24K Magic for a Perfect Illusion

Ch 9: Pop Pop, It's Show Time

‘The Smeezingtons’, the name for the team of assassins in the organization, led by the top three kings who has been undefeated in their ranks since the very beginning.

First is Kevin, second is Richard, and Parker’s on the third, they’re savages and once they’ve given a target, whoever the poor soul is will be killed in the most brutal way possible.

They’re the worst team in the organization and Ves avoids anyone in the said team like a plague as even just their aura is reeking of blood that makes him nauseous every time, they make their presence noticeable.

“Relax, none in the crowd is our target but he’s the building. I only come here to search the area.” Parker patted Ves stiffed body.

“Will you kill that person on the spot when you find him or her?”

“Him. It’s a him.” Parker replied. “We’ve got order to do the business outside this hotel, it’s a hassle to change place but boss strictly forbid us to get dirty in this place.”

“I see. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be preparing to go back on stage.” Ves tried to be casual though he’s scared sh*t inside.

Even though the people in the organization never harm one of their members, having an interaction with a bloodthirsty man is still a different story, as a psychologist Ves knows what these people are capable of since they’re way of thinking is beyond normal.

Parker nodded to Ves in response and the latter almost run towards the other side of the backstage without looking back.

“Bruh, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you all over the place.” Peter exaggeratedly said as he saw Ves coming on his way.

Ves sighed in relieve when he met Peter, though it’s been two years since he worked for the dark side of the society he’s still not used to dealing with the assassins.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, man. What happened to you?”

“The Smeezingtons, they’re here.” Ves replied in a low voice.

“No sh*t man!” Peter whispered yell. “I didn’t get the note that we’ll be working with them in this mission.”

“No, it’s just a coincidence that their target is here.” Ves said.

“Oh, that’s a bummer. I’m actually thinking of going back here tomorrow as a guest. It’s a shame that this hotel would no longer be operational next morning.” Peter looking around as if he’s already emotionally attached to the hotel.

“Boss told them to spare the place so it’s still on business by tomorrow.” Ves is still puzzled with this order, they never care about casualties and the target is always killed on the spot when get caught but now why change place?

“That’s weird, does boss have business with the owner of this hotel?” Peter filled the blank for Ves missing link.

“With Hearthof Goddesseth?!” Ves exclaimed as a lot of possibilities run wild on his head.

“Let’s set it aside for now, we’re not even sure if the man lurking around your girl is into shady business. We’ve got a mission to do here and we both know what happens if it gets out of our hands.”

Of course, Ves knows it perfectly, if their team failed to execute their plan of stealing without anyone getting hurt, ‘The Hooligans’ will take over and he won’t let that happen.

Not when their target is on Hestia’s neck, though Hestia has her own security team to protect her, worst scenario since ‘The Smeezingtons’ are also in the area, they’ll get the necklace from a dead body as they don’t do negotiations.

Meanwhile on the stage, Stefani as Lady Starlight, is performing her final act of illusion.

“I need a volunteer to get on stage, preferably the most beautiful woman from the audience.” Lady starlight pretend to look around before she locked her gaze on the real target. “How about the Pink Fairy in the front?”

Hestia looked around and when the spotlight shines on her, she has a surprised reaction as she’s been watching the coffins rotating on stage. “Me??” she pointed on herself.

“Sir, do you agree with me that she’s the fairest of all the ladies here this evening?” Lady Starlight asked Hearthof’s opinion.

“Absolutely, she’s actually the most beautiful lady I’ve ever seen.”

“Well, thank you.” Hestia replied coyly. “Is it really me?” she asked Lady starlight again as she stand up from her seat. “I prefer to be a spectator and not the guinea pig.”

Hestia climbed up on stage with Hearthof assisting her to the stairs. “I won’t get hurt in the process, right? And there’s no hideous objects in those coffins. I honestly don’t like scary things. Lady Starlight, I love you, so please have mercy on me.”

“Ooh, didn’t know I have an avid fan here.” Lady Starlight humored everyone in the crowd. “All I thought nobody knows me.”

“I’ve actually watched ‘The Whoops’ in America too many times before. I’ve seen you performed along with Jeff Bhasker and Neon Pryta. Neon’s psychological illusions are absolutely mind blowing. Jeff isn’t just a good magician but also a comedian that never failed to make me laugh all the time. But you … Lady Starlight, you’re actually my favorite, it’s not just your large-scale stage illusions but I’m also anticipating with your outfit for your performance. I love the various colored wigs as well as your hair bow and futuristic outfits, and that glow-in-the-dark disco stick.”

