Let them wrap themselves around him again, muffling his screams, his wails of horror and sadness.

200.

Chapter Twenty-Eight.

Laura, Again Through the gauzy curtains, he could see it silhouetted in the faint, dying moonlight.

The stake.

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

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

Laura, murdered by her own father, mur- dered to keep her from Lorenzo, from the eter- nal life he had planned for them together.

Lorenzo pulled the curtains around him as if forming a cocoona"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 201.

shut his eyes. But that didnat stop the tears from falling.

And then his grief turned to fury. He ripped the curtains away, planted a final kiss on Lauraas cold cheek. Then he made his way to her fatheras 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.

Heas waiting for me, Lorenzo thought.

In the flickering red light from the remain- ing embers, he saw the object in Hanoveras handsa"a pointed fence post.

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

Lorenzo dove for Hanoveras 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, 202.

then ripped open his throat with his hands. He wrenched Hanoveras 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 couldnat remember.

He couldnat 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 couldnat be!

But she had Lauraas face, her high cheek- bones, 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 203.

impatiently with one hand. Her fine, blond hair fell loosely to her collar. Her face a Her face a Laura.

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

She bit her lip fretfully.

Lorenzoas excitement, his disbelief, held him back. But he forced himself to approach her.

aHave we met? I believe I know you.a He flashed her his most charming smile.

Still biting her lip, she narrowed her eyes at him. aNo. I donat think so.a Lorenzo scratched his head. aIam so sorry.

My mistake. I knew a woman named a Hanover. She resembled you so much, Ia"a aHanover?a the womanas eyes grew wide.

aReally? There were some Hanovers in my family. But that was way back, generations ago.a He grinned. aI see. I must be confused. Iam Lorenzo Angelini,a he told her. aAre you wait- ing for someone?a She turned back to the school. aYes, my daughters. I told them Iad pick them up now. I should go in and get them.a She saw his outstretched hand. aOh. Sorry. Iam Deborah 204.

Weller. Nice to meet you.a 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.

aDestiny! Livvy! Over here,a Deborah called.

She motioned to her daughters to hurry, and pulled open the car door. aNice to meet you, Mr.

Angelini.a aNice to meet you too.a Very nice indeed.

205.

Chapter Twenty-Nine.

The Vampireas Kiss aWho has the cheese fries?a Ari raised his hand and the waitress dropped the plate in front of him next to his double cheeseburger.

aYou on a diet, Ari?a Ana-Li reached across the table and grabbed a cheese fry off the plate.

aOw. Theyare hot.a Ari grinned at her. aTake another one and Iall smack you.a Ana-Li grabbed another one.

Ari grabbed her wrist. aDrop. Drop.a Destiny saw the manager watching them.

aGive it a rest, guys. How embarrassing would it be to get kicked out of Donohueas?a aIt wouldnat be the first time,a Ari said.

He bent Ana-Lias wrist back until she dropped the frya"into his Coke. Ana-Li burst out laughing.

Livvy appeared beside the booth. She gave 206.

Ari a shove. aMove it over.a She squeezed in next to him. aYou already ordered?a She gazed at Destinyas plate. aTwo hamburgers?a Destiny nodded. aIam starving.a aYou never used to eat burgers rare like that,a Ana-Li said. aYuck. It looks like blood dripping from them.a Livvy waved the waitress over. aIall have a hamburger too. Very, very rare, and a diet Coke.a She turned to Ana-Li. aWhatas up?a aAri wonat share his fries.a Ari slammed his hands on the table. aHere.

Take them all.a He shoved the plate toward Ana-Li.

aThanks.a Ana-Li began eating them one by one.

Livvy leaned across the table and whis- pered. aHear what the girls in the next booth are talking about? That new guidance counselor.

Whatas-his-name? Renz.a Ari grinned. aYeah. Heas always telling everyone to call him Renz. What kinda name is that? Sounds like something from a sci-fi movie.

Renz the Destroyer!a aHe is definitely cute,a Ana-Li said.

