Chapter Nine
That night, the tension in the Manor was unbelievable between Cole, Clara, and Phoebe. None of them were speaking to each other and it was very uncomfortable for the rest of the family.
Both of Clara's daughters tried to make them talk to one another, but it didn't work. Chris and Wyatt's wives were watching all the little kids upstairs while every one waited for the first attack.
Clara got up and noticed that everyone was asleep. She climbed over her husband and went into the kitchen.
"Behind you." Someone hissed. Clara turned around cautiously. Clara screamed as one of the sister's nemesis, Zankou,
grabbed her around her shoulders and put a knife to her throat. James and Cole immediately woke and hurtled over everyone, speeding into the kitchen. A flashing light blinded them as Zankou shimmered away with Clara. James became furious. He kicked the wall as Phoebe rushed in.
"What happened?" Phoebe asked, leading him to a chair.
"Some demon took my wife. I can't believe this. What if something happens to…?" He couldn't finish the sentence.
"I have a pretty good idea where they are. It is the only place big enough." He looked over at Phoebe. "But I need your help. You are going to have to trust me." He held his hand out to Phoebe but she couldn't handle the pressure.
"Cole, I can't do this. You are the father of my daughter and I am not sure I am ok with that." Phoebe replied.
"Phoebe, that is not the point at the moment. It is our job as her family to find her and just because her parents are having problems, that does not excuse us from what we have to do. Are in this or not?" Cole asked. James looked back and forth between his in-laws. Phoebe stared at him, disbelieving.
"Let me go tell everyone." Phoebe said. She headed toward the kitchen door and went to tell the others.
After everyone had been informed, Wyatt, Chris, James, Grams, Patty, Paige, Prue, Piper, Leo, Phoebe, and Cole all assembled in the kitchen.
"What are we going to do?" Prue asked.
"Cole has a plan." Phoebe said confidently. Prue gave her a look. Kelli came into the kitchen and Piper did the "clear throat and nod". James, Phoebe, and Cole turned around.
"Grams!" Kelli started to sob.
"Oh sweetheart, what is it?" she asked, scooping her granddaughter in to her arms.
"I had a bad dream. Mommy got taken away and we couldn't find her." She cried.
"Oh, honey. It was just a dream. Everything is ok." Phoebe lied as she put Kelli into James' arms.
"Let's go back to bed, sweetheart." He said. He looked over at Phoebe and mouthed one word. Premonitions.
"She gets it from her grams." He said as she took her back upstairs.
"Should we take James with us? He is a mortal." Chris asked.
"He is her husband. He needs to go." Patty answered.
"Not that you took your husband anywhere." Grams mumbled.
"Grams, she's right." Phoebe answered and everyone agreed. Cole walked to Phoebe and held out his hand. Phoebe took a deep breath as James reentered the kitchen and took it. Cole smiled.
"Let's go get our daughter." He wrapped his arms around her and they shimmered away as the others orbed right behind them.
Clara pulled at the heavy metal chains that trapped her to the cold, stone walls.
"Well, well," A droning voice hissed through the darkness.
"Who's there?"
"Let's just say an old friend of the family." An evil looking man stepped out of the shadows. He was dressed all in black and had a mop of greasy gray hair.
"Barbus." She whispered in horror. He grinned maliciously.
Before she could even say anything, her entire family arrived. Cole and Phoebe started to run over but they were thrown backwards by an invisible electric force.
"Can't have Mommy and Daddy interfering. Or any of them." He waved his arms as iron cages came crashing down around the entire family. Piper tried blasting her way out of the cages that imprisoned herself, Leo, Chris, and Wyatt, but it was useless.
"What is going on, Barbus?" Phoebe asked. He clapped his hands gleefully.
"Phoebe, Phoebe, Phoebe, you don't know. I want your daughter's baby." Barbus said. Clara gasped. Phoebe shook her head, unbelieving
"You didn't know. Cole knew. He didn't tell the mother of his child about her own granddaughter." Barbus schemed.
"She's pregnant?" Phoebe whispered.
"I am going to destroy the next full set of Charmed sisters. Luckily, I was able to bring the entire family to witness it." Barbus walked along the cages and stopped in front of Patty.
"Just as beautiful as her grandmother." Barbus said to Patty.
"Get away from me, you evil slime ball. " Patty responded.
"Such flattery." Barbus said, turning to Clara.
" I won't you let do this." Clara said, her teeth bared.
"Who's going to stop me? You?" Barbus cackled.
"Well, I think it is time I have a little fun. Shall we show Mommy and Daddy what are biggest fears are?" Barbus asked. Clara became hysterical as a holographic image appeared in front of them. She saw herself standing by the front door in the manor as James stormed out carrying a suitcase.
"Is he going to leave you like your daddy left your mother, and your grandpa left your grandma?" Barbus said, twiddling his thumbs.
"Stop this now." Cole demanded. Barbus laughed.
"Let me have my fun." Barbus sneered. He waved his hand and another hologram appeared. Clara sobbed ever harder as she looked at the image. It was of three adult women, dressed like demons, and they were throwing energy balls at innocent people.
"And that your daughters will inherit their mother's demonic powers, that she inherited from her own father." Barbus said as Clara filled with anger. Phoebe and Cole looked at each other.
"Demonic powers?" they whispered together.
"Don't worry; she doesn't use them unless it is absolutely necessary." James whispered.
"You are toying with a pregnant woman's emotions, do you seriously think that is wise?" she asked. Her family stared in horror, afraid to say anything.
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" Barbus asked.
Clara raised her hand as high as she could, with it still being tied to the wall, and conjured a bright blue energy ball.
"Watch out!" she cried as she hurled it toward the cages and the doors sprung open, releasing her family. Phoebe, Cole, and James hurried over and freed Clara. She rubbed her sore wrists.
"You think you can defeat me with one little energy ball?" Barbus sneered. "Try defeating this." He snapped his fingers and demons of all sorts emerged from the shadows. Clara stood frozen as the creatures she had only seen in the Book of Shadows closed around her and her family.
"What do we do?" Clara asked.
"What we always do." Piper said. She flicked her wrists and the demon closest to her exploded. The battle began. All of the demons began throwing fireballs and Paige used her powers and threw them back, causing them to burst into flames. Patty and Grams slammed demons up against the walls and Phoebe pulled out her martial arts moves. Wyatt and Chris orbed behind a few of the demons and kicked their butts from behind. Clara threw two fireballs and wiped out the remainder of the demons except for Barbus.
"You can't mess with our family. Ever." Paige said.
"Especially, our kids." Piper said.
"Good bye, Barbus." Phoebe joined hands with her sisters and with all her might, quickly thought up a spell.
"Take this master of the mind,
His powers bind,
Vanquish him from this place,
Remove him from this time and space."
Barbus burst into flames and was vanquished. Clara sighed deeply with relief. James embraced her.
"Let's get out of here." She said and they orbed back to the manor.
