Matilda, Child of Fire

TFB: Bell, Book, & Candle

31 TFB: Bell, Book, & Candle

"Every time I see your face/When I have to pray/I need a bell, book and candle/To keep your ghost away"

-Eddie Reader, song "Bell, Book, & Candle"

3 pm, Next Day, Simulation #2, Living Room, Vera Manor, Seattle, Washington

The four fiery servants and the familiar leering face of the Portender appeared before them in a torrential, emblazoned hurricane. Understanding immobilization to be impossible, Mel and Piper stood still next to each other as Matilda froze the roaring flames. Her path became impeded by two flame spawn; Wyatt attempted to reach her by orbing but was instantly knocked back with 2nd degree burns, screaming in pain. Jordan's fire extinguisher nozzle failed to act in time—

"And that's—" Harry checked his phone. "Five minutes to the dot, consumed by flames, one and all—"

The Vera-Chase-Valensi-Halliwell group groaned aloud, Wyatt massaging his neck from the earlier strain. The flames felt so real...

3:30 pm, Living Room, Vera Manor, Seattle, Washington

Piper, Phoebe, and Paige sipped their berry-flavored sparkling water as Mel took her third cup of coffee for the day. "What have we learned from the second simulation?" began Harry in what Macy recognized as his 'professor voice.'

"Fire bad, immobilization good?" Matilda sarcastically retorted as others bit back laughs.

"This is not funny in the least—" Harry breathed. "I need each and every—" he glared at Maggie, who slowly put her phone down, "—one of you to treat this as a real scenario—"

"Since you asked," Piper called out, "Matilda's powers work, but we need more time—"

"And fire protection," added Jordan, as everyone nodded in agreement.

Harry glanced pointedly at Macy. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? And suddenly it dawned on her. "I'll be back—" and with that, she grabbed her purse and strode out the patio door to her she-shed.

"Where's she going?" Piper asked to no one in particular.

"An obstetrician friend of ours," Harry replied as he waved his hand around the simulation crystal once more.

"Isn't she a little old to get pregnant?" replied Piper, who yelped as Phoebe kicked her under the coffee table.

"Don't mind my sister," Phoebe sweetly smiled at the rest. "You were saying?"

5:30 pm, Simulation #5, Living Room, Vera Manor, Seattle, Washington

The four fiery servants and the familiar leering face of the Portender appeared before them in a torrential, emblazoned hurricane. Understanding immobilization to be impossible, Mel and Piper aligned themselves next to each other as Matilda froze the roaring flames and Jordan extinguished them in her wake as she made a beeline for the Portender himself. Macy distracted the remaining two flame spawn by dropping heavy metal candlesticks, conducting electricity, momentarily distracting them. Noticing Matilda slowing down due to a rapid energy drain, Wyatt orbed next to her, but it was too late—

6 pm, Living Room, Vera Manor, Seattle, Washington

"What did we learn?" Harry asked once more, feeling as though he'd run barefoot through a forest fire.

"We need more fire extinguishers," muttered Wyatt from where he was sprawled across the floor, his eyes closed.

"And we," Phoebe pointed at herself and Maggie, "need stuff to do—" but instead of agreeing, Maggie abruptly left, racing upstairs and slamming the door to her bedroom. Jordan made as if to follow, but Piper stopped him.