Chapter 7: Scry Hard Part 1
March 29, 1997 – Saturday
Halliwell Manor
The attic door creaked open as Leo and Piper stepped through, their feet moving across the dusty threshold into the dimly lit space. Leo's hand was gently but firmly placed over Piper's eyes, a playful grin tugging at his lips.
"Ready?" Leo's voice was a mixture of anticipation and excitement, his breath warm against Piper's ear.
"Mm-hmm," Piper replied, her voice soft with curiosity.
With a flourish, Leo removed his hands from Piper's eyes, revealing the transformation of the attic. The space, once a chaotic jumble of forgotten items and neglected corners, had been meticulously reorganized. Each object now had its own designated spot, and the clutter that once dominated the room was replaced by an immaculate orderliness.
Piper's eyes widened as she took in the scene, the soft glow of overhead bulbs casting a gentle light across the newly polished wooden floorboards. "Wow!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the spacious, now immaculate room.
"Isn't it great?" Leo asked, his tone brimming with pride as he surveyed the results of his labor.
"Um ... it's ... it's something," Piper replied, her expression a mix of surprise and hesitation.
Leo's shoulders sagged slightly as he detected the dissonance in her response. "You hate it," he said, the words tinged with a note of resignation.
"No ... no. I don't hate anything. It's just, um ... the dining room ... and then the living room ... and, you know, when you rearranged the kitchen, I did kind of hate that," Piper said, her voice trailing off as she glanced around the room.
Leo let out a soft sigh, his frustration palpable. "Piper, you're always complaining about what a mess it is up here," he said as Phoebe appeared at the top of the stairs, her eyes widening in astonishment.
"Woah," Phoebe said, her voice filled with awe as she took in the pristine state of the attic.
"Yeah, I know, but it's an attic. And it's supposed to be messy. Sweetie, it's not that I don't appreciate you helping around the house, because I do, really. It's just, um ... it's just a little much," Piper explained, her fingers lightly brushing against the meticulously arranged shelves as she attempted to convey her mixed feelings.
Just then, a soft shimmer of light filled the attic as someone orbed into the space, and Leo turned to see Paige and Buffy materializing in the room. The ethereal glow of the orbing was quickly replaced by the more familiar sight of Paige and Buffy, their sudden appearance breaking the silence.
"Hey, Dad," Buffy said, her voice warm and affectionate as Leo swiftly moved to embrace her, pulling her into a heartfelt hug.
Leo's arms wrapped around Buffy, holding her close. "Phoebe, I'd like you to meet Buffy Sum…" Leo began, guiding his daughter toward Phoebe with a proud, almost paternal gleam in his eyes.
"Wyatt," Buffy interjected, her tone light and somewhat amused. "Buffy Wyatt. That's unofficial right now though. I plan to change my name when I turn eighteen and Hank no longer has to pay child support on me. Then I can change it."
Leo nodded thoughtfully, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "That's up to you, Buffy. But I would be amiss if I didn't say I was proud that you wanted to have my name."
Piper stepped forward, her expression warm and welcoming as she extended her arms for a hug. "So, Buffy," she said, wrapping the teenager in an affectionate embrace. "Are you ready to spend the weekend with your father?"
"You bet," Buffy said with a genuine smile that brightened her features, her gaze locked on her father. "Though Piper, I hope you're not offended if I don't call you mom. It just feels weird, you know."
Leo nodded reassuringly. "You can call me Leo," he offered, his voice gentle and understanding. "If you prefer."
"That's alright, Dad," Buffy said, her voice steady as she looked up at Leo with a mix of respect and familiarity. "You are my father and while yes, it is a little weird with our age difference, physical age difference—I know you're really over fifty years old—I still want to call you Dad, okay, Dad?"
"Okay," Leo replied, his voice tinged with affection and acceptance.
"It was nice to finally meet you, Buffy," Phoebe said, her voice warm and genuine as she extended a friendly smile. She then turned her attention to her sisters, the undertone of her professional obligations evident in her tone. "I need to be at work."
"Want me to give you a lift?" Paige offered, her voice carrying a note of practicality. "I need to head over to Magic School anyway. There's some backlog I need to deal with since I haven't been in since I started working in Sunnydale."
