A Kind of Magic
part 13
"Okay, so the things we know," Phoebe brought forth carefully.
"Demons are real jerks who couldn't care less that we're running out of time?" Paige surmised, rolling her eyes.
"She's in the lower part of town somewhere," Cole added, glaring at his sister in law.
"A dungeon," Phoebe noted, nodding. "Only nobody's familiar with it."
Piper shook her head. "There's probably more than we could count," she guessed.
"Cole, you know the area pretty well, right?" she asked her husband.
"We've been through this," he told her, sighing. "I know it, but not well enough. And chances are, if she's blocked the ability for me to sense her, she's blocked Ally too."
"And the town is basically empty now," Paige pointed out.
"Oh, you had the same problem?" Cole tossed out sarcastically. "Guess it was just pure luck in snagging that one in the Underworld."
"Try talking to one in this world," she scoffed, not catching the punch.
"Mom, can I have a glass of milk?" Melinda Wyatt interrupted, as she strolled up to them, her feet completely bare.
"I'll get it for her," Cole offered, urging Piper to sit down.
"You sure?" she asked, clearly surprised.
"Yeah, I have it covered. Stay here."
"He's right," Phoebe added. "We need you in the discussion."
"Okay. Well, you go with Cole, honey, alright?" She gave her daughter's hand a tiny squeeze, as she turned back to her sisters.
The little girl immediately followed her Uncle to the manor's kitchen, her feet struggling to match the steps of his own. She climbed up onto a high bar stool perched beside the countertop, staring at Cole with big eyes. Cole caught his niece's glance, his gaze falling into hers. Slowly, he reached into the refrigerator, pulling out a half carton full of milk. He opened the cabinet to his left, choosing a glass. "You know....you should really have something on those feet, young lady."
"Take the blue one," she whispered, ignoring him. "It's my favorite."
"Cole reached for the one she'd claimed, pouring the liquid into it. Smiling, he handed it to her, as she graciously accepted it with two tiny hands.
"Uncle Cole, is Alex going to die?"
He nearly dropped the carton, as he fingers fought to regain their grip. He focused his frame of vision to the ground, trying hard to steady himself. Slowly, he managed to set the carton down beside him, frowning. "Where did you hear that?"
"Nowhere. But I know she's missing. Mom says she's just away for a little bit...it's just...I know better. And I don't want her to be gone for good."
"Well, she's not going to die," he clarified. "Some mean people have her, and your mom, Aunt Phoebe, and I have to get her back."
"Why did the mean people take her?"
"Because they're very very mean."
"That's not a reason," she protested.
"Yes, and you're not ready for the PG version yet."
"Uncle Cole, I want to know. Alex is my cousin."
"She's family to all of us," he agreed. "But- okay. Alright. Look, for Paige's sake, I am going to attempt to go through with this."
"With what?" his niece questioned.
"Do you really want to help?"
She eagerly nodded, as she took a small sip from her glass.
"Still scared of monsters under your bed at night?"
She shook her head just as quickly, putting on a brave face. "Monsters are my imagination," she proudly declared, smiling.
"Well, not exactly."
Melinda gasped, placing a single hand across her mouth. "They're for real?"
"Very real. But, see, it's like I told Ally, you can fight these things. Because you have powers."
"Powers?" she squealed. "Like the Powerpuff Girls?"
"Kind of. Only you have to say a spell to- it doesn't take you long to catch on, does it?"
"Is everything alright in there?!" Piper called back.
"Just fine!" Cole replied. "Well, we better get you out there."
"But what about my powers?" she asked. "Where are they?"
"If you come up to the attic with Aunt Paige, she'll help you get them."
"And this will save Alex?"
"A little bit," he sided, nodding.
"So why hasn't Mom said things about powers?"
"Because sometimes secrets are needed to protect people."
"So what am I called?"
"Very tired," Piper finished, as her daughter entered the family room. "You should go back to your nap."
"But I'm not going to sleep."
"Excuse me? Are you telling your mother what to do?" she asked, fairly amused.
"No, I just...I want to be here with everybody, Mom. I don't wanna sleep."
"Well, I have some very important stuff to take care of, sweetie."
Cole stole a wink at Melinda, directing his eyes to Paige.
Melinda smiled. "Aunt Paige? Could you take me upstairs?"