Destiny put down her fork. aCute? Youare 207.

kidding, right? Heas not cute. Heas totally gorgeous.a Ana-Li giggled. aDee likes the dark, myste- rious types.a aHey, I have an appointment with him after school,a Destiny said. Across the table, Livvy had a scowl on her face. aLiv, whatas your problem?a Livvy shook her head and sighed. aNothing.

No big thing. Really. Well aa aWhat is it?a Destiny asked.

Livvy played with one long, dangling ear- ring. aJust thinking about Bree. You know. How sheas missing senior year and everything.a aI miss her too,a Ana-Li said in a whisper.

Ari swallowed a big chunk of cheeseburger.

aOn TV this morning, they said the police donat have a clue about the Vampire Killer. And the hunters donat have a clue either.a Destiny gaped at him. aThe hunters? What about the hunters? They were on TV?a Arias cheeks burned red. aNo. Some guys were talking. You know. About vampires in town and the vampire hunters. I really donat know much about it. Youave heard the rumors tooa"right?a He took another bite of cheeseburger, 208.

avoiding Destinyas eyes.

So he really is one of the hunters, Destiny decided. Why did he blush like that? Because he didnat mean to mention them. It just slipped out.

Destiny gazed across the table at Ari and felt a shiver race down her back. Iave 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?

aBree would have loved the senior overnight trip,a Livvy said. aShe was really looking forward to it.a aYes, she would have,a Ari said, sighing. His expression brightened. aIam bringing a super- sized sleeping bag. You know. In case any girls get lonely during the night.a He grinned at Destiny.

aSome kids got caught last year,a Ana-Li said. aMr. Arthur walked into the tent and a there they were, messing around. It was so not cool.a aI heard about it,a Livvy said. aThey both got suspended.a aWorth it,a Ari said, cheeseburger grease running down his chin. He grinned at Destiny.

Destiny looked away.

209.

Ana-Li handed him a napkin. aI heard the school is bringing a lot more chaperones this year,a she said. aYou know. To make sure no one messes around.a aHey, maybe Renz will be a chaperone.a Destiny tried to join the conversation.

aYouave really got a thing for him,a Livvy said, frowning at her sister.

Destiny shrugged. aWhatas your problem? I canat like older guys?a aAnyway, the senior overnight should be cool if it doesnat rain,a Ana-Li said. aI heard itas a four-mile hike to get to the camping ground.a aCanat we drive?a Ari asked. He laughed at his own joke. aGuess what? Itas gonna be a full moon that night.a He grinned at Ana-Li and did a werewolf howl. aOwooooo. It could get pretty freaky.a Destiny shuddered. She hadnat known it was the night of the full moon. She suddenly felt cold all over.

Livvy glanced at her watch. aWhereas Ross?

He said head meet me.a aAre you sure?a Destiny asked. aHeas been at that booth behind you for half an hour. Heas with Courtney.a She pointed.

210.

aHuh? Youare joking.a 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. aI donat believe it.

That creep. Whatas he doing with Courtney?a She stepped away from the booth and went storming down the aisle.

aLivvya"come back,a Destiny called. aHeya"

just calm down. What are you going to do?a Her hair bouncing behind her, Livvy strode past Rossas booth. She kept her eyes straight ahead. She totally ignored them. Destiny watched her bang the glass front door open and disappear outside.

aWhoa. Bad news.a Ana-Li clapped a hand over her mouth.

The waitress appeared with Livvyas ham- burger and drink. She stared at the empty spot in the booth. aIs she coming back?a aI donat think so,a Destiny said.

After school, Destiny made her way down the stairs, past the empty lunchroom, and found 211.

Renzas office at the end of the hall next to a jan-itoras 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. aWelcome to my castle.a He motioned around the room.

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

aYou know the old joke,a he said. aThe room is so small, I have to go outside to change my mind.a Destiny laughed, harder than she meant to.

He motioned for her to sit down in the fold- ing chair.

She gazed at the empty shelves. aMr.

Angelini, whereas all your stuff?a He lowered himself to the edge of the desk in front of her. She could smell his aftershave or cologne, sharp, not sweet. aPlease. Renz,a he said, leaning over her. aMy books havenat 212.