A/N: No clue what this one is about or if it's okay. If I remember right, AK and Ian wrote like, half of this without me. It's three-thirty AM, what do you people want from me! Right, so updates will be screwed from now on. Ian decided to stop writing for a time, and while we have half of season three done... it's mostly the middle half than the first half... four in the first half still in the works. Really sorry, you guys. Good news is that you still have half of season two to read. Heh, two to.

I need sleep.

Thank you to everyone to reviewed since the last time I thanked all of ya! Yay!

Episode 2.12: Copy Cat

Katie walked around the Wiccan store, picking things up here and there. The place smelled strongly of incense and there were black drapes hanging everywhere. "Do you need any help?" came a voice. Katie turned around. A young woman with red hair stood there. She wore all black and had many rings on her fingers. There was also a magnificent necklace with a large blue jewel on it around her neck.

"Oh, no I am just browsing... that is a wonderful necklace."

The woman smiled. "Oh thank you. My mother recently died... she always said that I could have this when she passed away. It's called a Talisman. She said that it would protect me from any evils. My name is Miranda by the way," she said, extending her hand.

Katie shook it. "My name is Katie. Katie King."

"Very nice to meet you."

"Um," Katie said, "I was wondering... could I take a picture of that Talisman? I am kinda starting a scrap book of artifacts."

Miranda smiled. "Sure, go ahead." Katie took out her Polaroid camera and snapped a shot of the Talisman. The picture came out and Katie put the camera away.

"Thank you," she said.

"No problem. Would you like to buy anything today?" Katie shook her head.

"I don't have much money with me, but I would like to come back. So I'll see you another time." Miranda nodded and Katie left the shop.

-x-

"HIYA!" Ian kicked the punch bag, spun around, and kicked it again. Kathy sat on the basement steps, watching.

"So when is this going to be the simple learning part?" Kath asked with little enthusiasm. "I'm ready to kick butt!" Kath said, jumping up and punching the punching bag. "Ow," she mumbled, waving her hand in pain. "Okay... maybe I should learn to crawl before I walk then, eh?" she said with a weak smile.

Ian nodded. Kathy had asked him the night before if Ian could teach her how to do what he did. "First," Ian said, walking over to a section of the basement where he had laid a mat down, "you need to learn the proper techniques. Come over here."

Kath stood up and walked over to Ian and the mat. She was very excited about this and only hoped Ian wouldn't hurt her too badly.

"Okay, now... hit me."

"What?" Kathy said.

"Just hit me." Kathy shrugged and then threw a punch. But in a split second Ian grabbed her hand, twisted and flipped Kathy over onto the mat. "Not bad," Ian said, standing over her. "First of all, you are too slow. You need to work on your speed. And you left your other arm just hanging there, leaving yourself open to an attack. Always have one arm ready to defend."

Kath rubbed her head. She stood up again, brushing herself off. "Right, right, right," she mumbled. Kath placed her arms up, fists in balls, in front her in a defensive stance. Kath quickly punched Ian in the chest and then jumped off the mat.

"Stay on the mat," Ian said.

"Easy for you to say," Kath mumbled, walking back onto the mat.

"Okay, now that I have seen your stance, and the way you move, we can begin." Ian went and pulled a very short wooden table (about a foot high) with candles and matches on it over onto the mat. "Now to be a good fighter you need to know how to clear your mind. The key to that is meditation." Ian lit the candles and then sat down cross-legged. "Well, sit down."

Kath looked at him oddly, but decided to sit down. "You aren't serious... are you?" Kath asked. Ian looked up at her from the table sternly.

"Quite serious," he said, his voice deep.

"Oookay then," Kath said apprehensively while crossing her legs.

"Alright. Now we start the brea-" There was the slam of the front door from upstairs.

"I'm home!" came Katie's call. A minute later the door to the basement opened and Katie came down the stairs. "What are you guys doing?" she asked.

Kathy stood up abruptly. "Uh, nothing. Ian was just showing me a little martial arts and we were just about to meditate."

"Meditation is a very important part. You guys don't see me do it 'cause I really only have the time for it late at night." Ian stood up as well. "So where have you been?" he asked.

