THIS BLOOD’S FOR YOU

[the twelfth in The Scorpion Chronicles]

by Nat Faul <pruesdoux@charmedmail.com>

DISCLAIMER: (May 2001) This is not posted for any profit but to share creative ideas with other Charmed fans on this and other websites. The characters of Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell, Leo Wyatt, Darryl Morris, and Bane Jessup are property of Warner Brothers Television. Other characters were created by this author. Any similarities to real persons living or dead is purely coincidental. The following account is fiction. Its sole purpose is to entertain. Being conceived during the second season of the Charmed series, this series of stories is not parallel with the current season. (So Phoebe doesn’t meet Cole, Piper and Phoebe don’t have new powers, and Piper and Leo aren’t married yet, and Prue still lives.)

RATED PG-13: Some extreme imagery may not be suitable for young children.

At night the forest is usually astir with many night creatures. The sound of rustling here and there, in the shrubs and leaves, reveal the activities of little creatures going about their business of survival. But a greater commotion shattered the tranquil scene, as a human was running for his survival. In a long overcoat and wide-brimmed hat, he ran through the trees, undergrowth, and clearings. He wished the leaves wouldn’t crunch so loudly beneath his steps, as they were announcing his position to everyone around who could hear. He stopped for a minute to listen for his pursuers but heard nothing. This worried him even more, feeling that they were moving soundlessly and could be just a few feet behind him. So he continued running more quickly than before.

Through one thicket, he tripped on a raised root. His tape recorder slipped out of his coat pocket and he scramble around in the dark looking for it. He soon realized he didn’t have time for this and began kicking around the leaves, trying to hide for now. He took off his hat and hung it on a shoot of the nearest tree as a marker then continued running. He was getting closer to the highway but didn’t dare stop yet. Although he couldn’t hear those chasing him, he knew they were getting close. But when he caught sight of his car, parked by the roadside, he took hope. He slowed down and began walking towards it. Suddenly he felt something was not right. He quickly turned around and it was upon him before he had time to scream.

Next morning Piper was finishing up on some cleaning in the kitchen, when Phoebe entered, carefully guiding Derek as he carried a huge box. She quickly cleared the table and he set the box on it.

Piper asked, "What have we here?"

Phoebe jumped up and down around Derek like an excited child. "Yeah! Yeah! What is it? What is it? Something for me?"

Derek explained as he opened the box, "You told me, one time, that you’re learning spells in your coven. So I put together a few things, which I’m not using, for your little spell-casting kit; things like dried wolfsbane." He handed her a large jar of dried purple petals.

Phoebe looked at it perplexed but didn’t want to seem ungrateful. "Oh!... Wolfsbane!... Well, ... One can never have enough ... wolfsbane."

Piper snickered at this stereotype. Although witches may use wolfsbane in some of their potions, they don’t use it very much or often, and Derek was giving more than they’ll ever need.

Derek pulled out other jars, all different sizes and shapes with different dried herbs inside. "Here are others: wormwood, mugwort, wintergreen, periwinkle, saffron, meadow sweet, ...."

Phoebe affirmed, "Yes! Those we can use."

"And I brought a few bowls you can mix them in. Like this one of silver."

"Oh, Derek! You shouldn’t have! Not another expensive gift!"

"Not really. It’s not really that much silver. And it didn’t cost me much where I got it. I just read that silver has many magical qualities, which can add some ‘umph!’ to whatever potion you mix up in it."

"Right. This will come in handy." She and Piper looked in awe over this beautiful shiny dish with various symbols etched all around the sides.

Derek reached into the box and handed her another bowl. "This one’s copper, which I hear also has some magical qualities." He pulled out a bowl in a plastic bag. "And this one is pure iron. When not in use, it has to be coated with oil to keep it from rusting. It doesn’t matter if it’s machine or vegetable. Any oil will do. One spot of rust can disrupt the magic in the whole thing."

"Do you believe in all this?"

"I know these metals conduct electricity very well. And it’s copper coils and iron antennae that bring us radio and TV waves. So when they say that bowls of these metals drawn in energy from the environment and conduct it to whatever’s inside, it does make sense."

"Right on! That’s keeping an open mind!"

Piper’s interest was drawn into all this. She looked into the box and pulled out an aged book. Flipping through the pages, she noted the cryptic pen-and-ink lettering. "Are these spells?"

Derek confirmed, "They are. That’s an English translation of some of the counter-spells of the Necronomicon. It was handwritten in the mid-18th century."

"The leather cover feel strange."

"It’s human skin."

Piper suddenly dropped the book. "Ew!"

"It was peeled off of a hanged witch."

She shook her hands as if trying to shake off the contamination of its touch. "Ewww! How could you bring such a thing into our house?"

Phoebe just commented, "I don’t think I’ll have any need for that."

Derek pulled out a few more metal bowls from the box. "I also brought bowls of tin, zinc, and nickel. I haven’t read anything magical about these metals but you could probably find some use for them."

Piper quipped, "Sure. For our breakfast cereal."

