"What is Magic?" by H D Leonard

Finally when the tune faded the word jolted back into existance. Crowds rushing past him, the roar of traffic deafening to his ears, lights flashing brilliantly, stale smells, the city assaulting his every sense.

He fumbled in his pockets, searching for a few coins to toss to the musican, but hands came out empty. Pain etched itself onto his beautiful features. One who was able to capture the magick of life so beautifully should not go unrewarded.

Finally with a soft sweet smile he withdrew a feather from the darkest depths of his clothing and let it flutter into the open box before fading back into the crowd.

"Fifty pence, a stick of chewing gum, some foreighn coins," Ray squinted examing them further, "Danish I think, a button, and a feather," he scowled emptying out the days takings.

Lee chuckled, "I don't play for the material rewards surely you know that. If I did then I'd be singing those twee pop tunes strumming a guitar, not playing a lap harp and singing of days of old."

Ray sighed, "and how's that meant to keep a roof over our heads? I'm already working two jobs and barely making ends meet. You're good, very good. If you were to play what everyone wants we could be famous, we could live a life of luxury."

"I wont prostitute my art for commercial success," Lee replied firmly, clutching his harp tightly to his slender frame.

"Lee, we need the money. I've just got the gas bill and the electricity and the rent's due soon, I don't know how I'll cope paying for this all on my own with the added expense of food bills and you know Christmas is just around the corner. Maybe if you were to get a job, just to tide us over the festive season. We do need all the money we can get."

Lee's eyes filled with pain, wide with astonishment at what his friend was saying.

"Oh don't go and cry, look I'm sorry it's just..." Ray sighed, "you have to admit that busking isn't going to pay the rent. You're good, so good, I just hate seeing you wasting your talent."

"But..." bottom lip quivering, Lee studied his feet trying to think of a response.

"Lee, I know that you have dreams but we can't eat dreams. Dreams don't pay the rent. This is the real world. I've tried supporting us both and I can't. I've tried everything."

"I'll go pack my things then."

Ray almost screamed with frustration, "no I'm not throwing you out. Just for once could you do something... grown up. You don't know how difficult it is for me. You hardly seem to notice with your head stuck in the clouds most of the time, you barely notice me you're forever stuck in wherever it is you go when your eyes glaze over. You keep shutting me and teh rest of the world out and I can't cope anymore. You need to get a job, try living in the real world. I'm sorry, I know it's tough but we're not going to survive otherwise."

"I'll go pack my things," Lee repeated softly, not seeming to have listened or comprehended a word that Ray had said.

He wandered through the streets, monsters lurking round every corner. What was worse was that these demonds were of the human variety. What need had the world of vampires and werewolves when humans could be ten times as bad. The real life horror you read in the papers, the visions of terror on the news, how could any work of fiction compare to them? Was it a wonder that he preferred to live among his own thoughts in a place that was so much better.

But now he was here, brutally thrust out into a cold, uncaring world, where real murderers and rapists, muggers and far worse lurked everywhere. The very thought sent cold shivers down his spine.

Didn't Ray realise how dreadful the real world was? How hurt and pain filled the air. How misery clung to everything. Why would anyone willingly live there?

The world of yesteryear was so much better. The sweet songs, the soft melodies of his harp always soothed any of his troubles away. To live in a place where magic touched everything, where beauty lay everywhere.

Panic rose within him as the sound of footsteps broke his train of thought. Someone was behind him, following him.

Run? Hide? Stop? What should he do? What should he do?

"Got any spare change mate?" a gruff voice asked.

Please don't be talking to me. Please don't. Lee silently prayed to a god he did not believe existed.

"Are you deaf?" Hand grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to face his assailant.

Heart trembled with fear, legs weak, he stood there, mutely shaking unsure of what to do, what to say.

He's gonna kill me. He's gonna kill me. Plunging his hands into his pockets, grabbing hold of todays takings he thrust all the money he possessed in the world at the old man.

Feather fell from his fingertips, flashing gold in the street light.

"There you are," a voice called from the shadows, soft unplaceable accent carressing every word. "I was wondering what happened to you. Would you let my friend go please?"

The man released Lee, mumbling under his breath, stumbling away.

Lee continued to quiver with fear.

"You dropped this," gentle kind voice announced, figure stooping to pick up his things, handing them over.

Lee glanced up into the most peaceful set of blue eyes he had ever seen. "Um... t... thanks," he stammered nervously looking around for somewhere to run to.

"You look like you need a drink. You want to..." the stranger began then stopped seeing Lee was still petrified. "It's okay, I promise I wont hurt you. You're that musician I heard earlier today aren't you? I loved your songs, they were so..." he paused thinking of words to describe the music, yet somehow nothing seemed adequate, "like a breath of fresh air on a sweltering hot summers day. I didn't have any money earlier but let me make it up to you now and buy you a drink. We'll go somewhere where there's people, don't worry. I have no intention of attacking you or anything. I'd just like to talk that's all."

Lee blushed at the compliments. He knew that he should politely refuse, who knew what sort of lunatic this might be besides Ray would be utterly mortified. But something about this stranger was strangely compelling and he did not appear to be giving off any bad vibes at all. "Um sure, a drink would be nice I guess."

"Well I know this nice little bar real near. I'm Domi by the way.

