Guardian from Above
Part Two
By: Silverstar
Hello everyone! I want to thank all of you for reviewing and especially Trunks Saotome and fairies_dust for emailing me when the site was down. Thanks a lot! Oh, and some of you noticed that most of the story is in Paige's point of view. That is because I'm focusing around her and her growing relationship and understanding with Prue. I have put Piper and Phoebe's points of views in only so all of you will know how they feel at certain parts in the story. All right, I hope you enjoy the second part. Please review!
Oh, and I forgot to put a disclaimer on the last entry so this is for both parts.
Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed or any of the characters of the show. So mote it be
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*(PIPER)*
Uhhhg... I slowly opened my eyes and looked up to see Leo kneeling above me. He caressed my cheek with his hand for a moment before getting up and disappearing from my sight. I shook my head slowly as I realized that I was fully healed and that the freeze on the demon was losing power. Concentrating at once, the freeze was quickly put back into place and I relaxed a little. I struggled to sit up and then an arm was offered down to me. I gladly took it and gave Phoebe a smile as she helped me to my feet. Remembering the demon once again, I pulled out my potions and took hold of Phoebe's hand. We confidently walked towards the demon, Paige and Leo behind us for back up.
"Can you unfreeze his head?" Phoebe asked, giving me a slide glance while keeping one eye on the frozen demon.
"I'll try," I stated while giving the potions to Phoebe and gathering my strength. With a twitch of my hand and one eye kept on the victim I released his head from the freeze and held his body in place. The demon looked about with a dazed and confused expression for a few moments before realizing that he couldn't move his body. He then went wild, thrashing his head every which way and yelling at the top of his lungs. Demons did _not_ like to feel helpless...yet this one was. Paige walked up next to Phoebe on my left and Leo put his arm around me from the right. We would do whatever it took to get the information we wanted out of this demon.
"You could start by giving us your name," Phoebe demanded in a voice that made the demon fall silent.
"Never!" he screeched and ended his sneer by spitting at us...But Paige had a few surprises down her sleeve. She mentally called for the spit and threw it back into the demon's face.
"We are in charge here mister and you _will_ answer all of our questions!" she demanded in a manner that I had never seen her use. I twitched my head back to see the demon's response and he fell silent but kept a proud and determined face. Meanwhile, I struggled to keep the freeze together and mentally hoped that I could just blow him up soon and rest. Leo tightened his grip around me, sensing my frustration.
"I can see you think that you will get away," I said softly, yet sternly, to the demon dressed in black. "But you _will_ not until you have answered our questions. Hmmmnnn...Not persuaded yet?" With that I took my left hand, flicked it forward, and blew up all the hairs on his head. He looked up stunned and I saw Phoebe and Paige smile at the sight of the bald demon trying to see where his hair had gone. "Well," I mused. "Let's just say that that can just as easily happen to every other part of your body, and that I can make it _very_ painful." I eyed the demon with a heartless and merciless glare, and saw a glimpse of fear and uncertainty in his features.
"So how about your name?" Phoebe once again demanded. I twitched my hand as a warning and he reluctantly replied.
"My name is Falfar," he sneered, giving all of us a sinister and malicious look.
"Well, *Falfar*," Phoebe sneered back, "How about telling us who sent you?" The demon now known as Falfar looked at Phoebe and I could tell he was about to spit again.
"Not one move unless I tell you!" I demanded, twitching my right hand and blowing up his black tie. He held still but did not answer. At this point I was getting very tired, but I tried my best to keep a stern and strong countenance. This was when Paige did the unexpected.
"Knife!" she yelled out, calling for the weapon that was in the demons frozen hand and then holding it with her powers up at his neck. "Answer her Fal or else you _will_ die very slowly and painfully, just as my sister over there has already warned you."
"How do I know I will be set free after the information is given?" he asked quietly. I smiled, knowing that he would tell us what we wanted with some persuasion.
"That's just a chance you are going to have to take!" Paige replied in an angry and fearful tone. I glanced over at her to see that she held her arm and hand out straight and non-moving to keep the knife at Falfar's throat.
"Tell us who sent you!" Phoebe demanded again, eying Falfar with distrust. He hesitated and I couldn't keep the freeze up much longer, so I twitched my hand and blew up one of his fingers. He yelled out in pain but fell silent when I lifted my right hand towards him.
"Okay, I'll tell you!" he screeched. "Please, just don't hurt me." I lowered my hand an inch and nodded at him. This was when he looked at Phoebe, the only one who couldn't hurt him, and started to talk. "As I said, my name is Falfar and I was hired by the mistress demon Dalei to slay the Charmed Ones," he said with the most dignity possible.
