GO NEST, YOUNG MAN

[the eleventh in The Scorpion Chronicles]  

by Nat Faul <[email protected]>

DISCLAIMER: (April 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, Aviva, Andy Trudeaux, Darryl Morris, Dan Gordon, 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 and the other stories are not congruent with the current season.

RATED PG: some sexual discussions

The P3 was bustling that night. Piper was scurrying from one end of the bar to the other and from room to room. Although harried, she was glad business was doing so well. When there was a lull in the storm, she leaned back against the bar, running an ice cube over her face. It was then she noticed Prue sitting alone and went over to her.

"What happened to your date?"

"Gone."

"Why?"

"I guess he found me boring."

"You? Boring? Impossible!"

"Well, the feeling was mutual. He was no Mr Excitement either."

"Oh Prue! What’s the matter?"

"I don’t know. Just ... nothing there; no sparks; no electricity."

"Well, isn’t that something you have to work up to?"

"No. Not for me. I can usually feel something from the beginning, whether he’s a stud or dud. And I’ve been running into a lot of duds lately."

"You’re just in a slump now. That doesn’t mean there’s no one out there for you."

"Well, I’m getting old waiting for him."

"You are not getting old! Now stop that! You just have to clear your mind of all these setbacks and think about tomorrow."

"You’re starting to sound like Phoebe."

"I learned a lot from Phoebe."

"You have a customer waiting."

Piper turned to see a woman at the bar with long black hair, dark eyes, and bright red lips. Her dress, jacket, and hat matched her lipstick. She sat intently staring at the sisters. Prue watched as Piper walked over to her. The woman said something which caused Piper to be taken aback. The woman’s expression did not change. She said a few more words, placed an envelope down on the bar, then left. Piper read the envelope and came rushing back to Prue, look very perturbed.

"What is it?" Prue asked.

Piper handed her the envelope, which read, "Dear Charmed Ones -- I wish to join you. Meet me at the place indicated by the map and time enclosed. I will demonstrate what I can contribute to the Power of Three. -- Wicca Nova".

In the morning, Piper went to Phoebe’s bedroom door and knocked. "Phoebe? You almost ready?"

Phoebe’s voice came from the other side of the door. "Uh ... This might take awhile."

"Awhile? What do you mean ‘This might take awhile’?"

She opened the door and noted Derek’s cowboy boots, khakis, and Australian hat scattered around, so guessed that was him bundled up with Phoebe under the covers.

"Phoebe, have you told Derek we have a ‘family outing’ today and that you now have 45 minutes to get ready?"

Derek responded from under the blankets, "Yes, she told me. I’ll be outta here after you hand me my paramedic kit. It’s in my shoulderbag."

"Why do you need it?"

"Could you just hand it to me without asking any questions?"

"Why? Is something wrong? Is she hurt?"

Derek muttered under his breath, "I guess not."

Phoebe shouted, "I’m not hurt! Just give him his medical bag!"

"Why do you need it if nothing’s wrong?"

Derek knew Piper’s curiosity was hooked and wouldn’t co-operate without an explanation. "All right!... We’re ... stuck together."

"How’s that?"

Derek didn’t know how to put it any more delicately. "We were making love and I ... got stuck ... inside her."

"What do you mean? You mean you ... you ..." She gasped as it dawned on her. "Oh my God! You ... you and she are ... are ...?"

"Stuck together! Yes! Now, could you ...?"

Piper burst into a fit of giggling. But she did drag Derek’s shoulderbag to the bedside before running out of the room. Derek reached in and took out his paramedic box. He set a kidney-shaped pan onto a nearby chair and took a surgical instrument with him back underneath the covers.

"Great! She’s gone to tell Prue. Now we’ll have two giggling sisters in here."

Phoebe moaned, "Yeah.... Great."

"Either that or one giggling sister and one sternly lecturing sister. Either way.... What we need is a place of our own; our own love nest."

"You mean your own place and I move in with you?"

"Not if you don’t want to. Just a place where we can be alone together (aside from the shack on my pickup); someplace roomy and comfortable, where we can just spend time together, without anyone walking in on us."

"So I can just shuttle back and forth between here and there?"

"Right. Whenever you need; whenever your want. It’ll all be on your terms. It’ll be like having two homes for you."

"Sounds great! When are you going to do this?"

"I can start looking today."

"Seriously?"

"Sure! I’ll start scouting the local real estate offices this morning and set up appointments to see places this afternoon; if possible. We still on for lunch?"

"Yes."

"Good! I can give you a progress report then. And If I can get any appointments for today, I’ll schedule them for after your afternoon class."

Prue walked in while Piper stood by the door, holding in her laughter. Hearing them come in, Derek muttered, "Here it comes."

Prue asked, "Is everything all right here?"

"Yes. We’re fine. I’ve got everything under control."

"You sure you’re qualified to do this?"

"Yes. This does happen to some couples, who then dial 911 and have to be separated by medical assistance. So paramedics are trained to do this. Usually we can just ride this out, but since you’re in a hurry to get someplace, I gotta perform this emergency operation."

