arrived yet. They were delayed. I feel so lost without them.a He smiled at her again, his black eyes locked on hers.

Destiny felt a shiver of excitement.

aI need to decorate,a he said. aPut some- thing up on the wall. Something colorful.a He sighed. aIam not good at transitions. Moving to a new town. A new job. It takes me a while to get going.a Destiny smiled up at him. aI donat know what itas like. Iave lived in Dark Springs my whole life.a I feel so comfortable with him. Itas strange.

As if Iave known him a long time. This is our first conversation, but Iam not nervous at all.

He stood up and closed the door. aWe should talk about colleges. Iall get your file, Laura.a Destiny blinked. aLaura? No. Iam Destiny.a He stood close. The aroma of the cologne washed over her. She inhaled a piney smell, an outdoors smell, the smell of the woods.

aNo,a he whispered, ayouare Laura. Donat you remember me, Laura? Arenat you happy to see me again?a With surprising strength, he pulled her to her feet.

213.

aMr. Angelini, please. I donat under- stand. Ia"a Destiny made no attempt to resist as he wrapped her in his arms, brought her face up to his, and pressed his lips to hers.

214.

Chapter Thirty.

Destiny Finds the Restorer aLaura a Laura aa he whispered when the kiss finally ended.

Destiny gazed into his eyes. I know you. I know your thoughts. I know who you are.

The room darkened, as if a gray fog had risen over them. The piney aroma carried her to the woods. In the darkening fog, she could hear the flutter of birdsa wings, the cry of night animals, and the rasping chirp of crickets.

aYou remember me, donat you, Laura?a he whispered, his breath tingling her ear. The tingle continued down her neck, her back. She knew she was shivering. She couldnat stop.

He held her tightly. aYou remember me.

And you remember our love for each other. You remember the full moon a the night our love changed us, blood for blood.a His gaze didnat move from her eyes. He didnat blink.

215.

Destiny felt powerless to look away, to move, to protest. She took a deep breath and finally found her voice. aYou have powers aa Her words came out muffled, as if from far away.

Renz gazed at her. aWhat did you say?a aYouare doing something to me. You have powers, donat you?a A smile spread slowly over his face. aWell aa aPlease tell me. Tell me about your powers.a A jarring sound made her jump.

A knock on the door.

Renz let go of her and moved back.

The door swung open. The fog lifted.

Blinking, Destiny stared at Ari as he poked his head into the room.

His eyes went wide. aOh. Sorry.a He didnat let go of the doorknob. aI didnat know you were busy, Renz.a He squinted at Destiny. aHowas it going, Dee?a She blinked. aFine.a aDid he get you into college yet?a Ari asked.

Renz chuckled. aIn case you donat realize it, Ari, getting into college is a long process.a He edged away from Destiny and stepped up to Ari.

aDid you want me for something?a 216.

aYou said you had brochures. You know, from Brown and Tufts.a aLet me see.a Frowning, Renz moved to his file cabinet and began sifting through the top drawer.

Destiny gazed at him, so good-looking in that black turtleneck, those tight, black jeans.

Renz handed Ari a couple of brightly col- ored brochures. aIam not sure if they accept the standard application,a Renz said, backing Ari to the door. aIall check.a Destiny climbed unsteadily to her feet. aI guess weare finished for today?a Renz turned and stared at her. He appeared to be thinking hard. aYes, weare done.a His smile made her feel so warm. aBut we need to talk about school visits. Discuss it with your parents, okay? Then weall talk again.a Destiny thanked him and made her way out of the tiny closet. Ari was waiting for her in the hall. aHowad it go, Dee?a aOkay, I guess.a They walked together past the lunchroom, then up the stairs. aAre you in love with him like all the other girls in the senior class?a Destiny laughed. aHeas pretty damn cute.a 217.

