only　one　core

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

yourself。〃

I　thought　about　it。　〃Nope；　I　have　no　idea。〃

She　shook　her　head；　disappointed。　〃Maybe　it's　too　obvious。　We　just　have　to

keep　our　existence　a

secret。〃

〃Oh；〃　I　mumbled。　It　was　obvious。

〃It　makes　sense；　and　most　of　us　don't　need　policing；〃　she　continued。　〃But；

after　a　few　centuries；

sometimes　one　of　us　gets　bored。　Or　crazy。　I　dor't　know。　And　then　the　Volturi

step　in　before　it　can

promise　them；　or　the　rest　of　us。〃

〃So　Edward〃

〃Is　planning　to　flout　that　in　their　own　city—the　city　they've　secretly　held

for　three　thousand　years；　since

the　time　of　the　Etruscans。　They　are　so　protective　of　their　city　that　they

don't　allow　hunting　within　its　walls。

Volterra　is　probably　the　safest　city　in　the　world—from　vampire　attack　at　the

very　least。〃

〃But　you　said　they　didn't　leave。　How　do　they　eat？〃

〃They　don't　leave。　They　bring　in　their　food　from　the　outside；　from　quite　far

away　sometimes。　It　gives　their

guard　something　to　do　when　they're　not　out　annihilating　mavericks。　Or

protecting　Volterra　from

exposure〃

〃From　situations　like　this　one；　like　Edward；〃　I　finished　her　sentence。　It　was

amazingly　easy　to　say　his

name　now。　I　wasn't　sure　what　the　difference　was。　Maybe　because　I　wasn't　really

planning　on　living　much

longer　without　seeing　him。　Or　at　all；　if　we　were　too　late。　It　was　forting

to　know　that　I　would　have　an

easy　out。

〃I　doubt　they've　ever　had　a　situation　quite　like　this；〃　she　muttered；

disgusted。　〃You　don't　get　a　lot　of

suicidal　vampires。〃

T