01_-_The_Alchemyst

“Oh,” Sophie whispered. Josh tried to stand in front of his sister to
protect her, but she pushed him out of the way. Although she loved her
brother, there were times when he could be too protective.
“Don’t believe everything you’ve read about my race,” Scathach said,
moving around the room, peering through the windows into the lush gardens.
An enormous yellow-white butterfly fluttered past the opening. It was the
size of 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
natural laws. 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
of energy is available, it will take the life force of the magician who created
it. That is why every use of magic weakens the magician.”
“Are you saying nothing electrical works in this Shadowrealm?” Sophie
wondered 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 battery drain?”
“Hekate is immensely powerful and is more or less immune to the
effects of the magic she generates. I would imagine that she keeps the phone
on her person so it doesn’t drain, or possibly she keeps it in the real world
with a servant. 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 your
auras. Don’t be too concerned, however: your particular auras are
exceptionally strong. Just drink plenty of liquids.” Scatty moved from
window to window and leaned forward, peering out. “I know they are out
there, but I cannot see them,” she said suddenly.
“Who?” Sophie wondered.
“The Torc Allta.”