The Enchantress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

demanded.
    The Elder sat back in his chair, which was far too small for him, and folded his arms across his massive armored chest. “Now we glide.”
    “And then?”
    “Then we fall.”
    “And then?”
    “Then we crash.”
    “And
then?
” Scathach demanded.
    Prometheus grinned. “Then we’ll see.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    “NITEN.” NICHOLAS TURNED to the Japanese man. “You are the master strategist. What do you suggest?”
    Niten tilted the binoculars and scanned the island across the bay, moving from right to left and back again. “Did you ever read my book?” he asked. Then, without waiting for an answer, he continued. “There are three ways to counter an enemy. There is
Tai No Sen
, when you wait until he attacks and then counterattack. There is
Tai Tai No Sen
, when you time your attack to his, so that you enter battle together. And then of course, there is—”
    “Ken No Sen,”
Prometheus said. “To attack first.”
    Niten glanced over his shoulder at the Elder. “You
did
read my book. I’m flattered.”
    Prometheus grinned. “Don’t be. I found some mistakes in it. And of course, Mars disagreed with just about everything you said.”
    “He would.” Niten turned his attention back to the binoculars. “
Ken No Sen
. I think we should attack first, but we need to know the disposition of our enemy before we make our move. We need eyes on the island.”
    “Can I remind you that there are only four of us?” Prometheus said.
    “Ah.” Niten turned from the binoculars to look at the group. “But I am guessing that our enemies do not know that.” He smiled. “We can encourage them to believe that there are many more.”
    “The ghost of Juan Manuel de Ayala is trapped on the island,” Perenelle said, “forever tied to the place. There are other shades there also. They helped me escape. He would help, I’m sure of it. He will do anything to protect his island.”
    Niten smiled. “Ghosts and spirits are a useful distraction. But to battle the monsters we will need something a little more tangible. Preferably something with teeth and claws.”
    Slowly Perenelle’s lips turned up in a smile that was terrifying. “Well, of course, Areop-Enap is on Alcatraz.”
    Prometheus spun around. “Old Spider! I thought she was dead.”
    “When I last saw her, she had been poisoned by the bites of millions of flies. She’d cocooned herself in a hard shell to heal. But she is alive.”
    “If we could awaken her . . .,” Prometheus murmured. “She is . . .” He paused, shaking his head. “She is fearsome in battle.”
    “When you say Old Spider . . .,” Niten began, “are we talking about a big spider?”
    “Big,” Nicholas and Perenelle answered together.
    “
Very
big,” Perenelle added. “And incredibly powerful.”
    Prometheus shook his head. “I knew her when she was beautiful, before the Change took her. The Change is rarely kind, but I think it was particularly cruel to her.”
    A large party of smiling Japanese tourists gathered nearby and began photographing the island, each other and the swooping red and green parrots overhead. The immortals and the Elder took this as their signal to move farther down the pier.
    “We need to contain the monsters on the island,” Nicholas said quietly as they walked. “If they’re all in one place, it will be easier to defend the city.”
    Prometheus shook his head. “This is about more than just defending the city, Nicholas. We need to destroy these beasts. And time is not our friend. I can guarantee you that every evil thing on the West Coast of America is heading here now. Every Dark Elder and his servant are on their way. We cannot fight them all.”
    “We don’t have to,” Niten said firmly. “We should focus on one enemy at a time. Let us address what is before us first.” He tilted his head toward the island. “The Dark Elders intended those creatures to spread terror and confusion throughout the city. If we can prevent that, then already we have hurt their plans. And yes, I am sure there are others coming, but they are individuals, and we are more than capable of handling them.”
    “And we don’t have to be just four,” Perenelle said. “There are others—immortals like us, or immortals loyal to peaceful Elders or Next Generation—who will stand with us. We should get in touch with them.”
    “How?” Prometheus asked.
    “I have their phone numbers,” Perenelle said.
    “Tsagaglalal will fight with us,” Nicholas