Chapter 1

The Cimorelli sisters were all at home, apart from the oldest, who was still working. Night had fallen and the rain was pouring steadily. The occasional flash of lightning lit up darkened rooms. Katherine, Lisa, Amy, Lauren and Dani were all in the kitchen getting dinner ready for eight, when they always had dinner together. 'Did Christina tell you how late she was going to be?' Amy asked Katherine as she strained the pasta.

'No, she said to go ahead with dinner and she would catch up.' Katherine responded. Amy looked up at her suddenly.

'Then why are you worried?' She asked, the other girls stopping what they were doing.

'I'm not.' Katherine said.

'Yes, you are.' Amy said. 'I can feel it.' They couldn't hide anything from Amy and her heightened powers of empathy.

'First of all, stop reading me like that.' She sighed. 'Fine, I'm a little worried.' Katherine admitted.

'Why?' Lisa asked, sitting down on one of the bar stools at the breakfast table. 'Christina works late all the time.'

'Did you have a vision?' Dani asked, hauling some plates out of the cupboard and giving them to Lauren.

'No, no visions. Just a bad feeling.' Katherine said, cutting up some bread.

'Well, if anyone can take care of themselves it's Christina.' Lauren assured them but Katherine didn't look convinced. 'Would it help if I looked for her?' Lauren asked.

'Do you mind?' Katherine asked. 'It would put my mind at ease.'

'No problem.' Lauren smiled and closed her eyes. She focused on Christina, and the joint birthday they shared, and she found her. Her eyes snapped open.

'What is it?' Lisa asked.

'Three, two...' Lauren counted.

'Guys! I'm home.' They heard Christina call from the hallway.

'One.' Lauren finished and they all smiled.

'Thanks Laur.' Katherine said gratefully. A few moments later a soaking wet Christina walked into the kitchen, carrying her satchel and a mound of paperwork.

'You're soaked!' Dani pointed out.

'Yeah, tell me about it Dan.' Christina smiled.

'Man, what case are you working on?' Lisa asked, taking the stack of paper from her.

'I'll tell you over dinner, right now I just want a warm shower.'

'Sure, go clean up, dinner will be ready in about fifteen.' Amy said.

'Thanks guys.' Christina smiled and ran up the stairs.

'She works too hard.' Lauren said.

'One of us has to, this place is expensive.' Dani commented. It wasn't that the others didn't have good jobs, but Christina was a very respected lawyer so her income meant a lot. Katherine was a middle school teacher, Lisa worked as a funeral coordinator, and Amy was a nurse. Lauren and Dani were still in college.

Fifteen minutes later they were all sat around the dining room table. Christina joined them moments later, her hair still wet from the shower, and sat between Amy and Lisa. She let out a sign of relief as soon as her feet lifted off the floor. 'That bad huh?' Dani asked from opposite her.

'Worse.' Christina smiled. She looked over the food. 'This looks amazing guys, I'm sorry I wasn't here to help.'

'Don't worry about it.' Katherine assured her. 'Just eat, and vent about your day.' She said, spooning pasta onto several plates and handing them around.

'Thanks.' Christina said, taking her plate. 'But what I really need is the wine.' She said, motioning to the bottle of red in the middle of the table. She lent over and took it, pouring herself, Katherine and Lisa a glass each.

'So, did you get a new case today?' Lauren asked.

'Yeah.' Christina's voice softened. 'A thirteen year old girl was molested, beaten and eventually killed by her foster father. I'm on the prosecution for the state. They want me to put him away and go after the foster agency who put her in his care.'

'Jesus.' Lisa whispered. 'And whatever you do, don't look in my files, please.' Christina said. 'There's stuff in there no one should see and I don't want you guys to have those images in your brains okay?'

'Sure.' Katherine agreed for all of them.

'That means you too Dani.' Christina said seriously. 'I mean it.'

'Okay, I got it.' Dani said.

'So, how was everyone else's day?' Christina changed the subject.

'Oh, well I gave out my first A grade of the school year today.' Katherine beamed.

'That's great.' Lauren said. 'Early too.'

'This one's smart. I may have to bump him up a year but I'll see in a month maybe.'

'Nice Kat.' Lisa said, sipping her wine. 'I organised a Star Wars themed funeral, for a ninety-six year old.'

'Seriously?' Dani asked. 'That's awesome.'

'Yeah, it was in his will believe it or not.' She smiled. 'My kind of dude.'

'How about you Aimes?' Christina asked, sipping her wine.

