Dark Charm

Chapter Four

Meet the Family

"Are you okay? Thank God! I've been trying to summon you since yesterday! Are you okay sweetie?"

Melinda felt warmth and relief flood through her as she sank into her mother's arms. Fatigue and weariness almost overcame her but despite her exhaustion she was just terribly glad to be home. She felt as though she never wanted to move from the manor attic again with its familiar clouds of dust bunnies and mismatched furniture and boxes upon boxes of old clothes and family possessions. Sunlight flowed in through the stained glass windows creating patterns of rainbows over the walls while her parents grouped around her anxiously and Phoebe made an instant dive for Destiny who was slumped on the floor.

"Yesterday? How long have we been gone?" Melinda mumbled, pulling away from her mother as Wyatt promptly seized her into an over enthusiastic bear hug that nearly sent her ribs cracking. Next came Chris who was slightly more sensitive and gentle with his embrace before he promptly began to scan her vitals going into automatic med-student mode. Ever since he had enrolled in med-school Chris had became obsessed with everybody's wellbeing - despite his knack for healing he still felt the need to whine about doctors' appointments and health checks.

"Since yesterday night," Leo supplied filling in his daughter, "We've been worried sick. Everyone's been orbing around the place looking for the two of you." Melinda could tell her father had probably been going with them out of pure determination and had obviously not slept - large bags showed under his eyes while her mother looked ready to drop.

"We heard your call," Chris reassured, "And we tried to answer but we couldn't figure out where you were. We tried scrying but got nothing; where were you?" Melinda shivered, feeling more than a bit disorientated as she sat down on one of the old musty sofa's playing bait to the dust bunnies in the corners. She watched anxiously as her Auntie Paige loomed over Destiny, her hands glowing with healing light as they basked over her older cousin's skin.

"Is she gonna be okay?" Melinda asked anxiously.

"Well there's no physical damage although she's got one hell of a headache. Maybe just a lie down and some painkillers," Paige said standing up brushing the dust off her impeccable blue jeans. Phoebe, who had been waiting with baited breath, let loose a relieved sigh as she glanced up apologetically at Melinda and Piper.

"I'm just going to get home okay? Coop is with the others, they'll want to know…I just want her home safely okay?" Phoebe said excusing herself brushing some of her dark hair from her face. Piper nodded and Henry went to stand next to his Aunt and cousin. He placed a gentle hand on Phoebe's shoulders and they vanished in a flurry of glowing pale blue lights. Once they were gone, all that remained in the rapidly crowding attic was her parents, brothers, Auntie Paige and the twins.

Melinda tried to collect herself but inside she felt fragmented and overcome with weariness. She rubbed the temples of her forehead, taking advantage of the silence as each person pondered their collective thoughts until finally Piper took a seat next to her daughter. Grateful for the support, Melinda leaned against her mother's strength allowing the oldest of the 'Charmed Ones' to run her fingers through her daughters similarly colored ebony hair. Closing her eyes, she fought against the images of a smouldering dark gaze. Tears trickled down her cheeks as an invisible dam broke in her heavy chest.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. You're home now; nothing's going to hurt you here," Piper soothed kissing her forehead gently, "It'll be okay…just tell us what happened and we'll get them alright? I promise nothing is going to hurt you Melinda." Not one to doubt her mother's sincerity she still felt her body wrench with heavy unjustifiable sobs that she couldn't quite place. Nothing horrific had happened; she had not been taken by demons and tortured, but she still couldn't shake the trapped feeling inside that something had forced freedom from her and replaced it with a leaden weight sinking her further and further.

"I…they took me…they didn't even do anything! I'm being stupid. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I just can't…I can't think…she had a premonition and now I'm so scared Mom," Melinda cried, feeling her throat ache with a lump rising and falling in synchrony with her sobs. Instantly, she felt somebody take her hand and she looked up into a pair of warm green eyes as another hand brushed some of the messy strands of brown hair from them. Warmth filled her entire body and a sensation of hope and light fought against the dead weight of the knoll of dread by dispersing the cloud of despair and sadness, allowing some clarity in her mind.

