Crystal Tears

Author's note: This fanfic is part of a series. If you have not read the previous fics, it could get quite confusing. The series is in this order: Charmed to Darkness, Chasing Shadows, Into the Unknown, Warning Signs and Crystal Tears. Feedback is always appreciated. :)

Chapter 2: Facts and Theories

Paige was unable to concentrate at work the next day and her mind kept replaying the words Phoebe had spoken about the shorthand premonition. They had never discovered who had rescued Phoebe from her near-death experience with cyanide and now, it would seem, someone anonymous was helping them again. Leo's explanation about a dreamt premonition was plausible, she admitted, but she was more inclined to think that the two incidents were related. In both cases, Phoebe had received a shorthand premonition and in both cases Sky was at risk. Either someone good was watching over them, or someone who didn't want any harm to come to Sky for shadier reasons.

As much as she adored her nephew, she could never file away the knowledge that he was bred from one of the most powerful demons in recent history. Cole had finally earned her trust. He'd been with Phoebe for a few years and fought in many battles with them and it would be ridiculous to suspect him of any involvement in the world of evil anymore. However, that didn't mean the world of evil didn't want to involve itself with him or, rather, his offspring. Just as Wyatt was a potential tool for Evil to use, so was Sky, and the latter would potentially be easier to utilize, being part demon and all. Sky had been exhibiting some of his demonic behaviour lately by shimmering and burping up fireballs. She wondered whether his sudden demonic activity and the attack were also somehow related.

By the time she returned home from work she had a number of ideas, theories and worries buzzing around in her head. She knew her sisters were equally concerned about the attack and who was behind it, but broaching the subject of Sky's demonic side was not easy. Phoebe was never pleased to hear it and it frightened Piper too, who was aware at just how interactive the two young cousins were. She wouldn't admit it, but she did feel some anxiety at letting her baby son play with Sky when he was exhibiting traits that Wyatt was supposed to associate with bad guys. The message, she worried, would be confusing. She had shared this anxiety in confidence to Leo once, unaware that Paige was within earshot. The youngest sister had never brought it up to her.

Well, Paige thought, we can't pussyfoot around sensitive issues like these forever, especially when they could play some relevant part in the events of late. She resolved to talk to the family about it later that evening.

*

To her mild annoyance, she found Piper already in consultation with Julia. The two of them were in the living room, Wyatt and Chris with them, discussing the attack.

"So you're fine with being alone with them for periods of time even though there could be demonic attacks?" Piper was asking her as Paige walked in.

"What good would a magical babysitter be if she wasn't prepared to deal with demons? It was part of the job description. I'm here to protect your children from harm and that's exactly what I'll do, whenever you need me."

Piper turned to Paige an explained unnecessarily, "I was just telling Julia about the attack and making sure she was fine to continue."

"I am," Julia confirmed, shooting Paige a warm smile.

"I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into," Paige said as she approached the sofa and flumped down beside her sister. "Because we don't. Did Piper mention we have no clue as to who attacked us?"

Piper looked askance at Paige. "You sound perky. Good day at the office?"

"Ha, ha. I'm just saying we don't know what force we're up against."

"Or," Piper cut in, partly in an effort to keep Julia from changing her mind, "It may have been a random evil grab to get at our children that failed. No bigger plot other than that the demonic world would prefer that our kids were not in existence."

"Yeah except there was nothing random about it. There were two attacks co-ordinated at the same time and then there was that warning Phoebe got which, I might add, we still don't have any clear explanation for," Paige pressed on.

"A warning?" Julia queried with a look of mild surprise and curiosity.

"Yes, a warning, the type of which Phoebe doesn't usually get. Do you know anything about shorthand premonitions and tele…" Paige cut herself short. She was being unfairly aggressive towards Julia due to her own unfounded suspicions. Aware of her hostility, she toned down. She was also silently berating herself for divulging more information than Julia needed to know.

"Oh it's nothing of any relevance to your role here, Julia," Piper rescued the conversation. "The whole night was a bit of a confusing blur. All we're trying to establish with you is that it's a dangerous job protecting our kids and we really appreciate your agreeing to stay on," she hinted at Paige. Julia was, in Piper's mind, a blessing and not one that she was about to lose by driving her off with fright. Good babysitters were hellishly hard to come by.

"I understand," Julia said, getting up. She was all politeness. "Well thank you. I'll be on my way now. Same time tomorrow?"

