arge　crowd　was　ing　through　the　little　door；　filling　the　smaller　stone

chamber。　Demetri　motioned　for

us　to　make　room。　We　pressed　back　against　the　cold　wall　to　let　them　pass。

The　couple　in　front；　Americans　from　the　sound　of　them；　glanced　around

themselves　with　appraising　eyes。

〃Wele；　guests！　Wele　to　Volterra！〃　I　could　hear　Aro　sing　from　the　big

turret　room。

The　rest　of　them；　maybe　forty　or　more；　filed　in　after　the　couple。　Some　studied

the　setting　like　tourists。　A

few　even　snapped　pictures。　Others　looked　confused；　as　if　the　story　that　had

led　them　to　this　room　was

not　making　sense　anymore。　I　noticed　one　small；　dark　woman　in　particular。

Around　her　neck　was　a

rosary；　and　she　gripped　the　cross　tightly　in　one　hand。　She　walked　more　slowly

than　the　others；　touching

someone　now　and　then　and　asking　a　question　in　an　unfamiliar　language。　No　one

seemed　to　understand

her；　and　her　voice　grew　more　panicked。

Edward　pulled　my　face　against　his　chest；　but　it　was　too　late。　I　already

understood。

As　soon　as　the　smallest　break　appeared；　Edward　pushed　me　quickly　toward　the

door。　I　could　feel　the

horrified　expression　on　my　face；　and　the　tears　beginning　to　pool　in　my　eyes。

The　ornate　golden　hallway　was　quiet；　empty　except　for　one　gorgeous；　statuesque

woman。　She　stared　at

us　curiously；　me　in　particular。

〃Wele　home；　Heidi；〃　Demetri　greeted　her　from　behind　us。

Heidi　smiled　absently。　She　reminded　me　of　Rosalie；　though　they　looked　nothing

alike—it　was　just　that　her

beauty；　too；　was　exceptional；　unforgettable。　I　couldn't　seem　to　look　away。

She　was　dressed　to　emphasize　that　beauty。　Her　amazingly　lo