Livvy jumped to her feet and angrily shook Destiny. “I knew you’ve been keeping secrets from me. You didn’t go for a run. Where have you been? Tell me the truth. What were you doing?”
“I…don’t know,” Destiny stammered.
“Tell me how this happened,” Livvy demanded.
Destiny stared in horror at her reflection. “I can’t. I can’t explain it, Liv. I did go for a run and—”
“It’s not true!” Livvy cried. “You’re doing something. You’re doing something and not telling me!”
“Livvy, listen to me. Please!”
Livvy’s hands were balled into tight fists. “No! You listen to me. I believe what you said, that you didn’t kill Bree. But you were there, Dee. You were right there where she was murdered, and you had no reason to be. And now…you come home with bite marks on your throat. And you won’t tell me the truth about it.”
“I don’t know the truth!” Destiny cried.
“Yes, you do! What are you doing? What are you doing?”
Destiny reached to hug her sister, but Livvy pulled away. “You’re hysterical. You’re not thinking clearly!” Destiny cried. “You have to believe me. I’m not doing anything behind your back, Liv. I’m in the same mess you’re in and—”
“You didn’t lose your best friend,” Livvy said through clenched teeth. She slammed her fist on the dressing table, sending tubes and bottles flying. Then she spun away and stomped down the stairs, slamming the front door behind her.
Destiny leaned close to the mirror and studied the fresh marks on her neck. Her hand trembled as she rubbed a finger over them. Her whole body shook.
“Livvy, don’t leave me now,” she whispered. “I need you more than ever.”
The doorbell rang.
Chapter Twenty-Three
A Death in the Family
Destiny hurried down to the front door and pulled it open. “Ross—hi!”
She realized she had her hand over the fresh red wounds. She lowered it slowly, adjusting the top of her sweatshirt.
Ross stepped into the house. He wore a blue-and-red Red Sox jacket over faded jeans. “How’s it going, Dee?”
“Not great. How about you?”
“About the same. Hold still.” Ross reached out and pulled something from her hair. He showed it to her—a curled, wet leaf.
“I was running. In the park,” she said, smoothing back her hair. “You know. To get some fresh air. Time to think.”
He nodded. “Fletch and I got a basketball game together at the playground this morning just to take our minds off things. We played in the rain. We didn’t care.”
She led him into the kitchen. “What’s up?”
He pulled up a kitchen stool. “I was over at Courtney’s. She had to leave for her tennis lesson.”
She poured out two glasses of orange juice and handed him one. “I talked to Courtney this morning. You know how scared she gets at Ari’s movies. Now she says she’s terrified to leave her house at night.”
“Yeah. I tried to cheer her up.” He took a long drink.
“Courtney has always been such a scaredy-cat. Remember when we were little and a bunch of us went behind her garage and made scary noises and howls, and we convinced her that her garage was haunted? And for weeks, she was too terrified to go in it and get her bike?”
“That was before I moved here,” Ross said. “How come you were all so mean to Courtney?”
Destiny shrugged. “Kids are mean, I guess. And Courtney was always such a good victim.”
The word victim hung in the air between them. Destiny wished she hadn’t said it. She sighed. “School starts on Monday. It’s our big-deal senior year. No one feels like going.”
“Did you see the paper this morning? They’re calling the guy who murdered Bree the Vampire Killer. Because her blood was totally drained. The police say it’s some kind of sick maniac.”
Destiny blinked. Sick maniac. She rubbed a finger over the tiny wound on her throat. Sick maniac.
Did the same sick maniac bite me? Does he plan to kill me too? Why can’t I remember? Why?
“So they don’t think it’s a virus anymore?” Destiny asked, struggling to clear her head.
“No,” Ross replied. “They dropped the virus story. They think it’s some twisted sicko who started with animals and now has moved on to people.”
Destiny nodded, trying not to reveal her fear.
“I heard there might be a curfew in town,” Ross continued. “Everyone has to be inside by ten o’clock.”
