Don't own it. Two more chapters to go. Review if you want. Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing!
Chapter 10: New rulers and a plan
Mel blinked around the Underworld, trying to find her brothers. She gave up after a few minutes because the book was getting heavy and she figured that Wyatt and Chris would come find her sooner or later. Standing along a wall in a large stone cavern, she yelled for Wyatt and Chris.
"Are you lost, little girl?" Mel spun around to see a leech demon standing behind her.
Raising an eyebrow, Mel shifted the Book to one hand and planted her other hand on her hip and answered the albino demon. "Yeah, actually. I can't find my brothers. We're taking over the Underworld, so I kinda gotta find 'em. The leader the Underworld has now is so… weak and pathetic."
"I agree with you which is why I'm throwing my weight behind the leader of the other outcast demons. But," he smirked slightly, "I'm not sure a cute little girl like you could possibly rule demons. First, aren't you one of those damn Halliwell witches? Second, do you even have any demonic powers?"
"Yes, I am one of those damned Halliwell witches. Thank God though something happened to me and my brothers and we're embracing our new nature: evil. And I'm more powerful than you can even imagine. You're just a low-level leech demon. It's not like you have any real powers."
"I wouldn't underestimate the power I do have, little girl. I could drain you and steal your powers. In fact, I think I will feed off you." The demon moved closer to her, forcing her entirely against the wall, caging her in by placing his hands on either side of her.
Mel clutched the book to her side in one arm, grateful he hadn't noticed it. She was positive she could kill the demon and was willing to test it but she didn't want to risk the book. "You can try," she scoffed. His white hair fell into his red tinged eyes as he brushed some of Mel's brown hair out of the way as he lowered his lips to her neck. Although leech demons didn't have to actually touch their target to drain magic, this particular demon was a bit perverted and preferred contact. And his favorite type of contact? Mouth to neck, especially if his victim was a girl although he was okay with male victims and the same method.
As his dry cracked lips touched her neck, making her skin crawl in disgust Mel realized she could feel the slightest pull of her magic leaving her. She used one of her new powers to conjure a knife and stabbed him in the stomach. He backed away and pulled the knife out, a look of pain and disbelief on his face.
"Can I rule the Underworld now?" she asked as he burst into flames. Once his ashes dropped and the thin haze of smoke cleared, she caught sight of her brothers.
"You shouldn't have killed him, Mel. Now we're gonna have a hard time convincing the outcasts to join us," Chris commented. "We could have used the leeches and maybe even the vampires behind us."
"So what? I was supposed to just let him drain my magic? I had more power than him so I took advantage of it."
"Melinda is right, Christopher. It's nature for the strong to survive while the weak perish. And it sets an example for any other demons wanting to rebel against us."
"Ha!" Melinda exclaimed. She handed the book to Chris and then linked her arms through her brothers'; Chris laughed with her while Wyatt tolerated what he viewed as his siblings' foolishness. "So, we going after Chase?"
"Yes," Wyatt said. "He is really the only one who could challenge us for the position of leader. The faster we take care of him, the better it will be."
"Wy's right," Chris commented. "Also, we talked about it and we think that we should strip Mom and the aunts' of their magic. Just to be safe."
"Sounds good. So…let's go kill us a weakling!" Mel exclaimed. Wyatt orbed them out and they reappeared in the passage way that led to Chase's temporary throne room. Before they moved to go in, Mel was suddenly struck by a thought.
"Hey, Wyatt, I just thought of something."
Wyatt smirked. "You're thinking again. That's never good."
Chris gasped and clutched his chest in surprise. "Wyatt, the great and powerful, the twice-blessed, just made a joke! It must be the end of the world!"
"It does happen on occasion, Chris. What are you wondering, Mel?"
"Where do you put Excalibur when you aren't holding it? Like right now? Where is it?"
"That's it? I send it the sword to an alternate plane. Now, can we go on with taking over the Underworld?"
"I was just wondering. Anyway, let me go first," Mel said. "Chase seems like the kind of guy who doesn't believe a girl can kick his ass and I want to prove him wrong. Besides the fact that I owe him for almost killing me last night." Leaving her brothers behind, Mel sauntered into the stone cavern where Chase was sitting in the middle. "Knock, knock."
