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I was going to have bruises； her arms were very hard。 She stood me upright。
It was dim； but not black at the bottom。 The light from the hole above
provided a faint glow； reflecting
wetly from the stones under my feet。 The light vanished for a second； and then
Edward was a faint； white
radiance beside me。 He put his arm around me； holding me close to his side；
and began to tow me swiftly
forward。 I wrapped both arms around his cold waist； and tripped and stumbled
my way across the
uneven stone surface。 The sound of the heavy grate sliding over the drain hole
behind us rang with
metallicfinality。
The dim light from the street was quickly lost in the gloom。 The sound of my
staggering footsteps echoed
through the black space； it sounded very wide； but I couldn't be sure。 There
were no sounds other than
my frantic heartbeat and my feet on the wet stones—except for once； when an
impatient sigh whispered
from behind me。
Edward held me tightly。 He reached his free hand across his body to hold my
face； too； his smooth
thumb tracing across my lips。 Now and then； I felt his face press into my
hair。 I realized that this was the
only reunion we would get； and I clutched myself closer to him。
For now； it felt like he wanted me； and that was enough to offset the horror
of the subterranean tunnel
and the prowling vampires behind us。 It was probably no more than guilt—the
same guilt that pelled
him to e here to die when he'd believed that it was his fault that I'd
killed myself。 But I felt his lips
press silently against my forehead； and I didn't care what the motivation was。
At least I could be with him
again before I died。 That was better than a long life。
I wished I could ask him exactly what was going to happen now。 I wanted
desperately to know how we
were going to die—as if that would somehow make it better； knowing in
advance。 But I couldn't speak；
even in a whisper； surrounded as we were。 The others could hear everything—my
every breath； my
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