You sound almost sorry for it, Dee snapped.
I never traded my humanity for my long life, Doctor. I ve always remembered
my roots. His voice hardened, turned contemptuous. You worked so hard to be
like your Elder master that you've forgotten what it is like to feel human to
be human. And we humans he stressed the last word have the capacity to feel
another creature s pain. It is what lifted humani above the Elders, it is
what made them great.
And it s the weakness that will ultimately destroy them, Dee said simply.
Let me remind you that this creature is not human. It could crush you
underfoot and not even notice. However, let us not argue now; not when we re
about to be victorious. The boy might have solved our problem for us, Dee
said. Nidhogg is slowly turning to stone. He laughed delightedly. If it
jumps into the river now, the weight of its tail will drag it to the
bottom and take Scathach with it. He looked slyly at Machiavelli. I take it
your humanity does not extend to feeling sorry for the Shadow.
Machiavelli grimaced. Knowing Scathach is lying at the bottom of the Seine
wrapped in the creature s claws would make me very happy indeed.
The two immortals sat unmoving in the car, watching as the creature lurched
forward, moving more slowly now, the weight of its tail dragging behind it.
All that stood between it and the water was one of the glass-enclosed
boats the bateaux-mouches that took tourists up and down the river.
Dee nodded toward the boat. Once it climbs onto that, the boat will sink,
and Nidhogg and Scathach will disappear into the Seine forever.
And what about the Disir?
I m sure she can swim.
Machiavelli allowed himself a wry smile. So all we re waiting for now
is for it to reach the boat, Dee finished, just as Josh appeared through
the gaping hole in the tree-lined quayside and darted across the parking lot.
As Josh raced up to the creature, the sword in his right hand began to burn,
long streamers of orange fire curling off the blade. His aura started to
crackle a matching golden color, suffusing the air with the smell of oranges.
Abruptly, the Disir slid off the monster s back, flickering back into her
white chain mail in the instant before her feet touched the ground. She
rounded on Josh, her features locked into an ugly, savage mask. You are
becoming a nuisance, boy, she snarled in barely comprehensible English.
Lifting her great broadsword in both hands, she threw herself toward Josh.
This will just take a moment.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
H uge sweeping banks of fog rolled across San Francisco Bay.
Perenelle Flamel folded her arms across her chest and watched the night sky
fill with birds. A great wheeling flock rose over the city, gathered in a
thick moving cloud, and then, like tendrils of spilled ink, three separate
streams of birds set out across the bay, heading directly for the island. And
she knew that somewhere in the heart of the great flock was the Crow Goddess.
The Morrigan was coming to Alcatraz.
Perenelle was standing in the burned-out ruins of the warden s house, where
she d finally managed to escape the masses of spiders. Although it had burned
more than three decades ago, she could smell the ghost-odors of charred wood,
cracked plaster and melted piping lingering in the air. The Sorceress knew
that if she lowered her defenses and concentrated, she would be able to hear
the voices of the wardens and their families who had occupied the building
through the years.
Shading her bright green eyes and squinting hard, Perenelle concentrated on
the approaching birds, trying to distinguish them from the night and work out
just how much time she had before they arrived. The flock was huge, and the
thickening fog made it impossible to guess either size or distance. But she
guessed she had perhaps ten or fifteen minutes before they reached the
island. She brought her little finger and thumb close together. A single
white spark cracked between them. Perenelle nodded. Her powers were
returning, just not fast enough. They would continue to strengthen now that
she was away from the sphinx, but her aura would recharge more slowly at
night. She also knew that she was still nowhere near strong enough to defeat
the Morrigan and her pets.
many useful things.
The Sorceress felt a chill breeze ruffle her long hair in the instant before
the ghost of Juan Manuel de Ayala flickered into existence beside her. The
ghost hung in the air, taking substance and definition from a host of dust
particles and water droplets in the gathering fog. Like many of the ghosts
she d encountered, he was wearing the clothes he had felt most comfortable in
while he was alive: a loose white linen shirt tucked into knee-length
trousers. His legs tapered away below his knees, and, like a lot of spirits,
he had no feet. While they were alive, people rarely looked down at their
feet. This was once the most beautiful spot on this earth, was it not? he
asked, flat moist eyes fixed on the city of San Francisco.
It still is, she said, turning to look across the bay to where the city
sparkled and glittered with countless tiny lights. Nicholas and I have
called it home for many years.
Oh, not the city! de Ayala said dismissively.
Perenelle glanced sidelong at the ghost. What are you talking about? she
asked. It looks beautiful.
