Page 39 of Monsters in the Museum

As Drew’s footsteps faded back into the hallway, Nora turned back to the books in front of her, puzzling over where she should start. She stepped up to the nearest shelf and began to peruse, unable to stop herself from running her fingers along the spines of the books, seeing titles on dozens of topics from every age, all mixed together in no particular order.

She paused when her finger brushed a particularly ancient-looking tome titled The Birth of Shadows, Seraphina’s haughty voice playing in her mind, saying something about an agent of Shadow. Nora pulled the tome out and tucked it under her free arm before continuing to browse. There was no harm in doing some research on her potential enemy.

By the time Nora reached the end of the shelf, she had two more tomes tucked under her arm, both very old with titles hinting at information on weaponry. She considered setting herself up at one of the study tables, but then thought of how she couldn’t receive work emails while she was in the Sanctuary, and how she wished she could have a cup of coffee while she read. So, she tucked the books more firmly under her arm, thinking that it was better to ask for forgiveness instead of permission when it came to removing the books from the library.

As soon as she stepped through the portal and into the cool city air, her phone vibrated insistently with the tone she reserved for her work email. Fishing her phone from her jacket pocket, she crossed her fingers that she didn’t have to go into the office when she had just come across such great reading material.

When she read the subject of the email, she whooped so loudly that a flock of nearby pigeons took flight. She was going on a trip.

Nothing could dampen Nora’s mood that weekend, and she was still practically skipping as she made her way into the training ring on Monday afternoon.

“You seem… bouncy today,” Ezra commented as she approached.

“And you’ll be bouncy too when you hear my news. You’re going to get a few days off from me next week.”

Ezra furrowed his brow. “Why would it make me bouncy to hear that my student will be slacking off and forgetting most of what she’s learned?”

“It’s not slacking,” Nora snapped. “I have to go on a trip for work. I’m presenting on my research at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, and I’m sure it’s just a precursor to my promotion!”

To Nora’s disappointment, this only seemed to further concern Ezra.

“Where is Pittsburgh again?”

“Not far. The plane ride should be less than two hours,” Nora answered, still bouncing on her toes in excitement.

“Plane ride? I’m not sure you can do that.”

Nora froze. “What do you mean I can’t do that?”

Ezra pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger as if having to explain this to Nora was already giving him a headache.

“Because your guard would have to come with you, and it’s been hard enough to keep up with you during your crazy skipping around the city. Seriously, do you have to go an extra mile every day to get your coffee when there is a café right across the street?”

“Yes, their espresso is distinctly better,” Nora insisted, “Also, how do you know that? Are you my guard as well as my trainer?”

Ezra shrugged one thick shoulder, “We all take turns. There aren’t that many of us, after all. And none of us can come on a plane with you. It’s not as if I have a valid photo ID, and that makes it hard enough to get around one city.”

Nora planted a hand on her hip in frustration. “The only reason I agreed to any of this was because it could advance my research. If you think I’m going to give up this opportunity because you don’t have enough brains in your head to figure out how to keep me safe while I travel, then you have another thing coming.”

Ezra held out his hands placatingly. “Calm yourself, young firecracker. There is one of us who might be able to come with you.”

Nora looked up from her laptop, which sat propped on top of her suitcase, when a pair of loafers stopped just inside her field of vision. Adam juggled two paper cups while trying to keep his beaten leather bag on his shoulder.

Nora jumped to her feet, relieving him of the cups so he could settle himself into the uncomfortable airport chair beside hers. When she moved to give him back his beverages, he took one, but inclined his hand towards the other cup in her hand.

“That one’s for you. One black Americano.” He reached into his bag as he spoke. “And I got you something else that you will love.” Nora took the crumpled brown bag from his outstretched hand as he proudly proclaimed, “One chocolate croissant.”

She tried not to wrinkle her nose as she passed the bag back to him.

“No, thank you. I’m not really one for sweets.”

Adam blinked. “You’re not? I could have sworn…”

“It’s not a problem.” Nora shrugged. “It’s not like you’ve ever seen me eat dessert.”

“I suppose I haven’t,” Adam said, still dumbly clutching the bakery bag as if the idea that Nora could refuse a croissant had turned his entire world upside down.

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Nora reassured, turning her attention to the coffee, which was much more to her liking. “I forgive you. You couldn’t have known.”