Chapter 3

They were in a cluster, Christina at the front, as the man walked slowly towards them. 'Anyone see another way out of here?' Christina asked.

'No, only the way we came in.' Katherine confirmed.

'Great.' Christina whispered, preparing her own energy ball. The demon stopped momentarily but only to smile before carrying on. 'Back up guys.' She said. They did so, moving slowly away from her as her energy grew. The demon shot a fire ball from his hand towards her, so she shot one back. The energy met in the middle and exploded in a shower of red and blue. 'Who are you?' Christina called to him. 'Why did you kill that man?'

'I needed a reason to get you here of course. Although I didn't want you all to come together, one or two would have done.'

'Why?' She asked as he got even closer.

'So I can say I killed one of the witches who killed Belial.' He grinned. 'There are lots of unhappy demons in the world since you killed their favourite leader.'

'Oh well, I'm sure they'll get over it.' Christina said as another fireball came at her. This time she put up a shield but the fire shot right through it. It struck her in the shoulder and sent her crashing into the wall behind.

'Chris!' Kathrine and Amy ran over to her as Lisa stepped forward took a potion from her pocket. She launched it at the demon but it only connected with one of his attacks. The explosion sent her to the ground, leaving Lauren and Dani standing up against the demon.

'Any ideas?' Dani asked Lauren as Amy moved to see if Lisa was okay. Lauren's head fell and she left her body, appearing behind the demon and tapping him on the shoulder. He turned and shot a fire ball but it went right through her. Whilst this was happening, Dani threw one of her potions at the demons back and it exploded, sending him back down the alley and crashing to the ground. There was a large wound on his back. Lauren came back to her own body and smiled at Dani. 'Nice move.' Dani complimented.

'You too.' Lauren said, as the rest of their sisters came to stand by them. The demon looked between them all and grimaced, thinking better of it and running back down the alley. 'Yeah, you better run.' Lauren called after him.

'Lauren, really?' Katherine shook her head.

'So much for killing us.' Lisa said, rubbing her neck. She looked over to her sisters. 'Chris, you're bleeding.'

'It's just a flesh wound, it'll heal.' She had her hand pressed over her right shoulder where blood was seeping through her hand. 'He was lower level, an energy ball from an upper level demon would have killed me.'

'That's comforting.' Amy said. 'Can we just get out of this alley way please.'

'Absolutely.' Katherine said, leading Christina back to the car with the others following.

xxxxxx

Back in the kitchen, Amy was pressing a cold towel to Christina's shoulder. 'Mother f…' Christina winced and looked away.

'Sorry.' Amy said.

'No, it's fine.' Christina lied. 'Keep going.'

'I really wish you'd let me make a healing potion.' Dani said.

'No point wasting ingredients.' Christina said.

'There not being wasted if they're helping.' Lauren said.

'No, alright. I'm fine.'

'Oh my God Christina, if you say you're fine one more time, I swear.' Katherine said, agitated.

'Sorry.' Christina whispered.

'And stop saying sorry.' Lisa said. 'You don't have anything to be sorry for.'

'What I'd like to know is why demons are suddenly able to get through your shields.' Katherine said.

'Maybe the amulet messed up your powers?' Lauren suggested.

'Or maybe you're just scared.' Amy said, looking at her big sister. 'Scared of your power.'

'Why would I be scared of my own magic?' Christina asked, wincing again as Amy taped up her shoulder.

'You tell us.' Amy said.

'I think you know the answer already Aimes.' Christina sat forwards.

'You need to say it Chris.' Amy said sympathetically. 'You need to say it, not me.' Christina put her head in her hands and rubbed her eyes.

'Whatever it is, you can talk to us.' Dani said, sitting down next to her. Lauren was cross legged on the floor and Katherine put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

'I'm scared that….' She cleared her throat and looked at them all. 'I'm scared that, without the amulet on, I'm not strong enough.'

'What do you mean?' Lisa asked.

'When I used my power with that thing on, I felt indestructible. Without it I just feel weaker, like I wont be able to protect you without it. Every time I use too much magic I pass out, that didn't happen with the amulet on.'

'Is that why you're holding back, so you don't pass out?' Lauren asked. Christina nodded.

'Chris, the amulet has side affects, remember what Robert said?' Lisa sat forwards. 'Think of it like coming down from a high. Your body wants what it shouldn't have, what it doesn't really need.'

'And Chris, just so you know, you were more than enough before we even knew that amulet existed. So what if you have to take a little nap after killing a demon.' Dani said, rubbing her back. 'Remember that okay.'

'Okay.' Christina said, leaning into her. Dani returned the hug.

'You know you weren't really indestructible, right? Just like super juiced.' Dani added.

'Thanks for that Dani.' Christina smiled.

'Her point is.' Amy continued for her. 'That you don't need it, we don't want you to use it. It just needs time to get out of your system.'

'Dan, why don't we go and see if we can find this demon in the book?' Lauren suggested.

'Good idea.' Dani said, following Lauren out of the room. Lisa took Dani's seat next to Christina.

'See how good talking to us is.' She smiled.

'Yeah I feel better already.' Christina said sarcastically. Lisa grinned and bumped her shoulder, her recently injured shoulder.

'Ouch! Lise!' Christina grabbed her shoulder, smiling at the same time.

'Oh shit, I'm sorry.' Lisa said genuinely.

'It's okay.' Christina said. 'Just watch the shoulder.'