3 eclipse月食-第22章

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seemed　to　be　everything　I’d　dreamed　of。　The　fairy　tale　prince；　e　to　make　me　a　princess。　Everything　I　
wanted；　yet　it　was　still　no　more　than　I　expected。　We　were　engaged　before　I’d　known　him　for　two　months。　
　“We　didn’t　spend　a　great　deal　of　time　alone　with　each　other。　Royce　told　me　he　had　many　responsibilities　
at　work；　and；　when　we　were　together；　he　liked　people　to　look　at　us；　to　see　me　on　his　arm。　I　liked　that；　too。　
There　were　lots　of　parties；　dancing；　and　pretty　dresses。　When　you　were　a　King；　every　door　was　open　for　you；　
every　red　carpet　rolled　out　to　greet　you。　
　“It　wasn’t　a　long　engagement。　Plans　went　ahead　for　the　most　lavish　wedding。　It　was　going　to　be　everything　
I’d　ever　wanted。　I　was　pletely　happy。　When　I　called　at　Vera’s；　I　no　longer　felt　jealous。　I　pictured　my　fair　
haired　children　playing　on　the　huge　lawns　of　the　Kings’　estate；　and　I　pitied　her。”　
　Rosalie　broke　off　suddenly；　clenching　her　teeth　together。　It　pulled　me　out　of　her　story；　and　I　realized　that　
the　horror　was　not　far　off。　There　would　be　no　happy　ending；　as　she’d　promised。　I　wondered　if　this　was　why　
she　had　so　much　more　bitterness　in　her　than　the　rest　of　them　—　because　she’d　been　within　reach　of　everything　
she’d　wanted　when　her　human　life　was　cut　short。　
　“I　was　at　Vera’s　that　night；”　Rosalie　whispered。　Her　face　was　smooth　as　marble；　and　as　hard。　“Her　little　
Henry　really　was　adorable；　all　smiles　and　dimples　—　he　was　just　sitting　up　on　his　own。　Vera　walked　me　to　the　
door　as　I　was　leaving；　her　baby　in　her　arms　and　her　husband　at　her　side；　his　arm　around　her　waist。　He　kissed　
her　on　the　cheek　when　he　thought　I　wasn’t　looking。　That　bothered　me。　When　Royce　kissed　me；　it　wasn’t　quite　

the　same　—　not　so　sweet　somehow。　。　。　。　I　shoved　that　thought　aside。　Royce　was　my　prince。　Someday；　I　
would　be　queen。”　
　It　was　hard　to　tell　in　the　moonlight；　but　it　looked　like　her　bone　white　face　got　paler。　
　“It　was　dark　in　the　streets；　the　lamps　already　on。　I　hadn’t　realized　how　late　it　was。”　She　continued　to　
whisper　almost　inaudibly。　“It　was　cold；　too。　Very　cold　for　late　April。　The　wedding　was　only　a　week　away；　and　
I　was　worrying　about　the　weather　as　I　hurried　home　—　I　can　remember　that　clearly。　I　remember　every　detail　
about　that　night。　I　clung　to　it　so　hard　。　。　。　in　the　beginning。　I　thought　of　nothing　else。　And　so　I　remember　this；　
when　so　many　pleasant　memories　have　faded　away　pletely。　。　。　。”　
　She　sighed；　and　began　whispering　again。　“Yes；　I　was　worrying　about　the　weather。　。　。　。　I　didn’t　want　to　
have　to　move　the　wedding　indoors。　。　。　。　
　“I　was　a　few　streets　from　my　house　when　I　heard　them。　A　cluster　of　men　under　a　broken　streetlamp；　
laughing　too　loud。　Drunk。　I　wished　I’d　called　my　father　to　escort　me　home；　but　the　way　was　so　short；　it　
seemed　silly。　And　then　he　called　my　name。　
　“‘Rose！’　he　yelled；　and　the　others　laughed　stupidly。　
　“I　hadn’t　realized　the　drunks　were　so　well　dressed。　It　was　Royce　and　some　of　his　friends；　sons　of　other　
rich　men。　
　“‘Here’s　my　Rose！’　Royce　shouted；　laughing　with　them；　sounding　just　as　stupid。　‘You’re　late。　We’re　cold；　
you’ve　kept　us　waiting　so　long。’”　
　“I’d　never　seen　him　drink　before。　A　toast；　now　and　then；　at　a　party。　He’d　told　me　he　didn’t　like　
champagne。　I　hadn’t　realized　that　he　preferred　something　much　stronger。　
