Nicholas Flamel 2 - The Magician sotinf-2

by Michael Scott

  them, Clarent moving to intercept each strike, the Disir s metal blade

  slamming off his stone sword in a shower of sparks, each blow driving him

  back, the force vibrating through his entire body. The Disir was just too

  fast. The next swipe struck his bare arm between the shoulder and elbow.

  Clarent managed to nudge the sword at the last instant, so it was only the

  flat of the blade, rather than the razor-sharp edge, that hit him. Instantly,

  his entire arm went numb from shoulder to fingertips and he felt a sudden

  wash of nausea from the pain, the fear and the sudden realization that he was

  going to die. Clarent fell from his grasp and clattered to the ground.

  When the woman smiled, Josh saw that her teeth were thin needle points.

  Easy. Too easy. A legendary sword does not make you a swordsman. Hefting

  the broadsword, she advanced on the boy, driving him right up against

  Nidhogg s stone-flesh. Josh squeezed his eyes shut as she raised her arms

  high and screamed a hideous war cry. Odin!

  Sophie, he whispered.

  Josh!

  Two blocks away, stuck in unmoving traffic, Sophie Newman sat bolt upright in

  the backseat of the car, a sudden stomach-churning feeling of terror catching

  her in her chest, setting her heart pounding madly.

  Nicholas spun around and caught the girl s hand. Tell me!

  Tears filled her eyes. Josh, she gasped, almost unable to speak with the

  lump in her throat. Josh is in danger, terrible danger. The car filled with

  the overpowering smell of rich vanilla as her aura blossomed. Tiny sparks

  danced on the end of her blond hair, crackling like cellophane. We ve got to

  get to him!

  We re going nowhere, Joan said grimly. Traffic on the narrow street was at

  a complete standstill.

  A chill settled in Sophie s stomach: it was the appalling fear that her

  brother was going to die.

  Sidewalk, Nicholas said decisively. Take it.

  But the pedestrians

  Can get out of the way. Use your horn. He swiveled back around to Sophie.

  We re minutes away, he said as Joan bumped the small car up off the

  pavement and roared down the sidewalk, horn squeaking plaintively.

  That s going to be too late. There must be something you can do? Sophie

  pleaded desperately. Anything?

  Looking old and tired, lines etched into his forehead and around his eyes,

  Nicholas Flamel shook his head miserably. There is nothing I can do, he

  admitted.

  Sparking, crackling, snapping, a sheet of stinking yellow-white flame winked

  into existence between Josh and the Disir. The heat was so intense it drove

  him back onto Nidhogg s clawed feet and crisped his hair, scorching his

  eyebrows and eyelashes. The Disir too staggered back, blinded by the foul

  flames.

  Josh!

  Someone called his name, but the terrifying flames were roaring right in

  front of his face.

  The proximity of the fire roused the monster. It took a shuddering step, the

  movement of its leg thrusting Josh forward onto his hands and knees, pitching

  him dangerously close to the flames which died as abruptly as they had risen.

  He hit the ground hard, hands and knees stinging with the contact. The smell

  of rotten eggs was appalling and his eyes and nose were streaming, but

  through his tears, he saw Clarent and attempted to reach for it just as

  someone shouted at him again.

  Josh!

  The Disir threw herself at Josh once more, sword thrusting at him. A solid

  spear of yellow flame struck the woman, exploding over her chain mail, which

  immediately started to rust and fall away. And then another wall of flame

  roared into existence between the boy and the warrior.

  Josh. A hand fell on Josh s shoulder and he jumped, shouting aloud with

  fright and the pain in his bruised shoulder. He looked up to find Dr. John

  Dee leaning over him.

  Dirty yellow smoke dribbled from the Magician s hands, which were barely

  covered in torn gray gloves, and his once-elegant suit was now a ruined mess.

  Dee smiled kindly. It would be best if we left right now. He gestured

  toward the flames. I can t keep this up forever. Even as he was speaking,

  the Disir's blade cut blindly through the fire, flames curling around the

  metal as it sought a target. Dee hauled Josh to his feet and dragged him

  backward.

  Wait, Josh said hoarsely, voice raw with a combination of fear and the

  smoke. Scatty He coughed and tried again. Scatty is trapped .

  Escaped, Dee said quickly, putting an arm around the boy s shoulder,

  supporting him, leading him toward a police car.

  Escaped? Josh mumbled, confused.

  Nidhogg lost its grip on her when I created the curtain of fire between you

  and the Disir. I saw her roll away from its claws, jump to her feet and race

  down the quay.

  She ran she ran away? That didn't sound right. She d been limp and

  unconscious the last time he d seen her. He tried to concentrate, but his

  head was throbbing, and the flesh on his face felt tight from the flames.

  Even the legendary Warrior could not stand against Nidhogg. Heroes survive

  to fight again because they know when to run.

  She left me?

  I doubt she even knew you were there, Dee said quickly, bundling Josh into

  the back of a badly parked police car and sliding in beside him. He tapped

  the white-haired driver on the shoulder. Let s go.

  Josh sat up straight. Wait I dropped Clarent, he said.

