AN: I am sorry for the lateness of this update and for the shortness as well (but it is good to have another update!). Many thanks to my awesome beta-reader Flufflyblackcloud who once again did an amazing job on this chapter. Anyways, I hope you enjoy and please review!

Disclaimer: Again, I do not own National Treasure or The Sorcerer's Apprentice Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer do.

Enjoy!

Washington D.C December 4, 2010 6:30 AM

Riley's POV

It was early morning, why did he have to wake up so early? Oh yeah, that's right, to drive to New York City. Who drives to New York City from Washington D.C anyways? Couldn't they have decided to take a plane or even a train?

As Riley mulled these thoughts over in his head he realized that it wouldn't be that bad, at least the weather had let up. It wouldn't be snowing when they arrived up at the Empire State. He really hated the cold, even if he grew up as a New Yorker, lived in Vermont for four years, went to college at Georgetown, and now currently resides in D.C. He saw that Ben and Abigail were loading the rest of the suitcases into the car. At least he would have some legroom considering they were taking Abigail's car.

Ben was wearing jeans and had a thick brown jacket on and Abigail was wearing some black slacks and a thick brown sweater. He looked down at his own clothes, jeans and a number of heavy layers. It was chilly outside, but he was just glad that it wasn't snowing anymore.

"Riley?" Ben asked.

Riley was sitting in the silver Mercedes van they were going to drive up to New York in and saw that Ben was staring up at him. He should have responded but he was thinking over what happened yesterday with his father's book, the one now in Ben's possession. He wondered how it got into his possession in the first place. Of course he knew Ben got it from an auctioneer back in 2000, a few months after the apartment fire.

But as far as he knew his dad had it with him at all times. He only saw the book once, but as he told Ben he would never forget the look of it. Not to mention, wouldn't it have been lost to the fire? If not, then what happened to get it to the auctioneers?

Riley started to wonder where the book could have gone to when an idea struck him. Weird as it sounded it did make sense. His father's one friend, who Riley never knew the name of, whom he'd trusted a lot. He probably gave the book to his friend; the problem is how did it go from his father's friend to Ben? Or why would his father give the book to his friend?

This started bringing more questions into his head than he cared to have. Of course, he had received the book from Ben after finding out it was his father's. The fact that it was a treasure map might seem a bit of fate, or something else. Considering now he was a treasure hunter, at least, he considered himself one, even when Ben got all the fame.

Riley was aware that the black book was unusual even from his younger days. The book only had information written inside when he held it, not when Ben did. Ben shook it off as maybe a special kind of ink or something, but the book was rather old and odd. Why was he the only person who could make the ink show up on its pages? Why make ink like that? Obviously to protect whatever this weapon was, the most exulted weapon, as the journal said. What could that mean? What was exulted as far as weapons went?

It puzzled him to no end, and there was a strange taste to all of this. Riley wanted to be analytical about this situation but the book's ink appearing at his touch, not to mention the clues, was all very odd. Like the clue saying a near immortal disciple and his long lost love would help them find what they were looking for. What was that all about? Immortality could never be achieved; it must have meant something else.

All thoughts on the journal aside, he wanted to know how old this book was. He looked at the symbol inscribed on the leather and noted all the curvatures, lines, and symbols. It was rather interesting to look at. Ben believed it was a cult of some kind, but none of them could find a cult had the sort of image the book represented. He decided that he was going to sleep on the ride over than worry about the book. The treasure could wait in his mind considering it was six in the morning, way too early in his opinion.

He thought back to the time when he did see this book last. His father's expression when he found it was a cross between extreme anger…and disappointment. It always bothered him how his father was so secretive and would never tell him anything.

His father might not have talked to him much but he was smart. His father always wore a ring, not just his wedding band but also another ring. He always just brushed it off as something his father wore. Some men liked to wear jewelry. But knowing his father as a person and man of business, wearing extra jewelry was not his custom.

Also, his father was gone a lot for business. One time when his father was gone he was just minding his own business and from the apartment window (they were on the second floor of an eight floor walk up building) he saw a picture perfect, black, Rolls Royce Phantom parked on the street.

