Michael Scott - The Alchemyst

Sophie was not so sure. Josh, there is nothing modern and nothing artificialin this room, no plastics, no metals, no paper; everything looks hand carved.There aren t even candles or lanterns.

It took me a while to realize what those bowls of oil were, Josh said. He didn t tell his sister that he d been about to drink what he thought was somesort of sweet-smelling fruit juice when he d seen the wick floating in it.

My room is identical to yours, Sophie continued. She lifted her phoneagain. There s no signal, and look she pointed you can actually see the battery draining away.

Josh brought his head close to his twin s, their blond hair mingling, andstared at the rectangular screen. The battery indicator on the right-handside was visibly falling, bar by bar. You think that s why my iPod has nopower either? Josh asked, pulling it from his back pocket. It was fullycharged this morning. And my computer is dead. He suddenly looked at hiswatch, and then he lifted his arm to allow his sister to see it. The face ofthe chunky military-style digital watch he wore was blank.

Sophie looked at her own watch. Mine is still working, she said in surprise. Because it winds up, she said, answering her own question aloud.

So something is draining the power, he muttered. Some energy in the air?He d never heard of anything that could draw energy from batteries.

It is this place, Scathach said, appearing in the doorway. She had changedfrom her black military-style combats and T-shirt into green and brown camopants, high-top combat boots and a cut-off camo T-shirt that exposed hermuscular arms. She was wearing a short sword strapped to her leg and therewas a bow over her left shoulder, with a quiver of arrows just visible overthe top of her head. Sophie noticed that there was a Celtic-looking spiraldesign etched into Scatty s right shoulder; Sophie had always wanted atattoo, but she knew her mother would never let her get one. You have gonebeyond your world into a Shadowrealm, the Warrior added. The Shadowrealms exist partially in your world and partially in another time and space. The Warrior remained standing by the door.

Are you not going to come in? Sophie asked.

You have to invite me, Scatty said, with a peculiarly shy smile.

Invite you in? Sophie turned to her twin, eyebrows raised in a question.

You have to invite me in, Scatty repeated, else I ll not be able to cross the threshold.

Just like vampires, Josh said, abruptly feeling as if his tongue were toothick for his mouth. After today, he was quite prepared to believe invampires, though he really didn t want to run into one. He turned to histwin. The only way a vampire can enter a house is if he or she is invited.Then they can drink your blood. He turned to look at Scatty, eyes suddenlywide. You re not a

I don t like that term, Scatty snapped.

Scathach, please enter, Sophie said, before her brother could protestfurther.

The Warrior hopped lightly over the threshold and entered the room. And yes, she said, I am what you would call a vampire.

Oh, Sophie whispered. Josh tried to stand in front of his sister to protecther, but she pushed him out of the way. Although she loved her brother, therewere times when he could be too protective.

Don t believe everything you ve read about my race, Scathach said, movingaround the room, peering through the windows into the lush gardens. Anenormous yellow-white butterfly fluttered past the opening. It was the sizeof a dinner plate and had not existed on the earth since the Jurassic period.

Hekate created and maintains this place by an extraordinary use of magic,she continued. But magic, like everything else, follows certain naturallaws. Magic needs energy, and it takes that energy wherever it can find it,even from the tiny batteries in your electrical toys. If no other source ofenergy is available, it will take the life force of the magician who createdit. That is why every use of magic weakens the magician.

Are you saying nothing electrical works in this Shadowrealm? Sophiewondered aloud, and then she shook her head quickly. But Hekate used a phone. I saw her showing it to Flamel earlier. Why doesn t its batterydrain?

Hekate is immensely powerful and is more or less immune to the effects ofthe magic she generates. I would imagine that she keeps the phone on herperson so it doesn t drain, or possibly she keeps it in the real world with aservant. Many members of the Elder Race have human servants.

Like Flamel and Dee? Sophie asked.

Nicholas serves no Elder, Scathach said slowly. The Book is his master. Dee, on the other hand well, no one knows exactly who, or what, he serves.She glanced over her shoulder, her gaze lingering on each of them. You ll probably find yourself feeling exhausted in about an hour, muscles sore,maybe even a little headachy. That s the magical field feeding off yourauras. Don t be too concerned, however: your particular auras areexceptionally strong. Just drink plenty of liquids. Scatty moved from windowto window and leaned forward, peering out. I know they are out there, but Icannot see them, she said suddenly.

Who? Sophie wondered.

The Torc Allta.

Are they really wereboars? I mean, men who change into boars? Sophie asked.She was conscious that her twin hadn t spoken since Scathach had entered theroom. He was staring at her, eyes wide in horror, mouth drawn into a thinline. She knew that expression well: he was scared, and she guessed that hewas thinking about all the vampire novels he d read and movies he d seen.

No, not really, Scatty said. I know Nicholas has told you that before thehumani claimed the earth, this world belonged to other creatures, otherraces. But even amongst the Elder Race, the Torc clans were special. Theycould transform from beast shape to man shape and back again. Scatty sat onthe edge of the low bed and stretched her legs straight out in front of her.

When the earliest humani first appeared, the Torc clans taught them how towork wood and stone and how to create fire. The humani worshipped the Torcclans as gods why do you think so many of the earliest gods have animalshapes? Think of the cave paintings of creatures that are neither man norbeast but something in between. You must have seen statues of the Egyptiangods Sobek, Bastet and Anubis: humani bodies, but with animal heads. Think ofthe dances where humani pretend to be animals: they are just memories of thetime when the Torc clans lived side by side with the humani.

Therianthropes, Sophie said absently.

Scatty looked at her blankly.

Figures that are made from animal and human shapes mixed together, Josh explained. I told you that our parents are archaeologists, he added. Then he looked quickly at the red-haired woman. Do you drink blood? he asked suddenly.

Josh! Sophie whispered.

No, I don t drink blood, Scathach said quietly. Not now. Not ever.

But a vampire

Scathach surged to her feet and two steps brought her directly in front ofJosh. She was not quite as tall as he was, but in that moment, she seemedhuge. There are many types of vampires, many clans, just as there are manyWere clans. Some of my race are blood drinkers, it is true.

But not you, Sophie said hastily, before her brother could ask any furtherawkward questions.

No, not my clan. Those of my clan well, we feed in other ways, Scatty saidwith a wry smile. And we rarely need to feed, she added. She spun away.

Everything you have been taught, all the myths and legends of your world,have a kernel of truth in them. You ve seen wonders today. You will see morein the days to come.

What do you mean, in the days to come? Josh interrupted, voice rising inalarm. We re going home, aren t we? But even as he was asking the question,he knew the answer.

Eventually, the Warrior Maid said, but not today, and definitely nottomorrow.