01_-_The_Alchemyst

Scatty looked over his shoulder into the gloomy chamber. “You’re
asking a lot of them. When are you going to tell them the whole truth?” she
asked.
“In time…,” he began.
“Time is something you do not have,” Scatty murmured. “You’ve started
to age. I can see it in your face, around your eyes, and there’s more gray in
your hair.”
Flamel nodded. “I know. The immortality spell is breaking down.
Perenelle and I will begin to age a year for every day we go without the
formulation for immortality. We will be dead by the end of the month. But by
then it will not matter. If the Dark Elders succeed, the world of the humani
will have already ceased to exist.”
“Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.” Scatty turned her back on
Flamel, then sank to the ground, back straight, her legs folded, feet turned
high on her thighs in a full lotus position, arms outstretched, palms wrapped
around the hilts of the swords that were lying across her lap. If the cats or
birds broke into the house and found the corridor, they would have to get past
her to find Hekate—and the Warrior would make them pay dearly.
Hekate had given Flamel a short staff made of a branch of the
Yggdrasill, and now, holding it in both hands, he took up a position directly
outside the door to the chamber where the goddess was working with the
twins. If any of the invaders did manage to get past Scathach, they would then
face him. Scatty would fight with her swords, hands and feet, but his
weapons were potentially even more destructive. He held up his hand and the
narrow space grew heavy with the smell of mint as his aura flickered and
sparked into green life around him. Though he was still powerful, every use
of magic weakened him and drew on his life force. Scatty was right; he had
started to age. He could feel tiny aches and vague pains where there had been
none before. Even his eyesight was no longer as sharp as it had been only the
day before. If he was forced to use his powers, it would speed the aging
process, but he was determined to give Hekate all the time she needed. He
turned to look over his shoulder, trying to penetrate the gloom. What was
happening in there?