He also provides Dresden with Kravos's journals, which Stallings stole from the police evidence locker. Stallings, Murphy's partner, sees Dresden and tells him that though it is past dawn, Murphy has not awakened. Dresden tries to get medical care for his own wounds and learns that Lea healed his exterior injuries, leading the doctor on duty to scorn the idea that he could need medical care. She aids him in return for his pledge of service, but after he drives the Nightmare away and rescues Charity he tries to use Michael's sacred sword, Amoracchius, to break his pledge to the Leanansidhe, an act of treachery allowing her to seize the sword for herself.Ĭharity, injured and in labor, is brought to Cook County Hospital. He then goes to Michael's house to warn him, but Michael's nine-months-pregnant wife Charity has gone to a 24-hour convenience store and, while there, met the Nightmare disguised as Harry.ĭresden (followed closely by Michael) tracks down the Nightmare to Graceland Cemetery, but is losing his struggle with it when the Leanansidhe appears again. Dresden tries to help by putting Murphy into a dreamless sleep that he says will last until dawn. In Harry's guise, the Nightmare puts Murphy in a nightmare-filled coma. He tries to warn police lieutenant Karrin Murphy and discovers that she believes he's already in her office. Harry realizes that the Nightmare will attack his friends and allies. When Dresden awakens, he discovers that the Nightmare's dream attack was both real and powerful, draining Harry of much of his magic. The dream ends up diverging from reality in the dream, a demon summoned by Kravos kills Michael and eats Dresden alive.
He has a flashback dream in which he recalls events three or four months prior, when Special Investigations, Michael, and he went to capture Leonid Kravos, a sorcerer, cult leader and serial killer.
He manages to injure Kelly by pulling down the roof of a warehouse, and is sent into a narcotic slumber. While trying to rescue a young seer, Lydia, Harry is attacked by two Red Court vampires (Kyle and Kelly Hamilton). He refuses to allow Susan to accompany him. Harry is bailed out by his girlfriend Susan Rodriguez, then receives an official invitation to represent the White Council at a Red Court vampire party. Dresden and Michael Carpenter, a Knight of the Cross, try to track down a bewildered but dangerous ghost in Cook County Hospital, are nearly ensnared by Dresden's faerie godmother the Leanansidhe, then arrested by the Chicago police.