Authors note: Well I said 1-3 days and now it is over a week. Sorry my computer blew up, not literally, and I had to get it fixed. Luckily the story was on my flash drive. So here's the next chapter and I would tell you when the next should be out but that would only make lightning strike the computer. Thanks for reading, reviewing, and putting up with random computer explosions.

Chapter 11

Traps

Morire demon- Female demons that can shoot fire and energy balls and shimmer. They can posses living beings but only temporarily and with practice. They can also shoot fire out of their eyes. They serve a "master" who is some form of physic.

Smoker Voice

Noleggio demon- Gun for hire that will serve for pay, skills vary but most can shimmer and have a physical power of some sort. (Big help)

Tall guy and Tater-tot

Melinda had asked Grams to write this down on a piece of paper for her which she then stuck in the diary her parents had given her last Christmas. She hid it within the pages of misspelled remedial writing and illustrations. She hadn't gotten to bed until 3 o'clock but that was okay because her mom wouldn't let her go to school with her "problems". Of course she didn't say this but it was implied. When her mom went to her restaurant Melinda had her chance. It was time to set the traps.

Leo's daughter was laying on the floor coloring like a normal five year old. He smiled as he went into the kitchen to make some sandwiches.

Melinda watched her dad walk out of the room and dumped half her crayon box onto the floor. She focused as hard as she could and felt the power build up again. The crayons gave a faint green glow. She smiled slightly as each one stood at attention on its own. She nodded her head towards the bookcase and they all obediently floated up and hid among the books. Getting up slowly she went to the curtains. These took more energy than the crayons because they were larger but they soon gave off the same green glow as the crayons. They moved with life. "Pretend like you're normal curtains," she whispered to them and they flopped against the window." Her dad, finished preparing the food, closed the refrigerator door for the second time. Melinda lay back down as though nothing had happened. Her dad handed her a plate with a turkey and cheese sandwich and chips on it. She got to her feet and sat down next to her dad on the couch.

"How are you feeling today?" Leo asked about half-way through lunch.

"I'm pretty good," she answered with a false chipper voice.

"How did your meeting with Dr. Riley go?" Leo inquired.

"He taught me a lot of things." Leo's brow crinkled.

"Like what?"

"That mom is right."

"About what?"

Melinda ignored him. "Do you want me to water the flowers?"

"Ah," he glanced over at the vase by the window, "No, your mother," -drowned the plants this morning- "took care of that."

"Oh okay," all innocence, "do you want me to take your plate in I'll wash the dishes"

He gave her a once over but must have deemed the threat of this question minimal because he handed her his plate. "Sure." Melinda took his plate and went into the kitchen. She set it on the small pile from breakfast.

"Am I really going to do this?" Crayons and curtains were one thing; knifes were another… "Yes I am." She picked the knives out of the pile. There were four butter knifes and two sharp knives. She cleaned each thoroughly and set them in a line on the counter. She let her magic flow into each of them. When they glowed she said quietly, so that her dad didn't hear her and think her crazy, "You will act like normal knives unless I command you move. Do you get that?" They didn't actually talk back but she knew they understood. She washed the rest of the dishes and set them on the counter because she couldn't reach the cabinets. She went back into the living room and went back to her coloring station. As she sat down her body felt drained. This must be what grownups complain about when they have long days. It had been the first time she had used her powers on real solids. She usually only charmed liquids or a collection of really small solids like sand. Solids were a lot harder. Her mother came through the front door.

"How are we doing?" Pipers asked as she came into the room and shoot a meaningful glance at Leo.

"Were doing fine," Leo answered.

"I'm coloring pictures," sweet, innocent, not setting magical traps. "But you can't see because I'm not finished yet." In fact all she had been doing is making random tick marks on her paper. Oblivious, her mother smiled at the child like tone she had used.

"Your aunt, uncles, and cousins are coming over for dinner tonight," Her mother told her. "How does that sound?"

"That sounds good," Melinda looked down at her paper and picked up one of the remaining crayons to make something she could pass of as a time consuming art project. "I can't wait to see Aunt Phoebe and Uncle Coup." Maybe they would admit they had been in France making out in front of a dumpster two days ago.