A/N: I was looking at my stats page and realized I haven't thanked anyone yet for their reviews. "Anne Bowman," "Faithfulelf," and "CeredwenFlame" – your reviews are very much appreciated!

Chapter 10

Floating outside the bus window, Rick frowned as he gazed into the bedroom, watching as flames licked the bodies of his daughter and wife. He wanted so much to transport in there and save them. But he didn't dare, nor could he even if he did. The Elders had placed a strict restraining order on him, so to speak. Just being this close to them would result in trouble if he was caught.

And disobeying orders wouldn't do any good this time. He was a ghost now, and after being a whitelighter for about a month he was having some trouble adjusting to his new form. He didn't have the power to become solid, like he did to pull Fi up off the roof ledge a year ago. Which was why if Molly and Fi died, he'd never be able to forgive himself.

Come on, Paige! Rick thought. Where are you?

As if responding to his silent prayer, Paige orbed into the bedroom. She'd wasn't alone – she'd brought Piper, who froze the room as soon as they landed.

"This place looks like a war zone," Piper remarked, surveying the damage with a grimace.

Looking at the scratches and bruises on both her charges, Paige replied quietly, "Piper…I think it was."

"What do you think happened?" Piper asked as she creased her brow with worry.

"I…have some idea," Paige admitted with a frown. "But I really hope I'm wrong. Come on, move Molly over here so I can orb us all out."

Instead of doing so, Piper suggested, "I think it'd be easier if you dragged Fi over here. If I try to move her mother…well, let's just say I don't want to give Molly any more bruises than she already has."

"Good idea. Help me out," Paige ordered. The two each took one of Fi's arms and dragged the teen closer to the bed.

They were about to leave when Piper hesitated, looking out the window at Rick. "Hey, Paige…do you feel that? Like someone's watching us?"

"I think you mean them," Paige corrected, pointing to her two charges.

Eyes widening in understanding, Piper was silent as Paige orbed them all out of the bedroom to safety.

Rick chuckled, overwhelmed with relief. He was about to follow the four witches when he heard a rustle behind him.

"Well, isn't this fortunate?"

Whirling around, Rick gasped. Standing before him was someone, or rather something, he'd met when he was alive – a ghost hunter he'd encountered in his early days, when he was just beginning his paranormal investigations.

"Ranuk! What are you doing here?" Rick exclaimed, trying to inject some sense of familiarity into his tone. He'd been naïve and young when he first met Ranuk. When the ghost hunter had claimed he was hunting a ghost that was terrorizing humans, Rick had been quick to come to his aid.

Now he realized that those poor lost souls had probably been handed over to some power-hungry demon.

A smile forming on his thin lips, Ranuk explained, "My good buddy here happened to mention that you were a ghost again. I just had to come and see for myself."

For the first time Rick saw the tiny ball of light hovering near Ranuk's shoulder. "Bricriu! I thought Fi…"

"Yes, the little duck did manage to keep me trapped in that infernal disk for a while," the spunkie seethed. "But now I'm free, and I must say she's not my favorite little duck right now."

"Did you start this fire? I know it wouldn't be the first time you tried to kill them," Rick accused, anger overpowering his fear for a second.

The spunkie laughed. "Oh, I wish I had the pleasure. But in an even more pleasurable twist – those two humans…excuse me, witches…started it all by their wee little selves."

"That's not what I meant!" Rick hissed, wishing there were some way he could physically harm the Will O' the Wisp.

"You know Rick, it's been great catching up," Ranuk interrupted. Then from the messenger bag he wore, he removed a medium-sized steel cylinder. "But I have to admit, I didn't come for small talk. It turns out one of my clients is dying to attain your soul. No pun intended, of course."

Rick gaped at the hunter, though some part of him was not surprised. He began to transport away. However, Ranuk opened the cylinder and its sucking power took hold of him.

"Ouch! Paige!" Molly groaned. The entire group – Halliwells, Phillips, and Bells – had gathered after the manor after the explosion. All were in disbelief over what happened, and the humans were trying to get over the shock while the witches figured out what to do next.

