by Colin Sims
“But what does that have to do with this atomic bomb thing?” I asked. I was getting impatient; worried that Cassie could be in trouble outside. She probably wasn’t, but I couldn’t shake a tiny feeling like she might be. For all I knew, there could be a second Larva Mage, or perhaps something even worse.
Steinberg raised another finger and skipped over to a nearby chalkboard. “So,” he said. “Imagine the Multi-Realm as a giant three-dimensional chessboard with each square representing a separate realm.” He grabbed a piece of chalk and drew a hasty Rubik’s Cube. “There, you see? Each realm touches several of its neighbors. As such, it is possible to travel between them using an ‘arcane gate.’ But here’s the tricky part. A similar network of interconnected planes overlaps with the Multi-Realm. Therefore, it is also possible to travel between planes. For this, you need a ‘portal.’ I should tell you that portals are extremely rare and can only be opened by the most powerful beings within the All-Time—which is what we call existence as a whole.” He drew a circle next to the Rubik’s Cube. “So now,” he continued, “we come to the purpose of the Orbis Lux. It has the power to either open, or permanently close, a portal. This is important because no wizard or warlock or anyone else has ever closed a portal once it has opened.”
“I still don’t understand,” I said.
“Powerful beings from the Eternal Planes offer the biggest threat to the Multi-Realm. Many of the immortals who live there see themselves as superior. As such, many realms have been completely destroyed by evil forces from such planes. Galileo Galilei sought a way to protect Earth from such a fate. Each device, like the one you see here, has the power to close a portal. It can also open one, however, if misapplied. And you were right when you described it as an ‘atomic bomb thing.’ It is an atomic bomb, yet with quite a bit of magic in it as well.”
“Professor Steinberg,” I said slowly, and pointed to the Orbis. “Does this thing work?”
“Oh yes! I put the finishing touches on it this morning.”
“So are you planning on using it or …?”
“Me? No. I planned on handing it over to the proper authorities this afternoon. As I mentioned, it could be a terrible weapon in the wrong hands.”
I frowned. “You do realize that’s probably why a bunch of bad guys are looking for it, right? I think they want to open a portal.”
“Yes, of course. But once I hand it over to the authorities it will be perfectly safe. Besides, it is very unlikely that anyone will find me here.”
“I think they already have, Professor. We need to get this Orbis thing to Agent Rosewood at the SIA. He’ll know what to do. If anyone is the ‘proper authorities,’ it’s him. We have to go.”
Steinberg hesitated. “Are you sure that’s really necessary? I had hoped to do some more experiments …”
“Professor,” I said. “Larva Mages don’t work by themselves. They get ordered to do things by someone else—someone a lot worse than they are. Whoever that someone is, he might be coming here right now. Is there any way to disable the bomb?”
“Permanently? No. Not without setting it off. You do, however, need to arm it first, which requires a key. I have it safely stowed away in the Magic Bank. Plus, if worse comes to worst, there is this very clever ‘disarm’ mechanism as well.” He pointed to a comically large red button on the side of the device. “All you need to do is press it and the bomb will go dormant. No problem.”
“Okay,” I said. That feeling that Cassie might be in trouble was kicking into overdrive. I couldn’t tell if it was just paranoia or something else. “The Orbis is safe in here after we exit, right? Like, it stays inside the telescope?”
“Oh yes. Precisely.”
“Good.” I nodded. “So on the count of three, let’s go. Are you ready?”
Again, he hesitated. “It’s just a shame that …”
“Professor.”
“Okay, okay. On the count of three.”
I held up a hand and counted three with my fingers. I thought of exiting the Solitar and the familiar swirl of liquid passed over me and I was back in the museum. Steinberg appeared next to me a second later. I breathed a quick sigh of relief, yet it caught in my throat when I realized Cassie was gone. She was supposed to be holding the telescope. Now it was lying exposed on the floor. I bent to pick it up, but caught sight of her from the corner of my eye. I spun around and there she was—standing still as a statue.
“Cassie?”
