were capable of inflicting terrible damage. Scathach sneezed; she was also
allergic to cats.
The strange army came to a halt, perhaps awed by the incredible
building-sized tree or just confused by the sight of a single warrior
standing framed in the open doors. They milled about; then, as if driven by a
single command, they surged forward in a long ragged line.
The Warrior twisted her head from side to side and rolled her shoulders, and
then her two short swords appeared in her hands. She raised them above her
head in an X.
It was the signal the Torc Allta and the nathair had been waiting for.
Seemingly from nowhere, hundreds of the terrifying lizards hurtled out of the
sky, with the sun at their backs, and swooped over the advancing army. They
flew in great sweeping circles, their huge wings raising enormous plumes of
gritty dust that blinded and confused the birds and cats. Then the Torc
Allta, who had been lying concealed in the tall grass and behind the twisting
roots of the Yggdrasill, rose in the middle of the attackers. As Scatty
hurried back into the depths of the house, she realized how closely the
noises of the battle resembled feeding time at the San Francisco Zoo.
We re running out of time, Scathach yelled to Flamel as she raced into the
corridor.
How many? Nicholas asked grimly.
Too many, Scatty replied. She paused briefly and then added, The Torc
Allta and nathair will not be able to hold them for long.
And the Morrigan and Bastet?
I didn't see them. But you can be sure they re coming, and when they do
She left the sentence unfinished. With Hekate busy Awakening the twins,
nothing would be able to stand against the two Dark Elders.
They ll come, he said grimly.
Scatty stepped closer to Flamel. They had known each other for over three
hundred years, and although she was his senior by nearly two millennia, she
had come to regard him as the father she no longer remembered. Take the
twins and flee. I'll hold them here. I'll buy you as much time as possible.
The Alchemyst reached out and placed his hand on the Warrior s shoulder and
squeezed. A tiny pop of energy snapped between them and they both briefly
glowed. When he spoke, he unconsciously reverted to the French language of
his youth. No, we ll not do that. When we leave here, we go together. We
need the twins, Scatty not just you and me, but the entire world. I believe
that only they will be able to stand against the Dark Elders and keep them
from achieving their ultimate aim and reclaiming the earth.
Scatty looked over his shoulder into the gloomy chamber. You re asking a lot
of them. When are you going to tell them the whole truth? she asked.
In time , he began.
Time is something you do not have, Scatty murmured. you've started to age.
I can see it in your face, around your eyes, and there s more gray in your
hair.
Flamel nodded. I know. The immortality spell is breaking down. Perenelle and
I will begin to age a year for every day we go without the formulation for
immortality. We will be dead by the end of the month. But by then it will not
matter. If the Dark Elders succeed, the world of the humani will have already
ceased to exist.
Let s make sure that doesn't happen. Scatty turned her back on Flamel, then
sank to the ground, back straight, her legs folded, feet turned high on her
thighs in a full lotus position, arms outstretched, palms wrapped around the
hilts of the swords that were lying across her lap. If the cats or birds
broke into the house and found the corridor, they would have to get past her
to find Hekate and the Warrior would make them pay dearly.
Hekate had given Flamel a short staff made of a branch of the Yggdrasill, and
now, holding it in both hands, he took up a position directly outside the
door to the chamber where the goddess was working with the twins. If any of
the invaders did manage to get past Scathach, they would then face him.
Scatty would fight with her swords, hands and feet, but his weapons were
potentially even more destructive. He held up his hand and the narrow space
grew heavy with the smell of mint as his aura flickered and sparked into
green life around him. Though he was still powerful, every use of magic
weakened him and drew on his life force. Scatty was right; he had started to
age. He could feel tiny aches and vague pains where there had been none
before. Even his eyesight was no longer as sharp as it had been only the day
before. If he was forced to use his powers, it would speed the aging process,
but he was determined to give Hekate all the time she needed. He turned to
look over his shoulder, trying to penetrate the gloom. What was happening in
there?
We will start with the elder, Hekate announced.
Sophie could feel her brother drawing a breath to protest, but she squeezed
his fingers so tightly that she could actually feel his bones grinding
together. He kicked her ankle in response.
It is traditional, the goddess continued. Sophie She paused, then said,
What is your family name, your parents names?
Newman and my mother s name is Sara, my father is Richard. It felt odd
calling her parents anything other than Mom and Dad.