"Nothing is going to hurt you," Christopher reassured, "Auntie Phoebe's premonitions aren't always set in stone; they only happen so we can change them for the better. Now that we know what's going to happen, we can stop it from coming to pass." Melinda nodded shakily although she felt the edges of the darkness return when Chris took his hand away taking away with him the healing aura. Swallowing the lump, she tried to take in a few deep breathes before speaking again.

"When I came to I was in this big house…they'd put me in another room so I cast an invisibility spell to hide myself," Melinda said slowly retracing her memories as she voiced each aspect of her journey. "I went downstairs…there were like a big group of them. Aidan, Alexandria …Mikhail…Gregori, Raven and André," As she listed each name she felt there voices and faces pass her mind by. Shaking her head she felt those dark eyes burn her internally and instinctively she reached out and grabbed Chris hand again to try and ward them off.

"What's wrong? Melinda?" Wyatt demanded anxiously.

"Nothing…it's just that name…it reminds me of him," Melinda shivered feeling chills creep down her spine one by one as she spoke again quickly wanting to avert the conversation, "Des was on the couch passed out so we had a conversation telepathically and I decided to attack but they anticipated it. I threatened them, they told me to sit down. Told me they were good. Told me they weren't vampires so I listened and told them what a witch was…then Des had a premonition and you summoned us and that's the end." She closed her eyes and winced knowing this would nowhere near satisfy her parents or her family. They needed to know everything about the premonition and who they were.

"Come on Mel," Paige said softly, "There's more to it than that and you know it."

"Fine! They said they were Carpathians, one of them wouldn't take his goddamn eyes off me and they live in Romania !" Melinda snapped feeling her temper spark as she attempted to rise to her feet but was forced back down by Piper who glanced over at Leo inquiringly.

"Carpathians? Please tell me you've heard of them?" Leo shook his head and Melinda felt her heart sink a notch. True it had been years since her father had ceased being a whitelighter or angel but his knowledge was usually unfathomable when it came to all creatures bright and magical. If he didn't know about them there must be something severely wrong.

"I could orb up and ask? Or we could check the Book?" suggested Paige hopefully referring to her ability to orb up into the world beyond to beg audiences with the Elders or archangels of the world. Piper sighed inhaling deeply before her eyes fluttered up with a look of calm determination.

"Right, Paige orb up and ask. Wyatt, Chris check the Book of Shadows and see exactly what you can find out about these guys. The rest of you come with me downstairs because I want to know about this premonition!" Piper said mustering all the conviction she had into that tone. The wheels were set in motion as her older brothers surrounded the book, opening it and flipping through page after page while the twins obediently trotted downstairs. Reluctantly, Melinda graced her feet and moved from the attic down the many flights of stairs noting some of the photographs in place on the wall proudly displaying particular moments during their childhood and adolescence. It was a wealth of treasured memories never to be forgotten such as 'Melinda's first day of school' or Chris graduating from High school or Wyatt with his school soccer team. Her strapping older brother with his broad shoulders and towering height had the right build for sports and used to enjoy excelling at them on a regular basis.

Somehow Melinda wondered how she had managed to get to seventeen without being sectioned or going insane. The stress of balancing two dual lifestyles admittedly left her with a serious split in her personality - there was Melinda the awkward, shy, self-conscious teenager and Melinda the Witch, heir to the legacy of the Charmed Ones destined to spend her life battling evil in the name of good. The two clashed often - with as much power as she possessed she struggled to keep up the façade of 'normal' openly preferring magic school where she didn't have to hide her powers to High school where she was a 'nobody.' At least at Magic school she was somebody. Sometimes she wondered if there was even a point in her attending High school - she was destined to be a witch anyway so why would she need a career? Oh yeah - because she had to live in the "real world" too and that required her not being a lazy bum surviving by leeching off her relatives. Hence why she had seriously considered going into teaching - she could teach at Magic school and teach at "regular kids'" school.

Just so long as she didn't confuse classroom notes or anything. Or a demon didn't come crashing through the walls threatening to eat the children…on the other hand maybe she'd just open up a business which let her have flexible hours so she wouldn't be required to come out with the excuse - "Sorry Mrs. Winters but there's an upper level demon in my attic, could you cover that class for me?"

