MOONSPELL

by

PiperMerlyn

Chapter 0

The Chapters

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

"Trick or treat!"  

Recognizing the voice, Frank Hardy turned, fully expecting to see blue eyes, wavy blond hair. What he saw startled him. The face was horribly burned, the shapeless fedora full of scorch marks. The masked person waved a hand at Frank, showing off the glove with the long blades attached to the fingers. Frank rolled his eyes and turned back to his computer. "It's a little early for Halloween."  

"It's just a week away." Joe Hardy pulled off the rubber mask of Freddy Krueger and shed the glove. "Vanessa said I could find the clothes at that thrift store on Cole Street ."  

Frank grunted, more engrossed in his computer screen.  

"So, I was checking for something to fit you," said Joe.

Suddenly a pair of plastic lens less glasses appeared in front of Frank's face. The black round frames were offset by a strip of white simulating a piece of tape. Frank scowled. "You're kidding, right?" he said, turning to glare at Joe.  

Joe grinned. "Hey, you'd make a great Harry Potter. I even found you a wand." With his other hand, he waved a brown stick of plastic made to appear like a real wooden wand--or whatever wands were made of.

Frank shook his head, pushed the items out of his field of vision and focused once more on the screen. "Dressing up for Halloween at our age is ridiculous."  

"Like you're ancient." With a grunt, Joe sat down hard on his brother's bed, making the springs creak. "What are you doing anyway?"  

"Playing a game."  

Joe leaned forward, squinted at the screen. "What another Legend of Zelda thing? I thought you'd outgrown the whole sword and sorcery thing."  

Frank shook his head, still staring at the screen which showed a computer-generated village with lots of villagers, some dressed like peasants, some like monks, others like soldiers. "It's an online multiplayer game.  

Joe looked a little more interested. "Cool. Let me see."

"No can do. You can't use my character. You have to make one of your own." And to forestall any other suggestions, he added, "On your own time."  

Joe grunted again. "Fine. I know when I'm not  wanted." But before Joe could do his dramatic exit, Frank's half-open door was pushed further open and Callie poked her head inside. "Hey, Cal , what's up?"  

"Did you hear what happened at the museum today?" she asked, breathless, as if she'd run up the stairs.  

Frank shook his head, still staring at the screen. "What happened?"  

"I will not talk to you with stupid game on," said Callie.  

Frank sighed and exited the game, then swiveled his desk chair around. "Okay, what happened?"  

Joe arched both eyebrows at the tone both of them were using with each other. Almost as if they were mad at each other. He cleared his throat. "So, um, what happened?"  

Callie turned to Joe. "You know Mr. Henderson is doing that whole six weeks on Egypt , right?"  

Joe nodded, since he shared History with Callie. "Yeah, so?"

"Well, the museum was getting an authentic Egyptian mummy. On loan, of course from the British Museum but it will be so awesome to be that close to ancient history."  

Joe was puzzled, not just about the fact that Callie now seemed to be ignoring Frank completely. "So?"  

"Well, guess what happened today? Not one sarcophagus, but two."  

That seemed to stir Frank's interest. "Two?"  

Callie nodded. "Yeah. And get this, one belonged to Archimedes Slade."  

Joe stared at her, stunned. "The writer? He's famous. How did a sarcophagus---how did he--why does he own an Egyptian mummy?"  

Callie shrugged. "Atmosphere? I don't know. Anyway, he had to leave the sarcophagus with his mummy there while everything is straightened out. The museum's staying open an extra hour while Mr. Slade takes care of things. Want to see it?"  

"I want to see him," stated Joe. "I have all his books. Did you know his first one was actually made into a movie?"  

Callie Shaw wasn't too interested in horror movies, books or authors. "Whatever. Do you want to come?"  

Joe nodded. "You bet. Frank?"  

"I think I'll pass."  

Joe slowly turned his head to look at his brother, then glanced at Callie who was standing there, her arms folded across her chest, her chin jutting. Uh-oh, he definitely didn't want to get in the middle of some argument between the two of them. He took a step back, started to say something when Callie spun around to look at him. "Well, come on, Joe."  

Joe hesitated. "Frank, are you sure?"  

"Yes. I have things to do."  

"Like beat that stupid game," snapped Callie and stalked from the room.  

Joe stared after her, then looked at his brother. "She's kidding, right. You'd blow everything on a game?"  

"I've almost figured out the code to win."  

"It's a game, Frank." Joe's sense of humor vanished and he shook his head. "You of all people---"  

"Go have fun, stare at a mummy for awhile."  

Joe frowned, shook his head again and left his brother's room. He bolted down the stairs to find Callie chatting easily with his mother. Laura Hardy looked over at him. "Imagine that, a real Egyptian mummy here."  

"Humph," said Gertrude Hardy, seated at the table, shelling peas. "It's a dead body. One should have reverence for the dead and leave it where it was found."  

