What happened what happened back there? Sophie asked.
Josh s smile broadened into a wide grin. You saved us, with your newly
Awakened powers. You were incredible: you had a silver whip energy thing, and
every time it touched one of the cats or birds, it changed them back into
their real forms. He trailed off as she started to shake her head. You
don't remember anything?
A little. I could hear Perenelle talking to me, telling me what to do. I
could actually feel her pouring her aura into me, she said in awe. I could
hear her. I could even see her, sort of. She suddenly drew in a deep,
shuddering breath. Then they came for her. That'sall I can remember.
Who did?
The faceless men. Lots of faceless men. I watched them drag her away.
What do you mean, faceless men?
Sophie s eyes were wide and terrified. They had no faces.
Like masks?
No, Josh, not masks. Their faces were smooth no eyes, no nose, no mouth,
just smooth skin.
The image that formed in his head was deeply disturbing, and he deliberately
changed the subject. Do you feel different? He chose the word carefully.
Sophie took a moment to consider. What was wrong with Josh, why was he so
concerned? Different? How?
Do you remember Hekate Awakening your powers?
I do.
What did it feel like? he asked hesitantly.
For a moment Sophie s eyes flickered with cold silver light. It was as if
someone had flipped a switch in my head, Josh. I felt alive. For the first
time in my life I felt alive.
Josh felt a sudden inexplicable pang of jealousy. From the corner of his eye,
he spotted Flamel and Scatty leaving the diner, arms piled high with bags.
And how do you feel now?
Hungry, she said. Extremely hungry.
They ate in silence: breakfast burritos, eggs, sausage, grits and rolls,
washed down with soda. Scatty had fruit and water.
Josh finally wiped his mouth with a napkin and brushed bread crumbs off his
jeans. It was the first proper meal he d had since lunchtime the day before.
I feel human again. He glanced sideways at Scatty. No offense.
None taken, Scatty assured him. Believe me I ve never wanted to be human,
though there are, I believe, some advantages, she added enigmatically.
Nicholas bundled up the remains of their breakfast and shoved them into a
paper bag. Then he leaned forward and tapped the screen of the satellite
navigation system set into the dashboard. Do you know how this works?
Josh shook his head. In theory, I guess. We put in a destination and it
tells us the best way to get there. I ve never used one before, though. My
dad s car hasn t got one, he added. Richard Newman drove a five-year-old
Volvo station wagon.
If you looked at it, could you make it work? Flamel persisted.
Maybe, Josh said doubtfully.
Of course he can. Josh is a genius with computers, Sophie said proudly from
the backseat.
This is hardly a computer, her twin muttered, leaning forward and hitting
the On button. The large square screen flickered to life, and an incredibly
patronizing voice warned them about typing addresses into the system while
driving, then instructed Josh to hit the OK button, acknowledging that he d
heard and understood the warning. The screen blinked and immediately showed
the position of the Hummer on an unnamed backroad. Mount Tamalpais appeared
as a little triangle at the top of the screen, and arrows pointed south to
San Francisco. The little track that led to Hekate's Shadowrealm wasn't
shown.
We need to go south, Flamel continued.
Josh experimented with the buttons until he got the main menu. Okay. I need
an address.
Put in the post office at the corner of Signal Street and Ojai Avenue in
Ojai.
In the backseat, Scatty stirred. Oh, not Ojai. Please tell me we re not
going there.
Flamel twisted in his seat. Perenelle told me to go south.
L.A. is south, Mexico is south, even Chile is south of here. There are
of nice places that lie to the south .
Perenelle told me to take the children to the Witch, Flamel'said patiently.
And the Witch is in Ojai.
Sophie and Josh looked quickly at each other, but said nothing.
Scatty sat back and sighed dramatically. Would it make a difference if I
told you I didn't want to go?
None at all.
Sophie crouched between the seats to stare at the little screen. How long
will it take? How far away are we? she wondered out loud.
It s going to take most of the day, Josh said, leaning forward to squint at
the screen. Where his hair brushed his sister s, a tiny spark crackled
between them. We need to get to Highway One. We go across the Richmond
Bridge His fingers traced the colored lines. Then to I-580, which
eventually turns into I-5. He blinked in surprise. We stay on that for over
two hundred and seventy miles. He hit another button, which calculated some
totals. The entire trip is just over four hundred miles, and will take at
least six and a half hours. Before today, the farthest I ve ever driven is
about ten miles!
Well, this will be great practice for you, then, the Alchemyst said with a
smile.
Sophie looked from Flamel to Scatty. Who is this Witch we re going to see?
Flamel'snapped his seat belt into place. We re going to see the Witch of
Endor.
Josh turned the key in the ignition and started the car. He glanced in the
rearview mirror at Scatty. Someone else you've fought with? he asked.
Scathach grimaced. Worse than that, she muttered. She s my grandmother.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
