Chapter 24

Quickly, Melinda followed Caleb outside in the hallway and wished she left flats in her lockers. Her feet are already killing her from all the dancing and if she has to run from demons, she is not going to be happy. "How many are there?" She asked, finding her voice but it sounded so quiet.

"I don't know, maybe ten to twenty demons. Chris and Angie are probably narrowing them down as we speak." He said, not looking at her, not even a glance.

"Um, are you okay?" She asked, hesitating. She remembered the times when Caleb did bring out his demon half and it was a bit scary, but it was scarier if he tried to hurt someone.

"I'm fine. I just need a moment." He said and she blushed again when it sounded huskier. "Mel, I –"

"There you are, old friend!" A voice yelled behind them to show it was Felix with a few demons behind him.

"Run." Caleb ordered and Melinda looked at the half demon like he was crazy. Instead, she flicked her hands to the demons behind Felix and watched as it only causes an amount of pain on him. Why do all the demons that are after her have to be so difficult to kill? If she can blow them up, then she can't freeze them either.

"Melinda, run!" Caleb yelled and she reluctantly agreed, ignoring the pain that her heels are causing her feet.

"I don't get it. Why are you letting her go?" Felix asked as he angrily watched the witch turn a corner in the hallway.

"You're forgetting that I am supposedly saving her life." Caleb answered him warningly as he stood next to the full demon.

But Felix didn't miss the sudden change of eye color with his friend. He heard rumors about Caleb's demon half being more dangerous than the human half but it would take over for a few seconds – those seconds weren't wasted with the demon part.

"You two follow her. Where are the rest?"

"They are outside, of course. We know that the witch will go outside. She won't risk innocent people getting killed because of her." Felix said proudly.

Caleb fought the urge to kill Felix with witnesses around them. He's really not in the best mood after what happened in the classroom. He's still beating himself over what he had done to his best friend's baby sister! But it was some kiss… Caleb wanted to hit himself. He stood impatiently in the hallway as Felix ordered two of his men to go after her, saying it will be a good game for them to play in the meanwhile.

"Where the hell are Angie and Chris?" He thought as he's forced to stay in the hallway with Felix.

Chris opened the back door to the student parking lot to see only a few demons standing around as guards, dressed in their dark leather clothing. He looked at Angie as she quickly murmured a quick spell to change her heels to white vans. Chris rolled his eyes at the matching shoes with her dress. Angie smacked his arm, knowing what her best friend is thinking.

"I have a feeling there's more of them," She whispered.

"Let's go." But stopped when he felt Angie's hand on his arm, "Angie what is it?"

She didn't say anything but he noticed her eyes turned to a flash of dark green as the ground in the parking lot began to shake. Angie lifted her hands up in front of her as the demons began to look around in fright and the ground cracked into half, sucking the few demons in. Seconds later, the cement went back together into one, leaving no evidence behind of the destruction.

Chris sighed, "I really hate it when you do that."

"Why?"

"It's scary."

Angie scoffed as she walked outside into the empty parking lot, "Yeah and when you use electrokinesis that isn't scary at all." She said, using sarcasm. "Well, come on Chris. We don't have all night."

All of a sudden, Angie's body flew backwards as an energy ball struck her. Angie winced as her head hit the cement hard and was glad she moved a little bit from the energy ball. Immediately, she caught the fireball coming at her and held it in her hand. "If my dress is going to get ruin, someone is going to pay." She said and threw the fireball back. She turned to see Chris using his telekinesis at the demons.

"Something tells me this is going to take a while." Chris commented to Angie as he threw a potion at a demon.

Angie took a deep breath before running towards a demon and put her legs around his head so she can flip him backwards onto the cement. Chris winced, knowing how much that would hurt on the cement. Angie tightened her hold on the demon's neck before grabbing his athame and put it at his chest. Quickly, she stood up and blew at the demons, causing a gust of wind to thrown him backwards to the wall. Chris threw his last potions at them and they disappeared into dust.

