“If you would just listen to me, you’ll understand why I—“

”I already told you Michael I don’t care!” Melinda said cutting him off. “You didn’t have the right to orb me out of there!”

The two continued arguing as they headed up to the attic were Wyatt and Chris were in the middle of making a few extra vanquishing potions just in case. Chris looked up as they came in, still talking loudly. “Is fighting all you two do?”

“No.” Michael said, “Well, maybe. She’s just so stubborn maybe you guys can talk some sense into her.”

As if on cue Wyatt and Chris let out a scoff of laughter. Melinda rolled her eyes and crossed over to the couch and sat down. “So what is it this time? Mel I thought you went out.” Wyatt asked throwing in a pinch of rosemary into the cauldron. Michael went to talk but Melinda overlapped him and launched into the story.

“I was out, with a few friends and we were heading to a late lunch after some shopping.” she explained, “We’re sitting there at this really cute diner downtown, just opened, kind of pricey but the atmosphere is great. Anyway, we’re sitting there and I’m waiting for the salad to come when suddenly I’m orbed out. Was it me who orbed? No. Michael orbed me out because he felt there was a demon present.”

“I was only looking out for your safety.” Michael said trying to defend himself, “And besides, your friends were in the bathroom and no one else was looking. I was careful.”

“How am I supposed to explain this to Helen and Joanie ?” Melinda said her voice was starting to rise again.

“Whoa! Hey! Both of you,” Wyatt said. “I’m going to put an end to this before it even gets started again. Michael what you did could have exposed us all.”

“See I told you.” Melinda said cutting in with a matter of fact tone.

“But,” Wyatt said over top of her, “But if you felt that there was a demon present it was smart to get Melinda out of there.”

“Ha. Told you.” Michael said with a smug grin. Melinda glared at him but remained quiet.

“Good. Great.” Chris said, “Now that that’s settled we have a potion to make.”

“New demon?” Michael asked.

“When isn’t there a new demon.” Wyatt stated. “These are just incase some more demons come a knocking. I mean in the past few weeks we’ve seen more demons then in the months before. Of course that could be due to the fact that the Charmed Ones aren’t around.”

“Yeah but the they’re still gutsy for showing their faces around the Charmed One’s kids. Although it seems to be just us, I contacted Prue and Laura, they say everyone is okay no demons or anything unusual has happened to them.” Chris said.

“It’s just us?” Melinda shifted uncomfortably. “So someone really is after me.”

“Or all of us.” Wyatt said, hoping it would make his sister feel a little more comfortable. Although he wasn’t sure how news of concentrated demon attacks on them alone was supposed to make her feel. “We can’t be sure yet. But we told Prue and Laura to just stay put and call only if they needed us. We don’t want to drag them into this if it has nothing to do with them all in the first place.”

“I guess this begs the question, have you found out who the culprit is yet?” Michael asked; the prior argument seemed to be a lost subject to all of them at the moment.

“No, we haven’t” Chris said sharply, realizing the tone he took Chris sighed and spoke again this time a little calmer and softer. “Sorry. No we haven’t figured it out yet. For all we know it could be some warlock, demon, hell even a Darklighter. We don’t have any information to narrow it down except it must be someone with big power, in order to hire those others to come after Melinda in the first place.”

“So in other words the same information as usual.” Melinda said. Chris turned his head in her direction he opened his mouth to say something but silenced himself.

“All we can do right now is to just be prepared for whatever may happen next.” Wyatt corked a small potion vile and gently tossed it to Melinda. She caught the vile and looked it over for a few seconds. “Just be on your guard until we can figure this out.”

Later that night at dinner Melinda couldn’t help but notice how distant Chris was being. He was spaced out in the kitchen and added a half a cup of salt instead of sugar to the cake Melinda decided to make. Melinda and Wyatt watched as Chris sat there playing with his mashed potatoes, running his for through them, lifting them off the plate and then letting them splat back in place.

“Chris?” Wyatt said finally breaking the silence, “Are you going to eat those or just continue to do….that?”

“What?” Chris asked looking up.

“So are you guys ready for dessert?” Melinda asked, she got up from the table and hurried into the kitchen. She came back out a moment later holding a platter that seated a small round vanilla covered cake with a rose on the top corner.

