until it became a spoken conversation。
〃Can you think of even one exception； though？〃 Edward asked。
I looked over to make sense of his comment and realized that everyone else was already staring at the
two men。 They were leaning toward each other intently； Edward's expression tight with suspicion；
Eleazar's unhappy and reluctant。
〃I don't want to think of them that way；〃 Eleazar said through his teeth。 I was surprised at the sudden
change in the atmosphere。
〃If you're right—；〃 Eleazar began again。
Edward cut him off。 〃The thought was yours； not mine。〃
〃If I'm right。。。 I can't even grasp what that would mean。 It would change everything about the world
we've created。 It would change the meaning of my life。 What I have been a part of。〃
〃Your intentions were always the best； Eleazar。〃
〃Would that even matter？ What have I done？ How many lives 。。。〃
Tanya put her hand on Eleazar's shoulder in a comforting gesture。 〃What did we miss； my friend？ I want
to know so that I can argue with these thoughts。 You've never done anything worth castigating yourself
this way。〃
〃Oh； haven't I？〃 Eleazar muttered。 Then he shrugged out from under her hand and began his pacing
again； faster even than before。
Tanya watched him for half a second and then focused on Edward。 〃Explain。〃
Edward nodded； his tense eyes following Eleazar as he spoke。 〃He was trying to understand why so
many of
the Volturi would come to punish us。 It's not the way they do things。 Certainly； we are the biggest mature
coven they've dealt with； but in the past other covens have joined to protect themselves； and they never
presented much of a challenge despite their numbers。 We are more closely bonded； and that's a factor；
but not a huge one。
〃He was remembering other times that covens have been punished； for one thing or the other； and a
pattern occurred to him。 It was a pattern that the rest of the guard would never have noticed； since
Eleazar was the one passing the pertinent intelligence privately to Aro。 A pattern that only repeated every
other century or so。〃
〃What was this pattern？〃 Carmen asked； watching Eleazar as Edward was。
〃Aro does not often personally attend a punishing expedition；〃 Edward said。 〃But in the past； when Aro
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wanted something in particular； it was never long before evidence turned up proving that this coven or
that coven had committed some unpardonable crime。 The ancients would decide to go along to watch the
guard administer justice。 And then； once the coven was all but destroyed； Aro would grant a pardon to
one member whose thoughts； he would claim； were particularly repentant。 Always； it would turn out that
this vampire had the gift Aro had admired。 Always； this person was given a place with the guard。 The
gifted vampire was won over quickly； always so grateful for the honor。 There were no exceptions。〃
〃It must be a heady thing to be chosen；〃 Kate suggested。
〃Ha！〃 Eleazar snarled； still in motion。
〃There is one among the guard；〃 Edward said； explaining Eleazar's angry reaction。 〃Her name is Chelsea。
She has influence over the emotional ties between people。 She can both loosen and secure these ties。 She
could make someone feel bonded to the Volturi； to want to belong； to want to please them___〃
Eleazar came to an abrupt halt。 〃We all understood why Chelsea was important。 In a fight； if we could
separate allegiances between allied covens； we could defeat them that much more easily。 If we could
distance the innocent members of a coven emotionally from the guilty； justice could be done without
unnecessary brutality—the guilty could be punished without interference； and the innocent could be
spared。 Otherwise； it was impossible to keep the coven from fighting as a whole。 So Chelsea would
break the ties that bound them together。 It seemed a great kindness to me； evidence of Aro's mercy。 I
did suspect that Chelsea kept our own band more tightly knit； but that； too； was a good thing。 It made us
more effective。 It helped us coexist more easily。〃
This clarified old memories for me。 It had not made sense to me before how the guard obeyed their
masters so gladly； with almost lover…like devotion。
〃How strong is her gift？〃 Tanya asked with an edge to her voice。 Her gaze quickly touched on each
