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Edward hesitated。 From the corner of my eye； I saw both Felix and Jane
grimace。
Edward seemed to weigh each word before he spoke it。 〃I'd rather not。〃
〃Alice？〃 Aro asked； still hopeful。 〃Would you perhaps be interested in joining
with us？〃
〃No； thank you；〃 Alice said。
〃And you； Bella？〃 Aro raised his eyebrows。
Edward hissed； low in my ears。 I stared at Aro blankly。 Was he joking？ Or was
he really asking me if I
wanted to stay for dinner？
It was the white…haired Caius who broke the silence。
〃What？〃 he demanded of Aro； his voice； though no more than a whisper； was
flat。
〃Caius； surely you see the potential；〃 Aro chided him affectionately。 〃I
haven't seen a prospective talent
so promising since we found Jane and Alec。 Can you imagine the possibilities
when she is one of us？〃
Caius looked away with a caustic expression。 Jane's eyes sparked with
indignation at the parison。
Edward fumed beside me。 I could hear a rumble in his chest； building toward a
growl。 I couldn't let his
temper get him hurt。
〃No； thank you；〃 I spoke up in barely more than a whisper； my voice breaking
in fright。
Aro sighed。 〃That's unfortunate。 Such a waste。〃
Edward hissed。 〃Join or die； is that it？ I suspected as much when we were
brought to this room。 So
much for your laws。〃
The tone of his voice surprised me。 He sounded irate； but there was something
deliberate about his
delivery—as if he'd chosen his words with great care。
〃Of course not。〃 Aro blinked； astonished。 〃We were already convened here；
Edward； awaiting Heidi's
return。 Not for you。〃
〃Aro；〃 Caius hissed。 〃The law claims them。〃
Edward glared at Caius。 〃How so？〃 he demanded。 He must have known what Caius
was thinking； but he
seemed determined to make him speak it aloud。
Caius pointed a skeletal finger at me。 〃She knows too much。 You have exposed
our secrets。〃 His voice
was papery thin； just like his skin。
〃There are a few humans in on your charade here； as well；〃 Edward reminded
him； and I thought of the
pretty receptionist below。
Caius's face twisted into a new expression。 Was it supposed to be a smiled。
〃Yes；〃 he agreed。 〃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 betrays our secrets； are you prepared to destroy
her？ I think not；〃 he scoffed。
〃I wouldn't—；〃 I began； still whispering。 Caius silenced me with an icy look。
〃Nor do you intend to make her one of us；〃 Caius continued。 〃Therefore； she is
a vulnerability。 Though it
is true； for this； only her life is forfeit。 You may leave if you wish。〃
Edward bared his teeth。
〃That's what I thought；〃 Caius said； with something akin to pleasure。 Felix
leaned forward； eager。
〃Unless〃 Aro interrupted。 He looked unhappy with the way the conversation
had gone。 〃Unless you do
intend to give her immortality？〃
Edward pursed his lips； hesitating for a moment before he answered。 〃And if I
do？〃
Aro smiled； happy again。 〃Why； then you would be free to go home and give my
regards to my friend
Carlisle。〃 His expression turned more hesitant。 〃But I'm afraid you would have
to mean it。〃
Aro raised his hand in front of him。
Caius； who had begun to scowl furiously； relaxed。
Edward's lips tightened into a fierce line。 He stared into my eyes； and I
stared back。
〃Mean it；〃 I whispered。 〃Please。〃
Was it really such a loathsome idea？ Would he rather die than change me？ I
felt like I'd been kicked in
the stomach。
Edward stared down at me with a tortured expression。
And then Alice stepped away from us； forward toward Aro。 We turned to watch
her。 Her hand was
raised like his。
She didn't say anything； and Aro waved off his anxious guard as they moved to
block her approach。 Aro
met her halfway； and took her hand with an eager； acquisitive glint in his
eyes。
He bent his head over their touching hands； his eyes closing as he
concentrated。 Alice was motionless；
her face blank。 I heard Edward's teeth snap together。
No one moved。 Aro seemed frozen over Alice's hand。 The seconds passed and I
grew more and more
stressed； wondering how much time would pass before it was too much time。
Before it meant something
was wrong—more wrong than it already was。
Another agonizing moment passed； and then Aro's voice broke the silence。
〃Ha； ha； ha；〃 he laughed； his head still bent forward。 He looked up slowly；
his eyes bright with
excitement。 〃That was fascinating！〃
Alice smiled dryly。 〃I'm glad you enjoyed it。〃
〃To see the things you've seen—especially the ones that haven't happened
yet！〃 He shook his head in
wonder。
〃But that will；〃 she reminded him； voice calm。
〃Yes； yes； it's quite determined。 Certainly there's no problem。〃
Caius looked bitterly disappointed—a feeling he seemed to share with Felix
and Jane。
〃Aro；〃 Caius plained。
〃Dear Caius；〃 Aro smiled。 〃Do not fret。 Think of the possibilities！ They do
not join us today； but we can
always hope for the future。 Imagine the joy young Alice alone would bring to
our little household
Besides； I'm so terribly curious to see how Bella turns out！〃
Aro seemed convinced。 Did he not realize how subjective Alice's 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—Edward's—could alter her path； and with that； the
future。
And would it really matter that Alice was willing； would it make any
difference if I did bee 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 annoyance？ Terrified as I was； I felt myself
sinking down into depression；
drowning in it
〃Then we are free to go now？〃 Edward asked in an even voice。
〃Yes； yes；〃 Aro said pleasantly。 〃But please visit again。 It's been absolutely
enthralling！〃
〃And we will visit you as well；〃 Caius promised； his eyes suddenly half…closed
like the heavy…lidded gaze
of a lizard。 〃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。〃
Edward's jaw clenched tight； but he nodded once。
Caius smirked and drifted back to where Marcus still sat； unmoving and
uninterested。
Felix groaned。
〃Ah； Felix。〃 Aro smiled； amused。 〃Heidi will be here at any moment。 Patience。〃
〃Hmm。〃 Edward's voice had a new edge to it。 〃In that case； perhaps we'd better
leave sooner rather than
later。〃
〃Yes；〃 Aro agreed。 〃That's a good idea。 Accidents do happen。 Please wait below
until after dark； though；
if you don't mind。〃
〃Of course；〃 Edward agreed； while I cringed at the thought of waiting out the
day before we could
escape。
〃And here；〃 Aro added； motioning to Felix with one finger。 Felix came forward
at once； and Aro
unfastened the gray cloak the huge vampire wore； pulling from his shoulders。
He tossed it to Edward。
〃Take this。 You're a little conspicuous。〃
Edward put the long cloak on； leaving the hood down。
Aro sighed。 〃It suits you。〃
Edward chuckled； but broke off suddenly； glancing over his shoulder。 〃Thank
you； Aro。 We'll wait
below。〃
〃Goodbye； young friends；〃 Aro said； his eyes bright as he stared in the same
direction。
〃Let's go；〃 Edward said； urgent now。
Demetri gestured that we should follow； and then set off the way we'd e in；
the only exit by the look
of things。
Edward pulled me swiftly along beside him。 Alice was close by my other side；
her face hard。
〃Not fast enough；〃 she muttered。
I stared up at her； frightened； but she only seemed chagrined。 It was then
that I first heard the babble of
voices—loud； rough voices—ing from the antechamber。
〃Well this is unusual；〃 a man's coarse voice boomed。
〃So medieval；〃 an unpleasantly shrill； female voice gushed back。
A large crowd was ing 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。
The couple in front； Americans from the sound of them； glanced around
themselves with appraising eyes。
〃Wele； guests！ Wele to Volterra！〃 I could he