J. B. Tilton/Page 6
TWO
The next day Phoebe decided to take time off from work. She had been working extremely hard lately and she told Elise she just had to have a break or she'd burnout. Reluctantly, Elise agreed. She didn't want to loose one of the paper's most valuable assets.
Phoebe sat in the living room reading a book. She loved to read and had so little time to especially since getting the job as an advice columnist. Leo and Piper were in the kitchen; for a change. Paige was upstairs somewhere. She had said something about studying the Book of Shadows. She had a lot to catch up on compared to Piper and Phoebe.
Suddenly a vortex began forming in the living room. Phoebe called for Piper and Paige and backed away from it toward the entryway. The vortex was forming rapidly in front of the fireplace. It took only seconds before it had formed completely. Piper, Paige, and Leo reached the entryway just as it finished.
Standing in front of the fireplace was what could only be described as a demon. It stood some seven feet tall, and had long hair and a beard. Its forehead was strangely wrinkled and it wore what looked like some form of battle uniform. Its eyes glowed an unearthly green color. Long, sharpened teeth filled its mouth and it held a long, double-edged dagger in one hand.
"ghuH Daq Hegh," shouted the creature.
The creature raised its hand and a fireball formed. It threw the fireball at Paige and the girls dived for cover. Leo wasn't so fast. The fireball struck him, incinerating the White Lighter. Suddenly the creature growled at the girls, and then vanished from the living room. Leo orbed back in.
"I don't care to go through that again," he said.
"You're lucky you're a White Lighter," Phoebe said. "What was that thing, anyway?"
"Some kind of demon," Paige said.
"Ya think?" Piper said sarcastically. "Leo did you understand what it said?"
"No," Leo responded, "but then, I don't speak all languages. I didn't recognize it either. I'd better go check with the Elders on this one."
"Good idea," Piper said. "We'll check the Book of Shadows. Whatever that thing was, I'm sure it's in there."
Leo orbed out of the living room while the girls went into the attic.
"They have no idea what it was," Leo reported after returning from the Elders. "None of them had any knowledge of a demon that even remotely resembles the one that attacked you. And none of them could even identify the language it spoke, let alone translate it."
"The Book of Shadows didn't have anything on it either," Piper said. "It's almost like this was a new form of demon."
"That's unlikely," Leo said. "Even if it was a new form of demon, the Elders would have some idea of what it was. They don't even have a hint."
"Well, it certainly wasn't natural," said Phoebe. "It came out of that vortex thingy. And it threw fire. That's an upper level demon power. It didn't leave by the vortex so how did it just disappear like that?"
"Probably something like shimmering," Leo suggested. "Or it could be a form of blinking like warlocks use. At any rate, you three are in serious danger as long as that thing is around."
"You're telling us," Paige said. "Without any idea what it is we have no idea how to fight it."
"I'll see what kind of potion I can come up with that might affect it," Piper said. "Phoebe, see what you can do about a spell. Considering what happened, I think we'd better use a Power of Three spell. I have a feeling this is no ordinary demon."
"Just what I was thinking," Phoebe said. "I'll get started right away."
"What do you want me to do?" Paige asked.
"You can help me with the potion," Piper said. "Leo, go back and see if you can find out anything about this demon. Or any demon that even resembles it. The more information we have, the better prepared we'll be."
"Right," Leo said, orbing out of the kitchen.
"Now, I'll get started on the potion," Piper said. "Phoebe, you get started on the spell. We need to be ready when that thing comes back."
"Already on it," Phoebe said, heading for the attic.
Leo orbed back in about an hour later. He didn't have anything to report. The Elders had used their extensive network of spies, informants, and allies to gather whatever information they could on this new demon. They had come up with exactly nothing.
"This is very strange," Leo said. "The Elders are very worried. A demon that's unknown is a danger to all witches, not just you three. They have no way to protect themselves and they don't have the Power of Three."
"Well," Piper said, holding up a vial, "this might work. It's a sort of vanquishing potion. I substituted some more powerful ingredients to make it stronger. It should at least hurt that thing."
"I have the spell," Phoebe said, walking into the kitchen, holding up a piece of paper. "I modified one I found in the Book of Shadows. With any luck, it should…."
Before she could finish, the demon simply appeared in the entryway door. Before any of them could move, it shoved the dagger it was holding into Leo. Leo collapsed to the floor, the wound already beginning to heal itself.
The demon then turned and faced Paige. It cast a fireball at her from only feet away. Instinctively, Paige orbed out. The fireball passed through her orb and exploded harmlessly on the back door. Paige then orbed back into the same spot she had occupied only moments before.
Piper didn't hesitate. She threw the potion on the demon and flames erupted around it. It howled in pain as the flames consumed it. Suddenly the same vortex that had brought it to the manor opened again and the creature was sucked inside.
Leo looked up and watched in horror as Piper, Phoebe, and Paige were also caught in the power of the vortex. Within seconds he was alone in the kitchen. The demon and the Charmed Ones had simply vanished from the manor.