Phoebe Halliwell walked slowly across the campus lawn towards the parking lot. In her arms were several books including two library books she had just signed out. Phoebe was exhausted. Going back to school was tough, but she was determined to not give up. No matter how many times she had to stay in the library until well after dark or how many heavy books she had to lug around. Suddenly she felt a blast of frigid air across the back of her neck. She stopped mid step, she could feel a presence behind her. Her stomach tightened she fought back the fear that was trying to rise and take hold of her. Slowly she turned and found herself staring into the face of a tall dark clad figure. He wore a hood and she could not see his face. The figure exhaled, it's breath showing white in the cool night air. Then she saw the gleam of long, sharp white teeth.
"Now you die witch." The creature hissed. With surprising speed the figure lunged at her. Phoebe was caught off guard but somehow managed to spin out of the way. She dropped her books on the ground all save the largest textbook she had been carrying, and as the creature spun to face her she swung the book in a hard, tight arc that brought the makeshift weapon slamming into the creatures face. She followed up the blow with a hard kick into the creature's midsection. None of these attacks seemed to faze the creature. All that Phoebe had accomplished was to knock back the hood to reveal a shockingly white face, short dark hair and a small well-trimmed beard. In an instant she knew that she was facing a warlock. The knowledge of what she was up against sent a burst of adrenaline coursing through her veins. This was not going to be her last day on earth. There was a quiet hiss as the warlock drew a long black-bladed sword from a scabbard slung across his back.
"Time to quit messing around witch!" He snarled and aimed an overhead blow at Phoebe meant to split her clean in two. A loud gasp, almost a scream exploded from Phoebe's mouth and she ducked and brought the big, leather-bound book up over her head. The sword blade slammed into the book with enough force to nearly force Phoebe to her knees but it did not cut through, the Warlock cursed in a unfamiliar tongue and brought the sword back to for another blow. Phoebe was not about to give him another chance. She aimed a hard kick at his groin, made contact, dropped the book which had nearly been severed in two and then turned and ran. Behind her she heard a mocking laugh coming from the warlock. Where was the power of three when she needed it? She was sent sprawling by a hard blow to her back. She hit the ground hard and lay there for an instant with the breath knocked from her lungs. Desperately she rolled onto her back to face the warlock who now stood over her sword held in both hands ready to plunge it into her now rapidly beating heart. She felt utterly helpless. She felt death in the still air.
"It's over witch." Phoebe braced herself for the blow. But it never came. Instead from behind her there was another hiss of steel sliding free from leather. Then a deep, strong voice spoke out in the night.
"Not so fast. You want her, first you have to deal with me." Phoebe turned her head to see who was speaking and saw a tall, lean figure, it was a young man, she guessed in his mid to late twenties. He was clean-shaven, with short dark hair and despite the peril of the moment Phoebe couldn't help but thinking that he was quite good looking. His eyes were dark, but there still seemed to be a spark in them and his face had a look of intelligence and confidence that only accented his finely chiseled features. He had a small mouth and thin almost delicate looking nose; his cheeks had a slight touch of color, no doubt due to the temperature outside. As she stared up at him Phoebe could feel her own temperature start to rise. Then she saw the sword in his hand. It was a long thin bladed saber, with a thin hand guard and a wickedly sharp point at the end of the curved blade. The sword itself was silver in contrast to the black bladed weapon held by the Warlock above her and oddly the blade seemed as though it were glowing indeed as if it were in someway magical.
"This is no concern of yours stranger now disappear before the two of you share the same fate." Hissed the warlock.
"I don't think so." The young man said. His clear, fearless voice bringing a smile to Phoebe's lips.
"Then prepare to die fool." The warlock roared and lunged at the young man with the point of his sword. The young man proved to be an excellent swordsman and he calmly stepped out of the way of the Warlocks thrust and parried. Quickly changing the mode of the fight he followed up the parry with a short lunge of his own, and it was only with frantic effort that the Warlock managed to block the sabers slim, flickering blade. A loud growl escaped the Warlocks lungs and he immediately launch a series of blows each aimed at the young man's head and chest. With a calm expression on his face the young swordsman parried each blow and then launched his own lighting fast assault on the warlock. Phoebe slowly got to her feet as the two combatants circled one another and exchanged lunges and parries in a swift, beautiful, yet deadly dance. The young swordsman remained silent throughout the contest and while he fought with great skill and courage, Phoebe knew that no mortal weapon could kill a warlock and that there was only one way in which this contest could end.