　“He　had　a　new　friend　—　the　friend　of　a　friend；　e　up　from　Atlanta。　
　“‘What　did　I　tell　you；　John；’　Royce　crowed；　grabbing　my　arm　and　pullingme　closer。　‘Isn’t　she　lovelier　
than　all　your　Georgia　peaches？’　
　“The　man　named　John　was　darkhaired　and　suntanned。　He　looked　me　over　like　I　was　a　horse　he　was　
buying。　
　“‘It’s　hard　to　tell；’　he　drawled　slowly。　‘She’s　all　covered　up。’　
　“They　laughed；　Royce　like　the　rest。　
　“Suddenly；　Royce　ripped　my　jacket　from　my　shoulders　—　it　was　a　gift　from　him　—　popping　the　brass　
buttons　off。　They　scattered　all　over　the　street。　
　“‘Show　him　what　you　look　like；　Rose！’　He　laughed　again　and　then　he　tore　my　hat　out　of　my　hair。　The　pins　
wrenched　my　hair　from　the　roots；　and　I　cried　out　in　pain。　They　seemed　to　enjoy　that　—　the　sound　of　my　pain。　
。　。　。”　
　Rosalie　looked　at　me　suddenly；　as　if　she’d　forgotten　I　was　there。　I　was　sure　my　face　was　as　white　as　hers。　
Unless　it　was　green。　
　“I　won’t　make　you　listen　to　the　rest；”　she　said　quietly。　“They　left　me　in　the　street；　still　laughing　as　they　
stumbled　away。　They　thought　I　was　dead。　They　were　teasing　Royce　that　he　would　have　to　find　a　new　bride。　
He　laughed　and　said　he’d　have　to　learn　some　patience　first。　
　“I　waited　in　the　road　to　die。　It　was　cold；　though　there　was　so　much　pain　that　I　was　surprised　it　bothered　
me。　It　started　to　snow；　and　I　wondered　why　I　wasn’t　dying。　I　was　impatient　for　death　to　e；　to　end　the　
pain。　It　was　taking　so　long。　。　。　。　
　“Carlisle　found　me　then。　He’d　smelled　the　blood；　and　e　to　investigate。　I　remember　being　vaguely　
irritated　as　he　worked　over　me；　trying　to　save　my　life。　I’d　never　liked　Dr。　Cullen　or　his　wife　and　her　brother　—　
as　Edward　pretended　to　be　then。　It　had　upset　me　that　they　were　all　more　beautiful　than　I　was；　especially　that　
the　men　were。　But　they　didn’t　mingle　in　society；　so　I’d　only　seen　them　once　or　twice。　
　“I　thought　I’d　died　when　he　pulled　me　from　the　ground　and　ran　with　me　—　because　of　the　speed　—　it　felt　
like　I　was　flying。　I　remembered　being　horrified　that　the　pain　didn’t　stop。　。　。　。　
　“Then　I　was　in　a　bright　room；　and　it　was　warm。　I　was　slipping　away；　and　I　was　grateful　as　the　pain　began　
to　dull。　But　suddenly　something　sharp　was　cutting　me；　my　throat；　my　wrists；　my　ankles。　I　screamed　in　shock；　
thinking　he’d　brought　me　there　to　hurt　me　more。　Then　fire　started　burning　through　me；　and　I　didn’t　care　about　
anything　else。　I　begged　him　to　kill　me。　When　Esme　and　Edward　returned　home；　I　begged　them　to　kill　me；　too。　
Carlisle　sat　with　me。　He　held　my　hand　and　said　that　he　was　so　sorry；　promising　that　it　would　end。　He　told　me　
everything；　and　sometimes　I　listened。　He　told　me　what　he　was；　what　I　was　being。　I　didn’t　believe　him。　He　

apologized　each　time　I　screamed。　
“Edward　wasn’t　happy。　I　remember　hearing　them　discuss　me。　I　stopped　screaming　sometimes。　It　did　no　
good　to　scream。　
“‘What　were　you　thinking；　Carlisle？’　Edward　said。　‘Rosalie　Hale？’”　Rosalie　imitated　Edward’s　irritated　
tone　to　perfection。　“I　didn’t　like　the　way　he　said　my　name；　like　there　was　something　wrong　with　me。　
“‘I　couldn’t　just　let　her　die；’　Carlisle　said　quietly。　‘It　was　too　much　—　too　horrible；　too　much　waste。’　
“‘I　know；’　Edward　said；　and　I　thought　he　sounded　dismissive。　It　angered　me。　I　didn’t　know　then　that　he　
really　could　see　exactly　what　Carlisle　had　seen。　
“‘It　was　too　much　waste。　I　couldn’t　leave　her；’　Carlisle　repeated　in　a　whisper。　
