every heartbeat。
The path beneath our feet continued to slant downward； taking us deeper into
the ground； and it made
me claustrophobic。 Only Edward's hand； soothing against my face； kept me from
screaming out loud。
I couldn't tell where the light was ing from； but it slowly turned dark
gray instead of black。 We were
in a low； arched tunnel。 Long trails of ebony moisture seeped down the gray
stones； like they were
bleeding ink。
I was shaking； and I thought it was from fear。 It wasn't until my teeth
started to chatter together that I
realized I was cold。 My clothes were still wet； and the temperature underneath
the city was wintry。 As
was Edward's skin。
He realized this at the same time I did； and let go of me； keeping only my
hand。
〃N…n…no；〃 I chattered； throwing my arms around him。 I didn't care if I froze。
Who knew how long we had
left？
His cold hand chafed against my arm； trying to warm me with the friction。
We hurried through the tunnel； or it felt like hurrying to me。 My slow
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 r