《4 breaking dawn破晓》第165章

like　she　might　actually　be　touching　his　back。　Was　this　the　other　shield；　Renata？　I　wondered；　as　Eleazar　
had；　if　she　would　be　able　to　repel　me。　
But　I　would　not　waste　my　life　trying　to　get　to　Caius　or　Aro。　I　had　more　vital　targets。　
I　searched　the　line　for　them　now　and　had　no　difficulty　picking　out　the　two　petite；　deep　gray　cloaks　near　
the　heart　of　the　arrangement。　Alec　and　Jane；　easily　the　smallest　members　of　the　guard；　stood　just　to　
Marcus"s　side；　flanked　by　Demetri　on　the　other。　Their　lovely　faces　were　smooth；　giving　nothing　away；　
they　wore　the　darkest　cloaks　beside　the　pure　black　of　the　ancients。　The　witch　twins；　Vladimir　had　called　
them。　Their　powers　were　the　cornerstone　of　the　Volturi　offensive。　The　jewels　in　Aro"s　collection。　
My　muscles　flexed；　and　venom　welled　in　my　mouth。　
Aro"s　and　Caius"s　clouded　red　eyes　flickered　across　our　line。　I　read　disappointment　in　Aro"s　face　as　his　
gaze　roved　over　our　faces　again　and　again；　looking　for　one　that　was　missing。　Chagrin　tightened　his　lips。　
In　that　moment；　I　was　nothing　but　grateful　that　Alice　had　run。　
As　the　pause　lengthened；　I　heard　Edward"s　breath　speed。　
〃Edward？〃　Carlisle　asked；　low　and　anxious。　
"They"re　not　sure　how　to　proceed。　They"re　weighing　options；　choosing　key　targets—me；　of　course；　you；　
Eleazar；　Tanya。　Marcus　is　reading　the　strength　of　our　ties　to　each　other；　looking　for　weak　points。　The　
Romanians"　presence　irritates　them。　They"re　worried　about　the　faces　they　don"t　recognize—Zafrina　and　
Senna　in　particular—and　the　wolves；　naturally。　They"ve　never　been　outnumbered　before。　That"s　what　
stopped　them。〃　
〃Outnumbered？〃　Tanya　whispered　incredulously。　
〃They　don"t　count　their　witnesses；〃　Edward　breathed。　〃They　are　nonentities；　meaningless　to　the　guard。　
Aro　just　enjoys　an　audience。〃　
〃Should　I　speak？〃　Carlisle　asked。　
Edward　hesitated；　then　nodded。　〃This　is　the　only　chance　you"ll　get。〃　
Carlisle　squared　his　shoulders　and　paced　several　steps　ahead　of　our　defensive　line。　I　hated　to　see　him　
alone；　unprotected。　
He　spread　his　arms；　holding　his　palms　up　as　if　in　greeting。　〃Aro；　my　old　friend。　It"s　been　centuries。〃　
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The　white　clearing　was　dead　silent　for　a　long　moment。　I　could　feel　the　tension　rolling　off　Edward　as　he　
listened　to　Aro"s　assessment　of　Carlisle"s　words。　The　strain　mounted　as　the　seconds　ticked　by。　
And　then　Aro　stepped　forward　out　of　the　center　of　the　Volturi　formation。　The　shield；　Renata；　moved　
with　him　as　if　the　tips　of　her　fingers　were　sewn　to　his　robe。　For　the　first　time；　the　Volturi　ranks　reacted。　A　
muttered　grumble　rolled　through　the　line；　eyebrows　lowered　into　scowls；　lips　curled　back　from　teeth。　A　
few　of　the　guard　leaned　forward　into　a　crouch。　
Aro　held　one　hand　up　toward　them。　〃Peace。〃　
He　walked　just　a　few　paces　more；　then　cocked　his　head　to　one　side。　His　milky　eyes　glinted　with　
curiosity。　
〃Fair　words；　Carlisle；〃　he　breathed　in　his　thin；　wispy　voice。　〃They　seem　out　of　place；　considering　the　
