4 breaking dawn破晓-第117章

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the　dip　between　his　massive　shoulder　blades。　

Jacob　turned　to　me；　his　expressive　eyes　full　of　agony；　the　rumbling　growl　still　grating　through　his　chest。　

〃You're　the　only　one　we　could　ever　trust　her　with；〃　I　murmured　to　him。　〃If　you　didn't　love　her　so　much；　I　
could　never　bear　this。　I　know　you　can　protect　her；　Jacob。〃　

He　whined　again；　and　dipped　his　head　to　butt　it　against　my　shoulder。　

〃I　know；〃　I　whispered。　〃I　love　you；　too；　Jake。　You'll　always　be　my　best　man。〃　

A　tear　the　size　of　a　baseball　rolled　into　the　russet　fur　beneath　his　eye。　

Edward　leaned　his　head　against　the　same　shoulder　where　he'd　placed　Renesmee。　〃Goodbye；　Jacob；　my　
brother。。。　my　son。〃　

The　others　were　not　oblivious　to　the　farewell　scene。　Their　eyes　were　locked　on　the　silent　black　triangle；　
but　I　could　tell　they　were　listening。　

〃Is　there　no　hope；　then？〃　Carlisle　whispered。　There　was　no　fear　in　his　voice。　Just　determination　and　
acceptance。　

〃There　is　absolutely　hope；〃　I　murmured　back。　It　could　be　true；　I　told　myself。　〃I　only　know　my　own　
fate。〃　

Edward　took　my　hand。　He　knew　that　he　was　included。　When　I　said　my　fate；　there　was　no　question　that　
I　meant　the　two　of　us。　We　were　just　halves　of　the　whole。　

Esme's　breath　was　ragged　behind　me。　She　moved　past　us；　touching　our　faces　as　she　passed；　to　stand　
beside　Carlisle　and　hold　his　hand。　



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Suddenly；　we　were　surrounded　by　murmured　goodbyes　and　I　love　you's。　

〃If　we　live　through　this；〃　Garrett　whispered　to　Kate；　〃I'll　follow　you　anywhere；　woman。〃　

〃Now　he　tells　me；〃　she　muttered。　

Rosalie　and　Emmett　kissed　quickly　but　passionately。　

Tia　caressed　Benjamin's　face。　He　smiled　back　cheerfully；　catching　her　hand　and　holding　it　against　his　
cheek。　

I　didn't　see　all　the　expressions　of　love　and　pain。　I　was　distracted　by　a　sudden　fluttering　pressure　against　
the　outside　of　my　shield。　I　couldn't　tell　where　it　came　from；　but　it　felt　like　it　was　directed　at　the　edges　of　
our　group；　Siobhan　and　Liam　particularly。　The　pressure　did　no　damage；　and　then　it　was　gone。　

There　was　no　change　in　the　silent；　still　forms　of　the　counseling　ancients。　But　perhaps　there　was　some　
signal　I'd　missed。　

〃Get　ready；〃　I　whispered　to　the　others。　〃It's　starting。〃　

38。　POWER　

〃Chelsea　is　trying　to　break　our　bindings；〃　Edward　whispered。　〃But　she　can't　find　them。　She　can't　feel　us　
here。　。　。　。〃　His　eyes　cut　to　me。　〃Are　you　doing　that？〃　

I　smiled　grimly　at　him。　〃I　am　all　over　this。〃　

Edward　lurched　away　from　me　suddenly；　his　hand　reaching　out　toward　Carlisle。　At　the　same　time；　I　felt　
a　much　sharper　jab　against　the　shield　where　it　wrapped　protectively　around　Carlisle's　light。　It　wasn't　
painful；　but　it　wasn't　pleasant；　either。　

