You Don't See Me (Now You See Me Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

A/N: A little long, sorry/not sorry.
                Also, all information on the tarot cards were taken from either my own interpretation or Wikipedia :) Enjoy.

Now, I planned to get to New York from Toronto without much of a hassle. So hopefully my frustration can be understood by you all when I say it did not go as planned.
                First, my roommate was refusing to let me go. She was against travelling to N.Y. just to see some person I didn’t know about something possibly relating to my magic. It took forever for me to convince her to calm down.
                Second, my flight was majorly delayed. Add that with traffic and annoying people and I was not in the best mood. Not to mention it was 4:34 and I only had 10 minutes to find 45 East Evan Street.
                Fun times, right?
                Currently I was standing in a Starbucks, coffee in one hand and phone in the other, impatiently waiting as a map loaded as to where East Evan Street was.
                Luckily for me it was only about a 3 minute walk away, assuming I don’t get stopped. Even if I did I should still make it in time.
                I adjusted the strap of the black-with-white-music-note bad I had with me and observed my outfit, making sure it was fine. I’m sometimes uncomfortable in public dressing up, but a simple red dress, black boots and black leather jacket was pretty harmless. My contacts were in so my glasses wouldn’t get in the way, and my black and red fedora was on my head as always with my brown hair curling down my back.
                Walking out the door I turned down the correct street and began walking to my destination. I mentally cursed myself though when I started to feel the nervousness creep in.
                “It’s fine. You’re totally fine, Celine. Keep your head up, don’t get too close to anyone and don’t take anyone’s shit...”
                “Excuse me!” a younger girl’s voice called after me, and I turned to see what seemed to be a 16 year old blonde chasing after me. “Miss Celine Rose?”
                “That would be me!” I replied cheerfully but warily. “What can I do for ya?”
                “I-I just wanted to say I’m a huge fan of your magic,” the girl-now a fan- grinned at me.
                I chuckled and felt my insides warm a bit. “Well thanks sweetheart! I don’t get many fans approaching me about that. Look I’d honestly love to chat but I’m nearly late for an appointment.”
                “Of course! I just can’t believe I met you,” the girl laughed giddily and waved as she turned around.
                “Uh, hey! Girl!” I called after her and she turned back. “I’m sorry, what was your name?”
                “Lydia,” she replied.
                “Well then Lydia,” I smiled weakly before passing her my standard deck of cards. “Here. I’ve used these for performances a lot. I usually have more time for fans so I really hope this counts as an apology.”
                The girl looked at the deck in amazement and took it slowly. “Thank you so much! But I can’t-“
                “You can,” I grinned, turning away. “Have a nice day!”
                “You too!” I heard her say after me.
                I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I love fans. Female magicians aren’t as popular, nor am I exactly large in places outside of Canada, or so I thought.
                The buildings went by quickly, and by the moment I reached East Evan Street and came across building 45 my cheery mood was vanishing quickly.
                What am I getting into?
                I walked into the building and looked up the stairwell before me, pausing slightly when I heard voices.
                The first one I heard was a male. “I’m sensing you are a control freak.”
                Another male voice chimed in. “I’m sorry, have we met before?”
                This time it was a female, and when her voice pitched in I started climbing the stairs. “It doesn’t take a mentalist to figure that out. You are a control freak.”
                “Well, I take that as a compliment,” the second voice spoke.
                “Only he would take it as a compliment,” the female said.
                “Good, another compliment.”
                I ascended the stairs to where they were and looked at what was a trio crowding a door. There was a pretty woman around my age with beautiful red hair, a slightly older guy wearing a fedora (I like him already) and...hello...a very attractive guy with pretty nice hair, cute eyes and overall just nice to look at.
                “Excuse me,” I said, catching their attention and stopping the fedora-wearing-guy from speaking, “but I don’t suppose any of you got a tarot card saying to come here, did you?”
                “Another beauty,” Fedora guy said, looking at me and smiling slightly. “How are you doing sweetheart, I’m Merritt McKinney.”
                “Lovely to meet ya Mr. McKinney,” I extended a hand to him which he shook. “You have the eyes of a mentalist.”
                “Pretty and smart,” he grinned at me, “and call me Merritt, please.”
                I nodded and turned to the pretty girl, who I realized too be Henley Reeves.
                “Honor to meet you Henley, the escape artist,” I grinned as she smiled brightly and shook my hand.
                “Trust me, I doubt it’s a honor.” She shook her head at me slightly.
