3 eclipse月食-第74章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Seth’s　shoulder。　I　heard　the　bone　crunch。　Seth　backed　off　and　started　to　circle；　limping。　Riley　had　his　arms　
out；　ready；　though　he　seemed　to　be　missing　part　of　one　hand。　。　。　。　
Only　a　few　yards　away　from　that　fight；　Edward　and　Victoria　were　dancing。　
Not　quite　circling；　because　Edward　was　not　allowing　her　to　position　herself　closer　to　me。　She　sashayed　
back；　moving　from　side　to　side；　trying　to　find　a　hole　in　his　defense。　He　shadowed　her　footwork　lithely；　stalking　
her　with　perfect　concentration。　He　began　to　move　just　a　fraction　of　a　second　before　she　moved；　reading　her　
intentions　in　her　thoughts。　
Seth　lunged　at　Riley　from　the　side；　and　something　tore　with　a　hideous；　grating　screech。　Another　heavy　
white　chunk　flew　into　the　forest　with　a　thud。　Riley　roared　in　fury；　and　Seth　skipped　back　—　amazingly　light　on　
his　feet　for　his　size　—　as　Riley　took　a　swipe　at　him　with　one　mangled　hand。　
Victoria　was　weaving　through　the　tree　trunks　at　the　far　end　of　the　little　opening　now。　She　was　torn；　her　feet　
pulling　her　toward　safety　while　her　eyes　yearned　toward　me　as　if　I　were　a　mag；　reeling　her　in。　I　could　see　
the　burning　desire　to　kill　warring　with　her　survival　instinct。　
Edward　could　see　that；　too。　
“Don’t　go；　Victoria；”　he　murmured　in　that　same　hypnotic　tone　as　before。　“You’ll　never　get　another　chance　
like　this。”　
She　showed　her　teeth　and　hissed　at　him；　but　she　seemed　unable　to　move　farther　away　from　me。　
“You　can　always　run　later；”　Edward　purred。　“Plenty　of　time　for　that。　It’s　what　you　do；　isn’t　it？　It’s　why　
James　kept　you　around。　Useful；　if　you　like　to　play　deadly　games。　A　partner　with　an　uncanny　instinct　for　
escaping。　He　shouldn’t　have　left　you　—　he　could　have　used　your　skills　when　we　caught　up　to　him　in　Phoenix。”　
A　snarl　ripped　from　between　her　lips。　
“That’s　all　you　ever　were　to　him；　though。　Silly　to　waste　so　much　energy　avenging　someone　who　had　less　
affection　for　you　than　a　hunter　for　his　mount。　You　were　never　more　than　a　convenience　to　him。　I　would　know。”　
Edward’s　lips　pulled　up　on　one　side　as　he　tapped　his　temple。　
With　a　strangled　screech；　Victoria　darted　out　of　the　trees　again；　feinting　to　the　side。　Edward　responded；　
and　the　dance　began　again。　
Just　then；　Riley’s　fist　caught　Seth’s　flank；　and　a　low　yelp　coughed　out　of　Seth’s　throat。　Seth　backed　away；　
his　shoulders　twitching　as　if　he　were　trying　to　shake　off　the　pain。　
Please；　I　wanted　to　plead　with　Riley；　but　I　couldn’t　find　the　muscles　to　make　my　mouth　open；　to　pull　the　
air　up　from　my　lungs。　Please；　he’s　just　a　child！　
Why　hadn’t　Seth　run　away？　Why　didn’t　he　run　now？　
Riley　was　closing　the　distance　between　them　again；　driving　Seth　toward　the　cliff　face　beside　me。　Victoria　
was　suddenly　interested　in　her　partner’s　fate。　I　could　see　her；　from　the　corner　of　her　eyes；　judge　the　distance　
between　Riley　and　me。　Seth　snapped　at　Riley；　forcing　him　back　again；　and　Victoria　hissed。　
Seth　wasn’t　limping　anymore。　His　circling　took　him　within　inches　of　Edward；　his　tail　brushed　Edward’s　
back；　and　Victoria’s　eyes　bulged。　
“No；　he　won’t　turn　on　me；”　Edward　said；　answering　the　question　in　Victoria’s　head。　He　used　her　
distraction　to　slide　closer。　“You　provided　us　with　a　mon　enemy。　You　allied　us。”　
She　clenched　her　teeth；　trying　to　keep　her　focus　on　Edward　alone。　
“Look　more　closely；　Victoria；”　he　murmured；　pulling　at　the　threads　of　her　concentration。　“Is　he　really　so　
