Darcy watched from the corner of the room as her sister, Icy went up to her mother, who was beaming with pride. Icy wore a smug smile as she turned to Darcy. Raising her hands, an icy cold swept through the room, as shards of ice collected above her head. Scanning the room, Icy's gaze locked onto Darcy's. Scrabbling to get up, in her haste, Darcy fell over her untied shoe laces, clattering onto the black and white tiled floor.

"Ice Blast!" Icy shouted, throwing the crystallised sphere in Darcy's direction.

She cowered behind her hands, but felt nothing. Peering between her fingers and adjusting her glasses, she saw Maisy, her stuffed black cat, frozen solid, glassy eyes staring into space, unseeing. She let out a high pitched scream.

"ICY!" She howled. " Turn her back!"

Icy just stood in the middle of the room, giggling. "Oh, grow up sister. It's just a pathetic stuffed toy."

Darcy's bottom lip quavered, but she couldn't cry. Her parents already thought she was weak enough, why give them the satisfaction of knowing they're right? "Mum, make her turn Maisy back. MAKE HER! That's not fair mum, it just isn't fair!" Darcy yelled at the top of her voice.

"Oh, do shut up Darcy." Her mum snapped. "The ice will melt, your sister isn't that strong. Although with a blast like that, and at such a young age, she will be soon!" She clapped her hands at Icy. "Besides, your nine, Darcy. Icy and Stormy threw away their stupid toys when they were 6, why can't you? Can't you just be more like your sisters?"

Darcy was fed up of hearing that. Besides, that 'stupid toy'? Had a lot of value...to her. Her grandma had given it to her when it was confirmed that yet another witch had been born into the family, giving her parents a trio. It was grandma's little joke, after living on earth for 20 years, using the superstition of black witches cats, and giving it to the youngest little witch, even if it was only by a few hours. That cat meant the world to Darcy, as her grandma was the only one who had ever seen her as she really was, as a unique being, without constantly comparing her to her sisters. Darcy spent her life in their shadow, but her grandmother always managed to shed some light onto her pathetic existence. When she'd died, Darcy spent weeks bawling, and even went 5 days without food, water or sleep. Her parents had hardly seemed to notice, and if they did, they showed no signs of caring. Darcy was just an outcast, something they could do without. Her sisters had both shown signs of power from the age of 5, emitting sparks from the tips of their fingers, accidentally freezing something in Icy's case, or electrocuting someone where Stormy was concerned. Yet Darcy never had found her power inside herself. It took time, her grandma always told her, the longer it takes to appear, the stronger and more powerful it will be. Yet her parents told her she was weak, and tried to threaten it out of her, telling her that she'd be out on the streets if her powers were useless, or if she waited any longer to prove her worth they'd send her to Alfea, where even the fairies will laugh at her. Her parents were proud of Stormy and Icy, yet they felt nothing for Darcy.

"Oh, cheer up Darcy." Icy soothed.

Darcy felt her coming in for the kill. With clenched little fists, she waited for the bite.

"If you want, I can freeze you too, so at least you know that something in this world is like you, worthless and defenceless. But don't worry, you can watch and learn from me and Stormy...I mean watch and wish that you were as talented as us." Icy smirked and Darcy knew that she may not possess magic as of yet, but she wanted to give her sister a good hard punch, right in her ugly face.

Her family fell about laughing at Icy's 'joke'. A bolt of lightning slipped from Stormy's finger, smashing the black iron chandelier that hung above them. Everyone laughed harder. Darcy felt tears sting her eyes, and picked up the lump of ice that sealed her beloved cat. Wincing under its weight, she staggered to the stairs, and began to climb, no one noticing her exit, except maybe for Stormy, who let out another 'accidental' crack of purple lightning, which fried Darcy's hair, leaving it sticking up at odd angles as she disappeared into her attic bedroom.