A Knock at the Door – Felix

EPISODE 2 of 12 – Sleight of Hand

A dead body on her living room floor isn’t Charisma’s only problem. Felix, her much older next door neighbor decides to pay a visit when he thinks he recognizes the man on the doorstep. The retired magician does know the man and what must be done with the item given to Charisma. His chance for redemption within the magician community.

TOLD FROM THE POV OF FELIX

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Charisma sat up in her chair, a look of fright on her face. Flossie, ever the devoted friend, carefully lifted the rectangular box from the table and put it in the hidden pocket of her pants. Although women had been allowed to wear trousers they were not provided the benefit of traditional pockets. This was intentional, to dissuade them from putting their hands inside of them as a sign of posturing, which ladies ought never do. But they needed pockets, surely. 

Whatever they needed, Miss. Pomroy was quick to provide. Without the knowledge of any men, nor the textile company that manufactured the trousers, Miss. Pomroy took them and fastened them with pockets unnoticeable to anyone besides the wearer. The pockets weren’t very big but the perfect size for whatever they may need to hide.

The knock came again, this time a loud banging. Flossie crept to the window beside the front door and pulled the curtain back slowly.

“Ahh!” She screamed, and letting go of the curtain, backed away from the window.

“Well, who is it?” Charisma asked in a whispered tone. She went to the window and peeked out herself. She sighed with relief when she realized it was their next door neighbor. “It’s only Felix,” she said, “should we let him in?”

They both looked over at the dead man then back at each other. They had to tell someone what happened and hope that a cooler head would know how best to handle the situation. Without saying a word they nodded in unison and agreement before Charisma opened the front door.

Felix stormed passed her, a faint smell of cherry that Charisma recognized as what her father fills his pipe with just before bed, followed him inside. She couldn’t believe what he was wearing and her eyes were like saucers staring at the sight of him in a long over coat, pajama pants, and slippers. 

He saw the body lying on the floor, devoid of life and turned back to the girls, his hands on his hips. “Fine mess of trouble you’ve found yourselves in.” He looked at Charisma who gripped the open door to steady her wavering nerves. “Don’t just stand there with the bloody door open for all the world to see,” he said and quickly pried the door from her hand to shut it. She stumbled slightly. Flossie rushed to her aid and helped her back to her seat at the table.

Felix walked over to the man and kicked him with a slippered foot, that nearly came off, to make sure he was truly dead.

“You recognize him, don’t you?” Flossie asked, standing beside him.

“I knew of him, yes. You might say I expected him, actually. Just not in such a state as this. And not at your door.”

“Dead, you mean. You didn’t expect him to be so dead. And in my home now. What will my father say? What shall we do, Felix?” Charisma was slowly starting to unravel as her mind caught up with what was happening.

“Steady on, young lady. No use flying off the handle just yet. There is work to be done. Now, did he say anything or give you anything…perhaps…that might help us understand what brought him here?”

Flossie furrowed her eyebrows. “What makes you ask that? How do you know if he gave us anything? Who exactly is he, Felix?”

Felix took a seat at the table and pulled his nightcap, that matched his pants, off his head, revealing just a few wisps of hair on top and snow white hair around his ears, neatly combed back into a ponytail. “I suspect he is the man in possession of the First Deck.” Both girls inhaled simultaneously when he spoke those words. “That’s him, isn’t it? And he gave you the deck? Where is it? Hand it over.”

“How can we be sure what you’re saying is true? How can we trust your word that whatever we tell you won’t be blabbed to the nearest king’s guardsman?” Flossie asked, apprehensive. To even be heard uttering the words First Deck could lead to immediate imprisonment or worse.

“Fliss, let’s hear him out before we make false accusations. He’s here to help. You are here to help us, aren’t you Felix? My father never had a cross word about you. Which is more than he could say…” Charisma’s eyes were sad and tired. More than a hard days work weighed on her mind and Felix knew it. He didn’t have to be such a nosey neighbor to overhear the arguments between a father and his rebellious daughter who seemed to be exhibiting more and more signs that she was just like the mother she never knew. 

“Of course. No need to question where my loyalties lie. Definitely not at the feet of the crown, I assure you. There’s a reason the Conroy’s have precious little friends and money. If not for their hold on the colosseum they would be as irrelevant as I am.” Felix leaned forward and squeezed her hand for reassurance. “You ladies have no idea who I am, do you?” They both shook their heads. “Your father knows. He’s a good man,” Felix said, looking at Charisma he gave her a reassuring wink, then turned his gaze away towards the fire. “You’ve heard of The Great Carnelian?”

He looked back at Charisma who shrugged her shoulders but Flossie knew all about The Great Carnelian. It was evident by  the look of disgust on her face. It was a look Felix had to deal with wherever he went for years until he learned how to perform his greatest magic act of them all; hiding.

“Why mention that name in this house? Especially after praising her father. If you know he is such a good man then you know the name of Carnelian should never be spoken of here. Are you saying that’s him?” She looked over at the dead man.

Felix squeezed his nightcap in his hand, holding back the glistening of tears in his eyes.

“Carnelian? Wait, why does that name sound familiar to me?” Charisma asked.

“Because it’s the name every magician vows never to become—” Felix started, but was interrupted by Flossie who could not stop herself from sharing her truest feelings about the Great Carnelian.

“He was a shameful excuse of a magician. Last I heard, he fled. Couldn’t stay here and atone for his crimes against magicianary everywhere,” Flossie said, seething.

“And what crimes were those, exactly?” Felix retorted, becoming more and more defensive. He took a deep breath to calm himself before continuing. “I apologize, miss. I’m sure it’s just the shock of the man, you see.”

