A/N: Uhm...at last! my inspiration burns with the light of a forest fire! (I'm lame :D) Here's your chappie! I dunno if you like this story, Evelyn, but I don't feel like up-dating anything else. Besides, this is about to get fluffy!

A Magician's Secret

Chapter Three

What Are You Doing Here, May?

"May?!" Tucker and Danny exclaimed, gasping the name.

"Howdy," the strange girl said. Her voice trembled and her cheeks were pinkish-red from being in the cold. The boys had only heard short stories about the strange girl who was Sam's third cousin thrice removed on her mother side. She always told them she was a pain in the neck. That she believed in real magic and claimed to be the best magician: better than Houdini, even. Of course, they'd never actually seen the girl. Until now.

"What are you doing here?" Sam asked sharply, frustration apparent on her facial features. May looked up at her, her smile vanishing. She put on a hurt expression.

"Why, cousin, won't you….at least allow me inside? 'tis freezing out here," she said. To make her point a bit more obvious, May made an exaggerated 'brrr!' kind of sound and shivered.

Sighing exasperatedly, Sam moved to the side and allowed her entrance. The boys side-stepped as well and watched as the girl clambered in, a bit uneasy on her feet. Sam slammed the door shut against the wind and rain and ru8bebd her hands together before placing them beneath her arms for warmth. May looked around the living room, it's high ceilings, and warm fire place. She, too, rubbed her hands together, then began to take off her cape/cloak, then slowly, her hat. She placed her cape to dry on the coat rack, and kept her hat strictly in front of her, spinning it by the rim.

Danny and Tucker gazed at Sam uncertainly as the teen stomped up to May and turned her around by the shoulder until her dazed violet eyes staring at her cousin. "Once again I ask you," Sam said harshly. "Why are you here, May?"

May smirked and half-closed her eyes to add a smug effect to her expression. She sniffed the air, paying no mind to Sam and turning on her own accord, as if following the sweet scent. "Is that hot chocolate?" she asked softly.

Nearly thirty minutes later, the teens sat on the two sofas in the living room, the only light the ember glowing in the fire place, illuminating their faces and bodies, warming them. But drenching them in an ominous, unearthly glow that only set Sam into thinking May was hiding something. And something big.

Said cousin was sitting on the couch opposite the one where Sam, Danny, and Tucker were sitting on, sipping from a blue mug with hot chocolate, and a warm, blue blanket over her shoulders that Danny had provided from what he was going to use as he and Tucker slept over at Sam's place.

May smiled, holding the mug near her face, feeling the warm aroma caress her cheeks and numbed face. She opened her previously closed eyes and stared at the trio of friends before her. They shared a long silence as she drank up the last of the hot chocolate. Right then, a sudden light blinded them all as lightning streaked the sky outside. Thunder sounded soon afterwards, and Sam gripped Danny's arm tightly. In turn, the boy held her as well. Her reactions had gotten less fatal (she almost coked him once) but had not entirely dispersed as of yet.

May grinned at her cousin's fright. "I see you never got over your astraphobia," she said softly. Her voice was a smooth alto-type voice. Thick with eloquence and a gentle touch of smugness. Her eyes were filled with a mysterious glint of mischief and knowing. But at the same time, a type of hollowness that made you feel uneasy when those violet orbs met your own. Sam glared at her, but May only smiled further.

"It's good to see you again, Samantha," May added.

Sam stared at her. It was more a scowling glare, really. She didn't look at all happy. "I wish I could say the same," she replied harshly. "But I can't."

Danny tightened his grip on her hand (she hadn't let go at all during the whole time. Tucker was the one that had to serve May some hot chocolate). Sam looked at him, and met his cold stare. The message she got from his gaze was to try to be a bit more kind to her cousin. Sighing, Sam turned away from him and stared at the ground. "Sorry," she mumbled, then her eyes flickered up to her. "I didn't mean that."

May smiled at the duet of teens, then wrapped the blanket tighter around her. "And you're wondering I'm here, I guess?" she asked.

"Yes, we are," Tucker piped up. She had to admit, the girl was cute. She had a very strange sense of style, but it was also very close to Sam's. her shirt was a simple black blouse without any sleeves and collar. She also had a black skirt and black sandal-like shoes to match. Her cape and hat were also dark in color, silverfish lining inside the to match her silver-streaked hair, which was let loose and hanging below her shoulders. She smiled.

"I ran away from home," she said, closing her eyes. Before Sam could object to her staying in the Manson Mansion, may quickly added, "Just for a few days. I don't want to go home until I've figured out some stuff. Plus, I won't be a bother I'll stay out of your way. I may be here only a few weeks. In the mean time, I'll be sneaking around the city, maybe even go to school for a short while."

Her explanation was short and curt, and her eyes did not falter in keeping up that emotionless glare. Sam only gazed at her once she'd finished, then frowned. "You're gonna have to take care of yourself. I don't want unnecessary annoyances and you know I mean it. You're gonna clean up after yourself. Tucker and Danny will staying over for a couple of days for our science project. Got that?" she asked, keeping her own explanation curt.

May seemed to hold disbelief on her face, but it soon evolved into a smile. "I can stay? Thanks, Sam!" she exclaimed.

"Don't thank me yet," Sam grumbled.

Danny sighed deeply and looked at his digital watch. 9:30 PM "It's getting late guys," he whispered. "We should start heading off to sleep now."

"Good! I'm beat!" Tucker exclaimed and sat up. He looked at May then. His expression switched to Sam. "what room is she gonna sleep in?" he asked softly. They'd set up separate rooms for all three of them in vacant bedrooms on the top floor of the mansion. Surely there was an extra room…..

"There's the guestroom," Sam cut in. "It's not as great as yours, but it should do." She looked at May, then stood. "Come on, I'll show to it."

May nodded and stood up, then gazed at Danny. She bowed a little. "Thanks for letting me sue your blanket," she whispered, and smiled fondly. Danny nodded, and he stood up, she straightening her posture.

"No problem," he said, and smiled as well. "I'm Danny, by the way. And this is Tucker."

May nodded her greeting. "May, come on!" Sam shouted from near the stairs.

"Thanks again!" May shouted and rushed over to her cousin, giving Danny one last glance before following Sam with a smirk.

E/N: Uhm...yeah...I like where this is going :D!!

--Airamé Phantom