1.8 | New Orleans Show

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With less than an hour until their second big show, Imogen stood in her small changing space. She looked at her reflection, she wore comfortable dark jeans with her ankle boots that had stars embroidered in them. A white button up shirt with a black blazer, her hair tied back in a ponytail with two strands on either side of her face. She made sure to dress comfortably for the show considering she knew the outcome involved running away from the FBI after what they were about to do. She took steadying breaths as she mentally prepared herself for the chaos.

Imogen made her way into the main space where the others were preparing for the show, practicing lines or tricks. Jack smiled as he spotted his girlfriend, they were told to be extra flirty on stage and Jack was more than willing to stake his claim on the woman while making sure they knew he was hers. "How are you feeling?" Daniel asked Imogen as he stepped up to her. "Confident, a little anxious but I can do this," Imogen assured him before looking at him, "What about you?" Daniel smirked, "We're gonna be fine. I trust that." His confidence eased more of Imogen's worries, she nodded her head before making her way over to Jack who immediately wrapped his arms around her.

"Pardon my intrusion," Thaddeus Bradley spoke from the doorway, Imogen turned her head to her grandfather. "Grandpa?" Imogen spoke, he sent her a polite smile before turning to the others. "I just wanted to wish you good luck tonight," Thaddeus informed the magicians. "What? So you can try to expose us later on your little website?" Jack asked with a slight defensive tone that Imogen understood, her grandfather made their mission a little more difficult. "And on demand," Thaddeus added with a little smirk on his face. "That's not going to happen," Henley scoffed.

"Oh no?" Thaddeus questioned, "Operating on a special plane because of The Eye?" Imogen raised a brow at him while Henley and Merritt shared a look. "I heard it's a lovely place," Thaddeus spoke, "Lot's of star shine and moonbeams. Makes any magicians wish come true." Imogen rolled her eyes at her grandfather's words, she turned her head to Daniel and they shared a subtle nod. "You've come a long way, much further than anyone would have expected of a bunch of wannabes and has-beens," Thaddeus continued, sending his granddaughter a specific look while she smirked.

"Oh!" Merritt suddenly exclaimed aa he got up from the couch and approached Thaddeus, "If by 'has-been' you're referring to me, I just wanna say that I'm flattered because I always considered myself a never-was." Imogen giggled at Merritt's comment, she moved to stand next to the older man with Jack following her, standing to her side just behind her with his hand resting on her hip. "Do you mind if I do a quick reading on you?" Merritt asked as Henley and Daniel moved closer to them. "By all means," Thaddeus replied with a taunting smile on his face.

"Uh, okay," Merritt spoke as he analysed the man standing before him, "I'm picturing a little boy. He wants to be a great magician someday and though he's good, he's not good enough. So he ends up at the bottom of the entertainment food chain, feeding off of those who have the talent that he never did. People like your granddaughter. Tell me, am I getting close?" Imogen crossed her arms and watched Thaddeus as he held an unamused expression on his face. He didn't answer Merritt's question, he simply looked over at his granddaughter before turning to leave.

"Wait," Daniel spoke as he got up, "Before you go, I'm working on something new. Do you have a second?" Thaddeus turned to Daniel as he approached the man, the others watching closely; Henley holding their bunny, Mr Buttons. "Okay. Name a card," Daniel requested the older gentleman. "King of Hearts," Thaddeus replied, sparing a glance at Imogen who was watching Daniel instead; they both knew he would pick that specific card. "Okay," Daniel said as he snapped his left fingers and looked at the deck of cards pretending to wait for something to happen. He jerked the deck forward and blew on them.

Daniel cocked his head in confusion before looking up at Thaddeus with an embarrassed expression but they all knew he was acting the part. "It's up your left sleeve," Thaddeus told him with an amused smile on his face. "Is it?" Daniel asked him, he checked his left sleeve, "Nope, I don't see it up there." The others smirked in agreement and amusement. Daniel looked over at Imogen, she smirked seeing his subtle nod and stepped forward to bring her grandfather's attention to her. "You know, maybe you should check your unnecessary velveteen pocket there?" Imogen asked him.

Thaddeus reached in and pulled out a white card with two bold black words written across it: SUCK IT. Imogen smiled sweetly at Thaddeus while the others stood amused holding back laughs, Daniel feeling the most proud. "Anyway, thank you so much for coming but this is kind of the talent only area, so..." Merritt taunted the man. "Break a leg," Thaddeus told them before he turned to walk away from them. "Hey, you break something too," Merritt called back as the man disappeared from the room. "Nice one," Imogen said with a eye roll at Merritt before turning to Daniel, "Cameras on?" He nodded at her plan and moved to inform the announcer.

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"Ladies and gentlemen, the Savoy Management welcomes you to tonight's special performances, The Four Horsemen and Their Queen, Act II," The announcer spoke as the magicians made their way onto the pitch black stage standing in their places, Imogen standing in the middle with Jack to her right and Merritt next to him, Daniel to her left and Henley next to him. "Unlike traditional performances, the Queen encourages you to film, call your friends, upload, stream, and tweet the show freely. Thank you. The show will begin in a few minutes," The announcer added spurring the crowd into pulling their phones out, Thaddeus frowning at the knowledge.

