A/N: Special thanks goes out to foureverCharmed, GellerBing, heather1021,Serena,LeoPiper-forever, and halli-halliwell youguys are just the best for taking the time to read this story and leave your comments on the last chapter. It just means so much. Hope you enjoy this next chapter as well.
Chapter Four
In the early morning hours a loud explosion brought everyone out of their slumber. Prue rushed to her window and spied an orange and yellow glow off in the distance. Without thought, she threw on whatever clothes were lying around and dashed out of her room. She wasn't surprised to see Piper and Phoebe had done the same and fast on her heels.
"You got the crystals?" She threw over her shoulder.
"Got em'" Phoebe confirmed, holding up a black velvet bag.
Once outside they ran into an already waiting Leo. "It'll take too long on foot. I'll orb us there."
They had no intention of arguing with him for it was a good plan. Instantly they were transported to where the chaos was ensuing. At first it was hard to get a handle on what was going on between the dark night, people rushing around and fireballs exploding everywhere.
Piper was finally able to make some sense out of it all. "Over there!" She yelled over the noise. Sure enough, four demons stood in a semi-circle picking off innocents as if they were playing some sick arcade game.
"Okay, we only have enough crystals to capture one of them." The youngest Halliwell reminded them.
Prue stepped forward and flung one arm out, sending one of the demons into the air then fell hard to the unforgiving ground where he lay stunned. Phoebe instantly understanding the plan went to the fallen demon with crystals in hand.
Piper froze the remaining demons, allowing Prue to toss two potion vials. The evil trio burst into flames and flickered out of existence. When they joined Phoebe, the last demon was securely contained within the crystal cage.
"Has he said anything?" Prue questioned and her eyes hard.
"Naw, he just sneers, and I gotta say it's really not very attractive." The last part, Phoebe directed at their captive.
"Fine, then we'll do this the hard way. Piper?"
"Ready." Her sister relayed.
Prue swung her gaze back to the demon. "Now we can do this easy or we can do this painfully, you're choice. My sister over there is holding tiny bottles, that when they hit your body it causes lots of pain. Understand?"
"You'll get nothing from me witch!" The demon growled.
Prue rolled her eyes. "Ah well, the hard way it is. Go for it Piper."
Responding immediately the middle sister threw one of the bottles at their victim causing his left hand to explode. The demon let out a piercing cry as he cradled his injured arm.
"Want to rethink your answer?" Prue asked without sympathy.
"Go to hell." He spit out between clenched teeth.
Piper didn't wait for a command and threw another bottle which connected with the demon's leg. The prisoner dropped to his good knee in agony.
Crouching low, so she was at eye level, Phoebe tilted her head to one side. "Wow, that really looks like it hurts. Just between you and me, my sister loves throwing those little bottles and she's got a bunch of them. Me, I'm curious to see how much pain you can handle."
The demon's breath was coming out in short pants and sweat poured down the sides of his face. "He'll kill me if I talk."
Phoebe nodded her head in mock sympathy. "We'll kill you too. Course if you tell us what we want to know we might be able to kill your boss before he gets to you."
The demon seemed to consider this as he eyed Piper who was tossing another bottle up in the air.
"Pytran. His name is Pytran."
Prue took up the interrogation. "Why is he attacking these people?"
"Impress the Source. Move up, maybe even into the inner circle."
"Inner circle?" Prue repeated.
Leo spoke up for the first time. "The Source's closest confidants. Those demons that have proven their loyalty and strength."
"Exterminating a whole magical community, even a low magical one would go a long way to achieving a spot in this circle." Piper's words were more a statement than a question.
Prue addressed herself back to the demon. "Where can we find this Pytran?"
The creature hesitated and Piper threatened to throw. "He's camped out in a cave out there." He pointed to the far off mountain range. "That's where he's been coordinating the attacks."
"He's not in the Underworld, that's good for us." Prue smiled, although the smile did not reach her eyes.
"Caves. What is it with demons and caves?" Mused Phoebe to no one in particular.
Piper, not as enthusiastic as her older sibling, said, "There are probably tons of caves out there, how do we know which one."
"Are there more of you're kind with Pytran?" Prue asked.
"Yes, why?"
She didn't answer him, instead she told Piper to freeze him, then disengage the cage. While her sisters looked on, Prue took out a small empty vial from her pocket and gathered some of the demon blood. When she was finished, she signaled Piper who threw the last bottle of vanquishing potion. With true aim, she nailed the demon square in the chest and he was immediately consumed by fire, then ceased to exist.
Holding up the vial of green blood, Prue said, "Let's go scry, shall we."
With a map of the countryside, which the governor had provided along with the demon blood it did not take the Charmed Ones long to pinpoint the exact location of Pytran's cave. Because he was an upper level demon a simple vanquishing potion would not suffice. A Power of Three Spell would also have to be preformed.
Not wanting to tip their quarry off by using magic, the girls turned down Leo's offer to orb them. Utilizing one of Rhaid's Land Rovers, the girls headed out, but not without promising Leo they would call him if they ran into in trouble. Following the map, the sisters arrived just as night descended, which Phoebe felt she must comment on.
