re　nine　members　of　the　guard　that　were

permanent；　the　last　time　we

heard。　Others　are　more　transitory。　It　changes。　And　many　of　them　are　gifted

as　well—with　formidable

gifts；　gifts　that　make　what　I　can　do　look　like　a　parlor　trick。　The　Volturi

chose　them　for　their　abilities；

physical　or　otherwise。〃

I　opened　my　mouth；　and　then　closed　it。　I　didn't　think　I　wanted　to　know　how　bad

the　odds　were。

She　nodded　again；　as　if　she　understood　exactly　what　I　was　thinking。　〃They

don't　get　into　too　many

confrontations。　No　one　is　stupid　enough　to　mess　with　them。　They　stay　in　their

city；　leaving　only　as　duty

calls。〃

〃Duty？〃　I　wondered。

〃Didn't　Edward　tell　you　what　they　do？〃

〃No；〃　I　said；　feeling　the　blank　expression　on　my　face。

Alice　looked　over　my　head　again；　toward　the　businessman；　and　put　her　wintry

lips　back　to　my　ear。

〃There's　a　reason　he　called　them　royalty　the　ruling　class。　Over　the

millennia；　they　have　assumed　the

position　of　enforcing　our　rules—which　actually　translates　to　punishing

transgressors。　They　fulfill　that　duty

decisively。〃

My　eyes　popped　wide　with　shock。　〃There　are　rules？〃　I　asked　in　a　voice　that　was

too　loud。

〃Shh！〃

〃Shouldn't　somebody　have　mentioned　this　to　me　earlier？〃　I　whispered　angrily。

〃I　mean；　I　wanted　to　be

a　to　be　one　of　you！　Shouldn't　somebody　have　explained　the　rules　to　me？〃

Alice　chuckled　once　at　my　reaction。　〃It's　not　that　plicated；　Bella。　There's

only　one　core

restriction—and　if　you　think　about　it；　you　can　probably　figure　it　out　for

y