“It’s not the one that Chris poured the salt in is it?” Wyatt asked as Melinda set the cake on the table.

“No I threw that out and started over.” Melinda said with a grin.

“Is there a reason to this cake?” Wyatt asked, Melinda cut and placed a slice onto a small plate and handed it over to him. He figured that there had to be a reason for Melinda’s suddenly cheery mood and choice in dessert. She wasn’t always so keen to bake, or cook. In fact she wasn’t great at either which made Wyatt kind of weary about the cake with or without the salted batter.

“Does a sister need a reason to bake something special for her brothers?” she asked innocently. Chris took his offered slice and gave a half smile.

“Most of the time yes.” he said. Melinda rolled her eyes, “No offense Melinda but you usually don’t do something unless you want something in return.”

“I do not.” Melinda said defensively, okay so they had a point. Melinda found it easier to ask for something after doing something nice, and normally it worked, at least with her parents.

“Okay fine.” she said, “I was wondering if maybe if I could go demon hunting with you guys next time. And before you shoot the idea down I want you two to listen okay? I’m 18 now and I have full control of my powers, well mostly.” she muttered. “You saw me handle that warlock the other day, and I think it’s high time I got out into the world and royally started kicking some demon ass!”

Wyatt and Chris each took a bite of the cake; they had each only chewed it a few times when they spit it out all over the table. Melinda took a small bite and immediately spit it out into a napkin. Her brother’s worked on draining their glasses.

“I guess I threw out the wrong batter.” Melinda muttered. “So much for dessert.”

Wyatt took the cake out to the kitchen to throw away; Chris started to collect the plates. They never responded to Melinda’s proposal, and she figured that they didn’t intend to. She sighed and rested her head on the table trying not to lose her temper and snap. She hated when her brother’s ignored what she had to say, they always did that even when they were younger. Wyatt was better then Chris at listening but lately it was like she was talking to a brick wall.

Chris set the plates and silverware into the sink and turned the water on. “I don’t think we should let her go.” he said. “Demon hunting. It’s still too dangerous, I mean yeah she is capable of handling herself but if she’s the target I don’t want to risk it.”

Wyatt noted how worried Chris sounded, “Chris I’m not about to argue against you. I think you’re absolutely right, it’d be like handing her over and we can’t do that.”

“Wyatt, Chris can you come here for a minute?” Melinda called in from the other room. They stopped what they were doing and walked back into the dining room. To their surprise and horror they found a blonde haired demon holding Melinda, one hand covering her mouth and the other held an athame to her throat.

“Take one step and I kill her.” the demon said in Melinda’s voice, he cleared his throat. “Sorry about that, as I was saying. One step or even a thought about making a move and I’ll slide this into her pretty throat.”

“Who are you?” Wyatt asked making sure to stay quite still.

“Like I’m going to tell you my name. I’m not that stupid.” the demon said, “Telling you my name will only make it easier for you to track me, nice try though big brother.” he smirked evilly as he pushed the blade closer to Melinda’s throat, she let out a muffled cry. The demon came out of nowhere, one minute Melinda was sitting at the table and the next thing she knew there was an athame to her throat and a hand around her mouth.

“Then tell us what you want.” Chris said, he leaned forward a little the athame dug deeper and a trickle of blood ran down her neck.

“I got what I came for.” the demon said, “I’ll be leaving now.”

“No you won’t!” Michael orbed in next to the demon and grabbed the arm that held the athame and pulled it away from Melinda’s neck. Michael twisted his arm forcing the demon to drop the athame; Wyatt and Chris took this opportunity to make their move. Wyatt ran to Melinda to get her out of the way, another demon with dark hair shimmered into the dining room. He made a move for Wyatt as Chris and Michael were occupied with the first demon. Sending a ball of fire at Wyatt who took the blow to his shoulder shoving Melinda out of the way.

The events in the following minute happened so fast it was almost hard to comprehend. The first demon sent Chris flying over the table and into the fireplace, turning his attention to Michael who was on the ground trying to recover from the last blow. The demon’s friend was in full combat with Wyatt, he kept blocking each attack Wyatt sent at him. Melinda glanced around at everyone but noticed that Michael was in the most danger. The demon had picked up the athame and had a fireball ready in his other hand. He starred down at Michael with a sadistic grin on his face, without time to think Melinda rushed over to Michael’s side and grabbed his arm. “No!” the next second the two of them had orbed away, leaving Wyatt and Chris behind with the two demons.

