The Brotherhood of The Black Rats

5.41 Downtown

Half a world away from where the Dreamweaver currently cradled the entirety of The Belvedere Court among the night sky above New York City, the sun was just now raising over the shores of the Greek isles. Casting the day’s first light upon the outer walls of the White Labyrinth and the group of Black Rats currently waiting near cliffs edge. 

“What was all that?” asked Kai holding a full suite of kings and two jacks in his hand “Anyone get what they were saying?” 

“Did Thompkins say Bear Horn?” asked Calvin to the group “What does he need one of those for?

“Sounded like Scare Torn,” replied Colin “I have no idea.” 

“There on the ship,” said Simon cutting in “But they haven’t found our painting yet.” 

“We can’t get through until they do,” noted Calvin “There’s got to be something blocking us out.” 

“Yeah, and what the hell was it that cut us off like that? Asked Colin “I thought you said you worked out all the kinks on these cards Kai?”

    “I did,” snapped Kai “They must have some pretty epic Wards in place to shut us down like that. You getting anything?” he asked Isabelle then. 

The Fairy was seated in a meditative position on the grass focusing on the sigil of Spider painted on the wall in front of her. She closed her eyes before speaking. 

“The wards aren’t powerful there just messy,” she said “I can undone them but it’s going to take some time.” 

“Keep at it Izzy you’re the best chance of getting aboard that boat right now.” Simon stated. 

“There’s something else,” she said then “It’s like they’ve got a sheet over the actual painting or something.” 

“Oh for crying out loud.” Said Simon “They’ve got a priceless portrait up for auction but they’re not going to display it?” 

“I wish Doc was here,” Said Calvin to his brother. 

Kai kicked up a patch of earth over the edge of the cliff as he stepped towards it. He could feel the anger at their helplessness welling up inside of him. He left the others to gaze out at the sunrise over the ocean. 

“They’ll be alright,” said Simon coming over to him “If anyone can keep their covers intact in a tight spot its Thompkins and Gabe.” 

“It’s like there was someone else listening to us back there,” said Kai “I must have messed something up on the cards, what if they’ve been caught?” 

“Stop,” pleaded Simon “Don’t be so hard on yourself, if they got caught we’ll go in with Joker’s drawn…I still can’t believe you added a death spell to the deck.”

   “Just trying to be cautious,” admitted Kai “You guys are the only family I’ve got.” 

 “That’s why this is all going to work,” said Simon reassuringly “But seriously man… you’re scaring me.”

“I’m fine,” said Kai “I pieced it together from a fire spell and that torn page Bison gave Spider, it’s not real Death Magic…it’s…Homebrewed.” 

“The best spells usually are,” quipped Simon “So it sounded like Thompkins said Airborne…What do you think he meant by that?” 

“Who knows,” stated Kai “Maybe their launching something into the air from where the ship is at sea.” 

“Why would they need to do something like that?” asked Simon, but before Kai could phantom a guess Isabelle let an triumphant cry that called to their attention. 

“I got it!” Isabelle exclaimed jumping to her feet in excitement. She let her wings unfurl in full for the first time since the incident at the bridge, ready to fly at a moment’s notice. “There’s still a sheet over the frame but I think I can see Thompkins…He’s with the men who hurt Spider.” 

“So much for sneaking in,” said Calvin as the first one to reach her side.

“Cards at the ready guys, we don’t know what’s on the other side,” said Simon as he and Kai joined them.

The four thieves filed in around her lending their own focus to the black spider in hopes of activating the teleportation spell. What they got instead was a muffled view have shrouded in tan linen of what appeared to be some kind of storage area.  

“We still can’t get through!” shouted Colin in anger. 

“Stay calm guys and get ready, this is Thompkins we’re talking about, he’ll have that sheet off any minute,” said Simon as he shuffled through the deck of cards in his hand. 

“Any sign of Gabe?” asked Kai as the five of them stood waiting. 

“Loudmouth’s probably up at the bar getting drunk,” replied Calvin eagerly shuffling his deck of playing cards while he waited. “I swear if he’s—“ 

“Something’s happening!” Isabelle “I think they’re removing the sheet.” 

“Colin! Calvin!” began Simon is he took point in front of Isabelle “Doc was always pretty creative, what would he say at a time like this?”

“Doc?” puzzled Calvin for a second as he and his brother came up on either side of Isabelle leaving Kai at the rear of the formation “He was old school.” 

“Yeah,” agreed Colin “Probably something crass like…Let’s show these pompous pricks how we do things downtown!” 

Even Isabelle had to laugh at the their attempted rally cry. 

“Oh,” said Simon turning his attention back to the Spider painted in front of him, “Personally I kind of like the sound of that.”