When they reached the open space down the stairs under the antique crystal chandelier where the rustic yellow walls were laden with portraits and more photographs while the old rugs were spread across the laminated floor, Melinda sat down on one of the couches while Penny and Pandora sat tentatively on either side of her with identical pale faces and icy blue eyes. Brown hair flowed to their shoulders but Penelope's hair held a vivid red hair band while Pandora had hers free and messy. Piper sat down opposite and Melinda knew that she would have to confess about the premonition despite her overwhelming desire to ignore it and pretend it hadn't happened.

"Destiny thinks that there is a man after our blood. According to her, he had me chained up in a cave and I heard one of the Carpathian's call him Xavier," Melinda admitted bluntly wishing to have it over with. "I don't think they're going to give up. I think they'll keep looking for me and I'm scared…I don't want them finding me Mom; I just feel really edgy and…and I…I don't know what to do." How long could she keep herself cloaked when those creatures had eternity? They would find her; they would hunt her as relentlessly as the demons. She wished she had never said anything about her powers or being a witch because she had given far too much away.

"Shh, it's gonna be okay," Piper said, "Nothing is going to get you. I promise, even if they come hunting they won't be finding anything got it? Look at me missy, nothing is getting in here without my permission you got it?" Piper demanded and Melinda nodded demurely as Penelope wrapped an arm around her older cousin.

"You could stay at our place Mel," Penny offered brightly, "We've got Ben and Jerry's plus we could have an all night movie marathon. You could have Pan's bed and she could sleep on the floor!" Melinda smiled shakily and nodded feeling a bit more comforted by the idea of having an all night sleepover with her cousins. She really didn't want to be alone right now, but if she was marked for torture was it right to endanger her cousins? On the other hand she really needed some traces of normality and security.

"I think that's a good idea," Piper reinforced, "Look honey it's not the first time we've had premonitions about you and it probably won't be last. All you need to know is that it's being taken care of so just focus on your birthday. I'll let you have the club for the party if you want." Melinda perked up suddenly feeling an emotion other than dreaded fear - complete surprise! She had been arguing for weeks with her mother about have P3 as a venue for her eighteenth but Piper had droned on about underage drinking afraid about damaging the reputation of her prestigious club.

"Really?" Melinda said her mouth agape in wonderment, "Oh my God yes! Thank you so much!" She didn't even know if she knew enough people to fill the club out but if word got out at her high school that there was a party in an actual club then teenagers from all over San Francisco would flock to P3. She could invite everyone from her class at both of her schools magical and otherwise and surely the rest would sort itself out. Grinning avidly she grabbed a hold of Pandora and Penelope as she disappeared in a shower of blue lights orbing over to her Aunties house before her mother could change her mind.

"Wait! Hold on a second no underage-! Oh forget it!" Piper snapped exasperatedly at the thin air occupying the space where Melinda had once been sitting.

"Okay so she's a witch that can blow up objects and shoot lightening from her fingertips…great, well this should be interesting for- ouch!" Savannah cringed as one of her baby girls decided to give her stomach a good kick. With her due date rapidly approaching she was starting to feel like a whale, her belly so big she was unable to see her toes waddling around the place. The joys of pregnancy; Savannah was beginning to get impatient wanting nothing more than to simply hold her babies in her arms but knowing she still had another four weeks of continual worry before than moment would come. She'd already been pondering names - there were so many she couldn't decide on just one.

" Savannah ?" Gregori asked sharply as he was instantly at her side.

"Kicking," Savannah explained through a pained smile, "Anyway I want to hear more about wonder witch. I can't believe Ask Phoebe is a witch or Piper…I used to stop by her restaurant sometimes with the crew. They always said the food was good, but still witches? All I can think of is black cats and broomsticks." Flickering through her life mate's memories this wasn't quite true of what she saw; instead, she witnessed a frightened teenager panicking on the spot swaying between blowing them all up and listening to them. Glancing over at Alexandria the blond woman nodded looking equally as amazed.

