By the Pale Moonlight (Book One of the Moonlight Series) Read online

  Mary and I were the only two with football players for dates. As the other girls took off with their escorts in tow, we were left to say hasty goodbyes before ours had to double-time it back to the locker room for the second half.

  "Good luck with the rest of the game." I smiled as I viewed the scoreboard. We were well ahead.

  Ty laughed. "After seeing you in that dress, I'll be lucky if I can concentrate."

  His eyes captured mine and I felt my breath whoosh out of me at the intense contact. Mary's boyfriend, Ed, was calling for him to hurry, but Ty didn't seem to hear.

  Grasping me around the shoulders, he pulled me into him and kissed me. And what a kiss it was. I felt as though I were sinking into a warm bath, my senses overwhelmed by the heat of it. Several wolf whistles rang in my periphery, but I tuned them out. When at last we broke apart, I swayed slightly.

  Ty grinned. "That was for luck." He backed away. "Save me a dance."

  I walked—no, floated—off the track with Mary.

  She took one look at me and laughed. "You've got it bad."

  "You have no idea."

  o0o

  The gymnasium had once again undergone a remarkable transformation. The bleachers were pushed back into their resting places, and it seemed blue, white and silver crepe paper hung on every available surface. The Homecoming committee wasn't particularly inventive. The theme of the dance was "Stairway to Heaven." My father would be proud.

  Music throbbed over the loudspeakers, some pop number with a fast, pounding beat. I stood off to the side, not really knowing where else to stand as I waited for Ty to arrive. The festive atmosphere was infectious and I had to admit the shiny stars hanging from the ceiling were rather pretty.

  A large moon hung off to the side of one of the basketball hoops, a sudden reminder of everything we would soon face. I stared at it, shocked back into reality where such things as dances and gowns held no sway. I'd forgotten somehow, distracted by the frivolity of a night with Ty.

  "Hey, beautiful."

  Strong arms encircled my waist. I smiled up at Ty, but couldn't resist another glance at the glowing orb. Whoever had fashioned the thing had done a remarkable job. I could practically see the man in the moon in the shadowy crevices painted on its full surface.

  Ty followed my line of sight, and we stood transfixed by the harmless piece of cardboard, each lost to our own thoughts. Finally, he planted a soft kiss at the crown of my head and pulled me toward the dance floor.

  "Not tonight, Mac. Tonight, it's just us."

  Admittedly, neither of us were great dancers. But that didn't stop us from heading to the middle of the dance floor to join the other gyrating students shaking their tail feathers. Song after song played. Soon, we were both covered with a thin layer of perspiration as the body heat from those around us crashed over us in thick waves. Of course, our own clumsy movements only added to the pressing warmth. The pungent smell of body odor mingled with all of the heavy perfumes and colognes. I started to feel a bit light-headed by the undulating scents.

  I definitely needed a time-out. Ty allowed me to lead him over to the refreshment stand, where we both discreetly tried to guzzle our sweet punch. We laughed when we both went in for our third refill.

  "Excuse me for a minute," I said. I planted a soft kiss on his mouth before heading to the restroom where I pressed wadded paper towels to my slick forehead. Luckily, my make-up was holding up okay, but I quickly refreshed my lipstick and powder just the same. A surreptitious sniff of my underarms confirmed I was doing okay in that department.

  I paused in the full-length mirror and smiled at my reflection. This girl was in love, I realized. It showed in my eyes, so bright and, for the moment, unburdened, and in my flushed skin. I ran my hands down my torso and along the curve of my hips, trying to imagine Ty's in their stead. My cheeks pinked up at the thought.

  "You're going to sleep with him, aren't you?"

  I jumped at the sudden voice.

  Carrie stepped out of the shadows cast by one of the stalls. How long had she been watching me? A rush of embarrassment went through me at having been observed in such an unguarded moment.

  I straightened my shoulders and regained control of my features. "That's none of your business."

  She laughed without humor. "I suppose you're right. After all, he broke up with me months ago."

  Her smile somehow hardened her pretty face. When she took a step closer to me, I instinctively matched it with a step backward as I tried to read the meaning behind her words.