"Piper!" Phoebe reproved. Then to Derek, "I’m sure I’ll find very good uses for these."

Then Derek pulled out another plastic bag. "And here’s a petrified frog."

Piper turned away and covered her face. "Oh my God!"

Phoebe scolded, "Derek! I never use frogs for any of my spells! You’ve been reading too many comic books!"

"You never know! You never know what you might need next! Just hang onto it! Put it away somewhere just in case. I also have several bags of little freeze-dried frogs. You never know when you’ll need them."

Piper held her mouth and stomach. "Oh gag!"

Phoebe grimaced, "Well, ... All right.... Just ... leave them in the box."

Again Derek pulled out another bag. "And here are some candles made from human fat."

Piper and Phoebe were astonished at this no end of grossness.

Phoebe piped, "Where did you get human fat?"

"A friend of mine went through surgery, in which a huge chunk of fat had to be removed. Knowing I collect unusual things, he gave it to me. I melted it down into tallow and made a few dozen candles out of it."

Piper closed her eyes and leaned back against the refrigerator. "Excuse me while I throw up!"

"I read that candles made from the fat of executed criminals are used for black magic and in throwing curses."

Phoebe declared, "I don’t practice black magic! And I don’t throw curses!"

"You couldn’t with these anyway. The fat came from a good man who is still very much alive. So you could probably use these for the opposite -- like healing or something."

"Well, ... That does make sense. Just ... leaves those in the box too."

"Now!... Something which no spell-casting kit should be without -- this gigantic jar of pickled frog eyeballs!"

Piper walked out of the kitchen. "Okay! I’m out of here!"

Derek carefully watched her leave, then turned to Phoebe and lowly muttered, "I just said that to get rid of her. I can’t stand all that bitching!"

Phoebe laughed and slapped him across the shoulder. "You are so bad!"

He pulled out a few more jars. "Here’s some dried almond blossoms -- powerful magic stuff and hard to get. And gum Arabic. I read this has a lot of uses in many magic potions. And so does powdered deer antler and wild boar tusk. And this is eucalyptus oil...."

Prue came out of the basement. She had just finished a morning’s work in her darkroom. On seeing Derek, she broke into a big smile. "There he is! There’s our Cupid!" She threw her arms around him and hugged him exuberantly. "Oh you wonderful wonderful man! I can’t believe you got Bane out for me! I just can’t believe it! You are so wonderful!"

"Don’t mention it. Just keep him from getting into trouble again."

"I will! I will! I’ll do everything I can to keep him! Oh, you’re just so wonderful!" She finally released him. "Well, ... I’m off to work now. Then it’s another great night with Bane." She again threw herself all over Derek. "Oh, you’re so so wonderful! I just love you love you love you!" She released him and left.

Derek commented, "There goes one grateful woman."

Phoebe laughed then tenderly held him. "You are so so wonderful. Prue really needed this. She’s so happy now. No matter what you say about yourself, you are an angel. You keep using whatever power you have to make others happy."

"Well, I like being around happy people. Happy people make me happy."

"That’s what makes you an angel."

They held and kissed each other for awhile.

Then Derek said, "I’ve got to get back to Portrero’s and keep the work going."

"How’s it going so far?"

"The walls are going up for the ground floor."

"Great! It’s really taking shape!"

"Oh! One more thing!" He reached into the box, pulled out something, and hung it around her neck. "It’s a monkey’s paw. In parts of Africa, it’s worn for good luck, like the rabbit’s foot over here."

Phoebe looked down to see a little brown hand hanging on this tether around her neck and fought back her revulsion. "Oh!... Thank you."

"And legend has it, that when it closes into a fist, you can make a wish on it and it will come true."

"Oh!... Wonderful!... I look forward to it." She saw him to the front door. "Thank you for everything -- for Bane, for the ... kit, and for being such a wonderful you."

"The pleasure is all mine. You just enjoy."

"I will."

They kissed one more time and he left. Phoebe waited until he drove off to grimace at the grisly charm around her neck and shout out, "Will someone get this creepy thing off of me?"

Piper was alone at home when Morris came calling. "Good morning, Piper. Are the others at home?"

"Prue’s at work and Phoebe’s at school. What do you need?"

"Some help on a case." He pulled out a few files and Piper’s curiosity was perked. "One Galen Perlmann, an investigative journalist, was reported missing. His car was found deserted beside Highway 101, between here and the airport. We sent dogs in to track him. They found his tape recorder, which, from the sound of it, he used to record some cult ritual. There’s a lot of mention of demons, magic, and killing." He handed her a file. "Here’s the transcript of everything on the tape. Further on down, we found his body in a cabin. He had been stabbed several times and was laid out in some ceremonial position. There were strange words and symbols scratched into the cabin walls and drawn on the sand around what was an outdoor fire." He handed her another file. "I had our photographer make extra copies. All we need to know is what they are, what they are planning, and where we can find them. You don’t need to go after them yourselves. I’m afraid I’m imposing too much on you as it is."

