A/N: Thanks a tonne to my wonderful reviewers: WinterRain36, ObsessedwReading, LyronHalliwell9, Guest, CharmedOpal, Whiizz, lizzardmomma.
I know I said this chapter was going to be called Sibling Rivalry, but it became too long. So I cut the chapter in half (still has 1k+ words).
Melinda's sadness evolved into rage. How dare he have the audacity to behave like that with her Mom and Dad in front of her! That conceited little bastard, Melinda cursed him with her colourful vocabulary Was he the reason her Mom and Dad were having trouble? Must be.
Rage coursed in her veins as it boiled her blood. Animosity took over her and spite invaded her mind. It's all his fault her parents hate each other. Each part of her body was tingling with fury. Melinda detested the man. Unbeknown to herself, Melinda's finger tips began to glow faintly...
Chapter 6: Hidden Power Revealed
PJ suddenly felt a more dominating emotion enveloping her senses. She could hardly sense any emotions that radiated from Piper and Leo just mere minutes ago. It was powerful one; PJ could feel it almost controlling her: aggression. Lots of it.
"Are you okay?" Paige asked, realising PJ looked a little red.
PJ knew it was definitely not Piper's or Leo's emotion she was detecting. Its aura felt strangely familiar. It felt like it was Melinda's energy. The aggression began to grow rapidly, and PJ grew scared.
"Some thing's wrong." PJ spoke slowly. "I can feel it."
"What do you mean?" Paige ran round the counter. "What's wrong- "
She didn't have the chance to finish her sentence: Piper's frightful shriek reverberated in the kitchen: "Oh my God!"
Impulsively, Paige and PJ sprinted to the door. PJ was right. They stopped in bewilderment.
Greg was on fire. Literally.
Uh oh, Melinda realised she set him on fire. Just like that Campbell girl in her class. Just like that demon. All of a sudden, the flames extinguished, leaving an odious, revolting corpse on the floor; Greg was hardly recognisable with all the burn inflicted on him.
"Leo heal him!" Ordered Piper, panicking. Leo put his hands out (rather reluctantly Mel could tell). Slowly the burns started to disappear and Greg's skin started to heal. Everyone waited in anticipation for Greg to wake up.
"What am I doing on the floor?" Greg mumbled, trying to get up.
"You tripped and hurt yourself." Piper lied fluently. "I'll drop you off home."
"But aren't we supposed to be going out?" He scratched his head, feeling groggy.
Melinda resisted the urge to set Greg's backside alight again. It probably took all her willpower not to. Maybe that time he'll remember what happened, She thought. As reckless as Mel was, she knew it was a bad idea.
"Next time Greg, I promise." Mel and Leo shared the same look of discontent as Piper lead Greg outside. However, not before Piper shot Melinda a contemptuous look. Mel involuntarily shivered. She knew what that look meant. In the her present, it meant being grounded for at least a month.
"Melissa can I talk to you?" Leo said abruptly. Mel knew for sure what her Dad was going to say. She nodded weakly, "Sure."
"Did you do that?" Leo asked softly.
Mel shuffled her feet. "I don't know. Maybe. Possibly. I think so." Melinda readied herself for the rebuke.
"That was quite impressive."
What? Her Dad was actually complimenting her actions. "You're not going to reprimand me?"
"I should, but I won't." Leo smiled.
"Because he deserved it," grinned Melinda, glad they were on the same lines.
"I couldn't agree with you more, Mel." Like father like daughter.
Phoebe busted through the attic door. "Okay I got your message Paige. It better be Demons. Do you realise that Elise wasn't going accept the 'family emergency' excuse? I was so busy with the deadline too, this better be worth dragging me out of my office in the middle of the day," she ranted. "Well?"
"Greg was on fire." Paige said, reading the Book of Shadows.
Phoebe laughed mockingly. "Okay, what's the real emergency. Don't tell me that I abandoned my really important deadline, ignored my very angry boss, just because Piper's boyfriend was on fire."
"We're serious! It could be a demon, a Demon of Rage or something. It's happened before."
"Or Piper's power spiralled out of control." Suggested PJ. That was the only answer she could find. Melinda could only slow thing down (although she became more doubtful about that by the minute). And Uncle Leo wouldn't dare try to hurt the man. Elders are Pacifists. "Hey can I ask you a question?" Phoebe and Paige nodded.