"Well I was just out and I saw this Wiccan store. It is a part of us, so I decided to check it out. It has a bunch of cool stuff and I am going to go back tomorrow. But right now I am going to make some dinner and work on my scrap book. Have fun meditating, Kathy," Katie said, grinning. She then went up the stairs and closed the door behind her.

"Pay no attention to her," Ian said, sitting down again. Kathy sat and Ian held out his hands to her. "Now take my hands." Kath nervously took his hands into hers. "Okay," Ian said quietly. "Now we breathe."

-x-

Katie walked into her room with a bowel of soup and her purse. She set the soup down on her bedside table and then opened her purse. Katie took out the picture of the Talisman and examined it. It had turned out well. Katie went over to her book case and took out her new scrap book. She sat on her bed and opened it.

There were some pictures there already. The Book Of Shadows was there, and so were some things she had taken pictures of at a museum she had gone to with Kathy the day before. Katie stuck her new picture in the book and wrote the word Talisman under it. "There... this scrap book is beginning to fill up." Katie smiled and then put the scrap book away. Turning on her TV, she changed to the news and picked up her soup.

-x-

Ian opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of water. He handed one to Kathy and then closed the fridge door. "You did well for your first lesson. I want you to do some meditation tonight though. It really helps. Trust me." Ian opened his bottle and took a sip of water.

Kath took a long drink of water. "I will, Mr. King, I will," she said with a grin.

-x-

Ian knocked on Katie's door, lightly. It was getting pretty late and he wasn't sure if she was asleep. "Come in." Ian opened the door. Katie was sitting on her bed with a book. "Hi," she said.

"Hi. I just need a book to read and I thought you might have a good one."

"Go ahead," Katie said, motioning towards her book shelf. Ian went over and started to look at the books.

"Ah... what is this? Your scrap book?" Ian took it out and sat on the end of his sisters bed. He opened it and began to look at the pictures.

"Be careful with that. Don't smudge the pictures."

"I won't..." Ian looked at the one of the Talisman. "What's this?" Katie looked at the picture Ian was pointing at.

"Oh I got that one today. The lady at the Wiccan shop had that hanging around her neck and I asked if I could take a picture of it for my scrap book."

Ian nodded. "It's very beautiful..." Ian touched the picture and felt like he had just gotten an electric shock as he was pulled into a premonition.

There were flashes of a dark street with faint moonlight shining over it. A woman appeared. She was running, her curly hair flying behind her. Then there was a man... he grabbed the woman and stabbed her. The last thing Ian saw was the man ripping a necklace from the woman's neck.

"Whoa," Ian said, coming out of the vision.

"What? What did you see?" Katie asked him.

"Um... a dark street... and this woman was being attacked. Uh... this man stabbed her and then ripped something off of her neck." Ian looked down at the picture of the Talisman. "That... he took that."

"Was it night time?"

"Yeah."

"Was it tonight?"

"No... no I don't think so. The moon was out, and there is no moon tonight. Too many clouds. I think it happens tomorrow night."

Katie sighed. "Oh... poor Miranda. Her mom just died. We have to save her."

"Miranda?"

"The woman at the shop. She was the one wearing the Talisman... she said it was supposed to protect her. And she is Wiccan. It must have been a demon. The Talisman must have some sort of power."

Ian nodded. "Well it's getting late. We will figure out what to do tomorrow." He then got up and left the room without getting a book.

-x-

Kath walked into the kitchen briskly, taking a box of cereal, a bowel, and a spoon. Sitting down she smiled across the table at Katie, who was barely half awake. "How can you possibly be alive this early?" Katie asked, taking a bite of her cereal.

"I really don't know. Maybe there's more to that meditation stuff than what I thought," Kath said, pouring the cereal into the bowl. Ian then walked in. "Morning, Ian," Kath said enthusiastically.

