"Dad! We're home. And looks like we have another innocent to look after…" Melinda yells. But as everybody turns the corner, they see a very pensive looking Leo standing in the middle of the of the living room.
"Hey, Uncle Leo what's wrong?" Alex asks.
"Yeah, Dad what's happening?" Melinda asks worriedly. Leo only points to the sofa to get the three young witches to sit down.
"Hey uncle, whatever it was. It wasn't my fault," Trish says in a jesting voice. But all her smiles are wiped away by her uncle's unwavering moody silence. All three are now waiting in the worrisome atmosphere cast by their troubling whitelighter.
"Before I say anything, you three must promise to remain calm and collected. I can't have any of you becoming hysterical. Okay?" Leo giving each one a level gaze.
"Dad, I'm pretty sure we can handle anything you're about to say. We've been at this for two years now." Melinda assures her father. She looks at her younger cousins, and both of them give their own nods in agreement. "So you see Dad we have everything under…"
"The Source is back," Leo says deadpan.
The silence caused by the shocking news was deafening. All surprised eyes were looking at Leo. Suddenly, the three witches voice their noisy outcries.
"What do you mean he's back?" "I can't believe this…" "I thought our moms defeated him…"
"Please all three you remain calm. Let me try to explain what has happened and what's currently happening. I am as shocked as you all are, and I only learned this news from the Elders only recently. This is a newly risen Source. Apparently, the second Source after Balthazar," Alex suddenly looks up at the mention of his dead father's alter ego but allows Leo to continue, "that was successful in carrying the mantle was also successful in bringing forth an heir. As you all know, your mother's died in defeating this second Source. But unbeknownst to them and the Elders, an heir was hidden in the darkest realm of the Underworld. Only now has the Elders felt its power…and they believe it is the darkest and foulest evil they have felt in a very long time."
"We're suppose to be the next Charmed Ones. We can handled this, right?" Melinda asks almost in a pleading manner.
"I hope so dear…I hope so," Leo says in a quiet whisper. Everybody is reflecting on this foreboding news.
Alex trying to air out the dark mood speaks up, "Well, we have to worry about it when the time comes. But right now we have to deal with the innocent I saw in the premonition." Leo looks up at Alex and silently thanking him from releasing everybody from the dark mood by changing their focus. "An innocent, at least something we can handle," Leo silently expresses.
Melinda gladly changes the topic, "Yeah, dad. It's this new guy at school. We think it's a darklighter who's going to kill a future whitelighter. Maybe you've heard of him. The new student is called Jackson St. Claire."
Leo thinks about it and replies, "No…I don't think I've heard of a future whitelighter by that name. If he just recently moved here, I would have been contacted to guide him."
"I knew it!" Everybody is surprised by this exclamation made by Trish. "What if this new guy is some demon or warlock working for the Source or maybe even the Source himself?"
Melinda readily defends Jackson, "That couldn't be right. Alex saw that a darklighter was going to attack Jackson."
"No. Alex saw that a darklighter was whispering in Jackson's ear. We don't know if he's actually going to attack him. Plus, isn't it kind of unusual that you're quick to defend a guy you barely know. As I said before, he hasn't told us much about himself and that makes him suspect, especially considering that it's kind of convenient that we get this news about the Source and at the same time your initial crush on this guy. Maybe it's a trap," Trish explains.
Melinda blushes both from the embarrassment from the broadcasting of her crush to her father and the anger she's feeling at her youngest cousin. "He's an innocent. I know it. We have to protect him."
"Everybody, calm down…I have to agree with Trish that this maybe trouble. So please all of you just keep an eye out on this boy. If he's trouble at least you would be prepared. If he's not and he's actually in trouble, then at least you would be prepared to save him. Okay?" Leo trying to mediate between the two parties.
Everybody assented to the compromise. "Now that's dealt with. I want everybody to go up the attic and study up on your potions. Just spend an hour that and then start on your homework. I'll call everybody once I'm done with dinner." Looking at the disgruntled faces at the mention of potions, Leo quickly adds, "Hey, I just want all of you prepared especially since the Source is back."
