Transposition: The Third Part of Trickery and Honest Deception

By Rachelle G. Adamchuk

What do you mean you can travel in time?

That might be your first question if you were one of Darren Whalleys friends. Then again, if youre buddies with Darren youd be a traveling magician, so maybe nothing would seem strange.

As the Initiate to the Keeper, Darren has been burdened with a cryptic, dangerous and seemingly unattainable quest to find artifacts that were concealed all over the world before his archenemy Marrion can. The quest most recently left off in Mexico City and now the clues have led Darren, his girlfriend Astrid, best friend Joe and the traveling magic show to beautiful Victoria, British Columbia. Will the trail go cold on the warm west coast of Canada?

Rachelle G. Adamchuk turns up the heat in the third book of the Trickery and Honest Deception Chronicles. As part of the traveling magic show, Darren is preparing one of his greatest tricks transposing himself before a live audience. However, without even trying he finds himself at landmarks around Victoria, as well as an ancient Japanese ceremony, a bloody battle, and his own murder! How does it all connect to the third artifact and will Darren survive to continue his quest?

Mrs. Adamchuk weaves a tale of suspense giving the reader a gritty account of the darkness and confusion Darren feels as he gropes his way towards his destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 3, 2009
• ISBN: 9781469103181

Book preview

Copyright © 2009 by Rachelle G. Adamchuk.

Edited by Darin L. Steinkey at Aldridge Street Editing and

Publishing Services. Victoria, BC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

48077

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty One

To all of Darren’s loyal fans

Thank you

R

Transposition

Chapter One

-Victoria-

Trans-po-si-tion: to change the usual order or position of; Interchange, reverse. An event where one thing is substituted for another. (Webster’s New World Dictionary).

Clouds formed overhead and rapidly crossed the darkened sky. The moonlight shone down and lit the various surfaces of landscape it could touch from its mighty perch in the night sky. The wind gently blew the large tree’s branches, and ruffled the scaly leaves that adorned her willowy, flat, splayed arms that drooped down, embracing the car parked within her grasp. The car was nestled between her and her companion’s mossy torso, denned between ancient trunks. There it remained, undetected.

The large trees, with the hidden, sheltered car, grew at the bottom of a small hill in a shallow ravine surrounded by other trees of various ages, heights, and thicknesses. They shared their space with large to medium sized boulders which were scattered here and there among the trees. Directly in front of the car was a clearing. Beyond the clearing was a path, an inconspicuous, newly worn path between rows of trees that opened to the clearing at the bottom of the hill to the left of where the parked car was situated. Just over the hill, and a short rocky walk to the shoreline, was the Ocean, which could be detected on the breeze.

The small sports car parked in darkness, lights off, silently engrossed, contained two passengers who stared straight ahead intently focused on the clearing.

Darren Whalley crouched down, uncomfortably, behind a medium sized, moss covered boulder, hidden in foliage, to the left of the car and the trees that sheltered it. It was situated next to the driver’s side of the car. Darren could only make out the outline of the two men seated within, as he peered around the side of the boulder. He was lucky he could see that much, because the moonlight was obstructed by the overhanging branches of the surrounding trees. He tried hard not to move, for fear of being detected. Darren could hear the two men talking and found that he didn’t like what he was hearing.

We know he brought it back here with him, he heard one of the men say, his voice sounded tense.

No doubt about it. He has to have it with him, the second voice said, sounding very confident. Darren recognized the voice, and he feared the worst, but he still couldn’t make out the face in the ever moving darkness. He wished that the wind would stop blowing, and that the moonlight could just linger on their faces long enough for him to see who it was he was listening to.

They said he located it on his last expedition, the first man stated.

Oh, I know he did. I know he has it. Now we just have to take it from him, the second man said, his voice sounded deeper, more grim. He sounded as though he was speaking through clenched teeth.

Well Marrion, let’s just hope he’ll do anything for the girl then, the first man said, and Darren’s heart raced. His fears had been answered. The voice was familiar. He was listening to his nemesis, Marrion Lysbitt, planning to take another artifact away from him and he was going to use his girlfriend to do it.

Of course he will! People will do anything for the ones they love. I still think it would be easier if we just forced him to give it to us… a bit of pain can also be very persuasive, Marrion responded in a calm voice very certain of himself. Darren could hear the smile tugging at the corners of his venomous lips.

Love… the first man said sounding very detached from the meaning of the word. You know we can’t afford to be seen by anyone. That’s why it has to be done this way. We have to bring him to us and get what we want without a fight.

