Magic Mansion by Jordan Price (best fiction books to read .txt) 📕

harmless as rabbits and doves, as common as trained horses or dogs, and as exotic as elephants and lions. The animal you’ll be training for this stunt is a Bengal tiger.”

“Get some closeups of the fiberglass tigers when we’re through here,” Iain told an assistant, who jotted it on a clipboard.

Monty paused to give the editors somewhere to cut, then went on. “Training is achieved through patience and repetition, modeling the behavior you wish the animal to perform, and then rewarding him with plenty of treats. Today, each team will ‘train’ their tiger.

“First, you’ll model the behavior by running the course yourself. Jump from platform to platform, leap through the flaming hoop, and roll the ball across the white line.”

The three round platforms were close enough for an easy jump, the hoop’s “flames” were yellow mylar streamers, and the ball looked to be a red spray-painted yoga ball with a few gold stars stenciled on.

“Next, secure your tiger’s reward, and run back across the lawn as quickly as you can to ‘feed’ your tiger. The treats are waiting for you inside the pegboard at the far end of the course. Each treat looks the same from this side, but when you pull it from its slot, its ‘flavor’ will be revealed. Green pegs are veggies—worth one point. White pegs are grains—worth two. And brown pegs are meat—worth three whole points. Once you’ve pulled your peg, run back to your tiger as quickly as you can with its treat.”

John glanced at the red-decorated course, and then at the pegboard on the far end. Brown?

Several pegs answered. Yes, yes, yes.

Very good.

“As for the repetition—you’ll do it in the form of a relay race. Only one player at a time may run the team’s course, and at the end of ten minutes, the team who feeds the most points to their tiger will win a critical advantage in the next elimination challenge. So be quick, and take as many trips to the pegboard as you can.”

John considered the pegs again. Brown, brown, brown. Yes.

Monty said, “And…one more thing. You’ll be pulling the treats from their pegboard stash and carrying them back to the tigers…in your mouths.”

Faye gave a quiet grunt of disgust. Kevin sniffed.

“After all,” Monty said brightly, “what better way to bond? Unfortunately, not all the magicians present will have the chance to train these fine beasts. The votes are in from the last elimination challenge. One magician on the Gold Team, and one magician on the Red Team…will be going home.”

Monty turned to the Gold Team. “Math Wizard, Muriel Broom, please step forward.” Gold Team gave its ubiquitous group hug, and then the two older members of the team presented themselves on a piece of tape stuck to the grass. “Bev, you might be going home today. Have you got anything to say about your time in the Mansion?”

“Oh, I, uh…. Nobody told me to prepare a….”

Iain made a “keep going” motion.

Muriel whispered encouragement to Bev, who sighed and shrugged, and then said, “Magic Mansion has been quite an experience, Monty. I’ve come a lot farther than I ever thought I might—me, a fifty-nine year old trigonometry teacher. I’ve had some incredible experiences, and I’ve made a lot of good friends.”

“That you have, Bev. And what about you, Muriel?”

“It’s been a wild ride! Who would’ve ever thought I’d be sleeping in a mansion with a camera crew following me around all day? I’ve crossed at least four things off my bucket list in the past couple of weeks. But if it’s my time to go—no biggie. I’ve been itching to spend some quality time with my boyfriend…if you know what I mean.”

Iain went a bit green.

Monty turned to the Red Team. “Jia Lee, Amazing Faye, please step forward.”

In a sudden burst of compassion, John patted Faye on the shoulder. She shot a slightly confused look back at him as she stepped up to her tape mark.

“Jia,” Monty said, “if this is your last day in the Mansion, what have you got to say?”

“I’m a fierce competitor, Monty, and I gave every challenge my best shot. I was also a team player. I have no regrets.”

Team player? Whose expense was that dig meant to be…ah. Faye was turning redder than her hair. John had assumed they were allies. But perhaps alliances could only take the magicians so far.

“Amazing Faye? Any final words?”

“I want to win, Monty—and anyone who tells you anything different is lying through their teeth. We’re not here to have fun and make friends. This is a game, and we’re all playing it to win. Every last one of us. Red Team, Gold Team, it doesn’t make any difference. I am here to be crowned the Grandmaster Magician, and the color of my medallion doesn’t change that.”

“Strong words, Faye. Unfortunately…you will not take the Grandmaster Magician title. You have been voted out of the mansion. And you’ll be going…home.”

It did indeed seem, thus far, that Marlene had been telling John the truth.

Chapter 27

TIGER TRAINER CHALLENGE

Faye tore off her Red Team medallion and flung it to the ground in what, John assumed, was a melodramatic display designed to get the best screen time out of her few remaining seconds. But then she turned and said to Jia, “I’m soooo disappointed I won’t be running around with a mouthful of painted pegs. Make sure the cameras get your best angle while you make a big ass out of yourself.”

Jia crossed her arms coolly and said, “Have a nice trip…home.”

As Faye stalked off the set, Iain followed, begging her to go say goodbye to Kevin. But he would be as likely to stop a speeding freight train. “Oh well,” he told his assistant. “See if we can shoot a private goodbye later, once she’s calmed down. Okay, Monty, go ahead.”

“Gold Team, I’m sorry to say, the player who has been eliminated…is Muriel.”

Another group hug ensued…a very long hug. Long enough that John expected Iain to yell something charming like, “Break it up,