only one core
restriction—and if you think about it； you can probably figure it out for
yourself。〃
I thought about it。 〃Nope； I have no idea。〃
She shook her head； disappointed。 〃Maybe it's too obvious。 We just have to
keep our existence a
secret。〃
〃Oh；〃 I mumbled。 It was obvious。
〃It makes sense； and most of us don't need policing；〃 she continued。 〃But；
after a few centuries；
sometimes one of us gets bored。 Or crazy。 I dor't know。 And then the Volturi
step in before it can
promise them； or the rest of us。〃
〃So Edward〃
〃Is planning to flout that in their own city—the city they've secretly held
for three thousand years； since
the time of the Etruscans。 They are so protective of their city that they
don't allow hunting within its walls。
Volterra is probably the safest city in the world—from vampire attack at the
very least。〃
〃But you said they didn't leave。 How do they eat？〃
〃They don't leave。 They bring in their food from the outside； from quite far
away sometimes。 It gives their
guard something to do when they're not out annihilating mavericks。 Or
protecting Volterra from
exposure〃
〃From situations like this one； like Edward；〃 I finished her sentence。 It was
amazingly easy to say his
name now。 I wasn't sure what the difference was。 Maybe because I wasn't really
planning on living much
longer without seeing him。 Or at all； if we were too late。 It was forting
to know that I would have an
easy out。
〃I doubt they've ever had a situation quite like this；〃 she muttered；
disgusted。 〃You don't get a lot of
suicidal vampires。〃
T