I once stood here, close to this very spot, and watched perhaps a thousand
fires burning on the shores. Each fire represented a family. In time I came
to know all of them. The Spaniard s long face grimaced in what might have
been pain. They taught me about the land, and about this place, spoke to me
of their gods and spirits. I think it was those people who bound me to this
land. All I see now are lights; I cannot see the stars, I cannot see the
tribes or individuals huddling around their fires. Where is the place I
loved?
Perenelle nodded toward the distant lights. It s still there. Just grown.
It s changed out of all recognition, de Ayala said, and not for the
better.
I ve watched the world change too, Juan. Perenelle spoke very softly. But
I like to believe that it has changed for the better. I am older than you. I
was born into an age when a toothache could kill you, when life was short and
brutal and death was often painful. Around the same time you were discovering
this island, the average life expectancy of a healthy adult was no more than
thirty-five years. Now it is double that. Toothaches no longer kill well, not
usually, she added with a laugh. Getting Nicholas to go to the dentist was
practically impossible. Humans have made astonishing strides in the last few
hundred years; they have created wonders.
De Ayala floated around to hover directly in front of her. And in their rush
to create wonders, they have ignored the wonders all around them, ignored the
mysteries, the beauty. Myths and legends walk unseen amongst them, ignored,
unrecognized. It was not always so.
No
, it wasn't, Perenelle agreed sadly. She looked across the bay. The city
was fast disappearing into the mist, the lights taking on a magical, ethereal
quality. It was easy now to see what it must have looked like in the past and
what it might look like again if the Dark Elders reclaimed the earth. In past
ages, mankind had recognized that there really were creatures and other
races the Vampire, the Were, the Giants living in the shadows. Sometimes
beings as powerful as gods lived in the heart of the mountains or deep in the
impenetrable forests. There were ghouls in the earth, wolves really did roam
the forest, and there were creatures much worse than trolls under bridges.
When travelers had returned from distant lands, bringing with them stories of
the monsters and creatures they had met, the wonders they had seen, no one
doubted them. Nowadays, even with photographs, videos or eyewitness accounts
of something extraordinary or otherworldly, people still doubted dismissing
everything as a hoax.
And now one of those terrible wonders is coming to my island, Juan said
sadly. I can feel it approach. Who is it?
The Morrigan, the Crow Goddess.
Juan turned to Perenelle. I ve heard of her; some of the Irish and Scottish
sailors in my crews feared her. She s coming for you, isn't she?
Yes. The Sorceress smiled grimly.
What will she do?
Perenelle tilted her head to one side, considering. Well, they ve tried
imprisoning me. That s failed. I imagine Dee s masters have finally
sanctioned a more permanent solution. She laughed shakily. I ve been in
trickier situations . Her voice cracked and she swallowed hard and tried
again. But I ve always had Nicholas by my side. Together we were
undefeatable. I wish he were here with me now. She took a deep breath,
steadying her breathing and raising both hands in front of her face. Smoking
wisps of her ice white aura curled off her fingertips. But I am the immortal
Perenelle Flamel, and I will not go down without a fight.
Tell me how I can help you, de Ayala said formally.
You have done enough for me already. Because of you I escaped the Sphinx.
This is my island. And you are under my protection now. He smiled ruefully.
However, I m not sure the birds will be frightened by a few banging doors.
And there s not a lot else I can do.
Perenelle carefully picked her way from one side of the ruined house to the
other. Standing in one of the tall rectangular windows, she stared back at
the prison. Now that night had fallen, it was little more than a vague and
ominous outline against the purple sky. She took stock of her situation: she
was trapped on an island crawling with spiders, there was a sphinx wandering
loose in the corridors below, and the cells were filled with creatures from
some of the darkest myths she had ever encountered. Plus, her powers were
incredibly diminished and the Morrigan was coming. She d told de Ayala that
she d been in trickier situations, but right now she couldn't remember one.
The ghost appeared alongside Perenelle, its outline distorting the shape of
the building beyond. What can I do to help?
How well do you know this island? she asked.
Ha! I know every inch. I know the secret places, the half-completed tunnels
dug by the prisoners, hidden corridors, walled-up rooms, the old Indian caves
cut deep into the rock below. I could hide you and no one would ever find
you.
The Morrigan is resourceful and then there are the spiders. They d find me.
The ghost floated around to place himself directly in front of her again.
Only his eyes a deep rich brown were visible in the night. Oh, the spiders
are not under Dee s control.
Perenelle took a step back in surprise. They re not?
They only began to appear a couple of weeks ago. I started to notice the
webs over the doors, coating the stairs. Every morning, there were more and
more spiders. They d float in on the wind, carried by strands of thread.