Thus it was to her great surprise when the young swordsman, seemingly bored with the fight, finally turned aside a wild sword stroke from the Warlock and then lunged low and hard, ramming his blade deep into the Warlocks stomach. The log silver blade seemed to disappear in the Warlocks dark hulking form. Then as Phoebe watching in utter astonishment the same silvery glow that had been present on the blade now seemed to fill the warlock. There was a loud crackling hiss, and the warlock began to convulse violent, still impaled on the glowing sword blade. Then suddenly a cloud of smoke enveloped the creature and then the cloud burst into a thousand dust microns each tiny particle turning into a brilliant red spark and burning away into nothingness as it floated earthwards.
The swordsman removed a small white silk handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the length of the sword blade then he lightly tossed the handkerchief into the air and it too burned away into nothing as it floated down through the air.
"Wow! How did you do that? I mean who are you? I mean thank you for saving my life?" Phoebe gushed, picking herself up off the ground. The swordsman looked up at her, but his expression remained blank.
"I'm sorry my name is Phoebe Halliwell." Phoebe said stepping forward and extending her hand. The swordsman ignored her. Instead he knelt on one knee placing the tip of the sword blade on the walkway and holding the handle in his left hand he bowed his head and with his right hand he touched a small silver Celtic cross that hung around his neck on a delicate silver chain.
"I killed another one darling. I know that many still remain, but I will not rest until I have killed then all, then I will find a way to have you back safe in my arms again. I swear it." He said. Phoebe suddenly felt a bit apprehensive, not to mention vulnerable. This stranger had saved her life, but then maybe he had his own agenda. Before she could think of what to do next the swordsman stood up.
"We must go Miss Halliwell. You need to get home where you can be safe with your sisters. I will take you. Follow me please." He said.
"Wait a minute I drove my sisters car, it's parked over there. And how do you know about my sisters?" Phoebe asked.
"There is a second warlock waiting for you at your sisters vehicle. I will come back and deal with him and in an hour you should be able to come back with your sisters and get the car.
Prue Halliwell looked at her watch it was well past the time for her sister Phoebe to be home. She thought about calling her cellular phone, but then decided to wait a little longer. Phoebe had probably just fallen asleep while studying and the last thing Prue needed right now was to get into an argument about being overly motherly to her younger sister. The girl was trying very hard and secretly Prue was a little envious of her. Besides Phoebe could take care of herself. Prue put down the Photography magazine she had been reading and left her room heading down stairs to the kitchen. There she found her other sister Piper and her boyfriend Leo making some popcorn on the stove. Piper glared at her as she entered the room as if to say 'I thought we agreed you were going to give Leo and I some privacy tonight!'
"Sorry to bother you to but Piper have you heard from Phoebe? It's almost eleven forty and she's not home yet."
"No I haven't heard from her yet, but I don't think that you should be worried it is Phoebe we are talking about after all, she probably met some guy in study hall and went for coffee. Besides Leo would know if Phoebe were in danger. He's Phoebe's white lighter to you know."
"Yeah I guess you're right. Still I can't help but worry."
"I'm sure she'll be home any minute now." Piper said. At that very instant they heard the front door of the manor open.
"Prue, Piper I'm home. Sorry I'm late, but I was a little um delayed." The trio in the kitchen heard the youngest Halliwell sister's familiar voice call out to them. Prue led the way towards the door.
"Well there'd better be a good reason for this "um delay" missy we've been getting worried and. oh that does look like a good reason." Prue said as she rounded the corner into the entryway and saw the tall young man standing behind Phoebe. "Who's your friend?" She said a small smile tugging at her smooth lips.
"Oh right Prue I'd like you to meet. actually I don't know your name." Phoebe said turning her head to the stranger.
"His name is Victor." Leo said as he and Piper entered the room, fixing a stern gaze on the newcomer. "Or at least that's his last know name anyway."
