THREE

"Jerome," said Prue.

Immediately the three girls headed for the stairs, Leo close behind. As they reached the second floor they saw the door to the bathroom ripped from its hinges, lying on the floor. Cowering in the corner was Jerome, his arms over his head. But the demon was nowhere to be seen.

"Check the rest of the house," said Prue. "It might still be here somewhere. Leo, watch Jerome and orb him out of here if you have to."

The girls searched the house from top to bottom. Leo took Jerome into the kitchen and got him a glass of water to calm him down. After searching the house the girls came into the kitchen.

"Well, it's gone now," said Phoebe. "I guess it didn't want to hang around to mess with us."

"Jerome, what happened up there?" Piper asked.

"I really don't know," said Jerome. "I was getting ready to take a shower when that thing just suddenly appeared in the bathroom. I couldn't do anything so I just screamed for you three and ran out of the bathroom. I tried to keep it trapped in there but it just tore the door off its hinges. I'm sorry about the door."

"Don't worry about," said Leo. "From what I saw it wasn't too badly damaged. I think I can fix it pretty easily."

"It attacked in the manor," said Prue. "I can't believe it actually attacked in the manor. With all three of us right there in the living room. Leo, go check with the Elders and find out what kind of demon this thing is. And see if they have a potion or spell to vanquish it with. When it comes back again I want to be ready for it."

"You think it's coming back?" Phoebe asked.

"It attacked here once, didn't it?" asked Prue. "It obviously wants Jerome pretty badly and it's willing to attack with us right here. I think it's a pretty safe bet that it will be back. When it does I want to be ready to vanquish it the second it shimmers into the manor."

"Shimmers?" questioned Jerome.

"That's how demons travel," said Piper. "It's called shimmering."

"I'll be back as soon as I learn anything," said Leo, who then orbed out of the kitchen.

"And that's not shimmering?" Jerome asked.

"No, Leo calls it orbing," said Piper. "It's a standard White Lighter power."

"So these White Lighters," said Jerome. "You said they're like angels or something?"

"Something like that," said Phoebe. "Leo said they're kind of guides for witches. We get a lot of information from him and the Book of Shadows."

"Book of Shadows?" Jerome asked.

"Yeah," said Piper. "It's kind of a magical book that gives us information on demons and spells and things. Without it we'd be kind of lost."

"And this book will tell you how to kill this demon?" Jerome questioned.

"Afraid not," said Piper. "I couldn't find it in the Book of Shadows which mean no one in our family has ever encountered it before. But I'm sure the Elders will be able to tell Leo what it is. Then I can prepare a potion that will vanquish it permanently."

"Vanquish?" questioned Jerome. "That's like killing a demon?"

"That's exactly what it is," said Prue. "Well, you still need that shower. Piper, why don't you go with him upstairs and wait outside the bathroom until he's finished. At least that way he'll be safe until Leo gets back."

"What about the clothes?" Phoebe asked. "Leo didn't have time to get any before he left."

"I think there are still some of dad's clothes in an old trunk in the attic," said Prue. "They should fit okay and I don't think dad's going to be by for them any time soon."

"I'll get the clothes," said Phoebe. "I think I know which trunk they're in."

"What are you going to do?" Piper asked.

"I'm going to check the house again," said Prue. "That demon is still around here somewhere and I mean to find it."

"Just be careful," said Piper. "It's dangerous going up against a demon alone."

"I'll be fine," said Prue. "You just watch out for Jerome. He's the one who needs protection."

"The Elders had no idea which demon it is," said Leo after he'd returned to the manor. "Jerome, are you sure you described it correctly?"

"Very sure," said Jerome. "It was very close."

"What about this staff thing you mentioned it had?" Prue asked. "What did it look like?"

"I didn't get a real good look at it," said Jerome. "It was three or four feet long and it had this flame or something coming out both ends of it. I think it was trying to kill me with it."

"That doesn't sound familiar either," said Leo.

"What about a shape shifter?" Piper asked. "Could this be a demon in a different form? We've encountered shape shifters before."

"I guess it's possible," said Leo. "Only I don't know why a demon would shape shift into a different form. That just doesn't sound like any demons I know of."

"Maybe to throw us off," suggested Phoebe. "Remember when those shape shifters tried to steal the Book of Shadows? They took on human form to throw us off."

"Yeah, but they never took the form of demons," said Prue. "I think those were their normal forms. Still, it does make sense. Whatever demon is after Jerome may be taking a different form so we can't figure out what type it really is. That way if we did have a potion or spell it wouldn't affect it."

"What about the staff it's using?" Piper asked. "Even Leo said he hadn't heard of anything like that."

"Just something else to throw us off," said Prue. "If we knew why it was after you, Jerome, we might be able to figure out what kind of demon it is. Do you have any enemies? Anyone who wants to hurt you or kill you?"

"Not that I can think of," said Jerome. "I'm a teacher for gifted children. I get along real well with all of my students and their parents like me, too. I can't think of any reason a demon would be out to hurt me."

"Well, just to be safe, I think you'd better sleep on the sofa tonight," said Prue. "One of us will be with you all the time. Maybe just having one of us around will keep the demon from attacking. In the mean time, Leo I want you to see if you can find out what kind of demon this could be. Maybe with this additional information the Elders might be able to narrow down what demon it is."

"I'll see what I can do but I can promise anything," said Leo. "We don't have a lot to go on."

"Just try," said Prue. "Now, we'll take turns watching over Jerome. I'll take the first watch. Piper, I'll wake you in about four hours. You can wake Phoebe four hours after that. And if this demon attacks again be sure to get all of us up. It may take all of us to vanquish it."

As Leo went to see the Elders again Phoebe headed upstairs to get some bedding for Jerome.