"And who is this Dalei?" Phoebe asked. She had taken the role of questioner since Paige and I were concentrating with our powers and trying to keep them in control. Actually...Paige looked pretty confident and worry-free over there...an expression I knew all too well.
"Dalei is the most powerful and beautiful mistress demon who..." He hesitated and as I was about to again blow another finger off Paige pushed the knife in so his neck started to bleed. "Okay, okay!" he exclaimed franticly. "She is the most powerful mistress demon who seeks the throne of Queen. She wants *you three* _dead_ in order to gain favor with the all High and Powerful Source. She _will_ become His Queen when she has destroyed the Charmed Ones, or captured them for Him." With this he laughed at us all and looked straight into all of our eyes. "There is nothing you can do even with this information. She will come for you one by one when you least expect it...She will be triumphant!" With this I had had enough. Apparently, so had Paige and Phoebe, for they were shaking with hatred. At the same moment Paige shoved the knife into Falfar's throat, Phoebe threw one of her potions, and I blew him to pieces. The knife fell to the floor covered in the demon's blood.
"That guy got on my nerves!" Phoebe proclaimed and Paige nodded at her. I tried to nod as well, but dizziness over-swept me and I fell into Leo's arms and sank to the floor. This conversation had gone on far longer than my powers were able to hold.
"Piper!" I heard Leo say as the outline of his face became fuzzy and darkness surrounded me. My last thought was that this was going to be a long and terribly difficult battle. I wish Prue were here to help me through it...
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*(PAIGE)*
The knife fell with a plang and my head was swimming. What had I just done? Sure, Piper was known to get angry at demons and blow them up and such, and I don't blame her. They are evil creatures that are alive to kill us and hurt others. And I know it was getting to Phoebe because she has issues with the Source and how He is after Cole...But what did I just do? I had never...ever spoken that fiercely to anyone, and I had never been able to use my powers to hold an object in place like that. The adrenalin was still pumping through my body and I stared at the knife in which I had used my powers on...Why were my powers so much stronger? I didn't feel like myself...Were my powers developing because Prue's soul was linked with mine, and she could move things with her mind as well? This whole soul-bonding thing was becoming a nuisance. I didn't even understand myself half the time and now I had Prue's emotions mixed in with mine...*sigh*
I heard Phoebe say something to me about the demon and nodded. I was about to go and pick up the knife when I heard Piper gasp for air and I turned to her. She fell into Leo's arms and as he lay her on the floor she closed her eyes and passed out. Phoebe and I ran over to see what was wrong and bent down next to Leo.
"What's wrong Leo?" Phoebe asked. "What happened to her?" Leo put his hands over her head and the familiar yellow glow was emitted from them. After a few seconds he sighed in relief.
"She'll be fine," he said and gave us both a reassuring smile. "Piper just used more of her power than she had. I don't think she's ever held a freeze that long while concentrating to keep the demon's head unfrozen and blowing things up. She just passed out...Her body's way of letting her recover her strength." I put my hand on Piper's forehead and felt it warm from the battle. Mine was like that as well. And suddenly, I realized how worn and tired I was. The adrenalin was gone and I was myself again. I faltered as I tried to get up and Phoebe gave me her hand.
"Nice trick with the knife Paige," she said with a smile. "When did you learn how to do that?"
"I don't know," I replied as I got to my feet. She saw my uneasiness, so as Leo carried Piper to the couch, she helped me to a chair. "Wow," I said after I sat down. "I didn't realize how exhausted I was until now." Phoebe looked at me with concern and curiosity, but I looked towards Leo and ignored her stare.
"Well, now we know whom we're up against," Phoebe said, and Leo nodded. "Do you think you could go check with the Elders and find out all you can about this Dalei?"
"I don't know if I should leave you guys right now," Leo said with concern in his voice. "Piper's down, Paige is worn, and you won't have much of a chance if another demon attacks."
"We'll be fine," I said suddenly. He looked at me with uncertainty. "This Falfar guy just died, so it will take a while before Dalei finds out. We have a few hours at the least before we have to worry." Leo looked at Phoebe, and she nodded, so he consented. After leaning down to kiss Piper on the forehead he orbed out.
"All right sister, we have work to do," Phoebe said as she pulled me from my chair.
"What about Piper? We can't leave her alone in here," I replied, looking at my fainted sister.
"Well, I'm going to go get The Book Of Shadows," Phoebe told me as she headed up the stairs. "I'll be right back down. You get that knife and put it in the kitchen. We're going to want to make a potion with the blood...maybe three times as powerful as Piper's blasts. It might work on Dalei." With that Phoebe disappeared upstairs and I went to pick up the knife. I looked at it sitting in my palm and realized how deadly it was. I could feel the dark energy radiating off of it, for many demons put spells on these to make them more powerful and lethal. Shivering, and taking one last look at Piper, I went into the kitchen.
