had been able to contact the Amazons。
〃Carlisle；〃 the taller of the two very tall feline women greeted him when they arrived。 Both of them
seemed as if they'd been stretched—long arms and legs； long fingers； long black braids； and long faces
with long noses。 They wore nothing but animal skins—hide vests and tight…fitting pants that laced on the
sides with leather ties。 It wasn't just their eccentric clothes that made them seem wild but everything about
them； from their restless crimson eyes to their sudden； darting movements。 I'd never met any vampires
less civilized。
But Alice had sent them； and that was interesting news； to put it mildly。 Why was Alice in South
America？ Just
because she'd seen that no one else would be able to get in touch with the Amazons？
〃Zafrina and Senna！ But Where's Kachiri？〃 Carlisle asked。 Tve never seen you three apart。〃
〃Alice told us we needed to separate；〃 Zafrina answered in the rough； deep voice that matched her wild
appearance。 〃It's uncomfortable to be away from each other； but Alice assured us that you needed us
here； while she very much needed Kachiri somewhere else。 That's all she would tell us； except that there
was a great hurry。。。 ？〃 Zafrina's statement trailed off into a question； and—with the tremor of nerves that
never went away no matter how often I did this—I brought Renesmee out to meet them。
Despite their fierce appearance； they listened very calmly to our story； and then allowed Renesmee to
prove the point。 They were every bit as taken with Renesmee as any of the other vampires； but I couldn't
help worrying as I watched their swift； jerky movements so close beside her。 Senna was always near
Zafrina； never speaking； but it wasn't the same as Amun and Kebi。 Kebi's manner seemed obedient；
Senna and Zafrina were more like two limbs of one organism—Zafrina just happened to be the
Page 356
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processtext。com/abclit。html
mouthpiece。
The news about Alice was oddly comforting。 Clearly； she was on some obscure mission of her own as
she avoided whatever Aro had planned for her。
Edward was thrilled to have the Amazons with us； because Zafrina was enormously talented； her gift
could make a very dangerous offensive weapon。 Not that Edward was asking for Zafrina to side with us
in the battle； but if the Volturi did not pause when they saw our witnesses； perhaps they would pause for
a different kind of scene。
〃It's a very straightforward illusion；〃 Edward explained when it turned out that I couldn't see anything； as
usual。 Zafrina was intrigued and amused by my immunity—something she'd never encountered
before—and she hovered restlessly while Edward described what I was missing。 Edward's eyes
unfocused slightly as he continued。 〃She can make most people see whatever she wants them to
see—see that； and nothing else。 For example； right now I would appear to be alone in the middle of a
rain forest。 It's so clear I might possibly believe it； except for the fact that I can still feel you in my arms。〃
Zafrina's lips twitched into her hard version of a smile。 A second later； Edward's eyes focused again； and
he grinned back。
〃Impressive；〃 he said。
Renesmee was fascinated with the conversation； and she reached out fearlessly toward Zafrina。
〃Can I see？〃 she asked。
〃What would you like to see？〃 Zafrina asked。
〃What you showed Daddy。〃
Zafrina nodded； and I watched anxiously as Renesmee's eyes stared blankly into space。 A second later；
Renesmee's dazzling smile lit up her face。
〃More；〃 she commanded。
After that； it was hard to keep Renesmee away from Zafrina and her pretty pictures。 I worried；
because I was quite sure that Zafrina was able to create images that were not pretty at all。 But through
Renesmee's thoughts I
could see Zafrina's visions for myself—they were as clear as any of Renesmee's own memories； like they
were real—and thus judge for myself whether they were appropriate or not。
Though I didn't give her up easily； I had to admit it was a good thing Zafrina was keeping Renesmee
entertained。 I needed my hands。 I had so much to learn； both physically and mentally； and the time was
so short。
My first attempt at learning to fight did not go well。
Edward had me pinned in about two seconds。 But instead of letting me wrestle my way free—which I
