---Piper, Phoebe and Paige cowered, hands clasped, in front of a tall being. They were trapped in a crystal cage, with four glowing white precious stones emitting crackling blue pillars that inhibited the sisters from escaping. The being hurled a neon blue energy ball at Paige. Having no where to run, and being unable to orb, the energy ball hit the youngest Charmed One. No sound escaped her lips as she fell down, dead. Next the black cloaked figure threw two energy balls at Phoebe and Piper. They too, were powerless. As they crumpled to the floor, their killer disappeared in a cloud of ash. The Charmed Ones were no more. ----
Phoebe woke suddenly, a bone-chilling scream escaping her lips. She sat up like a soldier standing to attention, and wrapped the duvet closer to her, as if to protect herself from the terrifying events in her dream. Her breathing was heavy and erratic, her forehead was slick with sweat and her heart rate was so fast, it felt like it was ready to explode.
Her bedroom door, burst open and Piper stepped in, her hands raised to obliterate the evil that was threatening her sister. Leo and Paige were right behind her. Piper lowered her hands when she realised Phoebe was not in danger.
"Phoebe," Piper muttered, seeing the state her little sister was in. She rushed to her side, sat on Phoebe's bed and her arms wrapped comfortingly around her. "Sshh, it was just a dream." She cradled Phoebe's head as if she were a small child and smoothed her hair just like Patty had done when Piper was upset as a little girl.
"What happened?" Paige demanded a little harshly. It must have been a hell of a dream to get Phoebe in that state, and Paige wasn't entirely convinced it had been a dream. She glanced around the darkened room suspiciously, but no demon was there.
Phoebe's body wracked with sobs, rendering her speechless.
Leo sat at the end of his sister-in-law's bed and took her hand. "Was it a premonition?" he asked gently.
Phoebe began to shake her head, but then stopped herself. The dream had felt like a vision, but was it? She took in a deep gulp of air to calm herself and regulate her breathing. "I…I d…don't know," she stammered. "It was in dream form, but it felt like a vision," she added in a stronger voice.
"Do you want to tell us what happened?" Piper let go of Phoebe, but still held her free hand in a gesture of support.
Phoebe nodded uncertainly. "I saw us get killed."
Piper's hand instantly flew to her stomach. She was four months pregnant, with the beginnings of a bump. If she died, so would her baby, and that was unacceptable.
"Oh, God," Paige murmured. She hated it whenever Phoebe got a vision of their death, but it had happened so many times, she was practically accustomed to it. "Tell us everything," she ordered harshly, marching over to her sisters.
"Paige, calm down," Leo instructed.
"We don't even know if it was a premonition," Piper said anxiously, trying to reassure her family. "It could have been a dream right?"
"Right," Phoebe confirmed, but the more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that her nightmare was a psychic premonition. She gave a little hiccup, but the tears had stopped.
"I think the best thing to do would be to check the book and see if we can find the demon in the dream/vision," Leo said.
"No!" Phoebe cried hysterically. " It took place in the attic."
"Leo, why don't you orb to the attic, grab the book and bring it back down," Paige suggested, having calmed down. They faced death everyday, what was different this time?
Leo nodded and orbed out.
"Phoebe?"
Phoebe jumped. She had been staring into space, not paying attention to the conversation.
Piper tucked a strand of Phoebe's mahogany brown hair behind her ear. "We'll find this demon and vanquish it," Piper promised, her heart going out to her little sister. Phoebe's visions had helped them save many lives, but Phoebe suffered. Piper knew Phoebe was re-playing the vision/dream in her mind, hoping to differentiate between the two and remember and detail that might help the ID the demon.
Leo appeared in a swarm of light, the heavy volume in his arms. Phoebe took the leather bound book and opened the first cover. Before she could flip any further, a mystical wind lifted the pages. They fluttered for a few moments, before eventually settling.
Piper looked up at the ceiling. "Thanks guys." From time to time the Charmed Ones deceased mother and grandmother helped out when the girls were in dire need. Since Prue, the eldest sister had died; they also liked to believe she looked out for them too. Piper didn't know whether to be thankful for the help, as it would save them time, but it also meant they were in serious danger.
Phoebe peered down at the open page. "Uh-oh," she muttered.
A/N. The next chapter has more action. Please review!