A/N. Thanks for the reviews. I was asked to name some powers, so here you go.

Cyrokinesis – the ability to shoot ice from your hands

Pyrokinesis – the ability to shoot fire from your hands

Electrokinesis - the ability to shoot electricity from your hands (like Leo as an Elder)

Telepathy – the ability to read minds and to communicate by minds

Telekinetic Orbing – Paige's power

Chapter 3 – Holly

"Henry, don't you dare step out that door!"

"Why, who's going to stop me?"

"I will!"

"I'd like to see you try."

"You and I both know I can, and will."

I didn't hear the rest. My bedroom door squeaked open and Warren poked his head round the frame.

"Can I come in?" My little brother asked, his voice strained with fatigue.

"Sure," I replied, equally tired.

Hattie scooted nearer my pillow to allow room for our younger brother. "They woke you up too, huh?"

"I think they woke the whole street," Warren said, squeezing in between us.

Our conversation ceased as the front door slammed, reverberating through the house.

So Dad had left. Would Mom go after him or come up to us?

"Why do they keep fighting?" Hattie asked softly, sounding close to tears.

I'd wondered that myself. It was the fourth time this week Dad had left late at night. He knew Mom didn't like it so why did he do it? None of us knew the answer, so we kept quiet.

"Maybe you should follow Dad," Warren suggested to my twin. She was the only one who could, with her orbing power.

"I don't want to," Hattie murmured. "What if he's with another woman?"

"Don't be ridiculous," I snapped. Dad wouldn't do that to us. He loved Mom… didn't he? Yes, I'm sure he did. Tomorrow he'd be all apologetic and loving, buying her flowers and chocolates. Like he used to be. But that occurred less and less now a days.

"It's not ridiculous," Hattie shot back. "A load of my friends' dads have had affairs."

"Yeah, well our dad's different." I sounded much more confident than I felt.

"Sshh!" Warren hissed.

Slow, heavy footfalls were thudding up the stairs. Mom was coming. If she knew we'd heard she'd kill us.

"Go!" I urged. The second Hattie had orbed out with Warren I dived under the duvet.

As expected Mom checked on me first. She always did that, in age order. She crept over to my bed. I tried to regulate my breathing; in, out, in, out. I felt more than saw her smile as she leaned over me, checking I was okay. A moment later the light from the hall faded as she closed my door softly. Only when I heard her open Hattie's door did I open my eyes. How could I sleep? Was the tear stain on my pillow mine or Mom's?

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I bit listlessly into my toast. It was dry and hurt my throat as I swallowed. I wasn't even hungry, but Mom would get suspicious if I didn't eat. Opposite me Hattie was pushing her soggy cereal around in circles and next to her Warren picked at his bacon, arranging it to look like he'd eaten something.

"So what have you all got planned for today?" Mom asked, brightly. Too brightly. She knew something was wrong.

Warren shrugged, Hattie grunted and I answered with 'nothing'.

"More bacon, sweetie?" Mom asked my brother.

Warren shook his head with out looking up.

"What is the matter with you all today?" Mom wondered, a trace of annoyance in her voice.

"Where's Dad?" Hattie asked.

Idiot! She should know better than to expect a straight answer to that.

"He had to leave early."

Liar.

"Why?"

"I don't know why," Mom answered tightly.

"Why?"

"For goodness sake Hattie!" Mom shouted, jumping up from the table. "I don't keep a tab on your father! I'm not his keeper!"

Tears swan in my twin's eyes as she too stood up and ran from the room.

"Hattie…" Mom called after her. "Darling I'm sorry."

Warren pushed his plate away and stood up, finally having an excuse to do so. "I'll get her."

With a weary sigh Mom slumped back into her chair. She looked so tired and so old. Surely marriage wasn't supposed to be like this?

A high-pitched scream came from down the hallway. Mom and I were out of our seats like lightning, speeding down the hall. At the end, near the bedrooms, stood a demon. The most terrifying demon I've ever seen. He stood at over six foot, with rippling muscles. His head was bald and black tribal markings covered the blood red skin on his face. He looked kind of familiar, like I'd seen his picture before…

Hattie was shooting ice from her fingertips, trying to get the demon to back away from her and Warren. It wasn't working; the ice just touched his skin and melted. So I tried. Raising my right palm I concentrated on the rage that so often bubbled under my surface. It did the trick. Red-hot flames spiralled from my hand and connected with the demon. It was about as effective as tickling him with a feather. He ignored Mom and me and fired an energy ball at Warren. My younger brother raised a palm, just like I did, and a shimmering blue shield appeared around it, deflecting the energy ball.

The demon shimmered out just in time, reappearing as it flew towards me.

"Energy ball!" Mom cried with a sweep of her arm.

In a flurry of blue and white the demonic weapon sailed towards the demon and connected with his chest. Just as with all our powers, it had no affect. Oh… not good!

"Ornament!" Mom commanded, once again waving her arm in the demon's direction. A crystal vase flew towards him and shattered against his body. Surprisingly this did the trick. He shimmered out, leaving us panting and confused.