“Yeah, well that just proves you can’t believe anything you read on the internet,” I said.
“Have you eaten?” my grandmother asked. She sat in a chair next to my grandfather and I looked across to where she pointed and saw that she had laid a tablecloth over the bedside table. On it was a pot of tea and a plate of delicious looking biscuits.
I walked over and took one, stuffing it into my mouth. Even though I’d had something for breakfast I’d need all the energy I could take, to get through the nerves that had started to build in my stomach.
“Doesn’t look like regular hospital food, Mrs Tinks,” said Lacey.
“Of course not, have you seen that mush?” She clucked her tongue and shook her head.
“Where did you get this then?” I asked, taking another biscuit.
“A little kind word to the nurses and they let me into the kitchen.”
“You baked? In a hospital kitchen?”
“I made enough for everyone.”
I could just imagine my grandmother staying up all night baking. I hoped she got some sleep at least.
I took my grandfather’s hand. “I did it. I got through the blades.”
He frowned. “You shouldn’t do it. Look what happened to me, it’s not safe.”
“Nonsense Thom,” said my grandmother. “She’s young and spry. If she says she can do it, then she can.”
I beamed. “I really can. And I’m not using the blindfold. For safety.”
“It’ll be on TV on Wednesday,” said Lacey. “You should see the ads they are running on TV and social media. It’s huge. Everyone’s talking about it.”
“They are?”
She rolled her eyes and picked up her phone, keying in something before handing it to me.
I tentatively took the phone. It was a video clip promoting the show, complete with booming suspenseful music and lots of flashing. The announcer’s voice rumbled over the images, and then the moment my grandfather’s foot got caught. A scream and blackness. The announcer’s voice said that I was next. Would I make it through?
I looked up at Lacey.
“Oh my god. It’s...it’s so over the top, so dramatic.”
She looked nervous.
“It’s brilliant,” I said.
“I know. It really is.”
Lacey came with me to the theatre. I wanted her there for moral support, and besides, she insisted, I couldn’t have said no if I tried. She’d been to plenty of our shows so none of the preparations would faze her. Plus she was excellent at hair and makeup.
My nerves had returned. As I walked into the theatre, I glanced down at the stage area. It looked so different from last night, with new sets, new lights. The fan had been moved to centre stage although pushed back. I swallowed the lump that was stuck in my throat as I looked for the dark scruffy hair, the brilliant blue eyes. Jason wasn’t here. Not yet.
The television executive was at the bottom of the seating area near the pit, ordering two young men to do something with the cords that reached from the cameras and across the floor. What was her name again? I always forgot. She looked up and lifted one finger to acknowledge me before looking down at a sheet of paper on a clipboard.
Her navy suit was neatly pressed and stiff. So stiff it didn’t move as she headed toward me. “Audience will be seated in one hour. Can you go on second? I’d like to start with Jason and then build up to you.”
“Um, sure.”
She glanced at Lacey looking her up and down, sizing her to be non-important and then turned back to me. “Also, we are going to dim the lights when you go through the blade thing. Will that be a problem?”
“I need to see where I’m stepping and how they spin.”
She waved her hand in the air. “Yeah, yeah, there’ll be enough light.” She looked down at her clipboard and then back at us, surprised that I was still in front of her. “You can go and get ready now. Go on, off you go.”
“Um, can I ask you something about the show?”
She frowned. “We are not changing anything.”
“No. It’s about Jason.”
She rolled her eyes. “He’s in the show, we aren’t changing that, we’ve been over this. He’s a hot hook for the younger demographic, both male and female.”
“Oh no, that’s not what I meant. I mean, he’s given up a lot to do this. Is there something else we can do for him. For his career? Maybe you could use his name, instead of mine?”
“What are you saying? You don’t want to headline anymore?”
“This was never my show, it was my grandfathers. You said yourself that Jason was the only reason the show’s even on. You should make him the headliner.”
A flicker of a smile twitched the side of her lips. “You’ll agree to this?”
“I need the money. But I don’t need to be the star. Not anymore.”
“Well, alright then.” She opened her phone and dialed a number. “You still need to get ready,” she said before she began talking to whoever she had called. Her whole demeanor changed, and she looked almost happy as she spoke.
I grabbed Lacey’s arm and we walked down through the seating area, onto the stage and then toward the dressing room.
“Where is he?”
The murmur of the crowd in the audience got louder as the minute hand on the clock in my dressing room ticked another notch. I looked into the mirror at my makeup, heavier than I would do, it made me look different, not myself.
“He’ll be here,” said Lacey. She was engrossed in a game on her phone.
“What if he isn’t? He should be here by now.”
“Well if he isn’t, then you get the glory. Just add a few more card tricks or something.”
I glared at her, which made no difference at all since she wasn’t looking at me, but rather the screen in front of her.
“Yes! Take that zombie.” She fist-pumped the air.
“A little focus?”
She rolled her eyes at me and put down the phone. “He’s going to be here, alright? Chill. You’re making me nervous.”
“Right. Like you have anything to be nervous about.”
“You’ve done these shows hundreds of times. You’ve got this.”
