Dark Charm

Chapter Five

Sinking Feeling

　

"I've made a decision! No more wallowing and lazing about feeling like crap! I'm just going to focus on my birthday. Once I've got that out of the way, I'll panic a bit more but until then, I can't let this rule my life. Okay?"

Piper jumped upright at the bold proclamation. Her previous occupation of staring vaguely into her coffee came to an abrupt end as her youngest child bounded into the kitchen. At half past nine on a Saturday morning, Melinda was surprisingly chirpy with her tousled black and panda pajamas. Popping some toast into the toaster she sprang over and sat in the vacant seat beside her Auntie Phoebe. Melinda looked unusually bright and cheery considering the fact she was up and about before midday on a good weekend.

"Whoa, I'm feeling it." Phoebe quipped looking up at her niece, "So what's brought about this change in mood? A backfired spell maybe?" Melinda pouted crossing her arms putting on the pretence of hurt feelings. Piper ruffled her hair feeling grateful for the change in attitude. It was day three of Melinda Watch - the new duty she'd assigned to Wyatt and Chris or really the new duty they'd assigned themselves. They had dedicated themselves into becoming their little sister's personal body guards.

"No. Just fed up with sitting in my room waiting for something to happen. That and I talked to Dad and he says I shouldn't let it rule my life. So voila! I'm not going to," Melinda said stubbornly. Phoebe slung an arm around her niece and beamed brightly pooling the room in her emotions of confidence and assurance. Piper fed off of them trying to stir her mind knowing the job that would befall her this morning - cleaning the club and organizing the catering for her daughter's eighteenth which was merely three days away.

"I'm so proud of you sweetie. You go get 'em! Say hi to Professor Melvin for me!" Phoebe encouraged. Melinda grinned as she snuck some toast out of the toaster, orbed out of the room in a cascade of blue lights and departed her home for Magic School where she had two advanced magic classes to occupy her morning. The young witch may have graduated from high school last month but she still had an additional year at Magic School to attend before her life in the education system both magical and otherwise would be over. The smile slid off Phoebe's face as she turned to Piper accusingly. "You're not going to tell her? Piper she has a right to know!"

The oldest sister shook her head. As far as she was concerned Melinda would be much happier if she didn't know. The knowledge she'd read from the Book of Shadows definitely confirmed her desire to keep her younger child firmly in the dark. She was just a child; she had enough issues with magic let alone with other creatures. There was no way Piper was going to let this happen to her only daughter—magic had lead them into all sorts of messes before and it had always got them out again. This time would be no different; she'd irrevocably made up her mind and now there was no changing it. Piper the Mom and Piper the Witch were resolutely decided. "No. I am not going to tell her and stop looking at me like that Phoebe! We're going to fix this tonight and my daughter is going to have the best eighteenth birthday if it kills me! You got that?"

Phoebe's expression softened somewhat. The years had taken their toll on each of them; they were fully aware that youth was no longer on their side and that middle age was only fleeting. Small lines wrinkled around Phoebe's wide brown eyes and pretty face. Thick brown hair was starting to thin as it framed her chin, however none of them were ready to retire yet. Phoebe and Paige still hadn't hit the big Five-Oh yet. Grams had kept fighting right up until the end. Sometimes age was irrelevant. It wasn't like any of them were haggard and ugly yet.

"You know I'm with you a hundred percent but Piper she should still know or this may come back to bite us in the butt." Phoebe reminded gently, "Let her have her birthday but then tell her what we know. We can keep them away for as long as possible but in the end this is her decision. If she wants us to undo the bond which I'm sure she will then we'll do it but if we take her freewill away that makes us just as bad as them." Piper swallowed feeling her temper momentarily flare - perhaps just as well she'd chosen to keep Wyatt and Chris partially in the dark. If they knew the true extent of this new species, then Piper was pretty sure that Carpathians wouldn't have to worry about their population anymore.

Her sons would pretty much decimate it.

"I know. I know. I just don't want her living her life in stress and fear; it's not fair! This isn't fair on her! Why can't the powers that be give my children a break every once in a while?" Piper fumed. Normal mothers only had to worry about if their kids could cross the road safely or if they were home on time. Of course Piper shared these worries along with the additional anxiety over which of her children had conjured the shark out of the television or if they were late getting home because they'd been abducted by demons. And now of course she had to deal with the fact that a bunch of mythical creatures wanted her daughter to join them so she could supply them with new offspring and save their souls!

