The Magician
A/N Tis the season! I was going to upload this on christmas day but my evil brother kicked me off the computer. I'm a little disheartened about my lack of reviews.. Come on guys this story is'nt that awfull!
Thank you to my loyal fan anime maniac , and to Alexis. Alexis your reviews are really great , and they help me continue writing this.
The customer was very concerned when they found the corpse of a young lady sprawled across the thresh hold of the fairy knook gift shop.
" Dear lord what's wrong with her!" The customer , a young women with bleached blonde hair cried stooping down over the stricken form. Mrs. McGraney looked up tiredly from where she had been placing price stickers on a set of fairy wind chimes.
"Nothing , she's just playing" she said tiredly and she glanced down at the corpse.
"Get up Amy , your disturbing people" her mother snarled and Amy groaned.
" I think I'm dying of boredom , or maybe I'm just dying" Amy managed to say before slumping back down again.
" What a funny little girl" the customer said stepping over Amy and into the shop.
" She's protesting , I had to drag her in here today because her fathers gone off to sell some cattle at the markets" Mrs. McGraney replied with much rolling of the eyes.
" Let me guess , she wants to stay home and play computer games?" The customer asked and Mrs. McGraney nodded.
" Or watch television , children these days.. There practically computers!" Mrs. McGraney said spitting a sticker out of her mouth.
"Arty's exactly the same , always poking away on some electric thing I don't under stand.. He does not even watch wrestling" the customer smiled conspiracy her bright pink shiny lips parting slightly. Amy glanced at the customer slyly through half lidded eyes. The customer was a muscular young woman , although not to masculine. She was dressed in a crisp stylish pink sun dress with a pair of plastic platform sandals. Her bleached hair had been gathered up in a series of glittery neon butterflies and a bright pink hand bag hung around her ankles.
"Is Arty your brother , or your son?" Her mother asked conversationally as the customer eyed a rack of fairy theme jewelry.
" Oh no , I work for his family my brother does as well" the woman replied shaking her hand distracted.
" Good grief , I cant be having kids it will ruin my figure!" She laughed . Amy's mother who was on the pudgy side openly glared at the customer with jealousy.
" I know what you mean , I had to have a caesarian with Amy" Her mother replied and Amy openly cringed with embarrassment . What was with mothers and constantly talking about embarrassing things such as pregnancy , foot fungus , or medical infliction's in public?
" Ohh those hurt something awful my mum says" the customer nodded with sympathy and she selected a neck lace.
" I saw your shop on my way through the village , its so totally cute.. The trailing ivy and the statue of puck at the front!" The customer squealed placing the necklace on the counter. Tripping on her high heels the customer then wandered towards the shelf of fairy theme books.
" Lots of tourists seem to enjoy this place" her mother grinned proudly and Amy rolled her eyes. The customer was bound to leave with at least all the stock in her arms claiming they were presents for friends or relatives.
"OOOOhhhh you sell that glittery make up stuff , and look how cheap it is!" The customer squealed grabbing several handfuls.
"What's your name?" Amy suddenly asked.
" Amy don't be so rude!" Her mother scolded her.
" I want to know what her name is!" Amy snarled and the customer giggled impishly.
" Your such a strange little girl , just like my arty.. Of course he isn't actually a girl" the customer said cocking her head to one side as if she was trying to think very hard.
" My names Juliet" Juliet smiled and Amy blinked.
" you mean like Romeo and Juliet?" She asked and the girl nodded.
" I hated that play" Amy said sourly and she collapsed on the floor once again.
" Don't mind her , the brats just hit puberty and she's constantly whining about something" Mrs. McGraney grumbled and Amy merely snorted. Juliet grinned jubilantly and added a few more books to her purchases.
" I need something to read , I'm on my way to Russia" Juliet grinned.
"Vacation?" Mrs. McGraney asked.
" I wish , my employers husband whose been missing for three years was just found in a dirty hospital" Juliet whispered her eyes lighting up with gossip.
"Ooh er , sounds just like east enders!" Mrs. McGraney cried.
