---- M I S H A & J A C K----

Her only link to Jack had sadly evaporated as quickly as last weeks bubble tea. At least she had got to use it to escape from the customer service department’s interrogation otherwise she had far too much of an idea where she’d been. D.E.D. It really had been the most obliging of Hats. Might she one day get one of her own?

But enough of that she thought returning to present her noggin again with the problem of her brother languishing in a cell somewhere. Hopefully still in one piece and not several after the knife throwers had been at him. She shivered.

No after going round in circles and with no money and no contacts who would like themselves to get killed it was back to Jack again. So she headed off to his flat in Islington. She had the address written down in her little notebook: 10a the Maples, Angel.

Fortunately there was a little bistro across the road from his address. So she plonked herself down and spent some of her last funds on a pistachio latte and a sausage roll. She was rewarded for her patience by the sight an hour or so later by none other than Jack himself. She noticed as he got closer in proximity that his hair was slightly singed in places. Tricks already, quite impressive.

Jack jumped as Misha’s visage came into view. Omg! Not that impossible woman again!

“You! Tried to have me kidnapped! No point trying any funny business now. I have my hat and I’m not afraid to use it” Jack said in an unnaturally high voice.

Well the audacity of some people thought Jack.

“And a very nice hat you have too.” Said Misha, taking Jack by the arm and leading him astray.

“Why thank you m’lady” said Hat.

Oh, brother here we go. Thought Jack.

“I don’t have a lot of time you know. I have to get off to the circus” said Jack sullenly. Though he had to admit it made a change from all his other acquaintances to meet Misha.

“And where would that be…Piccadilly Circus, Marylebone Circus, Regent’s Park Circus or maybe somewhere I don’t even know” said Misha into his ear.

“Oh, hardy har har. Very funny I suppose you’re going to tell me there’s a network of circuses all throughout London hidden in plain view” said Jack dryly.

Misha just blinked at him. “That’s not the sort of thing you’re supposed to say out loud to the general hoi polloi, Jack!” she hissed into his ear. Dragging him away from a couple hogging the pavement with a large Pomeranian.

Jack persisted having a wobbly feeling in his stomach. It was like not knowing which way was up or down, when you jumped in a rather deep swimming pool. This Circus world would be the death of him. Though hopefully not today.

“Is it really true?” said Jack quietly this time.

“Of course it’s true you pudding. Really you are defenceless aren’t you? Poor soul.” She said in genuine sympathy for his plight, as she sat back down and reached across the table to pat his hand gently.

“The ink is hardly dry. I know it must be hard for you.” she said knowing the poor guy had only just had his entry confirmed in the Book of Revelations.

The Book was required in these crazy times more than ever and as such was held locked away at all times by the council. People had been disappearing ever since, well no one was sure. That was exactly the problem. When people went back in time and got themselves killed all traces of their existence disappear from the future. This included children, tea spoons, record collections and even their tax returns. This is where the book comes in. Every member of the council and all their details are written into the Book of Revelations. A very magical book indeed that does not change one jot when the person disappears from this realm of existence. It is a book of incredibly powerful magic.

“You’re not in the book are you?” said Misha having a sinking feeling about this too.

“The Book? No I don’t think so. I’m not even on the electoral role. I’m still not quite old enough to vote” Jack said bemusedly.

Jack did not know what to say, he felt a little dizzy. “I think I need a cup of tea” he said distractedly.

Maybe it was time he sat down and got some proper answers from an unbiased source or he could talk to Misha as she was here.

There entered the café and got one tea and one latte something and sat down at the back. It was quite crowded but that meant it was quite noisy, so that was ideal.

“I’m finding myself quite frankly completely out of my depth and I probably shouldn’t be talking to you at all as you are particularly dubious. Do they have biscuits in here? I’ve never actually been in here before despite living across the road for nearly half a year now.” said Jack hyperventilating.

“Take deep breaths. That’s it in and out. First time taking tricks isn’t it. Its ok it happens to us all the first time. You feel fine. Better than fine even. Then the next day…whoosh…you feel all light headed. Its mana drain. Deary. You’ll be right as rain by tomorrow.” Said Misha hoping to reassure the poor sap. She didn’t fancy him keeling over.

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It seemed to have worked as some of the colour had come back to his cheeks and he looked less like a large cheesecake.

“It was addictive.” He said simply when he’d composed himself.

“Isn’t it. Interesting trick was it?” she said confidingly unable to keep the curiosity out of her voice. Even though she knew of his penchant for flambe. Donne moi an jeuter de flam s’il vous plait. A handy man for sure. But what other tricks did he have up his sleeve?

“Lit up a whole park. It was like bonfire night but with petrol.” Said Jack his eyes a bit glazed over with the memory of last night.

“Got a bit out of hand did it? It happens don’t fret to much about it. First couple of times is a bit…overwhelming.” She said remembering the first time she used her Bubblegum on someone. And the surprise in their eyes that she had such a cool support act.

“First fifty or so times more like…” said Jack still reliving the moment.

“What!! Now that’s just plumb ridiculous and came here thinking we’d have a nice little sit down conversation. A heart to heart as it were. And you come out with this clap trap.” Exclaimed a rather irate Misha commencing to stand up, making her chair fly back into a lady streaming her channel about crime in your local area. Fortunately the lady, was concussed and merely slid down in her chair unnoticed to all and sundry.

