhaps a hand shoved through my chest, crushing it. Something along those lines.

My heart beat furiously, loudly, as if to make her target more obvious.

An immense distance away, from far across the black forest, a wolfs howl echoed in the still air. With Seth gone, there was no way to interpret the sound.

The blond boy looked at Victoria from the corner of his eye, waiting on her command.

He was young in more ways than one. I guessed from his brilliant crimson irises that he couldnt have been a vampire for very long. He would be strong, but inept. Edward would know how to fight him. Edward would survive.

Victoria jerked her chin toward Edward, wordlessly ordering the boy forward.

Riley, Edward said in a soft, pleading voice.

The blond boy froze, his red eyes widening.

Shes lying to you, Riley, Edward told him. Listen to me. Shes lying to you just like she lied to the others who are dying now in the clearing. You know that shes lied to them, that she hadyou lie to them, that neither of you were ever going to help them. Is it so hard to believe that shes lied to you, too?

Confusion swept across Rileys face.

Edward shifted a few inches to the side, and Riley automatically compensated with an adjustment of his own.

She doesnt love you, Riley. Edwards soft voice was compelling, almost hypnotic. She never has. She loved someone named James, and youre no more than a tool to her.

When he said Jamess name, Victorias lips pulled back in a teeth-baring grimace. Her eyes stayed locked on me.

Riley cast a frantic glance in her direction.

Riley? Edward said.

Riley automatically refocused on Edward.

She knows that I will kill you, Riley. Shewants you to die so that she doesnt have to keep up the pretense anymore. Yes  youve seen that, havent you? Youve read the reluctance in her eyes, suspected a false note in her promises. You were right. Shes never wanted you. Every kiss, every touch was a lie.

Edward moved again, moved a few inches toward the boy, a few inches away from me.

Victorias gaze zeroed in on the gap between us. It would take her less than a second to kill me  she only needed the tiniest margin of opportunity.

Slower this time, Riley repositioned himself.

You dont have to die, Edward promised, his eyes holding the boys. There are other ways to live than the way shes shown you. Its not all lies and blood, Riley. You can walk away right now. You dont have to die for her lies.

Edward slid his feet forward and to the side. There was a foot of space between us now. Riley circled too far, overcompensating this time. Victoria leaned forward onto the balls of her feet.

Last chance, Riley, Edward whispered.

Rileys face was desperate as he looked to Victoria for answers.

Hes the liar, Riley, Victoria said, and my mouth fell open in shock at the sound of her voice. I told you about their mind tricks. You know I love only you.

Her voice was not the strong, wild, catlike growl I would have put with her face and stance. It was soft, it was high  a babyish, soprano tinkling. The kind of voice that went with blond curls and pink bubble gum. It made no sense coming through her bared, glistening teeth.

Rileys jaw tightened, and he squared his shoulders. His eyes emptied  there was no more confusion, no more suspicion. There was no thought at all. He tensed himself to attack.

Victorias body seemed to be trembling, she was so tightly wound. Her fingers were ready claws, waiting for Edward to move just one more inch away from me.

The snarl came from none of them.

A mammoth tan shape flew through the center of the opening, throwing Riley to the ground.

No! Victoria cried, her baby voice shrill with disbelief.

A yard and a half in front of me, the huge wolf ripped and tore at the blond vampire beneath him. Something white and hard smacked into the rocks by my feet. I cringed away from it.

Victoria did not spare one glance for the boy shed just pledged her love to. Her eyes were still on me, filled with a disappointment so ferocious that she looked deranged.

No, she said again, through her teeth, as Edward started to move toward her, blocking her path to me.

Riley was on his feet again, looking misshapen and haggard, but he was able to fling a vicious kick into Seths shoulder. I heard the bone crunch. Seth backed off and started to circle, limping. Riley had his arms out, ready, though he seemed to be missing part of one hand. . . .

Only a few yards away from that fight, Edward and Victoria were dancing.

Not quite circling, because Edward was not allowing her to position herself closer to me. She sashayed back, moving from side to side, trying to find a hole in his defense. He shadowed her footwork lithely, stalking her with perfect concentration. He began to move just a fraction of a secondbefore she moved, reading her intentions in her thoughts.

Seth lunged at Riley from the side, and something tore with a hideous, grating screech. Another heavy white chunk flew into the forest with a thud. Riley roared in fury, and Seth skipped back  amazingly light on his feet for his size  as Riley took a swipe at him with one mangled hand.

Victoria was weaving through the tree trunks at the far end of the little opening now. She was torn, her feet pulling her toward safety while her eyes yearned toward me as if I were a magnet, reeling her in. I could see the burning desire to kill warring with her survival instinct.
