Five: Alakazam

The Mind Reading Trick

You tell the audience that you can predict the future to the extent that you can predict their thoughts.

You scribble what you call 'the future' onto a piece of paper and put it under a large object close to you.

You then ask a member of the audience to give you a thought or an opinion of theirs. They give it and you ask the person standing nearest the object to take out the paper and read what's on it to everyone and show it round.

On the paper is the thought that's just been given.

Bow to your applauding audience.

But how is it done?

All you need for this trick to work is an accomplice.

You scribble nonsense of the first piece of paper and slip it under the object. Whilst you focus attention on you as the member of the audience reveals their thought, your accomplice writes the thought on the paper and pushes their way to the front so they are unarguably the one standing closest to the object with the paper under it.

You ask them to bring you the 'future' and they give you the piece of paper they wrote on.

Anything for an encore, right?

xxx

Saya had to admit it- she had never been anywhere so comfortable in her life.

Apart from the servants running all over the place, nothing made her uneasy.

Seth had given Butler and two head maids orders to keep her in bed and get whatever she asked for.

Saya was unused to asking for things so the only thing she had said was to shyly ask for a shower and then for some water.

Her room's window looked out on frosty Covent Garden and she thought about Pharaoh and the crowds and how much work she was missing out on.

"Um, I'm kind of cramped in here," Saya opened her door to see a maid standing guard outside. "Maybe…could I take a walk around the house?"

Saya thought she might sneak away if an exit was available.

"Sure!" The maid beamed.

"Thanks…"

"But you should know that every exit is locked and flanked by ex-Navy Seals and that we have the Metropolitan Police on call." The maid was still smiling, but there was an edge. "So, if you're thinking what I think you are: Don't."

Saya went pale. "Uh…right."

So much for that.

Saya walked around the house for a while, the carpet was deep and plush and she liked the funny little rooms dotted here and there, all of them miniature studies with dusty bookshelves.

Saya's family had never really had enough money to buy books and, although she liked reading, it felt a little cheeky to just help herself.

Also, it would seem like she wasn't begrudgingly staying here anymore- an appearance she still wanted to maintain.

So Saya moved on until she reached a door that was slightly ajar.

She peered inside.

"Sir, the High Council case has come in."

"Thank you, Butler, put it on the pile."

Saya ducked into the corner as the door swung open and Butler walked away.

Tentatively, she returned to her position and looked inside again.

As she had thought, it was Seth, hunching over some writing.

His face was dark and serious as he read and she never once caught a flicker of emotion on his face.

Saya shuddered.

Despite his good looks, he looked cold as ice.

"Who's there?"

Saya jumped.

"I am." She called.

Seth sighed and put down his pen. "Come in."

Saya thought back to the cold expression.

"I'm fine out here, thanks."

In a second, the door was opened and Seth stood there, looking chagrinned. "Yes?"

"Hi," Saya said steadily. She would be irritated at herself if she lost her nerve now. "How are you?"

"What do you want?"

"I…I was just looking around."

"I thought I gave orders for you to stay in bed."

"I do what I want, thanks." Saya said tartly, then regretted it. She didn't want to be hostile, but she didn't like his tone. "When can I go?"

"When you're better."

"I'm better now."

"You know what I mean."

"Why did you take me in in the first place?"

"I-!" Seth began, then stopped short.

Good question.

All he knew was that he wouldn't allow a fragile girl back on the streets.

No, not even that.

A fragile girl is one thing. But a fragile girl who thinks she's not is something else altogether.

Seth eyed her warily.

"Can I come in?" Saya peered behind him into the study.

"Well-"

"'Kay, thanks." Saya strode in and Seth sighed and shut the door.

Women.

"Would you mind if I took a book to read?" Saya surveyed the shelves, unable to help herself.

Seth looked momentarily surprised. "Not at all. Pick what you want."

Saya took a book down from the shelf titled Fact and Mythology: Understanding the Truth and opened the book cover.

Something fluttered out onto the carpet. Saya knelt and picked it up.

It was a photo.

She glanced at Seth. He was pouring over his work again, blocking her out.

Saya looked again at the photo. It looked old. It was one of those crumpled brown and white ones- which was weird because Seth was in it- she could see him standing there next to three girls who looked older than him. None of them were smiling.

She flipped it over.

The Backlight Siblings (1818)

Saya froze.

1818? That…couldn't be the date, could it?

"So," Seth said, startling her. Before Saya could think it through, she slipped the photo in her pocket.

Involuntary kleptomania- always helpful.

"What are your family like?"

"Huh? Oh…you know, just…family." Saya laughed a little uneasily. "Yours?"

Seth stiffened. "Oh…well, they're…normal."

"Yeah." Saya said quickly. "Mine too."

A short pause.

"So…I'm going to go now."

"Right." Seth said, then frowned. "Did you find a book?"

"What? Oh…yeah!" Saya snatched a random one off the shelf. "Thanks, Seth."

Her saying his name made them both tense up.

"N-no problem, S-Sa…" Seth looked away.

"Seth- it's two syllables."

"I- I know! It's just…we're practically strangers anyway." Seth inwardly groaned. Why was this so GODDAMN difficult?

A short knock on the door and Butler entered. "The Winterton report, sir?"

Like two caught conspirators, Seth and Saya jumped.

"Well, bye!" Saya ducked under Butler's arm as he held open the door.

"Y-yes." Seth said, but she was already gone.

Seth groaned and put his head in his hands.

"Trouble, sir?" Butler enquired. "Of the girl-related kind?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Seth snapped and snatched up the report. He glanced over it. "Oh, God."

"Yes. It seems it has come to that."

"You don't think…?"

"It's inevitable."

Seth ran a hand through his hair. "If only we could find their base of operations. I suppose…I could infiltrate…but, of course…"

"Yes, if only we had a human to play the role needed." Butler smiled. "Oh wait."

Seth stared at him. "No."

"Yes."

"We can't."

"We easily can, sir."

"You know how I feel about women, Butler!" Seth hissed.

"She's what we need, sir."

Seth glanced at the report again.

They did need her.

If he could find out the Thornway's secret, it could solve a massive problem for Night World.

All that was needed was in inconspicuous human.

"Get the girl." Seth muttered. "If I'm going to play her vampire subjugate I at least ought to know a thing or two about her."

xxx

This time the humans are on top! Yay for humans!

Saya and Seth switch roles- tee hee!

Was toying around with this plot twist but think it's gonna work. *braces self*

I know this chapter was a bit slow, but I needed to set things up- next time it should get faster-paced.

Please review and let me know what you think, especially about the characters.

Thank you so much for reading- the next part should be out soon…ish.