Chase jerked at the sound of her voice; he had been dozing in his chair. He focused on Mel, mild confusion written on his face. "You're still alive? I thought I killed you."
"Well, one thing you should learn about us Halliwells is that we never stay dead for long. And, as my Mom often says, you're not demon enough to kill me."
"Whatever. So, what are you here for? You dump Baby Boy and decide you want me? Can't blame you, maybe I'm not demon enough to kill you but I am man enough to keep you satisfied. Or make you my wee-otch, if I want."
"Wee-otch?" Mel muttered to herself. "Wee-otch. Are you kidding me?" she said, her voice rising as she spoke. "What type of evil being are you? Why can't you just say bitch? That just makes you sound completely stupid. You are so lame! And no, I'm not here for your…sexual prowess. I'm taking over the Underworld with my brothers and, well, you're in the way."
"Really. Well, I know something you don't know," Chase said in a singsong tone. He smirked when Chris and Wyatt orbed in behind him.
The outcast Son let his eyes bleed black and a crossbow materialized in his hands. He aimed at Chris, instinctively knowing that Chris was the weaker out of the two brothers. "I don't think this has ever been used on a turned whitelighter. But I've been told it will still work." He released an arrow that headed directly fro Chris's heart.
Mel froze the arrow and Chris plucked it out of the air. "I know something you don't know!" Mel sang, mocking Chase. She blinked so she was standing right behind Chase. Standing on her tiptoes, she whispered in his ear, "You know the problem with typical evil beings? They're so busy gloating about their evil plan that they mess it up themselves." She stepped back and to the side so she wouldn't be hit by what she knew was coming.
"What are you talking about?" Chase asked. He was completely confused now and finally realizing that his plan to get the younger Halliwell witches on his side and under his rule had backfired. They were supposed to be helping him take over the Underworld and then the world and instead they were here to remove him. Something had gone wrong with the wish he asked of the genie. Something had gone horribly wrong.
"Chase Collins, you are in the way. Either you abdicate the throne willingly and leave the Underworld or we remove you ourselves," Wyatt commanded.
"Then you're going to have to kill me."
"Done," Chris said. Wyatt TK'd the arrow into Chase's heart before he could do anything to avoid it. Chase stumbled back, his eyes wide.
Mel circled to the front of Chase and looked at him, her head tilted to the side. "This is taking too long," she remarked. "Can't you like orb him into a volcano?"
"Double done," Chris said as he waved his hand. Chase disappeared in a swirl of black orbs.
"That was so easy. I wonder why Tyler and his brothers were afraid of him?" Mel wondered.
"Because they are limited by their Powers; we are not." Wyatt snapped his fingers and a demon appeared before him. "You were Chase's second-in-command?" he asked of the demon. Mel recognized him as Cartian.
"Yes, I was."
"I, along with my siblings, will be ruling the Underworld now. Spread the news and tell any who wish to challenge our claim to come here and I will deal with them. Go." Wyatt said. Cartian bowed his head and shimmered out. That finished, Wyatt took a seat in the throne-like chair that used to be Chase's.
Mel high-fived Chris. "We rule!" they both exclaimed at the same time. Wyatt just smiled. They did rule and no one could stop them now.
Leo, the Sons, Angie, Henry, and Coop were waiting anxiously for the Charmed Ones and Billie to get back. It had been a couple of hours after Mel and her brothers had turned evil and left the Manor. After freaking out a little more, Piper finally got pissed off at her children. She was bringing them back one way or the other and they were going to be grounded for life, even if that meant stripping their powers. This, in fact, is what she and her sisters had decided to do. They had made their most powerful binding potion and armed with the spell to call for a witch's power, had gone to the Underworld with Billie to get them back. They had left about five minutes ago.
Caleb and Pogue had filled Reid and Angela in on their back up plan to take out Melinda if there was no other possible way to save her or Wyatt and Chris. They hated it too and Angela absolutely refused to do it but Reid saw the sense in it. He agreed that it should be the absolutely last resort and that they shouldn't tell Tyler because he would just flip out on them.