Sure, I know we… there they are… Marrion pointed out, as he sat up straight on the car seat and peered over the steering wheel. He peered out the windshield at the two unsuspecting people who had just stepped out of the woods, from the path, into the clearing.

Darren hardly even noticed the two men leave the car and make their move on the two people walking hand in hand. In a blink, Marrion and his partner-in-crime, phased in and out of existence. They had been seated in the car one moment, standing next to the car the next, and then to Darren’s dismay, they appeared right beside the two he could now make out in the pale moonlight as a boy and a girl. Darren had always hated that Marrion could teleport, but now, as if things weren’t already complicated enough, he had to deal with a second person who could teleport as well.

Darren held his breath as the boy and girl were startled by the sudden appearance of two strange men. They backed away. The boy stood in front of the girl, as though he were trying to hold her back behind him. He stood with his left hand extended behind him toward the girl and his right hand extended toward the men approaching them.

What do you want? How did you get here? This is private property! the boy demanded.

We need to get something that is very precious to us and in order to do that… well, we’ll be needing the girl. Unless of course you have what we’re looking for on you… but, we really doubt that. So, perhaps a little persuasion is necessary then, the man said, as he approached them slowly. He held both of his hands up in front of him as if he were trying to tell them that he meant them no harm.

Why? Why do you need her? Look, whatever you want… I’ll give it to you. You just leave her alone! the boy said, his voice quavering slightly.

As the last word parted from his lips, the boy turned and saw a blur of motion that came from where the man had been standing. In a blink, the man then appeared, fixed, right next to the girl. The man reached out and grabbed her arm aggressively. The girl screamed and the boy lunged at him.

Darren was about to jump out from behind his sanctuary when a hand touched his arm. He turned with his hand up, ready to strike. He lowered his hand and looked into the eyes of a little girl. Darren thought that she must have been no more than six years old, with blue eyes and long blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. He couldn’t fathom why a girl her age would be out in the dark at this time of night, especially out in the middle of the woods.

You shouldn’t move, the girl warned.

But I can help them! Darren needed to explain.

There are more of them than there are of you, the little girl pointed out very matter-of-factly.

I can’t just sit and watch this, Darren tried convincing her, and himself, because he knew she was right. If he’d learned anything at all from his battles with Marrion, it’s that he is a dirty fighter and would do anything to win. Darren didn’t know anything about his new partner—he was probably just as malicious. Darren, fighting with his emotions, forced himself to relax a little. He got back into position and observed again with the girl nestled next to him. They watched in horror as Marrion picked the boy up by the throat, revealing his strength, and then with a quick thrust of his arm he tossed the boy in Darren’s direction. Darren inhaled a mouthful of air and watched helplessly as the boy flew a good twelve feet and landed with a crash on the hood of the sports car that was still concealed by the mighty Red Cedar, Garry Oak and the Hemlock trees. The boy’s shoulder struck the windshield with such force that the windshield smashed on impact. The car’s hood dented under the sudden weight of his body. The boy lay on his stomach upon the hood and turned his head very slowly to his right. Darren could clearly see the boy’s face, blood smeared and in pain, as a hint of moonlight touched his face.

Darren recoiled from the sight and sat with his back pressed tightly against the mossy boulder’s surface. He reached for the little girl and pulled her closer to him. He had looked into a familiar face—the boys face—his own. As the realization hit him, he watched as the boy… as he sat up… on the hood of the car. Marrion hadn’t taken a single step toward him after he threw him. He smiled wickedly to himself, proud of the pain he could cause others. The little girl reached out and held Darren’s hand. He looked into her blue eyes once more and saw sadness there that seemed to match his own. She’s so empathetic for such a little girl, he thought. How could she possibly make sense of what she’s seeing? Then the little girl looked up again over the boulder at the scene unfolding before them. Marrion was no longer smiling, he looked angry, no longer seeming to enjoy the sport, the game at which he loved to play.

Arrgh… now look! A broken windshield! And blood! There’s blood on my car. Great… evidence we now need to clean up! Magic can’t remove all traces of blood! Marrion sneered.

We’ll ditch the car… you can always get another one! the other man barked at Marrion.

Get another one… Marrion fumed.

Darren watched as Marrion raised his right hand. Marrion raised his right hand? His right arm? How can that be? What on earth was going on? Could he do that? Could Marrion really grow another arm? Darren thought.