"Between noon and five, yes, thanks Julia," Piper said and bade her farewell. After the witch had left Piper turned to her sister.

"Is it just me, or are you suspicious of everyone these days! I haven't even seen Gareth in almost a month. Are you two still dating?"

"Yeah, sorta…. I mean, when I can. Normally I like to be around here after work and… Okay so you're right. I am suspicious of everyone," Paige sighed.

"Of Gareth?" Piper half exclaimed.

"No not of Gareth! I mean of anyone involved in the supernatural side of our lives. I'm just nervous, Piper. There's so much going on that we don't have a grip on. I don't know who to trust."

"We have to trust some people, otherwise we won't have any semblance of a life outside of magic," Piper pointed out. "Julia's been great and Phoebe and I have seen nothing in her behaviour to raise our suspicions. Although I do agree we need to be on high alert for anything fishy nowadays. Speaking of which… Leo!"

Paige blinked, "He's up there?" she gestured at the heavens.

"Yeah to try to find out from the Elders if they knew anything about what happened---oh! There you are."

Leo had orbed right in front of her. "Hey. No news on who the brainchild of the attack might have been, but the Elders confirmed that it is possible for a premonition to be had while a witch is dreaming."

"And telepathically transferred on top of that?" Paige questioned.

Leo shrugged. "If the dreamer is lucid…"

"Ok but isn't that a bit complicated and advanced for a baby to do? Even I have trouble lucid dreaming, let alone performing a mental trick while doing so," Paige said.

"She's right, Leo. It seems a bit of a stretch. Maybe Phoebe's right. Maybe the premonition was sent to her by someone else."

"Well it's no one up there, that's for sure. I asked," Leo responded. "No one is aware of any person below the power level of elder who is able to do that."

"And we still don't know who saved Phoebe from the cyanide poisoning," Paige used the opportunity to remind.

Leo rubbed his temples. "No, no updates on that, either."

Piper, who had been standing for the past few minutes, felt all the energy drain from her and flopped back onto to sofa. "Argh, why does this have to be such a constant headache!?"

"I'm gonna check the Book of Shadows," Paige announced and turned to leave.

"Why? It's more likely to list demons with that sort of power, not witches or the like," Piper called after her.

"Exactly," Paige hollered as she ascended the stairs. Leo and Piper exchanged worried glances.

"You know," Piper said at length, "when Neil Baker arrived with the Drawing stone, we were instructed to attend the Autumn Annual Fair after Sky's birth. Maybe we should do that. It's coming up."

Leo scratched the back of his head and frowned. "Yeah, but how are we going to explain not using the stone on Sky? It was given as a token of good faith."

"We don't," Piper said. "That was Phoebe's decision, not ours. We should go as a family and let her do the explaining to Neil and his psychic partner. We might also find out from them who's been helping us, if help is indeed what it is."

Leo nodded. "Let's hope they can provide some uplifting answers, because I don't like the direction of Paige's thinking."

"Me neither," Piper sighed.

* * * * * * *

In the privacy of her apartment, the Seer was able to do the things she enjoyed, such as guzzling down a good blood tonic and dressing in comfortable attire. They were luxuries she'd only truly valued in recent times.

Quietly, she waited in her sitting room, reading a piece of gothic literature and picking at bowl of nuts. Eventually Frank shimmered in. "Well?" he demanded.

"All has been seen to. The attack has been thwarted. You did well to learn of it."

"In the nick of time, I might add. I wonder how you would have pulled off this whole thing if it weren't for me keeping my ears and eyes open all the time!"

"I had been counting on that," she said with disinterest, turning a page.

"And you know, I'm not so comfortable snooping around the Charmed Manor. They're going to catch me one day and then I'm toast."

"You worry too much. You needn't spend much time there at all. You're of better use in the Underworld where you can eavesdrop on the things I don't see in my visions."

Frank threw up his hands in annoyance. "Yes, your ever unreliable visions!"

That the Seer could not ignore. "They come when they come. This is why I am not functioning as a one-woman team." She paused before Frank could point out his role as team member was several years premature. "And yes I know I was a little optimistic on how much you would be needed in the early years, but that is again out of my control. So far we're doing just fine, so I would suggest you stop fretting and continue doing as you have done."

"Oh easy for you to say! Charmed witches aren't the only people I have to watch out for. Other demons are getting suspicious of me too. It's only going to take one to realize I've been leaking information about planned attacks to people such as yourself and then…"

He shuddered at the thought.