  Trust me, Dee said, you don't want to return for it. He leaned back so

  that Josh could look out the window. The Disir, her once-pristine white chain

  mail now hanging in tattered and rotting shreds about her, strode through the

  dying yellow flames. She spotted the boy in the back of the car and raced

  toward it, shouting unintelligibly in a language that sounded like wolves

  howling.

  Niccol , Dee said quickly. She's rather upset. We really should be going

  now, right now.

  Josh looked away from the approaching Disir at the driver and was horrified

  to discover that it was the same man he'd seen on Sacre -Coeur's steps.

  Machiavelli turned the key in the ignition so savagely that the starter

  screeched. The car lurched, jerked forward, then died.

  Oh great, Dee muttered. That' s just great. Josh watched as the Magician

  leaned out the window, brought his hand to his mouth and blew sharply into

  it. A yellow sphere of smoke rolled from his palm and dropped onto the

  ground. It bounced twice like a rubber ball, then exploded at head height

  just as it reached the Disir. Thick, sticky strands the color and consistency

  of dirty honey splashed over the Disir, then dripped down in long streamers,

  gluing her to the ground. That should hold her , Dee began. The Disir's

  broadsword sliced easily through the strands. Or maybe not.

  Through his pain, Josh realized that Machiavelli had tried and failed to get

  the car started again. Let me, he muttered, scrambling over the back of the

  seat as Machiavelli slid over to the passenger side. His right shoulder was

  still aching, but at least feeling had returned to his fingers, and he didn't

  think anything was broken. He was going to have
a massive bruise to add to

  his growing collection. Turning the key in the ignition, he floored the

  accelerator and simultaneously slammed the car into reverse just as the Disir

  reached it. He was suddenly thankful that he d learned to drive a stick shift

  on his father s old battered Volvo. The warrior s flailing sword struck the

  door, puncturing the metal, the tip of the blade inches from Josh's leg. As

  the car screeched backward, the Disir set her feet firmly and held on to her

  sword with both hands. The blade tore a horizontal rip right across the door

  and into the wing over the engine, peeling back the metal as if it were

  paper. It also tore apart the front driver's-side tire, which exploded with a

  dull bang.

  Keep going! Dee shouted.

  I m not stopping, Josh promised.

  With the engine whining in protest and the front tire flapping and banging

  off the ground, Josh tore away from the quayside

  just as Joan wheeled the slightly scratched Citro n in at the other end.

  Joan hit the brakes and the car screeched to a halt on the morning-wet

  stones. Sophie, Nicholas and Joan watched in confusion as Josh reversed a

  battered police car at high speed away from Nidhogg and the Disir. They could

  clearly see Dee and Machiavelli in the car as he executed a clumsy handbrake

  turn and sped from the parking lot.

  For a single heartbeat, the Disir stood on the quayside, looking lost and

  bewildered. Then she spotted the newcomers. Turning, she raced toward them,

  sword held high over her head, screeching a barbaric war cry.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  I ll take care of this, Joan said, sounding almost pleased at the

  prospect. She touched Flamel' s sleeve and nodded to where the Warrior was

  still wrapped in Nidhogg's claws. Get Scathach. The monster was now less

  than six feet from the edge of the quay and edging ever closer to the safety

  of the water.

  The tiny Frenchwoman grabbed her sword and leapt out of the car.

  More humani with swords, the Disir spat, blade falling toward the woman.

  Not just any humani, Joan said, easily turning the weapon aside, her own

  sword then flicking out to clink against the remains of the rusted mail on

  the Disir's shoulders. I am Joan of Arc! The longsword in her hands twirled

  and twisted, creating a spinning wheel of steel that drove the Disir back

  with the ferocity of its attack. I am the Maid of Orl ans.

  Sophie and Nicholas moved cautiously toward Nidhogg. Sophie noted that its

  entire tail was coated with heavy black stone, which had now started to creep

  up its back and down its hind legs. The weight of the stone tail anchored the

  creature to the ground, and Sophie saw its huge muscles bunching and rippling

  as it tugged itself toward the water. She could see where its claws and

  dragging tail left deep indentations in the pavement.

  Sophie, Flamel shouted, I need some help!

  But Josh , she began, distracted.

  Josh is gone, he snapped. He swooped in to snatch Clarent off the ground,

  hissing in surprise at the heat of the weapon. Darting forward, he slapped at

  Nidhogg with the sword. The blade bounced harmlessly off the stone-sheathed

  skin. Sophie, help me free Scatty and then we ll go after Josh. Use your

  powers.

  The Alchemyst hacked at Nidhogg again but without any effect. His worst fears

  had been realized: Dee had gotten his hands on Josh and Josh had the last two

  pages from the Codex. Nicholas looked over his shoulder. Sophie was standing

  still, looking frightened and completely bemused.

  Sophie! Help me.

  Sophie obediently raised her hands, pressed her thumb against her tattoo and

  tried to call on her Fire magic. Nothing happened. She couldn't concentrate;

  she was too worried about her brother. What was he doing? Why had he gone

  with Dee and Machiavelli? It didn't look as though they had forced him

  to he d been driving them!