Michael and Melinda crashed to the ground. They looked at their surroundings, not recognizing anything around them. It seemed they were in some old abandoned apartment, the curtains were torn and tattered, the wallpaper hung half off the wall, cobwebs matted the ceiling and the rest of the woodwork, and a old dusty brown couch sat in the middle of the empty room. “Where are we?” Michael asked. “And what just happened?”

“I don’t know.” Melinda replied, she turned her head to Michael “I think I just orbed us out of the manor.”

“You orbed us?” Michael repeated, “What do you mean you orbed us.”

“He was about to kill you.” Melinda said, “I had to do something.”

“Melinda, I’m already dead.” he said, “And that’s not what I mean. I didn’t know you had Whitelighter powers like your brothers. I mean they didn’t tell me, and you sure as hell didn’t.”

“Well I don’t have Whitelighter powers per say,” she said, “I do but they kind of come and go.”

Michael just starred at her; nothing she was saying was making any sense. He closed his eyes for a second and then opened them after taking a breath. Before he said another word he noticed the cut on her neck; reaching his hands out to heal her he cleared his throat and spoke.

“Thank you though.” he said. “For getting us out of there.”

“We have to go back,” Melinda said keeping still until he finished healing the small wound, “Wyatt and Chris need our help.”

“No. They’ll be fine, besides they were after you and I think we’re safe here. Wherever here is. Going back would only be giving the enemy what they want. Melinda,” he hesitated as if trying to recall something. “You’re dad he’s—I mean he was a Whitelighter wasn’t he? Leo?” Melinda looked semi surprised that Michael knew her dad’s name, “I’ve met him a few times when he was just starting off as a Whitelighter.”

“Ew, cause that’s not a creepy thought.” Melinda muttered with a shudder. Michael smiled for a second but it fell off his face and he continued onto his point.

“In all of the books I’ve read, and all of the rumors I’ve heard, the Charmed Ones Whitelighter Leo, and former Elder, fell from grace. This happened after Wyatt was born, and Chris. But before they had their third child, which would be you. Your brother’s have Whitelighter abilities because they were born with Whitelighter blood and genes, but you couldn’t have. Unless your mom—“

“My mom didn’t cheat on my dad if that’s what you’re implying.” Melinda snapped.

“No! Of course not, but Melinda it doesn’t make sense that you have the ability to orb.” Michael said.

“I know right?” she said, “I mean by all rights I shouldn’t have this power, logically it just isn’t possible. But yet here I am able to orb. I didn’t always have this power though you know? Wyatt and Chris could use their Whitelighter abilities when they were babies, all of this kind of just started about two years ago.”

Michael stopped her, “Are you saying that you gained Whitelighter powers?”

“I guess. I don’t know.” Melinda said, she got up and walked over to the couch and sat down, dust flew up around her. She waved her hand to clear the dust away from her face, “I was arguing with my parents, I had some bad grades in science and I wasn’t allowed to go to Prom. It really made me mad, I mean the guy I had a crush on at the time had asked me and now I wasn’t allowed to go. There was a lot of shouting back and forth, and I just remember thinking I didn’t want to be there anymore, that I wanted to just go off to my room. And the next thing I know I’m standing in my room, I had orbed there.” Melinda paused only for a second to take a breath,

“Mom and Dad thought Wyatt or Chris had done it, but they weren’t home at the time, and I mean why would they orb me to my room? I tried to orb again, but I couldn’t no matter how hard I tried. Nothing like that happened again till a couple months ago, I was just messing around and thinking how I wanted to go to the mall but Mom and Dad wouldn’t let me use their car. I sat in my room really concentrating on the mall and how much I wanted this jacket. Again I find myself standing inside the dressing room of the store that had the jacket.” she took another breath,

“Since then I’ve been able to orb places, but I have to concentrate really hard, and I know that’s not normal. I can’t orb objects or anything like that. I just have the power to orb.” Melinda waited for Michael to say something; he finally sat down on the old couch next to Melinda. “Wyatt and Chris both tried going Up There to talk to the Elders, but they wouldn’t reveal anything to them. So, we just decided to try and accept that I have the power to orb. Well, sort of have the power. I noticed that when I’m really upset I can orb normally, without having to concentrate. Like the Prom deal, and then back in the manor. I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

Michael smirked, “Thanks, again. Look, maybe I could go up and talk to the Elders the next chance I get. But maybe,“ he said, “maybe it’s your destiny.”