"You ever notice how we tend to go demon hunting when it's dark. What's up with that?"
Her sisters, too intent on their goal paid her little mind. Parking the vehicle well down the path, they traveled the rest of the way on foot. Peeking around the corner of the cave's entrance, they observed its interior. A pair of demon's stood just inside, and they were fortunate not to have spied the intruders. As they peered farther into the cave, they spied a few more demons surrounding a figure seated in a large chair.
Retreating from the cave's entrance, Prue said, "I'm thinking the guy in the chair is our mastermind."
"He's got a few helpers." Worried Phoebe.
Prue considered their problem. "We could take a few out. Take care of them before we go in for Pytran."
"I can freeze them. We have enough potions to take out most of them."
Prue nodded her head. "Sounds like a plan."
Causing a small commotion just outside of the cave, the girls watched as two demons stepped out, then moved to investigate. Piper quickly froze them and Phoebe used the potions. Two down. They didn't have long to wait when another demon came out to find out what happened to his companions. Repeating the same steps, the sister's took care of demon number three. By Prue's estimation that left only two more with Pytran. She liked those odds.
On quiet feet, they entered the dim cave and slowly made their way closer to their intended victims. On a silent count, they made their move. Prue threw out her hand and sent one demon flying threw the air where he connected sharply with the hard granite wall. Without thought, she turned and did the same to the other. Phoebe fast on her heels, threw vials and watched in satisfaction as the demons would no longer prove to be a problem.
Pytran, let out an outraged growl and stood up. Phoebe pause a moment as she looked up and up. The demon stood at least eight feet tall and was almost as broad across, although from her small stature she could be exaggerating. He was dressed all in black, naturally, she thought to herself. Demons and black kind of went hand in hand. His skin was sickly yellow which housed bight green eyes and a none too attractive face. All in all he was not a pretty sight.
Prue and Piper had also taken it all in. "Wow, he's a big one." Piper whispered out the corner of her mouth.
"Yeah, well the bigger they are the harder they…."
"Yeah, yeah." Piper quipped back, trying to not let her courage desert her. "Let's just do this."
For his part Pytran looked down condescending at the three petite women in front of him. "How dare you enter my lair, destroy my men, disrupt my plans."
"Well, you know someone had to do it." Prue replied with a cocky grin.
Raising a clawed fist in front of them Pytran was not the least bit intimidated. "You think you can destroy me. I eat bigger humans for breakfast."
Phoebe couldn't help herself as she let out a laugh. "Really, who writes your stuff, casue I gotta tell you it is so not original."
Pytran's green eyes glowed as his anger boiled over. "You will be the first to die."' "I don't think so." Prue interrupted. "See, we're the Charmed One's and we are going to vanquish your ass, right here, right now."
Pytran's registered her words and his face showed the first signs of concern. "The Charmed Ones?"
"In the flesh. But really no need to name drop, cause this is really a hi, bye sort of thing." Piper informed as she drew out a small piece of paper, while Pure threw a small bottle at his feet. As he began to howl in pain as fire climbed up his body, the sister's stood side by side and read the Power of Three Spell.
We who are the guardians of right,
Remove this demon from our sight.
Destroy this evil, vanquish this foe
The Power of Three will make it so.
They watched with immense satisfaction as the huge demon burst into a colorful lightshow before flashing into oblivion.
Leo paced the width of the main hall over and over again. Every now and then he would stop, close his eyes and concentrate, but he sensed no distress from the girls. It was a good sign he kept telling himself, however it did not ease the tension nor the anxiety which riddled his body. He would not rest easy until the sisters were back here safe and sound. The sound of footsteps on the marble floor brought his attention to the door. A huge smile of relief lit his features as he witnessed three very happy, but very weary witches enter.
Rushing over, he eyed them closely looking for any injuries, but they looked good. "You guys okay?"
"We're fine Leo and Pytran is no more." Prue assured him in a tired voice.
"That's great news. I knew you could do it. The people of this community owe you big time."
Phoebe let out a big yawn. "The only thing I'm owed is a long hot both followed by a good night's sleep."
Leo let his eyes fall on Piper for just a moment, double checking to make sure she was okay. "You deserve it. Get some rest and you can fill me in on all the details in the morning, okay."
"Works for me." Prue threw over her shoulder as she and Phoebe headed for their rooms. Piper made to follow, but Leo couldn't help himself and stopped her.
"Piper, are you sure you're okay, you're not hurt."
Between his soft tone, and the gentle look reflecting in those damn green eyes of his, Piper was so tempted to fall into his arms. Let herself take comfort in his embrace and let all her troubling thoughts tumble into the dark recesses of her mind. As much as she wanted to do that, she also knew she couldn't, or wouldn't as the case may be. Instead she retreated behind a mask of indifference, one that had gotten her through thus far.
"I'm fine Leo. Now if you'll excuse me I really need to get some sleep."
Her cold tone seared his heart and shredded his very being. "Of course." He returned stiffly and watched as she exited the room. When would he learn, he chastised himself? She didn't want his concern, she didn't want his love and it was about time he accepted it.