absolutely could have—he'd leaped up and away from me。 I knew immediately that something was
wrong； he was still as stone； staring across the meadow we were practicing in。
Page 357
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processtext。com/abclit。html
Tm sorry； Bella；〃 he said。
〃No； I'm fine；〃 I said。 〃Let's go again。〃
〃I can't。〃
〃What do you mean； you can't？ We just started。〃
He didn't answer。
〃Look； I know I'm no good at this； but I can't get better if you don't help me。〃
He said nothing。 Playfully； I sprang at him。 He made no defense at all； and we both fell to the ground。 He
was motionless as I pressed my lips to his jugular。
〃I win；〃 I announced。
His eyes narrowed； but he said nothing。
〃Edward？ What's wrong？ Why won't you teach me？〃
A full minute passed before he spoke again。
〃I just can't。。。 bear it。 Emmett and Rosalie know as much as I do。 Tanya and Eleazar probably know
more。 Ask someone else。〃
〃That's not fair！ You're good at this。 You helped Jasper before—you fought with him and all the others；
too。 Why not me？ What did I do wrong？〃
He sighed； exasperated。 His eyes were dark； barely any gold to lighten the black。
〃Looking at you that way； analyzing you as a target。 Seeing all the ways I can kill you 。。 。〃 He flinched。 〃It
just makes it too real for me。 We don't have so much time that it will really make a difference who your
teacher is。 Anyone can teach you the fundamentals。〃
I scowled。
He touched my pouting lower lip and smiled。 〃Besides； it's unnecessary。 The Volturi will stop。 They will
be made to understand。〃
〃But if they don't！ I need to learn this。〃
〃Find another teacher。〃
That was not our last conversation on the subject； but I never swayed him an inch from his decision。
Emmett was more than willing to help； though his teaching felt to me a lot like revenge for all the lost
arm…wrestling matches。 If I could still bruise； I would have been purple from head to toe。 Rose； Tanya；
and Eleazar all were patient and supportive。 Their lessons reminded me of Jasper's fighting instructions to
Page 358
Generatedby ABC Amber LIT Converter； www。processtext。com/abclit。html
the others last June； though those memories were fuzzy and indistinct。 Some of the visitors found my
education entertaining； and some even offered assistance。 The nomad Garrett took a few turns—he was
a surprisingly good teacher； he interacted so easily with others in general that I wondered how he'd never
found a coven。 I even fought once with Zafrina while Renesmee watched from Jacob's arms。 I learned
several tricks； but I never asked for her help again。 In truth； though I liked Zafrina very much and I knew
she wouldn't really hurt me； the wild woman scared me to death。
I learned many things from my teachers； but I had the sense that my knowledge was still impossibly
basic。 I had no idea how many seconds I would last against Alec and Jane。 I only prayed that it would be
long enough to help。
Every minute of the day that I wasn't with Renesmee or learning to fight； I was in the backyard working
with Kate； trying to push my internal shield outside of my own brain to protect someone else。 Edward
encouraged me in this training。 I knew he hoped I would find a way of contributing that satisfied me while
also keeping me out of the line of fire。
It was just so hard。 There was nothing to get a hold of； nothing solid to work with。 I had only my raging
desire to be of use； to be able to keep Edward； Renesmee； and as much of my family as possible safe
with me。 Over and over I tried to force the nebulous shield outside of myself； with only faint； sporadic
success。 It felt like I was wrestling to stretch an invisible rubber band—a band that would change from
concrete tangibility into insubstantial smoke at any random moment。
Only Edward was willing to be our guinea pig—to receive shock after shock from Kate while I grappled
incompetently with the insides of my head。 We worked for hours at a time； and I felt like I should be
covered in sweat from the exertion； but of course my perfect body didn't betray me that way。 My
weariness was all mental。
It killed me that it was Edward who had to suffer； my arms wrapped uselessly around him while he
winced over and over from Kate's low〃 setting。 I tried as hard as I could to push my shield around us
both； every