—to the very center of the universe。
I could see that now—how the universe swirled around this one point。 I'd never seen the symmetry of
the universe before； but now it was plain。
The gravity of the earth no longer tied me to the place where I stood。
It was the baby girl in the blond vampire's arms that held me here now。
Renesmee。
From upstairs； there was a new sound。 The only sound that could touch me in this endless instant。 A
frantic pounding； a racing beat。。。
A changing heart。
BOOK THREE
bella
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CONTENTS
PREFACE
19。 BURNING
20。 NEW
21。FIRST HUNT
22。 PROMISED
23。 MEMORIES
24。 SURPRISE
25。 FAVOR
26。 SHINY
27。 TRAVEL PLANS
28。 THE FUTURE
29。 DEFECTION
30。 IRRESISTIBLE
31。 TALENTED
32。 COMPANY
33。 FORGERY
34。 DECLARED
35。 DEADLINE
36。 BLOODLUST
37。 CONTRIVANCES
38。 POWER
39。 THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Personal affection is a luxury you can have only after all your enemies are eliminated。 Until then；
everyone you love is
a hostage； sapping your courage and corrupting your judgment
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Orson Scott Card Empire
PREFACE
No longer just a nightmare； the line of black advanced on us through the icy mist stirred up by their feet。
We're going to die；I thought in panic。 I was desperate for the precious one I guarded； but even to think
of that was a lapse in attention I could not afford。
They ghosted closer； their dark robes billowing slightly with the movement。 I saw their hands curl into
bone…colored claws。 They drifted apart； angling to come at us from all sides。 We were outnumbered。 It
was over。
And then； like a burst of light from a flash； the whole scene was different。 Yet nothing changed—the
Volturi still stalked toward us； poised to kill。 All that really changed was how the picture looked to me。
Suddenly； I was hungry for it。 I wanfed them to charge。 The panic changed to bloodlust as I crouched
forward； a smile on my face； and a growl ripped through my bared teeth。
19。 BURNING
The pain was bewildering。
Exactly that—I was bewildered。 I couldn't understand； couldn't make sense of what was happening。
My body tried to reject the pain； and I was sucked again and again into a blackness that cut out whole
seconds or maybe even minutes of the agony； making it that much harder to keep up with reality。
I tried to separate them。
Non…reality was black； and it didn't hurt so much。
Reality was red； and it felt like I was being sawed in half； hit by a bus； punched by a prize fighter；
trampled by bulls； and submerged in acid； all at the same time。
Reality was feeling my body twist and flip when I couldn't possibly move because of the pain。
Reality was knowing there was something so much more important than all this torture； and not being
able to remember what it was。
Reality had come on so fast。
One moment； everything was as it should have been。 Surrounded by people I loved。 Smiles。 Somehow；
unlikely as it was； it seemed like I was about to get everything I'd been fighting for。
And then one tiny； inconsequential thing had gone wrong。
I'd watched as my cup tilted； dark blood spilling out and staining the perfect white； and I'd lurched
toward the accident reflexively。 I'd seen the other； faster hands； but my body had continued to reach； to
stretch___
Inside me； something had yanked the opposite direction。
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Ripping。 Breaking。 Agony。
The darkness had taken over； and then washed away to a wave of torture。 I couldn't breathe—I had
drowned once before； and this was different； it was too hot in my throat。
Pieces of me shattering； snapping； slicing apart___
More blackness。
Voices； this time； shouting； as the pain came back。
'The placenta must have detached！〃
Something sharper than knives ripped through me—the words； making sense in spite of the other
tortures。 Detached placenta —I knew what that meant。 It meant that my baby was dying inside me。
〃Get him out！〃 I screamed to Edward。 Why hadn't he done it yet？ 〃He can't breathe！ Do it now！〃
〃The morphine—〃
He wanted to wait； to give me painkillers； while our baby was dying？！
〃No！ Now—；〃 I choked； unable to finish。
Black spots covered the light in the room as a cold point of new pain stabbed icily into my stomach。 It
felt wrong—I struggled automatically to protect my womb； my baby； my little Edward Jacob； but I was
weak。 My lungs ached； oxygen burned away。
The pain faded away again； though I clung to it now。 My baby； my baby； dying___
How long had passed？ Seconds or minutes？ The pain was gone。 Numb。 I couldn't feel。 I still couldn't
see； either； but I could hear。 There was air in my lungs again； scraping in rough bubbles up and down my
throat。
〃You stay with me now； Bella！ Do you hear me？ Stay！ You're not leaving me。 Keep your heart beating！〃
Jacob？ Jacob； still here； still trying to save me。
Of course；I wanted to tell him。 Of course I would keep my heart beating。 Hadn't I promised them both？
I tried to feel my heart； to find it； but I was so lost inside my own body。 I couldn't feel the things I should；
and nothing felt in the right place。 I blinked and I found my eyes。 I could see the light。 Not what I was
looking for； but better than nothing。
As my eyes struggled to adjust； Edward whispered； 〃Renesmee。〃
Renesmee？
Not the pale and perfect son of my imagination？ I felt a moment of shock。 And then a flood of warmth。
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Renesmee。
I willed my lips to move； willed the bubbles of air to turn into whispers on my tongue。 I forced my numb
hands to reach。
〃Let me。。。 Give her to me。〃
The light danced； shattering off Edward's crystal hands。 The sparkles were tinged with red； with the
blood that covered his skin。 And more red in his hands。 Something small and struggling； dripping with
blood。 He touched the warm body to my weak arms； almost like I was holding her。 Her wet skin was hot
—as hot as Jacob's。
My eyes focused； suddenly everything was absolutely clear。
Renesmee did not cry； but she breathed in quick； startled pants。 Her eyes were open； her expression so
shocked it was almost funny。 The little； perfectly round head was covered in a thick layer of matted；
bloody curls。 Her
irises were a familiar—but astonishing—chocolate brown。 Under the blood； her skin looked pale； a
creamy ivory。 All besides her cheeks； which flamed with color。
Her tiny face was so absolutely perfect that it stunned me。 She was even more beautiful than her father。
Unbelievable。 Impossible。
〃Renesmee；〃 I whispered。 〃So。。。 beautiful。〃
The impossible face suddenly smiled—a wide； deliberate smile。 Behind the shell…pink lips was a full
complement of snowy milk teeth。
She leaned her head down； against my chest； burrowing against the warmth。 Her skin was warm and
silky； but it didn't give the way mine did。
Then there was pain again—just one warm slash of it。 I gasped。
And she was gone。 My angel…faced baby was nowhere。 I couldn't see or feel her。
No！I wanted to shout。 Give her back to me！
But the weakness was too much。 My arms felt like empty rubber hoses for a moment； and then they felt
like nothing at all。 I couldn't feel them。 I couldn't feel me。
The blackness rushed over my eyes more solidly than before。 Like a thick blindfold； firm and fast。
Covering not just my eyes but also my self with a crushing weight。 It was exhausting to push against it。 I
knew it would be so much easier to give in。 To let the blackness push me down； down； down to a place
where there was no pain and no weariness and no worry and no fear。
If it had only been for myself； I wouldn't have been able to struggle very long。 I was only human； with no
more than human strength。 I'd been trying to keep up with the supernatural for too long； like Jacob had
said。
But this wasn't just about me。
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If I did the easy thing now； let the black nothingness erase me； I would hurt them。
Edward。 Edward。 My life and his were twisted into a single strand。 Cut one； and you cut both。 If he
were gone； I would not be able to live through t