Michael Belmont and the Tomb of Anubis (The Adventures of Michael Belmont) (7 page)

"Look," went on Liam, who could see the serious look on his friend's face, "are you sure the music wasn't coming from your parents room?
 
Maybe they left the television on?
 
Or maybe Abby was playing some kind of joke on you?"

Michael just shook his head.
 
He knew that Liam probably wouldn't believe him until he heard the music for himself, and he couldn't really blame him for it.

"Hey," said Michael coming to a stop, "what kind of books have you guys got in that library?"

"I dunno," said Liam, "all kinds.
 
Most of them are leftover from Uncle Shamus, and my Da likes books, so he adds a few now and then.
 
I may be able to find a romance novel like the kind my Mum used to read in there for you."

Michael brushed the comment off.
 
"Do you think there are any books about ghosts?"

"Probably, can't say that I've ever looked for one though."

They backtracked to the library where they found Finnegan just where he'd been before.
 
"Oh, what is it now?" he groaned in mock exasperation.

"Uh, nothing," Liam said evasively.
 
"Just thought we might pick up a few books while we're in here.
 
A little light reading."

"Really?" said Finnegan, raising the book to his face.
 
"Excellent.
 
I knew you'd show the desire to learn to read one of these days, if only we were patient."

Liam smiled at Michael and pointed at his own head, indicating how smart he was.

"By the way," piped in Finnegan, "there are a few books about the paranormal on the top shelf on your right, closest to the window."

Liam frowned at Michael.
 
He always found it unsettling when the butler knew what he was thinking.
 
"Thanks," he said in a perky voice.

Liam wheeled the ladder that clung to the shelf over to the section near the window and climbed up.
 
He nosed around for a few moments before handing a few books down to Michael.

One of them was called
A Haunted History of the British Isles
, and the other was called
Haunted Scotland, from A to Z
.
 

"These look interesting," Michael told him.
 
"Is it okay if I take them to my room and read them later?"

"Sure," Liam told him.
 
"Hey, do you want to go out and whack a few balls around?"

Liam was an avid golfer, and one would be hard pressed to walk very far across the castle grounds without stumbling over a few golf balls.
 
It nearly drove the groundskeeper out of his mind, especially when he went to mow the grass.

"Sounds like fun," said Michael.
 
"Let me drop these off at my room and I'll meet you out front."

"I'll go get my clubs."

Michael headed toward his room, scanning through the books as he walked.
 
They looked promising, and he was eager to search for answers, but he didn't want Liam to think he was becoming obsessed with the whole thing.

Rounding a corner as he approached the guest rooms, he nearly tripped over Aiden Osiris, who was sitting in the middle of the hallway.

"Oh, sorry about that, sir," Michael grunted as he caught himself.

"Excuse me.
 
My fault, no need to apologize," he said with a slightly nervous tone.
 
"I'm off to find your father, you haven't seen him around have you?"

"Uh, I haven't seen him since lunch.
 
He may be in the study with Mr. MacDonald.
 
Seems like that's where he's been spending most of his time the last few days."

"Ah, good, I'll go have a look then.
 
Take care now, Michael."
 
He turned and headed off down the hallway.

That was odd, thought Michael to himself as he watched the man go.
 
Mr. Osiris had been sitting and staring at the wall just at the spot where the corridor had appeared the night before, and then he had acted curiously when seeing Michael come by.
 
Did he suspect something was there?
 
Was it possible that he knew about the corridor, and even how to make it appear?
 
Maybe he wasn't going crazy after all.

It was strange that Mr. Osiris had come up the stairs just to look for his father.
 
Several wheelchairs were kept around the castle at the bases and tops of the stairways so that the man could come and go as he pleased, as he was very independent.
 
But Michael thought it odd that Mr. Osiris would go to such trouble just to look for his father when he could easily have sent someone to fetch him.

He walked to his room and placed the books on the table beside his bed.
 
Then he pulled his own bag of clubs from the corner where he had laid them, and unzipped the side to make sure he had some golf balls.
 
There were only a few, but he knew he could easily pick some more up from the yard.
 
Swinging the bag up over his shoulder, he headed down to meet Liam.

The morning soon arrived when it was time for Michael's parents and the other members of the Egyptian expedition to depart.
 
The Calderwood sisters would be leaving as well.
 
They were off to attend the wedding of a niece in London, which meant that Finnegan would be watching the children by himself for the next few days.
 
It felt as if the whole castle were emptying out.

After breakfast, the children helped their parents carry the luggage down to the drive.
 
The weather was gray and gloomy, reflecting the feelings of everyone gathered outside.

Abigail was speaking to her mother, who was consoling and reminding her that Elizabeth Harrison would be arriving in just a few days.
 
The girl was not happy about being left behind again, but this made it a little easier.

Michael gave Aiden Osiris a small wave as Mr. MacDonald helped him into the car, and then placed his wheelchair in the trunk.

"Michael, I have something for you."
 
His father handed him a book.
 
It was leather-bound and looked very old.

"What's this?"

"Your mother told me about your conversation the other day.
 
I found that at a bookstore in town and thought you might find it interesting."

Michael looked at the title of the book.
 
It read
The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies
.

"Oh, thanks," he said.
 
"The whole idea of creatures like this existing is a little ridiculous, don't you think?"

"Probably," his father told him, "but there are a lot of strange things in this world."
 
He winked at him.
 
"Anyway it could be an interesting read."

