Dance of Death

by R. L. Stine

  Madeline spotted the flicker of white again and raced after it. She flew around another corner and skidded to a stop.

  A dead end.

  Madeline jerked on one of the doors that lined the hallway. Locked. She tried every single door. Every one was locked.

  No! Madeline thought. This can’t be happening. I know the man turned down this corridor.

  Now I’ll never feel safe here. Never know when he’ll turn up again. Never know what he wants.

  And no one will believe me if I tell them about him. Nobody did before. I’m all alone, with no one to help me. She leaned her head against the wall.

  Step … drag …

  Step … drag …

  Step …

  What’s that?

  Footsteps. Behind me. Coming down the hall!

  Step … drag …

  Step … drag …

  Step …

  Madeline heard the footsteps come closer and closer. Then she heard a strange crooning sound.

  “Tobias,” an eerie voice moaned. “Tobiiiaaas.”

  Chills raced up and down Madeline’s spine. She pressed her hands to her mouth to hold back the scream rising from deep within her.

  A pale form materialized at the mouth of the hall.

  It wasn’t the man.

  It was an old woman. An old woman dressed in white.

  Step … drag …

  Step … drag …

  Step …

  She started down the hallway toward Madeline. Madeline’s breath came in shallow gasps.

  The old woman wore an ancient wedding dress. It hung from her skeletal form in filthy tatters. The filmy veil had been ripped and then mended with jagged stitches of blood-red thread.

  It looks like a scar, Madeline thought. A scar on a ghost.

  Step …

  The old woman moved forward.

  Drag …

  She pulled the long tattered train of her wedding dress behind her.

  Step … drag …

  She had almost reached Madeline. Now Madeline could see the woman’s blue eyes glittering behind her filthy veil. She could feel the woman’s hot, sour breath on her face.

  “You’ve seen my Tobias, haven’t you?” the old crone whispered. She reached out and took hold of Madeline’s arms. Her clawlike fingers dug into Madeline’s skin.

  The old woman began to shake Madeline. And shake her. And shake her.

  Madeline’s head hit the wall with a thunk. Spots danced before her eyes.

  “My Tobias,” the old woman chanted. She gave Madeline a shake with each word. “You’ve seen my Tobias, haven’t you? Haven’t you? Where is he? Where is my Tobias?”

  Tobias? Who is she talking about? Madeline thought. Who is Tobias?

  PART TWO

  Tobias

  Chapter

  6

  Shadowbrook, New York, 1793

  Tobias Morgan opened his journal and dipped his pen in the inkwell.

  Today, after more than a year, Justin returned from his journey in the desert, Tobias wrote. I almost did not recognize him. His face was burned from the sun and wind. His lips were so chapped they bled. And his eyes … his eyes were wild. Like a madman’s.

  He brought back papers that he believes hold the key to our project. He believes we are about to achieve our goal.

  I must admit I was not certain this day would ever arrive. And there were times I hoped it would not. For perhaps the knowledge Justin and I seek should not belong to mortal men …

  Justin begged me to start translating the papers immediately. I began work on them as soon as he left me.

  Tobias paused to wipe a bead of sweat from his forehead. It was late, almost time for him to leave his medical laboratory for the day and go up to dinner. But Tobias wanted to finish the entry in his journal first.

  The beautiful leather-bound journal was a gift from the woman he loved. Honoria Bancroft, his fiancée.

  Tobias promised Honoria he would write his most secret hopes and dreams in the journal. That way, if they were ever parted, Honoria could keep the diary with her, and she would feel close to him.

  But tonight he was having difficulty writing down his thoughts. He wasn’t sure he wanted Honoria to know about the work he was performing for Justin Fear.

  It isn’t wrong, not exactly. But not everyone would understand it, Tobias thought.

  Tobias was almost sure Honoria wouldn’t understand it. Almost sure she would not approve. Honoria wanted Tobias to stop working with Justin.

  Once Honoria and Tobias were married, she wanted him to establish his own medical practice somewhere else. She wanted them to leave Shadowbrook.