"Sure," Phoebe replied, moving closer to her younger sister. She reached out and took Paige's hand, her gesture both casual and reassuring.
"Call me if you need me," Paige said as the two sisters began to shimmer out of the attic, their forms slowly dissolving into the familiar glow of orbing light.
"I'm sure you would like to meet your brothers," Piper said, redirecting her attention back to Buffy. She began leading her toward the door with a sense of purpose.
Just then, a sudden shimmer of dark energy cut through the air between Piper and Buffy, materializing into the form of a menacing demon. Without a moment's hesitation, the demon hurled a boomerang with a swift, practiced motion. The weapon grazed Leo's arm as it passed, its sharp edge leaving a thin line of red in its wake. Then, in a flash, the demon shimmered out of existence, vanishing as abruptly as it had appeared.
The boomerang, its flight not yet complete, curved back towards its origin. With a metallic thud, it embedded itself in the wooden frame of the attic door, its trajectory precise and deliberate.
"That was weird," Buffy said, her voice tinged with a mix of confusion and concern. Her eyes quickly shifted to her father, who was now holding his shoulder with a pained expression. "Dad, you okay?"
"I'm fine," Leo assured her, though his voice carried an undercurrent of discomfort. He carefully extracted the boomerang from the door, the weapon's presence a stark reminder of the sudden intrusion. He then made his way toward the Book of Shadows, a determined look on his face.
"What are you doing?" Piper asked, her tone edged with both concern and curiosity.
"I'm going to I.D. that demon," Leo replied, his voice resolute as he flipped through the ancient tome.
"Dad, you really should sit down while Piper goes to get some bandages and antiseptic," Buffy said, her voice filled with concern as she placed a gentle hand on his uninjured arm.
Leo glanced down at his wounded arm, the scratch now a stark reminder of the recent attack. "It's just a scratch," he said dismissively, his gaze shifting to the boomerang with an analytical curiosity. "I think this crescent might be tribal."
"You're not listening to Buffy or I," Piper interjected firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "You're not vanquishing anybody."
"Why not?" Leo asked, his eyes narrowing with a mix of defiance and confusion.
In response, Piper and Buffy each took one of Leo's hands, their grip both supportive and insistent. Together, they guided him to the couch, its cushions offering a momentary reprieve from the tension of the situation. Once seated, the three of them formed a small, intimate group, their collective concern evident in their expressions.
"Well, for one thing, because you can't self-heal anymore," Piper began, her voice carrying a note of frustration tempered with care. "Hunting demons is dangerous."
"Okay, well, you can't self-heal either," Leo countered, his tone edged with a hint of stubbornness. "And it doesn't stop you."
"Dad," Buffy said, her voice taking on a more soothing quality as she attempted to reason with him, "Piper and I both have powers. She can freeze things…"
"And blow things up," Piper added, her expression a mix of pride and seriousness.
"And I'm also a Slayer besides being a witch and Whitelighter," Buffy continued, her voice steady as she enumerated her abilities. "I have increased strength, agility, and an enhanced healing rate."
Leo sighed deeply, a mixture of resignation and acknowledgment in his demeanor. "Yeah. I noticed."
"Leo ..." Piper said, her voice carrying a soft yet insistent edge as she looked at him with concern etched into her features.
"Look, I don't know why you two are making such a big deal out of this," Leo said, his tone a mix of confusion and frustration as he tried to downplay the situation.
"Because we don't want to lose you, Dad," Buffy said, her voice trembling slightly with a depth of emotion that only made her words more poignant. "Right, Piper?"
"Right, Buffy," Piper agreed, her gaze unwavering as she locked eyes with her step-daughter.
"Well, demons try to kill us almost every week," Leo said, his frustration rising. "What do you two want me to do, go hide in Magic School?"
"It's a thought," Piper said, her nod affirming the seriousness of her suggestion, even as it carried a hint of sardonic humor.
Leo sighed deeply, the sound escaping from him with a touch of exasperation. "I was kidding."
"Well, I'm not," Piper said firmly, her tone leaving no room for misinterpretation. Her concern was genuine, as was her desire to see Leo safe.
"I don't know where this Magic School is or what it is," Buffy said, her voice carrying a note of confusion and distress. "But I just found you, Dad; I don't want to lose you."