Michael nodded.
 
"Dad, do you think I'll be able to help out a little more this time, when Abby and I get to Egypt?"

"I think so.
 
You've been coming along pretty well lately with your studies.
 
I'd really like to see you get your hands dirty, but a lot of it has to do with the person in charge of the work.
 
Sometimes kids make people at ancient dig sites a little nervous, so just make sure you are on your absolute best behavior when you get there.
 
No horseplay.
 
You might want to keep a close eye on Liam."

Michael smiled and nodded as his father squeezed him on the shoulder.

Mr. MacDonald walked up to them.
 
"Hey, Michael, you be sure to make yourself at home while you're here alright?"

"Thank you, sir," he said.

Abigail held on to her father's leg as he put his bags in the trunk of the car.
 
She had contorted her face into a disapproving pout that reminded Mark of the look his wife gave him whenever he did something to offend her.

The girl knew her craft well, and had a way of nearly breaking her father's heart whenever he headed out to travel, but he also knew that this had become a part of the process for her, and that she would be fine soon after they left.

Michael hugged each of his parents tightly before walking over to stand beside Liam and Finnegan.

"You be good now, son, and look after your guests properly," Liam's father told him.
 
He stood up tall with a look of determined pride on his face.
 
Liam was a joker, but he could be deathly serious about performing his duty when he felt his honor was in question.

Mr. MacDonald gave a final wave to the children, and winked at Finnegan, who responded by bowing his head.

Rachel showered Abigail's forehead with kisses, waved to Michael, and dragged her husband into the car behind her.

"I suddenly have an inkling for some hot cocoa, if anyone cares to join me," said Finnegan as he strode back up the drive.

The sun was starting to go down, and as Michael watched the cars pull away, he made up his mind that the next few weeks were going to be fun.

A cool breeze of air swept over the face of Elizabeth Harrison as she walked through the glass doors of Sky Harbor International Airport.
 
It felt good to escape the sweltering heat of mid-day Phoenix, even if it meant coming into a busy airport terminal.
 
She brushed her black, shoulder length hair out of her face, and let out a short sigh.

Elizabeth was not a big fan of flying.
 
She had done a lot of business travel in the last few years, and was dreading the ten-hour flight to Edinburgh.
 
But she had never been to the United Kingdom, and was looking forward to seeing the Scottish countryside.
 
She was also excited at the idea of a few weeks of rest and relaxation, spending time with Michael and Abigail while their parents were in Egypt.
 
Mark and Rachel had offered to fly her out to Scotland and put her up in an old castle if she would help watch the kids while they were away.
 
She loved the children and the whole thing sounded like an adventure, too good of an opportunity to pass up.

She had put in for some long overdue vacation time and was now on her way.
 
If only she could step into one of those nifty transporter machines like they have on sci-fi movies, she thought, and bypass the whole flight process.

After checking her bags and going through screening, she found a seat and waited for the plane to start boarding.
 
She looked around at all the other people who would be on her flight.
 
Most of them looked like pretty normal people.
 
She didn't see any screaming babies, and thought that at least was something to be thankful for.
 
Elizabeth liked babies, and often dreamed about having her own children someday, but she also had first hand experience with sitting next to a colicky baby on a long flight, and that was not something she was eager to repeat.

It wasn't long before the plane began to board, and after getting on and finding her seat, she stowed her carry-on bag and sat down.
 
She was in the middle, and although the plane was pretty full, those seats on both sides of her remained empty, and she hoped it stayed that way.

She reached into her purse, and pulled out a book entitled
Touring Scotland; Essential Sites you'll find off the Beaten Path
.
 
A bookmark stuck out, which she removed and examined fondly.
 
It said "Merry Christmas from the Belmonts" and had a picture of Mark, Rachel, Michael and Abigail.
 
Abby was wearing a Santa hat, smiling broadly, and Michael had a blank, embarrassed look on his face.
 
His dark brown hair had been uncharacteristically combed to perfection.

Elizabeth set the bookmark aside and began to search for places of interest near Loch Lomond.

She soon began to lose herself in one of the book's articles about a local bed and breakfast, but was disturbed when a man stopped beside her and said, "Excuse me, miss, I think I'm in the seat right next to yours."

"Great," she said sarcastically under her breath, but lifted her face in a courteous smile.
 
When she saw the man, the forced smile melted off her face into a look of pleasant surprise and timidity.

Standing next to her was a tall, extremely handsome man with dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
 
She didn't say anything, and when she made no attempt to move, he gently said, "Miss, do you mind?"

Realizing how rude she was acting, she giggled nervously.
 
"Oh, of course not, I'm so sorry."
 
She pulled her legs in tight so he could get by her. She picked her purse up off his seat.

He removed his suit jacket, sat down, and got situated.

"Safety first," he said as he put on his seat belt.

Elizabeth gave him a pleasant smile and nodded.

"My name's Gabriel," he said, holding out his hand.

"Elizabeth," she responded while taking it.
 
His grip was firm and unusually warm.

She went back to pretending to read her book, but continued to sneak looks at him from the corner of her eye.
 
Maybe this flight won't be so bad after all
, she thought to herself.

The two sat quietly for a while, and Elizabeth put her book down when the plane began to take off.
 
The only part she hated more than the takeoff was the landing.
 
She closed her eyes and gripped the armrests.
 
She could tell that Gabriel pretended not to notice how nervous she was.
 
She thought this was very kind of him.