The Seer closed her book with a soft snap. "Demons would be threats whether you were involved in this or not. Such is life when you're magical! Now, get back to your mission and leave me be. I have had a long and very tiring day."

Frank scowled at her and then resigned himself to the truth in her words. He didn't have much choice.

* * * * * * *

At the Penthouse, discussions took place over dinner. Phoebe was pondering who might have helped them and why. Cole had a different theory.

"Is it not possible your powers are just advancing? I mean maybe you're developing now that you're guided by an extra strong maternal instinct, especially after having Crystal who's considerably more vulnerable. Piper's power advanced, so why couldn't yours?"

Phoebe put down her knife and fork, having finished her meal, and looked thoughtfully at a painting. It depicted a spring as seen from the top of a mountain crevice and stretched on and on showing how the trickle of water grew to be a raging river in the foothills. She had always loved the way the painting made her think of potential. Cole's suggestion coupled with the image, made Phoebe speculate.

"Perhaps you're right. After all, Sky's powers are manifestations of my own. Maybe his just developed the other way around from mine. Perhaps he'll get fully fledged premonitions when he's older."

Cole leaned back in his chair, comfortably full and gazed at his little son who had dozed off in a pile of stuffed toys in the playpen he'd spent an hour fixing. He idly wondered how often he'd have to mend furniture now that demons were attacking their home as well as the manor.

"As powerful beings you both have the potential to develop even more magic in you," he mused. He turned to face his wife. "You know it took me decades to get to the level of power that I did when I was a demon. I wasn't gifted with all those abilities right from the get-go."

"And then you lost them all and gained even more thanks to the Seer's amazing potion."

"Gotten by very shady means, I can assure you. She would have worked for centuries to gather the sort of powers she did. She's been around a long time."

"Yeah, yet we haven't see much of her recently. Not that I'm complaining, but it does make me guess at what, if anything, she has planned. She was after my baby once upon a time."

"Yes and that backfired on her horribly. Not only did she lose out at getting Sky, but also made me more powerful than ever. Now she has two dangerous parents to get past if she wants him. I reckon she'll think twice before making any more attempts."

"I hope so. That's the last thing we need," Phoebe sighed. As it stood, the only information they had on the demons who'd attacked was that they were mid-level and typically assigned to such tasks by a higher evil power. The higher evil power was as yet unidentified.

Phoebe shook her head with a wan smile. "I knew raising kids was going to be difficult, but raising high profile magical kids is a whole other ball game. Pity they don't have guide books for it, 'cause I could really use one!"

Cole got up and moved over to her, nuzzling her neck and putting his arms around her. "You don't need one. You're a great mom. And when a demon did attack, you kicked ass!"

She giggled. "I did, didn't I?"

"Don't get between a tigress and her cubs," Cole mumbled as he buried his nose in her hair.

"Hell hath no fury," she continued getting ticklish. He looked up and a smile spread across his countenance. They leaned in and kissed warmly.

"Ooh!" came an infant cry.

Both looked over to Sky who was observing them sleepily. "Duck."

"Again with the duck!" Phoebe cried exasperatedly.

Cole collected Sky from his playpen, used primarily to contain all his toys since if he wanted to escape, he could just shimmer.

"You mommy is a super woman, you know that?" Cole said as he sat on a chair and put Sky on his lap.

"Mama," Sky blurted, bright blue eyes shining. Phoebe gazed at him adoringly. "God, what a beautiful child we made."

Just then, Phoebe's cell phone buzzed from receiving an SMS. She opened it and half frowned, half smiled. "Piper wants to know if we're free to go to the Autumn Fair this weekend…"

* * * * * * *

Paige was only a minutes away from reaching the chapter on the Seer and her powers when her cell phone rang. Gareth was calling her out for the night. Remembering Piper's observation on how she had been neglecting her boyfriend, she felt obliged to concede.

When she got home the next day, after a great night and boring 8 hours of work, she found Julia teaching Wyatt how to suspend a glass of water in the air. The little boy was fixated on the task at hand and Julia was guiding him with soft words of encouragement. Paige had to hand it to the sitter; she knew how to teach focus and discipline. Although she wondered where she had learnt such skills herself. To her, they were key elements of martial arts or other forms of sport or fighting. Julia just didn't look like the type to have done any of those things.

