Another "Cousin"
Part 3
Disclaimer: Any of the characters which do appear or have appeared in Charmed are not mine. Any other characters which do not appear in Charmed, the concept of Firebrights, and the storyline are mine.
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Machria watched the scene unfolding from the other side of the mirror. All evil knew of the Charmed Ones; they had grown into legend. They were the witches who could kill a warlock at lunch and have strength for a midafternoon snack; they were so powerful that any creature able to steal their powers would have every other mimion of evil at their beck and call. To be ordered to fight them was the same as being sentenced to death.

When one of the withches fell in love with a Whitelighter, hope had risen briefly in the ranks of evil; it was so forbidden the Whitelighter council might even revoke their powers. Those hopes had been thwarted, however, at the marriage. Rumour had it that the Coucil had allowed it because of self-sacrifice on the sister's part. Machria flinched inwardly; A marriage meant Wiccan bratlings that would grow up in their parent's tradition.

Which was meant to happen, and in a way more dramatic than simple bratlings; this one, as he observed through the other side of the mirror, was enough to give someone as high-ranking a demon as Machria nightmares. The young woman, brought from the future, was a Firebright. Firebrights were as powerful as anything on earth could get while still being killable. That was the point, though. The bratling could be killed, and Machria could have more power than he'd ever dreamed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After the lunch dishes were cleared away, Melinda sat at the kitchen table with papers spread all around her. Phoebe walked through, having abandoned her nap. "What are you working on?"

Melinda looked up and wrinkled her nose. "English essay."

"Oh. Hey, we go to the same college, don't we? Who's your teacher?

Melinda went sifting through the heaps of paper. "Professor Christianson. He gives the stupidest essays."

Phoebe sat down. "I know. I'm in his class. We're doing one now. It's something like..."

"The use of cloud and sky imagery in the poetry of William Shakespeare. You told me when it was assigned. Anyway, we figure he's been giving it out since 1876, 'cause he's got to be at least two hundred years old and he started giving it out when he was 54."

"Really? My study buddies are saying at least 1798."

They grinned at each other. "My humour's gotta come from Mom's side of the family, because Dad's people have to be taught how to laugh." Melinda said.

"I heard that." Leo walked into the kitchen. "really, you shouldn't-"

"Insult the council because until you're twenty-five you don't outrank them." Melinda interjected "Yet." she muttered. "Yes, father dear." Phoebe guessed that that had been an issue with Melinda before; It had the sound of a memorized litany.

Piper came in just in time to see both of them glance up; the council had summoned them both. She gave up and sighed. "Both of you?"

Melinda came over and hugged her. "If we're gone any longer than three hours, we'll tell you."

Leo orbed out in a haze of white light, and Melinda winked at Phoebe. "I'm guessing this isn't about mocking the council, for once." She dissapeared in a glimmer of fire and a wisp of smoke.

Phoebe looked cautiously at Piper. Piper looked just about to say something annoyed, but sighed. "They can't help it. It's not their fault. It would just be nice to have a normal family, and not have people orb off all the time. Not to have to raise your children to always watch what they say in case 'They' are listening. I guess I'll just have to settle for what I have."

Phoebe smiled. "What do you think of Melinda?"

"What does any mother think? She's beautiful."

Phoebe looked at the papers next to her. "And she has really bad penmanship."

"Oh, shush. Scat."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Machria retreated to the darkness outside his mirrors. This was going to be hard. The Firebright's mother was already attatched to her; that meant that he would have to face not just a rather weak Firebright, but the Charmed Ones, and most likely the Whitelighter Council and the girl's father. This was going to be hard.

He had to, though. He'd marked Melinda as his prey; no other could hunt her until he failed or succeded, and honour said he had to hunt her. Honour to a demon, there's an irony, he thought.

Nonetheless, he set about preparing. He would teach this Melinda Wyatt that although she had escaped one demon, she hadn't escaped them all.