The Magician

CHAPTER FIFTY

H ail, Mars, the Lord of War, Dee said loudly.

Completely numb with fright, Josh watched as the huge helmeted head slowly

turned to look at Dee. The Magician s aura immediately snapped alight,

sizzling yellow and vaporous around him. Within the god s helmet, red light

glowed. The head turned again with the sound of grinding stone, and blazing

crimson eyes looked at the boy. The two ghost-white satyrs, Phobos and

Deimos, crept out of the shadows and crouched behind the stone pedestal,

watching Josh intently. Even glancing at them sent waves of panic and fear

coursing through his entire body, and he was sure he saw one of them lick

thin lips with a tongue the color of an old bruise. Deliberately looking

away, he concentrated on the ancient Elder.

You must show no fear, Machiavelli had said, and do not panic. But that

was easier said than done. Directly in front of him, close enough to touch,

was the Elder the Romans had worshipped as the God of War. Josh had never

heard of Hekate or the Witch of Endor, and because he knew nothing about

them, they hadn't had the same effect on him. This Elder was different. Now

he knew what Dee had meant when he said that this was the Elder remembered by

humankind. This was Mars himself, the Elder with a month and a planet named

after him.

Josh tried to draw in a deep breath and settle his thumping heart, but he was

shaking so hard he could barely breathe. His legs were like jelly, and he

felt that at any moment, he could crumple to the ground. Squeezing his mouth

shut, he forced himself to draw in air through his nose, trying to remember

some of the breathing exercises he d learned in martial arts class. He closed

his eyes tight and wrapped his arms around his body, hugging himself hard. He

should be able to do this: he d seen Elders before; he d faced the undead and

even fought a primeval monster. How hard could this be?

Josh straightened, opened his eyes and looked at the statue of Mars except

that it wasn't a statue. This was a living being. There was a thick hard gray

crust over his skin and clothing. The only touch of color about the god was

in his eyes, which glowed red behind a full-face visor that completely

concealed his face.

Great Mars, it is almost time, Dee said quickly, time for the Elders to

return to the world of the humani. He took a breath and announced

dramatically, We have the Codex.

Josh felt the crackle of parchment under his T-shirt. What would happen to

him if they knew he had the two missing pages? Would they still Awaken him?

At the mention of the Codex, the Elder s head snapped toward Dee, eyes

blazing, wisps of red smoke drifting from the slit in the helm.

The prophecy is almost fulfilled, Dee continued quickly. Soon we will make

the Final Summoning. Soon we will free the Lost Elders and return them to

their rightful place as rulers of the world. Soon we will return the world to

the paradise it once was.

With the sound of grinding stone, Mars swung his legs off the plinth and

turned so that he was sitting facing the boy. Josh noticed that every

movement sent tiny flakes of what looked like stone skin onto the ground.

Dee s voice rose almost to a shout. And the first prophecy of the Codex has

come to pass. We have found the two that are one. We have found the twins of

legend. He waved a hand toward Josh. This humani possesses an aura of pure

gold; his twin sister s aura is unblemished silver.

Mars tilted his head to look at Josh again and then stretched out a gloved

hand. It was still a foot and a half away from the boy s shoulder when his

aura bloomed silently around him, the bright glow lighting up the interior of

the chamber, turning the polished bone walls golden, sending Phobos and

Deimos scuttling for shelter in the deepest shadows behind the plinth. The

dry air was suddenly rich with the scent of orange.

Squinting against the glow given off by his own skin, feeling the hair on his

head standing up, crackling with static, Josh watched in awe as the hardened

crust began to fall away from Mars s fingertips to reveal deeply tanned,

muscled flesh beneath. The god s own aura flared, outlining the statue in a

thick purple-red mist and his healthy skin started to glow an angry red as

tiny sparks curled off the aura and stuck to his flesh, quickly cooling and

coating it in a gray-white stonelike scab. Josh frowned; it looked as if the

god s aura was hardening into a thick shell around him, slowly turning him to

stone again.

