As soon as the demon had shimmered, Piper, Phoebe and Paige sprang into action. Phoebe and Paige dashed upstairs, and Piper pulled Leo to one side to talk to him, leaving the other three girls and Gabe standing in the lounge, watching the commotion with bewilderment.
Phillipa needed to decide what to do next; she needed control back and she needed to work out what the hell was going on! She glanced towards Gabe. He was, to be fair, the only one who seemed to want to get out of this crazy house. At least they had that in common. She edged towards him, whispering,
"Do they seriously expect us to just move in here together? Drop our lives and just do…" she wasn't quite sure what they were expected to do, apart from avoid being fried by demons armed with fire balls, "whatever," she finished vaguely.
"It doesn't matter; they have us stuck in a no win thing here," he replied. "Can't risk leaving Pattie alone, even in her own apartment, because those 'demon' guys were real." He noticed her cynical frown. "Are you telling me they weren't here? You didn't feel in the slightest bit threatened by them?"
"Well, yes but.."
"Exactly, so we may as well all stick together here as anywhere," he reasoned. Phillipa tutted. "What? You want us all to go to your place?" he asked, knowing that would be the last thing she wanted.
"Well no, but how long do you think we'll have to stay here for?"
Gabe didn't get a chance to answer that question before Phoebe and Paige came running back down the stairs. Phoebe immediately began to place crystals around the downstairs rooms, whilst Paige approached the lounge with the new 'Book of Shadows'.
"Take a seat everyone. There are just a few things we need to run through before we leave for the night…but don't worry, we'll be back tomorrow to make sure you're okay," she assured them after taking a look at Payton's nervous expression.
"Yes, and see the crystals Phoebe is placing around the house," Piper said, pointing to a few in the hallway, "they will protect you from more demons for tonight…well, for many other nights too I guess," she added, then regretted it. The girls looked extremely apprehensive; the last thing she wanted to do was to worry them more and have them all running out of the Manor in terror! She felt a sudden pang of sympathy for them. They had no clue what they had been roped into. Still, once they got used to the idea, they would settle down. They just needed to learn how to juggle demon vanquishing with their every day lives.
"That should be enough," Phoebe concluded, re-entering the lounge, "one demon alarm is now set. Hey, don't worry," she said, sitting on the sofa arm and placing a comforting hand over Payton's, "I really don't think any more will come back tonight anyway, not after Piper's warning." Her eyes widened as if in mock terror, "Boy was she scary," she laughed.
Phoenix and Payton chuckled.
"And also," Leo added, "if by chance demons do reappear tonight, The Elders have opened a telepathic link between you four, me and Paige for the night, so all you have to do is call us, and we'll be here in a flash."
"…or orb" Paige corrected Leo with a laugh, "well, quickly anyway," she finished.
"Right, so what should we expect from those crystals then?" Phillipa asked, eyeing the huge book which Paige had placed on the coffee table in front of them. She had the feeling that they were rushing this whole process and, not that she was going to stay there that night anyway, but Phillipa was a 'just in case' kind of person, so there was no way she was letting them go until she was clear on all the details.
"Okay, if any source of evil comes near the crystals, you will hear them err, kind of ring," Phoebe explained. "And you can also trap a demon in a crystal cage which is formed by surrounding them by crystals."
Phillipa nodded, making a mental note of that. "And the book?" she questioned eyeing the book on the coffee table.
"This is your 'Book of Shadows'," Leo said, "The elders sent it down with me to give to you."
"Yes, the 'Book of Shadows' contains spells, incantations and information on all the demons of your ancestors. It's absolutely indispensible to you," Phoebe explained wistfully, but then she frowned and amended, "or at least it will be," she said, opening the book and flicking through the empty pages.
The girls leant over to see that all of the pages were blank.
"Great, that's going to be a lot of help," Phillipa said sarcastically, "particularly considering that A, none of our relatives, or mine at least, were witches, and B, none of us three are related anyway."
"Hmm," Phoebe responded thoughtfully. "We wondered about that."
"Who knows," Piper cut in, "maybe you are."
The three girls looked at each other in puzzlement.
"No, that's impossible," Phillipa spoke out.
"Or maybe you were," Paige suggested. The three 'Charmed Ones' all gave each other a knowing look.
"Were?" Phillipa questioned. She dreaded to hear the answer.
"Yes, in your previous lives," Paige answered, quickly moving on when Phillipa put her head in her hands. Whatever next? She couldn't cope, it was information overload! "All we know, is that there must be some kind of connection between you all, but at the moment, you are oblivious to it, and that is why this has happened," she said, closing the 'Book of Shadows' and pointing to the divided Triquetra on the front. "This means that you have no bond yet; you need to find it," she urged, handing the book over.
"And on that note," Piper said, grabbing Leo's hand, "We will leave you all to get busy with the 'bonding' process. The kids are going to be crawling up the walls by now," she said to Paige.
"Probably, and I've got a charge to go check on, and I haven't even so much as said 'hi' to Henry today," Paige said, jumping off the sofa, followed by Phoebe and the others, who stood up with them.
"Oooh yes," Phoebe said excitedly, "and Coop's got a romantic meal for two planned."
Piper, Paige and Phoebe rushed into the hallway, followed by the anxious new 'Charmed Ones', Leo and Gabe.
When Piper reached the front door, she stopped suddenly and turned. "Oops, I almost forgot, there are new bed sheets upstairs, and the refrigerator is full," she informed them.
