As seemed to be the norm lately, the manor was somber and quiet when Phoebe pushed open the front door, Lucy at her side. Melinda, Joey, and Sam were in the sunroom, speaking quietly as a bright glimmer of light tore through the windows. Phoebe gave a warm smile as she passed them before entering the dining room where her father, Victor, Leo, and Laura stood talking about lame current events to distract themselves from grief.
"Hey Pheebs," Leo greeted as Victor wrapped an arm around his youngest daughter, pulling her in close. The Halliwell patriarch had aged plenty in the past twenty years but remained as chipper and sardonic as he had been many decades before. He shuffled his steps a little more, complained of sore feet and an aching back, but still clung fast to the idea that it wasn't how old you were, it was how young you felt. Victor had been an excellent grandfather to all of his grandchildren, earning him much respect and fondness among the next generation. Yes, grandpa Vic was everyone's favorite. Even among Kate, Sam, and Joey, who may not have been his biological grandchildren but he treated just as affectionately.
"Tea anyone?" Piper spoke up, entering the dining room with a delicate tray of steaming hot liquid, matching saucers and cups, and warm pastries. She carefully set it down on the long table before Leo came up behind her, wrapping arms around her waist. Piper looked to Phoebe, "Where'd Coop go?"
"He left at the cemetery," Phoebe murmured sadly.
Piper gave her sister an empathetic glance. She knew better than anyone that in secret parts of her heart, which Phoebe dare not talk about, she still loved her former husband. She was also plenty aware that Coop still longed for Phoebe in more ways than one. In complete confidentiality since their separation the two had called each other late at night, met each other for coffee, and embraced a second longer than necessary; all to keep a "friendly" relationship for their children. Piper wondered when the two would stop trying to fool themselves and give into their true desires.
"What about the rest of the kids? Where are Wyatt and Chris?" Leo asked more alertly.
"They're with Lila," Phoebe answered slowly pouring herself a cup of tea. Lucy plopped down into a seat at the table, eagerly grabbing the flaky pastries that were powdered in sugar. Laura rolled her eyes at her youngest sister. "Chris seemed to be pretty broken about everything. He wanted a few more moments at the cemetery so Wyatt and Lila stayed behind with him."
Piper's face fell in sadness at the thought of her youngest in sorrow. His eulogy had been heartfelt and moving, one that made her proud to have him as a son. She should have realized how upset he truly was inside. "Kate left the car at the last minute as well," Piper revealed quietly. "She just needed another moment I guess."
"Hard to see the kids go through this," Victor spoke up in sadness.
"They'll be okay, dad," Phoebe assured him. "They are Halliwells."
As Lucy reached for another pastry she suddenly froze. The hair rose on the back of her neck and the adrenaline beneath her skin began burning with heat and urgency. She stiffened in her chair, glancing around at her surroundings, ears ringing so loudly that she could no longer hear the conversation between her family members. Only Laura seemed to realize that something was not right.
"What's wrong?" Laura whispered.
"It's happening," Lucy choked out, all the feelings from her early morning terror surfacing with vengeance. Cold sweat clung to the back of her neck and she glanced anxiously to her mother and aunt who seemed to be oblivious to the brewing war.
"I feel it too," Laura replied, though she was alarmed by her sudden ability to sense. She hadn't had a feeling such as the one that possessed her since before her powers had been bound. To distract herself she pulled the hair behind her ears and gave Lucy a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "I'll go warn the others . . ."
Lucy watched nervously as her eldest sister disappeared into the sunroom. The sensation now completely consumed her and she felt no reason to hide it. Something terrible was about to happen and she wouldn't let her family be caught off guard.
"Mom," she choked out. Phoebe's own stomach tensed at the sound of her daughter's voice. Lucy was known for composure and confidence. Her tone wavered with helplessness as she asked for her mother.
"What's wrong?" Phoebe asked.
"Demon!"
Melinda's terrified voice screamed through the manor followed by a heavy crash. At the sound of her youngest child's yell Piper bolted into motion, shouting over her shoulder as she went.
"Leo, get dad out of here!"
"You know something," his voice cooed gentle and low, making it all the darker. Wyatt crouched down in front of the trembling man, his hazel eyes narrowed on him in analysis. He patiently folded his hands together as he studied him.
