SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW ➻ DEMETRI VOLTURI

P R O L O G O

The cry of a helpless baby. 

The woman heard it first, but only milliseconds later, the supernatural hearing of the man caught it as well. Immediately, they halted, both wondering what the sound of a human crying was doing this deep in the forest. Another second passed and the woman was gone, running in the direction of the weeping. The man followed her. 

They moved too fast for the human eye, perhaps even too fast to catch on camera. Their skin reflected the sunlight that showered down on them like it was made from billions of tiny prisms and they were beyond beautiful. They'd also drained a mountain lion of its blood and life only seconds ago. They weren't evil though, not really. 

"Esmee," the man said as soon as they entered the clearing. His voice sounded smooth and deep, like the sweetest music to someone's ears. 

His eyes landed on the baby that had been left in the middle of the field, tightly wrapped in a linen cloth, as if that was supposed to protect it from exposure to the frigid temperatures at night and the sharp teeth of predators. The baby couldn't be older than a couple of weeks, its chubby face twisted in obvious displeasure and its blue eyes stained with tears. He watched the baby clasp its hands together, wriggling in its cloth. The sound of a steady heartbeat thumped in his ears. 

"It's a baby girl," the woman said, though he had no idea how she knew. Carefully, as if the baby was made of china, the woman knelt next to her and cradled her to her chest. If she would've had tears, she would've cried, he knew that. 

"Esmee," the man said again, trying to catch her attention. He looked down on his wife, a compassionate expression on his face. He knew how dearly she wanted to have children and how much she hated the fact that she couldn't. 

"We can't leave her here, Carlisle," the woman replied, not looking up from the babe in her arms. "She would die this very night from exposure. Maybe even sooner, if some bear would hear her."

He let out a soft sigh. A gesture so human, so unlike his true nature. "I know."

"We'll take her home," the woman said resolutely. She stood straight, softly lulling the baby from one side to the other. It was the first time she looked at the man since they'd entered the clearing, their honey-golden eyes meeting. "We'll take care of her tonight and think about our next move."

He nodded, knowing there was no point in arguing, and the baby stopped crying, as if she somehow knew that she was saved from the dangers of the world surrounding her.