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progress irritated someone—I
guessed Felix—and I heard him heave a sigh now and then。
At the end of the tunnel was a grate—the iron bars were rusting； but thick as
my arm。 A small door made
of thinner； interlaced bars was standing open。 Edward ducked through and
hurried on to a larger； brighter
stone room。 The grille slammed shut with a clang； followed by the snap of a
lock。 I was too afraid to
look behind me。
On the other side of the long room was a low； heavy wooden door。 It was very
thick—as I could tell
because it； too； stood open。
We stepped through the door； and I glanced around me in surprise； relaxing
automatically。 Beside me；
Edward tensed； his jaw clenched tight。
21。 VERDICT
WE WERE IN A BRIGHTLY LIT； UNREMARKABLE HALLWAY。 The walls were off…white； the
floor carpeted in industrial gray。 mon rectangular fluorescent lights were
spaced evenly along the
ceiling。 It was warmer here； for which I was grateful。 This hall seemed very
benign after the gloom of the
ghoulish stone sewers。
Edward didn't seem to agree with my assessment。 He glowered darkly down the
long hallway； toward
the slight； black shrouded figure at the end； standing by an elevator。
He pulled me along； and Alice walked on my other side。 The heavy door creaked
shut behind us； and
then there was the thud of a bolt sliding home。
Jane waited by the elevator； one hand holding the doors open for us。 Her
expression was apathetic。
Once inside the elevator； the three vampires that belonged to the Volturi
relaxed further。 They threw
back their cloaks； letting the hoods fall back on their shoulders。 Felix and
Demetri were both of a slightly
olive plexion—it looked odd bined with their chalky pallor。 Felix's
black hair was cropped short；
but Demetri's waved to his shoulders。 Their irises were deep crimson around
the edges； darkening until
they were black around the pupil。 Under the shrouds； their clothes were
modern； pale； and nondescript。 I
cowered in the corner； cringing against Edward。 His hand still rubbed against
my arm。 He never took his
eyes off Jane。
The elevator ride was short； we stepped out into what looked like a posh
office reception area。 The walls
were paneled in wood； the floors carpeted in thick； deep green。 There were no
windows； but large；
brightly lit paintings of the Tuscan countryside hung everywhere as
replacements。 Pale leather couches
were arranged in cozy groupings； and the glossy tables held crystal vases full
of vibrantly colored
bouquets。 The flowers' smell reminded me of a funeral home。
In the middle of the room was a high； polished mahogany counter。 I gawked in
astonishment at the
woman behind it。
She was tall； with dark skin and green eyes。 She would have been very pretty
in any other
pany—but not here。 Because she was every bit as human as I was。 I couldn't
prehend what this
human woman was doing here； totally at ease； surrounded by vampnes。
She smiled politely in wele。 〃Good afternoon； Jane；〃 she said。 There was no
surprise in her face as
she glanced at Jane's pany。 Not Edward； his bare chest glinting dimly in
the white lights； or even me；
disheveled and paratively hideous。
Jane nodded。 〃Gianna。〃 She continued toward a set of double doors in the back
of the room； and we
followed。
As Felix passed the desk； he winked at Gianna； and she giggled。
On the other side of the wooden doors was a different kind of reception。 The
pale boy in the pearl gray
suit could have been Jane's twin。 His hair was darker； and his lips were not
as full； but he was just as
lovely。 He came forward to meet us。 He smiled； reaching for her。 〃Jane。〃
〃Alec；〃 she responded； embracing the boy。 They kissed each other's cheeks on
both sides。 Then he
looked at us。
〃They send you out for one and you e back with two and a half；〃 he noted；
looking at me。 〃Nice
work。〃
She laughed—the sound sparkled with delight like a baby's cooing。
〃Wele back； Edward；〃 Alec greeted him。 〃You seem in a better mood。〃
〃Marginally；〃 Edward agreed in a flat voice。 I glanced at Edward's hard face；
and wondered how his
mood could have been darker before。
Alec chuckled； and examined me as I clung to Edward's side。 〃And this is the
cause of all the trouble？〃
he asked； skeptical。
Edward only smiled； his expression contemptuous。 Then he froze。
〃Dibs；〃 Felix called casually from behind。
Edward turned； a low snarl building deep in his chest。 Felix smiled—his hand
was raised； palm up； he
curled his fingers twice； inviting Edward forward。
Alice touched Edward's arm。 〃Patience；〃 she cautioned him。
They exchanged a long glance； and I wished I could hear what she was telling
him。 I figured that it was
something to do with not attacking Felix； because Edward took a deep breath
and turned back to Alec。
〃Aro will be so pleased to see you again；〃 Alec said； as if nothing had
passed。
〃Let's not keep him waiting；〃 Jane suggested。
Edward nodded once。
Alec and Jane； holding hands； led the way down yet another wide； ornate hall—
would there ever be an
end？
They ignored the doors at the end of the hall—doors entirely sheathed in gold
—stopping halfway down
the hall and sliding aside a piece of the paneling to expose a plain wooden
door。 It wasn't locked。 Alec
held it open for Jane。
I wanted to groan when Edward pulled me through to the other side of the door。
It was the same ancient
stone as the square； the alley； and the sewers。 And it was dark and cold
again。
The stone antechamber was not large。 It opened quickly into a brighter；
cavernous room； perfectly round
like a huge castle turret which was probably exactly what it was。
Two stories up； long window slits threw thin rectangles of bright sunlight
onto the stone floor below。
There were no artificial lights。 The only furniture in the room were several
massive wooden chairs； like
thrones； that were spaced unevenly； flush with the curving stone walls。 In the
very center of the circle； in a
slight depression； was another drain。 I wondered if they used it as an exit；
like the hole in the street。
The room was not empty。 A handful of people were convened in seemingly relaxed
conversation。 The
murmur of low； smooth voices was a gentle hum in the air。 As I watched； a pair
of pale women in
summer dresses paused in a patch of light； and； like prisms； their skin threw
the light in rainbow sparkles
against the sienna walls。
The exquisite faces all turned toward our party as we entered the room。 Most
of the immortals were
dressed in inconspicuous pants and shirts—things that wouldn't stick out at
all on the streets below。 But
the man who spoke first wore one of the long robes。 It was pitch…black； and
brushed against the floor。
For a moment； I thought his long； jet…black hair was the hood of his cloak。
〃Jane； dear one； you've returned！〃 he cried in 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。
〃This is a happy surprise！
Wonderful！〃
I stared in shock as he called our names informally； as if we were old friends
dropping in for an
unexpected visit。
He turned to our hulking escort。 〃Felix； be a dear and tell my brothers about
our pany。 I'm sure they
wouldn't want to miss this。〃
〃Yes； Master。〃 Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had e。
〃You see； Edward？〃 The strange vampire turned and smiled at Edward like a fond
but scolding
grandfather。 〃What did I tell you？ Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what
you wanted yesterday？〃
〃Yes； Aro； I am；〃 he agreed； tightening his arm around my waist。
〃I love a happy endi