Ian smiled. "Good morning. I am assuming you did the meditation thing last night?" Kath nodded happily and poured milk on her cereal, taking a huge bite. "See?" Ian said, sitting down at the table. "I told you it is a good thing to do. Now, down to business. Kathy, last night I had a premonition of a woman getting stabbed and her Talisman getting stolen. Katie said that she was the woman she met at the store. Miranda, was it?" Katie nodded. "Right, okay I am sure this guy was a demon. So he wants this Talisman for some reason. Now we have until tonight to prepare. Kathy I want you to check the Book Of Shadows for this Talisman. Katie will give you the picture of it."

Ian turned to Katie. "Kate, I want you to go back to that store today. Find out what you can about this Miranda and the Talisman. Where she got it and so on. I have to go to work. I'll be back around six. I'll tell Beth to handle the club. Be ready to give me the info you guys have gathered when I get back. Okay? Okay." Ian got up and grabbed his jacket and keys. "I'll see you guys later," he said, leaving.

"Aye, aye, Captain," Kath mumbled, taking another bite.

Katie got up and soon returned holding photo. "Here's the talisman." Kathy looked at the photo. She nodded and took a sip of orange juice. Taking a few fast bites, she took the photo and climbed the stairs to the attic.

Flipping through the pages, Kath looked at different demons and suddenly stopped on the picture of the talisman. "The Mirror Talisman," Kath read aloud to herself. "This Talisman was given the name of the Mirror Talisman because of the magnificent magic that it holds. It has the power to copy any active power that is used against it. An example is a fireball. If a witch, warlock, or demon would throw a fireball at the Talisman's owner, the Talisman would absorb the attack and then copy it. Anyone who possessed the Talisman from then on would have the power to throw fireballs. This Talisman lies in the hands of the Roberto family line as of now. Yet if it were to fall into enemy hands, chaos would break out." She nodded to herself.

"I'm going to the Wiccan store!" Katie called from downstairs.

Kath opened to her mouth to warn her sister of the Talisman's power, but she heard the door slam shut before she could let out a word. Kathy sighed. "Might as well give Ian call," she said, taking out her cell phone and dialing his number.

-x-

Ian sat at his desk at The Central, typing away on his computer. "And it is in my opinion that... no. It is in my honest observation that... no." Beep beep beep! Ian sighed and took his cell phone out of his jacket. "Hello?"

"Hey there, bro," Kath said. "Found our Talisman. It's the 'Mirror Talisman'," Kathy said. She then read the BOS page to him and plopped down on the couch. "How about that demon... what did he look like? Maybe I can find him and we can get a head start with that potion."

Ian sighed. "Sorry, it just all went by so fast."

"Well try to remember. Come on Ian."

"Kathy, this power is not something I can call up anytime and play back or pause or something!"

"Sorry... I didn't mean—"

"No... I'm sorry. Just a little tired. Okay, well you should go to work. I need to finish up this article. Okay?"

"Okay, I'll see you later."

"Right, bye." Ian hung up and turned back to his computer. "In truth I say... Dang it!"

-x-

Katie stepped inside the Wiccan shop for the second time. It smelled just as strongly of incense as the day before. She looked around for Miranda but did not see her. "Excuse me," Katie asked the woman at the counter, who had short blonde hair and wore a lot of make-up. "Is Miranda here today?"

The girl shook her head. "No, it is her day off."

"Um... do you know where she is? I really need to talk to her." The girl nodded and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen.

"Here is her address. You can most likely find her there."

Katie took the paper and smiled. "Thank you."

-x-

Cronan watched Miranda through the window of her home. The woman was meditating and she had her eyes closed. "The Talisman will be mine. She does not even know of its power. It will be easy to take it from her." There was the slam of a car door and Cronan turned to the street. A young woman with brunette hair had just stepped out of a red Mazda. Cronan sensed powerful magic in her. "A witch... what is she doing here?" Cronan then ducked down into the bushes.

Katie got up to the door of Miranda's house and rang the bell. A moment later the door opened and there stood Miranda. "Oh, hello. Can I help you?"

"Hi," Katie said. "Um... actually. Well... can I come in?" Miranda nodded and opened the door wider for Katie to enter. She did so and looked around. The place smelled just like the Wiccan shop, and had the same attire as well. Miranda led Katie into the living room and asked her to sit down. Katie did and then was about to speak, but Miranda spoke first.