“To become a Whitelighter? Why? I mean Wyatt can orb and heal, and Chris can orb. Isn’t three Whitelighter hybrids a little overkill for one family?” Melinda said, there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

“I’m being serious Melinda.” Michael said, “What if you were given these powers because somewhere along the line you’ll need them?”

“But Wyatt and Chris--”

“I know you don’t want to hear this but, maybe in the future they won’t be there for some reason or other. They won‘t be there and maybe it‘ll fall on you to do whatever it is you were given these powers for.”

Melinda didn’t like hearing or thinking that her brothers wouldn’t be around in the future, at least in the near future. She shook her head denying the idea at first. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Wyatt and Chris are so strong, no demon can get the best of them.”

“I thought the sons of the Charmed Ones would be stronger then this!” the demon laughed, both Wyatt and Chris stood back trying to catch their breath. It was clear that these two demons were upper class, and pretty powerful at that. They were defiantly giving Wyatt and Chris a run for their powers. They must have gotten a little extra power boost from something or someone. Wyatt thought, he and Chris looked at each other for a second as the two demons stood side by side, they smirked evilly and let two fire balls form in each of their hands giving a total of four. “I must say I am disappointed.” the demon with blonde hair said, “Where did your pretty little sister go?” he sniffed the air, “She doesn’t seem to be in this house anywhere.”

With a sudden jester of his hand Chris sent the table from the front hall flying into the backs of the blonde demon’s pal, flowers pictures and all. He lurched forward, the flames from his hands disappeared as he fell to the ground. This distracted the blonde demon for a second, but he still let the two fireballs fly at Wyatt. Wyatt dropped to the ground as they came speeding at his head. Chris ran over and grabbed the blonde demon by the arm dragging him back into the front hall from the dining room and slammed him hard into the wall Chris’s hand now over the demon’s throat. “What do you want with Melinda!”

The blonde demon seemed pleasantly shocked by this sudden and unexpected move by the younger of the charmed sons, but a smile grew on his face and he let out a tiny laugh.

“Do you really think I’ll answer any question you have?”

Chris slammed the demon back into the wall again, he flinched in pain but continued to smile. “That hurt a little.”

“Chris?” Wyatt came into the front hall stepping over the unconscious demon.

“I’m going to ask one more time. Why are you after Melinda?” Chris said through gritted teeth.

“You’re not exactly the smart one are you?” the demon said, his eyes darted away from Chris’s for a split second. Chris noticed and his head jerked over to Wyatt,

“Wyatt!”

Wyatt turned around to see an athame soaring at him from out of nowhere. He quickly orbed out of the way and the athame stuck into the wood work in the door way. This little distraction gave the blonde demon a chance to push Chris off of him and shimmer away over to his friend and then shimmered out of sight again taking the unconscious demon with him.

“Damn it!” Chris shouted hitting the wall. Wyatt orbed back next to his brother and let out a heavy sigh.

“We’ll get them don’t worry Chris. Hey, Michael!” Wyatt called out. A second later Michael and Melinda orbed in onto the staircase. “Where were you guys?”

“I’m not sure.” Michael replied. “What do you mean, where did you orb to?”

“Actually.” Melinda said walking down the remaining three or four steps, “I orbed him, well us really. I wasn’t thinking of anyplace in particular I just wanted to get somewhere safe and we ended up in this old abandoned apartment.”

“Wait a second. Rewind to the part where you orbed.” Wyatt asked. Chris remained silent, still brooding away that the demons escaped. “You orbed without having to concentrate?”

Melinda smiled weakly, “Yeah it just kind of happened. I didn’t mean to, and I promise it won’t happen again.” she added with haste.

Wyatt crossed his arms and grinned, “You’re not in trouble or anything. I’m just impressed that’s all. It means your whitelighter powers are starting to come in.”

