Back at the Manor

The girl sat rigidly on the couch of the charmed ones. Her out side appearance being that of one who was extremely nervous, on the inside, however, she was bubbling with anticipation. These witches were exactly what she had been craving. Their power oozed from them, seeping into every core of her being. She longed for more. To reach out and touch them, engulf them, consume every last drop of their tantalizing power.

Paige's power would prove quite useful in battle, and her whitelighter blood was intoxicating. Phoebe, had a more passive power, but its energy was enough to make her mouth water. And Piper, Piper had not only an active power, but she carried with her a child who held enormous power of its own.

Soon she would have it, soon she would have it all, but for now she needed to gain their trust. The hunt was always the most thrilling when the prey didn't know they were being hunted. They could be manipulated. Played with. Tortured. Then devoured.

"Are you hungry?" Phoebe asked, breaking her concentration.

"Uh—no, thank you." The girl said with a sweet smile. She was a great actor.

"Are you sure, 'cause I could make something for you."

"No, no it's fine."

"Pizza, a sandwich, cookies, Piper makes the best cookies."

"I'm fine."

"Are you su—"

"Phoebe she said she's fine. Shesh, I know you want to make her feel welcome but when she says she's fine she's fine," Paige said with

"Right... sorry"

"So you saw the demon kill someone?" Piper asked changing the subject.

"Uh—yes, yes it was horrible. Three nights ago, I was out fro a walk in the park, and I heard a scream. I—"her voice broke. "He--he sucked the life out of her. He—he killed her. Oh my God and her scream, it was horrible."

Phoebe paused for a moment as if she were studying the girl then reached out and squeezed her hand, "It's alright." Phoebe said gently. She had arrived just minutes earlier after getting a call from Piper. The girl took a moment to compose herself.

"So he's been chasing you ever since?" Piper asked.

The girl nodded.

"Alright, well, I'm going to go check the Book of Shadows, see if there's anything on this guy," Paige said standing up to go walk upstairs.

"Right and I am going to go make some vanquishing potions just in case." Piper said standing up as well.

When both of the sisters left the room, Phoebe smiled uncomfortably at the girl, trying to come up with a conversation starter. "Ok well... what's your name?"

The girl looked up sheepishly, "Claire," she answered softly.

"Claire that's a nice name, how old are you, you look about twenty or so right," the girl nodded, "I actually have a nephew that's around your age. I bet you guys would like each other. He's a bit um, well how should I put this, aggravating at times but..." Claire stopped listening after this point as Phoebe rattled on with her small talk. She smiled.

The witch had no idea what was coming. Slowly, she moved her hand closer to Phoebe, who didn't notice because she was in the middle of one of her stories. Just a little bit closer and she could make her move, it would have to be swift though, just a taste, save the rest for later. The others mustn't know just yet.

Finally she touched her hand to Phoebe's leg. Phoebe stopped talking and looked strangely at Claire. That's right; just keep looking at my face. Just keep—

"Who are you?"

An immense power suddenly came into her senses, full of pain and anguish that she had never sensed before. It felt however, slightly familiar. And then it hit her, the baby. The baby had the same presence only much weaker.

She whirled around to face a boy of a little more then twenty years.

"Chris, you're back!" Phoebe squealed a hint of relief evident in her voice. Phoebe stood up quickly pulling away from Claire and gave Chris a big hug before he could react. "Claire, this is my nephew, Chris, remember, I was just talking about him."

Claire nodded absent mindedly, still gazing at the boy and his power hungrily. Then he spoke again.

"Phoebe, who is this?" His voice had a harshness to it, as if he already did not trust her. Oh the hunt would be a good one indeed.

"--I'm Claire," she said hurriedly, holding out a hand. He eyed it pensively, but did not take it.

"Phoebe, why is she in the house?"

"They saved me that's why," Claire said dramatically, "This, this—demon was chasing me and they saved me with their powers." Chris still looked unconvinced.

"Oh Chris, don't be so up tight. She just needs a safe place to stay for a while, that's all. She didn't even know about magic." Phoebe piped in, "Why are you here anyway? We've been trying to call you ever since last week. Why haven't you come?"

"I've been busy." Chris answered matter-of-factly. Phoebe didn't have to be an empath to read between the lines. Piper. "Look, I just came here to look something up in the Book of Shadows, that's all."

"Chris, honey," Phoebe said, pleading with her eyes, "Say hello to Piper. She's been worried sick about you all this week."

"I will, just not now," Chris said defensively and began to orb out. Phoebe caught him at the last moment and pulled him back. Claire coked her eye brow, a whitelighter too.

"Oh no you don't, you can't keep avoiding her."

"Avoiding who—Chris?" Piper stood in the door way.

"Uh—hi...Piper."

"Chris, we really have to talk." Piper said with a hint of urgency in her voice.

"Mo—Piper, I'll just leave I—"

"Uban, upper class demon, powers fireballs, invisibility, shimmer and –Chris?" Paige said orbing down from upstairs.

"Who's Uban?" Chris asked, desperately changing the subject.

"The guy who attacked her," Paige said gesturing towards Claire.

"Her names Claire," Phoebe cut in.

"Ok, the guy who attacked Claire."

"Right, so did it say how to vanquish him?" Piper asked.

"Yeah there's a recipe for a vanquishing potion in here, looks pretty complicated though."

"Ok, let's get started. Sooner we get this over with the better." Piper said heading towards the kitchen while Paige followed, "I don't want him popping in on us when we're not prepared."

As Phoebe walked past Chris she whispered to him to watch Claire and keep her occupied for a few minutes.

"Phoebe I—"

"Come on Chris, I need to go help make the potions, and she can't be left alone." Phoebe pleaded giving him a knowing look that said volumes.

"Fine." Chris said making a show of his dislike. After Phoebe had left the room Chris turned a stony eye towards Claire, who returned it with a look of innocence.

Chris had a bad feeling about this girl. He remembered a vague reference about a 'Claire' in one of the Charmed Chronicles in the future. He couldn't remember what the reference was about, but he was almost certain that it was bad news. Really bad news. It could just be a coincidence that her name was Claire but he couldn't afford to take that chance. He would defiantly have to keep an eye on this girl. There was more that she was not telling.

"Mind not staring at me," Claire said with a nervous laugh.

Chris walked silently over to where she sat, leaning in to stare directly into the eyes of the girl. "You might have fooled the charmed ones," Chris said in a chilling whisper, "but you're not about to fool me."

"Wha—what are you talking about?" How did he know?

"Playing innocent are we? How cute," Chris mocked before his face turned to a raging stone. Looking directly into Claire's eyes, with a look that could murder, Chris spoke, "Stay away from the charmed ones, or I'll kill you my self."

How—How could he know? Who was he? Who did he think he was threatening her like this? Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, she'd make sure he was the first. Her mask came back up again, "Charmed ones? I—you mean Piper, Paige and Phoebe? I—I don't understand. Please, please don't hurt me."

Chris stood up straight, his eyes cold, giving one last glance at the kitchen door, he orbed out and up to the attic with out another word. Claire's eyes narrowed as he left. Oh yes he would definably be the first.

She turned her head slightly and listened to what the charmed ones were saying in the kitchen. Demon hearing always came in handy.