I tried to go to her, but I couldn’t move. My feet were locked to the floor. She just stared back, unmoving. Her eyes were pleading and a single tear slid down her cheek.
“What’s going on?”
She didn’t answer, but she didn’t need to. He stepped from behind the door the second I asked the question. His eyes twinkled as he wore a broad smile and an impeccable suit.
“I’ll have that telescope, François. Now, if you please.”
My stomach clenched as Agent Thomas Rosewood stepped forward and held out his hand.
Chapter Ten
Godzilla
“You?” I asked. I was too stunned to move. I couldn’t even lift the telescope. “What have you done to Cassie?”
Rosewood glanced back at her and raised an eyebrow. “Cassandra? Oh, she’s fine. I gave her a touch of the old Rigor Mortis. Nasty spell. Makes it hard to move.”
“If you hurt her—”
“Oh François! I dare say you’re in no position to play the hero, now are you?” He tapped my leg with his cane and it made a hollow sound, like knocking on wood. “This particular spell is Level Nine,” he explained. “Arbor Glacialem—The Frozen Tree. I’m afraid you’ll be planted to this spot for quite some time. Perhaps a thousand years or so? Give or take? Now, if you’d be so kind, could you please pass me the telescope? I’d hate to have to resort to violence …”
“Why?” I breathed. “You … I would’ve brought you the telescope anyway. Why are you doing this?”
“Why? Oh. Well, I suppose for the same reason that most people do anything. Because I can. But don’t feel badly, François. You and young Cassandra have been very useful in locating our dear professor here.” He gave a pleasant nod to Steinberg who stared back in confusion. It didn’t seem like he could move his feet either. “Yet as it is with all things,” Rosewood continued, “it seems that you and Cassandra have outlived your purpose. I’m afraid our time together has reached its conclusion.”
I continued to clench the telescope in my fist, and noticed—oddly—that Rosewood hadn’t made any move to take it on his own.
“So everything was a lie,” I said. “You’ve been using us the whole time? And what about Cassie? You told me you raised her.”
“I did. Quite clever of me, actually. She’s been most loyal these past few years. It never hurts to have a trained succubus on your side. Especially one so gifted at killing.”
I glanced at Cassie and could see in her eyes that she was struggling with everything she had. Yet somehow, Rosewood’s spell had completely frozen her in place. Her entire body was like a piece of iron.
I needed to do something—something to get her free. But how? I could barely move. And none of my four spells would help, not with this. All I could do was stall for time. So I fixed Rosewood with a glare and told him that “because I can” wasn’t really an answer. Why was he trying to steal the Orbis?
“Oh, it’s not for me,” he explained. “You see, François, we are all servants of one sort or another. Even the most powerful—the kings and the queens—are beholden to the very rabble they call subjects. As for myself, I am but a humble servant as well. And when my master arrives, he will be most pleased with my endeavors.”
“And I take it you’re using the Orbis to get your master here?” I said.
“Quite right, François. Quite right.” He then paused and looked at me quizzically. “Oh very well,” he sighed. “I suppose there’s no harm in telling you the truth. The fact is you are just as responsible for my master’s ar
rival as I am.”
“How’s that?”
“He’s rather taken with you, I’m afraid. I do believe he is planning a most unfortunate future for you and everyone you know. François, I was the one who tried to have you killed. I contracted with Aeroth—the miserable sod—who sent those incompetent vampire spawn after you. I also contracted with the skeleton, although in that case, that was a bit of a mistake. After you left my office, I realized you’d be of greater service alive than dead. It just so happened that I couldn’t reach the skeleton in time to rescind the order. Nevertheless, our young Cassandra made quick work of him anyway. I was counting on that.”
I considered forming a Firebolt with my left hand. It would be out of Rosewood’s view and maybe I could do something with it. But what?
“Why would you want to kill me?” I asked. “Up until a couple weeks ago, I didn’t know anything about anything. I wasn’t even a wizard. And you were the one who lifted the hex!”
