Сумерки

           Notevenhearingyouscreaminpain-allthoseunbearablememoriesthatI’llcarrywithmefortherestofeternity.No,theveryworstwasfeeling...knowingthatIcouldn’tstop.BelievingthatIwasgoingtokillyoumyself."

           "Butyoudidn’t."

           "Icouldhave.Soeasily."

           IknewIneededtostaycalm...buthewastryingtotalkhimselfintoleavingme,andthepanicflutteredinmylungs,tryingtogetout.

           "Promiseme,"Iwhispered.

           "What?"

           "Youknowwhat."Iwasstartingtogetangrynow.Hewassostubbornlydeterminedtodwellonthenegative.

           Heheardthechangeinmytone.Hiseyestightened."Idon’tseemtobestrongenoughtostayawayfromyou,soIsupposethatyou’llgetyourway...whetheritkillsyouornot,"headdedroughly.

           "Good."Hehadn’tpromised,though-afactthatIhadnotmissed.Thepanicwasonlybarelycontained;Ihadnostrengthlefttocontroltheanger."Youtoldmehowyoustopped...nowIwanttoknowwhy,"Idemanded.

           "Why?"herepeatedwarily.

           "Whyyoudidit.Whydidn’tyoujustletthevenomspread?BynowIwouldbejustlikeyou."

           Edward’seyesseemedtoturnflatblack,andIrememberedthatthiswassomethinghe’dneverintendedmetoknow.Alicemusthavebeenpreoccupiedbythethingsshe’dlearnedaboutherself...orshe’dbeenverycarefulwithherthoughtsaroundhim-clearly,he’dhadnoideathatshe’dfilledmeinonthemechanicsofvampireconversions.Hewassurprised,andinfuriated.Hisnostrilsflared,hismouthlookedasifitwaschiseledfromstone.