Yes.

aHurry.a Destiny let go of Mrs. Bauer and broke for the stairway. She heard Livvy running close behind. Destiny scrambled up the steep stairs on all fours, then reached up and pushed the metal door open a crack.

She let out a happy cry as the night sky came into view. Using all her strength, she pushed the door open and scrambled up and onto the grass.

172.

Then she turned and helped pull Livvy up.

She could hear footsteps crossing the basement.

Menas voices. Cries and shouts.

Destiny squinted through the fog. Beyond the low shrubs at the back of the yard, she could see the black silhouettes of trees. The woods.

aLetas go.a She and Livvy took off, running full speed, shoes slipping over the dew-wet grass. As they neared the trees, Destiny glanced backa"and saw Mrs. Bauer climbing out of the basement.

Mrs. Bauer scrambled to her feet and began to lurch toward the trees. aCome and get me!a she shouted. aCome and get me!a Her black shift flapped in the wind. Her scraggly hair flew around her skeletal face.

Destiny and Livvy reached the safety of the trees. They ducked down beside each other, hiding in the darkness. Breathing hard, they peered back to the yard.

Bright halogen lanterns sent wide circles of white light over the grass. The lanterns swept over the ground, bright as day, lighting the figures pursuing Mrs. Bauer, trapping her in harsh spotlights.

Holding on to the rough bark of a tree, 173.

Destiny could see their hooded sweatshirts, hear their shouts.

aLivvya"that tall onea"is that Coach Bauer?a aI donat know. I think so.a aAnd those guys shouting to each other. Oh my God. I think I recognize their voices. Arenat those guys from the basketball team?a Destiny whispered.

Livvy stared straight ahead. aI a I think so.

Is Ross there? Has he become a hunter? Oh no.

Why didnat he tell us?a Destiny grabbed on to her sister as the dark- hooded hunters formed a circle around Mrs.

Bauer. aCome and get me! Come and get me!a Shrieking at the top of her lungs, the woman spun in the white light, arms floating above her head.

And then one of the hunters moved forward quickly. His arms shot up. And in the shifting lights, Destiny saw the wooden stake he held between his hands.

Mrs. Bauer appeared to tumble back as the man lurched forward. He hoisted the stake high over his heada"and plunged it into her chest.

Like the howl of a wild animal, Mrs. Baueras 174.

shrill scream echoed off the trees.

Destiny let go of her sister and covered her ears with her hands. But she couldnat shut out the horrifying wail of anguish.

Then, silence as Mrs. Bauer fell to the grass.

aNo! Oh, no.a Livvy uttered a low cry.

Destiny gasped and clasped a hand over her sisteras mouth.

aWhoas that?a a boy called.

A chill of horror rushed down Destinyas back as the hooded figures turned away from the fallen woman.

aThereas someone in the woods,a a boy said.

aIs that Fletch?a Livvy whispered. aYes, I think it is.a Destiny and Livvy exchanged a terrified glance.

aMore vampires. In the woods. Get them!a one of the men commanded.

The white circles of light turned toward the trees.

Destiny froze as the hunters trotted toward the trees, lights held low, searching the ground.

Theyare going to catch us and kill us too.

Theyare going to shove a wooden stake in my 175.

heart. My own friends. My own friends are going to kill me.

Destiny gave Livvy a shove, and the two girls took off, running side by side, ducking under low branches, dodging shrubs and upraised tree roots.

aThis way,a a guy shouted, close behind them.

Lights bounced off the tree trunks.

Destiny lowered her head and ran. She darted through a wide patch of tall reeds and kept going. A narrow, trickling creek ran along the other side of the reeds. She and Livvy splashed over the creek, running hard, into the tangle of trees on the other side.

Weird. Iam not breathing hard, Destiny thought. And suddenly, she also realized that she could see the trees and weeds and shrubs so clearly, as if it were daytime.

She saw Livvy shoot ahead, moving from one side to another, darting and dodging as if there were a path.

Iave never run this fast, Destiny thought. I can see every tree leaf, every weed, every rock on the ground.

Where are the hunters?

176.

Destiny glanced back. No lights. Their voices far behind.

She and Livvy picked up speed. They were practically flying over the ground now, senses alert, not growing tired, no aches in their sides, not even breathing hard.

aWeare okay,a Destiny whispered. aWeave outrun them.a Livvy murmured, aI never ran so fast.a aYes, we outran them easily,a Destiny replied.

aIt a itas because weare not human anymore. We outran them because weare creatures now.a Livvyas mouth dropped open. aYouare right, Dee. Something horrible has happened. I can see bats hiding in those trees. And a and I can smell their blood. I can hear their blood pulsing, and smell it a smell ita . Ohh, I feel so sick.a aOh, Livvy,a Destiny wailed and pulled her sister close, into a tight hug. aHow much time is left? In a few weeks or a few days, we wonat be ourselves anymore. Weall be disgusting night creatures, living for blood, crazy as poor Mrs.

