“Comrades,” she said sharply, her eyes glittering with anger and—maybe—panic? “It is not Cthulhu who has found us unworthy. We have never faltered in our faith. We have never failed in our devotion. We have read the portents, we have remained vigilant. It is we who have found him unworthy!”

A wondering murmur spread through the cultists.

“Yes!” she said, snapping the Grimoire shut and stepping away from the podium. “The Alignment is at hand, and Dead Cthulhu stays dreaming! It is he who has neglected his duties. We have not failed him—he has failed the Elder Gods! We have all read the texts, we have all glimpsed the mad truths of the universe, and we know that They will return, They must return. If Cthulhu will not summon them…” Her voice fell into a deadly whisper, and her followers leaned forward to hear. “Then we will.”

A gasp rippled through the group. Epistola smiled again, now that she was back in charge, her white teeth flashing. “Oh, yes. Destiny cannot be waylaid by a lazy priest. We will do what must be done. At the hour of Alignment, at the time of destiny… we will awaken… Azathoth.” She looked around the shocked, silent faces of her followers, and whispered, “Azathoth C’ndwfl’nasdfe.”

And again.

“Azathoth C’ndwfl’nasdfe.”

And then, one by one, the rest of them, even ashen-faced Vik, joined in the chant.

“Azathoth C’nd dsfaldn!”

“Azathoth C’ndwfl’nasdfe!”

Riley jammed a finger onto Crystal’s switch, and the image went dead.

Silence filled the shop.

The pain in my chest had begun to fade, but my ribs still ached with every deep breath I took. I lifted my head from the table and blinked slowly, waiting for the dizziness to end.

“Is that bad?” I asked blearily.

I wasn’t sure if Riley heard me. “It is not possible,” he growled at the screen. “Humans could not awaken Azathoth. Not without me. Not without my call.”

“Well…” Neil mused.

Riley turned on him. “It is not possible!”

Neil lifted his hands defensively. “I just watched Cthulhu drop his aeons-old imperative and defy his inherent essence and calling because a human teenager batted her eyes and said ‘please.’ We’re throwing all sorts of convention out the window today.”

“Humans cannot awaken Azathoth!”

“If you say so.” Neil took another drag on his pipe. “It’s a long shot, anyway. If she didn’t have the power to force you into anything, she won’t hold a candle to him.”

Riley’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Exactly.”

“Would it be very bad?” I asked again.

“It would be very bad, little one,” Riley said, staring at the empty white sheet. “If it were possible.”