Sherri l king, p.1
Sherri L King, page 1
Beyond Illusion
Sherri L. King
Prologue
“I need you to fly to Vegas this afternoon and catch the opening of Vincent Darque’s new touring magic show. Then I’ll need the final review from you no later than press time tomorrow.”
Ellie Waterhouse looked up from her cluttered desk to meet the eyes of her editor-in-chief. She winced at the look of pure determination written across the older woman’s features.
“Lindsey, why don’t you send Jon? He’s really into the whole magician…thing. I bet he’d love to go.”
“That’s precisely why I’m not sending him. I’ve heard that this show of Darque’s is going to be one of the best of its kind ever performed before an audience and I want to send my most down-to-earth, jaded and cynical—that would be you—reviewer out there to see it. I want our readers to know exactly whether or not this Vincent Darque is all he’s cracked up to be. If he can convince you that his illusions are real, then you’ll give him a fair review. Jon would just gush praise all over him and waste our readers’ time.”
“You sound like you already expect me to give Darque a bad review,” she said, while quickly gathering her things. Ellie knew it was hopeless to try to talk her boss out of the trip, when the woman was so clearly bound and determined that she should go.
“I don’t expect anything but that you write your review fairly and with your usual panache. Whether you like this show or hate it, it’s one of the biggest events this year, and our readers will listen to you before they decide to part with their money to go and see this guy. You’re all that stands between our readers and what could be a big waste of their time and money. Their fate is in your hands, my dear.” Lindsey wiped away an imaginary tear.
Ellie laughed. “You always get delusions of grandeur when you drink too much coffee, Lindsey. Okay, I’ll go. As if I have a choice. But could you please try to keep Jon out of my office while I’m away? The last time you sent me out he came in here looking for—well, he says he was looking for some paper clips—and he left my office in such a mess it took me the better part of a week to get it back to normal.”
Lindsey looked around the room, at the paper-cluttered desk, the overflowing trash can and the various books and magazines that littered the area. “Yes. I can see how that type of thing could put you off your stride,” she said, her voice laden with sarcasm.
“ Don’t be cute, Lindsey. This is my mess. Mine. In this delicately balanced ecosystem, I know where everything is and where everything goes. But when Jon or anyone else comes in and rearranges the ecosystem, it takes a lot of hard work to get it back this way.”
“Oh, how my heart bleeds for you,” Lindsey quipped cheerily. “Now, here are your tickets for the flight and for the show. Your flight leaves in an hour and forty-five minutes. You’ll land in Vegas around eight o’clock. The show is supposed to start at nine, but I suggest you go straight from the airport to the hotel where the show is playing because there’s bound to be a line a mile long. I’ve booked a red-eye flight for you out of Vegas at two in the morning, which, if you sleep on the plane, should afford you just enough rest to come in promptly at nine o’clock tomorrow morning. And don’t forget—I want this review on my desk before the magazine goes to press tomorrow afternoon. Got it?”
“I got it, I got it. Sheesh, you’d think I’d know the procedure after working here for four years.”
“Enjoy the show.”
“ Wow, thanks.” Sarcasm fairly oozed from her, but she hurried out the door just the same. It was nearly rush hour, and in the middle of Atlanta, Georgia, that could be an adventure all its own.
Chapter One
It was ten after eight when Ellie stepped out of her hired cab, and sure enough, there was practically a mile-long line that led into the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Hotel and Casino. On the billboard situated above the entrance to the casino, in gigantic neon lettering, the Pharaoh’s Tomb proudly announced the opening show of Vincent Darque, Illusionist Extraordinaire and his new show, Darque Dreams.
Though it was well past sunset, Vegas seemed as bright as noon with all of the flashing lights of the strip twinkling down on her. The electric wonderland of Vegas had a magic all its own and Ellie suddenly found it difficult to tamp down on the rising excitement within her. She was about to see one of the most famous magicians in all the world, and even her skeptical heart raced at the thought. In these moments before the show began, all things were possible.
Purse and briefcase in tow, she crossed the busy street and joined the throng of fans that meandered out of the casino lobby. The crowd was like a living, writhing thing, moving to and fro with the shifting of thousands of appendages. After being jostled about for several moments, Ellie was more than eager to make her way into the casino’s amphitheater, where the show would begin. There were a few disadvantages to being only five feet three inches tall, and one of them was the surety of being swallowed up in a large crowd of people, bumped and nudged around by those that were lucky enough to be taller than she. She rubbed at the sudden ache in her temples and tried to overcome the urge to snap at the people crowding around her.
It was total chaos as the doors to the indoor amphitheater finally opened and everyone rushed to their seats. Ellie glanced at the ticket in her hand and was relieved to see that the seats were assigned and that she would have a decent view of the stage. It took several long minutes for her to find her way to her seat, and by the time she did she was chagrined to find herself situated behind a much taller woman with very large hair. Luckily, hers was an aisle seat, and by leaning a little to her right she would be able to get a better, if somewhat crooked, view of the performance.
