High-Rise (The Magician – Chapter Nineteen)

This is the nineteenth chapter of the serialization novel I am working on, The Magician – < click here to read the other chapters if you missed them or have no idea what this story is about.

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High-Rise

Per her mother’s suggestion, Vanessa had spent the rest of Sunday afternoon holed up in her apartment, locking herself away from the world, trying to keep her mind off of the fact that people were likely gossiping.  She had work to do on her next assignment anyway, so she detached herself from her phone and set to work, letting the words fly as music blared from her speakers.  Occasionally she allowed herself the indulgence of a quick light show, but she tried to focus on her work.

She had just submitted the requirements she needed done for Monday morning and stood to make herself some dinner when Freddy immediately texted her several links with new information on Ignace Godding.  Apparently, the vanishing of the biggest name in the history of magical variety shows was a big deal and caused a lot of commentary.  Social media had gone viral with speculation, especially since the magician had been seen in the company of a young woman before he disappeared.

Vanessa blinked.  She groaned inwardly, for she may have made an unintentional scene at the theater despite being as discreet as she could be. She began to scan quickly. 

It was reported that sources close to the Malatesta Traveling Show have no comment, but some eyewitnesses report having seen a young woman enter backstage about an hour before Godding vanished.  Whether she was the instrument behind his vanishing or merely a poor bystander remains to be seen.  The identity of the woman is a mystery, since cameras have been forbidden in the Opera House for years.  Security for the venue also has no comment.

Suddenly a text came in from Thora, who was still on vacation with her mother in Villa De Oro.

What the heck happened last night?

What do you mean? Vanessa texted back.

She saw the chat bubble blink and knew her cousin was typing.

We were out of range of service until an hour ago.  My phone blew up with a bunch of texts from my dad checking in on me.  He was asking me if I knew anything about you getting tickets to the show.  I didn’t tell him anything, but he just called Mom and was ranting about the Decree and you and everything being all messed up now.  What’s going on?

Vanessa sighed as she replied back.

Um.  Yeah.  About that….. Call me when you have a chance.

Thora replied back with a thumbs up.

A little disconcerted with the news reports and her cousin’s text, Vanessa decided to call in to her classes.  She quickly packed an overnight bag and headed to her mother’s old apartment.  While Evelyn had mainly resided at the Tamberlane mansion since her husband’s death, she kept up the high-rise penthouse in the heart of the city that she and Ben had been gifted as a young couple.  It came in handy when family from all over the new country were in town, for it afforded them the best views of the city. 

Vanessa had her own key, since she often was able to come and go as she pleased.  Unlike her own apartment, this one was owned outright and was the perfect place to hide for a few days, or so she had planned.  It was protected by the same kind of magical spells as the safehouse.  No one could track her here should they figure out her identity.

She unpacked her bag in her old bedroom, pulling down the covers of the bed and opening the balcony doors so that fresh air could make its way through the apartment.  She put her father’s favorite blues album on the old-fashioned record player and began making her dinner, using the groceries she had picked up at the local market.

She was in the midst of a colorful song and dance when she heard the key turned in the lock.  With a snap of her wrist, the record player across the room stopped mid-song and she paused on alert.  She kept her hands in spell cast mode, just in case.  She wasn’t expecting anyone.

The door opened and Ignace stepped in, holding an overnight bag.  He looked at her with the same amount of surprise that she felt.

“I’m sorry if I am interrupting anything.  I was told I could crash here for a few days since it’s not on Malatesta’s radar like the safehouse is,” he replied after a few moments. 

“By whom?” Vanessa stammered.

He smirked.  

“Your mother,” he replied, holding up a key with her keychain on it.  “You may have the Rankin grit, but you also were blessed with Evie’s spirit.  She is a formidable person to have as either a foe or an ally.  I’ve learned over the years that I’d rather have her as an ally.”

“She talked the family into releasing you, didn’t she?” Vanessa asked with a chuckle.

Ignace nodded with a laugh “Oh, yes.  The lashing she gave both Reginald and Alastair after you left smarted even me.”  He shifted the bag on his shoulder, grimacing a bit.  “She also cast the spell to port me here.  I’m quite impressed at her skills.  I was the stronger one with magic since I have Nestor’s gift, even though she is a year older than me.  But now, I am sure in any sort of a battle, she could take me on.”

