Dangerous Girls (12 page)

T
hrough the gauzy curtains, he could see it silhouetted in the faint, dying moonlight.

The stake.

A wooden stake, driven through Laura's chest. A circle of dark blood, dried now, around the stake, running onto the quilt.

Laura. Beautiful Laura, sleeping so peacefully, arms under the quilt, hair sliding over her lovely, pale face.

Laura, murdered by her own father, murdered to keep her from Lorenzo, from the eternal life he had planned for them together.

Lorenzo pulled the curtains around him as if forming a cocoon—a cocoon to hide him from the sight of his beautiful Laura, lying so peacefully in her bed, the wooden stake protruding up from her still body, tilting toward the wall.

Another sob escaped his throat. He wrapped the curtains tighter around him and
shut his eyes. But that didn't stop the tears from falling.

And then his grief turned to fury. He ripped the curtains away, planted a final kiss on Laura's cold cheek. Then he made his way to her father's room.

The man was awake, sitting in a wooden rocking chair beside a dying fire. His features were twisted in anger. Large drops of sweat glistened on his forehead.

His big, powerful hands gripped something in his lap. Only his eyes moved when Lorenzo entered the room.

He's waiting for me, Lorenzo thought.

In the flickering red light from the remaining embers, he saw the object in Hanover's hands—a pointed fence post.

He plans to kill me too. But no. Laura will be avenged.

Lorenzo dove for Hanover's throat and sliced into it with his fangs. Hanover opened his mouth to protest, but only a gurgling sound escaped.

The wooden stake fell from his hands and clattered onto the floor.

Lorenzo drank his fill, drained the man,
then ripped open his throat with his hands. He wrenched Hanover's head off, and flung it into the fire.

His heart still pounding with fury, he took one last look at the goggle-eyed head lying upside down in the orange embers. Then he left, lowering himself from the window, into the darkness.

 

Darkness for the decades to come. How many years passed? Nearly two hundred? He couldn't remember.

He couldn't bear to venture very far from Dark Springs. He kept to himself, prowling at night for creatures on which to feed. The decades passed without hope, without pleasure of any kind, without light.

Until he saw Laura again.

Laura?

No! It couldn't be!

But she had Laura's face, her high cheekbones, her smile, her bright green eyes. Lorenzo stared at her, frozen in disbelief. Stared at her across the high school parking lot.

She leaned against a black SUV, her eyes on the back entrance, tapping the car roof
impatiently with one hand. Her fine, blond hair fell loosely to her collar. Her face…

Her face…

Laura.

She checked her watch. He saw the wedding ring on her finger. She brushed back her hair. She bit her lip fretfully.

Lorenzo's excitement, his disbelief, held him back. But he forced himself to approach her. “Have we met? I believe I know you.” He flashed her his most charming smile.

Still biting her lip, she narrowed her eyes at him. “No. I don't think so.”

Lorenzo scratched his head. “I'm so sorry. My mistake. I knew a woman named…Hanover. She resembled you so much, I—”

“Hanover?” the woman's eyes grew wide. “Really? There were some Hanovers in my family. But that was way back, generations ago.”

He grinned. “I see. I must be confused. I'm Lorenzo Angelini,” he told her. “Are you waiting for someone?”

She turned back to the school. “Yes, my daughters. I told them I'd pick them up now. I should go in and get them.” She saw his outstretched hand. “Oh. Sorry. I'm Deborah
Weller. Nice to meet you.”

The touch of her hand thrilled him. He held on to it until she pulled it away.

The back door of the high school opened. Two blond-haired girls came running out.

“Destiny! Livvy! Over here,” Deborah called.

She motioned to her daughters to hurry, and pulled open the car door. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Angelini.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

Very nice indeed.

“W
ho has the cheese fries?”

Ari raised his hand and the waitress dropped the plate in front of him next to his double cheeseburger.

“You on a diet, Ari?” Ana-Li reached across the table and grabbed a cheese fry off the plate. “Ow. They're hot.”

Ari grinned at her. “Take another one and I'll smack you.”

Ana-Li grabbed another one.

Ari grabbed her wrist. “Drop. Drop.”

Destiny saw the manager watching them. “Give it a rest, guys. How embarrassing would it be to get kicked out of Donohue's?”

“It wouldn't be the first time,” Ari said. He bent Ana-Li's wrist back until she dropped the fry—into his Coke. Ana-Li burst out laughing.

