This spell was old; how long had it been since she had done this? Five years at least. And yet here she was, bent over an old map of San Francisco. The scrying crystal drifted above it as she whispered the words, repeating them until her throat was dry and her lips cracked. The crystal continued to circle, stubbornly refusing to land on the withered paper.
The slave glanced anxiously through a window. It was nearly dawn. She did not have much time. Already the approaching rays were pulling at her essence, dragging her away...
She shook away the feeling. Snarling softly, she glared at the map, her eyes flashing. The crystal obediently shot to the paper, landing meekly on the ruins of a shopping centre. The woman smiled.
"Gotcha."
She turned, smiling triumphantly at the demon behind her. Tanius shrugged.
"So you were right, it seems. Minas has indeed changed sides."
The woman stood, stretching her cramped muscles.
"You'd better hurry. They're not going to wait around for you." she said pointedly, eyes glittering, goading him. She was amused to see a muscle twitch in his face as his eyes widened in rage. But he did not dare raise a hand to her. Instead, he turned angrily to the door and stormed out, robes billowing. The woman winced as she felt the sun creep closer to the horizon, the light pulling on her bones.
The dusty jeep trundled across the bumpy road, headlights flickering on every bump. The horned demon in the front seat winced at every jolt. It would have been so much easier if he could just teleport...
A harsh ringing made him jump, and he grabbed the mobile from the floor.
"Eh...Hello?"
"How is it going?" the cold voice in his ear made his scales stand on end. He hoped feverently that he would never have to meet this woman in person.
"Uh...good. I'm just getting to the-"
"Don't forget what the Source said. They get hurt, you get hurt." There was a click, then a dial tone. Mouth suddenly dry, the demon dropped the mobile.
As the jeep drove along the bumpy road, the sun began to rise, illuminating the red sky.
"Phoebe!"
Paige's shriek woke Phoebe up with a jerk. Her head snapped up, and her eyes flicked open just as an energy ball exploded beside her head. Small chips of rock sprayed across her face, slicing open her skin as she dropped to the ground, protecting her eyes. Something thudded, and their attacker yelped in rage.
Paige lobbed another rock, eyes wide with panic. The demon retreated another step, snarling as blood dripped from his bloody nose. He drew an athame out of his pocket, spitting blood.
"Filthy witches!" his eyes with furious slits.
Phoebe edged along the wall, tensing. He leapt forward, knife aimed at Paige's heart. Phoebe was frozen at the spot. She urged her body to move, but it clung to the wall-
He exploded in a ball of flame, the knife an inch from her sisters' skin. A second demon entered, conjuring another fireball.
"Tut, tut, Ferius." he said to the pile of smoking ash. "Tanius said not to harm them. You must improve your hearing."
Paige twitched at the sound of Tanius's name. Phoebe came to stand beside her sister, grabbing the discarded knife. The new demon grinned, flashing surprisingly white teeth.
"No need for that. Phoebe, right? And you must be Paige." he laughed, a light tinkling sound that made the hair the back of Phoebes neck rise. "And Piper will make three, when we get back to the Underworld."
"You've got Piper." Phoebes knuckles turned white as her grip hardened on the knife handle.
"Oh yes." he shrugged. The fireball grew larger in his hand, flames licking at his palm. His eyes were cold as he looked steadily at Phoebe.
"Now, are you going to come without a fight?" The heat from the ball of flame was burning Phoebes face.
"Well..." Phoebe cocked her head as if she was thinking about it. Her hand flicked forward, fingers a blur; the athame shot with an eerie hiss at the demon. Lazily, he threw the fireball at it. The two met in midair, and ash fell to the floor.
"Well, after that-" he never got to finish the sentence
Phoebes fist connected with his chin. His head snapped back, face wearing a comic look of shock. Then his eyes rolled up and he fell to the ground, out cold. They both stared at him for a moment, then Phoebe turned to Paige.
"We can't stay here. We have to get Piper." Paige said nothing, eyes dark as she stared at the unconscious demon.
"Paige-"
"Then what?" Paige met her eyes, a despairing expression on her face. "You'll save the world?" She laughed, a horrible bitter sound that grated in Phoebes ears.
"People have tried. I've seen them, their bodies hanging from the walls of houses." her eyes were dead with despair.
Phoebe opened her mouth, then closed it again. What could she say to that?
"We'll find Piper first. Then we'll think of something." she tried to sound confidant. Paige said nothing.
It was surprisingly easy to walk out of the mall turned slave market. Nobody gave them a second glance, assuming that Paige was the newly bought slave, Phoebe the new master. Phoebe had the hood back up, her eyes scanning the crowds restlessly; she hoped Tanius hadn't sent anyone else after them.
Phoebe breathed a sigh of relief as they entered their street.
Paige almost smiled when she saw the Manor, despite the fact it was in a shape of horrible disrepair. "I never thought I'd see this place again." she said softly, eyes glassy. Phoebe opened the door loudly, brandishing the knife.
"If there's anyone here, come out now! I don't want to have to look for you!" she called into the dark house. The rooms were empty, silent.
A long portion of the day was spent trying to remove the thick metal collar around Paiges neck. The sun was settling to the ground when they were sitting in the attic. Paige was wearing her old clothes, a red line around her neck. The remains of the book of shadows was in her hand. Phoebe lit a crumpled candle, the light spluttering.
'Ready?' Paige nodded, putting the papers aside. The chant, that had called Paige so long ago, echoed again in the cramped attic
"Powers of the witches' rise, Course unseen across the skies,
Come to us, we call you near, come to us and settle here.
Blood to blood I summon thee, Blood to blood, return to me"
The little flame flickered for a second, light weaving hesitantly.
The candle then exploded.
Little drops of molten wax flitted across the floor, but both of them were to tired to react. Paige flicked a drop from her cheek.
"What do you think that meant?"
There was a crash below them as something came through the front door.
Phoebe leapt to her feet, heart beating wildly. The thunder of running feet echoed through the house, making the attic shake as though there was an earthquake. Paige stood up, eyes wide.
"What-"
The attic door imploded. Phoebe ducked out of the way, and it crashed into an old cabinet, the old wood cracking. The demon in the doorway leered, though his murderous grin was somehow ruined by the plasters on his nose. Phoebe drew the knife out grimly as five more demons walked into the room, all of them twirling maces in a businesslike manner.
"Can you orb us out of here?" she muttered, eying the closes demon. She felt rather than saw Paige shake her head.
"I haven't been able to for five years."
Their demon friend from the mall glanced back at the door. His face broke into another strangely charming grin.
"Boss's coming." he sneered. "You're gonna been real sorry you broke my nose."
The smart reply died on Phoebes lips as the woman stepped through the door. The knife dropped from her suddenly limp hands.
It was Piper.
"Did somebody call?"
Heee! I hope that was a surprise.
