Dangerous Girls (15 page)

R
enz sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair, eyes shut. “Destiny.” He whispered her name. Thinking about Saturday night filled him with excitement. “Destiny…Laura. Yes, you will become Laura.”

Memories flooded his mind. It was last spring…only last spring, but it seemed so long ago…when he spotted his love behind the high school, waiting for her daughters again. Yes, she called herself Deborah Weller, and she was married to a boring-looking veterinarian.

But I don't care what you call yourself. Tonight you will be Laura again, he thought, gazing up at the full moon. He let the moonlight warm him, then returned his eyes to her. He was afraid to let her out of his sight, afraid he might lose her.

Ever since that chance meeting in the school parking lot, he had been thinking about
Deborah Weller, following her, watching her. He would creep up to the kitchen window at night and watch the family eat their dinner. Through the window, he watched her and enjoyed her laugh, her smile, her bright green eyes.

Laura, do you sense that I am near?

Do you sense my love for you?

We are separated, Laura. But not for long.

And then, a few days later, Renz knew the time had come. The full moon sent silvery light over her SUV as she waited in the empty parking lot. He moved out of the shadows, toward the car, ready to claim his bride.

She had the windows closed. Her blond hair fell softly to her shoulders, caught in the light of the moon. He tapped lightly on her window and saw her jump in surprise.

She gazed out at him for a long moment, then remembered him. She rolled down the window. “Mr. Angelini? How strange. We keep meeting in this parking lot.”

Her throaty voice, like velvet. Like Laura.

“Could you help me?” he asked, barely able to keep his voice from quivering. “I dropped my keys. If you open the door, the car light will help me find them.”

She didn't hesitate. She opened the car door.

He reached in and grabbed her.

He held her so tightly, she couldn't scream.

At last. At last.
At last.

The fangs slid down and he drove them deep into her throat. He drank hungrily, noisily, holding her powerless against him.

When he had drunk his fill, blood flowing over his lips and chin, he raised his head and whispered, “Now, you must drink, Laura. Now you must drink my blood.”

He raised his throat to her. He could see the haze in those deep green eyes, the confusion on her face.

“Drink,” he ordered. “Drink and we will be together.”

She turned her head.

The doors to the school opened. The twins appeared.

No. Oh, no.

Renz loosened his grip. He backed away, then slithered into the shadows of the trees at the edge of the parking lot.

He watched the girls run to the car. Watched Laura mopping at her throat with the collar of her blouse. Covering up the wound. Greeting
the girls. Confused. Dazed and unaware of what had just happened to her.

But I know what has happened, he thought. I have drunk your blood under the full moon, and now you need to drink mine. I need you. I need you.

The girls were inside the car now. He heard the click of the door locks. He waited until the car pulled away, out of the parking lot. And then he tilted back his head and uttered a long, animal howl, a howl of anger and frustration and pain.

 

The days went by. Renz knew he had to wait a month, until the next full moon. He watched her house. What was she doing in there? She seldom came out.

What did she tell her husband? Her daughters? That she was sick?

Evenings, he saw the husband returning from his veterinary lab. Renz saw what he brought for his wife. The husband brought animals home—rabbits, hamsters, small rodents. For his wife to feed upon?

So the husband knows, Renz decided. He brings her food. But he can do no more for
her. He is powerless.

Only I can save you, Laura. Only I can return you to the life we planned so many decades ago.

The days and nights passed so slowly. The last winter storm gave way to warmer spring nights. Renz watched the moon, waiting.

At last, the full moon rose high over the trees. Laura's house stood dark except for a light in her bedroom. The twins had spring break and were away at a friend's. The little brother had gone to a sleepover a few blocks away. The husband worked late at his lab.

Renz knew all these things because he stayed close—close to the house and its inhabitants.

If I look away for a moment, she might disappear. And I might lose her again.

But no. The moon floated high and full, lighting the house like a spotlight. And Laura was in her bedroom.

Awaiting me.

He crept along the side of the house, pressing against the shingles, making his way to her room in the back. The bedroom window was open, curtains fluttering in the light breeze.

