Ashes to ashes . . .California: The book of Abraham the Mage holds the secret of eternal life - a secret more dangerous than any one man should possess. Dr. John Dee is two pages away from the knowledge that would bring the Dark Elders into ultimate power - and could mean the destruction of the world as we know it.Two people stand in his way: Josh and Sophie Newman.Paris: Time is running out for Nicholas Flamel and his wife Perenelle. Every day they spend without the book, they age one year: their magic becomes weaker and their bodies more frail. Niccolo Machiavelli, immortal author and celebrated art collector, works for Dee and is in hot pursuit of them - Flamel knows there''s no time to lose and Sophie must learn about Fire Magic...Josh and Sophie are the world''s only hope. If they don''t turn on each other first.