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 room was not empty。 A handful of people were convened in seemingly relaxed
conversation。 The
murmur of low； smooth voices was a gentle hum in the air。 As I watched； a pair
of pale women in
summer dresses paused in a patch of light； and； like prisms； their skin threw
the light in rainbow sparkles
against the sienna walls。
The exquisite faces all turned toward our party as we entered the room。 Most
of the immortals were
dressed in inconspicuous pants and shirts—things that wouldn't stick out at
all on the streets below。 But
the man who spoke first wore one of the long robes。 It was pitch…black； and
brushed against the floor。
For a moment； I thought his long； jet…black hair was the hood of his cloak。
〃Jane； dear one； you've returned！〃 he cried in evident delight。 His voice was
just a soft sighing。
He drifted forward； and the movement flowed with such surreal grace that I
gawked； my mouth hangmg
open。 Even Alice； whose every motion looked like dancing； could not pare。
I was only more astonished as he floated closer and I could see his face。 It
was not like the unnaturally
attractive faces that surrounded him （for he did not approach us alone； the
entire group converged
around him； some following； and some walking ahead of him with the alert
manner of bodyguards）。 I
couldn't decide if his face was beautiful or not。 I suppose the features were
perfect。 But he was as
different from the vampires beside him as they were from me。 His skin was
translucently white； like
onionskin； and it looked just as delicate—it stood in shocking contrast to
the long black hair that framed
his face。 I felt a strange； horrifying urge to touch his cheek； to see if it
was softer than Edward's or
Alice's； or if it was powdery； like chalk。 His eyes were red； the same as the
others around him； but the
color was clouded； milky； I wondered if his vision was affected by the haze。
He glided to Jane； took her face in his papery hands； kissed her lightly on
her full lips； and then floated
back a step。
〃Yes； Master。〃 Jane smiled； the expression made her look like an angelic
child。 〃I brought him back alive；
just as you wished。〃
〃Ah； Jane。〃 He smiled； too。 〃You are such a fort to me。〃
He turned his misty eyes toward us； and the smile brightened—became ecstatic。
〃And Alice and Bella； too！〃 he rejoiced； clapping his thin hands together。
〃This is a happy surprise！
Wonderful！〃
I stared in shock as he called our names informally； as if we were old friends
dropping in for an
unexpected visit。
He turned to our hulking escort。 〃Felix； be a dear and tell my brothers about
our pany。 I'm sure they
wouldn't want to miss this。〃
〃Yes； Master。〃 Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had e。
〃You see； Edward？〃 The strange vampire turned and smiled at Edward like a fond
but scolding
grandfather。 〃What did I tell you？ Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what
you wanted yesterday？〃
〃Yes； Aro； I am；〃 he agreed； tightening his arm around my waist。
〃I love a happy ending。〃 Aro sighed。 〃They are so rare。 But I want the whole
story。 How did this
happen？ Alice？〃 He turned to gaze at Alice with curious； misty eyes。 〃Your
brother seemed to think you
infallible； but apparently there was some mistake。〃
〃Oh； I'm far from infallible。〃 She flashed a dazzling smile。 She looked
perfectly at ease； except that her
hands were balled into tight little fists。 〃As you can see today； I cause
problems as often as I cure them。〃
〃You're too modest；〃 Aro chided。 〃I've seen some of your more amazing
exploits； and I must admit I've
never observed anything like your talent。 Wonderful！〃
Alice flickered a glance at Edward。 Aro did not miss it。
〃I'm sorry； we haven't been introduced properly at all； have we？ It's just
that I feel like I know you
already； and I tend get ahead of myself。 Your brother introduced us yesterday；
in a peculiar way。 You
see； I share some of your brother's talent； only I am limited in a way that he
is not。〃 Aro shook his head；
his tone was envious。
〃And also exponentially more powerful；〃 Edward added dryly。 He looked at Alice
as he swiftly
explained。 〃Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts； but he hears
much more than I do。 You
know I can only hear what's passing through your head in the moment。 Aro hears
every thought your
mind has ever had。〃
Alice raised her delicate eyebrows； and Edward inclined his head。
Aro didn't miss that either。
〃But to be able to hear from a distance〃 Aro sighed； gesturing toward the
two of them； and the
exchange that had just taken place。 〃That would be so convenient。〃
Aro looked over our shoulders。 All the other heads turned in the same
direction； including Jane； Alec；
and Demetri； who stood silently beside us。
I was the slowest to turn。 Felix was back； and behind him floated two more
black…robed men。 Both
looked very much like Aro； one even had the same flowing black hair。 The other
had a shock of
snow…white hair—the same shade as his face—that brushed against his
shoulders。 Their faces had
identical； paper…thin skin。
The trio from Carlisle's painting was plete； unchanged by the last three
hundred years since it was
painted。
〃Marcus； Caius； look！〃 Aro crooned。 〃Bella is alive after all； and Alice is
here with her！ Isn't that
wonderful？〃
Neither of the other two looked as if wonderful would be their first choice of
words。 The dark…haired
man seemed utterly bored； like he'd seen too many millennia of Aro's
enthusiasm。 The other's hice was
sour under the snowy hair。
Their lack of interest did not curb Aro's enjoyment。
〃Let us have the story；〃 Aro almost sang in his feathery voice。
The white…haired ancient vampire drifted away； gliding toward one of the
wooden thrones。 The other
paused beside Aro； and he reached his hand out； at first I thought to take
Aro's hand。 But he just
touched Aro's palm briefly and then dropped his hand to his side。 Aro raised
one black brow。 I
wondered how his papery skin did not crumple in the effort。
Edward snorted very quietly； and Alice looked at him； curious。
〃Thank you； Marcus；〃 Aro said。 〃That's quite interesting。〃
I realized； a second late； that Marcus was letting Aro know his thoughts。
Marcus didn't look interested。 He glided away from Aro to join the one who
must be Caius； seated
against the wall。 Two of the attending vampires followed silently behind him—
bodyguards； like I'd
thought before。 I could see that the two women in the sundresses had gone to
stand beside Caius in the
same manner。 The idea of any vampire needing a guard was faintly ridiculous to
me； but maybe the
ancient ones were as frail as their skin suggested。
Aro was shaking his head。 〃Amazing；〃' he said。 〃Absolutely amazing。〃
Alice's expression was frustrated。 Edward turned to her and explained again in
a swift； low voice。
〃Marcus sees relationships。 He's surprised by the intensity of ours。〃
Aro smiled。 〃So convenient；〃 he repeated to himself。 Then he spoke to us。 〃It
takes quite a bit to surprise
Marcus； I can assure you。〃
I looked at Marc