THREE

"So, was he cute?" asked Paige at dinner that night.

"I guess so," said Phoebe. "He's a little older than I am,
though. About forty or so. Besides, he's a foreign correspondent,
which means he'll be off traveling around the world most of the time."

"Long distance relationships rarely work out," said Piper.

"That coming from a woman whose husband routinely travels all
over the world and even to other dimensions," said Paige.

"But I'm here most of the time," said Leo. "It's not the same
thing."

"Still, it can't hurt to try," said Paige.

"I don't think I'm ready just yet," said Phoebe. "I think I'd
prefer just to take it slow and easy for a while. My track record
with men isn't so good lately."

"Which is all the more reason to get back up on the horse, so to
speak," said Paige, as they heard the front doorbell. "You're due a
change in luck."

"I'll get it," offered Phoebe, grateful for the interruption.

"Paige, I think you should ease off," said Piper, as Phoebe went
to answer the door. "Phoebe's been through a lot lately."

"I'm just trying to help," said Paige. "I'm not trying to push
her into anything."

While the others continued to talk, Phoebe went to the front
door. She was relieved to get away from the conversation. It was
getting uncomfortable. She opened the door to find Derek Russell on
the front porch.

"Derek," she said, "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

"You're a difficult person to find," said Derek. "I wasn't sure
if you were the one I was looking for until we shook hands."

"You were looking for me?" asked Phoebe. "What for?"

"I want what you stole from me," said Derek. "Return it now and
I'll leave you in peace."

"What I stole?" questioned Phoebe. "I haven't stolen anything.
I never even say you before today."

"I'll brook no games with you, human," said Derek. "Return
what's mine now."

Phoebe backed into the manor as she watched Derek's eyes flash.

"Piper, Paige," she called out in fear.

Piper and Paige hurried out of the kitchen to come to Phoebe's
aid. Leo followed close behind. Derek looked at the others and his
gaze settled on Leo.

"White Lighter," said Derek. He looked back at Phoebe. "That
would make you a witch. It would explain a great deal."

"He's a demon," said Phoebe, moving to join her sisters.

"No, not a demon," said Derek. "You've taken what belongs to me
and I want it back."

"Listen here," said Piper, "no one's taken anything. You've got
the wrong person. Get out of here and we won't send you back to hell
where you belong."

Suddenly Derek's form changed. Instead of the human he had
appeared to be he looked very much like a demon. He was nine feet
tall, with coal black skin, and piercing emerald green eyes. His
flaming red hair hung well below his waist. He was dressed in short,
knee-length pants and a vest. He also had vampire-like fangs, three-
inch claws on each finger, and massive, rippling muscles.

He held out one clawed hand and Paige suddenly rose into the air
several feet. She began grasping at her throat as if some invisible
force was strangling her She was grasping for air.

"Give me what I want or she dies," said Cattarrin.

"That's it," said Piper.

Piper raised her hands and Cattarrin exploded into a thousand
shards. But instead of evaporating as they usually did when she
exploded a demon, they suddenly reconstituted themselves back into
Cattarrin. Paige dropped to the floor and began sucking in air in
great gulps.

"Uh oh," said Piper. "This isn't good."

"Two witches," gasped Cattarrin in surprise.

"Three, actually," said Phoebe, helping Paige to her feet.

"You must be these Charmed Ones I've heard of," said Cattarrin.
"I have misjudged the situation. Next time, I won't."

Cattarrin suddenly flashed and was gone. Other than her neck
being a bit sore, Paige appeared to be unharmed. She quickly
recovered from the attack.

""What the hell was that?" Piper asked Leo.

"I have no idea," said Leo. "Whatever it was is definitely a
threat."

"Ya' think?" asked Phoebe sarcastically. "It resisted Pipers'
explosive power. There aren't that many demons that can do that."

"What was all that about Phoebe giving back what she stole?"
asked Paige. "What does it think she stole?"

"I don't know that, either," said Leo. "I'd better check with
the Elders. I'll be back as soon as I can. If you need me before I
get back, just call."

Leo orbed out leaving the sisters to ponder who their intruder
was and just what it wanted.