"I don't mean to pry, but why are Piper and Leo getting divorced?"
"So you possess the power of Molecular Acceleration."
"Molecular what?" Mel asked. This must be her new power. "I'm not sure. I've just recently discovered it."
"Molecular Acceleration is the ability to speed up molecules until they burn and, in extreme cases, melt. It's a less potent version of Molecular Combustion, and a rare form of Pyrokinesis." He informed. "It is exceedingly powerful and a formidable attack once the user has full control over it. But equally dangerous when handled impetuously."
Mel nodded, although she didn't understand a word. Her Dad always used technical terms when explaining something magical. Only Chris really understood it.
"So, basically in English, I have a really cool new power that can set people on fire." Mel grinned evilly. She imagined all the people she hated that she could set fire to. Her Maths teacher, Cassidy Campbell...
"You can't do that." Leo said, interrupting her train of nefarious thoughts. "I know that look. You can't misuse your new powers. It's personal gain."
"Fine." Melinda sighed in defeat. She detested those words; "Personal gain". Well, it was fun while it lasted. "How did you realise it was me D- Leo?" It felt so weird calling her Dad by his first name.
"Piper doesn't have that sort of power. And you didn't seem too happy with Greg, so I assumed it was you because your powers-"
"-are linked with your emotions." Mel finished off. "My Dad used to tell me that all the time." She added as Leo showed confusion.
He smiled. "Your old man sounds wise."
"He is." Melinda beamed. "He's the best."
"So Leo became an Elder and the other Elders didn't allow him to stay with his family. That's terrible!" PJ commented, surprised at how strict the Elders are. "So Piper tried to move on. Why did Leo become an Elder then?"
"I don't think it was his choice." Replied Paige, adding a dash of crushed Mandrake roots to the potion she was brewing. "Leo became one automatically after he saved the Elders from practically extinction."
"And gave us the courage to defeat the Titans." Added Phoebe. "Piper is really upset. We all know that." She continued, sensing PJ's disappointment. "If she wants a divorce then, as sisters, we should support her. Its her choice."
"What about Leo? He is your brother-in- law" And my Uncle! PJ added mentally. "Doesn't that matter?"
"We can't exactly convince him to not be an Elder." Paige answered, "It would be us against all the Elders that way." That moment PJ realised why Aunt Piper hated the Elders.
All of a sudden, Piper burst through the attic door. "Where is Melissa?" She demanded brusquely.
"Here." Mel spoke, as she entered the room with Leo.
"You!" Piper hissed, her voice dripping with anger, "You set Greg on fire!"
"No I didn't."
"Piper it's may be possible that your powers were slightly out of balance. Melissa only has the ability of Molecular Deceleration." Leo defended Mel, which she was greatly thankful for. Her Dad was the only person who knew about her new power.
Piper hesitated, feeling suspicious of the two. But she considered it. "Well, in that case, don't make me angry or else you might be next."
"Why would you go to dinner in the middle of the day anyway?" Mel asked curtly.
"He's a fireman." Piper answered, her voice dangerously quiet. "He's busy at night."
"Well then, maybe you just be with someone, oh I don't know, here all the time." Her eyes flickered to Leo a split second.
"Fireman on fire. The irony." PJ laughed, attempting to light the mood up.
Melinda smiled, "Paige can I look at the book. I was wondering if I could find the demon that attacked me."
"Sure." Paige handed the book to Melinda. After flicking several pages, she saw a picture of a demon with feline and human features. His eyes were plain black and it had claws. "Found it." Leo, PJ, Piper, Paige and Phoebe crowded around the book:
Sleepwalker Demons
Sleepwalker demons are a rare breed of demons who appear around midnight, feasting on the life force of innocent people in order to survive. They usually travel in small packs, and have an impulsive and insistent nature. Much is not known, however they are immune to potions, but are extremely susceptible to physical attacks.
"A Sleepwalker Demon attacked me that night."
All of a sudden, the dull attic shone a bright shade of celestial blue which illuminated the entire room. They all looked at the source of the glittering light. It was Chris.
A/N: I promise next chapter Melinda WILL meet Chris. Did you like this chapter? Advice? Constructive crititism? Suggestions? Please review. Thank u :)