Deadly Magic by Elisabeth Crabtree Read Free Book Online

life or death for you.” A scarf appeared in his hands.
    “ Okay.”
    “ Do you understand?” He took her hat off and passed it to one of his assistants. Turning her around, he covered her eyes with the scarf. “You must do exactly as I say.”
    “ Yeah, yeah. Sure,” she said, as her body began leaning towards the chest.
    ♣ ♦ ♥ ♠
    Grace lifted the edge of her blindfold and peeked up at the glass above her head. Once hidden away from the audience she felt calmer. She was able to think. To relax. Which is odd considering she was blindfolded and locked into a chest. Still anything was better than being on that stage.
    Flexing her fingers , she gripped the flashlight tightly. She ran through his instructions in her mind. It seemed pretty simple. Just lie still. Keep the blindfold on. And every time he asks if she’s okay, she was to move the flashlight around. Despite her performance fright, she was excited to see what would happen next.
    She didn’t have to wait long. Dragovich finally called her name. Remembering his instructions, she waved the flashlight around. Suddenly the floor beneath her began to move. She could feel herself being gently raised and then lowered. She felt as though she was being swallowed whole. The sounds of the audience and the magician faded away until there was only silence. Before she could worry about missing her cue, she heard his voice asking her if she was okay. Every minute or so she would suddenly hear his voice asking her if she was okay. Nothing else. Not a sound. It was eerie.
    S he cocked her head to the side. She could hear movement. Someone was opening the top of the chest.
    It’s over ? she thought disappointed. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was more than a short trip and waving around a flashlight.
    Curiosity was killing her, but she had been forbidden from taking the blindfold off. Apparently, that was one of Amelia Dale’s mistakes.
    “ It’s okay,” Belle said from above her. “It’s just me. I’m going to just move you out.” Strong hands helped her roll out of the chest and then helped her sit up and stand. Walking a few feet on what felt like scaffolding, they finally reached firmer ground. Belle turned her around and began working at the knot at the back of her head. Once the scarf was off, Grace was surprised to find herself in a staircase with Belle Dragovich standing in front of her.
    “ Good job, Grace.”
    Grace smil ed. “I wish I was able to see it.”
    “ Oh you will. Just follow me. If we hurry you’ll be in time to see Lily appear.”
    “ Do I get to reappear?”
    Belle laugh ed. “Of course, but later. Until then you’ll be able to watch the rest of the show from a room we have set up downstairs. We have some gifts as well. The only thing we ask is that you sign a confidentiality agreement. It’s just a simple contract saying that you won't reveal anything that happens back stage.”
    “ I don’t think I could even if I wanted to.” Grace quickly followed the other woman up the stairs. As they got closer to the first floor, they could hear the gasps and applause from the audience.
    Suddenly, another magician’s assistant ran past them, almost running into Belle. Grace recogniz ed her as the one who led her to her stage. Belle reached out a hand to steady her. “What’s wrong, Tabitha?”
    Tabitha was breathing heavily. Shaking, she wiped away a few stray tears.
    Concerned, Belle repeated her question, but Tabitha just shook her head and ran around the corner.
    Just then, a scream echoed through the theater.
    As more screams sound ed throughout the room, Belle turned around and raced down a hallway with Grace close on her heels.
    Reaching the stage door, they dashed through the entry and stopped.
    Lily was hanging in the center of the stage. A silken scarf wrapp ed around her neck.

 
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Grace glanced at Ethan, whose eyes were starting to drift shut. She debated whether she should jostle him awake or