Meanwhile, Paige was healing her charges' bruises. Molly's exclamation had been the result of moving the singer's badly burnt arm. "I'm sorry, Molly, but you've got to stop fidgeting!" Paige huffed, then put her hand over the burn. There was a soft glow, and the arm was as good as new.

"Thanks," Molly sighed.

Sitting next to her mother on the couch awaiting her turn, Fi grinned sheepishly at her mother. "Sorry about that one, Mom. But if it helps I think I was aiming for your head."

"It's okay, baby. I think you have me to thank for that black and blue on your wrist," Molly replied, returning her daughter's smile with one of her own.

Shaking her head in total disbelief, Irene asked, "How…how could this happen? You got angry so…you just started attacking each other? It makes no sense, I mean…you're mother and daughter, for crying out loud! Mothers and daughters do not try to kill each other with their magic powers!" she finished with a yell. At her husband's raised eyebrow, she added, "Yes, I realize what I just said!"

"Maybe…your powers just kind of took over," Ned suggested. He was sitting on the easy chair, with Irene perched on its arm. "Both of you are new to this witch stuff. Is it possible you just…lost control?"

The sisters were quiet, considering the idea. Phoebe spoke up after a second, "I don't think so. From what Molly and Fi are telling us, it sounds more like they were in an angry trance of some sort, not power mad."

"Trance…there's something we haven't considered," Piper said, a thoughtful look on her face. "Paige, Phoebe – how many times have demons put spells on us to turn us against each other? At least a few."

"At least," Phoebe agreed.

Molly shook her head. After such a traumatizing experience, she was battered both physically and emotionally. The last thing she wanted to be talking about was various ways magic could go wrong. "So you're telling me that I almost killed my daughter because of some demonic spell? Oh, that makes me feel so much better!"

"Mom, sh…" Fi comforted, putting an arm around her mother's shoulder's, the blanket that was wrapped around them both sliding down her free arm. "Everything's going to be okay. There are ways to stop this from happening, a spell or something…right, Paige?"

Stunned by Molly's small breakdown, Paige took a second to respond, "Oh, yeah, of course. A-after I heal you I'll whip up some protection crystals."

"You know, it might be a good idea to make some extra," Piper added, nodding towards Ned and Irene. "The demon already went after Jack…you know?"

"Right. Since you've got everything covered, I'll go up to the attic and start on them," Phoebe offered, starting towards the stairs.

Piper got up from her spot on the coffee table as well. "I'll go with you. Maybe now that we know how the demon attacks, we can finally Id him…her…it. Now, before I go comb the Book, have there been other attacks that you maybe forgot about?" She said that last part with pointed glance at Molly.

Feeling shame rush into her face but keeping eye contact, Molly stated firmly, "No."

"Hold on a minute," Paige interrupted. "Fi, remember the other day…I found you in the attic…and I had to snap you out of it. You were so…frazzled. I think that was an attack. A small one, but an attack."

Fi was quiet, then agreed, "Yeah, I think so too. It was like…one minute I was standing outside the door…then I was in the attic searching through the Book."

"It just…happens? One minute you're clear, and then the next you're ready to kill someone?" Irene asked with a shudder. She gave Ned a grateful smile as he put an arm around her.

Not wanting to think about it, Molly only gave a meek nod of her head.

"You know, I think I see a connection here," Phoebe remarked. "Both attacks happened when you were angry to begin with. Maybe the demon's spell feeds on strong emotion."

Tilting her head in thought, Piper acknowledged, "That makes a lot of sense. Okay, Paige and I are going to work upstairs. You guys…especially Molly and Fi…no fights until we've got the protection crystals ready."

"Yes, ma'am," Fi assured her as Piper and Phoebe ran up the stairs.

The room was silent as Paige finished up healing Molly. Luckily, neither were hurt enough to have to go to the hospital – just some wounds and 2nd degree burns that were easily healed with her power. She had just moved on to Fi when the glow dimmed until it vanished. Trying to start it up again, Paige apologized, "I'm so sorry, Fi. I only developed my healing power recently, and I can't…"

"It's alright, Paige. I'm not hurting that much," Fi replied.

