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

“Like the grit that happened to blow itself into Kevin’s eyes.”

Ricardo couldn’t quite suppress a smile. “You could tell, huh?”

“Ricardo…” John stroked his cheek. “Be careful. When you’re obvious about using True magic…it doesn’t end well.”

“It’s fine.” Ricardo rose onto his toes and coaxed another kiss from John. His lips were too sweet to resist—but thankfully he showed mercy and ended the kiss before it went anywhere John would regret. “No one will ever know.”

“Humor me. You’ve got looks, and talent, and style. Enough to win on those qualities alone.”

“You really think I could win?”

John gazed hard into Ricardo’s eyes. “I know you can.”

“I dunno.” Ricardo slipped his arms around John’s waist and trailed his fingertips down the seat of John’s pants. “I’ve got some pretty stiff competition.” A few more of those caresses and that would be true…literally. Ricardo released John and took a step back. “But I’ve been thinking about what you said. If it ever does come down to you against me, I want you to go full-out and give it everything you’ve got. If it turns out I lose to you—that would be just as satisfying to me as winning the big prize myself.”

___

The matter of whether or not his room had come with a hidden camera or two did plague John, just on principle. Over the next few days, when he returned to his new room, he scoured the molding and the wallpaper. Plaster? Yes. Wood? Yes. Metal? Yes. The mansion showed him the impression of dozens of tiny nails holding the lath to the studs.

Camera? The house didn’t answer.

Fine, what was a camera made of? John thought. Circuitry? Glass? Plastic? No, the mansion claimed. Nothing like that.

It was somewhat reassuring, he supposed, but revealing something with his True magic was certainly not foolproof. Not if he couldn’t figure out the right questions to ask.

After a few tedious days where the talent had nothing to do, an assistant tapped on John’s door and told him to be in the lobby by eleven in his formalwear. John did his best not to read into it…though he dreaded that the formalwear had something to do with the “special surprise” he’d won with the conspicuous use of his talent. The other magicians joined him in the lobby, looking sparkly or sleek. Except Bev, who seemed to have dressed for a PTA meeting in a wool suit and sensible shoes.

A black stretch limo with Magic Mansion decals on the doors awaited them at the foot of the stairs—a tight squeeze for all six of them plus a handheld. But at least the cameraman was willing to sit next to Kevin. “What do you think your big surprise is going to be?” Bev asked Sue and Ricardo; although they were no longer wearing their Gold Team medallions, they still functioned as a single unit.

“I dunno,” Ricardo said. “Do you think we’ll finally get to perform?”

Kevin’s overly loud reply startled them all. “Why don’t y’all ask the Professor? He seem to know a lot o’ things.”

Everyone went quiet. Jia narrowed her eyes as if she might be ready to launch into yet another squabble…but instead she opted to watch and wait.

When no one took his bait, Kevin went on as if someone had indeed prompted him. “Like the brown pegs. Seem like he knew were all o’ them were. Don’t it?”

“Oh, shut up,” Jia spat. “You’re just jealous.”

“I got nothin’ to be jealous about. I made four runs by myself. None o’ y’all made four runs. Only reason I didn’t win…was ’cos I didn’t have Miz Marlene whispering sweet nothings in my ear.”

“What are you accusing him of, exactly?” Bev demanded. “Cheating? Or sleeping with the producer?”

The limo pulled up in front of a theatre before she could make Kevin explain himself. He just crossed his arms and smiled knowingly as the moods of all the magicians took a steep plummet.

John knew he should have gone for at least one white peg. Now look where his poor judgement had gotten him.

When the limo doors opened onto a red carpet, there was no time left for should-haves and what-ifs. Dozens of Magic Mansion fans were gathered, many in red or gold, since they wouldn’t know the teams had been dispensed with until that week’s taping had been edited and aired. A few young Asian women appeared to be cosplaying Jia Lee in Geisha makeup, dragon gowns and haughty sneers. Someone toward the back was waving a hand-lettered sign that read Bev equals Winner! And a pair of awkward pre-teen girls in front wore custom jerseys with Team Ricardo stretched across their training bras.

Iain, already in place with a bullhorn, said, “There’ll be time for autographs after the show. For now, just act excited and cheer as each contestant walks from the limo to the building. Magicians, one at a time.”

John watched each of his competitors disappear through the limo door to bursts of raucous cheering. Of everyone, Ricardo did seem to inspire the most adulation. When John unfolded himself from the confines of the limo and donned his top hat, the crowd actually went silent for a moment, staring up at him as if they were startled by his physical presence…but then someone called out, “Professor!” and a cheer rang up for John.

He nodded to the fans as he strode regally up the red carpet—particularly the youngest of them. He’d always connected well with children who hadn’t yet had their sense of wonder stolen from them. Though he did note, as he stepped into the theatre, that the crowd cheered just as enthusiastically for Kevin.

Chapter 29

BLAST FROM THE PAST

John waited stage right for the lighting techs to finish their tweaks and the audience to be seated. He peeked out at the theatre, a new 120-seater on Le Brea, red velvet upholstery disappearing behind the fans as they filed in and found their places. Kevin, Jia and Bev were positioned in the front row with a pair of empty seats buffering them