"Oh, Not at all! It’s no trouble! I have nothing urgent to do until this afternoon, so that gives me a few hours to do some research. Then this evening, when I see them, I’ll fill in Prue and Phoebe."

"I really appreciate this. And like I said, you don’t have to go after them yourself. Just let us know who, what, and where, and we’ll take care of the rest. From what it sounds like, these are just humans, calling on a pantheon of demons, but so far, the demons haven’t answered them."

"Well, a lot can happen before you catch up with them."

"Let us worry about that."

After closing the P3, Piper came home. Prue dropped Bane off at his lodging and came home. Derek brought Phoebe home and she led him into the kitchen, where the sisters usually gather for a "conference" before going to bed. The spell book, he brought with the spell kit, was still on the table where Piper had dropped it.

Phoebe pointed to it and asked him, "Will you please take that with you? None of us want it in the house, much less bear to touch it."

"Sure." He put it away in his shoulderbag. "You’d probably have problems reading it anyway. It’s in late Middle English. I can just pen it down in Modern English on ordinary paper."

"Thank you."

Piper added, "And take the frog eyes with you too."

Phoebe told her, "There are no frog eyes. He was just joking."

Piper vented at Derek, "Oh, Funny! You really like grossing people out! Don’t you?"

He replied, "In you case, yeah! You’re so gross-outable."

Phoebe reproved, "Derek!"

Piper felt slighted. She didn’t like an outsider coming into their house and making a fool of her. "Look, Buster! We know some secrets about you! So watch yourself when in our house!"

"Piper!" Phoebe cautioned. She feared she might give away their secret that they suspect Derek of being a warlock or something.

Derek went up to Piper and boldly declared, "And I know a secret about you!"

This made her apprehensive. Did he find out that they are witches? "Wha-wha-what?"

"That you, ... Piper...!" He reached into his shoulderbag. "...Can’t stand the sight of blood!" He pulled out a large mayonnaise jar, filled with a thick dark red fluid, and held it up to her face. "Look, Piper! Blood!" He swirled it around. "Lots of it!"

Piper looked at it wide-eyed for a moment then fainted. She went straight down to the floor. Her sisters were shocked and enraged and began heaping reproaches on Derek. "That was cruel! How could you?" That’s such a dangerous thing to do! You should know better than that!" "That was really uncalled for!" "This is inexcusable!"

He sheepishly babbled apologies. "I’m sorry! I didn’t know she’s phobic! I had no idea she would react this extremely!"

He picked up Piper and carried her to the livingroom sofa. There he rested her feet up on a few cushion while laying her head flat. He covered her with a blanket, stuck a pencil sideways into her mouth, and covered her forehead with a damp washcloth.

Prue asked, "What’s that pencil doing in her mouth? Is that another one of your jokes?"

"No. That’s to keep her from swallowing her tongue; a precaution I learned in my paramedic training."

Phoebe came out of the kitchen examining the jar. "It this really blood?"

"No. It’s raspberry syrup. I just bought it today at a roadside stand."

Phoebe burst out laughing.

Prue scolded, "Phoebe! That’s not funny!" But soon she herself could no longer hold back breaking up.

Phoebe asked, "What did you buy raspberry syrup for?"

"Like blueberry and boysenberry syrups, I put it on pancakes and waffles. Smeared on toast, it makes a quick snack. And mixed with vodka and club soda, it makes a great cocktail. Like me to leave some for you to try?"

"No way! Piper wouldn’t stand finding any of this around the house. And she won’t stand seeing you here when she comes to, so you better leave. And take this with you."

"No! You keep it! Drink it in front of her and watch her puke!"

"GET OUT OF HERE!!!"

Derek took the jar and left. Prue and Phoebe leaned on each other, laughing at his persistent prankishness.

Piper spit the pencil out of her mouth and uttered, "I’m glad my suffering amuses you."

Her sisters leaned over the back of the sofa to see that she was all right.

"Really, Piper!" Phoebe commented. "What can you say about a person who faints at the sight of raspberry syrup?"

"Huh?"

"It wasn’t blood! It was raspberry syrup! He gotcha again!"

"Oh, real funny!" She sat up nursing her groggy head.

Prue lectured, "This fear of yours is getting out of hand. You’ve really got to get a handle on it soon. If Derek can find out about it so can our enemies. All it would take is a demon or warlock to pour out blood in front of you and you’re helpless. So it’s no good to just let this problem lie."

Piper couldn’t argue. She was frowsy and frustrated. Her head hurt. Her pride hurt. She just wanted to crawl off somewhere.

Prue came around the sofa to help her up. "Come on. Let’s get you up to bed."

Piper quickly got up and walked away. "I don’t need anyone’s help! Just leave me alone!"

During her lunch break, Phoebe went to visit Derek at his office; the upper room of the southeast tower of the American Psychic Society. She sat on his desk lecturing him. "That was cruel what you did to Piper! Even for you!"

Derek was leaning back in his swivel chair, with his feet on the desk and his hands behind his head. "I know."

"After the wonderful things you’ve done for us, why did you have to do something so mean?"

