Beneath the Hallowed Hill by Theresa Crater Read Free Book Online Page B

the original room. She stood before the crystal skull.
    “You will apprentice in the Crystal Matrix Chamber ,” the skull told her, and she knew this was right.
    * * * *
    Crystal skulls. Anne wondered if such things really existed. Michael would probably know. She put down the manuscript. Cynthia’s note suggested this material was more than some fantasy. The dog, which had been sleeping peacefully, got to her feet and padded to the back door where she sat down and looked back over her shoulder. Anne followed, slipped on Cynthia’s clogs and cloak, and opened the door. The hound streaked out, jumped the fence in one graceful bound, and swept up the side of the Tor, disappearing in the night.
    “Wait!” Anne ran to the back gate and whistled, but the dog was gone. Should she go look for her? She took a tentative step out the gate, then stopped. The dog probably belonged to someone else and lived over the hill on one of the farms edging up to the Tor. Perhaps she befriended Cynthia and just came for a visit. The faint ringing of the phone came from the house; Michael’s plane must have landed. Anne ran back inside. If the dog got hungry, she would come back. Anne had enough to worry about.

Chapter Four
    Michael wondered why Anne was taking so long to answer the phone. He checked his watch. She should still be awake. The phone switched over to voicemail, so he hung up and redialed. If he talked to her, he could stave off the reality he was about to face. The phone rang a few more times.
    “Hello.” Anne sounded out of breath.
    “Where were you?” Michael asked. “Climbing the Tor again?”
    “Outside chasing some dog.”
    “Dog?”
    “Yeah, she showed up. She acted like she’s lived here before, but now she’s run off.”
    “Did she look like a stray?”
    “Not really. She seemed well fed.”
    “I’m sure she has a home.”
    “You’re probably right. How are you?”
    The baggage conveyor beeped and with a rumble jerked into motion. Michael turned to watch for his luggage. “Doctor Abernathy sent a car. I’m going to meet with the group, then have dinner with him.”
    “Let me know what happens.”
    “I will. What have you been doing besides chasing the local canines?”
    Anne laughed. “Exploring the house. I found a manuscript in Cynthia’s office, a novel. Well, she claims it’s factual.”
    “She claims?” Michael repeated.
    “I found a note she wrote to Garth, seems they were close. She signed it ‘all my love’.”
    “Glastonbury is good for romance.” He tried to smile, but Anne must have heard the catch in his voice.
    “I’m so sorry about this,” she said. “I didn’t even get to meet him.”
    Michael tightened his eyes against tears. “I miss you.”
    “Then I’ll come. We can sort out the house later.”
    “No, I don’t want you in danger again.”
    “But—”
    “You don’t know that.”
    “What did you think I was going to say?” she asked.
    “That this has nothing to do with you or your family.”
    “Well?” Anne asked, a challenge in her voice.
    “We can’t be certain, can we? Our common enemy knows we’re together now.”
    She hesitated. “I suppose you’re right.”
    “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
    “Do what you have to do. I understand.”
    A couple crowded up to the conveyor belt right in front of him. He moved over so he could still watch for his bag. “The service should be in a couple of days.”
    “Then you can come home—I mean, back here.”
    “Home?” The cold pit in his stomach warmed at her words. “Thinking of keeping the place?”
    “Maybe. I kind of like it here.”
    “Here’s my bag. I’ll talk to you later.”
    “Love you,” Anne said.
    “You too.” Michael clicked the phone off and grabbed his luggage, then followed Lawrence, the family driver, to the waiting car. It turned out to be a limousine. He hoped the lodge members wouldn’t notice. He disliked conspicuous displays of money, but after their adventures in