Except for the sadness in her eyes.

26.

Such sad eyes.

Destiny saw how much Renz loved Laura.

He adored her. And then in another blink of her eyes, she saw Lauraas open casket. The sad eyes shut forever. It happened so quickly.

She saw Renzas angry tears. And heard his angry, desperate vow to find Laura again. To be reunited with her no matter how many decades or centuries it took.

Destiny saw it all as the stars swirled above her and the sky continued to spin.

But Iam not Laura, she told herself, the world so distant now as if she saw it through a curtain of gauze.

Iam not Laura.

So what does he want with me?

27.

Chapter Five.

aIall Follow You Homea Renz gazed down at her, breathing deeply, feeling the cool night air brush against his hot face.

He licked his lips, the rich, iron-tasting liquid so sweet on his tongue.

The lake lapped gently against the grassy shore. Trees whispered and shook. Somewhere a night dove cooed. Renz felt alive again; alive and strong.

He felt happy, almost giddy. Reunited with his lost love.

He wanted to shout it into the wind. He wanted to fly over the lake, crying her name.

aLaura a Laura a !a But first we must finish, he told himself. I have drunk deeply. And now it is her turn.

Iam here, darling. I know you have waited as long and impatiently as I have.

He had searched for Destiny at the last full moon. But to his dismay, she had left camp on a

28.

canoeing overnight. He had to wait four long weeks for the full moon to rise again.

And now finally, here she was in his arms, ready to take the final step.

aOh.a He raised his head abruptly, hearing the snap of a twig on the ground.

No. No. No.

He pulled himself up. Tilted Destinyas head up. Slid his arm around her shoulders.

He could smell someone approaching. A girl. He could hear the blood pumping through her veins before she even appeared.

He turned as Nakeisha stepped into view.

aDestiny? I was looking for you. I forgota"a Nakeisha saw Renz with his arm around Destiny. aOh. Sorry. I didnat know. I mean a catch you later.a Nakeisha spun around and darted into the thicket of trees.

Had the spell been broken?

Renz turned back to his love, his prize.

Destiny sat up, shaking her head. aWow. I feel so dizzy.a aDonat move,a Renz whispered. aYouare okay.a He reached to hold her, but Destiny jumped up and stepped away from him. aCome

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back, Destiny. Just for a few moments.a She blinked at him. aNo. Sorry. Itas late.

And I feel so a weird.a She waved to him, blinking in confusion.

Then she took off, running through the tall wet grass, moonlight reflecting off her hair.

He watched until she vanished behind tall pines. Then he opened his mouth in a cry of fury.

So close. So close, my darling Laura. But you didnat finish.

His skin tingled. The hair on the back of his neck prickled. He could still taste her blood on his tongue.

We will be together for eternity, Laura.

I will follow you. I will follow you home.

You wonat know me. You wonat remember me. So it will be easy.

Our blood will mingle. I promise.

I will come. I will come for you.

I wonat let you get away this time.

30.

Part Two.

Chapter Six.

aDid She Stay Out of.

Trouble This Summer?a Destiny watched her dadas SUV rumble up the hill toward the cabins. aCrack of dawn,a she muttered, shivering in the damp morning air. I knew head be the first to arrive.

aHey, Livvy!a She cupped her hands and shouted into Arapaho. aWake up! Dad and Mikey are here.a aGive me a break. Iam packing,a her sister shouted back.

Destiny yawned and hugged herself, wrap- ping the sleeves of her camp sweatshirt around her shoulders. Why am I so tired this morning?

I see Dad didnat get the front fender fixed.

And the car is covered with dust. He probably didnat wash it all summer.

Destinyas mom had always taken care of the practical matters, allowing her husband to spend all his thoughts on his veterinary practice

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and his research.

With Mom gone, the car will just disappear under a mountain of dirt, Destiny thought.

aHey, Liva"do you need any help?a No answer.

Destiny turned and saw Chris Harvey, the lanky, blond-haired arts-and-crafts counselor, bent over, throwing up noisily against the side of his cabin.

aLate night, Harvey?a someone shouted from one of the cabins.

aHow about a beer, Harvey?a Harvey was in no position to reply. Destiny watched him stumble into his cabin, wiping his face with his T-shirt.

Car doors slammed. She turned and saw Mikey come bursting from the car. Slipping in the dewy grass, she ran down to meet him.

aHey, youare tall!a she said, wrapping him in a hug. She brushed her hands through his thick, coppery hair.

aDad got me a new game,a he said, holding up his Game Boy. aSee? Itas like a NASCAR race.a aI havenat seen you all summer, and you just want to show me a game?a She hugged him again.

aYuck. Stop doing that.a He pulled back.

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aItas a really awesome game. Iall show you how to play on the way back.a He glanced around.

aWhereas Livvy?a aPacking. Go help her.a She gave him a shove toward their sisteras cabin.

He took off toward Arapaho. aHey, Liv, weare here! Check out my new game!a Destiny turned to see her dad come striding up the hill, arms outstretched, a smile on his face. His glasses glinted red in the early-morning sunlight. The thick tuft of gray hair bobbing on top of his head was unbrushed as usual. His heavy gray eyebrows moved up and down like two fat caterpillars above the glasses.

aI believe I know you from somewhere,a he said.

Destiny hugged him hard. She pressed her cheek against his. aOuch. You didnat shave.a He rubbed his chin. aGuess I forgot.a His beard has turned white, Destiny observed. And he looks so tired.

She squinted at him. aHave you been putting in more long nights in your lab?a He nodded. aPretty much.a His smile was sad. aWith everyone gone and the house empty, what else should I do?a