“All true. Top marks, François. Truly. That hex was the only thing protecting you—until of course that meddlesome astrologer Greta sent Cassandra to you. With her by your side, you were practically invulnerable. I doubt there’s an assassin in the whole realm who’d risk going against her.
“You see, as it happens, you are not just an ordinary wizard—if there is such a thing. You have something much greater than that. But to explain would require so much history. I’d rather you just handed over the device and we could get on with things.”
Okay. That was the third time he asked for it. Now I knew he couldn’t take it on his own. Old Galileo must have done something to it—something that barred the likes of Rosewood from stealing it. It had to be offered to him, like Cassie with kissing. Still, my only option remained to stall for time. The longer Rosewood talked, the greater the possibility that someone—possibly even myself—might come up with a plan.
“Just give me the Cliff Notes,” I said. “I want to know how you could betray Cassie like this. You rescued her. She loved you. And I thought you were the best guy I’d ever met. Then you turned out to be the very worst.”
“Oh, you wound me. I’m not as bad as all that. I’m a realist, that’s all. My master is coming to this realm—one way or another. And when he does, there will be those to whom he grants mercy, and those to whom he does not. I plan to be in the former camp. Besides, as I told you, it’s your fault he’s coming here in the first place. It was your master who imprisoned him.”
“My what?”
“Your master. It hardly matters that you’ve never met him. After all, how could you have done? He died as soon as he transferred his powers to you. And I see by the confused look on your face that you have no idea what I’m talking about, which of course makes perfect sense. So let me tell you a story. There was a realm not far from this one, perhaps two or three over within the Multi-Realm. It was called Endruvia and was legendary for its extraordinary beauty. It was one of the few realms where peace and happiness flourished for all who lived there. And their magic was the stuff of legend. Absolutely unparalleled. They had some of the best wizards in all existence. Yet when they tried to resist my master, he dispatched them all with barely a thought. There was only one who had the strength to stand against him. His name was Wizenguaard, a warlock of the Thirteenth Order. I’m sad to say, he defeated my master but not before Endruvia was reduced to ashes. He then knew that his time was coming to an end. He traveled here—to Earth—and bestowed his abilities on a newborn infant in Paris. And as his final act, he placed a hex on the child to hide him from other practitioners. That child, of course, was you. Your parents moved to America, and for twenty years you were safe. But the hex wasn’t designed to last forever. It was wearing off. After all, what good would it be if you could never do magic? The idea—from what I gather—was to allow you to grow up first. Then you might have a better chance at protecting yourself.” He paused. “And now that I think about it, the old warlock must have contacted Greta Garbo as well. That was why she sent Cassandra to you when she did. Your own personal bodyguard until your skills increased. Most clever. Most clever indeed.”
Now as you might imagine, this was a lot to take in. Foreign realms. Powerful Warlocks. Apparently I’m Luke Skywalker. Etcetera. Yet I have to admit, one of the top thoughts in my brain was: Did he say Greta Garbo? As in the 1920s film star? She was Cassie’s astrologer?
“Just tell me one more thing,” I said. “Why didn’t you just kill me? Why was I useful to you at all? There was nothing I did that Cassie couldn’t have done.”
Rosewood shrugged. “I considered it. But there were several excellent reasons to keep you alive. First, if I wanted to kill you, I would’ve needed to do it myself. No one else would risk going against Cassandra. Then, if I did that, I would’ve lost my top agent. Second—and I’m most proud of this one—I bugged you.”
“Bugged me?”
“The Solitar, François. I told you to keep it on your person at all times—which of course, like the nice little duckling that you are, you did. I’ve had an eye on you, and by extension Cassandra, at all times. I dare say I felt like a proper spy with that one. You see, I’ve learned after many years that it helps tremendously to have agents in the field doing one’s ‘legwork.’ It saves so much time, and keeps suspicions of one’s actions to a minimum. I wasn’t lying, of course, when I told you the BPI was watching me. They are. Though today I managed to ‘give them the slip,’ as it were. Now it’s too late. Even they can’t stop me now. Which brings us back to why we are here in the first place. The telescope, François. This is the last time I will ask nicely.”