There was a quiet pride in the way he said that that made Vanessa smile.

“Yeah, Mom’s pretty strong.  She’s had to be the past few years.  But why did she port you here?  Why not hire a car?”

“Well, according to Iago and your granduncle Ezra and even Freddy, Malatesta’s got spies looking for me and they knew a car wouldn’t be so safe.  Your mother figured I should lay low for a few days away from the Tamberlane connections.  Reggie and Al weren’t happy to let me go, but-”

“Mom had her way, like she always does,” Vanessa replied with a laugh.  “Come on in then.  I’m here because I thought I should lay low too.  I’m making dinner.  Should be enough for both of us, if you want.”

He nodded as he set the bag on the hardwood floor and kicked off his shoes, sliding them into the shoe tree by the front door.  Vanessa smiled.

“You most definitely ARE a Tamberlane,” she exclaimed.  “You take your shoes off as soon as you come in the door.”

He chuckled.  “My own mother instilled that in me.  She also was a formidable woman.  It’s a shame I didn’t get a chance to say my goodbyes to her.”  

He walked over to the record player, which was still spinning even though the needle had been moved.  He placed it back on the first track.

“Bobby Ray Silva,” he murmured as the first notes began to play again.  “Good choice there.”

“It was my dad’s favorite band,” Vanessa answered, moving back to the kitchen.  Her voice was louder as she added, “This was where we lived until he was killed.”

Ignace glanced at one of the pictures hanging on the wall, reaching up to steady one of the young family. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that,” he murmured as he continued to stare at it.  “Ben was a good guy.  It’s a damn shame he was killed in the line of duty like that.”

He surmised that she either did not hear him or was choosing not to answer him from the sounds that came from the kitchen.  His stomach grumbled as he sniffed the air, hoping that whatever was being made tasted as good as it smelled.

He walked across the floor in his socked feet to the glass sliding doors and looked out at the view.  The city lights beginning to sparkle as the sun was setting always took his breath away, no matter where in the world he was.  The pinks and blues of the eastern sky giving way to dusk as the sun set always made him pause when he could stop and admire.  But being back in his own home city, he felt a longing as he stared out at the panorama in front of him.

The music took him back to the days of his youth, of hanging with his best friends out on the beach of the lake, listening to the very album that was now playing.  Like he did then, he lifted his hands now and danced his fingers along with the saxophone solo, letting a stream of colors dance as he smiled wistfully.

“It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?” Vanessa asked, holding two full bowls in her hand.

He pulled his hand down and took a deep breath, having forgotten for a moment that he was sharing this space and time with her.  He turned and faced her.

“Your magic is awesome, but I was referring to the view,” she replied.  “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”

He nodded and turned to look out at the lights that glistened in earnest now across the city.

“Yes, it is,” he replied.

Putting the bowls down, she turned and looked at him.

“Want something to drink?  I usually only drink water, but I might have some pop in the fridge from the last time Mom and I stayed here.”

“Water’s fine.  Well, actually, I’ll take a can of pop.”  

She nodded as she ducked back into the kitchen.  

Ignace took the seat furthest from the front door, positioning his chair so he could see it.  He held out his hand and cast a spell that floated around the room and settled at the entrance.  After having protected the place with his own magic, he glanced down at the food finally.

Noodles, protein, and vegetables greeted his eyes as he looked into the bowl, covered by some sort of brown sauce that appeared savory. His mouth watered as he reached for the fork Vanessa had tossed on the table.

She returned, two cans of pop in her hands.  There were two cloth napkins draped over her arm as he was devouring the first bites. She smiled as she handed him his napkin.

He finished what he was chewing and wiped his mouth with it. 

“So, tell me about yourself,” he started as he reached for the can of soda pop.  It was a lemon lime flavored one.  The can was icy in his hand as he flicked the tab.  “Are you in school?”

She nodded as she finished chewing her own bite of food.

“I’m working on my master’s degree at Wiltshire University this year.  It’s in history.

He chuckled as he covered his mouth.