"But it's history, Aunty, ancient history." Joe grinned and snatched a still warm cookie from the cookie sheet his mother had just taken out of the oven. "Hmm, double chocolate chip."  

Laura slapped at his hand. "Those are for the Harvest Party, hands off."  

Joe just grinned and turned to Callie. "Ready?"  

Laura frowned. "Where's Frank?"  

"Busy," said Callie, her tone rather curt. "So I decided to ask Joe. We'll be back soon." She sketched a wave as they left by the back door. Once outside, her cheerful smile faded as she led the way to her car.  

Joe took a deep breath. "For what it's worth, Frank's a certifiable idiot."  

Callie managed a smile. "It's okay, Joe. I keep telling myself it's like a mystery. Frank's always so focused when he's on a case, so I hope he'll get over it soon."  

Joe shook his head and got in the passenger seat of Callie's car, scooting the seat as far back as it would go only to hear a squeal. "Watch it, Joe Hardy, someone's back here."  

Startled, Joe turned around to see Vanessa Bender glaring at him. "Oh, God, Van, I didn't even see you back there."  

Vanessa's glare faded. "It's okay, the windows are down, I heard."  She glanced at Callie getting in the driver's seat. "He said no?"  

"He said no." Callie started the car with a savage twist of the ignition key and shifted gears. She backed out and sped off down Elm Street .  

Vanessa sighed and tucked strands of gold blond hair behind her ears. "Excuse me, Joe, but your brother is an idiot."  

Joe shifted around in his seat as much as the seat belt allowed and grinned at his girlfriend. "Yeah. Aren't you glad I'm not? As if I'd let some stupid game take me away from you." He gave her a once-over, noting the gold sweater, the dark brown pants made her hair look more gold than blond and brought out her gray eyes. "Hello, gorgeous."  

Callie took the turn extra sharp and Joe managed an embarrassed grin. "Sorry, Cal ."  

"Forget it." The rest of the short trip to the museum was in silence with only the squeal of tires as Callie stopped in a parking space. She got out of the car and slammed the door, leaving Joe and Vanessa alone for the moment.  

Joe got out and opened the back door for Vanessa. Once she was standing, he steered her around the open door, pushed it shut, then pulled her close. "Hey there."  

"Hey yourself."  

Joe grinned and gave her a long kiss. Finally, he pulled back. "I guess we'd better go in before Callie comes looking."  

Vanessa grinned. "Yeah, I guess."  

Arm in arm, they walked into the museum and Joe paid the fee for both of them. Signs led them to the special room set up with an Ancient Egypt theme, ready for the huge sarcophagus and the mummy. Not many people were there, mostly off-duty security guards and the curator. Joe saw a tall man with midnight black hair talking with the curator, gesturing to the other   sarcophagus. Joe angled his head to try and see the man, suspecting, hoping that it was Archimedes Slade.  

Suddenly, a red-haired girl stepped into his field of vision. "Can I help you?" she asked archly, her accent a mixture of British and something else.  

Joe glanced at her, noting she was barely as tall as Vanessa and her cropped sweater and low-rise jeans looked quite youthful. Surely she couldn't work here. "You work here?"  

"No. I came here to help my father with Ankhara."  

Joe shared a quick puzzled look with Vanessa and turned to the red-haired girl. "Ankhara?"  

"Our mummy."  

"You named your mummy?" asked Vanessa.  

"That is her name."  

"You mean you know the history behind your mummy?" asked Callie coming up from behind the girl.

"Of course. That is the most important aspect of having one." She shrugged and stuck out a hand. "Merlyn Slade."  

Vanessa blinked. "Your name is Merlin?"  

"I was named for the magician, yes," said Merlyn easily, as if she was questioned all the time about her name. "So can I help you?"  

Joe took a deep breath. "We--I just wanted to meet Archimedes Slade, I'm a fan."  

Merlyn glanced over her shoulder, then frowned at him. "Father is rather busy at the moment."  

"Oh."  

"Actually, we came for the mummies," said Callie. "Which one is yours?"  

Merlyn led her to the sarcophagus furthest away from the small crowd. It was tipped on its end. The paint had faded only slightly and Joe could still see the gold gilding on some of the carved wood. "It's beautiful."  

Merlyn gave him a small smile. "Ankhara is beautiful. This is just a crude representation."  

Joe tried not to frown. He'd seen a few pictures of mummies. They were dried up husks of people, turned dark brown from heat, and embalming processes. He had yet to see a beautiful mummy. "Really."  

