young Edward； and your newborn mate。 The Volturi would be glad to wele many of you into our
ranks。 Bella； Benjamin； Zafrina； Kate。 There are many choices before you。 Consider them。〃
Chelsea's attempt to sway us fluttered impotently against my shield。 Aro's gaze swept across our hard
eyes； looking for any indication of hesitation。 From his expression； he found none。
I knew he was desperate to keep Edward and me； to imprison us the way he had hoped to enslave
Alice。 But this fight was too big。 He would not win if I lived。 I was fiercely glad to be so powerful that I
left him no way not to kill me。
〃Let us vote； then；〃 he said with apparent reluctance。
Caius spoke with eager haste。 〃The child is an unknown quantity。 There is no reasonto allow sucha risk
to exist。 It must be destroyed； along with all who protect it。〃 He smiled in expectation。
I fought back a shriek of defiance to answer his cruel smirk。
Marcus lifted his uncaring eyes； seeming to look through us as he voted。
〃I see no immediate danger。 The child is safe enough for now。 We can always reevaluate later。 Let us
leave in peace。〃 His voice was even fainter than his brothers' feathery sighs。
None of the guard relaxed their ready positions at his disagreeing words。 Caius's anticipatory grin did
not falter。 It was as if Marcus hadn't spoken atall。
〃I must make the deciding vote； it seems；〃 Aro mused。
Suddenly； Edward stiffened at my side。 〃Yes！〃 he hissed。
I risked a glance at him。 His face glowed with an expression of triumph that I didn't understand—it was
the expression an angel of destruction might wear while the world burned。 Beautiful and terrifying。
There was a low reaction from the guard； an uneasy murmur。
〃Aro？〃 Edward called； nearly shouted； undisguised victory in his voice。
Aro hesitated fora second； assessing this new mood warily before he answered。 〃Yes； Edward？ You
have something further。。。 ？〃
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〃Perhaps；〃 Edward said pleasantly； controlling his unexplained excitement。 〃First； if I could clarify one
point？〃
〃Certainly；〃 Aro said； raising his eyebrows； nothing now but polite interest in his tone。 My teeth ground
together； Aro was never more dangerous than when he was gracious。
〃The danger you foresee from my daughter—this stems entirely from our inability to guess how she will
develop？ That is the crux of the matter？〃
〃Yes； friend Edward；〃 Aro agreed。 〃If we could but be positive。。。 be sure that； as she grows； she will be
able to stay concealed from the human world—not endanger the safety of our obscurity 。。。〃 He trailed
off； shrugging。
〃So； if we could only know for sure；〃 Edward suggested； 〃exactly what she will bee。。。 then there
would be no need for a council at all？〃
〃If there was some way to be absolutely sure；〃 Aro agreed； his feathery voice slightly more shrill。 He
couldn't see where Edward was leading him。 Neither could I。 〃Then； yes； there would be no question to
debate。〃
〃And we would part in peace； good friends once again？〃 Edward asked with a hint of irony。
Even more shrill。 〃Of course； my young friend。 Nothing would please me more。〃
Edward chuckled exultantly。 〃Then I do have something more to offer。〃
Aro's eyes narrowed。 〃She is absolutely unique。 Her future can only be guessed at。〃
〃Not absolutely unique；〃 Edward disagreed。 〃Rare； certainly； but not one of a kind。〃
I fought the shock； the sudden hope springing to life； as it threatened to distract me。 The sicklylooking
mist still swirled around the edges of my shield。 And； as I struggled to focus； I felt again the sharp；
stabbing pressure against
my protective hold。
〃Aro； would you ask Jane to stop attacking my wife？〃 Edward asked courteously。 〃We are still
discussing evidence。〃
Aro raised one hand。 〃Peace； dear ones。 Let us hear him out。〃
The pressure disappeared。 Jane bared her teeth at me； I couldn't help grinning back at her。
〃Why don't you join us； Alice？〃 Edward called loudly。
〃Alice；〃 Esme whispered in shock。
Alice！
Alice； Alice； Alice！
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〃Alice！〃 〃Alice！〃 other voices murmured around me。
〃Alice；〃 Aro breathed。
Relief and violent joy surged through me。 It took all my will to keep the shield where it was。 Alec's mist
still tested； seeking a weakness—Jane would see if I left any holes。
And then I heard them running through the forest； flying； closing the distance as quickly as they could
