Chapter two

Demonic crush

Wyatt had barely gotten any sleep, yet he wasn't tired when the morning arrived but rather a ball of energy. The child jumped out of bed and darted across the room to where his brother slept. He shook his brother's shoulder roughly shouting at him to wake up. Chris groaned and rolled over onto his stomach. "Leave me alone," he mumbled. "Come on, Chris. It's my birthday! Get out of bed." His brother didn't budge. Wyatt frowned but then smiled as he remembered someone who would be excited...someone who got excited about everything. His little sister.

Still in his Bob the builder pajamas, Wyatt ran out of his bedroom and entered the next room. Melinda was still asleep in her bed with her blanket on the floor and her favourite brown teddy bear trapped under her right leg. "Mellie! Mellie! Wake up!" Melinda opened her eyes and immediately sat up and smiled widely at her big brother. "Good morning!" She shouted. "Mellie, it's my birthday!" The little girl laughed happily and Wyatt leaned over to give her a hug. Melinda wasn't a very affectionate child but didn't mind being hugged.

Down in the kitchen, Piper was making batches of pancakes for breakfast while Leo was setting the table. Andy and Coop were not home but Phoebe, Paige, and Henry were seated at the table in conversation about their work lives. Parker and Payton were laughing at each other banging on their high chair trays. Kat looked at her sister who was looking at the ball of fire in her hand. She freaked out and froze the fire. "Hey! Mind your own business!" Tamora stated. "Unfreeze my fire!" These words caught their father's attention. "Girls, you know the rules. No powers at the table and you're not allowed to use your powers on each other unless urgent." Kat unfroze the fire and Tamora put it out. "I'm bored," she now whined. "No one said you had to sit at the table while breakfast is being made," Henry told her. Yet, Tamora didn't move.

Wyatt orbed into the kitchen with his sister and all eyes turned to them. "Happy birthday!" They all said at once. "Thank you," Melinda replied with a huge smile on her face. The adults laughed. "Sweetie, your birthday is next month. Today is Wyatt's birthday," Leo explained. "Do you know how old he is now?" Asked Paige. "100!" She replied confidently. "What? No! I'm not that old." The adults were laughing which had caused the kids to start laughing. "I'm eight," Wyatt corrected her. "That's still old."

Like in previous years, Wyatt's friends came over for a party to celebrate his birthday. Darryl Junior was dropped off by his mother and was the first guest to arrive. Dakota, Kennedi, Austin, and Carter, were all in Wyatt's class and arrived within minutes of each other. This year, Wyatt had invited an extra guest. There was a new girl in his class and to make her feel welcomed he had decided to invite her to the party.

"Mom, this is Ava. She's new," Wyatt introduced.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you. Where are you from?"

"Transylvania but don't worry I'm not a vampire."

"I have a new kid in my class too," Chris said.

"Is her name Anika?" Asked Ava.

"Yea. How did you know?"

"She's my sister."

The first party game was musical chairs. Prue and Paige setup eleven chairs in a circle in the living room. Once Coop had turned one the radio, the children began walking around the chairs keeping their eyes on them at all times. The music stopped and the children scrambled to find a chair. Chris pushed Wyatt out of his way but Wyatt still managed to find a seat. Tamora and Kat fought over a chair until Kat realized there was another one available and claimed it. PJ didn't really grasp the concept of the game and ended up being the one without a chair which meant she was out. She didn't really care and joined the babies and little Henry. The children got off the chairs and Paige removed one so that there were eleven children still playing and only ten chairs. Coop turned the music back on and the children walked around the chairs again. The music stopped and the children quickly found a chair. Except for Austin who had been a tad too slow. He was out. Paige removed another chair. Now there were ten kids left and only nine chairs. The music turned back on and the kids walked around the nine chairs. This time when the music stopped it was Carter who was out.

"It all comes down to this. One chair, two kids. Who will claim the throne and win the game?" Henry stated, pretending to be the announcer at a sports game. Everyone watched intensely. Both kids played fair, walking at the same speed, both had their eyes on the single chair. The music stopped. The kids bolted towards the chair. One fell to the ground and the other claimed victory. "And the winner is…Tamora Piper Mitchell!" Henry announced. The other kids began to clap to congratulate her as Wyatt got up. "You won. Fair and square. Good job," Wyatt praised his cousin. He gave her a hug too.

