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〃We're not dead； not yet！ But we have to get out of here before the Volturi—〃
prehension flickered on his face as I spoke。 Before I could finish； he
suddenly yanked me away
from the edge of the shadows； spinning me effortlessly so that my back was
tight against the brick wall；
and his back was to me as he faced away into the alley。 His arms spread wide；
protectively； in front of
me。
I peeked under his arm to see two dark shapes detach themselves from the
gloom。
〃Greetings； gentlemen；〃 Edward's voice was calm and pleasant； on the surface。
〃I don't think I'll be
requiring your services today。 I would appreciate it very much； however； if
you would send my thanks to
your masters。〃
〃Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue？〃 a smooth voice
whispered menacingly。
〃I don't believe that will be necessary。〃 Edward's voice was harder now。 〃I
know your instructions； Felix。
I haven't broken any rules。〃
〃Felix merely meant to point out the proximity of the sun；〃 the other shadow
said in a soothing tone。 They
were both concealed within smoky gray cloaks that reached to the ground and
undulated in the wind。
〃Let us seek better cover。〃
〃I'll be right behind you；〃 Edward said dryly。 〃Bella； why don't you go back
to the square and enjoy the
festival？〃
〃No； bring the girl；〃 the first shadow said； somehow injecting a leer into his
whisper。
〃I don't think so。〃 The pretense of civility disappeared。 Edward's voice was
flat and icy。 His weight
shifted infinitesimally； and I could see that he was preparing to fight。
〃No。〃 I mouthed the word。
〃Shh；〃 he murmured； only for me。
〃Felix；〃 the second； more reasonable shadow cautioned。 〃Not here。〃 He turned
to Edward。 〃Aro would
simply like to speak with you again； if you have decided not to force our hand
after all。〃
〃Certainly；〃 Edward agreed。 '〃But the girl goes free。〃
〃I'm afraid that's not possible；〃 the polite shadow said regretfully。 〃We do
have rules to obey。〃
〃Then I'm afraid that I'll be unable to accept Aro's invitation； Demetri。〃
〃That's just fine；〃 Felix purred。 My eyes were adjusting to the deep shade；
and I could see that Felix was
very big； tall and thick through the shoulders。 His size reminded me of
Emmett。
〃Aro will be disappointed；〃 Demetri sighed。
〃I'm sure he'll survive the letdown；〃 Edward replied。
Felix and Demetri stole closer toward the mouth of the alley； spreading out
slightly so they could e at
Edward from two sides。 They meant to force him deeper into the alley； to avoid
a scene。 No reflected
light found access to their skin； they were safe inside their cloaks。
Edward didn't move an inch。 He was dooming himself by protecting me。
Abruptly； Edward's head whipped around； toward the darkness of the winding
alley； and Demetri and
Felix did the same； in response to some sound or movement too subtle for my
senses。
〃Let's behave ourselves； shall we？〃 a lilting voice suggested。 〃There are
ladies present。〃
Alice tripped lightly to Edward's side； her stance casual。 There was no hint
of any underlying tension。 She
looked so tiny； so fragile。 Her little arms swung like a child's。
Yet Demetri and Felix both straightened up； their cloaks swirling slightly as
a gust of wind funneled
through the alley。 Felix's face soured。 Apparently； they didn't like even
numbers。
〃We're not alone；〃 she reminded them。
Demetri glanced over his shoulder。 A few yards into the square； the little
family； with the girls in their red
dresses； was watching us。 The mother was speaking urgently to her husband； her
eyes on the five of us。
She looked away when Demetri met her gaze。 The man walked a few steps farther
into the plaza； and
tapped one of the red…blazered men on the shoulder。
Demetri shook his head。 〃Please； Edward； let's be reasonable；〃 he said。
〃Let's；〃 Edward agreed。 〃And we'll leave quietly now； with no one the wiser。〃
Demetri sighed in frustration。 〃At least let us discuss this more privately。〃
Six men in red now joined the family as they watched us with anxious
