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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
nieentwenties it was the asylum and the shock treatments。 When she
opened her eyes； strong with her fresh youth； it was like she'd never
seen the sun before。 The old vampire made her a strong new vampire； and
there was no reason for me to touch her then。〃 He sighed。 〃I destroyed
the old one in vengeance。〃
〃Alice；〃 I breathed； astonished。
〃Yes； your little friend。 I was surprised to see her in the clearing。 So
I guess her coven ought to be able to derive some fort from this
experience。 I get you； but they get her。 The one victim who escaped me；
quite an honor； actually。
〃And she did smell so delicious。 I still regret that I never got to
taste… She smelled even better than you do。 Sorry — I don't mean to be
offensive。 You have a very nice smell。 Floral； somehow…〃
He took another step toward me； till he was just inches away。 He lifted a
lock of my hair and sniffed at it delicately。 Then he gently patted the
strand back into place； and I felt his cool fingertips against my throat。
He reached up to stroke my cheek once quickly with his thumb； his face
curious。 I wanted so badly to run； but I was frozen。 I couldn't even
flinch away。
〃No；〃 he murmured to himself as he dropped his hand； 〃I don't
understand。〃 He sighed。 〃Well； I suppose we should get on with it。 And
then I can call your friends and tell them where to find you； and my
little message。〃
I was definitely sick now。 There was pain ing； I could see it in his
eyes。 It wouldn't be enough for him to win； to feed and go。 There would
be no quick end like I'd been counting on。 My knees began to shake； and I
was afraid I was going to fall。
He stepped back； and began to circle； casually； as if he were trying to
get a better view of a statue in a museum。 His face was still open and
friendly as he decided where to start。
Then he slumped forward； into a crouch I recognized； and his pleasant
smile slowly widened； grew； till it wasn't a smile at all but a
contortion of teeth； exposed and glistening。
I couldn't help myself— I tried to run。 As useless as I knew it would be；
as weak as my knees already were； panic took over and I bolted for the
emergency door。
He was in front of me in a flash。 I didn't see if he used his hand or his
foot； it was too fast。 A crushing blow struck my chest — I felt myself
flying backward； and then heard the crunch as my head bashed into the
mirrors。 The glass buckled； some of the pieces shattering and splintering
on the floor beside me。
I was too stunned to feel the pain。 I couldn't breathe yet。
He walked toward me slowly。
〃That's a very nice effect；〃 he said； examining the mess of glass； his
voice friendly again。 〃I thought this room would be visually dramatic for
my little film。 That's why I picked this place to meet you。 It's perfect；
isn't it？〃
I ignored him； scrambling on my hands and knees； crawling toward the
other door。
He was over me at once； his foot stepping down hard on my leg。