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*(PHOEBE)*
The big Book in hands, I hurried downstairs and into the living room. After checking on Piper, I pulled a blanket over her and went into the kitchen. There I found Paige surrounded by herbs and pots, making a vanquishing potion that we had made numerous times during our career as witches. This time I saw her putting in extra amounts of everything for a more powerful effect. It seemed to be working, for as I sat down and opened The Book to search for Dalei I heard an explosion and looked up to see Paige waving smoke out of her face and coughing.
"I think you're doing it right," I suggested, giving her a smile. This was one of those times when I was glad that I wasn't a potions expert and that I was good with The Book.
"Thanks," she said sarcastically before returning to her herbs and boiling potions. I looked at her and thought that she looked so different now then when we were confronting the demon. During the battle she had been surrounded with an air of superiority, confidence, and determination that I had never seen her portray. It was almost as if...No, what am I thinking? I have a demon to look up anyways. With that, I continued to flip through The Book. A few minutes went by until I found her: Dalei, most feared mistress of the underworld.
"Look here Paige," I said as I started to read and she walked over. "Dalei, an evil mistress who allies herself with the most powerful evil. Once she is bind to a husband she must stay with him for a period of one thousand years, and may not leave him even in his death. If her husband happens to die before the one thousand years are up then she is put into a state or rest next to His tomb and is guarded by her most trustworthy offspring."
"Well, it sounds like her period of a thousand years is up and she's thinking that the Source will be the best choice for her next husband." I nodded and leaned over to show Paige the picture of her. A tall and young woman looked at us from the pages of the book with waist length black hair and purple eyes.
"It also says here that she will confront each chosen husband and she must complete the task he assigns before she gains his heart...Well, I think she's been in her state of rest too long. These demons she's been sending won't be able to hurt us," I said, looking up at Paige for her opinion.
"But they will weaken us." I turned to see Piper standing in the doorway. She looked weary, but I also got the impression that her strength was returning.
"Piper!" I reprimanded. "You should be lying down." I helped her into a seat and sat down across from her.
"Don't worry about me Phoebe, I just overdid myself a little. Besides, with Paige's potions exploding I woke up, and I couldn't resist not listening to what you found on Dalei."
"Speaking of potions, do you think you could check on mine?" Paige asked while getting up and walking over to the stove. "Make sure I did them right?" Piper nodded and she was once again active in the kitchen with Paige as her student. I sighed, jealous of their connection while working together...Cooking just never came too easily for me. As they worked I starred at the picture of Dalei and wondered about her life. What kind of person could live the life of a mistress, and then after doing everything for Him, lying in a state of rest when He was dead until the time came for her to find another...Only evil and sinister creatures could live such a life. I know I'd die of heartache if I lived like that, never having the love of Cole or my sisters. At the very thought of him I felt a breeze and he shimmered into the room right next to me.
"Cole!" I happily exclaimed as I leaped from my chair and into his arms. He returned the hug with affection and then pulled me away.
"I can see you three are making potions. Which demon are we after?" he inquired. I smiled at his use of the word 'we.' It was his way of telling me that he was in this just as much as my sisters and I were. It was also his way of telling me that he was afraid for my safety and he wanted to stay near by. I did not mind that at all.
"We're after a mistress demon named Dalei," Page said, coming up to us. "Know anything about her?" she said with contempt. I looked at Paige with confusion. I thought she had gotten over all the bad feelings she had for Cole's demon side. Apparently, I was wrong, for she didn't look too happy to see him.
"I've heard of her," he replied. "But I've never seen her myself. She hasn't been active for the span of my lifetime." I stared in shock as Paige looked towards the ground and then walked out of the room.
"What was _that_ all about?!" I asked Piper while putting my arm around Cole's waist.
"I have no idea," Piper responded. "She may still be nervous from the battle though..." I didn't buy Piper's attempt to understand Paige's actions and I don't think she herself bought them either. Paige was anything but nervous in that battle. "I'll talk to her if you want," Piper finally said to me after a moment of silence.
"Thanks," I said with relief as Piper took the potions off the stove to cool and I proceeded to fill Cole in on the happenings of the day.
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*(PAIGE)*
I finally felt like myself again, and I was grateful. I guess Prue never did much potion cooking with Piper, for although I was tired, I didn't feel her soul as much now...as I had during the battle. And I was glad for it. I liked my own head with my own thoughts and feelings. This was what I was thinking when Cole shimmered into the room. All of the sudden I had a rush of emotions. My distrust and wariness of him that I had suppressed and gotten over came rushing to the surface. I knew Prue was influencing my thoughts without meaning to, and I tried to control myself, but it didn't work. I looked at Cole with an expression that must have been scorn and dislike before approaching him. I tried to stop, but the emotions were too much to bear.