Paige threw her a look of bewilderment. "Um...okay. Sure. Yeah. I'll be right back, guys." She lifted herself off of the sofa, as the little girl gently took her hand, quickly pulling her aunt up the steps as curiosity got the better of her.
"Is...she behaving strangely today, or is it just me?" Piper questioned, shrugging.
Phoebe did her best to hide a smile. "Don't know," she answered. "Didn't notice anything."
**********
"I wanna go home," Alex Turner pleaded, a tear running down her cheek.
"This is your home now," The Dark responded, smiling.
"But I don't like it here."
"Well, I'm sorry sweetheart, but you'll just have to get used to it. Because you're not going anywhere." She shook her head. "Nope. This is where you'll stay. I've bound you to that cage, and you'll come out of there when-"
"I want my mommy."
"Your mommy, yes. Of course. Your mommy couldn't exactly hold her own against me, could she? Rather weak for a precious Charmed One. Wouldn't you say, Alexandra?"
"My daddy will find you," Alex threatened, her eyes full of anger. "He'll use more magic on you."
"Yes. So let him come." She laughed. "Let all of them come."
"I could use my powers on you."
"And you'd only be wasting them now, wouldn't you? Besides, you really should save what you need for the ritual, darling."
"Ritual?"
"Demons from around the world will be here," she gushed. "They are truly astounded by what you can do."
"I won't do anything," Alex told her.
"You fail to understand, little girl. You don't order me around. I tell you what to do."
"I want to go home," she said again, more loudly this time.
"Oh, will somebody please shut her up?" The Dark complained.
A woman stepped forward, revealing her familiar face. The same face The Dark had seen light of in her previous quarters earlier. "So this is the daughter of the famous Cole Turner," she mused, smiling. "Clearly, the pleasure is all mine."
Can you take me home?" Alex pleaded.
The blonde haired visitor knelt down beside the captive, reaching out a reassuring hand to stroke Alex's hair. "It's alright, nobody is going to hurt you."
"Yet," The Dark muttered, as she began to pace back and forth nervously. "I know that dreadful ex demon is going to find his way to her yet. He still has too much assistance. I should wiped them all clean out."
"Yeah, and you should've made sure his little wife was dead before you left her," she responded.
"My mistake," she quipped. "The whitelighter was bound to come to the rescue."
"Like I offered before- let me help you."
"So you can do what, exactly, hmm? It's no surprise you've harbored a crush for him-"
"Which I carried to my grave," the opponent claimed, her expression suddenly fading.
"Oh, that's right. And at the hands of that same annoying little wife, Julie. Imagine that."
"Look, I'm here for revenge, and at this point, that's all that matters. I want to bury her in the ground this time."
"And I see you've really been practicing being threatening," she mocked, struggling to surpress a laugh.
"If he would have listened to me, and raised a child of great strength, we wouldn't be stuck here with this little brat right now."
"And I'll bet you were very convincing."
"Don't tell me you completely gave up trying to get him on our side."
"He's been on the path to good for far too long. He loves, cares for....his family."
"And when he comes for you, you'll wish you never took me," Alex spoke up.
"Oooo...she's a tough one to handle, isn't she?"
"Once chaos reigns, we won't have to worry about her anymore."
**********
"So I can use them now?" Melinda asked hopefully, as she slowly curled her fists inside and out.
"Not now," Paige reminded her. "Remember what we talked about?"
"But I want to try them out."
"You can't," Cole added, as he glanced carefully out of the attic window in the Halliwell Manor. "Ally's life depends on it."
"Also remember that I am not condoning this," Paige sided, throwing up her hands.
"Oh please," Cole quipped. "She's going to know this was your idea."
"And you're the angel? You tricked this poor little girl with that scheme of yours in the kitchen. Some uncle uncle you are."
"Sure. Put the blame entirely on me, Paige. What better way to get your sister to despise me even more." He laughed. "Loved the little show you put on for Piper earlier."
"She doesn't despise you," she filled in, looking away from him.
"No, I guess that would just be you then."
"I'm growing awfully sick of fighting with you."
"Hardly," he objected.
"Oh, so...what? You think I enjoy throwing out random insults out of the goodness of my heart?"
"In my case, yes."
"Alright. So maybe I do...did," she quickly corrected herself. "But not anymore, Cole. For Alex's sake, I want to get along. We have to."
"Oh, and then we find her, and I'm once again the missing link. Thanks. I think I got it."
