Sanctuary(42)

"Then I'm sure you won't be disappointed in what Desire has to offer."

"From where I'm standing, the offerings are perfect."

If she'd had the flashlight, she would have abandoned manners and shined it in his face. It was the voice coming out of the dark, she told herself, that made it seem so eerie and dangerous. When the door creaked beside her, she turned quickly and reached for Kirby's hand before Yirby had stepped all the way out.

"We've got company," Jo said, annoyed that her voice was too high and too bright. "This is a popular spot tonight. Number ten was just passing through."

But when she looked back, raising Kirby's hand that held the flash, there was no one there. With a panicked sound in her throat, Jo grabbed the flashlight and waved it frantically over the dark grass and trees.

"He was here. There was someone here. I didn't imagine it. I didn't."

"All right." Gently, Yirby laid a hand on Jo's shoulder, concerned by the trembling. "It's all right. Who was he?"

"I don't know. He was just there. He talked to me. Didn't you hear?"

"No, I didn't hear anything."

"He was almost whispering. That's why. He didn't want you to hear him. But he was there." Her fingers gripped Kirby's like a vise, the panic beating like bat wings in her stomach. "T swear he was right over there."

"I believe you, honey, why wouldn't I?"

"Because he's gone, and . . ." she trailed off, rocked herself for a moment to regain her balance. "I don't know. Christ, I'm a mess. It was dark, he startled me. I couldn't see his face." she blew out a breath, dragged her hair back with both hands. "He creeped me out, I guess."

"It's no big deal. I got spooked in the woods today walking to Sanctuary. Ran like a rabbit."

Jo let out a little laugh, scrubbed her clammy palms dry on the thighs of her 'cans. "Really?"

"Jumped gibbering into Brian's arms. Made him feel big and male enough to kiss me, though, so it wasn't a complete loss."

Jo sniffled, grateful that she could feel her legs solidly under her again. "So, how was it?"

"Terrific. I believe I'll definitely give him another chance." she gave Jo's hand a squeeze. "Okay now?"

"Yeah. Sorry."

"No problem. Spooky place." Her grin flashed. "Let's sneak back and scare the hell out of Lex and Ginny."

As they started off, hands linked, he watched them from the shadows. He smiled to himself, enjoing the music of quiet female voices Yi drifting away. It was best, he realized, that she had come with the other one. He might have felt compelled to move to the next stage if Jo Ellen had wandered so neatly into him alone.

And he wasn't ready, not nearly ready, to move from anticipation to reality. There was still so much to prepare, so much to enJOY.

But, oh, how he wanted her. To taste that sexy, top-heavy mouth, to spread those long thighs, to close his hands around that pretty white throat.

He closed his eyes and let the image of it roll through his brain.

The frozen image of Annabelle, so still and so perfect, shifted into hot life and became his. Became Jo.

A portion of the journal he carried with him played through his head.

Murderfascinates us all. Some would deny it, but they are liars. Man is helplessly drawn to the death of his own mortality. Animals kill to survive-forfood, for territory, for sex. Nature kills without emotion.

But man also kills for pleasure. It has always been so. We alone among the animals know that the taking of a life is the essence of control and power.

Soon she experience the perfection of that. And capture it. My own immortality.

He shuddered in pleasure.

anticipation, he mused as he turned on his light again to guide his way. Yes, he was a huge fan of anticipation.

he cheerful whistling woke Nathan. As he drifted 'n that netherworld just under frill consciousness, he dreamed of a bird chirping happily on the near branch of the maple tree outside his window. There had been one in his youth, a mocking bird that sang its morning song every day for a full summer, greeting him so reliably that he had named it Bud. Hazy, hot days filled with the important business of bike riding and ball playing and Popslcle licking.

The insistent wake-up call caused Nathan to greet every morning with a grin and a quick salute to Bud. He'd been devastated when Bud deserted him in late August, but Nathan's mother said that Bud had probably gone off early for his winter vacation.

Nathan rolled over and thought how odd it was that Bud should know how to whistle "Ring of Fire." In the half dream the bird hopped onto the windowsill, a cartoon bird now, a Disney character with sleek black feathers and Johnny Cash's weathered, been-there-done-that face.