"We're after a mistress demon named Dalei," I said, while walking up to Cole and Phoebe. "Know anything about her?" This I said this with contempt and sarcasm...I couldn't believe I had just acted like that!
"I've heard of her," Cole replied. "But I've never seen her myself. She hasn't been active for the span of my lifetime." He looked at me with a confused expression and Phoebe had one of shock on her face. I couldn't face them now! Not after what I had just said to Cole! I looked down at the ground and tried to take control of myself. When I was confident that I would have no more outbursts I turned around and walked out of the room.
"Why me?!..." I mumbled to myself as I went over to the window and sat on the sill. "Why did she pick me?!" I muttered, referring to Prue.
"Who picked you for what?" I jumped with surprise and turned around to see Piper standing right behind me.
"Oh...No one," I said quickly while getting up and walking across the room. She followed, just as I thought she would, and I sat down on the couch. Piper took a seat on the table in front of me and looked into my eyes. I was afraid of what she would see there, so I looked down at the floor and said nothing.
"Paige," Piper said with insistence and concern. I looked up at her and she put her hand on my shoulder. The touch of my sister who cared for me deeply relaxed me, and I kept silent to hear what she wanted. "Phoebe and I are worried about you. You haven't been acting yourself lately...Is there something the matter? Something that is bothering you? You must know that Phoebe and I are both here if you want to talk." I smiled at her and motioned for her to sit next to me. She did so.
"I'm sorry for how I've been acting...But it's like I can't control it. I didn't mean to be unkind to Cole...I tried to stop myself..."I said, looking at her to see if she understood.
"Well, if you don't want to tell me what's wrong that's okay...I understand you taking it out on the demons, and Cole is a half demon...Maybe your subconscious took over."
"Yeah, that must be it," I replied.
"Well, if you want to talk you know I'm here." I nodded and she stood up. "I'm going to go finish those potions." And with that she was gone from the room and I was alone. I shoved down the desire to follow, for I didn't think I wanted to. That was Prue. The first thing I wanted to do was calm down and then apologize to Cole and Phoebe. I needed to do that before anything else.
A few moments passed before I composed myself, and I was about to go back into the kitchen. This was when the white and blue lights formed in front of me, and Leo orbed in.
"Hey Leo," I greeted.
"Hi. Did you girls find anything in The Book Of Shadows?" he asked.
"Yeah, there was a whole page on her. Did the elders know anything?"
"Yeah, C'mon, I better tell all of you together." With a sigh and a mental shove towards the kitchen, I followed Leo towards Cole and my sisters. When I walked in to the kitchen a few seconds after him he was standing with Piper over The Book, Phoebe was pouring the potions into three different jars, and Cole was standing by her side. No one noticed me, for they were paying attention to Leo. At the moment, I liked it that way.
"What did you find out?" Piper asked. Leo looked worried and it was making Piper nervous.
"Well, it turns out that Dalei isn't just an evil mistress. She's a witch gone bad."
"A what?" Phoebe asked, confused yet alarmed.
"Well, it was 5 thousand years ago when a little girl named Danielle was being taught the beginnings of witchcraft by her mother. Through a freak accident her parents were killed and she was taken over by an evil mistress of the underworld. Then she was turned into what she is today. Good witches tried everything to get her back, but she was taken at the young age of 6 and all of her memories of that period are lost."
"So why does her background make a difference?" Piper asked calmly.
"Well, because she used good magic as a child it stayed with her and combined with the dark magic that she controls now. This meaning that she is one of the most powerful demons alive." We starred at Leo in shock for a few moments before Phoebe spoke up.
"If she is as powerful as you say, why didn't she come after us herself?" she asked.
"Well," Leo replied. "The Elders just informed me that Dalei awoke only one week ago. She is still recovering her strength and is sending lower demons after you three until she has recovered her full power. Then, I'm afraid she'll probably come after you herself." I had stayed quiet until this point, but I had to ask one question.
"How long until she has recovered her full power?" I questioned. Cole and my sisters looked at me and then back at Leo, waiting for an answer.
"I'd give her 2 or three weeks," he replied. "She has been in a state or rest for a thousand years after all."
"Until then," I stated. "We're going to be under attack all the time. We don't know when she'll send another demon after us."
"That's right," Leo replied. "Which is why you have to be extra careful. You shouldn't go anywhere alone or be without some potions"
"The next few weeks are going to be hell," Phoebe sighed, sinking into Cole's arms and resting her head on his shoulder. I couldn't agree more.
TO BE CONTINUED...
(Up next, Paige's apology to Phoebe and a confrontation with Cole...)
