Suite 518/520/San Francisco, Friday night

[demonbelthazor]

After freeing Cally from Kalinama's influence, it was time for Piper to go home. Bel quickly volunteered to be the one to take her there.

No reason.

[ooc: locked to cookinggeek, NFB.]

Comments

[absolutesnark]

Piper really didn't want to bother Paige when Bel was right here and could bring her back. She saw what he had done to help Cally tonight, so she figured Phoebe was right about everything. And maybe he could still be trusted.

[demonbelthazor]

The trip itself was fast and easy much like Anders. Bel shimmered them outside the manor, not wanting to risk running into Prue or Grams. "So, uh...," he said awkwardly.

[absolutesnark]

"Um...so yeah, thanks for bringing me back," Piper said just as awkwardly.

[demonbelthazor]

"About the other day," Bel mumbled. "I'm...sorry."

[absolutesnark]

Piper peered at him curiously. "So, did you really know the amulet would protect me?"

[demonbelthazor]

"'Course I did!" Bel protested. "I wouldn't have thrown the fireball at you otherwise."

[absolutesnark]

"I'm sorry that I didn't believe you," Piper said, looking down.

[demonbelthazor]

"I...really need that amulet, though, Piper," Bel said pleadingly. "If I don't bring it to the Underworld, Raynor's gonna destroy my father's soul."

[absolutesnark]

"Your father's soul?" Piper didn't know about that and it left her feeling conflicted. "I...I don't know...what does the Underworld plan to do with it?"

She figured it wasn't anything good.

[demonbelthazor]

"Something bad," Bel said grimly. "Probably use it in a dark ritual, drain all the energy of it so there's nothing left of him anymore."

[absolutesnark]

"Oh," Piper said, frowning. "Um, I meant the amulet."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel shrugged. "I don't know. I don't really care. It's just a stupid amulet, right?"

[absolutesnark]

"It's a protection amulet," Piper said. "It probably shouldn't be in the hands of demons."

[demonbelthazor]

"I don't have a choice," Bel said. "It's the amulet or my father. What would you do if it was your father?"

[absolutesnark]

"I don't even know my father," Piper said quietly.

[demonbelthazor]

"If you won't give it to me, maybe just let me see it?" Bel said desperately. "Maybe I can make a copy or something, fool Raynor that way."

[absolutesnark]

Piper considered it. "That could work."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel looked up at the quiet manor. "Think it's safe to go inside?"

[absolutesnark]

Prue nodded. "Prue and Grams are both out, so I definitely think it's safe."

[demonbelthazor]

"Okay," Bel said. "Let's go inside then? Just let me see it, and I'll make a copy somehow, and save my father."

[absolutesnark]

Piper nodded. "Okay. It's in the attic."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel followed Piper into the manor and up the stairs to the attic. "Uh, I allowed in here?" he said, looking around.

[absolutesnark]

"Why wouldn't you be?" Piper asked curiously.

[demonbelthazor]

"I don't know, it's like...sacred or something," Bel said.

[absolutesnark]

"I think it's safe, really," Piper said. Grams could have been paranoid and set up demon traps, but Piper didn't tell him that.

[demonbelthazor]

"Okay, so," Bel said. "Where's the amulet?"

[absolutesnark]

Piper walked to the middle of the attic, stepping on a creaky floorboard. She quickly removed it, revealing the amulet hidden underneath.

"It's right here," she said, reaching for it.

[demonbelthazor]

Bel held out his hand. "Can I see it?" he asked.

[absolutesnark]

Piper continued to hold onto it. "Maybe I should be the one to copy it."

[demonbelthazor]

"Just for a second," Bel pleaded. "Let me get a feel for it. If I'm gonna pull of this fake, I gotta know how it's supposed to feel when a demon's holding it."

[absolutesnark]

"That's really lame," Piper said skeptically, still holding onto it.

[demonbelthazor]

"Yeah, well," Bel began, then darted forward and snatched the amulet from Piper's hands. He gave her a regretful look, then quickly shimmered out of the attic before she could try to freeze him.

[absolutesnark]

Piper shouted every swear word she had ever learned when Bel shimmered out. Then she sank down onto the couch in frustration. She couldn't believe she allowed herself to trust him again.

And then she wondered how she was going to explain this to Grams.