'The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 21 VERDICT\r'

'WE WERE IN A BRIGHTLY LIT, workaday HALLWAY. The w each(prenominal)s were sullen-white, the floor carpeted in industrial hoary. parking bea rectangular fluorescent lights were spaced fifty-fiftyly on the ceiling. It was w girdleer here, for which I was grateful. This star sign searched actually favorable after the gloom of the ghoulish st unmatched sewers.\r\nEdward didnt throwm to agree with my assessment. He glowered doggedly plenty the ache hall counsel, toward the slight, glum shrouded figure at the end, hold ining by an elevator.\r\nHe pulled me a yearn, and Alice walked on my a nonher(prenominal) side. The heavy door course creaked shut pot us, and and thusce there was the clunk of a bolt sliding home.\r\nJane detenti matchlessd by the elevator, one moot holding the doors open for us. Her fount was apathetic.\r\n formerly inside the elevator, the three vampires that be granded to the Volturi relaxed further. They threw stern their cloaks, allowting the stumblebums determine c everywhere on their shoulders. Felix and Demetri were both of a sightly slightly olive complexion??it looked odd combined with their calcargonous pallor. Felixs black hair was cropped short, exactly Demetris waved to his shoulders. Their irises were of late reddened around the edges, darkening until they were black around the pupil. nether the shrouds, their clothes were modern, pale, and nondescript. I cowered in the corner, cringing once all over against Edward. His give bureau hush rubbed against my progress. He n ever excessivelyk his eyeball get rid of Jane.\r\nThe elevator ride was short; we stepped out into what looked ilk a posh office reception bea. The walls were grace in wood, the floors carpeted in thick, deep green. at that place were no windows, however large, dexterously lit paintings of the Tus poop countryside hung e reallywhere as replacements. Pale leather couches were caboodle in cozy groupings, and the glos sy tables held crystal vases honest of vibrantly colored bouquets. The flowers smell re themeed me of a funeral home.\r\nIn the inwardness of the room was a high, polished mahog each counter. I gawked in astonishment at the wo musical composition backside it.\r\nShe was tall, with dark strip down and green eyeball. She would have got been actually slightly in any other alliance??but non here. Because she was every moment as human as I was. I couldnt report what this human woman was doing here, totally at ease, contact by vampnes.\r\nShe smiled politely in welcome. â€Å"Good afternoon, Jane,” she give tongue to. on that point was no awe in her cheek as she st ared at Janes company. Not Edward, his bare chest glisten dimly in the white lights, or rase me, disheveled and comparatively hideous.\r\nJane nodded. â€Å"Gianna.” She continued toward a set of double doors in the back of the room, and we followed.\r\nAs Felix passed the desk, he winked at Gi anna, and she giggled.\r\nOn the other side of the woody doors was a different attractive of reception. The pale male child in the pearl gray suit could have been Janes twin. His hair was darker, and his lips were non as sufficient, but he was but as lovely. He came forward to realise us. He smiled, reaching for her. â€Å"Jane.”\r\nâ€Å"Alec,” she responded, embracing the boy. They kissed each others cheeks on both sides. past he looked at us.\r\nâ€Å"They ship you out for one and you come back with both?? and a half,” he noned, looking at me. â€Å"dainty work.”\r\nShe laughed??the sound sparkled with delight a care(p) a babys cooing.\r\nâ€Å" accept back, Edward,” Alec greeted him. â€Å"You seem in a better mood.”\r\nâ€Å"Marginally,” Edward agree in a two-dimensional phonation. I glanced at Edwards hard face, and adoreed how his mood could have been darker onward.\r\nAlec chuckled, and examined me as I clung to Edwards side. â€Å"And this is the cause of all the trouble?” he asked, skeptical.\r\nEdward solo smiled, his expression contemptuous. Then he froze.\r\nâ€Å"Dibs,” Felix called casually from behind.\r\nEdward rancid, a low snarl building deep in his chest. Felix smiled??his exceed was embossed, palm up; he curling his feels twice, inviting Edward forward.\r\nAlice touched Edwards arm. â€Å"Patience,” she cautioned him.\r\nThey exchanged a long glance, and I wished I could hear what she was telling him. I calculate that it was something to do with not attacking Felix, because Edward took a deep breath and move back to Alec.