body tingled. He knew his hands would tremble if he let go of her. aLaura? Well a you remind me of someone, thatas all.a He pulled her close again. Her expression softened. aIave thought about you, too, this summer,a she said, avoiding his eyes.

Sheas shy like Laura, he thought. Not like her twin.

aAnd did you notice me watching you?a he asked eagerly.

She hesitated. aWell aa He kissed her again. Lightly. He was so afraid to move too fast. He had waited so long to bring her here, to bring her to this moment.

But now the moment was here.

aIam so happy I found you again, Laura,a he whispered, gazing into her eyes. aIave been searching for you for so many years. I knew Iad find you again.a Those words made her struggle to pull free.

But he grasped her arms tightly and held her in front of him. aDonat pull away, Laura. Tonight we are reunited.a aRenza"what the hell are you talking about?

Let go of me! Now youare really scaring me.a aDonat be scared, darling. I know you have

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waited for this moment as I have. It wonat hurt for long. I promise it wonat hurt for long. And then we will be together once more, together forever.a She squirmed, struggled to swing her arms, to lash out at him with both fists. aLet go. Let go, you creep! Are you crazy?a Staring into her eyes, he let her struggle.

Staring deeply a penetrating her mind.

She uttered a long sigh and settled back, limp in his arms.

aThatas better, Laura. You feel calm now.

You donat want to resist me. Tonight under the full moon I shall drink your blood, and you shall drink mine. Two long drinks, thatas all it will take, darling. And then you will be Laura again.

Then you will be immortal like me. And we will live together forever.a Destiny made a weak attempt to squirm free.

aShh,a he whispered. aDonat try to move.

Donat try to think, darling. Keep staring into my eyes. Thatas right. See? Your mind is emptying.

You remember nothing. You are floating in a cloud.a Bleating sounds escaped her lips, like a tiny, frightened animal caught in a trap. Her head fell

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back, her throat pale in the moonlight.

Pale and soft. And delicious.

aI have fogged your mind, and you wonat remember a word Iave said. You wonat even remember me until I want you to. Until I am ready to fly with you, to spend every nighta"for eternitya"with you.a Renz leaned forward, lowering his face to her throat. aYou feel nice, donat you, Laura? You feel dizzy and happy, and the stars are spinning so gracefully, arenat they? Itas all so beautiful and soft, isnat it, darling? So romantic. You always were so romantic.a Her soft cries stopped. Destiny stared up at him open-mouthed, her eyes glassy, her chest moving rapidly up and down.

Renz gently pulled down the neck of her sweatshirt. His curved fangs made a wet slick sound as they slid down from his gums. He worked his tongue over the fangs, trying to wet them. But his mouth was dry as sand.

Finally, he could resist no longer. He low- ered his head, pushed out his bristled tongue, and licked her neck. Licked it, his rough tongue scraping over the soft skin. Licked it hungrily.

Then he opened his mouth wide and with a

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groan from deep in his gut, brought the fangs down. Pierced the pale skin. Sank the sharp fangs deep into her throat.

And began to drink.

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Chapter Four.

aWhat Does He Want With Me?a Destiny gazed up at the purple night sky.

White dots of light shimmered and danced. The full moon, surrounded by glimmering stars, grew brighter, brighter a until she had to lower her eyes.

She felt Renzas hot forehead against her chin. His thick black hair tickled her flesh. She heard a lapping sound, like water running. No.

Like a dog drinking noisily from a bowl.

Destiny felt a gentle pain at her throat, softer than the bite of a mosquito. With a sigh, Renz raised his head.

What was that dark liquid spilling down his chin?

Destiny struggled to think. But the moon shone so brightlya"like a harsh spotlighta"and the stars danced so giddily, she felt dizzy, sleepy.

She couldnat focus.

She liked Renzas smile, his wide eyes, his

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forehead gleaming with jewels of sweat. But why were his teeth curling over his chin? And what was that dark liquid that smelled so sharp and metallic?

Focus. Focus.

She blinked hard. But it all seemed fuzzy, far away.

She gazed into Renzas eyes, glowing black, staring down at her. And as she stared, she realized to her amazement that she shared his thoughts.

She saw a young, black-haired boy, six or seven, bare chested, in ragged, stained trousers that came down just below his knees. The boy, dirty faced, ribs poking out, carried a fishing pole much too long for him. He dragged it along a dusty road.

Destiny knew it was Renza"Renz as a young boy. Renz in the northern Italian village where he grew up in poverty.

Itas as if he is showing me his life, she realized. Heas sharing his story with me.

She saw the boy return home slump- shouldered, tears running down his cheeks. No fish on the line. Destiny recoiled as she saw the grizzled, weary-looking mana"Renzas fathera"give

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the boy a backhanded slap that sent him reeling into the wall.

Ouch. She could feel the slap, feel the pain spread over her cheek.

She tried to blink the pain away. And when she opened her eyes again, the boy was on a ship, ocean waves tossing against its gray sides.

Frothy water washed over the swaying deck where the boya"young Renza"stood so uncer- tainly at the rail, frightened, one little face in a crowd of older, frightened faces.

Destiny could see the pictures clearly in her mind.

She saw the boy covering his tattered clothes with a heavy, gray overcoat that was much too big for him. Saw him arriving in New York City, then trudging through the streets, dodging horse-drawn carts and carriages, everyone dressed in black, the street a sea of black hats, all the men wearing hats.

How long ago this must have been.

She closed her eyes, and now the boy had grown into a young man. She recognized Renza"his proud way of standing, his loping walk, the black hair bouncing on his head as he strode down the street.

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She watched as Renz suddenly turned into a narrow alley crammed with trash and stacks of old newspapers. And then she saw another man, lanky and pale, with straight white hair pulled back in a loose-flowing ponytail. The man had silver-gray eyes, a stubble of white beard. He wore a navy-blue suit and had a navy cape draped over one shoulder.

Destiny watched the two shake hands. She understood. Renz recognized the man from his ship, the ship that carried him to America. Yes, the man was from Renzas village.

Destiny cried out as the happy reunion sud- denly turned violent.

The white-haired man pushed Renz against the building wall. Destiny watched the yellowed fangs curl down. Watched the man sink his teeth into Renzas throat and drink, blood run- ning down the front of his dark suit.

Then Renz bit hard into the old manas neck and began to lap up his blood. They were drinking each otheras blood! She couldnat bear to watch.

She closed her eyes, but the images contin- ued to flood her mind. She saw Renz prowling the streets once again, but this time at night, only at night. She watched him attack birds and

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squirrels in the park, sink his teeth into their bellies, and drink.

And she felt his thirst, felt the overpowering need that forced him to seek out victimsa"

human victimsa"and drink, drink until the thirst was momentarily quenched.

She saw him struggling to keep his secret.

And then she felt his fear as he realized his secret had been uncovered. Men were collecting weapons, preparing to hunt him down. She felt his terror, and then she watched him flee.

She saw a blur of towns and villages cloaked by the dark of night. And she watched him settle far away from the city, far away from those who meant to destroy him. A small New England town where the winters were long and the days were short.

Another blink. She saw Renz in the moon- light with a beautiful young woman. The woman dressed in a simple blue gown, her blond hair flowing down the back of her dress.

She looks like me, Destiny realized. And at once, she knew the young womanas name: Laura. The high cheekbones, the green eyes, the fine blond hair a Laura resembles me so much.