Dance of Death

by R. L. Stine

  Tobias breathed a sigh of relief. Justin’s mood was still a strange one, but his terrible hysteria seemed to have passed.

  “It must be a reference to the circulatory system,” Tobias said. “Perhaps the papers tell of a way to stimulate the blood so the heart always stays healthy and strong.”

  “That’s exactly the kind of explanation I expected you to come up with,” Justin spat out. “Proper and scientific.”

  “What other kind of explanation could there be?” Tobias asked. “We’re doctors, Justin. We must look for the scientific explanation. Otherwise, what we’re doing would be terrible evil. Rituals and dark magic.”

  Justin set the papers down and stepped away from Tobias’s desk. “You’re absolutely right, of course,” he agreed. “Keep up the good work. Soon you’ll have all the papers translated. Then we’ll know the truth. A great discovery awaits us, Tobias.”

  “I hope so,” Tobias answered.

  Justin clapped him on the shoulder. “I know so,” he insisted. “But I mustn’t disturb you any longer. You have work to do, and Honoria is waiting.”

  Justin headed for his side of the passageway. “Don’t work too long,” he taunted. “Some things don’t keep.”

  What does he mean? Tobias wondered. Is he talking about Honoria?

  I don’t understand him anymore, Tobias thought as he resumed his place at his desk.

  I used to know him so well. He was like a brother to me. But now he feels like a stranger.

  He glanced back over at Justin.

  Justin had his handkerchief pressed to his lips. Tobias heard a sucking sound. Then he saw Justin’s tongue flick out and lick the cloth.

  He used that handkerchief to stop Honoria’s hand from bleeding, Tobias thought.

  Justin is drinking my Honoria’s blood!

  PART THREE

  Madeline

  Chapter

  9

  Shadowbrook, New York, 1873

  Madeline stood in the corridor. The old woman clung to her arm. Her jagged fingernails bit into Madeline’s flesh. Her grasp closed even tighter and Madeline felt her skin go numb.

  “My Tobias,” the old woman wailed. “My Tobias. I know you have seen him. He knew the secret. Too late. Too late …” she moaned.

  “Auntie!” Deborah’s voice rang out suddenly. “Stop that right now! Get away from her!”

  The old woman dropped Madeline’s arm and spun around. Cackling wildly, she dashed down the hallway. She shoved her way past Deborah.

  “Tobias! Tobias!” Madeline heard Auntie call as she vanished around the corner.

  “Why did you just stand there?” Madeline cried in desperation. “Why didn’t you stop her?”

  Deborah’s hands fluttered around her throat. “There now, my dear.” She put her arm around Madeline’s shoulders. “That’s only old Auntie. You needn’t be concerned about her. She’s perfectly harmless. She just wanders in her mind a bit, that’s all.”

  “But who is she?” Madeline asked. She winced as her cousin’s hand closed over the bruises Auntie’s grip had left on Madeline’s arm.

  Deborah shrugged. “To tell you the truth, no one really knows,” she answered. She led Madeline back down the hall.

  “She was living in the house when Marcus and I bought this place. It was a condition of the sale that she be allowed to stay.”

  What a strange arrangement, Madeline thought. But Deborah and Marcus appeared to be very poor. Perhaps the price of the house was low because Auntie would have to continue to live here. They may not have been able to afford any other place.

  “I’m sorry if she frightened you,” Deborah continued. “This is her part of the house. What on earth were you doing so far from your room?”

  Should I tell her? Should I tell her that the man I saw in the road this afternoon slipped into my bedroom? And that I chased him down this hallway?

  Madeline remembered the conversation she overheard in her room between her cousins. Deborah and Marcus were already worried because they thought Madeline was imagining things.

  What would they think if she told them the man was here, in their own house? In Madeline’s very own room?

  They’ll think I’m insane. Just like Mama.

  I can’t tell them. I can’t tell anyone.

  “I tried to come downstairs to find you and Cousin Marcus,” she stammered. She hoped Deborah couldn’t tell she was lying. “I got confused by the corridors in the dark and lost my way.”

