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　compare。
  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　comfort　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　company。　I'm　sure　they
  wouldn't　want　to　miss　this。〃
  〃Yes；　Master。〃　Felix　nodded　and　disappeared　back　the　way　we　had　come。
  〃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　complete；　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　Marcus's　dead　face；　and　I　believed　that。
  〃It's　just　so　difficult　to　understand；　even　now；〃　Aro　mused；　staring　at　Edward's　arm　wrapped　around　me。
  It　was　hard　for　me　to　follow　Aro's　chaotic　train　of　thought。　I　struggled　to　keep　up。　〃How　can　you　stand
  so　close　to　het　like　that？〃
  〃It's　not　without　effort；〃　Edward　answered　calmly。
  〃Butstill—la　tua　cantante！　What　a　waste！〃
  Edward　chuckled　once　without　humor。　〃I　look　at　it　more　as　a　price。〃
  Aro　was　skeptical。　〃A　very　high　price。〃
  〃Opportunity　cost。〃
  Aro　laughed。　〃If　I　hadn't　smelled　her　through　your　memories；　I　wouldn't　have　believed　the　call　of　anyone's
  blood　could　be　so　strong。　I've　never　felt　anything　like　it　myself。　Most　of　us　would　trade　much　for　such　a
  gift；　and　yet　you…〃
  〃Waste　it；〃　Edward　finished；　his　voice　sarcastic　now。
  Aro　laughed　again。　〃Ah；　how　I　miss　my　friend　Carlisle！　You　remind　me　of　him—only　he　was　not　so
  angry。〃
  〃Carlisle　outshines　me　in　many　other　ways　as　well。〃
  〃I　certainly　never　thought　to　see　Carlisle　bested　for　self…control　of　all　things；　but　you　put　him　to　shame。〃
  〃Hardly。〃　Edward　sounded　impatient。　As　if　he　were　tired　of　the　preliminaries。　It　made　me　more　afraid；　I
  couldn't　help　but　try　to　imagine　what　he　expected　would　follow。
  〃I　am　gratified　by　his　success；〃　Aro　mused。　〃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　he's
  chosen。　I　expected　that　he　would　waste；　weaken　with　time。　I'd　scoffed　at　his　plan　to　find　others　who
  would　share　his　peculiar　vision。　Yet；　somehow；　I'm　h