Have just read previous chapter. That was terrible ppl!! Why didn't anyone
stop me?? Well I guess the lack of reviews should've tipped me off! For
those of you that did review - with kind words no less - I am very
grateful. I'm afraid last time I was in a hurry to update soon, not to let
you all down, and so I did a very hurried job on it. Not an excuse, I know,
but I hope this chapter makes up for it.
Enjoy, keep reviewing and I'll keep writing.
Chapter 7: A new beginning
Talia looked herself in the full-length mirror for what was the hundredth time this morning. She wore a pair of jeans and a plain, white, short- sleeved top that fell enticingly off one shoulder. Her hair hung loose and straight down her back like the purest of silks. She had applied a single coat of clear mascara on her already long eyelashes and a layer of vanilla tasting lip-gloss on her soft lips. She looked stunning, but unaware of it, Talia, like any other girl of her age, worried about starting her first day at her new school.
She looked around her room for her old, tan rucksack that had been her companion through hell and back, literally. Looking at the room she had slept in for the past week she couldn't help but smile. It was already home.
After Cole's thunderous departure a week - could it only have been at week?! - ago, Talia had spent the rest of the day with her mother, who had taken the day off from work to be with her. It had been uncomfortable at first, but after a week, they had grown more accustomed to each other. although they were still learning all sorts of new things about each other. Both of them had put a lot of effort in their newly formed relationship. Not that they needed to, they shared too many common tastes and quirks for there to be an alternative to their now friendly relationship.
The rest of the family had accepted her readily enough. Even Paige was civil to her. Talia could only hope that there would come a day when her youngest aunt would trust her too. Piper and Leo, or as Talia was already starting to think of them, aunt Piper and uncle Leo, had been kind. Piper had told her that she would have to learn a lot about fighting demons. Talia had never used potions and spells before. As Princess of Evil she had had no use for them. But she did know demons, she had after all met most of them in her father's court, and she fully understood the need for the means to fight them. Piper had promised to teach her all about potions herself, leaving spells to Phoebe.
Talia's relationship with Wyatt was a constant cause of wonder to her. The younger boy with the innocent, blue eyes, who was in fact, terribly mature for his age, had been her closest companion in the last week. He had absolutely no expectations from her, and that had been strangely refreshing. He constantly asked her questions about her life in the Underworld, and although she would have minded them coming from someone else, she could tell that the only motivation behind them was simple curiosity and so, she simply smiled and answered them as best as she could.
The first thing he had asked her about was her powers. He had the powers of orbing, healing, freezing, like his mother, and there was of course his shield, that he could now use to protect other people besides himself. Her own powers awed and delighted him, even though they had perhaps frightened a little the rest of her family. She could flame, throw balls of hellfire, hotter and more destructive than any other type of fire on earth, and she had inherited Prue's power of telekinesis. She knew she was powerful, just like she knew that there were demons and warlocks out there that would do anything to have even one of her powers. With her now having left the safety of the Source's protection, it was only a matter of time before it became open hunting season, a prospect that Talia was dreading.
Wyatt's ready acceptance of her had surprised her at first, but she had been grateful for it. His gentle teasing and brotherly banter had been something that, after the initial confusion had passed, she had slipped into comfortably. Talia didn't have a brother, but Wyatt more than made up for that.
"Hey Tal, sometime today would be nice!" Wyatt's voice coming from downstairs interrupted her reverie.
Talia grabbed the rucksack that lay casually on the double bed, took one last look in the mirror, yelled, "coming!" at the top of her voice and closed the door behind her, before hurrying down the stairs.
***************
Valdis leaned elegantly against a wall a few houses away from the Haliwell manor. He watched as the door of the manor opened to reveal a teenage boy with blond hair. An older woman with long brown hair closely followed the boy. Valdis correctly guessed that the woman was the boy's mother. He knew all about them. The whole underworld knew. She was a Charmed One and she had defied the Elders' specific orders by marrying her whitelighter. That alone had been unprecedented, but their union had resulted in the boy he was now seeing before him, a witch of such magical powers that the world had never seen before. Rumour had it that he had defeated his first demon when he was still a baby in the cradle.
