Chapter 18

Dani walked into the kitchen at about five am and saw coffee already made and the back door slightly ajar. She poured herself a mug and then went outside where she saw Christina sitting on the porch seat with her legs tucked up underneath her and a blanket over her lap. 'Can't sleep?' Christina asked as she watched her walk over. Dani sat down beside her and tugged the blanket until they were sharing.

'Not really. You?' Dani asked, sipping her coffee and looking out across the large back garden.

'Not in a long time.' Christina admitted. 'Not peacefully anyway.' They sat quietly together for a moment.

'You know you can talk to me right?' Dani said, turning to face Christina who looked back at her. 'I'm just your kid sister, and I don't really know what it was like for you after mum died, but you can talk to me.'

'Of course I know that Dan.' Christina said. 'And you're far more than just my kid sister.'

'Why don't you talk about it then?' Dani asked.

'Because.' Christina sighed. 'Anything I say will probably make you think differently about dad. And I don't want you to think bad things about your father.'

'Trust me, after the last few conversations I already feel differently about him.' Dani sipped her coffee.

'Dan, you shouldn't. He did come back eventually and he did try to raise you.' Christina reminded her.

'All his coming back did was make you move out.' She looked at Christina. 'We spent more time at your place just waiting to be able to move out with you. You helped us with homework, and talked to teachers and parents of bullies, not him. He did not raise us, he just gave us beds until we were old enough to leave.' There was another long silence until Christina cleared her throat.

'So, telekinesis.' She said, bumping Dani's shoulder. Dani grinned.

'I'm so happy I have a new power. And an active one. You don't have to fight demons alone any more.' Dani said excitedly.

'I'm never alone Dani.' She said. 'But it will be nice to have you by my side.' Christina patted her leg. 'And thank you, for saving me back there. From Jonah and dad.'

'No one touches you like that, not ever.' Dani said firmly. 'They have me to deal with now.'

'Just, be careful please.' Christina said. 'Having an active power does not make you invulnerable.'

'I know, I'll be careful.' Dani promised, just as the back door was pushed open again.

'So this is where the party is.' Lauren said as she and Lisa came out onto the porch.

'Just doing some sisterly bonding.' Dani smiled. Lisa was looking out into the distance, squinting her eyes.

'Guys, what's that? She pointed. Standing at the edge of the garden was the reptilian demon who attacked them at their home. He made one step towards them and set of their alarm system. Ringing echoed around the house as Katherine, Amy and Robert joined them on the porch.

'Your alarm works Kath.' Lisa yelled just before the ringing stopped.

'That's the demon from the house.' Amy told them. 'He shoots thorns from his arms.' Just as she said it, he sent a shower of thorns towards them. They all ducked but Christina had already put her shield up. The thorns bounced off of it as he started walking towards them. Dani stood up and tried out her new power, trying to throw him backwards. He stumbled slightly but continued forward as if it was nothing.

'What's he doing?' Lisa asked. 'He can't possibly think he can defeat all of us together?'

'Enough of this.' Christina said, walking down the porch steps to meet him in the middle.

'Chris!' Lauren yelled after her.

'Stay there.' Christina ordered as she sent a stream of energy towards the demon. It hit him hard and he stopped in his tracks. Christina sent the energy into him until he exploded in front of her. She let out a breath and put her hands on her knees. She didn't pass out. She turned and slowly walked back to everyone.

'Chris, your eyes.' Robert said, shocked. He had never seen them glowing before.

'They'll go back to normal soon.' She assured him, walking past everyone and into the kitchen. 'It isn't safe here any more, we need to leave.'

'Quite right Christina.' Said a voice from the kitchen. Before Christina could do anything, Abaddon used the metal chair legs as restraints, sending them all crashing backwards into the kitchen walls and securing them there. They were trapped.

'Shit.' Lisa said, her back hitting the wall hard. 'He really is Magneto.' They were all stunned momentarily as Abaddon began to circle the room.

'You need to get out of my house.' Robert yelled as he struggled against his restraints. Abaddon just laughed at him.

'I'm not here to talk to you, human.' He spat. He turned to the other wall where Christina and Lisa were pinned. 'Ah Christina.' He smiled. 'How nice to finally meet you in person.'

