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This kinda counts as the first prequel to my other story 'Don't look back in anger' but it's set a long way before

Please R&R both. As before all reviews, criticism and ideas will be gratefully received and any ideas used credited

Thanks

Purple

I know it's a bit slower to get going this time but wait and see.

Chapter 5

Demon Daze

The Haliwell's were woken at around 5am by the ringing of the phone.

"Hello?" Piper asked sleepily

"Piper?"

"Daryll?" Piper was suddenly wide awake. "What is it?"

"There's a girl in the station. She's very distressed and she's wearing a P3 uniform"

"She doesn't have next of kin?"

"She was bought in after discovering the murdered body of her next of kin. Her name is Kara. She has no-one else Piper."

"I'm on my way."

When Piper arrived Kara was sitting glassy eyed, Daryll led Piper to her. "Hey" Piper said softly.

Kara looked at her barely comprehending, still twisting the stretched hem of her P3 work shirt in her white knuckled hands.

"Piper" Kara tried to smile.

Piper pulled Daryll to one side and spoke softly and urgently. "Is she a suspect?"

"She's been questioned but the body looks like she's been dead since between six and eight o'clock this evening and the guy on the desk says she left at around 4.30pm and didn't return until 2.30am."

"She was at P3 from 5 o'clock until 2 am. I was with her at work."

After Piper had sworn a statement to that effect.

"Kara, you can come home with me."

"But I need to go home. Alice..."

Isn't there any more. The coroner took her away and the apartment will still be closed up until the police get finished."

"They'll be careful won't they? She hates... hated... mess."

It was 7.30am in the morning when Piper and Kara arrived at the Manor, and as Chris was descended the stairs with his latest conquest.

As soon as Kara saw the other waitress standing at the bottom of the stairs Kara lunged at her. Piper raised her hands to prevent it, but Kara didn't freeze.

"Woah!" Piper yelled "What's going on here?"

"She's a Tantrius demon, kills by seduction, kills with lust. She uses a technique called a thrall, by emitting a pheromone that draws her victims to her."

There was the sound of another demon shimmering in.

"Kara... why are you here?"

The witch turned to her demonic sibling.

"Hello Eve, did you do this? Send her here? Have Alice killed?" Kara asked.

"Yes, I sent her, but Alice wasn't supposed to die and she will be dealt with."

"Was it supposed to be me?"

"It was supposed to be whoever got in the way. I didn't know it would be you."

Piper's freeze melted.

"Maresh!" Eve called. The blonde underling took hold of Chris' arm. Kara lunged for the demon's arm as she shimmered out, so that she was also taken in the shimmer.

As the shimmer happened the Charmed Ones heard the retort of something hard hitting the floor. Piper stood open mouthed as Phoebe bent to pick up the dropped object. "Piper?" She brandished the object at her elder city.

"It's the crystal that Kara normally wears around her neck... with her blood on it."

"She's given us a way to find them." Paige said quietly, and turned to go to the attic.

"We have to find him... so I can kill him!" snapped Piper