Chapter 12: A Mermaid in a Bird Cage

She dashed from shadow to shadow, roof to roof, following the group of five. What a magnificent being. She certainly had never seen a creature like this Francoeur, nor could she understand how he came to be among the humans. To have friends, while in such a state. So far, humans seemed to appall and feel intimidated by monsters like her. How was this one different? How can he…control it?

The woman remained unseen from her position in an alley while the group returned to the inn. She wanted desperately to go inside and find Francoeur, to talk privately with him, but didn't want to explain herself in case she was caught. No humans would understand the plight of a lost creature.

It was hours later before anyone left the building. Her hopes deflated when she saw it was the tall, whining man and shorter gentleman.

"I don't know about this," the dwarf shared nervously.

"Relax, buddy. It's not like you have to come up with something tonight. It would be nice if you did, but I'm not complaining."

"Still."

"Look, we're going to have a good time, to see the GRE-E-A-T F-A-US-IN-O-O-O!" He spread his arms wide and lifted them up in mock grandeur before quickly bringing them down. "The MASTER of MIRA-A-A-GE!" He shook his hand for emphasis. The young woman watching close by couldn't help but be intrigued by his performance. "If inspirations strikes, good. If it doesn't, then we'll keep searching."

"Hm…I am curious as to what a magician's show looks like in person."

"Yeah! Watch, AND BE AMAZED with your own two eyes! Not the screen of your projector." He playfully slapped Emile on his arm.

"Then….let's go! Or we'll be late and have to sit in the back."

"Your wish is my command, sir!"

The men ran to the dented truck and sped off. The master of mirage? The girl thought to herself. This Great Fausino is a magician, but what is that and how is it amazing? Again, questions burned inside her head, and she wanted to put them out. It would be much easier, anyway, to follow these men from a distance than to get to Francoeur when he was inside, with those two women no doubt. And this investigation felt more exciting.

…

"Amazing!" The young woman cheered from the high beams of the building. She found an unlocked window in the high attic and made her way to the stage area, hidden high above the audience where none would suspect.

The tanned, well groomed man on stage captivated her with each device he brought on stage and his ability to slip out of any confines. She was awed by the cage that made a tiny bird disappear. It brought her great delight when the bird then flew out of Fausino's hands, because she had been worried that it was gone forever; but, perhaps, it went to a place better than here.

…

"Raoul! Be quiet!"

"But it's so obvious how he does it! He-"

"He's coming this way…"

"Calm down."

"Saying that never calms me down, especially from you."

Fausino greeted them with a suave smile, wiping his fingers on his oiled mustache before speaking, "Gentlemen, how would you like to join me on stage?"

"Uhm…"

"Why, I thought you would never ask." Raoul stood up and pulled his jacket down swiftly. He followed the magician to the stage, his chin held high, ready for whatever Fausino threw at him. He was still unprepared when a gorgeous woman came crashing into him from behind the curtains. "Oomph!" She was dressed in a constricting skirt, with sequins adorning all around, and a blouse that resembled seaweed

"Oh, dear. It seems that my assistant lost her way to the sea." The crowd laughed with the magician. "Mi sirena, follow the other foul stench on stage." The audience laughed again while Raoul let out an undignified sound. Fausino pulled the curtain back to reveal a large water container hanging from the ceiling, connected to chains and a series of ropes.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, my partner will demonstrate the true skills of our art. Young man, will you help me restrain her?" The two wrapped her in the rope and tied her hands together. With a tug, Raoul was satisfied with his handy work and stepped away. Fausino grabbed the chain and connected it to a device that cranked loudly.

"For those of you sitting up front, it may be wise to move," the performer said while looking up at the water trap in the ceiling that started to sway back and forth when the chain was connected. Fausino pulled a lever and the woman began her act. The chain rang as it was pulled oh so slowly back. Most of the ropes were removed easily by the woman, except for one that kept her right hand secured to the rope. Fausino's partner looked pleadingly to Raoul, who couldn't resist running up to her to help. At the last moment, she quickly slipped out of the knot and ran off, leaving Raoul under the trap. The water was set free and it soaked the confused man down to the soles of his shoes. The audience cheered and laughed heartily at the sight. The escape artist approached Raoul,

"Learn to tie a proper knot," was all she said before leading him backstage to get dry. From onstage, the magician had a smug look on his face and he continued his show.

…

Her lungs protested against the abundant laughing she was doing. What a truly amazing show this turned out to be. Unfortunately, it was cut short for her. Some of the men in the audience heard her up in the air and they alerted the stage hands. They tried to catch her, but she was too light in a mood to let her fun end so soon. She swiftly swung across onto a ledge out of their reach and dashed to the curtains. The magician was entertained, so he let her be. There wasn't much damage she could do exploring backstage. His secrets were locked away from prying eyes.

A long tablecloth hung off a rack, one Fausino used to make a ball levitate in the air. She tried using it to make an orange float, but she couldn't figure it out. With a shrug, she returned the items to their place. Mentally, she catalogued all the strange things she found, some she recognized and others that remained mysterious. There was the distant sound of applause echoing around the building that made her smile. It was a small comfort, feeling as though the people were cheering for her. It felt like acceptance.

