Chapter 5

Lauren came back into the room with the book and put it on the table in front of them all. Christina followed in after her. 'Is he gone?' She asked.

'Yes, he's gone.' Katherine confirmed. 'You actually formed sentences, I'm impressed.'

'Well, he needed to tell us the truth.' Christina sat down next to her youngest sister who smiled at her.

'I found Belial in the book.' Lauren confirmed, showing them the page. 'There's not much to go on, but it's in mums handwriting. Everything dad said about him was true. But mum didn't tell him everything.' Lisa began to read aloud;

'Belial was once the ruler of the underworld. A group of witches overpowered him and banished him to somewhere between the underworld and hell. Over the years he has been slowly regaining the power he needs to take back his throne, and now he wants mine. I'm not sure how to stop him but I know I can't let him get them. I'm sorry girls.' Lisa looked around the table.

'That's it?' Dani asked.

'Yep, that's it. The last entry in the book.' Lisa confirmed.

'She knew she was going to die, the moment they couldn't defeat him she knew.' Katherine said sadly.

'And now he's back.' Christina said. 'It's taken him ten years but he's at least strong enough to recruit other demons to come after us.'

'Mum had no ideas about how to stop him?' Lauren asked.

'No, and even if she did they're not in the book.' Lisa said. Amy started rubbing her forehead. 'You alright Aimes?'

'Yeah, Chris.' Amy said. 'You're kind of overloading me here.' Christina looked at her before relaxing slightly.

'Sorry, thinking.' She said.

'I can tell.' Amy smiled. 'You know we won't let history repeat itself right?'

'Yeah, I know we'll try.' Christina smiled. 'We need to come up with a game plan in the mean time. I guarantee more demons will be on the way.'

'Lisa and I can firm up the barriers.' Katherine volunteered. 'We might be in here for a while.'

'We need more supplies for potions.' Lauren said. 'When I was up there I had a look through the ingredients and we're out of lots of stuff.'

'Alright, Lauren, Dani and I can go to the store.' Christina said, getting nods from her two youngest sisters.

'No, Chris you can't go.' Katherine said. 'It's you he's after.'

'I have to go, I have the only active power here. I'm not making anyone go out without an active power.' Christina said. 'We stay in threes and we carry potions, when we have them at least.'

'Fine, but take your phone this time.' Katherine said, smiling.

The car ride to the magic shop was quiet. Lauren was driving, Christina in the passengers seat and Dani in the back. As they pulled up Christina finally spoke. 'Lauren if you get herbs, Dani amulets, I'll look for anything that might tell us more about Belial.'

'Sounds like a plan.' Dani said, getting out of the car. They entered the shop and were immediately greeted by the owner.

'Girls! It's been a minute.' Wendy came towards them and hugged them all.

'Hi Wendy, we got busy I guess.' Christina said. 'We do need quite a bit today though.'

'Well, go for it girls, you know I love it when you're here. Young witches are hard to find!'

'Thanks Wendy.' Lauren said, Dani bounding off towards the amulets.

'Oh Chris, what happened?' Wendy said, turning Christina's face.

'Just a little accident, nothing to worry about.'

'I have a wonderful new herb mixture we can put on that, heal it right up.' Wendy smiled and went into the back room. Christina looked around before her eyes set on the book shelf.

'Alright.' Lisa said, dropping down onto the couch. 'We have demon proofed this whole house.'

'Hopefully it'll be strong enough to keep them out.' Katherine said, sitting with her as Amy bought in a jug of juice. 'Thanks Aimes.'

'No problem.' Amy sat with them. 'Have you had any more visions Kat?'

'Nothing since the attack.' Katherine admitted. 'I wish I had more, maybe we'd be able to figure this out quicker. I just have no control over when they happen.'

'We know Kat, don't worry about it.' Lisa smiled. 'I just want them to get back soon.'

'Next time we should just all go. Everyone would feel better then.' Amy said. 'You're feelings have been harder to ignore lately, not that I ignore them, but...'

'We know what you mean Amy.' Lisa smiled.