Paige sighed, stretching her fingers. "I'm still really sorry about this. You know what, I'll go into the kitchen and get you some ice or aspirin or something so you won't have to suffer too much until I charge up again…so to speak."

"Thanks," Fi replied, rubbing a bruise on her elbow.

Once Paige was gone, Irene and Ned stood up and headed to the foyer. At Molly's raised eyebrow, Irene explained, "I'll go check on the boys. I think they're sitting on the stoop out front…Jack was pretty upset."

"Of course. Tell him…tell him that I'm sorry, and that I'll talk to him when he's ready," Molly said, putting her head in her hands. I hope I'll be ready when he's ready.

Irene nodded and disappeared into the foyer. Ned gave a sheepish shrug. "I'm gonna go back to check on the bus…check out if it's salvageable…"

The only ones left in the living room, Molly and Fi traded guilty glances. "Oh boy," Molly breathed. She had her knees up to her chest with her arms folded on top. "I think I'm going to have to get Ned something really nice for Christmas this year."

"Count me in," Fi agreed with a chuckle, then turned serious. "I can't believe the bus is…gone. What are we going to do about the rest of the tour?"

Molly shook her head. "I don't care about the tour anymore. I don't know how I'm going to be able to perform ever again."

"Oh, Mom…" Fi said, wrapping her mother in a hug. "What are you talking about?"

Leaning her head on Fi's shoulder, Molly explained, "Fiona, you can't really think that I'm going to continue with the tour after all this? I…I don't trust myself. I can't. After this week…after seeing what I'm capable of…Baby, last year I could barely get through a song because I had saw you falling off a roof. How…how could I ever perform again when…whenever I close my eyes, I see myself throwing you across the room?"

"Mom, you were in a trance, you couldn't help it. I tried to blow you up, remember?" Fi cried.

Wiping tears from her own eyes, Molly insisted, "That's not an excuse! I…I should have been stronger than that. I thought I was stronger than that. Fiona, baby, I'm so, so sorry…for everything…"

"I'm sorry too," Fiona sobbed, snuggling closer to the mother. The two sat there holding each other, crying. Through the tears, Molly saw Paige come back with a cold compress in her hand, see the scene in the living room, think better of interrupting and go back in the kitchen.

After a few more minutes of quiet sobbing, the two looked up when a bright light flashed in their eyes.

"Aw, isn't this sweet? I think I'm a wee bit touched."

Gasping, Fiona spat, "Bricriu? B-but…how…"

"Is that any way to greet an old friend, little duck?" the spunkie replied. "Ah, Molly, don't think I've forgotten about ye. It's been a while since the fire."

Molly gaped at the ball of light, clueless as to who he was or how he knew her daughter. "W-what…what are you? Fiona, what's going on? What fire?"

"Oh, of course ye wouldn't remember, I was still in your body, I believe. Silly me," Bricriu chuckled.

Leaping to her feet, Fi demanded, "How did you get out of that floppy disk?"

"Thanks to you, actually, and that explosion you created," Bricriu replied with a pleased laugh. "When my cell caught fire it snapped clean in two."

"What do you want now? If you try to take over my mom again, I swear I'll banish your spunkie butt so fast…" Fi threatened, clenching her fists.

The spunkie glowed an angry red. "There there, little duck, I'd watch what ye say. Wouldn't want anything to happen to ye father's soul, now would ye?"

"Rick?" Molly exclaimed, also standing next to her daughter, rage evident in her features. "What did you do to him?"

"It's not so much what I did to him, as the ghost hunter who was hired to capture him."

Fi wrinkled her brow in confusion. "Ghost hunter? Who hired him?"

"I believe I'm not at liberty to discuss that. A full identification would enable ye witches to create an appropriate vanquishing potion, would it not?" the spunkie replied. "Though me master does send ye a message. If you Charmed Ones ever wish your father to be free again, you will meet me master tomorrow night at midnight at that address…with the intention of relinquishing your powers."