There were humanlike guards on the island then though they were not human,
he added quickly. Terrible blank-faced creatures.
Homunculi, Perenelle said with a shudder. Creatures Dee grows in bubbling
vats of fat. What happened to them?
They were given the task of sweeping clean the spiders webs, keeping the
doors clear. One stumbled and fell into a web, de Ayala said, his teeth
appearing out of the gloom in a quick smile. All that was left of it were
scraps of cloth. Not even bones, he told her in a horrified whisper.
That s because homunculi have no bones, she said absently. So what is
calling the spiders here?
De Ayala turned to look at the prison. I m not sure .
I thought you knew all there was to know about this island? Perenelle said
with a smile.
Far below the prison, cut deep into the bedrock by the waves, is a series of
subterranean caves. I believe the first native inhabitants of the island used
them for storage. About a month ago, the small Englishman
Dee?
Yes, Dee, brought something to the island in the dead of night. It was
sealed away in those caves, and then he blanketed the entire area with
magical sigils and Wards. Even I cannot penetrate the layers of protection.
But I am convinced that whatever is drawing the spiders to the island is
locked in those caves.
Can you get me to the caves? Perenelle asked urgently. She could hear the
rasp and clatter of thousands of birds wings, drawing ever closer.
No, de Ayala snapped. The corridor is thick with spiders, and who knows
what other traps Dee has put into place.
Perenelle automatically reached for the sailor s arm, but her hand passed
right through him, leaving a swirl of water droplets in her wake. If Dee has
buried something in Alcatraz s hidden dungeons, and then protected it with
magic so potent that even an insubstantial spirit cannot get through it, then
we need to know what it is. She smiled. Have you never heard the saying
the enemy of my enemy is my friend ?
No, but I have heard fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Come, then quickly, before the Morrigan arrives. Take me back into
Alcatraz.
CHAPTER FORTY
T he Disir s sword flashed toward Josh s head.
Everything was happening so fast, he didn't have time to be afraid. Josh saw
the flicker of movement and reacted instinctively, bringing Clarent up and
around, holding it horizontally over his head. The Disir s broadsword struck
the short stone blade and screamed along it in an explosion of sparks. They
rained down over Josh s hair, stinging where they touched his face. The pain
made him angry, but the force of the blow drove him to his knees, and then
the Disir stepped back and brought her weapon around in a wide sweeping cut.
It whined as it sliced through the air toward him and Josh knew with a
sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach that he would not be able to
avoid it.
Clarent trembled in Josh s palm.
Twitched.
And moved.
A surge of tingling heat shot into his hand, shocking him, the spasm
tightening his fingers around th
e hilt. Then the sword jerked, shooting out
to meet the Disir s metal blade, turning it aside at the last moment in
another explosion of sparks.
Blue eyes wide with shock, the Disir danced away. No humani possesses such
skill, she wondered aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. Who are you?
Josh got shakily to his feet, not entirely sure what had just happened,
knowing only that it was something to do with the sword. It had taken
control; it had saved him. His eyes went to the terrifying warrior maid,
flickering between her masked face and her gleaming silver sword. He held
Clarent before him in both hands, trying to mimic the stance he d seen Joan
and Scatty use, but the sword kept shifting in his grip, moving and shivering
of its own accord. I am Josh Newman, he said simply.
Never heard of you, the woman said dismissively. She snapped a quick look
over her shoulder to where Nidhogg was crawling toward the water. Its tail
was now so heavily encrusted with black stone that it could barely move.
Maybe you've never heard of me, Josh said, but this he tilted the sword
blade upward is Clarent. He watched the woman s bright blue eyes widen
slightly. And I see you have heard of it!
Spinning her sword loosely in one hand, the Disir began to edge around Josh.
He kept turning to face her. He knew what she was doing moving him so that
his back would be to the monster but he didn't know how to prevent it from
happening. When his back was almost touching Nidhogg s stone skin, the Disir
stopped.
In the hands of a master, the sword might be dangerous, the Disir said.
I m no master, Josh said loudly, delighted that his voice didn't tremble.
But I don't need to be. Scathach told me that this weapon really could kill
her. I didn't understand what she meant, but now I do. And if it could kill
her, then I m guessing it could do the same to you. He jerked his thumb over
his shoulder. Look what I did to this monster with just a single cut. All I
have to do is to scratch you with it. The blade actually shivered in his
hands, humming in what almost sounded like agreement.
You could not even get close to me, the Disir mocked, swooping in, the
broadsword weaving before her in a mesmerizing pattern. She suddenly attacked
with a quick flurry of blows.
Josh didn't even have time to catch his breath. He managed to stop three of