Part Two
By: Silverstar
Hello everyone! I want to thank all of you for reviewing and especially Trunks Saotome and fairies_dust for emailing me when the site was down. Thanks a lot! Oh, and some of you noticed that most of the story is in Paige's point of view. That is because I'm focusing around her and her growing relationship and understanding with Prue. I have put Piper and Phoebe's points of views in only so all of you will know how they feel at certain parts in the story. All right, I hope you enjoy the second part. Please review!
Oh, and I forgot to put a disclaimer on the last entry so this is for both parts.
Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed or any of the characters of the show. So mote it be
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*(PIPER)*
Uhhhg... I slowly opened my eyes and looked up to see Leo kneeling above me. He caressed my cheek with his hand for a moment before getting up and disappearing from my sight. I shook my head slowly as I realized that I was fully healed and that the freeze on the demon was losing power. Concentrating at once, the freeze was quickly put back into place and I relaxed a little. I struggled to sit up and then an arm was offered down to me. I gladly took it and gave Phoebe a smile as she helped me to my feet. Remembering the demon once again, I pulled out my potions and took hold of Phoebe's hand. We confidently walked towards the demon, Paige and Leo behind us for back up.
"Can you unfreeze his head?" Phoebe asked, giving me a slide glance while keeping one eye on the frozen demon.
"I'll try," I stated while giving the potions to Phoebe and gathering my strength. With a twitch of my hand and one eye kept on the victim I released his head from the freeze and held his body in place. The demon looked about with a dazed and confused expression for a few moments before realizing that he couldn't move his body. He then went wild, thrashing his head every which way and yelling at the top of his lungs. Demons did _not_ like to feel helpless...yet this one was. Paige walked up next to Phoebe on my left and Leo put his arm around me from the right. We would do whatever it took to get the information we wanted out of this demon.
"You could start by giving us your name," Phoebe demanded in a voice that made the demon fall silent.
"Never!" he screeched and ended his sneer by spitting at us...But Paige had a few surprises down her sleeve. She mentally called for the spit and threw it back into the demon's face.
"We are in charge here mister and you _will_ answer all of our questions!" she demanded in a manner that I had never seen her use. I twitched my head back to see the demon's response and he fell silent but kept a proud and determined face. Meanwhile, I struggled to keep the freeze together and mentally hoped that I could just blow him up soon and rest. Leo tightened his grip around me, sensing my frustration.
"I can see you think that you will get away," I said softly, yet sternly, to the demon dressed in black. "But you _will_ not until you have answered our questions. Hmmmnnn...Not persuaded yet?" With that I took my left hand, flicked it forward, and blew up all the hairs on his head. He looked up stunned and I saw Phoebe and Paige smile at the sight of the bald demon trying to see where his hair had gone. "Well," I mused. "Let's just say that that can just as easily happen to every other part of your body, and that I can make it _very_ painful." I eyed the demon with a heartless and merciless glare, and saw a glimpse of fear and uncertainty in his features.
"So how about your name?" Phoebe once again demanded. I twitched my hand as a warning and he reluctantly replied.
"My name is Falfar," he sneered, giving all of us a sinister and malicious look.
"Well, *Falfar*," Phoebe sneered back, "How about telling us who sent you?" The demon now known as Falfar looked at Phoebe and I could tell he was about to spit again.
"Not one move unless I tell you!" I demanded, twitching my right hand and blowing up his black tie. He held still but did not answer. At this point I was getting very tired, but I tried my best to keep a stern and strong countenance. This was when Paige did the unexpected.
"Knife!" she yelled out, calling for the weapon that was in the demons frozen hand and then holding it with her powers up at his neck. "Answer her Fal or else you _will_ die very slowly and painfully, just as my sister over there has already warned you."
"How do I know I will be set free after the information is given?" he asked quietly. I smiled, knowing that he would tell us what we wanted with some persuasion.
"That's just a chance you are going to have to take!" Paige replied in an angry and fearful tone. I glanced over at her to see that she held her arm and hand out straight and non-moving to keep the knife at Falfar's throat.
"Tell us who sent you!" Phoebe demanded again, eying Falfar with distrust. He hesitated and I couldn't keep the freeze up much longer, so I twitched my hand and blew up one of his fingers. He yelled out in pain but fell silent when I lifted my right hand towards him.
"Okay, I'll tell you!" he screeched. "Please, just don't hurt me." I lowered my hand an inch and nodded at him. This was when he looked at Phoebe, the only one who couldn't hurt him, and started to talk. "As I said, my name is Falfar and I was hired by the mistress demon Dalei to slay the Charmed Ones," he said with the most dignity possible.