"Can I get you some tea?" Katie shook her head.

"No. But thank you. Um... I wanted to ask you more about that Talisman of yours. Uh, did your mother ever tell you anything about it?"

Miranda stared at Katie for a second then said, "Only that it was very special and that it had been passed down through many generations. Why do you ask?"

Katie sighed. "Okay, let's just cut to the chase. I am a witch. A real one. With powers and everything. My brother and sister are also witches. And my brother had a premonition when he touched the picture of the Talisman of you getting attacked and the Talisman being stolen."

A frown was plastered on Miranda's face, but it slowly faded. "A premonition? That is a wonderful gift to have... very rare... very powerful."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I need to take you back to my house so we can protect you."

Miranda laughed. "Ah, I am safest here. And the Talisman will protect me as my mother said it would."

Katie rolled her eyes. "Look, lady. If I hadn't come here then you would have not had a chance. You would have been killed. When my brother gets a premonition that means we need to protect the innocent that is in it. You HAVE to come with me. Trust me... you will be safest at my house. We are powerful witches. We can protect you."

"...What is your name again?"

"Katie. Katie King."

Realization came upon Miranda's face. "You... you are from the King witch line. Yes... I have heard of you." She nodded and got to her feet. "You are right," she said. "I will be safest with you."

Katie grinned. "Alright. Let's get going."

"NO!" cried a voice. SMASH! The window blew in as someone slammed through it. He rolled to his feet and stood up. "My name is Cronan. And you are not going anywhere." His eyes glowed red and white hot beams blasted from them, hitting Katie in the chest, and knocking her over. Cronan turned to Miranda. "Give me the Talisman." Miranda held the Talisman in front of her, holding it up like a shield.

"Never!" she cried. Cronan pulled an athame out of his jacket and threw it at Miranda.
"No!" Katie yelled, throwing up her hands. The athame froze in midair. Katie then flicked her hand and sent it flying into Cronan's arm.

"AH!" he yelled with pain. Katie took this moment and ran over to Miranda. She grabbed her hand and orbed them both out to the car. A second later they sped off down the street.

-x-

"Ugh!" Kathy moaned as she looked through her closet while curling her blonde hair with a curling iron. "There's absolutely nothing in here to wear!" She shuffled through the clothes. Finally pulling out a brightly multi-colored spring dress, she set the curling iron down and but it on. Placing the final touches on her makeup, Kath grabbed her purse and started downstairs.

Just then Katie ran in with some strange woman behind her. "Um, Katie. Haven't we talked about bringing strangers home?" Just then the woman turned to look at her, and Kath saw the Talisman. "Oh. Right. Talisman." Kath hurried down the stairs, looking at her watch as she did so. "Well as delightful as it's been, I've got to get to work."

Katie grabbed Kath's arm. "What am I supposed to do with her?" Miranda had wandered into the living room.

Kathy shrugged. "I don't know. Just make sure nothing happens to her."

Katie glared. "I'm serious."

Kath sighed and set her jacket down that she had taken off the rack and walked into the living room. "My name's Kathryn, and I see you are the Talisman's holder, and we're going to do our very best to make sure that whatever demon is after you will not succeed. Now see, I have to pay some of the bills around here and must go to work, but I'm sure we'll get to know each other quite well when I return." Miranda looked at her in slight confusion and slight hesitant fear. "Alright then. I'm sorry to have thoroughly freaked you out now." Kath hesitated and then walked back to Katie in the hallway. "Look, I'm already going to be late, and I'll have to work over time if you make me stay any longer!" Katie sighed and then nodded. Kathy grabbed the jacket she had laid down and left for work.

-x-

Ring ring! Ian grabbed up the receiver of the phone on his desk. "Hello?"

"Ian, it's Beth. I am not sure if I can handle the club all by myself tonight. I mean, what if something goes wrong? What if I mess up?"

Ian sighed and rolled his eyes at the same time. "Beth, look. You will do fine. How many times have I left the club on urgent business, left you in charge, and everything is fine?"

"Um... a lot?"

"Yes. A lot. You will do a wonderful job. I am sure of it."

