I touched the handle； tugged on it cautiously。 It was unlocked。 I fought
to catch my breath； and opened the door。
The lobby was dark and empty； cool； the air conditioner thrumming。 The
plastic molded chairs were stacked along the walls； and the carpet
smelled like shampoo。 The west dance floor was dark； I could see through
the open viewing window。 The east dance floor； the bigger room； was lit。
But the blinds were closed on the window。
Terror seized me so strongly that I was literally trapped by it。 I
couldn't make my feet move forward。
And then my mother's voice called。
〃Bella？ Bella？〃 That same tone of hysterical panic。 I sprinted to the
door； to the sound of her voice。
〃Bella； you scared me！ Don't you ever do that to me again！〃 Her voice
continued as I ran into the long； highceilinged room。
I stared around me； trying to find where her voice was ing from。 I
heard her laugh； and I whirled to the sound。
There she was； on the TV screen； tousling my hair in relief。 It was
Thanksgiving； and I was twelve。 We'd gone to see my grandmother in
California； the last year before she died。 We went to the beach one day；
and I'd leaned too far over the edge of the pier。 She'd seen my feet
flailing； trying to reclaim my balance。 〃Bella？ Bella？〃 she'd called to
me in fear。
And then the TV screen was blue。
I turned slowly。 He was standing very still by the back exit； so still I
hadn't noticed him at first。 In his hand was a remote control。 We stared
at each other for a long moment； and then he smiled。
He walked toward me； quite close； and then passed me to put the remote
down next to the VCR。 I turned carefully to watch him。
〃Sorry about that； Bella； but isn't it better that your mother didn't
really have to be involved in all this？〃 His voice was courteous； kind。
And suddenly it hit me。 My mother was safe。 She was still in Florida。
She'd never gotten my message。 She'd never been terrified by the dark red
eyes in the abnormally pale face before me。 She was safe。
〃Yes；〃 I answered； my voice saturated with relief。
〃You don't sound angry that I tricked you。〃
〃I'm not。〃 My sudden high made me brave。 What did it matter now？ It would
soon be over。 Charlie and Mom would never be harmed； would never have to
fear。 I felt almost giddy。 Some analytical part of my mind warned me that
I was dangerously close to snapping from the stress。
〃How odd。 You really mean it。〃 His dark eyes assessed me with interest。
The irises were nearly black； just a hint of ruby around the edges。
Thirsty。 〃I will give your strange coven this much； you humans can be
quite interesting。 I guess I can see the draw of observing you。 It's
amazing — some of you seem to have no sense of your own selfinterest at
all。〃
He was standing a few feet away from me； arms folded； looking at me
curiously。 There was no menace in his face or stance。 He was so very
averagelooking； nothing remarkable about his face or body at all。 Just
the white skin； the circled eyes I'd grown so used to。 He wore a pale
blue； longsleeved shirt and faded blue jeans。
〃I suppose you're going to tell me that your boyfriend will avenge you？〃
he asked； hopefully it seemed to me。
〃No； I don't think so。 At least； I asked him not to。〃
〃And what was his reply to that？〃
〃I don't know。〃 It was strangely easy to converse with this genteel
hunter。 〃I left him a letter。〃
〃How romantic； a last letter。 And do you think he will honor it？〃 His
voice was just a little harder now； a hint of sarcasm marring his polite
tone。
〃I hope so。〃
〃Hmmm。 Well； our hopes differ then。 You see； this was all just a little
too easy； too quick。 To be quite honest； I'm disappointed。 I expected a
much greater challenge。 And； after all； I only needed a little luck。〃
I waited in silence。
〃When Victoria couldn't get to your father； I had her find out more about
you。 There was no sense in running all over the pla chasing you down
when I could fortably wait for you in a place of my choosing。 So；
after I talked to Victoria； I decided to e to Phoenix to pay your
mother a visit。 I'd heard you say you were going home。 At first； I never
dreamed you meant it。 But then I wondered。 Humans can be very
predictable； they like to be somewhere familiar； somewhere safe。 And
wouldn't it be the perfect ploy； to go to the last place you should be
when you're hiding — the place that you said you'd be。
〃But of course I wasn't sure； it was just a hunch。 I usually get a
feeling about the prey that I'm hunting； a sixth sense； if you will。 I
listened to your message when I got to your mother's house； but of course
I couldn't be sure where you'd called from。 It was very useful to have
your number； but you could have been in Antarctica for all I knew； and
the game wouldn't work unless you were close by。
〃Then your boyfriend got on a plane to Phoenix。 Victoria was monitoring
them for me； naturally； in a game with this many players； I couldn't be
working alone。 And so they told me what I'd hoped； that you were here
after all。 I was prepared； I'd already been through your charming home
movies。 And then it was simply a matter of the bluff。
〃Very easy； you know； not really up to my standards。 So； you see； I'm
hoping you're wrong about your boyfriend。 Edward； isn't it？〃
I didn't answer。 The bravado was wearing off。 I sensed that he was ing
to the end of his gloat。 It wasn't meant for me anyway。 There was no
glory in beating me； a weak human。
〃Would you mind； very much； if I left a little letter of my own for your
Edward？〃
He took a step back and touched a palmsized digital video camera
balanced carefully on top of the stereo。 A small red light indicated that
it was already running。 He adjusted it a few times； widened the frame。 I
stared at him in horror。
〃I'm sorry； but I just don't think he'll be able to resist hunting me
after he watches this。 And I wouldn't want him to miss anything。 It was
all for him； of course。 You're simply a human； who unfortunately was in
the wrong place； at the wrong time； and indisputably running with the
wrong crowd； I might add。〃
He stepped toward me； smiling。 〃Before we begin…〃
I felt a curl of nausea in the pit of my stomach as he spoke。 This was
something I had not anticipated。
〃I would just like to rub it in； just a little bit。 The answer was there
all along； and I was so afraid Edward would see that and ruin my fun。 It
happened once； oh； ages ago。 The one and only time my prey escaped me。
〃You see； the vampire who was so stupidly fond of this little victim made
the choice that your Edward was too weak to make。 When the old one knew I
was after his little friend； he stole her from the asylum where he worked
— I never will understand the obsession some vampires seem to form with
you humans — and as soon as he freed her he made her safe。 She didn't
even seem to notice the pain； poor little creature。 She'd been stuck in
that black hole of a cell for so long。 A hundred years earlier and she
would have been burned at the stake for her visions。 In the
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