Bauer.a aIam hungry now,a Livvy moaned.

aWeave got to find the Restorer,a Destiny said.

And then added in a trembling voice, aSoon.a 177.

aBut how? She didnat give us a clue, Dee.a aI know. She kept saying he was close.

Close.a aBut that might not be a clue at all. She was out of her mind, Dee. She wasnat making any kind of sense.a aI know, but aa The hunger overcame her so suddenly. A powerful gnawing in her belly, a coiling ache that made her groan.

She saw the raccoons slinking silently at the edge of the woods, gray fur glimmering, tails waving behind them. Destiny counteda"six small ones led by a big, fat one.

aYes! Yes! Iam so hungry!a Using fallen leaves to wipe the blood from their faces, the girls stepped out of the woods. They found themselves on Steinway Street, five or six blocks from their house.

Destiny checked in all directions. aWe lost the hunters,a she said, striding toward the street.

aThis time,a Livvy added glumly. aBut what if they saw our car parked there? Theyall knowa"a 178.

aWe have to get ita"fast.a Deep in thought, they didnat see the figure on the sidewalk until they nearly bumped into him.

Destiny uttered a startled cry.

He wore a dark sweatshirt, his hair flew wildly around his face, and his jeans were stained and torn.

aAri!a Destiny cried. aWhat are you doing here?a 179.

Chapter Twenty-Six.

Is Ari a Hunter?

aDid you see the hunters?a Ari asked breath- lessly. aI heard they were out tonight. I tried to find them.a aWe a didnat see anyone,a Destiny said.

aIam totally disappointed,a Ari said, shaking his head. aI really want to see a vampire.a Does he suspect something? Destiny won- dered. How come heas staring at Livvy and me like that?

aWhere are you two coming from?a he asked.

They both spoke up at the same time.

aThe mall,a Livvy said.

aCourtneyas house,a Destiny answered.

Ari narrowed his eyes at them. aYouare putting me on, right?a He stepped up closer to Destiny and pointed. aIs that blood on your chin?a aHuh?a Destiny gasped and rubbed her chin 180.

with a finger. aOh, yeah. I just bit my lip. Itas nothing.a I donat like the way heas staring at me.

Is Ari lying? Is he actually a vampire hunter? Did he join the hunters? Was he at Coach Baueras with the others? Did he follow Livvy and me?

I canat believe it. I went over to his house and asked him about everything. I practically told him I was a vampire. How could I be so stupid?

aMaybe Iall come by later,a Ari said to Destiny.

Come by with your hunter friends? To kill Livvy and me?

aNot a good idea,a Destiny said. aLivvy and I have to get our beauty sleep. I mean, school starts tomorrow. Remember school?a Ari grinned. aOh, yeah. School. I almost forgot.a aDee and I have to figure out what weare going to wear,a Livvy said. aThat could take hours.a aSo, Dee, maybe youall help me with my French this semester?a Why is he playing this game? Trying to throw us off the track?

181.

aYeah, sure. No problem,a she said.

aGreat.a He flashed Destiny a smile. aSee you guys tomorrow.a He pulled the sweatshirt hood over his head, turned, and began to jog toward his house.

Livvy couldnat hide her fear. aDid he see us in the woods just now? Is he one of Coach Baueras hunters, Dee?a Destiny shook her head. aI donat know. I donat know what to think.a They returned to the car and drove home in silence. Destiny couldnat stop thinking about Marjory Bauer. Again and again, she heard the womanas shrill scream as the wooden stake came down. She saw the stake pierce the poor womanas body. And then there was such a heavy silence, such a heavy, terrifying silence.

The poor woman wanted to die. She wanted her husband to kill her. Did Coach Bauer finally do it? Was he the hooded figure who drove the stake into her chest?

The twins crept into the house through the back door. aOh.a Destiny uttered a low cry when she heard the voices in the living room.

Peeking through the hallway, she saw her dad and Coach Bauer.

182.

Bauer was even more pale than usual. He appeared very upset. He kept burying his face in his hands, then looking up and talking rapidly.

Dr. Weller kept shaking his head sadly.

Both men were speaking just above a whis- per. Destiny couldnat make out their words.

Frozen in fear, she held on to her sister and stared at the two men.

Is Coach Bauer telling Dad about killing his wife?

Did he see us there in the woods?

The next morning, a raw, gray day threatening rain, Destiny and Livvy gazed at Dark Springs High from across the street.

It was a three-story old-fashioned school building built of yellow bricks that had weathered to a muddy brown over the years. A thick wall of ivy grew up to the slanted, black-slate roof, darkening the front of the school even more. Two tall brick chimneys, side by side at the back of the building, coughed puffs of black smoke into the charcoal sky.

aIt looks like some kind of haunted castle today,a Livvy said, adjusting her backpack on her shoulders.

183.

aItas just your mood,a Destiny said. aAnd these sunglasses make everything look darker.a The girlsa eyes had grown even more sensi- tive. Now they had to wear sunglasses whenever they went outside.