"Also," Piper added, her expression softening as she conveyed her deep-seated concern, "It's great that you gave up your powers to be with us and everything, but things are going to have to change. You've only got one life to live, and I'd like you to start taking care of it."
"Well, I didn't become mortal to go run and hide," Leo said firmly, his voice carrying an unyielding determination. "I'm staying put." His stance was resolute, a reflection of his commitment to facing challenges head-on rather than retreating.
"Leo, please –" Piper said, her tone a blend of pleading and exasperation as she tried to reason with him, her eyes searching for any sign of concession.
"Dad," Buffy said, her voice laced with a mix of concern and frustration, echoing Piper's sentiment.
Leo shook his head decisively, his resolve unshakable. "I made up my mind."
Piper glanced at Buffy, who offered a resigned nod, acknowledging the futility of further argument. Turning back to Leo, Piper took a deep breath and reached for his arm. With careful precision, she pressed a cloth to his wound, the action punctuated by the sting of antiseptic.
"Ow!" Leo cried out, the sharp discomfort causing him to wince as he flinched from the pain.
"Well, I have to clean it, don't I?" Piper asked, her voice laced with a mix of practicality and concern as she continued tending to his injury.
"Da-da," came a small voice from the doorway, its innocent tone breaking through the tension in the room. Leo, Piper, and Buffy turned their heads to see Wyatt standing in the attic doorway, his wide eyes full of curiosity and concern.
"Hey, little guy," Buffy said with a warm, inviting smile as she moved toward Wyatt. She knelt down to his level, her face lighting up with sisterly affection. "You must be Wyatt. I'm your big sis, Buffy."
For a moment, Leo forgot about his wound as he stood up and joined Buffy. He knelt beside her, his attention shifting entirely to his youngest son. "Hey, hey. Look, everything's okay," he said reassuringly, as he gently guided Wyatt's gaze towards his own injury. "Look, see? It's just a scratch, okay? Yeah. It's nothing."
With a tender embrace, Leo pulled Wyatt into a hug, the familial warmth enveloping them both. Piper and Buffy watched, their expressions softening as they witnessed the heartfelt moment between father and son.
Magic School
Paige sat at her desk, surrounded by a clutter of papers, schedules, and magical artifacts. Her eyes were glued to the computer screen, which displayed a tangled web of commitments. She was trying to juggle her Whitelighter duties in Sunnydale, her responsibilities as Giles' assistant, her role as headmistress at Magic School, and her Charmed responsibilities. The demands of each role seemed to weave together into an intricate maze that was becoming increasingly difficult to navigate.
The door to the study creaked open, and Piper walked in, her presence a welcome distraction from the chaotic scheduling.
"Busy?" Piper asked, her tone laced with both empathy and curiosity.
Paige looked up from her desk, her shoulders slumping slightly as she let out a weary sigh. "Just trying to figure out the scheduling; between being Buffy, Dawn, and Joyce's Whitelighter, being Rupert's assistant in Sunnydale, and being headmistress here. I don't know when I even have time for you guys anymore." Her frustration was evident as she gestured vaguely at the array of responsibilities on her desk.
"You'll figure it out," Piper said reassuringly, her voice offering a soothing note of encouragement.
"So, what's up?" Paige asked, her expression shifting from frustration to concern as she leaned forward.
"A demon attacked Leo," Piper said, her face growing serious.
"What?" Paige's eyes widened in shock. "Is he okay?"
Piper sighed deeply, the weight of her concern palpable. She sank into the chair across from Paige's desk and set the boomerang down with a thud. The demon's weapon glinted ominously in the light, a stark reminder of the danger Leo faced. "He's fine, but I need you to scry with that thing and then vanquish the demon. I'd do it myself, but I have to get home and help Buffy protect Leo."
Paige's brow furrowed as she processed the urgency of the situation. "Why didn't you just bring both Buffy and Leo here?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with frustration and confusion.
"Leo's being stubborn," Piper explained, her tone carrying a note of exasperation. "Hence why Buffy is still there. She is a witch, remember?"
"Buffy has no active power," Paige reminded her, her voice carrying a note of concern. "And she's still in training."
"Well, the Slayer side of her will make up for that till she has learned more," Piper said, her tone tinged with optimism and confidence in Buffy's inherent abilities.