  "I'm sorry things didn't work out with you two, but it really has nothing to do with me."

  That made her laugh; she threw back her head and practically cackled with mirth. "Are you really that stupid, Mac? It has everything to do with you."

  "I don't know what you mean." My eyes skittered to the doorway at her back.

  "I mean that I could never live up to the great Makenna Wilhelm—no matter what I tried." She clasped one of my auburn curls and slowly rubbed it between her fingers, her piercing blue eyes mere inches from mine. "Know what I was doing during the spring dance last year?"

  "No." I tried to step away, only to have her echo my movements.

  "I spent the night in the hotel room where my boyfriend took me. Only, he had to leave, you see? Had to go rescue this nitwit of a girl from the evil clutches of her boyfriend." She said the last like a tagline from a horror film. "Poor girl seemed pretty skilled at getting a guy hot, but you see, she never learned how to close the deal." Her sudden frown turned into a laugh. "I bet you still don't know how."

  My lips quivered and a tremor went through my hands as I pulled my hair out of her grasp. "Leave me alone."

  She snorted softly. "You're free to leave whenever you want. I'm not stopping you."

  I attempted to brush past her, but she stepped in my way. "Just one last thing." She ran a perfectly manicured fingertip across my collar bone; it scraped along my unmarred skin, leaving a light pink trail in its wake. "If you think you've won, you're wrong."

  In a flurry of silk, she spun on her heel and left. My knees went weak and I fought to remain standing with the sudden relief of her departure. I grasped one of the porcelain sinks and tried to calm myself. If Ty couldn't believe Carrie capable of harming someone, this had to be enough to convince him. I waited a few minutes to ensure she had indeed left, and then exited the room.

  When I stepped back inside the gymnasium, something on my face must've alerted Ty to my distress.

  "What's wrong?"

  His face was full of concern and all I wanted to do was pour out my thoughts and feelings for him to help put back together. Over his shoulder, I caught sight of the happy faces of our classmates. The picture they created put a stopper in my throat. I couldn't ruin our evening. This night had been magical, and I wouldn't allow this girl to disrupt it. Tomorrow would be soon enough.

  I forced a smile. "Nothing. I think the heat was getting to me a little."

  "Do you want something to drink?" Ty didn't appear completely convinced, but fetched me a glass anyway.

  I sipped it slowly, trying to conceal my emotions. "That's better," I said.

  "Are you sure you're okay?"

  "Yes."

  He didn't seem reassured. "Do you want me to take you home?

  "What? No! I'm fine—honest." I even half-convinced myself it was true.

  I cocked my ear toward the dance floor. "Anyway, I think they're playing our song."

  Ty grinned as he recognized the opening bars of Wish You Were Here.

  "Ten bucks says my Dad bribed the DJ to play that," I said, grinning up at him.

  It was enough to distract him; he led me into the center of the paired off couples. I rested my head on his chest, secure in his arms as the Pink Floyd song flowed around us.

  "Feeling better?" he asked.

  "Mmmhmm." With him, everything looked up.

  Chapter 25

  Toward the end of the dance, we were forced to gather on
the stage with the rest of the Homecoming court. Just my luck, I was wedged between Jenna and Carrie—the boys and girls having been separated for the crowning ceremony. Carrie fixed me with her angry stare, but quickly turned away as the proceedings got underway.

  The queen was announced first. I told myself I didn't care, but a blossom of hope grew in my chest as Mrs. Kramer sliced open the envelope containing the results. At the last second, I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer that it was my name inside.

  "And this year's Homecoming queen is..."

  Please, please, please.

  "...Mary Clark!"

  The crowd erupted into applause. Mary squealed and I forced a smile to congratulate her. She hugged me hard and moved to the center of the stage to accept her crown. A large bouquet of flowers was thrust into her awaiting arms and she smiled beautifully as they placed the rhinestone crown on her head. I pushed my feelings aside and cheered wildly for her. Ty caught my eye and winked. I shrugged my shoulders in an "oh well" fashion.

