Apocalypse, Not Part 1

I entered the Manor with my mom and aunts returning from several stores. They had bought several new outfits but I had just gotten a new blouse and skirt, along with new boots. Aunt Phoebe had bought a book with questions that were apparently really important. I wasn't really paying attention to the questions as I heated up water to make tea. One question made me stop boiling the water.

"If a building is on fire, do you save a stranger or a family member?" aunt Phoebe asked.

"Family member," my mother said as if the answer was obvious. The other two Charmed Ones agreed. Aunt Phoebe then turned to ask me the same question. I responded with the stranger not pointing out that a building on fire wouldn't bother me. I could easily put it out.

"Why would you say stranger?" aunt Piper asked me.

"I-," but before I could reply Leo orbed in. He said something about a dinner reservation and aunt Piper quickly left the room. Then the phone rang and it was for me. It was Jackson asking about the homework. The topic of the burning building was dropped for the day.

My mother had stayed home with me instead of going to P3. She sat asking me questions on how my week at school had been. I told her it was fine and not surprisingly she wasn't pleased with my answer. She then brought up Dr. Wilson. I hadn't been to see Dr. Wilson in a few weeks but I would be going back the following Wednesday. I told her I didn't need to see her because there wasn't a reason to. My mother sighed at this response because it was always the same.

"Just because I said school was 'fine' doesn't mean I need to talk to someone about it. What I need to do is practice my magic. I'm going to have to kill Odin and I need the practice," I said standing up, planning to go to the basement. My mother then asked about my new wings.

"They're part of becoming a full faery."

"What did you do to earn them?" she asked.

"I changed into my element," I said and then went to the basement to show her, "Dimitte me conlucent." I let the flame go out and realized she had stepped back. She was shocked, unsure of what to say.

"When did you do that?" she asked her voice soft and terrified, "Who were you fighting when you did that?"

"I was with Morgan and Terra," I said, "It was before my accident." She didn't say anything. I hadn't told her anything of what happened when I ran away and she seemed to afraid to ask what really happened.

"We were training," I said hoping to calm her, "Terra thought it would be a good idea to train with others like me."

"Oh, I see," she said knowing that I meant faeries and not witches.

"She meant people my own age," I said hoping not to hurt her feelings, "Back in Camelot, we trained together. It's how I know them. We were supposed to all transform into our elements together... after the spring festival."

"Were you friends with a wind faery?" she asked.

"Yes, two" I said, "They were siblings. Gale and Lela. Morgan and Terra told me they moved elsewhere after King Arthur's downfall. They haven't seen them in a long time." There were no more questions after this, just training. About an hour after we finished, aunt Piper, Phoebe, and Leo returned home needing to check the Book of Shadows.

I sat on the bed in the attic as they checked the Book. They spent about an hour trying to find out who the demon was. I nearly fell asleep as they listed possible demons. I felt someone sit on the bed next to me.

"Estelle," my mother said, "Do you want to go to bed?"

"No, I want to," I said yawning, "To stay and help."

"We can handle this without you," she said looking to her sisters and they nodded. She walked with me to my room. I fell asleep not long after that. When I awoke I was unaware of what happened. My mother and aunts were gone. They weren't in the attic or anywhere else in the Manor. I did find a note, it was on top of the Book of Shadows.

Everything's okay Estelle. We just have a few demons to take care of. We'll be home by dinner.

There wasn't a signature of who wrote it. It wasn't my mom's handwriting. There was no mention of who the demons were. I flipped through the Book of Shadows but I couldn't find any indication of who they were fighting. I didn't give up though. I went to the kitchen hoping to see if I could recognize the vanquishing they made, no luck.

My stomach dropped as I realized they could have gone after Odin. Or he could have taken them to get to me. I flipped to his page in the Book of Shadows even though I'd seen it a million times. There wasn't anything about a vanquishing potion or spell. The Power of Three could easily vanquish him or at least weaken him to the point where I could finish him off.

If he was has powerful as his minion said one of them could already be dead. I pushed that thought away, if one of them were dead I'd know. If he had taken them I'd know. Odin would make sure of that. I had ruled out only one demon, there were hundreds they could have gone after. My mom and aunts didn't want me to worry yet I did. My worry was set aside though when someone knocked on the front door. On the porch was a man about my mother's age.

"Hi, I'm looking for one of the Halliwells," he said, "My name is Edward Bennett, I'm a cousin of the Halliwell sisters."

"I'm Estelle Halliwell, Prue's daughter," I said shaking his hand.

"Uncle Victor didn't mention he had a granddaughter."

"My mom just adopted me," I said, "They're all busy but I can tell them you stopped by."

"Perhaps you could take me around," he said.

"I'm not supposed to leave the house," I said absentmindedly.

"I'm family. I'm only here for today. Let me at least take you to meet your grandfather." He could easily be a demon or someone wanting to know what we were. He then took out a wallet and showed me a card with his picture and name.

