Read Deadly Magic for Free Online

said icily. “I’m going to get into place.”
    “ You have plenty of time. The second intermission just started. I need—”
    “ It’s getting awfully crowded here, Ilya. I don’t want to be seen. I told you, I want Franklin to be surprised.”
    “ Stay in here. No one will see you back here.”
    “ I want to check the supports.”
    “ I thought you already did that.”
    “I want to check them again.”
    “Tabitha can—”
    “ Tabitha is a silly, irresponsible, nitwit, who can barely tie her own shoes.” She tilted her head to the side as she looked at him thoughtfully. “Why don’t you want me to check the supports?”
    “ Why are you acting like this?” he hissed. Realizing Grace and Belle were still standing behind them, he lowered his voice and moved to the side. “I’m not trying to stop you, Lily. I just want five minutes of your time.”
    “ Later. After the show.” Her voice softened as she reached up to pat his face. “I have a few things I want to say to you, too.” Lily turned the doorknob and walked out into the hallway.
    There w ere a few seconds of awkward silence before Belle stepped in front of Grace and motioned her to follow. Nodding, Grace walked through the door. As she did, she noticed a man in a black cape quickly step into another dressing room. His arm wrapped around the waist of a pretty magician’s assistant. She was just about to say something when she caught a glimpse of his profile as he silently shut the door. Daniel Burns.
     

 
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
    Ignoring the dirty looks she was receiving from her coworkers, Grace carefully made her way down the aisle toward her seat. She was relieved to see Ethan back in place at his seat. He threw her a confused glance as she sat down. Taking off her hat and placing it into her lap, she smiled and mouthed “sorry” to him. Disappointed that he didn’t return her smile, she turned around and looked for Valerie. She found her seated a row away to the right, sitting next to Straker, rhythmically nodding her head at whatever Straker was whispering into her ear.
    Poor Val.
    She noticed, somewhat irritated, that Louisa was sitting next to her father, sound asleep.
    She glanced back at Ethan. Leaning over, she quietly asked what she had missed.
    “ Not much. A few levitation tricks, some comedian, a couple of card tricks. You know the usual.”
    “ Dragovich hasn’t performed yet, has he?”
    “ Um, yeah, he’s pretty amazing, actually. Too bad you missed it. The best part was when he hypnotized . . .” Ethan leaned his head forward and nodded to the right, “that guy dressed as a weird looking . . .,” his eyebrows drew down in thought, “raisin type of thing.”
    Grace look ed down the end of the aisle. “Allen?”
    Ethan grinned. “Dragovich put him under. It was pretty funny. Had him hopping around the stage, saying the most ridiculous things. I wish I knew how to hypnotize people. He did it quickly, too. One second he was saying he couldn’t be hypnotized and the next he was completely under Dragovich’s control. It was amazing.”
    “ Oh, I wish I had been here to see that.” Grace looked around the audience wondering if anyone was videotaping the show. She’d pay anything to get a copy of Allen hopping around the stage.
    She looked up toward the ceiling, as a white mist appeared over the audiences’ heads and floated toward the stage. She watched mystified as the mist formed into the shape of a man and began walking around the stage. Ilya Dragovich appeared translucent. Grace could see the red velvet curtains in the background through his body. He walked toward the edge of the stage eventually solidifying to rapturous applause.
    Happy that she hadn’t miss ed the entire show, Grace felt that silly grin return.
    “ Once upon a time,” the magician began in a melodious voice, “there was a very beautiful young maiden who lived in an enchanted land. And like many beautiful young maidens, who live in