I know, his sister answered, be careful. She turned back and hugged her
brother quickly, their auras crackling. Everything s going to be all right,
she said softly, reading the fear in his eyes.
Josh forced himself to smile, and he nodded. How do you know? Magic?
I just know, she said simply. Her eyes blinked briefly silver. This is all
happening for a reason remember the prophecy. Everything s going to work out
fine.
I believe you, he said, even though he didn't. Be careful, and remember,
he added, no wind.
Sophie hugged him quickly again. No wind, she whispered in his ear, and
then spun away.
Nicholas and Josh watched Scatty and Sophie disappear down the street,
heading toward the Metro station; then they turned in the opposite direction.
Just before they rounded a corner, Josh glanced back over his shoulder and
saw that his sister had done the same. They both raised their hands and waved
good-bye.
Josh waited until she had turned away and then lowered his hand. Now he was
truly alone, in a strange city, thousands of miles from home, with a man he
didn't trust, a man he had started to fear.
I thought you said you knew the way, Sophie said.
It s been a while since I was here, the Warrior admitted, and the streets
have changed quite a bit.
But you said you were here when the Eiffel Tower was built. She stopped,
abruptly realizing what she had just said. And when was that exactly? she
asked.
In 1889. I left a couple of months later.
Scathach stopped outside the Metro station and asked directions from a
newspaper and magazine seller. The tiny Chinese woman spoke very little
French so Scathach quickly switched to another language. Sophie abruptly
realized that she recognized it it was Mandarin. The smiling clerk came out
from behind the counter and pointed down the street, speaking so quickly that
Sophie was unable to pick up individual words, despite the Witch s knowledge
of the language. It sounded as if she were singing. Scathach thanked her,
then bowed, and the woman matched the bow.
Sophie caught the Warrior s arm and dragged her away. So much for not
attracting attention to yourself, she murmured. People were starting to
stare.
What were they staring at? Scathach asked, genuinely puzzled.
Oh, probably just the sight of a white girl speaking fluent Chinese and then
bowing, Sophie said with a grin. It was quite a performance.
One day everyone will speak Mandarin, and bowing is just good manners,
Scathach said, setting off down the street, following the directions the
woman had given.
Sophie fell into step beside her. Where did you learn Chinese? she asked.
In China. Actually, I was speaking Mandarin to the woman, but I also speak
Wu and Cantonese. I ve spent a lot of time in the Far East over the
centuries. I used to love it there.
They walked in silence, and then Sophie said, So how many languages do you
speak?
Scathach frowned, eyes briefly closing as she considered. Six or seven
Sophie nodded. Six or seven; that s impressive. My mom and dad want us to
learn Spanish, and Dad is teaching us Greek and Latin. But I d really like to
learn Japanese. I really want to visit Japan, she added.
six or seven hundred, Scathach continued, then laughed aloud at the
stunned expression on Sophie s face. She slipped her arm through Sophie s.
Well, I suppose a few of those would be dead languages, so I m not sure they
count, but remember, I ve been around for a very long time.
Have you really lived for two and a half thousand years? Sophie asked,
glancing sidelong at the girl who looked no older than seventeen. She
suddenly grinned: never once had she imagined herself asking a question like
that. It was just another example of how her life had changed.
Two thousand, five hundred and seventeen humani years. Scathach smiled a
tight-lipped smile that hid her vampire teeth. Hekate once abandoned me in a
particularly nasty Underworld Shadowrealm. It took me centuries to find my
way out. And when I was younger I spent a lot of time in the Shadowrealms of
Lyonesse, Hy-Brasil and Tir na nOg, where time moves at a different pace.
Shadowrealm time is not the same as humani time, so I really only count my
time on this earth. And who knows, you may get to find out for yourself. You
and Josh are unique and powerful and will grow even more powerful as you
master the elemental magics. If you don't discover the secret of immortality
yourselves, someone may offer it to you as a gift. Come on, let s cross.
Catching hold of Sophie s hand, she pulled her across a narrow road.
Although it had only just turned six in the morning, traffic was starting to
build. Vans were making deliveries to restaurants, and the chill morning air
was beginning to fill with the mouth-watering odors of fresh-baked bread and
pastries and percolating coffee. Sophie breathed in the familiar fragrances:
croissants and coffee reminded her that only two days ago she had been
serving those in The Coffee Cup. She blinked away the sting of sudden tears.
So much had happened, so much had changed in the past two days. What s it
like to live so long? she wondered aloud.
Lonely, Scatty said quietly.
How long how long will you live? she asked the Warrior cautiously.
Scatty shrugged and smiled. Who knows? If I m careful, exercise regularly
and watch my diet, I could live another couple of thousand years. Then her
smile faded. But I m not invulnerable, nor am I invincible. I can be
killed. She saw the stricken look on Sophie s face and squeezed her arm.
But that s not going to happen. Do you know how many humani, immortals,
Elders, were-creatures and assorted monsters have tried to kill me?
The girl shook her head.
Well, nor do I, actually. But there have been thousands. Maybe even tens of
thousands. And I m still here; what does that tell you?
That you re good?
Hah! I m better than good. I am the best. I am the Warrior. Scathach
stopped and looked into a bookshop window, but Sophie noticed that when she
turned to talk, her bright green eyes were darting everywhere, taking in
their surroundings.
Resisting the temptation to turn around, Sophie lowered her voice to a
whisper. Are we being followed? She was surprised to discover that she
wasn't the least bit afraid; she knew, instinctively, that nothing could harm