"Leo it's been a long time how are you? That whole white lighter thing still going good for you?" The stranger said in an almost mocking voice.
"Wait a minute Leo how do you know who this guy is?" Phoebe asked.
"Do you want to tell them or should I?" Leo said looking over at Weston. Who merely shrugged.
"Why don't you go ahead Leo, you tell it so well." Weston replied.
"His name is Victor as I said, and he is the warlock hunter."
"A warlock hunter, what's that?" Piper asked.
"Well it seems that Victor was once a young Russian aristocrat who came to America and there he fell in love with a young woman named Elizabeth Perkins. Unbeknownst to Victor, Elizabeth was a witch, a good witch, but still she felt that she could never get close to a man for fear of what might happen if he ever found out."
"Gee I don't know what that's like." Prue interjected.
"Me either." Phoebe chimed in.
"Then one night on the eve of the American Revolution a warlock masquerading as a local priest led a mob of angry towns people against Elizabeth. When Victor tried to defend her he was cursed by the warlock, the curse was that Victor would live forever, and never know true love again, for when Elizabeth died so would his ability to fall in love. The only way for the curse to be broken is when the last warlock is killed, or if somehow Victor manages to forget about Elizabeth and fall in love again. That cross he wears around his neck is the same cross that she wore the night they killed her. But Elizabeth had had the same power as you do Phoebe, she had a premonition of her own death, and before she was killed she wrote a spell, a tiny inscription on the back of the cross and when Victor read it his hands became charmed so to speak."
"Meaning what exactly?" Asked Prue.
"Meaning that any weapon that Victor picks up is capable of killing a warlock. And should Victor be able to kill all of the warlocks, thus ending their evil line then Elizabeth will live once more. And so for the past two hundred and twenty-five years Victor has been hunting down warlocks and killing them in hopes that one day he will kill them all and finally be reunited with Elizabeth. He has been asked by the counsel to do "mercenary" work on occasion, you know take out a certain warlock here or there. That's how our paths have crossed in the past. He claims to be a friend of both the council and of good witches, but you must always remember he has his own agenda."
"That is such a sad story." Piper said, looking at Victor, her soft brown eyes full of pity.
"Spare your sympathy Miss Halliwell, tonight I came one step closer to killing the last of the warlocks, and unless you have some need to delay me further I shall come one more step closer before this night is through."
"What's that supposed to mean, Phoebe, why were you late." Piper said sternly glaring at Piper.
"Okay so I might have been jumped by a warlock. And there may still be one waiting by Prue's car at school to ambush me, but Victor took care of the one that attacked me and you should have seen it Victor was amazing, he's got this glowing sword and." Phoebe started to try to explain.
"You got attacked by a warlock, Phoebe are you okay?" Prue interrupted.
"Yes I told you. Victor was there. He killed the warlock and then he drove me home and is going back to kill the other warlock."
"Thank you for saving my sister." Prue said. "I mean that we wouldn't be able to manage without her. If there is ever anything."
"Yeah, yeah, listen glad to be of service and all but there is still another warlock out there, so if you lovely ladies will excuse me I'd best be on my way." Victor cut her off. "Leo." He said with a slight nod. "Take care of these ones old boy. I'd hate to see a repeat of what happened last time happen to these three." And then he turned and was gone, a moment later there was the squealing of motorcycle tires and he was gone leaving the three Halliwells and Leo standing in the entryway of the manor.
"What was he talking about when he said he didn't want a repeat of last time Leo?" Prue asked.
* * * When Phoebe woke up the next morning she was still haunted by her encounter with the Warlock Hunter.
"I can't help but feel sorry for him. I mean he must feel so empty inside." She said to Piper as they sat in the kitchen having a cup of coffee.
"Yeah could you imagine what it would be like not to be able to feel love again?" Piper said.
"I wish there was some way that we could help him." Phoebe said wistfully.
"Oh my word you like him don't you Phoebe?" Piper said in mock surprise.
"Well you have to admit he was kind of cute." Phoebe said.
"Yeah just overlook the fact that he kills warlocks for a hobby and would never be around and you've got the perfect man. Come on sweetie I know I'm not one to talk what with Leo hardly ever being around and all, but I don't want to see you far for this guy and get hurt okay."
