Dangerous Girls (9 page)

M
oonlight washed over them again. Destiny blinked as Bree went out of focus, pale skin glowing in the light. And then Destiny's eyes stopped at the dark stain on Bree's gleaming throat.

Oh, no.

Destiny stooped beside her sister and narrowed her eyes at the spot. She reached out a trembling hand and smoothed her finger over Bree's throat. The skin felt so cool and soft.

Two tiny puncture wounds. Dark droplets of blood clinging to the holes.

Someone drank her blood.

Someone drank all her blood and killed her.

Livvy raised her head and stared through her tears at Destiny. “Dee, how long have you been out here?”

Destiny's mouth dropped open. The question stunned her. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“Did you get the hunger again?” Livvy demanded, holding Bree's lifeless hand. “Did you, Dee? Did it happen again?”

Destiny gasped and staggered back. “Are you accusing me? Livvy, are you accusing me? Have you gone crazy?”

Livvy stared up at her, tears rolling down her face. She let Bree's hand fall to the grass. She jumped to her feet, sobbing loudly.

“I—I'm sorry,” Livvy said through her tears. “I'm sorry, Dee. I didn't mean it.” She threw her arms around Destiny and held her tight, pressing her hot, wet cheek against her sister's.

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry.”

“It's okay,” Destiny whispered. “I understand. It's okay.”

But it wasn't okay.

My own sister, accusing me of murder.

What next?

 

Destiny stepped out of the house, pumping her legs high, trying to stretch her muscles. A light rain was falling, but she didn't care. She had to get out.

She jogged down the driveway and turned right, heading to Drake Park three blocks down.
She turned her Red Sox cap around to let the rain hit her face. The cold raindrops felt soothing on her hot forehead.

Three days of pounding rain, and so much sadness.

Bree's funeral, with the wind tearing at the black umbrellas. The gravesite—the deep, rectangular hole—half filled with brown mud. Rain pattering the dark wood coffin. Like tears. Like tears raining down from the charcoal sky.

Was Bree really inside that coffin? It seemed so impossible.

I'll never forget Livvy's sobs. Dad's grim face. His head bent so low on his shoulders as if it was broken. His hand on my shoulder. I'll never forget how light it felt, the warmth filtering through my dark blouse.

And Coach Bauer so pale and tight-lipped, head bowed, sitting by himself in the last row of the church. I watched him during the service. He never looked up. Was he thinking about Marjory, his wife? Was he thinking that in her hunger she had murdered Bree?

And Bree's mother, her cries echoing off the church walls. “Why? Why did this happen? Somebody tell me!” she screamed. She collapsed
beside the casket and had to be helped away.

And as the minister spoke, the sobs in the room drowned out the organ music….

The rain stopped, but drops still fell from the trees. Destiny crossed the street and, running hard, made her way into the park. Her shoes splashed up waves of water from the puddled ground. Behind her, a car horn honked, but she didn't turn around.

I want to run till I'm exhausted. I want to run till I can't think anymore.

But the cool wet air made her more alert, made her thoughts clearer, sharper. The soft thuds of her steps rang in her ears. But she could also hear the scamper of rabbits and squirrels under the trees. She could hear the trickle of water in Drake Creek, the shallow bed of brown water on the far side of the park. She heard a chipmunk's light footsteps as it burrowed through the wet grass.

Destiny pressed her hands over her ears.

I can't stand this. I have to get my life back.

“Hello.” A young man stepped out from behind a tree.

“Oh!” Destiny cried out.

He had a warm smile. “I'm so sorry. I didn't
mean to startle you.”

Destiny squinted at him. I've seen him before. Where have I seen him?

He wore a long black trench coat open over a tan sweater and tan slacks. His wavy black hair was slicked straight back.

“I love walking here,” he said. “It's so peaceful.” He had a slight foreign accent.

Destiny nodded. “Yeah. No one uses this park much.”

He came closer. He stared into her eyes without blinking. “Do you live nearby?”

Destiny motioned with her head. “A few blocks.”

Is he nearsighted? Why the intense stare?

“I'm new here,” he said. “I just moved a few weeks ago.”

Destiny shoved her hands into the pockets of her rain slicker. “Do you like it here?”

A smile spread over his handsome face. “Oh, yes. Very much. And I'm going to like it a lot more in just a few weeks.”

Destiny blinked. “A few weeks?”

He nodded. He kept his intense gaze on her as he stepped closer.

He's starting to creep me out, she decided.
He's really good-looking, but there's something about him…

“I've gotta go,” she said.

