The Brotherhood of The Black Rats

5.43 What Dreams May Come

The Magician waved between the waking world and The Dreaming, fighting to stay conscious as he was brought to his suite. It was a cozy room and the bed called to him as his eyelids continued to grow heavy and the image of Misty St. George blurred into the fanciful figure of an idol in The Dreaming. Gabriel was cursing himself and the weakness that had brought him into his current useless situation.   

“They should be getting started soon Mr. Roccarro,” said the girl leading to his bed. “If you relax, your mind will cross over in no time. 

“This isn’t what I wanted,” replied Gabriel through a heavy yawn as he struggled to keep his head upright. There was nothing for it, he was powerless in the presence of the Dragonfly because of the Dream Wine. “I don’t want to go to the auction.” 

“Why? Because there is nothing to steal in The Dreaming…” Misty said sharply.

 Gabriel opened his mouth to take offense over the acquisition but couldn’t bring himself to mutter the words that would keep his cover intact. 

“You got me at The House of The Gilded Crane,” admitted Misty to him then “We were never close you and I, but Kai also talked about what a master of disguise you were.” 

“Thompkins is the real master,” said Gabriel unable to keep his mind clear. 

“The Troll right?” said Misty “I take it he’s your associate…Del Toro? Don’t worry you’ll see him soon.”

Gabriel said nothing as The Dreaming swirled around him. 

“Are there more of you?” she asked as her figure in The Waking World started to fade. 

“You don’t understand,” was all the magician managed to say. 

“What about Kai and Simon?” asked Misty little more than a shade in front of him now “Are they here somewhere?” 

“Yes…” Gabriel confessed winching as though he were aware of his betrayal to the others.

“Where?” asked Misty then. “If I find them before they do something stupid you all might make it out of here alive this evening.”  

Gabriel could do little more than mumble in his sleep as his mind fully crossed over into the Dream World leaving Misty St. George behind in the suite watching over him closely “Simon’s planning something stupid…” he managed to utter as Misty leaning in close to listen. “But I think Kai just wants to impress his date.” 

The young Witch rose as the last of The magician’s conciseness faded into the realm of Dreams leaving only his slumbering body on the bed in front of her. “Enjoy the auction Gabriel,” she said fuming as she turned towards the door “The Grey Guard will be waiting to meet you when it’s all over.”   

Once in the hall she brought her hand to her ear adjusting the radio to the private channel her team was using to communicate. She spoke rapidly as she moved through the corridor. 

“All available, Dragonflies converge on the casino level. Initiate Protocol: Rat Catcher,” she stated all emotion devoid from her voice “I repeat. Initiate Protocol: Rat Catcher.”