much　like　the　monster　James　tracked　across　Siberia？”　
Her　eyes　popped　wide　open；　and　then　began　flickering　wildly　from　Edward　to　Seth　to　me；　around　and　
around。　“Not　the　same？”　she　snarled　in　her　little　girl’s　soprano。　“Impossible！”　
“Nothing　is　impossible；”　Edward　murmured；　voice　velvet　soft　as　he　moved　another　inch　closer　to　her。　
“Except　what　you　want。　You’ll　never　touch　her。”　

She　shook　her　head；　fast　and　jerky；　fighting　his　diversions；　and　tried　to　duck　around　him；　but　he　was　in　
place　to　block　her　as　soon　as　she’d　thought　of　the　plan。　Her　face　contorted　in　frustration；　and　then　she　shifted　
lower　into　her　crouch；　a　lioness　again；　and　stalked　deliberately　forward。　
Victoria　was　no　inexperienced；　instinctdriven　newborn。　She　was　lethal。　Even　I　could　tell　the　difference　
between　her　and　Riley；　and　I　knew　that　Seth　wouldn’t　have　lasted　so　long　if　he’d　been　fighting　this　vampire。　
Edward　shifted；　too；　as　they　closed　on　each　other；　and　it　was　lion　versus　lioness。　
The　dance　increased　in　tempo。　
It　was　like　Alice　and　Jasper　in　the　meadow；　a　blurred　spiraling　of　movement；　only　this　dance　was　not　as　
perfectly　choreographed。　Sharp　crunches　and　crackings　reverberated　off　the　cliff　face　whenever　someone　
slipped　in　their　formation。　But　they　were　moving　too　fast　for　me　to　see　who　was　making　the　mistakes。　。　。　。　
Riley　was　distracted　by　the　violent　ballet；　his　eyes　anxious　for　his　partner。　Seth　struck；　crunching　off　
another　small　piece　of　the　vampire。　Riley　bellowed　and　launched　a　massive　backhanded　blow　that　caught　Seth　
full　in　his　broad　chest。　Seth’s　huge　body　soared　ten　feet　and　crashed　into　the　rocky　wall　over　my　head　with　a　
force　that　seemed　to　shake　the　whole　peak。　I　heard　the　breath　whoosh　from　his　lungs；　and　I　ducked　out　of　the　
way　as　he　rebounded　off　the　stone　and　collapsed　on　the　ground　a　few　feet　in　front　of　me。　
A　low　whimper　escaped　through　Seth’s　teeth。　
Sharp　fragments　of　gray　stone　showered　down　on　my　head；　scratching　my　exposed　skin。　A　jagged　spike　
of　rock　rolled　down　my　right　arm　and　I　caught　it　reflexively。　My　fingers　clenched　around　the　long　shard　as　my　
own　survival　instincts　kicked　in；　since　there　was　no　chance　of　flight；　my　body　—　not　caring　how　ineffectual　the　
gesture　was　—　prepared　for　a　fight。　
Adrenaline　jolted　through　my　veins。　I　knew　the　brace　was　cutting　into　my　palm。　I　knew　the　crack　in　my　
knuckle　was　protesting。　I　knew　it；　but　I　could　not　feel　the　pain。　
Behind　Riley；　all　I　could　see　was　the　twisting　flame　of　Victoria’s　hair　and　a　blur　of　white。　The　increasingly　
frequent　metallic　snaps　and　tears；　the　gasps　and　shocked　hissings；　made　it　clear　that　the　dance　was　turning　
deadly　for　someone。　
But　which　someone？　
Riley　lurched　toward　me；　his　red　eyes　brilliant　with　fury。　He　glared　at　the　limp　mountain　of　sandcolored　
fur　between　us；　and　his　hands　—　mangled；　broken　hands　—　curled　into　talons。　His　mouth　opened；　widened；　
his　teeth　glistening；　as　he　prepared　to　rip　out　Seth’s　throat。　
A　second　kick　of　adrenaline　hit　like　an　electric　shock；　and　everything　was　suddenly　very　clear。　
Both　fights　were　too　close。　Seth　was　about　to　lose　his；　and　I　had　no　idea　if　Edward　was　winning　or　losing。　
They　needed　help。　A　distraction。　Something　to　give　them　an　edge。　
My　hand　gripped　the　stone　spike　so　tightly　that　a　support　in　the　brace　snapped。　