The girl s powers have been Awakened, Dee continued, his voice echoing in

the chamber. The boy s have not. If we are to succeed, if we are to bring

back the Elders, this boy s powers must be Awakened. Mars Ultor, will you

Awaken the boy?

The god planted his tall broadsword on the ground, the point sinking easily

into the bone floor, wrapped both hands around the hilt and leaned forward to

look at Josh.

Show no fear and don't panic. Josh straightened and stood tall, then stared

directly into the narrow rectangular opening in the stone helm. For the space

of a single heartbeat, he thought he caught a flash of brilliantly bright

blue eyes in the shadows, before they turned red and glowing again. Josh s

aura faded to a dull glow and the two satyrs immediately crept forward,

climbing onto the plinth to peer around the god at the boy. The hunger in

their eyes was unmistakable now.

Twins.

It took Josh a moment to realize that Mars had spoken. The god s voice was

surprisingly soft and sounded incredibly weary. Twins? The question in his

voice was unmistakable.

Y-yes, Josh stammered. I have a twin sister, Sophie.

I had twin boys once a long time ago, Mars said, his voice lost and

distant. The red glow inside his helm faded and blue eyes blinked again.

Good boys, fine boys, he added, and Josh was unsure whom he was speaking

to. Who is the elder? he asked. You or your sister?

Sophie, Josh said, lips curling in a sudden smile at the thought of his

sister. But only by twenty-eight seconds.

And do you love your sister? Mars asked.

Taken by surprise, Josh said, Yes well, I mean, yes, of course I do. She s

my twin.

Mars nodded. Romulus, my younger boy, said that too. He swore to me that he

loved his brother, Remus. And then he killed him.

The bone chamber fell deathly silent.

Looking into the helmet, Josh saw Mars Ultor s eyes turn blue and wet, and he

felt his own eyes fill with tears in sympathy. Then the god s tears hissed to

steam as his eyes blazed red again. I had Awakened my sons auras, gave them

access to powers and abilities beyond those of the humani. All their senses

and emotions were heightened including the emotions of hate, fear and love.

He paused, and then added, They had been close so close until I Awakened

their senses. That destroyed them. There was another, longer pause. Perhaps

it would be better if I did not Awaken you. For your own sake and the sake of

your sister.

Josh blinked in surprise and looked over his shoulder at Dee and Machiavelli.

The Italian s face was impassive, but Dee looked as stunned as Josh felt. Was

Mars refusing to Awaken him?

Lord Mars, the Magician began, the boy must be Awakened .

It will be his choice, Mars said mildly.

I demand

The glow within the god s helm turned incandescent. You demand!

In my master s name, of course, Dee said quickly. My master demands

Your master can make no demands of me, Magician, Mars whispered. And if

you speak again, he added, I will loose my companions on you. Phobos and

Deimos clambered over the god s shoulders to peer at Dee. They were both

drooling. It is a terrible death. He looked back at Josh. This is your

choice and yours alone. I can Awaken your powers. I can make you powerful.

Dangerously powerful. Red eyes blazed brightly, the centers burning yellow

hot. Is this what you want?

Yes, Josh said without hesitation.

There is a price, for everything has a price.

I ll pay it, Josh said immediately, though he had no idea what that payment

might be.

Mars nodded his great head, stone cracking and grinding. A good response,

the correct response. Asking me about the price would have been a mistake.

Phobos and Deimos cackled in what Josh assumed was a laugh, and he

immediately knew that others had paid the price for trying to negotiate with

the Sleeping God.

There will come a time when I will remind you that you are in debt to me.

The god looked over Josh s head. Who will mentor the boy?

I will, Dee and Machiavelli said simultaneously.

Josh turned to look at the two immortals, surprised by their response. Of the

two, he thought he would prefer to be mentored by Machiavelli.

