# Once in a Lifetime
Max leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach, letting out a soft burp. Another show done, another cheering crowd, another set of props lost to the Floragato’s incredible digestive system. It was his favorite trick, making things disappear.
The secret, of course, was that it wasn’t really a trick, though perhaps it was still a kind of magic. The Floragato’s stomach, for some unfathomable reason, could hold far more than physics would suggest it should. Not only that, but anything he swallowed, even metal and plastic, would seemingly melt down and digest inside. He didn’t know what happened to them after that. They were just gone.
It had been this way for as long as he could remember, and he always assumed he’d just been born with this incredible ability. He’d never really understood it, but it definitely had its benefits. Like making him the world’s greatest stage magician.
For the past six months he and his crew had been whisked all over the world, city by city, performing shows as often as they were physically able, all as part of their grand Magical World Tour event. Venues sold out weeks in advance. Merchandise profits were at an all-time high. The jewel in the crown of his illustrious career. He could imagine the headlines.
“Maxim Galaxy, Magician Extraordinaire Does It Again!”
“Audiences Flock to See Incredible Magic Show!”
“Is This Cat the Greatest of All Time?”
He found himself grinning. It had been a good run this year. With all the money he’d made, he could probably afford to retire early, though if he actually would, he didn’t know. After all, he loved the stage, the spotlights shining on him, eager fans cheering his name…but maybe he could do with a few years to relax. Live the high life a little.
But there was still one show left to do.
He breathed in deeply. This one needed to be special. He had to go out with a bang, a real showstopper, something he’d never done before that would truly cement his greatness…a real once in a lifetime event.
A knock on his dressing room door brought his thoughts abruptly back to the present moment.
“Max? Come out here, I wish to speak with you.”
Max pushed himself up and opened the door to reveal a Cinccino in a sparkling, nearly form-fitting dress. It hugged her frame tightly, leaving little to the imagination. His assistant. Max tried hard not to stare, but it was always difficult. She was gorgeous, even he had to admit it. And secretly, though he would never tell, he longed to feel those features for himself…
She was giving him an impatient look, and he realized he hadn’t replied.
“Yes, Vanni, what is it?”
She let out a huff.
“I just wanted to let you know that, if you’re planning to continue this gaudy production, you’ll have to do it without me. After tomorrow, I’m going to become an actress!”
Her personality, unfortunately, was not nearly so beautiful as her exterior.
“Suit yourself,” he snorted. “You can do what you like, just as long as you don’t mess this up for me.”
“So you can have your tacky little kind of fame? Ha. I’d be gone already, we both know we never liked each other, but contracts and all that. I won’t be waiting for any celebrations or whatnot, either, so I thought I’d say farewell now. After the curtain falls, I’ll already be gone.”
She did a little spin and began to stride away from him.
“You can keep your silly tricks and showboating. I just thought you’d be glad to be finally rid of me.”
He certainly would be.
He frowned after her as she strutted her way down the hall and turned the corner, disappearing from view. It was true that they’d never liked each other, although things hadn’t always been so openly hostile between them. There used to be some professional respect in there at one point, even if you’d never know it now. Max wondered what had happened to it. Maybe he was mistaken and she’d always just viewed him as a stepping-stone for her own career, she’d only been better at hiding it. Well he certainly wouldn’t miss her now.
He’d long ago wished he could make her disappear.
An idea stole into his mind and began to take shape. A terrible, wonderful, unbelievable idea. It made him tingle with both excitement and dread. He couldn’t really…surely there was no way…but the longer he tossed and turned it in his mind, the more it seemed possible. It just all fit together too well.
Maybe he had his once in a lifetime trick.
---
Max felt a new kind of anticipation as he performed his act the next day, but he tried to push it from his mind. He had done this same show so many times now that he hardly had to think about his routine anymore. The beginning was all standard stuff, anyway. Producing items from his hat, releasing birds from his cloak, mind-reading tricks, and the ever-popular vanishing from a sealed box. Things every stage magician could do.
It was the next part that was unique.
He began by brandishing a six-foot long pole, spinning it around, tossing it up into the air and catching it again, before he proceeded to lift it up and lower it into his mouth, head tilted back. He fed the pole down a bit at a time, exaggerating the action, sliding it down…farther…farther…impossibly far, until the end was vanishing into his jaws. He pressed it down with one digit until it slid fully into his throat. Gulp.
All gone.
He bowed and let the applause wash over him.
Various other items found their way into his spacious stomach as he continued the show. A set of bowling pins that he juggled before making them disappear one by one, an entire set of billiard balls, and–his favorite–an entire deck of cards, belching up the one selected by an audience volunteer.
Gulp…gllk…glllp…
The show continued that way for what felt like hours, but was really closer to ninety minutes. The cat twirled and pranced his way all around the stage, showing off with his usual vigor, but as the end of the show drew nearer, his mind focused more and more on what he was about to do. Vanni, for her part, assisted him with some of the more elaborate tricks, putting on a fake smile like she always did.
Both performers eagerly anticipated the end of the show, but for vastly different reasons.
And then, finally, it was nearing the curtain call, and Max called Vanni out one last time, turning to face the crowd.
“Now, this show draws to a close, and we shall conclude our illustrious Magical World Tour!”
He took a deep bow, sweeping his cape behind him.
“But! Before I go, I have one last trick that I’ve been saving for a…special occasion. And I’d say this qualifies! I’m sure you all agree we should commemorate this occasion…”
There was shouting and cheering from the crowd.
“Come on now, let me hear it! Do you want to see it?”
The cheering immediately doubled in volume. Max grinned.
