Watching the witches and their mutant friends had proved most useful, but realising he should leave before the mutant he had impersonated came out of the bathroom, Zile quickly resumed his natural form, and concentrated on where he wanted to go.

In the blink of an eye, he was at the sacred alter space where the Priestess conducted all her work. But casting his eyes around, he saw that his benefactor was not present. Approaching the alter, he knelt and closed his eyes, summoning her to complete the task he had been sent on by her. But even he was surprised by the quickness of her appearance, opening his eyes when he heard the sound that preceded her sudden materialisation beside the alter, “Dantalian!”

Realising his error the second her name escaped his lips, he did not need her look to correct himself, “Priestess Dantalian.”

Dressed in the robes benefiting her station, she walked around the alter to the small bowl she had already prepared, her voice emotionless and even as she spoke, “Were you successful?”

He could not help but smile at the young beauty that would soon be his bride, “She's as beautiful as you said she'd be.” He handed her the lipstick he had appropriated. Despite all his years as a warlock, he still could not fathom why females placed so much effort in applying various inks and paints to their bodies.

Taking hold of the lipstick, Dantalian fixed him with a determined gaze, “You're certain this has touched her lips?”

He nodded, certain of it, “Absolutely. I watched her all night.” As she started the preparation for the ritual she would conduct, he could not control his curiosity, “Not to be ungrateful, but what do you get out of making Marie Laveau my wife?”

He watched he as she added flower petals and various other ingredients, as she replied, “I'm a humble servant of the Source, Zile.” It was a perfect response, one would expect from a priestess of her standing, “I get nothing other than the benefits we all reap whenever good is turned evil.”

But he had been evil for long enough to know that you did not get to be in Dantalian’s position without some ambition, “Still, for all the unions you've consecrated, it seems you should get something, especially for this one.”

The priestess placed a live scorpion into the bowl, the final piece of the potion she was mixing, and he saw the slight look of wanting in her usually cold and dead eyes, “There is a spoil that intrigues me.” She turned to him, smiling slightly, “The Warren Book of Shadows is said to be the most magical of all tomes. It has passed down for generations, including from the Halliwell line.”

That was it? Their Book? That surprised Zile, and he was hard pressed to keep his face straight, “The witches Book of Shadows? That shouldn't be too hard to get.”

Her voice hardened as she replied, “This one is.” She mixed the potion together as she continued, “Evil can't touch it, although turning Marie evil should turn her cousins and their Book evil as well. Their magic is interconnected.”

Considering what she was helping him accomplish, Zile felt he should do something for this woman, “Well, then I'll get it for you myself, as a token of my gratitude.”

She waved a finger at him, before dipping it into the potion, “First things first. Getting the witch here so I can perform the ceremony. That's what this potion is for.” Kneeling in front of her, he allowed her to smear some of the potion onto his lips, knowing it was necessary, and enjoying the contact ever so slightly. After all, he was a man, evil or no, and she was darkly attractive. He forced himself to listen as she continued, “Kiss her, and it paralyses her.” He knew that Marie was not just a witch, but she answered his next question before he asked it, “It will also protect you from her mutant power.” He nodded, standing as she carried on, “After I bind you in marriage, she'll fall into a deep sleep where the transformation to evil will occur.”

Soon, Marie Laveau would be his, and the Warren Wiccan powers would soon follow. Not just their primary powers of telekinesis, freezing and premonition, but also their secondary powers of astral projection and levitation. He would be incredibly powerful. And maybe, he would reward the priestess with her spoil.

Even though he had his doubts as Jean’s perfect wedding scenario, Scott had to admit that she looked beautiful with an almost ethereal glow as she went over the various details with the wedding planner she had hired. He knew they would be very lucky if the wedding went off without a single hitch, what with their lives being as ‘complicated’ as they were. But Scott could not help but think that Jean was in denial slightly, trying to convince herself that this charade would really work. But, even though he did not want to burst her bubble, he realized he may not have a choice.

He watched his bride-to-be as she came down the main staircase, almost bubbling over with nervous energy, as the wedding planner, suited and booted, stood at the bottom of the staircase, making notes on his ever-present Palm Pilot, “Okay, so the more traditional the better as far as I'm concerned. The wedding march starts, and I come down the stairs.”