"I once wrote into her column," She admitted going pink in the face, "It was after my parents died and I was struggling to look after Joshua. Her advice really helped. You'd think people would notice though. I mean Phoebe's face is plastered all over the city and Piper is well known in the business circles. Although…there was a lot of strange stuff now I think about it…"

"What sort of things?" Raven asked curiously. The five of them had been sitting in the front room of the Prince's home only hours before Melinda Halliwell had threatened to blow them all up before vanishing in a cascade of golden lights. Shortly afterwards André had disappeared into the forests adapting to the form of a wolf prowling in the shadows trying to deal with the situation his life mate was in and her grave predicament regarding Xavier. Aidan was with him offering the fellow male hunter some guidance and reassurance to albeit his soul which wavered tediously on the line between Carpathian and Vampire. All attention was now focused on Alexandria who had lived her entire human life in San Francisco .

"Nothing really," Alexandria said awkwardly not used to such limelight and still trying to adjust to being surrounded by so many ancients which intimidated her slightly, "Just that my Mom used to go to the same high school as them and she only remembers there being three Halliwell sisters; Prue, Piper and Phoebe yet when Prue died they suddenly found out they had another sister Paige. I guess my Mom thought it was a bit odd…that and it was never really very clear about how Prue died…I think there was an investigation but nobody was ever named."

"It would be more likely to suggest then that Prue died from something other than human causes," Mikhail murmured worriedly, "I am more concerned about the fact that Xavier wants them. It's obvious they wield some amount of power but if he gets to them then we have failed not only André but people who we may ally with. I think we should get to San Francisco and present ourselves to them as soon as possible. I know that is what André is wishing to do and I'm going to have to use all my effort to stop him from leaving at this moment." Savannah considered her fathers words carefully and deducted that this was most likely the most plausible explanation for the premature death of Prudence Halliwell, however upon hearing his Prince's plan Gregori was not as enthusiastic.

"No Mikhail. If Xavier is involved, you are not going anywhere near them," Gregori ordered harshly glaring at his father-in-law, "I am sure Aidan and the Troubadours will be more than willing to handle the situation. It is important you remain here." Although he didn't add it, Savannah was quite confident the remainder of the sentence would have been, "So I can keep an eye on you." In her current condition, travelling was out of the question meaning that for the foreseeable future Savannah and Gregori would have to remain in the Carpathian Mountains . This meant that her father would also be forced to remain, since she was fairly positive that Gregori would never allow the Prince to travel into any area known to be on Xavier alert without his second in command to protect him.

Unsurprisingly, Mikhail was less than impressed with his son-in-law's deductions.

"I think I can manage without use of a babysitter son," Mikhail retorted as Raven and Savannah simultaneously rolled their eyes, "I will not place any of my people in a danger that I would not therefore face myself. Besides, she is young, just a child and I cannot imagine her parents would be happy to give up to our protection without having first met me. I want to reassure them personally." Normally, after some reluctance and more bickering, Gregori would eventually settle for this providing he could accompany his Prince. However, now the circumstances were different - Savannah hated being a burden in this way.

"You cannot be responsible for your father's stupidity," Gregori quickly reassured her mentally, "You are carrying the future of our race, our children. Of course I will not leave you now. I want to finally see the pair that will change our life." Savannah smiled touching her stomach as another kick crippled through her body. Indeed she had a feeling that these particular little girls would no doubt find all sorts of ways to provoke their father to madness. Already one of them seemed to be determined to have her father running in circles.

"We cannot afford to take such a risk with you Mikhail. Your son has not yet entered the world. Unless you want Savannah juggling the responsibilities of being both leader and mother then you will remain here. I trust Aidan can see that things operate smoothly," Gregori said firmly. Mikhail shook his head and Raven sighed, seizing the chance at adding another reason, Gregori swiftly inserted another excuse, "Do you not want to see your first grandchildren?"

" Savannah 's not due for four weeks…we'll be back by then won't we?" Raven said doubtfully biting her lower lip as her large blue eyes looked anxiously up at Mikhail. If looks could kill Gregori would have been powder on the walls as the 'Dark One' smirked quite content that Raven would not budge from the country if she thought she wouldn't be there to help her daughter through giving birth.

"Of course we will sivamet," Mikhail reassured before turning to Gregori, "I am going

Gregori. You will remain here and do your duty to Savannah and for once let me worry about doing a duty to our people. You've earned the right to stay at peace in this happy time for you both. I am sure Aidan and your brothers will see that no harm comes to us as unnecessary as it is." He spoke with such authority that for once Gregori made no retort but contented himself with growling beneath his breath; that was until Savannah took his hand and placed it on her ample stomach allowing him to feel as one of the twins kicked vigorously.

