Chapter 20

Katherine drove slowly as they looked for the turning into Wendy's house. It was the inner city so everything was cramped and small. 'Wendy said there's a driveway in between a pizza place and a hairdresser.' Katherine said as she looked carefully out of the window.

'There.' Amy pointed. 'What's that?' They all looked a few shops down and saw the pizza place. Katherine turned down the side of it through the buildings. As they drove down, they were all suddenly hit with a wave of nausea.

'What was that?' Dani asked, hand on her stomach.

'I think we just passed through the barrier.' Katherine said.

'Demon magic is weird.' Lauren said as they stopped in front of a small, two storey house.

'It looks like a regular house.' Lisa said.

'Well, Wendy did want a normal life so I'd expect nothing less.' Katherine reminded them.

'Chris.' Amy said, gently moving the hair from Christina's face. 'Come on, time to wake up.' Christina groaned as he eyes fluttered open, taking in her surroundings.

'Where are we?' She asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Just then, Wendy appeared at her front door to greet them. Christina did a double take before turning to her sisters. 'Really?' She asked.

'Trust us.' Katherine said. Christina sighed but nodded as they all left the vehicle.

'Hello girls.' Wendy smiled at them as they approached but they did not return the gesture. 'I know you may be a little sceptical of me…..'

'A little? Try a lot.' Lauren said.

'That's fair.' Wendy said. 'But I want to make amends, or try to if you'll let me.'

'If we had anywhere else to go, we wouldn't be here.' Katherine told her.

'I know that, but I regret not helping you with Belial when you asked. Let me do the right thing this time.' She got a few stunted nods from the group as she looked them over. 'I have missed you girls, I always loved it when you came to the store.' Her smile faltered slightly when she got to Christina. She took a step towards her, but Christina stepped back.

'It's been a long few days Wendy, can we please go inside?' Amy said.

'Of course.' Wendy said. 'Please, follow me.' She led them into the house, which looked a lot larger on the inside, and ushered them into the living room. 'Everyone sit, I'll make some tea.' She smiled. Lauren studied the room before turning to her sisters.

'This is creepily human.' She said, sitting on the sofa next to Christina. There were family pictures on the walls, a bowl of sweets on the coffee table, and a hand sculpted wooden giraffe standing beside the television. Christina set her head down on Lauren's shoulder as the rest of the girls spread out around the room. 'Still tired?' Lauren whispered to her. Christina nodded as her eyes closed. They opened abruptly as she heard the rattling of a tea tray. She sat up straight and watched as Wendy put the tray down and started pouring them all cups. She handed the tea around, but no one drank it right away. Dani smelled hers before looking to Katherine for reassurance.

'It's not poised.' Wendy said, taking a sip from her own cup. Katherine sipped hers and the others followed her lead. They sat in silence for a little while before Lisa started to make conversation.

'So, where's your husband?' She asked.

'He's on a business trip in London so he won't be back for a few more days.' Wendy told them. 'And both of my kids are grown up now and live elsewhere.'

'Right.' Lisa smiled.

'My oldest just had a baby boy.' Wendy beamed, handing Lisa a picture. 'His name is Joseph.'

'Super cute.' Lisa said handing the photo around.

'Are they demons too, your family?' Dani asked.

'Dan.' Katherine said. 'Don't be rude.'

'It's alright Katherine.' Wendy assured her. 'No, thankfully they both took after their father. It looks like the baby is human as well which was a relief.'

'None of them know about you.' Christina said. Wendy turned to look at her.

'No, they don't know I'm a demon. I decided not to tell my husband to make it easier on him. I would have, of course, if I'd needed to but as of right now that time hasn't come.'

'Ignorance is bliss.' Christina said slightly bitterly.

'It is indeed.' Wendy said studying her further. 'You've been to the other side.' She said, Christina looking up at her.

'How do you know that?' Lisa asked.

'My dear, I was born in hell. I know what to look for in a person. There's a little light in one's eyes that fades once they've seen the other side.'

'I don't think I went where you were Wendy.' Christina said.

'Not directly but in the end it's all the same.' She said. 'Your soul left your body because it was too painful to stay in it any longer.'

'Yeah, sounds about right.' Christina smiled sadly.

'And now you're back and you're marked with it. Like a badge of honour.' Wendy looked around the room. 'Which one of you developed the power of resurrection?'

