like　his　skin　was　made

of　a　million　diamond　facets—was　burned　into　my　memory。　No　human　who　saw　that

would　ever　forget。

The　Volturi　couldn't　possibly　allow　it。　Not　if　they　wanted　to　keep　their　city

inconspicuous。

I　looked　at　the　slight　gray　glow　that　shone　through　the　opened　windows。　〃We'll

be　too　late；〃　I　whispered；

my　throat　closing　in　panic。

She　shook　her　head。　〃Right　now；　he's　leaning　toward　the　melodramatic。　He　wants

the　biggest　audience

possible；　so　he'll　choose　the　main　plaza；　under　the　clock　tower。　The　walls　are

high　there。　He'll　wait　till　the

sun　is　exactly　overhead。〃

〃So　we　have　till　noon？〃

〃If　we're　lucky。　If　he　sticks　with　this　decision。〃

The　pilot　came　on　over　the　inter；　announcing；　first　in　French　and　then　in

English；　our　imminent

landing。　The　seat　belt　lights　dinged　and　flashed。

〃How　far　is　it　from　Florence　to　Volterra？〃

〃That　depends　on　how　fast　you　drive　Bella？〃

〃Yes？〃

She　eyed　me　speculatively。　〃How　strongly　are　you　opposed　to　grand　theft　auto？〃

A　bright　yellow　Porsche　screamed　to　a　stop　a　few　feet　in　front　of　where　I

paced；　the　word　TURBO

scrawled　in　silver　cursive　across　its　back。　Everyone　beside　me　on　the　crowded

airport　sidewalk　stared。

〃Hurry；　Bella！〃　Alice　shouted　impatiently　through　the　open　passenger　window。

I　ran　to　the　door　and　threw　myself　in；　feeling　as　though　I　might　as　well　be

wearing　a　black　stocking　over

my　head。

〃Sheesh；　Alice；〃　I　plained。　〃Could　you　pick　a　more　conspicuous　car　to

steal？〃

The　interior　was　black　leather；　and　the　windows　were　tinted　dark。　It　felt

safer　inside；　like　nighttime。

Alice　wa