"I really want to put everything behind me. But it's a lot harder than you think."
"Now you sound like Phoebe."
"Oh, ouch," Paige responded, her eyes widening. "I mean, do you even recall the time you almost let me die? Hello? Vampire? Ring any bells?"
"I thought you didnt re-"
"Yeah, well, I did. And that thing...evil that was inside of you? It made you out to be a complete monster."
He frowned. "That was years ago."
"So you claim. But most of us still remember it like yesterday."
"Then you have trouble letting go of that part of your past."
"You're one to talk on that," she protested.
"Look, I have nothing against your opinion, and...I'm in fact ignoring it right now. So there."
Paige shrugged. "I am seriously beginning to wonder which one of us is the child in this room...."
"Leo's back," Phoebe announced, as she climbed up to the attic. She offered a glance at her husband, a small amount of hope concealed within her features. The corners of her mouth formed a slow smile. "He thinks he may have found a location that fits our description. So I think we found her. He said it was almost completely shrouded from his sensing abilities. But he's picked it up, and we've got a spot."
"So how do you want to do this?" Paige spoke up. "If that demon said the hours didn't matter-"
She shrugged. "No one seems to know anything about the ritual."
"Well, I'll shimmer us there, and then we can-"
"Uncle Cole, what's a shimmer?" Melinda asked excitedly.
"Piper still thinks she's resting," Phoebe whispered. "So what I was thinking, is that Paige can take her, and they can meet us there."
"But I can orb," Melinda claimed.
"Good plan," she replied sarcastically. "Only, if Piper and Leo are still in this too, they're going to wonder where their daughter is."
"Simple," Phoebe filled her in. "Bet you didn't know she has an extended form of astral projection."
"Seems it's pretty popular," Paige quipped.
"Astral protection?" Melinda returned. "What's that?"
"Projection. It means you can be in two places at once," Cole explained. "Only, with yours, your other...dormant self can still be fully active. Almost like you never set foot away from where you were."
"In little girl terms, please," Phoebe told him, rolling her eyes.
"It's like having a double," he offered. "Another you."
"Cool!" she exclaimed. "So I can fool Mom?"
"Only this time," Phoebe warned. "Or else she just may bind your powers again. Or, come to think of it? She may just bind them as soon as we get back."
"But I like them!" she pleaded.
"Oh, honey- you haven't even used them yet," Paige reminded her softly.
"But I know I will," she eagerly claimed.
"How are you guys making out up here?" Leo asked, as he came up behind them. "Melinda? Sweetie, what are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be in your room?"
"Hi Daddy," his daughter quickly responded, offering him a big smile. "How are you?"
"Melinda," he repeated, more sternly this time.
"I was lonely," she whispered. "And I thought there was something in my-"
"You're going to have to do better than that," her father sided, holding out his hand. "C'mon. We're going back. You shouldn't be here."
"She wasn't getting into anything," Paige assured him. "In fact, she was perfectly behaved."
"Piper says she's ready whenever you are," he told them. "If we're going to get Alex, we have to do it now, no questions asked. I'll be back in a second. I'm just going to tuck her in."
Cole motioned quickly to Melinda, as Leo exited the room with her. The little girl nodded, as she let her father lead her out, giggling softly to herself.
"Alright, so we're off," Paige concluded, taking a breath. "Going over this one more time-"
Phoebe sighed. "I'd say we're going to need a hell of a lot more magic to take down The Dark."
"Oh. Right," her sister suddenly sided. "In all of our planning, we never quite figured out how to actually vanquish her. Great. Just perfect. Who was the mastermind behind this again?"
"We'll have to do that when we get there," Cole argued. "The sooner, the-"
"We'll get her," Phoebe insisted, fully aware of their doubt. "I swear we'll get her. I am not leaving there without my little girl."
Cole brought his wife close, giving her shoulders a brief squeeze. "I know," he whispered. "I know."
**********
"You really should listen to your mother, Melinda. She means well."
"I said I was sorry, Daddy."
"Your aunts and uncle are into some things that you shouldn't be hearing about just yet. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I do."
"Good. Then you'll also understand why you have to come with me now."
"What? Daddy, what are you talking about?"
"Now I won't have to hurt you, if you come willingly," he whispered. "So, please don't put up a fight, little girl."
"Daddy, what's going on?" Melinda asked weakly, as her small frame slowly took a step back, wriggling her fingers out of his grasp.