Livvy appeared beside the booth. She gave
Ari a shove. “Move it over.” She squeezed in next to him. “You already ordered?” She gazed at Destiny's plate. “Two hamburgers?”

Destiny nodded. “I'm starving.”

“You never used to eat burgers rare like that,” Ana-Li said. “Yuck. It looks like blood dripping from them.”

Livvy waved the waitress over. “I'll have a hamburger too. Very, very rare, and a diet Coke.” She turned to Ana-Li. “What's up?”

“Ari won't share his fries.”

Ari slammed his hands on the table. “Here. Take them all.” He shoved the plate toward Ana-Li.

“Thanks.” Ana-Li began eating them one by one.

Livvy leaned across the table and whispered. “Hear what the girls in the next booth are talking about? That new guidance counselor. What's-his-name? Renz.”

Ari grinned. “Yeah. He's always telling everyone to call him Renz. What kinda name is that? Sounds like something from a sci-fi movie. Renz the Destroyer!”

“He is definitely cute,” Ana-Li said.

Destiny put down her fork. “Cute? You're
kidding, right? He's not cute. He's totally gorgeous.”

Ana-Li giggled. “Dee likes the dark, mysterious types.”

“Hey, I have an appointment with him after school,” Destiny said. Across the table, Livvy had a scowl on her face. “Liv, what's your problem?”

Livvy shook her head and sighed. “Nothing. No big thing. Really. Well…”

“What is it?” Destiny asked.

Livvy played with one long, dangling earring. “Just thinking about Bree. You know. How she's missing senior year and everything.”

“I miss her too,” Ana-Li said in a whisper.

Ari swallowed a big chunk of cheeseburger. “On TV this morning, they said the police don't have a clue about the Vampire Killer. And the hunters don't have a clue either.”

Destiny gaped at him. “The hunters? What about the hunters? They were on TV?”

Ari's cheeks burned red. “No. Some guys were talking. You know. About vampires in town and the vampire hunters. I really don't know much about it. You've heard the rumors too—right?”

He took another bite of cheeseburger,
avoiding Destiny's eyes.

So he really is one of the hunters, Destiny decided. Why did he blush like that? Because he didn't mean to mention them. It just slipped out.

Destiny gazed across the table at Ari and felt a shiver race down her back. I've known Ari since third grade. Is he really going to hunt me down and kill me? Are Livvy and I really going to be killed by our own friends?

“Bree would have loved the senior overnight trip,” Livvy said. “She was really looking forward to it.”

“Yes, she would have,” Ari said, sighing. His expression brightened. “I'm bringing a super-sized sleeping bag. You know. In case any girls get lonely during the night.” He grinned at Destiny.

“Some kids got caught last year,” Ana-Li said. “Mr. Arthur walked into the tent and…there they were, messing around. It was so not cool.”

“I heard about it,” Livvy said. “They both got suspended.”

“Worth it,” Ari said, cheeseburger grease running down his chin. He grinned at Destiny. Destiny looked away.

Ana-Li handed him a napkin. “I heard the school is bringing a lot more chaperones this year,” she said. “You know. To make sure no one messes around.”

“Hey, maybe Renz will be a chaperone.” Destiny tried to join the conversation.

“You've really got a thing for him,” Livvy said, frowning at her sister.

Destiny shrugged. “What's your problem? I can't like older guys?”

“Anyway, the senior overnight should be cool if it doesn't rain,” Ana-Li said. “I heard it's a four-mile hike to get to the camping ground.”

“Can't we drive?” Ari asked. He laughed at his own joke. “Guess what? It's gonna be a full moon that night.” He grinned at Ana-Li and did a werewolf howl. “Owooooo. It could get pretty freaky.”

Destiny shuddered. She hadn't known it was the night of the full moon. She suddenly felt cold all over.

Livvy glanced at her watch. “Where's Ross? He said he'd meet me.”

“Are you sure?” Destiny asked. “He's been at that booth behind you for half an hour. He's with Courtney.” She pointed.

“Huh? You're joking.” Livvy spun around.

Ross sat beside Courtney in the booth near the front. He had his arm draped around her shoulders, and their faces were close together as they talked. They both laughed and Courtney pressed her forehead against his cheek.

Livvy jumped to her feet. “I don't believe it. That creep. What's he doing with Courtney?”

She stepped away from the booth and went storming down the aisle.

