A/N: Hey guys!
CharmedOpal: Which part is confusing? Do you need something explained? Or are you just saying in general?
I want to send a special shout-out to Semper Fi Witchlighter for some GREAT ideas for the next few chapters. I'll be more specific as the ideas come up :)
Also, Semper Fi Witchlighter asked me if there's any chance for a prequel and/or a sequel. So I'll put it to a vote! You don't have to decide now, you can let me know as this fic gets closer to the end. But I'd definitely be open for both things IF I have enough, and decent, material to make a great prequel and sequel. I don't want to do them for the sake of doing them, you know? So let me know as you guys decide!
Okay, so PLEASE REVIEW! Reviews have been dropping off each chapter, and I'd really like to see that people are still enjoying this fic – that will help determine if a prequel is possible.
Enjoy!
...
"I just don't understand why the Angel of Destiny would send us after a witch," Melinda said, frustrated and pacing the attic.
"Maybe he wasn't the Angel of Destiny," Rebecca pointed out, her voice hinting at sarcasm.
Melinda glared at her.
Rebecca shrugged. "Well... You guys were the ones who didn't want to stop and check with the elders."
Katelyn turned to frown at her, and Melinda opened her mouth to speak, but Rebecca waved her off. "I know, I know," she sighed. "We can't trust the Elders, blah, blah, blah."
"You are so ridiculous," Melinda scoffed. "You just have to be right about this, don't you?"
"I don't have to be, but I am." Rebecca crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes; all she could think was, hadn't they reversed the malice spell? Would Melinda ever stop picking on her?
"Guys, okay, enough," Corrine said firmly, looking from one to the other.
Katelyn sat beside their innocent, Lauren, on the small couch set up in the attic. Lauren hadn't said a word; she looked from one cousin to another, as they argued back and forth. She shivered, wishing Karen would get back with some news. Despite her Whitelighter's assurance, she didn't feel safe with these girls.
"We were obviously tricked," Corrine said, glaring from Melinda to Rebecca. "Rebecca, I'm sorry. We should have listened to you."
Rebecca smirked and nodded. "Apology accepted."
"Oh, great," Melinda griped. "Now she'll have a big head."
"Okay, Melinda? Outside, now," Corrine snapped.
Melinda sighed and followed Corrine down to the second floor, and into Corrine's room.
"What is your problem? Do you still have the malice spell on you? Cause I can do a really awesome bitch-slap cleanse if you need it."
Melinda gaped at Corrine. "No, miss bitch, I don't still have the spell on me."
"Well, then?" Corrine demanded. "What is your problem with Rebecca? It's like you aren't even willing to give her a chance."
Melinda scowled. "She's too smug and she always has to be right."
"Gee, sounds familiar," Corrine replied dryly.
"Hey!" Melinda snapped.
"Look," Corrine finally said, after taking a deep breath. "Whatever your problem with her, get over it. At least for right now. After we defeat whoever this Angel of Destiny is, then you and her need to talk it all out and move past your differences. We'll never be a powerful, cohesive group if we don't get along. Plus, she's family and that's more important than our witch heritage."
Melinda wrinkled her nose. "No, because if we aren't good witches, we die. So that's more important than being cousins."
"Well... Then maybe that's your first problem." Corrine frowned at her, then walked out of her room and back to the attic, leaving Melinda alone.
...
Melinda slinked back to the attic about ten minutes after Corrine. Karen was just orbing back in.
"The Elders believe our Angel of Destiny is really a warlock," Karen began, everyone's attention on her. "The deal he offered you does not, for obvious reasons, exist."
"I knew it was too good to be true," Katelyn sighed.
Karen gave her a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry. But you do need to vanquish this demon. He is very powerful to have impersonated such a divine being. He needs to be dealt with."
"Okay, well we still have a lot of the vanquishing potions and spells from when... Well, from when we attacked you," Corrine said sheepishly, looking to Lauren. She frowned. "Sorry about that."
Lauren just stared at her.
"No one was harmed," Karen replied for her charge. "It was an honest mistake; you were tricked."
"So, we vanquish this warlock and... What? Will the Elders even consider giving us our mothers back?" Katelyn asked hopefully. "I mean... After everything we've been through..."
Karen frowned sadly. "I'm sorry, but you'll need to talk to the Elders about that when this is all over."
"Right," Katelyn replied with a sigh, sitting down on the bench again.
"So, location?" Melinda asked Karen. "Do we have any idea where to start looking?"
"We need a plan first," Corrine said. "We can't go in there blind like we did this last time."
"But we have vanquishing potions and spells. We'll just double-whammy him and be done with it," Melinda said with a shrug.
"I believe Melinda is correct," Karen said. "You made your very strongest potions and spells, yes? This warlock did say you would be battling a very powerful sorceress, so you must have put everything you had into the vanquishing materials for her, right?"
Corrine nodded. "Yeah. We made the most powerful potions we've ever concocted. You think that will do it?"
Karen nodded. "I do. And, if you wait too long, the warlock may attack again. This may be your one opportunity to stop him."
Rebecca frowned at Karen's tone. There was something she didn't like about it, but she couldn't put her finger on what the problem was, exactly. So she kept quiet.
"I believe this warlock will be in the Underworld. Rebecca, you should be able to sense his presence once you are down there. But be cautious: you will be on his territory, so you will need to be extra vigilant." Karen paced the attic, then stopped and looked at the cousins. "You need to defeat him. If you cannot, then all will be for nothing."
"Why are you Whitelighters always so cryptic?" Melinda complained. "What does that even mean?"
"Why will I be able to sense him?" Rebecca asked, confused.
Karen frowned and shook her head. "Be safe. Be brave. And do not, even for a second, hesitate. If you have the opportunity to vanquish this warlock, take it."
"Why would we hesitate?" Corrine questioned, wondering if Karen was insane.
"Just don't hesitate," Karen repeated firmly. She moved to her charge's side and smiled comfortingly at the girls.
Slowly, the cousins stepped beside one another. As usual, Corrine took Melinda's hand, and Katelyn took Rebecca's.
Karen nodded to them, keeping a poker face. "Good luck."
Together, Melinda and Rebecca orbed themselves and their cousins to the Underworld, and a tear slid down Karen's face as she watched them go.