around the room, peering through the windows into the lush gardens. An
enormous yellow-white butterfly fluttered past the opening. It was the size
of a dinner plate and had not existed on the earth since the Jurassic period.
Hekate created and maintains this place by an extraordinary use of magic,
she continued. But magic, like everything else, follows certain natural
laws. Magic needs energy, and it takes that energy wherever it can find it,
even from the tiny batteries in your electrical toys. If no other source of
energy is available, it will take the life force of the magician who created
it. That is why every use of magic weakens the magician.
Are you saying nothing electrical works in this Shadowrealm? Sophie
wondered aloud, and then she shook her head quickly. But Hekate used a
phone. I saw her showing it to Flamel earlier. Why doesn't its battery
drain?
Hekate is immensely powerful and is more or less immune to the effects of
the magic she generates. I would imagine that she keeps the phone on her
person so it doesn't drain, or possibly she keeps it in the real world with a
servant. Many members of the Elder Race have human servants.
Like Flamel and Dee? Sophie asked.
Nicholas serves no Elder, Scathach said slowly. The Book is his master.
Dee, on the other hand well, no one knows exactly who, or what, he serves.
She glanced over her shoulder, her gaze lingering on each of them. You ll
probably find yourself feeling exhausted in about an hour, muscles sore,
maybe even a little headachy. That'sthe magical field feeding off your
auras. don't be too concerned, however: your particular auras are
exceptionally strong. Just drink plenty of liquids. Scatty moved from window
to window and leaned forward, peering out. I know they are out there, but I
cannot see them, she said suddenly.
Who? Sophie wondered.
The Torc Allta.
Are they really wereboars? I mean, men who change into boars? Sophie asked.
She was conscious that her twin hadn't spoken since Scathach had entered the
room. He was staring at her, eyes wide in horror, mouth drawn into a thin
line. She knew that expression well: he was scared, and she guessed that he
was thinking about all the vampire novels he d read and movies he d seen.
No, not really, Scatty said. I know Nicholas has told you that before the
humani claimed the earth, this world belonged to other creatures, other
races. But even amongst the Elder Race, the Torc clans were special. They
could transform from beast shape to man shape and back again. Scatty sat on
the edge of the low bed and stretched her legs straight out in front of her.
When the earliest humani first appeared, the Torc clans taught them how to
work wood and stone and how to create fire. The humani worshipped the Torc
clans as gods why do you think so many of the earliest gods have animal
shapes? Think of the cave paintings of creatures that are neither man nor
beast but something in between. You must have seen statues of the Egyptian
gods Sobek, Bastet and Anubis: humani bodies, but with animal heads. Think of
the dances where humani pretend to be animals: they are just memories of the
time when the Torc clans lived side by side with the humani.
Therianthropes, Sophie said absently.
Scatty looked at her blankly.
Figures that are made from animal and human shapes mixed together, Josh
explained. I told you that our parents are archaeologists, he added. Then
he looked quickly at the red-haired woman. Do you drink blood? he asked
suddenly.
Josh! Sophie whispered.
No, I don't drink blood, Scathach said quietly. Not now. Not ever.
But a vampire
Scathach surged to her feet and two steps brought her directly in front of
Josh. She was not quite as tall as he was, but in that moment, she seemed
huge. There are many types of vampires, many clans, just as there are many
Were clans. Some of my race are blood drinkers, it is true.
But not you, Sophie said hastily, before her brother could ask any further
awkward questions.
No, not my clan. Those of my clan well, we feed in other ways, Scatty said
with a wry smile. And we rarely need to feed, she added. She spun away.
Everything you have been taught, all the myths and legends of your world,
have a kernel of truth in them. you've seen wonders today. You will see more
in the days to come.
What do you mean, in the days to come? Josh interrupted, voice rising in
alarm. We re going home, aren't we? But even as he was asking the question,
he knew the answer.
Eventually, the Warrior Maid said, but not today, and definitely not
tomorrow.
Sophie laid her hand on her brother s arm, silencing the question he was
about to ask. What were you saying about myths and legends? she asked.
Somewhere deep in the house a bell chimed, the sound high and pure. It
lingered in the still air.
Scathach ignored it. I want you to remember that everything you know or
think you know about myth and legend is not necessarily false, nor is it
entirely true. At the heart of every legend there is a grain of truth. I
suspect that much of your knowledge comes from movies and TV. Xena and
Dracula have a lot to answer for. All minotaurs are not evil, the Gorgon
Medusa did not turn every man to stone, not all vampires are blood drinkers,
the Were clans are a proud and ancient race.
Josh attempted a laugh; he was still shaken by the revelation that Scathach
was a vampire. You ll be telling us next that ghosts exist.
Scathach s expression remained serious. Josh, you have entered the
Shadowrealm, the world of ghosts. I want you both to trust your instincts
from now on: forget what you know or think you know about the creatures and
races you will encounter. Follow your hearts. Trust no one. Except each
other, she added.
We Can'trust you and Nicholas, though, right? Sophie said.
The bell rang again, flat and piercing in the distance.
Trust no one, Scathach repeated, and the twins realized that she was not
answering the question. She turned toward the door. I think That'sthe
dinner bell.
Can we eat the food? Josh asked.
Depends, Scatty said.
Depends on what? he asked in alarm.
Depends on what it is, of course. I don't eat the meat myself.
