ther

into　the　plaza；　and

tapped　one　of　the　red…blazered　men　on　the　shoulder。

Demetri　shook　his　head。　〃Please；　Edward；　let's　be　reasonable；〃　he　said。

〃Let's；〃　Edward　agreed。　〃And　we'll　leave　quietly　now；　with　no　one　the　wiser。〃

Demetri　sighed　in　frustration。　〃At　least　let　us　discuss　this　more　privately。〃

Six　men　in　red　now　joined　the　family　as　they　watched　us　with　anxious

expressions。　I　was　very　conscious

of　Edward's　protective　stance　in　front　of　me—sure　that　this　was　what　caused

their　alarm。　I　wanted　to

scream　to　them　to　run。

Edward's　teeth　came　together　audibly。　〃No。〃

Felix　smiled。

〃Enough。〃

The　voice　was　high；　reedy；　and　n　came　from　behind　us。

I　peeked　under　Edward's　other　arm　to　see　a　small；　dark　shape　ing　toward　us。

By　the　way　the　edges

billowed；　I　knew　it　would　be　another　one　of　them。　Who　else？

At　first　I　thought　it　was　a　young　boy。　The　newer　was　as　tiny　as　Alice；　with

lank；　pale　brown　hair

trimmed　short。　The　body　under　the　cloak—which　was　darker；　almost　black—was

slim　and　androgynous。

But　the　face　was　too　pretty　for　a　boy。　The　wide…eyed；　full…lipped　face　would

make　a　Botticelli　angel　look

like　a　gargoyle。　Even　allowing　for　the　dull　crimson　irises。

Her　size　was　so　insignificant　that　the　reaction　to　her　appearance　confused　me。

Felix　and　Demetri　relaxed

immediately；　stepping　back　from　their　offensive　positions　to　blend　again　with

the　shadows　of　the

overhanging　walls。

Edward　dropped　his　arms　and　relaxed　his　position　as　well—but　in　defeat。

〃Jane；〃　he　sighed　in　recognition　and　resignation。

Alice　folded　her　arms　across　her　chest；　her　expression　impass