第56部分(第3/7 頁)

r。　It　wasn't　locked。　Alec

held　it　open　for　Jane。

I　wanted　to　groan　when　Edward　pulled　me　through　to　the　other　side　of　the　door。

It　was　the　same　ancient

stone　as　the　square；　the　alley；　and　the　sewers。　And　it　was　dark　and　cold

again。

The　stone　antechamber　was　not　large。　It　opened　quickly　into　a　brighter；

cavernous　room；　perfectly　round

like　a　huge　castle　turret　which　was　probably　exactly　what　it　was。

Two　stories　up；　long　window　slits　threw　thin　rectangles　of　bright　sunlight

onto　the　stone　floor　below。

There　were　no　artificial　lights。　The　only　furniture　in　the　room　were　several

massive　wooden　chairs；　like

thrones；　that　were　spaced　unevenly；　flush　with　the　curving　stone　walls。　In　the

very　center　of　the　circle；　in　a

slight　depression；　was　another　drain。　I　wondered　if　they　used　it　as　an　exit；

like　the　hole　in　the　street。

The　room　was　not　empty。　A　handful　of　people　were　convened　in　seemingly　relaxed

conversation。　The

murmur　of　low；　smooth　voices　was　a　gentle　hum　in　the　air。　As　I　watched；　a　pair

of　pale　women　in

summer　dresses　paused　in　a　patch　of　light；　and；　like　prisms；　their　skin　threw

the　light　in　rainbow　sparkles

against　the　sienna　walls。

The　exquisite　faces　all　turned　toward　our　party　as　we　entered　the　room。　Most

of　the　immortals　were

dressed　in　inconspicuous　pants　and　shirts—things　that　wouldn't　stick　out　at

all　on　the　streets　below。　But

the　man　who　spoke　first　wore　one　of　the　long　robes。　It　was　pitch…black；　and

brushed　against　the　floor。

For　a　moment；　I　thought　his　long；　jet…black　hair　was　the　hood　of　his　cloak。

〃Jane；　dear　one；　you've　returned！〃　he　cried　i