The Curse of Windsor Castle

Chapter Nine

The next day, the girls decided to look for Como again. "Maybe someone in Milan knows where Como is. It is quite close to it after all." Rose suggested

Tamara called as many travel agencies as there were in Milan, while Rose read and Amy ate. Once again, none of them had heard about Como.

"Do you think Wikipedia might know about Como?" Tamara asked.

"Please," Amy laughed as she tossed a crisp in her mouth. "It's American. How much would it know?"

"Maybe we have to consult something outside of the country," Tamara suggested.

Rose thought about that. "Why not."

Tamara got on her computer and did a Wikipedia search on Como. After squinting at the laptop for a long time, she started reading in a slow manner. "Okay, according to this, Como is on the foothills of the Alps."

"Perfect," Rose grinned. "That's where we are. Is there a map of Como?"

"Yeah," Tamara opened the window up. After more squinting, she read, "According to this map, Como is north of Milan and it will take about an hour to get there."

"Great." Amy got up and started tossing her clothes and food in her rucksack. "Let's go."

"Wait." Rose stopped her friend before she left the room. "Who says it's going to be there when we show up."

"I guess that's a risk we are going to have to take," Tamara said.

Rose sighed. This was going to be a long trip.

When they showed to map to the taxi driver, he frowned and squinted at the location. "There's nothing there, miss."

"Please!" Tamara pleaded. "We have to go there."

The driver sighed. "Fine, but it'll cost you."

Rose nodded. "Of course, sir."

The trip to Como, surprisingly, didn't seem to take that long. Of course,this drive was definitely shorter compared to the other drives the girls had taken. Yet somehow, Rose and Amy got into another argument.

Once the girls got to Como, or where the trio assumed Como was located, they paid the taxi driver generously and got out.

When they got to Como, Rose gasped.

"It's deserted. No one's there."

"What?" Amy asked..

"This isn't possible," Tamara said. "Como should be packed with tourists."

"You want to know who I suspect?" Rose asked.

"Nuntius Mortis," The trio said in unison.

"Amy, you should go look for the chair in the eastward direction. Tara and I will go the other way. I think the magic in the chair is warding the citizens away." Rose put in.

"Yeah, but don't you think we should look together?" Amy asked. "I mean, I am the only one who can see the chairs for how they really look."

"I agree," Tamara nodded.

The three girls walked over to the bookstore. "Do you think I can go grab a few books while we're there?" Amy asked.

"Amy, we're here to get Violet, not steal," Tamara reprimanded .

"I know, but if we see a book that could help us in this mission, can we get it?" Rose pleaded.

"Fine." Tamara gave in.

"Yes!" Rose and Amy high-fived.

The three of them walked over to the bookstore cafe first. "Amy, don't raid the chocolate section," Rose said, but it was too late, Amy had chocolate smeared all over her mouth.

"Tuscan chocolate is the best." Amy was licking her fingers.

"Wait, that was Tuscan chocolate?" Rose asked. "Get out the way."

Tamara rolled her eyes. "So much for not stealing."

Once Rose and Amy finished devouring the chocolate, they realized that chair wasn't in the cafe. "Do you think we could go browse," Rose asked hopefully.

Tamara gave up. They had already eaten all the chocolate so why not?

Amy and Rose walked toward the travel section to look for books on the next country they were going to. "Hey Tara?" Rose asked.

"What?"

"What country are we going to next?"

"Hungary, I think."

"You think?"

"No," Tamara sighed exasperatedly. "I know."

While Rose and Amy browsed for books about Hungary, Tamara started looking for chairs around the bookstore that could take her to Violet and Kampe. She assumed that she looked like a zombie, blindly walking around with her arms out, feeling for the right chair.

The two girls came around with an armful of books each on Hungary. "Can we get all of them?" Amy pleaded.

Tamara shook her head. "Just get one."

Rose sighed. "Fine."

While Amy and Rose paid for the books, Tamara went out into the street to look for other chairs. She obviously couldn't see the chair, but Tamara assumed that if she kept touching the chairs, one of them would take her to the Tower of London.

Tamara had never felt this useless before. In school, she was the one all her classmates relied on. Melinda had always said Tamara was more book smart than street smart. But during this trip, Amy and Rose were both essential. Tamara was just there so the adults would not get a heart attack.

As far as Tamara knew, she was completely unecessary. A useless part.

Amy and Rose came out with the book. Then, Amy sprinted off in a random direction with Rose in pursuit.

"Rose, where are you going?" Tamara started after her sister. She stopped when she saw the girls standing next the most worthless piece of junk the siblings had ever seen.

"This is it." Amy nodded with a knowing smile on her face.