expressions。 I was very conscious
of Edward's protective stance in front of me—sure that this was what caused
their alarm。 I wanted to
scream to them to run。
Edward's teeth came together audibly。 〃No。〃
Felix smiled。
〃Enough。〃
The voice was high； reedy； and n came from behind us。
I peeked under Edward's other arm to see a small； dark shape ing toward us。
By the way the edges
billowed； I knew it would be another one of them。 Who else？
At first I thought it was a young boy。 The newer was as tiny as Alice； with
lank； pale brown hair
trimmed short。 The body under the cloak—which was darker； almost black—was
slim and androgynous。
But the face was too pretty for a boy。 The wide…eyed； full…lipped face would
make a Botticelli angel look
like a gargoyle。 Even allowing for the dull crimson irises。
Her size was so insignificant that the reaction to her appearance confused me。
Felix and Demetri relaxed
immediately； stepping back from their offensive positions to blend again with
the shadows of the
overhanging walls。
Edward dropped his arms and relaxed his position as well—but in defeat。
〃Jane；〃 he sighed in recognition and resignation。
Alice folded her arms across her chest； her expression impassive。
〃Follow me；〃 Jane spoke again； her childish voice a monotone。 She turned her
back on us and drifted
silently into the dark。
Felix gestured for us to go first； smirking。
Alice walked after the little Jane at once。 Edward wrapped his arm around my
waist and pulled me along
beside her。 The alley angled slightly downward as it narrowed。 I looked up at
him with frantic questions
in my eyes； but he just shook his head。 Though I couldn't hear the others
behind us； I was sure they were
there。
〃Well； Alice；〃 Edward said conversationally as we walked。 〃I suppose I
shouldn't be surprised to see you
here。〃
〃It was my mistake；〃 Alice answered in the same tone。 〃It was my job to set it
right。〃
〃What happened？〃 His voice was polite； as if he were barely interested。 I
imagined this was due to the
listening ears behind us。
〃It's a long story。〃 Alice's eyes flickered toward me and away。 〃In summary；
she did jump off a cliff； but
she wasn't trying to kill herself。 Bella's all about the extreme sports these
days。〃
I flushed and turned my eyes straight ahead； looking after the dark shadow
that I could no longer see。 I
could imagine what he was hearing in Alice's thoughts now。 Near…drownings；
stalking vampires；
werewolf friends
〃Hm；〃 Edward said curtly； and the casual tone of his voice was gone。
There was a loose curve to the alley； still slanting downward； so I didn't see
the squared…off dead end
ing until we reached the flat； windowless； brick face。 The little one
called Jane was nowhere to be
seen。
Alice didn't hesitate； didn't break pace as she strode toward the wall。 Then；
with easy grace； she slid
down an open hole in the street。
It looked like a drain； sunk into the lowest point of the paving。 I hadn't
noticed it until Alice disappeared；
but the grate was halfway pushed aside。 The hole was small； and black。
I balked。
〃It's all right； Bella；〃 Edward said in a low voice。 〃Alice will catch you。〃
I eyed the hole doubtfully。 I imagine he would have gone first； if Demetri and
Felix hadn't been waiting；
smug and silent； behind us。
I crouched down； swinging my legs into the narrow gap。
〃Alice？〃 I whispered； voice trembling。
〃I'm right here； Bella；〃 she reassured me。 Her voice came from too far below
to make me feel better。
Edward took my wrists—his hands felt like stones in winter—and lowered me
into the blackness。
〃Ready？〃 he asked。
〃Drop her；〃 Alice called。
I closed my eyes so I couldn't see the darkness； scrunching them together in
terror； clamping my mouth
shut so I wouldn't scream。 Edward let me fall。
It was silent and short。 The air whipped past me for just half a second； and
then； with a huff as I exhaled；
Alice's waiting arms caught me。
I was going to have bruises； her arms were very hard。 She stood me upright。
It was dim； but not black at