Dance of Death Page 2

  That's it, Enid decided. She wasn't going to let a radio broadcast scare her. But she had to make her move soon. The longer she waited outside in the dark, the more frightened she was going to become.

  Putting her foot on the gas, she accelerated and drove slowly down the block. The street wasn't lit at all, and Enid had to squint in the darkness as she drove. She swung the car carefully around the corner and continued down the next block. When she reached the corner of Jonathan's street, she pulled the blue hatchback to a stop. Time to make your move, Enid told herself, her heart beginning to thump loudly in her chest.

  But Enid hesitated again before continuing down the block. Usually she was pretty shy around guys. Unlike a lot of the girls in the junior class, Enid almost never chased after boys, which she normally considered a ditzy thing to do. Guys usually liked her for her intelligence and her sense of humor. Her relationships tended to start off as friendships and blossom into something more. But Jonathan wasn't the aggressive type. He kept to himself most of the time and didn't seem particularly impressed by any of the girls at Sweet Valley High. If Enid wanted him, she was going to have to make the first move.

  And she did want him. At the first sight of Jonathan Cain, Enid had realized she'd found her soul mate. Everything about him mesmerized her: the way he walked, the way he talked, the deep, soulful look in his eyes. . . .

  But Jonathan hadn't even noticed she was alive. She had tried to catch his eye in the hall a number of times, but he had just walked right by her. So Enid had undergone a transformation. She had performed a complete body and personality makeover on herself.

  Enid smiled as she thought of her metamorphosis. The old Enid had been boring and conservative, with curly reddish brown hair and a nondescript manner of dressing. The new Enid was hip and sophisticated. After a trip to the beauty salon, she'd been transformed into a new woman. Her curly hair had been dyed and chemically straightened. Now it was jet black and fell fine and straight over her shoulders. Her nails were long and pointed, and her eyebrows were thin and arched. Thick black eyeliner and blue-black lipstick provided a stark contrast to the pale foundation that she'd smoothed over her face.

  The old Enid had been invisible. She was always hiding behind a book or behind a computer. She was the type to get lost in the crowd. The new Enid could compete with the most popular girls in Sweet Valley—even Lila Fowler and Jessica Wakefield.

  The old Enid had spent most of her time in Elizabeth Wakefield's shadow, following along inconspicuously as Elizabeth led her perfect life. But now all that had changed. Enid was her own woman, and she wasn't even friends with Elizabeth anymore.

  Enid gritted her teeth as she remembered the reason for the new chasm between her and her former best friend. Maria Slater. When Elizabeth was at camp last summer, she had rekindled her friendship with Maria, who had been a good friend of Elizabeth's in grade school before Maria's family moved away to New York. It was bad enough that Maria had gone to summer camp with Elizabeth, but now she'd moved back to Sweet Valley for good. As soon as Maria came back into her life, Elizabeth had dropped Enid like a hot potato.

  Enid scowled. Obviously Elizabeth preferred star material to average Enid Rollins. Maria had created quite a stir when she returned to Sweet Valley. She had been a child actress until the age of twelve and still had the presence of a movie star. She was tall and statuesque, with short-cropped curly dark brown hair, smooth ebony skin, and wide-set deep brown eyes. Elizabeth and Maria were always sharing stories about camp and making private jokes. Elizabeth used to be a supportive friend, but now she was trying to become Enid's nagging conscience. Not only did she disapprove of Enid's interest in Jonathan, but she hated her new look as well.

  That figures, Enid thought as she stared out at the desolate street. Elizabeth Wakefield was too conservative for her, anyway. The cool gothic crowd was more her type. Jonathan's somber style of dressing had started a craze at Sweet Valley, and now a lot of girls in the junior class were dressing in the gothic style, wearing dramatic black clothes, dark lipstick, and thick black eyeliner. As soon as Enid had adopted her new look, Lynne Henry, Julie Porter, and Jennifer Mitchell had welcomed her into their fold, and Enid had made a whole new set of friends.

