None of them had ever seen the boy before, or dreamed of his existence, until the day they watched him burn in their mothers arms. I can only guess that their mother had kept her secret to protect them from this exact outcome. But why had she created him in the first place? Who was he, and what had he meant to her that would cause her to cross this most uncrossable of lines? Tanya and the others never received an answer to any of these questions. But they could not doubt their mothers guilt, and I dont think theyve ever truly forgiven her.
Even with Aros perfect assurance that Tanya, Kate, and Irina were innocent, Caius wanted them to burn. Guilty by association. They were lucky that Aro felt like being merciful that day. Tanya and her sisters were pardoned, but left with unhealing hearts and a very healthy respect for the law. . . .
Im not sure where exactly the memory turned into a dream. One moment it seemed that I was listening to Carlisle in my memory, looking at his face, and then a moment later I was looking at a gray, barren field and smelling the thick scent of burning incense in the air. I was not alone there.
The huddle of figures in the center of the field, all shrouded in ashy cloaks, should have terrified methey could only be Volturi, and I was, against what theyd decreed at our last meeting, still human. But I knew, as I sometimes did in dreams, that I was invisible to them.
Scattered all around me were smoking heaps. I recognized the sweetness in the air and did not examine the mounds too closely. I had no desire to see the faces of the vampires they had executed, half afraid that I might recognize someone in the smoldering pyres.
The Volturi soldiers stood in a circle around something or someone, and I heard their whispery voices raised in agitation. I edged closer to the cloaks, compelled by the dream to see whatever thing or person they were examining with such intensity. Creeping carefully between two of the tall hissing shrouds, I finally saw the object of their debate, raised up on a little hillock above them.
He was beautiful, adorable, just as Carlisle had described. The boy was a toddler still, maybe two years of age. Light brown curls framed his cherubic face with its round cheeks and full lips. And he was trembling, his eyes closed as if he was too frightened to watch death coming closer every second.
I was struck with such a powerful need to save the lovely, terrified child that the Volturi, despite all their devastating menace, no longer mattered to me. I shoved past them, not caring if they realized my presence. Breaking free of them altogether, I sprinted toward the boy.
Only to stagger to a halt as I got a clear view of the hillock that he sat upon. It was not earth and rock, but a pile of human bodies, drained and lifeless. Too late not to see these faces. I knew them allAngela, Ben, Jessica, Mike. And directly beneath the adorable boy were the bodies of my father and my mother.
The child opened his bright, bloodred eyes.
3. BIG DAY
My own eyes flew open.
I lay shivering and gasping in my warm bed for several minutes, trying to break free of the dream. The sky outside my window turned gray and then pale pink while I waited for my heart to slow.
When I was fully back to the reality of my messy, familiar room, I was a little annoyed with myself. What a dream to have the night before my wedding! Thats what I got for obsessing over disturbing stories in the middle of the night.
Eager to shake off the nightmare, I got dressed and headed down to the kitchen long before I needed to. First I cleaned the already tidy rooms, and then when Charlie was up I made him pancakes. I was much too keyed up to have any interest in eating breakfast myselfI sat bouncing in my seat while he ate.
Youre picking up Mr. Weber at three oclock, I reminded him.
I dont have that much to do today besides bring the minister, Bells. Im not likely to forget my only job. Charlie had taken the entire day off for the wedding, and he was definitely at loose ends. Now and then, his eyes flickered furtively to the closet under the stairs, where he kept his fishing gear.
Thats not your only job. You also have to be dressed and presentable.
He scowled into his cereal bowl and muttered the words monkey suit under his breath.
There was a brisk tapping on the front door.
You think you have it bad, I said, grimacing as I rose. Alice will be working on me all day long.
Charlie nodded thoughtfully, conceding that he did have the lesser ordeal. I ducked in to kiss the top of his head as I passedhe blushed and harrumphedand then continued on to get the door for my best girlfriend and soon-to-be sister.
Alices short black hair was not in its usual spiky doit was smoothed into sleek pin curls around her pixie face, which wore a contrastingly businesslike expression. She dragged me from the house with barely a Hey, Charlie called over her shoulder.
Alice appraised me as I got into her Porsche.
Oh, hell, look at your eyes! She tsked in reproach. What did you do? Stay up all night?
Almost.
She glowered. Ive only allotted so much time to make you stunning, Bellayou might have taken better care of my raw material.
No one expects me to be stunning. I think the bigger problem is that I might fall asleep during the ceremony and not be able to say I do at the right part, and then Edward will make his escape.
She laughed. Ill throw my bouquet at you when it gets close.
Thanks.
At least youll have plenty of time to sleep on the plane tomorrow.