"I know it sucks. At least your daughter hasn't locked herself in her apartment refusing to come out in case she turns into an emotional broadcast system," Phoebe sighed grimly.

"I thought Des had that power under control?" Piper said surprised.

"So did I, but ever since she regained consciousness her empathy has been going haywire. Whenever I go in, she beams out and it's just getting really confusing. That and Hope got sent home from school for biting somebody." Piper smiled sympathetically. If she had a dollar for every time a member of their family had locked themselves in the basement then she would be a rich woman. Last month it had been Henry due to his new power hearing the thoughts of individuals. That had really driven the teenager to despair as he was unable to close out the thoughts of others and had to deal with their ideals clouding his head.

"Well I've got to go and meet up with the band at their rehearsal and then I've got to go talk to the suppliers about non alcoholic beverages," Piper said wearily standing up.

"Good luck. Meet you at seven?"

"Seven? Sundown isn't until 9:30." Piper corrected.

"Yeah but maybe if we get there a little early something might jog my precognition. It would be useful to know what we're up against as opposed to three paragraphs of nondescript cryptic mumbo-jumbo." Phoebe mentioned helpfully. Piper nodded and picked up her car keys on the way out of the kitchen. One thing was for sure - at least tonight she'd be able to vent some of her frustrations as opposed to blowing up the sleazy supplier who refused to acknowledge the fact that she was happily married.

"See you then. Make sure Paige isn't late!"

"The door! Marie, the door is going!"

Marie laid down the empty plates as she navigated her way past the numerous amounts of dog toys. The doorbell was ringing loudly throughout the large manor house promptly setting off Baron. The massive dog sat at the door with his tail thumping on the ground like drums pounding while Joshua stood eagerly. Ruffling her charge's golden locks, she unlatched the door. She hadn't been expecting anyone to arrive since Aidan had given her no prior warning; however, with the two Carpathians asleep deep within the earth and none of the safeguards announcing any sort of ill intent, she supposed it could be something perfectly ordinary.

"Josh, hold Baron back dear," Marie instructed. The twelve year old obeyed and wrapped his arms around Baron's neck to restrain the over excitable mutt from pouncing playfully on any unsuspecting visitor. Upon opening the door she blinked startled to find herself staring at three police officers. The first was a big burly man in uniform sporting a thick moustache. The other two flanked him--a female with blond hair tied back in a ponytail and a gangly male with glasses.

"Is this the residence of Aidan and Alexandria Savage?" The moustached one asked.

"Yes." Marie said tentatively, "I'm the housekeeper Marie. I'm afraid the master of the house is out at present."

"I'm Inspector Morse and this is…Sergeant Holmes and Lieutenant Morris," He continued. Marie nodded feeling her cautious instincts arouse. After a lifetime of enduring repeated attempts on Aidan's life she had developed a sixth sense for deception. However with the sun still high and Aidan sleeping like the dead there was little choice in the matter. In any case, the badges declaring them as members of the San Francisco Police Force appeared to be legit. "May we come in? We need to talk to you about a few things and we have a warrant." A flimsy piece of paper was waved under her nose. Seeing little other option she stood aside allowing them entrance.

"Is something wrong?" Marie asked before glancing worriedly at Joshua. "Joshua, could

you go take Baron outside? Stefan is doing the garden and he could probably do with some help." The housekeeper had been expecting some protest from the child but mercifully the prospect of helping out with the garden seemed to appeal to him more than staring at the police, for the blond-headed preteen trotted out the door with his beloved dog. Leading her unwanted guests through the spacious hall, she led them inside one of the smaller lounges with wide open windows looking out over the garden. The high arched ceilings and pastel colored walls gave the cozy room an open-aired feel while a pale couch was placed in front of a coffee table. There was a small modern electronic fireplace also with framed photographs on the mantelpiece, mostly displaying a growing Joshua.