It was time to put my theory to the test—and unless I was mistaken—my theory was the real reason Rosewood had kept me alive. He needed someone to give him the Solitar rather than take it himself. Cassie wouldn’t have been able to discover its secret on her own. Rosewood needed a wizard for that, which made the telescope my only bargaining chip.
“Let Cassie go first,” I said. “And Professor Steinberg. When they’re safe, I’ll hand it over.”
Rosewood stared at me a long moment. Then, with a half smile, his eyes twinkled. “Very good, François. Very good indeed. How long have you known?”
“That you can’t take the telescope?” I asked. “For as long as you’ve been talking, asshole.”
“Ha! Perhaps old Wizenguaard wasn’t such a fool after all! Still, I don’t believe you have a proper measure of the situation, my dear boy. I may not be able to take the Solitar from you, but there is nothing stopping me from inflicting a great deal of pain upon your beloved ‘Cassie’ until you give it me. So. Shall I get to it? Or will you save us all a great deal of time and unpleasantness?”
Damn.
Despite my extensive action movie knowledge, I hadn’t considered the “I’ll torture your friends until you give it to me” option. I mean, crap. Bruce Willis was probably rolling his eyes at this very moment. Yippee ki-yah, motherf-er …
“You’d really hurt her?” I asked. “She thinks of you as a father. Does that mean nothing to you?”
I didn’t think that’d actually sway him, but I had to delay as long as possible.
“I’m afraid it doesn’t. She’s a half-breed, François. Filthy. Though I’ll admit she has certain physical qualities that are pleasing to the eye. But nothing more. Now.” He raised his hands to make an Imago. “There is a wonderful little spell called Brimstone that I’ve always wanted to try on a living subject. I dare say you’ve given me the perfect opportunity …”
“Here.” I put the telescope in his hand without delay.
It was the only thing to do. I doubt I could’ve lasted five seconds with him torturing Cassie, so why wait? He’d won this round. Simple as that.
Or had he?
Steinberg suddenly spoke up for the first time since we exited the Solitar.
“It won’t do you any good,” he told Rosewood calmly. “If your intentions are impure, you cannot enter Galileo’s Solitar. Plus, the Orb
is Lux requires a key. You don’t have it.”
“Is that so?” Rosewood cocked his head. “Well then perhaps you would be so kind as to retrieve it for me.” He waved his hand and Steinberg’s feet came unglued from the floor. He stepped toward Rosewood. “Why would I do that?” he asked. “You’re trying to end the world. Helping you wouldn’t make any sense.”
“Ha! Well let’s just see about—”
Rosewood didn’t get a chance to utter another word. Steinberg clicked his heels together and what happened next … I’m honestly not sure how to describe it. It was sort of like an explosion, but there wasn’t any blast and there wasn’t any sound. It was just a sudden burst of light and then a million little sparks zipped around the room like angry fireflies. The result? My feet came unglued and I could move again.
But that wasn’t the important part. The important part was that Cassie became free as well. And if you were wondering why this chapter was entitled Godzilla, now is when you learn the answer.
My girlfriend—yes, that’s what I’m going to call her now—charged into Rosewood so hard he flew fifty feet against the far wall and crashed straight through it. She ran after him, re-extending the flaming samurai sword and the energy shield. Her movements were so fast they were practically a blur.
I whipped around to find Steinberg collapsed on the floor. When I kneeled by his side, I noticed he wasn’t breathing.
Crap.
Ten thousand years ago, I took CPR as part of P.E. in high school. Like everyone else, I gave it about three percent of my attention. After all, I was never going to need to do CPR. No one ever did stuff like that in real life. All I remembered was “Thirty and Two.” Thirty chest compressions. Two breaths. So that’s what I did. I did it over and over again, but nothing happened. The adrenaline began to pound in my chest. I could’ve been doing everything totally wrong. I had no idea. All I knew was that I couldn’t let this guy die simply because I’d been a crappy student in school.