"Usually? You mean this has happened before?"

"Yes. But when we’re not in any hurry, we just wait until her muscles inside relax and I can just slide out."

Embarrassed, Phoebe clenched her teeth and hissed, "You don’t have to give them all the details of our sex practices!"

Mockingly Derek hissed back, "I’m just assuring them that I’m not hurting you!" After a fumbling around under the blankets a little more, he finally declared, "There! It’s done." He reached out from under the covers and dropped a clamp-like tool into the kidney pan.

Piper snickered. Prue rebuffed, "Piper! Please!" Then to Phoebe, "We have less than a half hour to get started."

Derek sat up. "If we may have some privacy, I can be out in five minutes."

"Thank you." Then to Phoebe, "We barely have time for breakfast."

Derek muttered, "Anything but sausages."

Piper burst out laughing and ran from the room.

From under the blankets, Phoebe shouted, "Derek! Do you have to?"

Prue awkwardly bowed out. "Uh ... I’ll just ... wait then."

Downstairs, when she and Piper looked at each other, they nearly burst out laughing, but didn’t want Phoebe to hear. Prue doubled over, packing it in. Piper threw herself onto the sofa face down and laughed into the cushions.

In just a few minutes, Derek came downstairs fully dressed. "We still on for lunch?"

"Wouldn’t miss it," said Prue. "Is Phoebe almost ready?"

"Yeah. She’s just fittin’ the paper bag over her head."

From her bedroom door, Phoebe shouted, "Good-bye, Derek!"

Before heading out the door, he turned and called back, "Good-bye, Sugar Cake!"

"Don’t you ‘Sugar Cake’ me!"

Prue and Piper covered their mouths and ran to the kitchen, to laugh without being heard. Soon the three sisters were off to meet with this mystery witch. They drove to the place indicated on the map she had given to Piper. Phoebe sat in the backseat, in a big hat and sunglasses, with her head down. Prue’s protective nature couldn’t allow her to leave her that way. Besides, it wouldn’t be safe for her spirits to be down when walking into an unknown situation.

"Phoebe, I hope you’re not going to be embarrassed all day by what happened this morning. If I had a man that ... well endowed ... I’d be bragging about it all over town. I’d even take a picture of his ... um ... ‘equipment’ ... and carry a copy in my purse."

Piper was shocked. "Prue!"

"Well, I would!"

The two sisters laughed and soon Phoebe was laughing with them. From then on, she felt better. Leave it to big sis to pick her up when she’s feeling down.

They parked the car at the designated beach and walked to an old wharf. On the wharf, they walked by a row of empty shacks, comparing them to the map. They either boarded up, had "NO TRESPASSING" signs, or both. When they came to the one indicated on the map, Prue cautiously pushed the door open and they carefully walked into the darkness.

They milled around, trying to adjust to the dimness, when the door shut behind them and a bare lightbulb, hanging from the ceiling, was switched on. The light revealed worn grey wood everywhere; walls, shelves, benches, and boxes. The floor was a row of old slats, through which the rushing waves below could be heard. On a stack of crates sat their mystery woman.

"You’re late."

Prue played it hard. "We don’t owe you any favors. We’re just here to find out who you are and how you know about us."

"I am Nova -- Nova Kane."

Piper groaned. "Oh please!"

"I read about you in The Book of Shadows."

Phoebe jumped in. "Why all this sneaking around and meeting in secret?"

"Any gathering of witches can attract the attention of demons and warlocks."

Prue went on. "Why do want to join us? And join us in what way?"

"We have so much to contribute to one another. We can pool our powers and knowledge for our defense. We witches must work together, otherwise the forces of Evil can just pick us off one by one."

"Well, it’s true we help out each other, but we call on others for help only in extreme cases. All witches are well equipped for their own defense in most situations. So we don’t form any permanent organization."

Piper thought to ask, "Did your whitelighter counsel you to do this?"

"I don’t have one," said Nova. "But I will when I join you."

Prue wrapped it up. "If you’re ever in danger, which you can’t handle alone, we’ll be glad to help. But we’re not some club or army taking on new recruits. The only reason the three of us are together is that we were born sisters. There’s no room for any more."

Nova was not at all pleased with this. "If I can’t join you, you must know what it means to be against me."

She held out her arms and the walls of the shack burst into flames. Fire quickly spread to the floor and furniture, including where Nova sat. She vanished in the blaze. Soon the sisters found themselves on one small unburned patch of floor. Piper threw out her hands and stopped time inside the shed. The flames stood harmlessly still.

"All right. Let’s get out of here."

"Wait!" said Prue. "We can’t just let this place burn down. The fire could spread to the whole wharf and hot cinders, sent through the air, can spread the fire even further."

"But what can we do?"

Hearing the waves rushing below, Prue got an idea. She concentrated her power on the waters and began pulling them up to the wharf. She kept this up until the floor was soaked. "Okay. Unfreeze it."