"I know your right. Still it would be nice to help him if we could. I mean that's what we do isn't it, we help innocent people."
So what are we supposed to do honey. Kill all the warlocks for him. I know you'd like to but there are something's that even good witches can't do. We kill the ones we can, but we can't fight his battle for him." Piper said trying to console her younger sister.
"I'm going to look in the Book of Shadows anyway, just to see if there is anything that might help him." Phoebe said getting up from the table.
"Don't you have classes today?"
"Yeah but they've been cancelled for help the cute and innocent Warlock Hunter Day." Phoebe called back over her shoulder. Piper just shook her head and smiled.
"Leo can I talk to you for a minute?" Prue said to Leo as he closed the door after grabbing the morning paper off the front porch.
"Sure Prue. What's up?" He said.
I wanted to talk to you about Victor."
"Oh."
"I just have this feeling that we haven't seen the last of him and I want to know exactly who we are dealing with."
"Well there isn't really much more to tell than what I told you last night. He is cursed to live forever, so he uses his charmed weapons to kill any warlock he can find in hopes that he will one day kill them all and then he can be with his true love Elizabeth again."
"Okay I got that, but what aren't you telling me."
"Look I just don't approve of some of his warlock hunting tactics alright. He likes to use good witches as bait."
"Is that what happened last time?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Prue."
"Last night when Victor said, 'Take care of these ones, I'd hate to see a repeat of what happened last time happen to these three.'"
"Oh that."
"Yes that Leo. I want to know what he's talking about."
"It was a long time ago Prue."
"Leo tell me!"
"Alright, but look you can't tell Piper or Phoebe. I was just starting as a white lighter. My first assignment was to protect Sara and Anna Mackenzie. They were twin sisters, good witches and they had just gotten their powers and so they were not quite as skilled with them as you and your sisters are with yours. A powerful warlock had discovered who they were and was out to kill them. Since the MacKenzie's and I were both so new to our powers the council asked Victor to help deal with the warlock, something he was more that eager to do. The plan was for us to let the warlock come to the MacKenzie's house and then I would orb out with Sara and Anna and let Victor do his job. But when the warlock came, I had trouble orbing, because I had never tried to take others with me and Sara got left behind. The warlock killed Sara before Victor could get to there to save her. When Anna found out that Sara was dead she turned and became a bad witch. The council was quite upset and Victor has never let me forget that night."
"I'm sorry Leo." Prue said softly. "I had no idea."
"Please Prue you must keep this between us. I have a lot more control over my abilities now. I would never let you or Piper or Phoebe down the way I did Sara and Anna."
"I know you wouldn't Leo."
* * * "I've got it! Piper, I know how we can help Victor!" Phoebe burst into her sister's room early that evening, an excited smile on her pretty face, her eyes gleaming.
"What are you talking about Phoebe?" Piper asked.
"I know how we can help Victor. You remember Leo said that the curse the warlock put on him could only be broken if Victor were to forget about Elizabeth and fall in love with someone else. But it didn't say that he had to fall in love forever."
"Okay little sister you lost me."
"What if we were to say a love spell so that Victor would fall in love with someone else. Even if it was just for a little while. It would bring Elizabeth back and they could be together again when the spell wore off and Victor wouldn't have to spend the rest of eternity killing warlocks." Phoebe said smiling brightly at her own brilliance.
"You know what that might actually work. We might have to tweak the spell a bit, but it could work. The only problem would be finding Victor."
"I bet Leo could find him." Phoebe said.
"Speaking of Leo I think we'd better run this plan past him and Prue before we get to carried away." Piper said.
"Alright, but lets do it now."
* * * "And just who are we going to get Victor to fall in love with?" Prue said, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Phoebe has graciously volunteered for the job." Piper explained.
"I don't know, it sounds risky." Leo said.
"Hey we've dealt with risky before. If any warlocks do show up Victor will be able to fight them right? Besides you'll be there, what could go wrong?" Phoebe argued.
"Yeah Leo what could go wrong?" Prue said. Leo glared at her for a second.