Was　I　strong　enough？　Was　I　brave　enough？　How　hard　could　I　shove　the　rough　stone　into　my　body？　
Would　this　buy　Seth　enough　time　to　get　back　on　his　feet？　Would　he　heal　fast　enough　for　my　sacrifice　to　do　him　
any　good？　
I　raked　the　point　of　the　shard　up　my　arm；　yanking　my　thick　sweater　back　to　expose　the　skin；　and　then　
pressed　the　sharp　tip　to　the　crease　at　my　elbow。　I　already　had　a　long　scar　there　from　my　last　birthday。　That　
night；　my　flowing　blood　had　been　enough　to　catch　every　vampire’s　attention；　to　freeze　them　all　in　place　for　an　
instant。　I　prayed　it　would　work　that　way　again。　I　steeled　myself　and　sucked　in　one　deep　breath。　
Victoria　was　distracted　by　the　sound　of　my　gasp。　Her　eyes；　holding　still　for　one　tiny　portion　of　a　second；　
met　mine。　Fury　and　curiosity　mingled　strangely　in　her　expression。　
I　wasn’t　sure　how　I　heard　the　low　sound　with　all　the　other　noises　echoing　off　the　stone　wall　and　hammering　
inside　my　head。　My　own　heartbeat　should　have　been　enough　to　drown　it　out。　But；　in　the　split　second　that　I　
stared　into　Victoria’s　eyes；　I　thought　I　heard　a　familiar；　exasperated　sigh。　
In　that　same　short　second；　the　dance　broke　violently　apart。　It　happened　so　quickly　that　it　was　over　before　
I　could　follow　the　sequence　of　events。　I　tried　to　catch　up　in　my　head。　
Victoria　had　flown　out　of　the　blurred　formation　and　smashed　into　a　tall　spruce　about　halfway　up　the　tree。　
She　dropped　back　to　the　earth　already　crouched　to　spring。　
Simultaneously；　Edward　—　all　but　invisible　with　speed　—　had　twisted　backward　and　caught　the　
unsuspecting　Riley　by　the　arm。　It　had　looked　like　Edward　planted　his　foot　against　Riley’s　back；　and　heaved　—　
The　little　campsite　was　filled　with　Riley’s　piercing　shriek　of　agony。　

At　the　same　time；　Seth　leaped　to　his　feet；　cutting　off　most　of　my　view。　
But　I　could　still　see　Victoria。　And；　though　she　looked　oddly　deformed　—　as　if　she　were　unable　to　
straighten　up　pletely　—　I　could　see　the　smile　I’d　been　dreaming　of　flash　across　her　wild　face。　
She　coiled　and　sprang。　
Something　small　and　white　whistled　through　the　air　and　collided　with　her　midflight。　The　impact　sounded　
like　an　explosion；　and　it　threw　her　against　another　tree　—　this　one　snapped　in　half。　She　landed　on　her　feet　
again；　crouched　and　ready；　but　Edward　was　already　in　place。　Relief　swelled　in　my　heart　when　I　saw　that　he　
stood　straight　and　perfect。　
Victoria　kicked　something　aside　with　a　flick　of　her　bare　foot　—　the　missile　that　had　crippled　her　attack。　It　
rolled　toward　me；　and　I　realized　what　it　was。　
My　stomach　lurched。　
The　fingers　were　still　twitching；　grasping　at　blades　of　grass；　Riley’s　arm　began　to　drag　itself　mindlessly　
across　the　ground。　
Seth　was　circling　Riley　again；　and　now　Riley　was　retreating。　He　backed　away　from　the　advancing　
werewolf；　his　face　rigid　with　pain。　He　raised　his　one　arm　defensively。　
Seth　rushed　Riley；　and　the　vampire　was　clearly　offbalance。　I　saw　Seth　sink　his　teeth　into　Riley’s　shoulder　
and　tear；　jumping　back　again。　
With　an　earsplitting　metallic　screech；　Riley　lost　his　other　arm。　
Seth　shook　his　head；　flinging　the　arm　into　the　woods。　The　broken　hissing　noise　that　came　through　Seth’s　
teeth　sounded　like　snickering。　
Riley　screamed　out　a　tortured　plea。　“Victoria！”　
Victoria　did　not　even　flinch　to　the　sound　of　her　name。　Her　eyes　did　not　flicker　once　toward　her　partner。　
Seth　launched　himself　forward　with　the　force　of　a　wrecking　ball。　The　thrust　carried　both　Seth　and　Riley