  But Tobias knew he could never do it. He could never stop working with Justin. He owed him too much.

  If not for Justin, I wouldn’t be a doctor, Tobias thought. He paid for all my medical schooling because he wanted us to work together. He bought me this fine house, right next door to his own because he wanted me to live close by. He wanted me to be his partner, as well as his best friend.

  How can I tell him I no longer want us to work together? I can’t repay his kindness by letting him down.

  But it was still hard for Tobias to write down what he and Justin were working on together. The thing that had always been the driving force behind Justin’s work.

  Think of all the good we will do if we’re successful, Tobias told himself.

  He dipped the pen into the inkwell. The tip of the feather pen scratched across the page as he continued his journal entry.

  It’s better for Honoria to know the truth someday, Tobias thought. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us. I want her to know what Justin and I are trying to do.

  I’m almost certain the papers Justin has asked me to translate contain the key to unlocking the secret of eternal life.

  A blast of cold air filled the room. Tobias trembled. The flame of his candle flickered. The ancient papers Justin brought back from the desert stirred and rustled.

  That’s odd, Tobias thought. There are never any drafts in this underground laboratory.

  Justin created the laboratory especially for the work he and Tobias did together. The work that would give them the secret of eternal life. A secret passageway led from Justin’s house to the laboratory, then on to Tobias’s house.

  The passageway opened into Tobias’s bedroom. His servants knew nothing about it. Not that Tobias had many of them. He was too poor. If not for Justin, Tobias wouldn’t have been able to afford to live in Shadowbrook.

  Justin will be angry when he finds out that I told Honoria about the passageway and the laboratory, Tobias thought. But we’re going to be married. Soon, we’ll be man and wife. I couldn’t keep it a secret from her.

  “Tobias!” a voice called out.

  Tobias lifted his head to see Honoria coming into the laboratory. She rushed over to him and threw herself into his arms.

  “You’re shaking,” Tobias exclaimed. “What’s the matter?”

  “Oh, Tobias,” Honoria said, burying her face against his chest. “How can you stand to walk through that passage day after day? It’s dark and horrible. And I heard rats scurrying around me.”

  “You’re just imagining things, Honoria,” Tobias said soothingly. “I admit the passageway needs cleaning, but there’s nobody but me to do it and I have more important work. It’s not so bad, once you get used to it.”

  “I could never get used to it,” Honoria cried. She lifted her head and stared up at him. “Never. Oh, Tobias, promise me that after we’re married, you won’t do this any longer. Promise me we’ll go away from here.”

  Tobias felt his heart contract as he looked down at Honoria.

  She’s so beautiful. How can I refuse her anything?

  Honoria’s hair was the color of sunshine. Her eyes were a beautiful sky blue. She always reminded Tobias of a bright, clear summer morning.

  I’m so lucky. So lucky she loves me. So lucky she agreed to marry me.

 
But in his heart, Tobias harbored a terrible secret. A fear that someday Honoria would change her mind about him.

  She and Justin would make such a handsome couple. Tobias knew he wasn’t nearly as good looking as Justin. His hair and eyes were just an ordinary brown. Justin had blond hair and blue eyes to match Honoria’s.

  Honoria had never appeared interested in Justin. In fact, she seemed to dislike him. But Tobias couldn’t stop worrying that one day Honoria would realize rich, handsome Justin would make her a much better husband.

  What does she see in me? Compared to Justin, I’m nothing. I’m so plain and poor.

  Oh, Honoria, Tobias thought. Don’t ever leave me. I love you so much!

  But no matter how much he loved her, he couldn’t betray his best friend. “I can’t leave here until my work with Justin is finished,” Tobias said slowly. “I owe him everything, Honoria. Please, try to understand.”

  Honoria jerked herself out of Tobias’s arms and began to pace around the laboratory. “I understand that you care more for Justin than you do for me,” she snapped. “I’m going to be your wife, Tobias. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? I only want what is best for us.”

