Sisters Bound

Part 6 – A Day in March

By: Silverstar

Sorry its been so long! I blame my hectic college schedule…

Please enjoy!

Over the next few months I got closer and closer to Paige, as well as to Mike and Jamie. It was almost like they had become my second family. Christmas came and went, and while that day hurt me a lot, my new family did everything they could to keep me in the holiday spirits – especially Paige. I never forgot my sisters though, and I visited the manor weekly in order to read through the Book of Shadows and gather as much information as possible. I still couldn't bring myself to visit Grams' grave, but I figured that I felt her spirit so much in the house that there was no point in going around the graveyard anyway. It would just depress me even further. It was one Sunday in March when I flipped a page of the Book, and saw myself staring at the same demons who had taken my sisters. It had been almost six months since they were taken from me, and I had long ago given up hope that I would ever see them again, dead or alive. When I came across the page, I stared horrorstruck at the images…I knew them very well, for they still plagued my dreams.

"Pyronium demons…" I said to myself, scanning the page quickly. "Powerful demons that work in groups in order to climb the demonic ladder…will do anything to gain favor with the…Source?" I looked at the entry, puzzled, because I had no idea who the source was. And what would these demons want with us? As far as I knew, Prue, Phoebe, and I had no powers…we were just in a family of witches. Pushing back my tears, I continued to read. "These demons work for themselves and do what they can to gain power. They create fire in their hands…and hurl it at their enemies, incinerating them on impact. Usually…there are a few leaders in each group, which have the ability to throw lightning…" I remembered the demon that had killed my grandmother, and a pang of pain went through my heart. Looking down further on the page, I saw a list of ingredients…they were under the title "Vanquishing Potion." Once I saw these words, I knew what I had to do…but I was afraid. I had to go after these demons…I had to find out what had happened to my sisters.

Next week when I got Jamie to drop me off back at the manor, I went straight to work. I'd never made a potion before, but Grams had taught me how to cook, and I was pretty good at that. I didn't know if we had all of the ingredients, but after looking around up in the attic, I found all of the herbs I needed in a small box within the trunk that had once held the Book of Shadows. I now kept the Book on a pedestal in the center of the attic, where it looked like it belonged. It somehow made me feel closer to Grams, knowing that she had looked through it often when she was alive. Doing everything slowly, and after having it explode with a large bang and scaring me half to death, I had the potion ready. It had only taken me a little over an hour. As it cooled, I dug around the cabinets until I found a bunch of glass vials hidden in the back of one. Smiling at Grams, and wondering how she kept all this a secret from us…and why…? I took out as many as I could find and started filling them with the blue colored potion.

When I left the manor an hour later, my bag was full and my mind was set. I didn't know how I was going to find them…and I didn't know if my sisters would even be there…but I had to try. On the way back to the house I saw Paige looking at me, and I quickly looked away. She could tell I was up to something…but I knew she'd never guess what. We had gotten close over the last few months…but I had never told her about that night…or about the Book. She may act older, but she was only eight, almost nine…and I didn't want her to think I was crazy. After all, she was my only friend.

Later that week I told Jamie that I wanted to spend the night at the manor. She seemed concerned, and I watched as she took a good look at me.

"Are you okay Piper?" she finally asked.

"Yeah," I answered, thinking about the bag of potion bottles up in my room.

"Because…you haven't really been acting like yourself lately…" I looked up as she placed her hand on my shoulder, and I smiled sadly. I had been acting strange…I was terrified of what I had decided to do. I kept picturing what had happened to that demon when I threw Grams' potion at it…the image had been with me since it happened. I didn't know if I could do it again…or what would happen…and I was afraid to die. But, I knew I had to try. Why else would I have been led to the Book? Realizing that Jamie was still looking at me, I shook my head slightly.

"I'm fine," I lied, brushing her hand off my shoulder. "You know…it's just that…it's been six months…" Jamie eyes widened when I said this and then she looked over at the calendar. This weekend would be the six month mark since what happened. "I…I just need some time to myself," I then said in almost a whisper, and Jamie nodded.

"Sure honey, I can take you over on Friday after school."

"Thanks," I replied before giving Jamie a hug and heading back upstairs. As I entered my room, closing the door behind me, I stared in shock at what was before me. Paige was standing there, one hand holding the bag of potions, and one hand holding a small blue vial.

"Piper?" she said, confusion and worry in her features.

"Paige, what are you doing in my room!" I said loudly, but not loudly enough to bring Jamie running up the stairs. "This is my stuff, and its private!" I said angrily, grabbing it from her and then shoving it back under my bed.

"But-"

"No Paige!" I said loudly. "Do you think you can just snoop in here when you want? Do you?" I asked, taking her shoulders with my hands and shaking her. Strangely enough, she didn't start crying…I did. Disgusted with myself, I turned from her and threw myself onto my bed.

