Love bites, love bleeds

This is same day, well, night, and ends same day. Sorry-suck at summaries. Just read and enjoy!

Chapter 3: Magic Man
Sneaking away from Ichabod had been easier than Katrina had thought. As she was making his tea, she slipped a tad of belladonna in his, just enough to make him fall asleep. She watched him closely, his movements became sluggish, his eyelids drooped, he was sleepy. He excused himself shortly after dinner, Masbath himself was already in bed.
Katrina slipped away after making sure that Ichabod truly was asleep. The theater where the mysterious man worked was just a mile from the house. Katrina couldn't shake him-all day he had been in her mind, haunting her.
And what about his name? Magic man? She smiled and walked on. When she reached the theater, she saw a long line that seemed to stretch for miles. She slid inside it and waited as it moved slowly. As she waited, she heard bits and pieces of Magic man and his show: “I heard he's a real magician! He even makes himself disappear!”
“I saw this show last night and I can't stop thinking about it! How does he do it?!”
“I heard when he's on stage, he's controlled by the devil!”
“No! He is too calm and good.”
“And gorgeous! I wonder if he's married!” The ladies giggled amongst themselves, and Katrina herself blushed, though no on could notice since it was dark out. At last she reached the booth. After paying for a ticket, she walked inside the theater. She gasped. It was her first time inside a theater-and it was breathtaking. The floor was red carpet that was rich as red wine, the seats were in rows of twenty by ten, so many it seemed like a sea of chairs. And the stage-the stage was enormous. The enormous black velvet curtains were drawn, protecting the magician and his work from on-lookers.
The room was lit by candles, hundreds and hundreds of them. Suddenly, people started to cheer. Katrina sat in the third row from the stage and looked up-Magic man was on the stage. He looked exactly like he had when he'd walked into the store that morning. The audience was jumpy and ready for the show to begin. They didn't have long to wait.
While the audience watched, the magician calmly held a crystal ball in one hand. He casually showed it, then withdrew a scarf. He skillfully covered the ball, waved his hand over it, and when he pulled it off, the ball had disappeared. The audience gasped and applauded, Katrina as well. He upturned his pockets to show that the ball was nowhere on him. Then, he took the scarf and draped it over his hand. He waved his free hand over it, pulled it up, and inside was the crystal ball. The audience again gasped and applauded, needing more.
He turned and walked backstage. When he came back, he was pushing a big black box that was standing vertically. He pushed the box to the very end of the stage and walked back to the middle. He held out his hands to show that they were empty, turning them back and forth. He then took off his cape and showed it to the audience before draping it over his arms. He nodded and when he pulled it back, a white dove was under it. Again, the audience gasped and applauded. Katrina was enjoying every second.
From there, the show progressed slowly. From floating cards and candles to coins around people's ears, Magic man seemed able to do it all. At last, he said “for my final act, I shall need one person from the audience.” He looked around slowly, his blue eyes penetrating several people's before he lazily let them fall to Katrina. With a slender finger that seemed more equipped to play a piano, he pointed to Katrina. “You, fair maiden. Surely you are not afraid?”
Katrina blushed and stood, again thankful for the dim lighting. The magician met her at the stairs, offering his hand. She took it and he gingerly led her to the box, which he had moved to the middle of the stage. “Now, I am going to show you all that there is nothing different about this box-no traps, no tricks. Just a box.” He showed the audience each part slowly, proving that there was indeed nothing different about it. When he finished, he turned his gaze to Katrina. “Now, I will step inside and you will shut it behind me. I am going to knock three times and after the third time, you are to open the box.”
Katrina stared at him, transfixed by this mysterious man that seemed to get stranger and stranger by the second. Finally, she nodded. Smiling, the magician stepped inside and Katrina closed the door. The audience waited with bated breath, until they heard the first rap.
Then the second.
Finally, the third. Katrina opened it. The audience gasped-the magician had disappeared! But to where? They didn't have long to wonder: from atop the chandelier, the magician stood and calmly said “and that's my show. You have all been a wonderful audience!” With elegance and grace, he slid from the chandelier to the stage, bowing to thunderous applause. He bowed several times before looking to Katrina, who still stood at the stage. With a smile and wink, he said “for you, the night is not over. Meet me behind the theater at half past ten. I shall be waiting, Katrina Van Tassel.”
Before she could raise questions, he briskly turned on his heel, walking to the back, pushing the black box with him. She could only stare, even after the curtains were drawn and he was gone. She sucked in a short breath. How did he know her? And what did he mean by “for you, the night is not over?” She couldn't deny the attraction that was there-it seemed to suck the air out of her.
Now, she was left with an even bigger dilemma: would she meet him? She almost laughed at herself, for she knew the answer all along.