Note from the Author: Apologies to all those who have read and kindly reviewed my stories. I'm currently in the process of re-writing all of my old stuff so that it's better, more concistent and generally nicer to read. Please bear with me. I'm also working on this new story, so times are hectic! Fell free to follow me on Twitter, I can be found at Kaelz18 Much love, and thanks to all for your dedication! Xx

P.S. This is a short chapter, just to get you all hooked! So please review

The Devil's Footsteps.

Piper's body twisted painfully in mid air as she was hurled through the foyer of the Manor. Her head cracked sickenly against the wall and she slumped down, unconscious, blood trickling from her mouth. The demon stumbled slightly as Phoebe delivered a swift kick to the small of his back, causing him to emit a low growl. His long strands of gray hair flew out of his face as he whipped around to glare at his attacker. He threw out his hand, casting a powerful wave of areokentic energy. Phoebe levitated instinctively, dodging the attack. It blasted through the doors of the manor, obliterating them. Phoebe pushed herself through the air slightly, her boot connected with the demons nose, causing him to stumble back again. She landed quickly back on the ground, spun at a three-sixty angle and kicked him yet again. Yet her strongest kicks did nothing more than make him stumble for a few seconds. A silhouette of blue lights appeared just behind the demon as Paige orbed into the room.

"Hey, windy!" she shouted at him, making him whirl around and throw column of wind at her, instead of her sister.

The youngest Charmed One threw out her hand with purpose.

"Energy blast!" The demon's attack halted, surrounded by a swirl of orbs and then rebounded back upon him. It hit him square in the chest, picked up his bulky, blue form and propelled him forcefully over the threshold of the Manor.

"Paige, heal Piper!" Phoebe demanded urgently, gesturing at their unconscious sister, while trying to keep an eye on the demon, who was now scrambling back to his feet. He snarled and began charging his way back into the Halliwell residence.

"Paige, hurry!" Phoebe urged her sister as she adopted a fighting stance, ready to take on the demon.

"I can't go any faster, she nearly died!" Paige retorted impatiently, holding both hands over Piper's wounds and let the warm glow of her healing power pass over her, repairing wounds, easing swelling, reconnecting torn arteries and removing all trace of the brain injury that the demon's power had inflicted on her during his attack.

Phoebe pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket. She unfolded it hastily and began to read as the demon advanced on her.

"Evil wind that blows, that which forms below-"

The demon stopped short for just a millisecond, looking as though he'd just been stunned. He roared in agony as his molecules combusted and his body was vapourised. Phoebe frowned, confused. She turned to see Piper standing behind her, hands outstretched and an angry glare painted firmly onto her face.

"Anyone care to tell me how the hell Shax got un-vanquished?" she asked out loud, although not really expecting an answer. The oldest Halliwell looked around at the damage of the room, thinking how eerily similar the scene was, and how close she'd just come to sharing the same fate of her eldest sister five years ago, at the hands of the same demon.