“Well I certainly can’t deny your enthusiasm! I’m sure many of you have wondered, many have questioned…can he really make anything disappear? Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you…”
He tipped his hat, striking a pose.
“...I have no limits! Tonight, I’m going to make my lovely assistant disappear before your very eyes!”
Vanni’s smile faltered a bit as she was caught off-guard. Max swept around her.
“Don’t worry, dear…after all, it’s just another silly trick,” he whispered in her ear.
He spread his arms as the lights dimmed, and a platform raised out of the stage behind him. Two stagehands, dressed in all black, came out from behind the curtains and helped Vanni to climb up, before disappearing again behind the stage. The spotlights converged on the Cinccino, and she did a nervous little twirl, drawing a few whistles as her silver dress sparkled. The stagehands returned, and began to wind a rope around her body. She forced herself to smile. She certainly hadn’t practiced anything like this, and it hadn’t been in any of their rehearsals. What was Max up to? She told herself that it was only one more trick, and then it would be over and she would be gone, no matter what he was planning.
Just one more.
Overhead, a hook descended out of the shadowy darkness and she was quickly snared. She felt the rope tighten as she was hoisted upwards from the platform, her feetpaws kicking at empty air. Though she hadn’t raised more than a few inches, she suddenly felt very high up and exposed. Slowly the crane moved her forwards until she was directly over Max’s head. He glanced up at her and grinned, giving her a wink.
Then she began to descend as Max opened his jaws wide beneath her.
Vanni squeaked, breaking her calm facade for a moment as her paws pressed into the Floragato’s mouth. She could feel his tongue playing over them teasingly, but he soon guided them to the back of his throat.
Gllllp.
The crowed ooh-ed and aah-ed as Max took his first gulp, and Vanni felt her legs abruptly sink into that tight neck. The muscles rippled over her, making a shiver run up her spine. She hadn’t known what to expect, but she didn’t think it would feel so…realistic. Or sensual.
Gllllnnnk.
Another swallow, this time pulling her wide hips down into the cat’s gaping maw. For a moment, Vanni darkly hoped that she wouldn’t fit, choking on her would serve him right for springing this on her so suddenly, but Max didn’t even slow down. His mouth somehow stretched wider and wider to continue taking her in, and she could feel her legs surrounded by the tight warmth of the cat’s body. Maybe he really could do it, make her disappear.
Gllllkkkpph.
Her hips squeezed down, her belly slipping in all at once. Even if she weren’t already bound, she wouldn’t be able to move her arms anymore. It took her a moment to realize that her feet were hanging into empty space somewhere inside the cat. His stomach? Something about it made her nervous. She supposed that might be natural. After all, her instincts would generally be very opposed to being eaten by a cat. Her conscious mind was, too, for that matter. But did she dare break character now? Surely this wasn’t even the most humiliating thing she’d had to endure.
Gllllrrrrkkk.
She muffled a small squeak as her head squeezed down into the cat’s mouth, his jaws framing her view of the outside world. Her heartbeat was fast. She’d never thought before about what happened to all the things Max had “disappeared” throughout his career. She always figured…well, that it was magic. Alarms were ringing in her mind, her instincts screaming at her to struggle, or call out, or something, she was being eaten by a predator. The sensations around her body were disturbingly real.
But it was only a trick, right?
Gulp.
---
Max snapped his jaws closed as he felt the head of his lovely assistant vanish down his neck. It took only a moment for the last bulges to sink down out of sight, disappearing into the cat’s chest, leaving no trace of the Cinccino whatsoever. Waves of thunderous applause crashed over him as he showed his empty mouth to the audience. There was no sign of her. She really had disappeared.
“And with that, I bid you all farewell! Perhaps one day we shall meet again, but until then, never forget this moment!”
Max bowed deeply as the curtain slowly swept closed. The clapping and cheering continued well after he was hidden from view, and Max grinned to himself, already heading backstage towards his dressing room. By now the lights would have brightened once again, and staff members would be showing the crowds to the exits. They could certainly handle all of that without his help. Closing the door, he tossed his hat and cape onto a hook protruding from the back and practically leapt into his chair, directing his attention down at his stomach.
He’d really done it. Eaten his lovely assistant live in front of hundreds of people, and not one of them would ever suspect a thing. After all, she’d made no secret of the fact that she wouldn’t stick around to say goodbye to anyone. It was almost too perfect. He picked a sequin from between his teeth and flicked it onto the floor. Her dress had tasted abysmal, and he wished he could have savored her longer, but the feeling of her slipping down his throat had been divine. He played the events and sensations back over and over again in his mind, trying to relive the memory. He would have given anything to have had her in private, where he could really have enjoyed her…but he supposed he should be grateful for his opportunity. He flopped back and squished his paws into his stomach. It gurgled contentedly in response, happy to have such a large meal. He idly wondered what the Cinccino was experiencing inside right now. He could feel her struggling faintly, though her bindings were tight and prevented much real movement. She must have figured out pretty quickly what he had planned for her. Sometimes he could swear he even heard her shouting things at him, though he couldn’t make out any actual words. Cursing his name, no doubt. Not that it mattered now.
UUUUuuuooorrp.
A bit of white fur came up with that belch, and Max licked his lips, patting his stomach gently. He’d eventually need to find a new assistant, if he planned to continue his shows again, but for now, he pushed the thought from his mind. He could worry about that much later on. Right now, he was looking forward to taking a break from showbiz. Enjoying himself a little.
And maybe he didn’t need to be on stage to make someone disappear…though he had no idea how he might arrange events any more perfectly than they had been tonight. It really had been a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Well, for one of them at least.