"You've even got some wine chilling in there," Phoebe winked, following Piper and Paige out into the porchway.
Piper glared at her. "Hmm, they should go easy on the wine though, they need their wits about them, remember?"
Phoebe's expression became more serious. "Oh yes, of course."
"Remember, just call out if you need help," Leo reminded them, "And smile," he added, noting their solemn faces.
"You're the new, most powerful and important witches on earth, you should be excited," Phoebe enthused.
"Yes, just remember, humanity is relying on you," Piper said, disappearing down the steps.
Phoebe frowned after her, turning to the girls again to lighten the mood. "Few glasses of wine never hurt anyone, helps with the 'bonding ' process too," she whispered to them. "See you tomorrow," she called, waving back at them as she descended the steps.
"Great!" Phillipa said, turning to the others and closing the door behind her. "This morning I woke up with only the responsibilities of being chair of a corporation; now I'm responsible for the whole of humanity!"
"We," Gabe stressed, "we are responsible. You're not the only person involved in all of this you know, miss high and mighty business corporate," he mocked.
She put her hands on her hips. "Excuse me but I've worked hard to get to where I am today."
"And I haven't?" he countered.
"I wasn't saying that," she began, but gave up with frustration. "I can't do this now," she growled, "I need some air." And with that she was at the door in three quick strides and outside in seconds.
The moment he registered her moving towards the door, Gabe felt that terrible nervousness again, and it was only seconds later that he heard the crystals ringing. Then he saw a flash of orange light up the darkness outside and he knew that Phillipa was is massive danger, he could feel it. With all he was worth, he dived for her, catching her by the shoulders and pulling her backwards into the safety of the house. The energy ball however ricocheted off the far wall and seemed to be heading back towards them. Gabe rolled over Phillipa, shielding her from the ball but watching with relief as it flew over them and disappeared outside. He reached backwards with one foot and slammed the front door shut.
The house fell silent for the next few minutes as everyone froze, waiting to see if another attack was imminent.
"Maybe they won't come past the crystals," Phoenix said finally, after there were no more signs of any demons about to pounce. "Are you two okay?" she asked, watching for signs of life from Phillipa or Gabe on the floor.
Phillipa registered no movement from Gabe so she turned her head sideways to see what was happening. Unfortunately though, all she could see at startlingly close quarters, was Gabe's face staring down at her. She vaguely registered him telling the girls that they weren't hurt, but it was as if time was suddenly slowing down. She wasn't sure if it was her powers working or not, but she seemed to be taking in every tiny detail of his face all at once. Although she'd seen his eyes fiery with temper before, at that moment, his chocolate coloured gaze was soft and beguiling, even a little vulnerable. She hadn't expected that. In fact, this man was difficult for Phillipa to fathom out, and she was usually good at that; it was part of her job. The angles of his face were hard and tough, his nose jutting out sharply, his jaw square. The thick hair on his head was as untamed as the man himself, and yet it was his unruliness that gave him a rugged sort of appeal. He smiled slowly at her and she noticed the tiny lines around his eyes appear as his expression lightened. Then he lifted one hand and removed her reading glasses to reveal her eyes. It seemed to be an unnervingly intimate gesture for a stranger to make, particularly at such close quarters.
"What are you doing?" she frowned.
"Come on," he said, holding up the glasses to look at them with amusement. "You don't need these, surely."
As a matter of fact, she didn't; she wore them to enhance her business image. She always felt that they gave her more authority in a male dominated environment.
"Of course I do," she lied, reaching out for the glasses, "Why else would I wear them?"
"Hmm," he responded thoughtfully, assessing her, "my question exactly, why would a woman with profoundly developed senses wear a pair of these?" he said, dangling them just out of her reach.
She tutted. "It was only today that I was blessed with extra sensory powers," she said with some sarcasm, "to save the world, remember?"
"Hmm, well, you certainly won't need them now then, will you?" he replied.
She paused, trapped, unable to hide behind her image. She felt exposed and out of control, not for the first time that day either. No comeback sprang to mind, and suddenly she felt unbearably strung with tension as he simply searched her eyes.
He wasn't sure if it was something to do with her powers, or the fact that she was now a witch, but there was something almost hypnotic about her eyes. They glittered, the deepest, yet brightest, green, with a hint of teal, like peacock feathers.
"You have a witch's eyes," he said softly, without even intending to speak at all.
Then it began. It started as an acute awareness of Gabe's hands, arms, legs and torso pressed against her, but then the sensations intensified. She began to tingle all over and soon it seemed as if every nerve ending in her body was alive, too alive! Her skin burned with heat and Gabe's eyes widened slightly with surprise.
"Move off me," she said in panic, "Something's happening."
But Gabe was in a trance like state, staring into her eyes, unable to move. Suddenly, it felt as if he was melting into her and she was helpless to stop the intense quivering and tingling sensations his contact was creating.
"Get him off me," she called out to Phoenix and Payton.
His eyes continued their searching, and her body continued it's tingling and glowing, until finally, two pairs of hands prised Gabe away from her and at last she was free.
Gabe found himself suddenly upright, stumbling backwards slightly, while Phoenix and Payton were helping Phillipa up off the floor.
She stood and breathlessly made a pretence out of brushing her clothes off, avoiding Gabe's eyes with everything she had.
Gabe looked equally uncomfortable. "Looks like your senses are developing or something," he said, by way of an explanation.
Phillipa gave a small awkward sounding cough and moved towards the kitchen.
"I need a glass of water," she said, making a hasty exit.