“Maybe they’ll catch the guy,” Destiny said softly.
“Maybe it’s a real vampire,” Ross said, spinning the glass between his hands.
She stared at him. “Now you sound like Ari.”
“Ari could be right about this. No joke. But if it’s a real vampire, there are people in town ready to deal with him.”
Destiny narrowed her eyes at Ross. “You mean…the hunters?”
His eyes widened. “You’ve heard of them?”
Destiny moved closer to him. “What do you know about them?”
Ross shrugged. A strange smile crossed his face. “Nothing, really. Just rumors.”
“Ross, have you ever heard of the Restorer?” Destiny blurted out.
He finished his orange juice. “Restorer? You mean paint restorer or something?”
“No. The Restorer has something to do with vampires.” She looked at him eagerly.
Please—know something.
Ross shook his head. “No. I never heard of that.” He studied her. “How come you’re asking about that?”
She could feel herself blushing. “It’s just something Ari was talking about.”
Ross raised his eyes to the hallway. “Is your dad home? I actually came to see him.”
“Dad?” Destiny couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. “Dad’s at his office. He’s been working six days a week. But he said he’d be home early today. If you want to wait.”
“Well…”
“Why’d you want to see Dad?”
Ross scratched his short hair. “My dog is sick. I wanted to ask him about it.”
“Sparky? What’s wrong with him?”
Ross hesitated. “I don’t know really. He’s throwing up and stuff.”
Destiny studied him. He seemed so uncomfortable, not like Ross at all. She had a strong feeling he was lying about the dog. But why would he lie?
“Think he’ll be home soon?” he asked.
Destiny nodded. “You can help me with a project while you wait.”
“Project?”
“I convinced Dad the garage needs to be painted. He’s been in such a daze, the whole house is falling apart. I’m trying to snap him out of it. So, he said he’d paint the garage if I drag everything out and pile it on the side of the house. You can help me.”
Ross rolled his eyes. “Sounds awesome.”
“Oh, come on. It won’t take long.” She pulled him out to the garage.
They started with the bikes and gardening equipment. Then Ross dragged out heavy bags of peat moss and planting soil. They talked about friends and school starting and the summer, and carefully avoided mentioning Bree.
He’s such a great guy, Destiny thought. I like him so much. She pictured him with his arms around her…kissing her.
“You’re so different from your sister,” Ross said. His cheeks turned pink. They were carrying out Mikey’s bike and a bright-yellow plastic Mercedes that he pedaled around in when he was three.
“Different? How do you mean?” Destiny asked.
Before Ross could answer, a voice called from the garage door. “Hey, you two, what’s up?”
Ross’s eyes went wide. “Livvy, hi.”
Livvy wore a blue vest and a tight, cropped pink-and-blue T-shirt and a pair of low-slung jeans. She ignored Destiny. Her eyes were on Ross. “Why are you cleaning out the garage? You moving in?”
He set down the carton he’d been carrying. “Destiny as
ked me to help.”
“I think Dad asked you to help too,” Destiny said to Livvy. She didn’t mean to sound so shrill, but she was unhappy that Livvy had barged in just when she and Ross were starting to really talk.
Livvy walked over to Ross and pulled a clump of dust off his shoulder. She gave him a sexy smile. “Want to take a little break?”
Ross turned back to Destiny. “We got a pretty good start.”
Destiny nodded. “Yeah, thanks. It was really nice of you to help out.”
Livvy pulled him out the door and to the side of the garage. Destiny heard them giggling about something. She decided to take a break too. Brushing off the front of her jeans, she started toward the house.
She pretended she didn’t see Livvy and Ross. Livvy had him backed against the garage wall. His arms were around her waist. Her hands were pressed against his cheeks, her head was tilted to one side, and she was kissing him, a long, passionate kiss.
Destiny turned away and ran into the house.
Livvy and Ross remained at the side of the garage for about half an hour. From the kitchen window Destiny watched Ross leave. Then she grabbed Livvy as she entered the kitchen. “You and I have to talk.”