"And who is this Dalei?" Phoebe asked. She had taken the role of questioner since Paige and I were concentrating with our powers and trying to keep them in control. Actually...Paige looked pretty confident and worry-free over there...an expression I knew all too well.
"Dalei is the most powerful and beautiful mistress demon who..." He hesitated and as I was about to again blow another finger off Paige pushed the knife in so his neck started to bleed. "Okay, okay!" he exclaimed franticly. "She is the most powerful mistress demon who seeks the throne of Queen. She wants *you three* _dead_ in order to gain favor with the all High and Powerful Source. She _will_ become His Queen when she has destroyed the Charmed Ones, or captured them for Him." With this he laughed at us all and looked straight into all of our eyes. "There is nothing you can do even with this information. She will come for you one by one when you least expect it...She will be triumphant!" With this I had had enough. Apparently, so had Paige and Phoebe, for they were shaking with hatred. At the same moment Paige shoved the knife into Falfar's throat, Phoebe threw one of her potions, and I blew him to pieces. The knife fell to the floor covered in the demon's blood.
"That guy got on my nerves!" Phoebe proclaimed and Paige nodded at her. I tried to nod as well, but dizziness over-swept me and I fell into Leo's arms and sank to the floor. This conversation had gone on far longer than my powers were able to hold.
"Piper!" I heard Leo say as the outline of his face became fuzzy and darkness surrounded me. My last thought was that this was going to be a long and terribly difficult battle. I wish Prue were here to help me through it...
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*(PAIGE)*
The knife fell with a plang and my head was swimming. What had I just done? Sure, Piper was known to get angry at demons and blow them up and such, and I don't blame her. They are evil creatures that are alive to kill us and hurt others. And I know it was getting to Phoebe because she has issues with the Source and how He is after Cole...But what did I just do? I had never...ever spoken that fiercely to anyone, and I had never been able to use my powers to hold an object in place like that. The adrenalin was still pumping through my body and I stared at the knife in which I had used my powers on...Why were my powers so much stronger? I didn't feel like myself...Were my powers developing because Prue's soul was linked with mine, and she could move things with her mind as well? This whole soul-bonding thing was becoming a nuisance. I didn't even understand myself half the time and now I had Prue's emotions mixed in with mine...*sigh*
I heard Phoebe say something to me about the demon and nodded. I was about to go and pick up the knife when I heard Piper gasp for air and I turned to her. She fell into Leo's arms and as he lay her on the floor she closed her eyes and passed out. Phoebe and I ran over to see what was wrong and bent down next to Leo.
"What's wrong Leo?" Phoebe asked. "What happened to her?" Leo put his hands over her head and the familiar yellow glow was emitted from them. After a few seconds he sighed in relief.
"She'll be fine," he said and gave us both a reassuring smile. "Piper just used more of her power than she had. I don't think she's ever held a freeze that long while concentrating to keep the demon's head unfrozen and blowing things up. She just passed out...Her body's way of letting her recover her strength." I put my hand on Piper's forehead and felt it warm from the battle. Mine was like that as well. And suddenly, I realized how worn and tired I was. The adrenalin was gone and I was myself again. I faltered as I tried to get up and Phoebe gave me her hand.
"Nice trick with the knife Paige," she said with a smile. "When did you learn how to do that?"
"I don't know," I replied as I got to my feet. She saw my uneasiness, so as Leo carried Piper to the couch, she helped me to a chair. "Wow," I said after I sat down. "I didn't realize how exhausted I was until now." Phoebe looked at me with concern and curiosity, but I looked towards Leo and ignored her stare.
"Well, now we know whom we're up against," Phoebe said, and Leo nodded. "Do you think you could go check with the Elders and find out all you can about this Dalei?"
"I don't know if I should leave you guys right now," Leo said with concern in his voice. "Piper's down, Paige is worn, and you won't have much of a chance if another demon attacks."
"We'll be fine," I said suddenly. He looked at me with uncertainty. "This Falfar guy just died, so it will take a while before Dalei finds out. We have a few hours at the least before we have to worry." Leo looked at Phoebe, and she nodded, so he consented. After leaning down to kiss Piper on the forehead he orbed out.
"All right sister, we have work to do," Phoebe said as she pulled me from my chair.
"What about Piper? We can't leave her alone in here," I replied, looking at my fainted sister.