\r\nâ€Å"Aro will be so pleased to see you again,” Alec said, as if secret code had passed.\r\nâ€Å"Lets not keep him waiting,” Jane suggested.\r\nEdward nodded once.\r\nAlec and Jane, holding hold, led the way down nevertheless another wide, flowery hall??would there ever be an end?\r\nThey unattended the doors at the end of the hall??doors completely cover in gold??stopping halfway down the hall and sliding aside a raise of the paneling to expose a plain wooden door. It wasnt locked. Alec held it open for Jane.\r\nI cute to groan when Edward pulled me finished to the other side of the door. It was the standardised past match as the square, the alley, and the sewers. And it was dark and cold again.\r\nThe s billet lobby was not large. It opened cursorily into a brighter, cavernous room, perfectly round resembling a bigger castle turret?? which was probably exactly what it was.\r\n dickens stories up, long window slits threw thin rectangles of bright sunshine onto the stone floor below. There were no arranged lights. The solely furniture in the room were several(prenominal) massive wooden chairs, worry thrones, that were spaced un planely, crocked with the curving stone walls. In the very center on of the circle, in a slight depression, was another drain. I wondered if th ey used it as an exit, like the hole in the street.\r\nThe room was not empty. A tip overful of spate were convened in seemingly relaxed conversation. The murmur of low, smooth give tongue tos was a gentle hum in the air. As I watched, a pair of pale women in spend dresses paused in a patch of light, and, like prisms, their shinny threw the light in rainbow sparkles against the sienna walls.\r\nThe 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 wouldnt stick out at all on the streets below. solely the man who embouchure 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.\r\nâ€Å"Jane, ripe one, youve returned!” he cried in evident delight. His illustration was just a soft sighing.\r\nHe drifted forward, and the straw man flowed with much(prenominal)(preno minal) surreal grace that I gawked, my mouth hangmg open. Even Alice, whose every motion looked like dancing, could not compare.\r\nI was sole(prenominal) to a greater extent than 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 a transport of him with the alert manner of body retains). I couldnt go under if his face was beautiful or not. I ruminate the features were perfect. unless 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 minute??it stood in decking 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 Edwards or Alices, or if it was powdery, like chalk. His eye were red, the comparable as the others around him, but the color was clouded, milky; I wondered if his vision was affected by the haze.\r\nHe glided to Jane, took her face in his chartaceous hands, kissed her lightly on her full lips, and accordingly floated back a step.\r\nâ€Å"Yes, Master.” Jane smiled; the expression do her look like an angelic child. â€Å"I b clownisht him back alive, just as you wished.”\r\nâ€Å"Ah, Jane.” He smiled, too. â€Å"You are much(prenominal) a comfort to me.”\r\nHe turned his foggy eyeball toward us, and the smile brightened??became ecstatic.\r\nâ€Å"And Alice and Bella, too!” he rejoiced, applause his thin hands to defecateher. â€Å"This is a felicitous surprise! Wonderful!”\r\nI stared in shock as he called our names informally, as if we were old friends dropping in for an un pass judgment visit.\r\nHe turned to our predominate escort. â€Å"Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. Im accepted they wouldnt require to miss this.”\r\nâ€Å"Yes, Master.” Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had come.\r\nâ€Å"You see, Edward?” The strange vampire turned and smiled at Edward like a fond but scolding grandfather. â€Å"What did I tell you? Arent you glad that I didnt give you what you wanted yesterday?”\r\nâ€Å"Yes, Aro, I am,” he agreed, tightening his arm around my waist.\r\nâ€Å"I love a happy ending.” Aro sighed. â€Å"They are so rare. only if I want the whole story. How did this happen? Alice?” He turned to watch at Alice with curious, misty look. â€Å"Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh, Im far from infallible.” She flashed a dazzling smile. She looked perfectly at ease, except that her hands were balled into tight brusque fists. â€Å"As you fuel see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre too modest,” Aro chided. â€Å" Ive seen some of your more than amazing exploits, and I must(prenominal) admit Ive never ob help oneselfd anything like your endowment. Wonderful!”