Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Charmed, all I own is Phoenix.

A/N(9/12/06): Welcome to the third (and possibly final) Demon Child story. This will follow Phoenix from the February before her 17th (February 2006) onwards. In Chapter 20 (yes, it is that long!) you guys will be given a choice on the outcome – I have planned for both.

A/N(17/2/07): Sorry this took so long!

Chapter 1

Something Weird This Way Comes

The alley was dark, narrow and wet. Nothing stirred except for a single cat that ran down the alley. All was quiet. Then in a small patch of light from an old security light no one had ever turned off, the air seemed to twist and distort. Then slowly a form began to appear. It started feet first with a pair of black Doc Marten boots, then some legs clad in fish net tights and a black skirt. The torso was wearing a black vest top and a hooded jacket. It was Phoenix Turner and she was feeling very dark today. She'd been bored and had nothing better to do so she had been scrying for any random spots of evil. She had scryed three times before actually plucking up the courage to break curfew and possibly invoke the full wrath of Piper and shimmering here.

She looked round. She couldn't see anything but she could smell it. It stank and it was waiting. Waiting for Phoenix but after two years of dealing with demons who wanted her to be their Queen and crazed love-sick elves, she felt she could just about handle anything. What she didn't know was that this night would mark the biggest change of her life since coming back to San Francisco from the British countryside. Bigger than finding out that she was the daughter of Cole Turner and a relation of the infamous Charmed Ones.

Phoenix walked down the alley, eyes flicking from one side to the other, looking for evil. The stink was getting worse, blood, sweat, dirt, it made her want to puke. "Come out, come out wherever you are," she whispered. She was about halfway down the alley when she began to slow her pace. It was close.

She passed by a drain when the grate sprang off and a black arm grabbed her ankle and tried to drag her down. Phoenix screamed then stuck out her free leg to stop herself from being completely pulled down. She tried to pull herself free but it didn't work. The grip of the strange hand was unrelenting. A second hand grabbed one of her arms but Phoenix pulled it away at exactly the right moment. The creature's claw instead scratched her arm. Phoenix hissed in pain. She yanked her leg out of the creature's hand then smashed her foot into its face. It roared in pain and Phoenix took her chance. She saw it's face, dark red and black blotchy skin, a flattened nose, yellow eyes, sharp teeth and it's long black hair. She threw an energy ball down just to make sure, then clutching her bleeding arm, shimmered back to Halliwell Manor.

She stumbled into the bathroom and began to wash her arm in the sink. There was the sound of footsteps outside the door. Phoenix checked her watch. It was eleven thirty, she should have been back ages ago. The door opened and Phoebe stood there. She looked furious and like she was going to yell at Phoenix but then she saw the blood on Phoenix's arm and in the sink. "Oh Phoenix, honey," she said, rushing forward, "Why do you always go solo?"