“Josh,” Sophie interrupted with a laugh. “I don’t think he’s ever been in charge! Perenelle admitted that she was the one who convinced Nicholas to hire you. Apparently your interview wasn’t great,” she added. Before her brother could respond, she continued, “And she was the one who suggested to Bernice that she hire me at the Coffee Cup.”

“So who is Perenelle Flamel?” Josh asked. He walked to his sister and looked into her eyes. “What does the Witch remember about the Sorceress?” Even as he was asking the question, he had a feeling he knew the answer.

Sophie grimaced in frustration. “I’ve been trying to remember… but that’s one of the blanks.”

Josh nodded. He wasn’t surprised. “But the Witch must remember Perenelle.”

Sophie nodded. “She must. She spent ten years with her.”

“And you can’t remember anything from that time?” Josh asked incredulously.

“Nothing.” She frowned. “The memories are there-I can almost grasp them, but they just slip away when I try to focus on them.”

“I wonder why,” Josh murmured, pacing the room.

“I’m not worried. It’ll come to me. It’s been less than a week since Hekate Awakened me and the Witch gave me her memories. I think they’re just settling down.”

Josh stopped in front of the old-fashioned fridge, pulled it open and peered inside. Flickering yellow light washed into the room. “Could someone be stopping you from remembering?” he asked, trying to pretend it was just a casual question.

“Like the Sorceress?” Sophie asked, the tiniest thread of doubt in her voice.

“Like the Sorceress,” Josh echoed. He straightened and turned to face his sister. “Nicholas tells us the Witch’s memories can take you over. Perenelle says they can’t. But you can’t remember what the Witch knew about the Sorceress. That’s really odd, don’t you think?”

“Really odd,” Sophie agreed uncomfortably. “You think Perenelle is lying to me?”

“Sophie, I think everyone is lying to us. Remember what Scatty said-trust no one…” His sister nodded and they finished the sentence together. “… except each other.”

Josh closed the fridge door. “Completely empty. I wonder what an Elder eats.”

“Most don’t,” Sophie said immediately. She frowned as the knowledge popped into her head. Why could she remember this and not something more important? “They’ve got a different metabolism than the humani…”

Josh turned to look at his twin before she could finish explaining. “That’s interesting.”

Sophie jumped, surprised by the anger in her brother’s voice. “What is?”

“You called the human race humani,” he said quietly. “I’ve never heard you call them-us-that before.”

“That’s what the Witch called them,” she said.

“Exactly. Maybe it’s not Nicholas who’s wrong-maybe it’s Perenelle.”