Ellie blew a stray lock of limp hair out of her eye and lamented the fact that she hadn’t put her heavy tresses up before the show. The temperature of the monstrous room was a little warm thanks to the thousands of bodies that crowded within it, and not even an army of climate-controlling air-conditioning units was going to change that. She fanned herself with the program flyer she’d been given at the entrance, hoping that she would manage to cool off during the show.
The audience members chanted for their god of the hour, repeating the name Vincent over and over again like a mantra. Adults and children alike were anxious for the show to begin, and unashamedly vociferous in their demands. The noise was like thunder, beating its way through the theater. Ellie could feel it in her chest like a giant heartbeat, heady and thrilling.
Then the lights went out, and a deep swell of darkness swallowed the room. The audience quieted and held themselves in a collective state of readiness. The show was about to begin.
The sexy, erotic play of a double violin thrummed into the quiet stillness. The orgasmic release of music made the audience members gasp collectively, and Ellie was no exception. It was a greeting, a welcome into another world. A world where the rules that governed reality need not apply. The violin played for the audience, warning them to leave their skepticisms at the door and open their hearts to the magic that was to be revealed.
Ellie could have listened to the ethereal music all night.
But the show was only just getting started. The music swelled. The stage was flooded with lights and the audience was whipped up into a frenzy of cheering voices. Never before had Ellie seen such a spectacle. She wasn’t sure what she had expected to encounter at this performance, but it surely wasn’t the mass hysteria one would normally find at a rock concert. The crowd rose from their seats, stomping their feet and clapping their hands, almost drowning out the beautiful, mournful wail of the violin in their excitement.
Suddenly there came murmurs of awe from the crowd and, as one, they raised their faces skyward. Ellie couldn’t help it, she too looked up and was shocked to see the figure of a man shoot through the air overhead. He was flying! Ellie tried and failed to see any harness attached to the man, though she knew that it was surely impossible that there wasn’t some sort of suspension cable keeping him in the air.
The man flew at the stage, neatly turned a double somersault in mid-air, and dived toward it. He landed lightly on the balls of his feet as the crowd roared its approval, and bowed gallantly. When he rose, Ellie got her first clear look at his face. She caught her breath. It was Vincent Darque.
His name, Darque, fit him as no other ever could. He was tall, at least six-five, with black hair and black eyes. He was powerfully built, leanly muscled with strong, broad shoulders, a narrow waist and long legs. Dressed all in black, with shining calf-length boots, tight pants and a flowing poet-style shirt, he looked a lot like a pirate. The rakish silver hoop in his ear only added to the effect. His black hair was short, but unruly, and a thick lock fell over his right eye, making Ellie’s fingers itch to run through it. She’d seen pictures of him in various magazines and on television specials, of course, so she’d expected him to be an attractive man, but nothing could have prepared her for the powerful presence he commanded on the stage.
Vincent raised his hands and motioned for silence. The audience immediately fell still and took to their seats once more.
“ Thank you all for coming tonight. I am Vincent Darque and I’ve got some special things to share with you. Some of you have been to my shows or seen my television specials, while others of you are here with me for the first time. But I welcome you all equally and ask only that you let yourself enjoy the marvels that I will show you, suspend your disbelief for but a couple of short hours, and prepare to be…amazed!” With the last word he clapped his hand and four scantil y clad women appeared, seemingly out of thin air, beside him.
For the next hour and a half, Vincent and his montage of beautiful women and burly stagehands created a show that was nothing less than visually stunning. Though she kept the thought firmly in her mind that there was a logical trick to every feat of magic performed, Ellie couldn’t help but be amazed at some of the things she saw. The choreography and timing of the show alone made it worth the price of her ticket and she fully intended to give the event a glowing review.
After daring feats involving fire, swords, flight and even motorcycles, it seemed the show was drawing to a close. Vincent bowed on the stage amid roars for more from the audience before he motioned once again for silence.
“ Friends, I hope you’ve enjoyed our show thus far, but rest assured, I’ve saved the best for last.” Suddenly he clapped his black-nailed hands together and…disappeared. There was no dramatic puff of smoke, no flash of light. He just…vanished. Completely and without a trace.
Amid the ooohs and aaahs of the crowd, Ellie sat grinning in her seat. “Smoke and mirrors,” she muttered to herself, while mentally jotting down a checklist of observations for her to write about later in the review. She had to admit that Vincent was a showman unlike any other she’d ever seen, with a decided flair for the dramatic.
A stir through the audience alerted her and she glanced about. She jumped, alarmed, upon finding Vincent standing directly next to her seat.
“Ahh, my favorite part of the show. Audience participation. I find now that I’m sorry I waited so long in the show to do this, as I’m anxious to get to know some of you better.” The crowed roared its approval. Ellie had a sudden, sinking feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. “What’s your name, my dear?” Her fears were confirmed as Vincent leaned down to ask her the question.
“Ellie Waterhouse.”
“I’m sorry, but it seems I forgot to bring an extra microphone. Could you please lean over a bit and speak into mine?”
Ellie looked at the tiny microphone attached to his collar and pursed her lips. The devilish twinkle in Vincent’s jet eyes made her even more uncomfortable. The rogue had planned this on purpose! She couldn’t help but feel goaded by his behavior, and she leaned over—trying her best to ignore the strong, bronzed column of his throat and the deliciously masculine fragrance that rolled off of him—and repeated her name.
