s　already　weaving；　too　fast；　through　the　thick　airport　traffic—

sliding　through　tiny　spaces　between

the　cars　as　I　cringed　and　fumbled　for　my　seat　belt。

〃The　important　question；〃　she　corrected；　〃is　whether　I　could　have　stolen　a

faster　car；　and　I　don't　think　so。

I　got　lucky。〃

〃I'm　sure　that　will　be　very　forting　at　the　roadblock。〃

She　trilled　a　laugh。　〃Trust　me；　Bella。　If　anyone　sets　up　a　roadblock；　it　will

be　behind　us。〃　She　hit　the　gas

then；　as　if　to　prove　her　point。

I　probably　should　have　watched　out　the　window　as　first　the　city　of　Florence

and　then　the　Tuscan

landscape　flashed　past　with　blurring　speed。　This　was　my　first　trip　anywhere；

and　maybe　my　last；　too。　But

Alice's　driving　frightened　me；　despite　the　fact　that　I　knew　I　could　trust　her

behind　the　wheel。　And　I　was

too　tortured　with　anxiety　to　really　see　the　hills　or　the　walled　towns　that

looked　like　castles　in　the　distance。

〃Do　you　see　anything　more？〃

〃There's　something　going　on；〃　Alice　muttered。　〃Some　kind　of　festival。　The

streets　are　full　of　people　and

red　flags。　What's　the　date　today？〃

I　wasn't　entirely　sure。　〃The　nineteenth；　maybe？〃

〃Well；　that's　ironic。　It's　Saint　Marcus　Day。〃

〃Which　means？〃

She　chuckled　darkly。　〃The　city　holds　a　celebration　every　year。　As　the　legend

goes；　a　Christian

missionary；　a　Father　Marcus—Marcus　of　the　Voltun；　in　fact—drove　all　the

vampires　from　Volterra

fifteen　hundred　years　ago。　The　story　claims　he　was　martyred　in　Romania；　still

trying　to　drive　away　the

vampire　scourge。　Of　course　that's　nonsense—he's　never　left　the　city。　But

that's　where　some　of　the

superstiti