It tastes so rich, so delicious. So a satisfying.

She shoved the slippery red meat into her mouth and chewed. She could feel blood run- ning down her chin.

Lowering her eyes, she saw Ari returning, jogging up the aisle. aOh, no.a She pulled the raw liver from her mouth. A frantic moment.

Where to hide it?

She opened her bag. Stuffed the liver into it and shut it.

Heart thudding, still dizzy with pleasure, Destiny wiped the blood off her chin with the back of her hand. She turned to greet Aria"but her eyes stopped at the nearest aisle.

A white-uniformed store clerk came run- ning toward her, eyes wide, motioning to her, shouting, aMiss! Miss!a He saw me. He watched the whole thing.

He saw me.

95.

Chapter Fourteen.

A Snack at the Pool aMarco!a aa Polo!a aMarco!a aa Polo!a Destiny watched the group of kids playing in the shallow end of the pool. Two boys were having a splashing war. Water tossed up over her sneakers. The lifeguard, a tall, skinny guy with a fabulous tan, blew his whistle and pointed at them.

Destiny pushed her sunglasses up on her nose. The afternoon sun beamed brightly down from a clear blue sky. Eyes burning, she searched the crowded pool for her sister.

Some guys from school were hanging out near the volleyball net. She saw Ana-Li, racket in hand, heading to the tennis courts with a girl Destiny didnat recognize.

And who was that good-looking guy with

96.

the wavy black hair standing in the shade by the fence? Despite the bright sun, he wore a black, long-sleeved shirt and black shorts.

Why is he smiling at me?

Do I know him?

aHey, Deea"whereas your bathing suit?a Courtney called from the snack stand. She and Bree had on string bikinis. They both held ice cream pops and waved them at Destiny.

Destiny hurried over to them, nearly collid- ing with two little girls running with pool floats toward the lawn chairs at the side.

aGotta soak up these last rays,a Bree said.

aThe pool closes on Friday.a aBoo hoo. I hate it when summer ends,a Courtney said. aI canat believe Iam already thinking about what to wear the first day of school.a aIam wearing this!a Bree declared, motion- ing to her bikini. aHow about you, Dee?a aHave you seen Livvy?a Destiny asked breathlessly, ignoring her question. aShe left me a note at home. Said she was coming here.a Bree licked her ice cream. aSheas right over there.a She pointed. aShe brought Mikey and his friend. See?a

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Destiny saw Livvy in the pool. She turned and took off running, her sneakers thudding on the wet concrete.

aHey, is anything wrong?a Courtney called after her.

Livvy saw Destiny and waved. She was pushing Mikey and his friend on a small, red plastic raft. aWhere is your bathing suit?a Livvy shouted.

aI didnat come to swim. I a need to talk to you,a Destiny said.

aHey, Deea"a Mikey called. He slid off the raft. aWatch. I learned this stroke at day camp.a He came splashing across the pool.

aVery nice,a Destiny called.

aIt was hot. I brought Mikey and Chris,a Livvy said. aWhatas up?a Destiny squatted down so she could talk quietly. She leaned over the pool. aSomething bad happened, Liv. At the supermarket. I was almost caught. Ia"a aI thought we were going to race,a Mikey interrupted, holding on to the side of the pool.

aNot now. Dee and I are talking,a Livvy said.

aYou promised!a Mikey cried. He made a grab for Livvyas arm, missed. His hand bumped

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off her sunglasses, and they sank quickly to the bottom.

aOopsa"!a Mikey started to laugh.

Destiny saw Livvyas eyes go wide. Her mouth dropped open. She grabbed at her eyes and started to moan.

aNooooo! Theyare burning! Burning!a Mikey gave her a shove. He laughed again.

He always loved Livvyas dumb jokes.

But Destiny could see that her sisteras pain was real.

Livvy pressed her hands tightly over her eyes.

aHelp me! Dee! My eyes! Theyare burning up!a Destiny gripped Mikeyas shoulders. aDive down. Get her glasses.a Mikey dove down, his feet momentarily poking up over the surface. He came up with the sunglasses and shoved them into Livvyas hand.

Gasping loudly, her shoulders trembling, Livvy slid the glasses onto her face.

aHa ha. Very funny,a Mikey declared. He splashed a wave of water onto Livvy. aYour jokes are so stupid.a He turned and floated back to his friend Chris.

Livvy gazed up at Destiny. aIt a itas okay now. But a what happened?a

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A feeling of dread swept over Destiny. aLivvy, our eyesa"they canat stand the bright sun.a She gasped. aAnd look at your skin. Did you put on sunscreen? Youare totally sunburned.a Livvy gazed down at her arms and legs.

aOh, wow. I havenat been here more than half an hour! Dee, what does this mean?a aWe have to go,a Destiny said. She climbed to her feet and called, aMikey, Chris, out of the water now. Letas go.a aAw, pleasea"ten more minutes,a Mikey whined.

aNo. We have to go,a Livvy said. She grabbed both his hands and tugged him to the steps. aYou guys had a good swim.a Mikey splashed her again. aYouare stupid. It was too short.a aMaybe Iall bring you back tomorrow,a Destiny said. aWould you like that?a aNo.a Destiny found Mikeyas beach towel and wrapped him up in it.

aStop being such a grump,a Livvy said.

aMake me.a Livvy turned and saw Chris come running toward them, his baggy swimsuit dripping

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water. aDo we really have to go?a Chris called.

And then he slipped on the wet walkway and toppled heavily to the concrete.

aOw!a He let out a cry and didnat move.

aAre you okay?a Livvy called. She ran to him. She dropped down beside him. aChris?a He sat up slowly. aMy knee.a aYou scraped it,a Livvy said.

Destiny and Mikey hurried over to them.

aItas bleeding,a Chris said, holding his leg.

Destiny stared at the blood, bright red even through her sunglasses. It glistened wetly on the bent knee.

Livvy leaned over, grabbed the boyas leg with both hands, and lowered her face to the knee.

aLivvya"donat,a Destiny said softly.

But Livvy leaned lower and started to lick up the blood.

aLivvya"a Destiny called. aNoa"a Livvyas tongue made rapid lapping sounds as her head bobbed over Chrisas knee.

aWhat is she doing?a Mikey cried. aWhy is she doing that?a 101.

Chapter Fifteen.

What Does Coach Bauer Know?

Livvy let go of Chrisas knee and raised her head.

Destiny could see the dazed expression on her sisteras face.

aWhy did you do that?a Mikey grabbed Livvyas shoulder. aWhatas your problem?a Livvy stared up at him.

aItas a first-aid trick we learned at camp,a Destiny told him, trying to keep her voice steady. aThatas the fastest way to stop the bleeding.a She turned to Chris. aHow does it feel?a aOkay.a Livvy helped Chris to his feet. aSee? The bleedingas almost stopped. Weall put a bandage on it when we get home.a Destiny studied her brother. Did he believe her first-aid story? He was still watching Livvy warily.

Destiny turned and waved good-bye to Bree and Courtney. As the four of them made their 102.

way to the parking lot, Destiny saw the young man in black still standing in the shade. Still smiling.

Still watching her.

She looked away quickly.

What is his problem?

Up in their room, the door closed, Livvy grabbed Destinyas hand. aI couldnat stop myself. I suddenly felt so hungry. I saw the blood on Chrisas knee, anda"a aShhh.a Destiny squeezed her sisteras hand.

aItas okay. I think they believed my first-aid story.a aBut itas not okay. Weare not okay. We a maybe we aa her voice trailed off.