"Just balancing myself out, I guess. I just have this cruel streak in me that needs a way out."

"That’s no excuse! You can channel those tendencies into more constructive outlets."

"Yeah. But this way is more fun."

"You owe Piper an apology."

"I know. And I will."

"When?"

"When I’m good ‘n’ ready. I’m still enjoying it."

Phoebe very casually put her hand under his ankles and lifted them up until he fell over backwards.

Lying flat on the floor he drawled, "I’m good ‘n’ ready right now."

Piper sat at the kitchen table, balancing the account ledger for the P3. She glanced up to see Derek enter. She looked back down at her books to avoid looking at him.

"You’re not welcomed here! Get out!"

"Don’t blame ya. I came to apologize."

"Phoebe put you up to this. Didn’t she?"

"Oh no! Phoebe knockin’ me outta my chair had nothin’ to do with this!"

Piper flashed him a curious frown.

Derek did his best to sound sincere. "What I did was irresponsible, immature, ...."

"...Stupid...!" she added.

"That too. And I’m really sorry for it. And I promise never to do it again. And I brought a gift; a token of my apology." He set down a gift-wrapped box onto the table. "It’s nothing gross. It won’t explode or anything like that."

"I still don’t trust you."

"Don’t blame ya. Well, ... It’s here ... for ... whenever." He quietly left.

Piper ignored the box and just went on with her work. Leo orbed in and looked at her with a perplexed frown. "Piper, he apologized! What more do you want?"

"What he did was very malicious and hurtful! Just saying he’s sorry doesn’t make it all go away?"

"What more can he do?"

"He can stay away from this house for awhile."

"As long as Phoebe lives here, that’s not going to happen. Aren’t you at least going to open his gift?"

"No."

"Don’t you want to know what it is?"

"No."

"Aren’t you curious?"

"No."

"No even a little?"

"No."

"Would it be all right if I opened it for you?"

"Be my guest. If it blows up in you face, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

Leo carefully unwrapped the package. Piper ignored it until she heard him chuckle. He showed her a doll of a little boy with an angelic face, dressed in full Scottish Highland gear and holding a bagpipe. He showed her the attached tag, which read, "It’s a piper. Get it?" She managed a little smile. Leo turned the tag over and it read, "Look behind the bagpipe." Turning the doll around, he found a zipper on the back of the bag of the little bagpipe.

Piper warned, "Look out! This might be the clincher!"

Leo pulled the zipper and pulled out a wad of paper, wrapped around something hard. Unfolding the paper, he found a small thick square of polished copper on a chain. The corners are rounded off and lines and symbols are etched into the face. He handed it to Piper, who examined it with wonder.

Leo read to her the printing on the paper. "This is the seal of Inanna [Ee-nah-nah], the Sumerian goddess of passion in love and war; also known as the Queen of Witches."

They looked at each other in surprize. He asked, "Didn’t you say you weren’t telling him you’re witches?"

"Right. We agreed not to tell him what we are until we find out what he is. But he does know that Phoebe goes to a coven and that I’ve gone a few times."

"So he thinks you’re a witch in that sense."

"Let’s hope that’s all he thinks."

"Either way it is a fitting gift."

"It certainly is." She held the metal, admiring its shine and wondering about the symbols. She put it on and got the feel of it around her neck.

Leo asked, "So, is he forgiven?"

She sighed. "Yes. He’s forgiven."

Leo beamed and tenderly held her.

At the university, Phoebe was between classes and on her way to Professor Sorenson’s office, in the Humanities building. She had received word that he wanted to see her but not why. When she touched the side door of the building, a vision flashed in her mind. She saw four men, dressed all in black, charging at her. She backed away from the door and went around the building, looking in all the windows. She saw no one in any of the first story rooms but couldn’t see into the second story. She knew that she could just walk away but was concerned about the professor. Was he in the office or was the message just a ruse to lure her into a trap? If he were there, would they harm him if frustrated by her escape?

Phoebe went upstairs to the second story entrance, peered through the glass door, then cautiously entered. She stepped quickly and quietly to the office. When she tried the door, she found it was locked. Through the door’s rippled glass window, she could see that the lights were out. She felt relieved that he was out of harm’s way. Now to get herself out safely.

She quickly stepped soundless down the hall to the opposite door. Suddenly four doors opened and four men dressed in black dashed out, surrounding her. She thought and acted quickly. Running for the main door, she jumped up with both feet in the air and delivered a double flying kick to the two men in her way. But before she could reach the door, another tackled her to the floor. With a twist of her body, she elbowed him in the face, then somersaulted back to her feet, in time to deliver a kick to the fourth coming close behind. But he caught her by the ankle and another seized her arm. With her free leg, she kicked a nearby wall as hard as she could, knocking them both off balance. Then with a quick twist of her entire body, she wrenched herself free. Getting up, she delivered a sharp rap to one’s forehead then body slammed another against the wall. Turning back to the door, through which she had entered, she delivered another double kick to two others then ran out. The four men had to quickly pull themselves together and leave the campus. One noticed that Phoebe had left behind one of her earrings.