"What's my prize?" Tamora asked.

"Oh. There is no prize, honey." Piper told her.

"No prize? What a rip off."

Once the party was over and the guests had been picked up, and the children tucked into bed, Andy finally had the chance to share some urgent information the Elders had told him that morning. He gathered them in the kitchen around the table. "The Elders sense a threat approaching. One we won't see coming. We have to be on high alert." The others exchanged looks. "Should I reactivate the demon alarm?" Asked Paige. "Absolutely not!" Stated Piper. "The last thing this house needs is an alarm the babies can set off whenever they want attention." "So what do we do then?" Prue asked. "We stay alert like Andy said. Look for anything different, anyone new," Leo advised. "I should contact Cole. Last I heard he still has eyes and ears down there. Knowing Cole, he is either up to something or knows who is," Phoebe stated. Everyone looked surprised and confused, so she explained. "Paige once expressed he may be up to something and so I started sending Billie to the underworld to spy on him. If I have to go through him for information I will." Piper shook her head. "I will talk with Cole, and Prue, you'll come with me for back-up in case he tries anything." Prue nodded in agreement but Phoebe shook her head. "No. I'm your best shot. I am probably the only one of us he'll even talk to." "You're married now, Phoebe. Cole knows that. He might not even be willing to talk to you anymore," Paige said. "Or he might get jealous and kidnap you, it's too risky," said Leo. "I'm still your best shot at getting him to talk," Phoebe insisted. "Maybe so but Leo is right. It's too risky. Prue and I will go. If he doesn't talk to us...then and only then will you go. In that case you'll take Billie with you...he doesn't know her," Piper declared. "Okay, fine. Paige, check for any staff changes at the daycare, Leo check for any staff changes at the school the boys go to. Those of us who work mortal jobs, we need to check for any new staff in management or co-workers. Paige, Henry, take extra percussion with new cases," Phoebe stated. Paige and Henry nodded as did Piper. "We should also try to keep all the kids in the same room as much as possible in case an attack happens here," Coop advised. The others nodded in agreement.

On Monday afternoon, Wyatt and Chris climbed off the bus followed by two girls. (It had recently been decided the boys would take the bus to and from school for now on.) Prue was at the bus stop to greet them and walk them home. She gave the boys each a hug before noticing one girl looked familiar. "Ava, right?" The girl nodded. "Then this must be your sister...um...Anika? The other girl nodded. "Oh. I didn't realize you two live so close to us." Prue looked around but there was no sign of another parent. That was odd, these two girls were a bit young to be walking home alone...at least in her opinion. "We're having a playdate with Wyatt and Chris," Ava explained. "Oh. Wyatt? Chris? Did your mother okay this because you know there is stuff going on right now." Wyatt and Chris looked at each other and it was clear on their faces that they hadn't even asked their mother for permission. "Well you two are already here. So, it's fine for today. Next time, you boys need to ask first." Wyatt and Chris nodded. "Did you girls tell your parents you were coming over?" Prue asked. "Yes. I called them on the office phone," said Ava. "Okay then."

Coop had just arrived at the daycare. As usual he picked up Parker and Payton before entering the other room to collect the five toddlers. He entered the classroom, the babies seated in their double stroller. Mrs Grace spotted him and had to take in a deep breath before approaching him. "Mr. Halliwell." "Mrs. Grace." Coop searched the classroom with his eyes and spotted five filthy tots gathered together at a table. "Just going to take a wild guess here. Those are mine?" Mrs. Grace nodded. "Found a mud puddle outside and then decided to roll around in the sandbox." "Well now you know why they don't wear their nice clothes to daycare," Coop said. "Oh we've known why for quite a while. This isn't the first incident." "Yeah….I know," Coop said, sounding so defeated.

"What the hell?" Asked Prue when Coop returned home with the tots.

"We were pretending to be pigs," Tamora explained.

"Piper will be home any minute and she's going to freak out."

"You take the twins and Melinda. I'll take PJ and Henry," Coop decided.

