The four appeared in a modest apartment. It was obvious a bachelor lived here. There were none of the little amenities that a wife would have had. For an instant all was quiet.
Suddenly they heard a man cry for help from another room. Prue used her power to open the door. Inside they say Hobart behind a dresser in one corner. A demon very similar to the first was advancing on him.
"Boy, don't you guys ever give up?" asked Piper.
The demon spun to face them. He looked at Leo then eyed the sisters suspiciously.
"Charmed Ones," it hissed.
"That's right," said Prue. "Now back off or you'll get the same treatment your friend got earlier."
"Stay out of this," hissed the demon. "This does not concern the likes of you."
"Oh on the contrary," said Phoebe. "Protecting the innocent is what we do. I thought you guys would have learned that by now.
"He is no innocent," hissed the demon. "He is a very great threat."
"Threat to you makes him a friend to us," said Pure. "Now do you leave quietly or do we have to get rough?"
The demon turned and cast a ball of fire at Hobart. He dropped down behind the dresser and the fireball exploded on the wall over his head. Prue swung her hand and an invisible force cast the demon aside. It crashed through the window to the pavement below. Prue and Piper looked out the window to see the demon four stories below. It looked up at the sisters, and then shimmered away.
Prue and Piper turned and braced for an attack as Phoebe helped Hobart out from behind the dresser. Several seconds passed and the demon did not reappear. Apparently, one fight with the Charmed ones was enough for it.
"Looks like I owe you my life again," said Hobart. "What was that thing? It certainly want human."
"Something is going on," said Leo to the sisters. "Two attacks so close together can't be coincidence. Somebody wants him dead and we need to find out why."
"You go see what you can find out," said Prue. "We'll take Mr. Hobart back to the manor and wait for you there."
Leo moved back into the outer room to orb to the elders.
"Come on, Mr. Hobart," said Piper. "We're going to take you some place where you'll be safe until we can figure out what's going on."
"Listen," said Hobart. "I'm grateful for you saving me and all. But I think you need to tell me who you are and what that thing was before I go anywhere with you."
"I suppose we'll just have to leave him here then," said Phoebe. "I'm sure he can take care of himself the next time one of those things attacks."
Hobart looked at Phoebe, then at the other two.
"Let me get my coat," he said
"Grab your car keys too," said Piper. "Our, uh, ride just left."
Not sure exactly what Piper meant Hobart picked up his car keys and they all headed for the door.