"That was too easy," Angie commented and looked around the area.

"Come on," Chris said, taking her hand and walking to the other side of the school. "There has to be more of them."

Melinda turned a corner of the hallway and leaned against the wall for support as she controlled her breathing. This is all happening too fast and too soon. Why didn't Caleb or her brother warn her? She likes to be prepared for these types of situations when her powers are useless. Melinda closed her eyes and concentrated but seconds later, she reopened them. She didn't want to call for Pandora and Patricia by ruining their night with their dates. It's their chance of a normal night without having to worry about demons.

Melinda moved her head to see that the hallway is still empty. But it's too quiet besides the music blasting in the gym. "If I am going to survive this, I am going to kill Caleb!" She thought angrily but touched her lips, feeling heat on her face. That was some kiss. She banged her head against the locker, for thinking about the kiss and blames herself for kissing him back when she should've hurt him. That's what she should've done!

"Oh witch! Come out wherever you are!" A demon yelled, laughing as he and his friend started banging against the lockers with their fireballs. Melinda winced at the sound and carefully, removed her heels before making a run to it. Suddenly, she let out a scream as a fireball hit passed her.

The demon laughed, "Almost got you!"

She whirled her head around and conjured an athame in her hand and threw it across to the demon, but the demon managed to catch it in time. "Damn it," She cursed and made another run for it. She pushed through the doors but they weren't opened, they were chained on the other side. Melinda turned around to see the demons walking in the hallway as if they owned it. She conjured another athame and threw it sideways to a demon's leg and whopped in victory to hear him scream in agony.

Melinda took that chance to go through another door, leading her into the school's cafeteria only to have another demon in front of her. Before she had the chance to flick her hands, the demon smacked her hard as her body and heels flew across the room. Melinda groaned, knowing she will get a bruise on her thigh from landing it hard and conjured another athame as the demon lifted her up, only to have it struck his chest.

"Didn't you learn to never hit a lady?" She mocked as she released the athame to see the demon turn into dust.

"You bitch!" Melinda turned around to see the wounded demon, holding her athame in his hand.

"I am really tired of hearing that word," She mumbled and roundhouse kicked the demon across the face.

"Caleb!" She yelled, wondering the hell he is. "Caleb!" She knows he can take down more than five demons at once, so where the hell is he?

Melinda screamed as the demon pushed her to the floor and grabbed her hands from using her powers. Melinda struggled to break free but this demon is stronger than Angie on a good day on their training days. She couldn't get him off her. The only thought that crossed her mind in these types of situation is what she sees in TV and in movies.

So she screamed.

Annabelle excused herself from Sean and looked around the gym, only to see no Caleb, Angie, Chris, and Melinda. The dark haired beauty sighed, something bad must have happened if it takes all four out of the gym. Annabelle walked out of the gym to the front of the school to a teacher or two talking in the side, sharing a smoke.

"Where could they have gone?" She whispered as she drew her arms around her body as a windy breeze blew in.

"Where could who have gone?" A male voice said behind her.

Annabelle whirled around and jumped back when she realized she was face to face with the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes on. He's tall and lean wearing a snug black shirt and jeans with short black hair. But what caught her were his blue eyes, with a bit of hint of green in them. He cocked his head to the side, studying her and the witch realized she's been staring at him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." The stranger said with an amused smile on his handsome face.

"No, it's alright. You just took me by surprise." She told him. "You wouldn't happen to see a teenager in her homecoming dress with two men and one woman, who are a bit older?" But the look on his face told her the answer she's seeking for. "Sorry, of course you haven't."

"And why would a young girl be with three adults?" He asked but then held his hands up in mock surrender, "If you don't mind me asking."

She chuckled a bit, "My cousin isn't in the gym and I thought she was with our cousin and his friends….but I guess I was wrong. Are you waiting for someone?" She asked politely.

