📜🎩 T H E ☆ M A G I C I A N - Act 66 (incl. pics!)

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Spotify🎵 Mel | Mary | Bastet | Lusje | Lynette 🎵

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T H E  ☆  M A G I C I A N

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Act 66

Mary

Mary was just about to pay for her goods as an uneasy feeling started to crawl up her throat.

At first, her mind had been clouded by Melodie being all better, looking stronger, asking Mary for her favorite food, and being back to her old, polite self — but now the relief had loosened up a little, and doubts had crossed her mind. She didn’t know Mel all that well yet, but was her favorite food really that important to her? She had never heard her talk about it, let alone seen her eat it. And while it might be true that good food could bring joy in dire times, couldn’t it have waited a little longer?

No, Mary really didn't know how important this hagelslag was to her. What she did know, however, was that Mel didn’t shy away from keeping secrets, tricking, or playing by her own rules. She had sent Mary away under a pretext before. Just a couple of days ago, right before she reappeared all beat up.

Mary clutched onto her purse. Anxiety crept inside of her. Maybe she was mistaken, but she felt like she had to get back to the hotel as quickly as possible.

When the cashier finished the purchase process, she quickly shoved the toast, butter, and different kinds of chocolate sprinkles into her bag and rushed outside, back to the Mandarin Oriental. 

It was probably nothing. She most likely was worn out from the sleepless nights and her worry over Melodie. But better to be safe than sorry.

She passed by the reception, only greeting the employees hastily, and walked as quickly to her room as her legs allowed her without actually running, then opened the room to her door while almost dropping her keycard.

Calm down, Mary. After all, she couldn’t possibly get up, so what mischief would she be able to pull off in the first place? she thought, hurrying into the bedroom. She’ll be all safe and sound.

Except she wasn’t. Well, strictly speaking, Mary didn’t know whether Mel was or not, because her girlfriend had vanished. The bed was empty.

Mary dropped her bags, running towards the bed to check if the magician had accidentally fallen out. She hadn’t, so Mary swirled around to see if she might be on the balcony, but the door was closed shut.

Maybe the toilet? Yes, that was logical, right?

She rushed back into the small hallway, but right before she was about to open the door to the bathroom, she saw a figure sitting on one of the armchairs in the living room.

Melodie.

Thank God.

Mary let out a deep sigh of release and came closer. Mel had crossed one of her long legs over the other while holding a cup of tea in one hand and securing the saucer with the other. She looked like a proper English gentleman, or at least a stereotypical one. She was even wearing somewhat neat clothes again: a simple but flawless brown vest made from a herringbone fabric, pine green loose tweed trousers, carefully rolled up at the seams to give them a more casual look while still staying classy, and an unbuttoned cream blouse with an untied bowtie lying around the collar. Those definitely weren’t the sophisticated clothes Mel had arrived here with. Next to her, her iconic snake cane leaned against the armrest of the chair. Mel’s hair was combed back in an unusual way — sleekly, but with a perfect, almost harsh part. It made her look peculiarly masculine for some reason. Almost uncomfortably masculine.

Mary had no idea how Mel had been able to get up, let alone get fresh clothes and her cane, but due to Melodie’s illustrious nature as a magician, she didn’t waste too much thought on it, and instead focused on the fact that Mel was apparently feeling way better, and on her being still here.

Upon Mary’s entrance, Mel lowered her cup and cast up her brown eyes, which were everything Mary wanted from eyes, even though Mel’s gaze now looked a little exhausted, maybe even distant. Or sad?

“Welcome back, Rosemary,” she greeted Mary, and immediately put her on alert. Something was off.

Mary came closer, wanting to touch Mel’s knee, but something about her presence made her hang back.

She could feel that Mel wasn’t comfortable being touched right now. There was a distance, a professional coldness emitting from her; no, not her, them. No—him. It was like Mel had hidden away all the feminine parts of themself that Mary felt close with. This didn’t feel like the Mel she knew. Nor the strange, unhinged other part of her. This was Melody of the Stars. A performer, even further away from Mary than when they first met.

“I appreciate what you’ve done for me for the past few days. I’m in your debt. I will make sure to compensate you for your kindness.”

No. Wait. This didn’t sound like her. She, he, was talking like Mary were nothing more than a colleague.

“Thank you for bringing me groceries, too.”

No. No, these weren’t just groceries. It was your favorite food. Why are you talking so distantly? Stop it, stop whatever you are doing right now. You’re scaring me. You’re scaring me!

“However,” Mel began, but Mary interrupted her. “You’re scaring me!”

Mel’s lids fluttered for a brief moment, but his reaction towards her plea made the whole ordeal even scarier: He continued, unfazed. 

“However,” he repeated while putting down his china, “I have employed your hospitality and time for an inexcusable amount, and I have important business to attend to, so I have to excuse myself and go my way.”

Mel wasn’t just talking about now. They were trying to break up.

A loud noise cut through the tense, twisted atmosphere like a quick sword thrust, surprising both of them.

The only evidence of the noise was Melodie’s cheek, which quickly started to turn red.

Mary had slapped them in the face.

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