Phoebe ran to the student union and reported the attack to Security. Of course, the assailants were gone without a trace by the time they got there.

Next morning, the sisters finally got to work on the cult mystery. In the livingroom, they had the police transcript, The Book of Shadows, and other books and papers spread out on the coffee table. They looked for anything that would match or resemble the chant on the tape; anything that might identify the cult and/or its associate demon.

Soon there was a knock on the door. Since Phoebe was the closest, she went to answer it. Seeing Derek there, she looked shocked and remorseful. "Oh Derek! I’m so sorry! I forgot all about our going out today! I have to study ... for an exam!"

"No problem. We can make it another time. It’s important you pass your courses."

He turned to leave when she grabbed ahold of his sleeve. "Wait! Come on in! Maybe you could help us ... uh ... me with something." She led him into the livingroom and showed him the police transcript. "I have to identify the cult by their litany. Since you’re a P-I, I thought this might be familiar to you."

Derek looked at it curiously. "Where did you get a police report?"

"It’s just made to look like that. We’re practicing getting a police report and solving what cult is involved."

"Really? That’s a strange exercise."

"Well, California has a lot of cults, so my professor thought it fitting."

"Interesting!" He scrutinized each page as the sisters waited in anticipation. Finally he just shook his head. "Nope. Nothing I’ve seen before. But this looks interesting.

"What can it mean?"

"It means you need a body guard."

"Why?"

"The name ‘Phoebe’ means ‘shining’."

She quickly left the room and ran through the house looking for something. Meanwhile, Piper held up the amulet of Inanna, to show Derek she was wearing it.

He asked, "So you like it?"

"Love it! It’s beautiful! But why the patron goddess of witches?"

"Because of your association with the American Psychic Society. Also she is generally a protector of women."

"I just noticed these markings on the back. Do they have some meaning?"

"It’s Sumerian. It says ‘Hhool bah-rah’, which means ‘Evil, Begone’."

"So it is a charm for protection."

"Certainly is. It is written that you can walk through the Underworld with that and have no fear."

"Well, That ... could come in handy."

"Really? I expected you to be going ... down below, but didn’t think you did too."

Piper faked a laugh then held up the amulet towards him. "Hhool bar-rah!"

Derek put up his hands and turned to leave. "I’m gone!"

"Hey! It really works!" She and Prue laughed.

On his way to the front door, he passed Phoebe scampering in, anxiously flipping through a book. "Will I still see you tonight?"

Preoccupied with the book, she just waved him off. "Sure!... Right!... Love you!" Derek left unnoticed, as she knelt at the coffee table, intently searching through the book. "Phoebe ... Phoebe ... Phoebe...." She found what she was seeking and read it out loud. " ‘Phoebe -- Greek -- radiant; aglow; shining’." She flopped her face down into the open book. "I’m screwed!"

Piper reproved, "You’re accepting his interpretation because of this co-incidence with your name?"

"Not just the name. ‘The eyes that look ahead’ refers to my powers to see the future. They’re afraid I’ll see their future and expose their plans. That’s why they attacked me yesterday."

Prue wondered, "You think that’s connected?"

"Yes. And nothing is been tried against any of you. So it’s just me they’re after."

Piper argued, "You’re assuming a lot from so little."

But Prue countered, "But we can’t take the chance. Would like one of us to escort you whenever you go out?"

Phoebe shook her head. "I can’t ask any of you to put your own lives on hold because of me."

"Phoebe! You’re our sister! We’d give up our own lives for you!"

"I know! And I don’t want you to!"

"What about Derek? Tell him you’re getting death threats and ask for his protection."

"He’s a detective. He’ll ask too many questions, which we’re not prepared to answer."

Piper volunteered, "I’ll ask Leo to watch over you."

In a huge dim-lit room of bare concrete, a row of black-robed men stood in a semi-circle. Facing them was a tall, broad-shouldered figure, dressed in some kind of dark red armor. His bushy red hair spread upward and his bushy red beard downward. The demon Trindo Blinnyworm was berating the group.

"Fools! Buffoons! Insects! Four of you couldn’t defeat one little witch!"

One protested, "But witches have powers and we don’t. If only we had the powers you promised us ...."

"Silence! I told you I will grant you such powers after you’ve killed all three witches! You had the weakest one in your grasps! Why was it so difficult to kill her?"

Another answered, "That one is the Seer. She must be brought here, to die by prescribed ritual, to protect us from other seers. It doesn’t matter how the other two die."

"Well then, that gives me an idea."

That afternoon, Prue came out of the photography supply shop, carrying fresh supplies to her car. After loading them into the back, she was about to get into the driver’s seat, when she was attacked from behind. Quickly she reached behind and clasped her hands around the back of her assailant’s neck. She did a sudden crouch and flipped him over her shoulder. She saw that he was clad in black, fitting Phoebe’s description of her attackers. He quickly got up and ran away. A small metal glint caught Prue’s eye and she picked it up. She recognized it as one of Phoebe’s earrings. She immediately concluded that they have Phoebe and were coming to take her as well. Her attacker jumped into a waiting car, which immediately sped off. Prue jumped into her car and gave chase. They wove through traffic all across the city until they reached an empty street. Up ahead, Prue saw the car turn through a gate of a large complex.

