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。〃