Aro smiled。 〃So convenient；〃 he repeated to himself。 Then he spoke to us。 〃It
takes quite a bit to surprise
Marcus； I can assure you。〃
I looked at Marcus's dead face； and I believed that。
〃It's just so difficult to understand； even now；〃 Aro mused； staring at
Edward's arm wrapped around me。
It was hard for me to follow Aro's chaotic train of thought。 I struggled to
keep up。 〃How can you stand
so close to het like that？〃
〃It's not without effort；〃 Edward answered calmly。
〃Butstill—la tua cantante！ What a waste！〃
Edward chuckled once without humor。 〃I look at it more as a price。〃
Aro was skeptical。 〃A very high price。〃
〃Opportunity cost。〃
Aro laughed。 〃If I hadn't smelled her through your memories； I wouldn't have
believed the call of anyone's
blood could be so strong。 I've never felt anything like it myself。 Most of us
would trade much for such a
gift； and yet you〃
〃Waste it；〃 Edward finished； his voice sarcastic now。
Aro laughed again。 〃Ah； how I miss my friend Carlisle！ You remind me of him—
only he was not so
angry。〃
〃Carlisle outshines me in many other ways as well。〃
〃I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self…control of all
things； but you put him to shame。〃
〃Hardly。〃 Edward sounded impatient。 As if he were tired of the preliminaries。
It made me more afraid； I
couldn't help but try to imagine what he expected would follow。
〃I am gratified by his success；〃 Aro mused。 〃Your memories of him are quite a
gift for me； though they
astonish me exceedingly。 I am surprised by how it pleases me； his success in
this unorthodox path he's