The derelict structure looked like a former factory; large, long, with rows of broken windows. The front gate was open and she saw their car parked on the near side of the building. She drove through the opened gate and parked next to it, in case she needed a quick getaway and to mark the spot for Piper. She took out her cell phone and dialed. "Piper!"

"Prue! What’s up?"

"They got Phoebe!"

"What? Where?"

"In an old factory at the end of Howland Road."

"Is that where you are now?"

"Yes. And I’m going in."

"Wait till I get there ... or till Leo gets there!"

"I can’t take that risk! They may kill her soon, if they haven’t already!"

"Be careful!"

"I will."

Prue found the doors, on the side of the building, sealed shut by old paint. She went around back and found one door slightly open. It looked like they were expecting her and luring her into a trap. So she leaned against the wall, drew in a deep breath, and went into a trance. Her astral self appeared inside a massive dim room, filled with dilapidated machinery. She walked around all the machines but found no one waiting in ambush. At the far side of the room she spotted a dark corridor. This was the only other way out of the room, so the only way they could have gone.

After returning to her body, she went in, crossed directly to the other side of the room, and went down the corridor. The lower windows were boarded up, but the windows high up were left uncovered, letting some light in. Since she could see her way, she moved boldly forward.

At one point, she suspected something wrong. It was nothing she could see or hear, but just a feeling. She stopped and used her powers to feel around in the spaces ahead of her. Sensing nothing threatening, she continued her advance. Suddenly she heard a loud "snap!" and felt an intense stabbing pain in her chest. Looking down, she saw herself pierced by a metal shaft and realized that what she heard was a crossbow releasing the bolt. She sank to the floor and rolled around from the agony. Realizing that it’s a fatal wound, her thoughts turned to her sisters.

Piper threw on her coat and slung her purse over her shoulder. When taking a last minute look around, Prue’s astral self appeared on the livingroom floor. She was gasping and bleeding.

Piper gasped in horror. "Prue! What happened? Are you all right?"

"Piper!... You ... must save Phoebe!... Come quick ... before they kill her!... Too late for me...." She coughed up blood. "I love you." Her projection faded out.

Piper began jumping up and down, hysterically screaming, "Leo! Leo! Leo!..."

He promptly orbed in. Piper threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.

"Piper! What is it? What happened?"

"That cult got Phoebe! They’ll kill her soon! Prue’s already dying! She just astrally projected here to say ‘Good-bye’!"

"Do you know where she is?"

"Yes."

"All right! Let’s get there right now!"

Just then Phoebe burst through the front door. "What happened? What’s all the screaming about?"

Piper was surprized. "Phoebe! Where have you been?"

"I just got back from school. What’s going on?"

"Prue thought that cult got you! She went after them and now they’ve killed her!"

"What?!"

Prue came to back in her body on the factory floor. Her attacker hasn’t shown himself or even stirred in his hiding place. Trindo Blinnyworm had warned them that a dying witch was even more dangerous, so they must not approach her until death is certain. Prue’s thoughts now turned to herself. She had given up a normal life to raise her sisters. She had suffered the loss of her mother, grandmother, Andy, and many other people she loved. She gave of her self, sacrificed so much, and put up with so much suffering. What was her reward for all this? For what had she given so much for others? For what had she gone through so much frustration and sorrow? Now that she just got a good career and a good man, it’s all ending. It’s all so unfair.

Suddenly she noticed the light in the room getting brighter. A figure approached her, glowing an electric blue. Was this an angel coming for her soul? As it got closer, she made out that it was a man in some kind of a uniform. The jacket had a row of button coming down both sides of the chest. The smart looking boots came up to the knees. The hat had a wide three-cornered brim, with the point facing forward, and a large plume up one side. But the man had no face; only a pair of flight goggles over where his eyes should be. He bent over her and reached out a hand. She saw, in the center of his palm, an eye open. Then she felt a warmth engulf her.

In the parking lot, Leo orbed in, carrying Piper and Phoebe with him. Piper and Phoebe were still wiping tears from their eyes. They approached Prue’s car to investigate. They found it locked and Prue’s purse still inside.

Leo instructed, "You stay out here. I’ll go in after her."

But Piper insisted, "No! We’re going in too!"

"You’re not in any condition to face what might be in there! You’re emotionally distraught and may not be fit to meet any challenges!"

"She’s our sister! We’re going in after her!"

Leo knew by now that once a Halliwell makes up her mind, there’s no turning her back. Inside the factory, they searched around the machines for awhile, before discovering the corridor. Expecting the place to be dark, Piper had brought a flashlight and swung it around to see everywhere. At one point, they found a shaft of pointed metal on the floor. Piper picked it up and closely examined it.