"You don't have to be afraid. I was given orders. It'll be okay."
"Orders?" she returned, fear clouding her brow. "I'll call for Uncle Cole."
"Oh. Now you don't want to go and do a stupid thing like that, do you?" Leo abruptly swung her bedroom door closed, twisting the lock with a quick flick of his wrist. Slowly, her father's features began to fade, as a shade of scaly green took form on his body. Long, sharp claws emerged from his short fingernails, as a pair of black eyes settled intently upon her face.
"Where's my daddy?" she asked him, his new appearance barely affecting her.
"The Dark needs you out of the way, if she is to perform the ritual."
"But I don't know anything about a ritual."
"Just come here, little girl. I'm not going to hurt you," the muffled voice insisted. "You're the bait for your parents. Nothing more."
"And you're not going to get my mom and dad," she shot back. "You're a bad man. What did you do with my dad?!"
"Quit playing around," the being snarled. "I was given orders, and I'm going to serve The Dark. Now get over here, you little brat!"
Melinda closed her eyes. In an instant, she was out of the room and out into the hallway. Successfully having performed her first orb, she ran as fast as her small feet could carry her, her bare feet sliding along the wooden floorboards. "Mom!!! Uncle Cole!!! Aunt Phoebe!!! There's a bad man in the house!!! There's a monster in my room!!!"
"Melinda?!" Piper's voice called from downstairs. "Melinda?!"
Cole was the first one to reach the frightened little girl, as he collected her safely into his arms. "Calm down. Just calm down."
"He's in my bedroom," she shrieked, nearly out of breath. "There's a monster in my bedroom!"
"Okay, okay." He continued to hold onto her, watching as Phoebe and Paige quickly advanced ahead of him. "Where's Leo?"
"Dad's gone," she whispered. "But there's a monster, Uncle Cole. You're right. I saw him...I saw him. They're real. I saw him."
The green demon wasted no time in squaring off across from the four of them in the hallway. Piper had only begun to emerge onto the stairway, her hand raised in preparing to blow him to bits. "One false move, Buddy, and you're toast," she called up to him.
"A word of warning," their enemy growled. "Don't come looking for the girl. I can make such short work of you here, but The Dark can snap your spines in two just like that." He made a quick motion with his fingers, his eyes taking on a shade of red. "Don't be foolish. This girl sets us all free."
"Oh, so this is your way of trying to save us?" Phoebe asked him, laughing. "You have to love these guys."
"Where the hell is Leo?" Piper hissed. "Dammit."
"Okay, Messenger Boy," Paige quipped, taking a stab at him. "If you were really as scary as you sounded, you'd probably have three heads or something. We've had our share of demons today, thank you. We're not exactly in the mood for another one."
"But they do love the manor," Phoebe sided, nodding.
"And if I get to one of you now, the power of three will cease to be," he sneered, smiling. "There will be no other Charmed One to take the place."
"What? In case you haven't noticed, all she's done is send weaklings after us," Paige offered. "No offense and all, by the way."
"Oh, so again I ask- if that's all she did, why did you run before?" Cole pressed.
"I didn't exactly see you score a victory yet either," she snapped back.
"Well, that's because you're constantly standing in my way," he countered.
"Okay, that does it." Piper tossed her wrist, watching as the unexpecting demon ceased to exist.
"That works too," Phoebe surmised, smiling.
"If it weren't for Moe and Larry arguing over here," her sister interjected, sighing. "But seriously. You two have got to grow up already. It's as simple as throwing a lightning bolt, and-"
"And I was going to," Cole protested. "But I was trying to keep Melinda safe."
"I orbed, Mommy," Piper's daughter stated brightly.
"And all of you have some serious explaining to do." She frowned. "And just where did Leo go off to again?" she demanded, hands on her hips. "Anymore demon invasions, and I am going to-"
"We can't stay and worry about Leo," Paige brought forth. "We're going."
"See, I liked that," Cole mused, as he followed her. "Direct, to the point...efficient."
"Oh, and now he's decided to finally agree with me."
"I wasn't agreeing. I was thinking."
"Thinking that you agreed with me," she continued, smiling, as she brushed ahead of him.
Phoebe laughed. "Alright. Time to save the world."
"Again," Piper joked, nonchalantly stepping over the remaining bits of dust in the demon's wake.