第59部分(第4/7 頁)

　answering　pretence；　his　voice　was　ice　cold。　〃That　won't　be　a

problem。〃

Alec　smiled；　nodded；　and　disappeared　again。

〃Follow　the　right　hallway　around　the　corner　to　the　first　set　of　elevators；〃

Gianna　told　us　as　Edward　helped

me　to　my　feet。　〃The　lobby　is　two　floors　down；　and　exits　to　the　street。

Goodbye；　now；〃　she　added

pleasantly。　I　wondered　if　her　petence　would　be　enough　to　save　her。

Alice　shot　her　a　dark　look。

I　was　relieved　there　was　another　way　out；　I　wasn't　sure　if　I　could　handle

another　tour　through　the

underground。

We　left　through　a　tastefully　luxurious　lobby。　I　was　the　only　one　who　glanced

back　at　the　medieval　castle

that　housed　the　elaborate　business　facade　I　couldn't　see　the　turret　from　here；

for　which　I　was　grateful。

The　party　was　still　in　full　swing　in　the　streets。　The　street　lamps　were　just

ing　on　as　we　walked　swiftly

through　the　narrow；　cobbled　lanes。　The　sky　was　a　dull；　fading　gray　overhead；

but　the　buildings　crowded

the　streets　so　closely　that　it　felt　darker。

The　party　was　darker；　too。　Edward's　long；　trailing　cloak　did　not　stand　out　in

the　way　it　might　have　on　a

normal　evening　in　Volterra。　There　were　others　in　black　satin　cloaks　now；　and

the　plastic　fangs　I'd　seen　on

the　child　in　the　square　today　seemed　to　be　very　popular　with　the　adults。

〃Ridiculous；〃　Edward　muttered　once。

I　didn't　notice　when　Alice　disappeared　from　beside　me。　I　looked　over　to　ask

her　a　question；　and　she　was

gone。

〃Where's　Alice？〃　I　whispered　in　a　panic。

〃She　went　to　retrieve　your　bags　from　where　she　stashed　them　this　morning。〃

I'd　forgotten　that　I　had　access　to　a　too