Nicholas Flamel 2 - The Magician

You do realize, he called after Dee, that we are both dead men. We ve

failed to capture Flamel and the twins. Our masters will not forgive us.

We ve not failed yet, Dee called back. He was almost at the end of the

corridor. I know where this tunnel comes out. I know how we can capture

them. He stopped and looked back, and when he spoke, the words came slowly,

almost reluctantly. But Niccol we will need to work together. We will need

to combine our powers.

What do you intend to do? Machiavelli asked.

Together, we can loose the Guardians of the City.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

T he Morrigan managed to struggle to her feet, but a spiderweb as thick as

her arm wrapped around her waist and twisted between her legs, entangling

them, and she fell. She started to slide over the side of the water tower

when a second and then a third web caught her, curling around her body,

wrapping it from neck to toes in a thick mummylike shell. Perenelle leapt off

Areop-Enap s back and crouched beside the Crow Goddess. The head of her spear

vibrated with energy, and red and white smoke coiled into the damp night air.

You probably feel like screaming right now, Perenelle said with a wry

smile. Go ahead.

The Morrigan obliged. Her jaws unhinged, black lips parted to reveal her

savage teeth and she howled.

The nerve-shattering cry echoed across the island. Every unbroken pane of

glass on Alcatraz shattered into powder, and the entire water tower swayed.

Across the bay, the city came awake as business, house and car alarms along

the waterfront burst into cacophonous life. Every dog within a hundred-mile

radius of the island started yowling piteously.

But the scream also brought the rest of the huge flock of gathered birds

surging into the night sky in a thunderous explosion of flapping wings and

raucous cries. Most were immediately entangled and brought down by a thick

cloud of spiderwebs hanging in the air between the desolate buildings, draped

across every open window, spun from pole to pole. The moment the ensnared

birds hit the ground, spiders of every shape and size swarmed over them,

cocooning them in thick silver webs. Within moments, the island fell silent

again.

A handful of Dire-Crows escaped. Six of the huge birds swooped low over the

island, avoiding the festoons and nets of sticky web. The birds curled out

over San Francisco Bay toward the bridge, soared high and then swung back to

attack. Now they were above the entangling spiderwebs. They circled over the

water tower. Twelve pitch-black eyes fixed on Perenelle, and razor beaks and

dagger-tipped claws opened as they dropped silently toward the woman.

Crouched over the Morrigan, Perenelle caught the flickering hint of movement

reflected in her adversary s black eyes. The Sorceress brought the spearhead

to blazing life with a single word and spun it in her hand, leaving a red

triangle burning in the foggy air. The savage birds flew through the red

fire and changed.

Six perfect eggs dropped out of the sky and were plucked out of midair by

strands of gossamer-thin spiderweb. Breakfast, Areop-Enap said delightedly,

clambering down the side of the tower.

Perenelle sat down beside the struggling Crow Goddess. Resting the spear on

her knees, she looked out across the bay in the direction of the city she

called home.

What will you do now, Sorceress? the Morrigan demanded.

I have no idea, Perenelle said truthfully. It seems Alcatraz is mine. She

sounded almost bemused by the idea. Well, mine and Areop-Enap s.

Unless you've managed to master the art of flight, you are trapped here,

the Morrigan snarled. This is Dee s property. No tourists come here now;

there are no sightseers, no fishing boats. You are still as much a prisoner

as when you were in your cell. And the sphinx patrols the corridors below.

She ll be coming for you.

The Sorceress smiled. She can try. She twirled the spear. It hummed in the

air. I wonder what this would turn her into: baby girl, lion cub or bird

egg.

You know that Dee will return and in force. He ll want his army of

monsters.

I ll be waiting for him, too, the Sorceress promised.

You cannot win, the Morrigan spat.

People have been telling Nicholas and me that for centuries. And yet, we re

still here.

What will you do with me? the Crow Goddess asked eventually. Unless you

kill me, you know I ll never rest until you are dead.

Perenelle smiled. She brought the spearhead close to her lips and blew gently

on it until it glowed white-hot. I wonder what this would turn you into?

she asked absently. Bird or egg?

I was born, not hatched, the Morrigan said simply. You cannot threaten me

with death. It holds no fear for me.

Perenelle got to her feet and planted the butt of the spear on the ground.

I m not going to kill you. I ve got a much more suitable punishment in store

for you. She looked toward the skies, and the wind took her long hair,

blowing it straight out behind her. I ve often wondered what it would be

like to be able to fly, to soar silently through the heavens.

There is no greater feeling, the Morrigan said honestly.

Perenelle s smile was icy. That s what I thought. So I m going to take away

that which you hold most precious: your freedom and your ability to fly. I

have the most wonderful cell just for you.

No prison can hold me, the Morrigan said contemptuously.

It was designed to hold Areop-Enap, Perenelle said. Deep underground, you

will never see the sunlight or fly in the air again.

The Morrigan howled again and thrashed from side to side. The water tower

shifted and trembled, but the Old Spider s web was unbreakable. Then the Crow

Goddess abruptly fell silent. The wind picked up, and fog swirled around the

two women. They could hear the clanging of distant alarms from San Francisco.

The Morrigan began to heave a series of hacking coughs, and it took Perenelle

a moment before she realized that the Crow Goddess was laughing. Although she

had an idea she was not going to like the answer, Perenelle asked, And do