"Piper tells me you have a history of rescuing magical children in trouble," Paige said, catching Julia by surprise; she had not noticed her standing in the doorway to the nursery.

"Lower the glass now, Wyatt. Down, down," she gestured. Wyatt placed the glass on the ground with his telekinesis, sloshing a little bit of water out from it but otherwise controlling the action very smoothly. Julia turned to face Paige with a somewhat strained smile. "Yes, I happened to be around when a demon struck and I took care of him."

"Really? You don't have any active powers so how did you manage that?" Paige enquired.

"I'm an excellent brewer. I was extremely fortunate to have a batch of potions handy. Since then I have spent years perfecting the craft. I also have a few pocketed for emergencies," she said, nodding sagely.

"Huh. Maybe you can teach me a few sometime," Paige said as she walked in and scooped up Wyatt. The little one was still very fond of her from the time they had spent together in the days before Julia, and snuggled up close to her, holding her tightly.

Julia merely smiled. "Are you staying home for the remainder of the day?"

"Yeah, you can go home now if you like," Paige said and blew a raspberry on Wyatt's cheek. He squealed with delight.

Julia began to gather her things. Nonchalantly, she said, "Any plans for the weekend?"

"Oh we won't be needing you this Saturday. The whole family's going out."

"Really? That's nice," she said sweetly. "Where are you going to take the little darlings?"

Paige glanced at Julia and was slow to respond. "Oh, just to a fair…you know, for fun."

Julia's smile lessened just a little. "The Autumn Fair, perhaps?"

Paige pretended not to hear her. "I think I feel my cell vibrating. I'm gonna take the call outside. Mind watching them for a few more minutes?"

"Of course," Julia said and watched Paige depart, a slow-spreading frown clouding her normally cheerful face.

* * * * * * *

A few days later the Charmed family were together at the entrance of the Autumn Annual Fair. The fair was a hodgepodge mix of arts and crafts, exhibitions, animal petting and Ferris wheels. There were excited children running everywhere and both Wyatt and Sky seemed quite taken by the sight of them. Up until recently, they had been kept in isolation from other children, but thanks to Julia's training, Piper and Phoebe felt they'd be safe to take out in public. They'd need to venture into the outside world eventually and Piper was on hand to freeze if things got hairy.

"I know we're technically here on business to meet Neil and his wife, but I'll be honest with you and say I'm quite in the mood to have some fun, too!" Paige announced, eyeing a few shooting games where she could win large teddy bears. Since becoming a telekinetic orbing whitelighter, Paige's aim had improved drastically. She was sure to win a lot of goodies.

"Well of course we can have some fun, too, but first let's find out where Neil and company are and get that over with," Piper said, pushing Chris in his pram.

"Could take a while. It's a big Fair. Wanna split up? We can call each other when we strike lucky," Cole suggested.

"Yeah why not. We'll go right and you go left," Piper said, indicating herself, Leo and Paige to be in the right-hand party. They conceded and the families split up, keeping an eye out for any fortune tellers, the usual disguise psychics took at such places.

Phoebe pushed a pram with a dozing Crystal in it while Cole held Sky. Sky kept pointing at floating balloons and other colourful objects, trying to name them and being corrected by his father. As they passed a shooting game, whereby the object was to hit three ducks in a row to win a ball, Sky suddenly exclaimed "DUCK!"

"Yes! That's a duck!" Cole laughed, delighted.

"Finally he gets it right," Phoebe sighed, rolling her eyes. Just then a clown in stilts passed them by. Sky was instantly frightened and covered his eyes. Cole could feel the familiar warmth of Sky's impending force field. "Hey, buddy, no need to be afraid. He's not going to hurt you, and daddy will protect you."

"So he's not afraid of mean-looking demons hovering over his cot but of clowns?" Phoebe said with a grin.

"Hey clowns are scary! Lots of people don't like clowns," Cole defended.

Phoebe snickered. "Like the young Cole, for example?"

Cole glowered at her. "I'm just saying."

Phoebe caught sight of people existing a booth and before the beaded cover fell to conceal the occupant, she spotted a woman stooped over a crystal ball.

"Think I spotted a fortune teller," she muttered and pointed. They headed over to the booth. Phoebe exchanged a glance with Cole. "What should I say? I mean, unless she's keeping grey-skinned Neil by her side, how will I recognize her?"

"If she's the real deal, she should recognize you," Cole said and gestured that Phoebe go inside.

