Catching Sophie’s hand, Josh pulled his sister behind him toward the stinking metal hut, stepping carefully around the potholes. The dogs sat up, heads swiveling to follow them, red eyes glowing. “There’s no going back. We have no choice, Soph: we have to see this through to the end.”

“But what is the end, Josh? Where does it end… how does it end?”

“I have no idea,” he said. He stopped and turned to look directly into his sister’s blue eyes. He took a deep breath, swallowing his anger. “But you know what I do know? This is all about us.”

Sophie nodded. “You’re right. The prophecy is about us, we’re gold and silver, we’re special.”

“Flamel wants us,” Josh continued, “Dee wants us. It’s time to get some answers.”

“Attack,” Sophie said, hopping over a muddy puddle. “When I knew him-I mean, when the Witch knew him-Mars always said that attack was the best form of defense.”

“My football coach says the same thing.”

“And your team didn’t win a single game last season,” Sophie reminded him.

They had almost reached the hut when a wild-eyed William Shakespeare appeared, a blazing frying pan clutched in both hands.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Without a second thought Josh shrugged the map tube off his shoulder and shook out the sword. It settled easily into his hand, his fingers wrapping around the stained leather hilt. He took a step forward, putting himself between Shakespeare and his sister.

The immortal didn’t even look at them. He turned the blazing pan upside down and shook out the contents. What looked like half a dozen blackened sausages dropped onto the muddy ground. They hissed and sizzled but continued to burn, spiraling sparks into the air. One of the red-eyed dogs came out from beneath the hut, and a long forked tongue snatched up a chunk of still-burning meat and swallowed it whole. The flames turned its eyes to rubies, and when it licked its lips, curls of gray smoke leaked from the corner of its mouth.

Shakespeare bent down and roughly patted the dog’s head. He was about to turn and climb the steps when he spotted the twins. The dull evening light reflected off his overlarge glasses, turning them to silver mirrors. “There was a little mishap with our evening meal,” he said, a quick smile revealing his bad teeth.

“That’s OK. We weren’t that hungry,” Sophie said quickly. “And I’m trying to give up meat.”

“Vegetarians?” Shakespeare asked.

“Sort of,” Sophie said, and Josh nodded in agreement.

“There might be some salad inside,” the immortal said vaguely. “Neither Palamedes nor I are vegetarians. There’s fruit,” he added. “Lots of fruit.”

Josh nodded. “Fruit would be perfect.” Even the thought of meat set his stomach churning.