Stefani is just disguising as an illusionist and she didn’t expect that Hestia is admiring her like a Hollywood celebrity.

‘Am I really that great with what I’m doing as a diversion?’ Stefani thought to herself as she looks at the very innocent, puss-in-boots like eyes of Hestia.

“I’m extremely honored. I didn’t expect that anyone appreciate me this much.” Lady Starlight said truthfully. “I think I’m in love with you too.” she embraced Hestia sincerely. “But still, you need to get in the coffin, don’t worry I’ll keep you safe, that’s a promise. I’ll never let anything bad happen to my very first fan.”

“Lady Starlight, I need her back to me in whole and no missing piece.” Hearthof pretended to threatened Stefani.

“Of course, sir.” Lady Starlight bowed her head and made a side comment to humor the audience. “Gosh, your man is so overprotective towards you.” she led Hestia in one of the coffins that has an unnoticeable mark. “You’ll experience the real magic.” she whispered on Hestia’s ears before she closed the casket.

While Lady Starlight is having her monologue to the audience, the secret partition in the coffin opened and Hestia was stupefied when she saw the man, she keeps on missing every night and day.

“You …” Before Hestia realize that Neon Pryta, the mentalist of ‘The Whoops’ is no other than her best friend, she’s already under Ves’ spell, not a love spell, but hypnosis.

Ves took off the necklace from Hestia’s neck carefully as the latter is still under trance and replaced it with the fake ‘Pink Magic’ that their technical team prepared.

“I promise I’ll return this to you eventually, I’m so sorry Hes.” Ves wanted to kiss Hestia’s lips but time isn’t on his side.

Ves snapped his fingers on Hestia’s face and swiftly closed the secret partition and dashed towards the other coffins that are rotating on stage.

As soon as he got on the safe zone of the back stage, ‘The Stereotypes’, Philip, Martin, and Lawrence, are already waiting for the ‘good’ to be auction that same night.

Ves handed the necklace to Martin, who verifies the authenticity of the objects ‘The Whoops’ stole.

“I was worried for a second that you’ll doble crossed us because it’s your woman’s belonging.” Martin gave him a scrutinizing look as he handed the necklace to Philip.

Philip put the necklace on its cushion box that Lawrence is holding with his both hands. “I’m sure your woman won’t mind, besides it’s just an accessory for the rich. It’s not like it’s the only jewelry a Nevaeh lady owns.”

“You don’t know anything it’s not just an accessory or one of her expensive jewelries.” Ves clenching his fists on his side as he never leaves his gaze on the necklace. “It’s meaningful to her.”

“Well, too bad, a client has his eyes on this necklace. You know that we always give what our clients wants.” Lawrence closed the jewelry box and put it in a suitcase. “We’ll be leaving first.” he turned around to walk away but he suddenly stopped from his tracks. “Oh, by the way, Ms. Nevaeh is a real beauty in person.”

“Stop it Lawrence, we don’t steal from our own and that includes people.” Philip patted Lawrence at the back.

“I’m just saying.” Lawrence shrugged. “Can’t I voice out my opinion now? Are you restricting my right to talk?”

“Just keep it under your pants Lawrence, we both know you won’t compliment a woman without thinking of banging her.” Martin said.

Ves just watched the trio disappear from his sight, he wanted to take the necklace back, as much as he wanted to punch Lawrence face for having dirty thoughts about Hestia, but he can’t do it.

Although their organization do not abide with the law, they have their own rules to follow, and violating one of them is like courting death, the punishment is severe that Ves doesn’t want to experience just to learn his lesson of not going against the rules.

Meanwhile on the stage, Lady Starlight opened the casket to conclude her illusion trick.

Hestia stepped out with a huge smile on her face as she’s still under Ves trance that would only be over when someone calls out her name but as long as she’s in dazed she’ll just follow Stefani.

“Hestia, are you alright?” Hearthof is waiting for her at the side of the stage to assist her on descending from the stairs.

“Huh?” Hestia gained her consciousness. “What just happened?” she looked back as she took Hearthof’s hand. “Is it over??”

“Hey, are you still in wonderland?” Hearthof laughed at her. “Did your Lady Starlight do a real magic on you while you’re in one of her stage props?”

Ves tampered Hestia’s memory that she experienced what supposed to happen with a magic trick to deceive the audience, thus Hestia told Hearthof what Ves made up in her mind as the series of events while she’s in the coffin.

“Of course, it’ll be impossible for anyone to disappear just like that.” Hearthof responded after he listened to Hestia’s exposé.