He hesitated for only a moment, pushing
back his excitement. But he could already taste her sweet blood on his tongue. And once their blood had mingled, he could picture her joy at being reunited with him.

He raised his hands to the windowsill and hoisted himself easily into her room. He pushed away the filmy curtains. A dim bed-table lamp provided the only light.

He stumbled back against the wall when he saw her, trying to blink the horrible sight away.

The sight of Deborah's body, dangling so stiffly from the ceiling light. Her bare feet floating above the floor. The thick rope around her neck. Her head tilted back, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, her face blackened, purple tongue hanging from her open mouth.

“No!”

He spun to face the wall. He couldn't bear to see this.

Why did you do this, Laura? Why did you rob me once again of a bride?

He hunched there, facing the wall without moving for what seemed like hours. Finally, he moved to the window. “Farewell, Laura,” he called softly. “Farewell. I have lost you once again.”

He climbed out the window. He strode across the grass. He didn't look back. “You have escaped me. But you have two daughters. Two Lauras. You got away from me, Deborah.
But I will never let them go!
”

A
na-Li tossed a Frisbee to Destiny. It bounced off Destiny's outstretched hand and sailed into the side of a tent.

Ana-Li laughed. “I hope no one is in there.”

Destiny loped over the grass, picked up the Frisbee, and spun it back to her friend. She gazed up at the rising full moon, already high in the purple night sky.

A shiver of fear ran down her back. I'm trying to pretend that everything is normal. But Ana-Li must see how distracted and frightened I am.

In the middle of the circle of tents, the campfire crackled and sent up sparks. Some kids were poking at it, trying to make it flame up. At the edge of the clearing, someone had cranked up a boombox, and several kids were dancing.

Away from the noise, a group of parents
and teachers—the chaperones—stood chatting near the lakeshore.

Ana-Li made a low toss, and the Frisbee rolled toward the fire. “We got such a beautiful night,” she said. “Not a cloud in the sky.”

Destiny muttered a reply. Her stomach gnawed. She fought back the hunger.

Soon I won't be able to control myself. Soon I won't be able to satisfy my craving. After tonight, Livvy and I will become creatures, creatures to be hunted down by my father and his hunters.

Destiny handed the Frisbee to Ana-Li. “I don't really feel like playing,” she said. On the other side of the campfire, she saw Renz, surrounded by a group of girls, teasing them, everyone laughing, having a good time. Near the boombox, some girls were pulling Mr. Smith, the Spanish teacher, over to dance.

A sudden wind made the trees whisper. Destiny shivered again. She glimpsed her dad with the other parents at the shore.

Dad, if you only knew what was about to happen to your daughters…

“Everyone's trying really hard to have a good time,” Ana-Li said. “I mean, it's the senior
overnight and everything. But who really feels like partying that much? With two girls from our class dead…our two good friends…” Her voice trailed off.

Destiny sighed. “Senior year was supposed to be the best year of our lives….”

Ana-Li glanced around the campground. “Where's your sister?”

Destiny shrugged. “We're sharing a tent, but I haven't seen her since we arrived. She's probably off in the woods with Ross. I don't see him, either.”

Destiny's stomach growled. Her senses suddenly became sharp. She could hear the blood coursing through Ana-Li's veins. She could hear conversations on the other side of the campground. A babble of voices, all talking at once, all so loud in her ears.

“Think I'll get a hot dog or something,” Ana-Li said. “Sure you don't want to come?”

“No, thanks.” Destiny watched Ana-Li trot off to the food table. She turned and found Ari right behind her.

“Surprise!”

She jumped. “Hey, don't sneak up on me like that.”

“Thought we were going to hang out tonight,” he said.

Destiny had completely forgotten about him. “Yeah, I know. But—”

“There's a cool little dock on that side of the lake.” He pointed. “Some kids are over there. You know. Partying.”

“I don't think so,” Destiny said. “I'm sorry, Ari. I…I'm feeling a little weird. I'm going to go lie down. In my tent.”