                “Hey, meeting any famous female magician is an honor.” I turned around to face the last person, the cute guy. “And judging from what I heard before you must be the control freak!” Merritt laughed.
                The cute guy pulled a face but took my hand anyways when I held it out. “J. Daniel Atlas.” Hmm his voice wasn’t bad either...
                “Pleasure,” I smiled politely and stepped back from everyone slightly. “Umm...I’m-“
                “Celine Rose,” Henley spoke, making me blush a bit, “the Nightly Flower, right?”
                “My real name is Celine Williams, but yeah,” I chuckled and rubbed the back of my neck. “Sorry, I’m not used to being known outside of Canada.”
                “Oh, a Canadian girl!” Daniel looked me up and down, and I squirmed a bit in discomfort. “No wonder we got so many apologies and politeness.”
                I huffed slightly and returned the up and down look he gave me. “Trust me. I assume if I’m around you for much longer the politeness will vanish, and the apologies will be buried further up your ass than I’m sure your head already is.”
                He got a surprised look on his face as Merritt burst out laughing and Henley giggled.
                “Another mentalist?” Daniel glared at me.
                “Amongst many other things my love,” I said sarcastically.  “So do any of us know each other, or...”
                “He used to saw me in half,” Henley nodded to Atlas.
                “She was a very good assistant,” he said quickly.
                “But I was too fat for Danny,” she added angrily.
                “No,” he started to defend himself, “I said that one time because of the trap door.”
                “No one could fit through there,” she turned to him, seemingly ignoring Merritt and I who were making knowing eye contact. “No one.”
                “Rebecca fit though,” Daniel shot back. Shit he’s an asshole. “Rebecca fit for years.”
                “Do you know how hard it is to stay in those tiny little costumes?” I hear you sister.
                “Ah, no. I’m the main attraction.” And I thought you were cute you douche canoe.
                “Oh, so he never made you feel special?” I asked Henley sympathetically, glaring at the man in question.
                “And, trust me, you deserve to be made to feel special,” Merritt added on, borderline flirtatiously.
                “That’s a really nice story,” I noticed Daniel stuttered a bit when he talked. Hmm. “Hope you three enjoy each others’ company.” He turned to leave when another guy walked up the stairs.
                Damn. What is with the cute ones around here?
                “No way,” the new guy said, looking between Daniel and I in awe, causing us to exchange quick confused glances, “J Daniel Atlas? And Celine Rose? Dude, I have seen everything that both of you have ever done! You’re like...I-I idolize you. Both of you. Seriously.”
                “From a true fan. It’s so nice to meet you,” Daniel spoke earnestly and shook the guy’s hand, and I couldn’t help but feel confused. Suck up to the fans, maybe? If he talked like that to me I’d never guess he were an ass...or maybe just to women.
                “I’m flattered,” I smiled widely at the new guy and shook his hand when he extended his to me. “You said you were...?”
                “Jack Wilder,” he supplied with a very attractive smile. Damn my roommate would be all over him.
                “Question,” Merritt stepped in and pointed to his card, “did you get one of these?”
                “Yeah,” Jack pulled his out, “Death.”
                “The High Priestess,” Henley spoke.
                “The Moon,” I interjected.
                “I’m the Lover,” Daniel spoke smugly.
                “Three minutes,” Henley coughed into her hand, making me chuckle. We were going to be great friends.
                “Hermit,” Merritt said plainly.
                “I feel like I should have got that one,” I said absentmindedly, thinking of my social life. Jack and Merritt laughed at that.
                “Death,”  I thought to myself, “Commonly thought to mean physical death, though also implying an end of a certain relationship, interest, etc. Being caught in the inescapable is also a frequently thought interpretation, or even a psychological transformation. I wonder how that could relate to Jack...
                “The High Priestess can relate to holding or revealing a secret, or powerful feminine influence, a perfect woman in a man’s life, or being independently solo without a man. Other interpretations are knowingness, wisdom, sound judgment, common sense and intuition. I could already see how this would apply to Henley.
                “Daniel claimed to be the Lover. Most would assume associates to sexuality, desire, physical attraction, romance and passion. I know it also associates to the star sign Gemini, and could also relate to choice, doubt, dilemma and temptation. Like a choice of potential partners or something...interesting.
                “And finally Merritt, the Hermit, possibly meaning silence, reflection, guidance, solitude, inner search (funny for the mentalist) and deep understanding, along with distance and philosophical attitude. It could also be interpreted to mean the need to withdraw from society to become comfortable with oneself or even the return from his isolation to share the knowledge he gained with others.
