The Enchantress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

costumes of ancient Egypt overseeing long lines of laughing and singing humans as they tore down a pyramid and cast the stones into the sea
.
    . . . Isis and Osiris in white smocks and masks standing in a gleaming laboratory watching creatures resembling huge hairless rats crawl from bubbling vats of viscous pink liquid. The couple gently helped each creature out of the vat, wrapped it in silver foil and carried it over to a bed. Above the bed, narrow rectangular windows showed a water world where the ratlike creatures darted and swam. In the distance was the suggestion of a vast white city
.
    Isis opened her blue eyes. “Take the time and check through your memories—Zephaniah’s memories—and see if what I am telling you is true. In this place, in this time, the twins of legend have few real friends.”
    Faces, some human, others bestial and a few caught in transition between the two, flickered, and Sophie knew she was seeing her enemies and that Isis was telling the truth.
    “Danu Talis is ruled by the Elders and the descendants of the Great Elders. There are powerful factions in the court who would strive to kill you or control you.” Isis stepped up and pressed her hands to Sophie’s face.
    The girl tried to pull away, but the woman’s grip was too strong.
    “Everything we have done has been to protect you both.” The woman quickly leaned in to kiss Sophie’s forehead, but the girl pulled back at the last moment and hugged her mother instead. The prickle of dry cinnamon intensified, catching at the back of the girl’s throat. “So get dressed, then come and eat. Your father and I will answer all your questions, I promise you.”
    “All our questions?” Sophie asked.
    “Everything. The time for secrets is over.”

CHAPTER TWENTY
    “
THIS TUNNEL RUNS
under the prison yard,”
the ghost of Juan Manuel de Ayala said.
“It connects with another tunnel, which leads to the water tower. There are steps that will lead you upward.”
    A tiny spinning ball of white energy created by Niccolò Machiavelli illuminated the low narrow tunnel, tainting the air with the musty odor of serpent. The stained walls were coated with a thick, glutinous slime, and water dripped incessantly from the ceiling. “Man, this is so ruining my boots.” Billy’s voice echoed off the walls.
    Machiavelli turned to glare wide-eyed at him. Water sizzled off the energy ball above his head.
    “What? These are my favorite boots!”
    Machiavelli shook his head in despair. “Try to keep up,” he said quietly.
    “We’re following a ghost down a tunnel under a prison.” Billy the Kid tugged at Machiavelli’s sleeve. “How do we even know we can trust him . . . it? This could be a trap.”
    “You’re beginning to sound paranoid,” Machiavelli said, glancing sidelong at the American immortal. Green water splashed onto his face and curved along his cheekbones like emerald tears.
    Billy blinked. “Paranoid. Let me think about this for a minute. We’re the only two humans on an island of monsters and Elders. So yes, I’m feeling a little paranoid. Did you ever watch
Star Trek
?” he suddenly asked. “The original series.”
    Machiavelli tilted his head to one side. “Do I look like I watch
Star Trek
?”
    “It’s hard to tell. You’d never think it, but Black Hawk is a serious Trekkie. Has the uniform and everything.”
    “Billy. I ran one of the most sophisticated secret service organizations in the world. I did not have time for
Star Trek
.” He paused and then added, “I was more of a Star Wars fan. Why do you ask?”
    “Well, when Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock—you do know who they are, don’t you?”
    Machiavelli sighed. “I have lived in the twentieth century, Billy. I know who they are.”
    “Well, when they beamed down to a planet, usually with Dr. McCoy and sometimes with Scotty from engineering . . .”
    “Aspetta,”
Machiavelli began in Italian. “Wait a minute. So the captain and Mr. Spock—what’s he again?”
    “A Vulcan.”
    “His rank?” Machiavelli snapped.
    “The first officer.”
    “So, the captain, the first officer and the ship’s doctor and sometimes the engineer all beam down to a planet. Together. The entire complement of the senior officers?”
    Billy nodded.
    “And who has command of the ship?”
    “I don’t know. Junior officers, I guess.”
    “If they worked for me I’d have them court-martialed. That sounds like a gross dereliction of duty.”
    “I know. I know. I