A Grimm Warning (The Land of Stories, #3)(59)

Conner and Bree thought the woman sitting across from them was almost too good to be true.

“You’re so much cooler than my real German grandma,” Bree said.

“Now, it’s none of my business why you’re away from your parents, but promise me you’ll stay safe while you’re having this adventure of yours,” Pearl told them. “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.”

They nodded, knowing it was a promise neither of them could keep.





CHAPTER TWELVE





THE SECRETS OF NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE


The train from Monte Carlo arrived in Munich at six o’clock the next morning, after making a few stops along the way. They tried sleeping as much as they could but didn’t manage much rest. Conner and Bree made sure Pearl was safely aboard the train that would take her home before they left the train station.

When Conner and Bree left Germany two days prior, neither would have thought they would be returning so soon. And just like every other city they’d seen so far, Munich proved to be a world of its own. It was a city of spirals and clock towers and pointed roofs. There were beautiful buildings with stained-glass windows and handcrafted wooden doors. Statues of religious and mythical figures were mounted on the roofs and balconies to keep watch over the busy streets.

“I can’t believe how close these countries are and yet they’re all so different,” Conner said.

“And you really don’t know a place until you’ve been there,” Bree said. “You can look at a hundred pictures and a dozen maps, but unless you’ve been to the city and felt its pulse, you really know nothing about it.”

Conner couldn’t have put it in better words himself. With no time to lose, they brainstormed how they were going to get from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle.

“I’ve got some bad news,” Conner said. “We’re almost out of cash. I’ve got enough for food for a couple days, but that’s about it. I don’t know how we’re supposed to get to the castle now.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got an idea,” Bree said. “Let’s find a hotel and pretend we’re staying there. Then we’ll trick the concierge into giving us what we need.”

“Let me guess, this happens in your crime books, too?” Conner asked.

“No, I figured this one out myself,” Bree said proudly. “My grandma lives in a condo in Atlantic City next to a bunch of hotels—there were summers I never paid for lunch once.”

They walked up and down the stone streets until Bree found a large and fancy hotel ideal for her plan. The hotel was painted yellow and had the flags of several different countries displayed around its front revolving doors. They pushed through the doors and Bree got in line to speak with someone at the front desk.

Conner waited a few feet behind her; she said she was confident enough to do this alone—or perhaps she just didn’t want him hovering over her.

“Guten Morgen, gn?dige Frau,” the man at the concierge desk said.

“Guten Morgen, it’s good to see you again,” she said, even though she had never seen the man before. “I was wondering if I received any messages while I was out.”

“Oh?” the concierge said. He looked awfully confused, like he could have sworn they had never met. “What room number?”

“It’s 723,” Bree said as if she had told him a hundred times already.

“And what’s your name?” he asked.

“Bree Campbell,” she said honestly, and acted a little hurt that he hadn’t remembered. “But as you should know, the room is under my stepfather’s name.”

“Herr Hueber is your stepfather?” he asked.

“Oh, is that the name he checked in under?” Bree said with a massive eye roll. “Please ignore him, he’s from Milwaukee. Every time we go someplace new, he likes to trick the locals into thinking he’s one of them. He probably checked in with some ridiculous accent, too. Now about those messages—”

“Oh yes, of course,” the concierge said, and went through the papers on his desk. “No messages for room 723.”

Bree pouted and stuck out her bottom lip. “Not even from Jacob?” she asked sadly.

Conner did a double take—who the heck was Jacob?

“No, I’m sorry,” he said.

“That’s a shame,” she said, then got down to business. “Well, since I’m here, I was wondering if you could tell me the easiest way to Neuschwanstein Castle. My dad has to work all day and I have nothing to do.”

“There is a two-hour bus that can take you there,” he said. “Unfortunately, it has already sold out for today and tomorrow.”

Conner slumped after hearing this but Bree quickly thought of plan B.

“Does this hotel rent bikes?” she asked.

“Yes, madame,” the concierge said. He was very happy to finally give her some good news.

“Terrific. I suppose a bike ride around the countryside will have to do,” she said.

“One bike?”

“Make it two, please,” Bree said.

“And charge it to the room?” he asked.

“Yes, please,” Bree said. “And if you could please leave a note for my dad telling him I went on a short bike ride I would really appreciate it.”