The Fray of Werebirds [Discontinued]

Chapter 7 - The Magician

Sirena decided it would be best to keep the knife with her, just in case I lashed out again. I felt a little exposed without a weapon, but hey, at least I had a werebird on my side.

We hiked for hours in the endless forest. Every twist and turn seemed to me the exact same as the last. If Sirena hadn't been leading the way I would have probably ended up going around in circles. Luckily she had an astonishingly accurate sense of direction. By the time the sky brightened up and harmless creatures began to chitter, a city was coming into view. Soon we were walking on concrete.

My stomach gurgled, "Can't we get something to eat? I'm starving."

Sirena ignored me and crouched down next to a manhole. After fiddling with it for some time she lifted the cover and, with one quick hop, plunged into the darkness beneath it.

"Why do we have to go in there?" I complained.

"We can't afford being seen," Sirena's voice echoed back, "And you can't turn into a bird."

I sighed and reluctantly extended my leg through the hole. I searched the air until my foot found a solid rung to step on. As soon as I climbed down I instantly lost my appetite. My nose was invaded discourteously by a hideous stench, causing me to gag. My stomach felt sick and my head swirled at being welcomed by various foul excrement odors.

Smell aside, the interior was dull and gloomy. Fortunately the light pouring down from the street gutters above was enough for us to see. Unfortunately we could also glimpse the ugly plump rats scuttling nearby.

I walked behind Sirena with my shirt collar protecting my nose. The sound of our footsteps bounced back at us and I prayed silently that I wouldn't slip into the filthy brown sewage water flowing next to us.

After checking a few manholes, Sirena finally chose one and motioned to me to follow her upwards. I climbed up eagerly and stuck my head out of the hole, gulping for air. I was overjoyed to be embraced by fresh oxygen, untainted by the smell of toilet waste. The breeze drifted into my nose, clearing out my lungs. I savored the sweet taste of the air until it was time for us to move on.

We were on a calm side road. Sirena lead the way across the street to a small yard of grass. A horde gathered before a wooden platform, watching a magician in a violet suit with long jet-black hair - long enough to be tied in a ponytail. A side fringe fell on his clean-shaven face, which was quite handsome if it weren't for the scar on his cheek.

The latter waved his wand and - POOF! A cloud of white smoke erupted, and then faded away, revealing a bird instead of the magician. The young man returned using the same process and bowed dramatically to the applauding crowd.

I turned to Sirena, who seemed to be absorbed in the performance, and wondered why we were supposed to be interested in a magic show.

Could he be...?

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, I would be more than glad to have someone assist me on stage."

The magician's emerald eyes scanned the mass of people until they rested upon one person.

"My fair lady, would you be so kind to join me?" He held out his white gloved hand.

Only then did I realize that he was addressing Sirena. I glanced at her, trying to catch her eye, but she was already making her way onto the stage. Sirena stood face to face in front of the man, who offered her a scarlet rose from inside his sleeve.

"Hello there, Uncle," she greeted, accepting the rose.

"You make me seem too old. Please," the magician chuckled, exaggerating a hair flip, "Call me Gregory."