But he grabbed her by the shoulders and held her in place. “Don't go, Laura. I don't want you to leave.” His eyes burned into hers.

Destiny gazed into them, unable to look away.

“Waiting is so hard for me,” he said. “I watch the moon every night, and I think about you. I think about us and how happy we'll be in a few weeks.”

Destiny heard the trickle of the creek and the rustle of the leaves in the trees. But she couldn't hear his words. What was he saying to her?

He pulled her to him and pressed his face against hers. “Having you so close to me, Laura…I can hardly bear it.”

His face felt cold against her cheek. She struggled to hear what he was saying. But it was lost in a steady rush of wind.

“I'm going to stay close to you,” he whispered, his dry lips brushing her ear. “I'll be where I can see you every day. And when the time comes…when the time comes, my love,
you
will come to me. You will come to me and drink my blood. Then you will be mine forever.”

The trees with their fading leaves tilted and swayed above Destiny's head. She felt so dizzy, so weak.

“I'm sorry. I can't resist any longer,” he whispered. He pulled back his head, his black eyes glowing.

Destiny struggled to look away. But she couldn't turn. She couldn't move. His eyes were black tunnels, endless, leading nowhere.

He pulled open her rain slicker. He tugged down the neck of her sweatshirt. His mouth opened to reveal curled, yellowed fangs.

“Can't wait any longer…can't wait.” He lowered his head.

Destiny felt a pinprick of pain at her throat.

She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Her eyes were as clouded as the sky. But she could see his dark, curly hair beneath her chin…see his head bob up and down at her throat as he drank…drank…drank.

“W
hat's up?” Livvy turned away from the makeup mirror on her dressing table as Destiny entered their room. “Where've you been?”

“Drake Park,” Destiny said. She pulled off the yellow rain slicker and tossed it onto her bed. Her arms and legs ached. She felt so weary. “I went for a run.”

Livvy squinted at her. “In the rain?”

Destiny sat down on the bed and pulled off her wet, muddy sneakers. “I just had to get some fresh air. How are you doing?”

Livvy shoved tubes and jars of makeup away. “Not great. I can't stop thinking about Bree. I just can't get my mind off her.”

Destiny crossed the room and put her hands on her sister's shoulders. “It's hard. I think about her too. I guess it will just take time.”

Livvy's expression turned cold. “You never liked her.”

“Huh?”

“I know you didn't. You thought she was a bad influence. Because she was so…different. She always did what she wanted to. She didn't care what people thought of her.”

Livvy's eyes locked on Destiny. “You thought she was slutty. You thought she was cheap—didn't you! You hated it because I started spending more time with her.”

“Livvy, listen. I didn't—” The words caught in Destiny's throat.

“It was so obvious how much you resented Bree.”

“Listen to me,” Destiny shouted. “Being angry at me isn't going to help. I know you're angry that your friend is dead. But taking it out on me isn't going to bring her back. You and I, we have to—”

“What's that?” Livvy interrupted. She raised a finger to Destiny's throat. “You're bleeding.”

“What?” Destiny leaned into the mirror. “Oh, no.” Her heart started to pound as she stared at the two red droplets of blood on her throat. Livvy handed her a tissue, and she wiped the blood away.

And now Destiny stared at the two red marks, the tiny cuts in her skin. Fresh red cuts.

Livvy jumped to her feet and angrily shook Destiny. “I knew you've been keeping secrets from me. You didn't go for a run. Where have you been? Tell me the truth. What were you doing?”

“I…don't know,” Destiny stammered.

“Tell me how this happened,” Livvy demanded.

Destiny stared in horror at her reflection. “I can't. I can't explain it, Liv. I did go for a run and—”

“It's not true!” Livvy cried. “You're doing something. You're doing something and not telling me!”

“Livvy, listen to me. Please!”

Livvy's hands were balled into tight fists. “No! You listen to me. I believe what you said, that you didn't kill Bree. But you were there, Dee. You were right there where she was murdered, and you had no reason to be. And now…you come home with bite marks on your throat. And you won't tell me the truth about it.”

“I don't
know
the truth!” Destiny cried.

“Yes, you do! What are you doing?
What are you doing?
”

Destiny reached to hug her sister, but Livvy pulled away. “You're hysterical. You're not thinking clearly!” Destiny cried. “You have to believe me. I'm not doing anything behind your back, Liv. I'm in the same mess you're in and—”

“
You
didn't lose your best friend,” Livvy said through clenched teeth. She slammed her fist on the dressing table, sending tubes and bottles flying. Then she spun away and stomped down the stairs, slamming the front door behind her.

