The Illusionist Who Went Too Far

[anonymous]

"The Great Boydell, ladies and gentlemen!" London's elite looked up at the theatre stage. The stage was dominated by a tall man with perfect posture, dressed in a well-tailored black suit. The magician raised his hat to the crowd, and placed it on his head. Applause erupted. "As you know, magic is not to be trifled with. But when it comes to the art of the great Boydell, the word 'dangerous' might well be an understatement."

"I can't believe anyone is actually thinking of trying that," said a young man on the first row. His companion chuckled. "Why not? Corrigan's already walked on water!" A few people giggled at the reference to London's famous magician who was currently performing on a world tour.

"They've already had one near miss with that trick yesterday afternoon," another woman said, whispering so that only people who were next to them could listen to her. "Some fool tried to snag Boydell's hat as he set it atop his head."

"Hush! It's starting!" The magician pulled the pistol from his pocket and shot it into the air. The flashing of silver appeared his face and was followed by a sparkling set of shackles.

"I will now transport this man through any space I please!" After another flash, he vanished. The audience waited till they could see him reappear towards the back of the stage, next to an elaborate wooden cabinet with iron bands.

He slid open one side to reveal a person who was indistinguishable within. "We are safe behind these walls," Boydell explained as he pushed up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo on his wrist, similar to the one on the other magician's wrist.

In order to prove the power of his tattoo the illusionist then proceeded to slam his fist on the counter, making the sound of a loud bang.

"This is no trick," said the illusionist. He then pushed a pin into the skin of his body and fell to his knee in discomfort. The crowd screamed as one but their fears were diminished after Boydell stood up again with no visible evidence of injury.

"I believe that concludes our show for today!" Boydell announced a little too hurriedly for anyone's liking. "Please come back tomorrow so I can put on another magic spectacle you'll never forget!"

Even after the crowd had most of them gone, they were still discussing the incredible show they'd seen. In hushed voices, the viewers wondered if the event was actually a death-defying stunt or some stage magic trick.

"I tell you, Corrigan's the only magician worth seeing around here," an man in the top hat could be heard while he was whizzing his way through the crowd.

"If I had been held by these chains, do think they would have been able to escape? ..." The voice faded away as the group of men walked off.

In the backstage area which was connected to the Boydell's cabinet the old man with grey hair and a long beard stood alone staring at a large mirror. He wore a rough-spun robe and looked like an ordinary wizard more than anything else. "It won't be long now until I have what is rightfully mine!" He mused to himself as if there were other people present. In front of the ​http://greenapplestemcellpeel.com/ih2zn/magic-trick-gone-wrong-wife-died.html ian at the table was a deck cards.

The magician took them out and shuffled them, then began playing the first few hands. "That should be enough to get me started." In that instant, the door opened and he crashed into the deck in front of him like an entrapment. "Oh, it's you!"

"You didn't really think you could ever fool me with those card tricks?" Boydell was a bit irritated as he shut the doors behind him. The old man grinned.

"It won't matter soon enough because I'm not your opponent tonight," the man took his wand in his hands, holding it tightly as Boydell pulled his own from inside his coat pocket. "I am here to clean up this mess that has long been brewing between us!"

"Ladies and gentlemen! For tonight's performance, I have taken my usual tricks one step further!" "The Great Boydell took off his jacket and tie to reveal an exquisite white shirt as well as a gold medallion.

"Ladies and gentlemen, witness my absolute power!" After that The magician effortlessly lifted himself up with one hand and kept the pose while the audience applauded.

"You may be wondering how I performed that feat! The answer is simple: it's all in my hat!" He removed his top hat, revealing an animal cage that contained a variety of unidentified stuffed objects inside. "This is where my journey began." Boydell grabbed what looked like a pair of metal wings from the inside of his hat. "These wings took me everywhere." He sat these on the back of his head but they snapped off almost instantly.

He continued talking as he pulled out a variety of other props: mechanical glasses to walk in tightropes trumpet to playing inexplicably difficult tunes, and finally an old-fashioned camera. "And this final piece of my act was what started it all. And now, ladies and gentlemen... I give you... the man who took my photo!" Boydell removed his clothes to reveal a shabby older gentleman wearing only underwear. He attempted to lift himself up, but failed, and fell from the cage onto the floor with a tinny thud.

"Yes, ladies and gentlemen! This man was once me! He has traveled many years back in time!" Boydell took the weak man into the middle ring as he clutched at his heart before dropping to his knees. "He will attempt one final feat that I performed on this stage every night!" The older man took a step onto the middle stage and pulled out a deck of playing cards. "If he fails, then I fail! He will die if he cannot complete my act!"

"Three..."Two ..." The crowd was breathless while the man played the cards one last time. "One." He put his hand on top of them and slowly lifted it to reveal an Ace for every suit.

The applause was loud. Boydell walked over towards his old self for one last bow before returning to his hat with an oblique wave of his wand. The curtain fell, and the show ended.

As they finally opened, there stood a tall man wearing black attire with a white dragon embroidered on the chest. He took off his hat to reveal another bird cage that contained more stuffed objects inside. "Ladies and gentlemen! For tonight's performance, I have taken my usual tricks one step further!"

Boydell then sat up on one arm with ease before continuing with his routine.

After the show has ended, The Great Boydell waves at his audience, before setting down his top hat. The magician lifts the bird cage off the table and takes it backstage to perform the following night.

The magician puts the props back into the hat, making sure to recover his former self before taking them out to store. Once everything is set and ready, he changes into a different costume for the next night's show.