"Piper…"

"Go away Paige!" I said as loudly as I could through the tears, but she continued to look at me, and eventually walked over and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"What is it?" she asked, and not knowing what she was referring to – the potions or my crying – I turned to face her. "Piper…you're my best friend. Tell me," she then said, and I sighed as my tears subsided and I scooted over so she'd have room on the bed next to me.

"They're potions," I told her, and she looked at me, confused. "I…I never told you about that night," I whispered, and she shook her head, knowing perfectly well what I was referring to. "I…I never told the police this…but the things that killed Grams…"

"You mean the gang?" she asked, and I shook my head.

"No Paige…it wasn't a gang. Fire and electric bolts came from their hands. They were strong…not human…"

"Not…human…?" Paige said to herself, and I saw fear in here eyes.

"Oh Paige…I shouldn't be telling you this. I'm sorry…" I said quickly, lowering my head to look at my necklace. From time to time I noticed that it would glow. It did so now.

"Piper…tell me," Paige insisted. Wanting to tell someone, I relented.

"They were demons Paige…evil creatures. They appeared out of nowhere…took my sisters…and tried to take me. Grams was able to fight them off, using potions like the ones you found," I explained as Paige took everything in. "She…got rid of a lot of them…but there was one left. It…It killed her. Before she died, she shoved this necklace into my hand," I said, pointing at the pendant around my neck just as it glowed.

"It…glowed…" she said, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yeah…I don't know why it does that…but I haven't taken it off since that night. When…when Grams died," I said, tears coming to my eyes, "the last demon came after me. I…I threw one of Grams' potions at it…and it…it was engulfed in fire and disappeared. I…I didn't know what had happened…but one time when I was at home, searching for an answer, I found a book called The Book of Shadows. I found out that my family is a family of witches."

"Witches…but…they don't exist," Paige said softly, and I shrugged.

"I don't know why Grams kept it a secret from us…but something led me to that book…and so I read through it, week by week. And then…I found an entry on the demons that…" I faded off, thinking of Prue and Phoebe.

"So you're going after them?" Paige asked, and I slowly nodded.

"And…I'm so afraid Paige. But…I have to try…I…" Paige suddenly threw her arms around me and tears started pouring from her eyes. In all my time here, I'd never seen her cry.

"Please Piper…don't…I don't want you to go. I've finally gotten a sister, and I don't want to go back to the way things were before. Please…stay with me!" I hugged her back, in shock of what I was hearing. "I love you."

"I love you too," I whispered back, rocking her gently and waiting for her tears to stop. She eventually quieted, and I took a tissue from off my night stand and wiped her face, frowning at the sight of Paige's sad eyes.

"Promise me," she finally said. "Promise me you won't go after them."

"Paige…I don't even know where to find them," I said softly as I pushed her dark hair out of her face.

"Promise me!" she said again, more forcefully.

"Paige…" Not wanting to promise her anything I couldn't keep, I just hugged her again. "I can't give up on my sisters…even if they are…dead…I need to find them." Paige just held to me tightly, not saying anything, and finally fell asleep in my arms. Smiling sadly down at my little sister, I picked her up gently, and with a little struggle, I carried her into her room. After tucking her into bed I turned to leave, but stopped when I felt her hand grab mine.

"I'll always be your sister," she whispered, and I smiled.

"And you'll always be mine," I replied. "Get some sleep." Giving her hand a squeeze, I let go of it and headed back to my room. I was exhausted, and somewhat torn between my old family and my new one.

The rest of the week Paige didn't speak much to me, but I could tell that she was keeping me in her sight at all times. Mike and Jamie thought nothing of it, thinking that my depressed mood was rubbing off on her, and both tried their best to give me my space, and cheer me up as much as possible. On Friday after school Jamie picked me up after she got Paige. I had my bag of potions, which Jamie thought was clothing, and I held it close to my side as I slipped into the back seat with Paige. She stared intensely at me the whole ride, and when we finally pulled up to the manor, I was relieved.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow after Paige's dance class," Jamie said, leaning back to kiss me on the cheek.

"Thanks," I replied, and after looking at Paige for a second, I got out of the car. When I was almost to the front door I heard a car door slam behind me, and saw Paige running towards me at top speed.

"Piper!" she called, running forward and wrapping her arms around my waist as I turned.

"Paige…" I whispered, hugging her close before pulling away. "I'll be fine…don't worry," I whispered, smiling nervously down at her. The truth was, I was terrified. "Here," I finally said. And, reaching up, I unclasped Grams' necklace and lowered it from my neck. Smiling, I reached over and put it around Paige's neck. "Keep this, okay?" I said, and Paige just smiled sadly and gave me another hug.

"You'll have to come back to get it from me, okay?" she then said, and I nodded.

"Now go back to your mom. She's waiting for you." I smiled sadly as Paige reluctantly turned around and walked back over to the car. Jamie was smiling at us, having no idea what I was about to do, but happy that Paige and I had gotten so close. After waving at them, I turned again and let myself into the house. Now that I was here…where would I begin?

To Be Continued…