6 the short second life of bree tanner布里·坦纳第二次短暂生命-第17部分

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purple　into　the　sunny　sky。　Out　from　under　the　billowing　haze；　I　could　see　dazzling；　glittering　bodies　darting　and　grappling　as　the　sounds　of　vampires　being　torn　apart　went　on　and　on。　　I　looked　for　one　thing：　Diego’s　curly　black　hair。　No　one　I　could　see　had　hair　so　dark。　There　was　one　huge　vampire　with　brown　hair　that　was　almost　black；　but　he　was　too　big；　and　as　I　focused　I　watched　him　tear　Kevin’s　head　off　and　pitch　it　into　the　fire　before　leaping　on　someone　else’s　back。　Was　that　Jen？　There　was　another　with　straight　black　hair　that　was　too　small　to　be　Diego。　That　one　was　moving　so　fast　I　couldn’t　tell　if　it　was　a　boy　or　a　girl。　　I　scanned　quickly　again；　feeling　horribly　exposed。　I　took　in　the　faces。　There　weren’t　nearly　enough　vampires　here；　even　counting　those　that　were　down。　I　didn’t　see　any　of　Kristie’s　group。　There　must　have　been　a　lot　of　vampires　burned　already。　Most　of　the　vampires　still　standing　were　strangers。　A　blond　vampire　glanced　at　me；　meeting　my　gaze；　and　his　eyes　flashed　gold　in　the　sunlight。　　We　were　losing。　Bad。　　I　started　backing　toward　the　trees；　not　moving　fast　enough　because　I　was　still　looking　for　Diego。　He　wasn’t　here。　There　was　no　sign　he　had　ever　been　here。　No　trace　of　his　scent；　though　I　could　distinguish　the　smells　of　most　of　Raoul’s　team　and　many　strangers。　I　had　made　myself　look　at　the　pieces；　too。　None　of　them　belonged　to　Diego。　I　would　have　recognized　even　
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a　finger。　　I　turned　and　really　ran　for　the　trees；　suddenly　positive　that　Diego’s　presence　here　was　just　another　of　Riley’s　lies。　　And　if　Diego　wasn’t　here；　then　he　was　already　dead。　This　fell　into　place　for　me　so　easily　that　I　thought　I　must　have　known　the　truth　for　a　while。　Since　the　moment　that　Diego　had　not　followed　Riley　through　the　basement　door。　He’d　already　been　gone。　　I　was　a　few　feet　into　the　trees　when　a　force　like　a　wrecking　ball　hit　me　from　behind　and　threw　me　to　the　ground。　An　arm　slipped　under　my　chin。　　“Please！”　I　sobbed。　And　I　meant　please　kill　me　fast。　　The　arm　hesitated。　I　didn’t　fight　back；　though　my　instincts　were　urging　me　to　bite　and　claw　and　rip　the　enemy　apart。　The　saner　part　of　me　knew　that　wasn’t　going　to　work。　Riley　had　lied　about　these　weak；　older　vampires；　too；　and　we’d　never　had　a　chance。　But　even　if　I’d　had　a　way　to　beat　this　one；　I　wouldn’t　have　been　able　to　move。　Diego　was　gone；　and　that　glaring　fact　killed　the　fight　in　me。　　Suddenly　I　was　airborne。　I　crashed　into　a　tree　and　crumpled　to　the　ground。　I　should　have　tried　to　run；　but　Diego　was　dead。　I　couldn’t　get　around　that。　　The　blond　vampire　from　the　clearing　was　staring　intently　at　me；　his　body　ready　to　spring。　He　looked　very　capable；　much　more　experienced　than　Riley。　But　he　wasn’t　lunging　at　me。　He　wasn’t　crazed　like　Raoul　or　Kristie。　He　was　totally　in　control。　　“Please；”　I　said　again；　wanting　him　to　get　this　over　with。　“I　don’t　want　to　fight。”　
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　Though　he　still　held　himself　ready；　his　face　changed。　He　looked　at　me　in　a　way　I　didn’t　totally　get。　There　was　a　lot　of　knowledge　in　that　face；　and　something　else。　Empathy？　Pity；　at　least。　　“Neither　do　I；　child；”　he　said　in　a　calm；　kind　voice。　“We　are　only　defending　ourselves。”　　There　was　such　honesty　in　his　odd　yellow　eyes　that　it　made　me　wonder　how　I　had　ever　believed　any　of　Riley’s　stories。　I　felt…　guilty。　Maybe　this　coven　had　never　planned　to　attack　us　in　Seattle。　How　could　I　trust　any　part　of　what　I’d　been　told？　　“We　didn’t　know；”　I　explained；　somehow　ashamed。　“Riley　lied。　I’m　sorry。”　　He　listened　for　a　moment；　and　I　realized　that　the　battlefield　was　quiet。　It　was　over。　　If　I’d　been　in　any　doubt　over　who　the　winner　was；　that　doubt　was　gone　when；　a　second　later；　a　female　vampire　with　wavy　brown　hair　and　yellow　eyes　hurried　to　his　side。　　