THREE
Suddenly, a fireball struck Logash forcing him back a few steps. Piper collapsed and the pressure and pain subsided.
"Sorry I'm late," said Michael, stepping in the back door of the manor. "Traffic on the orbing plane can be murder this time of day."
"So," said Logash, "we have a hero. I did expect to encounter you, Malevant. Only not so quickly."
Michael just stared at Logash.
"Surprised that I know your secret?" asked Logash. "It wasn't difficult to figure out. With the memories of all the underworld leaders I was able to piece it together rather quickly. Thought I must admit you've done an admirable job of hiding it."
"That knowledge won't do you any good," said Michael. "The only way you're leaving here is by being vanquished."
Michael cast another fireball at Logash. Only this time the demon simply reached up and caught the weapon, absorbing its power.
"That's not going to happen," said Logash. "Not even the famed warrior White Lighter is a match for my power. I had planned to deal with you later, but now is just as good."
Logash cast an energy ball at Michael. Michael attempted to orb away but Logash was faster. The energy ball struck Michael, ending his orb and knocking him to the floor.
"You're going to die slowly, traitor," hissed Logash. "You'll die a traitor's death. And when I'm finished, all of your charges will die as well."
Michael cast another fireball, striking Logash in the shoulder. It hardly phased the demon. Logash cast another energy ball, striking Michael again. Michael knew he couldn't withstand another attack. He had never encountered a demon so powerful. It was all he could do to remain conscious. It was nearly impossible for him to focus enough to attack.
"First," said Logash, turning toward Phoebe, "I'll destroy the two sisters. That should end the Power of Three. Then, I'll destroy their White Lighter. Next, Malevant, you will die. And finally the eldest sister. I'll absorb all of your powers when you die. Then, your precious Elders will pay for all the millennia of meddling."
Michael raised himself as Logash moved on Phoebe. There was only one chance to stop such a powerful demon. Michaels' secret power. One that not even the Elders knew he possessed. A power that would surely vanquish this monstrosity, but would cost Michael his life. A small price for protecting the Charmed Ones. As Michael began to concentrate to summon his greatest power, an energy ball struck Logash, knocking him into the entryway passed Paige.
"Not this time, you abomination," said a young woman stepping through the back door. "Michael may not be a match for you but you'll find me a different matter altogether."
The woman was perhaps thirty with strawberry blonde hair. She was dressed casually and wore no jewelry that might identify who or what she was. She stepped into the kitchen, standing between Logash and the others.
"Who are you?" demanded Logash, getting to his feet.
"That doesn't matter," said the woman. "What does matter is what Michael said. You're only leaving here by being vanquished."
"I don't think so," said Logash.
He cast an energy ball at the woman. To everyone's' surprise, she simply caught the weapon, and then cast it back at the demon. Logash stumbled back from the assault.
"That's impossible," he gasped.
"Is it?" asked the woman in mock surprise. "I guess that means I didn't do it. And I suppose I'm not going to do this, then, either."
The woman raised her hand and an energy beam shot out, striking Logash. The demon was forced to the floor once more. Even as powerful as it appeared to be it couldn't withstand the attacks made on it by this lone woman.
"They'll be another time, witch," hissed Logash.
Suddenly the demon flamed and was gone. Everyone just stared at the young woman as she rushed to help Piper.
Suddenly, a fireball struck Logash forcing him back a few steps. Piper collapsed and the pressure and pain subsided.
"Sorry I'm late," said Michael, stepping in the back door of the manor. "Traffic on the orbing plane can be murder this time of day."
"So," said Logash, "we have a hero. I did expect to encounter you, Malevant. Only not so quickly."
Michael just stared at Logash.
"Surprised that I know your secret?" asked Logash. "It wasn't difficult to figure out. With the memories of all the underworld leaders I was able to piece it together rather quickly. Thought I must admit you've done an admirable job of hiding it."
"That knowledge won't do you any good," said Michael. "The only way you're leaving here is by being vanquished."
Michael cast another fireball at Logash. Only this time the demon simply reached up and caught the weapon, absorbing its power.
"That's not going to happen," said Logash. "Not even the famed warrior White Lighter is a match for my power. I had planned to deal with you later, but now is just as good."
Logash cast an energy ball at Michael. Michael attempted to orb away but Logash was faster. The energy ball struck Michael, ending his orb and knocking him to the floor.
"You're going to die slowly, traitor," hissed Logash. "You'll die a traitor's death. And when I'm finished, all of your charges will die as well."
Michael cast another fireball, striking Logash in the shoulder. It hardly phased the demon. Logash cast another energy ball, striking Michael again. Michael knew he couldn't withstand another attack. He had never encountered a demon so powerful. It was all he could do to remain conscious. It was nearly impossible for him to focus enough to attack.
"First," said Logash, turning toward Phoebe, "I'll destroy the two sisters. That should end the Power of Three. Then, I'll destroy their White Lighter. Next, Malevant, you will die. And finally the eldest sister. I'll absorb all of your powers when you die. Then, your precious Elders will pay for all the millennia of meddling."
Michael raised himself as Logash moved on Phoebe. There was only one chance to stop such a powerful demon. Michaels' secret power. One that not even the Elders knew he possessed. A power that would surely vanquish this monstrosity, but would cost Michael his life. A small price for protecting the Charmed Ones. As Michael began to concentrate to summon his greatest power, an energy ball struck Logash, knocking him into the entryway passed Paige.
"Not this time, you abomination," said a young woman stepping through the back door. "Michael may not be a match for you but you'll find me a different matter altogether."
The woman was perhaps thirty with strawberry blonde hair. She was dressed casually and wore no jewelry that might identify who or what she was. She stepped into the kitchen, standing between Logash and the others.
"Who are you?" demanded Logash, getting to his feet.
"That doesn't matter," said the woman. "What does matter is what Michael said. You're only leaving here by being vanquished."
"I don't think so," said Logash.
He cast an energy ball at the woman. To everyone's' surprise, she simply caught the weapon, and then cast it back at the demon. Logash stumbled back from the assault.
"That's impossible," he gasped.
"Is it?" asked the woman in mock surprise. "I guess that means I didn't do it. And I suppose I'm not going to do this, then, either."
The woman raised her hand and an energy beam shot out, striking Logash. The demon was forced to the floor once more. Even as powerful as it appeared to be it couldn't withstand the attacks made on it by this lone woman.
"They'll be another time, witch," hissed Logash.
Suddenly the demon flamed and was gone. Everyone just stared at the young woman as she rushed to help Piper.