6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第12部分

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　for　them　to　show　up　here；　they　will　have　the　advantage。　This　is　their　turf；　after　all。　And　they　don’t　want　to　face　us　headon；　because　we　outnumber　them　and　we　are　stronger　than　they　are。　They　want　to　catch　us　separated；　they　want　to　take　advantage　of　our　biggest　weakness。　Are　any　of　you　smart　enough　to　know　what　that　is？”　He　pointed　at　the　ashes　at　his　feet　　now　smeared　into　the　carpet　and　unrecognizable　as　a　former　vampire　and　waited。　　No　one　moved。　　Riley　made　a　disgusted　sound。　“Unity！”　he　shouted。　“We　
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don’t　have　it！　What　kind　of　a　threat　can　we　pose　when　we　won’t　stop　killing　each　other？”　He　kicked　the　dust；　sending　up　a　small　black　cloud。　“Can　you　imagine　them　laughing　at　us？　They　think　taking　the　city　from　us　will　be　easy。　That　we’re　weak　with　stupidity！　That　we’ll　just　hand　them　our　blood。”　　Half　the　vampires　in　the　room　snarled　in　protest　now。　　“Can　you　work　together；　or　do　we　all　die？”　　“We　can　take　them；　boss；”　Raoul　growled。　　Riley　scowled　at　him。　“Not　if　you　can’t　control　yourself！　Not　if　you　can’t　cooperate　with　every　single　person　in　this　room。　Anyone　you　take　out”　his　toe　nudged　the　ashes　again　　　“might　be　the　one　who　could　have　kept　you　alive。　Every　one　of　your　coven　that　you　kill　is　like　handing　our　enemies　a　gift。　Here；　you’re　saying；　take　me　down！”　　Kristie　and　Raoul　exchanged　a　glance　as　if　they　were　seeing　each　other　for　the　first　time。　Others　did　the　same。　The　word　coven　was　not　unfamiliar；　but　none　of　us　had　applied　it　to　our　group　before。　We　were　a　coven。　　“Let　me　tell　you　about　our　enemies；”　Riley　said；　and　all　eyes　locked　on　his　face。　“They　are　a　much　older　coven　than　we　are。　They’ve　been　around　for　hundreds　of　years；　and　they’ve　survived　that　long　for　a　reason。　They　are　crafty　and　they　are　skilled　and　they　are　ing　to　retake　Seattle　with　confidencebecause　they’ve　heard　the　only　ones　they’ll　have　to　fight　for　it　are　a　bunch　of　disorganized　children　who　will　do　half　their　work　for　them！”　　More　growls；　but　some　were　less　angry　than　they　were　wary。　A　few　of　the　quieter　vampires；　the　ones　Riley　would　have　called　
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tamer；　looked　skittish。　　Riley　noticed　that；　too。　“This　is　how　they　see　us；　but　that’s　because　they　can’t　see　us　together。　Together；　we　can　crush　them。　If　they　could　see　all　of　us；　side　by　side；　fighting　together；　they　would　be　terrified。　And　that’s　how　they’re　going　to　see　us。　Because　we’re　not　going　to　wait　for　them　to　show　up　here　and　start　picking　us　off。　We’re　going　to　ambush　them。　In　four　days。”　　Four　days？　I　guessed　our　creator　didn’t　want　to　cut　it　too　close　to　the　deadline。　I　looked　at　the　closed　door　again。　Where　was　Diego？　　Others　reacted　to　the　deadline　with　surprise；　some　with　fear。　　“It’s　the　last　thing　they’ll　expect；”　Riley　assured　us。　“All　of　ustogether　waiting　for　them。　And　I’ve　saved　the　best　part　for　last。　There　are　only　seven　of　them。”　　There　was　an　instant　of　incredulous　silence。　　Then　Raoul　said；　“What　　”　　Kristie　stared　at　Riley　with　the　same　disbelieving　expression；　and　I　heard　muttered　whispers　around　the　room。　　“Seven？”　　“Are　you　kidding　me？”　　“Hey；”　Riley　snapped。　“I　wasn’t　joking　when　I　said　this　coven　is　dangerous。　They　are　wise　and…　devious。　Underhanded。　We　will　have　power　on　our　side；　they　will　have　deception。　If　we　play　it　their　way；　they　will　win。　But　if　we　take　it　to　them　on　our　terms…”　Riley　didn’t　finish；　he　just　smiled。　　“Let’s　go　now；”　Raoul　urged。　“Let’s　get　’em　out　of　the　picture　fast。”　Kevin　growled　enthusiastically。　