Ari shook his head. aArenat college advisors supposed to have all kinds of books and papers and stuff? His office is totally empty. He spends all his time out in the hall, flirting with every girl who passes by.a aOoh, jealous, jealous,a Destiny teased.

aOh, for sure,a he replied, but his cheeks turned bright pink.

aAri, how come youare here so late after school?a He shrugged. aI had a few things to do. You walking home?a aNo, I drove this morning. Want a lift?a aHey, yeah. Good deal. Thanks.a She drove him to his house. They talked about French class. He made her promise to help him. They gossiped about some kids whoad been cutting class to hang out in their cars at the springs. Ari talked about two new horror DVDs head rented, both of which he said were awesome.

Destiny pretended to listen, but she barely heard a word Ari said. She still felt strange, off-balance, fogged in. She couldnat stop thinking about Renz.

He was so warm, so friendly and caring.

Some of their conversation drifted back to her.

218.

Just words and phrases, floating in her mind a Blood for blood a powers a full moon a Laura a Destiny struggled to make sense of it all.

Suddenly, she realized that Ari was staring at her. At the marks on her throat? Was he staring at the marks on her throat and figuring out what had happened to her?

aDee, thereas something I have to tell you,a he said softly.

She pulled the car into his driveway. Her heart started to pound. She couldnat speak. She nodded, signaling him to go on.

aWell aa He hesitated. His hands fidgeted at his sides. aItas just that a I a kinda like you.a Then he lurched toward her and pressed his lips against hers.

The kiss lasted only a few seconds. Destiny was so shocked, she barely kissed him back.

He grinned at her. aMaybe Iall see you later.a aYeah, maybe,a she replied, still stunned.

He jumped out of the car.

Destiny drove home, pulled the car into the garage, and hurried straight up to her room.

aHey, Liv,a she called.

Livvy sat at the computer, typing an e-mail.

219.

She finished her note, sent it, then turned to face Destiny. aWhereave you been?a Destiny tossed her backpack onto the floor.

aI told you. I had an appointment with Mr.

Angelini.a aHowad it go?a Before Destiny could answer, Livvy said, aOh, by the way, while I was online, you got an IM from Nakeisha.a Destiny walked over to her sister. aYeah?

Whatad she say?a aSheas coming to Dark Springs. On Saturday. Sheas doing college visits in Boston.

But she said her mother would drop her off here for an hour or two.a aCool.a But Destiny wasnat thinking about Nakeisha.

aWhat did you and Renz talk about?a Livvy asked. aMy appointment isnat until after the senior overnight.a aWe a well, we talked about aa Destiny struggled to remember. Struggled to put the words together.

aHe a he said something about blood,a she said, thinking hard.

Livvy had been adjusting her nose stud. Her 220.

features widened in shock. aHea"what?a aOh my God,a Destiny murmured. aOh my God, Liv. He talked about blood. Yes. I can remember it now. He said something about blood for blood, about the full moon.a Destiny shook her head, as if trying to shake the words out, as if trying to tug out a clear memory.

Livvy stood up and stared at her sister, her head tilted, her expression alarmed. aDee, are you okay? Are you cracking up?a aOh my God. Oh my God,a Destiny repeated, still shaking her head. aItas true, Liv. I a I asked him if he had powers. And he said yes!a aBut, Deea"a aOh my God. Donat you see, Liv? Donat you see?a Livvy narrowed her eyes at Destiny. aSee what?a aRenz is the one,a Destiny said, her voice breaking with emotion. aHe was letting me know today. Renz is the one, see? Renz is the Restorer! a 221.

Chapter Thirty-One.

Livvy vs. Courtney Sunday night, the girls retreated to their room. Destiny had an essay due for French class, but she sat staring at her computer, unable to get Renz out of her mind.

Tomorrow morning, weall see him first thing. Weall ask him to restore us, to give us back our normal lives. He can help us. I know he can. Livvy and I are going to be okay.

Across the room, Livvy talked on the phone to friends.