He ogled at the sheer beauty of it. He was a car person, and wondered who would own such a nice car. The beautiful curves, the old style image, he would have died for a car like that. When he saw his mother by the vehicle he quirked his eyebrows. So his family knew someone with a car like that? He would love to meet this person. He saw a man with a hat and a dark, what looked like leather, duster coat but he wasn't sure. The man was talking to his mom. First thoughts were when did she leave the apartment because the PA system did not go off, but the second question was who was this guy? Though he was pretty sure this was his father's "well travelled" friend, for one reason or another.

Riley knew if he was going to find out any information that he would have to talk to his dad's friend. Even though the only clue he had was an old Rolls Royce Phantom. It had been a little over ten years, what's to say the guy doesn't live in the city anymore? He wouldn't blame the guy. Probably had a house up in the Hamptons or something, he would if he still had a lot of money. Unfortunately, the money he was given was explicitly for school, and he went to an expensive school and college.

"RILEY! RILEY! Anyone there? Didn't you hear me the first time?" He heard Ben with a raise of his voice that sounded like exasperation.

Riley shook his head from his internal musings and saw that Ben was directly in front of him and he put on a sheepish smile. It didn't work. His friend did not like the fact that he was ignoring him. So, he probably should have answered him sooner.

"Riley, we're going to leave and Abigail asked me to make sure that you went before we left," Ben told his computer knowledgeable counterpart.

Riley quirked his eyebrows at this. He was a grown man and he was being treated like a little kid? He was about to retort but the expression on Ben's face gave him no room to argue. Fine. He trudged back into the house, went about his business and came back. Before he knew it he was heading back to the place where he grew up.

He would have to tell Ben that he might know a person who could help them out. Riley really hoped he would because after getting the book Riley wanted to know a few things about his late father. He was pretty sure that the black book and whatever treasures it held was something his father's friend also knew about.

Whatever happened he was going back to New York City and was stuck in a car for the next couple of hours. At least Abigail and Ben had the decency to allow him to have his coffee and delicious jellybeans.

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.Later that Day around ten o'clock in New York City at the Arcana Cabana II…

Dave's POV

Dave realized that today was not going to be a good day when he entered the subway turnaround station. Yesterday, going to the auctioneers had been, how could he say this... frustrating. His master was barely restraining his anger when the people at the office did not want to give away the information of the person who brought the book. That's right. The little black book was sold and Balthazar was not happy at all.

So, the map to Excalibur was stolen. Technically it was all legal but of course Balthazar said they stole it. Dave didn't blame them; Balthazar was stuck in an urn for ten years, how did the auctioneers know he was still alive when his store was finishing its lease and he was nowhere to be found?

But Dave, even though Balthazar had told him what the sword was capable of, did not see why it truly mattered. People these days didn't use swords, not unless they were role playing or fencing in which case they would use foils, epees, or sabers. He looked up from where he was sitting just to take a break from his training.

Of course, Balthazar took all his frustration out on him and he had to work extra hard today. Not that it mattered; he didn't like seeing his master frustrated like this. So, he could deal. It wasn't like he was making him run marathons, even if he felt at times like he did.

When, Balthazar was finally able to gain some information on who brought the book that was when his frustration and anger turned into sheer terror. They had found out that the black book was sold to a Mr. Benjamin Gates. Veronica, who was with him, had no idea who he was. Dave had an inkling and so did Becky at the time, but Balthazar seemed to get this cloudy eyed expression before he came back to the present.

When they left the auctioneers office Balthazar turned to him, "Of all the people the book was sold to it had to be a treasure hunter didn't it?" I could only nod my head.

As of right now, Balthazar was trying to figure out what to do next to get the book back. From what Dave understood, the book wasn't his property to begin with, but he was in charge of it till he found his friend's son. Somehow, Dave thought, this was going to be either incredibly difficult or incredibly easy. Considering Becky and him were going to Abigail Gates' lecture, maybe they could meet with Benjamin Gates and get the book back from him? Of course, once Balthazar found out about this he insisted he would come too. This was going to get fairly interesting. After all, why would the guy come up to New York and have the black book with him? For all Dave knew it was probably back at his house.

AN: Thanks for reading and please leave a review, it won't take that long. The next update should be fairly soon (I hope), but I plan on finishing this story do not worry (it just might take some time). Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!