As she reached the bottom, the planner looked up from his notes, “So, no flower girl?” That pulled Jean up short, Scott noticed, and she paused to consider it. Scott could not think of anyone who might fit the bill, that they would want to do it. “Uh, I don't know. Do I?” 

She looked over at him, as he stood beside Zack by the living room archway. He shrugged, and looked at Zack, whose eyes widened like a deer caught in head-lights, as the planner looked at him as well, “Well, unless you want to ask one of the younger girls from one of your classes?” Marie just stood beside her cousin, watching the proceedings in amusement, wisely remaining silent.

“Yeah,” Scott added, looking at Jean pointedly, hoping she understood the point he was about to attempt to make, “and maybe some wood nymphs to make sure the flowers blossom?”

Zack snorted, trying unsuccessfully to hide his grin, as Jean shoot him a very pissed-off look, before glancing at the planner, who looked puzzled, “Wood nymphs?”

“Ha! My fiancée, such a joker!” Jean spoke a little too loudly as she attempted to cover for his obvious slip. She flapped her arms a bit as she carried on, “No, some of the younger kids are really in touch with nature, and they love being outside.”

The man nodded, but he didn’t seem to really understand. Why would he? “Well, then maybe we should move the ceremony outside, perhaps arrange the garden area of this mansion to host the entire wedding party?”

Scott sighed, before speaking again, “Well, if things get too emotional, you never know if Storm will loose control, and we could all get soaked or something.” The look Jean gave him was almost pleading as the planner looked at him again. This time he covered himself, “I mean, if there is a storm. You never know what the weather will be like.” He looked at Jean again, smiling sarcastically, “Right, honey?”

“No, no, inside is fine,” Jean stuttered out, and Scott maintained a calm expression, despite the hostility that was obviously radiating from Jean.

“Well, I think we should at least dress the banister with garlands,” carried on the planner, “Maybe even carry the floral theme all the way to the altar.” He made another note on his Palm, “How many guests are you planning on?”

Seemingly glad for a change in subject, albeit however slightly, Jean considered that point, “Uh, let me think. About 70, or 80?”

That caught Scott by surprise, “What? Like who?” He knew that everyone in the school would come, but they only had around 30 students at the minute. That was more then double he would have expected. Jean looked oblivious as she explained, “Well, there's my family and yours although a bit non-existent, all the people from the club, friends and everyone from the school.”  

Scott felt his head reeling from all that is happening. How far was Jean going to take this? Right up to the part where a demon gatecrashes the wedding and they vanquish it, in front of everyone? Would she call that performance art or something for the surprised guests? He barely listened as the wedding planner carried on blithely, “Now, have you thought of what you’ll serve during your wedding?”

Fine, he thought, if we are going to go through with this, then I want something I want for this damned event. He knew what he would like, and as Jean considered the question, he bluntly told the planner, “Pigs in a blanket.”

He looked at Zack in surprise when his best friend suddenly held a hand to his mouth, shaking slightly from laughter and going "oh my god". Marie remained where she was, grinning and trying to look like an innocent bystander. He then saw the horrified expression on Jean’s face, and realized he had committed some kind of wedding faux pas. What’s wrong with pigs in a blanket?

“Scott,” Jean started, her voice becoming more harsher as she spoke, “I was, I was hoping for something a little bit more elegant!”

“Your brother's blinking.” 

He would have gotten around to telling Zane that, but he didn’t really consider it that big of a deal, aside from that fact that it may come in useful. Zane’s brow furrowed, as he looked at each of them in turn, before managed to articulate a response, “I-I'm, I'm sorry, what?”

Zack shrugged again, unable to see why a new power was such a cause for concern. Who cared if only warlocks used it? Kitty had said that as their powers grew, so would the evils. Maybe this was their way of adapting to those bigger evils? 

“Okay, I admit that it was definitely weird, but it was kinda fun,” he admitted, remembering the weird feeling that had buzzed through his body before he blinked, “I was in the sitting room and I was just thinking about the kitchen and then suddenly, boom! Here I was.”