The two witches glanced down at the coffee table to find a business card with an address printed on it. When they looked up, Fi hissed, "You cannot be serious…"

"But I am, little duck. And might I add – "

"Hey! What's going on? Who are you?" Paige asked as she bounded into the living room. Piper and Phoebe were just coming down the stairs, some protection crystals in each of their hands.

Giving a menacing chuckle, Bricriu finished, "And might I add, don't bring back up."

With that he zipped away through a window, leaving everyone completely speechless.

An ice pack in her hand, Paige still stood in the doorway that led from the kitchen into the living room. She and her sisters, as well as Molly, were looking at Fi with expectant faces. "Fi, I think I speak for everyone when I ask…" Paige began, her tone holding some annoyance, along with concern for her youngest charge. "How do you know a little ball of light who apparently is in league with the demon we're after?"

"He's not a ball of light," Fi corrected. "He's a Will 'O the Wisp."

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Paige finally went into the living room and handed Fi the ice pack. Crossing her arms, she chided, "Fi…"

"Okay, okay. Just give me a minute – my head is spinning," Fiona begged, holding the ice pack to a spot on her arm and falling back on the couch.

Sitting down next to her daughter, Molly gave the sisters a worried glance. "Maybe it would be better if we talked about this later."

"But…" Paige's argument died on her lips when she noticed that Fi's eyes were closed. The witch had fallen asleep immediately after her head hit the pillow. Sighing, Paige really couldn't blame her. Fi still wasn't healed, and that confrontation with the so-called "Will 'O the Wisp" couldn't have helped. Paige felt so useless – her own charge was going through a tough time, both emotionally and physically, and she couldn't do a thing to help.

On a separate note, she could see the guilt on Molly's face. The mother had naturally insisted that Paige heal her daughter first, but both Paige and Fi agreed that Molly's injuries were more severe and required immediate attention.

Finally giving a simple nod, Paige joined her sisters at the base of the steps. "Okay, but we're talking the minute Fi wakes up."

"Of course," Molly agreed, wrapping an arm around her daughter, obviously having no intent of moving from the couch as long as Fi slept.

Piper put her hand on her hip, the crystals still in her other hand. "Oh, come on, she can't just sleep…we could be in more and more danger if we wait…" At Paige's glare, she groaned. "Alright. But you two better haul your butts upstairs. We've got a lot of work to do if we're going to get them through this."

"Thanks Piper," Paige said as she followed her sisters to the attic. Once there, she took a seat on the rocking chair in the corner and explained, "I'm sorry guys. But they've been through so much I just couldn't…"

"It's okay, Paige," Phoebe assured her, taking a seat on the couch.

After thinking a moment, Paige asked, "Hey…do either of you know what a Will 'O the Wisp is? It might help us figure out what happened so we're not totally in the dark when Fi comes around."

"No, actually," Phoebe admitted. "Which is weird. You would think in eight years of fighting evil we would have encountered one."

"Lord knows we've seen everything else," Piper muttered. Instead of sitting with her sisters, she had gone over to the Book and started flipping the pages. "Well, at any rate it should be in here. The thing also said something about a 'ghost hunter.' Now there's something you think we would've met before."

Paige put her head in her hands. "I should've realized what was going on. I heard them talking in the living room, but I was thinking about how guilty I felt…and I couldn't find the damn ice pack…I'm a horrible whitelighter. They should just clip my wings now."

"Paige, sweetie, don't do that to yourself," Phoebe consoled, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder.

Wiping a tear from her eye, Paige argued, "It's not just the whole 'Will 'O the Wisp' thing. They tried to kill each other, Phoebe! Two of my charges tried to kill each other and I didn't stop it until the whole damn bus had gone up in flames!"

"That's not your fault," Piper reminded her. "From what we read about the demon, he's able to put a shield around his victims when they're in the midst of an emotional breakdown, unable to be reached by orbing."

