<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/07/Charmed_helen_b.png)</div><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">H</span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">ELEN</span> <span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">B</span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">RIANNE</span> <span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">M</span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">ITCHELL</span> <span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 7pt;"><br/>          it is in you to carry on      |      it is in you to lay down fears that hold      |     it is in you to find your way home          </span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><em>still not happy with the magical interruption, still suspicious about the new arrival.</em><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;">   » melinda . chris . anduin </span></span><br/><hr/><br/>Ready to spit a sharp retort back at Bianca - such as the ever witty,<em>I'd like you more if I didn't have to clean up your mess, that's for sure</em>- Brie opened her mouth to say as much when Chris' fiancée disappeared before she could utter more than Bianca's name in reply. She felt a little like throwing something, but nothing was close at hand... and besides, the problem had been resolved (mostly) before any real damage could be done. Brie released her own sigh of relief, echoing Melinda's exhale and Chris' slightly strangled compliment.<br/><br/><strong><em>"Quick thinking, Brie. You might have saved us. I’ll deal with Bianca later. For now, we need to minimize the damage. I think that you reacted quickly enough for us to go along as though nothing happened. More times than not messing with memory through spells backfires."</em></strong><br/><br/>She glanced over at her cousins and quirked a small smile at them.<strong>"Thanks. A little more panic than quick thinking, but no harm done. If he asks, we can pretend she was a figment of his imagination."</strong><br/><br/>Shrugging her shoulders to loosen up the tenseness in her neck, Brie couldn't help but notice the red that was coloring Melinda's cheeks, and the expression of guilt that was heartbreakingly clear in her eyes. She wondered if she should say something, especially since Chris had looked more than a little disgruntled as he played guard dog with their guest. Nodding mentally, Brie stepped forward and touched Melinda's elbow, giving her older cousin a reassuring smile.<strong>"Hey... it wasn't wrong to ask him in. You couldn't have known that there was anything suspicious about him, and if he <em>is</em> a demon, better that we handle that in here, rather than on the doorstep of the manor."</strong><br/><br/>And then it was back into position, with Brie carefully checking where her feet had been, the way her body had been facing (arms crossed), and the expression on her face (suspiciously critical). When she sensed that both Chris and Melinda were ready, she quickly waved her fingers and waited for Mr. Fording to attempt a satisfactory answer to a question that couldn't possibly have one.