"He's not going to talk, Wy," Chris growled bitterly. Sweat and grime stained his face. They had gone through a series of hopeful interrogations and in his frustration Chris had brutally beat or killed every one of them. His fierceness was admirable but also unnecessary. Wyatt scolded him for lacking control.
"Patience," Wyatt reminded his brother.
"What do you know of the Halliwells?" Lila asked as she circled the pair of demons they had cornered. He arms were folded tightly across her chest, a potion clenched in her palm.
"We had nothing to do with the murder of the witch!" one cried out, spit flying from his crusted lips. His black eyes were shrunk in fear and his left shoulder bled from a wound brought about by none other than Chris.
"We know that," Kate growled angrily. Her brow was narrowed in complete seriousness, hands on her hips as she stood behind Wyatt. Like Chris she seemed to be consumed by rage and a vendetta for revenge. If Wyatt came across as the good cop in these interrogations, Kate was certainly the bad one. "You know something! Tell us or we'll make this much worse."
"I say we just kill them," Chris said as he paced behind the group. His feet drug across the floor of gravel and ash. He bitterly threw out an arm, sending the quieter of the two demons into the stone wall.
"Chris stop it," Wyatt commanded flatly.
His brother paid him no mind, firmly securing an open hand around the demon's throat and pulling him from the ground. He smashed him against the wall, pinning him with angry strength and raw power. "Tell us what you know!" Chris barked at him. The demon squirmed, desperately attempting to pull himself from the shaking Halliwell.
"You'll never know," the wily demon hissed at him. He gave a twisted laugh before spitting on Chris's face. "Weak little witch!"
Chris bitterly dropped him to the ground and kicked his in the face. "I'll show you weak!" he shouted. He yanked a potion out of his pocket and waved it in his enemy's face.
"Chris, cut it out," Lila sighed. She was beginning to grow tiered of her cousin's methods. While she remained a hot-head herself and wanted revenge against the Underworld's dwellers she was also disciplined and precise in her hunting and investigating. She was a well-trained witch who took her priorities and goals completely serious, suppressing passion when necessary. Chris' actions were beginning to make her absolutely crazy.
Wyatt grabbed his brother from behind, yanking him away from the demon. "This is not what we're here for," he growled.
"We're here to get information," Chris reasoned darkly. "Information he won't give. It's only right."
"Chris!" Kate barked in warning as four demons shimmered into the cave. A fireball sped at the back of Chris' head and Wyatt shoved him aside simultaneously putting up his force field and blocking the fatal blow.
A bearded and filthy demon faced Kate, his clothes hardly rags on his grime crusted form. He hurled a fireball at the witch and she narrowed her brow in concentration, her heart racing with familiar adrenaline. "Fireball!" she called steadfastly. The flames were engulfed by orbs before they could touch her and in an instant she threw it back at her adversary, killing him instantly. She smiled in silent pride, hoping that somewhere her mother beamed with satisfaction at how Kate now wielded her power.
Wyatt easily threw up his hands, sending an energy blast through the cave at two of the three remaining demons. The enemies were quickly defeated at his advance, vanquishing without much of a challenge. Lila kicked the last demon in the chest, sending him flying across the cave. Then without difficulty she threw a stunning potion at him, garnering a second interrogation victim.
"Look what you did," Lila hissed at Chris.
"What I did?" he asked in offence.
"Yes you! Get control of yourself. You're making too much noise. You're going to get us killed down here!"
"Oh screw you," Chris growled.
"Don't even start with me, I swear I - - -"
"Shut up, both of you," Wyatt interfered in frustration. Behind the trio Kate had begun a fresh interrogation, determination swept across her heated face. She was astute with complete seriousness and strength, completely motivated to gather the information she needed about her mother.
"What do you know?" she asked the latest demon who remained stunned by Lila's potion.
"Nothing."
"You lie."
"I'm a demon," he chuckled back.
"I'll make this hurt," Kate said. "Last chance."
"I love pain."
"Swell," Kate grinned. Then her face narrowed as she lifted an arm. "Crystals," she called. "Circle."
The demon's face fell as the cage formed around him. Kate pulled a series of small potions from her dark funeral boots, lining them up on the ground in front of her. "Now . . . what do you know?"