With his hand extended, Marrion reached out an invisible arm and pulled the boy up off the hood of the car. The boy grasped at his neck as the force pulled him up off the car. Then he flailed his arms behind his head trying to reach for something tugging at the back of his jacket, where an invisible hand had a hold of him. He was pulled violently to the ground and dragged back to Marrion’s feet. Darren recognized the girl when a cloud crossed the moon and a beam of light caught her blonde hair and frightened face. He was looking into the terrified face of his girlfriend, Astrid. She was still with the other man but she was no longer standing. She was now on her knees, sobbing. Marrion pulled the boy up to his knees by grabbing a handful of hair. The boy reached up at the hand holding his hair. His other arm hung, because of his damaged, drooping shoulder, slightly bent and broken.

Where is it? the other man hissed at him.

I don’t know what you’re talking about… I don’t have it! the boy answered weakly but determined to make them understand.

The girl’s father must have it then, Marrion said. He sounded almost elated.

"Well, I guess we go with our other plan then, and get it from him, the other man stated. I suppose we won’t be needing you anymore."

Darren knew what was coming next and he sat back down and rested on the boulder again. He couldn’t understand how Astrid’s father fit into all of this. Was he in Victoria? When would they run into him? Why would he give her father the artifacts? The little girl slid her hand out of Darren’s firm grasp. He had forgotten that he was holding her hand. She smiled at him. He felt confused. He realized he must be locked in a vision walk of the future. He couldn’t understand why he was watching himself just take the beatings. Why was he letting them attack him? Why wasn’t he using his abilities to fight back?

I wish I could help, somehow, Darren said feeling his heart sinking deeper into his chest.

‘I know… now isn’t the time though… right?" the girl questioned.

"No, now isn’t the time… I know that.

I have to go now, she said to him in her sweet little voice. She stood up and gently patted his cheek with her small hand.

Do you live around here? Will I see you again?

I hope so. Maybe we’ll see each other somewhere nicer next time, she said with a smile, and then she turned away, giving him a wave of her hand.

Darren Whalley rolled over onto his right side in bed and stared at the wall in front of him. He tucked his right arm up underneath his pillow and tried to reposition his body in an attempt to get comfortable again. He hoped that he might be able to fall back to sleep. It was much too early to get up, and besides, he didn’t really get a good night’s sleep. His eyes didn’t close though. Instead they wandered over to watch the curtains that fluttered at the window. A breeze caressed the warm air in the room from the small crack he had left open the night before. It was early spring and the room felt warm with the sun that shone through the glass, past the pane, beyond the curtains and into the room. Darren felt the gentle, cool breeze flow over him as he rolled onto his back, pushed his left arm underneath his pillow and propped his head up to look at the window better. He saw the blue sky beyond the pane and could hear that the harbour was already alive with the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life near the water.

Darren loved the sound of the ocean lapping at the harbour’s shore and slapping playfully against the rocks, docks and boats nearby. The smell of salt on the water was revitalizing to the senses, but also found within the breeze, on that ocean scent, was a calming, harmonious inner peace, as the ocean rocked hypnotically. Darren liked that his surroundings helped him forget for just a little while. But the dreams, his visions of things to come, always brought the reality back to him.

Darren thought about the dream he just had. It wasn’t the first time he’d dreamt it. He was visited by this dream, this nightmare, vision, premonition… whatever it was, quite often lately and when he was in it, he was truly in it. He would forget that he’d been there before, until he got close to the end of where the vision led him, and until he woke up. When he woke from the vision walk, he always clearly remembered what he had seen in it, as well as the ones he had previous to the last. They tormented him. This particular night however, was slightly different. There was the mysterious little girl this time and she stopped him from trying to help. She was his cue that he was in a vision this time around. Darren woke up most nights angered and frustrated at his inability to help make a difference each time he had the dream. In the dreams he always tried to help, but never changed the outcome—not once—because he couldn’t interfere. He couldn’t be seen or heard. It was hard to watch and not try and help, but it was worse when he didn’t remember he couldn’t help. He always woke up after witnessing the mirror image of himself being murdered by a mysterious man he had never met, instead of by the other man in the dream, his nemesis, Marrion Lysbitt, whom he would have expected to try and kill him again. Darren still feared that one day he might have to face Marrion in another battle. He expected to be killed at some point during this quest. The destiny he was chosen to fulfill had already proven to be a nearly fatal one. Darren hoped that day would never come and that he would do what he was supposed to do without the loss of anyone’s life.