He smiled at the awe in Zane’s face, glad that he wasn’t the only one who was delighted with this new improvement, “Whoa, that is so cool.”

Kitty did not seem assuaged by Zane’s reaction, and to be honest, Zack was getting bored with her doom saying, “Except that it's a warlock’s power.”

“So what?” Zane replied, and Zack found himself in complete agreement, “They're always trying to get ours, it's about time we got one of theirs.” He turned to his brother, “Try it, Zane. Our powers are supposed to be interconnected, so maybe you can do it too.”

Zane rubbed his hands together, looking confused slightly, “Uh, okay, what do I do? Just think?”

Zack grinned, “And blink!”

Zane narrowed his eyes, and his concentration was almost comical, when suddenly, just like that, he was gone! Stifling a laugh at laugh at Kitty’s agape mouth, Zack visualized his brother, remembering how he had been thinking of the kitchen the first time he blinked, and before he even realized it, he found himself standing back inside the sitting room, where he had blinked out of only moments ago. 

Zane, looking slightly dizzy but excited, beside him, grinned from ear to ear. Zack couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. This was kind of fun! “Catch us if you can!”

The expression on Kitty’s face was hilarious, her face twisted in worry, as she came running in. If she just relaxed, she might enjoy it too! “Have you tried it yet, Kitty?” Zane asked, slightly breathless from his own ‘blinking’, “It's a real head rush!”

“Do you realize how serious this is?” she asked them, and Zack fought the urge to roll his eyes. She was getting boring now, “You're blinking. The Book is changing.”

He put his hands on his hips, figuring that maybe if they played along with his woman, then maybe she would eventually drop this damned subject, “Maybe we're blinking because of the Book?”

Shaking her head, Kitty’s expression was adamant, “The Book is changing because of you. It is an extension of you.” Okay, he’d had enough now. He blew out an angry breath, resisting the urge to freeze her were she stood, and just leave her like it. Why did she care so much about this? He sure didn’t, and he told her so. “Huh. I should care about that... But I don't!”

With that, he left the whining white-lighter in the sitting room, heading for the foyer, to put some distance between them, but it proved ineffective, as both she and Zane followed him. Kitty continued to speak, but he wasn’t paying attention anymore, hoping to just ignore her. But Kitty was hard to ignore, “This is what I was afraid of. Whoever's got Marie is somehow reaching you too.”

He caught Zane’s eye, and saw his brother was losing patience with Kitty as rapidly as he was, “Okay, Kitty, I can tell this really upsets you, but I gotta tell you, I really like this whole think-it-and-it-happens deal,” Zane explained, “I mean, think of the time we could save not chanting.”

Zack nodded in agreement, but wondered just what chanting they would do. He couldn’t really be bothered with the whole ‘saving people’ thing right now. Surely there was something more fun they could be doing with these powers?

Kitty refused to give up, still trying to appeal to them, as if what was happening to them was a bad thing, “Zack, Zane, you have to fight this.”

Zack shot a look over his shoulder, as the door-bell suddenly rang, and he heard Jean yell down from upstairs, “Can you get that Zack? It’s the wedding planner!”

Zack smiled. Ooh, time for some fun! He turned back to Kitty, hoping his expression was an innocent as he hoped, “Or we could answer the door.” He turned on his heel, but he stopped dead in his tracks when he heard Kitty call after him, “For Marie's sake, stop!”

He slowly turned around, anger rising inside him. For a split second, he really wished for Zane’s power, because right now he really wanted to send her annoying ass flying, “Don't tell me what to do.” He turned back and headed for the door, just hearing Kitty as she pleaded for Zane’s help. He couldn’t help but smile when he heard Zane let out a dramatic sigh, “I am so tired of helping people.” Glad to see Zane was feeling just the same as he was.

Pulling the door open, he was greeted with the sight of the smiling wedding planner, and he forced a smile. God, this guy was pathetic, taking pleasure in horning in on other people’s big days. Considering the way he dressed and looked generally, he figured he needed to do that since he probably couldn’t find anyone to go out with him, let alone marry the guy. Loser. 