"Till she gets a handle on telekinetic orbing," Paige said, her voice reflecting a mixture of practicality and worry. "She won't have a way to defend herself if a fireball is thrown at her. You have to remember, Piper, she has never dealt with demons like the ones we've fought. Most demons that are attracted to the Hellmouth are low level. She hasn't even faced a Warlock yet." Paige's words underscored the stark difference between the threats Buffy was familiar with and those they were currently dealing with. "Anyways, back to Leo. Being human is a big adjustment for him. We are also going to have to adjust to the fact that he can't heal us anymore."
"Or himself," Piper added, her voice tinged with sadness and concern. "And I don't want to keep forcing Wyatt to tap into his powers before he's ready."
"Why not?" Paige asked, a note of frustration creeping into her tone. "He healed you before."
"Yeah. With some help," Piper said. "But we can't keep traumatizing him like that. We've got to find another way." She shifted her gaze back to Paige, her expression earnest. "So, you can handle all this?"
"Absolutely," Paige said, her voice resolute as she nodded firmly.
Piper stood up, her movements purposeful as she headed for the door. "Uh, you might want to call Phoebe. That thing is probably from some sort of tribe."
"Got it. All over it," Paige said, her determination clear. "I might call Joyce also; having someone who can turn invisible would help."
"Good thinking," Piper agreed, offering a quick smile of appreciation. "And thanks for the help." Her gratitude was evident, a small but sincere gesture of acknowledgment as she exited the room, leaving Paige to tackle the pressing tasks ahead.
Halliwell Manor
Buffy sat comfortably next to Leo and Wyatt, their makeshift family moment centered around a charming dollhouse. The small, intricately crafted house, complete with miniature furniture and tiny figures, was a source of fascination for the children. Wyatt, with his curious eyes, was particularly engrossed as he examined the different rooms.
"That's the attic, very good," Leo said to Wyatt, pointing at a small section of the dollhouse. His voice was filled with pride as he continued to guide his son through the layout. "That's where we are right now. What's this right here?" He gestured toward a spot in the dollhouse that represented their own bedroom. Wyatt responded with a little wave of his hand, indicating his understanding. "That's mommy and daddy's room, right?"
Nearby, Chris, the youngest of the siblings, let out an excited squeal from his playpen. The sound was a joyful addition to the cozy scene. Buffy glanced over at Chris, her face lighting up with a smile as she saw his enthusiastic reaction. She stood up, carefully lifting Chris out of the playpen and cradling him in her arms. Settling back into her spot, she continued to interact with the dollhouse, Chris nestled comfortably against her.
Leo looked at Buffy, his eyes reflecting genuine happiness. It was clear he was deeply moved by how effortlessly she was embracing her new role as a big sister to two boys she had only just met. Her ability to adapt and bond with them so quickly was a testament to her compassionate nature.
"Hey. Hey ... everything all right?" Piper asked as she entered the attic, her voice carrying a hint of concern as she surveyed the scene.
Leo nodded, a reassuring gesture. "Yeah. Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?"
"Well, you know, seeing as how a demon tried to K-I-L-L you ..." Piper said, her words tinged with a mixture of exasperation and worry. The memory of the recent attack was clearly on her mind.
"Right. Uh ... well, I'm fine," Leo said, his tone attempting to downplay the seriousness of the situation.
Piper's gaze shifted to Buffy, and a brief smile appeared on her lips as she observed her step-daughter holding her son. The sight was heartwarming and reassuring. However, as she turned back to Leo, the smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Why are you so defensive?"
"Oh, guess maybe I feel like I have something to prove," Leo said, his voice carrying a note of self-awareness.
Buffy let out a deep, weary sigh, her eyes reflecting a mix of frustration and concern. "Dad, we were just trying to protect you. You're mortal now, remember?" Her voice was heavy with the emotional weight of the situation, her gaze searching for understanding.
Leo nodded, a silent acknowledgment of the truth in her words. "I know," he said, casting a meaningful glance between Piper and Buffy. The look conveyed his awareness of the sacrifices they were making, particularly why Buffy had stayed with him throughout Piper's absence. "But you two don't need to be."
"Obviously, we do," Piper said firmly, her voice underscoring the gravity of their responsibilities and the dangers they faced.
