Charmed

Intro: Carson

 

“Paige!” I holler from the stairs still getting used to the idea of Pru being gone and getting used to Paige’s existence. I miss Pru each day, but Paige has grown on me in her short time with us.

 

“Yeah?” She glances from the stairs at me on her way down the hall. “What did I miss?” she questions with an uncertain smile.

 

I smile wryly. “Von is up here chasing a demon in the attic with us.” I watch Piper, Phoebe and Von come down the stairs like three logs. “Correction he’s teaching Von and the others logging lessons.” I sigh glancing back up to the threat.

 

“Demon coming!” Scottie and Jane duck behind the couch in the attic as we all re-enter.

 

I watch her hall Scottie down and wince as an energy ball just misses them. This is not fairing out to be the best of days for any of us and I’m growing tired with being pounced on.

 

“Electric-flamer-bersin-demon.” Phoebe manages while scanning the book in between ducking electric fire like pulses. “Power of three now four spell.” She ducks an energy ball.

 

“A mouth full too.” I see Cole shimmer Piper from an attack. “Cole!” I yelp when he turns ducking jus in time. “Damn.” I sigh in relief at the close call.

 

“Thanks.” He calls jerking Piper aside as another volt is heading toward her.

 

“Alright! That is it!” I wince watching Piper blow up the demon only to see it reform and disappear. “Hey!” she sounds almost offended and appears to be pouting.

 

Power of three spell now four.” Phoebe repeats from her crouched position receiving a famous glare from Piper. “What?” she pretends innocence.

 

“Don’t glare I say smiling when Piper rolls her eyes and turns to the re-appeared demon. “Crap.”

 

“Rhyming and Potion now please.” Jane and Scottie both duck again avoiding a flaming electric streak. “Now!” Scottie yelps feeling Jane jerk him down again.

 

After the spell and Paige’s quick potion skills we managed to vanquish one demon menace. “Close call.” Jane and Scottie both appear and Scottie’s hair is on end. “Hair gel?” he scowls at my cute remark.

 

I giggle at Von who is nodding in agreement with me, he jumps aside when Leo appears and catches a figure who falls forward. The girl scrambles free and ducks behind Leo. All of us gather around her like she’s some sort of oddity and wait for Leo to explain her.

 

“This is Kelly, she was attacked.” Leo pauses offering all of introductions before continuing. “It’s a bit complicated.” He adds.

 

“We just dealt with a demon…what’s after her?” Von glares at Scottie’s less than graceful comment and watches the girl wrinkle her nose in an offended way.

 

“Kelly is being chased by a warlock we already dealt with.” He pauses again, Leo looks worried at where this is going.

 

“Who?” I don’t like how he keeps avoiding a straight answer.

 

“A warlock name mentioned makes him found?” I snort disgusted that another warlock we dealt with is back for another round. “Imani?” I feel suddenly sick and pale slightly, that was too familiar and I didn’t like this idea at all.

 

Von sensing my issues gently wrapped his arms around me and led me from the room. “I missed something.” He pauses watching Scottie and the others explain the situation and slowly lead me from the room.

 

Inside Paige’s room I sit on the bed and stare into nothingness, I feel the world spinning and don’t like it one bit. I feel an arm slip around my shoulders and turn to see worried blue eyes greeting mine. His lips brush gently against mine before I focus tilting my head to the side.

 

“Imani, are you alright?” Von asks softly fingers gently toying with my hair in a familiar fashion. I start to mumble and swear, which gives him the indication I am not ok. “That answers that then.” I stop staring up at him and frown.

 

“No…no, I am not ok! Pru’s gone and I just get so Paige and I can get along and this comes along. I like Paige, I like my sisters living and I don’t like this. I feel…

 

“Von, let me handle this.” He glances up seeing Paige standing there and does as asked, reluctantly as usual. “Imani…it’s ok, it isn’t going to happen again.” She walks into the room and flops beside me hugging me close.

 

“Don’t promise something you can’t guarantee.” I sigh seeing Piper rubbing her head, entering the room to investigate my absence. It was clear she was confused and out of sorts. “Piper?”

 

“I feel funny…” Piper pauses seeing Paige cringe feeling off herself.

 

“Damn.” I slap both of them on the backs getting their attention. “Leo!” before they can protest I’m on my way to the attic, something is wrong and I can feel it.

 

“HEY!” both cry before running after me.

 

Leo starts to say something to Kelly and turns sharply to my hasty entrance. “What’s…

 

“That isn’t Kelly.” I gasp, Piper and Jane grab Scotty and ready for trouble, two of the three diving for the couch again.

 

“Oh really?” slowly Kelly melts into Quade who in turn smirks knowingly around the room. “You’re stronger.” He remarks strangely, eyes slowly roving over the others.

 

“She knows how to use them to.” Leo murmured watching me concentrate on a vase and send it into the back of his head.

 

“Ow.” Quade remarks watching Jane pop up long enough for a victory cry and duck a fireball. “That won’t actually stop me dear.” He remarks sourly before sending Piper into the wall.