"This is pointless! I will kill the rest of your family! Filthy half-breeds!"
"I'd like to see you try," Kate replied, throwing a potion at the cage. The demon screamed out in pain, an electric jolt going through his body. When he regained his breath he glared back at his adversary. Wyatt, Chris, and Lila stopped fighting, taking to silence in order to watch the interrogation. "Were you at the Manor when my mother was killed?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
Kate grinned taking a large potion of her collection, this one a deep red. She chucked it at the cage, watching as an arm ripped off of the demon's body and his terrifying scream bounced off the walls. Dark blood soaked through his threads of clothes and he stumbled to the floor.
"Sweet potion," Lila grinned in admiration of her cousin.
"Were you at the Manor when my mother was killed?"
"No!" he whimpered, saliva streaming down his face. He held the nub, the last remain of his arm, and rocked back and forth in agony.
"Who was there?" Wyatt spoke up.
"I cannot tell."
"Really?" Lila asked, grabbing another potion. She threw it at the cage and another electric charge seized the demon.
"Stop!" he begged loudly. Steam rose from his mangled body as he remained limp.
"Tell us who did it!" Kate demanded.
"They will kill me!"
"We can take care of that ourselves," Chris growled.
"I'm sure you don't need your other arm," Kate threatened, swiping up a second scarlet potion.
"No!"
"Tell us!" she ordered.
"Stop!" the other scared demon behind them pleaded. Lila looked behind them in surprise. The same demon from before the attack shivered in pain and equal agony. She quickly grabbed him by the arm, dragging him across the floor and tossing him next to his caged ally.
"What kind of demon are you?" Chris asked.
"Just kill him," he replied in a croak.
"Who is doing this?!" Lila shouted.
"One of you needs to speak up," Wyatt said taking a knee in front of them.
Chris bitterly picked up another scarlet potion and threw it at the crystal cage. The demon screamed out in pain as his other limb ripped away from his body. He vomited on the cold rock floor, more blood expelling from his form. The demon next to the cage buried his head, not able to watch the disgusting interrogation.
"We are not our mothers!" Chris screamed. He kicked the demon to the floor. "We do things differently! Understand? They were too easy on you! And look what happened! We are the next generation and God forbid you think of crossing the Halliwells again! We're taking over and you ought to be absolutely fucking terrified! Because this is how things will be! This is how WE do business!"
"Tell us what we want to know," Kate barked, readying another vial.
"The Brotherhood!" the demon cried out helplessly.
"What?" Wyatt asked, his brow twisting in confusion.
"The Brotherhood! The Brotherhood of Thorn," the other confessed desperately.
"That doesn't exist anymore," Lila replied.
"It's back! And so is He."
"Piper!"
Fifty-nine year old Piper Halliwell slid across the sunroom floor, skin and bones slamming and skidding in one fast motion. The flames of a fireball warmed the back of her neck as they skimmed the unkempt pieces of her brown hair and continued into the wall.
Joey watched her anxiously from behind the overturned marble table, crouched in readiness and sweating with nerves. His heart raced beneath his chest as he observed the battle scene that took place outside of his spot of cover. All the chairs were overturned. A window was broken. People and fire and pieces of house all flew, booming and echoing without pause or hesitancy. Family members screamed at one another in the heat of battle, warning and pleading all at the same time. It was a chaotic ballet of violence and death. Hanging loosely from his neck was a stone amulet, imbedded with quartz crystals and jade rock. It was an amulet blessed by Piper, Phoebe, and Paige in order to protect the powerless Halliwell. It blocked fireballs, energy balls, telepathy, sensing, and mind powers. The only things Joey had to look out for were flying people, pieces of furniture, and the occasional telekinetic attack.
In the center of the room Lucy and Melinda stood back to back, both girls twisting and swinging with accuracy and effectiveness that had been harnessed in years of training and battling. Melinda blocked one of the demon's oncoming fists with her forearm, then twisted his limb with force and smashed a foot into his abdomen. At her back Lucy slammed a tight hand into a demon's face, then jumped into a state of levitation and kicked him across the room before dropping back down.
