“Perenelle,” Flamel whispered, the sound escaping in a ragged gasp.

And then they saw it. A creature was moving slowly down the stone corridor, advancing on the Sorceress. Josh had never seen anything like it before: it was both beautiful and horrific in equal measure. The creature was about his height, and while the plump red-cheeked face was that of a young man, the body was skeletal, bones and ribs clearly visible through gray-white skin. Talons that were a cross between human feet and birds’ claws click-clacked across the floor, and although it had human hands, its nails were long and black, sharply curled, like a cat’s. Huge leathery bat’s wings grew out of its bony spine and dragged along the floor behind it.

And then a second figure appeared. It was a female. Gossamer black hair framed her delicately beautiful face. But if anything, her body was even more emaciated than the boy’s. Her wings were ragged and torn, and she dragged her left leg behind her.

“Vetala,” Flamel whispered in horror. “Blood drinkers, flesh eaters.”

Another figure appeared before Perenelle. Vague and insubstantial, this one looked human and male. His hands rose into threatening fists and he moaned.

Flamel’s aura bloomed bright green around his body, and the smell of mint was overpowering. “I’ve got to help her,” he said desperately.

Suddenly, Palamedes burst through the door into the hut. “Your aura-douse it now!” he commanded.

Wide-eyed, Sophie was at the knight’s heels, while behind her the red-eyed dogs crowded in the doorway and began to bark and growl.

“Perenelle’s in trouble,” Josh said, looking at Sophie. He knew his sister really liked the woman.

“Flamel: stop!” the knight shouted.

But the Alchemyst ignored him. Rolling the halves of the ruined silver bracelet into the palm of his left hand, he closed his fingers over them and brilliant emerald green light engulfed his fist. Then he pressed his right hand to the LCD screen. “Perenelle!” he called.

Flamel’s mint odor was blanketed by the warmer spice of cloves as the knight clamped his hands onto the Alchemyst’s shoulders. “You’ve got to stop, Nicholas. You’ll bring destruction down on top of us!”

Abruptly, the Alchemyst’s aura flared even brighter, flaming first to brilliant emerald, then luminescent jade and finally a deep olive green. The knight was flung backward away from Nicholas, a suit of chain mail forming over his body even as he crashed against the wall with enough force to dent the metal. Green fire crawled across the links of his armor. “Will-stop him!” Palamedes shouted, his accent thick with fear. “Break the link!”

“Master, please…” Shakespeare grabbed the Alchemyst’s sleeve and tugged. Tiny bitter-green flames immediately coursed up his arm, sending him staggering back, beating at the cold fire.

Josh crouched beside the Alchemyst, staring at the screen. “What are you trying to do?” he demanded.