  Deborah stared at Madeline, her eyes sharp. Madeline’s heart began to pound. What would she do if her cousin said she didn’t believe her?

  “How unfortunate,” Deborah said at last. “It appears you’ve had a fright for nothing. But let’s not think about that any longer. I have exciting news. You received an invitation. Who do you suppose it’s from?”

  Madeline felt her heart give a great leap. There was only one other person who she knew in Shadowbrook.

  “Is the invitation from Dr. Fear?” she asked, trying to hide the eagerness in her voice.

  “Dr. Fear,” Deborah teased as she led Madeline into her own dressing room. “My dear, how coy you are. Of course the invitation is from Justin. I could tell at once that he was quite smitten with you. He’s considered quite a catch in Shadowbrook, you know,” Deborah confided.

  She guided Madeline to a soft chair. “All the other girls will be terribly jealous. Now, you must allow me to lend you a dress for your visit. I know you have clothes of your own, but I have something that I think is absolutely perfect.”

  Madeline watched as Deborah flung open her wardrobe and began sorting through a row of dresses.

  “But, Cousin Deborah,” she protested. “You and Cousin Marcus have already given me so much. I can’t take one of your dresses, too.”

  Cousin Deborah laughed gaily. “Nonsense, my dear,” she said. “We must help you make the best possible impression on Justin. Ah, here it is.”

  Madeline’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of the beautiful dress her cousin held up. The creamy white satin gown had long, sheer sleeves, a high back bustle and a long train. Tiny brilliants were stitched all over it. The beads sparkled and winked in the candlelight.

  Deborah pulled Madeline to her feet and held the dress up against her slim form. Then she turned her around to face the large oval mirror.

  “Oh, my dear. You’re breathtaking,” Deborah exclaimed.

  Madeline felt herself blush as she admired her reflection. The pale white satin set off her dark hair and eyes to perfection.

  I look like a fairy princess, she thought dreamily. Or like a—

  “I can’t wait to see the expression on Justin’s face when he sees you in this dress,” Deborah gushed. “My dear, you’re going to look just like a bride.”

  A bride!

  Justin’s bride.

  Madeline shivered. This room is so drafty, she thought.

  “Heavens, my dear,” Deborah exclaimed. “What a strange reaction. You look as if somebody just walked across your grave.”

  Chapter

  10

  As she strolled up the stone walk to Justin’s house, Madeline spotted Justin in the rose garden. She walked toward him, then stopped at the garden gate.

  She felt her mouth go suddenly dry and her heart thudded with anticipation. Justin is so handsome, she thought, as she watched him moving among the fragrant flowers. His well-cut garments molded his perfect body. The clear morning sunlight turned his hair the color of spun gold.

  What will he think of my new dress? Will he like it? Or will he think that it is too obvious? That I’m making a bid for his attention? Asking him to picture me as his bride?

  Justin moved from rosebush to rosebush. At each bush, he stopped and stroked his fingertips across the petals of one of the blossoms. The bushes shivered and swayed at his touch.

  Madeline leaned against the gate and it creaked beneath her weight.

  Justin spun around instantly. “Madeline!” he cri
ed.

  “Hello, Justin,” Madeline shyly greeted him.

  Justin smiled. He walked over to her and eased the gate open. “I’m so pleased you could come this afternoon,” he told her. “How are you feeling? Is your head bothering you at all?”

  “Oh, no,” Madeline told him. “I had an excellent doctor.”

  Justin grinned at her. “I thought we could have tea in the garden,” he said. He gestured to a small table surrounded by rosebushes.

  “That sounds wonderful,” Madeline replied.

  “Let’s take a walk around the garden first,” Justin said. “I’ve some rare and precious treasures here,” he confided.

  The fragrance of the roses hung heavily in the air. Madeline breathed in the perfume deeply. A feeling of nausea swept over her. Bile rose in her throat. She swallowed down the bitter taste.

  What’s the matter with me? Madeline thought. I love the scent of roses.