Valdis' attention was drawn to the beautiful sixteen-year-old that had only just joined them outside. He had seen Talia around her father before and so he knew her by sight. She too was gifted with innately strong powers. Perhaps even stronger than the boy he had just seen. She was, after all, the Source's and another Charmed One's daughter. Valdis found himself wondering at exactly how that had happened.
The witch in question, the woman Valdis had, again correctly, assumed was Talia's mother, exited the house through the front door to presumably wave her daughter, sister and nephew off. Surely enough, Valdis watched as the older woman embraced Talia and spoke a few words with her that Valdis was too far away to hear. The Charmed one was indeed a very beautiful woman and one could easily tell where Talia had gotten her looks. It was said that the middle Charmed One had stolen the Source's heart when the Source was still the demon Belthazor. Valdis had heard that the Source had, for a while, completely forsaken his true demonic nature to be with her. And she in turn had for some time denied her own true nature to become his queen before joining with her sisters in an attempt to vanquish him. Their love was doomed from the very beginning. One couldn't just deny being a demon, just like one couldn't deny being a Charmed One. It wasn't what you did, it was who you were and nothing could change that.
Valdis' attention was drawn back to the young woman he was supposed to be watching. Not much was known about the Source's daughter. He had always seen her in ceremonies, a cold and forbidding figure by her father's side. He couldn't blame her for being that way. Being the Princess of All Evil brought on a lot of unwanted attention. The Source was fiercely protective of her. A friend of his had told him how he had seen him incinerate one of his daughter's ex-boyfriends after they had broken up.
Which is not to say that she was unable to deal with such things herself. He had seen her himself at a club demons frequented, annihilate a demon when the stupid man, who presumably had no idea who she was, had grabbed her in an obvious gesture.
Not much else was really known about her. Valdis made a mental list in his mind of all the things he did know about her, putting aside any and all rumours he had ever heard. She was very powerful of course, with a dangerous temper when provoked, stubborn and fiercely independent judging by her escape from the Underworld and her decision to stay with her mother in constant danger from demons that used to be at her beck and call.
Valdis watched as the Source's Charmed One waved off the car that the other three had boarded. A slight smile played on his arrogant lips.
****************
Talia stood at the stairs of the big gray building. She looked up to see the sign that read Edison High.
"Don't worry," said Wyatt, "it's not that bad, no matter what my mother may have told you. She didn't like high school much. I haven't the faintest idea why. If it wasn't for homework or subjects like algebra it wouldn't be half bad."
"I wouldn't know," said Talia seriously, "I've never been to a school before. Any education I've had I received from my father."
"You'll be ok, Tal," said Wyatt putting one arm around his cousin's shoulders and squeezing reassuringly.
*****************
Josh seemed drawn to the girl with the long brown hair and impossibly expressive eyes standing on the front steps. She was without question the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was new at the school. He wouldn't have failed to recognize her if she wasn't.
"- so I told her that she couldn't possibly be serious! I would've never said that about her, although between you and me - " Jessica went on and on about some party or other she had been to during the weekend, her friends, or should we say followers, were listening enraptured. Occasionally she flipped her long golden hair and batted her eyelashes at Josh.
Josh couldn't care less.
Jessica had been trying to get back together all summer and a mere two weeks into the new school year had seen her efforts actually doubled. And with school open, Jake had to see her every day!
The brown-eyed beauty before him looked much more appealing.
"Hey Wyatt," called Josh at the younger boy who was also the new quarterback for their school's football team.
"Josh?" he heard Jessica, whom he had already put behind him, calling. Rudely he ignored her.
"Hey Josh," Wyatt greeted the older boy and teammate as he came near.
"Did you see the notice board? Coach said we'll be practicing late again today," said Josh casually.
"Oh man," groaned Wyatt, "how late?"
"Eight o'clock late," said Josh.
"Well, I guess we could use the practice if we stand a chance against Jefferson High next week," said Wyatt already compromised to the situation. There were worse things he could be doing than playing football.
"Who's your friend?" asked Josh his eyes fixed on Talia.
Wyatt couldn't help but register Josh's interest in the girl standing next to him. He didn't blame him. His cousin was a very pretty girl.
"Hi, I'm Talia," she said extending her hand in intriduction.