Marrion was driven by anger and a relentless need of the artifacts—the artifacts that Darren was destined to find—and would stop at nothing to get them. Darren injured Marrion during their last encounter and everyday he wished that the injury was severe enough to destroy Marrion all together. Darren thought about the day he used his supernatural abilities to throw an enormous boulder at Marrion, crushing his right arm. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and yet in the pit of his stomach he felt guilty for hurting him so badly. He quickly pushed that thought away and remembered that the dreams he kept having didn’t make him feel at ease with the wish of him being gone anymore. His wish was shattered as the visions forced him to see a constant reminder that Marrion was still be out there… somewhere. Darren’s thoughts drifted back to the little girl. Who was she? Where did she come from? How did she just stumble into my vision like that? Was it me? Did I see her somewhere in passing during the day? Maybe she was in the audience during a show. Did I pull her into my vision without meaning to? Did I bring her into my dream, this vision, without realizing it? The realization crushed him. He felt bad the more he thought about it. If he had brought her into the vision, even subconsciously, how freaked out must she be after seeing such horrible things. As bad as he felt though, Darren couldn’t help that he felt a little relieved to see a different face in the dream. He felt thankful for her intervention and the fact that he didn’t feel so alone this time. He smiled to himself and slowly sat up. He threw the blanket back and swung his legs off the bed.

He walked over to the dresser and pulled out some clothes to wear, tossed them on the bed, and caught his reflection in the mirror. He ran his hand through his dark hair, which was starting to get longer and a bit untidy. As he pushed his long bangs aside, he leaned closer and looked into his blue, brown eyes. He had an interesting combination of both his parent’s eyes. His mother’s eyes were brown and his father’s eyes were blue. Darren’s eyes were blue from the pupil and gradually bled, intermingling into the brown which outlined the iris, unlike his sister Sarah’s eyes which were a smoky blue gray in color. His mind wandered for an instant as he thought about how much he missed his sister and couldn’t wait to see her again.

He thought about graduation. He and his best friend, Joe Logan, made it home in time to graduate with their class. Joe was happy to return home with Darren, even though he never let on how much he missed being there, Darren knew. He had originally refused to leave Darren’s side, and go back home, after he and Sarah met up with Darren in Mexico City. Joe convinced Darren that it was his destiny to remain with his best friend and to try to help and protect him, as best he could. They were so happy to take a break from all the crazy destiny stuff to just spend time at home with family and friends and, of course, graduate from high school. The school Principal was gracious enough to let Darren graduate with his classmates after he completed grade twelve through correspondence, as long as he had the transcripts to prove it. Joe was also approved for graduation in their hometown and his transcripts from the school he attended in Victoria, British Columbia, were forwarded to the Principal in time for grad. Darren was glad to see his parents. He never really noticed how much he missed his parents until he was with them again, in his own home, in his town, with his dog Bruce.

Darren was still haunted by the discovery that his dad might be behind all the stuff that he and his friends, and sister, had been through ever since the first artifact revealed itself to Darren. He feared that his dad was behind the attempts to get the artifacts from him. It was hard to believe that his own father could have been behind such terrible things as kidnapping his friend and his sister, and poisoning Joe. Darren had no choice. He had to be careful and suspicious because anyone could be after the artifacts. Darren fought with this demon daily. Conflicted emotions shrouded him as he suffered inner turmoil about his father. Is he bad? Would he really try to hurt his own son? His daughter… for a few artifacts that are only important to the Magic community? Is he just his dad… and not involved in this at all? His dad was an antiques dealer sure… which meant that artifacts crossed his path all the time, but this was all just too strange. Darren and his father were tense around each other. That wasn’t unusual though because as soon as his dad found out that Darren could really do the things most people only dream about—like make things disappear and reappear, move objects, change objects, have visions—he started pushing Darren away like he was contagious or something. Darren didn’t know why he suddenly woke up with these special abilities, but he had them. With them, he found out from a traveling Magician named Vanrick Frulis that he also had a destiny to fulfill. As the Initiate to the Keeper, Darren was chosen to find seven artifacts that were concealed all over the world. He had to bring all of the artifacts together for the Keeper in order to complete his destiny. What these artifacts would reveal once they are all collected is unknown. There is plenty of speculation and it is enough to make the artifacts a priceless commodity.

Darren, with the help of his sister and friends, located two artifacts already and overcame many obstacles in order to get them. He keeps them in a small safe or his backpack and guards them with a powerful protection and concealing spell. The first is a wand made of silver and copper with a crystal core revealing a crystal tip. It has an embossed emblem of two entwined snakes forming a circle with a reptile-like being in the centre. The second is a potion bottle. Darren found it in a crypt in Mixquic, a borough of Mexico City. The potion is made of obsidian and has the same insignia embossed on its side.