"Doesn't it? any way I was with Mrs. Fowl in one of those fancy spa's when we received a call about her husband. We went back to the manor to pack a few things , and now were on our way to her private air terminal" Juliet said conversationally placing the books on top of the necklace.
" Did you just say Mrs. Fowl?" Amy asked sitting up.
" yes little girl" Juliet replied impatiently.
" Is she married to the Mr. Fowl whose very rich?" Amy asked again.
" Yes" Juliet answered her and she proceeded to pull a credit card out.
" Mrs. Fowl is just outside , she needed to stop and go to the bathroom . Now she's upset because there making her buy something at the cafe" Juliet addressed Mrs. McGraney ignoring Amy completely.
" She could have used the one in the service station for free" Mrs. McGraney said helpfully.
" Mrs. Fowl does not like use service station bathrooms" Juliet said proudly and Mrs. McGraney noisily put the books in a pink plastic bag with a picture of tinker bell on it.
"What about Mr. Fowls son?" Amy asked and Juliet gave her a cold look.
" How do you know about Arty?" She asked and Amy shrugged her shoulders.
" I read about him in the papers" she lied and Juliet gave her a suspicious glance.
" Be care full what you read kid" Juliet laughed menacingly stepping over Amy in her wobbly heels.
"Amy you never read the papers" Mrs. McGraney whispered once Juliet had left.
" I figured I better start" Amy replied.
By that evening the news was in all the national papers. Billionaire Artemis Fowl senior , had been found outside a hospital in Russia. The media was astounded , they called the situation a miraculous discovery. After all there had been no sign of the prominet business man for nearly three years , then suddenly he was found alive and well bar a missing leg. The interviews all said pretty much the same thing. Artemis Fowl senior could not remember a single thing during his ordeal , his last memory was saying fair well to his family in Dublin. His family had been quoted and misquoted dozens of times. Several papers had taken photo's of a very innocent Artemis Fowl junior sitting next to his fathers hospital bed. One photo featured a familiar blonde woman standing next to Mrs. Angeline Fowl. Mrs. McGraney crowed with excitement.
" We saw her didn't we Amy ? She told us before the media did!" She laughed noisily tearing the article out of the paper. Farmer McGraney's shaggy eye brows shot up with genuine astonishment. James grabbed the news paper clipping eagerly.
" This girl was in your shop? God she's such a hottie!" He growled biting into his mashed potato.
" James , we do not discuss that sort of thing at the dinner table" her mother pointed out. James just reached towards the photo of Juliet and quickly put it in the pocket of his vest.
"Its a tragedy really , loosing a leg" there father suddenly sighed.
" Oh I don't know honey , he could probably afford to buy another one" Mrs. McGraney pointed out. She opened the sugar canister suspiciously and sniffed it.
" Whose replaced all the white sugar with brown?" She suddenly asked.
" Granny did , she says that white sugar is unhealthy" said amy.
" Your mother was here" she stated coldly and Farmer McGraney had the decency to blush bright red.
" She was just helping out with the kids while you were away luv" he said defensively.
" You know how I feel about that women!" Her mother hissed and Amy looked up from her plate of sausages. This was new , she had always assumed that her mother liked granny.
" Dear , lets forget about it she's gone now" Farmer McGraney said soothingly. Amy was amusing herself by sorting her tarot cards into three different piles , the prettiest the scariest and the dullest.
" Hey my magicians gone!" She suddenly cried.
"Amy , you know your not supposed to be playing with things at the table!" Her mother scolded her.
"Put the cards away luv" her father suggested gently.
" But dad , one of the cards has gone and Granny said the packs really valuable!" Amy pointed out.
" Put the cards away Amy" her mother said sternly and pouting amy scooped the cards up and placed them under her seat.
" you see what I mean Johnny? She's filling Amy's mind with all sorts of silly occult nonsense!" Mrs. McGraney whispered to her husband furiously.
" This is coming from a women who owns a fairy theme gift shop" he shot back and Mrs. McGraney flushed red.
" That's completely different and you know it is!" She hissed.
"Um" James muttered. The warring couple looked up and realized their two children were staring at them very intently.
" Amy clear the plates" Her mother ordered her.