"What about Parker and Payton?" Asked Prue.

"Call Andy home."

"Fine. Boys, stay out of trouble and keep your friends in the house where it's safe...safer."

Wyatt and Chris took their new friends up to their room. The girls looked around for a moment to examine the bedroom. "I like your room," Ava said. "Thank you. What does your room look like?" Wyatt asked. "Dark and cold," Anika described. "Um..okay." Wyatt was a bit put off by this. All the girls he lived with had bright girly rooms. "I don't really have a room," Ava said. "What do you mean?" Chris asked. "Yeah...everyone has a bedroom," Wyatt pointed out. "Oh um… it was just a joke. Of course I have a room." " Do you want to be my boyfriend?" Ava asked, looking at Wyatt. Wyatt smiled shyly but agreed. "Chris should be Anika's boyfriend," Ava decided. Anika smiled at Chris who nodded in response. "Let's play," Ava suggested, changing the subject.

Ava and Anika decided it was time to leave before supper despite having been invited to join them for supper. They insisted they lived close by and could walk home on their own. However, Phoebe refused to let them go alone and had them call their parents to come pick them up. Ava and Anika left the manor alone saying they would wait for their parents outside.

"Oh my god they are so annoying," Ava whined.

"I know! I wish I could eat Chris now," Anika stated

"I wish I could turn Wyatt evil now but we have our orders."

"This is so unfair."

"Come on. We have to report back to him."

"Wait! Where's your bracelet?" Anika asked.

"It must have fallen off."

"We have to get it back or he will be furious with you."

"Who cares? I am not going back or one of those kids is turning evil."

Prue placed her sleeping child in her crib and looked down at her. She loved watching her sleep. The children all seemed to be growing so fast. With Wyatt having just turned eight, Melinda's fourth birthday just a month away and Payton's first birthday the month after. The twins in May and their brother in June. It seemed unreal that Parker was going to be two this year. Prue really did crave a second child of her own but Andy hadn't changed his mind. A tap sounded on the window and though it was faint it nearly gave Prue a heart attack. Her eyes darted over to the window as the tapping continued. It was just a branch hitting the window due to the windy night. She was afraid to leave her innocent baby alone in this dark bedroom not knowing when the sensed threat would attack. The children were much easier prey. Though the children more in danger were the only sibling set of three as they were charmed ones yet still vulnerable children. Payton and the twins and PJ and Parker were hybrids sure but that didn't make them very special and didn't make them high targets to the underworld. Prue and Piper would be talking with Cole in the morning so perhaps she would be able to sleep easy tomorrow night.

In the morning, Andy orbed Prue and Piper down to the underworld just outside Cole Turner's layer. They let themselves in and Cole looked surprised to see them. "Prue, Piper. Just you two then?" Cole asked. "We need information," Piper stated. "Straight to the point, I've always liked that about you." "Cole." "I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about," Cole said. "There's a new threat coming. Which demon is plotting against us?" Prue asked. Cole let out a short laugh. "Every demon plots against you but only a few fools actually make their attempt. None survive of course, I would know." "Cole. We're not here to play games," Piper told him sternly. "It would help if I knew what kind of demon this great threat is." He examined their faces. "You don't know. How the hell am I supposed to know?" "He's obviously not going to help us," Prue stated. Piper looked at Cole who waved his arms outwards then folded his hands on his lap. "Screw you, Cole." As the sisters started to leave, Cole said, "I look forward to doing this again."

Phoebe got off the phone with her older sisters and got up from her chair. She started walking towards the closed door when it suddenly opened and almost smacked into her. "Sorry. Where are you heading in the middle of the day?" Elise asked. "The underworld. I have to speak with my demon ex-husband." Elise stepped aside and Phoebe headed out the door as Elise said, "that's a figure of speech right?" "I wish!."

