n evident delight。 His voice was
just a soft sighing。
He drifted forward； and the movement flowed with such surreal grace that I
gawked； my mouth hangmg
open。 Even Alice； whose every motion looked like dancing； could not pare。
I was only more astonished as he floated closer and I could see his face。 It
was not like the unnaturally
attractive faces that surrounded him （for he did not approach us alone； the
entire group converged
around him； some following； and some walking ahead of him with the alert
manner of bodyguards）。 I
couldn't decide if his face was beautiful or not。 I suppose the features were
perfect。 But he was as
different from the vampires beside him as they were from me。 His skin was
translucently white； like
onionskin； and it looked just as delicate—it stood in shocking contrast to
the long black hair that framed
his face。 I felt a strange； horrifying urge to touch his cheek； to see if it
was softer than Edward's or
Alice's； or if it was powdery； like chalk。 His eyes were red； the same as the
others around him； but the
color was clouded； milky； I wondered if his vision was affected by the haze。
He glided to Jane； took her face in his papery hands； kissed her lightly on
her full lips； and then floated
back a step。
〃Yes； Master。〃 Jane smiled； the expression made her look like an angelic
child。 〃I brought him back alive；
just as you wished。〃
〃Ah； Jane。〃 He smiled； too。 〃You are such a fort to me。〃
He turned his misty eyes toward us； and the smile brightened—became ecstatic。
〃And Alice and Bella； too！〃 he rejoiced； clapping his thin hands together。