them, they hadn't had the same effect on him. This Elder was different. Now
he knew what Dee had meant when he said that this was the Elder remembered by
humankind. This was Mars himself, the Elder with a month and a planet named
after him.
Josh tried to draw in a deep breath and settle his thumping heart, but he was
shaking so hard he could barely breathe. His legs were like jelly, and he
felt that at any moment, he could crumple to the ground. Squeezing his mouth
shut, he forced himself to draw in air through his nose, trying to remember
some of the breathing exercises he d learned in martial arts class. He closed
his eyes tight and wrapped his arms around his body, hugging himself hard. He
should be able to do this: he d seen Elders before; he d faced the undead and
even fought a primeval monster. How hard could this be?
Josh straightened, opened his eyes and looked at the statue of Mars except
that it wasn't a statue. This was a living being. There was a thick hard gray
crust over his skin and clothing. The only touch of color about the god was
in his eyes, which glowed red behind a full-face visor that completely
concealed his face.
Great Mars, it is almost time, Dee said quickly, time for the Elders to
return to the world of the humani. He took a breath and announced
dramatically, We have the Codex.
Josh felt the crackle of parchment under his T-shirt. What would happen to
him if they knew he had the two missing pages? Would they still Awaken him?
At the mention of the Codex, the Elder s head snapped toward Dee, eyes
blazing, wisps of red smoke drifting from the slit in the helm.
The prophecy is almost fulfilled, Dee continued quickly. Soon we will make
the Final Summoning. Soon we will free the Lost Elders and return them to
their rightful place as rulers of the world. Soon we will return the world to
the paradise it once was.
With the sound of grinding stone, Mars swung his legs off the plinth and
turned so that he was sitting facing the boy. Josh noticed that every
movement sent tiny flakes of what looked like stone skin onto the ground.
Dee s voice rose almost to a shout. And the first prophecy of the Codex has
come to pass. We have found the two that are one. We have found the twins of
legend. He waved a hand toward Josh. This humani possesses an aura of pure
gold; his twin sister s aura is unblemished silver.
Mars tilted his head to look at Josh again and then stretched out a gloved
hand. It was still a foot and a half away from the boy s shoulder when his
aura bloomed silently around him, the bright glow lighting up the interior of
the chamber, turning the polished bone walls golden, sending Phobos and
Deimos scuttling for shelter in the deepest shadows behind the plinth. The
dry air was suddenly rich with the scent of orange.
Squinting against the glow given off by his own skin, feeling the hair on his
head standing up, crackling with static, Josh watched in awe as the hardened
crust began to fall away from Mars s fingertips to reveal deeply tanned,
muscled flesh beneath. The god s own aura flared, outlining the statue in a
thick purple-red mist and his healthy skin started to glow an angry red as
tiny sparks curled off the aura and stuck to his flesh, quickly cooling and
coating it in a gray-white stonelike scab. Josh frowned; it looked as if the
god s aura was hardening into a thick shell around him, slowly turning him to
stone again.
The girl s powers have been Awakened, Dee continued, his voice echoing in
the chamber. The boy s have not. If we are to succeed, if we are to bring
back the Elders, this boy s powers must be Awakened. Mars Ultor, will you
Awaken the boy?
The god planted his tall broadsword on the ground, the point sinking easily
into the bone floor, wrapped both hands around the hilt and leaned forward to
look at Josh.
Show no fear and don't panic. Josh straightened and stood tall, then stared
directly into the narrow rectangular opening in the stone helm. For the space
of a single heartbeat, he thought he caught a flash of brilliantly bright
blue eyes in the shadows, before they turned red and glowing again. Josh s
aura faded to a dull glow and the two satyrs immediately crept forward,
climbing onto the plinth to peer around the god at the boy. The hunger in
their eyes was unmistakable now.
Twins.
It took Josh a moment to realize that Mars had spoken. The god s voice was
surprisingly soft and sounded incredibly weary. Twins? The question in his
voice was unmistakable.
Y-yes, Josh stammered. I have a twin sister, Sophie.
I had twin boys once a long time ago, Mars said, his voice lost and
distant. The red glow inside his helm faded and blue eyes blinked again.
Good boys, fine boys, he added, and Josh was unsure whom he was speaking
to. Who is the elder? he asked. You or your sister?
Sophie, Josh said, lips curling in a sudden smile at the thought of his
sister. But only by twenty-eight seconds.
And do you love your sister? Mars asked.
Taken by surprise, Josh said, Yes well, I mean, yes, of course I do. She s
my twin.
Mars nodded. Romulus, my younger boy, said that too. He swore to me that he
loved his brother, Remus. And then he killed him.
The bone chamber fell deathly silent.
Looking into the helmet, Josh saw Mars Ultor s eyes turn blue and wet, and he
felt his own eyes fill with tears in sympathy. Then the god s tears hissed to
steam as his eyes blazed red again. I had Awakened my sons auras, gave them
access to powers and abilities beyond those of the humani. All their senses
and emotions were heightened including the emotions of hate, fear and love.
He paused, and then added, They had been close so close until I Awakened
their senses. That destroyed them. There was another, longer pause. Perhaps
it would be better if I did not Awaken you. For your own sake and the sake of
your sister.
Josh blinked in surprise and looked over his shoulder at Dee and Machiavelli.
The Italian s face was impassive, but Dee looked as stunned as Josh felt. Was
Mars refusing to Awaken him?
Lord Mars, the Magician began, the boy must be Awakened .
It will be his choice, Mars said mildly.
I demand
The glow within the god s helm turned incandescent.
In my master s name, of course, Dee said quickly. My master demands
Your master can make no demands of me, Magician, Mars whispered. And if