  And of course, Ty was crowned Homecoming king. He looked completely stunned when the other guys pushed him into the spotlight only to have a scepter thrust into his hands and the most grotesque red velvet crown placed on his head. I giggled uncontrollably at the expression on his face and he shook the rod at me playfully before leading Mary off the stage for their ceremonial dance to Stairway to Heaven. Mary's date, Ed Daniels, kindly offered me his arm and we took to the floor together, followed by the other couples.

  "Watch where you put your hands," Ty growled at Ed.

  "Same to you, buddy," Ed said, smacking Ty's crown off of his head.

  Mary and I laughed along, exchanging light-hearted banter and insults. Halfway through the marathon of a song, we decided to forego tradition and switch partners. Ty spun me around the floor with a dramatic flourish and all of us were laughing like loons by time the final note sounded. Melanie and Matt joined our group; I smiled to see the pair getting along so well.

  "You guys are idiots," David muttered as he brushed past us with Sarah Holsten on his arm. I tried not to size her up, but the captain of the cheerleaders is hard to ignore. She wore a painted on dark blue number that practically dipped all the way to her belly button. Her silvery hair skimmed her lower back and she just radiated sex.

  Jenna, as it turned out, finally snared her man. She danced in the background with Mike, the basketball player she practically stalked into submission.

  Ty and David glared at each other, but thankfully, David left the area before anything bad could go down. I let out the breath I held.

  "Hey, you guys wanna get out of here?" Ed asked. "This thing seems to be winding down."

  Ty raised a brow in question and I nodded. "Sounds good."

  "We're in," Matt said, taking Melanie's hand.

  We all tried to slip out the entrance, but my mother's voice stopped us. "And where do you two think you're going?"

  Ty and I exchanged a worried glance. We hadn't done anything, but it was never a good thing to have a parent show up this way.

  She laughed. "I mean Ty and Mary. We need to get a few pictures for the yearbook. It'll only take a few minutes."

  The others followed my mother, but Ty hesitated for just a moment, a look of discomfort on his face. "This stuff is so embarrassing."

  I straightened his tie. "Yeah, but you look very handsome."

  And he did. His dark suit accentuated his broad shoulders in just the right way.

  His eyes were troubled, and he shuffled his feet while giving me sidelong glances.

  "Do you need to use the restroom first?"

  He laughed nervously. "No."

  "What's up then?"

  "I'm feeling like a complete tool for doing something and I don't want you to get upset."

  He grasped my elbow and pulled me away from the crowded exit. With one last glance to make sure no one was within earshot, he leaned down and spoke softly. "First, let me just say you can say no and I won't blame you." He waited for me to agree before continuing. Then he spewed the words out so fast I could barely understand. "I got us a room, but we don't have to go—or we can, you know, just to hang out. I don't expect anything, but I thought—hoped—maybe... Never mind. See, I'm a tool."

  God he was cute. "I'd love to go."

  "Are you sure?" He looked completely dumbfounded, a miracle for a guy who had rented a room without asking beforehand.

  "Yes." A thrill of desire spread throughout my body, followed by a spurt of bravery. "Let's ditch the others. Go take your pictures."

  I bit my lip as he strode away quickly. A man on a mission, I thought.

  Still smiling and off in dreamland, I didn't hear anyone approach. A rough hand touched my elbow. I jerked back to reality. Caleb Martin stood beside me, his cool gaze taking in my entire appearance. Whether or not he appreciated what he saw, I couldn't tell. His expression didn't change from complete disinterest.

  He was dressed in jeans and a dark jacket. Not exactly Homecoming-wear.

  With a jerk of his head, he motioned for me to follow him. Not waiting to see if I'd obey, he left the auditorium, heading toward the classrooms at the opposite end of the building. My heart pounded, but I hesitated, not really sure I wanted to follow a guy like Caleb into a dark building.

  Standing on tiptoe, I searched the room for Ty. I spotted him standing with Mary in front of a star-covered backdrop with a fake stairway leading up to the heavens. The photographer's flashbulbs were going off in rapid fire. Melanie and the others stood around the pair, exchanging friendly barbs. No one would notice if I slipped away.

  Before I could have second thoughts, I hurried after Caleb.