"Um, actually, my brother forgot his cell at home." He told her, showing her a black iPhone in his hand and he chuckled nervously. "I was hoping to give it to him but I don't think the teachers would allow it because I'm not a student–haven't been for a while."

"Who's your brother?"

"Sean Fletcher–tall junior with short, blonde hair, green eyes, and has dimples like a baby." He teased as he described his brother.

Annabelle laughed, "I know him. I actually recently danced with him.

"Well, aren't I the lucky one?" He smiled.

Annabelle took her hand out, "I'm Annabelle. Annabelle Halliwell."

Instead of shaking her hand, he pressed his lips on her hand and the witch couldn't help but jump at the electric shock that went through her skin. Did he feel it too? "I'm Ian. Ian Fletcher."

Annabelle smiled, "Well, come on. The teachers are busy. We can't waste this opportunity now can we?"

They walked together inside the gym as their eyes wandered over the dancing students until Annabelle finally caught Sean drinking punch. The teenager almost choked on his drink, seeing his older brother with Annabelle. "Ian, what are you doing here?" Sean asked, almost hissing in anger.

"Calm down, little brother you forget your cell." Ian said and threw him his cell at him. "Well, I'm glad I'm not in high school anymore. This type of dancing is not…tasteful at all."

"So that means you should leave now?"

"Sean, don't tell me you are embarrassed by me because there is a pretty girl standing right here?"

Annabelle rolled her eyes, "You shouldn't be, Sean. I grew up with a big family."

Sean gave her a small smile but it turned into a frown when he looked at his brother. "I'm more like annoyed. Go home."

Cameron looked around the gym, wondering where Melinda and Annabelle ran off to. He knew that their cousin, Angie, and Caleb were here but he did promise Henry that he would look out for the girls tonight, no matter how much he didn't want to come. His eyes caught the twins with their dates, and then Annabelle with Sean and an older man –Cameron glanced twice at the man.

Bodies lay across the floor, not moving or breathing. He cries under the desk, wondering what he's supposed to do. The smell of fire filled his sense of smell and taste as he coughed hard on his clothes. Suddenly, a pair of blue eyes, brighter than his, appeared in front of him. "It's okay. I got you." The voice said. "You'll be okay."

"Cameron?" The teenager shook his head and glanced down at Alex. "I've been calling your name like five times. What's wrong? You look like you're in serious thought."

Cameron looked around the gym again, only to see the man kiss Annabelle's hand goodbye and walking away to the doors. "I'll be right back." He quickly said to Alex and jogged away, not bothering to hear a reply. He felt the cool breeze hit him when he stepped outside, but couldn't find the man he was looking for.

"Damn it." He whispered and reluctantly, went back inside.

Ian stepped out of his hiding spot from the three and smirked as he watched Cameron grudgingly walk back inside the school. He pulled his cell out, pressing a number on speed dial. "You're right. They are related. I'm sure Sean and I can get them to trust us quickly."

"Good work. And your brother?"

"Dancing the night away," Ian answered dully.

"Anything else?"

Ian glanced to the side to see Cameron's figure fading deeper into the hallway. "Nope, that's about it."

"Good work." and the line went dead.

Ian sighed as he rubbed his eyes tiredly. He needs a drink –a real drink.

"Hey why did you run off like that?" Alex asked Cameron as she put her hand on his arm, looking at him with worry. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen ghost."

"I thought I did." He mumbled.

"What?"

Cameron shook his head, "I thought I saw someone I once knew. But it was…never mind. Can we just forget that happened? Come on, I'm thirsty."

So she screamed.

She screamed even harder when the demon tightened his grip on her hands, and she could feel his nails digging through her skin. "Shut up. Shut up!" He demanded.

"How about you shut up instead?" A voice said behind the demon.

Suddenly, Melinda felt the demon's body off her and she sat up to see a dark clothed figure stabbed him in the chest as he vanished into dust. The figured turned around and Melinda let out a tired chuckle to see a mask on the man. "I thought I was imagining things the last time I saw you…Zorro." Melinda teased with a small smile.