The green light in the chamber brightened and they could see Hekate outlined
against the glowing walls. Although her face was in darkness, her eyes
reflected the green light like chips of polished glass. She reached out and
placed the palm of her hand against Sophie s forehead. Sophie, daughter of
Sara and Richard, of Clan Newman, of the race humani
She began in English, but then drifted into a lyrically beautiful language
that predated humanity. As she spoke, Sophie s aura began to glow, a misty
silver light outlining her body. A cool breeze wafted across her skin and she
was suddenly conscious that she was no longer hearing Hekate. She could see
the goddess s mouth moving, but she could not make out the words over the
sounds of her own body the breath hissing in and out of her nose, the rush of
blood in her ears, the solid beat of her heart in her chest. There was a
pressure on her temples, as if her brain were expanding inside her skull, and
an ache ran the length of her spine and spread outward into all her bones.
Then the room began to lighten. Hekate looking older now was standing
outlined in shifting streams of sparkling lights. Sophie suddenly realized
that she was seeing the goddess s aura. She watched as the lights twisted and
curled around Hekate's arm and flowed down into her fingers, and then, with a
tingling shock, Sophie could actually feel it penetrating her skull. For an
instant she was dizzy, disorientated, and then, through the buzzing in her
ears, Hekate's words abruptly started to make sense. I Awaken this terrible
power within you . The goddess moved her hands over Sophie s face, her touch
like ice and fire. These are the senses the humani have abandoned, Hekate
continued. She pressed her thumbs lightly against Sophie s eyes.
To see with acuity
Sophie s vision bloomed, and the darkened chamber came to blazing light,
every shadow picked out in exquisite detail. She could see each thread and
stitch on Hekate's robe, could pick out individual hairs on her head and
follow the map of tiny wrinkles that were visibly growing at the corners of
her eyes.
To hear with clarity
It was as if cotton had been pulled from Sophie s ears. Suddenly, she could
hear. It was like the difference between listening to music on her iPod
headphones and then to the same track on her bedroom stereo. Every sound in
the room magnified and intensified: the wheezing of her brother s breath
through his nostrils, the tiny shifting creaks of the huge tree above them,
the scritch-scratching of invisible creatures moving through the roots.
Tilting her head slightly, she could even hear the distant sounds of battle:
the screeching of birds, the roars of cats and the bellowing of boars.
To taste with purity
Hekate's fingers brushed Sophie s lips and suddenly the girl was conscious
that her tongue was tingling. She licked her lips, finding traces of the
fruit she had eaten earlier and discovering that she could actually taste the
air it was rich and earthy and even distinguish the water droplets in the
atmosphere.
To touch with sensitivity
Sophie s skin came alive. The fabrics against her skin the soft cotton of her
T-shirt, the stiff denim of her jeans, the gold chain with her birth sign
around her neck, her warm cotton socks all left different and distinct
impressions on her flesh.
To smell with intensity
Sophie actually rocked backward with the sudden eye-watering explosion of
scents that invaded her: the spicy otherworldly odors of Hekate, the cloying
earthiness of her surroundings, her brother s twenty-four-hour deodorant,
which was plainly not working, the supposedly unscented gel in his hair, the
mint of the toothpaste she had used earlier.
Sophie s aura began to glow, silver mist rising off her skin like fog off a
lake. It surrounded her body in a pale oval. She closed her eyes and threw
her head back. Colors, smells and sounds were rushing at her: and they were
brighter, stronger, louder than any she had ever experienced before. The
effect from her heightened senses was almost painful no, it was painful. It
hurt. Her head throbbed, her bones ached, even her skin itched everything was
just too much. Sophie s head tilted back, and then, almost of their own
accord, her arms shot out to either side and she rose four inches off the
dirt floor.
Sophie? Josh whispered, unable to keep the terror from his voice. Sophie
His sister, wrapped in an undulating silver glow, was floating in the air
directly before him. The light from her body was so strong that it painted
the circular chamber in shades of silver and black. It was like a scene from
a terrifying horror movie.
don't touch her, Hekate commanded sternly. Her body is attempting to
assimilate the wash of sensations. This is the most dangerous time.
Josh s mouth went dry and his tongue was suddenly too big for it.
Dangerous what do you mean, dangerous? Something in his mind clicked and he
felt as if his worst fears were about to be realized.
In most cases, the brain cannot cope with the heightened sensations of
Awakening.
In most cases? he whispered, appalled.
In almost every case, Hekate'said, and he heard the regret in her voice.
That is why I was unwilling to do this.
Josh asked the question he really didn't want answered: What happens?
The brain effectively shuts down. The person is left in a coma from which
they never awaken.
And Flamel knew this could happen? Josh asked, feeling a great surge of
anger begin in the pit of his stomach. He felt sick. The Alchemyst had known
the Awakening could, in all likelihood, send him and Sophie into a coma, and
yet had still been prepared to let them go through with it. The rage burned
within him, fueled in equal parts by fear and a terrible sense of betrayal.
He d thought Flamel was his friend. He d been wrong.