"Oh it's nothing to worry about," The blonde woman said glancing around the room. "We just need to speak to them concerning a case we're working on. You don't know when they'll be back do you?" There was a knowing look in those blue eyes as they pierced Marie's own. They knew. Whoever they were, Marie was positive now that they knew something. Uneasily her eyes turned towards the open window towards the sun. It was barely seven o'clock on a summer evening. It would be an hour at least until the sun was low enough for Aidan to rise at full strength.

"At sunset," Marie said uncomfortably. The three senior officers each took seats on the couch.

"Then we shall just have to wait." The gangly one said simply.

"And if we take Montague's third theory into account then according to the fourth law established by Master Luther in 1778 magical teleportation should be possible for any practitioner of the magical arts. Do we therefore agree or disagree with this principle taking into account the given research on the field? That is your assignment for this week. At least five pages on my desk by Wednesday's lesson." There was a chorus of groans from the assembled students as their teacher in Magical history, Professor Melvin, assigned them another torturous essay. Melinda was among them as she plopped her head into her arms feeling her small bubble of happiness burst abruptly.

"And might I add that if I should find any evidence of magical interference then the perpetrator will face five detentions with me in my office after class!" Melvin added as an extra resort. Professor Melvin was a tall beaky man wearing an elaborate black cloak over his immaculate bottle green suit. His grey hair was parted into a side fringe to cover up his residing hairline. Out of every teacher she had ever had magical or otherwise Melvin took classroom work to a whole new level. For that very reason he was also the teacher she despised the most.

"Class is dismissed." Professor Melvin said with an extra flourish of his cloak. Suddenly there was an almighty grinding of chairs and hum of chatter as each student packed up their scrolls into their bags. Melinda carelessly shoved some of her textbooks into her vivid purple bag and stood up like the rest of her fellow classmates. Unlike at her mortal high school where she could have been invisible for all intents and purposes, here at her Magical one she was known for two reasons. One she was the daughter of a Charmed One, and two, she was the headmaster's daughter. Those reasons combined with her powers made her well known throughout the school.

"Actually I have an announcement!" Melinda called confidently.

Another reason why she loved Magic school was because at her normal mortal high school she would never have had the confidence to just stand up and yell out the way she could here. She felt comfortable here, certain enough that her voice would be heard amongst the multitude of her small class of fifteen. Instantly the class turned towards her giving her their undivided attention. "It's my eighteenth birthday on Monday and I'm throwing a party at my Mom's club P3. You're all invited…just spread the word and make sure that you keep the magic to a minimum. Okay?"

Feeling elated after two solid hours of pure boredom she smiled nervously before slinging her bag on her back stepping out of the massive classroom into the equally astounding and impressive hallways with a bounce in her step. High arched ceilings stretched on endlessly like the inner walls of a cathedral illuminated by a soft yellow glow like sunlight. Intricate patterns were woven into the stone floors while doors appeared in odd and random places. She supposed it was almost like a description straight from the pages of Harry Potter only minus the poltergeist and odd teaching methods. Although, Professor Helena was inclined to curse her pupils into bizarre animals.

There were only two places in the world where she felt completely safe and secure—at home in her bedroom and at Magic school. Both places were nigh impenetrable and both places were familiar and homely. That was why she was in no rush to return home where there lay so much doubt and fear. As much as she had tried to avert her mind, the dark shadows of chilling fear lingered and she couldn't fight the images of being chained to a stone slab before a wrinkling hideous man. Neither could she escape those dark onyx eyes burning into her and setting her insides alight. Shivering she hugged her arms around herself and almost screamed as a bright shower of blue orbs caught her unaware and her older brother Chris materialized.

"Don't do that to me! Are you trying to kill me?" Melinda shrieked smacking her brother on the arm.

"Actually I'm trying to do the opposite. Mom's out so you're coming back to New York with me." Chris stated firmly leaving no argument in those green eyes. Melinda stood dumbly for a few seconds trying to grasp this concept before crossing her arms stubbornly. Chris had moved to New York last month in order to gain some space and to strike his own path in the world. As much as Melinda usually enjoyed visiting the Big Apple and touring it with her older brother if Mom was out, that meant she was most likely out demon hunting, which was most likely related to Destiny's premonition.

"No! I don't want Mom getting herself killed over me!" Melinda protested guiltily.