  I’m just nervous about being alone with Justin, she decided. That’s all.

  “It was very good of you to invite me,” Madeline said. “I hope I’m not interrupting your work.”

  “I would never mind an interruption from you, Madeline,” Justin assured her. His blue eyes glowed warmly as he spoke. “I will always be pleased to see you. I hope you’ll believe that.”

  “I want to believe it,” Madeline answered.

  I didn’t mean to say that! she thought.

  Justin’s eyes burned with a brilliant blue fire as he looked down at her. Madeline felt her whole body begin to flush.

  How can I have such strong feelings for him already? I only just met him. Everything is happening much too fast!

  But she couldn’t seem to stop the feelings of warmth and dreamy contentment that spread through her. Warmth that seemed to pour into her from Justin’s eyes.

  Feeling hypnotized, she watched as he placed two fingers under her chin and tilted her face up.

  He’s going to kiss me, Madeline realized. She felt sleepy, almost drugged. A strange heaviness filled her limbs. She felt powerless to stop him. Not that she wanted to.

  Justin smiled, as if he knew her thoughts. Then he brought his lips down on hers.

  Justin’s lips were firm and demanding. Madeline felt herself beginning to respond. She wrapped her arms around his neck and put her whole being into her kiss. Justin’s arms tightened until she couldn’t catch her breath.

  I want to stay in his arms forever. This is where I belong.

  The kiss ended and Justin pressed his lips against Madeline’s forehead.

  “I knew it,” he murmured. “I knew you were the one.”

  They stood with their arms around each other for a moment. Madeline could feel Justin’s heart pounding. She knew hers beat just as furiously. She felt light-headed and weak.

  I mustn’t rush into anything. I should take more time, Madeline thought.

  “Come,” Justin finally murmured. “We better do something a little more proper or we’ll shock the whole neighborhood. I know, I’ll cut a rose for you.”

  He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. Then he drew her toward the far end of the rose garden.

  “This is my newest variety. My pride and joy. I’m going to call it a bridal rose. What do you think?”

  Madeline stared down at the roses. The delicate white petals were splashed with red, like drops of blood. Thick red thorns studded the slim stems.

  Madeline shivered.

  “What’s the matter?” Justin asked. “Don’t you think they are beautiful?”

  “Of course I do,” Madeline stammered. “I’ve just never seen roses like them. It looks like the whole bush is … spattered with blood.”

  “Blood,” Justin echoed. He studied the rose for a moment. “It does, doesn’t it,” he said. “I never thought of it that way before.”

  A strange smile flitted across his face. Madeline shivered again.

  Justin knelt and cut a single rose from the bush. He stripped the thorns from the stem with his pocket knife. Then he tenderly placed it in Madeline’s hands. He curled her fingers around it, pressing them tightly down.

  A sharp pain swept through Madeline’s palm and up her arm. “Justin,” Madeline cried. “Stop. You’re hurting me.”

  But Justin only pressed her hand more tightly around the stem. Fiery jolts of pain shot up Madeline’s arm. Justin pressed her hand again.

  Blood ran from between Madeline’s clenched fingers and dripped into the folds of her beautiful white dress.

  She struggled, trying to twist her hand out of Justin’s grasp. Her efforts only increased the pain.

  “Justin,” she gasped. “Please, let go.”

  Justin wrapped his other hand around hers and squeezed it, tighter. And tighter. Black spots danced in front of Madeline’s eyes. Her ears rang. Her lungs ached with the effort of breathing.

  “Justin,” she panted. “Justin. Let go!”

  “Oh, Madeline,” Justin murmured. “We’re going to be so happy together. Can’t you just feel it?”

  He raised her bloody hand and pressed it to his lips.

  Madeline screamed.

  Justin jerked his head back. Blood ran from the corners of his mouth and dripped down from his chin.

  He licked his lips once. Twice. Then he smiled.

  Madeline gasped at the sight of her blood smeared across his perfect white teeth. Justin ran his tongue across them. Madeline felt herself gag and pressed her hands over her mouth.

