CHARMED

"Attitudes"

By J. B. Tilton

Email: R

Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.

(AUTHORS' WARNING: This story contains language and situations that may be offensive to some people. Please be advised that they are critical to this story and are not meant to offend anyone nor to imply that such language and situations should be considered appropriate or acceptable.)

(Authors' note: This story takes place between season 3 episodes "Bride And Gloom" and "The Good, The Bad, And The Cursed".)

The Charmed Ones team up with another witch to vanquish a demon but soon discover that the witch may be more dangerous than the demon.

ONE

Prue snapped a picture of the old building. Since she had become a professional photographer one thing had always bothered her. Her portfolio showing her work was woefully out of date. Oh, the photos in her portfolio were good enough to get her some good work. But she knew she could do better. To show that she had that unique eye that employers were looking for.

After months of promising herself that she would update her portfolio, she had finally decided not to put it off any longer. For the past several days she had spent nearly every free minute she had photographing people and scenes around San Francisco that she was sure would impress any employer she showed them to.

She had taken hundreds of photographs and was sure that out of all those she would have enough to put together a decent portfolio. And this latest one she was sure would be the crowning piece. This old building had been slated for destruction for nearly a decade but the owners had never gotten around to it. It was over one hundred years old and it had character to it that newer buildings just couldn't match.

As she looked around for another subject to photograph she saw a woman at the other end of the alley. The woman was cautiously moving through the alley trying very hard not to be seen. Seen by whom, Prue couldn't tell. As far as she could tell they were the only two in the alley at this time of morning. She had deliberately picked this time to get just the right light on the building.

The woman appeared to be a little older than she was. She was dressed casually in jeans and a blouse. She looked up the alley and Prue involuntarily stepped back into a shadow to keep from being seen. This wasn't the safest part of town and there was no telling what this woman was up to.

Suddenly Prue noticed a movement behind the woman. It was only a few feet from her and there was no mistaking they type of movement Prue had seen. She had seen it plenty of times in the last couple of years. It was the shimmer of a demon.

The demon was partially obscured by the shadows created by the newly rising sun bouncing off the nearby buildings. It was hard to tell exactly what it looked like and in the dim light of dawn she could only see it in shades of gray. As she watched the demon suddenly formed an energy ball. Just as it did the woman spun to face it. Prue had only a moment to act.

"Get down," Prue cried out.

Startled, the woman involuntarily turned and looked at her. At the same instant the demon also turned his attention from his intended target toward Prue. She didn't hesitate. She raised her hand and tapped into her telekinetic power. She wasn't sure it would work. She had never attempted to move an object – or a creature – from so great a distance.

To her relief the demon was suddenly cast back against the building it was standing in front of. As it struck the building the energy ball it was holding suddenly evaporated. But the demon had not struck the building as hard as Prue had hoped. It wasn't even dazed as it regained its feet. Its surprise gone the demon immediately shimmered out of the alley.

"Are you okay?" Prue asked rushing up to the woman who just looked at her in stunned disbelief.

"Are you out of your mind?" the woman demanded, turning on Prue. "Do you have any idea how long it took me to track it here? Now I've lost my only chance to get it."

"Your welcome," said Prue sarcastically. "Look, you were in danger and I was just trying to help, that's all."

"Your meddling has cost me weeks of work," snapped the woman. "And now it knows I'm onto it. I may not get another chance like this again."

"I'm sorry I messed things up for you. But I really don't think you have any idea just what you're dealing with. That thing nearly killed you just now."

"Actually, I had it right where I wanted it." The woman's voice was no longer as angry as it had been only a moment before. "It thought it had the drop on me and it was overconfident. Believe me, it would not have been as easy to kill me as you imagine."

"You don't seem surprised when it appeared," said Prue suspiciously. "Do you have any idea what that was?"

"It was a demon. And from the way you handled yourself I'd say you also know what it was. You must be a witch."

"Yes, I am," said Prue. How would you know that?"

"Because I'm a witch, too," said the woman. "Angie Griffin."

"Prue Halliwell."

"Halliwell? You're one of the Charmed Ones."

"You know about us?"

"Of course," said the woman, smiling at Prue. "By now nearly everyone on both sides knows who you are. You've been making quite a name for yourself since you first appeared. I suppose I can't be too angry with you. After all, you had no way to know what was going on. But I've lost the demon now. And I have no way to find it again."

"Maybe you do," said Prue, walking over to the wall the demon had struck. She removed a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped it on the wall. "With this we might just be able to locate it again."

"What is it?" Angie asked.

"Blood," said Prue. "Demon blood. It wasn't hurt badly when I attacked but apparently it was cut when it struck this wall. With its blood we should be able to scry for it and find out exactly where it is."

"That's good thinking. Now all we need is a map and a crystal."

"Come on," said Prue, turning and heading back up the alley. "I have one at the house. And you can tell my sisters and me everything you know about that demon. And why you're hunting it."

Without a word Angie turned and began to follow Prue to her car. She glanced back down the alley to make sure the demon hadn't returned.