\r\nAlice flickered a glance at Edward. Aro did not miss it.\r\nâ€Å"Im sorry, we havent been introduced properly at all, have we? Its just that I heart like I know you already, and I tend get a lintel of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I handle some of your brothers talent, only I am limited in a way that he is not.” Aro agitate his cutting edge; his tone was envious.\r\nâ€Å"And also exponentially more powerful,” Edward added dryly. He looked at Alice as he swiftly explained. â€Å"Aro needs tangible contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear whats passing through your head in the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had.”\r\nAlice raise her delicate eyebrows, and Edward inclined his head.\r\nAro d idnt miss that either.\r\nâ€Å"But to be able to hear from a surmount??” Aro sighed, gesturing toward the dickens of them, and the exchange that had just taken place. â€Å"That would be so convenient.”\r\nAro looked over our shoulders. All the other heads turned in the same direction, including Jane, Alec, and Demetri, who stood silently beside us.\r\nI was the laggard to turn. Felix was back, and behind him floated two more black-robed men. Both looked very much like Aro, one tied(p) 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.\r\nThe trio from Carlisles painting was complete, unaltered by the culture three hundred old age since it was painted.\r\nâ€Å"Marcus, Caius, look!” Aro crooned. â€Å"Bella is alive after all, and Alice is here with her! Isnt that howling(prenominal)?”\r\nNeither of the other two look ed as if marvellous would be their first choice of wrangling. The dark-haired man seemed utterly bored, like hed seen too legion(predicate) millennia of Aros enthusiasm. The others hice was persistent under the snowy hair.\r\nTheir lack of interest did not curb Aros enjoyment.\r\nâ€Å"Let us have the story,” Aro virtually sang in his feathery persona.\r\nThe grey-haired ancient vampire drifted away(predicate), gliding toward one of the wooden thrones. The other paused beside Aro, and he reached his hand out, at first I thought to take Aros hand. But he just touched Aros 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.\r\nEdward snorted very quietly, and Alice looked at him, curious.\r\nâ€Å"Thank you, Marcus,” Aro said. â€Å"Thats quite interesting.”\r\nI realized, a second late, that Marcus was letting Aro know his thoughts.\r\nMarcus didnt look interest. 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 Id thought ahead. 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.\r\nAro was tingle his head. â€Å"Amazing,”‘ he said. â€Å"Absolutely amazing.”\r\nAlices expression was frustrated. Edward turned to her and explained again in a swift, low voice. â€Å"Marcus sees relationships. Hes surprised by the intensity of ours.”\r\nAro smiled. â€Å"So convenient,” he repeated to himself. Then he speak to us. â€Å"It takes quite a bit to surprise Marcus, I can assure you.”\r\nI looked at Marcuss dead face, and I believed that.\r\nâ€Å"Its just so difficult to understand, even now,” Aro mused, staring at Edwards arm wrapped around me. It was hard for me to follow Aros topsy-turvy train of thought. I struggled to keep up. â€Å"How can you stand so close to het like that?”\r\nâ€Å"Its not without effort,” Edward answered calmly.\r\nâ€Å"But alleviate??la tua cantante! What a waste!”\r\nEdward chuckled once without humor. â€Å"I look at it more as a price.”\r\nAro was skeptical. â€Å"A very high price.”\r\nâ€Å"Opportunity cost.”\r\nAro laughed. â€Å"If I hadnt smelled her through your memories, I wouldnt have believed the call of anyones neckcloth could be so strong. Ive never felt anything like it myself. Most of us would trade much for such(prenominal) a gift, and that you??”\r\nâ€Å"Waste it,” Edward finished, his voice saturnine now.\r\nAro laughed again. â€Å"Ah, how I miss my friend Carlisle! You remind me of him??only he was not so angry.”\r\nâ€Å"Carlisle outshines me in numerous other ways as well.”\r\nâ€Å"I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self-control of all things, but you put him to shame.”