"Thanks Ian."

"Any time." Ian hung up the phone and was just about to continue working when his cell phone rang. "Hello?" he said, answering it.

"It's Katie... look, I need you to come home. I have Miranda here and I know what the demon looks like."

Ian frowned. "How?"

"Because he attacked us at Miranda's house."

"Oh. Well what about Kathy?"

"She really had to go to work. Ian, I need you. Miranda is ecstatic about us being real witches. She is in the kitchen right now checking out all our potion ingredients." Ian heard a faint crash and Katie yelled, "Hey! Stop that! Put that down! Ian, look, just come home now." Katie hung up.

Ian sighed and then turned off his phone. He quickly transferred his work onto a disk and then picked up his jacket. Ian walked out of his office and passed Derek. "I'll be working from home for the rest of the day. Bye!"

-x-

Kath ran into the elevator and pushed '3' countless times. "Come on, come on!" she mumbled to herself. The doors closed and she went up. When the doors opened again, they opened with Tony standing in front of them. Kath gasped in surprise.

"Why, good morning, Kathryn," he said, slowly.

"Heh. Morning, sir. Just a little family mishap, I'm so sorry. It won't happen again..." Kath paused. "...For a while... at least." Tony shook his head and got on the elevator. Kath sighed and went to her office, slinging her purse into an empty chair beside her desk.

"Good morning." Kath jumped at Tobias' voice behind her.

"It is not a good morning. Not, not, not." Kath sighed, placing a hand on her head.

"Why isn't it?" Tobias asked with a laugh.

"Well wouldn't you know, my favorite outfits are either at the cleaners or in the washing machine? And then—" She looked over his shoulder to check for anyone. "And then," Kath continued whispering, "Katie brought some lady over and we have to protect her. It has to do with a talisman. Something about that some demon is after it, but any ways, Katie brought her over. I'm just hoping that we don't have to do anymore redecorating when I get home, if you know what I mean."

Tobias nodded and Kath walked around to her chair and sat back. "Well good luck with that. Hey, just a little fact, but ever since you moved in with them, I've had a lot less trouble in that department." Kath frowned in confusion. "I haven't been attacked by you-know-what's in weeks. Thanks!" Kath shot him a look and took out some sketches while he went back to his office.

"Dang Power Of Three," Kath mumbled under her breath. She quickly shook her head. "What am I saying? Dang the Power Of Three, yeah, whatever. Without the other two of the three, you'd be dead, genius." Suddenly Tony appeared in front of her and she stopped mumbling. "Something I can do for you, sir?" Kath picked up a pencil quickly and traced over some of the already drawn lines.

"No, no. I was just seeing that you were prompt on getting on the job. If you come in late anymore, Kathryn, I may have to do something about your end-of-the-year bonus."

Kath nodded, reluctantly. "Yes, sir. I'll have it figured out as soon as possible." Tony nodded and walked out. "Yep, dang the Power Of Three. Sometimes," Kathy mumbled while continuing on traced lines.

-x-

Ian walked into the manor and hung up his coat. "Hello! Anyone home?" He went into the kitchen to see Katie sitting there sipping on coffee and Miranda stood in the center of the room, frozen. Ian gave his sister a look.

"What! It was like she was a totally different person. I think that since she now knows that all the witch stuff is real... she just became so happy. She has been driving me nuts."

Ian tried not to smile. "Well unfreeze her. We have work to do." Katie groaned and waved her hand, making Miranda unfreeze. The red head looked confused.

"How... how did you get over there? And where did you come from?" she asked, glancing at Ian.

"I froze you," Katie said. "Now come on. Let's move it. We have to find that demon before he attacks." They all headed upstairs and entered the attic. Katie opened the BOS while Ian followed Miranda to a couch and sat down.

"I am just so fascinated that real powers are... well, real. I mean I believe in Wicca and all that... but it is not strong magic likes yours. Now, I have seen Katie's powers... and I know you have premonitions. I envy you for that... I would so love to see into the future."

Ian flashed a fake smile. "It is not as great as you might think."

Miranda frowned. "It isn't?"

"Nope. See, usually when I get a premonition, someone dies. Not that fun to see."

