The Alchemyst

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

T he twins were speechless for a moment. Then Josh began, What did she

mean ?

But Nicholas hurried past him, following Hekate out into the hallway. She s

exaggerating, he called back over his shoulder. Trying to frighten you.

Well, it worked, Josh muttered. He looked at Scathach, but she turned her

back and walked into the garden. Hey, he called, hurrying after her, come

back. I ve got questions. He felt a quick surge of anger; he was tired of

being treated like a child. He and his sister deserved some answers.

Josh, Sophie warned.

But her brother darted past her and reached for Scathach s shoulder. His

fingers never even touched her. Suddenly, he was caught, twisted, turned and

then spun through the air. He hit the ground hard enough to drive the breath

from his lungs, and he found himself staring down the length of Scathach s

sword, the tip of which she held rock steady between his eyes. When she

spoke, her voice was little more than a whisper. Last night you insulted a

goddess of the Elder Race; today you've managed to irritate one of the Next

Generation and it s not even dawn yet, she added. The Warrior Maid sheathed

her sword and looked over at a stunned Sophie. She hadn't even seen Scathach

move. Is he always like this? Scatty asked.

Like what? Sophie asked.

Foolish, ill-advised, reckless ? Shall I go on?

No need. And yes, he s usually like this. Sometimes worse. When they were

growing up, she used to tease Josh that he got all the doing genes, whereas

she got the thinking genes. Her brother was both impulsive and reckless,

but to be fair, she thought, he was also loyal and trustworthy.

Scathach pulled Josh to his feet. If you continue at this rate, you ll not

last long in this world.

I just wanted to ask you a few questions.

You re lucky. A couple of centuries ago, I probably would have killed you. I

used to have a bit of a temper, she admitted, but I ve been working on my

self-control.

Josh rubbed the small of his back. If Scathach had smashed him down on the

stones, he could really have been hurt, but he recognized that she d been

careful to drop him onto the grass and moss. That felt like a judo throw,

he said shakily, attempting to sound casual and change the subject.

Something like that

Where did you learn judo, anyway?

I didn't learn judo. I created the distant ancestor of most of the martial

arts that are studied today, the red-haired warrior said, bright green eyes

flashing wickedly. In fact, it would do neither of you any harm if I were to

show you a few simple moves.

I think we can do better than simple, Josh said. We studied tae kwon do

for two years when our parents were teaching in Chicago, and we did a year of

karate in New York or was that Boston?

You created judo? Sophie asked, keeping her voice carefully neutral.

No, Kano Jigoro created modern judo, but he based his fighting system on

jujitsu, which is related to aikido, which evolved around the fourteenth

century. I believe I was in Japan around then. All martial arts have a common

root. And That'sme, Scatty said modestly. Come, if you know a little tae

kwon do and karate, That'suseful. Let me show you some basic moves while

we re waiting for Nicholas.

Where is he? Sophie asked, looking back over her shoulder at the house.

What was going on in there? Is he asking Hekate to Awaken our magical

potential?

He is, Scatty affirmed.

But Hekate'said that could kill us! Josh said in alarm. He was beginning to

suspect that Flamel's agenda was about more than just protecting him and his

sister. The Alchemyst was up to something.

She was only guessing, Scatty said. She s always been a bit of a drama

queen.

Then Nicholas is sure we re in no danger? Josh said.

No, he s not really sure. Scatty smiled. But believe me, you are in

danger. The only difference is if Hekate Awakens you, then you ll be in grave

danger.

Nicholas Flamel followed Hekate through the house. The young woman s fingers

trailed along the walls, leaving streaks of bright wood touched with leaves

and flowers in her wake. I need your help, Hekate. I cannot do this alone,

he called after her.

The goddess ignored him. She turned down a long, straight corridor and darted

ahead. Her feet left little puddles of green grass that grew even as Flamel

hurried after her. By the time he was halfway down the corridor it was knee

high, then waist high, and suddenly, the entire corridor was covered in the

tall, razor-sharp grass. Its blades whispered softly together, sounds that

might almost have been words.