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　“Slow　down；　moron。　Rushing　into　things　blind　isn’t　going　to　help　us　win；”　Riley　chided　him。　　“Tell　us　everything　we　need　to　know　about　them；”　Kristie　encouraged；　shooting　Raoul　a　superior　look。　　Riley　hesitated；　as　if　deciding　how　to　word　something。　“All　right；　where　to　begin？　I　guess　the　first　thing　you　need　to　know　is…　that　you　don’t　know　everything　there　is　to　know　about　vampires　yet。　I　didn’t　want　to　overwhelm　you　in　the　beginning。”　Another　pause　while　everyone　looked　confused。　“You　have　a　little　bit　of　experience　with　what　we　call　‘talents。’　We　have　Fred。”　　Everyone　looked　at　Fred　　or　rather　they　tried　to。　I　could　tell　from　Riley’s　expression　that　Fred　did　not　like　being　singled　out。　It　looked　like　Fred　had　really　turned　up　the　volume　on　his　“talent；”　as　Riley　called　it。　Riley　cringed　and　looked　away　quickly。　I　still　didn’t　feel　anything。　　“Yes；　well；　there　are　some　vampires　who　have　gifts　beyond　the　usual　super　strength　and　super　senses。　You’ve　seen　one　aspect　in…　our　coven。”　He　was　careful　not　to　say　Fred’s　name　again。　“Gifts　are　rare　　　one　in　fifty；　maybe　　but　every　one　is　different。　There’s　a　huge　range　of　gifts　out　there；　and　some　of　them　are　more　powerful　than　others。”　　I　could　hear　a　lot　of　murmurs　now　as　people　wondered　if　they　might　be　talented。　Raoul　was　preening　like　he’d　already　decided　he　was　gifted。　As　far　as　I　could　tell；　the　only　one　around　here　that　was　in　any　way　special　was　standing　next　to　me。　　“Pay　attention！”　Riley　manded。　“I’m　not　telling　you　this　for　entertainment。”　　“This　enemy　coven；”　Kristie　interjected。　“They’re　talented。　
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Right？”　　Riley　gave　her　an　approving　nod。　“Exactly。　I’m　glad　someone　here　can　connect　the　dots。”　　Raoul’s　upper　lip　twitched　back　over　his　teeth。　　“This　coven　is　dangerously　talented；”　Riley　went　on；　his　voice　dropping　to　a　hushed　whisper。　“They　have　a　mind　reader。”　He　examined　our　faces；　looking　to　see　if　we　got　the　importance　of　this　revelation。　He　didn’t　seem　satisfied　with　his　assessment。　“Think；　guys！　He’ll　know　everything　in　your　head。　If　you　attack；　he’ll　know　what　move　you’re　going　to　make　before　you　know　it。　You　go　left；　he’ll　be　waiting。”　　There　was　a　nervous　stillness　as　everyone　imagined　this。　　“This　is　why　we’ve　been　so　careful　　me；　and　the　one　who　created　you。”　　Kristie　flinched　away　from　Riley　when　he　mentioned　her。　Raoul　looked　angrier。　Nerves　strained　universally。　　“You　don’t　know　her　name；　and　you　don’t　know　what　she　looks　like。　This　protects　us　all。　If　they’d　stumbled　across　one　of　you　alone；　they　wouldn’t　realize　that　you　were　connected　to　her；　and　they　might　have　let　you　be。　If　they　knew　you　were　part　of　her　coven；　there　would　be　no　delay　in　your　execution。”　　That　didn’t　make　sense　to　me。　Didn’t　the　secrecy　protect　her　more　than　it　protected　any　of　us？　Riley　hurried　on　before　we　had　too　long　to　examine　his　statement。　　“Of　course；　it　doesn’t　matter　now　that　they’ve　decided　to　move　on　Seattle。　We　will　surprise　them　on　their　way　in；　and　we　will　annihilate　them。”　He　whistled　a　single　low　note　through　his　teeth。　“Done。　And　then　not　only　is　the　city　all　ours；　other　covens　
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will　know　not　to　mess　with　us。　We　won’t　have　to　be　so　careful　to　cover　our　tracks　anymore。　As　much　blood　as　you　want；　for　everyone。　Hunting　every　night。　We’ll　move　right　into　the　city；　and　we　will　rule　it。”　　The　growls　and　snarls　were　like　applause。　Everyone　was　with　him。　Except　for　me。　I　didn’t　move；　didn’t　make　a　sound。　Neither　did　Fred；　but　who　knows　why　that　was？　　I　was　not　with　Riley　because　his　promises　sounded　like　lies。　Or　else　my　whole　line　of　logic　had　been　wrong。　Riley　said　it　was　only　these　enemies　that　kept　us　from　hunting　without　caution　or　restraint。　But　that　didn’t　go　along　with　the　fact　that　all　other　vampires　must　have　been　discreet；　or　humans　would　have　known　about　them　long　ago。　　I　couldn’t　concentrate　to　work　it　out；　because　the　door　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　had　not　moved。　