Chapter 6 - Attack

Piper's POV

She's been gone for four hours now. I'm just sat here, reading her spell over and over. What is it that she couldn't just ask me? That she had to go this far to do?

"Mum? Is she home yet?" Chris had spoken, but looking up I saw Wyatt and Cassie stood in the doorway with him.

"No, peanut, she's not." I murmured. He didn't even tell me off for calling him peanut. He just looked down.

"Where did she go?" Cassie asked, looking confused. I didn't know what to say to that.

"She'll be home soon." I said, instead. I know it didn't answer her question, but Cassie seemed to sense I didn't have an answer.

"I hope she gets back soon." Wyatt said, and I wondered if he remembered Patty being kidnapped. I mean, he was only, what, two? That's all I can think asbout. How she was kidnapped. How do I know that isn't what's happened, and some demon or something has tried to make it look like she's cast some spell?

Nah, they'er not that smart.

But then ...

"Go on, bedtime." Leo's voice said. He was stood behind them now. The poor guy, he's gonna comfort the kids, then come in here and I'll end up crying all over him.

As I predicted, he followed the kids down the hall. I just read the spell again and again until he came back.

"How you holding up?" He asked. I shrugged.

"It's not like the last time. I mean, at least we know where she is." I replied. "But I ... I just want her to come home, so we can talk about this."

"She'll be home soon." He said. I'm sure she'll find her answers soon, really."

I just nodded. Maybe she'll come back tonight -

"Don't." He said gently. I looked at him, confused. "Don't go sit up there waiting for her. She'll come home when she's ready. There's no point torchuring yourself." I had to smile - I still can'#t get over how he can read my mind like that. I nodded, laid down, and got ready for a sleepless night.

----

"Mum!" I heard a yell, but not from one of mine. I think it was Matthew. "Mum!" He yelled again, and I heard a crash.

"Matt?" I called, then a girls scream sounded. "Laci?" I ran down the stairs and into the sunroom, where half the wall had been blasted away by something.

A demon something.

"Oh my god." I threw out my hands and the demon froze, thankfully. Phoebe was laid on the floor in the corner, raising her head slowly. Laci was crouched behind the coffee table and Matthew was laid crashed through the wall. "Oh - Oh -" I ran over to him, and lifted him up carefully. He was bleeding heavily on the back of his head. "Leo! Leo!" He orbed down quickly, and started to heal Matthew, while I hugged Cassie.

"Go - run -" I yelled suddenly, pushing her towards the door. I'd somehow forgotten about the demon, and now he'd unfroze. Cassie and Matthew ran off obediantly, and I threw my hands out again, this time only freezing the demon's body.

"Why go after them?" I snapped. He just looked at me blankly.

"I - I don't know -"

"Who sent you?" I asked instead. He looked nervous, and shook his head.

"He - he'll kill me -"

"So will I." I raised my hand again.

"Wait - uh - I can't tell you who - but - but they're trying to kill them - the kids -" He said nervously.

"Who?" I asked nervously.

"I don't know his name, but only they can vanquish him. You can't."

"What? Why -" And then he burst into flames. "Dammit! Why does that always happen!"

"Because demon's don't want to be found out." Phoebe sighed. "But ... Piper? If - if the kids have to vanquish this demon, we really need Patty to be home -"

"I know." I murmured. I guess I just have to hope she finds those answers soon ...