Chapter 6

The next morning Christina walked into the kitchen stretching, a grimace of pain of her face. A few of the girls were already up and eating breakfast. 'Christina, you should take some painkillers.' Amy suggested, rubbing her own neck. 'For both our sakes.'

'Sure Aimes.' Christina smiled as Katherine threw her the box. She took two with some water.

'Thank you.' Amy said.

'Want some pancakes?' Dani asked.

'No, just coffee thanks.' Christina said as Dani hopped around the kitchen far to energetically. She placed a hot cup of coffee in front of her sister and sat down beside her.

'How's the head? And the back, and the neck?' Dani said.

'Well, not that bad considering. I thought it would hurt more being thrown through a window.'

'That's probably not the right answer to that question Chris. When was the last time you saw a therapist?' Katherine mocked.

'I'm just saying, I could feel worse.' Christina clarified as Lisa came into the kitchen with Lauren right behind her.

'Morning.' Lisa groaned. Lauren waved weakly and sat down at the kitchen table.

'Sleep well?' Amy asked sarcastically.

'You know I hate mornings.' Lisa said.

'What about you Laur?' Katherine asked.

'I had a weird dream.' She admitted.

'Really? About what?' Christina asked.

'Nothing much, that's why it was so weird. I was literally staring at a piece of jewellery all night.'

'What?' Dani said. 'I thought Christina was the one who hit her head?' Lauren threw a napkin at her little sister and continued.

'I'm serious. It was a long silver chain, with like a red-orange stone in it.'

'Could be something like jasper, or sunstone.' Katherine said. 'I've seen them used in amulets before.'

'Okay, but why?' Amy asked.

'Does Lauren wish someone was buying her jewellery?' Lisa made a pouty face.

'You all suck.' Lauren said. 'I'm only telling you because I thought it might be important.'

'It still might be Lauren, ignore them.' Christina said. 'What's the plan for today anyway? We do need to go back out and get supplies.'

'With no demon-interrupt-us.' Lisa smiled, looking for a high five which never came. 'Fine.' She said, crossing her arms.

'Actually, I already called dad. I told him what happened and he offered to go for us.' Katherine said, and continued once she saw the look on Christina's face. 'I gave him a list.'

'It was a good idea.' Amy backed her up. 'Dad wont have any problems and we all get to stay here.'

'Fine, but we can't stay in here forever.' Christina pointed out.

'We won't, but for now we just need to be safe.' Katherine said.

Their father knocked on the door a few hours later with their supplies. He stood in the doorway awkwardly as Katherine paid him for his troubles. 'You know, I could stay with you for a little while?' He suggested. 'Just to be safe?'

'No offence dad, but I don't think you'd be much help.' Katherine admitted. 'And Christina might have something to say about that anyway.'

'I know she's mad at me.'

'Can you blame her?' Katherine asked.

'My wife had just died, excuse me for mourning her.'

'You didn't just mourn her, you left.' Katherine reminded him. 'You left for months and we didn't know where you were. We'd just lost our mother and then we lost our father. Who do you think looked after us when you went off the grid?'

'I know Chris did a lot.' He said. 'I didn't mean to be away for so long.'

'Yeah, well, you were. And Christina didn't get her chance to mourn mum because she was too busy making sure everyone else was okay.'

'I need to make things right with her Kat.'

'You can try dad, I'm not sure she's going to want to hear it.'

'Just please tell her I'd like to get coffee with her when this is all over.' Katherine looked at him and sighed.

'Fine, I'll tell her. But don't get your hopes up.'

'Thank you.' He said, turning to leave. 'Call me if you need anything else okay?'

'Sure, bye dad.' She said as she closed the door behind him. Katherine took the bags and went into the kitchen where Christina was sitting, working on her laptop. She began to unpack things as Chris came over to help. 'Are you still working?' Katherine asked.

'I'm trying to research this demon but I think he may pre-date the internet.' Christina admitted.

'Probably.' Katherine agreed. 'So dad wanted me to...'

'I don't want to hear it Kath.' Christina interrupted.

'He just wanted me to tell you that he wants to get coffee with you, that's all.'

'I hope he isn't holding his breath.' Christina said coldly.

'Chris, he's our dad.'

'He was our dad. As far as I'm concerned he died when mum did.' She said, organising the herbs into piles.

'Chris.' Katherine moved beside her. 'Just think about it. For me, please?' Christina looked at Katherine and let out a breath.

'Fine.' She said. 'But only for you.' She smiled.

They were all sitting down to dinner for the evening. Christina put the final plate on the table and sat down as everyone was dishing out the food. 'So, Lauren and I made lots of potions.' Dani said. 'We put them into little bottles and labelled them so no one can mix them up.'

'Thanks guys.' Katherine said.

