They tumbled off the tree branch. Fell to the mossy, wet ground.

239.

The owl thrashed and cut. Destiny flapped hard above it, keeping her long teeth clamped deep in its belly.

The owl screeched, clawing at her wings, thrusting its beak into her middle, sharp jab after jab.

Pain shot through Destinyas body, paralyz- ing her. She lost her grip on its belly. Blood spat-tered her throbbing body, and she realized it was her own blood.

Iave made a horrible mistake. I didnat know a owls are stronger a stronger than bats. I didnat know a Too weak to flap her wings a too weak to escape.

She lay on her back on the blood-wet grass, the owl perched on her tiny, gray belly. Its talons tore at her thin wings again. Its beak dug into her throat.

I didnat know a I didnat know a 240.

Chapter Thirty-Four.

A Surprise From Dad Destiny opened her eyes.

I canat see. Iam blind.

But then the stars came into focus. And the nearly full moon behind wisps of gray cloud.

She saw the roof of her garage. Raised her head from the grass, turned, and saw the back of her house.

Iam lying in the grass behind my house. Iam totally naked.

She sat up. Rubbed her chest. Dried blood.

Itas real. It really happened.

How did I fight off the owl? How am I still alive?

Slowly, the terrifying memory came back.

As the owl attacked her, she had started to transform. Back to her human body, hands furi- ously shoving the bird away.

The startled owl raised its wings, turned, and flew off into the night.

241.

Destiny shivered. Her legs were wet with dew, so cold against her skin. She pulled a brown leaf from her hair, then got up onto her knees.

She turned to the house. Mikeyas yellow bike stood propped against the back wall next to his soccer ball. She could see lights on in the kitchen and in the room above the garagea"her room.

She stood up slowly, testing her arms and legs. Her muscles ached, but she could walk.

Keeping in the darkest shadows, she made her way to the back door and peered in.

No one in the kitchen.

Silently, she pried open the door and slipped inside. The clock over the stove read eight forty-five. She had been gone less than an hour. She listened for voices. No. No music, no TV on. No one home yet.

Still shivering, her mind spinning, Destiny crept up to her room. She took a long shower.

And as the steamy hot water rushed over her, she decided.

I have to tell Dad.

I canat keep this a secret anymore. Itas gone too far. I turned into a bat tonight. What if itas 242.

too late for me? What if itas too late for Renz to fix me?

Iam too scared to face it all alone. Iam no longer in control of my own body. The moon is nearly full. I have to tell Dad. I canat keep it all inside me any longer.

She pulled on a T-shirt, an oversized sweater, and jeans, grabbed the car keys, and hurried out to the garage. Dad had the SUV, but the Civic was still in its place.

Destinyas hands shook. She grabbed the steering wheel to steady them.

I have to tell Dad. After all, he is a doctor.

Maybe a maybe a She backed the car out, nearly scraping the driveras side against the garage wall.

Calm down, Dee. Concentrate on your driving.

She glanced at the dashboard clock. Nearly nine thirty and Dad was still at work. That poor man. Why is he working so hard?

The streets slid by in a blur. Before she realized it, she was pulling to the curb in front of her dadas animal clinic. Street lights washed over the square, redbrick building. The sign above the glass door was simple, stenciled in 243.

blue letters on white: WELLER VETERINARY CLINIC.

Destiny climbed out of the car. She wiped her cold, wet hands on the legs of her jeans. Her heart thudded in her chest.

Iave never been so nervous to talk to Dad.

What will he think when I tell him? What will he say?

The blinds were only half closed on the wide front window beside the entrance, and she could see that the lights were on in her dadas waiting room. The examining rooms and the lab were at the back.

Destiny took a deep breath and made her way to the door. But a flash of movement in the window caught her attention. She turned and stepped to the window, stooping to see inside between the blinds.

aOh, wow.a She slid to the side so she wouldnat be seen.

Her dad sat on the waiting room desk, gesturing and talking to a group of guys seated in front of him.

They had their backs to the window.

Keeping out of view, Destiny squinted hard into the brightly lit room.

Itas some kind of meeting. But that doesnat 244.

make sense. Why would Dad be having a meet- ing this time of night?

And then she recognized Ross in the chair closest to the window. And Fletch beside him.

And across the room, other guys from Dark Springs High.

Destiny slid away from the window. She pressed her back against the cold brick wall.

What are those guys doing there with my dad?

What could they be talking about?

Holding on to the brick wall, she leaned for- ward again and peered into the window. They were all standing up. She could hear the scrape of their chairs. Her father opened the coat closet door. He leaned inside.

A car passed behind her on the street, sending its headlights over Destiny. She stood up straight.

The car slowed, then continued on its way.

Her eyes burned from the bright lights.

Blinking hard, she swung back to the window.

Dr. Weller stepped out of the coat closet. Destiny could see him clearly. She could see what he was holding. Wooden stakes, sharpened to a point at one end. He handed one to each boy.

aOh, no.a 245.

She didnat want to believe what she was seeing. Staring through the window glass was like staring into a dream.

That isnat my dad. Those arenat my friends.

She didnat have long to think about it.

Someone shut off the lights in the waiting room.

The window went black.

Theyare coming out.

246.

Chapter Thirty-Five.

Is Ross Dangerous?

Idonat believe it. But itas true. Dad is a huntera"

Dad and my friends are vampire hunters.

Destiny spun into the street. She ducked behind her car as the front door of the building swung open.

She held her breath and peered over the front fender. The boys stepped out quickly, holding the stakes close to their sides. She saw Ross whisper something to Fletch. Fletch laughed and gave him a playful shove.

Dr. Weller backed out of the building. He locked the front door. Took several deep breaths, gazing around.

No. Please. Dad, please donat look here.

Hunched behind the car, Destiny watched them move quickly, silently up the sidewalk.

She turned and saw her dadas SUV parked on the corner across the street.

Squatting low, Destiny moved to the other 247.

side of her car. Another car passed by. Its headlights spilled over the boys. Destiny saw them hide the wooden stakes so the driver wouldnat see.

They piled into the SUV. She watched her dad lower himself behind the wheel. He started it up. The taillights flared red. After a few seconds, the SUV pulled away from the curb.

Destiny jumped to her feet.

Where is Dad going? She fumbled for her car keys. Dropped them onto the sidewalk.

Trembling, she grabbed up the keys and hurried into the car. It felt good to sit down.

Breathing hard, she started up the car and headed after them.

A few seconds later, she began to catch up.

They were driving fast through North Town, the old part of Dark Springs. Small houses crowded together on tiny lots. An all-night gro-cery on one corner. A boarded-up movie theater.

Destiny hit the brake when she saw the SUV pull to the curb. The doors swung open, and the boys were out of the car before it even stopped.

Destiny swung the car over, her eyes on the boys. She bumped over the curb and bounced hard.

248.

The boys were running across a narrow front lawn, leaping over the shrubs, moving silently, stakes raised high over their heads.