01_-_The_Alchemyst

“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
changed from her black military-style combats and T-shirt into green and
brown camo pants, high-top combat boots and a cut-off camo T-shirt that
exposed her muscular arms. She was wearing a short sword strapped to her
leg and there was a bow over her left shoulder, with a quiver of arrows just
visible over the top of her head. Sophie noticed that there was a Celticlooking
spiral design etched into Scatty’s right shoulder; Sophie had always
wanted a tattoo, but she knew her mother would never let her get one. “You
have gone beyond 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
too thick for his mouth. After today, he was quite prepared to believe in
vampires, though he really didn’t want to run into one. He turned to his twin.
“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 suddenly
wide. “You’re not a…”
“I don’t like that term,” Scatty snapped.
“Scathach, please enter,” Sophie said, before her brother could protest
further.
The Warrior hopped lightly over the threshold and entered the room.
“And yes,” she said, “I am what you would call a vampire.”