"Well if the three of you are sure you want to do this I'll see if I can find Victor."
"Thanks Leo." Phoebe said. "I'll start writing the spell." Just then Leo orbed.
"Well that was a little rude. I at least thought he'd say good-bye." Piper said stiffly.
It was late evening; the three Halliwell sisters were sitting together in the kitchen.
"Where is Leo?" Piper said, her voice showing her frustration. I swear the next time I see him I am going to put a tracking device on him like they do to bears in those nature shows. Then at least I'll know where he is." At that very minute Leo suddenly reappeared in the center of the room.
"Where have you been?" Piper snapped at him, pointing an accusing finger in Leo's face. "You didn't even say good-bye, you just up and orbed out like I wasn't even there."
"Piper I'm sorry. They called me back. Listen I have some bad news. That warlock that attacked Phoebe yesterday wasn't just your average warlock. He was carrying a black sword wasn't he Phoebe?"
"Yeah I think so."
"Leo what is so bad about warlocks carrying black swords, I mean we've faced more dangerous weapons before and we've beaten them. Why the big deal now?" Prue asked.
"This warlock that attacked Phoebe was part of an elite group of warlocks known as the Circle of the Dark Swords. They are a very deadly group of seven warlocks that work for some very powerful, very evil members of the other side. Basically the dark equivalent to the council I work for. When Victor killed those two yesterday it made both the other warlocks, and the council they serve very angry. They blame you, the Charmed Ones. Now they'll be coming after you, most likely tonight. The council called me back to tell me and to let me know that they have asked Victor to finish the fight he started and kill the remaining five warlocks, and you three are to assist him. Victor should be on his way as we speak, in the meantime I suggest you put together a couple of vanquishing spells together just in case the other five warlocks get here before he does."
"I'll get on that." Phoebe said heading upstairs to check the Book of Shadows.
An hour later Leo and the three girls were once again waiting in the kitchen when they heard the sound of the doorbell.
"Okay everybody knows what to do if it is one of the warlocks." Prue said. The others nodded. Prue, Piper and Phoebe all took up positions around the door and Leo stepped up and cautiously placed his hand on the knob. Then he jerked the door open and leapt out of the way at the same time. The three Halliwell's breathed a sigh of relief to see Victor standing in the doorway.
"Not too late to be calling I hope." Victor said.
"No, not tonight anyway." Prue said. "Please come in."
"I take it Leo has told you why I am here."
"Yes he has."
"Good, then I don't need to bother explaining the situation. So all I have to do is tell you the plan. Basically they show up I kill them and then I leave. Any questions?"
"Are you sure you can handle five warlocks, especially these ones?" Prue asked.
"Leo probably warned you to be wary of me, because I have my own agenda, and he's right. If I didn't think I could handle all five I wouldn't have shown up, council or no council. I only fight if and when I choose to fight." Victor said coldly, but some sixth sense told Phoebe that that wasn't entirely true.
"We've got some time, I must prepare for battle."
* * * "So we don't have to worry about the warlocks so all we have to do is wait until after Victor finishes them off then we can go ahead with Phoebe's plan and see if we can bring him and Elizabeth back together." Piper said.
"I don't know, I'm not sure I like the idea of letting him fight all five of them on his own." Prue said. "I think we should be ready to help him just in case he needs some back up."
While her sister were talking Phoebe slowly stood up and walked into the kitchen where Victor sat at the table, on the table in front of him were two long swords, a wicked looking dagger, and a small very modern looking pistol.
"It's a Glock nine millimeter. I incase you're wondering, and yes, in my hands it will kill warlocks, but I prefer the more personal touch." Victor said without turning around, carefully wiping down the length of one of his swords with a silk cloth.
"Are you ever afraid?" Phoebe asked.
"Afraid of what?" Victor snorted.
"Afraid of being killed or that you will never be able to win this crusade of yours?"
"No, I do not fear being killed. The curse placed upon me states that I will live forever, that does not mean that I cannot be killed by a warlock, but I have been well trained in many forms of combat with innumerable weapons I feel that I can take on any warlock. And as for your other question, yes there are times I feel that I may not be able to complete my quest, but then I think of Elizabeth, she had faith in me, and so for sake I carry on."