Melinda felt like a great weight was lifted off her shoulders. She had been getting into so much trouble the past couple weeks that she was expecting to get scolded for orbing or something. She looked around and saw the mess, not so unusual, “So did you get the demons?”

“I’m sorry we failed you my lord.” the blonde demon and his dark haired friend bowed their heads. They stood inside just one of many caves and caverns in the vast underworld. A wall of flames separated the two servants from their master. They weren’t able to make out his face but his silhouette could be seen, the two had yet to come face to face with their lord but no had been allowed beyond the wall of fire.

“No.” said their lord, “You did not fail me Cullen.” his voice was deep and hollow and echoed above the crackle of the flames. “You did what you were meant to. The results proved exactly what I had hoped.”

The blonde demon, known as Cullen, looked up and blinked. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t have to. You and Jaren did very well. And now we are ready for the next step in the plan. It won’t be long now until they are ready. My dream will become a reality.”

The dark haired demon, known as Jaren, looked over to Cullen for a second he seemed to want to say something but the look given by Cullen suggested that he better keep his mouth shut if he wanted to keep his life. Cullen guessed that Jaren was about to make a smartass remark to the extent that ‘Demon’s don’t dream.’, that’s just how Jaren was. Cullen stood up straight and looked back at the his lord and master.

“My brother and I are ready for whatever you command of us next my lord.” Cullen said.

“I find Cullen, that the Charmed Ones are due home soon. I can’t have that, and I need you to make sure that there isn’t a family reunion.”

A twisted smile grew on both Cullen and Jaren’s faces, “As you wish my lord.” they each said with a deep bow and they shimmered out of the cave.

“I almost got him to talk.” Chris said pacing back and forth in the attic. Melinda sat on the couch with her legs crossed and an pillow in her lap. She was watching Chris go back and forth, nearly going cross eyed as he made sharp turns. Michael had gone Up There to check to see if the elders knew anything about the two demons who attacked while Wyatt was busy thumbing through the Book of Shadows. “I was this close and he gets away. Unbelievable!”

“Okay Chris can you sit down you’re going to make me lose my dinner.” Melinda said placing her hand over her stomach.

“And you’re getting on my nerves.” Wyatt said glancing up from the book for a second. Chris stopped and shot Wyatt a look but he didn’t care to glance away from the book to catch it. He walked over and sat down next to Melinda, he reached over and snatched the pillow from her. Her mouth dropped open for a second and smacked him in the arm for taking it. Wyatt groaned and slammed the book shut.

“It’s official there is nothing about those two in the Book of Shadows. I’ve looked three times over now, there isn’t anything in there about them They have to be working for someone bigger, which makes me worry.”

“Let’s hope Michael can get something form the elders.” Melinda said.

“Don’t count on it.” Chris muttered, “The thing that really doesn’t make sense to me is why wouldn’t he have killed you, or taken you when he had the chance? You called us, I mean he called us into the dining room and showed you off like a prize.”

“You’d rather he killed me?” asked Melinda.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“No I understand what Chris is saying. It was like he didn’t want to hurt you, or he didn’t want to hurt you yet. He wanted to bring it to our attention first, which still makes absolutely no sense at all.” Wyatt said leaning forward on the stand that held the book. White-blue orbs filled his peripheral vision, Michael stood next to him looking rather disappointed.

“What did you find out?” Chris asked eagerly.

Michael took a deep breath as if he was about to say something with great meaning. “Nothing.” he said. Everyone looked at him blankly, “The elder’s don’t know who they were or who in the underworld might even be after Melinda. I tried to get more information out of them, and they were actually kind of rude about it all.”

“Are they hiding something?” Melinda asked.

“What would the Elders have to hide?” Wyatt wondered aloud.

“Nothing good I can tell you that.” Chris said, he got to his feet and tossed the pillow back at Melinda landing in her lap. They watched Chris as his crossed the attic and left down the stairs more than likely heading for his and Wyatt’s room.

“What got his orbs in a bundle?” Michael muttered.

“He’s worried about his sister.” Wyatt said with a tiny smirk.

“It took him 18 years to finally act like he cares.” Melinda rolled her eyes. It was true that Chris was the one who picked on her the most when they were growing up, but Melinda knew he did care about her. It was just the first time she had seen him behave this way, then again this was the first time that demons and warlocks proved to be out to get her.