Forbidden Secrets by R.L. Stine Page B

floor.
    Savannah watched in terror as Tyler struggled to get to his feet. He threw his head back and released an angry howl. Then he lunged for her.
    She ducked and twisted to the side. Tyler bashed into the wall.
    Savannah spotted a pitchfork leaning in the far corner. She scurried across the room, snatched it up, and whirled around.
    Tyler leaned against the wall for support. His head hanging down. Savannah raised the pitchfork and started toward him.
    â€œYou should have told me Victoria practiced the dark arts,” Tyler said, fury filling his voice.
    Savannah faltered. He straightened up, his eyes glittering. “You shouldn’t ever have kept that secret from me. Victoria almost ruined everything.”
    Victoria, Savannah thought. Victoria is dead because of you. Savannah rushed at Tyler, the pitchfork raised high. Then she plunged the pitchfork into his chest with all her strength.
    She felt the metal prongs stab deep into his flesh. Heard his ribs crunch.
    Tyler stood his ground. He did not stagger back. He did not howl in pain. He did not bleed.
    He wrapped his hands tightly around the handle of the pitchfork and jerked the prongs out of his chest.
    This can’t be happening, Savannah thought. It can’t be.
    Tyler laughed maniacally. “You can’t kill me, Savannah! I died at Gettysburg!”

Chapter
    34

    â€œY es, Savannah, I died. Your brother killed me. He stabbed me in the gut. Do you know how painful it is to die from a gut wound, Savannah? The pain is unbearable. And it takes a long time to die.”
    He’s dead. Savannah was stunned. She couldn’t move. She could hardly think.
    â€œIt gave me time to plan,” Tyler said. “And to realize that my love for you is undying. Didn’t we say forever? Isn’t that what we promised?”
    They slowly began to circle each other. “I found a way to return to you, Savannah,” Tyler said. “I found a way for us to be together forever.”
    Savannah stared at him. She felt the anger and hatred building up inside her.
    â€œVictoria was not the only one who practiced the dark arts,” Tyler told her. “But she was a novice. I am a master.”
    Savannah gasped as the truth hit her. “The two of you were arguing that day because she had learned the truth.”
    â€œYes,” Tyler replied calmly. “She found Mrs. Mooreland before you did. She recognized the markings I made in blood on the floor. She knew I was one of the living dead.”
    â€œAnd she knew how to destroy you,” Savannah said.
    â€œNo. I was never in any danger. As I said, she was a novice. I would have preferred to kill her myself.” He shrugged. “But it was almost as entertaining watching you do it for me.”
    Savannah felt her heart clench. Victoria’s dying words screamed through her mind. You have let the evil live! What can I do? Savannah thought. What can I do to stop him?
    â€œThere is nothing you can do,” Tyler said as though he read her mind. “There is an old saying in my family— Dominatio per malum. It means ‘power through evil.’ I have more power than you can imagine, Savannah.”
    â€œWhat do you want from me?” she shrieked. “Why are you doing this?”
    â€œI promised that one day you would regret choosing the South over me. Today is that day.”
    He leapt toward her. Savannah darted away.
    He laughed. “We can play this game all night. Sooner or later you will tire. And then I will win—because I never tire.”
    Tyler lunged forward. Savannah jumped back and rammed into the table.
    â€œNooooo!” Tyler cried. He dove for the table, reaching for the bubbling liquid.
    Too late. The vial broke, spilling the steaming liquid on Lucy’s hand.
    The hand jerked as though suddenly alive. The fingers wiggled. Then they went limp. Tyler shrieked in agony.

Chapter
    35

    â€œY ou have ruined the ceremony!” Tyler