" James , go bring desert out" her father responded. Amy and James both looked at each other and realized there parents meant it. Reluctantly they cleared the table together and retreated towards the kitchen.
Amy scrubbed at the plates , the sound of crickets and the radio drowning out her parents. Amy's mother always made traditional roast dinners for lunch on Sundays. It usually consisted of at least three courses and desert. Amy had often protested trying to convince her mother that no one ate Yorkshire pudding or lamb any more but Mrs. McGraney refused to listen.
"You do realize this is all your fault" James suddenly said pulling a custard and jelly dish out of the freezer.
" You have no idea what your talking about" Amy said sternly scraping the potato into the compost bin.
" they never fight over granny giving me chocolate , their fighting because of the weird presents granny gives you" James continued pulling several bowls out of the draw.
" Shut up James" Amy warned her brother coldly and James slammed his lips together.
"No! Your only telling me to shut up because you know I'm right!" Her brother said a little to coldly. Amy's eyes met him , and for a brief second the mind of a twenty three year old man gazed at her through the fog of stupidity.
"They've stopped fighting , go take the desert out" Amy merely said a little to quietly. James furiously grabbed the desert , but he remained silent. Amy sighed with relied and she returned to the kitchen sink. She placed the plates into the sink and filled it up with soapy water. Her eyes lit up with surprise , she could see a delivery van moving down the dirt road and towards the farm house.
" Mum ! Dad! There's a delivery!" She yelled and there was a pause in the conversation. Both her parents came into the kitchen puzzled expressions on their faces.
" Are they delivering you stock?" Her father asked and Mrs. McGraney shook her head.
" No , they would take it directly to the store" she replied.
" What about you?" She asked her husband and he shook his head.
" I'm not expecting anything for at least a week , besides its Sunday.. No mail" he pointed out. There was a knock at the door. The McGraney family gazed at the front hall way apprehensively.
" I'll get it" James suddenly said bounding towards the door way. A few moments later he peered in anxiously.
"Dad there's a delivery for the farm , but it has no name on it" he said a very confused expression on his face. The remaining McGraney's approached the front door where a gangly delivery man stood a gigantic box in front of him.
" Any of you can sign for it , I think its for the farm in general" he said and slowly Farmer McGraney marched towards the delivery man. With a flourish he signed the form.
" Thank you , now go away your interrupting our dinner" he said a little to rudely. The delivery man just glared at them all with contempt and returned to his truck.
"Johnny that was uncalled for" Mrs. McGraney said and John shook his head.
" I've got my suspicions luv , any way we best be opening it" he admitted reluctantly and it turned out James was way ahead of him .Amy anxiously tucked a strand of hair behind one ear while watching her brother open the crate. The box fell apart , revealing something quite surprising.
"A bike" Mrs. McGraney gasped. It was a bike , a beautifull women's sports bike in a rich shade of royal purple with gleaming handle bars and a comfortable leather seat.
" It's mine!" James cried eagerly.
"Don't be to ridicules its much to small for you , it must be for me!" Amy said hungrily eyeing the cycle. For the life of her she had no idea who could have possible sent it to her. The bike was expensive and most of the people she knew could barely afford to buy her a candle for Christmas.
" is this your idea of a joke Johnny? Spoiling her like this?" Her mother asked.
"Me? I have no idea what your talking about!" Farmer McGraney cried holding up his hands in defeat.
" I thought we agreed we wouldn't give her a new bike until her birthday!" Mrs. McGraney stated.
" I did'nt give her the blasted bike" Farmer McGraney said coldly and Mrs. McGraney bit her lip realizing she would have to believe him. Meanwhile , Amy had noticed the thick white envelope stuck to the bikes handle bars. She ripped it off eagerly , the envelope was blank with no form of identification. She shook it experimentally , and heard a rustle . Amy ripped the envelope open and shook out the piece of paper. It was a piece of paper which had been printed of a laser jet printer. Typed neatly , in courier bold font was a single sentence.
Consider this a replacement.
However , the sentence was not what filled Amy with vague horror and dread , for printed underneath the text was a picture. A scanned image of her missing tarot card. The magician.