Miranda nodded slowly, her curly red locks catching the sunlight and making her hair a beautiful golden red color. "What other powers do you have?"

"Well I can blow things up. Which comes in very useful when you don't have a vanquish on hand. And I can levitate."

"And," Katie said from the center of the room, "he is very annoying. Which is like a whole 'nother power in itself."

Ian smiled. "That is true." After a few more minutes of talking with Miranda about the many demons they had fought, Katie let out a joyous cry.

"I found him! I found Cronan." Ian and Miranda went to stand next to Katie as she began to read. "Cronan is a mysterious demon, with many clever tricks up his sleeve. He is rarely seen because he is always in hiding, making evil plans to raise him in the ranks of the Underworld. His plans rarely fail, and many fear him. Cronan uses his heat beam eyes to blast enemies to the ground then kills them with an athame that he made himself. Since not many have encountered Cronan there is no known vanquish."

Katie sighed. "Typical," she said. "Well Ian, we will just have to see if your power is enough to take him out. If not... I can make a potion, or you can make a spell."

Ian nodded. "We should call Kathy though. We might need her."

-x-

Kath held up a finished sketch and sighed, laying it back down and erasing. Just then her desk phone rang. "Kathryn Hughes, how may I help you?"

"Kath, this is Katie, you need to come home. Cronan is on the loose, and he could be anywhere, so we may need your help."

Kath looked up doubtfully from her desk. Just then Tony walked in, holding some papers and patiently waited for her to get off the phone. She smiled sweetly at him. "Um yes, important client, I'll be there soon."

"What? Are you sure you took your medicine this morning?"

"Yes, dearest customer. I shall see you soon," she said, gruffly at the end, hanging up the phone.

"Oh, who was that?" Tony asked.

"Um, you know, just another model was found. I'm going to go take a look at her at lunch, or rather now."

"Alright, well I just got some faxes for you, so if you can sign here..." Kath signed and picked up her purse.

#Liar, Liar, pants on fire.# Tobias said, telepathically.

#Yeah, well I've got demon problems, so my pants very well maybe be on fire by the next time I see you,# Kath telepathed back, smiling and walking out.

-x-

"Okay, I'm here!" Kath called, hanging her jacket over Ian's.

"Attic!" Katie and Ian yelled.

Kath jogged up the stairs. "This better be good, otherwise our house payment will bring us further into debt."

Ian turned as Kathy walked into the room. "Oh it is good. Well... bad for us. But you know what I mean."

Katie then told Kath about the demon and how there was no vanquish. "So," Ian said, "Unless we find Cronan and kill him before he gets the Talisman... we could be in big trouble. Much more than financial trouble."

Kath nodded and began to pace. "Right, well financial trouble seems to be weighing out in my mind, no offense-" Kath looked at the woman.

"Miranda," she said, filling in Kath's gap.

"Right, no offense, Miranda. So have we scryed for him yet, or are we just going to stand here and wait?"

Ian frowned. "We don't have anything of his to scry for him. But I will do a general scrying of demons in the area."

"Okay then. Get a move on." Kath sat down on the couch as Ian went to his room to go the map and crystal.

-x-

Cronan had tracked Miranda and the witch to a suburban area. The house was large... a manor. Cronan sensed great power coming from the house. Not only the Talisman... the witches. They were strong. This would make his job a lot harder.

-x-

Ian came back into the attic with the map and crystal. He set the map down on a table and started to spin the crystal over it. But the crystal spun erratically and then whipped out of Ian's hand and fell to the floor.

"Whoa... what is up with that?" Kathy asked.

"It must be the Talisman affecting it. I read in the Book before that you should not scry with magical artifacts in the vicinity. It messes with the crystal's power," Ian said.

"Hmm. Then Miranda and I will go downstairs and make some potions to help us fight Cronan. Come down when you find him," Katie told her two other siblings, then pulled Miranda down to the kitchen.

Ian picked up the crystal from the floor and then began to scry again.

-x-

Outside, Cronan was walking around the manor. He looked into a window and saw Miranda and the witch he had fought in there making potions.