\r\nâ€Å"Hardly.” Edward sounded impatient. As if he were drop of the preliminaries. It made me more afraid; I couldnt patron but try to imagine what he expect would follow.\r\nâ€Å"I am gratified by his supremacy,” Aro mused. â€Å"Your memories of him are quite a gift for me, though they astonish me exceedingly. I am surprised by how it?? pleases me, his success in this unorthodox path hes chosen. I expected that he would waste, weaken with time. Id scoffed at his plan to fuck off others who would share his peculiar vision. Yet, somehow, Im happy to be awry(p).”\r\nEdward didnt reply.\r\nâ€Å"But your restraint!” Aro sighed. â€Å"I did not know such strength was possible. To inure yourself against such a femme fatale call, not just once but again and again??if I had not felt it myself, I would not have believ ed.”\r\nEdward gazed back at Aros confusion with no expression. I knew his face well tolerable??time had not changed that??to guess at something buzz beneath the surface. I fought to keep my breathing even.\r\nâ€Å" rightful(prenominal) remembering how she appeals to you??” Aro chuckled. â€Å"It occupys me thirsty.”\r\nEdward tensed.\r\nâ€Å"Dont be disturbed,” Aro reassured him. â€Å"I immoral her no harm. But I am so curious, about one thing in particular.” He eyed me with bright interest. â€Å"May I?” he asked eagerly, lifting one hand.\r\nâ€Å"Ask her,” Edward suggested in a flat voice.\r\nâ€Å"Of course, how rude of me!” Aro exclaimed. â€Å"Bella,” he addressed me directly now. â€Å"Im hypnotized that you are the one exception to Edwards impressive talent??so very interesting that such a thing should occur! And I was question, since our talents are similar in many ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to try??to see if you are an exception for me, as well?”\r\nMy eyeball flashed up to Edwards face in terror. Despite Aros overt politeness, I didnt believe I really had a choice. I was horrified at the thought of allowing him to touch me, and yet also perversely intrigued by the chance to feel his strange skin.\r\nEdward nodded in encouragement??whether because he was sure Aro would not hurt me, or because there was no choice, I couldnt tell.\r\nI turned back to Aro and raised my hand slowly in depend of me. It was trembling.\r\nHe glided closer, and I believe he meant his expression to be reassuring. But his papery features were too strange, too foreign and frightening, to reassure. The look on his face was more confident(p) than his words had been.\r\nAro reached out, as if to shake my hand, and pressed his insubstantial-looking skin against mine. It was hard, but felt brittle??shale quite than granite??and even colder than I expected.\r\nHis filmy eyes smiled down at mine, and it was impossible to look away. They were mesmerizing in an odd, nasty way.\r\nAros face altered as I watched. The government agency wavered and became first doubt, then incredulity beforehand he calmed it into a friendly mask.\r\nâ€Å"So very interesting,” he said as he released my hand and drifted back.\r\nMy eyes flickered to Edward, and, though his face was composed, I thought he seemed a small-minded smug.\r\nAro continued to drift wnh a thoughtful expression. He was quiet for a moment, his eyes flickering amidst the three of us. Then, abruptly, he shook his head.\r\nâ€Å"A first,” he said to himself â€Å"I wonder if she is immune to our other talents?? Jane, dear?”\r\nâ€Å"No!” Edward elusive the word. Alice grabbed his arm with a restraining hand. He shook her off.\r\n flyspeck Jane smiled up happily at Aro. â€Å"Yes, Master?”\r\nEdward was genuinely snarling now, the sound ripping and tearing from him, glaring at Aro with baleful eyes. The room had gone still, everyone watching him with amaze disbelief, as if he were committing some embarrassing tender faux pas. I saw Felix grin hopefully and move a step forward. Aro glanced at him once, and he froze in place, his grin turning to a severe expression.\r\nThen he talk to Jane. â€Å"I was wondering, my dear one, if Bella is immune to you.”\r\nI could barely hear Aro over Edwards furious growls. He let go of me, abject to hide me from their view. Caius ghosted in our direction, with his entourage, to watch.\r\n Jane turned toward us with a beatific smile.\r\nâ€Å"Dont!” Alice cried as Edward launched himself at the little girl.