A/N Tis the season! I was going to upload this on christmas day but my evil brother kicked me off the computer. I'm a little disheartened about my lack of reviews.. Come on guys this story is'nt that awfull!
Thank you to my loyal fan anime maniac , and to Alexis. Alexis your reviews are really great , and they help me continue writing this.
The customer was very concerned when they found the corpse of a young lady sprawled across the thresh hold of the fairy knook gift shop.
" Dear lord what's wrong with her!" The customer , a young women with bleached blonde hair cried stooping down over the stricken form. Mrs. McGraney looked up tiredly from where she had been placing price stickers on a set of fairy wind chimes.
"Nothing , she's just playing" she said tiredly and she glanced down at the corpse.
"Get up Amy , your disturbing people" her mother snarled and Amy groaned.
" I think I'm dying of boredom , or maybe I'm just dying" Amy managed to say before slumping back down again.
" What a funny little girl" the customer said stepping over Amy and into the shop.
" She's protesting , I had to drag her in here today because her fathers gone off to sell some cattle at the markets" Mrs. McGraney replied with much rolling of the eyes.
" Let me guess , she wants to stay home and play computer games?" The customer asked and Mrs. McGraney nodded.
" Or watch television , children these days.. There practically computers!" Mrs. McGraney said spitting a sticker out of her mouth.
"Arty's exactly the same , always poking away on some electric thing I don't under stand.. He does not even watch wrestling" the customer smiled conspiracy her bright pink shiny lips parting slightly. Amy glanced at the customer slyly through half lidded eyes. The customer was a muscular young woman , although not to masculine. She was dressed in a crisp stylish pink sun dress with a pair of plastic platform sandals. Her bleached hair had been gathered up in a series of glittery neon butterflies and a bright pink hand bag hung around her ankles.
"Is Arty your brother , or your son?" Her mother asked conversationally as the customer eyed a rack of fairy theme jewelry.
" Oh no , I work for his family my brother does as well" the woman replied shaking her hand distracted.
" Good grief , I cant be having kids it will ruin my figure!" She laughed . Amy's mother who was on the pudgy side openly glared at the customer with jealousy.
" I know what you mean , I had to have a caesarian with Amy" Her mother replied and Amy openly cringed with embarrassment . What was with mothers and constantly talking about embarrassing things such as pregnancy , foot fungus , or medical infliction's in public?
" Ohh those hurt something awful my mum says" the customer nodded with sympathy and she selected a neck lace.
" I saw your shop on my way through the village , its so totally cute.. The trailing ivy and the statue of puck at the front!" The customer squealed placing the necklace on the counter. Tripping on her high heels the customer then wandered towards the shelf of fairy theme books.
" Lots of tourists seem to enjoy this place" her mother grinned proudly and Amy rolled her eyes. The customer was bound to leave with at least all the stock in her arms claiming they were presents for friends or relatives.
"OOOOhhhh you sell that glittery make up stuff , and look how cheap it is!" The customer squealed grabbing several handfuls.
"What's your name?" Amy suddenly asked.
" Amy don't be so rude!" Her mother scolded her.
" I want to know what her name is!" Amy snarled and the customer giggled impishly.
" Your such a strange little girl , just like my arty.. Of course he isn't actually a girl" the customer said cocking her head to one side as if she was trying to think very hard.
" My names Juliet" Juliet smiled and Amy blinked.
" you mean like Romeo and Juliet?" She asked and the girl nodded.
" I hated that play" Amy said sourly and she collapsed on the floor once again.
" Don't mind her , the brats just hit puberty and she's constantly whining about something" Mrs. McGraney grumbled and Amy merely snorted. Juliet grinned jubilantly and added a few more books to her purchases.
" I need something to read , I'm on my way to Russia" Juliet grinned.
"Vacation?" Mrs. McGraney asked.
" I wish , my employers husband whose been missing for three years was just found in a dirty hospital" Juliet whispered her eyes lighting up with gossip.
"Ooh er , sounds just like east enders!" Mrs. McGraney cried.