〃Carlisle？　Are　you　all　right？〃　Edward　gasped　frantically。　

〃Yes。　Why？〃　

〃Jane；〃　Edward　answered。　

The　moment　that　he　said　her　name；　a　dozen　pointed　attacks　hit　in　a　second；　stabbing　all　over　the　elastic　
shield；　aimed　at　twelve　different　bright　spots。　I　flexed；　making　sure　the　shield　was　undamaged。　It　didn't　
seem　like　Jane　had　been　able　to　pierce　it。　I　glanced　around　quickly；　everyone　was　fine。　

〃Incredible；〃　Edward　said。　

〃Why　aren't　they　waiting　for　the　decision？〃　Tanya　hissed。　

〃Normal　procedure；〃　Edward　answered　brusquely。　〃They　usually　incapacitate　those　on　trial　so　they　can't　
escape。〃　

I　looked　across　at　Jane；　who　was　staring　at　our　group　with　furious　disbelief。　I　was　pretty　sure　that；　
besides　me；　she'd　never　seen　anyone　remain　standing　through　her　fiery　assault。　



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It　probably　wasn't　very　mature。　But　I　figured　it　would　take　Aro　about　half　a　second　to　guess—if　he　
hadn't　already—that　my　shield　was　more　powerful　than　Edward　had　known；　I　already　had　a　big　target　on　
my　forehead　and　there　was　really　no　point　in　trying　to　keep　the　extent　of　what　I　could　do　a　secret。　So　I　
grinned　a　huge；　smug　smile　right　

at　Jane。　

Her　eyes　narrowed；　and　I　felt　another　stab　of　pressure；　this　time　directed　at　me。　

I　pulled　my　lips　wider；　showing　my　teeth。　

Jane　let　out　a　highpitched　scream　of　a　snarl。　Everyone　jumped；　even　the　disciplined　guard。　Everyone　
but　the　ancients；　who　didn't　so　much　as　look　up　from　their　conference。　Her　twin　caught　her　arm　as　she　
crouched　to　spring。　

The　Romanians　started　chuckling　with　dark　anticipation。　

〃I　told　you　this　was　our　time；〃　Vladimir　said　to　Stefan。　

〃Just　look　at　the　witch's　face；〃　Stefan　chortled。　

Alec　patted　his　sister's　shoulder　soothingly；　then　tucked　her　under　his　arm。　He　turned　his　face　to　us；　
perfectly　smooth；　pletely　angelic。　

I　waited　for　some　pressure；　some　sign　of　his　attack；　but　I　felt　nothing。　He　continued　to　stare　in　our　
direction；　his　pretty　face　posed。　Was　he　attacking？　Was　he　getting　through　my　shield？　Was　I　the　only　
one　who　could　still　see　him？　I　clutched　at　Edward's　hand。　

〃Are　you　okay？〃　I　choked　out。　

〃Yes；〃　he　whispered。　

〃Is　Alec　trying？〃　

Edward　nodded。　〃His　gift　is　slower　than　Jane's。　It　creeps。　It　will　touch　us　in　a　few　seconds。〃　

I　saw　it　then；　when　I　had　a　clue　of　what　to　look　for。　

A　strange　clear　haze　was　oozing　across　the　snow；　nearly　invisible　against　the　white。　It　reminded　me　of　a　
mirage—a　slight　warping　of　the　view；　a　hint　of　a　shimmer。　I　pushed　my　shield　out　from　Carlisle　and　the　
rest　of　the　front　line；　afraid　to　have　the　slinking　mist　too　close　when　it　hit。　What　if　it　stole　right　through　my　
intangible　protection？　Should　we　run？　

A　low　rumbling　murmured　through　the　ground　under　our　feet；　and　a　gust　of　wind　blew　the　snow　into　
sudden　flurries　between　our　position　and　the　Voituri's。　Benjamin　had　seen　the　creeping　threat；　too；　and　
now　he　tried　to　blow　the　mist　away　from　us。　The　snow　made　it　easy　to　see　where　he　threw　the　wind；　but　
the　mist　didn't　react　in　any　way。　It　was　like　air　blowing　harmlessly　through　a　shadow；　the　shadow　was　
immune。　

The　triangular　formation　of　the　ancients　finally　broke　apart　when；　with　a　racking　groan；　a　deep；　narrow　