He laughed as he kneeled beside her and took her hands into his as the healing light appeared. "I sensed you were in trouble but I'm pretty sure the screaming helped as well. I'm surprised no one else heard you."

Melinda blushed. "It was the only thing I could do. He had my hands and was on top of me."

"I'm glad I came as soon as I could then." He said and took her hands, helping her to stand. But he quickly caught her as Melinda felt her legs go wobbly. She gasped as she pressed her hands against his chest and could feel his chest vibrate with a low chuckle. "Careful now, I think the adrenaline is wearing off."

"Yeah right," Melinda said and pushed herself off slightly from his chest to lift her head up. She wasn't imaging things last time they first met. This whitelighter is wearing Zorro mask and she could see that he has colorful eyes. "You know what it's like to see a friend in a Halloween mask and feel like you know who it is but at the same you can't figure it out?"

"You're guessing who I am." He stated.

"So I do know you then?" He took a step back and Melinda felt the warmth disappear. "Why can't you tell me who you are? Why are you hiding your identity from me?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you. It's against the rules."

Melinda rolled her eyes, "I know about the Elder's rules for whitelighters. I just don't get why –are you my whitelighter?"

"Yes."

The witch sighed, "Why? I have my Aunt Paige, my brothers, and my cousins who all have whitelighter blood."

"But it's different because you're family. They can't always be there for you or your cousins. There are other witches they are meant to protect."

"So why me? Why can't you show me your face?"

The whitelighter sighed at Melinda's stubbornness and grabbed her wrist as they disappeared in blue and white orbs. They appeared in an empty classroom in seconds and Melinda growled in anger as she pulled her hand away from him. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to take a chance in the cafeteria in case more demons come by."

"Yeah well a little warning would have been nice."

"Melinda," He began and Melinda reluctantly sat on top of desk as he leaned against a teacher's desk. They were only inches apart. "It was the Elders' idea to hide my identity from you. They didn't want history to repeat itself."

"What do you mean by history repeating -?" Melinda stopped talking as she felt her face grow warm. Both of them looked away, not bothering to make eye contact. "Seriously? Seriously? I'm going to be seventeen in a few weeks and the Elders think that I'm going to…seduce you to my bed?"

"N –no! Nothing like that I promise," He chuckled nervously as his eyes went to her face. "They didn't want to take a chance but considering your family's track record of men…"

Melinda scoffed as she crossed her arms across her chest, "May I remind you that the Elders basically hooked up my Aunt Phoebe and Coop?" Melinda sighed as she dropped her arms to her sides as her face softened. "Can you at least tell me your name?"

"Nope," he grinned.

"W –why the hell not? If I'm in trouble, I don't want to call for Zorro."

He sighed as he crossed his arms across his chest and put one foot across the other in deep thought. He can't tell her his real name no matter how much he wants to. He lifted his head up to see the young witch staring at him with a small, teasing smile on her lips. "You can call me James."

"Is that close to your real name?"

"It is my second name that my mother chose for me when I was born." He told her.

Melinda titled her head to the side as she continued to stare at him, not sure if she should trust this new whitelighter. But it seems she didn't have a choice. Melinda stepped off the desk and stood in front of the whitelighter, "Hi I'm Melinda. I'm a witch." She introduced with her hand sticking out in between them.

James took her hand and gave it a good shake. "Hello, I'm James and I'm your whitelighter."

Abruptly, the door flew open and Melinda turned her head to see a demon with a fireball in his hand, standing next to Caleb. Quickly, James pulled Melinda to his chest as blue and white orbs surrounded them but Felix threw his fireball at them as the orbs lifted in the air. However, the orbs reappeared seconds later in the back of the room with Melinda and James on the ground. Melinda winced at the wound she received from the fireball.

"I see you got your own whitelighter, huh witch?" Felix taunted as Caleb's eyes were drawn to the figure lying on his stomach next to Melinda.