His eyes flashed. “Can I join you?” He laughed. “Just kidding.”

“Maybe I'll feel better later and I'll catch up to you,” Destiny said. She could see the disappointment on his face.

“Okay. Catch you later,” he said.

Maybe.

Maybe you'll see me and maybe you won't.

Maybe if you see me, you won't recognize me, Ari.

I did everything I could to find the Restorer. I worked so hard for Livvy and me. But I failed.

And now the moon is rising in the sky. Everyone thinks it's beautiful, the autumn full moon, so golden and big.

To me, it looks like death.

 

Her stomach gnawing, her throat aching with thirst, Destiny tried to bury herself inside her sleeping bag. But the tent walls were so thin and transparent that she could see the flickering light of the campfire through them. And the voices outside were loud. They seemed to be in the tent with her.

What time is it?

Will Renz really come for me when the moon is high?

She closed her eyes, but opened them when she heard the scrape of the tent flap.

She sat up slowly.

The tent flap opened, revealing the full moon high in the black sky.

And then, Renz poked his head in, blocking the moon, his eyes wide with excitement.

“Laura, it is time,” he whispered. “I have come for you. Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Destiny whispered. “I'm ready.”

L
eaning into the tent, Renz reached out his hand. Destiny grabbed it and allowed him to pull her to her feet.

“At last,” he whispered, a smile spreading over his handsome face.

He led her out of the tent.

Destiny saw the orange embers of the dying campfire. They sent up red and yellow sparks like jewels into the night sky.

Renz held her in his arms. He pressed his mouth to her ear. “I've waited so long for this night.”

Destiny's skin tingled. Her muscles tensed.

He lowered his face to hers. His fangs curled down from his gums. “Are you ready, Laura? Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Destiny whispered. “Yes, yes…”

Then she grabbed the wooden tent pole she had placed beside the tent. Raised it high. And
with a groan, shoved it deep into Renz's chest.

His eyes went wide and he uttered a startled hiss. He staggered back—

—and Destiny shoved the stake deeper.

“Oh, no. Oh, no,” Renz whispered, arms flailing. He toppled to his back on the ground.

I planned this all week. It's all I could think about.

Now, die, Renz—die!

“Oh, no,” he repeated. “You can't—” His arms and legs flailed like a pinned insect. “Laura, I love you. I love you, Laura.”

He reached up and grabbed her by the shoulders. His bony fingers tightened, digging into her sweater, into her flesh. “I love you. I love you….” He struggled to pull her down to him.

With a surge of strength, Destiny shoved the tent pole all the way through his body, into the ground.

Die, Renz—die!

A gurgling sound escaped from Renz's open mouth.

Destiny stared in horror as Renz's body began to fall apart. His arms and legs crackled and curled. The skin on his face melted away. His chest caved in. His skull disintegrated,
leaving only his fangs.

In seconds, his clothing lay on the grass, empty, except for a few flakes of powdery dust that floated into the air.

Gasping for breath, Destiny spun away—and saw her father standing behind her.

“Destiny, I'm here,” he whispered. “I saw—”

“Dad…” Destiny said, her entire body trembling. “Dad…I killed him. I had to. He…he came for me!” She pulled down the collar of her sweater and showed him the twin marks on her throat.

“No!” Dr. Weller let out a cry. He stared at her for a long moment, eyes wide with shock.

Then he grabbed the wooden stake from the ground and raised it high above his head.

“No!” Destiny screamed. “Dad, please don't! Don't hurt me!”

“Why didn't you tell me?” her father shouted. He heaved the stake across the field and wrapped Destiny in his arms. She could feel his hot tears on her cheek. “Dee, why didn't you tell me? I would never hurt you. Never!”

“Because…” She pulled away from him. “Because I know who you are, Dad. I know you're a hunter.”

He shook his head. “Yes. Yes, I'm a hunter. But, Dee—I can help you. I have a cure.”

She gazed up at him. “You…you're…”

He nodded. “Yes. I'm also the Restorer.”