Merlyn's smile widened and with one hand she pulled on the lid. It swung smoothly open, obviously equipped with hinges. He didn't remember the Egyptians equipping those things with hinges. Due to the position of the sarcophagus, the mummy inside was practically standing. Joe stared, stunned. It was like no other mummy he'd ever seen. Instead of dried up, it looked like it was sleeping, it's skin looking smooth and pale.  The face was heart-shaped and the nose pert. She looked for all the world like a certain teen movie actress in costume. The sheer white cotton dress hung on her still shapely frame and a huge gold pectoral encrusted with gems that glittered in the overhead lights covered her chest. Merlyn had been right. Ankhara was beautiful.  

"Merlyn, no," came a man's voice from behind them.

Joe turned to see Archimedes Slade heading toward them. "Shut the lid, Merlyn," snapped her father, almost sounding angry.  

Merlyn frowned but closed the sarcophagus just as her father came up to her. "Now you've done it, Merlyn."  

"Father, they only wanted to see her."  

Archimedes Slade barely spared a glance at the three of them, then glanced at his daughter. "Come, we're going home," he said curtly, not even saying hello--or goodbye--to them. Merlyn managed a smile and followed her father out.  

Vanessa grunted. "Well, he was rude."  

Joe felt a little deflated now. "Yeah, he was. Let's go."  

Callie nodded, then glanced over her shoulder at the Slade sarcophagus. "It was weird, wasn't it, how lifelike she looked?"  

Vanessa frowned. "It's a trick, I'm sure. Probably made of wax, probably entirely done for the atmosphere."

Joe sighed. "Yeah." He slung an arm around each girl's shoulders. "Hey, let's go grab a snack at the mall." He ruffled Vanessa's hair and winked at her. "I'll even buy."  

Callie gasped. "Will wonders never cease. I'll take you up on that." Her pensive look faded away. "Come on, I feel as if this is a limited time offer. Maybe I should call everyone, invite them."  

Joe frowned. "Hey."  

Vanessa laughed as Callie slipped out from under Joe's arm and hurried outside. "She's kidding..." Her grin faded slightly. "I think. Come on."  

Joe just groaned.  

***  

Frank sat back in his desk chair and glared at the computer screen. He was dead. Well, not literally--but in the game. Some mercenary had snatched all his coin and his weapons, then killed his character. Frank sighed and exited the game again. He glanced at the clock and frowned. It was completely dark outside. Hadn't they left around six? It was close to eight, where were they?  

Frank got to his feet and stretched the kinks out of his back and shoulders and realized he had no right to keep tabs on his girlfriend, not after that argument they'd had at school earlier today. The reason she was so ticked off when she'd come over two hours ago.  

Frank sighed and stared at the clock, watched the digital numbers change all too slowly. Just when he was deciding to call Callie's house, the telephone rang. He snatched it up on the second ring. "Callie?...Oh, hello, Mr. Vincent." Frank blinked startled by the man's desperate tone. "Of course....I'll---we'll be right there." Dazed, Frank hung up the phone and turned around. He grabbed his jacket, bolted out of the bedroom and nearly collided with his brother. "What--?" Frank skidded to a halt. "Where have you been? Where's Callie?"  

"Taking Vanessa home. What's it to you?"  

"Mr. Vincent called. He wants us to come to the museum."  

Joe blinked, then shook his head. "We just left there. Well, about an hour ago. Then we went to the mall." Joe looked at Frank and frowned. "You could have come you know."  

"Yes, I know and I'm sorry. You're right, it's a stupid game."  

Joe smirked. "Got killed off?"  

Frank let out a grunt. "Anyway, Mr. Vincent said it was urgent."  

Joe sighed. "Museum's closed."  

"Mr. Vincent's the curator."  

"Okay, okay. I'm kind of wired anyway." Joe followed Frank down the stairs and out the front door, sketching a wave to their parents as they left. It was easier that way, to explain after the fact. Although it was a school night, they knew their parents wouldn't tell them to stay in this early in the evening. Joe got into the passenger seat as Frank got behind the wheel. "So, what's so urgent?"  

"Mr. Vincent didn't say."  

Joe sighed again and let the silence fill up the van. Long before they reached the museum, Frank glanced at his brother. "Callie's right. I've been ignoring her. She jumped down my throat at lunch today, calling it a stupid mind-numbing game. I was enjoying it and so I snapped back at her. It didn't end good."  

Joe shrugged. "A little tension is good in a relationship. Remember that time Callie thought going with that Rawley guy would kick start your brain?"  

Frank's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I remember the Mason brothers too."  

Joe scowled. "You didn't have to bring that up," he muttered as they pulled into the parking lot of the museum. His mood changed when he saw the curator standing at the emergency exit door, waiting for them. "Come on."  

Frank shut off the engine and got out seconds after his brother and they hurried over to the curator after shutting the van doors. Joe nodded to the older man. "What's up?"  

"Come in, come in. I feel silly standing out here."  

The brothers followed him inside and glanced around. For all the urgency, things seemed pretty quiet. Frank cleared his throat. "So, what's wrong?"  

Albert Vincent looked decidedly embarrassed. "It's the mummy."  

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