trying　to　force　him　back。　I　could　have　been　pushing　against　the　alley　walls　for　all　the　progress　I　was
  making。　The　clock　tolled；　but　he　didn't　react。
  It　was　very　strange；　for　I　knew　we　were　both　in　mortal　danger。　Still；　in　that　instant；　I　felt　well。　Whole。　I
  could　feel　my　heart　racing　in　my　chest；　the　blood　pulsing　hot　and　fast　through　my　veins　again。　My　lungs
  filled　deep　with　the　sweet　scent　that　came　off　his　skin。　It　was　like　there　had　never　been　any　hole　in　my
  chest。　I　was　perfect—not　healed；　but　as　if　there　had　been　no　wound　in　the　first　place。
  〃I　can't　believe　how　quick　it　was。　I　didn't　feel　a　thing—they're　very　good；〃　he　mused；　closing　his　eyes
  again　and　pressing　his　lips　against　my　hair。　His　voice　was　like　honey　and　velvet。　〃Death；　that　hath
  sucked　the　honey　of　thy　breath；　hath　had　no　power　yet　upon　thy　beauty；〃　he　murmured；　and　I
  recognized　the　line　spoken　by　Romeo　in　the　tomb。　The　clock　boomed　out　its　final　chime　〃You　smell　just
  exactly　the　same　as　always；〃　he　went　on。　〃So　maybe　this　is　hell。　I　don't　care。　I'll　take　it。〃
  〃I'm　not　dead；〃　I　interrupted。　〃And　neither　are　you！　Please　Edward；　we　have　to　move。　They　can't　be　far
  away！〃
  I　struggled　in　his　arms；　and　his　brow　furrowed　in　confusion。
  〃What　was　that？〃　he　asked　politely。
  〃We're　not　dead；　not　yet！　But　we　have　to　get　out　of　here　before　the　Volturi—〃
  Comprehension　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　come　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　coming　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　newcomer　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
  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