  Enid adjusted the rearview mirror and studied her reflection. Pulling out a tube of Midnight Blue lipstick from her bag, she carefully outlined her lips. Then she blotted her lips on a piece of tissue and sucked in her cheeks, admiring the shadows under her cheekbones. She was breathtaking. With her dramatic makeup and strong bone structure, she looked glamorous and sophisticated—like a movie star. I'm perfect for Jonathan, she told herself with a smile. What am I waiting for?

  With renewed confidence, Enid restarted the engine and coasted down the block, pulling to a stop in front of Jonathan's house. Enid shook her head as she took in the forlorn old mansion. If she hadn't followed Jonathan home the week before and seen him enter the house with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed anybody lived there. The dark house was crumbling and neglected, with peeling gray paint and cracked windows. Several towers and gables poked up from the roof, creating the effect of an abandoned fortress from the Middle Ages. The front porch sagged dangerously to one side, and the yard was overgrown with tall weeds.

  The last time Enid had been there, she'd peered through a window. She had been shocked to find the inside as run-down and neglected as the outside. Fraying carpets covered the wooden floors, and a few pieces of musty old furniture stood in the living room. The rest of the furniture was covered with white sheets, as if the house were for sale. Enid's heart went out to Jonathan. She couldn't imagine living in that ghost house. From what she had seen, it looked as though Jonathan lived alone. The only vehicle parked in the driveway had been Jonathan's Harley, and she hadn't seen anybody else in the house. He must be lonely, Enid thought.

  Well, he won't be lonely for much longer, she decided, lifting an elegant heel out of the car and stepping onto the pavement. But as soon as her foot hit the asphalt, she caught sight of another car parked farther down the street. Enid's eyes narrowed suspiciously. The street had been completely deserted a few minutes ago. Enid squinted into the darkness and tried to make out the vehicle. It was the Wakefield twins' Jeep.

  Jessica, Enid thought with dismay, ducking back into her car. She knew Elizabeth couldn't be there. Elizabeth hated Jonathan—she'd made her feelings about him clear enough. She wouldn't stop telling Enid to keep away from him. But how did Jessica know where Jonathan lived? Enid was the only one who knew where his house was—because she had followed him home one day after school.

  Enid tapped her long fingernails on the steering wheel. Was Jonathan interested in Jessica? Had he invited her over? A tidal wave of jealousy crashed over her, and the street blurred in front of her. Were Jonathan and Jessica dating? They can't be, they can't be, they can't be, Enid told herself. They couldn't be going out. Enid closed her eyes and took a deep breath. There had to be another explanation.

  Then her conversation at the Dairi Burger with Jessica came back to her, and Enid swore under her breath. She knew exactly how Jessica had gotten the information—from Enid herself. On Friday afternoon Enid had been sitting alone at the Dairi Burger, feeling completely dejected. Jessica had joined her. She had acted completely sympathetic, and Enid had spilled her guts. She had told Jessica all about her crush on Jonathan and about following him home. "Does Jonathan live near you?" Jessica had asked innocently. "Are you sure you had the right house?" Enid should have known Jessica was being nice to her only because she wanted more information about Jonathan. Typical.

  Enid felt like kicking herself. She never should have revealed Jonathan's address to Jessica. She should have known that conniving, scheming Jessica Wakefield would try to get him herself.

  I wish I'd never met either Wakefield, Enid thought angrily. They're both totally self-centered.

  Chapter 2

  "So, are you going to show me around?" Jessica asked, pulling back from Jonath
an. Her lips felt raw and bruised from his rough kiss.

  "I suppose so," Jonathan said, taking her hand and leading her down the hall.

  But Jessica pulled her hand out of his grasp. Since she had him now, she decided it was time to be coy. She didn't want to be too easy to get—it wasn't her usual style. Jessica Wakefield never ran after the guys she wanted. She usually had full control of every situation, playing it cool until the guy she had her eye on fell head over heels in love with her.

  Jessica squinted in the darkness. "Don't you have any lights in this place?" she asked.

