Forbidden Secrets by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online

Savannah asked firmly, ignoring the woman’s remark.
    Mrs. Mooreland crossed the hall and opened another door. “In here.”
    Savannah stepped inside. A fire burned in the hearth—but the room still felt cold and damp. Black draperies hid the windows. A black quilt covered the beds.
    I feel as though I am at a funeral, Savannah thought. Why are there no colors in this house? Why is everything so cold?
    She turned to ask Mrs. Mooreland, but stopped. She did not want the servant to know that she felt uncomfortable in Tyler’s home.
    She placed her hands on her hips and smiled. “Well,I can see that my first order of business will be to bring some color to these rooms.”
    Mrs. Mooreland didn’t reply. The sound of her raspy breathing filled the room. She moved closer to Savannah and leaned down—so she could stare directly into Savannah’s eyes.
    Savannah’s first instinct was to back away. But she forced herself to remain where she was and return Mrs. Mooreland’s stare.
    â€œYou are not wanted here,” the housekeeper said. “Leave while you can.”

Chapter
    14

    S avannah felt her stomach twist inside her. What a cruel thing to say, she thought. But she kept her face blank. She would not allow Mrs. Mooreland to see that her words had hurt Savannah.
    She tilted up her chin defiantly. “Thank you, Mrs. Mooreland. You may return to your other duties.”
    Without another word, the servant walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
    Savannah hurried to the hearth. A low fire crackled in the wide stone fireplace. She knelt before the fire and held her hands before the orange flames.
    This house is so cold, Savannah thought. Her bones felt as if they had frozen inside her.
    I expected Tyler’s home to be like Whispering Oaks before the war, she thought sadly. A happy place, filled with warmth and color and gaiety.
    She shuddered. And I expected a warm welcome.Why was Mrs. Mooreland so unkind? Why didn’t Lucy come downstairs to meet us?
    Tyler had told Savannah that Lucy was like a little sister to him. His parents became her guardians when Lucy’s parents were killed. Now Tyler felt responsible for the girl.
    Savannah shivered. I must find Tyler, she thought as she stood. I must talk with him. Something isn’t right here.
    She walked out of her room. Candles flickered in chandeliers overhead. She heard something scrape across stone. Then she heard a crash from the first floor.
    She rushed to the staircase and took the slippery stairs as quickly as she dared. Halfway down she saw something so frightening that she had to press her hands against her mouth to keep from screaming.
    What is he doing? What is Tyler doing?
    Tyler paced back and forth across the main room. He held a large butcher knife high in his hand. His face was twisted in fury.
    â€œStop staring at me!” he snarled. “Stop staring at me or I will cut your eyes out!”

Chapter
    15

    T yler lifted one of the portraits off the wall and threw it down. He attacked it with the butcher knife, stabbing it over and over.
    Savannah stood frozen halfway down the stairs. She gathered her courage. “Tyler?” she called gently.
    He stopped, his hand in midair, the knife poised above the portrait. Savannah felt her heart quicken as he turned, his eyes filled with pain.
    â€œThey don’t understand, Savannah,” he moaned. “They don’t understand that I did what I had to do during the war.”
    Savannah hurried down the rest of the stairs. She gazed at the portraits that still lined the wall. Portraits of Tyler’s ancestors.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter if they understand,” she said. She took a few steps toward Tyler. “I understand.”
    â€œYou can’t understand,” Tyler insisted. “There wasso much killing . . . so much blood. You would hate me if you knew the things I’ve done.”
    â€œI could never hate