To Piperandleoeva,Much appreciation for you reading all my stories and leaving such nice comments. Also took your advice and now allow any one to leave reviews. Didn't realize that block was on.
To leopiper4ever-SV-GGA new reader which is just so cool. Thanks for the positive comments, they keep me motivated!
Hope you all like the next chapter!
Chapter 2
Two more bodies were found very much as the first had been. Like in the first, huge burn makes marred the fronts of the victims. Darryl was starting to get really nervous. More and more questions were being raised. Questions he did not have answers to, or at least none he was willing to volunteer. He needed to talk with the sisters again to see if they found out anything. He sure hoped they had.
Phoebe had spent most of the night combing through the Book of Shadows trying to find out which demon might be running loose in San Francisco. She had narrowed it down to three likely candidates. All of these demons were lower level and seemed predisposed to attempt anything to gain recognition, including risking exposure. Little demon syndrome for lack of a better phrase. Phoebe had to smile to herself. Nothing worse than a demon with low self esteem. Looking over her likely suspects, she was leaning toward the Skipper demon. Who wouldn't have low self- esteem with a name like that? Especially in the demon community. The name didn't exactly inspire awe and fear that's for sure. They didn't even rate a picture in the Book, just a small blurb saying they will do anything for attention. Well, at least it was a start. She'd fill her sisters in tomorrow. Right now she needed some shut-eye.
It was around one am and P3 was closed for the night. By 12:45 everything had been cleaned up and the staff had gone home, leaving Piper and Leo to do the final lock up. Piper looked through hooded eyes as Leo checked the back door and locked the storeroom. He had been quiet all night, only speaking to her about club business and even that had been sparse. She had wanted to fill him in on what Phoebe had found out, but his distant manner caused her to hold off. She did manage to inquire about his fingers when she noticed them wrapped up. He shook off her concern and informed her he was fine and turned away going back to work. That had been their longest conversation thus far.
Not wanting to admit it, she missed being able to talk to him. Yes, she had Dan who was attentive and supportive, but he still didn't know the big bad secret so she always had to be on guard. With Leo, there were no secrets to dance around, and he was the best listener. She lowered her eyes and chastised herself for her thoughts. None of that mattered. What mattered was Dan was the one thing in her life that was normal. Something Piper desperately craved in her supernatural life. Something she clung to. It didn't matter if Dan's kisses didn't leave her breathless as Leo's did. Didn't matter that when Dan held her she did not feel her pulse race as it did in Leo's arms. So she wasn't gloriously happy, but she was content and she would accept that if it meant a normal relationship. At least that is what she had convinced herself of.
Leo completed the rest of his nightly routine and was headed for his room. This meant having to pass where Piper was seated at the bar. "Good night Piper." He softly said as he went by.
"Good night Leo." Then as an after thought, she said, "Leo?"
"Yeah?"
Whatever she was going to ask was abruptly halted as a figure materialize out of thin air. Said figure produced a large orange fireball, which floated just above the palm of his hand.
Leo reacted instantly. Throwing himself at Piper, knocking her to the floor out of harms way. Leo's face contorted in pain as he felt the fiery orb singe the back of his shirt, and connect with skin.
Piper hit the ground hard with Leo on top of her. It took her only a moment to get her bearings as well as her breath, which had been momentarily taken from her.
They heard the demon speak in a child like tone. "Come out and play little Charmed One."
Piper struggled to get out from beneath Leo. The latter reluctant to remove himself, his need to protect her so great, but he also knew she was the only one able to get them out of this. Rolling over, he watched her pop to her feet and throw out her hands. Instantly the demon froze. That was the good news, the bad was she was never entirely sure how long a freeze would last.
"I need my sisters!" She shouted to him
Leo, already on that thought train, was at the phone and quickly dialed. "Prue, Leo. We need you at the club, now!" Prue obviously didn't need to hear more for he heard a loud click then a dial tone.
The minutes ticked by slowly as they waited. At one time she thought she saw movement from the demon and froze him again just for good measure. While he stood there immobile, Piper and Leo studied him. Not the most fear invoking demon they'd ever run across. He sported a buzz cut, with one side bearing strange marking etched into the short hairs. Even though he was covered in dirt, she could see he had very pale skin under his clothes, or rather the rags he wore. The strangest thing about him was his eyes. One pitch black, the other a deep red. All in all he was like most demons, very unpleasant.
"Well, pretty he aint." Observed Piper without humor.
"At least we know who it is that's been doing the killing." Offered Leo, trying to look on the bright side.
"Yeah for us." Was her sarcastic reply and then turned to him. "Thanks for the save by the way."
"No problem." They were standing only inches apart and she could still feel the remnants of his body laying on top on hers. The heat and the warm feeling it created in her even during a life and death situation. She continued to stare into his eyes, watching the flicker of emotions mirrored in them. As if her body had a mind of its own she felt herself draw closer to him. Their lips only a breath apart, each caught up in the moment, each oblivious to anything but each other.