'Me.' Amy said.

'That makes sense.' Wendy said. 'Christina, I have something to make you feel better, less tired.'

'No, thanks. I'm good. I'm not taking anything made by a demon.' Christina replied.

'You're not good, and you're going to need all of your strength for the coming battle.' She said. 'The Trinity are not to be taken lightly'

'We worked that out when they killed one of us. She said no.' Dani said sternly.

'Well if you change you're mind.' Wendy smiled, changing the subject. 'There are only two spare room's I'm afraid, my kids old rooms, but they have double beds. So four upstairs and two down here.'

'Amy do you want to take Chris and have one of the rooms, Dani and Lauren take the other. Lisa and I will stay down here.' Katherine organised. No one argued so they separated and tried to get a good nights sleep.

xxxxxx

'Kath, are you asleep?' Lisa asked. She was staring at the ceiling unable to get to sleep so she thought she'd see if her sister was also having the same problem.

'No.' Katherine whispered back. She rolled onto her side and looked over at Lisa from the opposite couch.

'This whole thing is crazy.' Lisa said, looking back at Katherine.

'I know.' Katherine agreed.

'Why didn't Chris ever tell us about her relationship with dad? I didn't realise it had gotten that bad.' Lisa asked. 'I get why she didn't tell the others, but we were teenagers, you're only a year and a half younger.'

'She was protecting us. Just like always.' Katherine told her. 'I think dad thought Christina would be the normal one.'

'What do you mean?' Lisa asked.

'Well, I got my powers at sixteen, the first one of us to get any, and I was younger than Chris.'

'So, dad thought the magic had skipped her and gone straight to you. Making her human.' Lisa finished.

'Exactly. Then when she did get her powers, he was disappointed.' Katherine said.

'But it's not like it was her fault. She couldn't control it.' Lisa said.

'We know that, but dad is human.' Katherine reminded her. 'He spent a long time thinking Christina would be normal and then in one moment all of that changed.'

'He still doesn't have to be so hard on her all of the time. Now I understand why she didn't talk to him for so long.' Lisa sighed.

'Then when he did come back he had to watch all of his younger daughters get their powers. Once Dani went invisible that was it. He had no human children, and no magical wife to help him navigate us.' Katherine shifted under her blanket. 'I think he resents mum for it a little bit.'

'For dying?' Lisa asked.

'For not being around to help.' Katherine clarified. 'I know he loved her, and he loves us. But I think it changed things when he did find out.'

'Do you think that's why they had so many kids?' Lisa grinned. 'So dad would have a better chance of not being the only human.'

'If that was the plan it failed fantastically.' Katherine smiled. 'Try and get some sleep Lise.'

'Okay.' Lisa said, snuggling back down into her sofa.

Xxxxxx

Meanwhile upstairs, Amy was laying next to Christina watching her as she slept. She was trying to focus her power and get through the internal blockades her sister had put in place. 'What are you feeling?' She whispered.

'You're not going to find out like that.' Christina said as her eyes opened slowly.

'I didn't mean to wake you.' Amy said.

'Kind of hard to stay sleeping when someone's rooting around in my brain.' Christina said.

'Sorry.' Amy said quietly.

'It's okay.' Christina smiled. 'Just ask me first, please? I've had enough people in my head for a lifetime.'

'It wasn't working anyway.' Amy said, defeated.

'That's because I'm stronger than you.' Christina grinned.

'For now maybe.' Amy smiled back. 'But apparently I can bring back the dead so.' Christina flinched and Amy's smile faltered. 'Shit I'm sorry, that was so insensitive.' Amy said, panicked.

'It's fine Aimes.' Christina said. 'It's the truth.' She took Amy's hand.

'You are okay though, right?' Amy said. 'I didn't like, make a mistake bringing you back?'

'No, not at all.' Christina sat up, her brow furrowed in confusion. 'I'm fine. Why would you think that?'

'You said that you saw mum. I just feel like I took her away from you again.' Amy said honestly.

'Look at me Aimes.' Christina said. 'I want to be right here with you guys for a very long time. We know where mum is, we have a spell to contact her if we need to.'

'You're sure?' Amy asked gently.

'I'm very sure.' Christina smiled.

'So can you stop blocking me from your feelings? A little bit?' Amy requested.

'I can let you in a little bit.' Christina smiled as they settled back down to get some rest.