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fissure　opened　in　a　long　zigzag　across　the　middle　of　the　clearing。　The　earth　rocked　under　my　feet　for　a　
moment。　The　drifts　of　snow　plummeted　into　the　hole；　but　the　mist　skipped　right　across　it；　as　untouched　by　
gravity　as　it　had　been　by　wind。　

Aro　and　Caius　watched　the　opening　earth　with　wide　eyes。　Marcus　looked　in　the　same　direction　without　
emotion。　

They　didn't　speak；　they　waited；　too；　as　the　mist　approached　us。　The　wind　shrieked　louder　but　didn't　
change　the　course　of　the　mist。　Jane　was　smiling　now。　

And　then　the　mist　hit　a　wall。　

I　could　taste　it　as　soon　as　it　touched　my　shield—it　had　a　dense；　sweet；　cloying　flavor；　it　made　me　
remember　dimly　the　numbness　of　Novocain　on　my　tongue。　

The　mist　curled　upward；　seeking　a　breach；　a　weakness。　It　found　none。　The　fingers　of　searching　haze　
twisted　upward　and　around；　trying　to　find　a　way　in；　and　in　the　process　illustrating　the　astonishing　size　of　
the　protective　screen。　

There　were　gasps　on　both　sides　of　Benjamin's　gorge。　

〃Well　done；　Bella！'7Benjamin　cheered　in　a　low　voice。　

My　smile　returned。　

I　could　see　Alec's　narrowed　eyes；　doubt　on　his　face　for　the　first　time　as　his　mist　swirled　harmlessly　
around　the　edges　of　my　shield。　

And　then　I　knew　that　I　could　do　this。　Obviously；　I　would　be　the　numberone　priority；　the　first　one　to　die；　
but　as　long　as　I　held；　we　were　on　more　than　equal　footing　with　the　Volturi。　We　still　had　Benjamin　and　
Zafrina；　they　had　no　supernatural　help　at　all。　As　long　as　I　held。　

Tm　going　to　have　to　concentrate；〃　I　whispered　to　Edward。　〃When　it　es　to　hand　to　hand；　it's　going　to　
be　harder　to　keep　the　shield　around　the　right　people。〃　

〃I'll　keep　them　off　you。〃　

〃No。　You　have　to　get　to　Demetri。　Zafrina　will　keep　them　away　from　me。〃　

Zafrina　nodded　solemnly。　〃No　one　will　touch　this　young　one；〃　she　promised　Edward。　

〃I'd　go　after　Jane　and　Alec　myself；　but　I　can　do　more　good　here。〃　

〃Jane's　mine；〃　Kate　hissed。　〃She　needs　a　taste　of　her　own　medicine。〃　

〃And　Alec　owes　me　many　lives；　but　I　will　settle　for　his；〃　Vladimir　growled　from　the　other　side。　〃He's　
mine。〃　

〃I　just　want　Caius；〃　Tanya　said　evenly。　

The　others　started　divvying　up　opponents；　too；　but　they　were　quickly　interrupted。　



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Aro；　staring　calmly　at　Alec's　ineffective　mist；　finally　spoke。　

〃Before　we　vote；〃　he　began。　

I　shook　my　head　angrily。　I　was　tired　of　this　charade。　The　bloodlust　was　igniting　in　me　again；　and　I　was　
sorry　that　I　would　help　the　others　more　by　standing　still。　I　wanted　to　fight。　

〃Let　me　remind　you；〃　Aro　continued；　〃whatever　the　council's　decision；　there　need　be　no　violence　here。〃　

Edward　snarled　out　a　dark　laugh。　

Aro　stared　at　him　sadly。　〃It　will　be　a　regrettable　waste　to　our　kind　to　lose　any　of　you。　But　you　especially；　
young　Edward；　and　your　newborn　mate。　The　Volturi　would　be　glad　to　wele　many　of　you　into　our　
ranks。　Bella；　Benjamin；　Zafrina；　Kate。　Ther