This is new he thought, wondering if it really was, or if this was the way The Emporium usually travelled. He couldn’t remember.
The coaster on his desk sported a steaming mug of coffee so he automatically sat down. Idly he turned the draw key and The Book of Un-Reality crept out, carefully avoiding the newspaper sulking on the blotter, which having no intention of being anywhere near anything slid down into the wooden magazine rack to hide.
Thrumps watched them and shook his head. Who’d have thought the printed word could be so complex? He shrugged, surely the whole premise of literature regardless of the format was not to be … he struggled for the right word. Instantly a beautiful leather-bound thesaurus plonked itself in his hand and flipped to the right page.
Vexing (adjective) - annoying, troublesome, puzzling, frustrating … he continued to look down the list. Perplexing, that was a better word. He was sure that between them they had the answers, if only he could get them to work together, mind you he thought, maybe I need to know what I want the answers to be before I seek their help.
He flicked through the pages.
Black Moon … a month in which there are no new full ones. An event that is only possible in the second month of the year because it has fewer days.
I wonder what happened to Christmas, he thought. Words jumbled about in his brain, might be that it had come and gone without his knowledge, lets face it most things do, he mused. Time had absolutely no pattern now.
He plucked the newspaper from the rack, the headline had changed, as had the date.
Wild Stuff is Going on in the Sky!
Is the moon okay … someone should check.
It is just barely the start of the year and there has already been an unprecedented two full moons in January. A Blood Moon and a Super Blue one occurring at the same time. Many claim the strange astrological activity has already had noticeable effects on the supernatural aspects of their lives.
He read on …
So what can be expected this month?
February is the time of The Dark moon, when it is positioned between the Earth and sun, with the bright side facing away.
Lilith, the ancient goddess of this Dark Moon is deemed by some as more of a demon than for bringing fertility and love. Some are claiming the strange occurrences as a harbinger of war.
According to Dark Astrology …
Thrumps tutted. It was a publication he was very sceptical about at the best of times, but one that the tabloids loved to quote from for dramatic impact but despite his scepticism he kept reading, curiosity now having gotten the better of him.
According to Dark Astrology symbolically the Dark Moon and Lilith represent a lunar apogee that does not exist physically in space but describes a distant empty focus point.
“Apogee,” he said aloud. It was not a word Thrumps was familiar with so he tapped the cover of the thesaurus, which obligingly opened automatically to the correct page.
* (noun) the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination.
The newspaper article concluded …
Beware, the world may well be drawn towards mixed passions with people unable to resist the urge to shelve all responsibilities and succumb to wanton ways.
Sensational as ever, he thought as he slid the newspaper back into the rack. The Encyclopaedia section at the back of the thesaurus fanned its pages and plonked itself in front of Thrumps.
“Okay,” he laughed. “And what is it you want me to know now?”
The book jumped with such force that it tipped the coffee mug over as it landed. The coaster spun angrily on one corner as Thrumps mopped up the spilt coffee. Once the coaster was soothed enough to lay flat he put the mug back in place and smiled a grateful thanks as it was replenished.
The Encyclopaedia fluttered its pages to remind Thrumps that what it had to say was important.
Paganism … that was not what Thrumps had expected.
The black moon is considered to be a special time when any rituals, spells, or other workings are more powerful and effective. It slammed itself shut, obviously annoyed.
“May I?” A strange voice asked gently, hand extended.
Standing the other side of the desk was what Thrumps first considered to be a tramp, but on closer inspection decided that he must be some kind of a druid. He handed over the book, which sparkled with red flames as soon as it was in the strangers hand.
“Now-now,” he laughed. “We’ll have less of the tantrums,” he said tucking the book into the folds of his robe. Too temperamental these ancient ones,” he said with a shrug as if that would explain everything.
From a deep pocket he produced a small round slate placemat and carefully set it on the desk. Instantly a glass goblet appeared full of something that steamed. Thrump’s coaster was mesmerised and shuffled closer.
“Ahh,” the druid said as he took a sip. “Nothing better than something warm on a cold night.”
Thrumps nodded.
“But I digress.” The Druid continued.
“This Black Moon is very special,” he began. “It has a ring of manifestation about it. A very powerful omen for not only change but for bringing hidden truths to the surface of existence.”
Thrumps didn’t like to interrupt but he had absolutely no idea what he was going on about and frowned.
“You are perplexed?” he asked.
Thrumps held his gaze expecting an explanation but the druid merely shrugged.
“As is to be expected.” He stated. “You are not meant to understand yet, it is not your time, but it will be very soon and then all will be clear.”
He clicked his fingers and the goblet in his hand disappeared.
Smiling he gazed down at the coasters nuzzling up to each other.
“Now then you, two break it up. We have to go.”
“Young love.” The Druid said shaking his head.
Thrumps looked down at them and when he looked up on his desk was a blue leather-bound journal, decorated in intricate patterns of ice-cold fire, engraved with his name and the Druid was gone.