“‘Of　course　you　couldn’t；’　Esme　agreed。　
“‘People　die　all　the　time；’　Edward　reminded　him　in　a　hard　voice。　‘Don’t　you　think　she’s　just　a　little　
recognizable；　though？　The　Kings　will　have　to　put　up　a　huge　search　—　not　that　anyone　suspects　the　fiend；’　he　
growled。　
“It　pleased　me　that　they　seemed　to　know　that　Royce　was　guilty。　
“I　didn’t　realize　that　it　was　almost　over　—　that　I　was　getting　stronger　and　that　was　why　I　was　able　to　
concentrate　on　what　they　were　saying。　The　pain　was　beginning　to　fade　from　my　fingertips。　
“‘What　are　we　going　to　do　with　her？’　Edward　said　disgustedly　—　or　that’s　how　it　sounded　to　me；　at　least。　
“Carlisle　sighed。　‘That’s　up　to　her；　of　course。　She　may　want　to　go　her　own　way。’　
“I’d　believed　enough　of　what　he’d　told　me　that　his　words　terrified　me。　I　knew　that　my　life　was　ended；　and　
there　was　no　going　back　for　me。　I　couldn’t　stand　the　thought　of　being　alone。　。　。　。　
“The　pain　finally　ended　and　they　explained　to　me　again　what　I　was。　This　time　I　believed。　I　felt　the　thirst；　my　
hard　skin；　I　saw　my　brilliant　red　eyes。　
“Shallow　as　I　was；　I　felt　better　when　I　saw　my　reflection　in　the　mirror　the　first　time。　Despite　the　eyes；　I　was　
the　most　beautiful　thing　I’d　ever　seen。”　She　laughed　at　herself　for　a　moment。　“It　took　some　time　before　I　began　
to　blame　the　beauty　for　what　had　happened　to　me　—　for　me　to　see　the　curse　of　it。　To　wish　that　I　had　been　。　。　。　
well；　not　ugly；　but　normal。　Like　Vera。　So　I　could　have　been　allowed　to　marry　someone　who　loved　me；　and　
have　pretty　babies。　That’s　what　I’d　really　wanted；　all　along。　It　still　doesn’t　seem　like　too　much　to　have　asked　
for。”　
She　was　thoughtful　for　a　moment；　and　I　wondered　if　she’d　forgotten　my　presence　again。　But　then　she　
smiled　at　me；　her　expression　suddenly　triumphant。　
“You　know；　my　record　is　almost　as　clean　as　Carlisle’s；”　she　told　me。　“Better　than　Esme。　A　thousand　times　
better　than　Edward。　I’ve　never　tasted　human　blood；”　she　announced　proudly。　
She　understood　my　puzzled　expression　as　I　wondered　why　her　record　was　only　almost　as　clean。　
“I　did　murder　five　humans；”　she　told　me　in　a　placent　tone。　“If　you　can　really　call　them　human。　But　I　
was　very　careful　not　to　spill　their　blood　—　I　knew　I　wouldn’t　be　able　to　resist　that；　and　I　didn’t　want　any　part　
of　them　in　me；　you　see。　
“I　saved　Royce　for　last。　I　hoped　that　he　would　hear　of　his　friends’　deaths　and　understand；　know　what　was　
ing　for　him。　I　hoped　the　fear　would　make　the　end　worse　for　him。　I　think　it　worked。　He　was　hiding　inside　a　
windowless　room　behind　a　door　as　thick　as　a　bank　vault’s；　guarded　outside　by　armed　men；　when　I　caught　up　
with　him。　Oops　—　seven　murders；”　she　corrected　herself。　“I　forgot　about　his　guards。　They　only　took　a　
second。”　
“I　was　overly　theatrical。　It　was　kind　of　childish；　really。　I　wore　a　wedding　dress　I’d　stolen　for　the　occasion。　
He　screamed　when　he　saw　me。　He　screamed　a　lot　that　night。　Saving　him　for　last　was　a　good　idea　—　it　made　it　
easier　for　me　to　control　myself；　to　make　it　slower　—”　
She　broke　off　suddenly；　and　she　glanced　down　at　me。　“I’m　sorry；”　she　said　in　a　chagrined　voice。　“I’m　
frightening　you；　aren’t　I？”　
“I’m　fine；”　I　lied。　
“I　got　carried　away。”　
“Don’t　worry　about　it。”　
“I’m　surprised　Edward　didn’t　tell　you　more　about　it。”　
“He　doesn’t　like　to　tell　other　people’s　stories　—　he　feels　like　he’s　betraying　confidences；