Showing it to Leo, she asked, "Do you know what this is?"

"It looks like a bolt, a type of arrow shot from crossbows."

"Could this have been used to kill Prue?"

"Doesn’t look like it. There’s no sign of blood or anything on it to indicate it had ever killed anyone."

"Let me see that," Phoebe requested. On touching it, a vision flashed in her head. She saw the bolt discharged and shot into Prue. She saw Prue fall bleeding. Then the glowing figure appeared to her, reaching out his hand. From his hand came a blue light filled with white sparks. It looked like the effects of a whitelighter orbing in or out. Prue’s wound and bloodstains faded away. Then this glowing man helped her to her feet and led her away. "She’s alive! Prue’s alive!"

Piper’s hope jumped up. "Really? Are you sure? Is that what you saw? How?"

"A man ... a ghost ... something came here and healed her like a whitelighter! But he doesn’t look like any whitelighter I’ve ever seen. He has no face and dresses weird. But, anyway, he helped her up and they walked off straight this way!"

"Leo! Can you ‘sense’ her anywhere? Can you see if she is alive?"

Leo closed his eyes and concentrated his power throughout the rest of the building. He frowned then solemnly turned to the sisters. "Some power is masking the area. I can’t see through it. A demon is present."

"Would that have been a demon who led Prue away?"

But Phoebe propounded, "If it were a demon, why would he heal her? The demons want us dead."

"It could be a trick of some kind ... to get all of us in a trap together."

Leo carefully said, "Possibly. It’s hard to tell what we’re dealing with."

They continued on. The corridor made a right angle turn into another hallway full of doors. There the flashlight revealed a curious sight. What appeared to be a statue of a robed man was imbedded in the wall. The wall around it radiated with cracks. The expression of his face was that of horror and agony. At its feet lay a crossbow.

Piper remarked, "That’s a very unusual statue ... to say the least."

Phoebe added, "We’re dealing with a very unusual cult. This could be a warning, telling whoever comes this far, ‘Don’t come any closer’."

"Like a scarecrow."

"Now, ... which door do we take?"

"My guess is any that continues forward."

They moved on to the first door. Leo had some reservations about the ‘statue’; that it wasn’t what it appeared to be. But his uncertainty kept him quiet. Through the first door was another dark corridor. Piper aimed her light ahead and it caught another statue of a robed man. This one was heading down the hall but looking back, with an expression of terror on this face. They went up to it and looked it over.

Piper wondered, "Another scarecrow?"

Leo held his hand open in front of this form, scanning it with his power. Piper saw his look of intense concern. "Leo, what is it?"

"I’m not sure. All I’m certain of is that we may be facing something far more dangerous than anticipated. Look. Now that we know Prue is alive, we don’t all have to be here. You go back to the car .... "

"No way, Leo!" Piper countered. "Prue is still in danger, so all of us are going after her."

"But I’m going to orb ahead and room to room, all around the area! I can’t take you with me and I don’t want to leave you two alone! You don’t have the Power of Three and we’re facing a very powerful threat!"

"How powerful? What was it you see in these statues?"

"These aren’t statues.... They’re humans turned to stone."

Piper and Phoebe looked at the stone man in shock. "Are you serious?"

Leo solemnly nodded. "That’s why I want you out of here now."

Piper held Leo. "Honey, you’re so sweet to put yourself in danger instead of us ... but we can’t just stand around outside, while Prue is somewhere in here facing certain death. You understand."

Leo again nodded. He held Piper tightly. Then he backed off and lectured both of them. "All right! You two are to stay together! You are to advance slowly, making sure of what’s around you and what’s ahead of you! At the first sign of danger, retreat! Don’t be afraid of going back! You’re not going to be any help to Prue by getting killed! And there are plenty of alternative ways to get where Prue might be! So be careful -- more careful than you’ve ever been." Then he orbed out.

Piper and Phoebe continued down the hall, carefully examining square foot of the floor, walls, doors, and ceiling in the beam of the flashlight. Phoebe touched each door, seeking a vision of where Prue may have turned, but saw nothing.

Far ahead was a large chamber, with a high ceiling, surrounded by windows, and a stone altar in the center of the floor. Around this altar stood some of the black-robed cult members with Blinnyworm. Another man in black rushed into the room.

"The plan is working! Brother Jordan killed the eldest witch. As expected, before dying she astrally projected to the others, luring them over here. He sent me here to bring the news while he and Brother Lemuel dispose of the body. On my way here, Brother Dorian informed me that the other two have arrived."

"Excellent!" Blinnyworm boomed. "Now separate those two. Seize your seer and sacrifice her here. I will detain the other and render her helpless, so you can easily kill her."

Piper and Phoebe made some progress along the corridors. They all looked alike. All this sameness unnerved them. Phoebe had picked up a few visions of this "glowing man" leading Prue along. Prue would speak to him but he would only point ahead. To where was he leading her? Why wouldn’t he speak?

They came to a door, which gave Phoebe a vision. She saw herself held down on a stone slab by men in black robes and hoods. After some ritualistic motions, one drove a dagger through her heart.

