Author's Notes: Well, I'm so terribly sorry it took me so long to update this story, but my computer crashed along with my internet connection and I spent loads of time trying to salvage my documents. No fear though… everything is going to be fine and dandy…
Paige grumbled to herself, struggling to keep her purse slung over her shoulder while searching for her car keys in it. Finally giving up, she shrugged her purse off and paused, digging deeper and at last retrieving the lost keys. Damn Burns… She sneered in irritation, resuming her brisk walk out of the university's library. Why couldn't he have waited for Monday to drop this paper on us? I swear, if it wasn't for personal gain, I would've… she cut her train of thought, knowing its' outcome would only frustrate her more.
Paige had planned herself an unstoppable weekend of clubbing and partying as an attempt to clear her mind from all of the drama that's been going on in the Halliwell Manor.
Leo appeared a week ago, claiming to return from the Elders with the news about some new great power that's been meaning to surface soon, but he was too uneasy and kept losing his train of thoughts, speaking absently and replying in short sentences. It was clear to Paige that he had met up with Piper before returning home. He was distracted and couldn't keep his focus for more than a minute. He seemed worried and anxious and Paige had to fight the urge to ask him how Piper was doing. She still couldn't help herself but to miss her despite everything.
He had been avoiding Cole vigorously for the past week - leaving abruptly when Cole would enter the kitchen, steering clear of wherever Cole could've been and avoiding any conversation about it. Prue told her she overheard them argue and Cole accuse Leo of helping Piper vanquish them. Paige didn't want to believe Cole would stoop that low and had asked Leo about that, but from his reaction - which was a quick change of subject - she realized it was indeed true.
It has been more than a week since Cole lured any demons into the house and he has been acting strangely since then, spending all of his time in the attic and leaving only to check up on P3. It was quite unsettling to have Cole wander about the house quiet as a mouse and drowned in what seemed to be constant contemplation. Never in her entire life Paige had seen Cole contemplate. He was always acting, attacking, jumping head first and asking questions later; but now he seemed to given up on the idea of vanquishing Piper and devoted himself wholly to searching the Book of Shadows for this new emerging power. Of course you can't be sure since you have no idea what he's doing up there, but she could hope.
The whole household has been plunged into such high quantities of tension that it almost made breathing impossible. That is why she wished to leave the Manor and preferred to lose herself in the faceless crowds of some nightclub. Instead, her plans were ruined by professor Burns assigning them papers due till Monday. Which meant she'd have to spend her weekend researching, summarizing and conducting her ten-page paper on 'Social Tendencies of the Civilized Society'. DAMN
She pushed the door and stormed out of the library, heading to the university's parking lot. Arriving there, she took a glance at the full lot and remembered that she was forced to leave her car a block away since there was no room here. Growling yet again in exasperation, she clutched her car keys tightly and headed out of the campus.
Paige stomped down the buzzing streets, scanning the passers by as they hurried on their way, knowing nothing of the dangers lurking in the dark alleyways. She sighed to herself, some of her irritation gradually fading away as the cool wind engulfed her in autumn's crispness. Noticing her favorite coffee shop, she decided to indulge herself with a good cup of Latte and entered the small establishment, emerging five minutes later with a smile and a paper cup.
Approaching her car, she fished the keys from her coat pocket and inserted it into the keyhole, balancing the cup of coffee and her purse skillfully. Suddenly a great crash sound reverberated out of the nearest alley, followed by someone's grunting, crackling of raw electrical energy and a crash again. Paige jerked around, staring at the direction of those sounds. Well, of course… you couldn't let me have five minutes of serenity! Her heart began to beat rapidly as she deserted her car and hurried into the alley, instinctively preparing for a fight.
Pausing at a curve, she glanced over the wall she was hiding behind and a sight of the ongoing battle revealed to her two bulk gray skinned demons cornering someone behind a dumpster, both gripping a pair of energy balls. Paige leaned aback and sighed heavily - Damndamndamndamndamndamndamn… Stepping out of her hiding, she scanned the area for any kind of weapon. Finding none, she cursed herself mentally for leaving her athame at the Manor.
"Hey!" she called out to draw the demons' attention, throwing her coffee cup, and leaped into the air, kicking a dumpster at one of them. Taken by surprise, the demon wasn't able to shimmer out of the way, allowing the great container to run him down. The second demon, growling at her, suddenly shimmered, reappearing behind her back and threw the energy balls at her direction. Anticipating the obvious move, Paige rolled her eyes in a bored manner and leaped up again, easily avoiding the lethal electricity. She turned around, swinging her leg in a well-aimed kick to the demon's face, but he was prepared for that. Grabbing her foot just before it connected with his jaw-line, he pushed it fiercely, sending her into uncontrollable spins around herself in the midair.
Screaming from fear as she continued to hang powerlessly in the air, Paige did not notice a small vial get thrown in the direction of her attacker and was hurled aback by the force of a great explosive potion. Landing on her behind, she grunted, slowly picking herself up and dusting herself off. What the hell was that?
"Get down!" a sudden angry roar echoed through the alley and Paige swirled around to meet a massive energy ball speeding towards her at unthinkable rate. She braced herself and began her leap into the air when some immense force rammed her out of the way, taking the hit itself.
Paige landed behind another conveniently located dumpster and squeezed her eyes shot, hoping against all hope that the demon won't find her in this vulnerable position as the vivid images suddenly flooded her mind. She found herself in a dark cave, the only dim light emanating from the crackling torches and the smell of rotten bodies stiffly hanging in the air. The cave seemed all too familiar as she realized it was none else then the Source's lair.
Staring onwards she noticed two figures entering the lair - the first was herself, who was tied up and deemed beaten and the figure towering behind her was of a red-skinned demon, leading her towards the black throne. The demon halted finally, pushing her forwards; she lost her balance and collapsed onto her knees, groaning painfully. A massive dark figure rose suddenly in front of her and Paige noticed for the first time that the throne was occupied by the Source Of All Evil.
She stifled a shudder and forced herself to watch further. There appeared to be some sort of a short conversation between the demon and the Source and suddenly the guards launched forward, attacking the demon and her own tied figure. With a slight flicker of his wrist, coupler of bright red vial appeared in the demon's hand and he hurled them at the guards. Paige in the vision freed herself and also was hurling vials of explosive potions at the upcoming guards. In the heat of the battle the demon turned around for the first time showing Paige his front.
Paige gasped in horror and flung open her eyes, the images from her premonition drawing away. Her eyes landed on a red skinned demon hurling a vial of bright red substance at the first demon and watching him explode into hundreds of tiny black pieces. The demon turned to face Paige and managed a small scowl, which oddly resembled a smile, and finally collapsed onto the cold asphalt, gripping onto its' side where an open wound gashed great amounts of blood.
Still hearing her ears ring deafeningly, shuddering from the vision, Paige climb out from behind the dumpster and walked over to the demon. Staring at it with a slightly gaping mouth, Paige took in the fact that before her laid an unconscious and defenseless form of the almighty Bellatrix.
Well… my weekend plans are ruined once again…
Author's Notes: Now wasn't that absolutely predictable… not that I was trying to surprise you guys or anything, but… yeah…
Hope you liked it :)