-x-

"Miranda, put that down, will you?" Katie said impatiently. She was almost done with the current potion, and Miranda was about to ruin it.

"So what are the names of the powers you have?" she asked, walking around the center island, looking at all of the potion ingredients for what had to have been the third time.

Katie sighed. "I have Temporal Stasis, which is freezing objects and people. Orbing or teleporting. And telekinesis, moving things with my mind." The potion blew a puff of smoke into her face with a loud bang. "Well, that one's done."

"That is so cool..." Miranda breathed.

Once again Katie sighed while putting the potion into three vials. She liked the Miranda she met at the Wiccan store rather than the one she had to put up with now.

-x-

Upstairs in the attic the crystal had just landed. "Got something," he said to Kathy. He looked at the address. "Oh no... he's in the house!"

Down in the kitchen Cronan appeared right behind Miranda. He stabbed her and then ripped the Talisman off her, putting it around his neck. Miranda fell to the floor, blood spilling out of her. She was dead.

Katie spun around at the sound of the dull thud of metal entering flesh. She raised her hands to freeze the demon, not knowing of the Talisman's powers. The Talisman absorbed the power, making the defense useless.

Ian and Kathy ran in just as Katie tried to freeze Cronan. "Katie, no!" Ian yelled. Cronan saw Ian and Kathy and then disappeared. "Oh no... he has the Talisman. We're doomed."

"Well will someone tell me what the Talisman does? No one told me... yet," Katie finished weakly. She had knelt down and checked Miranda's pulse. There was none.

"It absorbs any power used against it. Since you tried to freeze him, it absorbed it, and now Cronan can freeze things as long as he has the Talisman," Kath explained.
Ian walked over to Katie and kneeled down. "What are we going to do with her?" Ian asked, motioning to Miranda

"Great. This is just perfect. Now we have a demon who we can't use our powers against, and a dead body to take care of!" Katie said, angry that she had lost an innocent.

Ian rubbed his sister's back lightly. "Look, there was nothing you could do. We have lost innocents before."

"Yes, but that doesn't change anything," Katie replied bitterly. She got up and went over to the stove. "I'll make some more potions," she said in a monotone voice.

Kath shared a glance with Ian and then walked out of the room. She walked back into the attic and began to swirl the crystal around the map. The grim presence was just too much to handle downstairs.

Ian stared at Miranda's cold body. He reached out and touched her arm. Instantly the whole body crumpled and turned to dust. "Oh... oh my."

"What now?" Katie asked, turning back around to see the pile of ashes where Miranda was. "Ian! What the hell did you do!"

"I just touched her... and this happened. I think... I think we should just get rid of this stuff. There is no way we could explain this to the police... they will now just think she had gone missing."

"Fine. Whatever. Clean it up, will you?" she said, turning back around to make the potions rather than think about losing an innocent.

A little while later Ian walked into the attic. Kathy was sitting at the table, scrying. "Find anything?"

"No," Kathy said, sighing.

Ian nodded. "I think that since he is wearing the Talisman we won't be able to find him. But I bet that he will come back here to kill us." Ian sat down. "And we can't use our powers against him so we are pretty much doomed."

"Well thanks for the bad news. I'm sure Katie's potions will work." Kath laid the crystal down. "If not, I don't know what to do. I guess a good 'ole power of three spell." Kath shrugged.

"I'm not sure if that will be enough. He has that Talisman now, meaning he can copy any power used against him. How many powers do you think he will take before we go up against him again? It could be hundreds. So we have to find him and kill him before he has the chance to gain to many powers. The only new power he should have at the moment is Katie's freezing power. And he can't freeze us." Ian got up and went over to the map and crystal. "Yet we can't scry for him... so what do we do?"

"Let's summon him," Katie said, coming into the room. In her hands she held a bowel that was full of Miranda's ashes. She set it down on the center of one of the tables and brushed her hair out of her eyes.

"Summon him, huh?" Ian said. "And what do we do when he gets here? We can't use our powers."

"You can still use your levitation power against him. And you have your martial arts abilities and have been teaching them to Kathy. Also, I have some good potions. We can beat this guy."