He could hear grumbles as the three headed up to the attic.
****
"Can you believe it! The Source is back. Why can't we just have a peaceful year for once," Trish sounds out her complaint.
"You know Trish it is part of the territory, especially for being the next Charmed Ones. We attract evil like bees to the honey," Alex replies, "But you're right it is unbelievable. If our moms had to sacrifice themselves to defeat this thing's father. How much more powerful would the heir be?"
"Listen you guys. We can't sound defeated at the beginning. We have to stand strong and remember that magic works on our strength and faith in ourselves. We'll find a way. They don't call us Charmed for nothing," encourages Melinda.
"Speaking of not giving up. I may have a spell to make things clearer. I'll cast it tomorrow morning because it'll only last for 24 hours," Trish looks up from her pad, "I still have to work out some kinks but I think it should work."
"Hey that's great Trish. Good going. And your first spell to boot. Maybe you can finally add a spell to the Book," Alex mocks good naturedly.
"Hey! If you're not careful, I'm going to cast a very painful wart on your butt," Trish returning the parley.
"You two are never going to grow up will you," Melinda comments in her most pseudo serious tone.
"Ah yes, says the 18 year old with the undying love for the new kid," Alex dryly remarks. Both Alex and Trish turn to each other and start laughing.
"You two are so impossible!!" Melinda exclaims. Of course, she was trying to hide her embarrassment. "That is the last time I ever admit anything personal to these two," she thinks. After a while they return to their homework, both mundane and magical.
****
The next morning, the three waited for Leo to leave for his charges before Trish could cast her spell. "I don't know why Uncle doesn't approve spell casting without his supervision," Trish complains.
"Well from what I can remember, he was witness to all your mom's experiments into anything magical. And a LOT of them backfired on her," Melinda reminisces.
"Well backfiring spells is not something genetic so I'm quite positively, almost sure that this maybe might work," Trish explains.
Alex notes, "That's a lot of might's and maybe's there. Are you sure you won't summon a demon or something?"
"Hey! I'm pretty confident in my abilities. So ok, Mel hand me your glasses," Trish reassures Mel to ease her obvious reluctance, "I'm not going to break them I just need them as the focus of the spell." Mel takes her glasses off but still reluctantly gives them up.
"Well, okay here goes:
I enchant these glasses with blessed sight.
If it's gaze fall on the just and right,
May they glow in blessed white.
If it's gaze fall on evil blight,
There! A halo of blackest night.
In the passing of one day's time,
I will this spell to fade and flee.
As I finish this chanting rhyme,
So I will it, so mote it be."
As Trish finishes her spell, a bright light races down on Melinda's glasses and quickly fades. "Well, at least there was evidence a spell was cast," Trish comments, "Mel, put them on and see if they work."
"Well here goes nothing," Melinda puts her glasses on again, "Hey! It works." An "Ow!" is heard and followed by an "I told you so."
"Trish you did a great job. I see both of you bathe in a white glow. Well I guess that proves you're both good," Melinda couldn't help to add that last jibe.
"Hey I resent that," was heard from both of the offended witches.
Trish cautions, "You may not want to wear that in the halls or very crowded rooms. You might get blinded by all that white."
"Well, I'll just wear them on and off to check things out and make sure nothing's lurking in the hallways and I can check out Jackson in first period…um…I mean make sure he's not evil or anything," she quickly amends the last part.
"Well, see this spell came out good. It gave Melinda a reason to stare at that Jackson guy," Trish points out. Alex and Trish laugh at this before they rush from Melinda's swinging arms.
"You know you can't run. I know where you live," Melinda tries to get them. As soon as they get to the jeep, all is forgiven and forgotten, and they head off to another day of school.
A/N: So what does everybody think so far. Good, bad, or forget about continuing. Well, hopefully I'll have the next chapter by Saturday for those who liked it.