"Yeah, Dad," Buffy agreed, her voice trembling as she fought back tears. "I just found out about you two weeks ago. I don't want to lose you before I get a chance to know you." Her emotional words hung in the air, a poignant reminder of the fragility of their newfound family bond. She gently placed Chris back in his playpen, her movements tender as she ensured he was comfortable before standing up. With a heavy heart, she moved toward the door, Piper following closely behind.
"Piper, Buffy, wait," Leo called out, his voice tinged with urgency. He glanced down at Wyatt, his expression softening as he spoke. "Me, mommy, and your big sister have to have a grown-up conversation, okay? I'll be right back." His words were meant to reassure Wyatt, offering a brief respite from the tension. Leo then stood up and followed Piper and Buffy out of the attic.
Underworld
Paige, Phoebe, and Joyce orbed into the Underworld, the familiar rush of energy marking their arrival in the dark, ominous realm. The air was thick with an eerie silence, broken only by the distant, haunting echoes of the Underworld's inhabitants. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, covered in jagged rocks and a layer of mist that seemed to writhe with malevolent intent. They were on a mission to locate the demon who had hurled the boomerang at Leo.
Joyce let out a weary sigh as she glanced around, her anxiety evident despite her calm demeanor. "Paige, I'm thankful to you for unbinding my powers, but I still don't know that I'm ready for this." Her voice trembled slightly, a reflection of her apprehension as she faced the daunting environment.
"You are, Joyce," Paige reassured her, her tone firm but comforting. "Besides, Phoebe and I will be doing most of the vanquishing. I thought you might be useful with your invisibility." She looked at Joyce with a blend of encouragement and practicality. "Talking about which, can you make others invisible also?"
"As long as they are touching me, yes," Joyce confirmed, her voice steadying as she acknowledged her abilities.
"By the way, we have ten minutes," Phoebe interjected, a hint of urgency in her voice.
"What?" Paige asked, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
"I told them I'd be right back," Phoebe explained, her tone carrying a note of exasperation.
"Told who?" Joyce asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Her editor, Elise, more than likely," Paige said, offering an explanatory glance. "Phoebe works for the Bay Mirror as the advice columnist." Paige turned to face her older sister, her expression a mix of understanding and resolve. "And it's going to take what it's going to take."
Phoebe sighed deeply, her frustration palpable as she spoke. "Yeah, I know, but I have a deadline. Do you know how much work goes into one edition? And I can't believe Elise just dropped –"
"Phoebe, focus," Paige interrupted, her voice cutting through Phoebe's frustration with a tone of urgency.
"Okay, so now what do we do?" Phoebe asked, her voice a blend of impatience and anxiety as she scanned the dark tunnel around them.
"Good question," Joyce replied, quickly taking Phoebe and Paige's hands. As their forms faded from view, the cold grip of invisibility settled over them.
"Uh, I don't know," Paige admitted as they cautiously began to walk down the dimly lit tunnel, their footsteps echoing softly against the damp walls.
Suddenly, flames burst forth in front of them, revealing Zankou standing ominously. "Greetings," he said, his voice dripping with malevolence.
"He can see us?" Paige whispered, her heart pounding.
"No, I can't," Zankou said with a sinister smile. "But I can see where you have been." He motioned to their tracks in the dirt behind them, a clear trail of their invisible passage.
Joyce quickly released Phoebe and Paige's hands, making them and herself visible once more so the sisters could be ready to fight if necessary. The air around them seemed to crackle with tension.
"Zankou," Phoebe said, her voice steady despite the fear flickering in her eyes. "What are you doing here? Paige, what is he doing here?"
"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Paige shot back, her tone tinged with frustration and a hint of panic.
Zankou's eyes gleamed with dark amusement as he took a step closer. "Where's your, uh, other sister, Piper? And who is this new witch?"
"Joyce," Joyce said, standing her ground. "I'm one of –"
"Why do you want to know?" Paige interrupted, giving Joyce an apologetic glance as if to say sorry for cutting her off.
"I have my reasons," Zankou said, his voice silky and menacing, a shadowy smile playing on his lips.
"Okay, look, we'd love to stay and chat," Phoebe said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "but we have business that we need to attend to."
Zankou's eyes narrowed, and with a swift snap of his fingers, three demons materialized behind him, their dark forms exuding an aura of menace. "I know," he said, his voice cold and calculating.