"Well, I'm going to go get The Book Of Shadows," Phoebe told me as she headed up the stairs. "I'll be right back down. You get that knife and put it in the kitchen. We're going to want to make a potion with the blood...maybe three times as powerful as Piper's blasts. It might work on Dalei." With that Phoebe disappeared upstairs and I went to pick up the knife. I looked at it sitting in my palm and realized how deadly it was. I could feel the dark energy radiating off of it, for many demons put spells on these to make them more powerful and lethal. Shivering, and taking one last look at Piper, I went into the kitchen.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
*(PHOEBE)*
The big Book in hands, I hurried downstairs and into the living room. After checking on Piper, I pulled a blanket over her and went into the kitchen. There I found Paige surrounded by herbs and pots, making a vanquishing potion that we had made numerous times during our career as witches. This time I saw her putting in extra amounts of everything for a more powerful effect. It seemed to be working, for as I sat down and opened The Book to search for Dalei I heard an explosion and looked up to see Paige waving smoke out of her face and coughing.
"I think you're doing it right," I suggested, giving her a smile. This was one of those times when I was glad that I wasn't a potions expert and that I was good with The Book.
"Thanks," she said sarcastically before returning to her herbs and boiling potions. I looked at her and thought that she looked so different now then when we were confronting the demon. During the battle she had been surrounded with an air of superiority, confidence, and determination that I had never seen her portray. It was almost as if...No, what am I thinking? I have a demon to look up anyways. With that, I continued to flip through The Book. A few minutes went by until I found her: Dalei, most feared mistress of the underworld.
"Look here Paige," I said as I started to read and she walked over. "Dalei, an evil mistress who allies herself with the most powerful evil. Once she is bind to a husband she must stay with him for a period of one thousand years, and may not leave him even in his death. If her husband happens to die before the one thousand years are up then she is put into a state or rest next to His tomb and is guarded by her most trustworthy offspring."
"Well, it sounds like her period of a thousand years is up and she's thinking that the Source will be the best choice for her next husband." I nodded and leaned over to show Paige the picture of her. A tall and young woman looked at us from the pages of the book with waist length black hair and purple eyes.
"It also says here that she will confront each chosen husband and she must complete the task he assigns before she gains his heart...Well, I think she's been in her state of rest too long. These demons she's been sending won't be able to hurt us," I said, looking up at Paige for her opinion.
"But they will weaken us." I turned to see Piper standing in the doorway. She looked weary, but I also got the impression that her strength was returning.
"Piper!" I reprimanded. "You should be lying down." I helped her into a seat and sat down across from her.
"Don't worry about me Phoebe, I just overdid myself a little. Besides, with Paige's potions exploding I woke up, and I couldn't resist not listening to what you found on Dalei."
"Speaking of potions, do you think you could check on mine?" Paige asked while getting up and walking over to the stove. "Make sure I did them right?" Piper nodded and she was once again active in the kitchen with Paige as her student. I sighed, jealous of their connection while working together...Cooking just never came too easily for me. As they worked I starred at the picture of Dalei and wondered about her life. What kind of person could live the life of a mistress, and then after doing everything for Him, lying in a state of rest when He was dead until the time came for her to find another...Only evil and sinister creatures could live such a life. I know I'd die of heartache if I lived like that, never having the love of Cole or my sisters. At the very thought of him I felt a breeze and he shimmered into the room right next to me.
"Cole!" I happily exclaimed as I leaped from my chair and into his arms. He returned the hug with affection and then pulled me away.
"I can see you three are making potions. Which demon are we after?" he inquired. I smiled at his use of the word 'we.' It was his way of telling me that he was in this just as much as my sisters and I were. It was also his way of telling me that he was afraid for my safety and he wanted to stay near by. I did not mind that at all.
"We're after a mistress demon named Dalei," Page said, coming up to us. "Know anything about her?" she said with contempt. I looked at Paige with confusion. I thought she had gotten over all the bad feelings she had for Cole's demon side. Apparently, I was wrong, for she didn't look too happy to see him.
"I've heard of her," he replied. "But I've never seen her myself. She hasn't been active for the span of my lifetime." I stared in shock as Paige looked towards the ground and then walked out of the room.
"What was _that_ all about?!" I asked Piper while putting my arm around Cole's waist.
"I have no idea," Piper responded. "She may still be nervous from the battle though..." I didn't buy Piper's attempt to understand Paige's actions and I don't think she herself bought them either. Paige was anything but nervous in that battle. "I'll talk to her if you want," Piper finally said to me after a moment of silence.
"Thanks," I said with relief as Piper took the potions off the stove to cool and I proceeded to fill Cole in on the happenings of the day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
*(PAIGE)*
I finally felt like myself again, and I was grateful. I guess Prue never did much potion cooking with Piper, for although I was tired, I didn't feel her soul as much now...as I had during the battle. And I was glad for it. I liked my own head with my own thoughts and feelings. This was what I was thinking when Cole shimmered into the room. All of the sudden I had a rush of emotions. My distrust and wariness of him that I had suppressed and gotten over came rushing to the surface. I knew Prue was influencing my thoughts without meaning to, and I tried to control myself, but it didn't work. I looked at Cole with an expression that must have been scorn and dislike before approaching him. I tried to stop, but the emotions were too much to bear.