  "I think it's important to conserve energy, don't you?" Jonathan asked with an ironic smile. A pile of burning embers glowed red in the fireplace. Jonathan placed a few logs on the fire and tossed a handful of kindling wood on top of them. Then he crumpled up a piece of newspaper and threw it in as well. The flames licked hungrily at the edges of the paper, and the fire burst into a riot of orange and red.

  Jessica took in the interior of the mansion with amazement. She couldn't believe someone actually lived there. It looked like the set of a horror movie. The walls were peeling, and there were holes in the floorboards. She ran her finger down a crooked crack in the wall, causing tiny shards of plaster to fall to the floor. Stained, fraying carpets covered the floors, and white sheets were draped over most of the furniture. Jessica peeked under one of the sheets and saw a majestic grand piano. Wow, she thought, this mansion must have been something before it went to pieces. Jessica hit a few notes randomly, then draped the sheet back over it. The only furniture that wasn't covered was a green couch with torn upholstery and a broken armchair in the corner.

  "You're like a cat, aren't you?" Jonathan asked, watching as she investigated the room. "Curious."

  Jessica gave him a flirtatious smile. "And yes, I know what happened to the curious cat. Don't worry, I'm just checking out my surroundings."

  "I wouldn't get too comfortable if I were you," Jonathan said. "Remember, you're still in foreign territory." His tone was light, but his forehead was creased, and something flickered in his eyes for a moment. Then it was gone.

  "I think barren is a better word for it," Jessica replied. "Any reason you haven't bothered uncovering the furniture?" She smiled at him mischievously. "So you can make a quick getaway?"

  Jonathan's eyes glittered strangely. "Something like that."

  Jessica put her hands on her hips. "No, really."

  Jonathan shrugged. "I just haven't gotten around to it."

  Jessica turned to take a seat on the couch. She brushed off the sagging cushion before sitting down, coughing as a cloud of dust flew into the air. "Ick!" she exclaimed, waving the dust away wildly with both hands.

  Jonathan watched her with crossed arms, looking amused.

  Jessica walked across the room and perched on the arm of the chair. "You could use a few decorating tips from my mother," she said. "She's an interior decorator."

  "I could use your mother for a few other things as well," Jonathan replied. "Like disciplining you." He looked at her oddly. "Does anyone know you're here?"

  Jessica shook her head, her heart racing with excitement. Her mother wasn't the problem—her sister was. Elizabeth would kill her if she knew Jessica was there. Jonathan had cornered Elizabeth one day in the Oracle office and warned her to keep Jessica away from him. Elizabeth hadn't liked Jonathan from the start, but after that she had lost it. Elizabeth had made Jessica promise that she wouldn't see Jonathan anymore, so Jessica had been forced to sneak out that evening.

  Jessica sighed inwardly. Sometimes Elizabeth acted more like her mother than her mother did. Even though the twins were identical in appearance, from their long golden blond hair to their sparkling blue-green eyes to their slim, athletic figures, they couldn't be more different in character. Elizabeth was thoughtful and cautious; Jessica was impetuous and careless. Elizabeth planned things in advance; Jessica acted on impulse. Elizabeth saved up to buy; Jessica spent on credit.

  Their lifestyles reflected the differences in their personalities. Elizabeth had a serious and conscientious nature. She was a straight-A student with high ambitions to be a writer someday. As a staff writer for the Oracle, the school newspaper, Elizabeth wrote a weekly column called "Personal Profiles." Jessica, on the other hand, lived for the moment. She was cocaptain of the cheerleading squad and an active member of Pi Beta Alpha, the most exclusive sorority at Sweet Valley High. While Elizabeth spent much of her spare time alone at her desk or curled up with a book, Jessica could usually be found in the center of the crowd, either on the beach or at the mall.

  Jessica shivered as she looked around the drafty old house. It wasn't just that the house was badly decorated—it didn't even look lived in. The few lamps in the room were coated with layers of dust, and the sheets draped over the furniture gave the house a ghostly appearance. The only signs of life were the crackling fire in the fireplace and a bottle of red wine sitting on the coffee table.

  She shook off her eerie feeling and walked to the fire, warming her hands.

  Jonathan poured a glass of blood-red wine into a glass. "I would offer you some, but you're underage," he said. "And unfortunately I don't have any lemonade."