Of course, Hekate'said. He told you there were dangers, didn't he?
He didn't tell us everything, Josh snapped.
Nicholas Flamel never tells anyone everything. One side of Hekate's face
was touched with the silver light radiating from Sophie, the other was
sheathed in black shadow. Suddenly, Hekate's nostrils flared and her eyes
widened. She looked up at the ceiling of roots. No, she gasped. No!
Sophie s eyes snapped open and then she opened her mouth and screamed.
Fire!
They re burning the World Tree! Hekate howled, her face contorted into a
savage mask. Shoving Josh to one side, she darted out into the corridor,
leaving him alone with the person who had once been his twin. He stared at
the girl floating in the air before him, unsure what to do, afraid to even
touch her. All he knew was that for the first time in their lives, they were
different in ways he could not even begin to comprehend.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
W e need to go. Nicholas Flamel caught Josh s shoulder and shook him,
bringing him back to the present.
Josh turned to look at the Alchemyst. There were tears on his cheeks, but he
was unaware of them. Sophie , he whispered.
is going to be fine, Nicholas said firmly. Shouts echoed in the corridor
outside, the sudden clash of weapons mingling with the roars of humans and
animals. Above it all rose Scathach s delighted laughter. Flamel reached for
Sophie, who was still floating four inches above the earth, and his aura
flared white-green when he took her hand. Gently he pulled her back to the
ground. As soon as her feet touched the earth, it was as if all the strength
had left her body, and he caught her before she crumpled to the floor,
unconscious.
Josh was immediately at his sister s side. He pushed Flamel away and held his
twin in his arms. Crackling energy darted from Sophie s fading aura to his
flesh, but he didn't even register the tiny stings. When he looked up at
Flamel, his face was an angry mask. You knew, he accused, you knew how
dangerous this was. My sister could have been left in a coma.
I knew that was not going to happen, Nicholas said calmly, crouching down
beside Josh. Her aura your aura is too strong. I knew you would both
survive. I would never have deliberately placed either of you in danger. I
swear that. He reached for Sophie s wrist to check her pulse, but Josh
pushed his hand away. He didn't believe him; he wanted to, but somehow
Flamel's words rang false.
They both jumped as an agonized, catlike squeal came from the corridor
outside. It was followed by Scatty s voice. We really should be leaving. And
right now would be a good time!
The smell of burning wood was stronger, and tendrils of gray smoke begun to
curl into the chamber.
we've got to go. We Can'talk about this later, Flamel'said firmly.
You better believe we will, Josh promised.
I'll help you carry her, the Alchemyst offered.
I can do it myself, Josh said, and gathered his sister into his arms. He
wasn't going to trust Sophie
to anyone else. He was surprised by how light
she felt, and he was suddenly thankful for all those painful months of
football practice that had made him stronger than he looked.
The Alchemyst picked up the short staff he d left propped against the wall
and spun it in the air before him. The tip glowed green and it left the
faintest of smoking emerald trails in the air. Ready? Flamel asked.
Josh, his sister held tightly against his chest, nodded.
Whatever happens, whatever you see, don't stop, don't turn back. Just about
everything outside this doorway will not hesitate to kill you.
Josh followed Flamel through the door and immediately stopped, frozen in
shock. Scatty was standing in the center of the narrow corridor, her two
short swords a blur before her. Behind the swords, crowding the corridor,
were some of the most terrifying creatures he had ever seen. He d been
expecting monsters; what he had not been expecting were creatures even more
terrifying. Creatures that were neither beast nor human, but something caught
in between. Humans with the heads of cats snarled and slashed at Scatty,
their claws striking sparks off her swords. Others with the bodies of men but
with the huge peaked skulls of ravens jabbed at her, attempting to gouge and
stab her.
Scatty down! Flamel'shouted. Without waiting to see if she even heard him,
he stretched out his arm and leveled the short staff. His aura flared green
and the air was suddenly bitter with the odor of mint. An emerald-colored
globe of spinning light gathered at the tip of the staff and then shot
forward with an audible pop. Scatty barely managed to duck before the ball
sizzled through the air and shattered against the ceiling almost directly
over her head. It left a bright mark, like a stain, which started to dribble
and drip sticky green light. The scarred head of a tabby cat pushed through
the opening, mouth gaping, fangs glinting. It spotted Scatty and lunged for
her and a drop of the gooey light splashed off the top of its head. The
cat-headed human went wild. It threw itself back into the corridor, where it
immediately attacked everything in its path. A birdman stepped up to the
opening, and was doused in the dripping green light. Its black wings abruptly
developed holes and tears, and it fell back with a hideous chattering cawing.
Josh noticed that although the green light, which had the consistency of
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