“Livvy—come back,” Destiny called. “Hey—just calm down. What are you going to do?”

Her hair bouncing behind her, Livvy strode past Ross's booth. She kept her eyes straight ahead. She totally ignored them. Destiny watched her bang the glass front door open and disappear outside.

“Whoa. Bad news.” Ana-Li clapped a hand over her mouth.

The waitress appeared with Livvy's hamburger and drink. She stared at the empty spot in the booth. “Is she coming back?”

“I don't think so,” Destiny said.

 

After school, Destiny made her way down the stairs, past the empty lunchroom, and found
Renz's office at the end of the hall next to a janitor's closet. She knocked on the wooden door, then pushed it open.

She saw him standing at an empty bookcase, his back to her. He turned as she entered, and a smile crossed his face.

His wavy hair glistened under the single ceiling light. His dark eyes flashed. “Welcome to my castle.” He motioned around the room.

“I think it used to be a supply closet,” Destiny said. The narrow room had no windows. The bookcase, a low file cabinet, a desk, a desk chair, and a folding chair in front of the desk were the only furnishings.

“You know the old joke,” he said. “The room is so small, I have to go outside to change my mind.”

Destiny laughed, harder than she meant to.

He motioned for her to sit down in the folding chair.

She gazed at the empty shelves. “Mr. Angelini, where's all your stuff?”

He lowered himself to the edge of the desk in front of her. She could smell his aftershave or cologne, sharp, not sweet. “Please. Renz,” he said, leaning over her. “My books haven't
arrived yet. They were delayed. I feel so lost without them.” He smiled at her again, his black eyes locked on hers.

Destiny felt a shiver of excitement.

“I need to decorate,” he said. “Put something up on the wall. Something colorful.” He sighed. “I'm not good at transitions. Moving to a new town. A new job. It takes me a while to get going.”

Destiny smiled up at him. “I don't know what it's like. I've lived in Dark Springs my whole life.”

I feel so comfortable with him. It's strange. As if I've known him a long time. This is our first conversation, but I'm not nervous at all.

He stood up and closed the door. “We should talk about colleges. I'll get your file, Laura.”

Destiny blinked. “Laura? No. I'm Destiny.”

He stood close. The aroma of the cologne washed over her. She inhaled a piney smell, an outdoors smell, the smell of the woods.

“No,” he whispered, “you're Laura. Don't you remember me, Laura? Aren't you happy to see me again?”

With surprising strength, he pulled her to her feet.

“Mr. Angelini, please. I don't understand. I—”

Destiny made no attempt to resist as he wrapped her in his arms, brought her face up to his, and pressed his lips to hers.

“L
aura…Laura…” he whispered when the kiss finally ended.

Destiny gazed into his eyes. I know you. I know your thoughts. I know who you are.

The room darkened, as if a gray fog had risen over them. The piney aroma carried her to the woods. In the darkening fog, she could hear the flutter of birds' wings, the cry of night animals, and the rasping chirp of crickets.

“You remember me, don't you, Laura?” he whispered, his breath tingling her ear. The tingle continued down her neck, her back. She knew she was shivering. She couldn't stop.

He held her tightly. “You remember me. And you remember our love for each other. You remember the full moon…the night our love changed us, blood for blood.”

His gaze didn't move from her eyes. He didn't blink.

Destiny felt powerless to look away, to move, to protest. She took a deep breath and finally found her voice. “You have powers…” Her words came out muffled, as if from far away.

Renz gazed at her. “What did you say?”

“You're doing something to me. You have powers, don't you?”

A smile spread slowly over his face. “Well…”

“Please tell me. Tell me about your powers.”

A jarring sound made her jump.

A knock on the door.

Renz let go of her and moved back.

The door swung open. The fog lifted.

Blinking, Destiny stared at Ari as he poked his head into the room.

His eyes went wide. “Oh. Sorry.” He didn't let go of the doorknob. “I didn't know you were busy, Renz.” He squinted at Destiny. “How's it going, Dee?”

She blinked. “Fine.”

“Did he get you into college yet?” Ari asked.

Renz chuckled. “In case you don't realize it, Ari, getting into college is a long process.” He edged away from Destiny and stepped up to Ari. “Did you want me for something?”

“You said you had brochures. You know, from Brown and Tufts.”

“Let me see.” Frowning, Renz moved to his file cabinet and began sifting through the top drawer.