  "Do you have any milk?" Jessica asked sarcastically, turning around to face him.

  Jonathan smiled a little bashfully. "Sorry, I didn't mean to patronize you."

  "You're underage too, you know," Jessica pointed out.

  Jonathan took a sip of the wine. "Not exactly," he said, the mysterious tone returning to his voice.

  Jessica's eyes narrowed. Jonathan was only a senior in high school—he couldn't be twenty-one. Maybe he'd lost a few years traveling around the world. Maybe he really was much older. That would explain why he seemed so much more sophisticated than the other guys at Sweet Valley High.

  "How old are you?" Jessica asked.

  Jonathan paused, as if he was considering something. "I'm older than the stars," he responded finally, a cryptic tone in his voice.

  Jessica rolled her eyes, but she dropped the subject. In any case, he was older than she was, and the thought excited her. She loved older men.

  "Actually, I'd like a glass of water," Jessica said. "If you don't mind."

  Jonathan gave her a twisted smile. "I think I can manage that."

  She followed Jonathan down a narrow passageway lined with bookshelves. She ran her fingers along the old books as they walked down the hall, drawing a line in the dust on the spines. She flicked the dust from her fingers as they reached the kitchen. "Oh, boy," she breathed as she took in the room. It was completely barren except for a big sink and an antique stove. But the stove was lying on its side in the middle of the floor.

  Jonathan ducked under a swaying lamp and reached around the stove. Turning on the faucet, he filled a glass with water.

  "You know, the stove works better when it's standing upright," Jessica said as Jonathan handed her the glass.

  Jonathan hit the side of his head, a glint in his eyes. "So that's why all my pots and pans have been sliding to the floor. I knew there was something wrong."

  Jessica laughed. She took a sip of water as she scanned the cruddy old room. The linoleum floor was warped and stained, and the bottom of the stove was worn through with rust. There were no cabinets, and there was no refrigerator. She looked at Jonathan in amazement. "What in the world do you eat here?" she asked.

  Jonathan cocked his head at her. "I told you already."

  Jessica nodded. "I know, you eat little girls for breakfast." She set down her glass of water on the stove and gave him a flirtatious smile. "That must get a little boring. Girls like me can be tough to digest."

  Jonathan shook his head. "No, they're sweet—thick and sweet." He smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Jessica smiled back, but a sudden chill coursed through her veins.

  Feeling suddenly nervous, Jessica walked back into the living room and stood in front of the fire. A huge portrait hung over the mantelpiece. The guy in th
e painting looked exactly like Jonathan, but the portrait was obviously very old. Jessica studied it curiously. The picture had an ornate gold frame and a black background. It reminded Jessica of one of the old paintings in the Louvre museum. The young man in the picture looked serious and dignified. He was wearing a black riding coat with a high turned-up collar, an ivory ascot around his neck, and highly polished black boots. But despite the difference in style, the resemblance to Jonathan was uncanny.

  "Do you like art?" Jonathan asked, appearing suddenly in the doorway.

  Jessica jumped, but she didn't want him to see that she was shaken up. "Of course. And I particularly like this painting. Who's that? A relative of yours?" she asked.

  "You ask too many questions," Jonathan said, coming up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and brought his moist lips to her neck. Jessica closed her eyes and shivered in delight. As his lips sucked at her neck, Jessica felt the blood rush to her ears. She felt his heart beating in time with her heart, and the heady sensation made her dizzy. Her head whirled, and she felt as if she were about to lose consciousness.

  Jonathan groaned, almost a strangled cry. Then he wrenched his lips from her neck and turned her around.

  Jessica stared into Jonathan's blue eyes. They were so dark they looked almost black. His skin was flushed bright red—not its usual pale white. Jessica felt light-headed. It must be because of the heat of the fire, she thought.

  Jessica swayed, and Jonathan caught her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Then he nibbled at her lips, biting softly, playfully. Jessica groaned with pleasure. Finally he caught her lips with his. When he kissed her, she lost all sense of time and place. She felt as though she were falling through a thousand lifetimes.