  Sophie! Nicholas called.

  But she knew he d been in danger real and terrible danger. She d felt the

  emotion deep within her, recognized it for what it was. Whenever Josh was in

  trouble, she knew. When he d nearly drowned off Pakala Beach on Kauai, she d

  woken up breathless and gasping; when he d broken his ribs on the football

  field in Pittsburgh, she d distinctly felt the sharp pain in her left side,

  felt the sting with every breath she took.

  Sophie!

  What had happened? One moment he was in mortal danger and the next ?

  Sophie! Flamel snarled.

  What? she snapped, turning on the Alchemyst. She felt a quick surge of

  anger; Josh was right he d been right all along. This was the Alchemyst's

  fault.

  Sophie, he said more gently. I need you to help me. I can t do this on my

  own.

  Sophie turned to look at the Alchemyst. He was crouched on the ground, cool

  green vapor puddling around him. A thick emerald cord of smoke wrapped around

  one of Nidhogg's huge legs and disappeared deep into the earth, where it

  looked as if Flamel had attempted to trap it. Another rope of smoke, thinner,

  less substantial than the first, was loosely wrapped around one of the

  creature's hind legs. Nidhogg inched forward and the green cord snapped and

  dissolved into the air. Another few steps and it would carry Scathach her

  friend into the river. Sophie wasn't going to let that happen.

  Her fear and anger lent her focus. When she pressed her tattoo, flames popped

  alight on each finger. She splashed silver fire across Nidhogg's back, but it

  had no effect. Then she peppered the monster with tiny fiery hailstones, but

  it didn't even seem to notice. It continued to edge nearer to the water.

  Fire didn't work, so she tried wind. But the miniature tornados she threw

  bounced harmlessly off the creature. Scouring the Witch's memories, she tried

  a trick Hekate had used against the Mongol Horde. She whipped up a sharp wind

  that drove stinging grit and dirt into Nidhogg's eyes. The creature merely

  blinked and a second, protective eyelid slid down over its huge eye.

  Nothing's working! she screamed as the monster dragged Scatty ever closer

  to the edge. Nothing's working!

  The Disir's sword slashed out. Joan ducked, and the heavy blade whistled over

  her head and sliced into the Citron, turning the windshield into white

  powder, popping off the tiny windshield wipers.

  Joan was furious; she loved her 2CV Charleston. Francis had wanted to buy her

  a new car for her birthday, in January. He d given her a pile of glossy car

  catalogs and told her to pick one. She d pushed the catalogs aside and told

  him she d always wanted the little classic French car. He d searched all over

  Europe for the perfect model and then spent a small fortune having it

  restored to its original pristine condition. When he d presented it to her,

  it had been wrapped in three thick ribbons of blue, white and red.

  Another wide slash from the Disir scored a rent on the hood of the car, and

  then another cut off the small round headlight that perched over the right

  front wheel arch like an eye. The light bounced away and shattered.

  Do you know, Joan asked, her huge eyes dark with fury, renewing her attack


  on the Disir, every word matched by a hammer blow from her sword, how

  difficult it is to find original parts for this car?

  The Disir fell back, desperately trying to defend herself from Joan's

  whirling blade, pieces of her rotting chain mail flying away as the small

  Frenchwoman's sword struck closer and closer. She kept trying different

  fighting styles to defend herself, but nothing was effective against the

  ferocious onslaught.

  You will notice, Joan continued, pushing the warrior back toward the river,

  that I have no fighting style. That is because I was trained by the greatest

  warrior of all. I was trained by Scathach the Shadow.

  You may defeat me, the Disir said grimly, but my sisters will avenge my

  death.

  Your sisters, Joan said, with a final savage cut that snapped the Disir's

  blade in two. Would they be the two Valkyries currently frozen into their

  own personal iceberg?

  The Disir faltered, swaying on the edge of the wall along the river.

  Impossible. We are undefeatable.

  Everyone can be defeated. The flat of Joan's blade clanged against the

  Disir's helmet, stunning her. Then Joan darted forward, her shoulder catching

  the swaying Disir in the chest, knocking her backward into the Seine. Only

  ideas are immortal, she whispered.

  Still clutching the broken remains of her sword, the Valkyrie disappeared

  into the murky river in a huge splash that drenched Joan from head to toe.

  Sophie was puzzled. Her magic had failed against Nidhogg but how had Josh ?

  He had no powers.

  The sword: he had the sword.

  Sophie snatched Clarent from Flamel's hand. And instantly her aura snapped to

  life, sparking, crackling, long streamers of icy light spinning around her

  body. She felt a rush of emotions, a swirling mess of thoughts, ugly

  thoughts, dark thoughts, the memories and emotions of those men and women who

  had carried the sword in ages past. She was about to fling the weapon away in

  disgust, but she knew it was probably Scatty s only chance. Nidhogg's tail

  was wounded, so Josh must have cut it there. But she d seen the Alchemyst

  hack at the tough hide with no result.

  Unless

  Racing up to the monster, she plunged the weapon point first into its

  shoulder.

  The effect was immediate. Red-black fire burned along the length of the