FIVE
"I feel better," said Phoebe as the five sat in the living room after the
girls had changed. "That was an enjoyable evening. We have to do that again
very soon."
"I agree," said Piper. "After fighting demons and warlocks and God knows
what else, it's nice to feel just like a normal person for a change. I had
almost forgotten what it was like to just go out and eat for a change."
"Speaking of demons," said Cole, "I understand the three of you all had
headaches earlier."
"Yeah, so?" Paige asked. "They were just headaches. No big deal."
"I'm not so sure," said Cole.
"Cole," said Leo, "I think you're reading more into it than there is.
They were just headaches."
"Maybe," said Cole. "But Leo even you know there are demons that cause
headaches in their victims."
"Yes," said Leo, "and a whole lot more. I never heard of one that only
causes a headache in its victims."
"It might if telepathy were involved," said Cole.
"You mean like reading our minds?" asked Phoebe. "I didn't know telepathy
did that to someone."
"Normally it doesn't," said Leo.
"Unless the two minds are totally dissimilar," said Cole. "Normally
telepathy only works between minds that are similar. Even though they are
different types of creatures, demons and humans have similar type minds. That's
why telepathy can work between them.
"But there are some creatures whose minds are totally dissimilar to those
of humans. Their telepathy operates in such a way that it allows them to still
read a humans' mind. But because the minds are so dissimilar it can actually
cause pain in the person whose mind is being read."
"And you think that's what's happened to us?" asked Piper.
"Piper," said Leo, "I think Cole is reaching. These types of creatures
usually do more than just read your mind. They read your mind to gain
information about you before they attack."
"My point exactly," said Cole. "You said that each of the girls had a
headache but not all at the same time. What if one of these creatures was
reading their minds one at a time? That might account for the headaches."
"So could stress or overwork or constant demon attacks," said Paige.
"That doesn't mean a demon is behind it."
"Maybe not," said Cole. "But maybe it does. The Source wants you dead
like no other opponents he's ever had. Even more than he wants me dead. It's
not such a stretch to think that he'd send something after you that you haven't
encountered before. Especially considering the debacle that just happened to
him."
"Really," said Piper, "I don't think he'd send a demon after us that would
use a mental attack against us, especially after that debacle. It would be too
predicable. Besides, we beat his little mind control thing this time. It
wouldn't make a whole lot of sense."
"There may be more to it than that," said Cole. "It might not be a mental
attack. But with telepathy a demon could learn things about you. Things like
weaknesses."
"Cole," said Leo, "I really think you're overreacting. They were just
headaches."
"I hope so," said Cole. "I really do. But I can't explain it. I just
have this feeling that there's more to it than that."
"It will be okay, sweetie," said Phoebe, snuggling up next to Cole.
"You'll see. Everything will be fine."
Cole just smiled at her. He knew he hadn't convinced any of them. He
also knew that his feelings were usually something he could rely on. They had
served him well in the past. He would just have to wait and see. And pray that
he was overreacting just as Leo said.
A shadow hovered in the cellar, concealed completely in the darkness
there. It had what it needed. The three human females were ready. And there
was a White Lighter and a human male present as well.
It wouldn't need to use its power on the White Lighter or the human.
White Lighters were one of the easiest creatures to defeat, as were humans. It
was only the witches that it had needed to learn about. Unlike the others, the
witches had powers that would make them more formidable than that White Lighter
or human.
The Source had only sent it after the three females but the other two
would be an added bonus. For too long it had been locked away in the nether
prison it called home. Now, in a very short time, it would feed again.
"I feel better," said Phoebe as the five sat in the living room after the
girls had changed. "That was an enjoyable evening. We have to do that again
very soon."
"I agree," said Piper. "After fighting demons and warlocks and God knows
what else, it's nice to feel just like a normal person for a change. I had
almost forgotten what it was like to just go out and eat for a change."
"Speaking of demons," said Cole, "I understand the three of you all had
headaches earlier."
"Yeah, so?" Paige asked. "They were just headaches. No big deal."
"I'm not so sure," said Cole.
"Cole," said Leo, "I think you're reading more into it than there is.
They were just headaches."
"Maybe," said Cole. "But Leo even you know there are demons that cause
headaches in their victims."
"Yes," said Leo, "and a whole lot more. I never heard of one that only
causes a headache in its victims."
"It might if telepathy were involved," said Cole.
"You mean like reading our minds?" asked Phoebe. "I didn't know telepathy
did that to someone."
"Normally it doesn't," said Leo.
"Unless the two minds are totally dissimilar," said Cole. "Normally
telepathy only works between minds that are similar. Even though they are
different types of creatures, demons and humans have similar type minds. That's
why telepathy can work between them.
"But there are some creatures whose minds are totally dissimilar to those
of humans. Their telepathy operates in such a way that it allows them to still
read a humans' mind. But because the minds are so dissimilar it can actually
cause pain in the person whose mind is being read."
"And you think that's what's happened to us?" asked Piper.
"Piper," said Leo, "I think Cole is reaching. These types of creatures
usually do more than just read your mind. They read your mind to gain
information about you before they attack."
"My point exactly," said Cole. "You said that each of the girls had a
headache but not all at the same time. What if one of these creatures was
reading their minds one at a time? That might account for the headaches."
"So could stress or overwork or constant demon attacks," said Paige.
"That doesn't mean a demon is behind it."
"Maybe not," said Cole. "But maybe it does. The Source wants you dead
like no other opponents he's ever had. Even more than he wants me dead. It's
not such a stretch to think that he'd send something after you that you haven't
encountered before. Especially considering the debacle that just happened to
him."
"Really," said Piper, "I don't think he'd send a demon after us that would
use a mental attack against us, especially after that debacle. It would be too
predicable. Besides, we beat his little mind control thing this time. It
wouldn't make a whole lot of sense."
"There may be more to it than that," said Cole. "It might not be a mental
attack. But with telepathy a demon could learn things about you. Things like
weaknesses."
"Cole," said Leo, "I really think you're overreacting. They were just
headaches."
"I hope so," said Cole. "I really do. But I can't explain it. I just
have this feeling that there's more to it than that."
"It will be okay, sweetie," said Phoebe, snuggling up next to Cole.
"You'll see. Everything will be fine."
Cole just smiled at her. He knew he hadn't convinced any of them. He
also knew that his feelings were usually something he could rely on. They had
served him well in the past. He would just have to wait and see. And pray that
he was overreacting just as Leo said.
A shadow hovered in the cellar, concealed completely in the darkness
there. It had what it needed. The three human females were ready. And there
was a White Lighter and a human male present as well.
It wouldn't need to use its power on the White Lighter or the human.
White Lighters were one of the easiest creatures to defeat, as were humans. It
was only the witches that it had needed to learn about. Unlike the others, the
witches had powers that would make them more formidable than that White Lighter
or human.
The Source had only sent it after the three females but the other two
would be an added bonus. For too long it had been locked away in the nether
prison it called home. Now, in a very short time, it would feed again.