I raised one eyebrow. Tomorrow, I mused. If we were heading out tonight after the reception, and we would still be on a plane tomorrow well, we werent going to Boise, Idaho. Edward hadnt dropped a single hint. I wasnt too stressed about the mystery, but it was strange not knowing where I would be sleeping tomorrow night. Or hopefully not sleeping . . .
Alice realized that shed given something away, and she frowned.
Youre all packed and ready, she said to distract me.
It worked. Alice, I wish you would let me pack my own things!
It would have given too much away.
And denied you an opportunity to shop.
Youll be my sister officially in ten short hours its about time to get over this aversion to new clothes.
I glowered groggily out the windshield until we were almost to the house.
Is he back yet? I asked.
Dont worry, hell be there before the music starts. But you dont get to see him, no matter when he gets back. Were doing this the traditional way.
I snorted. Traditional!
Okay, aside from the bride and groom.
You know hes already peeked.
Oh nothats why Im the only one whos seen you in the dress. Ive been very careful to not think about it when hes around.
Well, I said as we turned into the drive, I see you got to reuse your graduation decorations. Three miles of drive were once again wrapped in hundreds of thousands of twinkle lights. This time, shed added white satin bows.
Waste not, want not. Enjoy this, because you dont get to see the inside decorations until its time. She pulled into the cavernous garage north of the main house; Emmetts big Jeep was still gone.
Since when is the bride not allowed to see the decorations? I protested.
Since she put me in charge. I want you to get the full impact coming down the stairs.
She clapped her hand over my eyes before she let me inside the kitchen. I was immediately assailed by the scent.
What is that? I wondered as she guided me into the house.
Is it too much? Alices voice was abruptly worried. Youre the first human in here; I hope I got it right.
It smells wonderful! I assured heralmost intoxicating, but not at all overwhelming, the balance of the different fragrances was subtle and flawless. Orange blossoms lilac and something elseam I right?
Very good, Bella. You only missed the freesia and the roses.
She didnt uncover my eyes until we were in her oversized bathroom. I stared at the long counter, covered in all the paraphernalia of a beauty salon, and
began to feel my sleepless night.
Is this really necessary? Im going to look plain next to him no matter what.
She pushed me down into a low pink chair. No one will dare to call you plain when Im through with you.
Only because theyre afraid youll suck their blood, I muttered. I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes, hoping Id be able to nap through it. I did drift in and out a little bit while she masked, buffed, and polished every surface of my body.
It was after lunchtime when Rosalie glided past the bathroom door in a shimmery silver gown with her golden hair piled up in a soft crown on top of her head. She was so beautiful it made me want to cry. What was even the point of dressing up with Rosalie around?
Theyre back, Rosalie said, and immediately my childish fit of despair passed. Edward was home.
Keep him out of here!
He wont cross you today, Rosalie reassured her. He values his life too much. Esmes got them finishing things up out back. Do you want some help? I could do her hair.
My jaw fell open. I floundered around in my head, trying to remember how to close it.
I had never been Rosalies favorite person in the world. Then, making things even more strained between us, she was personally offended by the choice I was making now. Though she had her impossible beauty, her loving family, and her soul mate in Emmett, she would have traded it all to be human. And here I was, callously throwing away everything she wanted in life like it was garbage. It didnt exactly warm her to me.
Sure, Alice said easily. You can start braiding. I want it intricate. The veil goes here, underneath. Her hands started combing through my hair, hefting it, twisting it, illustrating in detail what she wanted. When she was done, Rosalies hands replaced hers, shaping my hair with a feather-light touch. Alice moved back to my face.
Once Rosalie received Alices commendation on my hair, she was sent off to retrieve my dress and then to locate Jasper, who had been dispatched to pick up my mother and her husband, Phil, from their hotel. Downstairs, I could faintly hear the door opening and closing over and over. Voices began to float up to us.
Alice made me stand so that she could ease the dress over my hair and makeup. My knees shook so badly as she fastened the long line of pearl buttons up my back that the satin quivered in little wavelets down to the floor.
Deep breaths, Bella, Alice said. And try to lower your heart rate. Youre going to sweat off your new face.
I gave her the best sarcastic expression I could manage. Ill get right on that.
I have to get dressed now. Can you hold yourself together for two minutes?
Um maybe?
She rolled her eyes and darted out the door.
I concentrated on my breathing, counting each movement of my lungs, and stared at the patterns that the bathroom light made on the shiny fabric of my skirt. I was afraid to look in the mirrorafraid the image of myself in the wedding dress would send me over the edge into a full-scale panic attack.
Alice was back before I had taken two hundred breaths, in a dress that flowed down her slender body like a silvery waterfall.
Alicewow.
Its nothing. No one will be looking at me today. Not while youre in the room.
Har har.
Now, are you in control of yourself, or do I have to bring Jasper up here?
Theyre back? Is my mom here?