"Josh," he said simply taking a delicate hand in his own for a surprisingly firm grip. He liked firm grips. He'd read somewhere that they were a sign of straight forwardness. After completely artificial Jessica he found the quality was something he looked for. It's what had at first attracted him to the younger boy next to him. Her eyes reinforced the promise of her handshake.
"Talia's my cousin," said Wyatt. "She moved in with us last week."
He watched the exchange between his fiend and his cousin with some amusement. Josh was very interested he could tell.
"Actually," he continued, "Talia should be in your class, Josh," unable to hide the slight smile playing on his lips.
"Really?" said Josh never taking his eyes off Talia's. "What's your first class?"
"Literature," she replied.
"Great!" said Josh a little too loudly. "We've got literature together. I'll take you to class if you want."
"That's very nice of you. Thank you," said Talia taking in his athletic build, tan and twinkling blue eyes. His hair was a light brown and he, like Wyatt, wore his football blue and yellow jacket. *I think, I'm going to like it here* thought Talia while she smiled charmingly at the boy before her.
" 'Morning people!" interrupted a cheerful voice.
Wyatt turned, already knowing to whom the voice belonged to. A girl with short blond hair and a mini skirt that exposed her long tanned legs sauntered up to them. She was accompanied by a well-built young man with bright red hair and freckles. He too wore a football jacket. Wyatt greeted his girlfriend with a quick kiss on the lips and his best friend with a friendly nod.
"Hello Talia," said the leggy blond.
"Hi Judy," said Talia having already met the girl when she came over at the manor last week. "And you must be Mark," she continued, looking at the red- haired boy, "I've heard a lot about you."
"Ohoh," said the boy teasingly, "should I be worried?" he asked looking at Wyatt.
"Always, man," answered Wyatt laughingly, "always."
Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the school bell.
"I hate Maths," grumbled Wyatt, "especially first thing in the morning!"
"My lady, shall we?" asked Josh of Talia smiling as he offered his arm.
"I would be honoured, kind Sir," she replied taking his arm and letting him guide her through the doors and to her first class.
********************
Author's Note: That was exhausting! I skipped Talia's first week with the Haliwells because that would have been excruciatingly emotional and her first morning with them was already emotional enough for me. I hope no one minds! I made the chapter nice and long to make up for it, but there were too many introductions for my liking. Well, I guess that's why I called it New Beginnings! It gets better I promise. Already working on next chapter.
Enjoy, keep reviewing and I'll keep writing.
Chapter 7: A new beginning
Talia looked herself in the full-length mirror for what was the hundredth time this morning. She wore a pair of jeans and a plain, white, short- sleeved top that fell enticingly off one shoulder. Her hair hung loose and straight down her back like the purest of silks. She had applied a single coat of clear mascara on her already long eyelashes and a layer of vanilla tasting lip-gloss on her soft lips. She looked stunning, but unaware of it, Talia, like any other girl of her age, worried about starting her first day at her new school.
She looked around her room for her old, tan rucksack that had been her companion through hell and back, literally. Looking at the room she had slept in for the past week she couldn't help but smile. It was already home.
After Cole's thunderous departure a week - could it only have been at week?! - ago, Talia had spent the rest of the day with her mother, who had taken the day off from work to be with her. It had been uncomfortable at first, but after a week, they had grown more accustomed to each other. although they were still learning all sorts of new things about each other. Both of them had put a lot of effort in their newly formed relationship. Not that they needed to, they shared too many common tastes and quirks for there to be an alternative to their now friendly relationship.
The rest of the family had accepted her readily enough. Even Paige was civil to her. Talia could only hope that there would come a day when her youngest aunt would trust her too. Piper and Leo, or as Talia was already starting to think of them, aunt Piper and uncle Leo, had been kind. Piper had told her that she would have to learn a lot about fighting demons. Talia had never used potions and spells before. As Princess of Evil she had had no use for them. But she did know demons, she had after all met most of them in her father's court, and she fully understood the need for the means to fight them. Piper had promised to teach her all about potions herself, leaving spells to Phoebe.
Talia's relationship with Wyatt was a constant cause of wonder to her. The younger boy with the innocent, blue eyes, who was in fact, terribly mature for his age, had been her closest companion in the last week. He had absolutely no expectations from her, and that had been strangely refreshing. He constantly asked her questions about her life in the Underworld, and although she would have minded them coming from someone else, she could tell that the only motivation behind them was simple curiosity and so, she simply smiled and answered them as best as she could.
