What's wrong with me? I know I said I'd update faster but I'm so sorry. Anyway I'll try harder in the future. Here's chapter 7.
Ch.7
"We have no powers?"
"No Prue."
"Piper."
"What? It's not my fault."
Paige and Phoebe looked at each other with guilty expressions. They stood there with their arms crossed. Prue and Piper looked at their younger sisters curiously.
"What's going on?"
"Phoebe told you about Grams' little visit and . . ."
"Grams?"
"Prue, not now. Go on."
"She warned us that this could happen."
"But it's not our fault. We didn't know it was this bad. I was just making a statement and Paige was just venting. It's not like we haven't gotten mad at each other before. How bad could it possibly be?"
Piper glared at Phoebe held up the Book of Shadows to show her the broken symbol. Phoebe winced and moved to hide behind Paige. Prue started pacing around and Phoebe reluctantlybroke the silence.
"Okay, so it's bad. I'm sorry."
"Well, we can't stay up here forever. Demon boy is going to burst through that door and there's nothing we can do about it."
"Prue."
"What Piper? It's the truth."
"I have a plan."
Paige walked over to the Book and smiled. She nodded slightly as if she approved her own plan. Her sisters watched in confusion as she picked it up and turned it around.
"I say we use the Book."
"Paige, we have no powers."
"I know that Piper but the Book does."
"Yeah, it protects itself from Evil."
"Exactly but it's not doing it right now. It knows we're good."
"Okay sis, could you speed up the thought train here? A demon is still in the house and I seriously doubt he's raiding the fridge right now."
"Alright. We were born witches Phoebe and that makes us innately magical. We use the Book's power to protect us. The only reason it knows we're good is because we still have basic powers."
"Basic powers aren't enough to vanquish him."
"I know Piper but using the Book to protect us buys us time. He'll tire eventually."
"What do you mean use the Book? What like an amulet?"
"Now you're getting it Pheebs."
"But . . ."
Before Prue could say anything, the demon burst through the door. He started charging toward the girls but before he could even get close, the Book formed a shield around itself and threw him back toward the door. Phoebe looked shocked.
"Wow."
"Way to go sis."
Paige smiled at Prue. Paige threw the Book toward the demon and once again the shield formed throwing him farther back. The Book landed a few feet away from him. He stood up and the Book slid across the attic floor toward the girls.
"This isn't over."
He disappeared and the girls breathed a sigh of relief. Piper bent down and picked up the Book. She returned it to its stand and looked at her sisters. Phoebe crossed her arms and let out a slow breath.
"What do we do now?"
"We need a plan. He's not going to stay gone forever Phoebe."
"I agree with Piper. So . . ."
Prue trailed off when she noticed her youngest sister glaring at her from behind her long lashes. Paige had her arms crossed and a fixed stare. Prue placed her hands on her hips and glared right back.
"What?"
"Nothing. I'm just surprised that it took you this long to take charge."
"Take charge?"
"Never mind. Get on with it Prue. I'm so anxious to see what Wonder Woman has in store for us."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Don't read too much into it."
"All I'm trying to do is protect this family."
"We can fend for ourselves."
"Oh really?"
"You don't believe that?"
"Not even two days ago, you nearly died."
"Protecting you! Next time, give me a little heads up and I'll be sure to turn my back."
"Paige."
"That's what you want isn't it?"
"You know what I mean."
"How am I supposed to know what you really mean? You've never once told me what you were really thinking."
"I didn't have to. You always knew."
"It doesn't matter. You would have never told me anyway."
"And what makes you the expert?"
"Your stupid pride gets in the way like right now!"
"What are you talking about?"
"There you go denying it like always. Do you think admitting what you're thinking or feeling makes you any less of a person? It doesn't Prue."
"What's your point?"
"You know, nobody told you to take care of us or to protect us or even to become this superwitch which is apparently what you are. You do it because of who you are. Why do you insist on shadowing us when all we want to do is be like you? We're doing the exact same thing you're doing but you get pissy because it's us!"
"Paige."
"What? You know I'm right. You're obviously mad at me for what I did, which is a complete crock! Last night you went on and on about how you knew I'd sense you in danger and be there to save your hide! Make up your damn mind and move on!"
"You're still upset over that? For the last freaking time, I'm not taking advantage of your stupid powers!"
"The hell you aren't Prue! You treat me like I'm your radar detector!"
"I do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"Okay, you know what? I'm stopping. You're missing the point. Whether you do or not is not on the table. For once this is about you."
"What do you mean for once? You always keep saying that it's not about me."
