A/N: Hey all who read this.
Sorry for the delay to this update, it's been kinda on the backburner for a while.
Anyway here it is...
5. The Imperfections Of A Photograph
"Okay, Pheebs, where roughly would this girl be?" Piper asked, as they walked into the rather large park.
"Well, no one else was around... and there were trees…" she answered, not hiding the uncertainty in her voice.
"Phoebe, we kinda need to know more, considering it's a park with trees." Paige replied, crossing her arms in front of herself.
"I know that, Paige, just give me a moment." Phoebe replied and went silent for a little while, trying to find something that she recognised. "Piper, from here, where is the dried out lake?"
"Um…that would be…that way." her sister answered, pointing her right.
"Great, lets go." Paige said marching ahead of her two sisters, who both shared a look before following.
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"Is this it?" Paige questioned Phoebe as they stopped in a small clearing.
"Um…yeah, I think it is." her sister replied with a nod of her head, will scanning the area around them.
"I don't see any girl, Pheebs." Piper stated, also glancing round.
"Well, we may still have some time bef….."
Phoebe was cut off from her sentence as a scream resounded from behind the bush. All three sisters began to sprint in the desired location.
"So much for having the right place." Piper spat, glaring at Phoebe.
"I said think." she defended herself, finally spotting the offending demon.
"Hey!" the youngest sister yelled.
The demon looked up and smirked slightly. The girl was lying on the ground, looking up at the creature in complete horror.
"Demon!" Paige shouted, as the thing disappeared in orbs and was next seen sailing through the air.
"Run!" Phoebe instructed to the girl, who hastily run off as fast as she could.
Piper raised her hands, readying herself to blow him up into tiny pieces.
"You have bigger problems than me coming your way." the demon leered. "..she'll destroy yo…"
She released her power, having enough of his pathetic threats and watched as he vanished with an agonising scream.
"Who's she?" Paige asked, already knowing none of them knew.
"I say we check the Book of Shadows." Phoebe advised, gazing at the space where the demon had been standing moments ago.
"I second that." Piper agreed with a nod of her head, while again glancing around to make sure nobody was nearby.
"Third." the youngest added, with a perplexed expression.
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Prue stood in Halliwell manor with a somewhat sadistic smile spread across her face. She walked slowly round the downstairs, through each room, examining all the little changes, which she noticed to be few and far between.
Pictures graced the walls, some of herself and her sisters. Others were of a younger woman and her sisters, and various snap shots of Leo and Cole with them. Prue couldn't help but roll her eyes at the naivety each one held, the happiness that shone through, knowing deep down it was a façade.
The eldest Halliwell picked up one photo of the younger woman, who she had spotted in the other pictures. Prue's smile twisted cruelly as she looked down on the face she had never known.
"Hello there, you must be Paige." she sneered. "You finally get to meet big sister, Prue." as the words left her mouth, she also scoffed at the anticipation of what was to come. "Won't that be fun?"
Placing the photo back, Prue continued along with her inspection, running a finger along the mantelpiece. She stopped and checked her finger, before rubbing whatever was left on there, with her thumb.
She looked around and then moved fluently up the stairs, allowing her fingers to dance along the banister delicately, the smile still playing on her lips.
Walking down the hallway, Prue couldn't help but step into her own room and smirk at it's appearance. It hadn't changed. She walked in and took note of all the insignificant objects she had kept all those years and yet she was perfectly content without them.
Once again, Prue was drawn to the photographs that stood along her dresser. It was odd to her that she seemed compelled to examine her old life and compare it to the freedom she now felt.
As if to prove her new found freedom and signify the drastic change, Prue stumbled upon her schedule from the days before Shax's attack. She looked down at the sheet of paper that dictated her life to her so long ago and screwed it up into a tight ball.
Prue took one final look around and headed back to the hallway, sending the scrunched up piece of paper hurtling for the bin, which bounced of the rim then fell in.
The older Halliwell only briefly peered into Piper's and Phoebe's room, finding them boring as they had yet to change. All she noticed from the doorways was a few new items and some new photographs.
Is that how they show time has passed? Some photos that barely show a thing and probably completely contradict what they were actually going through at that point in time, she thought unimpressed with the 'perfect' life her sisters were trying to kid themselves into believing they lived.
Moving quickly on, before she ransacked the rooms for the imperfections she knew were waiting to crawl out and devour the owner.
Prue found herself in the doorway of yet another room, which instantly fascinated her.
