A New Fear by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

squeezed her hand. “I am glad you did,” he told her. “I have something to tell you. When I was walking home last night, I had a vision.”
    Rosalyn gave a little gasp. “What happened?”
    “It is difficult to explain,” Nicholas told her. “It was a vision of myself. This vision of me spoke only one word—Shadyside.”
    Nicholas pulled out his ticket and showed it to her. “I did not even know if such a place existed. But it does. So that is where I will begin my search for my father’s legacy.”
    Rosalyn shivered. “I do not like the idea of you following this vision,” she said. “You do not know ifit came from good or evil—even though it took your form.”
    “I know it is a strange thing to do,” Nicholas admitted. “But I feel it is my … my destiny.”
    Rosalyn nodded. “I understand. Good luck, Nicholas. Stay well. I will count the minutes until you return. But I must go. My father will be furious if he finds out I saw you.”
    Rosalyn thrust a small package into his hands. “Here. I want you to take more than my love with you.”
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Nicholas held her tight and breathed in the scent of roses that always clung to her.
    Then she pulled her shawl over her head, glanced around, and scurried away. Nicholas slipped the package into the pocket of his jacket. He heard a whistle blow and spotted the train far down the tracks.
    He could not wait to begin his journey. Faster, he silently urged the train. Faster, faster. Finally it pulled into the station, the brakes squealing.
    Nicholas climbed aboard and made his way to a padded seat next to a window. He had never been on a train before. He had never been anywhere outside Shadow Cove.
    The train whistle blew and black smoke raced past the window.
    The train lurched forward.
    Nicholas pressed his forehead against the window. When I return to Shadow Cove, no one will recognizeme, he thought. No one will believe I am Nicholas Storm, the boy who always stank of fish.
    Nicholas reached into his pocket for a peppermint and felt Rosalyn’s package. He had forgotten all about it. He unfolded the note and read the words she had written in her beautiful flowing script:
Dearest Nicholas,
    When I was a child, I often walked along the shore. One evening as the sun began to set, I saw something shinning just below the sand. A gift from the sea.
    It is my most precious possession. And it has always brought me good luck. I was wearing it the day I met you!
    I want you to take it with you on your journey. I know it will bring you safely back to me.
    Love always, Rosalyn
    He pulled on the string tied around the package. It fell free and the brown paper opened to reveal Rosalyn’s gift.
    Rosalyn’s favorite necklace. He had seen her wear it so often. He held it tightly in his hand. It felt warm to his touch. Warm from her skin, he thought, although he knew that was impossible.
    Nicholas opened his hand and studied the necklace. It was unusual. The flat silver disk held a circle of sparkling blue stones. The disk was bigger than the ornaments on most necklaces. It is more like an amulet, Nicholas thought.
    Three claws attached the amulet to the chain. “Strange decoration,” Nicholas muttered. He ran his thumb over the silver claws.
    Oww! A drop of blood fell from his thumb into the center of the amulet. Those things are sharp, Nicholas thought.
    He started to shove the amulet back into his pocket. Then he caught sight of an inscription on the back.
    These are Latin words, he realized. He struggled to remember enough Latin to translate them.
    “Per.” That was easy. “Per” meant “through.”
    “Dominatio,” he whispered to himself. “Dominatio.” Oh, right. “Dominatio” is like “dominate.” It means “power.”
    Now “malum.” Think. What does malum mean?
    Evil.
    Nicholas’s fingers tightened around the amulet as the meaning of the inscription came to him.
    DOMINATIO PER MALUM .
    POWER THROUGH EVIL