As we crept into the demon's lair, I felt the adrenaline kick in. The butterflies in my stomach were the size of pterodactyls; it had been so long.
"I hate to be the party pooper," Piper interjected, "but has anyone thought of dying now?"
"That's not a positive attitude," Phoebe argued.
"The prophecy said we would be together to end the curse. It didn't say if we survived it or not. That would be one way The Cleaners wouldn't interfere, because we'll be dead."
"If I die here and now, I will be with my sisters. That's not a bad thing," I reasoned, and it silenced Piper.
A squad of demons guarded the lair. Their faces were covered with black Stormtrooper-like helmets and camouflaged body armor. Great.
"Any ideas?" I whispered.
"I do," and Paige orbed in the back of them.
Before we could yell, Paige shouted, "Athame!" The orbs transferred from the demon's hands and into Paige's. She vanquished the demon with his own weapon.
To protect Paige, the three of us went into action. Phoebe levitated in front of a demon and turned, and Piper vanquished him.
"SPEAR!" Paige called for the demon's spear. Three demons approached me, and I threw them backwards and into the spear kabob style. The demons caused the other demons to explode. They were gone, except for scorch marks.
"Nice kabob style, sis," Paige congratulated me.
"Not without your help."
We destroyed seventeen demons in a matter of seconds. Now, we were warmed up for our showdown with the Blood Collector. The torch-lit path descended deeper into the catacombs. Skulls and bones littered the entrance of the lair.
The Blood Collector had lizard-like features: dark green scales, a long thin tongue, and slit eyes. His claws were different—long needles outstretched his elongated arms. He reminded me of Edward Scissorhands.
"Any strategy? Paige, don't orb. He won't fall for the same trick."
"How about a diversion?" Piper asked.
Before I could answer, the creature spoke, "I know you're here, Charmed Ones. I was alerted of your presence when you killed my guards. Come out. Come out. Wherever you are." The demon seemed cocky and even childish in his voice.
"I can't stand when demons patronize us," Phoebe complained. "We have to distract the demon, so we can throw the potions."
"How?" Paige asked.
I astro-projected myself in front of the demon, "I'm not scared of you."
"You must be Prudence, arrogant in every way. Too bad, I killed Mommy." I swung my arm, and the lizard moved backwards, but not to the ground. The astro-projection ended, but Piper, Phoebe, and Paige weren't there.
Piper attacked the demon, but he retaliated and stabbed her with one of his needles. She dropped cold.
"Let's see if I can do this," the demon created explosions around Paige and Phoebe. "Think, to die from your own sister's powers. Ironic." I sprinted to Piper to check on her, but she wouldn't respond.
Phoebe called out, "I'd bet you want my powers."
"Ah, Phoebe. You could have had it all. Damn morals," he turned and threw fireballs at Phoebe, but she levitated from any contact, but as Paige orbed on his opposite side, the demon's tail whiplashed Phoebe and threw her on the rocks.
As the demon outstretched his needle claws to approach Phoebe, Paige orbed in and threw the potion and orbed out. The potion immobilized the demon as Paige healed Phoebe, and I smashed my potion at the potion to keep him glued to his feet. Phoebe woke and launched her vial at the creature, as Paige healed Piper. She was awake, but she was still dizzy and disorientated. She had enough strength to throw her potion at the lizard and hold on to Paige and Phoebe for support.
Grabbing our slips of paper from our pockets, we read the vanquishing spell, "We come from the past to vanquish a foe, To end a curse to ones we know, Suffer all the plagues you will, and the last of them will kill."
The demon's blood vessels protruded his skin, oozing yellow pus. Bubbles formed on his head and popped frogs, lice, and flies. He screamed in pain, but it wasn't over yet. His feet had begun to blister and burn from the pestilence, and hundreds of boils covered his entire length. Above his head, it began to hail and locusts sprouted from the boils. The boils had blinded the demon, creating darkness. Finally, all of the plagues wrapped around the demon and its cauldron of the Halliwell curse and exploded—throwing us twenty feet against the wall.
Phoebe lifted her head, "Paige, awesome spell."
Piper wiped her arms, "But messy. Paige?"
"Yeah."
"Suffer all the plagues, you will. When did you become Yoda?"
"Too much?"
"Naw," Piper smiled in return.
I couldn't move; I barely could breathe. Three of my ribs were broken, but I couldn't tell anyone. Blood trickled down my ear.
"Prue?" Phoebe rushed to me. "PRUE!" She felt my neck. "She still has a pulse. Paige, you have to heal her."
I started to lose consciousness, but Paige was nearby, "Prue, I'm not going to lose you now!" Every ounce of Paige's strength was needed to heal me.
I coughed as I sat up, "Not bad for a day's work," and lay back down again and Paige joined me. Phoebe and Piper held our hands until we had the strength to move again.