I had always known that magic, like life, was full of secrets. But even I wasn't prepared for the web I was about to step into.
Elias had invited me to a discreet meeting, away from the streets of Boise. Not a café, not a park—something private. A tiny office above an unassuming bookstore downtown. The walls were lined with shelves of leather-bound books and outdated illusions props, dusty and forgotten. The perfect cover.
"Sit," he said, motioning to a chair opposite his desk. "I'll tell you what I know. But you need to pay attention. Every detail counts."
I obeyed, though my instincts screamed that I was walking a tightrope over a pit of danger. Elias didn't waste time. He spread a map of the city across the desk, pins marking locations, strings connecting dots, names written in a neat, almost obsessive script.
"The blackmailer isn't working alone," he said. "He has allies. Other illusionists. People who think like him, who operate in secrecy. People who know the tricks—disappearances, misdirection, psychological manipulation."
I leaned forward. "How many?"
He exhaled slowly. "Enough. Enough to make him dangerous and untraceable if he wants to be. Enough that you can't just hide. You need strategy. Observation. Timing. Everything has to be perfect."
I studied the map, tracing the strings with my finger. Apartment buildings, small theaters, warehouses. All potential nodes in the network. All potential threats. My mind raced.
"So he's not just one man. He's an organization," I murmured.
"Yes," Elias confirmed. "And they're careful. They cover each other's tracks. He doesn't make mistakes… not anymore. Not with people like you who've outsmarted him before."
I sat back, letting the weight of the information settle. I had escaped once, disappeared in plain sight, fooled the world. But this… this was a living web. Every node connected. Every step I took could trigger an alert.
Elias slid a folder across the desk. Inside were pictures, surveillance notes, intercepted communications. I skimmed them, heart racing. Names of minor illusionists, street performers, and even a few legitimate stage magicians. People who, at first glance, seemed ordinary—but all connected to him.
"How long has this network been active?" I asked.
"Years," Elias said quietly. "He's patient. Strategic. If he wanted you gone years ago, he could have acted. But he watched. He learned. He waited. And now… you're back in play. He sees that, and he wants the full game."
I swallowed, fingers brushing the edge of the folder. Every instinct screamed to run—but running had never been my style. Houdini had taught me to embrace control, misdirection, and preparation. And that's exactly what I planned to do.
Elias leaned back, watching me carefully. "You need allies. People you can trust. And you need information. Every move he makes is calculated. Every step you take must be calculated too."
I nodded, mind already racing through possibilities. Safe houses, decoys, surveillance, escape routes. The tools of survival, disguised as ordinary life.
"And you?" I asked finally. "Where do you fit in?"
He met my gaze, steady. "I know him. I've studied his patterns. I can anticipate his moves. But I'm not infallible. And if he realizes I'm helping you…" His jaw tightened. "…then neither of us will get away unscathed."
I let the words sink in. This wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about strategy, planning, and patience. The blackmailer's network wasn't just a threat—it was a puzzle. And puzzles were meant to be solved.
I stood, smoothing my clothes. "Then we start planning. Every detail. Every scenario. I won't make the same mistakes twice."
Elias nodded, eyes serious. "Good. Because the network is watching. And one misstep…" He didn't need to finish the sentence. I knew exactly what he meant.
As I left the office, stepping out into the cool Boise afternoon, I felt the familiar weight of adrenaline, the kind I hadn't felt in years. This was no longer just hiding. No longer just surviving. This was a game of wits, strategy, and illusion.
And Ava, hidden beneath Clara, was ready to play.