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new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第62部分

小说: new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版) 字数: 每页4000字

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gawked; my mouth hangmg 
open。 Even Alice; whose every motion looked like dancing; could not pare。 
I was only more astonished as he floated closer and I could see his face。 It 
was not like the unnaturally 
attractive faces that surrounded him (for he did not approach us alone; the 
entire group converged 
around him; some following; and some walking ahead of him with the alert 
manner of bodyguards)。 I 
couldn't decide if his face was beautiful or not。 I suppose the features were 
perfect。 But he was as 
different from the vampires beside him as they were from me。 His skin was 
translucently white; like 
onionskin; and it looked just as delicate—it stood in shocking contrast to 
the long black hair that framed 
his face。 I felt a strange; horrifying urge to touch his cheek; to see if it 
was softer than Edward's or 
Alice's; or if it was powdery; like chalk。 His eyes were red; the same as the 
others around him; but the 
color was clouded; milky; I wondered if his vision was affected by the haze。 
He glided to Jane; took her face in his papery hands; kissed her lightly on 
her full lips; and then floated 
back a step。 
〃Yes; Master。〃 Jane smiled; the expression made her look like an angelic 
child。 〃I brought him back alive; 
just as you wished。〃 
〃Ah; Jane。〃 He smiled; too。 〃You are such a fort to me。〃 
He turned his misty eyes toward us; and the smile brightened—became ecstatic。 
〃And Alice and Bella; too!〃 he rejoiced; clapping his thin hands together。 
〃This is a happy surprise! 
Wonderful!〃 
I stared in shock as he called our names informally; as if we were old friends 
dropping in for an 
unexpected visit。 
He turned to our hulking escort。 〃Felix; be a dear and tell my brothers about 
our pany。 I'm sure they 
wouldn't want to miss this。〃 
〃Yes; Master。〃 Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had e。 
〃You see; Edward?〃 The strange vampire turned and smiled at Edward like a fond 
but scolding 
grandfather。 〃What did I tell you? Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what 
you wanted yesterday?〃 
〃Yes; Aro; I am;〃 he agreed; tightening his arm around my waist。 
〃I love a happy ending。〃 Aro sighed。 〃They are so rare。 But I want the whole 
story。 How did this 
happen? Alice?〃 He turned to gaze at Alice with curious; misty eyes。 〃Your 
brother seemed to think you 
infallible; but apparently there was some mistake。〃 
〃Oh; I'm far from infallible。〃 She flashed a dazzling smile。 She looked 
perfectly at ease; except that her 
hands were balled into tight little fists。 〃As you can see today; I cause 
problems as often as I cure them。〃 
〃You're too modest;〃 Aro chided。 〃I've seen some of your more amazing 
exploits; and I must admit I've 
never observed anything like your talent。 Wonderful!〃 
Alice flickered a glance at Edward。 Aro did not miss it。 
〃I'm sorry; we haven't been introduced properly at all; have we? It's just 
that I feel like I know you 
already; and I tend get ahead of myself。 Your brother introduced us yesterday; 
in a peculiar way。 You 
see; I share some of your brother's talent; only I am limited in a way that he 
is not。〃 Aro shook his head; 
his tone was envious。 
〃And also exponentially more powerful;〃 Edward added dryly。 He looked at Alice 
as he swiftly 
explained。 〃Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts; but he hears 
much more than I do。 You 
know I can only hear what's passing through your head in the moment。 Aro hears 
every thought your 
mind has ever had。〃 
Alice raised her delicate eyebrows; and Edward inclined his head。 
Aro didn't miss that either。 
〃But to be able to hear from a distance〃 Aro sighed; gesturing toward the 
two of them; and the 
exchange that had just taken place。 〃That would be so convenient。〃 
Aro looked over our shoulders。 All the other heads turned in the same 
direction; including Jane; Alec; 
and Demetri; who stood silently beside us。 
I was the slowest to turn。 Felix was back; and behind him floated two more 
black…robed men。 Both 
looked very much like Aro; one even had the same flowing black hair。 The other 
had a shock of 
snow…white hair—the same shade as his face—that brushed against his 
shoulders。 Their faces had 
identical; paper…thin skin。 
The trio from Carlisle's painting was plete; unchanged by the last three 
hundred years since it was 
painted。 
〃Marcus; Caius; look!〃 Aro crooned。 〃Bella is alive after all; and Alice is 
here with her! Isn't that 
wonderful?〃 
Neither of the other two looked as if wonderful would be their first choice of 
words。 The dark…haired 
man seemed utterly bored; like he'd seen too many millennia of Aro's 
enthusiasm。 The other's hice was 
sour under the snowy hair。 
Their lack of interest did not curb Aro's enjoyment。 
〃Let us have the story;〃 Aro almost sang in his feathery voice。 
The white…haired ancient vampire drifted away; gliding toward one of the 
wooden thrones。 The other 
paused beside Aro; and he reached his hand out; at first I thought to take 
