The Brotherhood of The Black Rats

3.21 Trapped Like Rats

3.21 Trapped Like Rats

The world went from dark to light, then old to new and in an instant the four thieves were floating then falling with a wave of magical energy, into an empty room a floor above the lower level.  Thompkins was the only one left standing when they arrived, the others at his feet didn’t hear the voices just on the other side of the wall. 

“Well that was—“ said Gabriel before Thompkins brought a finger to his lips in silence. 

For a moment the other three black rats looked puzzled, then they to heard the voices on the other side. 

“You feel that?” said a young male voice.

“There’s something going down on the lower level, just got the order to go Ten-Eighty Two,” replied another masculine sounding tone more aged than the first.

“Shit!” said the younger one “And here I thought we were in for a quiet night this time.” 

“Welcome to the Grey Guard rookie, haven’t you figured out there’s no such thing as a quiet night in our line of work.” 

The voices soon faded away down the hall yet Thompkins kept his finger up listening just a moment longer until the steady rhythm of the Gray Guard’s synchronized March softly disappeared. After all these years, he still knew the sound of The Grey Guard’s disciplined officers from a mile away. 

Kai looked at Simon before Thompkins uttered out loud what they were all thinking. 

“Something’s not adding up here.” The Troll began, adjusting the busted torque around his neck to better maintain the sound of his voice. “Why would The Wongs hire both The Dragonflies and a Grey Guard detail, if what they were doing downstairs just now is illegal?” 

“It’s a valid question,” Injected Gabriel “But, one I would stress we think about at another time, we just lost our exit, and where the hell are the Twins?” 

“It would appear they’re a bit tied up at the moment.” Said Doc “quite literally from what I can tell.” The voice sounded as though it were coming from one of the upper windows of the room as it spoke.

“Are they in danger?” asked Simon then. 

“On the contrary actually,” answered Doc, “It would appear they’ve uncovered another secret in The House of The Gilded Crane this evening.” 

“Wonderful.” Sighed Gabriel throwing up his arms in disbelief. “The nerve of those two.” 

“They’re playing their parts.” Said Simon, “if they can keep their cover intact they should be fine…We’re the ones with the stolen…whatever this thing is.” He added motioning to the enormous piece of cloth he had rolled under his arm.

“It’s a Spell door.” Said The Troll “It’s sort of like a trap you set for a creature of magic, you see these Runes…” he added taking the roll from Simon and unfurling the long white blanket to reveal the design painted upon it. “Something is actually trapped inside of it.” 

“Well can it get us the hell out here?” asked Gabriel. 

“Yes,” answered Kai taking the group by surprise. “I saw this in the cards earlier but I didn’t realize it until then. Now it all makes since.” 

“You’re sure?” inquired Simon.

“Ninety-nine percent,” Kai replied. “I mean these are only ever loose interpretations.”

It was the best they had, and they knew it. A long desperate silence hung in the air of the room until finally Simon spoke. 

“Doc.” He called to the invisible specter. “What are our options here, do you see a way out?”