"See that you don't tarry," Dr.Kaz said.
We hit the front doors,and Clemenza waved a hand.A boom of noise split the air, and the air felt like static.I looked over at Eddie and Nagi.They were both frozen.
"This was the only way to talk," Clemenza said."Look, you need to know this.I don't know how any of this is related, or if it is, but Dr.Kaz was being really quiet about stuff, and I don't like it.She's scared.She's one of the most pigheaded women I know.She's never been frightened of a ghost story, so I don't see why that would start now."
"How long will this time thing last?"I asked.
"We have about fifteen minutes, tops, before the structure of the spell collapses," she said."Then time resumes as normal."
"Tell me about the Imperium."
"I don't know much, other than what we get as a history course," Clemenza said."Essentially, though.The Imperium is an ancient organization.It's how Witches and Warlocks and other magic-users retained power in the old days.They created an organization.It started as a guild and grew and grew until it resembled a militaristic structure."
"I didn't read about any of that in my history books," I said.
"Stonehenge," she said."All those old 'Druid sites.'Stories from Japan about the continent known as Mu.Stories from conspiracy theorists, who talk about Atlantis as the lost continent.Some magical historians even say The Imperium had some kind of magical accident, which could have covered Antartica in ice…"
"So they were… what, a country club?A research league?"
"They started as a Guild.After a long enough time they gathered enough power and started absorbing peoples from all states and walks of life.Now you have to understand, Stacey, that history is written from the perspective of those who won.In this case, it was the Rational age that won.Magic was studied with scientific advancement as a lens and emerged into completely new studies.Our scientists and physicians studied the composite nature of magic and stripped away the superstition and the other junk.History books are written to cater to a Rational age of witches and warlocks.They all call the Imperium a theocratic dictatorship.The theory goes that the rulers of the Imperium worshipped a Goddess and demanded their slave states worship her as well.As they were of an older, more pagan cloth, it was usually seen as a Moon Goddess…"
I blinked, and for once could think of nothing to say.
"What are you getting at?"I finally asked.
"There are rumors," she said."Rumors that The Imperium has survived in the shadows.A secret organization dedicated to reviving the old glorious kingdom of magic.In order to do so, they need to find an Avatar of the Moon Goddess.That's the one known as the Moon Kissed."
"No," I said, almost immediately.
"I don't believe it either," Clemenza said."Don't take this the wrong way but you're the last person I would call an avatar of any Moon Goddess.But I do believe that there's a lot of people calling that birthmark on you the Moon-Kiss, and I do believe there are people who believe in the ideals behind The Imperium.Whether that will ever add up to anything… who knows.But I think you should be aware of it."
"You think this has any relation to the drug, or the Dragon's Eye?"
"I don't know," Clemenza said."But I've never seen Dr.Kaz that spooked before.What I do know is that if someone were to try reviving the Imperium… they would need something like the Dragon Eye so they could gather the resources needed to boost their power.They won't be after a popular vote.They'll be after brute strength."
"Jesus," I said.
"Moon Goddess," Clemenza said."Good luck with things."
She clapped again, and I could feel the spell fall around us, and I matched strides with Nagi and Eddie again as we left the building.
"Guess we're back to square one again," Eddie said.
"We've made excellent progress," Nagi said."At least we know where and what to look for."
I thought about telling them what I knew; but also knew that maybe it would be better not to derail anything until I had more information.
I would come to regret this later.
6.
I dreamedabout a worm the size of an elephant that pierced through time and space, wriggling in every dimension at once, and then woke up with a gasp as my cellphone began to serenade me at 3 AM.
“Hello?”I asked stupidly.
“It’s me,” Vic said.“Are you busy?”
“I was just sleeping,” I said.I looked into the mirror near my bedstand and made a face at my messy hair.