Lady Starlight ended her performance after bidding everyone farewell and greeting a good evening, the huge curtain on stage is close while the music band performing next is setting up their instruments with a dimmed light.

The night is still young and the real Halloween party is on the second half of the event.

“I’m going to the ladies’ room first; I think I had a lot of tea while having some snacks.” Hestia excused herself as she stood up from her seat. “Who’s taking care of my safety while I’m on stage?” she asked Edith who’s following her behind.

“It’s me and Irene, Miss Hestia.” Edith replied politely.

“Did you see everything what happened back stage?” Hestia asked over her shoulders as she walks towards the ladies’ room.

“No, Miss Hestia. Did the staff inside the box hurt you?” Irene anxiously asked while perusing Hestia from head to toe.

“No, I’m fine. It’s just that I don’t recall what that man looked like. He’s like a blurry image in my head as he tells me what to do while I’m inside.

“We didn’t recognize the man’s face too as he camouflaged with the color of the curtain and the coffins as he moved out swiftly from your back to the backstage.” Edith reported. “Do you want me to check on that staff’s identity, Miss Hestia?”

“No. It’s alright. No need to bother.” Hestia dismissed her idea of the mystery man she met. “Anyway, did you take a photo of me and Lady Starlight while I’m on stage with her?”

“Of course, Miss Hestia.” Irene nodded proudly. “Sharon is in charge of having the whole show documented in a videotape.”

“Let’s watch it tomorrow.” Hestia giggled excitedly. “I’ll definitely ask Lady Starlight for an autograph next time.”

Hestia knows that ‘The Whoops’ keep their identities secret from the crowd, thus after their performance they’ll just packed up and leave immediately, they don’t entertain people after the show.

She’s just lucky to watched their shows in America as long as it’s in a closed venue like a theater, sports stadium or this time in a hotel event.

If only ‘The Whoops’ has a known schedule of shows to the public, Hestia would probably follow them everywhere just like when she’s into a band where in every concert she’s present, that’s how much she idolizes people who got her interest.

It was almost 1am when Hestia arrived at the South Mansion in the Nevaeh Residences.

Since she has her security team with her, Hearthof didn’t insist to drive her home.

The lights in the mansion are automatically turned off when the clock hits midnight, to conserve electricity.

Not that they care about the electric bill but it’s to conserve energy as their contribution to save mother earth.

Thus, only the moonlight illuminates the hallways and each room that has floor to ceiling windows.

Hestia doesn’t like staying out late as she hates the eerie feeling of walking in their castle-like mansion beyond midnight, specially when she stood in front of her bedroom door.

Although one of her ladies always accompany her until she gets into her room, she couldn’t help but to think of what’s in the room across her.

It’s Pluto’s room, a perfect Halloween themed room as everything in there is red and black, not to mention his collection of scary things in his own basement, underneath his own bedroom.

The room across hers is more like a haunted house in the theme parks and it traumatized her for good until now.

“Roro will you stay in my room for tonight?” Hestia pleaded.

Roro smiled helplessly at her mistress. “If that’s what you like, Miss Hestia.” she opened Hestia’s bedroom door and let Hestia in first as she followed behind her.

“I really hate Toto’s room!” Hestia harrumphed as she turned on the lights of her room. “Of all the things to collect, why on earth he fancies those scary stuffs?!!”

“That’s how your third brother is Miss Hestia.” Roro assisted Hestia to unzipped the back of her dress.

“Thanks. You go ahead and prepare your bed on the sofa; I’ll take a quick shower first. If you also want to take a bath before you sleep, you know where to get my spare pajamas.” Hestia said.

“Yes, Miss Hestia.” Roro is delighted in her heart that her mistress is kind-hearted and treated her as well as the other ladies that serves her like family and not just subordinates.

People’s impression with Hestia is an aloof princess of the Nevaeh clan, they all think that she looks down upon everyone since she’s from a noble and wealthy and noble family.

Only her family, the people that serves their family, and two real friends, knows her real personality.

Although Hestia is a spoiled brat, a sassy girl, and will never be nominated for the miss friendship award, she’s not that bad of a person to be with once you know her better.

But it’s that easy to enter Hestia’s life as she’s been too cautious with everyone’s intention for approaching her.

Blame it on the people who used her kindness for their own benefits, they changed her from the innocent, happy girl with full of smiles every time and doesn’t know how to say no to others, into someone skeptical with people’s intentions, she’s tired of the Pop, Pop, it’s showtime when it’s time to reveal their true colors.