  The dimly lit corridor was quiet except for the clack of my heels across the tile. The music from the dance occasionally flared as people started exiting to leave for parts unknown, and every now and then I could hear a burst of laughter. I didn't know which direction Caleb had gone, and I stopped, afraid to go any farther. The only thing that lay ahead was empty classrooms.

  "Caleb?" I called.

  There was no response and I continued walking, turning every few steps to sweep the area. The open doorways of the classrooms scared me, the darkness within completely impenetrable. Anyone could be hiding inside.

  Forget this.

  I turned on my heel and started back toward the gym. Soon I was jogging as fast as my heels and gown would allow. I rounded a corner, my head doing a fairly good impression of Linda Blair from The Exorcist, and ran into something solid.

  I shrieked and shrank away. Caleb.

  "You asshole!" I yelled, not caring who or what Caleb was capable of. "You scared the shit out of me!" I punctuated each word with a slap to his chest. He didn't raise his arms to protect himself, just stepped back out of my reach.

  "Jumpy," he said.

  I glowered at him, trying to catch my breath. "What the hell do you want?"

  The corner of his mouth quirked up. I half expected him to light a cigarette. Instead, he watched me in the near dark, shadows playing across his face.

  "Well?" I said. I don't know what it was about the guy, but I had the urge to stamp my foot like a three year old. For some reason, he brought that reaction out in me.

  "I have it," he said, simple and to the point.

  My next barrage of words died on my lips.

  "It wasn't cheap. I expect you to pay."

  I nodded, too stunned to say anything more. He rattled off a price I hadn't anticipated, but it didn't matter. He'd found a capture gun.

  Unable to control it, I smiled. "Thank you."

  It was ridiculous considering I had blackmailed him into it, but I think my reaction genuinely surprised him.

  "Christ," he said, turning on his heel. "Get the money, Princess. I want it up front."

  He disappeared into the shadows, and I found I could barely contain myself. When Ty found me a few minutes later, I was still grinning.

  "What is it?" he said, grinning back.

  "N
othing," I said. "It's just been a really good night."

  Linking arms, we made our way through the hall to my locker. Earlier I had stashed my coat there, afraid it would get lost in the melee. I was smiling as I turned the combination, smiling when I opened the door.

  That smile faltered when I saw what awaited me inside.

  Etched into the metal door of my locker were two words.

  "Five days."

  The message behind the words was clear. It was a warning, a promise, a threat. Five days until the next moon cycle began, and then, the hunt would begin.

  Chapter 26

  "It's Carrie. I know it." I paced the room, my gown swooshing with my agitated movements. "The girl is crazy. She blames me for your breakup."

  "Stand still, Mac. You're making me dizzy." Ty sat hunched in one of the winged-back chairs, his jacket off and sleeves rolled up. He looked defeated. I reluctantly obliged him by perching on the edge of the bed.

  "Do you believe me now?"

  "Maybe."

  "Maybe? Ty, she cornered me in the restroom and warned me away from you. You should've seen her face. I've never seen anyone so angry...And my hair! If her grabbing my hair isn't a dead giveaway, I don't know what is!"

  "Stop." He balanced his elbows on his knees and ran his hands across his face. "Please, just let me process everything for a minute. You saw for yourself—she didn't react to the dog whistle."

  I reluctantly held my tongue. That was the one sticking point in my theory. I chose to disregard it, just as I would now. It had to be her.

  "Maybe it's like this—no rhyme or reason. You can't smell stuff, she can't hear it." I shrugged when he shot me another warning glance.

  Why was he refusing to accept the obvious? Did he still love her? Is that why he didn't want to believe me?

  I chewed on my lip, frustrated. This wasn't the way the evening was supposed to go.

  Never one to spare expense, Ty picked a romantic spot for what was supposed to be one of the greatest nights of our lives. Foregoing the usual Holiday Inn or run of the mill hotel, Ty booked us a room at the Rose Hill Bed & Breakfast. The old-fashioned house sat on a bluff overlooking Rosemead Lake. As kids, we'd stolen peeks inside through the etched windows along the wraparound porch.