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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 pitchblack； and brushed against the floor。
For a moment； I thought his long； jetblack 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 so