FOUR
"That was one introduction I could have done without," said Paige, rubbing her neck. "That was one strong demon."
As a safety precaution, Leo and Michael had used their healing powers on Phoebe and Paige. As usual, Pipers baby saved them the trouble on her.
"Michael, what are you doing here?" asked Leo.
"The Elders sensed that Logash came here," said Michael. "They figured you might need some help with it. Speaking of introductions," he turned to the woman, "care to make one to the rest of us?"
"My name is Melissa Warrick," said the woman. "I was coming to meet the Charmed Ones and it seems I arrived just in time."
"Good thing you did," said Phoebe. "We sure needed the help with that one."
"That energy beam you used," said Michael. "That's a little unusual."
"It's my power," said Melissa. "I can absorb magical attacks and then recast them."
"Really," said Michael. "That's pretty handy."
"We need to check the Book of Shadows for that thing," said Phoebe. "I don't think he's finished yet."
"He's not in the book," said Melissa suddenly.
"How do you know that?" asked Leo.
"Oh," said Melissa, "uh, until a few weeks ago, he didn't exist."
"A new demon," said Michael. "That's what the Elders figured, even though it seemed unlikely."
"Not exactly," said Melissa. "My coven detected him a few weeks ago. Just after the three of you vanquished the Seer and all of the underworld leaders. As best we can figure, the power released by those vanquished was absorbed by another demon."
"That makes sense," said Leo. "The power had to go somewhere. It doesn't just vanish. Logash knew who Michael was. And he said something about the memories of all the underworld leaders."
"If that's true," said Michael, "we have a real problem. He will have all the powers of the demonic leaders who were vanquished. As well as those of the Seer and the unborn child. It's no wonder he was so powerful. I don't know how anyone could stand against all that."
"I'm just glad I got here when I did," said Melissa. "You're too valuable to us to loose, Michael."
"Not to mention the Charmed Ones," said Michael.
"Oh, yes, that's what I meant," said Melissa. "All of you. You're all needed in the fight against evil."
"Where did you say your coven was?" asked Michael suspiciously.
"I didn't," said Melissa. "But it's located in San Diego."
"Funny I never heard of a witch with your power," said Michael. "You'd think something like that would get around."
"Michael, you're being rude," said Piper. "She saved all of us just now. You sound like you're accusing her of something."
"Do I?" asked Michael. "I didn't mean it that way. I'm just surprised I've never heard of that power before, that's all."
"I try not to use it unless I have to," said Melissa. "It can be hard to control some times."
"I can imagine," said Michael. "No doubt your White Lighter helps as much as he can."
"Yes, he does," said Melissa.
"Who is he?" asked Michael. "Your White Lighter, I mean."
"Why is that important?" asked Melissa.
"Just curious," said Michael.
"His name is Morgan," said Melissa.
"Care to try again?" asked Michael. "Or do you insist on continuing with this charade?"
"Michael, what's going on?" asked Leo.
"You'll have to ask our mysterious guest here," said Michael. "I'm not sure who she really is but I do know one thing. She's lying about who she is and where she's from."
"That was one introduction I could have done without," said Paige, rubbing her neck. "That was one strong demon."
As a safety precaution, Leo and Michael had used their healing powers on Phoebe and Paige. As usual, Pipers baby saved them the trouble on her.
"Michael, what are you doing here?" asked Leo.
"The Elders sensed that Logash came here," said Michael. "They figured you might need some help with it. Speaking of introductions," he turned to the woman, "care to make one to the rest of us?"
"My name is Melissa Warrick," said the woman. "I was coming to meet the Charmed Ones and it seems I arrived just in time."
"Good thing you did," said Phoebe. "We sure needed the help with that one."
"That energy beam you used," said Michael. "That's a little unusual."
"It's my power," said Melissa. "I can absorb magical attacks and then recast them."
"Really," said Michael. "That's pretty handy."
"We need to check the Book of Shadows for that thing," said Phoebe. "I don't think he's finished yet."
"He's not in the book," said Melissa suddenly.
"How do you know that?" asked Leo.
"Oh," said Melissa, "uh, until a few weeks ago, he didn't exist."
"A new demon," said Michael. "That's what the Elders figured, even though it seemed unlikely."
"Not exactly," said Melissa. "My coven detected him a few weeks ago. Just after the three of you vanquished the Seer and all of the underworld leaders. As best we can figure, the power released by those vanquished was absorbed by another demon."
"That makes sense," said Leo. "The power had to go somewhere. It doesn't just vanish. Logash knew who Michael was. And he said something about the memories of all the underworld leaders."
"If that's true," said Michael, "we have a real problem. He will have all the powers of the demonic leaders who were vanquished. As well as those of the Seer and the unborn child. It's no wonder he was so powerful. I don't know how anyone could stand against all that."
"I'm just glad I got here when I did," said Melissa. "You're too valuable to us to loose, Michael."
"Not to mention the Charmed Ones," said Michael.
"Oh, yes, that's what I meant," said Melissa. "All of you. You're all needed in the fight against evil."
"Where did you say your coven was?" asked Michael suspiciously.
"I didn't," said Melissa. "But it's located in San Diego."
"Funny I never heard of a witch with your power," said Michael. "You'd think something like that would get around."
"Michael, you're being rude," said Piper. "She saved all of us just now. You sound like you're accusing her of something."
"Do I?" asked Michael. "I didn't mean it that way. I'm just surprised I've never heard of that power before, that's all."
"I try not to use it unless I have to," said Melissa. "It can be hard to control some times."
"I can imagine," said Michael. "No doubt your White Lighter helps as much as he can."
"Yes, he does," said Melissa.
"Who is he?" asked Michael. "Your White Lighter, I mean."
"Why is that important?" asked Melissa.
"Just curious," said Michael.
"His name is Morgan," said Melissa.
"Care to try again?" asked Michael. "Or do you insist on continuing with this charade?"
"Michael, what's going on?" asked Leo.
"You'll have to ask our mysterious guest here," said Michael. "I'm not sure who she really is but I do know one thing. She's lying about who she is and where she's from."