Author: Erica Drayton Writes

EPISODE 6 of 12 – Sleight of Hand

An unexpected relation of Felix’s happens to overhear the plans being hatched by Charisma, Flossie, and Felix and injects himself into their scheme. With little hope of moving forward without him they tell him everything that’s happened and he tells Charisma something that will change her life forever.

TOLD FROM THE POV OF FLOSSIE

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They heard the gruff and gravely voice first but it was the distinct cigar smell that made Felix stiffen. He’d recognize it anywhere and felt his old age catching up to him that he didn’t look around before they sat down and starting talking. He knew whatever was about to happen would likely not go well but he steeled himself as best be could before turning around with a wide grin on his face to welcome his cousin, Orson Lyford.

Off all the Lyford magicians still alive, and currently out of work, Orson was the one who held a grudge against Felix the hardest. It wasn’t so much the shame but what happened to his favorite aunt shortly after. When she took her own life it shattered the Lyford family irreparably and Orson holds Felix personally responsible for Aunt Bea’s tragic death.

“Dear cousin,” Felix said, his eyes shocked by the state of his cousin who he hadn’t seen in over a decade. In truth, he likely wouldn’t even have recognized his cousin were it not for the combination of his voice and the cigar smell. It was a brand the men in his family smoked regularly. It was nice to see old habits didn’t go away, but that was all the nice he was going to get. “I didn’t see you there.”

Orson shoved out of his seat so he could get a better look at Felix. Each step he took was accompanied by a distinct stomp on the floor from a wooden cane he used on his right side to help with his right foot that was wrapped by metal bars on four sides.

Charisma looked down at his leg in horror. She’d only heard of such a contraption being used on a magician when he suffered an accident on stage a long time ago. But from what she remembered it required absolutely no movement until the fractured bones healed. Judging by the way Orson leaned on his cane to try and keep the weight off his injured one, she could tell it had been some time since he followed doctors orders and because of it he may never be without his cane.

“You needn’t worry yourself, lass. I barely feel the pain now. I’d have the blasted thing taken off if it weren’t gonna cost me ta have it done. Shift over, cousin. Can’t you see I’m crippled,” Orson said, waving for Felix to slide further into his booth. This did not make Felix feel safe at all as now he was trapped with no means of escape.

Orson shifted his leg closer to the table and using his can, lifted himself up enough to get into the seat beside Felix, leaving just enough room for his bad foot to stick straight out between Charisma and Flossie under the table.

“Not that we don’t want you two to reconcile whatever bad blood is clearly between you two, but we were kind of in the middle of something,” Flossie said, hoping Orson would get the hint. But as it was rather difficult for him to get from his booth to theirs, there was very little chance of his leaving so soon.

“I couldn’t help but overhear you say the word ‘Garrigill’ and naturally my ears perk up. Now, normally I’d inquire what two lovely lasses such as yourselves are doing hanging about with the likes of my dear cousin here,” Orson said, shoving an elbow into Felix’s side. Charisma and Flossie eyed their friend who seemed smaller somehow, sitting next to his cousin who though hunched over slightly, was broader in shoulders and it made him seem like a big man. “But, I remember what Felix was like as a boy. He always did have a way with charming the ladies. Good to see that hasn’t gone away. Speaking of ladies, how is—”

“Enough, Orson. What is it you want?”

“It’s not what I want, dear cousin. It’s what you need from me. You see, there’s only two ways I can think of to get inside Garrigill. One is if you’re a member, which you no longer are.”

“And the other way?” Flossie asked, her curiosity buzzing as her leg starting bouncing under the table. Charisma knew whenever Flossie did that it meant she was getting really excited.

“If you’re dead. All magicians, even the former ones,” Orson said, glancing in Felix’s direction, “are given the benefit of a proper service once they’ve passed. It’s the least we can do. And since you’re not dead…”

“No, I dare say I’m not. And while I want to get to the bottom of who that—” Felix started to say but stopped himself when he remembered they were in mixed company. “Let’s just say I’m not that committed to the cause that I’d die to get us inside.”