"Well someone's expressive." she mocked, walking further into the room.
Again, Prue, began to examine the tiny unimportant objects that seemed to clutter up what space was available. She immediately noticed a less amount of photographs, which she smiled about.
"You know all too well of the imperfections of the world, don't you Paige?" Prue stated in a happy tone of voice, amused at the things you can find out about a person with a simple gaze in their room.
She moved around and became interested in the paintings that also took up to much room for Prue's liking. The raven haired woman lent in forward and examined one more intensely.
"Well it's no Monet." she commented, "…but it seems the little underling is screaming to be heard."
Pulling away from the art, Prue moved back round to the door and gave one last glance around the interesting space.
"It's been nice getting to know you, Paige." she sang, before turning away and heading to the most impressive room in the entire manor.
Taking each step with glee, Prue made her way to the attic. The door was left wide open, something she remembered she wouldn't have let happen.
"Not good, girls…" she remarked mockingly, with a shake of her head. "..Evil has full range to just walk straight in."
Prue walked to the Book of Shadows and grinned, but was careful to keep her distance. "Have you missed me?"
Then she glanced around the area with a small smile, before returning her gaze back to the ancient volume. "It's okay, I didn't miss you much either." she smirked. "Now if you'll excuse me,I have an exciting entrance to make."
Prue made her way back down the stairs and as she moved into the foyer she called for her help. "Earl!"
A demon appeared in shimmers and smiled pleasantly at Prue. "Hello Prudence."
The Halliwell grinned at him. "Earl, how is my favourite demon?"
The yellow, greenish flesh around his mouth expanded as his smile grew to mirror an even bigger grin than Prue's. "I'm great. I got witch number eighty-six this morning."
"Congratulations, the Source shall be impressed." she replied.
"I hope so." Earl's grin faded very slightly at the mention of the Source.
"He will and I'll also add a good word for you."
"Thank you, Prudence." he responded, with the grin returning. "So how is my favourite Charmed One?"
Prue's face scrunched in distaste being referred to us aCharmed One. "You know, Earl, you're the only one I will tolerate calling me that…but that's because you are too nice."
"I do have a nasty streak." the demon defended himself.
"I know." Prue retorted beaming. "That is why I called you here. I need your help."
"Prudence, why are you here of all places anyway?" Earl asked, finally noticing where he stood and allowed an expression of panic to cover his features momentarily.
"I have my assignment and this is where it all begins."
"Can't they sense you?" he questioned further.
Prue shook her head. "Nope I'm cloaked until the right moment."
"..and this moment, you need me? What about Jaden?"
"Jaden, please, his useless." she shot back with annoyance at the thought.
Earl made a rough laugh, which would creep anyone out. "You two." he added.
"Earl, I do not have time to beat your ass, so drop the two of you conversation. I need to know if you will help me?" Prue stated rather agitated by the topic change.
"What do I have to do?" the demon asked, not wanting to be on Prue's bad side.
"When they arrive, I need you to throw me across the room."
"I can't do that." he moaned.
Prue raised an eyebrow at the demon and really did believe he was too nice to be evil. There was hundreds down in the underworld that would jump at the chance to toss her in the air and dance on her fallen body. "Sure you can."
"I don't know."
"Please Earl. I need you." Prue pleaded.
The demon thought for some time before nodding slightly. "Okay, fine. When are they getting here?"
"Any moment now. I sent Borrack to keep them occupied for a little bit." she grinned, more at the fact she had gotten her own way.
Just then noises could be heard from outside the front door and she turned to Earl with a grin. "Wish me luck." she whispered.
"Luck." he replied with a small smirk, watching as she concentrated for a moment or two with her eyes shut tight.
The front door opened and the next thing Prue felt was herself flying through the air. It was then she noted the similarity to the last time she was in the manor. Next she felt was the hard wood floor hit and the wind from inside of her get knocked out, leaving her in pain.
This better look convincing 'cause this is agonizing, she thought as she noticed the tender areas in which bruises were certain to form.
"Hey!" she heard a voice scream, instantly recognising it as Piper's but now picking up on the harshness within it.
As Prue turned her head slightly to get a better look at what was happening, she heard the explosion from her sister's power, seeing the confidence that Piper now had in it.
Oh crap! Prue thought as she watched Earl disappear into tiny pieces. Shame, was her final thought on the matter.
A/N: There you go another chap over.
Hope you all liked and thank you for the reviews. :o)
Catch you all later.