The Brotherhood of The Black Rats

3.18 Misty

18| Misty

Kai watched from behind the blackjack table, as Thompkins and Gabriel were fetched by one of the Dragonflies sometime after the pair made the delivery to Simon. So far the plan was coming together quite nicely even though Gabriel looked a bit sauced. Even that was comforting notion. Familiar to him after so many heist just like the one they were in now. It was reassuring in it’s own unique way, until Kai heard a voice from behind him. 

“I thought I smelled a rat,” it said, sending an icy shiver down his spine. With it came the pain and anguish of memory and heartbreak he’d been working so hard to forget. 

“Hi,” he said, turning to see Misty St. George standing in front of him. “How are you?” 

“Just what do you think you’re doing here?” asked the girl, with a calm coldness. To anyone else the inquiry would have seemed authoritative and direct, but to Kai, it just seemed to roll off her tongue with a forced naturalness.  

“Dealing  blackjack,” he answered. 

“Oh, and I suppose Simon over there is just tending bar. You’re so predictable, it’s boring Kai,” stated Misty, as she turned her attention back to her tablet to avoid his gaze. 

“We’ve been on the straight and narrow since the Amsterdam incident blew up in our faces,” Kai began, unable to still his tongue in the presence of his one time girlfriend. “Honest, Misty, I wouldn’t lie to you.” 

“I know,” said the girl. “But if you are trying something, do yourself a favor and don’t. You’ll never get away with it.”

“How is show business treating you?” he asked changing the subject. “When do you guy’s perform tonight?” 

“We’re not here to perform, Kai.” Said Misty “Those days are behind us. We’re a whole new guild now.”  

“So what happened to the school girl outfits you guys used to wear?” He asked then. 

“We’ve re-branded,” answered Misty, as she turned to go on her way. “You know… moved forward.”

He wanted to tell her that he had as well. He wanted to tell her how he’d survived what happened in the South Pacific and that he’d forgiven her for leaving him there. He wanted to tell her that she looked good, but instead, he said nothing, knowing it would have all fallen on deaf ears anyway. 

“It was good seeing you, Kai,” she stated, leaving him as a trio of eager blackjack players arrived at his table. 

So skilled was the Cartomancer at his trade that Kai actually stacked the decks in favor of the gamblers who came to his table. It made the stockpile of chips to his right disappear all the faster. After a few more games passed, he felt a throbbing in his ears that signaled only one thing. Someone was trying to contact him via the cards.  

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his own spell-laced deck and shuffled till he found the faintly glowing King of Diamonds and pulled it from the rest. It was Simon from across the hall. 

“What the hell was that?” He heard the question in his mind as clear as if the Alchemist was standing right next to him.         

“Nothing,” he answered, holding the card in his hands and focusing on the response. “She stopped by to make sure we weren’t up to something.” 

“So she knows I’m here?” came the next inquiry. 

“Yes, I told her we’ve been playing it straight since Amsterdam, trying to make a go of it, and all that.” 

“And she believed you?” 

“Oddly enough, I think so.” 

“Damn it,” said Simon through the cards.  “How is your inventory doing?”

“Low. I’m supposed to swap out at the top of the hour,” replied Kai. 

“Good,” stated Simon. “I’ll make a trash run then, and we can go meet with the others. Gabe and Thompkins are currently getting the grand tour and should be in position soon.” 

“So we’re going for it?”

“Of course we’re going for it. Just picture the look on Misty’s face when she finds out what happened.” 

Kai let the image enter his mind and linger for a moment. “Any word from the Twins?” he asked. 

“No, but I haven’t tried their cards yet either. I know Doc’s with them, so I’m sure they’re fine. Heck, they’re probably in better shape than we are, the rascals.”

“I’m gonna give them a ring. They’re our best bet at finding the Spell Door anyway.”

“Alright,” said Simon, signing off. “Stay cool, Kai. I need you focused tonight.” 

The Fortune Teller was cut short from responding as another of the evenings revelers approached his table. He quickly dealt out the man’s cards twice before elatedly pronouncing “Winner, winner, chicken dinner!” and sending them on their way with the winnings. 

Alone once more, he produced the Jack of Spades and tried contacting Calvin. When there was no response, he tried Colin with the Jack of Diamonds. Again, there was nothing. Kai quickly shuffled the cards into the deck at the arrival of another trio of friendly young witches. 

“The bartender said this table is lucky,” began one of the girls with a wide dimple spotted smile. 

“Did he now?“ asked Kai, casting his eyes across the room to find Simon meeting his gaze with a slow nod of his head.

“I’ve never played blackjack before,” stated another of the girls.

“Really?” inquired Kai, with a fake note of surprise in his voice. “It’s easy. Here let me show you how it’s done.” 

He was halfway through his explanation when the now familiar throbbing started in his ears. 

“All is well,” he heard Colin say. “Alice’s grandmother is quite taken with Doc, and we’re having a grand old time. He says there’s some serious shit going down in the basement though. That’s where we’ll find The Spell Door most likely.”

Kai managed a quick “Okay” in response before returning his attention back to the group of ladies in front of him, now visibly put off by his sudden distance. 

“So, who wants to go first?” he asked, finishing the lesson. “I’ve always been a firm believer in beginner’s luck.”

When finally the hour passed, Kai spared another glance across the bustling floor where Simon was gathering up a slew of empty bottles into a large plastic garbage bag. With barely a look in his direction, the Alchemist exchanged a minor pleasantry with the other bartender at his station and took off toward a doorway in the far corner of the room. 

Kai then proceeded to pack away his spare chips and unused cards into a small silver storage cube he’d been given at the beginning of the night. He spared one final glance in the direction of the hall’s main entrance, where he spied Misty conversing with a pair of the black suited faux security guards as more late arrivals got cleared to enter the party. Without thinking twice he turned, abandoning his post, and running his hand along the outside of his front right pocket, Making sure he had his deck of cards at the ready for what was to come.