Dani had a basket hooked over her arm full of herbs, Christina was flipping through every book she could find, and Lauren was sensing which amulets would be helpful to them. Wendy came over to her. 'Need any help dear?' She asked. Wendy was a sweet lady in her mid-fifties. She had curly blonde hair and deep brown eyes. The girls had known her ever since they moved into their home a year ago.

'No, I think I'm okay. I just want to make sure I get the right ones.' Lauren confirmed.

'What exactly do you need protection from?' Wendy asked.

'Oh, nothing in particular, we just want to be extra prepared.' Lauren smiled.

'I can understand that.' Wendy said. 'Tell me, how did Christina get that cut on her head?' Wendy asked.

'Erm, she was in a car accident, but she's fine.' Lauren lied.

'I see.' Wendy said, looking over to Christina across the shop. Wendy put her hand around Lauren's forearm and squeezed. 'You know it's not polite to lie to people Lauren.' Lauren looked into her eyes, the brown turning darker.

'Wendy?' Lauren said timidly.

'Tell me, little one, has Belial returned yet? Or was that the work of one of his expendables?'

'I don't know what you're talking about, let go of me.' Lauren tried to pull her arm away. 'Christina!' She yelled. Christina looked up just in time to see Wendy lift Lauren from the floor by her throat.

'Hey!' Christina yelled, but before she could do anything Wendy sent a blast of energy towards her, sending her crashing through the glass windows at the front of the shop. Lauren looked on in horror, clawing at the hand around her throat. Just then, Dani came from and isle at the back.

'What the hell!' She said, before quickly turning invisible.

'Dani.' Wendy whispered. 'Come out, come out, wherever you are.' She threw Lauren to the floor and a staff materialised in her hand. 'Belial needs to stay right where he is.' She said, before lifting the staff. Just as she was about to bring it down on Lauren, Christina sent a forcefield out to surround her. The staff bounced off, a huge crash filling the room. Dani returned to view, hands covering her ears.

'Dani, Lauren, run!' Christina commanded. She managed to keep the forcefield around Lauren and generate one for Dani as they ran towards the window. As they were climbing out, Wendy sent another blast towards them. They all went flying, the forcefields protecting the younger girls. Christina landed hard on her back, but she was up quickly, hauling her younger siblings towards the car. As they were running she looked back and could see Wendy standing by the broken glass. She waved.

Lauren, Dani and Christina came through the front door of their home half an hour later. The others were still sitting in the living room and Amy was the first to notice them, or feel them. 'What's wrong?' She asked as they came in. They all sat down.

'Chris, you're bleeding again.' Lisa pointed out. Christina lifted up her arm and there was blood trickling down from a few cuts.

'Yeah that's what happens when you get thrown through a window.' She sighed.

'What!' Amy said.

'I'll get the first aid kit.' Katherine said.

'Can you check Lauren's neck first please.' Christina said.

'I told you I'm okay.' Lauren protested.

'I don't care, you're getting checked out.' Christina smiled. Katherine came back and looked at Lauren's neck whilst they explained what had happened.

'So Wendy is a demon, and she thought Lauren was the one Belial was after?' Katherine said as she covered up Christina's arm.

'Basically yeah.' Christina said. 'The bitch threw me out of the window before I could do anything.'

'She said that Belial needed to stay where he was. I don't think she was one of his followers.' Lauren said.

'Great, so we have to worry about the demons who don't like Belial as much as the ones who do.' Lisa sighed.

'They want to stop him getting the power he wants.' Amy said. 'But they don't know which one of us they need to kill yet. Which is why Wendy took a shot in the dark.'

'Great, that makes me feel so much better.' Christina ran her hands through her hair.

'Takes some of the heat away from you Chris, I don't mind that.' Lisa said, the rest agreeing.

'Well I do, alright. I'd much rather it all be on me.' She sighed. 'Lauren was almost killed today and I...'

'Hey, it's alright.' Lauren took her hand. 'You saved me in the end okay.'

'Yeah.' Christina whispered, squeezing her hand.