 

Paid orbed to her side in minutes and left herself open for the fireball directed at her, followed by a quick succession around to the others.

 

While he’s distracted I sneak up on him and tackle him from behind, rescuing Von from getting a deadly scorching. I wrestle him to the floor, but his eyes glow a silver red color making them glisten. “Clever girl.” He growls quickly grabbing my wrists.

 

“Phoebe he isn’t Quade!” I call before we are shimmered to wherever.

 

XXXXXXXX

 

“What did she mean?” asked Paige gloomily glancing around from Piper to Phoebe and back again. “Book.” She is over leafing through it while Leo does any necessary healing.

 

“It won’t do any good to look in that book, Quade has a new name and that leaves us…

 

“That was not Quade, Imani is good about that.” Phoebe cuts of Piper and joins Paige at the book. “Von?”

 

Cole and Jane groan glancing at each other. “Paige.” She already gets the point and is off with Cole to catch the determined renegade boyfriend.

 

Outside Von is halfway to the van before Paige orbs blocking his path. “Hey hotfoot, cool it and come help.”

 

“Don’t. She needs me.” Von warns reaching around Paige and becoming enclosed in an iron grasp. “Cole, I’ll keep doing it no matter what.” He warns trying to squirm free.

 

“I know.” He and Paige are back in the manor and again she blocks Von’s exit, before he can continue she shoves him in a closet locking him in. “Nice work.” She grins both of them leaving him to vent on the door and head to the attic

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

I feel hard cement under my cheek and wince with the less than kind thud I feel on my way to my latest prison. “Ow.” I sit up brushing at my cloths and recognize another hidden crypt; I glance at the varying names and realize it’s an ashes crypt. “Who are you?” his eyes again glow an even brighter red silver and he shifts to look like Von.

 

“Too many questions, what, who.” He taunts in Von’s voice, which is considerably creeping me out.

 

“Leave Von’s form out of this.” I snap rubbing my sore elbows.

 

“Von?” He asks in a strange voice before assuming Quade’s form again. “You care for that form?” he again shifts to look like Von. “This mortal, magical-less, form…you actually care for him?” I dislike him acting like my love, but then again I have no idea what I am in for. “Why?”

 

“None of your damn business.” I snip before finding more bruises to rub away.

 

He pauses confused by my answer and tilts his head to the side. “Caring is weak.” He shifts again into Pru’s form that was a bad idea on his part and makes me choke on tears. “You cared about this form and it now gives you pain and grief.  That is also weak.” I glare at him wiping away my tears.

 

“Fuck you.” Smirking he shifts into a form I am not familiar with, he has shoulder length deep violet almost black hair and startling silver eyes. “Who is…

 

“My true form.” He remarks like I’m some annoying insect on his nerves.

 

“What are you?” I ignore his mischief and curiosity about my personal life; he appears as annoyed as I feel.

 

“What am I? Who am I? You have too many questions.” He pauses glowering my way before making a childish gesture by stomping and wrinkling his nose. “I don’t like questions; they’re boring and not important.” I find his childish fit amusing despite my situation.

 

“You’re childish.” I remark noting his eyes narrow. “Fine, I at least need to know what to call you.” I snip finding myself considerably nettled by his actions.

 

He considers his options and finally decides grudgingly to offer that courtesy. “Carson.”

 

“Insult to Johnny Carson.” I mutter startled when his arm shifts and appears as a vine wrapping around my waist and lifting me suddenly.

 

“You are growing bothersome.” Carson appears moodier to me than the sisters when pms-ing.

 

I finally decide my patience has run its course. “I didn’t ask to be taken her for your amusement.”

 

“I took you for a particular reason.” I swallow hard at the amused expression on his face.

 

Daring to brave the worst I answer with another question. “What reason?” I stare slowly around my prison wondering if my body will be found with the ashes of those long since gone.

 

“Why should I tell you?” He pauses. “My secrets befall only to those ears who wish to listen, you don’t wish to.” I feel confusion mocking my brain power and sigh.

 

Slowly he releases letting me fall less than gracefully on my ass. “Ow.” I glare up at his amused expression. “You’re worse than the Riddler off of Batman.” I proceed to mutter about riddles and his annoying persona.

 

“Tell me of this Riddler please.” He then sits across from me wondering what he could learn within this human grieving facility.

 

I decide that maybe this would be a good thin and distract Carson, the longer I keep him occupied the more likely I had a chance to get the hell out of the mess I was in. I just had to hope the others were fairing better on their end than I was. I was also concerned that Von was on a rampage searching the city for me. (Typical).

 

XXXXXX

 

“How long can she distract Quade?” Paige was searching the book with Phoebe, Piper and the others were doing potions and Leo was sensing. Cole had just returned from an underground trip.

 

“Nice to see you hot foot.” Von offers the finger to Cole before flopping angrily on the couch. “Screw you.” He adds bitterly.

 

“Von not so mean.” Jan ignores his mutterings and glares helping Piper carefully with ingredients.

 

Nothing seemed to be working in their favor and Piper finally surrendered her scrying in between potion making.

