Prue's POV

Chapter 9 - A Million Miles Apart

"They agreed to meet me." Piper told me, putting the phone down. "But ... ah ... you can't come."

"I kinda figured." I shrugged, guilt nawinbg away at my insides. "I don't blame them. I was so awful."

"Prue, it was a heat-of-the-moment thing. Did you even mean it?"

I paused, thoughfully. "No. I mean, I do resent that they have some kind of family - or had some kind of family - but I can't imagine what Paige is going through. And of course it's going to take some time to get over it. I just wish I'd never said it, that she knew how sorry I was ..." I realised I was rambling, and closed my mouth. "When are you going?"

"I'm meeting them at golden gate park in half-an-hour." She told me. "IT's OK to resent them a little Prue." She added softly. "We shouldn't, but I do to. But it isn't their fault. Or ours. Or even Patty's." I remembered how awful I was to her too. I sighed.

"She didn't know it was going to turn out like this." I sighed. "No one did ... tell Paige I'm sorry, OK? I didn't mean it."

Piper nodded, and went upstairs. I sat on the living room sofa, trying to think how much Paige must hate me right now.

I don't know how long I sat there in silence, just staring at the wall, but I vaguely heard Piper call out to me as she left. I stayed there, not moving. What had I done? Paige hates me, Phoebe hates me ... And if Piper had to choose between me and them two, of course she'd choose them. They were her baby sisters too, and she probably felt the same need as me to protect them.

But she didn't drive them away.

So I'm alone again, aren't I? Sisterless. Familyless. Back to square one.

What am I going to do?

A tear formed in the corner of my eye, which scared me. I hadn't cried in ten years. I learnt the hard way, not to let emotions get involved, not to feel anything. Not to cry. Don't let the world see how much it's screwed you over.

BANG!

I was threw through the air, and landed slumped against the wall, every muscle in my body aching. What the hell ...?

A man was stood behind the sofa I had been sat on, smiling as it tossed a ball in the air. A ball of fire? No, a ball made of fire.

I tried to remember the night before, the book, before everything got screwed up. Protect the innocent ... from what?

Demos and warlocks. I shuddered.

"What are you?" I asked, struggling to my feet.

"I am Nicholas. I am a warlock." He looked at me. "Where are your sisters?"

"What does it matter to you?"

"They - and you - belong to me." He said. "Your mother promised me you years ago."

Oh, no. I remember what Patty said. Damn.

"Well, my sisters aren't here. Sorry." I said sarcastically.

"Where are they?" He narrowed his eyes at me.

To me, it felt as though they were a million miles away.

"Where are they!" I was sent flying across the room again.

"Two can play at that game." I muttered. What were my powers? Telikenesis. How ...?

I waved my arm at him, and - yes! - he was thrown too. Not very far, but still.

"You can't fight me." He raised his fist, and a ring on his finger began to glow. As it did, I felt my throat tighten, I felt a burning feeling, inside my very own head ...

"Your blood is boiling. Soon your lungs will sear." He said. I can't breath. I'm dying ... I'm dying ...

And Paige will never know how sorry I am ... they'll never know how much I care about them ... love them even ...

So, so short, I know. I'll try to make the next one longer, honest ...