NINE
Piper dropped to the floor, gasping for air as an energy ball struck Logash. The demon was knocked back into the entryway from the force of the attack. Piper was still so disoriented she couldn't see who had made the attack on the demon.
Logash jumped to his feet and turned to face his attacker. He looked on in total astonishment as he saw Melissa standing where she had fallen only moments before. She faced the demon, no sign of any injury visible on her body.
"Impossible," gasped Logash.
"Nothing is impossible to me," said Melissa. "You have no idea of the power at my command. I felt it was important that they have the opportunity to stop you themselves. This was their battle. It was important they fight it. But not even they can stand against the combined power of the underworld. No normal witch could. But you will soon learn, I am no normal witch."
"I am the power of the underworld," reiterated Logash. "No one can stand against me."
He cast a fireball at Melissa. The weapon struck just short of her. An invisible shield surrounding the young witch absorbed the power of the attack. Melissa stood facing the demon with her hands held out at her side, the palms facing Logash. She lowered her head and closed her eyes. She concentrated intensely for several seconds.
Suddenly Melissa raised her head and opened her eyes. They no longer appeared like normal eyes. Instead, they seemed charged with some incredible power. Melissa bawled both hands into fists.
"Now," she said to Logash, "learn what true power really is."
Beams of energy shot from Melissa's eyes, striking Logash in the chest. The demon staggered back from the force of the attack, the beams burning into his chest. As he fought to resist the attack, Melissa increased its' intensity.
"Hear me, oh forces of good," she intoned. "I call on the power of Melinda Warren's line. I summon the power of the Charmed Ones, the Power of Three. Give me your strength, your power, your determination. Vanquish this evil before me. Aid me in the cause of good. Remove this abomination from time and space. Return the evil to the depths of the underworld and give your protection to those who carry on your work."
Logash howled in agony. He dropped to his knees fighting against the power Melissa drove into his body. Suddenly, unable to withstand the power any longer, Logash exploded into a thousand shards that evaporated away instantly.
Melissa ceased her attack and turned to help the others. Paige was regaining consciousness. Michael had moved from her to Phoebe, and then used his healing power on her. Leo sat up and immediately moved to help Piper. As usual, his healing power was not needed as her unborn child healed all of Pipers injuries almost instantly.
"What happened?" asked Paige, rubbing her head.
"Interesting question," said Michael, looking at Melissa. "I thought for sure we were finished."
"Let's worry about that later," said Melissa, looking back at Michael. "Let's just make sure everyone is okay right now."
Piper dropped to the floor, gasping for air as an energy ball struck Logash. The demon was knocked back into the entryway from the force of the attack. Piper was still so disoriented she couldn't see who had made the attack on the demon.
Logash jumped to his feet and turned to face his attacker. He looked on in total astonishment as he saw Melissa standing where she had fallen only moments before. She faced the demon, no sign of any injury visible on her body.
"Impossible," gasped Logash.
"Nothing is impossible to me," said Melissa. "You have no idea of the power at my command. I felt it was important that they have the opportunity to stop you themselves. This was their battle. It was important they fight it. But not even they can stand against the combined power of the underworld. No normal witch could. But you will soon learn, I am no normal witch."
"I am the power of the underworld," reiterated Logash. "No one can stand against me."
He cast a fireball at Melissa. The weapon struck just short of her. An invisible shield surrounding the young witch absorbed the power of the attack. Melissa stood facing the demon with her hands held out at her side, the palms facing Logash. She lowered her head and closed her eyes. She concentrated intensely for several seconds.
Suddenly Melissa raised her head and opened her eyes. They no longer appeared like normal eyes. Instead, they seemed charged with some incredible power. Melissa bawled both hands into fists.
"Now," she said to Logash, "learn what true power really is."
Beams of energy shot from Melissa's eyes, striking Logash in the chest. The demon staggered back from the force of the attack, the beams burning into his chest. As he fought to resist the attack, Melissa increased its' intensity.
"Hear me, oh forces of good," she intoned. "I call on the power of Melinda Warren's line. I summon the power of the Charmed Ones, the Power of Three. Give me your strength, your power, your determination. Vanquish this evil before me. Aid me in the cause of good. Remove this abomination from time and space. Return the evil to the depths of the underworld and give your protection to those who carry on your work."
Logash howled in agony. He dropped to his knees fighting against the power Melissa drove into his body. Suddenly, unable to withstand the power any longer, Logash exploded into a thousand shards that evaporated away instantly.
Melissa ceased her attack and turned to help the others. Paige was regaining consciousness. Michael had moved from her to Phoebe, and then used his healing power on her. Leo sat up and immediately moved to help Piper. As usual, his healing power was not needed as her unborn child healed all of Pipers injuries almost instantly.
"What happened?" asked Paige, rubbing her head.
"Interesting question," said Michael, looking at Melissa. "I thought for sure we were finished."
"Let's worry about that later," said Melissa, looking back at Michael. "Let's just make sure everyone is okay right now."