“But. But not just me. I’ve never done a show alone. I couldn’t do it alone.”
“Sure you could,” said Jason. He appeared at the doorway with a chocolate bar and a small gift box. The box was small, but thankfully not small enough to hold a ring. I might be keen on him, but that was taking things a bit too far.
Lacey waved her hand at him. “See. Told you.”
I held the box turning it over in my hand. “You bought me a gift?”
“And chocolate. For the nerves.” He held up the chocolate bar that looked a little smushed.
“I’m not nervous,” I lied.
“Well,” said Lacey. “Are you going to open it? Because if you don’t, I will.”
I shook it and heard something rattle inside. The gold bow undid easily and I hesitated before lifting the lid.
When I was ready I opened it and stared down at the small flat stone inside. It was the thickness of a penny, and about as big. I picked it up feeling it’s smoothness between my fingers. “A rock?”
Lacey burst out laughing. “He got you a rock! Ahh, every girl’s dream. I’m going to tweet that.” She picked up her phone chuckling to herself.
“It’s lovely.” I couldn’t think what else to say.
He grinned. “Put it in your shoe, it’s lucky. Every time you take a step, you’ll feel it. It’ll give you the confidence you need to make the performance perfect.”
“So you think I need help to do a good performance?”
“That’s not what I said.”
Lacey rolled her eyes. “You two are pathetic.” She got up and walked to the door. “You’re on in fifteen minutes, don’t mess up your hair by doing anything, well anything.”
I shot daggers at her. She laughed and disappeared.
“Thank
s,” I said, turning the rock over in my hand. I looked up, “I didn’t get you anything.”
He grinned. “I’m fine with that. Anyway, it really will help, try it.”
“Okay.” I was skeptical.
“Ten minutes to show time,” yelled someone outside.
“I’ve got to get changed,” he said.
“Of course. Go on. You’re up first anyway, so go get ready. I’ll see you on stage then?”
“Not if I see you first.”
He shut the door behind him and I looked back down at the rock wondering what to do with it. Could a rock in a shoe, really be lucky? I hadn’t heard anything like that before. Or maybe I had, but that was something to do with a penny. I had my doubts that this would do anything, but it couldn’t hurt. I slipped off my heel and placed it inside.
Maybe it could hurt after all. I took a step feeling it dig into the ball of my foot. Thank goodness it was smooth otherwise I’d be limping through the whole show. What a great look that would be. Right now though, it was merely annoying. Jason had better be right about this. The last thing I wanted to do was to look like a fool.
One more look in the mirror to check everything was in place, and I walked outside ready for Showtime.
TWENTY ONE
The stage lights blinded me from seeing the audience. Usually this was a good thing, especially with the shows where I was tired or out of sorts and didn’t need any judgmental faces frowning at the act. Now it was just me, I wanted to see reactions so I could tell if I was doing well or not.
I remembered every move and hand wave that my grandfather did. I had seen it often enough. But I couldn’t see whether it was impressing them or not. Everyone was a shadow, a silhouette. If I didn’t hear the occasional cough or murmur they could have been cardboard cutouts.
When Jason was on stage, I heard them laugh, clap. Someone yelled out something encouraging and he talked back, interacting with the crowd like he did so well. That was not happening with my part.
A trickle of sweat ran down my back. Maybe they were too mesmerized to say anything.
I showed them a jug of water on the table, even taking a moment to drink some to prove it was real water. I covered it with a scarf and in one motion, flicked the scarf upwards making it look like the water disappeared into thin air leaving an empty jug.
I waited for a reaction. Perhaps an ooh or ahh? Nothing. One lone clap, slow and bored came from near the back.
I swallowed back any thoughts of running off stage and crumpling into a ball. This was nothing. I hadn’t finished yet anyway. I couldn’t run off, this was showbiz. I owed it to my grandfather to get through this.
I glanced sideways to Lacey who was waving her hands at me to continue. I had never been this nervous before, but then again, I’d never been the lead before either. There is a reason that women didn’t lead in magic shows, and I’d just figured out why.
Focus. That’s what I needed.
I smiled as if it was the most normal thing in the world that I was up on stage doing the act that Thomas should be doing. But this didn’t feel right. This felt like I was being someone I wasn’t.
I waved my hand in the air for a second time, then poured the water from the scarf (with the plastic bag hidden inside), onto a fake potted plant that I had placed on the table earlier. Immediately a flower emerged from the soil.
Applause. Finally.
I let out a deep breath of relief. I curtsied, trying to keep my composure and soak up the satisfied crowd, all the while searching the faces so I could pretend I was entertaining just them. It was easier that way.
One more trick and this session was up.
I picked up the metal rings, clanging them together and performing some of the simpler tricks with them. A few halfhearted claps came from the front row, but this time I wasn’t giving up. If Jason could make the audience laugh, then perhaps I needed to add some humor in as well. I pretended to make a mistake and get myself tangled up in the rings. Was that a giggle? I played on this more, making each move as entertaining and humorous as I could. Someone chuckled. It was working.