 

“Nothing.” Leo remarks sourly watching the others all appear defeated one at a time.

 

“Damn it!” Von is now pacing angrily and attempting a permanent rut in the floor.

 

“What’s a shifter demon?”  Paige hands the book to Phoebe who shrugs glancing between Leo and Cole.

 

“A changeling species.” Soon the room is buzzing with plans and ideas on how to rescue Imani.

 

XXXXXX

 

“Riddler appears to be complicated and Batman is irritating.” He adds after hearing about Joker, Catwoman, Penguin and Mr. Freeze. “The villains have no kind of privacy or hope with him around.”

 

“You just don’t like the good guy winning.” I point out finding the conversation pleasant regardless of the situation.

 

Carson tilts his head and smirks. “True.” He pauses again and then proceeds. “Is there more villains and stories you can share?”

 

“Hundreds.” I consider my knowledge and grin. “Spiderman, Superman, Doctor Octopus, Dr. Doom, Lex Luthor, Megatron, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, the list goes on and on.” I see glancing in his eyes a greatly intrigued look and wonder just how secluded this demon really is.

 

“Doctor Octopus?” he sounds particularly interested in the bad guys, which is of no shock to me.

 

“Actually…Doctor Octavious, he became Dr. Octopus when his wife was killed and mechanical arms took over his sanity.” I remark distantly trying to contemplate why I was there discussing comic book villains with some demon trying to (I assumed) kill me. “He was quite the nemesis of the Incredible Hulk and Spiderman.”

 

Carson again appears interested. “Please tell me more about these hero’s and villains.” I watch him draw closer and wonder what he’s considering.

 

“Tell me something first.” I note his sour expression and am again reminded of a five year old.

 

He sighs with a dark look. “I hate questions.”

 

“Why am I here?” I ignore his pouting and wonder if he will answer me or not.

 

“I heard of one that would help me forget my loneliness, perhaps teach me something I had yet to understand. I was told that she would be far dangerous for me to actually obtain but I would succeed in both capturing her and finding what I needed to learn.” I feel my eyes bug and stand suddenly.

 

“Did it occur to you to ask for friendship?!” this only got me an amused look.

 

“It may have.” I can tell he’s purposely taunting me; this is all a joke to him.

 

“You’re worse than a vampire, you live to make others miserable. You are so egotistical…

 

I’m cut off when hands lock with my arms and face to face with Carson. “You’re…

 

“Hey, let my best friend go!” Both of us turn startled by Phoebe’s indignant sound.

 

I can see Carson is calculating his odds and coming to conclusions he isn’t happy with. Finally his eyes land on Von and I hear him chuckle softly, before he can aim an energy ball at him I pull Carson sharply. Caught off guard he shimmers both of us to my surprise and we land harshly within the manor of all places.

 

“You were going to hurt my boyfriend.” I growl batting him beside the head, I have come to the conclusion Carson was harmless to me.

 

“Weak!” He growls staring up at me through his curtain of hair.

 

“Duh! Strength stupid, otherwise I wouldn’t have stopped you…went postal, smacked you, threatened you…

 

“Do you ever silence?” I scowled at his amused tone; this was starting to sound like two siblings fighting.

 

He released me slowly realizing he still had me prisoner in his grasp. “That wasn’t helpful, I had targets.” Again I smack him and get the glower from hell.

 

“You can’t kill someone I love or those that I care about.” I snap giving him a once over and staring around the manor. “You’re impossible.”

 

“True…” he pauses meeting my gaze. “I release you.” I stare at him like he’s grown another appendage which in his case can happen.

 

“Right.” I don’t believe him and he can see this. “There has got to be a catch or…

 

“None.” I watch him shift again and this time it’s an extremely great representation of the Riddler.

 

“Whoa!” I stare at him curiously and watch him strut almost as well as the character himself. “What on…

 

“You gave me what I needed…” He pauses shifting into Von and I give him a warning look. “…you taught me your strength, how to have people around me and about love. I should wish to call on you again for more stories. Perhaps I may join your side, I don’t exactly like where I live.” He adds and shimmers from view.

 

“IMANI!” I wince at the surprise screech and feel myself tackled by Jane and Paige both.

 

“Help!” I wheeze feeling Phoebe and Piper join the session. “Breathe, me now.” All let go allowing me to suck in my much needed air.

 

“Von is coming.” Warns Scottie and I find myself spun and held tight within familiar arms. I feel him breathe in deep near my ear in relief and kiss his cheek.

 

“I’m fine.” I wince when the questions start flying and explain the situation carefully.

 

“You have got to be…

 

“Kidding.” Phoebe finishes for Piper.

 

“Nope, otherwise you would still be chasing me around. I think we may have another demonic ally.” I stop there feeling an arm settle protectively around my waist and turn to see Von looks positively livid. “Don’t even dare lecture.” I warn knowing our familiar argument well.

 

“Neither of you start.” Piper adds before announcing she will have dinner soon.

 

“Come along children.” I want to punch Jane in the nose for being cute but resist the urge.

 

END