Paige was about to retort when her oldest sister's words sank in. "Y-you…you identified the demon?"

Smiling, Piper motioned for her to come look at the Book. When Paige did, she abandoned her search for the seemingly nonexistent Will 'O the Wisp page and turned to one that held information about the demon. "We think he's this guy, Spiro. He matches all the criteria."

Wrinkling her brow, Paige asked, "Spyro? Isn't that the name of a dragon in a video game?"

"Yes, Paige, we're fighting Spyro the Dragon," Piper snapped, rolling her eyes.

Chuckling, Phoebe came over and also looked at the Book. "No, Paige, Spiro. I think it's Greek for 'spirit', which totally makes sense. He feeds on his victims' emotions, making them so strong that they overpower the witch or human. Those emotions give him power, especially when applied to a witch. Once a witch's emotions are consumed, he can start absorbing their powers."

"That's…really bad," Paige remarked lamely. At her sisters' raised eyebrows, she explained, "Guys, he has Rick, Molly's husband, and Fi's father. His plan is already in the works."

"Oh God, I didn't even realize that," Piper gasped.

Reading the fine print at the bottom of the page, Phoebe spoke up, "Hey, guys? You better read this."

"'Spiro destroys his victims on three levels – their emotions, their powers (provided they are witches…" Paige trailed off, gulping. "…and their souls. Contrary to other power-sucking demons, Spiro's victims are not left alive.' Well, that's just freaking' great for us!"

"Souls…" Phoebe said in a thoughtful tone. "You know, now it makes sense that he used a ghost hunter to get Rick. He probably keeps one constantly at his beck and call."

"Like a personal chef," Piper grumbled.

"Hey, there's more," Paige said, pointing to the 'continued' on the bottom. When Piper turned the page, Paige read, "'Spiro has close ties to a network of prophets, using them in his quest for power and…rule of the Underworld. About a millennia old, he's considered a chief candidate for the next Source of All Evil. He will surely rise to that position if the prophecies come to pass - of the vanquishing of the Triad and the second coming of the Charmed Ones.'"

Paige stopped, grasping the full seriousness of the situation. "Well, I think 'we're screwed' would be an understatement."

"Along with 'uh oh' and 'holy crap,'" Piper agreed, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Wow. When Mom said they blew up the bus…she meant it," Jack remarked. He, Clu, Carey, Ned, and Leo cautiously made their way through the parking lot towards the smoking tour bus. After Paige had rescued Molly and Fi, the fire department had arrived on the scene. They were still squelching some of the flames, but for the most part all that was left was a mangled mess of smoking metal.

Shaking his head, Ned got as close to what used to be the bus as the firefighters would allow. Then he stood there and stared.

Noting this, Clu whispered, "I think Dad will need some time to get over this."

"No kidding," Carey agreed.

Anger rising in his tone, Jack snapped, "I'm having a little trouble feeling sorry for him. He's losing a bus. I almost lost my family."

There was quiet, then Leo cleared his throat. "Jack, of course Ned's worried about your mother and sister. He's just…dealing with this in his own way."

"Yeah, dude, it's gotta be easier for him to focus on the bus than whatever demon is after Mrs. P and Fi," Clu reasoned, giving Jack a friendly clap on the back. "Maybe you should do that too."

Jack folded his arms. "I don't see how I can. Clu…Mom and Fi nearly killed each other. I think I would've rather had Fi blow me to bits."

"Look, man, you can't do this to yourself…" Carey trailed off, watching as a fire truck pulled out of the parking lot.

Glancing to where the rest of the firefighters were gathered, Jack could see that all of the flames were now out. There was still a cloud of smoke though. The remaining fire fighters had a short conversation with Ned, then also left.

"Come on, bro, let's go hear the verdict," Clu suggested, going over to his father, his brother behind him.

Left alone with Leo, Jack gave the fallen angel a weak smile and went to sit in on a crate the fire fighters had left behind. He was surprised when Leo followed him. Not meaning to sound rude, Jack asked, "What?"

