The Enchantress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

our father. I grew up wondering if I was a monster like him.” She bared her vampire teeth in a brief smile. “And when these grew and I realized my true nature, I came to believe that it might be true and that I
was
a monster. The moment I ended up here, in this place, at this time, I knew I needed to see him, to look at him just once so I could know what he was like.”
    “And did you find what you were looking for?” Aten asked.
    Scathach nodded. “I discovered that I am not now nor have I ever been like him. Neither was my sister, Aoife. And for that, I am truly grateful.”
    “Help me stand,” Dee said suddenly, and Scathach and Virginia gently lifted him to his feet. There was moisture on the Magician’s face, and when Virginia gently brushed it away, she asked, “Why do you weep? Do you regret what you have done?”
    “Not really,” he said. “I more regret what I did not do.” He looked at Scathach. “What news of the Flamels?”
    She shook her head. “I have no idea where they are or what has happened.”
    “If you ever see them again, tell them . . . tell them what I did here today.”
    “I will do that.”
    “I want them to know that, at the end, I did the right thing. Maybe, just maybe, it will make up for some of the other things I’ve done.” He raised his hand and looked at it. His skin was starting to disintegrate into powder, blowing away in fine trails.
    “You helped free a people and save a world,” Virginia said. “That counts.”
    “Thank you.” Dee raised his head for a final time and looked at Aten. “Your world ends tonight.”
    “Danu Talis ends. . . . The modern world begins.” Aten looked into the distance and they all followed his gaze to the Pyramid of the Sun. “Now it is up to the twins.”
    “Josh will do the right thing,” John Dee said. “He has a good heart.”
    And the remains of the Magician swirled away and scattered on the wind.

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
    CLICKING, SCRATCHING, SCRABBLING on the stones, the bright orange Karkinos approached.
    The crab was huge.
    “Oh man,” Billy whispered. “I am never having crab legs again. And you know I love crab legs with a little lemon and butter.”
    “We are in so much trouble here,” Black Hawk said, “and all you can think of is your stomach.”
    “Well, I’m hungry. And besides, we’re only in trouble if it catches us,” he added.
    “We
are
hard to catch,” Black Hawk agreed.
    The two American immortals stood in the open doorway of the Warden’s House and watched the huge crab draw nearer. “Is it ten feet tall?” Billy asked.
    “More like twelve; maybe fifteen.”
    “It’s not too steady on its legs,” Billy pointed out.
    Black Hawk nodded. “I noticed that.”
    The crab’s eight walking legs ended in sharp, armored points. They clattered and scraped along on the slick stone, seeking holes to dig into to gain purchase. Plate-sized gray eyes inset with a vertical black pupil fixed on the two figures ahead. The crab’s shell was knobbed and speckled with irregular spines.
    “And how big do you reckon those claws are?” Billy wondered.
    “I think the chelipeds look around twelve feet,” Black Hawk said.
    “Chely-whats?”
    “Chelipeds. The two front claws are called chelipeds.”
    “You don’t say? Are you in training for a quiz show or something?”
    “Everyone knows they’re called chelipeds,” Black Hawk said.
    “I didn’t. When I go into the store I get a bucket of claws, not a pound of chelipeds.” He stopped and watched the huge crab tip-tapping its way closer, carefully placing each leg, balancing gingerly. “Reminds me of a newborn colt,” he said quietly, “trying to find its footing.”
    “Once it gets to the flat section here, it’s going to be steady enough,” the big copper-skinned man said. “It’ll plant itself sure and solid and then chip away at the house with those huge claws. Who knows, might be able to reach right in and pluck us out.” He grinned. “All those crab claws you ate; just try not to end up being eaten by one in turn.”
    “You don’t have to sound so cheerful about it.” Billy looked at the approaching monster. “It seems to me that we should try to prevent it from getting to the flat section.” He looked at Black Hawk, who nodded almost imperceptibly. “Give me a minute,” Billy said. He crossed to Mars and spoke quietly to him, then went over to where the Flamels and Machiavelli were still pouring their auras into the