Atazrial Stories

Story 3, Short story 2

warnings for the following:

- implied car accident

- trauma

- anxiety

It had been years since the accident, ten of them to be exact. When Atazrial was seventeen, she made the worst mistake of her life, and lost her favorite person: her little sister Cosette. Atazrial was twenty-seven now, far into her illusionist career. Atazrial had only made the decision to become a magician because of her little sister, but if she were to be honest, she was enjoying the life she had picked for herself. Atazrial was far beyond just a regular magician, she was one of the best illusionists America had ever seen. Magic tricks were always looked at weirdly by the public until Atazrial came along. Someone pulling a stuffed rabbit out of their hat was no longer interesting, considering people had justified the tricks and figured out how they worked. However, Atazrial didn't take stuffed rabbits out of her hat. No, Atazrial took people's personal items out of her hat. Phones, wallets, earrings, necklaces, anything anyone wanted, it was there. Atazrial's tricks were not only unexpected and unbelievable, but they were unjustifiable.

Because of Atazrial's fame, popularity, and wonderful tricks, she got booked for a lot of parties. Birthday parties, fancy masquerade parties, anywhere someone wanted her, she was there. Atazrial's favorite place to perform was birthday parties, though. She always loved seeing the children's faces brighten up whenever she did a little card trick, or even just when she was speaking, the children would grin, laugh, and cheer. The parents were all usually in awe as well, considering the kinds of tricks she would perform.

"Now, everyone, count up to ten! I promise you that once you all get there, a beautiful flower will come out of this lovely little girl's ear!" Atazrial announced to the large group of children, a bright smile on her face. The kids loved Atazrial for her tricks, and the parents loved her because of her cheap pricing, despite her fame. 

All of the kids, and some of the parents, obliged with the illusionist's request. They all began counting up from one to ten at a steady pace, and the smile never left Atazrial's face. This birthday party was in a family's backyard, which Atazrial couldn't have been any happier about. Of course, she loved performing on stage and having her own magic show as well, but the bright lights always got to her so easily. She wasn't anxious, but her eyes had become very sensitive to light since she had sustained a concussion from the car accident she caused ten years ago. Atazrial listened to the crowd as they counted.

"Five!...Six!..."

She found herself lost in all of the voices. Not right now, this couldn't happen right now. There were no lights, no cameras, so then why was she so suddenly irritated and anxious?

Atazrial's smile slowly faded and time began to slow as the crowd reached the number "seven". The famed illusionist slowly turned her head towards the little girl who was standing beside her. It was the birthday girl, she had volunteered to be Atazrial's assistant for the flower trick she had previously mentioned to the crowd. The birthday girl turned her head up to the magician, and the newly turned seven-year-old girl had a curious, bright look in her eyes. When Atazrial saw the girl's face, her eyes widened.

Cosette was standing in front of her. Her usual, happy smile on her face.

"Eight!...Nine!..."

Cosette was there. It was Cosette's birthday. That's why Atazrial had been off all day, that's why she was so irritated, that's why she felt like her tricks weren't enough for even herself today. Had she already forgotten about her sister? Was she forgetting about her sister?

"Ten!"

Atazrial's hands flew to the girl who looked so similar to Cosette that it hurt the moment the crowd reached "ten". Her hands flew up to the girl's shoulders, and now, Atazrial was angry. Her eyes were flaming and wide, and her teeth were grit. She glared down at the birthday girl, her fingers tightening on the shoulders of the small figure in front of her.

"Who are you?!" Atazrial yelled. The crowd was silent now after their long ten seconds of counting. They were all waiting for a flower to appear, all waiting to see the bright smile of the magician from underneath her black, rimmed top hat. 

"Why are you doing this?! What thinks you can do this to me?!" Atazrial continued shouting, now angrily shaking the little girl's shoulders. Atazrial's breathing was heavy, and she could no longer hear or see anyone or anything besides the girl in front of her. 

"Get the hell away from my daughter!" A sudden masculine voice ripped through her mind. Atazrial turned her head in the direction of the voice, and she was suddenly shoved to the grass below her, letting out a huff as she hit the ground and her hat flew off a few feet beside her. When Atazrial raised her head again, she finally took in the true scene around her. It was the birthday girl, not Cosette. The little girl was trembling with fear, her eyes wide and shaken as she stared down at Atazrial. The magician turned her head up to the man, who was the little girl's father, and he glared down at her. Atazrial no longer looked on in anger or confusion, but now with a soft, worried gaze. What had she done? What was she doing just now?

"Madelyn, come on, let's go eat your cake," the father spoke again, looking down at his daughter with a soft look. he gently turned the girl and gave her a small push on her back to get her walking in the right direction. "This magician's magic tricks are a hoax anyway." 

With one final jab and another glare, Atazrial was left alone in the grass. Her top hat lay beside her, and Atazrial's wide, shocked eyes watched the little girl and her father walk off. In her mind, Cosette had left her again. For the second time.