“That was my course of study,” he mumbled.  He swallowed what he was chewing on before continuing. “Of course, I never even finished my bachelor’s degree.  I kind of got caught up with all of the drama then.  But you probably already know all of that.”

Vanessa shook her head as she put her pop can down.

“No, actually, I haven’t.  I’ve only heard bits and pieces of the story over the years.”

He scoffed as he put a forkful into his mouth.  There was silence for a few moments as he thoughtfully chewed it and swallowed. 

“Of course, what was I thinking?” he muttered.  “The Tamberlane Decree made that difficult, I should know.”  

The remark was laced with deprecation.  Vanessa could sense the shift in his mood and lapsed into silence.

After a few minutes of awkward solitude, Ignace looked at her again.

“Are you writing any sort of thesis?”

She nodded.  “I’m working on a paper on the representation of some of the rarer forms of magicians throughout history.  I’ve been trying to get bits and pieces of it published in academic magazines around the country.  One of my professors is helping with that.  It’s actually fascinating how little is known about them, especially pathomotus magicians.”

He laughed as she took another bite, showing some of the carefree attitude he once had.

“I am guessing it is not widely known that you have Nestor’s gift just like I do,” he replied.

Vanessa shook her head.

“It’s what got my father killed, so I try not to use my powers often. I suppress my emotional magic like Nestor tried to do.  I have been known to give a few light shows to family and some carefully chosen friends, but that’s it.  It’s not like what you did on the stage.  THAT was spectacular.”

“Thank you,” he said quietly.  There was a tone in his voice that made Vanessa uncomfortable, just as he had seemed to close off when she caught him creating magic to the music while standing at the window. 

The conversation waned once more.  For a bit, the room was silent save for the scrape of forks on the bowls and the sounds of chewing on occasion.  Even the record had finished playing, the turntable spinning almost silently.

Ignace finished his meal and wiped his mouth on the napkin.

“That was delicious,” he murmured.

“There’s more if you want it,” Vanessa stated. 

Ignace nodded, standing up and walking into the kitchen.  He winced as he did so, feeling something tugging at one of the scabs between his shoulder blades.  He filled his bowl half full again and looked for a clean glass.  He filled it with ice and water from the dispensers on the front of the refrigerator and turned on his heels towards the dining area once more.  When he came back to the table, he glanced at Vanessa.  The young woman had pulled out her phone and was scrolling through some sort of social media application.

He stood for a moment, watching her.  He realized how much she looked like her mother.  But looking at her closely, he saw her father in her too.  Benedict had been one of his classmates at the preparatory years ago, being just two years older than him.  The two had a friendship of sorts that continued into college.  They, of course, also had a falling out over his whole gambling thing too.

If life had been different, he could have gotten to know this young woman as she grew up.  He shook his head.  It would not do to contemplate on the what-ifs of the past.  

He took a few steps to the table, sat back down, and picked up the fork again.  After eating about half of what was in his bowl, he decided to speak again.

“So, uh, do you have a boyfriend?” he asked, glancing at her as he picked up a forkful of food.

She put the phone down and looked at him, shaking her head.

“I don’t really have much time with the thesis and my studies.  I’m taking a full load of classes while working as a teaching assistant for a couple of freshman level courses as well.  Plus there’s all the research.  And family functions keep me pretty busy.”

He smiled.  He scraped his bowl and ate a few forkfuls before speaking again.

“You sound like Evie,” he replied as he put his final bite into his mouth.  

“What do you mean by that?” Vanessa asked.

“Your mother was always studying.  All through her childhood and teenage years, she’d have a book in her hand and would always be reading or studying.  I thought she’d be the one to go places, even if her dream was just to open her own salon.”

“What happened?” Vanessa asked.

Ignace faltered.  The jocular expression fell flat and he pushed his chair from the table.

“I messed up all of her chances.”

He reached for his bowl and the empty can and carried them into the kitchen without another word.  Vanessa remained where she sat, the air heavy with the words he just spoke.  She wondered what there was to that story, but she also knew better than to ask.

Click here to read the next chapter – Confessions

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Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction written by K. S. Wood, and thus is copyrighted 2024. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.  No part of this work may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.  All rights reserved.

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