Squish, squish, squish. There was a strange sound coming from down the hall, near the dressing rooms. There was a trail of water leading there too. Oh, that whiny man is back here. She waited outside of the rooms, crouching down on a beam for the roof. There was a better view up here. And she wanted to be stealthy.

The cloud haired man stepped out minutes later with the escapist. The sirena woman. She really was beautiful with long brown hair that shone like silk. Her eyes had a kind, but mischievous glint to them when she looked at the man. She practically radiated pride.

"Thanks for the towels," Raoul mumbled from underneath the fabric.

"It was the least we could do…and you presented a slipping hazard."

"Couldn't have that could you?"

"I care about those that are respectful to us, so yes."

It was curious how the man refused to meet her gaze. He sighed quietly, reluctant to continue the conversation. The woman turned to leave, not planning to wait for him, but he spoke up before she could leave.

"I'm sorry." He lifted his head to try to catch her expression, but she didn't turn around. He continued, "You both were great, I enjoyed the show, but it-it wasn't…it didn't help like I had hoped it would."

"Trying to distract yourself from something?"

"Well, okay, yes, but I was also looking for inspiration. I'm an inventor, you see, and I haven't been able to make my ideas into reality. I feel like I've lost my touch, the…the connection that links me to my passion."

"And magic is like a window through the forces of the universe, where for a moment you believe in the impossible, and leave it to that…it can make a man do incredible things."

"I used to believe I could do incredible things. Now, I'm not so sure."

The woman silently turned around to face him, her face contorted from a grimace to a frown, then she set her mouth into a thin line. His story was no stranger to her, for she had lived it many years ago. She spoke gently to him, "If it means anything, no one's ever been able to figure out Fau's tricks just from watching in the audience. There's been plenty of competitors that would try, but they'd usually have to see his contraptions up close to understand."

"I'm probably wrong then."

"Oh really? Hm. There's one way to find out." She took his hand in hers and lead him to another room. The woman in the rafters followed suit, hanging upside down by the doorway to peak inside. She hung onto her hair so that it wouldn't swing too far in and expose her. The two humans were tinkering with the small machines the magician had on stage, using terms she never heard before. The more contraptions they viewed, the more the man seemed to brighten up, and the woman did too. The scene was light and tranquil…the perfect picture of serenity. The serene sirena. Beautiful words, slipped right off the tongue. Serene. Sirena. Serene. Sirena. Her body began to swing to her mantra, hands releasing the hold on her hair. She lifted herself up, jumping across the wooden supports with grace and landing on the ground softly before bursting back up. There was energy surging under the surface of her skin, trying to break away, but she didn't feel the need to run. No, she felt content in her actions, floating through the air like the birds in the sky.

The applause in the background elevated, then ceased. She paid no mind to the sound of footsteps approaching until a voice permeated her ears.

"Never in all my days have I seen someone with such life in her movements." Fausino smiled at her and extended his hand as an invite to join him on the ground. She paused to shake his hand, but proceeded to fly across his head. On her way, she snatched the cap on his head and placed it upon hers. He grinned at her antics.

"You have good taste, but I'm going to need that back. My wife will be livid if I lose another hat." The woman lowered herself down enough for him to reach the hat, messing his hair while he removed it from her.

"Troublesome little sprite."

"No," she sang, "I'm Serena."

Fau laughed and shook his head at her, "Pleasure to meet you, Serena." The woman stopped again to review her words. She didn't realize what she had said until he repeated it. Thinking it over, she accepted the name, it being the two beautiful words she adored. She hung herself upside down again, using her legs to hang onto the wooden beam. Fau seemed distracted.

The magician looked around and spotted his assistant with the rude man, in the room of his inventions.

"Caroline! What are you doing?"

"Testing the man's theories about your magic."

"How da-"

"If he could learn your tricks from twenty feet away, then that means you're not hiding your secrets well enough."

"I-"

"He explained in explicit detail how each and every prop you presented worked without me even bringing it out."

"I don't understand the escaping acts," Raoul added in fear of causing trouble for the woman. " That's still a wonder to me. I loved the show, but I've had a rough couple of days. Travel restlessness."

Fausino was silent before his face burst into a wide smile. He was a very forgiving man. The three conversed about the show, finding areas that needed improvement and those that needed no adjustments. Eventually, Serena stepped into the room and approached the bird cage. No one noticed her, until the cage snapped and collapsed under her curious hands. She gasped at the sight, her mind slowly coming to a horrifying conclusion. Fau tried to make up an explanation, seeing the panic in her eyes. He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but she couldn't feel it. Numbness was capturing her body, her hands shook slightly as she stared down at the metal wires. Everyone froze once she spoke.

"So it did go to a place better than here." There was shouting as she fled, and it shook her to the core, but not enough so to cripple her flight response. Her feet remained rooted to the ground when she ran onto the stage, down the aisles, and out the exit. There was no light feeling dizzying her head. No weightlessness. No serenity. Only the burning in her legs.