Darren shook the artifacts from his mind for a moment and thought back to graduation day. It was good to see Scott Firth and Jessica Libben again too. Darren smirked at that thought. Good to see Scott—boy have times changed. Scott proved to be a very good friend to Darren during their travels in Mexico City this past fall. Scott and Joe showed that they both had an inner strength and bravery that even Darren didn’t realize they possessed. Jessica was Scott’s girlfriend and a long time friend of Darren’s. She wasn’t as eager to face the challenges brought forward by Darren’s quest, but as a loyal friend she supported him and his band of collaborators as best as she could. When Darren thought back to the things they had gone through since summer of last year, he felt like he’d aged ten years. He looked and felt tired. With that thought, Darren rolled his eyes, groaned and made his way to the washroom for a shower.

He liked the hotel he and the other Magicians were staying in. It was much nicer and roomier than staying on the Magic Tour Bus that they lived and traveled in. The huge, stone, castle-like hotel had a lot of history. The Victoria Harbour Hotel was beautiful and, as the name implied, it was located on the harbour in Victoria. Built in 1908, it had seen a lot of people come and go and even stay. The locals and the people who worked at the hotel claimed that it was haunted. Darren didn’t know if he believed in haunted places because he hadn’t yet encountered anything at the hotel. He had resided there for what seemed like an eternity, but was only five months. This time around, it was Darren who was getting fidgety about sitting still so long. He didn’t understand what the delay was. The obsidian potion bottle revealed this location to him. He was sent to Victoria to find the third artifact. So, where was it? What on earth was taking so long? Some days he felt like pulling his hair out, but other days he just forgot all about it, enjoyed his surroundings and performed magic in the hotel, the beautiful parks, and on the streets of Victoria. He was a magician after all and he found that he really did love to entertain.

Darren Whalley traveled with a group of seven magicians, himself included, all of whom had varying degrees of Darren’s special abilities, except one, Darren’s girlfriend Astrid Romanov. Astrid was beautiful and had long blonde hair and blue-green eyes. She understood Darren and his abilities even though she didn’t posses any herself. She was surrounded by it all the time, being part of the traveling magic act. She knew what Darren had to face and was there to support him. Darren appreciated that he could just be himself with her, around her, and for her. He didn’t have to hide.

Darren’s stage name was Darius the Mysterious, in order to help keep anonymity. Vanrick Frulis, his friend and mentor, was the manager of the group. He lined up various magic jobs for them as well as made travel arrangements and secured housing while they were on location at the designated venue. Darren looked up to Vanrick. He had been like a father to Darren since his dad’s estrangement and possible involvement with the artifacts.

Darren was relieved that the magic group, his friends, volunteered to stay with him. They agreed to travel to wherever Darren was directed to go so they could be close, help keep him out of harm’s way, and, of course, because of their curiosity about the artifacts too. What are all seven of the mysterious artifacts? And what are they used for once they’re all collected? Why are they important? Everyone wanted to know, and they want to stick around to find out. The magicians were all becoming a family. They talk about the last battle Darren had with Marrion and how it upset them. Everyone now knows just how serious the quest to find the artifacts is. It took a powerful blow to Darren’s chest—which had temporarily killed him—to make everybody see that this destiny he had to fulfill was actually a war to protect the artifacts, and to keep Darren alive. They all, especially Joe, talk about how Darren won’t go up against anyone again without their help. Darren grins to himself at their determination to come and fight right by his side, but what people don’t understand is that no one really knows when the next artifact will reveal itself or when he’ll get a clue. And no one, including himself, knows exactly when someone is going to try and take the artifacts from him.

Zeljko Errinian always got a little heated when they discuss Marrion Lysbitt. He wished he had participated in the battles Darren had with him. Zeljko is a terrific magician who could transmute objects. He often complained that it wasn’t fair that he had to hang around a bunch of kids and wished that he could transmute himself back to Darren’s age, back to when he was seventeen years old. Zeljko is thirty years old and had brown hair, brown eyes and what seems like a year round tan. He spoke with a slight accent, which Darren couldn’t quite place.

Alexius Posito had blonde hair and green eyes and had a great sense of humor. He was an amazing magician and Darren figured he could probably do pretty much anything he put his mind to. He seemed older than he was because of his confidence. He always had a flock of girls surrounding him and Darren presumed that it had to be because of his charm and wit, not to mention the fact that he was a fairly attractive nineteen year old.

