01_-_The_Alchemyst

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Josh stepped out of the antiques shop, cheeks flaming red, the Witch’s
last words ringing in his ears. “You have to leave. What I teach is not for the
ears of a humani.”
Looking around the room, at Flamel and Scatty and finally his twin
sister, Josh had suddenly realized that he was the last pure human in the
room. Obviously, in the Witch of Endor’s eyes, Sophie was no longer
entirely human.
“No problem. I’ll wait…,” he began, voice suddenly cracking. He
coughed and tried again. “I’ll wait in the park across the road.” And then,
without a backward glance, he left the shop, the jangling of the bell mocking
him as he closed the door.
But it was a problem. A huge problem.
Sophie Newman watched her brother leave the shop, and even without
her Awakened senses, she knew he was upset and angry. She wanted to stop
him, to go after him, but Scatty was standing in front of her, eyes wide in
warning, finger raised to her lips, the tiniest shake of her head warning
Sophie to say nothing. Catching her shoulder, Scatty led her to stand in front
of the Witch of Endor. The old woman raised her hands and ran surprisingly
gentle fingers over the contours of Sophie’s face. The girl’s aura shivered
and fizzed with each gentle touch.
“How old are you now?” she asked.
“Fifteen. Well, fifteen and a half.” Sophie wasn’t sure if the half year
made a difference.
“Fifteen and a half,” Dora said, shaking her head. “I can’t remember
back that far.” She dipped her chin, then tilted it toward Scatty. “Can you