Paige's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the demons. "This is going to take longer than ten minutes," she muttered under her breath, her hand already reaching for one of the potions at her belt.
In a synchronized motion, Paige and Phoebe hurled their potions at Zankou. The bottles sailed through the air, glinting in the dim light. Zankou, with preternatural agility, ducked just in time, the potions shattering against the demons behind him. The impact was immediate—flashes of bright light erupted, and the demons screamed in agony before disintegrating into nothingness.
Halliwell Manor
Leo walked down the stairs, his footsteps echoing softly, and found Buffy watching Piper as she carefully watered the plants in the living room. The air was thick with unspoken tension. "Why are you two so mad at me?" he asked, his voice a mixture of confusion and frustration.
"Because you're going to get yourself killed," Piper said sharply, her eyes not leaving the plant she was tending. Buffy nodded in agreement, her arms crossed and her expression mirroring Piper's concern. "That's why."
"But—well, I can handle myself," Leo insisted, his tone defensive yet uncertain.
"Really, Dad," Buffy interjected, her voice heavy with disbelief. "The way you handled yourself earlier when the demon attacked."
"Yeah. You know, I could have handled that," Leo said, his attempt at sounding confident falling flat as Piper moved to another plant, her movements brisk and purposeful.
"How?" Piper and Buffy asked simultaneously, their skepticism palpable.
"Oh, you know, I would've thought of something," Leo said, his voice trailing off as he realized how unconvincing he sounded.
"Well, I'm so glad you would've thought of something," Piper retorted, her sarcasm cutting through the air. "And now neither Buffy or I have to worry."
Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Okay. It was good that you both were there, but that doesn't give either of you the right to protect me without my knowing about it," he said, his gaze shifting between them, reminding them he knew why Buffy had stayed with him while Piper had gone to Magic School.
"We were trying to protect you, Dad," Buffy said softly, her voice laden with concern and a hint of desperation. She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his with a plea for understanding.
"Well, okay, but I'm supposed to protect the both of you," Leo said, his voice filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability.
"Is that what all this is about?" Piper wondered, pausing her watering to look at him more closely.
Leo nodded. "It's part of it. Look, it's my instinct to protect you, Piper, as well as you, Buffy. And the reason I don't hide from demons is because I've never had to."
"I think Piper and I both realize that," Buffy said with a sigh, her eyes softening. "But that was back when you weren't mortal either."
"It's good you both realize that, but Wyatt doesn't. You know, and now he's seen me get hurt. And I don't want that to hurt him," Leo said, his voice breaking slightly as he sighed deeply.
Piper nodded, her expression softening as she approached him. "Okay, look, we are going to get through this."
"I'm in agreement, Dad," Buffy said, her voice firm yet gentle.
"I know we are," Leo said, looking at both of them with a determined yet weary expression. "But Piper, you, yourself, said it was going to take time, okay? And when I do, I need you both to be supporting me, you know, not drowning the plants."
"Well, I guess we all have our own ways of dealing with things," Piper said, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she resumed watering the plants with more focus and care.
"She has a point," Buffy added, a hint of a smile on her face as well. "If I could orb already, I likely would have gone back to Sunnydale, found a nest, and worked out my frustrations on some vampires."
Suddenly, Craven and two demons materialized in the conservatory, their abrupt arrival disturbing the serene atmosphere of the sunlit room. The sunlight streamed through the glass walls, casting long shadows that danced around the lush greenery. The demons' muscular forms, rippling with a dark, otherworldly energy, contrasted sharply with the delicate foliage. Their backs were to Piper, Buffy, and Leo, who stood tensely among the potted plants and hanging vines.
Craven and the demons whirled around, their eyes widening in shock upon seeing the trio in the manor, a place they thought to be empty.
"What are you doing here?!" Craven demanded, his voice a mixture of anger and disbelief.
In an instant, Piper waved her hands, a determined look on her face as she blasted two of the demons. The air crackled with energy as they disintegrated into nothingness, just as Craven dived out of the way, narrowly escaping her powerful attack.
"Dining room," Leo said urgently, his voice steady despite the chaos.
"We saw where he went," Buffy said, already in motion, her instincts kicking in as she darted towards the door.