Destiny leaned close to the mirror and studied the fresh marks on her neck. Her hand trembled as she rubbed a finger over them. Her whole body shook.

“Livvy, don't leave me now,” she whispered. “I need you more than ever.”

The doorbell rang.

D
estiny hurried down to the front door and pulled it open. “Ross—hi!”

She realized she had her hand over the fresh red wounds. She lowered it slowly, adjusting the top of her sweatshirt.

Ross stepped into the house. He wore a blue-and-red Red Sox jacket over faded jeans. “How's it going, Dee?”

“Not great. How about you?”

“About the same. Hold still.” Ross reached out and pulled something from her hair. He showed it to her—a curled, wet leaf.

“I was running. In the park,” she said, smoothing back her hair. “You know. To get some fresh air. Time to think.”

He nodded. “Fletch and I got a basketball game together at the playground this morning just to take our minds off things. We played in the rain. We didn't care.”

She led him into the kitchen. “What's up?”

He pulled up a kitchen stool. “I was over at Courtney's. She had to leave for her tennis lesson.”

She poured out two glasses of orange juice and handed him one. “I talked to Courtney this morning. You know how scared she gets at Ari's movies. Now she says she's terrified to leave her house at night.”

“Yeah. I tried to cheer her up.” He took a long drink.

“Courtney has always been such a scaredy-cat. Remember when we were little and a bunch of us went behind her garage and made scary noises and howls, and we convinced her that her garage was haunted? And for weeks, she was too terrified to go in it and get her bike?”

“That was before I moved here,” Ross said. “How come you were all so mean to Courtney?”

Destiny shrugged. “Kids are mean, I guess. And Courtney was always such a good victim.”

The word
victim
hung in the air between them. Destiny wished she hadn't said it. She sighed. “School starts on Monday. It's our big-deal senior year. No one feels like going.”

“Did you see the paper this morning?
They're calling the guy who murdered Bree the Vampire Killer. Because her blood was totally drained. The police say it's some kind of sick maniac.”

Destiny blinked.
Sick maniac
. She rubbed a finger over the tiny wound on her throat.
Sick maniac.

Did the same sick maniac bite me? Does he plan to kill me too? Why can't I remember? Why?

“So they don't think it's a virus anymore?” Destiny asked, struggling to clear her head.

“No,” Ross replied. “They dropped the virus story. They think it's some twisted sicko who started with animals and now has moved on to people.”

Destiny nodded, trying not to reveal her fear.

“I heard there might be a curfew in town,” Ross continued. “Everyone has to be inside by ten o'clock.”

“Maybe they'll catch the guy,” Destiny said softly.

“Maybe it's a real vampire,” Ross said, spinning the glass between his hands.

She stared at him. “Now you sound like Ari.”

“Ari could be right about this. No joke. But
if it's a real vampire, there are people in town ready to deal with him.”

Destiny narrowed her eyes at Ross. “You mean…the hunters?”

His eyes widened. “You've heard of them?”

Destiny moved closer to him. “What do you know about them?”

Ross shrugged. A strange smile crossed his face. “Nothing, really. Just rumors.”

“Ross, have you ever heard of the Restorer?” Destiny blurted out.

He finished his orange juice. “Restorer? You mean
paint
restorer or something?”

“No. The Restorer has something to do with vampires.” She looked at him eagerly.

Please—know something.

Ross shook his head. “No. I never heard of that.” He studied her. “How come you're asking about that?”

She could feel herself blushing. “It's just something Ari was talking about.”

Ross raised his eyes to the hallway. “Is your dad home? I actually came to see him.”

“Dad?” Destiny couldn't keep the surprise from her voice. “Dad's at his office. He's been working six days a week. But he said he'd be
home early today. If you want to wait.”

“Well…”

“Why'd you want to see Dad?”

Ross scratched his short hair. “My dog is sick. I wanted to ask him about it.”

“Sparky? What's wrong with him?”

Ross hesitated. “I don't know really. He's throwing up and stuff.”

Destiny studied him. He seemed so uncomfortable, not like Ross at all. She had a strong feeling he was lying about the dog. But why would he lie?

“Think he'll be home soon?” he asked.

Destiny nodded. “You can help me with a project while you wait.”

“Project?”

“I convinced Dad the garage needs to be painted. He's been in such a daze, the whole house is falling apart. I'm trying to snap him out of it. So, he said he'd paint the garage if I drag everything out and pile it on the side of the house. You can help me.”

Ross rolled his eyes. “Sounds awesome.”