“I don’t really see what’s so strange about that and if you want me to prove it to you I can. Perhaps not here in the café but somewhere quiet hat can take us. Hat?” said Jack feeling rather authorative, after someone cast aspersions and didn’t wait for a cool-down.

“Certainly, Sir, Same as last night?” said Hat politely for the first time in their short relationship.

“Yes.” And they were whisked away to the Park.

---- P U L B R I G H T ----

Pulbright shook his head, he really didn’t have time for this kind of baby sitting. He really didn’t there was council meeting to attend. And he really shouldn’t be late being that he was the head of the council and all.

But streamers were something he couldn’t just ignore. They were like a virus. Usually cleanup was no problem but what would happen the day a streamer with a real following caught one of the circus. Doing well what they did. Luckily most of what they did was very much behind closed doors hush hush. And Magicians in particularly were good at making things disappear. Which was one of the reasons he was head of the council. As the highest ranking Magician on the payroll, he was best qualified for cleanup. But no Magician could clean up the mess if a streamer had tens of thousands of followers. Luckily today this one only had twenty-eight but just the thought was enough to put his blood pressure up a notch.

He tapped his hat and teleported out of the vicinity and into the meeting room. It was dark but that didn’t matter to Kingsley. He could see in the dark, quite fine, thank you very much.

But he stumbled into another member of the council, and head of House Blue, just for the fun of it. Feigning temporary blindness.

“I am so sorry I did not see you there, Bernard”

“Ho Ho, always the joker Kingsley”

“Quite the contrary the clue is the name, King…sley, not J..O..KER”

Bernard a huge, with a rotund frame, though this was misleading as he had not an ounce of fat on his body. He had dropped his cup of coffee in the kerfuffle and now settled into his chair, round the small table, with just a mug of distain.

“Kingsley old chap, hurry up the fun is just about to begin” said Edmund of Ranch House.

“You have such a sense of the macabre Edmund. Try and show some decorum, she will be here any moment.” Said Dave in hushed tones. He was head of House Beach but also known to have once been a member of House Green.

“Can we not just start. I have pressing business elsewhere.” Retorted Edmund.

A small side light flicked on and Samantha Styles walked in, top fortune teller and one time card teller at the casino. Until she was found out of course. People don’t like a dealer that won’t let them cheat even on occasion.

“Is every one here?” she said. Every one noting it was worth the light show.

She was dressed in flowing robes of deep purple and black, adorned with intricate beading and shimmering sequins that caught the table light’s luminance with every movement. Her long, dark hair was styled in loose waves cascading down her back, and her eyes were lined with kohl, drawing attention to their piercing vermillion gaze.

“Raymond is not here yet. But don’t let that stop you.” Said Bernard.

“Oh, but I am, large as life” said Ray who had no house but did have a sizeable cottage near the Crystal Palace.

“Let us begin” said Samantha.

Samantha, wafted incense around the circle, as a Ouija board, with silver lettering, materialised on the table before her. Bringing the seriousness of their endeavour to the fore. The council members fell still in the now solemn circle. The atmosphere crackled with an electric tension.

Samantha's voice, low and melodious, filled the space as she spoke incantations and called upon the high priestess to reveal the truth. The council members held hands, their eyes closed in concentration as they focused their energy.

Suddenly, the room grew cold, and a faint whispering can be heard. Samantha's eyes flashed with an otherworldly light as she channelled the spirits, asking them to guide her towards the answer they sought.

One by one, the council members begin to feel a presence, a sense of unease as the spirits move amongst them. Samantha, acting as a conduit, listens carefully to their whispers and as the letters could be heard moving on the board they came closer and closer to finally identifying the culprit responsible for the contortionist's murder.

But before judgements sword could fall there was a loud thunk.

The lights immediately came on and every jumped up. Every one that is except one of the council. Ray was face down on the table, a dagger sticking out of his back. A dagger that had punched a hole straight through his back and also through a playing card. It was a Shrek Uno card showing the wild card – Puss in boots.

There were no screams or accusations flying or non-flying. Just the barely audible ping as council members fled in abject terror.

Only Samantha remained, talking distractedly for a time, saying “It was impossible as this tent was magically sealed” etc etc. She vacated the premises after retrieving her possessions.

The significance of the card was both clear and unclear. The animal card, implied that the House of Animals, had been involved in the murder of possibly both the late Raymond and the contortionist.

Though Purlbright knew as sure as eggs were eggs, that neither was the case.

The House of Animals had not been heard of for many years. Not since Belushi went into hiding. It was founded by a member who took a Magician’s life in the name of animal right’s. The member was an animal themselves who became sentient by absorbing sufficient artefacts. It was the infamous “White Rabbit” that killed its owner declaring it a blow for all Circus animals everywhere. There were a series of attacks carried out by the House of Animals. But since that time no acts had come to light. That was why Purlbright knew it could not be the House of Animals. For of course he was the one and only “White Rabbit”.

And so if anyone was to know if a knife thrower from the House of Animals had placed a hit on poor old, Raymond, it was he.