Leaving the children with her husband, she entered the booth. The red-haired, middle-aged woman looked up and smiled sadly. "I knew you would come eventually."

"You…did…huh?" Phoebe said uncertainly.

"It's all right. I know who you are. Neil told me."

Relaxing a little, Phoebe sat down. "So you must be Neil's wife?"

The melancholic smile faded from the woman's face and she bowed her head. "No, no I am not. His wife…was murdered two nights ago. I am filling in for her, since I know she had an important message to tell you."

"What?" Phoebe gasped, shocked. "Murdered? How? By whom?"

"Demons and warlocks. She foresaw the attack, but wherever she fled to they found her, until they eventually destroyed her."

"My God… Poor woman. And poor Neil! He must be distraught."

The woman nodded. "He is. But he was determined to carry on with his wife's mission, which is being on hand to help protect you and your children. Neil sent me here. I am a family friend and a witch myself so I am aware of how important this mission is."

Phoebe nodded slowly, feeling very anxious. The fact that the psychic was killed two days before the fair set off alarm bells in her head. "What was the message?" she finally asked.

The woman shook her head and shrugged. "Unfortunately, I do not know. She did not feel it safe to divulge the information to anyone, lest it get leaked to the wrong people. However I do know that she needed to see your infant son before she was able to determine the state of things. Have you been using the Drawing stone she gave you?"

Phoebe flushed. "Well, to be honest, I---"

At that moment, Cole poked his head in. "Phoebe, is everything okay?"

"Y-yes, well, no. I mean, we've found the right booth it's just… Can you call Piper and everyone? I think they need to hear this."

Cole nodded with a worried expression and ducked back out of the tent. Phoebe turned back to the woman. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

"Enid. And you're Phoebe and that just there was Belthazar."

"Cole. His demon side has been vanquished, so he's just…Cole, now."

Enid didn't look especially convinced, which irked her. "How is the child developing? Have you done anything to limit his demonic tendencies?"

Phoebe was unsure what to say to that. "We've hired an excellent sitter who has helped train him to control them. He's been a really good kid."

"I see. So you have not been utilizing the Drawing stone?" Enid pressed, a clear look of disapproval on her face.

"No," Phoebe said with a bit more confidence. "I didn't feel it necessary. We're being good influences on our son and I believe we're doing a great job at nurturing all the good in him without having to repress anything."

"I do not question your parenting skills, Phoebe, only the predisposition you son has towards evil."

Phoebe was about to respond angrily to that when Enid interrupted with, "But let me not jump to conclusions. I have been given a small amount of information from Neil that I can pass on to you after inspecting the child. Fortunately, Miranda did tell Neil some of what she knew. Would you please bring in the infant?"

By that point Piper, Paige and Leo had arrived. The booth was too small to fit them all so Phoebe asked them to stay outside for the meantime and watch Crystal while Cole brought in Sky.

The ex-demon seated himself beside his wife, who quickly informed him about Neil's misfortune. Enid looked over their son thoughtfully. Sky, propped up on his father's knee, returned the intense look.

"If you'll allow me to touch the infant's hand?" Enid asked.

Phoebe looked at her husband with a slightly concerned expression. "I…guess that would be okay?" she said. Cole nodded slowly. Enid reached out and touched Sky's left hand. Suddenly, Sky glowed orange.

"Whoa! What did you just do?" Phoebe exclaimed.

Enid pulled back and the orange glow faded. "I did nothing. Your son just powered up. He felt threatened and so he advanced one of his powers. He will glow orange briefly every time a demonic power develops. Some things trigger these developments, such as bonding with a fellow demon or sensing a threat. I am no direct threat to your child, but my Good magic is."

Phoebe rolled her eyes, "Oh please! If he were offended by Good magic he'd be glowing all the time! He lives in a house full of Good magic."

"Family is one thing, but how often has he been exposed to Good magic outside of the family and friends environment?"

"He's fine with Julia and she's a Good witch," Cole said shortly.

"All I am saying is that I just triggered a natural response in him. You will find later that he has either developed another power or one of his pre-existing demonic ones will have strengthened. Read into that what you will, but I am telling you, that is what just happened. As for the Drawing stone…"

Both parents stiffened at the mention of the object that had been stored away for so long.

"I suggest you employ it before it's too late. There is a short window period in which it is effective on magical children. If you don't, his demonic powers could become too intense for you, or your son, to handle."