“Carlisle？”　she　asked　in　a　confused　voice；　staring　at　me。　　“She　doesn’t　want　to　fight；”　he　told　her。　　The　woman　touched　his　arm。　He　was　still　tensed　to　spring。　“She’s　so　frightened；　Carlisle。　Couldn’t　we…”　　The　blond；　Carlisle；　glanced　back　at　her；　and　then　he　straightened　up　a　little；　though　I　could　see　he　was　still　wary。　　“We　have　no　wish　to　harm　you；”　the　woman　said　to　me。　She　had　a　soft；　soothing　voice。　“We　didn’t　want　to　fight　any　of　you。”　　“I’m　sorry；”　I　whispered　again。　　I　couldn’t　make　sense　of　the　mess　in　my　head。　Diego　was　dead；　and　that　was　the　main　thing；　the　devastating　thing。　Other　
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than　that；　the　fight　was　over；　my　coven　had　lost　and　my　enemies　had　won。　But　my　dead　coven　was　full　of　people　who　would　have　loved　to　watch　me　burn；　and　my　enemies　were　speaking　to　me　kindly　when　they　had　no　reason　to。　Moreover；　I　felt　safer　with　these　two　strangers　than　I’d　ever　felt　with　Raoul　and　Kristie。　I　was　relieved　that　Raoul　and　Kristie　were　dead。　It　was　so　confusing。　　“Child；”　Carlisle　said；　“will　you　surrender　to　us？　If　you　do　not　try　to　harm　us；　we　promise　we　will　not　harm　you。”　　And　I　believed　him。　　“Yes；”　I　whispered。　“Yes；　I　surrender。　I　don’t　want　to　hurt　anybody。”　　He　held　out　his　hand　encouragingly。　“e；　child。　Let　our　family　regroup　for　a　moment；　then　we’ll　have　some　questions　for　you。　If　you　answer　honestly；　you　have　nothing　to　fear。”　　I　got　up　slowly；　making　no　movements　that　could　be　considered　threatening。　　“Carlisle？”　a　male　voice　called。　　And　then　another　yelloweyed　vampire　joined　us。　Any　sort　of　safety　I’d　felt　with　these　strangers　vanished　as　soon　as　I　saw　him。　　He　was　blond；　like　the　first；　but　taller　and　leaner。　His　skin　was　absolutely　covered　in　scars；　spaced　most　thickly　together　on　his　neck　and　jaw。　A　few　small　marks　on　his　arm　were　fresh；　but　the　rest　were　not　from　the　brawl　today。　He　had　been　in　more　fights　than　I　could　have　imagined；　and　he’d　never　lost。　His　tawny　eyes　blazed　and　his　stance　exuded　the　barely　contained　violence　of　an　angry　lion。　
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　As　soon　as　he　saw　me　he　coiled　to　spring。　　“Jasper！”　Carlisle　warned。　　Jasper　pulled　up　short　and　stared　at　Carlisle　with　wide　eyes。　“What’s　going　on？”　　“She　doesn’t　want　to　fight。　She’s　surrendered。”　　The　scarred　vampire’s　brow　clouded；　and　suddenly　I　felt　an　unexpected　surge　of　frustration；　though　I　had　no　idea　what　I　was　frustrated　with。　　“Carlisle；　I…”　He　hesitated；　then　continued；　“I’m　sorry；　but　that’s　not　possible。　We　can’t　have　any　of　these　newborns　associated　with　us　when　the　Volturi　e。　Do　you　realize　the　danger　that　would　put　us　in？”　　I　didn’t　understand　exactly　what　he　was　saying；　but　I　got　enough。　He　wanted　to　kill　me。　　“Jasper；　she’s　only　a　child；”　the　woman　protested。　“We　can’t　just　murder　her　in　cold　blood！”　　It　was　strange　to　hear　her　speak　like　we　both　were　people；　like　murder　was　a　bad　thing。　An　avoidable　thing。　　“It’s　our　family　on　the　line　here；　Esme。　We　can’t　afford　to　have　them　think　we　broke　this　rule。”　　The　woman；　Esme；　walked　between　me　and　the　one　who　wanted　to　kill　me。　Inprehensibly；　she　turned　her　back　to　me。　　“No。　I　won’t　stand　for　it。”　　Carlisle　shot　me　an　anxious　glance。　I　could　see　that　he　cared　a　lot　for　this　woman。　I　would　have　looked　the　same　way　at　anyone　behind　Diego’s　back。　I　tried　to　appear　as　docile　as　I　felt。　　“Jasper；　I　think　we　have　to　take　the　chance；”　he　said　slowly。　