“Ah lovely, lovely Ellie, would you be so kind as to join me on the stage?”
“I don’t think so, no,” she answered, careful not to let his microphone pick up her answer.
“Don’t be shy. I promise it won’t hurt a bit.” His voice dropped to an intimate timbre, as though he’d forgotten that his words could be heard by every member of the audience, though Ellie knew that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It was all part of the show.
“I’m not shy. I just don’t want to participate.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, I think dear Ellie needs a little encouragement to get over her shyness.” The crowd erupted into cheers and applause. While the audience roared, Vincent leaned down and murmured in her ear. “Are you afraid that I might make you forget your skepticism for a moment, or that I might even convince you to believe in magic just a little?” Surprisingly enough, his quiet words did not sound out over the sound system for all to hear, though that didn’t appease her much.
Temper simmering at his highhanded behavior, she met his dark gaze squarely with her own. “There is nothing you could do that would make me believe you’re little more than a showman with a few good tricks up his sleeve.” She smiled tightly.
“I do so love a challenge,” he said, a dangerous light coming into his eye. He turned to address the audience at large. “Ladies and gentlemen, Ellie has kindly agreed to accompany me to the stage!” The crowd renewed its roar of approval and Ellie was dismayed to find Vincent’s black-nailed hand at her elbow, nudging her up from her seat with an implacable hold.
Under normal circumstances Ellie would never have allowed such a thing, but she firmly reminded herself that she was here on business and could not afford to make a scene that would make her appear unprofessional. She allowed Vincent to lead her to the stage, trying all the while to ignore the odd sensation of being the focal point for thousands of pairs of eyes. Her temples began to ache and tingle with her discomfort.
Upon gaining the stage, Vincent turned so that they faced the sea of expectant faces that made up the audience. “Now, Ellie, what do you do for a living?”
She was forced once more to draw close to him and speak into the microphone at his throat. It was with no small amount of relish that she informed him, “I’m a reviewer for EntertainMe magazine.”
The crowed murmured uncomfortably. Vincent was not to be outdone however, and replied to the audience at large. “I think I shall have to make her disappear…and fast!” The crowd laughed and cheered this suggestion, causing a flush to rise to Ellie’s cheeks.
Vincent turned back to her and winked. That he dared to be so audacious almost brought a smile to her lips, but she stoically tamped down on the urge. He seemed to sense her inner struggle and let out a hearty laugh. “Don’t worry, Ellie, I’ll make sure you don’t disappear forever. I’m a big fan of your magazine, and I’d hate for them to be short one person come tomorrow morning.” The crowd chuckled along with him.
Suddenly Vincent grew serious, his eyes seeming to look at her from far away. He stalked slowly around her and though the urge to keep eye contact with him was there, she refused to budge as he circled her. He was like a predator regarding its prey…right before it pounced. After circling her once more, he came to a stop behind her and—just as she was about to turn to face him—his hands fell upon her shoulders, cupping gently, but keeping her from turning to him.
“Just relax and trust me,” he whispered in her ear, and again, the sound did not carry over the speaker system.
His hands kneaded her shoulders lightly, and against her will she felt her knees grow weak. He blew softly into the hair at the nape of her neck and she felt heat pool low and heady in her belly. One of the hands at her shoulders lifted and the tip of one finger traced lightly down her spine. Her breath caught and moisture gathered between her quaking thighs. That such a small touch should affect her so! It was surely a form of magic all its own, this man’s very charisma.
“Now close your eyes, Ellie,” he commanded in a seductive voice.
“If I close my eyes I’ll miss the trick,” she said with a cheeky grin.
“ Oh, I promise you’ll not miss this trick. I’ll make it good for you, just close your eyes.” His words had many other meanings, as Ellie was sure he was aware, and despite her better judgment she fell a bit more under his spell.
“Close your eyes—” his breath was warm at her ear, “—and keep them closed until I tell you to open them.”
She allowed her eyes to drift closed, fully prepared to be unimpressed with whatever trick he had up his sleeve. There was a whooshing noise in her ears, then silence. A few seconds ticked by and she dared to open her eyes a small crack, to allow for a small peek at what Vincent was doing.
She let out a choked gasp, her eyes flying fully open.
Looking about the room with nothing less than total shock, she realized that she was no longer on the stage. She was in a dressing room…and she had no idea how she’d gotten there!
Chapter Two
Thirty minutes later, Ellie was still stuck in the dressing room. She sat, swinging her legs over the armrest of a chair, as she contemplated her predicament. She’d tried the door dozens of times, but it was locked from the outside and would not budge. She’d tried calling out but had heard no response to her many cries on the other side of the door. It was a difficult pill to swallow, but she had to face the fact that she was effectively trapped until Vincent decided to come and free her.
She strove valiantly not to wonder how Vincent had accomplished it, as she knew it would only drive her crazy. And odds were, when Vincent came to retrieve her—which had better be soon—he wouldn’t offer any explanations to appease her curiosity.
There was a flurry of movement and noise on the other side of the door, her only warning before Vincent burst into the room. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, regarding her.
