Dark Visions by L. J. Smith

some movement and the stranger went spinning, landing on his back on the ground.
    "Now get out," he said, looking down at the supine figure. "And don't come back unless you're tired of living. If I see you around again, I'll forget I just did two years for murder."
    A shock went through Kait. But she didn't have time to think-Gabriel was speaking again.
    "I said, get out. Run. Show me a four-minute mile."
    The stranger got up, not nearly as smoothly and gracefully as before. From what Kait could see of his expression, he was both furious and frightened.
    "You're both so stupid-" he began.
    "Run," Gabriel suggested, holding the knife as if ready to throw it.
    The stranger turned and went, half running, half angrily stalking.
    When the crunch of his footsteps had died, Kaitlyn looked at Gabriel, who was folding up the knife and putting it in his back pocket all in one practiced gesture.
    Murder, she thought. He was in jail for murder.
    What she said, rather unsteadily, was, "Thank you."
    He glanced up at her briefly, and she could swear he was amused, as if he knew the difference between her thoughts and her words. "Who was he? An old boyfriend?" he asked.
    "Don't be ridiculous," Kait snapped, and then wished she hadn't. One ought to be more polite to a murderer, especially when one was alone with him in the dark. "I don't know who he is," she added. "But he was at the airport when I came yesterday. He must have followed Joyce and me home."
    Gabriel looked at her skeptically, then shrugged. "I don't think he'll come back." He started toward the house without turning to see if Kait was following.
    Kaitlyn picked up her sketchbook and went after him.

    "What happened?" Rob said, vaulting to his feet. He and Lewis and Anna were in the study-as was Joyce. Kaitlyn had looked for her on the first floor, then come up here.
    Rob was staring from Kaitlyn, who was just realizing that she had bits of dead leaves and grass in her hair, to Gabriel, who was behind her. "What happened?" he repeated, in a more controlled but more frightening voice.
    "What does it look like?" Gabriel taunted, at his very nastiest.
    Rob started toward him, golden eyes blazing.
    'Wo, "Kaitlyn said. "Rob, don't. He didn't hurt me; he saved me."
    She felt a surge of dizzy excitement-Rob was angry for her, protective. But she couldn't let him fight Gabriel.
    "He saved you?" Rob said, with open scorn. He was on one side of the doorway, staring at Gabriel as if trying to bore holes in him. Gabriel was on the other side, almost lounging against the wall and looking devastatingly handsome. Kait was caught in between them.
    She appealed to Joyce, who was rising from the study couch.
    "It was that guy, the guy from the airport," she said. "He was out back." She explained what had happened, watching the alarm grow on Joyce's face.
    "Jeez, we'd better call the police," Lewis said when she was done. He sounded more impressed than scared.
    "He's right," Anna said, her dark eyes sober.
    "Oh, sure, call them," Gabriel sneered. "I only just got paroled. They love to see people like me with switchblades."
    Joyce grimaced. She squeezed her eyes shut and did some stretching exercises with her shoulders.
    Kaitlyn's heart sank. Gabriel would be in trouble- he might even get sent back to jail. His part of the experiment would be ruined, and he might never learn to control his powers. All because he'd helped her.
    Rob was suddenly looking quite cheerful. "Well, we've got to report it."
    "Fine. Just give me ten minutes' start," Gabriel said through his teeth.
    "Stop it, both of you," Kaitlyn said. Then she sighed. Being in love wasn't easy. She didn't want to make Rob unhappy, but she had no choice.
    "I have an idea," she said hesitantly. "We could call the police, but not tell them Gabriel was involved. I'll just say I got away from the guy out there. Then nobody would get in trouble, but the police could do whatever they need to."
    Rob's smile faded. Gabriel was still glaring. But