Maybe this was why Jason did the acts the way he did. Humor worked well with this crowd. Possibly with most crowds. The reaction spurred me to improvise with a few more tricks. I dropped the cards on the ground and pretended to slip on them. More laughter, and as an added benefit at least I could limp legitimately now with the damn pebble in my shoe.
Playing to the audience, I finished my last trick flawlessly.
They clapped enthusiastically as I finished and I could feel my chest swelling with excitement. I curtsied again, and floated off stage feeling better than before I’d started. A small niggling thought couldn’t shift however. Did I really have to resort to being a clown to be a success on my own?
It was Jason’s turn next. I hadn’t seen him much yet, he was too busy with his act. I wanted so badly to have him on stage with me. Things would be much better with him by my side. It was the sword stunt next and I’d barely see him stuck in the box. And of course there was no way I’d be able to do the last trick without him.
I looked around for him, but he was nowhere in sight. Probably behind stage with his participants.
I stumbled as a shooting pain went up the back of my thigh. This pebble wasn’t proving to be that lucky. It hurt more than I thought it would. I took off my shoe and picked it up. It was warm and smooth. With no pockets to hold it, I placed it down my cleavage, pushing it down to make sure it couldn’t be seen. It’d be safe there and I wouldn’t have to limp. That was sure to make it even luckier.
I took the moment to focus on my last trick, the one that everyone had paid good money to see. They’d lighted the fan with thin column like spotlights that made it look much more ominous that it was.
Was I really ready to step through?
Jason’s last session started. He led his hypnotized audience members back on stage in a conga line. The man on the end was tall and had to bend down to hold the woman’s waist in front of him making it even more amusing. Jason saw me watching from side stage and winked at me before returning his attention back to the audience and his participants. He was so masterful on stage. Just looking at him command the audience made me want to give up what I was doing, knowing I’d never be as good as him.
He made the three women in his group stand up and told them they were from animal control. The four men he had convinced they were strange animals. One was a three headed zebra, another a tiny mouse that could fly if it twirled its tail. The audience was in fits of hysterics.
“He’s good,” whispered Lacey who had sidled up beside me.
“I know. Thank god for his show, otherwise this whole thing would bomb. I was wrong to think I’d make a good magician.”
“Nonsense,” said Lacey. “This is the first time you’ve ever performed as headline. You know the tricks well, but being up there alone, that’s scary. I heard them laugh. You’re doing better than you think.”
“I hope so, because this is all I know.”
She put her arm around me, laughing at one of the participants who was spinning on the ground on his back like an insect who had just been sprayed. “Jason performs a different show, that’s all. Don’t think so hard about what you are doing. Just go out there and be yourself.”
“They only liked my act when I tried to be funny.”
She punched me playfully on the arm. “Stop fishing for compliments, because you know I already think your brilliant at this. Besides, you’ve still never tried to be yourself on stage. You’ve been Thomas, and then Jason. Most people haven’t seen the real Scarlett Tinks. Let your guard down.”
“I guess,” I said.
I looked back at Jason who was finishing his act. He was bringing each person out with a one, two, three, snap of his fingers. The control he had over them was mesmerizing, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I wanted to perform like him, the way he moved, and the way he spoke. It was all him. The real him.
; Lacey was right. The reason he was so popular wasn’t because he mixed humor with stage hypnosis, but because he did the act his way. That made him confident, strong. No wonder he was such a hot act right now - he totally deserved to be.
The music roared and the lights rose. He bowed to the crowd and they cheered for him. The clapping went on for several minutes longer than necessary. They’d gotten their monies worth and the final act hadn’t even happened yet.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on calming my breathing. I only had to step through. Just one step and the show would be over. If I didn’t chop my leg off first.
The music began to quiet and the audience hushed. It was time.
The announcer’s voice boomed through the theatre. “It stopped one person crushing his bones to dust.” I cringed. “And tonight, you’ll see firsthand, whether the lovely, the enigmatic, the beautiful, Scarlett Tinks, will make it out alive.”
Jason came up beside me, slipping his hand into mine. He gave it a quick squeeze.
“Will Scarlett be able to defeat…” the announcer’s voice lowered “… the Blades…Of…DESTRUCTION!” A thumping drumbeat completed his sinister tone.
“Are you ready?” whispered Jason.
“Not at all.”
“You can still back out if you want. You don’t have to do this.”
I looked at the fan. It was statue still, waiting for us to fire it up and then for me to step through. Thomas had been defeated, and he was the master, having far more practice than I had. “I wish I had more time.”
The audience began to chant my name. ‘Scarlett, Scarlett.’
“Breathe,” he said. He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me directly in the eye. “Do you have the pebble?”
“Yes, in my bra.”
He raised an eyebrow, looking down my costume to see if he could see it.
“Okay, good,” he said. “Think about that. It’s lucky remember. Think about it as you step up and shut out everything else. It doesn’t exist anymore. Just you and the fan. You can do this, because you already have. I know you can. You’re a star, Scarlett. You’ll make it through if you believe you can, and since you have the lucky stone, you can’t go wrong.”
Trance Page 16