"Ah Phoebe!" Cole stated as Phoebe and Billie walked in. "And who is this?" He asked, looking at Billie. "A friend." "Couldn't face me alone?" "You have a record for unpredictable behaviour." "How are the children?" Cole asked. "My children are of no concern to you." "I was referring to Piper's boys. They must be in school by now? Making new friends." "What do you know about some new threat?" Cole remained silent. "Cole...my life could be in danger." "It's not yourself you should be concerned about." "What do you mean?" Billie asked. "Your problem is a lot….smaller than you think." "What the hell does that mean, Cole!" "It's a hot day, you should really treat yourself to some ice cream and a magic show." Phoebe was losing her patience. "Cut the crap! Tell me what you know and I know you know something." "I wonder how I will spend the day. Perhaps a visit with the vampires is due." Billie tugged on Phoebe's arm. "Come on, let's just go."

Phoebe and Billie arrived at the manor where the other adults were talking in the living room. "No luck with Cole. What did we miss?" Phoebe asked. "We were just talking about Wyatt and Chris's new friends. They met them at school, you met Ava already at the party," Piper informed. "Oh yeah." "Must be in school by now making new friends…," Billie mumbled to herself. "What did you say?" Phoebe asked. "Nothing. Just find it odd Cole would ask about the boys." "He was just messing with us." Billie nodded but thought it was more than that. "What are we going to do about this threat?" Paige asked. "Talk to the vampires," Billie said. "Why?" Prue asked. "I think Cole did tell us what we needed to know. He asked about Wyatt and Chris so maybe the threat is towards them? He mentioned how they must be in school now making new friends. They did just make new friends...friends they met at school. He said that a visit with the vampires might be due. I mean who talks like that instead of just saying he was going to go visit them?" Billie had everyone's attention. "But the magic show and ice cream confuse me. Kids like ice cream and magic shows. Kids, ice cream, ice cream truck…" Everyone's eyes opened wide. "What?" "Demonic children. They are lured by the music of a specific ice cream truck that captures them." "Okay so why vampires? And what is the magic show about?" "Cole is on my last nerve," Piper stated.

It was recess at Westcott elementary. Wyatt and Chris were just outside the school with their new friends while their other friends were all on the playground. "Since we are dating now we need to spend Valentine's day together at school and then at my cave," Anika declared. "Your cave?" said Chris. "She means our house," Ava explained. "Sure but we will have to ask our parents first."

Wyatt and Chris brought their new friends home with them again. When seeing Ava walk into the manor, another part of Cole's riddle clicked in Piper's mind. When she had been introduced to Ava and had asked where she was from, Ava replied she was from Transylvania and ensured she wasn't a vampire. She was a vampire. Now if only Piper could figure out what Cole meant by "magic show."

"Mom, can we have supper at their house on Valentine's day?" Asked Chris.

"Um, I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Please, mom?"

"I'll think about it. Can I have your phone number girls?"

"We're not allowed to give it out."

"Okay, then have your mom or dad call me. I'll write down the number for you."

After leaving the Halliwell manor later that afternoon, Ava and Anika had to meet with their boss to discuss additions to the plan. "We didn't have a meeting today. What do you want?" The boss asked grouchily. "We need a house and parents for Valentine's day supper," Ava informed. "I assume this request is for the plan?" "Yes Sir." "Very well. I will locate a house and hire some shifters to play mom and dad."

Just after supper, Piper received a call. "Hello? This is Piper Halliwell." "Hi, Mrs. Halliwell. This is Mrs. Nomed. Alucard Nomed. Ava and Anika's mom." "Oh yes, I've been expecting your call." In actuality, Piper hadn't expected the call...since when do vampires have phone numbers or even phones. What surprised her even more was that Mrs Nomed gave her an address instead of insisting she'd pick up the boys. Perhaps Piper had this all wrong and Cole really was just messing with them.

Piper had to be sure and so she had Paige reactivate the demon alarm. She planned on having the boys bring the girls over again the following day, However, the girls showed up an hour later. At this point it was starting to get dark outside. "Girls? It's kind of late for a playdate," Piper pointed out when she answered the door. "We're not here to play. I forgot my bracelet here," Ava informed. "Yes, I found it this morning, come on in. The second the girls came in the demon alarm went off. "Broken fire alarm, here you go Ava," Piper lied, handing Ava her bracelet. The girls left and Piper closed the door. "Why didn't you vanquish them?" Prue asked from behind her. "The boys should be the ones to do it. I'll tell them in the morning and teach them the potion."

