Lady Magika

Sophia loved the Magician Lucas. The Magician Lucas loved himself. She could only pray that he would never find a new assistant. How could he? She knew all his secrets.

Sophia loved Lucas with everything she possessed. She couldn't exactly tell you why- anyone who knew Lucas knew that he was the biggest son of a b***h you'll ever meet who didn't like anyone. In fact, he didn't even like Sophia and only kept her around because he needed her. After all, every magician needed an assistant.

 

 

 

The magician Lucas and his beautiful assistant Sophia filled up stages almost faster than the latest opera. Sophia loved performing on stage with her boss-because on stage, he acted as if he loved her back. It was all an act, of course, and she knew this. But for an hour or so, she really felt loved. His gentle hands  in hers, on her waist, on her bare shoulders. She pretended that his smiles were real.

Sophia knew how fast Lucas could go through assistants, but as far as she knew she had been around the longest, so she never expected him to tell her that he was interested in dropping her and finding someone else. She almost didn't realized what he said because his speaking pattern didn't change in the least. It was as if he had had said "I'm hungry" or "I'm going to sleep".

Shocked when her brain did register his words, she blurted out her first thought-"I know all your secrets." Of course she meant all his secret magic tricks. Magic entertainment had boomed and Lucas always had to be on guard for some amateur magician trying to steal his tricks.

Sophia saw his eyes narrow, but he didn't say anything, just dismissed her with a wave of his hand. As much as she loved Lucas, she was more afraid of him. She had seen him ruin another magician's reputation so completely that the magician committed suicide.

Every time Lucas looked her direction, her heart started to pound painfully hard. But after months of waiting for a punishment that never came, she calmed down. She thought that, perhaps, he really did care about her.

"Sophia."

Her heart fluttered at his attention to her. "Yes, Lucas?"

"It's time. Hurry up." then he turned his back to her and walked out of the dressing room.

She powdered her face one more time before slipping on her heels and trotting to catch up with the master magician. She noted a difference in the way he walked. Was that a bounce in his step? 

"Are we performing a new trick tonight?" she asked.

"Yes." he nodded towards the wicker weave basket at the side of the stage, surrounded by sharp sabers.

"Are you sure you're ready for that one? You cut me last time."

"Of course I am ready," he glared at her, "It is you that needs more practice."

"Yes, that's right." she submitted right away, ducking her head.

"Pay attention, you will miss your entrance." he snapped right before the announcer introduced her.

Sophia put on her bright stage smile and glided on stage, not as Sophia, but as Lady Magika, assistant to the Master Magician Lucas. The show started and they fell into their act of lovers.

Lucas awed the crowd, performing each trick with perfection, as always. He knew how to work them, how to play their emotions.

"Lady's and gentlemen, I am afraid we have arrived at the last trick of the night." the audience groaned, "But I guarantee you, it is a fantastic trick."

Sophia fetched the wicker basket and sabers from the hidden stage, displaying them for everyone to see. Lucas picked a volunteer, to check the sabers sharpness. Once the audience was aware of how real they were, Lucas then explained that Lady Magika would fit comfortably in the basket, in which he would then slide each of the swords in the sides. He assured them that she would come out in one piece.

Lucas held her hand as she stepped into the basket and sat down. Before he capped it with the lid, though, he bent down towards her face, "A kiss for the Lady." He smiled charmingly at her.

Her heart felt as if it would burst from her chest as his lips descended onto hers softly. Then she felt him thrust his tongue in, opening her mouth and forcing her to swallow liquid that he pushed in. The audience 'awwed' at their kiss, unaware of his deception.

"You should never have threatened me, Sophia." He whispered to her as her body suddenly lost function and wouldn't move no matter how hard she willed it. "I can always replace you." He looked to the side of the stage and she followed with her eyes, the only thing she could move, where there was a woman who looked just like her. She could have been her twin.

Then he capped the basket and went on with the trick as usual-except instead of falling through the trap door and escaping multiple stab wounds she lay paralyzed and waiting.

The first sword pierced her stomach and the audience gasped. She screamed for help in her mind-her mouth would not move and her voice would not come out. The second went through her arm, the third through her shoulder. The gasps and shouts of surprise continued as her blood soaked through the bottom of the basket and pooled on stage.

Lucas again reassured them that she was fine. But she wasn't fine. She hurt. She was dying. Perhaps he wanted to end her suffering, maybe he planned it. Maybe it was just accidental, but the last sword went through her throat. She knew how the trick would end- the curtain would fall, Lucas would  make a big show with 'magic words' or motions. The curtain would rise and her look-a-like would be posing next to the basket with a smile and perhaps holding one of the sabers for good measure and show.

Sophia gurgled once as the blood slid down her throat and then she died, the audience applauding.

Author's Note

A quicky I just typed up. Please be contructive.