“Now see, that’s where I come in. It just so happens that I can get you in. For a small fee, of course.” Orson rubbed the thumb on his right hand across the other fingers. The universal symbol for money.

This was when it all came flooding back to Felix. What happened to cousin Orson is what happened to most of the Lyford family after most of them were laughed out of the business or forced to move far away, they drank and gambled. Orson was the best and worst offender. He always managed to keep his head just above water financially so that he never was off his rocker drunk in a ditch but never skint either. Felix guessed his money was obtained from foolish women who found Orson handsome when he was younger and quick with the smiles and tricks. But when the Lyford’s were no longer a household name, Orson disappeared same as Felix. 

“I’d rather not take you up on your offer, dear cousin. It stinks worse than a week old fish left out in the sun,” Felix said.

Charisma leaned forward in her seat and whispered to Orson. “How much?”

“Now, wait a minute—” Felix started but was interrupted by Orson who stared daggers directly at him before returning his gaze towards Charisma with a smile.

“The lass asked how much and I intend on answering her. See, I offer my services, not for the money. I can get money anywhere. I’m a man of means. No, it’s not money that I want. I’m in search of answers little lass. See, it wasn’t too long ago that Lyford’s were loved by everyone.” Felix rolled his eyes. This was a story he’d heard one too many times and not just from his cousin but other Lyford relations as well. “What I want is to get that back. I want back what was taken from me by him and something tells me whatever you three are cookin’ up will provide exactly what I’m looking for.”

Felix started to shake his head. “No, you’ve got this all wrong. We’re not on some redemption mission. I’m simply helping out my neighbors and that’s it. When it’s done I return to the comfort of my small life in my small apartment. Whatever you think this is, it’s not. I am truly sorry, Orson. I’ve said it so many times now I’m sure it stopped sounding sincere a long time ago. But what’s been done cannot be undone.”

His voice cracked under the pressure of his own words. He wished his apology could fix everything that became broken the moment he made his mistake. He wished he could go back in time and never perform on stage that day. He could’ve gotten sick and let someone else do the magic trick. But he can’t. He hated his cousin for being there and bringing it all back to the surface again.

“What do you say little lass? Give me a reason to do more than just drink,” Orson said. And for the first time his own ache showed in his eyes. They were big and round and hazel, staring, pleading, with Charisma and then over at Flossie.

“What do you know about the stranger everyone’s talking about?” Flossie blurted out before anyone could stop her.

Orson’s eyes widened then he furrowed his eyebrows, leaned back and spit on the floor. “That piece of crud. Yeah, I heard of him. Came into town not two nights ago. Stumbled into The Red Boot and started shouting about being chased. I couldn’t make heads nor tales about what he was on about. Then he bumped right into me and with his ranting and raving the bugger pulled out a deck of cards!” Orson paused for a moment to see their reactions. All of them remained silent. Orson smiled. He knew. “Blimey, I thought. If he’s found with that and I’m keeping company with him, we’d both be at the end of a rope come sunrise.”

“So what did you do? Send him down the street and as far away from you as possible,” Felix said sarcastically. He waited for Orson to contradict him but he didn’t. “That’s exactly what you did, isn’t it? You stupid man.”

“Oh, and what would you have done? Welcomed him with open arms? I don’t think so.”

“So, you saw the deck. He actually pulled it out and showed it to you?” Charisma asked. She could feel the bulge of the deck in her hidden pocket and suddenly it was cutting into her unlike any other time of the day. She wanted to take it out and let it breathe. Let herself breathe.

“I saw it, aye. But I made him put it away. He said he was going to use it to expose the king as a fraud. Whatever that means. I told him he was going to get himself killed if he didn’t stay quiet. Then I took him outside and he wandered off.” Felix shook his head in disbelief. “What? I did the man a favor.”