Ava and Anika returned to their boss. "Did you retrieve the bracelet you so carelessly left behind?" The boss asked. Ava nodded and lifted her wrist to show him the bracelet. "Good. I don't need a demonic child running around with control over her powers. Keep it on from now on or you won't get your prize." "Yes sir." "Were there any issues?" The boss asked. "Yes, a demon alarm. They didn't know it was us who set it off," Anika informed. "You're sure?" "Yes, they told us it was a broken fire alarm." "Fine...Anika, you look pale. Grab a drink from one of my prisoners." Anika nodded and walked away. In the distance a scream was heard from a man as Anika sank her fangs into his neck.

Valentine's day morning. Melinda had decided to dress herself and proudly orbed into the kitchen where her parents were. "Look, daddy! All by myself!" Leo looked at his daughter and held back a laugh. "Backwards is the new style. Nice try, little witchling."

Paige got off from work early and tailed Ava and Anika. Of course she was cloaked to avoid being seen. She followed them all the way to a wizard's lair. They greeted the wizard and appeared to be in a meeting with him. "I want to remind you of the plan just to ensure you know what you're supposed to be doing," the wizard stated. "Of course. Part one is already complete. The boys trust us and their insufferable parents don't suspect us," said Ava. "How are we going to play out part two?" The wizard asked. "Chris will be Anika's dinner. That will alert their father he's in trouble. He'll show up with the mother and you will arrive and kill her while she's preoccupied with saving Wyatt and mourning Chris. That will end the power of four and one set of charmed ones. Anika will have had her reward. As for me, you'll release me from this bracelet and turning Wyatt to the darkside will be my reward," Ava explained the plan. "Clever, simple, easy. Well done," praised the wizard. Paige couldn't bear to hear anymore. She orbed home to share what she had just learned with her sisters.

"So that's what magic show means," stated Phoebe.

"We also now know that Ava is a demonic child and Anika is a vampire. Most likely a born-vampire," said Prue.

"There's a spell to take care of the wizard and a simple potion to deal with the vampire. For Ava, we need to track down the truck but there's no way to summon or contact the driver," Leo said.

"We need a plan," Piper stated.

The plan was for Leo to drop off the boys on Valentine's day and leave but stay nearby. Paige would orb into the house with her sisters while being cloaked so the girls wouldn't see them. Then, once Ava made her move, it was time to kick some ass.

Leo arrived at the address Mrs. Nomed had given, with Wyatt and Chris. He knocked on the door feeling apprehensive over how things would play out. The boys were excited. They loved vanquishing demons. Mrs. Nomed opened the door and smiled politely. "Mr. Wyatt I presume?" Leo nodded. "Then this must be Wyatt and Chris. You're handsome boys aren't you." Mrs. Nomed turned slightly to look into the house. "Your dates are here!" She stepped aside to let the boys in.Ava and Anika came along all dolled up as though they were going out on real dates. They greeted the boys with hugs and led them further into the house. Mrs Nomed closed the front door.

A good few minutes passed as Mrs. Nomed pretended to cook as the kids sat at the table. Anika looked over at Ava who nodded to give her permission. Anika leaned over to Chris and opened her mouth about to sink her fangs into his neck. Wyatt activated his shield which sent both of the girls flying across the room. Mrs. Nomed (the shape shifter) spun around and Paige uncloaked herself and her sisters. The shifter shimmered out as the wizard arrived. The sisters held hands and chanted the vanquishing spell causing the wizard to shout in agony and anger until he was nothing but a pile of dust that vanished in seconds. Piper tossed the potion over to Chris and he threw it at Anika. The vile smashed on the floor allowing the potion to spill out. Anika was unconscious and the potion instantly vanquished her. Ava was pissed and ripped off her bracelet to get full control over her powers back. Her eyes turned red and she charged towards Wyatt who orbed out. Chris orbed out too. The sisters didn't stick around either.

Everyone joined Leo a few blocks away. "I can't believe my first girlfriend was a demon," Wyatt said. "You think you have problems? My girlfriend tried to eat me," said Chris. "Well you're not really a Halliwell until you've dated a demon," Piper stated. "Just don't marry one," said Phoebe. Everyone started to laugh.