01_-_The_Alchemyst

Josh started to shake his head. Even though he believed Dee—
everything he said made perfect sense—he wanted to talk to Sophie first, he
needed to get her advice and opinion.
“Tell me.” Dee lifted Josh’s limp hand and placed it in the pool.
Ripples spun out from it. They settled into the image of a small antiques shop
filled with glassware, directly across the road from Libbey Park. Grinning
triumphantly, Dee came to his feet and whirled around, staring across the
road as he activated his senses.
He located their auras immediately.
The green of Flamel, the gray of Scathach, Endor’s brown and the girl’s
pure silver. He had them—and this time there would be no mistakes, no
escape.
“You sit here and enjoy the pretty pictures,” Dee murmured, patting Josh
on the shoulder. The water bloomed with exotic, fractal-like patterns,
mesmerizing and hypnotic. “I’ll be back for you shortly.” Then, without
moving a muscle, he called in his waiting army.
Abruptly, the fog thickened and darkened, stinking of rotten eggs and
something else: dust and dry earth, damp and mold.
And horror descended on Ojai.