The first thing he had asked her about was her powers. He had the powers of orbing, healing, freezing, like his mother, and there was of course his shield, that he could now use to protect other people besides himself. Her own powers awed and delighted him, even though they had perhaps frightened a little the rest of her family. She could flame, throw balls of hellfire, hotter and more destructive than any other type of fire on earth, and she had inherited Prue's power of telekinesis. She knew she was powerful, just like she knew that there were demons and warlocks out there that would do anything to have even one of her powers. With her now having left the safety of the Source's protection, it was only a matter of time before it became open hunting season, a prospect that Talia was dreading.
Wyatt's ready acceptance of her had surprised her at first, but she had been grateful for it. His gentle teasing and brotherly banter had been something that, after the initial confusion had passed, she had slipped into comfortably. Talia didn't have a brother, but Wyatt more than made up for that.
"Hey Tal, sometime today would be nice!" Wyatt's voice coming from downstairs interrupted her reverie.
Talia grabbed the rucksack that lay casually on the double bed, took one last look in the mirror, yelled, "coming!" at the top of her voice and closed the door behind her, before hurrying down the stairs.
***************
Valdis leaned elegantly against a wall a few houses away from the Haliwell manor. He watched as the door of the manor opened to reveal a teenage boy with blond hair. An older woman with long brown hair closely followed the boy. Valdis correctly guessed that the woman was the boy's mother. He knew all about them. The whole underworld knew. She was a Charmed One and she had defied the Elders' specific orders by marrying her whitelighter. That alone had been unprecedented, but their union had resulted in the boy he was now seeing before him, a witch of such magical powers that the world had never seen before. Rumour had it that he had defeated his first demon when he was still a baby in the cradle.
Valdis' attention was drawn to the beautiful sixteen-year-old that had only just joined them outside. He had seen Talia around her father before and so he knew her by sight. She too was gifted with innately strong powers. Perhaps even stronger than the boy he had just seen. She was, after all, the Source's and another Charmed One's daughter. Valdis found himself wondering at exactly how that had happened.
The witch in question, the woman Valdis had, again correctly, assumed was Talia's mother, exited the house through the front door to presumably wave her daughter, sister and nephew off. Surely enough, Valdis watched as the older woman embraced Talia and spoke a few words with her that Valdis was too far away to hear. The Charmed one was indeed a very beautiful woman and one could easily tell where Talia had gotten her looks. It was said that the middle Charmed One had stolen the Source's heart when the Source was still the demon Belthazor. Valdis had heard that the Source had, for a while, completely forsaken his true demonic nature to be with her. And she in turn had for some time denied her own true nature to become his queen before joining with her sisters in an attempt to vanquish him. Their love was doomed from the very beginning. One couldn't just deny being a demon, just like one couldn't deny being a Charmed One. It wasn't what you did, it was who you were and nothing could change that.
Valdis' attention was drawn back to the young woman he was supposed to be watching. Not much was known about the Source's daughter. He had always seen her in ceremonies, a cold and forbidding figure by her father's side. He couldn't blame her for being that way. Being the Princess of All Evil brought on a lot of unwanted attention. The Source was fiercely protective of her. A friend of his had told him how he had seen him incinerate one of his daughter's ex-boyfriends after they had broken up.
Which is not to say that she was unable to deal with such things herself. He had seen her himself at a club demons frequented, annihilate a demon when the stupid man, who presumably had no idea who she was, had grabbed her in an obvious gesture.
Not much else was really known about her. Valdis made a mental list in his mind of all the things he did know about her, putting aside any and all rumours he had ever heard. She was very powerful of course, with a dangerous temper when provoked, stubborn and fiercely independent judging by her escape from the Underworld and her decision to stay with her mother in constant danger from demons that used to be at her beck and call.
Valdis watched as the Source's Charmed One waved off the car that the other three had boarded. A slight smile played on his arrogant lips.
****************
Talia stood at the stairs of the big gray building. She looked up to see the sign that read Edison High.
"Don't worry," said Wyatt, "it's not that bad, no matter what my mother may have told you. She didn't like high school much. I haven't the faintest idea why. If it wasn't for homework or subjects like algebra it wouldn't be half bad."
