0300 hours


He woke to the sound of rain, a great and heavy din that crowded out the rumbling of distant thunder.

Virgil opened his eyes. Gold leaf stars adorned the dark ceiling. His room had changed over the years and these days his bed frame was a rather low one, close the floor. Potted plants and herbs still hung from hooks by the wide windows overlooking Diagon. He felt alert, as if sleep hadn't touched him at all.

The sound of rain was gone. Had he been dreaming of rain? Virgil kicked off his woolen blanket, sitting up as he gestured for the curtains to draw open.

Outside, the alley was dry as a bone. He rubbed his face tiredly. His dreams had been restless and incoherent things since leaving Natalie[1] in Cheapstowe. Nothing felt right, especially in the quiet moments.

He swung his legs to the floor and got up. A desk lamp glowed to life.

There was much more clutter in here than there used to be. The shelf behind his bed was brimming with books. Across from the bed was a wide space for his work and the large trunk that served as a dressing table.

Dante, unperturbed, was curled up on his desk chair. Her mismatched eyes followed him as he left the room and then returned with a joint, pilfered from the kitchen.

Virgil sifted through some papers on his desk as he smoked. He was in his boxers, cold, but cold was good. Cold made him feel alive.

One-handed, joint dangling from a corner of his mouth, he crumpled up drafts[2] of the letter to Kreeva and the testimony he sent. V had owled his parents for Raf's details. It was a long shot but Raf pulled through, keen for Cheapstowe (or Craeky Hob, as he called it) to stay out of public awareness. Secrets, secret, secrets.

The Unspeakable tossed the drafts into a copper burning bowl and set them ablaze with a bit of wandless.

Flames ate into ink and paper. Virgil stared into the fire and touched the tattoo behind his right ear - a glittering silver star, twin to Nemo's. What would he do? What would he do if they didn't let her out?

He frowned a little at the answers that came to him.

1.	13th April - Tongue-tied, We Are Bound
2.	17th April - Dye a Thistle Thread