ng　legs；　darkened

with　tights；　were　exposed

by　the　shortest　of　miniskirts。　Her　top　was　long…sleeved　and　high…necked；　but

extremely　close…fitting；　and

constructed　of　red　vinyl。　Her　long　mahogany　hair　was　lustrous；　and　her　eyes

were　the　strangest　shade　of

violet—a　color　that　might　result　from　blue…tinted　contacts　over　red　irises。

〃Demetri；〃　she　responded　in　a　silky　voice；　her　eyes　flickering　between　my　face

and　Edward's　gray　cloak。

〃Nice　fishing；〃　Demetri　plimented　her；　and　I　suddenly　understood　the

attention…grabbing　outfit　she

wore　she　was　not　only　the　fisherman；　but　also　the　bait。

〃Thanks。〃　She　flashed　a　stunning　smile。　〃Aren't　you　ing？〃

〃In　a　minute。　Save　a　few　for　me。〃

Heidi　nodded　and　ducked　through　the　door　with　one　last　curious　look　at　me。

Edward　set　a　pace　that　had　me　running　to　keep　up。　But　we　still　couldn't　get

through　the　ornate　door　at

the　end　of　the　hallway　before　the　screaming　started。

22。　FLIGHT

DEMETRI　LEFT　US　IN　THE　CHEERFULLY　OPULENT　RECEPTION　area；　where　the　woman

Gianna　was　still　at　her　post　behind　the　polished　counter。　Bright；　harmless

music　tinkled　from　hidden

speakers。

〃Do　not　leave　until　dark；〃　he　warned　us。

Edward　nodded；　and　Demetri　hurried　away。

Gianna　did　not　seem　at　all　surprised　by　the　exchange；　though　she　did　eye

Edward's　borrowed　cloak　with

shrewd　speculation。

〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Edward　asked　under　his　breath；　to　low　for　the　human　woman

to　hear。　His　voice　was

rough—if　velvet　can　be　rough—with　anxiety。　Still　stressed　by　our　situation；

I　imagined。

〃You'd　better　make　her　sit　before　she　falls；〃　Alice　said。　〃She's　going　to