《2 new+moon新月》第102章

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　plexion—it　looked　odd　bined　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　
pany—but　not　here。　Because　she　was　every　bit　as　human　as　I　was。　I　couldn"t　prehend　what　this　
human　woman　was　doing　here；　totally　at　ease；　surrounded　by　vampnes。　
She　smiled　politely　in　wele。　〃Good　afternoon；　Jane；〃　she　said。　There　was　no　surprise　in　her　face　as　
she　glanced　at　Jane"s　pany。　Not　Edward；　his　bare　chest　glinting　dimly　in　the　white　lights；　or　even　me；　
disheveled　and　paratively　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　you　out　for　one　and　you　e　back　with　two…　and　a　half；〃　he　noted；　looking　at　me。　〃Nice　
work。〃　
She　laughed—the　sound　sparkled　with　delight　like　a　baby"s　cooing。　
〃Wele　back；　Edward；〃　Alec　greeted　him。　〃You　seem　in　a　better　mood。〃　
〃Marginally；〃　Edward　agreed　in　a　flat　voice。　I　glanced　at　Edward"s　hard　face；　and　wondered　how　his　
mood　could　have　been　darker　before。　
Alec　chuckled；　and　examined　me　as　I　clung　to　Edward"s　side。　〃And　this　is　the　cause　of　all　the　trouble？〃　
he　asked；　skeptical。　
Edward　only　smiled；　his　expression　contemptuous。　Then　he　froze。　
〃Dibs；〃　Felix　called　casually　from　behind。　
Edward　turned；　a　low　snarl　building　deep　in　his　chest。　Felix　smiled—his　hand　was　raised；　palm　up；　he　
curled　his　fingers　twice；　inviting　Edward　forward。　
Alice　touched　Edward"s　arm。　〃Patience；〃　she　cautioned　him。　
They　exchanged　a　long　glance；　and　I　wished　I　could　hear　what　she　was　telling　him。　I　figured　that　it　was　
something　to　do　with　not　attacking　Felix；　because　Edward　took　a　deep　breath　and　turned　back　to　Alec。　
〃Aro　will　be　so　pleased　to　see　you　again；〃　Alec　said；　as　if　nothing　had　passed。　
〃Let"s　not　keep　him　waiting；〃　Jane　suggested。　
Edward　nodded　once。　
Alec　and　Jane；　holding　hands；　led　the　way　down　yet　another　wide；　ornate　hall—would　there　ever　be　an　
end？　
They　ignored　the　doors　at　the　end　of　the　hall—doors　entirely　sheathed　in　gold—stopping　halfway　down　
the　hall　and　sliding　aside　a　piece　of　the　paneling　to　expose　a　plain　wooden　door。　It　wasn"t　locked。　Alec　
held　it　open　for　Jane。　
I　wanted　to　groan　when　Edward　pulled　me　through　to　the　other　side　of　the　door。　It　was　the　same　ancient　
stone　as　the　square；　the　alley；　and　the　sewers。　And　it　was　dark　and　cold　again。　
The　stone　antechamber　was　not　large。　It　opened　quickly　into　a　brighter；　cavernous　room；　perfectly　round　
like　a　huge　castle　turret…　which　was　probably　exactly　what　it　was。　
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　pitchblack；　and　brushed　against　the　floor。　
For　a　moment；　I　thought　his　long；　jetblack　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　pare。　
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　so