Elena sighed and nodded, then made her way along the twisting route of the Haunted House tour. As she passed through the grisly Torture Chamber and the ghastly Mad Slasher Room, she thought they had almost builttoo well. This place was unnerving even in the light.
The Druid Room was near the exit. There, a cardboard Stonehenge had been constructed. But the pretty little druid priestess who stood among the rather realistic-looking monoliths wearing white robes and an oak-leaf garland looked ready to burst into tears.
"But you'vegot to wear the blood," she was saying pleadingly. "It's part of the scene; you're a sacrifice."
"Wearing these ridiculous robes is bad enough," replied Tanner shortly. "No one informed me I was going to have to smear syrup all over myself."
"It doesn't really get onyou ," said Bonnie. "It's just on the robes and on the altar. You're a sacrifice," she repeated, as if somehow this would convince him.
"As for that," said Mr. Tanner in disgust,
"the accuracy of this whole setup is highly suspect. Contrary to popular belief, the druids didnot build Stonehenge; it was built by a Bronze Age culture that-"
Elena stepped forward. "Mr. Tanner, that isn't really the point."
"No, it wouldn't be, to you," he said. "Which is why you and your neurotic friend here are both failing history."
"That's uncalled for," said a voice, and Elena looked quickly over her shoulder at Stefan.
"Mister Salvatore," said Tanner, pronouncing the words as if they meant Now my day is complete . "I suppose you have some new words of wisdom to offer. Or are you going to give me a black eye?" His gaze traveled over Stefan, who stood there, unconsciously elegant in his perfectly tailored tux, and Elena felt a sudden shock of insight.
Tanner isn't really that much older than we are, she thought. He looks old because of that receding hairline, but I'll bet he's in his twenties. Then, for some reason, she remembered how Tanner had looked at Homecoming, in his cheap and shiny suit that didn't fit well.
I'll bet he never even made it to his own homecoming, she thought. And, for the first time, she felt something like sympathy for him.
Perhaps Stefan felt it, too, for although he stepped right up to the little man, standing face-to-face with him, his voice was quiet. "No, I'm not. I think this whole thing is getting blown out of proportion. Why don't..." Elena couldn't hear the rest, but he was speaking in low, calming tones, and Mr. Tanner actually seemed to be listening. She glanced back at the crowd that had gathered behind her: four or five ghouls, the werewolf, a gorilla, and a hunchback.
"All right, everything's under control," she said, and they dispersed. Stefan was taking care of things, although she was not sure how, since she could see only the back of his head.
The back of his head ... For an instant, an image flashed before her of the first day of school. Of how Stefan had stood in the office talking to Mrs. Clarke, the secretary, and of how oddly Mrs. Clarke had acted. Sure enough, when Elena looked at Mr. Tanner now, he wore the same slightly dazed expression. Elena felt a slow ripple of disquiet.
"Come on," she said to Bonnie. "Let's go up front."
They cut straight through the Alien Landing Room and the Living Dead Room, slipping between the partitions, coming out in the first room where visitors would enter and be greeted by a werewolf. The werewolf had taken his head off and was talking to a couple of mummies and an Egyptian princess.
Elena had to admit that Caroline looked good as Cleopatra, the lines of that bronzed body frankly visible through the sheer linen sheath she wore. Matt, the werewolf, could hardly be blamed if his eyes kept straying downward from Caroline's face.
"How's it going here?" said Elena with forced lightness.
Matt started slightly, then turned toward her and Bonnie. Elena had scarcely seen him since the night of Homecoming, and she knew that he and Stefan had drawn apart, too. Because of her. And though Matt could hardly be blamed forthat , either, she could tell how much it hurt Stefan.
"Everything's fine," said Matt, looking uncomfortable.
"When Stefan finishes with Tanner, I think I'll send him up here," Elena said. "He can help bring people in."
Matt lifted one shoulder indifferently. Then he said, "Finishes what with Tanner?" Elena looked at him in surprise. She could have sworn he'd been in the Druid Room a minute ago to see it. She explained.
Outside, thunder rumbled again, and through the open door Elena saw a flash light the night sky. There was another, louder clap of thunder a few seconds later.
"I hope it doesn't rain," Bonnie said.
"Yes," said Caroline, who had been standing silent while Elena spoke to Matt. "It would be such apity if nobody came."
Elena glanced at her sharply and saw open hatred in Caroline's narrow, catlike eyes.
"Caroline," she said impulsively, "look. Can't you and I call it quits? Can't we forget what's happened and start over?"
Under the cobra on her forehead, Caroline's eyes widened and then slitted again. Her mouth twisted, and she stepped closer to Elena.