Diego…　　“We　have　to　do　this　together；　though。　Today　I’m　going　to　lead　you　through　some　techniques。　Fighting　techniques。　There’s　more　to　this　than　just　scuffling　around　on　the　floor　like　toddlers。　When　it　gets　dark；　we’ll　go　outside　and　practice。　I　want　you　to　practice　hard；　but　keep　your　focus。　I　am　not　losing　another　member　of　this　coven！　We　all　need　each　other　every　one　of　us。　I　will　not　tolerate　any　more　stupidity。　If　you　think　you　don’t　have　to　listen　to　me；　you　are　wrong。”　He　paused　for　a　short　second；　the　muscles　in　his　face　shifting　into　a　new　arrangement。　“And　you　will　learn　how　wrong　you　are　when　I　take　you　to　her”　I　shuddered　and　felt　the　tremor　through　the　room　as　everyone　else　did；　too　“and　hold　you　while　she　tears　off　your　legs　and　then　slowly；　slowly　burns　off　your　fingers；　ears；　
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lips；　tongue；　and　every　other　superfluous　appendage　one　by　one。”　　We’d　all　lost　a　limb；　at　least；　and　we’d　all　burned　when　we　became　vampires；　so　we　could　easily　imagine　how　that　would　feel；　but　it　wasn’t　the　threat　itself　that　was　so　terrifying。　The　truly　scary　thing　was　Riley’s　face　as　he　said　it。　His　face　was　not　twisted　in　rage；　the　way　it　usually　was　when　he　was　angry；　it　was　calm　and　cold；　smooth　and　beautiful；　his　mouth　curled　at　the　edges　into　a　small　smile。　I　suddenly　had　the　impression　that　this　was　a　new　Riley。　Something　had　changed　him；　hardened　him；　but　I　couldn’t　imagine　what　could　have　happened　in　one　night　to　create　that　cruel；　perfect　smile。　　I　looked　away；　shivering　a　little；　and　saw　as　Raoul’s　smile　shifted　to　echo　Riley’s。　I　could　almost　see　the　gears　turning　in　Raoul’s　head。　He　wouldn’t　kill　his　victims　so　quickly　in　the　future。　　“Now；　let’s　get　some　teams　figured　out　so　that　we　can　work　in　groups；”　Riley　said；　his　face　normal　again。　“Kristie；　Raoul；　get　your　kids　together　and　then　divvy　up　the　rest　evenly。　No　fighting！　Show　me　you　can　do　this　rationally。　Prove　yourselves。”　　He　walked　away　from　those　two；　ignoring　the　fact　that　they　fell　almost　immediately　into　bickering；　and　made　an　arc　around　the　outside　edge　of　the　room。　He　touched　a　few　vampires　on　the　shoulder　as　he　passed；　nudging　them　toward　one　of　the　new　leaders　or　the　other。　I　didn’t　realize　at　first　that　he　was　heading　in　my　direction；　because　he　took　such　a　wide　way　around。　　“Bree；”　he　said；　squinting　toward　where　I　stood。　It　looked　like　this　took　some　effort。　
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　I　felt　like　a　block　of　ice。　He　must　have　smelled　my　trail。　I　was　dead。　　“Bree？”　he　said；　softer　now。　His　voice　reminded　me　of　the　first　time　he’d　talked　to　me。　When　he　was　nice　to　me。　And　then　even　lower；　“I　promised　Diego　I’d　give　you　a　message。　He　said　to　tell　you　it　was　a　ninja　thing。　Does　that　make　any　sense　to　you？”　　He　still　couldn’t　look　at　me；　but　he　was　edging　closer。　　“Diego？”　I　murmured。　I　couldn’t　help　myself。　　Riley　smiled　a　tiny　bit。　“Can　we　talk？”　He　jerked　his　head　toward　the　door。　“I　doublechecked　all　the　windows。　The　first　floor　is　totally　dark　and　safe。”　　I　knew　I　wouldn’t　be　as　safe　once　I　walked　away　from　Fred；　but　I　had　to　hear　what　Diego　had　wanted　to　tell　me。　What　had　happened？　I　should　have　stayed　with　him　to　meet　Riley。　　I　followed　Riley　through　the　room；　keeping　my　head　down。　He　gave　Raoul　a　few　instructions；　nodded　to　Kristie；　and　then　went　up　the　stairs。　From　the　corners　of　my　eyes　I　saw　a　few　people　curiously　watch　the　direction　he　was　going。　　Riley　passed　through　the　door　first；　and　the　kitchen　of　the　home　was；　as　he’d　promised；　totally　black。　He　motioned　for　me　to　keep　following　and　led　me　through　a　dark　hall　past　a　few　open　bedroom　doors；　then　through　another　door　with　a　dead　bolt。　We　ended　up　in　the　garage。　　“You’re　brave；”　he　mented　in　a　very　low　voice。　“Or　really　trusting。　I　thought　it　would　b