Dejora Xanko was an amazing psychic, but was beating herself up for not seeing the danger that Darren was in, and could be in at any given moment. She was trying everyday to get a feel for Darren’s aura, but whatever she did or tried, usually failed. Darren had told her that he had chanted a few very powerful words and placed a block on his subconscious mind, preventing anyone from gaining access to his thoughts or to his presence. She explained that she was trying to tap into something else—his emotions. She wanted to be able to sense danger and spring into action when it became necessary. Darren wished her luck and secretly hoped that it would eventually work. Joe cracked jokes that it would be pretty wicked to have a personal team of superheroes come to your aid or defense by an invisible signal. No bat signal for Darren, just an aura and a vibe, Joe would joke. Dejora could also do magic, like the others, but she was a little more limited so she often did Tarot card readings instead. She just turned twenty-one years old. She had brown skin, black hair and startling crystal blue eyes.

Manuel was the most mysterious out of the group because he didn’t talk much. He liked to be a loner and enjoyed observing people. He was well known for his knife throwing ability and his amazing use of telekinesis. Manuel was twenty-two years old and had brown hair and hazel colored eyes.

Darren stepped out of the shower, toweled off and headed to the bed where he had tossed his clothes. He thought about the performance he would have to do this afternoon and looked forward to the audience’s reaction. It was Sunday and every Saturday and Sunday in the Grand Banquet Room at the hotel, the magicians performed from 11:00am to 2:00pm. They worked three other days during the week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but only did a one-and-a-half hour performance during dinnertime for the guests—usually between 6:30 and 8:00. Darren finished getting dressed and checked to see if Joe was in the adjoining room. The room was empty. Darren closed the door behind him and headed out to greet another day, leaving the disturbing images of last night’s visions behind him, closed away, in his hotel room.

Chapter Two

-The Exchange-

The banquet room was growing more and more dimly illuminated by the minute, as though it was naturally being done by a dimmer switch. There was a slight crackle in the air as a wave of energy was sucked from the back of the room causing the lights to flicker and grow even dimmer as the invisible force made its way forward. The electrically charged air rolled over the heads of the spectators who sat with forks poised mid-way to their open mouths; they stared unblinking at the man on the stage before them. Darren sat at a table positioned closest to the stage and felt the energy tug at his scalp as he watched the magician, Alexius, harness the room’s energy in his outstretched hands. The energy became tangible right before everyone’s eyes. It danced, crackled and waved as it hovered over Alexius’ open palms. Pink, blue, and silver in color, it sizzled and clicked, breathing and living for all eyes to see. The audience let out an audible gasp as they watched. Darren could overhear people trying to figure out how he was doing this inconceivable illusion. He smiled as he watched. Darren heard someone walking his way and turned in time to observe Joe fumble with a chair as he tried to pry it out from under the table Darren was seated at. He managed to get the chair’s legs untangled from the long tablecloth that draped to the floor. He turned the chair toward the stage and smiled awkwardly at Darren and whispered.

I always like to catch this one. Never get tired of it. Joe then turned away and focused his attention on the stage. Darren understood what he meant because he too found that he never got tired of watching the shows. There was almost always something new added to the repertoire.

Alexius proceeded to fold his hands slightly, appearing as though he were holding an invisible bowling ball. He worked his hands around the spherically shaped, charged energy as it glowed between his hands. Spears of electricity spiked, lapped and played between his fingers. The audience forgot about their food and watched eagerly as Alexius molded and compressed the glowing orb until it had shrunk to the size of a softball. Without saying a word, Alexius rolled the electric ball into the palm of one hand and with his free hand he pointed across the stage at a clear Plexiglas cube on the floor of the stage. Darren watched as Alexius pretended to stand on a pitchers mound. He held the energy between two hands, stood in the traditional stance of a baseball pitcher, nodded his head in the direction of the cube then with the raise of his leg and the recoil of his right arm he threw the energy. The energy ball sailed from his grip and connected with the plexi-cube. The cube slid across the stage floor where it teetered and rocked slightly then came to rest, still crackling and glowing upon the stage.

Darren observed as people rose from their chairs and stared wide-eyed at the glowing box.

Hey, are you done with that? Joe asked as he reached over and snatched Darren’s plate, containing what was left of his chicken penne, from in front of him.

Yeah, help yourself, he said with a chuckle then turned his attention back to the performance.

Alexius walked across the stage, picked up the cube and looked at it closely. The light from