Prue woke up feeling the emptiness in her arms. She knew that her and Phoebe had fallen to sleep in Phoebes bed, but where was she now? Tossing back the covers she started for downstairs before she stopped herself. She cast a glance down the stairs and then back towards the set behind her. She thought a brief moment before starting back the way she came and walked up the stairs to the attic.

Opening the door to the one room she knew she would find her baby sister she was more then surprised to find it empty. Turning around confused she started back downstairs. Seeing the living room also empty she made her way to the kitchen. When she saw it empty as well she felt her heart tighten. Where was she? Did she go looking for Piper?

"Phoebe?" she called out as she opened the door to the basement. Somehow though she knew she was not down there.

She looked around towards the back yard and again came up empty. She gripped the counter trying to calm herself and at the same time think of where she might be. She suddenly let go of the counter and started back up the stairs.

Walking quickly to the door before her she quietly eased it opened. Closing her eyes in relief she watched as Phoebe lay sleeping, curled up under the quilt with Pipers teddy bear. She made her way softly to the bed and sat down beside her sister.

Prue drew circles on Phoebes back as she slept soundly. But soon she twisted over and looked up at her. "Morning sunshine." Prue said as she pushed the hair from Phoebes face.

"Morning." Phoebe held her sisters gaze bur said nothing more.

"You scared me honey." Prue finally broke the silence still holding Phoebes gaze.

"I'm sorry."

Prue wanted to scold her, but she knew that she herself they all needed to work things out for themselves. "It's ok. Just don't make a habit out of it." She finally said.

Phoebe moved closer to Prue and rested her head on her lap. "Prue I was thinking."

"Uh-oh."

"No. Nothing bad. Or not. I don't know. But if Piper is there as a good witch because she just wants to decide her own destiny what about the demons?"

Prue ran her hand gently over Phoebes head. Twisting her hair, she had brought up the one thing that Prue could not let go."You mean what if there is a demon there that decides to take her out?"

"Yeah. I mean she said she is still Piper the Charmed One. What if she meets demon the evil one?"

Prue couldn't answer her. "I don't know honey. But I suggest we get all the information we need on these guys before we do anything.

--- ---- --- ----

He watched her for what seemed like days. She didn't even go back to the Manor or her sisters. He felt something inside him he had not felt in years. The urge to just kill. "You are beyond that Ronim."

He spun around to face his lady as he then quickly bowed down to her.

"I can feel the torment inside you. We are all beyond that." She rested her hand on his head. Closing her eyes she could feel and see his thoughts. "I knew her powers were great but not that great. She is a Charmed one."

"She could be dangerous in the future my lady. The elders will not just let one of their precious Charmed Ones stay with us." He explained. "Or maybe she can bring us all the Charmed Ones. Her sisters must also have conflict in them."

He looked at her and could see her eyes drift off to another time and place. Maybe the future he could never tell.

She opened her eyes. "No. I do not see that happening my friend. But Piper is nearly here. Stay with her until the ceremony tomorrow night."

He looked on as his one leader that he was every truly true to left the darkened passage. He was torn now though, in what he should do. In all his two hundred years as a Yekcoh he had never felt the urge to return to his old ways. To let his black heart control his action.

--- ---- --- ----

Phoebe flipped through the book again as she sat on Pipers bed. She needed to be close to her sister, even though inside she was still furious with her.

"Any luck Phoebs?" Prue set the tray on the side of the bed and moved up closer to her sister. Since Prue knew Phoebe was coming down with something she had made her stay in bed most of the day. Bringing her up Grams hot lemon drink when needed.

"Well just more to the usual that it will take three of us to defeat this demon."

"Well then what happen last night? Are you saying it ain't vanquished?"

"Could be." Phoebe scanned down the next passage she had been reading.

Prue cast a glance at her younger sister and then to the page she was reading. "Phoebe?"

"Did you know that these Yekcoh people still maintain their true inner nature."

"Well that's what Piper said. She was still our Piper she just wouldn't fight if she didn't want too."

"Yeah but did you see this?" Phoebe held her finger on one sentence that she looked up and watched Prues face as she read it. And she knew that the pale face was the same as her own had been when she read it as well.

--- ---- --- ----

Piper walked into the chamber as she had many times since she had arrived. She was still confused about what was really going on. But she liked the fact that she had her own freedom.

She started out the door and to her vehicle when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around instantly on the defensive until she saw who it was.

"Ronim. Are you crazy? I could have killed you?"

"I knew I was safe."

"Oh really." She got her keys from her pocket.

"I have friends all around us Piper." He held his arms out in the air and spun slightly though not moving.

Piper looked around nervous for the first time since she had left the Manor.

He stepped to her and placed his arm over her shoulder. "You see Piper we are all good or evil inside us. You are the epitome of good and I am the epitome of evil. We both know what the other stands for and what they are capable of doing."

Piper squirmed from out of his arm, "I have a few things to take care of and the last time I checked I could still lead my own life." She opened the door to her jeep only to have it slammed shut again. But she looked to the person who had closed it and only so the menacing grin on his face.

"We can kill or be killed as we choose Piper. But that does not mean we can not still kill those with us that play for the other side." he took a step closer to her, "The opportunity to kill a Charmed One is one that no demon, no matter who they follow, should never give up."

Piper held up her hands to freeze him, but before she could even start to feel her magic through her, someone grabbed her wrists holding her in place.

Ronim stepped close to her, his breath touching her face. She tried to pull away from him but the grip from behind her was to tight. "I'm thinking now that I have you. Your sisters will come running. Why kill one when you can kill all three?"

She could hear the laughter coming from everywhere as she felt the sudden impact to the back of her head and then nothing.