“Still doesn’t explain why would he come here? I thought the Great Carnelian would be long dead by now or at least as far away from Wondermere as possible. If the rumors are to be believed.”

“Will someone explain who this Carnelian character is and why he should show up to die on my doorstep?”

Felix put his nightcap back on his bare head as the fire had died down since he arrived. “That doesn’t matter now. What does matter is what we’re going to do with him.”

“Well, he can’t stay here! My father will be home by the morning,” Charisma said.

“There is only one thing to do. We’ll have to take him to Ten Pence Alley. It could be days before anyone notices him there,” Felix suggests, rising to his feet.

“And how exactly do you propose we take a dead man all the way to Ten Pence? Should we all skip there holding hands?” Flossie asked with a chuckle.

“I’m stronger than I look and you look like you’ve hoisted a large crate or two in your profession. Surely—”

“Excuse me!” Flossie said, cutting off his insult. “Are you calling me—”

“Strong? Capable? Yes. I am. If we each take a side I think we can manage walking him to his final resting place.”

“I think you’re both mad. At this time of night it will never work. The king’s guardsmen are known for walking in the night. My father warns me to stay inside and away from the windows for that very reason. We would stand out. It’s far too dangerous. We’ll never make it,” Charisma argues.

“Well, if you two have a better idea I’d love to hear it?”

“How about we hide him at your place?” Flossie asked. “I mean, since you’re so keen to help us. Besides, if the king finds him it can only double the guardsmen. Better that we hide him.”

“Fine, as long as we’re agreed it’s just a temporary solution at least till we come up with a better means of transport. I’m not too keen on living with a corpse during my own declining years. And don’t think I won’t still require your assistance to get him next door,” Felix said, grabbing the dead man by one side. 

“Get a load of him. A second ago he’s as young and spritely as you and I, now he’s some old git.” Flossie got to the opposite side and together they managed to hoist him to his feet, just barely, before he began to slip.

“I apologize for my friend, Felix. I don’t think you two have ever properly met, have you? She can be a bit…” Charisma started, struggling to find the right word to describe her childhood friend.

“Witty? Charming? Intelligent? I’m sure those are the words that seem to be so difficult for you to come by, dear friend,” Flossie replied through grunts and groans as she and Felix made their way to the door.

Charisma opened the front door for them and followed close behind while they awkwardly made their way next door to Felix’s flat. “I could’ve sworn you lived closer than this,” Flossie grunted, trying to make light of their current situation. Her knees began to buckle under the dead man’s weight.

“Saints above. Someone’s coming,” Charisma managed to squeak out. A few yards away were two gentlemen, arguing about something that couldn’t quite be made out, walking towards them at a fairly fast pace. As they got closer they barely glanced in the direction of Flossie and Felix, let alone the dead man they were holding up.

One of the gentlemen tipped his hat while the other smiled and said, “Evening ladies. Do you require some assistance?” More as a sign of politeness than actually wanting to help. They could tell exactly what was happening. A drunk member of the family had been out on a bender and the poor women had to be left to carry him home. In a way they both felt sorry for the poor sod and the wallop he was sure to receive when he sobered up in the morning.

“Not at all. Thank you, gentleman. We can manage,” Charisma said, stepping directly in front of them so they couldn’t see what was going on. “I’m afraid my— uncle?— Yes. My uncle has had far too much too drink. Out celebrating I suspect. Just like uncle…uncle Henry to find any reason to celebrate. I think he’s embarrassed us enough for one night.”

“Of course, miss,” the gentleman said with the smile and the two continued on their way, picking up right where they left off in their argument.

“That was a close one,” Charisma said, rubbing her hands together to steady their shaking.

“The door,” Felix grunted. “It should be unlocked.” Charisma hurried in front of them and flung it open, stepping aside long enough to let the trio in before shutting it behind her. 

Both Flossie and Felix tripped over the man in the middle and stumbled forwards, letting him fall to the floor in order to save themselves from doing the same.

“Now what?” Flossie asked, stretching her arms in the air and leaning from side to side in order to exercise the muscles she just used.

“Help me at least get him over to the sofa. We can’t just leave him lying there forever.”

Charisma held her hand up to silence them as she put her ear close to the front door. “Do you hear that?”

Felix stepped carefully over the corpse on the floor to reach his window and peer through the curtains. It didn’t take him long to know exactly what it was Charisma heard. He backed away from the window slowly.

“It’s the king’s guardsmen. They’re pounding on your door.”

“Bollocks,” Flossie said, taking a look for herself. She joined Felix in backing away from the window. “It looks like they just let themselves into your flat. They’ll be going upstairs to mine next.”

“We must act quickly. Both of you take a leg and follow me,” Felix said, turning the dead man onto his back to make it easier to lift him once more.

“You want me to help?” Charisma asked. The idea of touching a corpse turned her stomach.

“This is your mess, not mine. I could just as easily tell them I found him dead in your flat,” Felix argued.

“And he got here how exactly?” Flossie asked, coming to her best friends aid.

“We don’t have time for this. We’ll all have a date with the hangman’s noose if you don’t help me to hide him. Now, are you going to grab a leg or are we going to take our chances that the king is feeling gracious and understanding this evening?”

Charisma took a deep breath and said, “Fine, let’s get this over with.” She bent down and grabbed a hold of one leg while Flossie did the same on his other leg. Felix grabbed him from under his armpits and together they managed to lift him.

Felix led them into his bedroom just as a pounding sound could be heard at his front door.

“Open this door at once. The king’s guardsmen must search your premises immediately.”