  “But that’s all I want, too,” Tobias said. “As soon as I’ve finished my work for Justin, we’ll go away together. I promise. But I can’t leave before that.”

  He pulled Honoria back into his arms.

  “Oh, Tobias,” Honoria whispered. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. “I’m so afraid.”

  “Afraid?” Tobias echoed. “Of what?”

  “Of Justin,” Honoria confided. “I saw him when he returned today. He rode past me when I was on my way to your house. He seems different somehow. His eyes are so strange, Tobias.”

  She shivered. “I’m afraid Justin means to keep you here forever. Afraid he’ll never let you go. I have the money for my dowry. I want us to use it to start a new life together. I want us to go away right now!”

  “Honoria, I’ve just explained that I can’t go yet,” Tobias answered. “And you mustn’t worry about Justin. I admit he gets a little intense sometimes. But you mustn’t let your imagination run wild.”

  A part of Tobias was glad to hear how Honoria felt about Justin. If Honoria were afraid of Justin, she would never leave Tobias for him.

  Yes, Justin has everything. Except Honoria, Tobias thought. She belongs to me. And she always will.

  Believe it, Tobias told himself. Believe it.

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he murmured. “I’ll keep you safe. I love you, Honoria.”

  “Oh, Tobias,” Honoria whispered. “I love you, too.” She lifted her face for a kiss.

  Tobias gazed down into her beautiful blue eyes. He lowered his lips until they almost touched hers. He knew he shouldn’t be doing this. It wasn’t proper for him to kiss her. It wasn’t even proper for them to be together without a chaperon.

  But her mouth would feel so good.

  Honoria’s lips parted.

  She gave a high, shrill scream.

  Chapter

  7

  Tobias thrust Honoria behind him and crouched down into a fighting position. He could see a dark figure standing in the shadows at the entrance to the passageway.

  That’s the passage from Justin’s house! Something terrible must have happened. Nobody ever comes that way but him.

  Tobias could feel his heartbeat quicken as adrenaline raced through his body.

  “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting something,” Justin said, his tone sarcastic.

  Justin! It was only Justin.

  “Why didn’t you say who you were at once,” Tobias snapped. “I could have hurt you!”

  “I knew you wouldn’t hurt me, Tobias,” Justin answered. “You couldn’t, even if you tried.”

  Justin brushed past Tobias. “Honoria,” he said. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  He’s angry, Tobias thought. Angry because I broke my promise and told her about the laboratory.

  “I followed Tobias when he wasn’t paying attention,” Honoria said. “You mustn’t blame him, Justin. It wasn’t his fault.”

  “That’s not true—” Tobias began.

  Justin laughed. “But of course I won’t blame Tobias,” he said. “How can I blame him for wanting to be with you? If you were my fiancée, I wouldn’t let you out of my sight, Honoria.”

  Justin took a step closer to her. Tobias clenched his hands into two tight fists.

  He’s always flirting with her, he thought. Always trying to take her away from me.

  Honoria took a quick step back. Tobias breathed a sigh of relief.

  She doesn’t even want to be near him, Tobias reminded himself. I’m the one she wants to be with. Honoria loves me.

  “I’ll go up to see about your dinner, Tobias,” Honoria said, trying to maneuver around Justin. “You’ll come up very soon, won’t you?”

  “As soon as Tobias and I have a little discussion,” Justin answered before Tobias could say anything.

  Tobias felt a spurt of anger. He forced it down.

  All I have to do is translate these papers, Tobias thought. Then Honoria and I can be married and go away together. We’ll never have to see Justin again.

  Until then, I must remember how much I owe him. How good he’s always been to me.

  Honoria hurried out of the lab. Her haste made her clumsy. She bumped into Tobias’s instrument table, knocking over a tray of sharp scalpels.

  “Ouch!” Honoria cried.

  “Honoria, what is it?” Tobias said, hurrying forward. But Justin was closer.

  “It’s nothing,” he said, quickly stepping in front of Tobias. “She’s just cut herself. I don’t think it’s very deep. I’ll take care of it.”