"Are you finished? Or is there anything useful you have to say?" Phoebe said, an irritable, aggressive tone to her voice.

Enid took a deep breath, "The only other information I have is that there will be more attempts to kill or kidnap your son, and none should be taken lightly."

"Kidnap? Someone wants to kidnap Sky?" Phoebe exclaimed, attentive once more.

"If you know who was behind the attack on my children a few days ago, you'd better tell me," Cole said calmly, threateningly. "And on that topic, did Neil or anyone you know help us at anytime in the recent past?"

Enid gave him a disdainful look. "If I knew, I would have told your wife long ago. And no, Neil has not been involved in any aid to you since he gave you the Drawing stone, which you've chosen not to use. I'm sorry, that's all I have to say. The rest, I'm afraid, is up to you."

"Right," Phoebe said, clearly ticked off by the whole affair. She stood up and the couple left the tent with their son.

Outside the brilliant sunshine seemed in contrast to the gloomy atmosphere created by being in the tent. "So?" Piper queried. "What did she say?"

"She wasn't our psychic, but a stand-in for her," Phoebe said tersely. "And a lousy one at that."

"But why was she standing in for her?" Piper asked.

"Because Neil's wife is dead. Murdered by demons and warlocks two nights ago, apparently," Phoebe said. Paige and Piper gasped and Leo covered Wyatt's ears.

"That's horrible! Why would they---" Paige began but Leo interrupted her.

"To prevent her from delivering an important message to us, most likely. Did this stand-in tell you anything of note?"

"Only that Neil and company were not behind any rescue attempts. The cyanide saviour remains a mystery," Phoebe told them, aware of Cole's gaze on her. He didn't say anything.

"What about the premonition?" Paige questioned.

"Not behind that, either, unless Miranda did it without telling him, which is entirely possible since soon after that she was killed. If she thwarted a demonic attack by warning me with her psychic powers, she'd obviously make herself a target. And considering she didn't tell the important message to Neil or this stand-in, she was clearly keeping a lot of things to herself."

"It's safer that way. The more people know about something top secret, the more likely that secret will be leaked," Cole explained.

Piper turned to her sister and her husband. "What do you guys think?"

Leo shrugged. "I'm not sure, but the fact that Miranda was murdered days after Phoebe was warned about an attack does seem to add up to something."

"I don't know, something just doesn't feel right," Paige murmured. "She was meant to meet us here. I think that it's more probable that demons got to her before she could talk to us. They must have known, somehow, that we were scheduled to meet her here."

"Whatever the case, her stand-in Enid hasn't any more useful information for us. So why don't we go home?" Phoebe interjected everyone's speculations.

"Not until I've gone on at least three rides and had some cotton candy!" Paige protested.

"Okay, okay, you big kid," Piper teased. "We can talk about all this demon stuff another time. Let's have fun."

The group went ahead and attempted to enjoy the rest of the day, but for two of the crowd, it was impossible.

* * * * * * *

Below ground, suspicions were that a force of good had ruined a demonic bid to destroy Wyatt and abduct Sky and his Aide. A demon named Horates had been the co-ordinator, hoping to catch the witches by surprise. He could just about concede that it was a misfortune that the witch Paige happened to be up when his first party struck the manor for Wyatt, but that middle-sister came in clearly prepared to take on a demon at the traitor Belthazar's penthouse…that he could not accept. He was baying for blood; he had lost some of his best men and wanted to find out who had been behind the sabotage.

A day before Miranda's death, he was fuming in his lair when he was approached by a demon he did not know.

"I heard about your bid to destroy the twice-blessed child and capture the charmed half-breed," the demon said from the shadows.

"Reveal yourself," Horates warned, "or I will incinerate you."

The tall, black and green demon emerged from the darkness, hands up in a non-hostile gesture. "Relax, I come only to tell you who wrecked your attack by warning the witch."

"Really?" Horates stated, rising from his chair. He was black-skinned with handsome gold patterns on his face and forearms. He originated from Egypt and had built up an impressive reputation for being extraordinarily fast to destroy someone who didn't tickle his fancy. "And what do you want me to give you in return for this information."

The approaching demon's lower lip protruded and he shrugged. "Why nothing! We're on the same side here. I applaud of your efforts. I'd like to see you succeed."

"Don't toy with me," Horates growled. "No demon does anything without selfish intent."

"And ridding the world of a powerful force of good and capturing a powerful force of evil ISN'T in my best interests?"