Leo was staring out the window when he heard the jingle of orbs. He turned around and watched in horror as his wife and sister-in-laws were dropped off by black orbs. Reacting quickly, he grabbed one of the extra vials of binding potion and threw it at them. It fell just before them, the glass breaking and the liquid slightly splattering their shoes.
"It's not going to work, Leo," Paige said.
"They turned you?" Coop asked.
"Nope," Piper breathed out. "Worse."
"What do you mean, worse?" Leo wondered.
"Here, throw this up," Piper said, handing Tyler who was closest to her an empty potion vial. He did as he was asked and Piper flicked her hands while the vial was still in the air. Nothing happened and everyone watched as the bottle hit the floor and shattered. "They bound our powers. I swear, I'm gonna save them and then I'm gonna kill 'em!"
Phoebe sat down by Coop. "They had the exact same plan we did. Bind the others powers so they can't interfere. What's worse is that they have already completely taken over the Underworld; every demon answers to them and we were continuously attacked as we tried to get to them. Oh, and Chase is dead, so you don't have to worry about him anymore. Apparently, they orbed him into a volcano. Because that's not going to affect their karma," she commented sarcastically.
"Then how did you get back here if you don't have your powers?" Angie asked.
"Chris thoughtfully orbed us back," Billie said. "No offense, Piper, but right now, I kinda hate your kids."
"Don't worry," Piper grumbled. "Right now, I'm feeling the same way.
"So what do we do now?" Henry threw the question out to the entire room.
Tyler looked up from where he had been staring at the broken glass on the floor. "It's up to us."
"Baby Boy?" Caleb asked, standing up. He was a little worried about the youngest of their group. No, Tyler wasn't weak but they all felt that they had to watch out for him and right now, he had a steely look on his face; a look Caleb wasn't used to seeing.
"Look, Cay. Maybe this is a part of our destiny. I mean, we got sent here so the Charmed Ones could save us. Since they can't save Piper's kids, maybe we're meant to. You know, give something back. Cosmic payback, whatever. Besides the fact that I love Mel and I'm not going to let her stay evil!"
Phoebe and Paige had small smiles on their faces and Piper stared at Tyler. "Well, at least something good is coming out of this disaster. What's your plan?"
Tyler frowned. "I don't know. But we'll save her, Wyatt, and Chris. Whether they like it or not."
"You know, Mel is only a witch," Henry broke in.
"Yeah, sweetie, we know that." Paige squeezed his hand while rolling her eyes. "What's your point?"
"If you'd let me finish… Anyway, Wyatt and Chris are both part whitelighters and they have powers Mel doesn't. But Leo was mortal when you two had Mel. So…"
Paige, understanding his point now, finished. "Maybe she'll be the easiest to change back."
"And maybe we could change her back without magic. Appeal to her non-magical side," Piper continued.
Phoebe finished the train of thought that was jumping from person to person. "And since they're connected like we are," Phoebe said, motioning to her sisters, "Wyatt and Chris should turn back too. We have to challenge her. Make Mel choose between the two things she wants most."
"What two things?" Billie questioned.
Angela was the next to stand up and jump in with her own idea. "Make her choose between her new freedom and being equal with her brothers and being with her family, friends…Tyler. Set up a situation where she absolutely has to choose."
Reid stood next to her and slipped an arm around her waist. They both turned slightly to look at Tyler. "And I think I know what the situation should be," he commented.
Caleb clapped a hand on Tyler's shoulder. Pogue looked at Tyler's face and laughed. "Looks like you're bait, Baby Boy. You cool with that?"
"It'll be dangerous, Tyler. We're not even sure if this will work. It could end badly," Leo warned.
Tyler raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "No, it's perfect. Make her choose between saving me or killing me. This might work."
"I know Mel," Angie said. "She's my best friend and no matter how evil she might be, she isn't capable of killing someone, especially someone she loves. She'll save you."
"So, what exactly do we do?" Caleb asked. Everyone fell silent as they thought about the plan. It had to be good or Tyler would be in danger.