  Justin pulled a snowy white handkerchief from his coat pocket and pressed it to Honoria’s wound.

  “Here,” he said. “This should help stop the bleeding.”

  Tobias could hear Honoria’s unsteady breathing. “Justin,” she gasped. “You’re pressing too hard.”

  “Nonsense, my dear,” Justin said. “The pressure is what stops the bleeding. Remember, I’m the doctor, so I ought to know.”

  “Let go of her,” Tobias cried, springing forward.

  “Calm down, Tobias,” Justin said sharply. “There’s no reason for alarm. There, see? The bleeding has stopped.”

  He whipped the handkerchief from Honoria’s cut hand and stuffed it in his pocket. “You can go up to dinner now, Honoria,” he continued. “Tobias will be along in a moment.”

  Honoria brushed past Justin. She laid a trembling hand on Tobias’s arm. “Tobias,” she said in a low voice. “I don’t want you to stay here. I don’t want to go back through that horrible passage alone. Come with me now, Tobias.”

  Tobias didn’t know what to do. Which was more important? His debt to Justin or his love for Honoria?

  I wouldn’t be able to marry Honoria if it wasn’t for Justin, he thought. He’s the one who made it possible for me to support myself. I don’t have much. But what I have, I owe to Justin.

  “I must stay to talk with Justin,” he answered. “Take one of my candles. I’ll come up as soon as I can.”

  “Oh, Tobias,” Honoria whispered. Her beautiful blue eyes filled with tears. Without another word, she took the candle and ran from the laboratory.

  You better have a very good reason for keeping me here, Justin, Tobias thought. He hated to see Honoria so unhappy. Trying to keep hold of his temper, he turned to face Justin Fear.

  Justin was hunched over Tobias’s desk. He studied the notes Tobias had begun to make on the papers.

  He’s forgotten all about Honoria, Tobias thought.

  “You’ve done it, haven’t you?” Justin asked, his eyes shining as he looked up from the papers.

  Honoria is right. There is something strange about his eyes, Tobias thought.

  “You’ve started to translate these, haven’t you?” Justin prompted. “You know the m
eaning of this word.”

  He lifted the papers up and pointed to one word that was repeated over and over. The papers crackled in Justin’s hands.

  It’s as if they’re alive, Tobias thought. As if they want me to tell Justin their secrets.

  “Yes,” he answered. “I know what that word means. I figured it out just before you came in. But I don’t know everything, Justin. That word is just the first step.”

  “It’s more than that,” Justin countered. “I’m sure it’s the key. That word is the vital element to uncovering the secret of eternal life. What is the word, Tobias? Tell me.”

  Tobias took a deep breath. I have to tell him, he thought. I owe him that much.

  “Blood,” he said in a harsh whisper.

  A gust of cold air swept through the laboratory. The room was plunged into pitch darkness as every single candle in the room went out.

  Chapter

  8

  Justin’s eyes shone in the darkness. The sight made Tobias shudder.

  “Blood,” Justin cried. “Blood, I knew it! Now I have the answer. I have the key. I can live forever. I can do it!”

  Justin threw back his head and laughed in triumph. The sound echoed in the dark laboratory.

  Honoria is correct, Tobias thought. Something is terribly wrong with Justin. He’s obsessed by those papers. Obsessed with finding the secret of eternal life. Eternal life—for himself.

  And he’s stopped wanting to do good for others, Tobias realized. He wants the secret all for himself now.

  Tobias fumbled as he struggled to light a candle. Justin’s laughter went on and on.

  I’ve got to make him stop, Tobias thought. I’ve got to make him see that what we’re doing could be dangerous.

  A candle flame flared in the darkness.

  “Justin, this power can be—” Tobias cried.

  Justin abruptly stopped laughing. But his eyes still glowed with triumph.

  “You’re about to say something sensible, aren’t you?” he asked. “Practical Tobias. You always take the straightforward approach. So tell me, why do you think the papers refer to blood?”