Imogen glanced back at Jack, he sent her a wink before they focused ahead knowing what would happen next, they were both hoping that the plan worked. "Arthur Tressler presents: Jack Wilder," The spotlight lit up shining on Jack who smiled at the crowd, looking good in his black suit. "Henley Reeves," Another landed on Henley who wore a black dress, she sent a sweet wave to the crowd as they cheered. "Merritt McKinney," The third spotlight turned on landing on Merritt who blew a kiss to the crowd. "Daniel Atlas," Daniel's figured appeared under the spotlight and he smirked at the crowd.

"The Four Horsemen and their Queen, Imogen Torres," The final spotlight switched on revealing Imogen who grinned wide at the crowd as they cheered and applauded them. They waited for the crowd to settle, taking in the applause and enjoying every single moment of it. "Thank you. We appreciate each and every one of you," Imogen spoke through the mic resting against her cheek, "But first, we'd like to single out two people in particular." Daniel nodded as he continued, "A man and a woman whom we'd like to dedicate tonight's performance." Imogen took a steady breath.

"FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes and the lovely, but somewhat inexperienced, Interpol Agent Alma Dray, everyone," Henley spoke as she motioning towards the two sitting in the stands, the spotlight shining down on them. Alma Dray covered her eyes with her hand, slightly embarrassed by Henley's words in front of the large crowd. Agent Rhodes stared them down with a frown, the crowd expressing their hatred for them by boo'ing the two agents; some even throwing things at the two. "Well, I wouldn't say inexperienced, per say..." Imogen commented with a smirk.

"Agent Dray here happens to be good cop," Jack added from where he stood on the stage, "While Agent Rhodes has personally vowed to, quote 'nail us'." He chuckled as he reached out and grabbed Imogen's hand in her own, she smiled at him before leaning into his side. "And we encourage him to do so, if he has the brains," Merritt expressed before smirking, "And the fur." The crowd laughed at the older man's words, Imogen shaking her head fondly despite the anger clear on Agent Rhodes face. She leaned up and kissed Jack causing the crowd to stir up and cheer for the two, they pulled away and shared a smile before Imogen nodded to Daniel.

"What is magic?" Daniel spoke turning their show back to them, "Our argument, nothing but targeted deception." The magicians walked backwards to form a V line, Imogen stepped forward with Daniel as the two lead the others. "So we want you to look," Imogen enticed the crowd, "Look as closely as possible because the tricks you're about to see may not seem connected. But we assure you, they are." Daniel smirked, "Is what follows one hundred different tricks? Or is it one giant illusion?" The lights behind them flashed for a moment before making the stage go completely dark, the crowd went into an uproar of excitement.

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Each magician worked on their own special act, each unique to both the magician and the illusion itself. Henley and Daniel teaming up for old times sake to show off their own act using Mr Buttons the rabbit and mirrors to make him 'disappear'. And then Henley floating above the crowd in a bubble before getting caught by Daniel causing the crowd to feel a motion of feelings in response. Jack was next to walk up onto the stage, he smirked as he approached Imogen and pulled her into his arms kissing her with so much passion that the crowd went completely wild.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," Jack spoke once he pulled away, he removed his hand from Imogen's back pocket, "And I was sure I left these in their earlier." Imogen laughed as he revealed his deck of cards that he had slipped free from the back pocket of her jeans. "Sure. That's why you were feeling up my ass," Imogen told him, he sent her a wink before kissing her again. "Best girlfriend in the room," Jack said with adoration, he gave her another quick kiss before moving to do his act, Imogen making her way off of the stage, her smile fell slightly as she looked at Daniel. "It's gonna work," Daniel assured her.

Merritt was the next one after Jack's performance was done, the mentalist had Henley pick out twelve volunteers to undergo Merritt's hypnosis. In the process of these acts, Imogen had been focused on hacking into Arthur Tressler's bank account to steal and transfer his money to each member of the crowd for all the wrongs Tressler's insurance company had committed. Jack had approached her and leaned on the back of her chair as she worked what she did best, each transaction had been successful and would be completed by the time they had finished the show.

"You're a genius," Jack whispered as he leaned down by her ear, he moved closer and pressed a kiss to her neck. "IT in college was a useful skill after all," Imogen replied as she finished it up and left no traces behind, she shut off her laptop and got up from the seat. "You're still worried?" Jack asked as he noticed the anxiety coursing through Imogen. "It takes one slip up... I just... it's gonna feel too real seeing it," Imogen replied to him. "Hey, I know it'll feel real, Gen. But it won't be and we'll see each other after the last show," Jack assured her, he cupped her face in his hands, "Imogen, I love you."

Almost two years... and he loves her. Imogen felt her heart skip and butterflies swarm through her stomach as she smiled. "I love you, Jack," Imogen replied before she captured his lips with her own, he happily accepted it and cherished it. They wouldn't see one another until after the last show as she would have her own role to play, so it all go to plan. "Lovebirds, it's time," Daniel called out as he stepped into the room, the couple pulled away from each other. Jack kissed Imogen's forehead before they walked out to the stage hand in hand ready for their next part; it was about to get real wild for them.

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Rosemary Speaks. . .

I love my babies... Imogen and Jack are cute!

They shared their 'I love yous', how sweet!

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions?

See you in the next chapter!

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