Disclaimer: Not mine. Belongs to Constance M. Burge, Brad Kern, and Spelling Entertainment.
“Wyatt, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Chris Halliwell commented as he looked up at his older brother.
“Of course it is. If everyone else in the world can have a snow day, why can’t we?” Wyatt peered at the large Book of Shadows in front of him.
“But it doesn’t snow here.”
Wyatt tapped the book impatiently. “That’s why we have this.”
Chris stood on his tiptoes to see what his brother was looking at, but unfortunately, he was too short. Even while standing on a box, all he could see was the edge of the old book.
“Won’t we get into trouble?” he asked.
Wyatt glanced at him while maintaining his balance on his own box. “Not if you don’t tell Mom and Dad.”
“I won’t tell,” Chris promised, his blue eyes wide. “But what about…um…what does Mom call them?” He furrowed his brow, trying to remember.
“Consequences?” Wyatt supplied.
“Oh.” However, Chris still wasn’t convinced.
Finally, Wyatt’s brown eyes lit up. “I think I found something! It’s a spell called ‘Ice’, and it’s supposed to freeze the area you’re in.”
Chris crawled down off his box and grabbed the basketball he had left in the floor earlier. “That sounds scary,” he commented as he bounced the ball on the attic floor. Wyatt caught the ball and glowered at him.
“Wuss,” he challenged. “Just watch and learn.” Setting the ball down on the floor, he cleared his throat and read the spell aloud, hoping he was pronouncing everything right. Some of the words were bigger than he was used to. Once he finished, he cautiously looked around. Nothing. Exchanging a look with his younger brother, he hopped off his box and ran to the window. Still nothing.
“Maybe it didn’t work,” Chris said.
“But it had to. Mom said all these spells work.”
Just then, the temperature in the room dropped. Wrapping their arms around themselves, both boys nervously stepped away from the window as ice began to cover the panes at a rapid pace. Cracking sounds echoed behind them, and the two boys slowly turned around. The entire attic froze over right before their eyes.
Still trying to keep warm, they ran as fast as they could to the door. Peering outside, they stood there in shock. Not only was the attic covered in ice, but so was the rest of the house.
“Mom’s going to kill me,” Wyatt muttered.
“Told ya,” Chris stated.
“Shut up, Squirt.” Wyatt popped his brother on the back of the head and then charged down the stairs.
“Hey, wait for me!” Chris called as he ran after him.
Wyatt realized the downstairs didn’t look any better once he reached it. Icicles dripped from the chandelier, and the floor, which had just been cleaned, grew slippery. To top it off, it was getting colder.
“Wyatt?” He jumped when he heard his father’s voice. Turning around, he saw Piper and Leo coming down the stairs with Chris at their heels.
“The entire house is frozen!” Piper exclaimed. She focused her gaze on her oldest son. “What’s going on?”
Wyatt feigned innocence. “I don’t know, Mom.”
“It could be an attack,” Leo suggested. “I’d better get the boys to safety.”
“Good idea. I’ll call Phoebe and Paige.”
Wyatt watched numbly as his mother, wrapped tightly in her robe, ran to the phone. Before he knew it, his father grabbed his arm and they orbed out of the room. Within seconds, white walls and warmth surrounded them.
Chris leaned towards him. “We gotta tell Dad,” he whispered.
“No way,” Wyatt replied through clenched teeth.
“Mom thinks it’s a demon.”
“So?”
“She’ll see the book anyway.”
He was right; their mom and aunts always went to the book first. He glared down at his little brother and groaned. For he kid he sure could be annoying. Deflated, he turned to Leo.
“Dad, I gotta tell you something.”
* * * *
“Wyatt Matthew Halliwell, how could you be so irresponsible?” Piper yelled, her brown eyes flashing at her boys. “Do you realize we all could’ve been hurt?”
“Sorry,” Wyatt mumbled.
“Sorry doesn’t cut it. I should bind your powers for a year, young man.”
“But, Mom…”
“No buts. I’m just glad your Aunt Paige was able to reverse the spell.” Sighing, Piper sat down next to Wyatt. “What were you thinking?”
The boy shrugged. “I wanted it to snow,” he quietly admitted.
His mother pulled him into a hug. “Snow? Why?”
“On the news it said that all the schools on the east coast were closed because of snow.”
“So you wanted to get out of school?”
Wyatt nodded.
“Honey, casting a spell isn’t the answer. The consequences can be dangerous.”
Wyatt looked up at his mom. “So I’m not in trouble?”
“Oh, yes, you are. You’re grounded for a month. No TV, no playing outside with your friends, no video games, no orbing, no magic. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m serious. I’ll know if you break one of those rules. Is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” Ruffling his blond hair, she smiled. “I love you, kiddo.”
“Mooooom,” Wyatt whined, but he smiled anyway.