                “But what could these things mean in regards to the others? Do the tarot cards even hold meaning or am I just trying to draw pointless conclusions to figure out their characters...?”
                “So, what are we...,” Jack started and broke me out of my analysis, “Are we waiting for someone else? Why are we just...?”
                “The door’s locked,” multiple voices chimed in.
                A smile appeared on Jacks face as he approached the door. “Oh no, nothing’s ever locked.”
                Seconds later the door was swinging open and I was drawing out my phone to use as a flashlight.
                “Nicely done Wilder,” I muttered appreciatively as we all walked past him into the room.
                “What is this place?” Henley questioned.
                “I’d like to know why 4:44 specifically,” Jack muttered.
                “Who knows,” I couldn’t help the slight sadistic grin that came on to my face, “I mean, the Japanese word for 4 is the same as the word for “die”, so maybe this person just really wants us to bite the dust.”
                “Wonderful,” Daniel spoke sarcastically, and I glared at him as he walked past me.
                “Wow,” I heard Merritt say as we observed the disgusting place, “Thought my apartment was nasty.”
                “Man, it’s freezing in here,” Jack spoke out, making me snort.
                “Awh, does the poor American want the Canadian girl’s jacket?” I questioned in a baby voice.
                “Ha ha,” he rolled his eyes and spoke sarcastically.
                I just winked at him as we all walked into what I assumed was the living room as it was a slightly more opened space.
                “What’s that?” Henley questioned as we spotted the folded up note, the vase, rose and design on the floor.
                “I don’t know,” Daniel spoke quickly, walking over to grab the note.
                “What’s it say?” Merritt spoke from behind me.
                “Now you don’t,” he read out.
                Henley walked forward and plucked a white rose off the ground and spoke as she placed it in the vase. “A rose by any other name...”
                “...Would smell as sweet,” I finished the quote for her quietly, just as the water from the vase started to move from the vase to the floor to the imprinted design.
                “Guys, what’s happening?” Jack questioned.
                “Look at that,” Merritt muttered as the water filled the imprinted design fully.
                “Woah,” Daniel and I spoke simultaneously, causing us to glare at each other.
                Suddenly some other mechanism was triggered, and the water began to change into dry ice, quickly filling the room.
                “It’s gas!” Jack started worriedly.
                “Relax, just dry ice,” Merritt reassured him.
                “Cool,” Henley said excitedly the same time the word “Sick,” fell from my mouth.
                “Wait,” Daniel looked up at us all, “what do you think this is all about?”
                “Hang on, Hang on,” Merritt spoke up, placing his hand to his temple in a Charles Xavier-esque way. We all looked at him in anticipation.
                “I got nothing,” he said eventually, shaking his head.
                “Thank you for the waste of time, Merritt,” I couldn’t help but think.
                “Okay, thank you,” Atlas spoke out. “Thank you for the delay.”
                “I don’t like that we have the same thought process.”
                “I’m just trying to create the space for wisdom,” Merritt defended himself, making me smile a bit.
                Daniel was about to reply (I assumed something rude and sarcastic) so I cut in and asked everyone what I knew we were all thinking. “Did anyone here do this?”
                “Danny?” Henley questioned him.
                “No,” he turned to Jack, “wait, did you?”
                “I wish,” Jack breathed out. “Celine?”
                “This is my first time in New York in years love,” I said absentmindedly, torn thinking between who might’ve done the trick and whether or not I should visit Jon.
                “Why didn’t anyone ask me if I did it?” Merritt asked us, sounding offended. When no one replied he just shook his head. “Oh, oh great.”
                I walked over to the light switch (of course at the same time as Atlas) and tried flicking it before he did.
                “The electricity is out I think,” I spoke up, looking to the others.
                “Well, let’s check,” Merritt reached up to the one light bulb above his head, turning it a bit and causing it to turn on.
                It set off some sort of chain reaction, and in awe we watched as projectors I hadn’t noticed before turned on.
                “Blueprints,” Henley and I spoke together, though I said it much more questioningly. What the hell is this about?
                “They’re incredible,” Daniel said.
                “Who do you think did this?” Jack asked us.
                “Who knows?” I muttered, processing the information the prints were showing. Whoever they were, they were smart. I don’t think they left a single trace.
                “I really want to meet them though,” Henley said in an awestruck voice.
                “It’s a show,” I informed them, putting everything together. “A risky but incredible show,” I laughed a bit.

                “Wow,” Merritt whispered.