“No, you didn’t,” Felix said. “You sent the man to his death.”

“How do you know? As far as I heard the king is still looking for him.”

Felix looked over at Flossie who in turn looked over at Charisma. She looked at Orson and said, “He died on my doorstep yesterday. But not before giving me this.” Charisma pulled out the deck of cards and placed it in the middle of the table. “We’re trying to find out why he came to me, who killed him, and who he was. If you want to help us, we accept, but as Felix said, there is no guarantee any of the answers will help you.”

“Where’s the book?” Orson asked. He didn’t look at Felix but Felix knew he was talking to him. Orson turned his head towards Felix and stopped looked at the deck on the table momentarily to ask his question again. “Where is the book? I know you have it. Well all know you have it.”

“You mean the codex—” Flossie started. She stopped when Felix shot her a look to shut up.

“Now see, you wouldn’t know about the codex unless it was told to you specifically. So, you did steal it. I knew it. Well, if you’ve got the deck and you’ve got the codex then that’s it then. They’ve finally been brought together as it was foretold, what, several hundred years ago.”

“As it was foretold?” Charisma asked.

“They’re not magicians, Orson. You mustn’t—”

“Don’t you tell me what I mustn’t do, dear cousin. You created this mess, remember. The way it was explained to us growing us, the deck and the codex belonged to a man who came to Wondermere long before it was even called Wondermere. He performed his magic to anyone and everyone. Anyway, the way it ends is the king’s son, unable to perform even a simple card trick banished the man with his codex and his deck and no one ever heard or saw him again. They say he managed to escape, though no one knows exactly how, and when he did he took his deck and codex with him. He gave the deck to one person and the codex to another. As long as they were separate then I would make it harder for the king or any future kings to completely be rid of card magic which he hoped would make a triumphant return to popularity. Card magic was intended to unite us, not divide us. Didn’t he tell you all this?” Orson said, looked over at Felix. “No, I suppose he wouldn’t have. The codex was entrusted to the Lyford’s and we spent most of our existence trying to find the deck. Last we heard it was on the other side of the world and we would likely never see it again. But we always held out hope. And kept the codex safe. Until it was taken not shortly after Felix, here, ran away. I always knew he took it. His parent’s wouldn’t heard a negative thing against him. But I knew.”

“Well, we had the codex. But it was taken. That’s why we need to go to Garrigill. The person who took it says we need to go there and bring the deck with us,” Charisma said. Felix wanted to object to telling all this to Orson but he realized it wouldn’t do him much good to argue. His cousin, as much as it pained him to admit it, was right about the only two ways to get into Garrigill. That meant Felix couldn’t get them inside. But he wasn’t so sure Orson could either.

“I’m in. Before they put me in the ground it will be nice to witness history. The deck and the codex together. Though, are you prepared for what this all means, little lass?”

Charisma was confused. She looked over at Felix who shrugged his shoulders.

“Didn’t you bother reading the damn book you stole? What did you steal it for if not to read it?”

Felix couldn’t answer that. Not now. Not ever. At the time he stole it thinking he could use it as a way to get back in good graces with fellow magicians. But when more and more time went on he realized it would actually make them hate him more when they found out he was the one who stole it. First he embarrasses them, then he steals from them. It was better if he just disappeared and remained hidden for everyone’s sake.

Ever since then he couldn’t bring himself to read the book. All it did was remind him of the many mistakes he made over the years and how he could never set it right.

“Well, if you’d bothered to read even the first page you would know that it said, ‘whosoever holds the deck must be willing to perform the magic on the stage to set things right again.’ Which means, if he gave you that deck, you must be willing to use it…at the colosseum.”

Charisma picked up the deck and for the first time the weight of it was tremendous. It never felt heavier.

She looked over at Flossie who said, as best friends often do in moments like this when their words of wisdom are needed the most, “Well, damn.”