Nicholas Flamel allowed a little of his growing anger to seep into his aura.

Closing his right hand into a fist, he suddenly splayed his fingers and the

air was touched with the rich, tart odor of mint. The grass directly ahead of

him flattened as if it had been hit with a strong wind, and the Alchemyst was

just in time to see the young woman step into a room set slightly apart from

the rest of the house. If he had delayed a moment longer, he would have

walked right past the opening.

Enough of these games, Flamel'snapped, stepping into the room.

Hekate'spun to face him. She had aged in the few moments she had spent

running down the corridor. She now looked about fifteen. Her face was set in

an ugly mask and her yellow eyes were bitter. How dare you speak to me that

way! She raised her hands threateningly. You know what I can do to you.

You would not dare, Flamel'said with a calm that he did not feel.

And why not? Hekate asked, surprised. She was not used to being

contradicted.

Because I am the Guardian of the Book.

The book you lost

I am also the Guardian who appears in the prophecies in the Book, Flamel

snapped. The next-to-last Guardian, he added. The twins also appear in the

book. You say you knew Abraham you know then how accurate his prophecies and

foretellings were.

He was often wrong, Hekate muttered.

As Guardian, I am asking you to do something I believe to be essential to

the survival of not only the Elder Race, but humani, too: I want you to

Awaken the twins magical potential.

It could kill them, the goddess stated flatly. She didn't really care if

the humani cattle lived or died.

That is a possibility, Flamel admitted, feeling something icy settle in the

pit of his stomach, but if you do not help us, then their deaths are a

certainty.

Hekate turned and walked to the window. Across the sloping lawn, Scathach was

demonstrating a series of punches for the twins. They were smoothly mimicking

her moves. Flamel went to join Hekate by the window.

What a world we live in, he commented, sighing, when everything possibly

even the continuance of the human race lies on the shoulders of those

teenagers.

You know why the humani triumphed and the Elder Race was ultimately

banished? Hekate asked suddenly.

Because of iron, wasn't it?

Yes, because of iron. We survived the Fall of Danu Talis, we survived the

Flood, and the Age of Ice. And then, about three thousand years ago, a single

metalworker, who had been crafting in bronze, began to experiment in the new

metal. He was just one man and yet he managed to wipe out an entire race of

people and a way of life. Great change always comes down to the actions of a

single person. Hekate fell silent, watching the twins punch and kick next to

Scathach. Silver and gold. The rarest of all auras, she muttered, and for a

single heartbeat, the auras bloomed around the twins. If I do this and it

kills them, will you be able to live with it on your conscience?

I am old now, so old, Nicholas said very softly. Do you know how many

friends I ve buried over the centuries?

And did you feel their loss? There was a note of genuine curiosity in

Hekate's voice.

Every one.

Do you still?

Yes. Every day.

The goddess reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. Then you are

still human, Nicholas Flamel. The day you stop caring is the day you become

like Dee and his kind. She turned back to the garden and looked at the

twins. They were both trying, and failing, to land blows on Scathach, who was

ducking and weaving, though not moving from the one spot. From the distance

they looked like three ordinary teenagers practicing a new dance, but Hekate

knew that there was nothing ordinary about any of them.

I'll do it, she said eventually, I'll Awaken their powers. The rest is up

to you. You will have to train them.

Flamel bowed his head so she would not see the tears in his eyes. If the

twins survived the Awakening, then there was a chance, albeit a slim one,

that he would get to see Perenelle again. Tell me, he began, then coughed

to clear his throat. The man who discovered how to process iron that

blacksmith three thousand years ago. What happened to him?

I killed him, Hekate'said, her yellow eyes wide and innocent. His actions

destroyed us. What else could I do? But it was too late. The secret of iron

had been introduced into the world.

Flamel looked at the twins, watched Josh haul his sister to her feet, watched

her hook a leg behind his and drop him to the ground. Their laughter hung

bright and clear in the predawn air. He prayed that they were not too late

this time.