Seeing is Believing

Where the the Dominos Fall

"No no no no this is all my fault. What are we gonna do?" Rosaline is pacing back and forth Infront of a contemplative Marco. " If I didn't get in over my head and needed you to save me, you and your theater wouldn't be in this mess." Before she could ramble any further a comforting hand appeared on her shoulder. "I would do it all again.' Marco spoke with a sincere smile. "Besides who said we're in trouble. Last I checked the the saying was the bigger they are the harder they fall, and I don't know about you but I feel like knocking down a whole bunch of dominos." His smile changed from warm to mischievous. Her face went from worried and panicked to a similar smile. " Come on after our last show of the night we have a few things to set up."

And so it went that they played out there shows like normal and then the night came. The front door to the lobby and men with Domino mask started to funnel in. " Man Bruno you sure we need to light this place up it looks like it'll fall to pieces if we left it alone for another week." The man joked while he shook the container of gasoline in his hand. A few of the other men chuckle at his comment. "Yah Yah you probably right, but boss wants to see this place burn and unless you want to be on his bad side I'd do it." The man leading the group said as he motioned the rest toward the stage area. After the last man walked in they noticed a series of torch's on stands lining the aisles. " What are they trying to make it easier for us?" The men all started laughing.

Then they all jumped the torch closest to them sprung to life. " My my my gentleman alittle late for an encore, but I don't mind." Three more torched lit up. The men couldn't tell what direction the voice was coming from. "I don't mind demonstrating some real magic for you all ." the voice spoke again. a panicked goon shouted while pulling a knife from his jacket. "SHOW YOURSELF" The fear was evident in his voice. "Well if you insist." A spotlight drew everyone's attention in the dimly lit room to the stage. On the stage was Marco holding a steel broad sword. The leader steeled his nerves and spoke. " You think you and one sword is gonna stop us from burning this place to the ground." He smirked he still had some of the other men confused if he wanted to convince them of any it need to be right here right now. So with as much showmanship as he could muster he made his gambit." Well yah me,this sword, and a some magic." He presses a jewel on the hilt with his left hand and moved his right along the blade making it light of with a beautiful flame. A few of the men recoiled back. Their leader turned to them and said. " You idiots magic isn't real it's all smoke and mirrors. " The men weren't sure what to believe."But Bruno how can he just make the fire appear on his sword like that." Before the Bruno had a chance to explain Marco swung the sword Infront of him in a commanding way and spoke. " Haven't you ever heard of pyromancy. Why with a swing my hand a burning sphere of flame will appear in my hand." He stepped to the side of the spot light making a swinging motion with his hand. Rosaline dropped a ball wrapped in black cloth and soaked in a flammable oil down from the catwalk above.

Marco rigged a lighter to his wrist and a pressure plate to activate it in the palm of his glove. When the ball landed it lit up like a miniature sun. The men were in awe. Marco proceeded to throw the ball at the man farthest to the back of the group. He barely ducked out of the way and if the men weren't panicked they would of heard the sound of a splash and then a metal plate moving. The ball had fallen into a secret compartment Marco used for similar tricks in shows. The man who was nearly hit and a few others looked for the flames to know avail. Marco started to walk off the stage toward the men. " Tell me Bruno can you explain that one. Since you guys wanted to see a fire so much how about this." He was but feet from the men. It was time to see if he did it. He breathed in a huge breath, and when he released it instead of air it was a roaring inferno filling the spacious room just out of reach of the walls and ceiling. It was mere inches from scorching the men's heads. When it ended the men near soiled themselves. Marco leaned over to the now cowering men."Boo" All it took was that and the men were climbing over each other fleeing through the lobby. The moment they had left the double doors to the outside they were greeted with several law enforcement vehicles and officers. A commanding woman in a suit stepped through the officers and spoke into a megaphone. " Your all under arrest for breaking and entering and from the look of those gas canisters let's add attempted arson come quietly and we won't add anything else." Bruno started to say "LIKE HELL WE WI.." He became frozen from the voice that came from behind them. " I think you should go with them. You look like you all need to calm down maybe .....take a deep....breath." When they heard the word breath what just happened flashed through their minds and they ran right towards the officers nearly climbing into the cars themselves. While her officers detained the criminals the police chief approached Marco. " Hello mister Vanguard I am police chief Maria Wisemen are you alright?" He responded "Yes thank you for coming I wasn't sure would." She waved her hand in a casual manner." When Rosaline came to me with the tip off I knew it was credible. She was always a smart girl and I keep telling her she should move on and study to be an investigator." Rosaline was a few feet behind them. she overheard them and she was sad for a moment. She quickly shook it off and than ran up and hugged Chief Wiseman exclaiming "Aunt Maria!" She reacted by saying "Nice to see you too little rose. So where you been staying lately." She pulls back and grabs her arm shyly. "Well I'm actually staying with Marco here." The chief looked to Marco and Back to Rosaline " Hey Rosaline do you mind if I talk to him alone for alittle bit." She hesitantly left the two to talk. " So how did she end up with you? I'm also curious as to why these guys were here and to why they ran screaming?" He palmed the back of his neck." Well she told me what happened. She also asked me to help her but I declined but I couldn't let her stay in motels after what I heard. So I offered her the spare room in my apartment. As for the men I'm sorry but a magician does have to keep his secrets." She looked him over intently and said " Well you seem like a decent person. I suppose it's fine although I'll be around to check on her. Maybe I'll catch a show or two. I was friends with her parents. They were my best investigators." The chief grows a solemn expression across her face. Marco inquires to her "Do you mind me asking if you were so close to her and her family why hasn't she been staying with you?" It was Maria's turn to look sad and hesitant before saying " Well she did for a little while but I was never home. I live more at the office then my house. She felt like she was freeloading and decided to leave. I'm sure you've seen how strong willed she can be. Well she wouldn't take no for an answer. One day I came home and she wasn't there. When I finally found her I was furious. We ended up making up awhile later. I made her promise to tell me where she was staying and here we are." Marco felt bad for asking. He felt he held her up long enough. While they talked all the other police cars had left with the dominos in tow. " Umm thank you for your time. I promise to keep the kid safe. Your welcome to come by anytime." A small grin grew on her face. "I appreciate that guess I'll see you around. It's getting pretty late nice talking to you." She made the walk back to her car and waved Marco and his theater goodbye.