"Doesn't it? any way I was with Mrs. Fowl in one of those fancy spa's when we received a call about her husband. We went back to the manor to pack a few things , and now were on our way to her private air terminal" Juliet said conversationally placing the books on top of the necklace.
" Did you just say Mrs. Fowl?" Amy asked sitting up.
" yes little girl" Juliet replied impatiently.
" Is she married to the Mr. Fowl whose very rich?" Amy asked again.
" Yes" Juliet answered her and she proceeded to pull a credit card out.
" Mrs. Fowl is just outside , she needed to stop and go to the bathroom . Now she's upset because there making her buy something at the cafe" Juliet addressed Mrs. McGraney ignoring Amy completely.
" She could have used the one in the service station for free" Mrs. McGraney said helpfully.
" Mrs. Fowl does not like use service station bathrooms" Juliet said proudly and Mrs. McGraney noisily put the books in a pink plastic bag with a picture of tinker bell on it.
"What about Mr. Fowls son?" Amy asked and Juliet gave her a cold look.
" How do you know about Arty?" She asked and Amy shrugged her shoulders.
" I read about him in the papers" she lied and Juliet gave her a suspicious glance.
" Be care full what you read kid" Juliet laughed menacingly stepping over Amy in her wobbly heels.
"Amy you never read the papers" Mrs. McGraney whispered once Juliet had left.
" I figured I better start" Amy replied.
By that evening the news was in all the national papers. Billionaire Artemis Fowl senior , had been found outside a hospital in Russia. The media was astounded , they called the situation a miraculous discovery. After all there had been no sign of the prominet business man for nearly three years , then suddenly he was found alive and well bar a missing leg. The interviews all said pretty much the same thing. Artemis Fowl senior could not remember a single thing during his ordeal , his last memory was saying fair well to his family in Dublin. His family had been quoted and misquoted dozens of times. Several papers had taken photo's of a very innocent Artemis Fowl junior sitting next to his fathers hospital bed. One photo featured a familiar blonde woman standing next to Mrs. Angeline Fowl. Mrs. McGraney crowed with excitement.
" We saw her didn't we Amy ? She told us before the media did!" She laughed noisily tearing the article out of the paper. Farmer McGraney's shaggy eye brows shot up with genuine astonishment. James grabbed the news paper clipping eagerly.
" This girl was in your shop? God she's such a hottie!" He growled biting into his mashed potato.
" James , we do not discuss that sort of thing at the dinner table" her mother pointed out. James just reached towards the photo of Juliet and quickly put it in the pocket of his vest.
"Its a tragedy really , loosing a leg" there father suddenly sighed.
" Oh I don't know honey , he could probably afford to buy another one" Mrs. McGraney pointed out. She opened the sugar canister suspiciously and sniffed it.
" Whose replaced all the white sugar with brown?" She suddenly asked.
" Granny did , she says that white sugar is unhealthy" said amy.
" Your mother was here" she stated coldly and Farmer McGraney had the decency to blush bright red.
" She was just helping out with the kids while you were away luv" he said defensively.
" You know how I feel about that women!" Her mother hissed and Amy looked up from her plate of sausages. This was new , she had always assumed that her mother liked granny.
" Dear , lets forget about it she's gone now" Farmer McGraney said soothingly. Amy was amusing herself by sorting her tarot cards into three different piles , the prettiest the scariest and the dullest.
" Hey my magicians gone!" She suddenly cried.
"Amy , you know your not supposed to be playing with things at the table!" Her mother scolded her.
"Put the cards away luv" her father suggested gently.
" But dad , one of the cards has gone and Granny said the packs really valuable!" Amy pointed out.
" Put the cards away Amy" her mother said sternly and pouting amy scooped the cards up and placed them under her seat.
" you see what I mean Johnny? She's filling Amy's mind with all sorts of silly occult nonsense!" Mrs. McGraney whispered to her husband furiously.
" This is coming from a women who owns a fairy theme gift shop" he shot back and Mrs. McGraney flushed red.
" That's completely different and you know it is!" She hissed.
"Um" James muttered. The warring couple looked up and realized their two children were staring at them very intently.
" Amy clear the plates" Her mother ordered her.
