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

you,” Savannah said. “During the war we all did what we had to do to survive.” She inched closer. “But now the war is over.”
    The knife clattered to the floor. Tyler jerked her to him and wrapped his arms around her. “I never want to see blood again,” he said in a shaky voice.
    Savannah stroked his black hair away from his forehead. “Victoria and I had to eat worms,” she told him, hoping to make him smile.
    He laughed. Savannah could feel his chest shaking under his shirt.
    She tilted her face and gazed into his blue eyes. “Together we can put the war behind us,” she whispered.
    â€œYes,” he replied. “Together we can.”
    He lowered his mouth to hers. Savannah returned his kiss eagerly. I love him so much, she thought. He is all I have ever wanted.
    Savannah heard a high-pitched shriek. She jerked away from Tyler.
    The shrill cry came again.
    It took Savannah a moment to realize the sound was Victoria screaming.

Chapter
    16

    S avannah heard footsteps pounding down the staircase.
    A young girl in a black dress appeared. “Tyler, save me!” she cried as she raced downstairs and flung herself into Tyler’s arms.
    Victoria screamed again. She flew down the last few steps. “Give me my pouch,” Victoria cried. She lunged for the girl.
    Savannah grabbed her sister’s shoulders and held her back. She could feel Victoria trembling. “I need my pouch, Savannah. I’m not safe here without it. I need protection from the evil. Please, please make her give it back to me.”
    â€œIs that true, Lucy?” Tyler asked. “Did you take something that belongs to Victoria?”
    So this is Lucy, Savannah realized. She is just a child.
    â€œAnswer me, Lucy,” Tyler said firmly.
    Lucy nodded. “But I only wanted to look inside,” she said. “I wasn’t going to keep it.”
    â€œGive it back, and say you are sorry,” Tyler instructed. “There is nothing Lucy likes better than finding out secrets,” he added to Savannah. “She creeps around here as quiet as a little mouse, hoping to hear something interesting.”
    Lucy held out the pouch, and Victoria snatched it away. “I’m sorry,” Lucy said in high little voice.
    Victoria didn’t answer. She frantically tried to repin the pouch onto her skirt. “Let me,” Savannah said. She pinned the pouch firmly in place.
    Savannah didn’t like to encourage Victoria in her strange beliefs. But if Victoria believed the pouch could protect her from evil, Savannah thought it was harmless. She wanted her sister to be happy at Blackrose Manor.
    â€œLucy, this is Miss Savannah Gentry and Miss Victoria Gentry. Remember I wrote and told you they will be living with us from now on.”
    Lucy peered up at Savannah. Her curly black hair framed her young face. “Did your mother and father die too?” Lucy asked. “That’s why I came to live here.”
    â€œYes, they did.” Savannah’s heart went out to the young girl whose black eyes held such sadness. Lucy can’t be more than thirteen, Savannah thought to herself. So very young to be an orphan.
    Tyler eased the girl away from his side. “Go on back upstairs and get ready for supper. I want to talk to Miss Savannah alone.”
    Lucy reluctantly crossed the room and started upthe stairs. Savannah gave Victoria a little nudge, and her sister followed the younger girl.
    Tyler picked up the ruined portrait and the butcher knife from the floor. “I was hoping Victoria and Lucy wouldn’t notice these.”
    â€œThey were too involved in their argument to pay any attention,” Savannah reassured him.
    â€œDo you like your room?” he asked. She could tell that he wanted to please her.
    â€œI like the room,” she said softly. “But, Tyler, why is everything black?”
    He sighed deeply. “It was my father’s doing. When