Two more demons shimmered in and immediately threw glowing fireballs toward the fighting Halliwells. Sam quickly deflected one of the flames, sending it back at its owner and killing him with fire. Next to her Laura tripped over, completely frazzled and confused. Sam nearly shouted at her to get out of the room but Laura instead squared off against a new demon. It had been years since she had been in battle. Years since she had had her powers. But now they were back.
With poor aim, Laura flicked up her hands, sending an explosion similar to her aunt Piper's toward the enemy. It was a few feet off aim but still slammed into half of the demon's body and dropped him to the ground. Sam's eyes widened on Laura in perplexity and her elder cousin shrugged. "I don't know what they're doing back either but might as well use them now!"
At that another fireball flew at the pair and Sam put up another hand, blocking it back toward the demon.
"Chris!" Lucy yelled toward the sky. She ducked below another fist and kicked the demon in the shin, still screaming desperately for her cousins. In every thinkable jam or battle someone, or at least one of the family's whitelighters, orbed in with backup. This time none of them, not Wyatt, Chris, or Kate appeared and suddenly the battle seemed to be taking a turn for tragedy. "Where the fuck are they?!"
Across the room Phoebe was pulled from her feet with a telekinetic blast, slamming into Joey's spot of cover and sliding into a motionless heap. "Mom!" Laura cried out.
"Kids upstairs! Go!" Piper screamed before exploding another demon. The numbers they faced were too large and powerful and the veteran witch knew things would get worse before they got better. It remained a poor sign that neither her sons nor niece were appearing when called. An order for retreat was their final option. "Get out of here! Go!"
No one listened to Piper and the battling continued. Sam orbed out of the way of a fireball and landed next to her aunt. As the orbs fell down around her another flame came her way and she quickly blocked it, killing the demon. Piper exploded one of the three fresh demons who shimmered in, sweat pouring down her worn face.
Joey crawled clumsily along the floor, tripping behind a couch and shuddering as he sat in cover. He watched as his aunt Phoebe moaned in agony while she came to. "Phoebe!" he called. "Phoebe get up! Wake up!"
She woke not a second to soon as a fireball came speeding toward her helpless form and in complete terror she rolled out of the way before it bounced off the table. Phoebe pounced onto her feet, completely rebounding from her fall. Two fireballs came at her direction and with her power of empathy she sent them back. But her heart solidified in terror as a familiar cry echoed in her ears.
Phoebe watched in horror as her youngest daughter collapsed to the ground in pain. Lucy rolled on the floor, grabbing a surely broken ankle. Phoebe quickly slid over to her side, blocking fireballs and enemies at a fast rate to protect her daughter.
Across the room a ball of flames caught Piper off guard, inches from her face as she turned. With little time she threw up her hands, and an explosion rocked the entire floor. The force from the eruption went in all direction, throwing demons from their feet and slamming Piper into the wall. Her shoulder wracked into the plaster, followed by her head. In an instant she fell unconscious.
For a moment everyone was rendered motionless. Their mouths dropped at the loss of Piper and echoing in Phoebe's mind was not again. Suddenly inspired with anger and fear, both Sam and Laura stepped forward. The eldest of Phoebe's three daughters began exploding demons at rapid speed, succumb with complete focus and determination. Phoebe watched her in awe and pride as she stayed knelt at Lucy's side. Sam moved with her cousin, kicking and deflecting with the precision and strength of a veteran.
Seeing that her cousins had the situation under control, Melinda slid across the floor on her knees, halting at her mother's side. Tears stung her eyes as she felt for a pulse and pulled Piper into her lap. "Mom . . ." she whimpered. "Wyatt?! Chris! Kate! Someone! Come hurry! Wyatt!"
Joey crawled across the floor, joining Melinda at Piper's side. She was in complete hysterics so he placed two fingers at his aunt's neck, checking for a beat. His heart fell in relief. "She's okay. Mel, there's a pulse, there's a pulse. It's okay!"
"What?"
"A pulse!"
Laura was completely enveloped in concentration, her heart speeding but her hands and body in control and moving fluidly. The adrenaline pumped evenly beneath her veins, her russet eyes narrowed on her enemies with complete clarity. She made no noise, no mistake, as she used her hands and powers with grace and effectiveness. Her breathing was controlled and her form still.
With one last flick of her hands she killed the last demon.
