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antagonize them unless you
wanted to die；〃 I whispered。 The last word was hard to choke out。
〃You have to understand；〃 she said； her voice slower； more measured now。 〃We
Cullens are unique in
more ways than you know。 It's abnormal for so many of us to live together in
peace。 It's the same for
Tanya's family in the north； and Carlisle speculates that abstaining makes it
easier for us to be civilized； to
form bonds based on love rather than survival or convenience。 Even James's
little coven of three was
unusually large—and you saw how easily Laurent left them。 Our kind travel
alone； or in pairs； as a
general rule。 Carlisle's family is the biggest in existence； as far as I know；
with the one exception。 The
Volturi。
〃There were three of them originally； Aro； Caius； and Marcus。〃
〃I've seen them；〃 I mumbled。 〃In the picture in Carlisle's study。〃
Alice nodded。 〃Two females joined them over time； and the five of them make up
the family。 I'm not sure；
but I suspect that their age is what gives them the ability to live peacefully
together。 They are well over
three thousand years old。 Or maybe it's their gifts that give them extra
tolerance。 Like Edward and I； Aro
and Marcus are talented。〃
She continued before I could ask。 〃Or maybe it's just their love of power that
binds them together。
Royalty is an apt description。〃
〃But if there are only five—〃
〃Five that make up the family；〃 she corrected。 〃That doesn't include their
guard。〃
I took a deep breath。 〃That sounds serious。〃
〃Oh； it is；〃 she assured me。 〃There were nine members of the guard that were
permanent； the last time we
heard。 Others are more transitory。 It changes。 And many of them are gifted
as well—with formidable
gifts； gifts that make what I can do look like a parlor trick。 The Volturi
chose them for their abilities；
physical or otherwise。〃
I opened my mouth； and then closed it。 I didn't think I wanted to know how bad
the odds were。
She nodded again； as if she understood exactly what I was thinking。 〃They
don't get into too many
confrontations。 No one is stupid enough to mess with them。 They stay in their
city； leaving only as duty
calls。〃
〃Duty？〃 I wondered。
〃Didn't Edward tell you what they do？〃
〃No；〃 I said； feeling the blank expression on my face。
Alice looked over my head again； toward the businessman； and put her wintry
lips back to my ear。
〃There's a reason he called them royalty the ruling class。 Over the
millennia； they have assumed the
position of enforcing our rules—which actually translates to punishing
transgressors。 They fulfill that duty
decisively。〃
My eyes popped wide with shock。 〃There are rules？〃 I asked in a voice that was
too loud。
〃Shh！〃
〃Shouldn't somebody have mentioned this to me earlier？〃 I whispered angrily。
〃I mean； I wanted to be
a to be one of you！ Shouldn't somebody have explained the rules to me？〃
Alice chuckled once at my reaction。 〃It's not that plicated； Bella。 There's
only one core
restriction—and if you think about it； you can probably figure it out for
yourself。〃
I thought about it。 〃Nope； I have no idea。〃
She shook her head； disappointed。 〃Maybe it's too obvious。 We just have to
keep our existence a
secret。〃
〃Oh；〃 I mumbled。 It was obvious。
〃It makes sense； and most of us don't need policing；〃 she continued。 〃But；
after a few centuries；
sometimes one of us gets bored。 Or crazy。 I dor't know。 And then the Volturi
step in before it can
promise them； or the rest of us。〃
〃So Edward〃
〃Is planning to flout that in their own city—the city they've secretly held
for three thousand years； since
the time of the Etruscans。 They are so protective of their city that they
don't allow hunting within its walls。
Volterra is probably the safest city in the world—from vampire attack at the
very least。〃
〃But you said they didn't leave。 How do they eat？〃
〃They don't leave。 They bring in their food from the outside； from quite far
away sometimes。 It gives their
guard something to do when they're not out annihilating mavericks。 Or
protecting Volterra from
exposure〃
〃From situations like this one； like Edward；〃 I finished her sentence。 It was
amazingly easy to say his
name now。 I wasn't sure what the difference was。 Maybe because I wasn't really
planning on living much
longer without seeing him。 Or at all； if we were too late。 It was forting
to know that I would have an
easy out。
〃I doubt they've ever had a situation quite like this；〃 she muttered；
disgusted。 〃You don't get a lot of
suicidal vampires。〃
The sound that escaped out of my mouth was very quiet； but Alice seemed to
understand that it was a
cry of pain。 She wrapped her thin； strong arm around my shoulders。
〃We'll do what we can； Bella。 It's not over yet。〃
〃Not yet。〃 I let her fort me； though I knew she thought our chances were
poor。 〃And the Volturi will
get us if we mess up。〃
Alice stiffened。 〃You say that like it's a good thing。〃
I shrugged。
〃Knock it off； Bella； or we're turning around in New York and going back to
Forks。〃
〃What？〃
〃You know what。 If we're too late for Edward； I'm going to do my damnedest to
get you back to
Charlie； and I don't want any trouble from you。 Do you understand that？〃
〃Sure； Alice。〃
She pulled back slightly so that she could glare at me。 〃No trouble。〃
〃Scout's honor；〃 I muttered。
She rolled her eyes。
〃Let me concentrate； now。 I'm trying to see what he's planning。〃
She left her arm around me； but let her head fall back against the seat and
closed her eyes。 She pressed
her free hand to the side of her face； rubbing her fingertips against her
temple。
I watched her in fascination for a long time。 Eventually； she became utterly
motionless； hei face like a
stone sculpture。 The minutes passed； and if I didn't know better； I would have
thought she'd fallen asleep。
I didn't dare interrupt her to ask what was going on。
I wished there was something safe for me to think about。 I couldn't allow
myself to consider the horrors
we were headed toward； or； more horrific yet； the chance that we might fail—
not if I wanted to keep