Horates clenched his fist. "Be quick to deliver your information. I have limited patience."

"It was a good psychic, named Miranda. She's famous for ruining demonic plans. She is helped by her demon-lover Nelex, or Neil as he now calls himself. Another traitor to the dark side, I'm afraid."

Horates relaxed his tense posture somewhat and scratched his pointed chin. "I have heard of this Miranda. What I am curious to hear now is how you are sure it was her."

"Simple. I spotted the treacherous Nelex snooping around here hours before the attack. He was gone before I could do anything to him. This married team have had their ears to the ground ever since the witch's spawn came into the world, and Miranda has the ability to see into the future. Fairly simple to put two and two together."

The demon stopped a few metres away from the imposing form of Horates. The Egyptian demon was seven foot tall and built for the kill. He did not want to get too close.

"Then she must be dealt with. Now come clean with me. What do you want? I will not tolerate feigned innocence."

"All right, I would like to join you. I know you have an elite force of demons and warlocks under your command and I am partial to the idea of being a member of those forces, albeit a part-time one. If you manage to capture the demon Sky and turn him evil, I want to be on your side."

Horates smirked knowingly. "Yes, I thought you might. I will consider it."

He turned away from him and moved back towards his chair. The dark lair was adorned with exotic ornaments from all over the world, especially Egypt. Fires burned in several corners of the room and gold-plated masks snarled down at him from their wall placements. The entire place screamed supremacy. Horates was not a demon to be messed with, but still…

"Leave me. I'll get back to should I need you."

Frank bowed once and exited the room, both content and anxious at the prospect of becoming a mole in Horates's ranks. But so far, things were going well. Miranda would be stopped from delivering news of the Seer's plan to the sisters and they would believe that it was she who had transferred the warning to Phoebe, protecting the Seer from being discovered. The Seer had warned him the witches were getting suspicious as to who had been 'helping' them and the timing of Miranda's plan to reveal what she had foreseen at the Autumn fair had fitted nicely with Horates's attack.

And he now had a way to hear about any future attempts to steal his investment from him.

* * * * * * *

The night of the Fair, after the family had returned home and discussed the day's events (with Phoebe tactfully skirting around any mention of Sky's apparently expanding demonhood), Leo found himself summoned by the Elders.

Standing before a panel of elite Elders, he was questioned about the death of Miranda, for which Leo confessed having been ignorant of until that day. The Elders expressed great concern over why she would have been killed days prior to a meeting with Phoebe. Leo admitted he found it worrying. Then the Elders surprised Leo by bringing up an issue he thought had been forgotten.

"We wish for you to use what Miranda gave you. Use the Drawing stone. Tell your charge that she has no choice in the matter. If she refuses to soften the evil magic within her child, we will take measures to ensure he does not develop them further."

Leo knew that would not go down well, and as a father of a magical child himself, he felt outraged by the Elders' meddling, however noble their intentions may have been. "I can't do that, or rather, Phoebe won't. She's adamant that Sky develops normally, and confident that she can keep his demonic side in check."

"We have been lenient with the Charmed ones. Allowing you and Piper to marry was one thing, but it was quite another to stand by and let a witch marry a demon," they reminded.

"Ex-demon," Leo defended, "And he's been nothing but a force of good since, we all have! I think we deserve some credit for being able to control the way in which we use our gifts. Ultimately, my union with Piper made us stronger---"

"And gave birth to a dangerously powerful child. You know our feelings on this, Leo. We have allowed your son to continue to grow with his powers out of trust that you and Piper are up to the job. But Phoebe's son is a different story. We will never trust an ex-demon with that sort of power, nor will we trust the intentions of a child borne from a great Evil. We have seen the infant's recent behaviour. It would seem his demonic powers are returning."

Leo was distressed. He was on dangerous ground, defending Sky when he had stretched the patience and tolerance of the Elders to their limit by wedding Piper and having not one but two powerful children. They had never been fond of the idea. He could quite understand their scepticism and reservations about a partly demonic child. But Leo had grown to love his nephew and although he was unsure about Sky exhibiting powers typically associated with Evil, he had seen in Cole how even dark magic could be used for good. Torn, he conceded simply to deliver the message to Phoebe, but not to enforce it. The Elders let him go with a repeat of their stern warning.

"She either binds his powers, strips him of them or lessens them with the Drawing stone. Those are her only choices."

To be continued…