She scanned the room, Sam at her side, not even realizing that everything was silent and that all the enemies were gone until she could spot no more. She pulled in a calming breath, slowly resurfacing to her former self and slipping out of her battle mask. Sam stood at her back, doing the same as she recovered her breath and shook with slight fatigue. "Good job," she whispered to Laura, her eyes still locked on where she had killed her last demon.
"You too," Laura said despondently.
"Laura, honey . . ." Phoebe spoke up gently, sure to not startle her daughter. She recognized that she remained in attack mode, adrenaline still affluent and her mind and body completely alert. Laura's head snapped in her direction. "Laura, it's okay. It's done."
She swallowed and nodded. "Yeah," she breathed out in relief.
"I need you to go help your aunt Piper," Phoebe said calmly. Laura nodded, suddenly remembering that she was Dr. Halliwell.
"Ah it fucking hurts!" Lucy groaned, slipping in and out of awareness, her vision blurred and head pounding with pain.
"I know honey," Phoebe replied, dropping her stare back down to Lucy who lay with a broken leg.
"Where the hell are they?" she whimpered angrily.
"Kate!" Sam called loudly. "Kate!"
"What's going on Sam?" Joey asked worriedly.
"I don't know. But she's okay. She just can't hear us," Sam concluded. The bond between her and her sister was solid and beyond boundaries. As twins the two had developed near telepathic powers with one another. "I would know if she was hurt or dead."
"They're in the Underworld," Melinda spoke up, still at Piper's side as Laura examined her. "Chris and Lila were talking about it last night. I bet that's where they went."
"I knew it," Phoebe hissed in anger.
"So that's why no one is coming? They can't hear us?" Joey asked.
"It has to be," Sam nodded. "That or they're dead."
"We need to get her to the hospital," Laura decided as she felt along Piper's neck, checking for broken bones.
"No," Phoebe said.
"What? Why? Are you crazy?" Laura asked.
"They'll ask questions. What are we supposed to say? She was attacked by demons?" Phoebe asked.
"We'll wait for Wyatt and the others," Sam agreed.
"She'll die before they get here," Laura said bitterly. "Lucy needs to go too. I can't fix a broken ankle here."
"Laura you don't understand - - -"
"No! You don't understand," Laura snapped. "I'm the Dr. Halliwell here, okay?! This is life or death and I don't care if it was demonic or not, we call an ambulance now!"
"Laura Patricia, your aunts and I have been doing this for over thirty years and never have we depended on a mortal hospital. We will not expose this family by going to one now. That's how Piper would want it," Phoebe said firmly.
Laura's jaw stiffened and she grinded her back teeth together. "If she doesn't come to in five minutes we're calling an ambulance."
"Laura - - -"
"Stop it you two," groaned a familiar voice. Their gazes lowered to Piper who slowly blinked open her eyes. "You're making my head ache worse . . ."
"Thank God," Melinda whimpered, draping herself over Piper's tiered body. Her mother patted her head, giving her reassurance that all was well.
"Why am I not feeling a warm healing sensation?" Piper asked groggily.
"Because your sons, Kate, and my daughter are in the Underworld," Phoebe answered.
"I'm going to kill them," Piper threatened.
"Assuming they come back alive," Sam mumbled.
"Can someone help me?! I'm dying over here," Lucy growled in misery. Laura looked down at her aunt.
"Don't move, okay?" she instructed.
"Whatever you say doc," Piper grinned, slightly impressed to see her eldest niece in action. Laura slid to her youngest sister's side. Lucy laid against Phoebe who sat behind her, watching in concern as Laura carefully adjusted her leg for a better look.
"Fuck, easy there," Lucy hissed.
"Looks like you completely snapped your lateral malleolus and talocrural joint. You'll need an x-ray to see if you shattered anything else - - -"
"I need drugs," Lucy groaned. "Can you get me drugs?"
"No but the San Francisco Memorial can," Laura replied, putting a heavy gaze on her mother.
"I'm sure they'll be getting here anytime now," Phoebe reasoned.
"You won't have to file a police report. Just tell them that she slipped on some left over ice," Laura continued. "Besides, you want her sitting here waiting for a magical fix instead of getting immediate help?"
Phoebe gave a heavy sigh in distress, running a hand through her hair. She looked down to Lucy. "What do you want to do?"
