Part 10 (1/2)
Why do people always say that? Lila wondered. It only makes the clapping wind down instead of--But Mr. Dunkel was speaking again.
”I'd like to announce a short intermission before our Senior Choir performs,” he said. ”Choir, please meet me backstage in ten minutes.”
Thank you, thank you, thought Lila gratefully, jumping to her feet. At least she'd be able to get out of this cramped auditorium seat for a while. She turned to her parents.
”I think I'll get up and stretch my legs,” she told them politely. Before they explode, ”Would either of you like anything? There's juice and stuff out in the lobby.”
But both the Crawfords were already pulling out work from the briefcases they'd brought with them for just this kind of emergency. ”No, thanks, dear,” said Mrs. Crawford absently. ”Maybe after the concert, though.”
”Fine. See you later.” Lila squirmed her way past a row of knees and coats and headed out to the front hall. It was a little less cramped there, but still DARK DREAMS.
163.
. . . Without conscious thought she walked to the front door and pushed it open.
Instant relief. Blessedly icy air streamed over her face, cooling her burning skin and bringing her back to herself. The moon was nowhere in sight yet, Lila saw. In maybe forty-five more minutes she'd be able to escape from all this turmoil and- ”Hey! What're you trying to do, freeze us to death?” someone shouted from behind her. ”Close that door!”
”Sorry,” Lila called back over her shoulder, and stepped out onto the front steps alone.
Outside, the night was even better. The wind was so strong Lila could hardly stand upright against it. The bare silhouettes of trees were whipping back and forth against the sky, and hundreds of dead leaves were skittering along the sidewalk like tiny dried-out ghosts. This is perfect, Lila thought gratefully, holding her face up to the wind. This is exactly what I needed.
”Well, look at our nature girl communing with the heavens,” came a drawling voice from around the corner of the school.
”Karin.” Lila didn't have to turn around to know 164 * Children of the Night who was talking. She leaned against the wall of the school resignedly. Karin Engals strolled over, a lit cigarette in one hand.
”Want one?” she asked. ”Oh, no. I forgot you're not-smoking for two.”
”That whole routine is getting kind of boring, you knowI' said Lila as cheerfully as she could manage. ”You're working it to death. You should get a little more variety into your act. Isn't there some other way you could pick on me? You know- rig my locker or steal my friends or something?”
”You don't really have many friends left, or haven't you noticed?” Karin blew an expressive plume of smoke straight into Lila's face. ”And speaking of acts, you shouldn't try to steal mine. I mean, stop acting all casual with me. It doesn't work. You're not good at pretending you don't care about things. I'd believe you a lot more easily if you'd stamp your feet and cry.”
”Why should I? I'm really not that upset,” said Lila serenely. At least not tonight. At least now that I have something to look forward to.
”Really? Not with Mr. Motorcycle to keep you company, I guess. Your little imaginary friend.”
DARK DRKAMS * 165.
Lila spun around to face the other girl. ”Where did you hear about him?” she gasped before she could stop herself. Who betrayed me?
”Where do you think?” Karin exhaled another plume of smoke. ”From Marci and Samantha.”
” They told you? Not that there's anything to tell,” Lila added hastily.
”I know there isn't. There certainly isn't When are you going to introduce us all to him?” Karin asked tauntingly. ”When are you going to meet him yourself? Don't you think it's kind of pathetic to be fainting around after someone you've never even said hi to?”
The moon was rising. Lila could feel it. Its force was building up inside her like evil champagne.
”You'd better go back inside, Karin,” she said in a low voice. ”I mean it.”
”Oooh! So dramatic!” said Karin with a giggle. ”What happens if I stay? Do we have a catfight?”
Lila couldn't answer. The change was upon her, and it was happening too fast.
Her paims. Her nails. Her skin. Her jaw.
Her skeleton was mutating. A tail appeared.
166 * Children of the Night ”What is your problem?” Karin asked. ”You're looking really weird, I hate to tell you.”
Lila opened her mouth to explain, but only a snarl came out. She felt her teeth growing, sharpening. She dropped to her knees. Swiftly her leg joints rearranged themselves.
”Oh, no,” Karin whispered. ”No. No. No. No.”
With her last second of human sight, Lila saw fear burst into flower on Karin's face. With her last second of human consciousness, she felt an incredible rush of satisfaction. Now do you think I'm acting too casual?
Karin, too, dropped to her knees, but it was only to pray.
”Please, Lila. Whoever you are. Please go away,” she begged insanely, ”I-I never meant to-”
Now Lila's eyes had changed, too, and all she saw was the enemy standing in front of her.
Who is this tormenter? Why is it blocking my path like this? she asks herself. The human is a shaking, trembling blob on the ground before her, but the wolf doesn't waste any time on pity.
DARK DREAMS * 167.
She gathers her strength and lunges forward, aiming right for the throat.
What began as Karin's scream turns into a sickening gurgle. The wolf grabs her by the neck and shakes her hard.
Somewhere a door bursts open, dropping a long rectangle of light onto the lawn.
”Anybody out here? It's time to-Hey, what's happening?” a familiar voice shouts hoa.r.s.ely. ”Oh, my G.o.d! Help! Somebody get help!”
People pour out the door in a jumble of noise.
In a flash the wolf vanishes. Karin-her eyes lolling whitely, her throat gaping, ripped open-rolls down the front steps and lies motionless at the bottom.
Two Wolves He is standing in the same place where he stood last night. Once again, he waits motionless as she approaches.
They do not use words to communicate. Somehow each knows what the other is thinking. They send a series of images and emotions back and forth in a silent language neither knew until they met.
Trouble? he asks when she is close enough for him to see the blood drenching the front half of her body.
Terrible trouble. Quickly the female sends him the image of what she has just done. As he absorbs the story, his body grows tense.
I'm sorry, she falters, sensing his unease.