'Oh, and Chris.' Lauren went into her pocket and pulled out a small vial filled with clear liquid. 'Drink this.' She said, throwing it gently across the table.

'It's not going to turn me into a toad is it?' Christina asked suspiciously.

'No, the potion for that is green.' Lauren informed her.

'Just the fact that you know that frightens me.' Christina smiled.

'It's a healing potion.' Dani laughed. 'For your head.'

'That's a thing?' Christina asked.

'I saw it in the book a while ago. And Lauren already tried it so we know it works.' Dani confirmed. Christina looked at the vial once more before drinking it. They all watched as the gash on her head closed and the bruising faded until her skin was normal again.

'Wow, I feel amazing.' Christina said.

'There's more upstairs, just in case.' Lauren told them. A moment later, there was a loud crash from somewhere around the house. It was slightly muted because of the barrier surrounding the house.

'What was that?' Amy asked.

'Sounded like something was trying to crack the barrier.' Lisa said as they all began to stand up.

'Dani, Lauren.' Christina said. 'Check the top floor and grab some of your potions.' They nodded. 'Amy and Lisa, check the second floor, Kath stay down here with me.' They all agreed and started to move. 'But if you find this thing, don't do anything, come back down here. Got it?' They all acknowledged the plan as they made their way upstairs.

'Chris. Come look at this.' Katherine said as she was looking out of the living room window. It was dark but the street lights made some things visible.

'What is it?' Christina asked, leaning over the couch and pulling back the curtain slightly.

'Who the hell is that?' Kat pointed to a man standing outside their front door.

'More importantly, what's he doing?' Christina wondered out loud just as the house shook like an earthquake was hitting it. Katherine grabbed onto the wall for support and looked to Christina.

'He's trying to punch a hole through it.' Katherine said.

'Well, he's not going to.' Christina said.

'Do you have a plan?'

'Kind of.' Christina said. 'My power will go out of the barrier wont it?'

'Yes it doesn't affect us at all, why?' Katherine asked nervously.

'When I tell you too, I need you to open the front door.'

'What! No way.' Katherine protested.

'Please just trust me, he hasn't broken through yet so this is our best option. If I just shoot energy into him, hopefully he'll either take the hint and run or just explode.' Katherine thought for a moment.

'Fine, but I'm staying with you.' Katherine said.

'Okay, let's do this.' Christina said, positioning herself in front of the door. Katherine stood with her hand on the door knob.

'One, two... three!' Katherine yelled and opened the door. Christina was face to face with the demon, who was muttering something under his breath. He looked surprised as Christina put both of her hands out, shooting bright blue energy into his chest. Katherine was watching on as he was forced back a few steps. He was holding his ground so Christina directed more energy into him, making her eyes glow the same colour. The others all arrived at the top of the stairs.

'What's going on!' Amy yelled. 'Christina!' She could feel the energy draining from her sister.

'Stay there!' Christina yelled. They all watched from the top of the stairs as the demon began to change colour. His veins turned blue and his eyes grew larger, a silent scream ripping from his throat as he exploded into ash. The light faded and Katherine closed the door before looking back to Christina. Her eyes began to fade of their blue and her knees gave way. Katherine moved just fast enough to cushion her fall and they both ended up on the ground.

'Is she okay?' Lauren asked as the rest of the group made their way over to them.

'She's unconscious.' Katherine confirmed, taking off her jumper and putting it underneath Christina's head. She let out a breath and pushed the hair out of her sisters face.

'I hate it when she does that.' Amy said, sitting next to them on the ground.

'Kath, what's wrong?' Lisa asked, studying her face.

'When Chris was using her power her eyes changed colour.'

'They've never done that before.' Dani said. 'What colour were they?'

'Bright blue, the same as the energy she was using.' Katherine told them.

'Maybe it means her powers are changing?' Lisa suggested.

'Maybe, Amy can you feel anything?' Lauren asked.

'Not really.' She admitted. 'Hang on.' She said, taking Christina's hand. She closed her eyes and focused. She opened her eyes and put Christina's hand down. 'I can't feel anything, her hand is just really cold.'

'When will she wake up?' Dani asked.

'I don't know.' Katherine admitted. 'But she can't stay on the floor. Lisa can you help me?' Katherine asked.

'Yeah.' Lisa said coming over to help. Lisa picked up Christina's legs and Katherine lifted under her arms and they gently moved her over to the couch. Katherine put her hand on Christina's forehead.

'Now that you've mentioned it Aimes, she does feel cold.'

'Here.' Lauren said, putting a blanket over her. 'Should warm her up.' Katherine smiled at her before turning to Dani.

'Can you grab the book. I think I got a good enough look to identify this demon.' Dani nodded and quickly went up to grab the book.