"I just want the pain to stop," Lucy answered in a moan. She looked to her elder sister in desperation. "Promise they'll give me something?"
"They'll provide you with all the analgesics you need," Laura chuckled.
"The what?"
"Painkillers."
"Right, well let's go to the hospital Madre," Lucy decided quickly.
"I'll get you to the car," Sam offered as Laura and Phoebe helped her rise. As Lucy leaned on her cousin she looked to her sister.
"You're not coming doc?"
"No, I'm going to see what I can do for aunt Piper here," Laura answered.
"We'll see you later than," Phoebe said, though part of her still remained hesitant. Before Sam could orb her to the car, Laura grabbed her back.
"Hold on, I need to talk to you," she said.
"I'll meet you in a minute," Phoebe told Lucy and Sam. The pair swirled away in orbs and Laura's face grew pale and somber.
"Mom, why the hell do I have my powers back?" Laura asked.
"Honey, I don't know."
"Bullshit," she snapped in a low monotone. The rest of the family watched in expectation and worry. Laura leaned in closer to her mother, inches from her face. "Is this part of your little plan to bring us together? Whatever you think you're doing . . ."
"Laura, I didn't do this," Phoebe answered in complete honesty. "I cast no spells last night. I didn't unbind your powers and I wouldn't without your request. I've told you before that I respect your decision and I wouldn't go behind your back."
"Then what happened to me?" Laura asked, her voice cracking in fear. Phoebe placed a comforting hand on her arm, rubbing it in sympathy.
"I don't know. But I promise you when we get all that happened here sorted out, I will find out and we will fix this," she whispered. She placed a soft hand on her daughter's cheek. "It's going to be okay."
"Okay, mom," she cracked quietly in hopelessness.
Phoebe gave one last assuring smile before pulling away and glancing around the sunroom once more. "Is everyone else okay?"
"Dandy," Piper answered.
"You were right sis," Phoebe told her as she strode over, looking down at her in affection. "We are getting way too old for this stuff."
"Yeah, I'm sending in my resignation after Dr. Halliwell here fixes me and I kill my sons," Piper smiled. Phoebe chuckled before coming to a need for exit.
"I'll be back soon," she assured, giving Melinda a hug and patting Joey's head before leaving for her car. The sunroom fell silent and Laura gave a long sigh running a hand through her caramel locks. Melinda collapsed down on the ground in fatigue, laying on the cold granite floor and staring up at the ceiling. Joey leaned against the wall, slowly sliding to the ground in defeat.
"I am so sick of cleaning this sunroom," Piper groaned, breaking the quiet. Smiles spread across Laura, Joey, and Mel's faces as they glanced over at the wounded Halliwell who carefully sat up against her niece's orders. Laura was too tiered to scold her and instead shook her head, amazed that her aunt remained so durable and sanguine after so many years.
Joey ripped the tie away from his neck and slowly knelt down at his aunt's side. In silence and with great tenderness he wrapped the wound on her shoulder with the cloth as a temporary bandage. "I'll go grab the first aid kit," Melinda sighed, rising from the floor and walking over the broken glass and shards of plaster and wood.
"Get a broom instead," Piper called after her.
"Let's see, manor maintenance or aunt's health, which is more important?" Joey chuckled.
"Well when you put it like that . . ."
"Is it safe to come down?!" shouted Leo and Victor from the second floor.
"Never is!" Piper yelled back. "But you can come anyway!"
"A new Source . . ." Kate muttered as she shuffled with her cousins down the sidewalk, eyes squinted against the bright sun after a long hour of the darkness in the Underworld. "Is that even possible?"
"Anything is possible," Wyatt replied coolly.
"It makes no sense to me. Mom and aunt Phoebe and aunt Paige vanquished the Source for good," Chris growled. "I don't know how this happened."
"Maybe it's like the Triad," Lila suggested, running a hand through her now untamed hair. "You know, where it resurfaces after a period of time?"
"Makes perfect sense to me," Wyatt nodded.
"How did we let this happen?" Chris snapped angrily. If anyone would find a way to blame themselves for the reincarnation of the Source of All Evil, it would be Chris. He carried the weight of the world upon his shoulders even when no one needed him to. He was a glutton for punishment and self-loathing.