"Well, I was wrong but at least I can admit when I'm wrong. Look, the point is you always make it about us. Whatever we need, whatever we want, protecting us, whatever. This is about you. You have a problem and you can't handle it."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Prue and Paige continued to argue much to the dismay of their other two sisters. Phoebe rolled her eyes and walked out of the attic not wanting to see or hear her sisters argue anymore. Piper picked up the Book of Shadows and slammed it down on the nearby table startling the both of them.
"Round three is over! This is getting ridiculous! We don't have our powers and there is a demon on the loose that's going to kill us if you two don't get over this stupid feud!"
"It's not just us."
"You're right. Phoebe has a hand in this but the majority of this is your fault. Yours and Paige's."
Piper was about to say something else but Leo orbed in. He looked around and took in the situation. Confusion set in when he didn't see Phoebe anywhere.
"Where's Phoebe?"
"Her room probably. Leo, what are doing here?"
"Something huge has happened Piper. It's got the Elders all worried."
"Yeah well we're dealing with our own huge thing here."
"What do you mean?"
Piper held up the Book of Shadows and showed Leo the broken symbol. He took the Book and examined it before looking at them with an expression of realization.
"This is what the Elders were talking about."
"They know?"
"Yeah Piper. You guys are vulnerable without your powers. You need to get them back fast before a demon attacks."
"Too late."
"What do you mean?"
"One already attacked us and I used the Book as a shield."
"Okay. First things first. What happened that made you lose your powers?"
"What difference does it make? It's not like it would do us any good having them."
"Paige."
"What Prue? If I didn't have them, you wouldn't be jumping down my throat."
"So this is my fault. Is that it?"
"No but I dont't want to be a witch if it means taking a backseat to you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh come on Prue. I would of thought the Mighty Prue Halliwell would be able to figure it out."
"Hey!Stop you guys. What's going on?"
"Ask them. I'm tired of being in the middle."
Piper walked out of the attic and went to her room. Prue walked out as well intentionally ramming her shoulder into Paige's. All that could be heard was the slams of bedroom doors. Leo turned to Paige and looked at her expectedly.
"Prue and I fought. Phoebe quit."
"Phoebe quit what?"
"Demon hunting. I don't blame her. We've lost a lot. First Grams died, then Prue and I nearly died. It was too much for her."
"Okay, that's not enough to break the Power of Four. What happened with you and Prue?"
"Last night Prue made a crack about how she wasn't worried about getting hurt. She knew I'd sense her and that I would come save her. It was the last straw Leo. I just snapped."
"That's it?"
"We fought this morning and then I came up here. Phoebe was here too. We heard Piper scream and then she screamed for us. It was the same demon that attacked Prue last night. We came up here and the symbol was broken."
"It doesn't like it was that bad."
"I know. That's why I'm confused. I mean we've fought before."
"Wait, you said Phoebe quit, which in theory means she doesn't want her powers."
"Leo, she loves being a witch."
"Stay with me here."
"Okay."
"So Phoebe doesn't want them. You and Prue are fighting."
"Yeah but . ."
"The argument emanates from the fact that you're witches. You wouldn't have this problem if you weren't."
"What are you getting at?"
"Prue, Phoebe, and you are rejecting your powers."
"In theory."
"Right."
"What about Piper?"
"She's caught in the middle of all this. The point is the Power of Four is rooted in your bond as sisters."
"We're not being very sisterly right now."
"Exactly."
"Oh."
"What do we do?"
"You need to make up with Prue. You three need to reassure Phoebe."
"It's not that easy Leo. I can't help the way I feel. I can't just push everything aside and pretend everything's okay."
"What's the problem?"
"Prue. She's like superwitch. She can protect us but if it's the other way around, she blows a gasket. It's like Prue has a problem with authority. All we can do is stand there and let her defend us instead of actually helping her. I mean at first it was about her taking advantage of my power but now that doesn't even matter. One of these days, her pride is going to get the best of her and she's going to end up dead. I love Prue. God knows I do but I can't just stand there and watch her die because she told us to stay back. She keeps pushing us away and she constantly wants to do everything herself."
"What are you trying to say?"
"She's angry at me because I nearly died saving her life. I did it because I wanted to. She's my sister and I can't bear to see her hurt. It's not fair Leo. She can risk her life for us but we can't for her? That's crap. Prue obviously doesn't trust us enough to let us help her. She doesn't get it. I was never angry at her. I was just scared out of my mind but it doesn't matter does it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Whatever Prue wants, Prue gets."
Leo sighed as he watched Paige walk around him. She started walking toward the attic door but stopped in her tracks when she saw who was standing in the doorway with tears making their way down her cheeks.
"Prue."
Well, I know it wasn't all that good but it will get better. Ipromise. Sowhat do you think? Should I continue? Creamy, gooey fudge to those who review!