Destiny gazed at him, so good-looking in that black turtleneck, those tight, black jeans.

Renz handed Ari a couple of brightly colored brochures. “I'm not sure if they accept the standard application,” Renz said, backing Ari to the door. “I'll check.”

Destiny climbed unsteadily to her feet. “I guess we're finished for today?”

Renz turned and stared at her. He appeared to be thinking hard. “Yes, we're done.” His smile made her feel so warm. “But we need to talk about school visits. Discuss it with your parents, okay? Then we'll talk again.”

Destiny thanked him and made her way out of the tiny closet. Ari was waiting for her in the hall. “How'd it go, Dee?”

“Okay, I guess.”

They walked together past the lunchroom, then up the stairs. “Are you in love with him like all the other girls in the senior class?”

Destiny laughed. “He's pretty damn cute.”

Ari shook his head. “Aren't college advisors supposed to have all kinds of books and papers and stuff? His office is totally empty. He spends all his time out in the hall, flirting with every girl who passes by.”

“Ooh, jealous, jealous,” Destiny teased.

“Oh, for sure,” he replied, but his cheeks turned bright pink.

“Ari, how come you're here so late after school?”

He shrugged. “I had a few things to do. You walking home?”

“No, I drove this morning. Want a lift?”

“Hey, yeah. Good deal. Thanks.”

She drove him to his house. They talked about French class. He made her promise to help him. They gossiped about some kids who'd been cutting class to hang out in their cars at the springs. Ari talked about two new horror DVDs he'd rented, both of which he said were awesome.

Destiny pretended to listen, but she barely heard a word Ari said. She still felt strange, off-balance, fogged in. She couldn't stop thinking about Renz.

He was so warm, so friendly and caring. Some of their conversation drifted back to her.
Just words and phrases, floating in her mind…
Blood for blood
…
powers
…
full moon
…
Laura
…

Destiny struggled to make sense of it all.

Suddenly, she realized that Ari was staring at her. At the marks on her throat? Was he staring at the marks on her throat and figuring out what had happened to her?

“Dee, there's something I have to tell you,” he said softly.

She pulled the car into his driveway. Her heart started to pound. She couldn't speak. She nodded, signaling him to go on.

“Well…” He hesitated. His hands fidgeted at his sides. “It's just that…I…kinda like you.”

Then he lurched toward her and pressed his lips against hers.

The kiss lasted only a few seconds. Destiny was so shocked, she barely kissed him back.

He grinned at her. “Maybe I'll see you later.”

“Yeah, maybe,” she replied, still stunned.

He jumped out of the car.

Destiny drove home, pulled the car into the garage, and hurried straight up to her room. “Hey, Liv,” she called.

Livvy sat at the computer, typing an e-mail.
She finished her note, sent it, then turned to face Destiny. “Where've you been?”

Destiny tossed her backpack onto the floor. “I told you. I had an appointment with Mr. Angelini.”

“How'd it go?” Before Destiny could answer, Livvy said, “Oh, by the way, while I was online, you got an IM from Nakeisha.”

Destiny walked over to her sister. “Yeah? What'd she say?”

“She's coming to Dark Springs. On Saturday. She's doing college visits in Boston. But she said her mother would drop her off here for an hour or two.”

“Cool.”

But Destiny wasn't thinking about Nakeisha.

“What did you and Renz talk about?” Livvy asked. “My appointment isn't until after the senior overnight.”

“We…well, we talked about…” Destiny struggled to remember. Struggled to put the words together.

“He…he said something about blood,” she said, thinking hard.

Livvy had been adjusting her nose stud. Her
features widened in shock. “He—what?”

“Oh my God,” Destiny murmured. “Oh my God, Liv. He talked about blood. Yes. I can remember it now. He said something about blood for blood, about the full moon.”

Destiny shook her head, as if trying to shake the words out, as if trying to tug out a clear memory.

Livvy stood up and stared at her sister, her head tilted, her expression alarmed. “Dee, are you okay? Are you cracking up?”

“Oh my God. Oh my God,” Destiny repeated, still shaking her head. “It's true, Liv. I…I asked him if he had powers. And he said
yes
!”

“But, Dee—”

“Oh my God. Don't you see, Liv? Don't you see?”

Livvy narrowed her eyes at Destiny. “See what?”

“Renz is the one,” Destiny said, her voice breaking with emotion. “He was letting me know today. Renz is the one, see?
Renz is the Restorer!
”