"Mom's faced worse, plus she has Auntie Phoebe and Auntie Paige with her for the power of three. You, however, are the target which means that you are pretty much stuck with either Wyatt or me until this whole thing blows over. It's either a night at a Broadway show with me or an evening in watching soccer with Wyatt. Your choice, Mel," Chris said with equal determination. When it came to family Chris could sometimes be a little neurotic to say the least. However, she'd much rather go to New York than spend the night in watching soccer.

"Fine!" Melinda growled in defeat.

"Hey! I've got Ben and Jerry's in the freezer! Come on, we'll have fun. I promise." Chris vowed offering out a hand to his little sister. Reluctantly Melinda smiled accepting the hand feeling her body melt away in a pool of warmth. She didn't have a favorite where her brothers were concerned because she relied on them both for different things. With Chris, she could talk about books and listen to advice whereas with Wyatt, she could always rely on him to cheer her up and take her out everywhere. Plus Wyatt understood most of the issues she had regarding her powers due to the enormity of his own.

Even though she was balancing on a thin rope, she would never pass up a night in with her family and the greatest love affair of her life with Monsieur's Ben and Jerry. Especially if such luxuries came in the Cookie Dough variety.

Sometimes it was nice just to focus on the simple luxuries of life rather than the grand design.

André knew something was wrong the instant he broke free from the earths embrace.

"Marie is worried. There are three police agents in my lounge claiming to wish to see me." Aidan's voice rang in his mind a warning. André drank in the warm air allowing the breeze to tumble through his long black locks bringing with it the scent of blood. Clearly Aidan felt strongly that all was not right with these people in his home. André too found it far too coincidental that the moment they arrive back in San Francisco , three mysterious strangers claiming to be officers of the law arrived at their doorstep. As he attempted to invade their minds, André realized the officers had strong mental blocks. He pondered this as he slipped through the front door of the other Carpathians' home where he quickly found Aidan, Alexandria , Mikhail, Julian, Dayan, Barrack and Darius.

"I think it is time we introduce ourselves," Mikhail said mentally, "Aidan will want to greet these guests. I sense no evil surrounding them, but I will advise caution. It is just as well Raven is with Desari, Corrine, Syndil and Tempest." The heavily pregnant life mate to their Prince had taken refuge with these women at the temporary home of the Dark Troubadours. Guarded by two leopards and many intricate weavings of safeguards, the females were safe from harm. Each of the assembled males had gone through great lengths to ensure this before leaving them. Especially since Tempest was also with child.

André disliked this situation. He was not used to operating with others of his kind let alone taking orders, but he complied out of respect for Mikhail. He would never follow someone whom he did not first respect and he appreciated the risks being undertaken in the security of his life mate. Yet, he knew instinctively that Melinda was not in the city. As feeble as their blood bond was, he was certain he would sense her nearby but he did not. She had been removed and stolen from him and the very thought made his blood boil with the desire for swift merciless revenge. His skin itched as he followed Aidan towards the lounge. An aging woman scuttled out of the room - Marie.

"Well it's about time!"

Not exactly the first words he expected to hear as they entered the room. The three police officers standing in front of the fireplace looked oddly out of place. There was something strange in the way they held themselves…almost like they were uncomfortable in their own skin. The male with the moustache was folding his arms and eyeing them darkly with loathing deep in those eyes. A moment later and there was a cascade of small white lights sparkling on their skin melting away the disguise to leave something else in its place.

Almost instantly he knew exactly who they were.

"Hi. We need to have a little chat."

Three women stood before them. The middle one who stood in place of the moustached man was shorter than the other two with long black hair tumbling down her back. There was a certain familiarity around the eyes and the shape of the face that left him in little doubt as to who she was. She held herself confidently as though she was used to having such conversations although there was a furious wrath contained in that scathing glare. Next to her on the right there stood another woman with chin length brown hair and honey-colored eyes narrowed at them in curiosity and caution while on the left was a younger woman with burgundy-colored hair and fair skin looking suspiciously at them.

"It is custom that usually upon entering a persons house the guests introduce themselves," Aidan said placing himself securely in front of Alexandria . The middle woman's lips curved into a sardonic smile.