"No one let this happen, Chris," his elder brother assured him as they rounded the corner of Prescott Street. The manor was soon in view and instantly, a dark feeling swelled in Wyatt's stomach. His shoulders tensed and in a flash he began sprinting for his childhood home.
"Wyatt!" Kate called after him in anxiety. The trio exchanged looks before quickly running after him, roaming the sidewalks as if they were children once again.
Wyatt quickly pushed open the door, his heart racing in fear. "Mom?! Mel!" he called. His senses were like electricity warning him of danger and evil. In the Underworld however he must have missed the sign and now he feared he had been too late. He only grew more distressed when he took sight of the demolished sunroom.
"I'm going to kill you!" Melinda barked at him as he entered. She looked up from where she was sweeping broken glass and began beating her oldest brother with the broom as he came within reach. "You asshole! We - - - Could - - - Have - - - Died - - - Because - - - Of - - - You!"
She paused to smack him with the broom at every word, tears of anger in her eyes as she finished. "Mel stop!" Wyatt pleaded, half-chuckling, half disturbed as he shielded his face with his arms. Finally he heard the broom rattle to the floor and Melinda melted into his arms. He gently rocked his baby sister, hushing her as she clung onto him. "Shhh. Its okay now, Mel. It's okay . . ."
Chris, Sam, and Lila slid into the room, panting for breath and faces amassed with uncertainty as they watched Wyatt and Melinda. "What happened?" Lila asked with wide eyes.
"We were attacked," Melinda answered, wiping her tears while Wyatt kept an arm around her. "It was awful. There were so many of them. Mom told us to retreat. We kept calling for you but no one came."
Chris angrily kicked a piece of plaster across the floor, frustrated with himself beyond reason. He would kill whoever tried to hurt his family.
"Is everyone okay?" Kate asked worriedly, glancing around the room and finding it empty.
Melinda gave a slow nod. "Lucy broke her leg and didn't want to wait to be healed so Sam and Phoebe went to the hospital with her. Mom . . . mom got hit pretty bad."
Both Wyatt and Chris became rigid at her statement, fire in their eyes as they exchanged looks. It was one thing to attack a Halliwell, but to attack their mother was suicide. "I think she'll be okay," Melinda assured, realizing how intense her brothers had become. "She's in the kitchen with dad and grandpa Vic."
"Where's Joey?" Kate asked urgently, worried instantly for her powerless baby brother.
"He's okay. He just went out to the shed to grab a few tools," Melinda answered. "Hopefully we'll be able to salvage what's left of the sunroom."
"I'm sorry, Mel," Wyatt apologized gently, pressing a kiss to her temple. "It was stupid of us to go. We didn't even realize we had left you all without a healer . . ."
"So you were in the Underworld?" Melinda confirmed. They nodded. She sniffled, recovered from her release of emotion. "Find anything out about aunt Paige?"
"Too much," Kate replied direly. Melinda furrowed her brow in confusion.
"There's a new Source. And the Brotherhood of Thorn is back as well; whatever that is. Apparently they're the ones who killed Paige," Lila explained.
Melinda's eyes widened in shock. "A new Source," she repeated.
"It's as bad as it sounds," Chris spoke up pessimistically.
"Well, at least we have a lead," Melinda replied gently.
"I better go check on mom," Wyatt decided.
"You sure you want to do that?" Melinda asked. "She's hell bent on killing you."
"Yeah, well, we're probably worthy," he mumbled before shuffling off. Chris hesitantly followed after him.
"So it was pretty bad, huh?" Lila asked, taking another look at the overturned furniture and debris.
"Yeah," Melinda nodded. "For a minute we thought mom wasn't going to make it. And there were so many of them. They kept shimmering in . . . just when we'd get their numbers down they'd come with reinforcements."
"Were they like the ones from when . . ."
Kate's voice broke off as she remembered the scene and she swallowed hard, desperate to keep her composure. "Yeah," Melinda answered softly, knowing what her cousin implied. "Yeah, they were just like them."
"They had to have known that we were in the Underworld," Lila concluded after a long moment of thought. "That's how they knew when to attack."
"So are you saying there's a spy among us?" Kate asked.
"Well, not a spy among us, but maybe around us," she replied. "Have you guys noticed anything or anyone strange lately?"
