there. She pointed. They ran through the water back there; you can clearly
see the outlines of their shoes on the ground.
Sophie and Flamel leaned over and looked at the ground. They nodded, though
she knew they could see nothing.
Now, this is interesting, she continued. At one stage Josh s footsteps are
pointing down the alley, and he s on the balls of his feet, almost as if he
was thinking about running. But look here. She pointed to traces of heel
prints on the ground that only she could see. The three of them walked off
together, Dee and Josh first, Machiavelli following behind.
Can you track them? Flamel demanded.
Joan shrugged. To the end of the alley, maybe, but beyond that She
shrugged again and straightened up, dusting off her hands. Impossible; there
will be too many other prints.
What are we going to do? Nicholas whispered. How are we going to find the
boy?
Joan s eyes drifted from Flamel s face to Sophie. We can t but Sophie can.
How? he asked.
Joan moved her hand in a horizontal line in front of her. It left the
faintest tracery of light in the air, and the foul alley briefly smelled of
lavender. She s his twin: she ll be able to follow his aura.
Nicholas Flamel caught both of Sophie s shoulders, forcing the girl to look
into his eyes. Sophie! he snapped. Sophie, look at me.
Sophie raised red-rimmed eyes to look at the Alchemyst. She was completely
numb. Scatty was gone, and now Josh had vanished, kidnapped by Dee and
Machiavelli. Everything was falling apart.
Sophie, Nicholas said very quietly, his pale eyes catching and holding
hers. I need you to be strong now.
What s the point? she asked. They re gone.
They re not gone, he said confidently.
But Scatty The girl hiccupped.
is one of the most dangerous women in the world, he finished. She s
survived for over two thousand years and fought creatures infinitely more
dangerous than Dagon.
Sophie wasn't sure if he was trying to convince himself or her. I saw that
thing drag her into the river, and we waited for at least ten minutes. She
didn't come back up. She must have drowned. Her voice caught and she could
feel the tears pricking at the back of her eyes again. Her throat felt as if
it were on fire.
I ve seen her survive worse, much worse. Nicholas attempted a wan smile. I
think Dagon is in for a surprise! Scatty s like a cat: she hates getting wet.
The Seine runs very fast; they were probably swept downriver. She ll contact
us.
But how? She ll have no idea where we are. Sophie really hated the way
adults lied. They were just so transparent.
Sophie, Nicholas said seriously. If Scathach is alive, she will find us.
Trust me.
And in that moment, Sophie realized that she did not trust the Alchemyst.
Joan put her arm on Sophie s shoulder and squeezed gently. Nicholas is
right. Scatty is She smiled, and her entire face lit up. She is
extraordinary. Her aunt once abandoned her in one of the Underworld
Shadowrealms: it took her centuries to find her way out. But she did it.
Sophie nodded slowly. She knew that what they were saying was true the Witch
of Endor knew more about Scathach than either the Alchemyst or Joan but she
could also tell that they were very worried.
Now, Sophie, Nicholas resumed. I need you to find your brother.
How?
I m hearing sirens, Joan said urgently, looking back down the alley. Lots
of sirens.
Flamel ignored her. He stared deep into Sophie s bright blue eyes. You can
find him, he insisted. You are his twin; it is a connection that goes even
deeper than blood. you've always known when he was in trouble, haven t you?
Sophie nodded.
Nicholas , Joan prodded, we are running out of time.
you've always felt his pain, known when he was unhappy or upset?
Sophie nodded again.
You are connected to him, you can find him. The Alchemyst turned the girl
around so that she was facing down the alleyway. Josh was standing here, he
said, pointing. Dee and Machiavelli were standing about here.
Sophie was confused and getting irritated. But they re gone now. They took
him away.
I don't think they forced him to go anywhere, I think he went with them of
his own free will, Nicholas said very softly.
The words hit Sophie like a blow. Josh wouldn't leave her, would he? But
why?
Flamel shrugged slightly. Who knows? Dee has always been very persuasive,
and Machiavelli is a master manipulator. But we can find them, I m sure of
it. Your senses have been Awakened, Sophie. Look again; imagine Josh standing
in front of you, see him .
Sophie took a deep breath and closed her eyes, then opened them again. She
could see nothing out of the ordinary; she was standing in a dirty
trash-strewn alley, the walls covered with curling ornate graffiti, with the
smoke of the burning car whirling around her.
His aura is gold, Flamel continued. Dee s is yellow Machiavelli s gray or
dirty white .
Sophie started to shake her head. I can t see anything, she began.
Then let me help you. Nicholas put his hand on her shoulder and suddenly
the stink of the burning car was replaced with the fresh sharp smell of mint.
Instantly, her aura flared around her body, crackling and spitting like a
firework, the pure silver now tinged with the emerald green of Flamel s aura.
And then she saw something.
Directly in front of her she could make out the merest hint of Josh s
outline. It was ghostly and insubstantial, composed of little more than
threads and sparkling dust motes of gold, and when he moved he trailed
streaked lines of gossamer color in the air behind him. Now that she knew
what she was looking for, she could also make out the traces of Dee s and
Machiavelli s outlines in the air.
She blinked slowly, afraid that the images would vanish, but they remained
hanging in the air before her, and if anything, the colors grew even more
intense. Josh s aura was the brightest of all. She reached out blindly, her
fingers touching the golden edge of her brother s arm. The smoky outline
twisted away as if blown by a breeze.
I see them, she said in awe, her voice barely above a whisper. She d never
imagined she d be able to do anything like this. I can see their outlines.
Where did they go? Nicholas asked.
Sophie followed the colored streaks in the air; they led to the end of the
alley. This way, she said, and set off down the alleyway toward the street,
with Nicholas close on her heels.
Joan of Arc took one last lingering look at her battered car and then
followed.
What are you thinking? Flamel asked.
I m thinking that when this is all over, I m going to return the car to its
former pristine condition. And then never take it out of the garage again.
Something s wrong, Flamel said as they wove their way through the streets.
Sophie was concentrating fiercely on following her twin and ignored him.
I ve just been thinking the same thing, Joan said. The city is too quiet.
Exactly. Flamel looked around. Where were the Parisians on their way to
work and the tourists determined to get to see the sights before the city
grew stifling hot and crowded? The few people on the street hurried past,