"Stay here," Piper commanded, her voice firm and protective.
"Buffy," Leo called out, his tone filled with concern. "Be careful. This is an upper level, not like those you faced."
"I got that, Dad," Buffy responded with a confident grin, a hint of defiance in her eyes as she moved swiftly. Piper followed closely behind, both women's expressions a mix of determination and worry.
They turned a corner, their footsteps echoing through the grand hall, expecting to see Craven, but he was gone, leaving only a faint trace of his presence. Buffy scanned the area, her sharp eyes missing nothing.
"Let's split up. We have a better chance of finding him," Buffy suggested, her voice resolute.
"Agreed," Piper said, nodding. "And do as your father said and be careful."
"Promise," Buffy replied, a reassuring smile crossing her face as she and Piper went their separate ways.
In the sitting room, Leo's ears pricked at the faint sound of footsteps on the stairs. His heart skipped a beat. "Wyatt," he called out, his voice echoing through the grand manor. He moved swiftly toward the staircase, his eyes scanning the dimly lit hallway until a shadow on the floor caught his attention. Looking up, he saw Wyatt standing at the top of the stairs, a worried look on his young face.
"Wyatt, get upstairs," Leo ordered, his voice firm but laced with urgency.
Meanwhile, in the conservatory, Craven stood among the shattered remains of demon ash, his eyes cold and calculating. With a swift motion, he pulled out a boomerang, its deadly edges gleaming in the filtered sunlight, and hurled it with fierce precision.
Piper, stepping out from behind a thick column of ivy, noticed the deadly trajectory of the boomerang. Her eyes widened in horror. "Leo!" she shouted, her voice breaking through the tense silence.
Buffy, already on high alert, turned at the sound of Piper's desperate cry and started sprinting back toward Leo, her heart pounding in her chest.
Piper, drawing upon her powers, blasted Craven. The force of her attack hit him in the arm, causing him to cry out in pain as he collapsed to the floor, clutching his wounded limb.
But it was too late to stop the boomerang. It struck Leo in the back of his left shoulder just as Buffy reached him, her face etched with fear and determination.
"Dad?" Buffy exclaimed, her eyes flicking to Wyatt who was still frozen on the stairs. "Hey little bro, why don't you go back upstairs," she said gently, trying to keep her voice calm.
Craven, now seething with rage, turned and glared at Piper, who was running to Leo's side, her expression one of sheer panic.
Buffy quickly and carefully pulled the boomerang from Leo's shoulder, blood staining her hands as she did so. Piper reached them, her face pale with worry.
"Leo?" Piper asked breathlessly, her eyes searching his face for signs of pain as Buffy helped him to his feet. Leo groaned; his face contorted in agony. "Are you okay?" Piper continued, her voice trembling as she supported Leo, her heart aching at the sight of his injury.
"Yeah," Leo said, his voice strained but determined. The pain in his shoulder was sharp, but his paternal instincts quickly overrode it. He glanced up and saw Wyatt's wide eyes fixed on him, his small face a mask of confusion and fear. "No, no. Don't let Wyatt see," Leo added urgently, his heart aching at the thought of his son witnessing such violence.
Buffy and Piper followed his gaze, their expressions softening as they saw Wyatt still standing on the stairs, clutching the banister with white-knuckled hands.
"Honey, why don't you go upstairs?" Piper called out gently, trying to keep her voice soothing despite the tension in the air. She forced a reassuring smile, hoping to ease Wyatt's worry.
"Mommy, daddy and big sis are fine," Leo added, his tone filled with as much warmth as he could muster through the pain.
"Hey little bro," Buffy said, stepping slightly closer but still keeping a protective distance. "What's the matter?" Her voice was soft and inviting, trying to coax him back to safety.
Wyatt looked at the three of them, his young mind struggling to process the scene unfolding before him. His brow furrowed in concentration, and for a moment, the fear in his eyes was replaced by something else—an intense focus.
"What is he doing?" Piper muttered, sensing the shift in the air. Her eyes darted between Wyatt and the space around them. Before they could react, a strange energy enveloped them, a shimmering light that distorted their surroundings. The next instant, Piper, Buffy, and Leo all vanished, leaving the conservatory eerily quiet and Wyatt standing alone on the staircase.