Kathy smiled. "Kate is right. We have been up against tougher demons than this one. And if we can get the Talisman from him... he's screwed."

"Right," Ian said, nodding. "Okay... let's get to work."

-x-

"Prepare to die, witch." Cronan moved in on the young witch he had backed into a corner. She had already tried to use her power to create light spheres against him, and now one hovered in his hand.

But just as he was about to throw it, Cronan screamed and disappeared in a whirling wind. He reappeared a moment later in the attic of the manor. Ian, Katie, and Kathy stood in a circle around him. "Welcome back," Ian said. "Not." He then levitated into the air and gave a sharp kick to Cronan's chest, knocking him back several feet. He crashed into a chair and groaned in pain. "Kate, now."

Katie threw a potion bottle, hitting Cronan in the stomach who was laying on the floor, splintered pieces of wood all around. The potion contents burned through his shirt and his skin, making Cronan cry out in pain. He stumbled to his feet as Kathy came towards him.

"Take this!" She brought up her arms and then threw a swift punch, connecting with the demon's jaw. She then brought in her other fist, hitting him in the gut. Cronan doubled over, grunting. "Okay, take him Ian!"

Kathy stepped aside and Ian was there. He spun around and let loose a kick, sending Cronan into the wall. "Had enough?"

Cronan smirked. "Not even." He shot out his hands, like Katie did when she used her temporal statis. The room froze... but the siblings didn't. "What? How come your not frozen?"

Katie smiled. "Little thing about that power. Can't freeze good witches with it. Sorry."

Cronan growled, but then sent red hot beams from his eyes. "Whoa!" Ian shot into the air, avoiding the attack, which instead scorched the opposite wall. Ian landed next to Katie and whispered, "Throw a smoke potion."

Katie did and Cronan was engulfed in a cloud of thick smoke. "Go Kath," Katie mouthed to her sister.

Kathy nodded and ran into the cloud. There was the sound of a struggle, but Kathy came out a moment later, Talisman in hand. She came over to stand next to her siblings and waited.

The smoke cleared and Cronan stood there, seething with anger. "You... you have the Talisman."

Katie snorted. "Damn right we do." She then swung her arm, sending Cronan flying sideways and into a table.

As he stood Kathy sent a beam from her hand, pushing the demon back. "Ian? Blow him up."

Ian nodded. "Will do."

"No!" Cronan yelled. But Ian shot out his hands and Cronan exploded into a thousand pieces, the fragments disappearing as they hit the floor.

Ian dropped his hands to his sides and looked at his sisters. "Well... we did it."

-x-

"The velocity of time... turns her voice into... sugar water." Cibbo Matto began to play Sugar Water at King's Corner. Near the stage, Ian and his sisters sat in a booth, sipping their drinks and tapping their feet to the music.

"I'm on a concrete way. The wind is blowing to the north-northwest. It smells like sands of... the southern island. When a black cat crosses my path... A woman in the moon is singing to the earth. A woman in the moon is singing to the earth. La la la, la la la la la la. La la la, la la la la la la. La la la, la la la la la la. La la la, la la la la la la."

As the band continued to play, Ian turned to his sisters and smiled. "I just love to come here after a stressful day of fighting demons. We get to relax and be... normal."

Katie nodded. "Yes, we do deserve some relaxing time after what happened. But remember, we lost an innocent. I don't think I can fully relax with that on my mind."

"I know how you feel, Kate," Kathy said. "But we can't save everyone. All we can do is fight the best we can. And hope that we won't lose anyone else any time soon."

"I know," Katie said quietly. "But I can't just sit here right now and just try to relax." She set her drink down and got up.

"Where are you going?" Ian asked.

"I have to take care of something." And with that she walked away.

-x-

Katie stood out in the backyard behind the manor, the moon shining brightly overhead. In her hands she held the bowel of Miranda's ashes. She had just buried the Talisman and put several protective spells around it.

"Miranda... may your spirit live on forever. May your magic continue to flow. And may we never forget you. Blessed be." Katie then threw the ashes up into the air, letting the wind carry them away. Katie looked up at the moon, smiled, and then turned to go back inside.