Here we are again. At the first chapter, all edited and shiny just for you guys. This is going to be great. I have some pretty awesome things in store. Remember, I only own my character, Dana, and this particular story. So without further ado, I present:

The Five Magicians

Lovely Wanderer

Chapter 1 - The Illusionist

Night time is the best time. It's my time to shine. Quite literally. I set up shop near the entrance of Washington Square Park just as the sun was setting. It was time to do my thing.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please gather around!" I announced to park goers and passersby. I continued as a few people started to gather around me.

"My name is Dana Voris and I am the next greatest magician. What I am about to show you is going to blow your mind. It may be real to some, it may be fake to others, but I call it magic." I got a polite round of applause. I always loved giving that little speech. I scan the crowd, searching for a volunteer.

"Now, does anyone here have a lighter or a match that I could use? Come on, don't be shy! You sir, in the red shirt, come on up here. What's your name?"

"Michael."

"It's nice to meet you Michael. Do you have a lighter or a match that I could borrow?"

"Yeah, let me just get it here for ya." He felt around in his pockets until he found his lighter.

"I want you to show it to everybody here that this is just an ordinary, everyday lighter. Hold it up high, there you go. Now, tell me, where did you get this?"

"Uh, The Corner Store on 8th and Market."

"Good, good. Now, I would like you to light it and hold it out in front of me." He did what I told him to do. "Don't flinch, just hold it steady."

Michael nodded, focusing on my instructions. I slowly reached out to the flame and wrapped my hand around it. People gasped and held their breath, waiting to see if I would get burned. Naturally, I didn't. I slowly took my hand away. The flame was no longer on the lighter. Michael's eyes widened in astonishment.

"Thank you Michael, you were a lovely assistant. Everyone, give him a round of applause."

He was too flabbergasted to say anything, so he just nodded in acknowledgement and stepped back to join the growing crowd that was politely clapping for him.

I opened my hand and there it was, the flame, flickering in my hand. I started to play with it, making it roll over my knuckles, tossing it in the air and catching it. I was even able to make it bigger, about the size of a baseball, and balance it on my head. Everyone just stood there watching in awe. I smiled to myself, thinking that I would never get tired of the reactions people gave.

For my finale, I tossed the ball of fire up in the air one last time. As it fell, I caught it in my mouth. I took a few steps back, took a deep breath, and blew a huge pillar of fire out of my mouth. The crowd cheered. I gave them a big smile and bowed.

"Thank you for staying to watch me folks! Thank you Philadelphia, the greatest city ever! Thank you everyone! Goodnight!"

I bowed again. As the crowd dispersed, people tossed money into my bag lying open on the ground and sent compliments my way. Once the crowd was gone, I grabbed my bag and headed home; sifting through the money I collected, trying to estimate how much I earned. As I did so, I spied something at the bottom. It wasn't a bill or a business card. I pulled it out to get a better look at it. It was a tarot card.

On it was a picture of a tiny naked cherub type man riding a white horse. Next to the cherub and horse was a billowing red cape, reaching up to the sky from the ground. Behind the cherub and the horse was a wall with sunflowers growing on it. Above the wall was a sun with a face on it. That's what the tarot card was. The Sun. I flipped the card over. On the other side was a symbol of an eye. Well, more like the Eye. Below, it read:

March 29

4:44 PM

45 East Evan Street

NY, NY

Looks like I'm going to New York.