Loud voices interrupted them. Destiny turned to see Ross and Ari at the top of the stairs.

aWhatas up? Last-minute homework?a Ari asked.

aDid you hear about Charley Robbins?a Ross asked. aHe was caught stealing doughnuts from the Pick aN Pay. You believe it? He had a box of doughnuts under his sweatshirt. What a total jerk.a 222.

aHeas toast. Heas dead meat,a Ari said.

aSomeone said he did it on a dare.a aI ran six miles this afternoon,a Ross said.

aAll along the reservoir. It was great. Iam in shape for basketball, I think. Fletch was supposed to meet me, but he never showed up. I called him, and he said he has turf toe. How can you have turf toe if youave never been on turf?a Ari rubbed his stomach. aYou got anything to eat? My parents were out, and I forgot to have dinner.a Normal life, Destiny thought. After Livvy and I see Renz, weall go back to a normal life. We wonat have to worry every time the doorbell rings. We wonat have to wonder if Ross and Ari are vampire hunters.

She ran down to the kitchen to make Ari a sandwich. To her surprise, he followed her. aI didnat really want a sandwich,a he said. aI thought maybe we could be alone.a He kissed her again, this time longer.

She pulled away. aAri, Ia"donat know what to say. I mean, Iam not sure aa He sighed. aMaybe I will have that sandwich.a She made a ham sandwich for him. Then 223.

they returned to the room upstairs.

Destiny instantly saw that Livvy and Ross had made up. They were pressed together on the couch. Livvy had one leg over his lap, and her arms were around him. Her hair fell over his face as she kissed him.

Footsteps on the stairs. Courtney appeared.

She had a blue knit cap over her brown hair.

She wore a pale blue sweater over a red T-shirt and khaki cargo pants. aHey, whatas up, Dee?a Her smile faded when she saw Livvy and Ross across the room.

Livvy swiveled around, but she still had one leg over Rossas lap. Her red lipstick was smeared around her mouth.

aRoss, you creep!a Courtney cried through gritted teeth. She stomped over to the couch.

aYou said you were coming to my house!a Ross raised both hands, signaling for a truce. He tried to disentangle himself from Livvy. But she slid an arm around his shoulders and snuggled close, staring up at Courtney, chal-lenging her.

aGuess he forgot,a Livvy said, smoothing back Rossas blond hair.

aYou bitch!a Courtney screamed. She dove 224.

at Livvy, grabbed her by the shoulders, struggled to pull her to her feet.

aLet go of me,a Livvy said.

aHey, let me up!a Ross pushed Livvy out of the way and stood up, dancing away from the couch. aCourtneya"stop!a Sobbing, Courtney tugged Livvy up. She gripped Livvyas hair with both hands and pulled.

Livvy let out an angry cry. She ducked her head, but couldnat free herself from Courtneyas grip. aLet go! Let go of me!a aHey, stop it! Both of you! Stop it!a Destiny screamed.

But both girls ignored her. Courtney jerked Livvyas head from side to side. The two girls wrestled on their feet.

Livvy grabbed Courtneyas arm. She snapped it hard.

Destiny heard a sickening crack.

Livvy let go of her and stepped back, breath- ing hard, eyes wide with surprise.

Courtneyas arm dropped limply to her side.

Screaming, she fell to her knees. aYou broke it!

You broke my arm!a Livvy turned to Destiny. aI didnat mean 225.

to. It just snapped!a aIt hurts! It hurts!a Courtney moaned. She struggled to raise her arm, and let out a cry of pain.

Destiny hurried over to her. Ross helped Courtney to stand.

aIt was an accident,a Livvy said, pressing her hands to the sides of her face. aReally. I hardly did anything.a Courtney cradled the broken arm in her good arm. aI canat stand it. It hurts so much.a Destiny felt her stomach lurch when she saw ragged bone poking out through the torn skin. aWeave got to get her to the hospital.a She turned to Ari. aDid you drive?a aIall take her,a Ross said. He helped Courtney to the stairs.