'Can't really say the same.' She said, trying to send a blast of energy through the wall behind her. Abaddon saw this and sighed before sending a kitchen knife across the room and right through the top of her hand. She cried out in pain as it went right through the wall under her hand.

'Son of a bitch!' Lisa screamed as he came closer to them.

'Where is the amulet Christina?' He asked calmly.

'I don't…. know what you're talking about.' She said.

'You really want to do this the hard way don't you.' He said. He walked right up to her and took her chin in his hands.

'Don't touch her!' Katherine shouted from across the room. Abaddon did not listen, instead he turned her face in his hands and studied her.

'Your eyes.' He said. 'I can see the amulet in them.' He let go of her and moved backwards, lifting his hand to chest level, palm facing Christina.

'What is he doing?' Dani asked worriedly. But before anyone could answer, Christina's energy began to drain. There was a light blue mist leaving her body and settling in the palm of Abaddon's hand.

'He's absorbing her energy, or the power of the amulet that's in her.' Katherine said. 'I think.' The light was fading from Christina's eyes and she was struggling to breathe properly. The colour was draining from her face.

'Stop it!' Lauren yelled.

'If she won't tell me where the amulet is, I'll take the power it's already given her.' He snarled, his own eyes filling up with blue.

'Please, you're killing her.' Amy shouted, feeling the life draining out of her sister.

'Does anyone else want to tell me where the amulet is?' He asked, looking around the room.

'We don't know, she wouldn't tell us!' Katherine said honestly.

'If you kill her you'll never find it.' Lisa told him. 'She's the only one who knows.' That made him stop, Christina's head falling forwards.

'So much power.' Abaddon looked down at his hands as if he'd never felt anything like it before. He looked around the room smiling. 'I'll see you all soon.' He said before he disappeared in the blink of an eye. As soon as he was gone their metal restraints fell away. Christina fell forwards and to the floor before anyone could catch her, but they were by her side in seconds. Lisa got there first, rolling her over as Amy knelt on her other side.

'Oh God.' Robert covered his mouth as he hovered above them. Amy was feeling for a pulse.

'She's not breathing.' Amy said as she started chest compressions.

'Do we have any potions?' Lisa asked, looking pleadingly to Dani and Lauren.

'No, we used it all and haven't had time to make more.' Lauren sobbed. They watched as Amy stopped compressions to breathe into her sister before resuming the rhythm on her chest.

'Is she dead?' Dani asked quietly.

'No, she's not dying today. Not like this.' Amy said, pushing harder and harder, willing her sister back to life. The minutes slipped agonisingly by as Amy continued with no response from Christina.

'Aimes.' Lisa said gently, her hand in Christina's uninjured one. But Amy kept going. The moments passed slowly and silently until Amy felt a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

'Amy.' Katherine said sadly. 'Amy she's…'

'No, she's not.' Amy sat back on her heels. 'She can't be gone.' She whispered, tears cascading down her face.

'Can you feel anything from her?' Lauren asked. Dani was standing beside her, looking at Christina blankly, as if in shock.

'No, I can't feel anything.' Amy admitted.

'She's really dead?' Robert said from above them. Amy began to let more tears fall, hanging her head as she sobbed. One of Amy's tears hit the back of her hand, and her hand ignited with a warm, yellow light.

'Amy?' Katherine questioned. 'What is that?'

'I have no idea.' Amy said, confused. Her glowing hand was over Christina, and they watched as the knife wound on her hand began to close up and heal until it was gone completely.

'Move your hand over her chest.' Lisa suggested. Amy did so and after a moment they saw her chest rise and fall.

'She's breathing.' Amy cried with happiness as Christina's mouth parted slightly and she let out a breath, her head falling to the side. Amy reached over and felt her neck. 'Her pulse is getting stronger.'

'Looks like Amy has a new power too.' Dani smiled as Amy's hands went back to normal. She knelt down and sat by Christina's head, stroking her hair comfortingly.

'That one is definitely going to come in handy.' Lisa said, wiping away her own tears as Amy laughed.

'Guys.' They heard from below them.

'Hey Chris.' Amy said gently. Christina's eyes were closed and her brow was furrowed in confusion. 'Tired.' She mumbled.

'I know, it's okay.' Amy said. 'Just sleep. We'll be right here when you wake up.'

'Promise?' Christina asked.

'Yeah, we promise.' Amy said as Christina drifted off to sleep.