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
coming 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 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 compelled
him to come 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 coming 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。 Common 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 complexion—it looked odd combined 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
company—but not here。 Because she was every bit as human as I was。 I couldn't comprehend what this
human woman was doing here； totally at ease； surrounded by vampnes。
She smiled politely in welcome。 〃Good afternoon； Jane；〃 she said。 There was no surprise in her face as
she glanced at Jane's company。 Not Edward； his bare chest glinting dimly in the white lights； or even me；
disheveled and comparatively 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