"Lee"

"Yes I know," Domi chuckled but without bothering to explain himself he continued, "well come on then."

The bar was a quiet, secluded place, yet with just enough people so that Lee did not feel uncomfortable. He sat, cradling his lemonade in both hands, sipping slowly, gazing across the table at the gorgeous man who had chosen to rescue him.

For a man to be that beautiful it should have been a crime. Long, ebony tresses cascaded down to broad shoulders, perfectly toned athletic figure, and those soulful blue eyes you could practically melt right into. Not that Lee had any intentions of melting. He was here for the drink and because he had no clue where else to go. The idea of sleeping alone on the streets did not appeal.

"So why of all instruments did you choose to play the harp?"

"I play other things, I just think well, the harp sounds the sweetest. Besides it was a present," he smiled softly at the memories of that first Christmas he had spent with Ray, how he had never in his wildest dreams expected to receive a gift quite as beautiful, or as expensive as that lap harp.

"Can't be good for money though?"

Lee frowned remembering Ray's words earlier in the evening. "I don't play for money. I play so others can listen and enjoy."

"Ah one of the purest of motives I see."

"So what do you do?"

"Me?" Domi chuckled, "oh I'm a student," glossing over the truth in not quite a lie.

"What you studying?" Lee asked more for the sake of being polite than any real interest in the topic.

"Life," blue eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Sounds interesting."

"Life generally is," wicked smile suddenly graced those ruby red lips, "at the moment I'm doing a study on wishes. If you could have any one wish what would it be?"

"Happiness," Lee replied without even needing to think about that one.

"Most people say money, you know, or love, or health," Domi commented. "Though happiness is a good choice."

"Health well, I'd rather live a short happy life then live to be old and grey and miserable. Money doesn't always guarantee happiness, nor does love," soft frown crossed the boys face for a moment.

"Relationship problems?"

"Yeah," Lee admitted.

"Want to talk about them? Talking about a problem usually helps."

Lee shook his head, there was no way he was going to divulge his darkest sorrows to a complete stranger no matter how charismatic he was.

"Still hurts to much?" Domi murmured softly.

"Yeah.

"So what would make you happy?" the dark haired man decided to return to the previous topic of conversation.

"If everything was like what it used to be long, long, long ago."

"You mean like in your songs?"

"Yeah."

"But you know things were never like that don't you?"

"Yeah but it would be nice if things were. To have that belief, to live in a world where they truly believed in dragons and gods and faeries and magic."

"Where women were burnt at the stake for witchcraft? Where most cowered in fear of the unknown, wallowing in ignorance and superstition. Where dirt and disease were rampant. Sounds far from paradise..." Domi countered.

"But they believed in magic."

Domi laughed softly, "magic is just a matter of perspective. A name for the unknown. Lightbulbs, now they're magic. Press a switch, room lights up. Press it again and douse the area in darkness. Surely no magician could do any better."

"But..." Lee protested, though Domi was not finished, continuing to speak his mind.

"And a sunrise, now that's truly magical as well. Ever watched teh colours of dawn play on the ocean waves? There's nothing quite else to describe it. The sun brings life, it brings warmth and lightm without it there would be nothing. Is that not truly magickal?"

"I guess so."

Domi smiled "magic is all around us. It's everywhere, you just need to learn how to look for it. Take your drink, the bubbles, how did they get there?"

"Magic?" Lee asked hesitantly knowing that was not the case, that there was a complex scientific explanation behind it.

"Yes, and don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. Music is also magic. The ability to hold an audience spell bound with nothing but mere sounds. To make others picture what you see, feel what you feel. To inspire others to the point where they practically worship you. Music is magic which means so too are you. But you know what is the most magickal thing of all?"

"What?"

"Love. There's absolutely no explaining love by any other terms. Why do we love one person and not another? What causes it? The entire experience is magical. That first kiss..."

"Don't," Lee protested, "I understand what you are saying just don't go on about love. It hurts, it aches and it always ends in pain."

"Not always," Domi replied. "Personally I would take all the torments of the world for one moment of pure happiness, for the briefest touch of love." He gazed down then back up at Lee, "the trouble with you is you don't believe anyone loves you even though it is frightfully obvious when they do. You have a chance of happiness, yet you are far too busy looking in every other direction for it. You think it's him that doesn't love you, but he's bending over backwards trying to compromise so you'll be happy. Have you ever asked him what his dreams are? Surely not two dead end jobs supporting a partner who no longer seems to care. Relationships are about working together, helping eachother. There must be give and take, otherwise it crumbles. There will be good times there will also be bad but things are far easier with someone at your side. trust me on that one.

"Go home Lee," voice a touch more quiet now, "you're not made for the streets. He still loves you, he just wants what's best for you even if it doesn't seem like that now. Talk to him, tell him how you feel, listen to how he feels. Now it's been nice talking but I have to go," Domi stood up planting a soft warm kiss on Lee's lips, "things will get better, I promise" and with that he walked off into the night.

Lee sat, utterly silent, amazed. How? Why? Yet the questions were forced from his mind as he suddenly noticed the large ebony feather clinging to the chair opposite. Reaching over he picked it up, holding it to the light, watching all the colours of the rainbow shift and swirl on it's midnight surface. Perhaps magic did exist after all.