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"Just remembering how she appeals to you . . ." Aro chuckles. "It makes me thirsty."
Edward tenses.
"Don't be disturbed," Aro reassures him. "I mean her no harm. But I am so curious, about one thing in particular." He eyes Bella with bright interest, and she fights to keep her breathing even. "May I?" he asks eagerly, lifting one hand.
"Ask her," Edward says in a flat voice.
"Of course, how rude of me!" Aro exclaims. "Bella, I'm fascinated that you are the one exception to Edward's impressive talent -- so very interesting that such a thing should occur! And I was wondering, since our talents are similar in many ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to try -- to see if you are an exception for me, as well?"
Bella carefully does not look at Edward. Despite Aro's overt politeness, she doesn't believe she really has a choice. She raises a hand slowly in front of her. It trembles as Aro glides closer, the look on his face more confident than his words. Still, she refuses to move an inch forward, to close the distance instead of forcing Aro to walk to her. Himari Lee would never submit to anyone like that, and so Bella is resolved that she won't, either.
If Aro is insulted by the subtle slight, she can't tell. He approaches, relentless -- but when he's about a foot away, a ringtone pierces the air
It's bright and upbeat and so out of place echoing off the stone walls, that it takes Bella a second to realize it's coming from her phone.
Oh no.
Oh no.
Aro has paused. Everyone is staring at her, and Bella gives in and looks back at Edward in horror. His face is a portrait of confusion, but Alice -- Alice beams.
Before Bella can react, Alice is reaching into her pocket and hitting Answer. Bella fumbles to grab the phone back from her.
On the dais, Caius is visibly irate. "What exactly is more important than--"
"Hello, Isabella," says Himari. "I see the report you set on my desk, but I do have a question."
The kings have gone very still. Bella holds her phone in front of her as if it's a ticking bomb. That might be what this call is, a bomb that will explode and fling shrapnel everywhere, destroying Bella and Edward and Alice and wiping out any chance of them leaving Volterra.
"Um, yes, Ms. Lee?" Her voice comes out like a squeak.
There's a pause on the other line. "Are you alright?"
No. No, Bella is very much not alright. Her heart is beating straight out of her chest and she feels a second away from fainting. But Caius is glaring at her, eyes dark with the promise of murder, and Aro's gleeful enthusiasm has returned in full force. Even Marcus, who thus far seemed bored by the proceedings, is watching with interest.
"Do answer, Isabella," Aro encourages.
Edward's grip on her arm tightens. What he's reading in Aro's mind -- assuming the king isn't thinking in some ancient language -- Bella can only guess.
Swallowing, she raises the phone to her ear. "I'm fine. Just startled. What was your question?"
"There's a potato on my desk," Himari says.
Bella swivels around to look at Alice, baffled. Alice just smiles brightly, gestures for Bella to continue.
"Do you mean Mr. Potato Head?" Bella ventures. "Like . . . the plastic guy with the detachable shoes?"
"No, like, an actual potato," Himari replies, and Bella can imagine her sitting at her desk, a tuber in one hand as she calls her intern wit the other. "It's a literal russet potato, sitting on top of your report like a paperweight."
Bella feels like she's in the Twilight Zone. She has to be dreaming, there is no other explanation.
"I have no idea why there's a potato on your desk," she says, dumbly.
"Don't worry about it, I suppose it just caught me off-guard. I'll see you tomorrow for the meeting with Legal."
"Um, yeah." Bella immediately wants to hit herself. But before she can say anything else, Himari hangs up.
She lowers the phone from her ear. All eyes are still on her, curious and puzzled and outraged. Beside her, Edward has relaxed. Alice nods at Bella, but it does little to reassure her, especially when Aro claps his hands together. The sharp sound makes her flinch.
"Well," says Aro, grinning, "in light of this new development, it seems a more . . . shall we say, delicate approach may be necessary. Wouldn't you agree?"