army　you"ve　assembled　to　kill　me；　and　to　kill　my　dear　ones。〃　
Carlisle　shook　his　head　and　stretched　his　right　hand　forward　as　if　there　were　not　still　almost　a　hundred　
yards　
between　them。　〃You　have　but　to　touch　my　hand　to　know　that　was　never　my　intent。〃　
Aro"s　shrewd　eyes　narrowed。　〃But　how　can　your　intent　possibly　matter；　dear　Carlisle；　in　the　face　of　what　
you　have　done？〃　He　frowned；　and　a　shadow　of　sadness　crossed　his　features—whether　it　was　genuine　or　
not；　I　could　not　tell。　
〃I　have　not　mitted　the　crime　you　are　here　to　punish　me　for。〃　
〃Then　step　aside　and　let　us　punish　those　responsible。　Truly；　Carlisle；　nothing　would　please　me　more　than　
to　preserve　your　life　today。〃　
〃No　one　has　broken　the　law；　Aro。　Let　me　explain。〃　Again；　Carlisle　offered　his　hand。　
Before　Aro　could　answer；　Caius　drifted　swiftly　forward　to　Aro"s　side。　
〃So　many　pointless　rules；　so　many　unnecessary　laws　you　create　for　yourself；　Carlisle；〃　the　whitehaired　
ancient　hissed。　〃How　is　it　possible　that　you　defend　the　breaking　of　one　that　truly　matters？〃　
〃The　law　is　not　broken。　If　you　would　listen—〃　
〃We　see　the　child；　Carlisle；〃　Caius　snarled。　〃Do　not　treat　us　as　fools。〃　
〃She　is　not　an　immortal。　She　is　not　a　vampire。　I　can　easily　prove　this　with　just　a　few　moments—〃　
Caius　cut　him　off。　〃If　she　is　not　one　of　the　forbidden；　then　why　have　you　massed　a　battalion　to　protect　
her？〃　
〃Witnesses；　Caius；　just　as　you　have　brought。〃　Carlisle　gestured　to　the　angry　horde　at　the　edge　of　the　
woods；　some　of　them　growled　in　response。　〃Any　one　of　these　friends　can　tell　you　the　truth　about　the　
child。　Or　you　could　just　look　at　her；　Caius。　See　the　flush　of　human　blood　in　her　cheeks。〃　
〃Artifice！〃　Caius　snapped。　〃Where　is　the　informer？　Let　her　e　forward！〃　He　craned　his　neck　around　
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until　he　spotted　Irina　lingering　behind　the　wives。　〃You！　e！〃　
Irina　stared　at　him　unprehendingly；　her　face　like　that　of　someone　who　has　not　entirely　awakened　
from　a　hideous　nightmare。　Impatiently；　Caius　snapped　his　fingers。　One　of　the　wives"　huge　bodyguards　
moved　to　Irina"s　side　and　prodded　her　roughly　in　the　back。　Irina　blinked　twice　and　then　walked　slowly　
toward　Caius　in　a　daze。　She　stopped　several　yards　short；　her　eyes　still　on　her　sisters。　
Caius　closed　the　distance　between　them　and　slapped　her　across　the　face。　
It　couldn"t　have　hurt；　but　there　was　something　terribly　degrading　about　the　action。　It　was　like　watching　
someone　kick　a　dog。　Tanya　and　Kate　hissed　in　synchronization。　
Irina"s　body　went　rigid　and　her　eyes　finally　focused　on　Caius。　He　pointed　one　clawed　finger　at　
Renesmee；　where　she　clung　to　my　back；　her　fingers　still　tangled　in　Jacob"s　fur。　Caius　turned　entirely　red　in　
my　furious　view。　A　growl　rumbled　through　Jacob"s　chest。　
〃This　is　the　child　you　saw？〃　Caius　demanded。　〃The　one　that　was　obviously　more　than　human？〃　
Irina　peered　at　us；　examining　Renesmee　for　the　first　time　since　entering　the　clearing。　Her　head　tilted　to　
the　side；　confusion　crossed　her　features。