TWO
The demon stood seven feet tall. It was a dark green with red markings reminiscent of Belthazors' markings. Its eyes were a dull yellow and resembled cat's eyes.
"Charmed Ones," hissed the demon. "I am Logash. For too long you have been thorns in the side of the underworld. Today, that ends."
"Not likely," said Piper.
She raised her hands and activated her explosive power. But Logash didn't explode. Only a small area of his chest exploded and then immediately reconstituted itself.
"That won't help you, witch," snarled Logash. "I am the power of the underworld. I am no mere demon. Your powers are little more than annoyances to me."
Logash raised his hand and Leo went flying across the kitchen. He struck the wall and slumped to the floor unconscious.
"So much for your White Lighter," hissed Logash.
Phoebe was the closest to the demon. Suddenly, she jumped up and struck the demon on the side of the head with her foot. The demons head was snapped to one side by the force of the attack. Logash just looked at Phoebe and smiled.
"Did you really believe that would harm me?" he asked.
He reached out and electricity shot from his fingertips, engulfing Phoebe. She fell to the floor unmoving.
"Oh, don't worry," said Logash to Piper and Paige, "she isn't dead. Not just yet. The former queen of the underworld deserves a more appropriate death."
Paige suddenly orbed out, and then orbed back in behind Logash. She called for a knife and the butcher knife Piper had been using orbed into her hand. She drove the knife into Logashs' back clear up to the handle.
Logash seemed unaffected. He spun and struck her with the back of his hand, sending her sprawling into the entryway. Paige was dazed, but still conscious.
"They say your are invulnerable," said Logash, turning on Piper. "I'm curious to see if that is true."
The demon cast an energy ball that engulfed Piper. She fell to the floor, screaming in agony.
"Impressive," said Logash as the affects of the energy ball subsided. "That should have vaporized you. Perhaps you are invulnerable. It seems your unborn child provides you with enough protection to withstand even my power.
"I suppose I'll have to do something about that. Let's see, what can I do? Oh, I have an idea. Since the child gives you the added protection, remove the child and I remove the protection.
"It should be a simple matter. Especially for one with my power. I'm afraid this is going to be quite painful. But rest assured I will take my time so that you can relish every agonizing moment of it. And should you somehow survive, I will take great pleasure in you watching as I crush the life from the child before you die."
"No," screamed Paige.
Leo and Phoebe had regained consciousness, but were still groggy. Paige tried to rise to help defend Piper, but the attack by Logash left her bruised and hurting.
"Don't fret," said Logash. "I've not forgotten about you. You'll soon follow this witch and her child."
He turned back to Piper.
"Now," he said, "let us see just how much pain you can withstand."
He stretched out his hand and Piper felt her abdomen begin to stretch. Logash planned to rip her stomach open. Even as she felt the power of her baby resist she also could feel her abdomen continue to stretch. Within seconds her body would not be able to withstand the pressure. She would literally be ripped apart.
The demon stood seven feet tall. It was a dark green with red markings reminiscent of Belthazors' markings. Its eyes were a dull yellow and resembled cat's eyes.
"Charmed Ones," hissed the demon. "I am Logash. For too long you have been thorns in the side of the underworld. Today, that ends."
"Not likely," said Piper.
She raised her hands and activated her explosive power. But Logash didn't explode. Only a small area of his chest exploded and then immediately reconstituted itself.
"That won't help you, witch," snarled Logash. "I am the power of the underworld. I am no mere demon. Your powers are little more than annoyances to me."
Logash raised his hand and Leo went flying across the kitchen. He struck the wall and slumped to the floor unconscious.
"So much for your White Lighter," hissed Logash.
Phoebe was the closest to the demon. Suddenly, she jumped up and struck the demon on the side of the head with her foot. The demons head was snapped to one side by the force of the attack. Logash just looked at Phoebe and smiled.
"Did you really believe that would harm me?" he asked.
He reached out and electricity shot from his fingertips, engulfing Phoebe. She fell to the floor unmoving.
"Oh, don't worry," said Logash to Piper and Paige, "she isn't dead. Not just yet. The former queen of the underworld deserves a more appropriate death."
Paige suddenly orbed out, and then orbed back in behind Logash. She called for a knife and the butcher knife Piper had been using orbed into her hand. She drove the knife into Logashs' back clear up to the handle.
Logash seemed unaffected. He spun and struck her with the back of his hand, sending her sprawling into the entryway. Paige was dazed, but still conscious.
"They say your are invulnerable," said Logash, turning on Piper. "I'm curious to see if that is true."
The demon cast an energy ball that engulfed Piper. She fell to the floor, screaming in agony.
"Impressive," said Logash as the affects of the energy ball subsided. "That should have vaporized you. Perhaps you are invulnerable. It seems your unborn child provides you with enough protection to withstand even my power.
"I suppose I'll have to do something about that. Let's see, what can I do? Oh, I have an idea. Since the child gives you the added protection, remove the child and I remove the protection.
"It should be a simple matter. Especially for one with my power. I'm afraid this is going to be quite painful. But rest assured I will take my time so that you can relish every agonizing moment of it. And should you somehow survive, I will take great pleasure in you watching as I crush the life from the child before you die."
"No," screamed Paige.
Leo and Phoebe had regained consciousness, but were still groggy. Paige tried to rise to help defend Piper, but the attack by Logash left her bruised and hurting.
"Don't fret," said Logash. "I've not forgotten about you. You'll soon follow this witch and her child."
He turned back to Piper.
"Now," he said, "let us see just how much pain you can withstand."
He stretched out his hand and Piper felt her abdomen begin to stretch. Logash planned to rip her stomach open. Even as she felt the power of her baby resist she also could feel her abdomen continue to stretch. Within seconds her body would not be able to withstand the pressure. She would literally be ripped apart.