" James , go bring desert out" her father responded. Amy and James both looked at each other and realized there parents meant it. Reluctantly they cleared the table together and retreated towards the kitchen.
Amy scrubbed at the plates , the sound of crickets and the radio drowning out her parents. Amy's mother always made traditional roast dinners for lunch on Sundays. It usually consisted of at least three courses and desert. Amy had often protested trying to convince her mother that no one ate Yorkshire pudding or lamb any more but Mrs. McGraney refused to listen.
"You do realize this is all your fault" James suddenly said pulling a custard and jelly dish out of the freezer.
" You have no idea what your talking about" Amy said sternly scraping the potato into the compost bin.
" they never fight over granny giving me chocolate , their fighting because of the weird presents granny gives you" James continued pulling several bowls out of the draw.
" Shut up James" Amy warned her brother coldly and James slammed his lips together.
"No! Your only telling me to shut up because you know I'm right!" Her brother said a little to coldly. Amy's eyes met him , and for a brief second the mind of a twenty three year old man gazed at her through the fog of stupidity.
"They've stopped fighting , go take the desert out" Amy merely said a little to quietly. James furiously grabbed the desert , but he remained silent. Amy sighed with relied and she returned to the kitchen sink. She placed the plates into the sink and filled it up with soapy water. Her eyes lit up with surprise , she could see a delivery van moving down the dirt road and towards the farm house.
" Mum ! Dad! There's a delivery!" She yelled and there was a pause in the conversation. Both her parents came into the kitchen puzzled expressions on their faces.
" Are they delivering you stock?" Her father asked and Mrs. McGraney shook her head.
" No , they would take it directly to the store" she replied.
" What about you?" She asked her husband and he shook his head.
" I'm not expecting anything for at least a week , besides its Sunday.. No mail" he pointed out. There was a knock at the door. The McGraney family gazed at the front hall way apprehensively.
" I'll get it" James suddenly said bounding towards the door way. A few moments later he peered in anxiously.
"Dad there's a delivery for the farm , but it has no name on it" he said a very confused expression on his face. The remaining McGraney's approached the front door where a gangly delivery man stood a gigantic box in front of him.
" Any of you can sign for it , I think its for the farm in general" he said and slowly Farmer McGraney marched towards the delivery man. With a flourish he signed the form.
" Thank you , now go away your interrupting our dinner" he said a little to rudely. The delivery man just glared at them all with contempt and returned to his truck.
"Johnny that was uncalled for" Mrs. McGraney said and John shook his head.
" I've got my suspicions luv , any way we best be opening it" he admitted reluctantly and it turned out James was way ahead of him .Amy anxiously tucked a strand of hair behind one ear while watching her brother open the crate. The box fell apart , revealing something quite surprising.
"A bike" Mrs. McGraney gasped. It was a bike , a beautifull women's sports bike in a rich shade of royal purple with gleaming handle bars and a comfortable leather seat.
" It's mine!" James cried eagerly.
"Don't be to ridicules its much to small for you , it must be for me!" Amy said hungrily eyeing the cycle. For the life of her she had no idea who could have possible sent it to her. The bike was expensive and most of the people she knew could barely afford to buy her a candle for Christmas.
" is this your idea of a joke Johnny? Spoiling her like this?" Her mother asked.
"Me? I have no idea what your talking about!" Farmer McGraney cried holding up his hands in defeat.
" I thought we agreed we wouldn't give her a new bike until her birthday!" Mrs. McGraney stated.
" I did'nt give her the blasted bike" Farmer McGraney said coldly and Mrs. McGraney bit her lip realizing she would have to believe him. Meanwhile , Amy had noticed the thick white envelope stuck to the bikes handle bars. She ripped it off eagerly , the envelope was blank with no form of identification. She shook it experimentally , and heard a rustle . Amy ripped the envelope open and shook out the piece of paper. It was a piece of paper which had been printed of a laser jet printer. Typed neatly , in courier bold font was a single sentence.
Consider this a replacement.
However , the sentence was not what filled Amy with vague horror and dread , for printed underneath the text was a picture. A scanned image of her missing tarot card. The magician.