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“We　are　not　the　Volturi。　We　follow　their　rules；　but　we　do　not　take　lives　lightly。　We　will　explain。”　　“They　might　think　we　created　our　own　newborns　in　defense。”　　“But　we　didn’t。　And　even　had　we；　there　was　no　indiscretion　here；　only　in　Seattle。　There　is　no　law　against　creating　vampires　if　you　control　them。”　　“This　is　too　dangerous。”　　Carlisle　touched　Jasper’s　shoulder　tentatively。　“Jasper。　We　cannot　kill　this　child。”　　Jasper　glowered　at　the　man　with　the　kind　eyes；　and　I　was　suddenly　angry。　Surely　he　wouldn’t　hurt　this　gentle　vampire　or　the　woman　he　loved。　Then　Jasper　sighed；　and　I　knew　it　was　okay。　My　anger　evaporated。　　“I　don’t　like　this；”　he　said；　but　he　was　calmer。　“At　least　let　me　take　charge　of　her。　You　two　don’t　know　how　to　deal　with　someone　who’s　been　running　wild　so　long。”　　“Of　course；　Jasper；”　the　woman　said。　“But　be　kind。”　　Jasper　rolled　his　eyes。　“We　need　to　be　with　the　others。　Alice　said　we　don’t　have　long。”　　Carlisle　nodded。　He　held　his　hand　out　to　Esme；　and　they　headed　past　Jasper　back　toward　the　open　field。　　“You　there；”　Jasper　said　to　me；　his　face　a　glower　again。　“e　with　us。　Don’t　make　one　rash　move　or　I　will　take　you　down。”　　I　felt　angry　again　as　he　glared　at　me；　and　a　small　part　of　me　wanted　to　snarl　and　show　my　teeth；　but　I　had　a　feeling　he　was　looking　for　just　that　kind　of　excuse。　　Jasper　paused　as　if　he’d　just　thought　of　something。　“Close　
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your　eyes；”　he　manded。　　I　hesitated。　Had　he　decided　to　kill　me　after　all？　　“Do　it！”　　I　gritted　my　teeth　and　shut　my　eyes。　I　felt　twice　as　helpless　as　I　had　before。　　“Follow　the　sound　of　my　voice　and　don’t　open　your　eyes。　You　look；　you　lose；　got　it？”　　I　nodded；　wondering　what　he　didn’t　want　me　to　see。　I　felt　some　relief　that　he　was　bothering　to　protect　a　secret。　There　was　no　reason　to　do　so　if　he　was　just　going　to　kill　me。　　“This　way。”　　I　walked　slowly　after　him；　careful　to　give　him　no　excuses。　He　was　considerate　in　the　way　he　led；　not　walking　me　into　any　trees；　at　least。　I　could　hear　the　way　the　sound　changed　when　we　were　in　the　open；　the　feel　of　the　wind　was　different；　too；　and　the　smell　of　my　coven　burning　was　stronger。　I　could　feel　the　warmth　of　the　sun　on　my　face；　and　the　insides　of　my　eyelids　were　brighter　as　I　sparkled。　　He　led　me　closer　and　closer　to　the　muffled　crackle　of　the　flames；　so　close　that　I　could　feel　the　smoke　brush　my　skin。　I　knew　he　could　have　killed　me　at　any　time；　but　the　nearness　of　the　fire　still　made　me　nervous。　　“Sit　here。　Eyes　closed。”　　The　ground　was　warm　from　the　sun　and　the　fire。　I　kept　very　still　and　tried　to　concentrate　on　looking　harmless；　but　I　could　feel　his　glare　on　me；　and　it　made　me　agitated。　Though　I　was　not　mad　at　these　vampires；　who　I　truly　believed　had　only　been　defending　themselves；　I　felt　the　oddest　stirrings　of　fury。　It　was　
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almost　outside　myself；　as　if　it　were　some　leftover　echo　from　the　battle　that　had　just　taken　place。　　The　anger　didn’t　make　me　stupid；　though；　because　I　was　too　sad　miserable　to　my　core。　Diego　was　aways　in　my　mind；　and　I　couldn’t　help　thinking　about　how　he　must　have　died。　　I　was　sure　there　was　no　way　he　would　have　voluntarily　told　Riley　our　secrets　　secrets　that　had　given　me　a　reason　to　trust　Riley　just　enough　until　it　was　too　late。　In　my　head；　I　saw　Riley’s　face　again　　that　cold；　smooth　expression　that　had　formed　as　he’d　threatened　to　punish　any　of　us　who　wouldn’t　behave。　I　heard　again　his　macabre　and　oddly　detailed　description　　when　I　take　you　to　her　and　hold　you　as　she　tears　off　your　legs　and　then　slowly；　slowly　burns　off　your　fingers；　ears；　lips；　tongue；　and　every　other　superfluous　appendage　one　by　one。　　I　realized　now　that　I’d　been　hearing　the　description　of　Diego’s　death。　　That　night；　I’d　been　sure　that　something　had　changed　in　Riley。　Killing　Diego　was　what　had　changed　Riley；　had　hardened　him。　I　believed　only　one　thing　that　Riley　had　ever　told　me：　he　had　valued　Diego　more　than　any　of　the　rest　of　us。　Had　even　been　fond　of　him。　And　yet　he’d　watched　our　creator　hurt　him。　No　doubt　he’d　helped　her。　Killed　Diego　with　her。　　I　wondered　how　much　pai