Magician, he is yours, Mars said after a moment s consideration. I can

read your intent and your motives clearly. You intend to use the boy to bring

back the Elders; I have no doubt of that. But you , he added, his head

swiveling to look at Machiavelli. I cannot read your aura; I do not know

what you want. Perhaps because you have not yet decided.

Rocks snapped and creaked as the god stood. He was at least seven feet tall,

his helmeted head almost brushing the ceiling. Kneel, he said to Josh, who

folded to his knees. Mars tugged his huge sword free from the floor and spun

it until it was directly in front of the boy s face. Josh went crosseyed

looking at the blade. It was so close that he could see where the edge was

chipped and pitted and was able to make out the faintest trace of a spiraling

pattern down the center of the sword.

What are your clan name and your parents names?

Josh s mouth was so dry he could barely speak. The clan name? Oh, the family

name is Newman. My father is Richard and my mother is Sara. He had a sudden

memory of Hekate asking Sophie the same questions. It had been only a couple

of days ago, and yet it felt like a lifetime.

The timbre of the god s voice changed, becoming stronger, loud enough for

Josh to feel the vibrations in his bones. Josh, son of Richard and Sara of

the Clan Newman, of the race humani, I will grant you an Awakening. You have

acknowledged that this is no gift and there will be a price to pay. If you do

not pay it, I will destroy you and everything you hold dear.

I ll pay, Josh said thickly, blood thundering in his head, adrenaline

coursing through his body.

I know you will. The huge sword moved, first touching Josh s right

shoulder, then his left before moving back to his right. The faintest outline

of his aura winked into existence around his body. Wisps of gold smoke

started to curl off his blond hair, and the scent of citrus grew stronger.

Hence-forth you will see with acuity .

Josh s bright blue eyes turned into solid gold discs. Immediately, tears

gathered and ran down his face. They were the color and texture of liquid

gold.

You will hear with clarity .

Smoke coiled from the boy s ears.

You will taste with purity .

Josh opened his mouth and coughed. A puff of saffron-colored mist appeared,

and tiny amber sparks danced between his tongue and teeth.

You will touch with sensitivity .

The boy brought his hands up to his face. They were glowing so brightly that

they were almost transparent. Sparks leapt and curled between each finger,

and his badly chewed fingernails were polished mirrors.

You will smell with intensity .

Josh s head was almost completely enveloped in golden smoke now. It trickled

from his nostrils, making it look as if he were breathing fire. His aura had

thickened, solidified around his shoulders and across his chest, becoming

shiny and reflective.

The god s sword moved again, tapping lightly against the boy s shoulders.

Truly, yours is one of the most powerful auras I have ever encountered,

Mars said quietly. There is something else I can give you a gift and this I

give freely. You may find it of use in the days to come. Stretching out his

left hand, he rested it on top of the boy s head. Instantly, Josh s aura

burst into incandescent light. Streamers and globes of yellow fire curled

from his body and bounced around the room. Phobos and Deimos were caught by

the blast of light and heat, and it sent them squealing and scrambling behind

the stone plinth, but not before their pale skin had reddened and the tips of

their snow white hair had darkened and crisped. The searing light drove Dee

to his knees, gloved hands pressed against his eyes. He rolled over, burying

his face in his hands as spheres of fire bounced off the floor and ceiling,

spattering against the walls, leaving scorch marks on the polished bone.

Only Machiavelli had escaped the full force of the explosion of light. He d

turned away and ducked out of the room in the last instant before Mars had

touched the boy. Curling up in a ball, he hid in the deep shadows outside the

door while streamers of yellow light ricocheted off the walls and hissing

balls of solid energy blazed out into the corridor. He blinked hard, trying

to clear the streaked afterimages seared onto his retinas. Machiavelli had

seen Awakenings before, but never anything this dramatic. What was Mars doing

to the boy, what gift was he giving him?

Then, through his blurring vision, he saw a vague silvery shape materialize

at the other end of the corridor.

And the scent of vanilla filled the catacombs.