the center of the room. The figure s spiky bright red hair was the only spot
of color in the entire dojo.
we've got a problem, Nicholas Flamel'said simply, addressing the figure.
but the voice was surprisingly both female and young, the accent soft and
vaguely Celtic: Irish or Scottish, Sophie thought.
Dee found me today.
It was only a matter of time.
He came after me with Golems.
There was a pause. Still the figure didn't turn. He always was a fool. You
don't use Golems in a dry climate. That'shis arrogance.
He has taken Perenelle prisoner.
Ah. That'stough. He'll not harm her, though.
And he has the Codex.
The figure moved, coming slowly to her feet and turning to face them. The
twins were shocked to discover that they were looking at a girl not much
older than themselves. Her skin was pale, dappled with freckles, and her
round face was dominated by grass green eyes. Her red hair was so vibrant
that Sophie wondered if she had dyed it that color.
The Codex? The accent was definitely Irish, Sophie decided. The Book of
Abraham the Mage?
Nicholas Flamel nodded.
Then you re right, we do have a problem.
Flamel reached into his pocket and pulled out the two pages Josh had torn
from it. Well, nearly all of the book. He s missing the Final Summoning.
The young woman hissed, the sound like that of water boiling, and a quick
smile flickered across her face. Which he will want, of course.
Of course.
Josh was watching the red-haired young woman intently, noting how she stood
perfectly still, like most of the martial arts teachers he knew. He glanced
sidelong at his sister and raised his eyebrows in a silent question as he
inclined his chin slightly toward the girl. Sophie shook her head. They were
curious why Nicholas Flamel treated her with such obvious respect. Sophie had
also come to the conclusion that there was something
expression, but she couldn t quite put her finger on it. It was an ordinary
face perhaps the cheekbones were a little too prominent, the chin a little
too pointed but the emerald-colored eyes caught and held one s attention and
then Sophie realized with a start that the irl didn't blink.
The young woman suddenly threw back her head and breathed deeply, her
nostrils flaring. Is that why I can smell Eyes?
Flamel nodded. Rats and crows everywhere.
And you brought them here? There was a note of accusation in her voice.
I ve spent years building this place.
If Dee has the Codex, then you know what he will do with it.
The young woman nodded. She turned her wide green eyes on the twins. And
these two? she asked, finally acknowledging their presence.
They were there when Dee attacked. They fought for me, and this young man
managed to tear the pages from the book. This is Sophie and this is her twin,
Josh.
Twins? The young woman stepped forward, and looked at each of them in turn.
Not identical, but I can see the resemblance now. She turned to Flamel.
You re not thinking ?
I m thinking it s an interesting turn of events, Flamel'said mysteriously.
He looked at the twins. I would like to introduce you to Scathach. SHe'll
probably not tell you much about herself, so I'll tell you that she is of the
Elder Race and has trained every warrior and hero of legend for the past two
thousand years. In mythology she is known as the Warrior Maid, the Shadow,
the Daemon Slayer, the King Maker, the
Oh, just call me Scatty, the young woman said, her cheeks turning the same
color as her hair.
CHAPTER EIGHT
successfully, to control his temper. The air was heavy with the odor of
sulfur, and thin tendrils of yellow-white fire crackled around his fingertips
and puddled on the floor. He had failed, and while his masters were
particularly patient they often instigated plans that took centuries to
mature their patience was now beginning to run out. And they were definitely
not known for their compassion.
Unmoving, held by the warding spell, Perenelle Flamel watched him, eyes
blazing with a combination of loathing and what might even have been fear.
This is becoming complicated, Dee muttered, and I hate complications.
Dee was holding a flat silver dish in his lap, into which he had poured a can
of soda the only liquid he had available. He always preferred to work with
pure water, but technically any fluid would do. Crouched over the dish, he
stared into the liquid and allowed a little of his own auric energy to
trickle across the surface as he muttered the first words of the spell of
scrying.
For a single moment there was just his own reflection in the dark liquid,
then it shuddered and the soda began to bubble and boil furiously. When the
liquid settled, the image in the bowl no longer reflected Dee s face, but
showed a curiously flat image, rendered in shades of purple-gray and greenish
black. The viewpoint was close to the ground, shifting and moving with
sickening rapidity.
Rats, Dee murmured, thin lips curling with distaste. He hated using rats as
Eyes.
I cannot believe you led them here, Scatty said, shoving handfuls of
clothes into a backpack.
Nicholas Flamel'stood in the doorway of Scatty s tiny bedroom, arms folded
across his chest. Everything happened so fast. It was bad enough when Dee
got the Codex, but when I realized there were pages missing, I knew the twins
would be in trouble.
At the mention of the word
the real reason you re here, aren't they?
Flamel'suddenly found something very interesting to stare at on the wall.