with no slowing effort at silence。
Both sides were motionless in expectation。 The Volturi witnesses scowled in fresh confusion。
Then Alice danced into the clearing from the southwest； and I felt like the bliss of seeing her face again
might knock me off my feet。 Jasper was only inches behind her； his sharp eyes fierce。 Close after them
ran three strangers； the first was a tall； muscular female with wild dark hair—obviously Kachiri。 She had
the same elongated limbs and features as the other Amazons； even more pronounced in her case。
The next was a small olivetoned female vampire with a long braid of black hair bobbing against her
back。 Her deep burgundy eyes flitted nervously around the confrontation before her。
And the last was a young man。。。 not quite as fast nor quite as fluid in his run。 His skin was an impossible
rich； dark brown。 His wary eyes flashed across the gathering； and they were the color of warm teak。 His
hair was black and braided； too； like the woman's； though not as long。 He was beautiful。
As he neared us； a new sound sent shock waves through the watching crowd—the sound of another
heartbeat； accelerated with exertion。
Alice leaped lightly over the edges of the dissipating mist that lapped at my shield and came to a sinuous
stop at Edward's side。 I reached out to touch her arm； and so did Edward； Esme； Carlisle。 There wasn't
time for any other wele。 Jasper and the others followed her through the shield。
All the guard watched； speculation in their eyes； as the lateers crossed the invisible border without
difficulty。 The brawny ones； Felix and the others like him； focused their suddenly hopeful eyes on me。
They had not been sure of what my shield repelled； but it was clear now that it would not stop a physical
attack。 As soon as Aro gave the order； the blitz would ensue； me the only object。 I wondered how many
Zafrina would be able to blind； and how much that would slow them。 Long enough for Kate and Vladimir
to take Jane and Alec out of the equation？ That was all I
could ask for。
Edward； despite his absorption in the coup he was directing； stiffened furiously in response to their
thoughts。 He controlled himself and spoke to Aro again。
〃Alice has been searching for her own witnesses these last weeks；〃 he said to the ancient。 〃And she does
not e back emptyhanded。 Alice； why don't you introduce the witnesses you've brought？〃
Caius snarled。 〃The time for witnesses is past！ Cast your vote； Aro！〃
Aro raised one finger to silence his brother； his eyes glued to Alice's face。
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Alice stepped forward lightly and introduced the strangers。 〃This is Huilen and her nephew； Nahuel。〃
Hearing her voice。。。 it was like she'd never left。
Caius's eyes tightened as Alice named the relationship between the newers。 The Volturi witnesses
hissed amongst themselves。 The vampire world was changing； and everyone could feel it。
〃Speak； Huilen；〃 Aro manded。 〃Give us the witness you were brought to bear。〃
The slight woman looked to Alice nervously。 Alice nodded in encouragement； and Kachiri put her long
hand on the little vampire's shoulder。
〃I am Huilen；〃 the woman announced in clear but strangely accented English。 As she continued； it was
apparent she had prepared herself to tell this story； that she had practiced。 It flowed like a wellknown
nursery rhyme。 〃A century and a half ago； I lived with my people； the Mapuche。 My sister was Pire。 Our
parents named her after the snow on the mountains because of her fair skin。 And she was very beautiful
—too beautiful。 She came to me one day in secret and told me of the angel that found her in the woods；
that visited her by night。 I warned her。〃 Huilen shook her head mournfully。 〃As if the bruises on her skin
were not warning enough。 I knew it was the Libishomen of our legends； but she would not listen。 She
was bewitched。
〃She told me when she was sure her dark angel's child was growing inside her。 I didn't try to discourage
her from her plan to run away—I knew even our father and mother would agree that the child must be
destroyed； Pire with it。 I went with her into the deepest parts of the forest。 She searched for her demon
angel but found nothing； i cared for her； hunted for her when her strength failed。 She ate the animals raw；
drinking their blood。 I needed no more confirmation of what she carried in her womb。 I hoped to save
her life before I killed the monster。
〃But she lov