"Believe me?" he asked and I nodded telling him I should leave a note for my mom. I wrote down that I was with friends touring the city. Edward and I did go around the city for a little bit. I didn't pay a lot of attention as he took pictures. I did keep an eye out for my mother, aunts, and any possible demons. A lot of people were fighting but I didn't spot any demons.

We eventually arrived at a fancy hotel. When I walked in it felt like royalty was living here.

"Hey, Uncle Vic, look who I found at my cousin's," he said entering the room. A man, whom I assumed was my mother's dad, looked shocked to see me. His eyes widened but there was no recognition.

"Hi," I said shyly.

"Edward, would you give us a moment alone?" Edward nodded leaving the hotel room.

"Are my daughters hiding you from a demon?" he asked. I nodded, they were. He then asked if I knew what they were and once more I nodded. His third question was my name.

"Estelle Halliwell," I said.

"Did you say your last name was Halliwell?"

"Prue's my mother. She adopted me about a month ago, but I've known her for six months."

"Your mother? Prue is your mother?" he asked and I nodded, "She never mentioned me?"

"No," I said, "I just learned about you today when Edward stopped by."

"Where's your mom and aunts now?" he asked.

"On an errand," I said. This was what my mother told me to tell anyone when they asked that question if they were out demon hunting.

"Demons, got it," he said, "Are you thirsty? Would you like anything to drink?" I sat down on one of the couches as he got me a glass of water.

"Are you a witch or..." he asked not really finishing his question.

"I'm a faery," I said. I then told him a shortened version of what had happened to me. Why I had come here and why I would be leaving. I left out a few things, like me falling over a bridge. I told him it was a car accident instead. The topic of magic though was soon abandoned. He asked about different hobbies, what I liked about school, who my friends were and if I had a boyfriend. I answered as truthfully as I could, leaving out anything to do with magic. He smiled the entire time and told me I was his only granddaughter.

He then asked about my family in Camelot. I had told him I would be returning eventually, so I hadn't mentioned that they had all burned to death.

"I have a sister, her name's Gwenyth," I said, "And I have a fiance back home." He seemed taken aback by the last part but soon realized that I was getting married young because of the time period. He asked me about William and I told him what I knew.

"What does your mother think about him?"

"She's upset," I said, "She thinks I'm too young."

"She just doesn't want you to grow up," he said and I realized that I knew nothing about him. I hadn't heard anything about him from my mother or sisters. I didn't know he existed. Had he not been there for my mother and aunts growing up? I didn't need to ask because he told me what happened.

He didn't like magic, I had figured this out minutes after meeting him. So it surprised me when he wanted me to show him my power. I started to boil the little water left in my goblet. It soon evaporated into steam. He sat silent for a while. He didn't get a chance to respond to my power because Edward came back. Edward asked where my mother really was.

"She's out with my aunts on an errand," I said really wanting to know who the demons were that they were fighting. I wanted to go and help them but Leo wouldn't respond to my calls and I had no way find them. The rest of the afternoon was quiet. Edward put on some television program that I didn't know the name of. Victor sat across from me at the table teaching me how to play card games.

"You can call me grandpa, or grandfather," he said, "Victor is okay too. Whatever makes you feel comfortable."

"Thank you," I said giving him a small smile. I tried to show him that I wasn't worried about what was going on with my mother and aunts but he knew I was.

"They can take care of themselves. They proved so last year," he said.

"Something's wrong with the alignment," I said, "It doesn't feel right, it feels darker. I should probably head back. Wait for them at the Manor."

"You're going to search for them. If you were left at the Manor it was because your mother didn't want you to join them. She cares for your safety. I know she's not going to be pleased you're here but you're safe here. Safer here than the Manor. Besides your mother will figure out where you are and come get you." She did. Around seven fifteen that evening there was sharp knocking at the door. My grandfather opened it to reveal my very stressed, angry looking mother. She entered the room, placing her hand on one of my shoulders.

"Estelle, go wait in the hallway," she said.

"Mother, it's okay, I was-"

"Estelle, now!" she snapped. I left the room knowing if I talked back it wouldn't be good. I couldn't hear the first part of their conversation but I heard most of it.

"How could you not tell me I had a granddaughter?" he asked his voice rising.

"Do you really need to ask that question?" she responded, "When she came here you should've sent her straight home!"

"She was going to search for you! I knew you kept her out of whatever demon mess there was for her protection."

"She has friends she could have gone and stayed with. You shouldn't have kept her here!"

"I didn't keep her here, she came here. She was happy to meet me. I was thrilled to meet her Prue. I would have rather met her sooner."

"Yeah, because it's so worth it to contact you," she said with sarcasm in her voice.

"Prue, I'm sorry, but you shouldn't have kept the fact that I have a granddaughter from me."

"So she could meet you and then you'd never speak to her again? You don't know what she has been through in the last six months. I'm trying to spare her more pain." I then heard footsteps and the door opened.

A/N: The next chapter will be the half from the sister's point of view from when they left. Please read and review! Charmed Always- K