"Oh no. We'll be conducting this little interview, although if you want names try Halliwell. I don't know exactly what sort of species you things are but in my world people usually don't go abducting other people's daughters," Piper Halliwell said scathingly her words slicing through the air like steel. André had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from shooting out a flaming retort. How dare she question his authority over his life mate! Mother she may be but hardly a good one if she allowed her child to end up in such a dangerous situation in the first place.

"Okay, no wonder Destiny passed out. I'm getting a migraine and they've only been here for ten seconds!" Phoebe exclaimed. "By the way, I'm getting a hell of a lot of anger from him." André felt mildly surprised as he realized that the advice columnist's words were directed at him. Piper gave a bitter sort of laugh and made a quick gesture with her hands. A few of them jumped as the lamp behind them suddenly combusted spraying wooden shards everywhere - or at least it might have had said shards not been frozen in mid air.

"Anger huh? You see the funny thing is I too get pissed off really well. Especially when it concerns my little girl who hasn't even turned eighteen yet, so if you think you're angry then you are nothing compared to me! Glad to get your attention huh?" Piper snapped. Mikhail stepped forward in an attempt to mediate and perhaps to sooth the witch's fury somehow. For the first time in centuries André was speechless unable to come up with anything to say. Not even eighteen? Just a child…a mere infant…he had known her to be young but seventeen?

"We understand you may have some difficulties but we assure you we only desire peace between us. Perhaps if you would allow us to explain ourselves better?" Mikhail suggested his voice eloquent and gentle enough to sooth a volcano. Piper however did not seem to appreciate this particular quality as her eyes flashed towards Mikhail. Paige rolled her eyes and muttered something along the lines of - "He did not just say that."

"Explain? Explain how you want my child to hook up with that creature? He's what - nine hundred years old? It's perversion! She's just a child and she has too much going for her! I don't care what pretty words you put in front of it mister! I don't give a crap about how you dress it up; my daughter was not put on this earth to end up as a breeding horse for some dying out species! She has a greater destiny, she is more than that!" Shouted Piper enraged and incensed beyond reason "Do you think I raised her for eighteen years, loved her, watched her grow up only to auction her off to some vampire wannabe? You have no idea!"

"Piper, calm down just a little bit before you blow this whole place apart!" Paige interjected quickly.

Aidan opened his mouth however Piper once again got there quicker.

"Don't even try it! Either you stay away and let us deal with Xavier or I swear you won't have to worry about the survival of your species because there won't be a species to save!" Piper shouted her voice breaking emotionally. The threat crashed through the air like a tsunami as it rolled around in his mind. Darius's mouth moved into a harsh line as he stood forward menacingly.

"You would judge and condemn us before you even give us a chance," Snarled the furious Daratranzanoff brother.

"If you think that you can challenge Xavier alone then you are a fool," Aidan said coolly.

"Foolish? Listen pal we've been destroying demons for years. You name it and we've seen it so one little mage isn't going to scare us. We protect innocents; that is what we do." Phoebe said resolutely.

"And technically since you people turn into vampires or whatever it is you turn into, if we destroy you then there will be no more vampires. So technically, we'd be saving innocents." Paige added. André felt his blood chill at this particularly ruthless brand of logic.

"If you come anywhere near Melinda or Destiny or any of them then you can be sure that you will pay for it every single day for the rest of your lives." Piper warned as tears of anger streamed down her cheeks. Holding out her hand it was grasped by Paige and Phoebe and then in a sudden mirage of shining pale blue and bright white lights they vanished into the heavens, leaving behind them nothing but silence. The shards from the lamp scattered and fell to the floor while everybody remained quiet as though a storm had passed leaving nothing but the silence.

André stared at the empty space where they had once stood.

If they thought they would ever scare him off, then they were sorely wrong.

Once again this was edited by Magicspromise! xx Thank you.

Anyway I figured Piper would be the very overprotective sort and after reading about three paragraphs in the Book of Shadows she'd be willing to form all sorts of judgements about the Carpathians and really who can blame her? Obviously André is not gonna give up as we see in the next chapter. Melinda's 18th birthday dawns bright and clear...at least to begin with anyway. Soon though she's dealing with all sorts of messes including demons, vampires and a badly backfired spell.

R&R

Daydreamer!x