\r\n out front I could react, before anyone could jump between them, before Aros bodyguards could tense, Edward was on the ground.\r\nNo one had touched him, but he was on the stone floor sinuous in obvious agony, while I stared in repulsion.\r\nJane was smiling only at him now, and it all clicked together. What Alice had said about formidable gifts , why everyone treated Jane with such deference, and why Edward had thrown himself in her path before she could do that to me.\r\nâ€Å"Stop!” I shrieked, my voice echo in the silence, jumping forward to put myself between them. But Alice threw her arms around me in an infrangible grasp and ignored my struggles. No sound break loose Edwards lips as he cringed against the stones. It felt like my head would explode from the pain of watching this.\r\nâ€Å"Jane,” Aro recalled her in a tranquil voice. She looked up quickly, still smiling with pleasure, her eyes questioning. As soon as Jane looked away, Edward was still.\r\nAro inclined his head toward me.\r\nJane turned her smile in my direction.\r\nI didnt even meet her gaze. I watched Edward from the prison of Alices arms, still attempt pointlessly.\r\nâ€Å"Hes fine,” Alice whispered in a tight voice. As she spoke, he sat up, and then sprang lightly to his feet. His eyes met mine, and they were horror-struck. At first I thought the horror was for what he had just suffered. But then he looked quickly at Jane, and back to me??and his face relaxed into relief.\r\nI looked at Jane, too, and she no longer smiled. She gleamingd at me, her blabber clench with the intensity of her focus. I shrank back, waiting for the pain.\r\n aught happened.\r\nEdward was by my side again. He touched Alices arm, and she surrendered me to him.\r\nAro started to laugh. â€Å"Ha, ha. ha,” he chuckled. â€Å"This is wonderful!”\r\nJane hissed in frustration, leaning forward like she was preparing to spring.\r\nâ€Å"Dont be put out, dear one,” Aro said in a comforting tone, placing a powder-light hand on her shoulder. â€Å"She con tacks us all.”\r\nJanes upper lip curled back ever her teeth as she continued to glare at me.\r\nâ€Å"Ha, ha, ha,” Aro chortled again. â€Å"Youre very brave, Edward, to endure in silence. I as ked Jane to do that to me once??just out of curiosity.” He shook his head in admiration.\r\nEdward glared, disgusted.\r\nâ€Å"So what do we do with you now?” Aro sighed.\r\nEdward and Alice stiffened. This was the part theyd been waiting for. I began to tremble.\r\nâ€Å"I dont suppose theres any chance that youve changed your mind?” Aro asked Edward hopefully. â€Å"Your talent would be an excellent addition to our little company.”\r\nEdward hesitated. From the corner of my eye, I saw both Felix and Jane grimace.\r\nEdward seemed to numerate each word before he spoke it. â€Å"Id?? rather?? not.”\r\nâ€Å"Alice?” Aro asked, still hopeful. â€Å"Would you perhaps be interested in joining with us?”\r\nâ€Å"No, thank you,” Alice said.\r\nâ€Å"And you, Bella?” Aro raised his eyebrows.\r\nEdward hissed, low in my ears. I stared at Aro blankly. Was he joking? Or was he really petition me if I wanted to stay for dinner?\r\ nIt was the white-haired Caius who broke the silence.\r\nâ€Å"What?” he demanded of Aro; his voice, though no more than a whisper, was flat.\r\nâ€Å"Caius, surely you see the potential,” Aro chided him affectionately. â€Å"I havent seen a prospective talent so promising since we found Jane and Alec. Can you imagine the possibilities when she is one of us?”\r\nCaius looked away with a caustic expression. Janes eyes sparked with indignation at the comparison.\r\nEdward fumed beside me. I could hear a rumbling in his chest, building toward a growl. I couldnt let his temper get him hurt.\r\nâ€Å"No, thank you,” I spoke up in barely more than a whisper, my voice breaking in fright.\r\nAro sighed. â€Å"Thats unfortunate. Such a waste.”\r\nEdward hissed. â€Å"Join or fracture, is that it? I suspected as much when we were brought to this room. So much for your fairnesss.”\r\nThe tone of his voice surprised me. He sounded irate, but there w as something believe about his delivery??as if hed chosen his words with great care.\r\nâ€Å"Of course not.” Aro blinked, astonished. â€Å"We were already convened here, Edward, awaiting Heidis return. Not for you.”\r\nâ€Å"Aro,” Caius hissed. â€Å"The law claims them.”\r\nEdward glared at Caius. â€Å"How so?” he demanded. He must have known what Caius was thinking, but he seemed obdurate to withdraw him speak it aloud.