Piper saw her shocked expression. "What is it? What did you see?"

"My death. They’re going to kill me as a sacrifice. That’s what this is all about."

"I better go ahead of you. Stay close behind me at all times."

They continued on this way. After a certain point, ceiling lights were working and the flashlight was no longer needed. At the end of another hallway, Piper went through the door and it suddenly slammed shut behind her. She turned and pounded on the door. "Phoebe! Open this door! Phoebe! Phoebe!"

Meanwhile on the other side, several men had dropped a blanket over Phoebe, quickly bundled her up, and carried her away. Piper vainly pulled and kicked at the door. She soon knew this was useless and went seeking a door, which might lead to the other hallway, where she might be. But she only found empty halls and empty rooms. She felt alone, powerless, and useless. But then she concluded that finding Prue would be the answer; that somewhere way ahead is where everything is happening. So, dropping all precautions, she began running ahead, hallway after hallway.

Through one door, Piper met with a grisly scene. The floor was covered with blood and strewn with severed human heads. Here and there, human bodies hung upside down from the ceiling, with blood pouring from their headless necks. Piper felt paralyzed. She felt as if her legs had turned to stone and her feet were imbedded into the floor. Her spine and skin felt frozen like ice. Then she doubled over to wretch. Her stomach painfully writhed, trying to empty out its content. Her eyes, nose, and mouth ran. Her face felt like it was about to explode. She was totally helpless.

Then she felt a buzzing vibration on her chest. She looked down her blouse to see the seal of Inanna glowing a light blue. Around her, the scene flickered between red and white. Illusion! It’s all an illusion! Piper took in a deep breath and straightened up. Pulling herself together, she boldly strode across the room to the opposite door. Once through the door, she closed it behind her and leaned against the wall. Taking out a handkerchief, she wiped her face and rested to fully compose herself. She opened the door again and cautiously took a peak back. The room was empty and clean; not a spot of red anywhere. Derek’s gift had seen her through. She pulled it out and held it up in front of her as she continued her advance.

On approaching the end of another hall, the door burst open and two black-robed men charged in with daggers. On seeing her, they stopped and looked surprized. Instead of using her powers, Piper aimed her amulet at them and called out, "Hhool bah-rah!" The metal sparkled blue and white. The two men dropped their daggers and fled in panic. She went after them, figuring that they’ll lead her to where everything is happening.

Her pursuit led her to a wall of windows in a hall, with a high ceiling, running to the left and right. There was no sign of the two men, so she turned left and ran. When she thought to look through one of the windows, she saw a large room, where a circle of men in black robes stood around a stone table. She went from window to window, to get a clearer view, until she could discern Phoebe being held down on the stone. One robed figure held up a dagger, chanting something. Piper ran up and down the hall, desperately looking for a way in. When she saw the "high priest" holding the dagger over Phoebe, she began pounding on a window. She hoped to delay them by a distraction but none paid her any notice. Then the dagger went down. Piper threw herself against the window screaming then slowly sank to the floor wailing loudly.

Again, the amulet began buzzing and sparkling. Piper held it up and slapped it against the window. "Hhool bah-rah!" Suddenly a blue light flashed through all the windows. A loud "Boom!" and several crashes were heard. She cleared her eyes to see what had happened. The wall of windows was broken open in a few places. In the opposite wall, several stone men had been imbedded by some powerful force. Inside the room, a man’s form, in a strange uniform and glowing an electric blue, stood over Phoebe. He held one had over her and blue light flowed downward and upward filled with swirling white sparks. He took her by the hand and she sat up.

Piper went to the nearest breach in the wall and ran to Phoebe. She threw her arms around her, wetting her jacket with tears. When she pulled herself together, she looked Phoebe over. There was no sign of a wound or blood; not even a tear in her blouse. She turned to thank the stranger but he was gone.

High up on the wall, a door opened. Prue peered through. "Is everyone all right?"

"Yes!" Piper called back. "Where have you been?"

Prue came down a flight of metal stairs with Leo behind her. He carried a few books and bundles of papers under his arm. The three sisters held each other in relief then viewed the destruction all around them. All the walls, in all directions, were broken through. It was apparent that the cult members were turned to stone and hurled outward and imbedded into the outer walls.

Prue wondered, "What did all this?"

Piper explained, "That ‘glowing man’, who healed you. He also healed Phoebe."

"That is one powerful ... whatever he is! Anyway, he led me to a room full of information on this cult and several associate demons. You were right, Phoebe. They feared your power would foresee their plans. They had very big plans. And to kill you, they allied themselves with a demon named ‘Trindo Blinnyworm’. He is high on the council of demons and in charge of getting rid of us."

Piper commented, "A new friend and a new enemy!"

Leo held up the books and papers. "Well, we have all the information we need on our new enemies."

"But nothing on our new friend. Of which should we be more worried?"

Phoebe could only quote from Alice in Wonderland. "Curiouser and curiouser."

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[Next episode: A Gauntlet of Nightmares]