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Another agonizing moment passed； and then Aro's voice broke the silence。
〃Ha； ha； ha；〃 he laughed； his head still bent forward。 He looked up slowly； his eyes bright with
excitement。 〃That was fascinating！〃
Alice smiled dryly。 〃I'm glad you enjoyed it。〃
〃To see the things you've seen—especially the ones that haven't happened yet！〃 He shook his head in
wonder。
〃But that will；〃 she reminded him； voice calm。
〃Yes； yes； it's quite determined。 Certainly there's no problem。〃
Caius looked bitterly disappointed—a feeling he seemed to share with Felix and Jane。
〃Aro；〃 Caius plained。
〃Dear Caius；〃 Aro smiled。 〃Do not fret。 Think of the possibilities！ They do not join us today； but we can
always hope for the future。 Imagine the joy young Alice alone would bring to our little household…
Besides； I'm so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out！〃
Aro seemed convinced。 Did he not realize how subjective Alice's visions were。' That she could make up
her mind to transform me today； and then change it tomorrow？ A million tiny decisions； her decisions and
so many others'； too—Edward's—could alter her path； and with that； the future。
And would it really matter that Alice was willing； would it make any difference if I did bee a vampire；
when the idea was so repulsive to Edward？ If death was； to him； a better alternative than having me
around forever； an immortal annoyance？ Terrified as I was； I felt myself sinking down into depression；
drowning in it…
〃Then we are free to go now？〃 Edward asked in an even voice。
〃Yes； yes；〃 Aro said pleasantly。 〃But please visit again。 It's been absolutely enthralling！〃
〃And we will visit you as well；〃 Caius promised； his eyes suddenly halfclosed like the heavylidded gaze
of a lizard。 〃To be sure that you follow through on your side。 Were I you； I would not delay too long。 We
do not offer second chances。〃
Edward's jaw clenched tight； but he nodded once。
Caius smirked and drifted back to where Marcus still sat； unmoving and uninterested。
Felix groaned。
〃Ah； Felix。〃 Aro smiled； amused。 〃Heidi will be here at any moment。 Patience。〃
〃Hmm。〃 Edward's voice had a new edge to it。 〃In that case； perhaps we'd better leave sooner rather than
later。〃
〃Yes；〃 Aro agreed。 〃That's a good idea。 Accidents do happen。 Please wait below until after dark； though；
if you don't mind。〃
〃Of course；〃 Edward agreed； while I cringed at the thought of waiting out the day before we could
escape。
〃And here；〃 Aro added； motioning to Felix with one finger。 Felix came forward at once； and Aro
unfastened the gray cloak the huge vampire wore； pulling from his shoulders。 He tossed it to Edward。
〃Take this。 You're a little conspicuous。〃
Edward put the long cloak on； leaving the hood down。
Aro sighed。 〃It suits you。〃
Edward chuckled； but broke off suddenly； glancing over his shoulder。 〃Thank you； Aro。 We'll wait
below。〃
〃Goodbye； young friends；〃 Aro said； his eyes bright as he stared in the same direction。
〃Let's go；〃 Edward said； urgent now。
Demetri gestured that we should follow； and then set off the way we'd e in； the only exit by the look
of things。
Edward pulled me swiftly along beside him。 Alice was close by my other side； her face hard。
〃Not fast enough；〃 she muttered。
I stared up at her； frightened； but she only seemed chagrined。 It was then that I first heard the babble of
voices—loud； rough voices—ing from the antechamber。
〃Well this is unusual；〃 a man's coarse voice boomed。
〃So medieval；〃 an unpleasantly shrill； female voice gushed back。
A large crowd was ing through the little door； filling the smaller stone chamber。 Demetri motioned for
us to make room。 We pressed back against the cold wall to let them pass。
The couple in front； Americans from the sound of them； glanced around themselves with appraising eyes。
〃Wele； guests！ Wele to Volterra！〃 I could hear Aro sing from the big turret room。
The rest of them； maybe forty or more； filed in after the couple。 Some studied the setting like tourists。 A
few even snapped pictures。 Others looked confused； as if the story that had led them to this room was
not making sense anymore。 I noticed one small； dark woman in particular。 Around her neck was a
rosary； and she gripped the cross tightly in one hand。 She walked more slowly than the others； touching
someone now and then and asking a question in an unfamiliar language。 No one seemed to understand
her； and her voice grew more panicked。
Edward pulled my face against his chest； but it was too late。 I already understood。
As soon as the smallest break appeared； Edward pushed me quickly toward the door。 I could feel the
horrified expression on my face； and the tears beginning to pool in my eyes。
The ornate golden hallway was quiet； empty except for one gorgeous； statuesque woman。 She stared at
us curiously； me in particular。
〃Wele home； Heidi；〃 Demetri greeted her from behind us。
Heidi smiled absently。 She reminded me of Rosalie； though they looked nothing alike—it was just that her
beauty； too； was exceptional； unforgettable。 I couldn't seem to look away。
She was dressed to emphasize that beauty。 Her amazingly long legs； darkened with tights； were exposed
by the shortest of miniskirts。 Her top was longsleeved and highnecked； but extremely closefitting； and
constructed of red vinyl。 Her long mahogany hair was lustrous； and her eyes were the strangest shade of
violet—a color that might result from bluetinted contacts over red irises。
〃Demetri；〃 she responded in a silky voice； her eyes flickering between my face and Edward's gray cloak。
〃Nice fishing；〃 Demetri plimented her； and I suddenly understood the attentiongrabbing outfit she
wore… she was not only the fisherman； but also the bait。
〃Thanks。〃 She flashed a stunning smile。 〃Aren't you ing？〃
〃In a minute。 Save a few for me。〃
Heidi nodded and ducked through the door with one last curious look at me。
Edward set a pace that had me running to keep up。 But we still couldn't get through the ornate door at
the end of the hallway before the scr