The mansion looked different at night. It loomed eerily before them, shrouded in mist. As C.D. pushed open the massive front door, its rusty hinges seemed to cry out in agony. He motioned for them to enter.
“Wow! This is some layout you have here.” Amy chomped her gum and looked around appreciatively. Then she noticed Amos. Her eyes turned to tiny green slits. “I’m going to kill you.”
C.D. licked his lips and smiled at Amos.
“Are these your little friends, darling?” A distinguished-looking man entered the hall. On his arm was a tall woman with long dark hair.
The woman looked at Amos from under drooping eyelids. “Interesting clothes these Americans wear. Bring them into the parlor. We’ll talk and have something to drink before dinner.”
They followed her into a small room to the left of the entryway. The furnishings were old and dusty, and cobwebs hung thickly in every corner.
When they were seated, the hunchbacked man who had eaten the bug a few days ago brought in a tray of iced tea and set it on a small table. Now he was dressed in a butler’s uniform, and he acted like he’d never seen the boys before.
“That’s Uncle Horace,” C.D. said when the man had left the room. “He’s the main reason we invited you here.”
“Oh, really?” Dunc edged over to the tray and stood in front of it. He pointed at a painting of wildflowers hanging on the opposite wall. “That’s a wonderful picture. Who painted it?”
While everyone looked away, he managed to pour a little of the powder into each glass.
C.D. turned and fixed Dunc with an icy stare. “We don’t know. It was here when we moved in.”
Dunc picked up the tray and passed it around. “Boy, this really looks good. Everybody drink up.”
Amos mouthed the words, “Did you slip them the poison?”
Dunc nodded. He watched his hosts and made sure they each had a sip of tea.
Nothing happened.
The woman set her glass on a table. “As my son was telling you, Uncle Horace is the reason we invited you tonight. When we finally caught him the other day, he described you perfectly.”
“You dorks have been here before?” Amy demanded.
“Now, now. Don’t be too hard on them, my dear.” C.D. touched Amy’s arm lightly. “They didn’t know that we have to keep Uncle Horace in the house. Horace is sweet, but you may have noticed that he’s a little off.”
“Which brings up another problem,” C.D.’s father remarked. “One I’m sure you can help us with.”
“What is it?” Amy said in a gushy voice.
“The Dragos come from an old Transylvanian family line. When people hear that, they prejudge us. Especially when they see Uncle Horace and find out that he’s not all there.” C.D.’s father took another sip of tea. “Why, we even have a lunatic from England who has been following us around the world for years claiming that we’re—this part will make you laugh—vampires.” The older man chuckled.
Amos frowned. “You mean you’re no—owww!”
Amy had elbowed him in the ribs. “Please go on, Mr. Drago.”
“That’s about it. We’ll be leaving soon to take Uncle Horace to a doctor in California. But we’d like to come back here for vacations occasionally, and we just didn’t want any of those nasty rumors to get started.”
Amos stood. “Dunc, we have to use the bathroom.”
“It’s up the stairs to the left.” C.D. laughed.
Amy’s shoulders drooped. “Why wasn’t I born an only child?”
Amos pulled Dunc up the stairs and into the bathroom. “What have you got to say for yourself?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ll admit they’re a little weird. But they drank the tea, and it obviously didn’t hurt them. They’ve explained everything that’s been going on. What more could you want? Can we go now?”
“I don’t know, Amos. What if they’re faking?”
“How do you fake not being poisoned?”
Dunc sighed. “You have a point there. But what about dinner?”
Amos opened the bathroom door. “Leave that to me.” At the bottom of the stairs he bent over and started moaning loudly.
Everyone in the parlor rushed out.
“Oh, you poor thing. What on earth is the matter?” Mrs. Drago patted his back.
“Stomach flu,” Dunc volunteered. “Looks like a bad case. We better get him home right away.”
“What a shame. Perhaps you can all come back another time.”
Amy glared at the boys. “I doubt they’ll still be around.”
Amos moaned again for effect and headed out the door with Amy on his heels.
Just before he stepped outside, Dunc noticed something. The Dragos were all standing in front of a full-length mirror, and the only reflection he could see was his own.
He whirled around.
They were gone.