e version of it. But Jane and Edward and Aro and Demetri  they workinside the mind. Jane only creates an illusion of pain. She doesnt really hurt your body, you only think you feel it. You see, Bella? You are safe inside your mind. No one can reach you there. Its no wonder that Aro was so curious about your future abilities.

She watched my face to see if I was following her logic. In truth, her words had all started to run together, the syllables and sounds losing their meaning. I couldnt concentrate on them. Still, I nodded. Trying to look like I got it.

She wasnt fooled. She stroked my cheek and murmured, Hes going to be okay, Bella. I dont need a vision to know that. Are you ready to go?

One more thing. Can I ask you another question about the future? I dont want specifics, just an overview.

Ill do my best, she said, doubtful again.

Can you still see me becoming a vampire?

Oh, thats easy. Sure, I do.

I nodded slowly.

She examined my face, her eyes unfathomable. Dont you know your own mind, Bella?

I do. I just wanted to be sure.

Im only as sure as you are, Bella. You know that. If you were to change your mind, what I see would change . . . or disappear, in your case.

I sighed. That isnt going to happen, though.

She put her arms around me. Im sorry. I cant reallyempathize. My first memory is of seeing Jaspers face in my future; I always knew that he was where my life was headed. But I cansympathize. Im so sorry you have to choose between two good things.

I shook off her arms. Dont feel sorry for me. There were people who deserved sympathy. I wasnt one of them. And there wasnt any choice to make  there was just breaking a good heart to attend to now. Ill go deal with Charlie.

I drove my truck home, where Charlie was waiting just as suspiciously as Alice had expected.

Hey, Bella. How was your shopping trip? he greeted me when I walked into the kitchen. He had his arms folded over his chest, his eyes on my face.

Long, I said dully. We just got back.

Charlie assessed my mood. I guess you already heard about Jake, then?

Yes. The rest of the Cullens beat us home. Esme told us where Carlisle and Edward were.

Are you okay?

Worried about Jake. As soon as I make dinner, Im going down to La Push.

I told you those motorcycles were dangerous. I hope this makes you realize that I wasnt kidding around.

I nodded as I started pulling things out of the fridge. Charlie settled himself in at the table. He seemed to be in a more talkative mood than usual.

I dont think you need to worry about Jake too much. Anyone who can cuss with that kind of energy is going to recover.

Jake was awake when you saw him? I asked, spinning to look at him.

Oh, yeah, he was awake. You should have heard him  actually, its better you didnt. I dont think there was anyone in La Push whocouldnt hear him. I dont know where he picked up that vocabulary, but I hope he hasnt been using that kind of language around you.

He had a pretty good excuse today. How did he look?

Messed up. His friends carried him in. Good thing theyre big boys, cause that kids an armful. Carlisle said his right leg is broken, and his right arm. Pretty much the whole right side of his body got crushed when he wrecked that damn bike. Charlie shook his head. If I ever hear of you riding again, Bella 

No problem there, Dad. You wont. Do you really think Jakes okay?

Sure, Bella, dont worry. He was himself enough to tease me.

Tease you? I echoed in shock.

Yeah  in between insulting somebodys mother and taking the Lords name in vain, he said, Bet youre glad she loves Cullen instead of me today, huh, Charlie?

I turned back to the fridge so that he couldnt see my face.

And I couldnt argue. Edwards more mature than Jacob when it comes to your safety, Ill give him that much.

Jacobs plenty mature, I muttered defensively. Im sure this wasnt his fault.

Weird day today, Charlie mused after a minute. You know, I dont put much stock in that superstitious crap, but it was odd. . . . It was like Billy knew something bad was going to happen to Jake. He was nervous as a turkey on Thanksgiving all morning. I dont think he heard anything I said to him.

And then, weirder than that  remember back in February and March when we had all that trouble with the wolves?

I bent down to get a frying pan out of the cupboard, and hid there an extra second or two.

Yeah, I mumbled.

I hope were not going to have a problem with that again. This morning, we were out in the boat, and Billy wasnt paying any attention to me or the fish, when all of a sudden, you could hear wolves yowling in the woods. More than one, and, boy, was it loud. Sounded like they were right there in the village. Weirdest part was, Billy turned the boat around and headed straight back to the harbor like they were calling to him personally. Didnt even hear me ask what he was doing.

The noise stopped before we got the boat docked. But all of a sudden Billy was in the biggest hurry not to miss the game, though we had hours still. He was mumbling some nonsense about an earlier showing . . . of a live game? I tell you, Bella, it was odd.

Well, he found some game he said he wanted to watch, but then he just ignored it. He was on the phone the whole time, calling Sue, and Emily, and your friend Quils grandpa. Couldnt quite make out what he was looking for  he just chatted real casual with them.

Then the howling started again right outside the house. Ive never heard anything like it  I had goose bumps on my arms. I asked Billy  had to shout over the noise  if hed been setting traps in his yard. It sounded like the animal was in serious pain.

I winced, but Charlie was so caught up in his story that he didnt notice.

Course I forgot all about that till just this minute, cause thats when Jake made it home. One minute it was that wolf yowling, and then you couldnt hear it anymore  Jakes cussing drowned it right out. Got a set of lungs on him, that boy does.

Charlie paused for a minute, his face thoughtful. Funny that some good should come out of this mess. I didnt think they were ever going to get over that fool prejudice they have against the Cullens down there. But somebody called Carlisle, and Billy was real grateful when he showed up. I thought we should get Jake up to the hospital, but Billy wanted to keep him home, and Carlisle agreed. I guess Carlisle knows whats best. Generous of him to sign up for such a long stretch of house calls.

And . . . he paused, as if unwilling to say something. He sighed, and then continued. And Edward was really . . . nice. He seemed as worried about Jacob as you are  like that was his brother lying there. The look in his eyes . . . Charlie shook his head. Hes a decent guy, Bella. Ill try to remember that. No promises, though. He grinned at me.

I wont hold you to it, I mumbled.

Charlie stretched his legs and groaned. Its nice to be home. You wouldnt believe how crowded Billys little place gets. Seven of Jakes friends all squished themselves into that little front room  I could hardly breathe. Have you ever noticed how big those Quileute kids all are?

Yeah, I have.

Charlie stared at me, his eyes abruptly more focused. Really, Bella, Carlisle said Jake will be up and around in no time. Said it looked a lot worse than it was. Hes going to be fine.

I just nodded.

Jacob had looked so . . . strangely fragile when Id hurried down to see him as soon as Charlie had left. Hed had braces everywhere  Carlisle said there was no point in plaster, as fast as he was healing. His face had been pale and drawn, deeply unconscious though he was at the time. Breakable. Huge as he was, hed looked very breakable. Maybe that had just been my imagination, coupled with the knowledge that I was going to have to break him.

If only I could be struck by lightning and be split in two. Preferably painfully. For the first time, giving up being human 