The King of Dreams

Chapter 9

Girving, the dragon, was approaching Abel's tomb, where Cain had laid him to rest. As soon as Abel spotted the newborn dragon, Abel dug himself out of the tomb. "Hello Girving, I mean Goldy," Abel greeted the dragon after sitting down. 

"For Cain's sake, I'll name you Goldy, but you'll always be Girving to me," Abel said to the dragon. 

Girving speaking to Abel in dragon language, Girving the dragon.  "He's not to blame; he can't help it."  Abel tries to explain to Girving why Cain keeps murdering and burying him every time he gets angry: "It's who he is, it's who we are." "First killer, first casualty. This is our story," he said.

"Do you even understand what a story is?" Girving was questioned by Abel." Should I tell you?" As he began his narrative, Abel grinned and adjusted his seat. "It's a secret story," he said.  "It's a story of two brothers who were good to one another and who loved one other very, very much. Nice and compassionate.  And...and brotherly, you know?" As he concluded his narrative, Abel became emotional. "And the older brother never once hurt the younger sibling." Additionally, "they did not reside in different homes."  Abel was overcome with sorrow as he recalled that they shared a home.

As Abel relates his tale, Girving pays close attention. "And they'd be....happy," Abel continued. 

Girving spoke to Abel in his language. 

"Honestly," Abel said, "I don't mind being killed.  What are brothers for if that is what makes Cain happy?  "Eh, little brother?" Abel enquired. The dragon was referred to as a younger brother by Abel. 

The dragon chatters with excitement as soon as it hears this.  Abel rose from the gorund and picked up the dragonling. Girving, on the other hand, felt afraid and insisted on staying behind while Abel and the dragon-headed out to welcome Cain.  

Girving was persuaded by Abel that Cain wouldn't harm Abel because Cain didn't use to slaughter him around lunchtime.

Back on the bridge, where the deep, calm river that travels between the realms is, standing Morpheus and Lucian. 

"Sire, may I ask where you are going?" Lucien asked 

With a determined tone, Morpheus said, "London." 

"Did you not just spend the last 100 years there?" In addition to speaking recklessly, Lucien also expressed anxiety. Morpheus became a little irate, but he calmed down after he saw she was worried. 

"Why London, I'm sorry."

"The sand was sold there." Morpheus was a little terrified, but he was also desperate to get his tools back. "When I get it back, I will look for my helm in hell."

Lucien glared at Morpheus and said, "Oh, dear." "Then, would you do me a favor before you leave?" Lucien asked if he may take a raven with him. 

Morpheus' voice was sorrowful, "No more ravens," he said. 

"For me, if not for you. Keep me updated, Ravens can fly across worlds," Lucien worried about Morpheus' journey.

Morpheus asserts that because he is Dream of Endless, he is not interested in hiring a minder.

 Lucien attempts to persuade Morpheus, "Yes, and Dream of Endless always has a raven." 

Morpheus turned to face the water and murmured, "Jessamy was the last."  He continued, moving toward the river, "If this Constantine is anything like her ancestor, she will serve me well enough, she is only human."

The River split open to create a way for Morpheus. 

 As she saw Morpheus disappear into thin air, Lucien said, "As was Magnus." To obstruct the way, the water splashed together. 

Corinthians flesh was fusing outside the Dream Palace. 

"Oh, nice, you've come back. And on schedule as well."  Lucien says, "Welcome, Corinthians. His Lordship will be pleased." 

When encountering Lucien, Corinthians said, "Where is Dream?" 

Lucien said, "He's away again, for the time being."

"Isn't he out there looking for his tools?" Corinthians enquired. 

Corinthians was told that Morpheus will return by Lucien.  He stood up and was about to take his leave. 

"Where are you going," Lucien asked. 

"Back to the waking world, " Corinthians responded. "To freedom,  you should try it sometimes," he added. 

"Dreams and Nightmares do not belong in the waking world" Lucien advised Corinthians. 

"Oh, turns out I fit right in," he claims. 

Lucien frowned at her face asking Corinthians if he had any loyalty to his creator.  Corinthians claims Morpheus has no loyalty to them. 

Lucien explained to him that Morpheus was going through some things but Corinthians believes Morpheus doesn't care about anyone but himself and his kingdom.

"I'm going away and never coming back." 

Lucien forewarned him, "He'll come after you." 

"Well, then, if he does, he won't be coming back either," Corinthians replied.

Corinthians told Lucien as he was about to vanish into the air, "You can't change him, you can't save him either," leaving Lucien furious and speechless. 

Johanna Constantine, a demon hunter in London, was informed about Morpheus' coming arrival by a message from her grandmother, a witch who has lived for 280 years. However, Constantine has never believed in anything related to The King of Dreams since she thinks it is a fairy tale.

Constantine noticed a man standing at the door as she walked into a catholic church. 

Morpheus called out "Constantine" in a deep voice to Constantine. 

She was startled and confused as she stared at the unusual face in front of her. She questioned, "Have we met?" 

Morpheus answered, "You and I have a business." 

"Get in line, bruv, can't keep God waiting" She entered the church and went in. 

Constantine yelled to a Nun, "Ric the Vic." 

"You are here! Thank God," chuckles the Nun. 

"But not as a favor." Constantine noticed the nun saying, "I'm getting paid or I'm going to bed."

"Of course, you are getting paid. This is strictly professional" Nun replied in a friendly voice "unless you, um, wanna get a drink after. "

"Tell me what is going on. Why have I been summoned?" Constantine requested as her voice echoed in the church. 

"The usual reason. I have a soul in need" Nun replied. 

"Who is she?"

The Nun tries to keep the identity of the girl in question secret but it is always important for all identities to be told. The Nun insists on increasing Constantine's payment just by leaving aside the name because the girl's family won't like it.

"If her family is anyway royal, the answer is no. I am done with that lot," Constantine informed the Nun. 

"The queen doesn't know she is here," the Nun whispered. 

With a smile on Constantine's face, she asked "Is it the princess?"

The Nun got concerned and desperate," She showed up about an hour ago demanding I marry them before the palace finds out, and the press."

"Why, who is she marrying?" Constantine asked

"Kevin Brody."

"Kevin Brody, the footballer?" Constantine was surprised. "He is rubbish," she continued.

"He's fit though," Nun added. 

"Just because a Goldsmiths-educated princess wants to marry some naff winger doesn't mean she needs an exorcist," Constantine said.

The Nun hushed, "It's not only that, just talk to her, and you'll see."

The only reason Constantine turned down the offer was that the princess may not be in need—if the report was false, the princess would be dead and Constantine would not be receiving any money. 

A distant voice could be heard saying, "Fuck off!"

"Jesus fuck, is that her?" asked Constantine. 

Nun asked with distaste, "Can you not smell the sulfur?"

When Constantine smiled at the Nun and said she would look at the princess, the Nun felt comforted and showed Constantine to her office. 

"You're going to need the Rituale Romanum," the Nun said, distributing a crimson book. Constantine informed the Nun that she could not simply enter and begin reciting Latine on the princess.

Constantine dressed as a nun in front of the princess and Kevin on the altar. 

"Do you, princess, take this…" The princess quickly said, "I do," interrupting Constantine's sentence. 

The footballer questioned the princess about her desire for the wedding to proceed despite not being a royal wedding.

The princess said, "I just want you." 

Then, Constantine asks the football player, "Do you Kevin, take..." The voice of the player interrupted Constantine while she was speaking. "Ow." After the princess gripped his palm, he moaned in pain and replied, "Yeah, yeah, I do."