  Justin flipped her hand over and pried Madeline’s fingers open. One rose thorn was embedded in the very center of her palm.

  “Oh, no,” Justin cried. He yanked the thorn out. Madeline felt the terrible pain in her arm begin to ease a little, though her head still swam.

  Justin raised her hand. Madeline felt his teeth bite into the flesh of her palm.

  “Justin!” she cried. “What are you doing?”

  Justin fastened his lips to the wound he created. And then he began to suck Madeline’s blood.

  PART FOUR

  Tobias

  Chapter

  11

  Shadowbrook, New York, 1793

  Tobias opened his journal and began to write.

  Ever since I saw Justin drink Honoria’s blood, all I want to do is finish translating these old papers. I locked myself in my laboratory so I could work on them undisturbed.

  I won’t even let Honoria come in to see me. I haven’t come out for days and days. I’m not sure how many.

  I know Honoria is hurt. Our wedding is coming closer and closer. But I can’t stop working, not even for her. Until I’ve solved the mystery, I can’t rest.

  Oh, my Honoria. Do you understand what I’m doing? Why I am behaving this way?

  I’m trying to save us both. Trying to find a way out of all this. And the only way to do it is to uncover the true meaning of these papers.

  What is the secret of eternal life? Why is blood the key?

  Justin is acting more and more strangely. He comes to see me several times a day.

  Each time, I can feel him watching. Waiting. It’s almost as if he knows something. Something that he isn’t telling me.

  It only makes me more dtetermined to finish translating the papers. When I’m done, this horrible nightmare will all be over. I can marry Honoria. We can start a new life, somewhere far away.

  Far away from Justin’s evil.

  There, I’ve written it. The words I’ve been afraid to say. Justin’s evil.

  I don’t know what is happening to Justin. But I do know that all goodness has left him. He no longer wants to uncover the secret of eternal life to help others. He wants to keep it all for himself.

  I don’t understand how he could have changed so much. But I do know one thing.

  I know that Justin is turning into something monstrous.

  I don’t want what is happening to him to happen to me.

  Exhausted, Tobias set his pen down. He dropped his head into his hands.

  I c
an’t go on this way, he thought. I can’t go on much longer.

  When he closed his eyes, images of the strange, ancient writing danced inside his head.

  I’m so close. So close to uncovering the secret. So close to being able to take Honoria far away from here.

  The thought of Honoria strengthened Tobias’s resolve to continue working. He lifted his head and pushed his journal aside. He began to study the papers again.

  It is best if the innocent participates willingly, he translated. But it isn’t absolutely necessary. The thing that is most important is that the blood transfer take place.

  Tobias wrinkled his forehead. This still doesn’t make any sense, he thought wearily. And I’ve been working on it for days.

  Why wouldn’t someone be willing to undergo a procedure which would enable them to live forever? And why did the word translate as “innocent” instead of “patient?”

  After the blood transfer, the soul of the innocent begins to fall under the power of the—

  Here a word Tobias couldn’t translate appeared in the manuscript. He flipped through his notes.

  The first part of the word was soul, he was sure of that. He recognized it from where it appeared earlier in the manuscript.

  After the blood transfer, the soul of the innocent begins to fall under the power of the soul—

  The soul what? Tobias thought. This just doesn’t make any sense. It’s more like a magic ritual than a medical procedure.

  He opened a dictionary that had arrived just that morning. One that contained many of the ancient words in the papers. Tobias ran his fingers through the dusty old pages until he found the word he wanted.

  He stared at it, his heart hammering.

  Thief.

  The word meant thief.

  No! Tobias thought. This can’t be right. If the word was thief, then the sentence in the papers read:

  After the blood transfer, the soul of the innocent begins to fall under the power of the soul-thief.

  Soul-thief, Tobias thought. Soul-stealer.

  The more pure and more beautiful the innocent, the papers continued, the more beautiful the soul-stealer will become. The soul-stealer will gain twenty years of life, for each innocent life he takes. Then, another must be taken for the soul-stealer to live on.