"Besides mom getting killed, no," Kate said. Both Melinda and Lila shuddered with sadness. Desperate for more noise and talk, Melinda spoke up.
"You know, the weirdest thing happened in the middle of the fight," she said. "Laura's powers came back."
"What?" Lila choked out.
"Yeah and your mom said she hadn't unbound them," Melinda replied.
"Something weird is going on," Kate sighed. "That's all I have to say."
"I'm going to kill you!" Piper's voice rang loudly from the kitchen and the trio exchanged worried glances, knowing far to well what was taking place a few rooms away.
"We're sorry," Wyatt whispered in shame to his mother. She sat at a chair in the kitchen, Laura across from her, carefully stitching her shoulder. Leo had arms folded across his chest and glare narrowed on his sons as if they were unruly teenagers once again. Victor watched quietly from the other side of the room.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Piper shouted. "Not telling anyone that you were going to the Underworld!"
"Mom, I - - -"
"We're not twelve anymore!" Chris barked back over Wyatt's apology. His love for his mother was immense and unchanging but he was also willing to fight against her in many a battle. They were too alike for their own good. "We don't need to tell you where we go anymore or what we choose to do!"
"You put this family in jeopardy with your decision," Leo said coldly. "I asked you, I begged you, not to start searching for revenge."
"I'm not going to stand by and let what happened go unpunished," Chris replied. His voice and face became somber. "We're grown witches now and it's our turn to take over. That means doing things our way without having to ask mom or anyone else for permission."
"You're still my sons, Chris. I taught you better than this," Piper told him. She rose from her seat, anger on her face. "I'm disappointed. In both of you."
With that she silently strode out, still holding her wounded shoulder as she went. Worse than having Piper Halliwell mad at you was to have her silent treatment and Chris dropped his head in defeat. Victor patted him on the back as Wyatt strode after their mother. "Mom, at least let me heal you!" he called after her as she stomped up the stairs.
"It's fine!" she shouted, the attic door slamming shut behind her.
Joey slowly entered through the front door, tool box in hand, timidly watching his eldest cousin. "That sounded like it went well," he muttered.
"Shut up," Wyatt sighed, groaning in frustration and stomping off.
Rolling his eyes Joey headed for the sunroom, nearly smacking into Laura before he could enter. "Where's Lila?" she asked frantically.
"I don't know," Joey answered in perplexity. "Is everything okay?"
"No," Laura grumbled as she brushed past. He shuffled into the sunroom where Kate and Melinda were putting chairs back in their places.
"Why is everyone in a bad mood?" he asked.
"Look around you dumb ass," Kate replied before nearly running over and squeezing him in a hug. Joey had grown taller than in her in recent years but she handled him as though he were still ten years younger and six inches shorter. "Thank God you're okay."
"Yeah," he whispered, gently squeezing her back. She was shaking beneath him, trembling in complete terror and fear. Never in his years had he seen Kate show any sign of worry. Not in demon fights, not even with the death of both their parents. But now she was frail as a small child and an alarm went off inside him. Something was wrong with his sister. When they released Kate forced a meek smile, her face pale and lacking its usual spark. He studied her closely for a minute, tilting his head to the side. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Joey," she answered, her voice wavering. She glanced behind her and patted him on the back. "Now get to work, Mr. Fix-It."
"Yes, Ma'am," he grinned, deciding quietly that he would figure out his older sister later. For now he would do what he did best when it came to demon fights; clean up and repair. The one thing a mortal as himself could actually assist in. He took pride in his mechanic and carpentry abilities, the skills one of few things his father had the chance to teach him. Now with a heavy sigh he bent down to a knee, muttering to himself about fixing yet another broken table.
all i can say is thank you for the great reviews! i hate to be an author who posts only because of reviews but they truly are encouraging and i love to hear what readers are thinking. this story is kind of my baby and i really really like writing it because i get to have so much freedom with the characters but still incorporate so much of what i love with charmed. that being said because of all this freedom it's great to hear opinions and thoughts because the possiblities are endless! so again, thank you for the thorough reviews, i really do take what you say into consideration when i write, and i hope to see more in the future! ~ sammy
and someone asked if i was going to address paige's death, and the answer is yes! or at least i will now because it seems like a good idea lol (and btw, sorry for your loss!)