Livvy glared at her. “Can I get something to drink first?”
Livvy grabbed a can of iced tea from the fridge, popped the top, took a long drink, then followed Destiny up the stairs to their room.
“I don’t understand why you’re not helping,” Destiny said. She couldn’t keep her voice from trembling.
Livvy stared at her. “Helping with the garage?”
“No. You know what I’m talking about. Helping to find a way to save us. Helping to find the Restorer. You just pretend that we’ve got all the time in the world.”
Livvy sighed. “What are we supposed to do? Look him up in the phone book?”
“We have to do everything we can,” Destiny replied. “We have so little time. I’ve been through every book in the library about vampires and the supernatural. I’ve gone through website after website. I called someone in the science department at the junior college. I had another long talk with Ari, but he’s starting to get suspicious. I’m so desperate, I even called a supernatural-phenomenon hotline I saw advertised in a magazine.”
“And?” Livvy asked.
Destiny frowned. “Nothing. No mention anywhere. No one has heard of anything called the Restorer. No clue. Livvy, I’m so terrified.”
“Think I’m not?” Livvy replied.
“But you’re not helping me,” Destiny said. “You’re pretending it’s all going to be okay. But it isn’t. We have maybe a week or two at the most. We can’t let the days go by like this. You’ve been acting strange, Liv. Ever since Bree died, you’ve been so angry at me.”
Livvy lowered her head. Her hair fell over her face, but she made no attempt to push it away. “Okay, okay. What do you want me to do?”
“The first thing is, we have to stick together. We can’t let things drive us apart.” Destiny thought of Ross. She forced him from her mind.
“We can’t give up, Liv,” she continued. “We have to do whatever we can to find this Restorer. We’ll go back to Mrs. Bauer. She knows more than she told us. We’ll go back there. We’ll find out what we need to know, and we’ll save ourselves.”
A sob escaped Livvy’s throat. She tore at the sides of her hair. “How can there be any hope? I lost my best friend. And I’m thirsty. I’m thirsty all the time. I’m not getting enough blood, Dee. I’m not!”
Destiny put an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “We’ll find the Restorer in time. I know we will. I know—”
A high, shrill scream made Destiny jump.
“Help me!”
Mikey’s cry from downstairs.
Both sisters scrambled to the stairway.
“Eddy’s dead!” They heard Mikey scream. “Eddy’s dead! Help me! My hamster is dead!”
Destiny turned and stared at Livvy.
Livvy spun away. “I couldn’t help it,” she whispered. “I was thirsty.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The Hunters Are Here!
Their dad called while they were still calming Mikey down. Destiny picked it up.
“I’ve got to work late. I’ve got two cats here that need stomach operations. Can you girls take care of Mikey tonight?”
“Sure, Dad. No problem. But I’m worried about you. You’re working late every night. When are you going to take a break?”
Destiny heard her father sigh. “Beats me. When animals stop getting sick, I guess. See you later, Dee.” He clicked off.
Destiny stared at the phone. Mom could always force Dad to come home. I know he cares about us. But why does he want to spend all of his time in his lab now?
She turned to Livvy. “Dad’s going to be late. He wants us to watch Mikey.”
“But what about Mrs. Bauer?”
“I have an idea.” She punched in Ana-Li’s number. “Hey, Ana-Li. It’s Destiny. Can you stay with Mikey for an hour or two?”
“Sure,” Ana-Li replied. “What’s up? Why can’t you and Livvy watch him?”
“Uh…Dad wanted us to run some errands. You know. Supplies he needs. He can’t get away from the office.”
Pretty lame. Will she buy it?
“No prob. I’ll be right over.”
Destiny turned back to Mikey. “You feeling any better?”
“No,” he grumbled. He gazed from Livvy to Destiny. “Will you die too?”
Stunned by the question, Livvy gasped. “What on earth?”
Destiny understood. The poor kid. He lost his mom and then his pet. He knew about Bree. So much death this year.