“Oh, come on. It won't take long.” She pulled him out to the garage.

They started with the bikes and gardening
equipment. Then Ross dragged out heavy bags of peat moss and planting soil. They talked about friends and school starting and the summer, and carefully avoided mentioning Bree.

He's such a great guy, Destiny thought. I like him so much. She pictured him with his arms around her…kissing her.

“You're so different from your sister,” Ross said. His cheeks turned pink. They were carrying out Mikey's bike and a bright-yellow plastic Mercedes that he pedaled around in when he was three.

“Different? How do you mean?” Destiny asked.

Before Ross could answer, a voice called from the garage door. “Hey, you two, what's up?”

Ross's eyes went wide. “Livvy, hi.”

Livvy wore a blue vest and a tight, cropped pink-and-blue T-shirt and a pair of low-slung jeans. She ignored Destiny. Her eyes were on Ross. “Why are you cleaning out the garage? You moving in?”

He set down the carton he'd been carrying. “Destiny asked me to help.”

“I think Dad asked
you
to help too,” Destiny said to Livvy. She didn't mean to sound so shrill,
but she was unhappy that Livvy had barged in just when she and Ross were starting to really talk.

Livvy walked over to Ross and pulled a clump of dust off his shoulder. She gave him a sexy smile. “Want to take a little break?”

Ross turned back to Destiny. “We got a pretty good start.”

Destiny nodded. “Yeah, thanks. It was really nice of you to help out.”

Livvy pulled him out the door and to the side of the garage. Destiny heard them giggling about something. She decided to take a break too. Brushing off the front of her jeans, she started toward the house.

She pretended she didn't see Livvy and Ross. Livvy had him backed against the garage wall. His arms were around her waist. Her hands were pressed against his cheeks, her head was tilted to one side, and she was kissing him, a long, passionate kiss.

Destiny turned away and ran into the house.

 

Livvy and Ross remained at the side of the garage for about half an hour. From the kitchen
window Destiny watched Ross leave. Then she grabbed Livvy as she entered the kitchen. “You and I have to talk.”

Livvy glared at her. “Can I get something to drink first?”

Livvy grabbed a can of iced tea from the fridge, popped the top, took a long drink, then followed Destiny up the stairs to their room.

“I don't understand why you're not helping,” Destiny said. She couldn't keep her voice from trembling.

Livvy stared at her. “Helping with the garage?”

“No. You know what I'm talking about. Helping to find a way to save us. Helping to find the Restorer. You just pretend that we've got all the time in the world.”

Livvy sighed. “What are we supposed to do? Look him up in the phone book?”

“We have to do everything we can,” Destiny replied. “We have so little time. I've been through every book in the library about vampires and the supernatural. I've gone through website after website. I called someone in the science department at the junior college. I had another long talk with Ari, but he's starting to
get suspicious. I'm so desperate, I even called a supernatural-phenomenon hotline I saw advertised in a magazine.”

“And?” Livvy asked.

Destiny frowned. “Nothing. No mention anywhere. No one has heard of anything called the Restorer. No clue. Livvy, I'm so terrified.”

“Think I'm not?” Livvy replied.

“But you're not helping me,” Destiny said. “You're pretending it's all going to be okay. But it isn't. We have maybe a week or two at the most. We can't let the days go by like this. You've been acting strange, Liv. Ever since Bree died, you've been so angry at me.”

Livvy lowered her head. Her hair fell over her face, but she made no attempt to push it away. “Okay, okay. What do you want me to do?”

“The first thing is, we have to stick together. We can't let things drive us apart.” Destiny thought of Ross. She forced him from her mind.

“We can't give up, Liv,” she continued. “We have to do whatever we can to find this Restorer. We'll go back to Mrs. Bauer. She knows more than she told us. We'll go back there. We'll find out what we need to know, and
we'll save ourselves.”

A sob escaped Livvy's throat. She tore at the sides of her hair. “How can there be any hope? I lost my best friend. And I'm thirsty. I'm thirsty all the time. I'm not getting enough blood, Dee. I'm not!”

Destiny put an arm around her sister's shoulders. “We'll find the Restorer in time. I know we will. I know—”

A high, shrill scream made Destiny jump.

“Help me!”

Mikey's cry from downstairs.

Both sisters scrambled to the stairway.

“Eddy's dead!” They heard Mikey scream. “Eddy's dead! Help me! My hamster is dead!”

Destiny turned and stared at Livvy.

Livvy spun away. “I couldn't help it,” she whispered. “I was thirsty.”