Aro's hand。 But he just 
touched Aro's palm briefly and then dropped his hand to his side。 Aro raised 
one black brow。 I 
wondered how his papery skin did not crumple in the effort。 
Edward snorted very quietly; and Alice looked at him; curious。 
〃Thank you; Marcus;〃 Aro said。 〃That's quite interesting。〃 
I realized; a second late; that Marcus was letting Aro know his thoughts。 
Marcus didn't look interested。 He glided away from Aro to join the one who 
must be Caius; seated 
against the wall。 Two of the attending vampires followed silently behind him—
bodyguards; like I'd 
thought before。 I could see that the two women in the sundresses had gone to 
stand beside Caius in the 
same manner。 The idea of any vampire needing a guard was faintly ridiculous to 
me; but maybe the 
ancient ones were as frail as their skin suggested。 
Aro was shaking his head。 〃Amazing;〃' he said。 〃Absolutely amazing。〃 
Alice's expression was frustrated。 Edward turned to her and explained again in 
a swift; low voice。 
〃Marcus sees relationships。 He's surprised by the intensity of ours。〃 
Aro smiled。 〃So convenient;〃 he repeated to himself。 Then he spoke to us。 〃It 
takes quite a bit to surprise 
Marcus; I can assure you。〃 
I looked at Marcus's dead face; and I believed that。 
〃It's just so difficult to understand; even now;〃 Aro mused; staring at 
Edward's arm wrapped around me。 
It was hard for me to follow Aro's chaotic train of thought。 I struggled to 
keep up。 〃How can you stand 
so close to het like that?〃 
〃It's not without effort;〃 Edward answered calmly。 
〃Butstill—la tua cantante! What a waste!〃 
Edward chuckled once without humor。 〃I look at it more as a price。〃 
Aro was skeptical。 〃A very high price。〃 
〃Opportunity cost。〃 
Aro laughed。 〃If I hadn't smelled her through your memories; I wouldn't have 
believed the call of anyone's 
blood could be so strong。 I've never felt anything like it myself。 Most of us 
would trade much for such a 
gift; and yet you〃 
〃Waste it;〃 Edward finished; his voice sarcastic now。 
Aro laughed again。 〃Ah; how I miss my friend Carlisle! You remind me of him—
only he was not so 
angry。〃 
〃Carlisle outshines me in many other ways as well。〃 
〃I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self…control of all 
things; but you put him to shame。〃 
〃Hardly。〃 Edward sounded impatient。 As if he were tired of the preliminaries。 
It made me more afraid; I 
couldn't help but try to imagine what he expected would follow。 
〃I am gratified by his success;〃 Aro mused。 〃Your memories of him are quite a 
gift for me; though they 
astonish me exceedingly。 I am surprised by how it pleases me; his success in 
this unorthodox path he's 
chosen。 I expected that he would waste; weaken with time。 I'd scoffed at his 
plan to find others who 
would share his peculiar vision。 Yet; somehow; I'm happy to be wrong。〃 
Edward didn't reply。 
〃But your restraint!〃 Aro sighed。 〃I did not know such strength was possible。 
To inure yourself against 
such a siren call; not just once but again and again—if I had not felt it 
myself; I would not have believed。〃 
Edward gazed back at Aro's admiration with no expression。 I knew his face well 
enough—time had not 
changed that—to guess at something seething beneath the surface。 I fought to 
keep my breathing even。 
〃Just remembering how she appeals to you〃 Aro chuckled。 〃It makes me 
thirsty。〃 
Edward tensed。 
〃Don't be disturbed;〃 Aro reassured him。 〃I mean her no harm。 But I am so 
curious; about one thing in 
particular。〃 He eyed me with bright interest。 〃May I?〃 he asked eagerly; 
lifting one hand。 
〃Ask her;〃 Edward suggested in a flat voice。 
〃Of course; how rude of me!〃 Aro exclaimed。 〃Bella;〃 he addressed me directly 
now。 〃I'm fascinated that 
you are the one exception to Edward's impressive talent—so very interesting 
that such a thing should 
occur! And I was wondering; since our talents are similar in many ways; if you 
would be so kind as to 
allow me to try—to see if you are an exception for me; as well?〃 
My eyes flashed up to Edward's face in terror。 Despite Aro's overt politeness; 
I didn't believe I really had 
a choice。 I was horrified at the thought of allowing him to touch me; and yet 
also perversely intrigued by 
the chance to feel his strange skin。 
Edward nodded in encouragement—whether because he was sure Aro would not hurt 
me; or because 
there was no choice; I couldn't tell。 
I turned back to Aro and raised my hand slowly in front of me。 It was 
trembling。 
He glided closer; and I believe he meant his expression to be reassuring。 But 
his papery features were 
too strange; too alien and frightening; to reassure。 The look on his face was 
more confident than his 
words had been。 
Aro reached out; as if to shake my hand; and pressed his insubstantial…looking 
skin against mine。 It was 
hard; but felt brittle—shale rather than granite—and even colder than I 
expected。 
His filmy eyes smiled down at mine; and it was impossible to look away。 They 
were mesmerizing in an 
odd; unpleasant way。 
Aro's face altered as I watched。 The confidence wavered and became first 
doubt; then incredulity before 
he calmed it into a fri

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