“Livvy and I aren’t going to die,” she said softly. “We’re going to stay with you, Mikey. And we’ll always take care of you.”
He stared back at her, studying her.
I hope I’m telling him the truth.
Poor Mikey. Poor Mikey. If we don’t find the Restorer, he could lose us too.
She turned away quickly to keep him from seeing the tears in her eyes.
The car headlights bounced off the fog, sending shafts of yellow light shooting in all directions. Destiny drove slowly, leaning over the steering wheel. The sky was solid black, and the fog rolled over the car as if swallowing it.
Livvy was hunched low in the passenger seat, knees on the dashboard, arms crossed tightly in front of her black sweater. “I can’t believe you’re dragging me back there,” she whispered.
Destiny slowed for a stop sign. “Do we have a choice? I told you, I’ve been doing research day and night. And I haven’t found any clues. Not one.”
“But this woman is…a vampire. She’s crazy. She’s totally out of her head. She could be really dangerous.”
Destiny lowered her foot on the gas. “She won’t harm us, remember? She said we were almost vampires too. You keep forgetting that part.”
Livvy touched the mark on her throat. “We’re doomed, Dee. That crazy woman is not going to help us.”
“She has to help us,” Destiny insisted. “No more negative talk. She has to help.”
She pulled the car to the foot of the driveway. Coach Bauer’s house stood in darkness, half hidden by the curtain of fog. It looked unreal to Destiny, like a movie set of a haunted house.
It is haunted. By a woman who’s not alive and not dead.
“Turn on the flashlight. I can’t see a thing,” Livvy whispered as they made their way up the driveway.
“No. No light till we get inside,” Destiny said. “We don’t want anyone to see us.”
“Ow.” Livvy tripped over a large rock at the side of the house and stumbled into the shingled wall.
“Careful,” Destiny whispered, gripping Livvy’s shoulder and helping her to stand upright. “I don’t see any lights in the house. Coach isn’t home.”
“Probably out with his hunters, killing all the vampires in town,” Livvy muttered.
“Shhh. Stop. This is freaky
enough.”
“What if Mrs. Bauer isn’t here? What if she’s out flying around, killing some of our other friends?”
Destiny stopped short and held Livvy back. “Pull yourself together,” she said. “Stop whining. And stop acting like a child and forcing me to be the grownup.”
Livvy opened her mouth to protest, but changed her mind.
“Just remember why we’re here,” Destiny said. “To find out about the Restorer.” She carefully pulled open the back door. She poked her head into the dark kitchen. “Anybody home?” she called softly.
Silence.
The cold of the fog clung to her as she stepped into the warm kitchen. She rubbed the back of her neck, trying to smooth the dampness away. Then she clicked on the flashlight.
She sent the circle of light dancing over the room. Dishes were piled in the sink. An empty Hungry-Man dinner box sat on the counter beside two empty beer bottles.
She moved the light to the basement door. The door stood open a crack. Had Mrs. Bauer escaped? Was she out on the prowl?
“Come on,” Destiny whispered.
Livvy hovered close behind as Destiny followed the beam of light to the basement door. Destiny pulled the door open slowly. “Anyone there?” she called down.
Silence.
Destiny could hear the hum of the refrigerator. Somewhere outside, far down the block, a car horn honked.
Keeping the light on the stairs, Destiny led the way. The wooden steps creaked and groaned as the girls made their way to the basement.
Destiny stopped at the bottom to catch her breath. If only she could slow her racing heart.
“Where is she? Is she down here?” Livvy stood so close, Destiny could feel her hot breath on the back of her neck.
Destiny moved the circle of light slowly around the cluttered basement. It swept over rows of cartons stacked three high. Past an old couch. Past a large black steamer trunk with a big lock clasped to the front.
The light stopped on a narrow bed against the far wall. First Destiny saw the dark quilt that covered the bed. Then she saw the head on the pillow. Mrs. Bauer!
“At least she doesn’t sleep in a coffin,” Destiny murmured.