"It must be hard, to feel so empty inside." Phoebe said gently.
"Look I do not ask for any pity, nor do I require it."
"Why not, why won't you let someone care about what happens to you?"
"Because it has been so long that I fear that if I let someone get close that I will fall in love again, thus betraying Elizabeth and losing her forever." Victor had turned to face Phoebe and she felt her cheeks flush a little as she looked into his eyes. Her tender gaze fell over his fine, rugged face, the smooth even face and almost delicate features.
"Have you ever come close?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"See for yourself. Use your power. Here touch my hand." He said. Phoebe slipped her hand into his and closed her eyes. In an instant she saw visions, black and white, swirling, there were young women, beautiful young women, some with long hair, and perfect hourglass figures. Some with more petit bodies and short hair, all were in the lovely flower of their youth, then she saw herself, lying on the ground just as she had been the night before when the warlock attacked. Then suddenly all the other women disappeared and were replaced by a beautiful girl, she seemed to be waving to someone just past Phoebe. She was tall, slender with a very lovely face and soft brown eyes. Her shoulder length blond hair was pulled back away from her face and her full lips were curved in a big smile. Phoebe knew in an instant that this must be Elizabeth. Suddenly she felt Victor's hand slid from hers, she started to open her eyes, but then she felt something cold and hard against her fingertips. Then instantly her vision changed from that of the young woman to that of a battlefield. It was night, and long lines of men some clad in red or green, were facing men wearing blue. The carried long muskets in their hands tipped by slim, deadly sharp bayonets. Men, Phoebe presumed to be officers stood at the ends and behind each line holding swords or sabers, the swept their blades down and the men in front of them unleashed devastating volleys at the men in the opposing lines. Men were knocked back as the heavy bullets thudded home, both lines began a desperate exchange of fire the air seemed to be thick with flying lead, all order was gone, men just stood their ground loading and firing as fast as they could. The night was pierced time and again with long sheets of flame from the muzzles of the combatant's muskets. Both lines were thinning rapidly, but those who still stood closed towards the center to try and fill the gaps left be fallen comrades, some who lay still, some who cried out to their friends for help. It was a sickening scene and Phoebe could feel tears starting to form in her eyes. On the flanks of both lines' cannons belched flames and smoke and entire files of men would be struck down in the opposing line. Everything was happening in fast forward. Now the men in blue were charging, and those in red rushed forward to meet them and when the two lines met the men engaged in a horrific exchange of bayonet thrusts, close range musket blasts and became locked in bitter hand to hand combat. Then Phoebe, still unable to end the vision saw one officer in red carrying a long slim sword and he led a small group of redcoats at the enemy he fought with a wild recklessness that was only balanced by his skill with the blade. Time and again he struck down bigger men and still he fought on as if the outcome of the entire battle depended on him. Then suddenly the battle scene was replaced by a vision of the same field only this time it was morning. The only men in blue coats who remained on the field were those who were wounded and were trying to make their way off the battlefield and those who lay completely and ominously still. There were about twenty or thirty redcoats moving about the field, some seemed to be staggering about in a daze. There were hundreds of bodies lying about some in twisted, unnatural positions some with horrific injuries caused by the close range musket volleys or by cannon fire. Then she saw the officer she had seen earlier leading the charge in the battle. He was kneeling alone in one corner of the field, the point of his sword in the earth, the blade was red to the hilt. Both his hands rested on the hilt of his sword and his forehead rested on his hands. His lips moved in a silent prayer. Then he lifted his head, and Phoebe saw to her surprise that it was Victor. He looked exactly the same as he did now. His short dark hair was mussed and he had at least a day's worth of dark stubble on his cheeks and chin, but it was Victor. His coat, hands, face and even his trousers were specked with blood. In his eyes was a wild, almost inhumanly savage look and then he stood, wiped the blade of his sword with a piece of white cloth, then he let the now red stained cloth fall to the ground, and as it touched the grass he suddenly disappeared. Then the vision was gone, Phoebe's eyes flew open.
"Oh my God! Victor!" She gasped.
"Shush, shush it's okay now Phoebe you are alright, it's alright."
