Edward couldn’t sense or read Victoria’s mind in The Twilight Saga due to a combination of her unique abilities and the limitations of Edward’s own powers. Here’s why:
1. Victoria’s Stealth and Strategic Mind
Victoria had a natural talent for evasion and stealth. She was highly cautious and always stayed one step ahead of her enemies. Her thoughts were likely focused on keeping herself hidden and maintaining a safe distance from Edward and the Cullens. Edward’s ability to read minds requires proximity, so if Victoria kept her distance, he wouldn’t have been able to hear her thoughts.
2. Edward’s Limitation with Range
Edward’s mind-reading ability has a limited range. He can only hear the thoughts of those within a certain distance. Victoria, being exceptionally skilled at staying hidden, likely remained far enough away that Edward couldn’t pick up her thoughts.
3. Victoria’s Survival Instinct
Victoria’s survival instinct may have played a role in obscuring her thoughts. While this isn’t explicitly mentioned in the books, it’s possible that her highly focused and instinctive thoughts about survival and evasion were harder for Edward to interpret or predict.
4. Sheer Determination and Focus
Victoria’s single-minded determination to avenge James and avoid capture could have made her mental patterns harder to anticipate. Her thoughts might have been more animalistic and primal, which could obscure her intentions and make them less predictable to Edward.
5. Plot Reasons
From a storytelling perspective, Victoria’s ability to evade Edward’s mind-reading creates suspense and drives the narrative forward. If Edward could easily read her mind, the tension and conflict in the story would be significantly reduced.
Edward’s inability to sense or read Victoria’s mind effectively comes down to a mix of her cunning nature, her ability to remain at a safe distance, and the limitations of his own power. This dynamic enhances the intrigue and danger surrounding Victoria, making her a more formidable and unpredictable antagonist.