Because of it they failed to see the demon suddenly unfreeze. Not the smartest demon in the underworld neither was he the dumbest and quickly took advantage shimmering out. The slight movement was enough to jar Piper and Leo out of their trance. Shaking her head as if coming out of a dream, she took a step back and looked to where the demon had once stood.
"Damn it!"
Just then, Prue and Phoebe came rushing into the club. Prue with her hands ready to attack and Phoebe clutching a glass vial filled with a vanquishing potion. They stopped short when they spied only Leo and their sister.
"Where's the demon?" Prue demanded, still high on adrenaline after Leo's call.
Piper didn't quite meet her older sister's eyes. "He got away."
"Got away? How? Ya froze him didn't you?"
"Of course I did." Piper's guilt shifted to indignation, then shifted back to guilt. "He just unfroze when I wasn't looking."
Phoebe, remaining silent in view of Prue's ire, took in Piper then Leo. She had a sneaky feeling something had gone on between the two, thus causing Piper's apparent lack of concentration. Considering her eldest sister's present mood, Phoebe elected to keep her findings to herself.
"Well, did you at least get a good look at him?" Prue continued her interrogation.
Piper's earlier guilt was being washed away by her sister's continued grilling. Her emotions were already in overdrive and she didn't need her sister adding to them. "Yes Prue we got a good look at him. I'm pretty sure Pheebs was right, it was a Skipper demon." She then proceeded to fill them in on all she knew.
Just as she finished, Leo turned to pick up one of the overturned chairs, which had fallen during the attack. Phoebe immediately noticed the back of his shirt had been scorched. "Leo, are you okay?"
Prue and Piper looked up at their sister's words while Leo glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah, I'm fine. It just stings."
Piper went to him and gave the injury a closer inspection. "It's not too bad but we need to get some antiseptic on it just in case. I've got some in my office."
"All right Piper, you take care of Leo while Phoebe and I hit the book again. Now that we have more to go on we might be able to stop him." Prue stated with her usual confidence.
Piper led Leo to her office and told him to remove his shirt so she could take care of the wound.
"Piper, I'm fine, really."
The look she tossed him stated she would have none of his protests. While she dug in the drawer for the medication he removed his damaged shirt and waited quietly. Locating the ointment, she moved to stand behind him. Willing herself not to let the sight of him standing there, shirtless effect her. Tending to the wound would be her only focus.
Leo stood motionless, his eyes closed, straining to keep his body from reacting to her touch. It took everything he had when he felt her slim fingers smear the medication over his damaged skin.
Piper, for her part, was loosing her battle with control. The instant her fingers made contact with his skin, she felt her own body react. Quickly as possible she took care of the effected area.
"Okay. All done." She said while stepping back, but he turned so swiftly she staggered a bit.
Instinctively he reached out to steady her. Now the palms of her hands rested on his bare chest as she regained her footing. Then she made the awful mistake of looking up into his eyes. Neither said a word, as the room seemed to dim and time stood still. As if they had a will of their own, their mouths drew closer. Piper knew this was a mistake, but could not seem to help herself. All she could see was Leo and she so desperately wanted to feel his lips on hers.
Slowly, their lips drew nearer, until they met in a gentle caress at first. Then like two people starved for water, they drank of each other. Lips moving over lips in a passionate engagement. Opening her mouth, she invited him to taste more of her and he did so without hesitation. He devoured the deep recess of her mouth and she welcomed it. She rejoiced in the feel of his tongue battling with her own while her body responded. Feeling so alive she reveled in the moment and pressed herself closer to his body.
Leo felt as if he had died and gone to heaven. The feel of her lips beneath his, her body melting against his and knowing they were made to fit perfectly. When she gave him access to her mouth, he enjoyed discovering again the sweetest that lay within. He pledged to give up his soul if only to never have to leave her arms again. Then the unthinkable happened. She began to pull away.
What was she doing? This was wrong and the thought was like a bucket of ice water being poured over her. Had she completely lost her mind? Scolding herself for her obvious insanity she ripped her mouth away from his. Taking several steps backward and turning away, she attempted to get her rapid breathing under control.
"Piper?" Her name coming out in a hoarse whisper, his eyes reflecting his confusion.
She held up on hand. "Don't say another word Leo. This was a mistake. A really, really big mistake."
Leo felt his heart shatter into a thousand tiny pieces at her statement. He was having trouble taking a breath the pain was so intense. How could she say this was wrong when it felt so very right? They were meant to be together, why couldn't she see this?
Piper, having reigned in her whirling emotions, went to her desk and grabbed her purse. Without another word, she exited the room.
Leo watched helplessly, knowing there was nothing he could say to bring her back. Realizing she was in complete denial about her feelings for him. How did one fight that? With solemn resignation, he picked up his ruined shirt and went to his room with fierce disappointment weighing on his heart. Lying in bed he replayed the moment over and over again in his mind's eye. Turning on his side, he shut his eyes tight and forcing the images to disappear.