"Nothing. Just wondering if there's anything you'd like to talk about," Leo replied, sitting down next to Jack.

Jack stared at him. For one, he really didn't know Leo all that well. And the last thing he wanted to do was voice all his worries and fears with a stranger. Hell, if Clu or Carey were sitting next to him he still wouldn't talk. "No, thanks."

"Jack, look, I know this has to be bothering you. Tell me what's on your mind," Leo pressed.

Raising an eyebrow, Jack asked, "Why do you care so much?"

"Well…let's say it's built into my system," Leo chuckled. At Jack's confused face, he explained, "I said I used to be a guardian angel. And a big part of being a guardian angel is naturally caring about people I don't even know. And getting them to talk about what's bothering them so I can help them fix it."

Jack gave a soft chuckle. "So, you used to be an angel who went around helping strangers who didn't know who you really were. Any chance you ran into three angels who drove around in a red Cadillac?"

"Very funny," Leo retorted, scoffing at the Touched By An Angel reference.

Chuckling, Jack replied, "Leo, thanks for the offer, but I'm okay. Really."

"Alright, alright," Leo huffed. "Though if it helps, I know what you're going through."

Feeling a small flash of anger, Jack snapped, possibly a bit too harshly, "You can't know. No one can know. How many people are put in the position where their only family is being attacked by some…oh. Sorry."

"Yeah," Leo sighed. "It's rough, isn't it? Your family is constantly being threatened by every creature of the Underworld and there's not one thing you can do about it. Worse, when a demon does attack you're shooed away, like some child who shouldn't be involved in something he doesn't understand."

Jack gaped at him. Whoa. It was like the guy was reading his mind. "Uh, yeah. Something like that. Um, you know, I'm going to see what's going on with Mr. B and the guys."

"Good idea. And I think I'm going to go back to the manor and see how the girls are doing," Leo said, standing up and walking towards the parking lot's exit.

Walking towards where Ned, Clu and Carey were standing in front of the bus door, Jack frowned when he noticed their sullen moods. "Hey…what happened?"

"The bus is totaled," Clu answered for his father, who was obviously speechless.

Carey nodded. "Completely, one hundred percent destroyed. In fact, that's the bathroom over there," he said, pointing to a corner where there was a large pile of rubble.

His mouth open in surprise, Jack surveyed the wreck site. True, the entire bus was charred and some of the back had blown off, but to him it seemed most of the damage was aesthetic. "Come on, Mr. B, there's nothing a little elbow grease won't fix."

"And a whole lot of money," Ned informed him. "We could probably scrape together the money from the concerts we've done already, but the entire engine is wrecked. It's a lot easier to buy a new bus."

Concern in his tone, Carey reminded him, "What about the rest of the tour? We've still got like, a ton more cities to get to."

Ned gave a frustrated groan. "Impossible. First of all, we'd have to go back to Colorado and get more clothes and stuff, not to mention how long it would take to find another bus big enough for all of us. And rescheduling all the concerts we'd miss would be complete chaos. I hate to say it, but Molly's going to have to cancel the rest of the tour."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Dad," Clu remarked, "I think the last thing Mrs. P is worried about is the tour."

Jack tuned out the rest of the conversation, shoving the bus door open and climbing what remained of the steps. He wasn't too worried about his safety – most of the smoke had cleared, and it wasn't like the cause of the original explosion had been a gas leak or anything.

And he wanted to see what was left. It'd make him feel better if his mother and sister hadn't been able to destroy everything with their bare hands.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Most of the furniture had been burnt to the ground. Jack found himself having to step over alarmingly high piles of rubble.

He would've turned back, but there was a soft glow coming from where Fi's room used to be. Curiosity getting the better of him, he managed to squeeze himself down the hallway and push open the door.

The source of the glow was near the window, where Fi's desk used to be. Jack was shocked when he realized it was the spell book Fi had gotten from their aunt.

Carefully tucking the book under his arm, he made his way back to Ned, Clu and Carey.