She just walked in the door. Shes on her way up.
Rene had flown in two days ago, and Id spent every minute I could with herevery minute that I could pry her away from Esme and the decorations, in other words. As far as I could tell, she was having more fun with this than a kid locked inside Disneyland overnight. In a way, I felt almost as cheated as Charlie. All that wasted terror over her reaction . . .
Oh, Bella! she squealed now, gushing before she was all the way through the door. Oh, honey, youre so beautiful! Oh, Im going to cry! Alice, youre amazing! You and Esme should go into business as wedding planners. Where did you find this dress? Its gorgeous! So graceful, so elegant. Bella, you look like you just stepped out of an Austen movie. My mothers voice sounded a little distance away, and everything in the room was slightly blurry. Such a creative idea, designing the theme around Bellas ring. So romantic! To think its been in Edwards family since the eighteen hundreds!
Alice and I exchanged a brief conspiratorial look. My mom was off on the dress style by more than a hundred years. The wedding wasnt actually centered around the ring, but around Edward himself.
There was a loud, gruff throat-clearing in the doorway.
Rene, Esme said its time you got settled down there, Charlie said.
Well, Charlie, dont you look dashing! Rene said in a tone that was almost shocked. That might have explained the crustiness of Charlies answer.
Alice got to me.
Is it really time already? Rene said to herself, sounding almost as nervous as I felt. This has all gone so fast. I feel dizzy.
That made two of us.
Give me a hug before I go down, Rene insisted. Carefully now, dont tear anything.
My mother squeezed me gently around the waist, then wheeled for the door, only to complete the spin and face me again.
Oh goodness, I almost forgot! Charlie, wheres the box?
My dad rummaged in his pockets for a minute and then produced a small white box, which he handed to Rene. Rene lifted the lid and held it out to me.
Something blue, she said.
Something old, too. They were your Grandma Swans, Charlie added. We had a jeweler replace the paste stones with sapphires.
Inside the box were two heavy silver hair combs. Dark blue sapphires were clustered into intricate floral shapes atop the teeth.
My throat got all thick. Mom, Dad you shouldnt have.
Alice wouldnt let us do anything else, Rene said. Every time we tried, she all but ripped our throats out.
A hysterical giggle burst through my lips.
Alice stepped up and quickly slid both combs into my hair under the edge of the thick braids. Thats something old and something blue, Alice mused, taking a few steps back to admire me. And your dress is new so here
She flicked something at me. I held my hands out automatically, and the filmy white garter landed in my palms.
Thats mine and I want it back, Alice told me.
I blushed.
There, Alice said with satisfaction. A little colorthats all you needed. You are officially perfect. With a little self-congratulatory smile, she turned to my parents. Rene, you need to get downstairs.
Yes, maam. Rene blew me a kiss and hurried out the door.
Charlie, would you grab the flowers, please?
While Charlie was out of the room, Alice hooked the garter out of my hands and then ducked under my skirt. I gasped and tottered as her cold hand caught my ankle; she yanked the garter into place.
She was back on her feet before Charlie returned with the two frothy white bouquets. The scent of roses and orange blossom and freesia enveloped me in a soft mist.
Rosaliethe best musician in the family next to Edwardbegan playing the piano downstairs. Pachelbels Canon. I began hyperventilating.
Easy, Bells, Charlie said. He turned to Alice nervously. She looks a little sick. Do you think shes going to make it?
His voice sounded far away. I couldnt feel my legs.
Shed better.
Alice stood right in front of me, on her tiptoes to better stare me in the eye, and gripped my wrists in her hard hands.
Focus, Bella. Edward is waiting for you down there.
I took a deep breath, willing myself into composure.
The music slowly morphed into a new song. Charlie nudged me. Bells, were up to bat.
Bella? Alice asked, still holding my gaze.
Yes, I squeaked. Edward. Okay. I let her pull me from the room, with Charlie tagging along at my elbow.
The music was louder in the hall. It floated up the stairs along with the fragrance of a million flowers. I concentrated on the idea
of Edward waiting below to get my feet to shuffle forward.
The music was familiar, Wagners traditional march surrounded by a flood of embellishments.
Its my turn, Alice chimed. Count to five and follow me. She began a slow, graceful dance down the staircase. I should have realized that having Alice as my only bridesmaid was a mistake. I would look that much more uncoordinated coming behind her.
A sudden fanfare trilled through the soaring music. I recognized my cue.
Dont let me fall, Dad, I whispered. Charlie pulled my hand through his arm and then grasped it tightly.
One step at a time, I told myself as we began to descend to the slow tempo of the march. I didnt lift my eyes until my feet were safely on the flat ground, though I could hear the murmurs and rustling of the audience as I came into view. Blood flooded my cheeks at the sound; of course I could be counted on to be the blushing bride.