Michael Belmont and the Heir of Van Helsing (The Adventures of Michael Belmont) by Ethan Russell Erway

she look like a ghost?   Like the ones we saw in the Fianna Barrows?”
    “No, she didn’t.   Actually she looked quite normal.   Like a regular person.   But she did look very sad.”
    Michael didn’t know what to say.   He didn’t disbelieve what Liam was telling him, but he couldn’t exactly wrap his head around it either.
    “Have you gone back into the forest?” Michael asked him.
    “No,” he answered quietly, as if disappointed in himself.   “I was afraid of the place before, but now I’m, well, the thought of going in there alone terrifies me to tell you the truth.   I tried to do it.   Tried to go in there more than once to see if I could find her, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
    “Have you told your dad, or Mr. Finnegan about it?”
    Liam laughed nervously.   “And make them think I’ve completely lost it?   That’s the last thing I need.   Can you imagine what this would sound like to my da?   Hey, Da, you know how Mum died all those years ago when I was little?   Well, I keep seeing her in the forest behind the castle.   Why don’t we walk out there together and take a look?   We can make a day out of it, maybe have a picnic .   It’ll be loads of fun.”
    “Come on,” Michael said with a frown.   “You wouldn’t have to tell him like that.”
    “Well how would you tell him about it?”   He looked at Michael expectantly.
    Michael thought about it for a moment.   Perhaps Liam was right.   “I don’t know,” he conceded.   “I don’t blame you for not wanting to go in that forest alone.   The next time I come out we’ll go in there together, alright?”
    Liam nodded.   He smiled, but looked a little ashamed.
    “You don’t think I’m…crazy, or anything do you?”
    “Well, to be completely honest, the whole thing does sound crazy.   But it’s just like you said- with all the things we’ve seen together- who’s to say what’s crazy and what isn’t anyway?”
    Liam shrugged.   “So what are you going to do about those wolves?”
    “What can I do?   Ask my mom and uncle about it I guess.   I’ll be watching for them, but right now I don’t know who they are or what they want.”
    Liam sighed and shook his head.   “And here I was thinking this might be a nice, relaxing vacation.”  

    As Michael and Liam approached the house, Abigail ran out to greet them.
    “Hi Liam,” she said cheerfully.   “How did you like the room we decorated for you?”
    “Oh, it’s great,” he retorted, glancing at Michael facetiously.   “Just the way I would have done it myself.”   He wasn’t going to let Abigail get under his skin; it would be too satisfying for her.
    “Hmm,” she hummed with pursed lips, staring into his eyes trying to gauge him.   “Alright,” she said calmly.   “Oops!” she placed her hand over her mouth.   “I just remembered, I forgot to put shampoo and conditioner in your shower.”
    As Abigail headed back into the house, Michael shook his head discreetly at Liam.   She turned her head briefly as she ran to make sure her brother wasn’t warning him.
    “I wouldn’t use it if I were you,” he whispered under his breath.
    “Okay.   Hey, you need to come in and meet Mrs. Stoker,” Liam said.   “She really is a quite, um, fascinating woman.   A little creepy, but pretty nice.”
    “I haven’t even said hello to your dad yet.   How’s he been?”
    “Pretty good.   He’s been busy lately, working with Mrs. Stoker trying to locate some old sword.   It belonged to some bloke called Van Helsing.”
    Michael thought he’d heard the name before, but couldn’t remember where.   They walked into the kitchen from the back porch and headed into the living room.
    Mr. MacDonald saw him and gave a toothy smile.   “Michael, hello lad.   How have you been?”
    “Great, how about you?” he asked, as they met in a firm handshake.
    “Excellent, thanks for asking.   This is Mrs. Dorothy