"I wouldn't know," said Talia seriously, "I've never been to a school before. Any education I've had I received from my father."
"You'll be ok, Tal," said Wyatt putting one arm around his cousin's shoulders and squeezing reassuringly.
*****************
Josh seemed drawn to the girl with the long brown hair and impossibly expressive eyes standing on the front steps. She was without question the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She was new at the school. He wouldn't have failed to recognize her if she wasn't.
"- so I told her that she couldn't possibly be serious! I would've never said that about her, although between you and me - " Jessica went on and on about some party or other she had been to during the weekend, her friends, or should we say followers, were listening enraptured. Occasionally she flipped her long golden hair and batted her eyelashes at Josh.
Josh couldn't care less.
Jessica had been trying to get back together all summer and a mere two weeks into the new school year had seen her efforts actually doubled. And with school open, Jake had to see her every day!
The brown-eyed beauty before him looked much more appealing.
"Hey Wyatt," called Josh at the younger boy who was also the new quarterback for their school's football team.
"Josh?" he heard Jessica, whom he had already put behind him, calling. Rudely he ignored her.
"Hey Josh," Wyatt greeted the older boy and teammate as he came near.
"Did you see the notice board? Coach said we'll be practicing late again today," said Josh casually.
"Oh man," groaned Wyatt, "how late?"
"Eight o'clock late," said Josh.
"Well, I guess we could use the practice if we stand a chance against Jefferson High next week," said Wyatt already compromised to the situation. There were worse things he could be doing than playing football.
"Who's your friend?" asked Josh his eyes fixed on Talia.
Wyatt couldn't help but register Josh's interest in the girl standing next to him. He didn't blame him. His cousin was a very pretty girl.
"Hi, I'm Talia," she said extending her hand in intriduction.
"Josh," he said simply taking a delicate hand in his own for a surprisingly firm grip. He liked firm grips. He'd read somewhere that they were a sign of straight forwardness. After completely artificial Jessica he found the quality was something he looked for. It's what had at first attracted him to the younger boy next to him. Her eyes reinforced the promise of her handshake.
"Talia's my cousin," said Wyatt. "She moved in with us last week."
He watched the exchange between his fiend and his cousin with some amusement. Josh was very interested he could tell.
"Actually," he continued, "Talia should be in your class, Josh," unable to hide the slight smile playing on his lips.
"Really?" said Josh never taking his eyes off Talia's. "What's your first class?"
"Literature," she replied.
"Great!" said Josh a little too loudly. "We've got literature together. I'll take you to class if you want."
"That's very nice of you. Thank you," said Talia taking in his athletic build, tan and twinkling blue eyes. His hair was a light brown and he, like Wyatt, wore his football blue and yellow jacket. *I think, I'm going to like it here* thought Talia while she smiled charmingly at the boy before her.
" 'Morning people!" interrupted a cheerful voice.
Wyatt turned, already knowing to whom the voice belonged to. A girl with short blond hair and a mini skirt that exposed her long tanned legs sauntered up to them. She was accompanied by a well-built young man with bright red hair and freckles. He too wore a football jacket. Wyatt greeted his girlfriend with a quick kiss on the lips and his best friend with a friendly nod.
"Hello Talia," said the leggy blond.
"Hi Judy," said Talia having already met the girl when she came over at the manor last week. "And you must be Mark," she continued, looking at the red- haired boy, "I've heard a lot about you."
"Ohoh," said the boy teasingly, "should I be worried?" he asked looking at Wyatt.
"Always, man," answered Wyatt laughingly, "always."
Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the school bell.
"I hate Maths," grumbled Wyatt, "especially first thing in the morning!"
"My lady, shall we?" asked Josh of Talia smiling as he offered his arm.
"I would be honoured, kind Sir," she replied taking his arm and letting him guide her through the doors and to her first class.
********************
Author's Note: That was exhausting! I skipped Talia's first week with the Haliwells because that would have been excruciatingly emotional and her first morning with them was already emotional enough for me. I hope no one minds! I made the chapter nice and long to make up for it, but there were too many introductions for my liking. Well, I guess that's why I called it New Beginnings! It gets better I promise. Already working on next chapter.