through　the　kitchen's　back　door。　I　was　sure　he　hadn't　taken　a　breath　since　I'd

sliced　my　finger。

A　numb；　dead　feeling　was　spreading　through　my　arm。

Though　it　erased　the　sting；　it　reminded　me　of　the　gash；　and　I　watched

Carlisle's　face　carefully　to　distract

me　from　what　his　hands　were　doing。　His　hair　gleamed　gold　in　the　bright　light

as　he　bent　over　my　arm。　I

could　feel　the　faint　stirrings　of　unease　in　the　pit　of　my　stomach；　but　I　was

determined　not　to　let　my　usual

squeamishness　get　the　best　of　me。　There　was　no　pain　now；　just　a　gentle　tugging

sensation　that　I　tried　to

ignore。　No　reason　to　get　sick　like　a　baby。

If　she　hadn't　been　in　my　line　of　sight；　I　wouldn't　have　noticed　Alice　give　up

and　steal　out　of　the　room。

With　a　tiny；　apologetic　smile　on　her　lips；　she　disappeared　through　the　kitchen

doorway。

〃Well；　that's　everyone；〃　I　sighed。　〃I　can　clear　a　room；　at　least。〃

〃It's　not　your　fault；〃　Carlisle　forted　me　with　a　chuckle。　〃It　could　happen

to　anyone。〃

〃Could〃　I　repeated。　〃But　it　usually　just　happens　to　me。〃

He　laughed　again。

His　relaxed　calm　was　only　more　amazing　set　in　direct　contrast　with　everyone

else's　reaction。　I　couldn't

find　any　trace　of　anxiety　in　his　face。　He　worked　with　quick；　sure　movements。

The　only　sound　besides　our

quiet　breathing　was　the　soft　plink；　plink　as　the　tiny　fragments　of　glass

dropped　one　by　one　to　the　table。

〃How　can　you　do　this？〃　I　demanded。　〃Even　Alice　and　Esme〃　I　trailed　off；

shaking　my　head　in　wonder。

Though　the　rest　of　them　had　given　up　the　traditional　diet　of　vampires　just　as

absolutely　as　Carlisle　had；　he

was　the　only　one　who