'Nothing exciting to report today, just charts and updating medications.' Amy admitted.

'What about you two?' Katherine asked Lauren and Dani. Their college year hadn't started yet.

'We cleaned the house.' Dani said proudly. 'Top to bottom.'

'I find that hard to believe.' Christina snorted.

'We did!' Lauren backed her up. 'We did the laundry and vacuumed and cleaned the windows.'

'We tried to do the windows but there were too many spiders.' Dani corrected her.

'Okay fine, but we did everything else.'

'The house did look tidier when I came home.' Katherine said.

'Alright then, thanks girls. I'm impressed.' Christina raised her glass.

'Thank you!' Dani beamed. Christina lowered her glass to her mouth but didn't sip it, she zoned out but Amy was studying her carefully.

'Chris.' Amy said. No response. 'Christina.' She said louder. Christina's head snapped up to look at her sister.

'Yeah, sorry.' She said, moving around on her chair.

'Are you sure you're okay?' Amy asked. 'I can feel, something, coming from you. I don't know what it is.'

'It's worry.' Christina said. 'I'm just really worried about this case, that's all.'

'Alright, if you're sure.' Amy said.

'I am, but you know I'll talk to you if I'm not. Can't very well hide it from you now can I.' She smiled.

'I guess not.' Amy agreed, relaxing a little.

They were just finishing dinner when there was a knock at the door. They all looked up because they weren't expecting anyone. 'Who could that be?' Lisa asked.

'No idea, I'll go.' Katherine said, moving towards the door. They could see the front door from the dining room so they followed her with their eyes. Just as she opened it, a wave of energy was sent forward, crashing into her. She flew backwards and slid across the floor.

'Katherine!' Lauren yelled, all of them moving to their sister. Amy helped her up.

'You okay?' Amy asked.

'Yeah, fine. He's a Demon.' Katherine confirmed. Christina had positioned herself in front of the group and they all faced the man entering their home. He was tall, and solid looking, all in black with tattoos up one arm. His eyes were glowing red.

'Who are you?' Christina asked.

'Your worst nightmare.' He replied in a deep, gravely voice, as he shot out another wave of energy. Before it could reach them Christina's arm came up and a forcefield was placed in front of them. His energy bounced off of it and returned in his direction, sending him crashing into the door which had closed on itself.

'Kath, Amy, go upstairs and get the book, or a potion, or anything to get rid of this guy.' Christina said. 'Dani...' She looked at her youngest sister who nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. In the blink of an eye, Dani was gone. Invisible. She walked around the forcefield and tripped the demon up from behind. He was stunned enough for Christina to drop the forcefield and send the energy directly into him. He fell to the floor in pain as she focused all of her energy on him. Amy and Katherine came back down with potions in their hands.

'Chris, stop.' Amy yelled. Christina did as she was told and her energy dropped, as did she, Lauren by her side in a second. Amy and Katherine threw the potions they were holding onto the demon and he burst into flames until he was gone.

'Holy crap.' Lisa said, moving towards the spot he vanished from. 'What the hell! They've never come to our home before.'

'Chris, you okay?' Lauren asked, grabbing under her arm to lift her up.

'Yeah, I think so.' Christina said, stumbling for a moment before Lisa came to help. 'Sit me down please.' They took her into the living room and set her on the couch. After a few moments she regained her composure and looked up. 'Which potion did you use?'

'Just an exploding one.' Amy used. 'We weren't too sure.'

'No, you picked the right one.' Christina said, smiling.

'How do they know where we live?' Dani asked.

'I have no idea but I think we need to put barriers around the house until we work it out.' Katherine said. 'Lisa will you help me?'

'Of course.' Lisa said. 'Chris, are you...'

'I'm fine.' Christina cut her off. 'Go.'

'Alright, come on Kat.' They exited and the rest all sat down.

'Amy, I can feel you looking at me.' Christina said, pushing the hair from her face.

'I can feel it, you know, every time you do that. Every time you do anything.' Amy said.

'I know.' Christina said, Dani and Lauren looking on.

'It feels like the life is draining out of you.' Amy admitted.

'I just have to use a lot of energy Aimes, it always comes back.' Christina smiled.

'Yeah, but it still freaks me out.' Amy said.

'Let's just focus on finding out what this demon was doing at the house, okay?' Christina stood up, with a little uncertainty, before she felt steady.

'Okay.' Amy agreed.

'To the book!' Dani sad, bounding up the stairs with the others on her heels.