"Was that you? Where was that, what were you doing fighting there?" Phoebe burst out.
"I was training Phoebe. I have the ability to travel through time and to participate in different battles to gain first hand experience of what fighting is like, I learn how to use the weapons I fight the warlocks with, and I learn to over come my fears. And if it is any consolation I also find warlocks and I fight them in the battles, no one knows who they really are, but I often find them in the battles I choose to fight in and I kill them when I do." Suddenly Phoebe's heart ached for the young man seated before her. How lonely and empty his life must be, how horrific it must be to fight in battle after battle, see so many terrible things, and then just move on to the next battle without feeling, without care. "That battle you saw me fight in was the battle of Lundy Lane, it was fought during the War of 1812. I was with a British battalion serving as a Captain of one of the companies. The battle was the bloodiest fought on North American soil until the American Civil War. During the fire fight that you saw the air was so thick with bullets that it seemed as if it were raining lead. The fire fight lasted most of the night, then towards morning both side launched a series of bayonet charges resulting in some of the most desperate hand to hand fighting you can imagine."
"Victor I can help you." Phoebe said. "All you have to do is trust me. My sisters and I can help you, we can break the curse that was placed on you."
"No, I thank you for thinking you can, but others have tried, and I cannot bear the disappointment that accompanies another failure."
"You just have to trust me." Phoebe said softy, her voice barely above a whisper. She leaned foreword as she spoke, her face only inches away from his. She could feel his warm breath on her neck, sending a tingling sensation down through her chest, her stomach down to her toes. Only the tiniest fraction of and inch separated their lips, Phoebe, her heart racing closed her eyes and waited to feel his mouth on hers.
"Hey Phoebe can you come here for a. oh I'm sorry, didn't meant to interrupt." Piper said, a smile creeping across her face despite her best efforts to hold it back.
"Yes well you are." Phoebe hissed.
"No it's okay Piper." Victor said. "I should really talk to Leo anyway, make sure he knows the contingency plan if anything goes wrong." He said standing up. "If you ladies will excuse me."
"Of course we will, Phoebe and I have something to discuss anyway." Piper replied sweetly.
When Victor had left Piper turned on Phoebe.
"I thought you were going to use a spell to make him fall in love with you remember. I didn't know you planned on trying to do it for real."
"I couldn't help it I touched his sword and I saw what his life was like. How he travels though time and fights in these terrible battles and I felt sorry for him. I just wanted him to be at peace Piper. Honestly." Suddenly before any more words could be spoken there was a loud crash outside the kitchen. An instant later there was the clash of steel on steel. Phoebe looked at Piper, their eyes met, and the both thought the same though, "Warlocks."
"Prue they're here!" Piper yelled. And she and Phoebe got up and raced towards the kitchen door. They were about three feet from it when it burst open as a tall dark clad figure came flying through it from the other room. The figure had a long black sword in his hand.
"Ahhh!" Piper exclaimed.
"Aha witches!" The warlock exclaimed. He tried to stand up but Piper froze him. At that moment Leo orbed into the kitchen beside them with Prue in tow and the three sisters joined hands and quickly vanquished the warlock using the power of three.
From the next room sounds of fighting continued. The three Halliwell sisters with Leo close behind rushed into the next room where they found Victor, a sword in each hand fighting off three warlocks. The other warlock's absence from the scene could probably be explained by looking at the sword in his right hand, which was wet, halfway up to the hilt. One of the warlocks tried to flank Victor to get behind him, but Prue flung him back against the far wall. A lunge from Victor found it's mark and he shouted in triumph as one of the warlocks disappeared in a red cloud of sparks and cinders. The warlock that Prue had thrown against the wall now charged at the Halliwell's sword raised, but Phoebe was ready, she simply levitated and delivered a stunning kick to the chin that knocked the warlock over onto his back. Victor was then able to turn and ram one of his sword blades down into the warlock's chest, pinning him to the floor as he tried to utter one last shriek before he disintegrated and was gone in the same manner as the other warlock. The remaining warlock charged at Victor from the side, who swiftly turned and held his sword straight out and allowed the warlock to impale himself on the silvery blade. And then just like that it was over. All the warlocks were dead.
