Angel dropped Beth off right around the time Alastor was about to begin his performance. Rosie happily gave the girl a seat up front so she could watch her big brother sing on stage. Beth noticed that some of the audience members appeared to be very eager, especially the ladies. Some were even reapplying their make up. These were the random women Rosie had pulled aside yesterday to watch Alastor's audition.
"And now ladies and gentlemen. I shall start off tonight with a story." Rosie announced as she took the stage. "A handsome prince who's charm can make any woman weak in the knees yet no female can ever turn his head. Not even the most exquisite painted ladies or the most elegant princesses. Why? Because he has a heart that's as cold as mine, one that's incapable of love. But many cold hearts exist behind dashing smilies. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for my newest act, Alastor."
She exited the stage and the curtains were pulled back. The spotlight was shining bright and there stood Alastor. With the snap of his fingers, music started to play, and the song began.
"Well it's cold and it's windy, and the snowflakes are heavy like a dead man body,
Whatever the weather I got you under my skin.
But now it's time for me to climb the top of the hill again and spit all your feathers,
Birdie lady, spit all your body.
I can't believe I can't stand to believe, you know I can even think.
Oh I can't believe I can't stand to believe, you know I can't even think,
About the idea of losing you again."
Just like when he auditioned, all who heard him sing were beyond amazement. Most of them came in thinking that Rosie's new act would be mediocre at best but this man far exceeded those expectations.
"Well it's cold and windy, and the snowflakes are heavy like a dead man body,
I can't even think about the idea of losing you again.
Whatever the weather,
Whatever the weather,
Whatever the weather,
Whatever the weather,
Whatever the weather.
Whatever the weather I got you,
Whatever the weather I got you,
Whatever the weather I got you under my skin.
Whatever the weather I got you,
Whatever the weather I got you,
Whatever the weather I got you under my skin.
Whatever the weather I got you,
Whatever the weather I got you under my skin."
The audience couldn't contain their awe. They clapped and cheered madly for him. He was stupendous. Incredible, terrific, fame worthy.
"He really is a prince." Swooned a few women who were quite smitten with him.
"Thank you, thank you." Alastor responded to the applause. "You're all too kind."
Beth was happy to see how well the crowds responded to her brother's act but she didn't like how some of the women were practically throwing themselves at him. As much as she wanted Alastor to be with someone special, she didn't want him to be with some shallow bimbo. These ladies didn't really want him, they just wanted his handsome face and talented skills.
"Thirsty darlin?" Rosie placed a tasty cherry vanilla shake on the table where Beth sat. "It's on the house."
"Thank you." She took a sip of the creamy yet tart ice cream beverage. "This is delicious. The best shake I ever had."
"It's my own recipe. Well actually my mother's but she passed it on to me. Everything is from scratch. The ice cream is homemade, I get the milk from a local dairy farmer, and I grow my own cherries."
"You and my brother would probably get along real great in the kitchen. He's not one for sweets but he loves old fashioned cooking."
"I must say Beth, your brother is quite a catch with the fairer sex. Good looking, polite, talented, witty, and he can cook. If I was fifteen years younger and if he wasn't my old friend's boy, I'd go after him myself. And frankly I'm surprised that he's still single."
"He won't be much longer."
"What does that mean?"
"Let's just say I've met someone who's his type."
"Mmm...I wouldn't be so quick to play matchmaker if I were you. My last relationship was a set up and it didn't end well. In matters of the heart it's best to just leave it all to fate."
"I understand but sometimes fate needs a little help. Speaking of help, I was wondering if maybe you could help me with something."
"Oh no honey, I don't meddle in people's love lives."
"No not that. The thing is I'm taking some classes this summer and right now we have an upcoming culture project. I've decided to do mine on the culture of mythology and I heard that you might have some artifacts in that department."
"Where did you hear that?" Slight irritation was in her voice.
"Just from someone who lived around here."
"Dear lord! How many times do I have to tell those people that I am not a witch! I keep those things in memory of my Grammy! Nothing more!"
"Oh no I didn't mean it like that and neither did he. I just meant maybe one of them could be a reference to use with my paper."
"Oh...Sorry about that Beth. I shouldn't have gotten angry, it's just ever since that freak show Valentino moved here, he's been spreading awful rumors about me. Saying my Grammy was an evil witch and that all the women in my family were like that. Well if I'm a witch then he's the devil."
"How do you mean?"
"Never you mind. Just stay away from him and his circus. It's no place for children I promise you that."
"Okay." She said feeling slightly disturbed. "So can you help me with my project?"
"Maybe. A lot of what I have are family heirlooms but I suppose there are some less sentimental than others. Let's see what I've got."
The show was having an intermission at the moment so Rosie could leave the main room for awhile. She led Beth past the stage, down the hall, and toward a place in the way back. She pulled a key from the dress pocket and unlocked the door. Inside was a much bigger than expected room full of unusual and exotic looking items. African tribal masks, European artwork, small statues of peculiar looking creatures, an actual cauldron, shelves containing numerous books and bottles, and a large mirror hanging on a wall. All of the items were definitely out of the ordinary but it was the mirror that gave Beth a very odd feeling.
At first glance it seemed like a normal looking glass. It was beautiful, an antique, circular with a white edging that resembled snowflakes. But Beth suddenly had the instinct that this mirror was cold. She knew how ridiculous the notion was but the mirror's glass looked more like ice to her. She approached the mirror slowly and raised her hand to touch it to see if it felt as cold as she suspected.
"Oh no dear don't touch that." Rosie warned. "That mirror is the most important thing my grandmother left me. She specifically told me never to let anyone outside our family have it and to never let it get broken."
"Sorry." Beth said moving away from it.
"I suppose I could lend you one of these books. Or perhaps a mask or painting."
"What about what's in these bottles?"
"Oh they're nothing useful. Just homemade ointments, medicines, and perfumes my grandmother would sell."
Beth picked up a green bottle which bore the label: Troll Hair.
"Rosie why does this bottle say troll hair?"
"Oh...Um...Well when old age caught up with my Grammy's mind she started saying that they were really potions that she used to sell to mythical creatures."
"Really?"
"Yes. Utter nonsense really. She said the one in the green bottle could give a troll a full head of hair, the gold one could help a fairy grow back their wings, the clear one could change a mermaid's tail into legs."
Beth's eyes immediately targeted the small clear bottle. She noticed that it was almost entirely empty. There was only enough liquid for one swallow.
"Not much in the clear bottle." Beth observed.
"Yes. That's what I noticed too. She told me that's because that bottle in particular was sold to a mermaid years back and she had drank nearly the whole thing. But she pocketed what remained because even a small amount was still useful but it wouldn't have the exact same effects."
"How so?"
"She said that amount was only strong enough to give a mermaid legs if she was on dry land. Once she was wet again her tail would return. But none of that is true. Really I don't know where she came up with such outlandish ideas, because in actuality that's just a natural cough syrup."
"Uh-huh. Can I have it?"
"No!...I mean I don't know if that's such a good idea. I mean none of this has any actual magical properties but I wouldn't want anyone to accidentally drink that. I don't know what my grandmother put in it or what it could do to someone after enough time as passed. Here why don't I give you a miniature painting of a fairy ring?"
"No thanks. I'll choose something another time. It's getting late anyway."
"Good idea and I have to introduce the next act anyhow. So let's get going."
However as soon as Rosie turned her back, Beth cleverly slipped the clear bottle into her pocket.