member of her family。
Eleazar shrugged。 〃I was able to leave with Carmen。〃 And then he shook his head。 〃But anything weaker
than the bond between partners is in danger。 In a normal coven； at least。 Those are weaker bonds than
those in our family； though。 Abstaining from human blood makes us more civilized—lets us form true
bonds of love。 I doubt she could turn our allegiances； Tanya。〃
Tanya nodded； seeming reassured； while Eleazar continued with his analysis。
〃I could only think that the reason Aro had decided to come himself； to bring so many with him； is
because his goal is not punishment but acquisition；〃 Eleazar said。 〃He needs to be there to control the
situation。 But he needs the entire guard for protection from such a large； gifted coven。 On the other hand；
that leaves the other ancients unprotected in Volterra。 Too risky—someone might try to take advantage。
So they all come together。 How else could he be sure to preserve the gifts that he wants？ He must want
them very badly；〃 Eleazar mused。
Edward's voice was low as a breath。 〃From what I saw of his thoughts last spring； Aro's never wanted
anything more than he wants Alice。〃
I felt my mouth fall open； remembering the nightmarish pictures I had imagined long ago： Edward and
Alice in black cloaks with bloodred eyes； their faces cold and remote as they stood close as shadows；
Aro's hands on theirs。。。。 Had Alice seen this more recently？ Had she seen Chelsea trying to strip away
her love for us； to bind her to Aro and Caius and Marcus？
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〃Is that why Alice left？〃 I asked； my voice breaking on her name。
Edward put his hand against my cheek。 〃I think it must be。 To keep Aro from gaining the thing he wants
most of all。 To keep her power out of his hands。〃
I heard Tanya and Kate murmuring in disturbed voices and remembered that they hadn't known about
Alice。
〃He wants you； too；〃 I whispered。
Edward shrugged； his face suddenly a little too composed。 〃Not nearly as much。 I can't really give him
anything more than he already has。 And of course that's dependent on his finding a way to force me to do
his will。 He knows me； and he knows how unlikely that is。〃 He raised one eyebrow sardonically。
Eleazar frowned at Edward's nonchalance。 〃He also knows your weaknesses；〃 Eleazar pointed out； and
then he looked at me。
〃It's nothing we need to discuss now；〃 Edward said quickly。
Eleazar ignored the hint and continued。 〃He probably wants your mate； too； regardless。 He must have
been intrigued by a talent that could defy him in its human incarnation。〃
Edward was uncomfortable with this topic。 I didn't like it； either。 If Aro wanted me to do something
—anything—all he had to do was threaten Edward and I would comply。 And vice versa。
Was death the lesser concern？ Was it really capture we should fear？
Edward changed the subject。 〃I think the Volturi were waiting for this—for some pretext。 They couldn't
know what form their excuse would come in； but the plan was already in place for when it did come。
That's why Alice saw their decision before Irina triggered it。 The decision was already made； just waiting
for the pretense of a justification。〃
〃If the Volturi are abusing the trust all immortals have placed in them。。。；〃 Carmen murmured。
〃Does it matter？〃 Eleazar asked。 〃Who would believe it？ And even if others could be convinced that the
Volturi are exploiting their power； how would it make any difference？ No one can stand against them。〃
〃Though some of us are apparently insane enough to try；〃 Kate muttered。
Edward shook his head。 〃You're only here to witness； Kate。 Whatever Aro's goal； I don't think he's
ready to
tarnish the Volturi's reputation for it。 If we can take away his argument against us； he'll be forced to leave
us in peace。〃
〃Of course；〃 Tanya murmured。
No one looked convinced。 For a few long minutes； nobody said anything。
Then Iheard the sound of tires turning off the highway pavement onto the Cullens' dirt drive。
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〃Oh crap； Charlie；〃 I muttered。 〃Maybe the Denalis could hang out upstairs until—〃
〃No；〃 Edward said in a distant voice。 His eyes were far away； staring blankly at the door。 〃It's not your
father。〃 His gaze focused