"Phoebe now." Piper whispered. Phoebe reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bag containing some powder, she dumped some into her hand, quickly whispering the spell that she and Piper had wrote, then she tossed the handful of powder into Victor's face. He sneezed and wiped at his face with one hand. Then suddenly he looked over at the Halliwell's, his eyes settled on Phoebe. He stood letting both swords fall to the ground. He was in front of her in a single bound, and then his arms were wrapped around her.
"There is something I must tell you Phoebe Halliwell. I am in love with you. My heart has never felt this way for another." He said and then his lips found hers. But before the kiss could really get started there was a flash of light behind them and a female voice cried out in emotional agony.
Phoebe pulled her lips away from Victor's and looked past him. There on the floor lying face down was a young woman. Even without seeing her face Phoebe recognized her as the same girl she had seen in her vision. It was Elizabeth.
Suddenly there was a cruel, mocking laugh. Standing behind her was another warlock who had appeared out of nowhere. He was dressed all in black and in his hand he held a long wicked looking knife. Piper gasped.
"I knew you would crack Victor. Now look what you've done to poor Elizabeth." The warlock crooned. He knelt next to the sobbing girl on the floor at his feet.
"There, there." He said with mock sympathy in his voice. "I know it hurts darling, but you knew it had to happen sooner or later." He said reaching down to stroke her hair.
Victor pushed himself away from Phoebe so strongly that she nearly crashed into Piper and Leo who were standing behind them. Victor was livid; his sword leapt into his hand.
"Take your filthy hands off her and prepare to die." He snarled.
"Silly human, your sword no longer glows fool. When you chose another over her the charms she gave you lost their power. You broke her heart and lost her gifts. Now if you have any decency left you will put the poor girl out of her misery and then I can kill you and these witches and be on my way." The warlock said tossing the knife at Victor's feet.
"Prue, Piper, are you ready." Phoebe hissed while the confrontation in front of them played out. The three sisters quietly joined hands and whispered the second spell that Phoebe had written. When they were finished all three immediately noticed that Victor's sword blade was once again glowing. Neither Victor, nor the warlock noticed this however. Victor slowly knelt and took the knife in his free hand.
"That's it cut out the heart you have broken in your lust." The warlock goaded him. Tears were in Victor's eyes.
"I'm sorry my love." He said softly.
"What did you say?" The warlock roared. Suddenly he noticed the glow back in Victor's sword. "You tricked me. No it was the witches." He snarled. The warlock moved very fast. He knocked Victor to the ground and then in a flash he drew his own sword and then rushed at the Halliwell's. He aimed his first blow at Piper, but Leo knocked her out of the way and the warlock's sword hissed through empty air, but Leo's move had also disallowed Piper to freeze the warlock. Phoebe sidestepped a lunge, and then landed a strong kick to the warlock's back, which sent him stumbling off balance towards Prue. Prue, in a combination of uppercut and her power lifted the warlock off his feet and sent him flying backwards. Victor had quickly rolled to his feet and turned to join the fight. He held his sword low blade leveled point foreword. As Prue sent the warlock flying he slammed into Victor, impaling himself on the long silvery blade.
"No!" He roared looking down at the point of the sword protruding from his stomach. Then he disappeared, vanquished as Victor had vanquished so many other warlocks while on his quest, while under a curse that in that very instant, was completely and forever broken.
* * * "Again, we can't say how thankful we are for what you did." Victor said to Phoebe. Victor and Elizabeth were standing at the door of the manor getting ready to leave.
"We were glad we could help." Prue said.
"Looks like your warlock hunting days are over Victor." Phoebe said with a smile.
"Well I've decided to take an early retirement. Besides Elizabeth and I have a lot of lost time to make up for. But if you ever have some trouble dealing with one or two or five of the buggers give me a call. Leo, take care old buddy."
"You too Victor." Leo said.
Then Victor, with Elizabeth on his arm turned and walked away to where Victor's car was waiting. The Halliwell's and Leo watched them go and then went back into the house. Before anyone could speak the phone rang. Prue answered it.
"Hello. Yes just a second. Phoebe it's for you, it's the collage library, and they want to know why the book you signed out was only half returned."