"Caleb," Melinda gasped as she tried to stand on her own two feet.

"Oh you didn't know witch? Your so called pet has been playing you all along."

Caleb's eyes narrowed, "Pet?" He snarled as his tongue stuck out and dark eyes changing color. He pretended not to notice the fear in Melinda's eyes. "Who are you calling pet?"

"Now Caleb you know I didn't mean it like that. How about we focus the task on hand?" Felix said nervously. The tongue thing is actually giving the demon chills.

"Melinda, do it." Caleb said.

Melinda knitted her eyebrows in confusion until she noticed Caleb's eyes changed to pitch black to gold within seconds but they were staring at her hands. James groaned, which gave the perfect distraction to Felix, as she flicked her hands at his shoulder. Felix hissed in pain but before he could do any damage to Melinda, he was flung across the room.

"Melinda, you and your whitelighter need to get out of here!"

"No, I'm not leaving you!" She cried and flinched as his eye color changed like flickers from a camera.

"You need to leave…now!" Caleb roared.

James grabbed Melinda's wrist as they disappeared in blue and white orbs. She felt her body hit something hard and realized she landed on cement…outside. "Why the hell did you orb us out of there?" Melinda yelled.

James groaned as he stood up and helped Melinda up as well. "Your friend didn't want you there. Trust me; I think he will do fine on his own."

"Trust you? I barley even know you! You won't even tell me your real name –you gave me your middle name."

"Melinda?" She turned around to see Chris and Angie walking towards them. Chris pulled her into a hug as she wrapped her arms around his stomach. "Are you alright? What are you doing here with….Zorro?"

"This is James, my whitelighter who has to wear a mask because of the Elders and who orbed us out when Caleb needed me!" Melinda yelled.

Angie and Chris looked at each other surprised then looked at James. "Nice to meet you," They both said.

"Look we killed all the demons that were outside so Mel, what's going on with Caleb?" Angie asked.

"He's left alone with a demon."

"And that's bad because?" Chris asked and flinched when Angie and Melinda glared at him. "I don't mean it like that. Caleb can kill demons easily. He's better at it than we are. So what's wrong leaving him with one?"

"His eyes changed color. Before it was always pitch black but tonight, I saw gold." Melinda explained to them. "We have to help him."

"First, let me help you." James said and placed his hands over Melinda's small wound on her bare shoulder. "From what I've heard about the half demon and what your brother is saying, I believe he will be okay. He can take care of himself." He said and pulled his hand away as the wound healed.

Chris sighed, "I'll go to him. You and Angie go back to the dance so the girls don't think the worse."

"Yeah I didn't think anything bad will happen tonight but I was wrong! You shouldn't have kept this from us, Chris. I know it may be selfish but this definitely ruined my night." Melinda said to him. "I can't believe you kept this from me and…I nearly got killed by a demon tonight again!"

"Okay, we can yell at Chris tomorrow, okay sweetie?" Angie said in a soothe tone as she wrapped her arms around the teenager. "Trust me; you won't be the only one."

Chris caught Angie's look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll find out tomorrow." Angie said as the girls walked back inside the school.

"Christopher," the half Elder looked at the man with the Zorro mask in confusion. "I should warn you about that half demon."

"That half demon is one of my best friends." Chris snapped at the whitelighter.

James lifted his hands in half surrender. "I just want to warn you about…Caleb. What I saw tonight is only the beginning. He needs to control his anger."

Chris narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"You will see," He said and vanished in blue and white orbs.

"I forgot how cryptic whitelighters can be." Chris thought annoyingly as he orbed to the classroom where he sensed Caleb at.

Chris looked around the classroom to desks crashed to the side and supplies all over the floor to see Caleb hunched over the body of the demon. Felix's eyes widen as he choked on his own blood before he finally stopped breathing and in seconds, he turned into dust. Caleb stood up more straightly and turned around, sensing his best friend behind him. Chris held his composure as he noticed Caleb's eye color change from pitch black to gold to his regular black color. But Chris cringed when the tongue appeared.