"My father is right, Gregori. Just enjoy this time with me. Soon we will have them in our arms," Savannah communed gently. Although she was concerned for her parents she had enough faith in her life mate's relatives to know they wouldn't let a hair on their heads be harmed let alone much else. If they ensured the help of the witches then maybe even Xavier would grow into a dark memory. It was a pity though; she would have liked to have met the witch who could blow things up with a flick of a finger. "Perhaps she will be good for our people at reminding them of a woman's powers."

"As if any of us needed reminding when we have you so near." Gregori replied wearily.

The forest was a paramount of noise. Tiny movements of insects buried deep within the soil, the small quick movements of smaller animals dashing through the undergrowth, the larger yet more refined motions of predators following their prey. Of birds chirping in the branches, of the wind rustling through the leaves, the crunch of the undergrowth, the trickle of the stream. None of these noises were unfamiliar but it felt as though he was hearing them for the first time.

Who knew how many layers the lullaby of a river had? Who could have guessed that each small movement joined the chorus of a mighty symphony? How had he walked ignorant of all this majesty? How to explain the deep startling emerald of the leaves or the way the silvery white moonlight played on the inky blue surface of the lake?

The smells, the scents, the sights, the sounds, the sensations. All of them threatened to overwhelm his mind throwing him into chaos. Even in the body of a wolf there was no peace from the aching inside, the desire for the sweet intoxication of her blood. It haunted him; the smell and flavour as it trickled down his throat better than all the human wine in the world. Sweet, rich and wholesome, so addictive it was almost like a drug calling him in. No matter how he tried to escape it was ever present in the back of his mind along with the potent need for her skin against his, for the taste of her mouth, the sound of her moans, for everything she was. She was perfection; the power she emanated did nothing to sate this reckless destructive desire only to increase it.

He slipped through the trees, weaving in and out of the forest aware of being watched closed by. Aidan Savage had once been a childhood friend and André was not ignorant of his purpose in following him. Sliding gracefully into his true form he stood aloft beneath a canopy of leaves shrouded in moonlight. It did not take long for Aidan to join him, his blond hair pale like gold in the silvery light as he approached André openly.

"You suffer with and without her," Aidan murmured knowledgably.

"This is torture," André said not surprised to find blood dripping down his forehead as a mark of sweat. The rolling in his gut was agonizing. Every sense was sharper including his sense of pain as anguish clenched him squeezing his insides. At first he had ravished actually feeling such an emotion but now it was terrible, he needed her yet she lay so many miles away separated by countries and oceans. "I will endure but for how long? I was so close to turning that had I not seen her I may have walked away."

"The Prince intends to join us in San Francisco ," Aidan remarked.

André felt something else flare - incredulity. From what he had heard Raven was at risk for a premature birth and his daughter Savannah nearing her due date. And he intended to take such a risk by endangering himself in such a way? "He is mad then," André growled.

"Perhaps, but no doubt he knows what he is doing," Aidan said in agreement gazing at the lightening sky where the first flushes of fuchsia were blushing the skyline, "The dawn is nearly upon us. We leave early tomorrow night; apparently we are travelling by plane since it is safer and swifter. We will be in San Francisco by tomorrow morning."

"The nights are getting shorter," André murmured aware that it was approaching the summer solstice. Turning towards his fellow comrade he clasped the Carpathian on the forearm in a warriors greeting. "Until tomorrow evening then my friend." With that he turned and in a single bound took the form of a dark wolf stalking through the forests.

Soon, soon it would all change.

Okay people. This is my first - ever - beta'd chapter of fanfic done by Magicspromise89! Um - yeah my grammar's never been the best unfortunately, but while I'm in the process of mending that situation for this fiction she's gonna be my Beta so round of applause please!

Anyway next chapter is basically Melinda trying to focus her attentions on her upcoming 18th while being under constant supervision from her brothers. I seriously would not want to risk pissing off Wyatt or Chris - those of you who have seen Charmed will understand why. Anyway the 'Charmed Ones' also pay a "friendly" visit to Aidan's house.

R&R soon

Daydreamer!x