Jeffrey grabbed Prue by the wrist and pulled her away from the demon. A piece of the shattered door had cut her forehead and she wiped the blood away as Jeffrey pushed her out of the kitchen into the entryway. Prue called for Piper and Phoebe as they came down the stairs. Leo orbed in behind them.
Jeffrey followed Prue into the entryway, and then suddenly stopped. He turned to face the demon, using his own body to block the only way to the sisters. When the demon reached him, he would die within seconds.
But the Banka ceased its advance and backed away a few steps. It would take a couple of steps toward Jeffrey, and then back away, howling in pain. As Leo healed Prues' wound, they all watched in surprise as Jeffrey began to glow each time the demon moved toward him.
Suddenly the demon howled in anger and then turned and bound out through the shattered doorway. Jeffrey turned and saw the looks of shock on the others faces. He looked at the floor, a look of guilt on his own face.
"What was that?" demanded Piper. "How come you aren't dead?"
"He knows more than he told us," said Phoebe. "Remember when he told us he wasn't in any danger because he wasn't a witch? I just realized. He told us that before we told him about the Banka demon."
"Jeffrey?" questioned Prue in confusion. "What's going on? That thing seemed to be afraid of you. And it was in pain. You were also glowing when it moved toward you. How do you explain that?"
"Let's go into the living room," said Jeffrey. "I'll try to explain everything."
"What about our friend?" asked Phoebe.
"He won't be back for a while," said Jeffrey.
"How do you know that?" asked Leo.
"Please," said Jeffrey, "I'll explain everything in the living room."
"This should be good," said Piper.
"You said you weren't a witch," Prue said to Jeffrey in the living room.
"Witches don't glow," interjected Leo.
"I'm not a witch," said Jeffrey in answer to Prue's question.
"Then what are you?" demanded Piper. "A warlock? A sorcerer? Another demon we haven't heard of?"
"Piper, please," said Prue. "Jeffrey, what's going on? Why is that thing afraid of you? How come you were glowing?"
"Everything I told you is the truth," said Jeffrey.
"Yeah, right," scoffed Phoebe.
"Phoebe," said Leo, "let him finish."
"My name is Jeffrey Talisman," said Jeffrey, "and I do own an antique shop in Salado, Texas, called 'Ancient Designs'. My . . . father was a witch but I'm not. And strictly speaking, I have no special powers or abilities. In most ways, I'm no different from any other human."
"Humans don't glow," said Prue.
"True," said Jeffrey, "and usually I don't either."
"We're still waiting to hear an explanation," said Piper.
"I haven't lied to you about anything," said Jeffrey. "Let's just say I've been selectively honest. While I haven't actually lied, I also haven't told you the entire truth."
"Ya think?" asked Phoebe.
"That much is obvious," said Prue. "We need to know everything. Now."
"It's why I insisted on staying," said Jeffrey. "You don't stand a chance against the Banka. No one does. At least with me here, you have some protection."
"Why?" asked Prue. "How?"
"When I first got here," said Jeffrey, "you asked me if I had the talisman you needed."
"You said you didn't," said Leo.
"And I was being honest," said Jeffrey. "I don't have a talisman. I am the talisman."