"You okay?" He asked.

"How's Melinda?"

"She'll kill you tomorrow, you know?" Chris told him, hoping to clear the tension in the room but there was no smile on Caleb's face. "How are you?"

"What do you think?" Caleb snapped. "I spent half the night with those…fools while worrying about your sister because her powers couldn't work on the demons and then, Felix attacked her –" Caleb took a breath as he composed himself back together. "I'm sorry. It's just been a long night."

"Yeah I know."

"Are you and Angie okay?"

Chris shrugged, "She's going to kill me tomorrow."

That caused Caleb to smile. "What did you do?"

The half Elder sighed and lifted his hands up in the air, "I don't know!"

Caleb chuckled. That didn't surprise him. Sometimes his friend can be so clueless on what he does that can upset the Angel of Life. "Look, I'm going to leave and um…I'm glad you guys are okay."

Chris nodded his head but put his hand on Caleb's shoulder, "You'll be okay." Caleb nodded his head and shimmered out; leaving a more confused and bewildered Chris in the classroom. Chris groaned, "And you leave me to handle the mess!"

Magic School:

Henry Jr jolted up from the couch to hear the door slam and realized Caleb walked inside his Uncle Leo's office. Even though, Caleb is half demon, Leo allowed him to attend classes to control his powers and his demon half. "Caleb, why are you here? Shouldn't you be chaperoning at the dance?" Henry Jr asked.

"I need your help."

"Huh?"

"I need…will you mediate with me?" asked Caleb and Henry Jr looked at his friend like he was crazy but then; he saw his mind and immediately stepped out of it. "Did you just go inside my head?"

"Yeah sorry I'm still trying to control my new ability. Caleb, your demon half isn't –"

"I would really appreciate it if you're my partner. We don't have to mediate –we can do yoga or boxing. I just need….someone to help me. And I'm not going to you because everyone else is busy. I came to you because…you helped me before with my demon half and you didn't judge."

"No one in our family ever judge you, Caleb."

"Yeah, I know that….it's just…you didn't look at me like I was monster when I killed those demons like –I just don't want to see fear right now." Caleb said, looking at him. "I need someone to help me control….it."

Henry Jr nodded his head and both men walked into the long hallway to a mediation room that Leo helped put there for the students. "What triggered it?"

"Sssh," Caleb hushed, putting his finger on her lips. She noticed that his eyes widen with pure shock but it didn't stop him from playing with her lips, almost stroking the bottom one. He knows he should stop but he couldn't. Slowly, he removed his finger from her soft lips. His eyes went to the door, his super hearing capturing low voices in the hallway. He looked at Melinda, "Please don't hate me for this."

"Wha -?"

He closed the gap between them as his lips touched hers and then, he moved his lips against hers, steady and careful, and he wanted to continue to feel her lips. Surprisingly, Caleb felt her tongue touch his lips and when he opened his mouth –Caleb did the unthinkable, he moaned when their tongues touched. He tasted her; she was warm and sweet. Shivers continued to run up and down his body as his tongue fully slipped into her mouth. Caleb's hand on her hip went to her back and pulled her closer to his body, Melinda's hand now on both of biceps as they continued kissing.

"Caleb, what triggered your demon half?" Henry Jr repeated the question.

"Lust," He finally said. "Anger…I was at a high school dance."

"You never had a problem before with…lust." Henry Jr reminded. "What changed?"

"Nothing," Caleb told him but touched his lips. "And everything." He thought silently.

A/N: How did you like the fight scenes? In this chapter, I revealed a bit more of Cameron's past and what's happening with Caleb and how the whitelighter and the Seer are giving advice about Caleb's anger. I hope that showed something.

James is the middle name of the whitelighter and I won't reveal who he really is in a while. But you can still guess!

Next chapter, more Angie and Chris!

Comment please!

-DisneyRBD