\r\nCaius pointed a skeletal finger at me. â€Å"She knows too much. You have exposed our secrets.” His voice was papery thin, just like his skin.\r\nâ€Å"There are a few humans in on your charade here, as well,” Edward reminded him, and I thought of the pretty receptionist below.\r\nCaiuss face twisted into a new expression. Was it say to be a smiled.\r\nâ€Å"Yes,” he agreed. â€Å"But when they are no longer useful to us, they will serve to sustain us. That is not your plan for this one. If she betr ays our secrets, are you brisk to destroy her? I think not,” he scoffed.\r\nâ€Å"I wouldnt??,” I began, still whispering. Caius silenced me with an icy look.\r\nâ€Å"Nor do you intend to make her one of us,” Caius continued. â€Å"Therefore, she is a vulnerability. though it is true, for this, only her life is forfeit. You may leave if you wish.”\r\nEdward expose his teeth.\r\nâ€Å"Thats what I thought,” Caius said, with something akin to pleasure. Felix leaned forward, eager.\r\nâ€Å"Unless??” Aro interrupted. He looked unhappy with the way the conversation had gone. â€Å"Unless you do intend to give her immortality?”\r\nEdward pursed his lips, hesitate for a moment before he answered. â€Å"And if I do?”\r\nAro smiled, happy again. â€Å"Why, then you would be salve to go home and give my regards to my friend Carlisle.” His expression turned more hesitant. â€Å"But Im afraid you would have to mean it.”\ r\nAro raised his hand in front of him.\r\nCaius, who had begun to scowl furiously, relaxed.\r\nEdwards lips tightened into a fierce line. He stared into my eyes, and I stared back.\r\nâ€Å"Mean it,” I whispered. â€Å"Please.”\r\nWas it really such a loathsome idea? Would he rather die than change me? I felt like Id been kicked in the stomach.\r\nEdward stared down at me with a tortured expression.\r\nAnd then Alice stepped away from us, forward toward Aro. We turned to watch her. Her hand was raised like his.\r\nShe didnt say anything, and Aro waved off his zealous guard as they moved to block her approach. Aro met her halfway, and took her hand with an eager, acquisitive glint in his eyes.\r\nHe bended his head over their touching hands, his eyes finis as he concentrated. Alice was motionless, her face blank. I perceive Edwards teeth snap together.\r\nNo one moved. Aro seemed wintry over Alices hand. The seconds passed and I grew more and more stressed, wonder ing how much time would pass before it was too much time. Before it meant something was wrong??more wrong than it already was.\r\nAnother agonizing moment passed, and then Aros voice broke the silence.\r\nâ€Å"Ha, ha, ha,” he laughed, his head still bent forward. He looked up slowly, his eyes bright with excitement. â€Å"That was fascinating!”\r\nAlice smiled dryly. â€Å"Im glad you enjoyed it.”\r\nâ€Å"To see the things youve seen??especially the ones that havent happened yet!” He shook his head in wonder.\r\nâ€Å"But that will,” she reminded him, voice calm.\r\nâ€Å"Yes, yes, its quite determined. Certainly theres no problem.”\r\nCaius looked bitingly disappointed??a feeling he seemed to share with Felix and Jane.\r\nâ€Å"Aro,” Caius complained.\r\nâ€Å"Dear Caius,” Aro smiled. â€Å"Do not fret. Think of the possibilities! They do not join us today, but we can always hope for the future. Imagine the joy fresh Alice alone would bring to our little household?? Besides, Im so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out!”\r\nAro seemed convinced. Did he not realize how subjective Alices visions were. That she could make up her mind to transform me today, and then change it tomorrow? A million tiny decisions, her decisions and so many others, too??Edwards??could alter her path, and with that, the future.\r\nAnd would it really matter that Alice was willing, would it make any difference if I did become a vampire, when the idea was so repulsive to Edward? If death was, to him, a better alternative than having me around forever, an immortal vexation? Terrified as I was, I felt myself sinking down into depression, drowning in it??\r\nâ€Å"Then we are free to go now?” Edward asked in an even voice.\r\nâ€Å"Yes, yes,” Aro said pleasantly. â€Å"But please visit again. Its been perfectly enthralling!”\r\nâ€Å"And we will visit you as well,” Caius promised, his eyes suddenly half-closed like the heavy-lidded gaze of a lizard. â€Å"To be sure that you follow through on your side. Were I you, I would not delay too long. We do not offer second chances.”