"We're after a mistress demon named Dalei," I said, while walking up to Cole and Phoebe. "Know anything about her?" This I said this with contempt and sarcasm...I couldn't believe I had just acted like that!
"I've heard of her," Cole replied. "But I've never seen her myself. She hasn't been active for the span of my lifetime." He looked at me with a confused expression and Phoebe had one of shock on her face. I couldn't face them now! Not after what I had just said to Cole! I looked down at the ground and tried to take control of myself. When I was confident that I would have no more outbursts I turned around and walked out of the room.
"Why me?!..." I mumbled to myself as I went over to the window and sat on the sill. "Why did she pick me?!" I muttered, referring to Prue.
"Who picked you for what?" I jumped with surprise and turned around to see Piper standing right behind me.
"Oh...No one," I said quickly while getting up and walking across the room. She followed, just as I thought she would, and I sat down on the couch. Piper took a seat on the table in front of me and looked into my eyes. I was afraid of what she would see there, so I looked down at the floor and said nothing.
"Paige," Piper said with insistence and concern. I looked up at her and she put her hand on my shoulder. The touch of my sister who cared for me deeply relaxed me, and I kept silent to hear what she wanted. "Phoebe and I are worried about you. You haven't been acting yourself lately...Is there something the matter? Something that is bothering you? You must know that Phoebe and I are both here if you want to talk." I smiled at her and motioned for her to sit next to me. She did so.
"I'm sorry for how I've been acting...But it's like I can't control it. I didn't mean to be unkind to Cole...I tried to stop myself..."I said, looking at her to see if she understood.
"Well, if you don't want to tell me what's wrong that's okay...I understand you taking it out on the demons, and Cole is a half demon...Maybe your subconscious took over."
"Yeah, that must be it," I replied.
"Well, if you want to talk you know I'm here." I nodded and she stood up. "I'm going to go finish those potions." And with that she was gone from the room and I was alone. I shoved down the desire to follow, for I didn't think I wanted to. That was Prue. The first thing I wanted to do was calm down and then apologize to Cole and Phoebe. I needed to do that before anything else.
A few moments passed before I composed myself, and I was about to go back into the kitchen. This was when the white and blue lights formed in front of me, and Leo orbed in.
"Hey Leo," I greeted.
"Hi. Did you girls find anything in The Book Of Shadows?" he asked.
"Yeah, there was a whole page on her. Did the elders know anything?"
"Yeah, C'mon, I better tell all of you together." With a sigh and a mental shove towards the kitchen, I followed Leo towards Cole and my sisters. When I walked in to the kitchen a few seconds after him he was standing with Piper over The Book, Phoebe was pouring the potions into three different jars, and Cole was standing by her side. No one noticed me, for they were paying attention to Leo. At the moment, I liked it that way.
"What did you find out?" Piper asked. Leo looked worried and it was making Piper nervous.
"Well, it turns out that Dalei isn't just an evil mistress. She's a witch gone bad."
"A what?" Phoebe asked, confused yet alarmed.
"Well, it was 5 thousand years ago when a little girl named Danielle was being taught the beginnings of witchcraft by her mother. Through a freak accident her parents were killed and she was taken over by an evil mistress of the underworld. Then she was turned into what she is today. Good witches tried everything to get her back, but she was taken at the young age of 6 and all of her memories of that period are lost."
"So why does her background make a difference?" Piper asked calmly.
"Well, because she used good magic as a child it stayed with her and combined with the dark magic that she controls now. This meaning that she is one of the most powerful demons alive." We starred at Leo in shock for a few moments before Phoebe spoke up.
"If she is as powerful as you say, why didn't she come after us herself?" she asked.
"Well," Leo replied. "The Elders just informed me that Dalei awoke only one week ago. She is still recovering her strength and is sending lower demons after you three until she has recovered her full power. Then, I'm afraid she'll probably come after you herself." I had stayed quiet until this point, but I had to ask one question.
"How long until she has recovered her full power?" I questioned. Cole and my sisters looked at me and then back at Leo, waiting for an answer.
"I'd give her 2 or three weeks," he replied. "She has been in a state or rest for a thousand years after all."
"Until then," I stated. "We're going to be under attack all the time. We don't know when she'll send another demon after us."
"That's right," Leo replied. "Which is why you have to be extra careful. You shouldn't go anywhere alone or be without some potions"
"The next few weeks are going to be hell," Phoebe sighed, sinking into Cole's arms and resting her head on his shoulder. I couldn't agree more.
TO BE CONTINUED...
(Up next, Paige's apology to Phoebe and a confrontation with Cole...)