As he walked in, Zack saw that Scott and Jean were walking down the stairs, and the planner immediately spotted them, and launched into whatever stupid sales pitch he had come up with now, as Zack closed the door behind him, “So glad you're home. I have some new floral sketches that I think you’d like to see.”

Kitty coughed loudly, catching everyone’s attention, and it took all his self-control not to laugh at her panicked expression, “Now's not really a good time.”

Zack saw the surprised expressions on Scott and Jean’s faces, and the confused looks on the planner’s, and he quickly covered for his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend, if she didn’t stop with this whole ‘you’re-in-trouble’ routine, “They're welcome to come in, Kitty.”

Jean shot him a look, as Scott frowned, but the planner carried on, as Zack moved away from the door, heading over to stand next to Zane, “I’ve also revisited the dinner menu, Jean, and you are going to be thrilled. I have some dynamic choices that I...”

“I,” Zack interrupted, this time not hiding his grin, “want pigs in blankets.” His grin widened when he saw the angry looks Jean and Scott him. The planner looked confused for a second, before laughing suddenly, “It's nice to see that friends and family still has a sense of humor this close to the big day.”

“No,” he explained, remembering what Zane had just said about this new ability to ‘think it and it happens’, feeling that buzz of power course through him, “I want pigs in blankets.” He waved his hands at the planner, watching as the planner suddenly dropped to the floor, and his body rippled and shrunk, until in his place, stood, a very large pig, dressed in a little blanket. 

He shared an amused look with his brother, as Zane laughed, while Scott’s jaw dropped, and Jean let out a startled scream. She looked at them, a mixture of horror and fear in her eyes. He nudged Zane with his elbow, indicating the telekinetic mutant, “Jean seems pretty scared.”

Zane snorted, “I always had her pegged as an ice queen.”

Zack grinned again, “Oh! What a great idea.” He turned back to Jean, and gestured again, this time watching as ice covered every inch of Jean’s body, leaving her completely frozen, only literally! Well, at least she had an ice sculpture for the wedding now. “Now there,” he uttered, pleased and very amused, as he nudged Kitty behind him, “is a freezing power with kick!”

“What the hell are you doing?” Zack looked back over at Scott, who was swiveling his head to look at both them, as well as his frozen bride-to-be. A thought entered his mind, and Zack decided to follow through with it, “Scott, you’ve been such a rock over the years.” With another gesture, he laughed as Scott vanished, leaving only a large boulder in his place, “See what I mean?” Now, this was fun!

But Kitty had to go and kill the mood, didn’t she? He turned around to look at her, as she stared at their fun and games, barely able to get the words out, “Have you guys lost your minds?”

Zack found that he didn’t have be the one to argue with her for once, as Zane leaned against the wall, and did it for him, “Oh, Kitty, get on board.” His grin broadened, as he spoke, “Whatever it is, this is amazing. You can't imagine the freedom, the power.”

Zack was glad to see his brother was feeling as good about this sudden power boost as he was, but he couldn’t help but roll his eyes as Kitty carried on, “Zane, that is evil talking. You have to fight it.”

Zane shot him an annoyed look, “What did you ever see in her?”

He shrugged, beginning to wonder that same question himself, “I don't know.” He looked her over, enjoying the view just like always, but it just wasn’t enough anymore, “I used to think she had a pretty wild side, but she is kind of a stick in the mud, isn't she?”

Zane’s eyes lit up, and he grinned again, “Oh, another brilliant idea.” He inclined his head at Kitty, “May I?”

Starting to see where he was going with this, Zack nodded, “Be my guest.”

Kitty swallowed, speaking in a rush, “Alright, think about the Power Of Three…” But she barely got those words out, as Zane gestured, and Kitty’s body suddenly shrank and contracted, until in her place, stood a long wooden stick, pushed into a small bucket of mud.

Zack couldn’t help the chortle that escaped, at Zane’s fitting transmutation of Kitty. Well, at least now the outside reflected what was on the inside, he thought. Zane looked impressed by his own little power display, bringing a hand to his smiling face, “Oh, wow.” He looked over at Zack, and he saw the glint of glee in his dark eyes, “Look at all the fun we've been missing!”