\r\nEdwards jaw clenched tight, but he nodded once.\r\nCaius smirked and drifted back to where Marcus still sat, fixed and uninterested.\r\nFelix groaned.\r\nâ€Å"Ah, Felix.” Aro smiled, amused. â€Å"Heidi will be here at any moment. Patience.”\r\nâ€Å"Hmm.” Edwards voice had a new edge to it. â€Å"In that case, perhaps wed better leave sooner rather than later.”\r\nâ€Å"Yes,” Aro agreed. â€Å"Thats a good idea. Accidents do happen. Please wait below until after dark, though, if you dont mind.”\r\nâ€Å"Of course,” Edward agreed, while I cringed at the thought of waiting out the day before we could escape.\r\nâ€Å"And here,” Aro added, motioning to Felix with one finger. Felix came forward at once, and Aro unfastened the gray cl oak the huge vampire wore, pulling from his shoulders. He tossed it to Edward. â€Å"Take this. Youre a little conspicuous.”\r\nEdward put the long cloak on, leaving the hood down.\r\nAro sighed. â€Å"It suits you.”\r\nEdward chuckled, but broke off suddenly, glancing over his shoulder. â€Å"Thank you, Aro. Well wait below.”\r\nâ€Å"Goodbye, spring chicken friends,” Aro said, his eyes bright as he stared in the same direction.\r\nâ€Å"Lets go,” Edward said, urgent now.\r\nDemetri gestured that we should follow, and then set off the way wed come in, the only exit by the look of things.\r\nEdward pulled me swiftly along beside him. Alice was close by my other side, her face hard.\r\nâ€Å"Not fast enough,” she muttered.\r\nI stared up at her, frightened, but she only seemed chagrined. It was then that I first heard the babble of voices??loud, rough voices??coming from the antechamber.\r\nâ€Å"Well this is unusual,” a mans coarse v oice boomed.\r\nâ€Å"So medieval,” an unpleasantly shrill, female voice gushed back.\r\nA large crowd was coming through the little door, filling the smaller stone chamber. Demetri motioned for us to make room. We pressed back against the cold wall to let them pass.\r\nThe couple in front, Americans from the sound of them, glanced around themselves with pass judgment eyes.\r\nâ€Å" meet, guests! Welcome to Volterra!” I could hear Aro sing from the big turret room.\r\nThe rest of them, maybe forty or more, filed in after the couple. Some studied the oscilloscope like tourists. A few even snapped pictures. Others looked confused, as if the story that had led them to this room was not making sense anymore. I noticed one small, dark woman in particular. Around her neck was a rosary, and she gripped the cross tightly in one hand. She walked more slowly than the others, touching someone now and then and asking a question in an unfamiliar with(predicate) language. No one seemed to understand her, and her voice grew more panicked.\r\nEdward pulled my face against his chest, but it was too late. I already understood.\r\nAs soon as the smallest break appeared, Edward pushed me quickly toward the door. I could feel the horrified expression on my face, and the tears beginning to pool in my eyes.\r\nThe ornate golden hallway was quiet, empty except for one gorgeous, statuesque woman. She stared at us curiously, me in particular.\r\nâ€Å"Welcome home, Heidi,” Demetri greeted her from behind us.\r\nHeidi smiled absently. She reminded me of Rosalie, though they looked nothing alike??it was just that her beauty, too, was exceptional, unforgettable. I couldnt seem to look away.\r\nShe was dressed to try that beauty. Her amazingly long legs, darkened with tights, were exposed by the shortest of miniskirts. Her top was long-sleeved and high-necked, but extremely close-fitting, and constructed of red vinyl. Her long mahogany hair was lustrous, and her e yes were the strangest shade of regal??a color that might result from blue-tinted contacts over red irises.\r\nâ€Å"Demetri,” she responded in a silky voice, her eyes flickering between my face and Edwards gray cloak.\r\nâ€Å" adept fishing,” Demetri complimented her, and I suddenly understood the attention-grabbing outfit she wore?? she was not only the fisherman, but also the bait.\r\nâ€Å"Thanks.” She flashed a stun smile. â€Å"Arent you coming?”\r\nâ€Å"In a minute. Save a few for me.”\r\nHeidi nodded and ducked through the door with one last curious look at me.\r\nEdward set a pace that had me running to keep up. But we still couldnt get through the ornate door at the end of the hallway before the screaming started.\r\n'