Piper wiggled her fingers and restarted time. The fire raged high then quickly fizzled out. The floor hissed with steam and smoke. Some of the furniture and the walls continued to burn. Prue concentrated on the water under these spots and eventually all fires were out. However, the shack rapidly filled with smoke. The sisters ran out the door coughing and followed by a billowing cloud. They quickly made their way back to the car, wary of people standing around watching them. They immediately headed home.

Piper grumbled, "Great! Everybody saw us run from a burning building, marked ‘NO TRESPASSING’! We’re going to have the police hunting us down for arson!"

Phoebe assured, "Don’t worry! If they do track us down, we’ll just talk to Darryl. He’ll straighten everything out for us."

Prue advised, "We better talk with Darryl before ‘they track us down.’ It’ll make things a lot easier for him ... and us. And I don’t think we should be taking Darryl for granted. Let’s remember he is our friend."

"Oh no! I wasn’t taking him for granted! I was just saying that ... we can trust him to help us ... when we need it. Isn’t that what friends are for?"

"Uh-huh. And we should be helping him when he needs it. Since Andy’s death, Internal Affairs have found our relationship with Darryl questionable. So the more we ask of him, the more suspicion we draw to him. So let’s just tell him what happened and ask what we can do; not what he can do."

Piper asked, "What are we going to do about this witch who’s trying to kill us?"

Phoebe argued, "I don’t believe she was trying to kill us. She set the fire and left, knowing we have powers. If she wanted to kill us, she would have stayed and made sure she finished the job. So that was just a threat."

Prue pondered, "Doesn’t that sound familiar? -- A witch, who can start fires, wants to join us. Hasn’t that happened before?"

"Aviva! Right! Aviva caused fires and tried to force us to let her join us."

Piper brought up, "She was put up to it by a demon. You think this might be the same situation?"

"It’s possible," said Prue. "So next time we meet...."

"Next time? What do you mean next time? We’re not walking into another trap!"

"She’s not giving up. We’re going to run into her again, sooner or later. But, next time, it’ll be on our terms. The next time we get an invitation, we ignore it. That will force her to come to us, where we’ll be on familiar grounds."

Just as they got home, the telephone was ringing. Prue dashed in and picked it up. Morris’ voice came across. "Hello. Prue?"

"Darryl! We were just about to call you!"

"To tell me about a burning shed on a fishing pier?"

"Wow! News travels fast!"

"All right. What happened?"

"Someone asked us to meet her in that shed. When we got there, she set it on fire."

"And does this have anything to do with magic?"

"Yes. She’s a witch and wants to join us."

"Join you?"

"She thinks we’re some kind of club or organization. I tried to explain to her that we’re just a family (which is anything but organized), but she didn’t like that and, with a wave of her hand, she set everything on fire. We did put out the fire before we left."

"I’m sure the owner will appreciate that. All right. I’ll take care of it for you."

"Wait! Darryl! You’ve already taken care of so much for us already. Let us do this."

"Do what?"

"Fill out a report."

"You already have. You told me what happened. I’ll just take it all down."

"No. I mean coming down to the station and filling out a proper report ... and with Arson. You’re with Homicide."

"When a person set fire to a place, with people in it, that’s attempted murder, which clearly falls under my jurisdiction. Is there something wrong?"

"No. It’s just that Andy covered for us a lot and that drew the suspicions of Internal Affairs. We wouldn’t want you to go through that."

"Internal Affairs knows that you were very special to Andy and that Andy was my partner. There’s nothing suspicious about a police officer looking after his former partner’s friends."

"Well, you’re very special to us too. So we wouldn’t want to take you for granted."

Morris laughed. "You know? I’ve been worried about taking you for granted, after always calling you up whenever we get a weird case."

"Then we understand each other."

"All right. Come on down and report to a Lieutenant Shasko. He’ll take your statement."

"Thank you."

"No. Thank you."

When she hung up the phone, she told her sisters, "All right! Back in the car! Let’s go!"

"Go? Go where?"

"To the police station. We’ve got to fill out an arson report."

Piper and Phoebe moaned and groaned. "Awww! Do we have to?" "Does it have to be now?"

"Come on! No whining! Back in the car! Both of you! Come on! Now!"

It was a nice day to be in the park. But since it was a workday, not many people were out. So it was a perfect place and time for a private rendezvous. Nick, a man looking in his early 30s, came down a path flanked by hedges. He sat on a bench and unfolded a newspaper, keeping a lookout while reading. Soon Nova came down the path from the other direction. She sat on the bench across from him, folding her arms and looking miffed.

He noted this. "Didn’t go well, I take it."

"They didn’t give me a chance to tell them everything I can do for them. They just said ‘No’ right from the start."

"So what did you do?"

"I set the place on fire."

Nick looked up from his paper in surprize. "You didn’t!"

"They made me mad! They have no good reason why they shouldn’t let me join!"

"They do now! You just tried to kill them."

"I didn’t! I know they have powers and could get through a fire! But I just wanted to show what could happen if they don’t let me join them."

"Threats are not going to get you anywhere. It will make them resist you all the more and even fight against you."

"Well, what else am I suppose to do?"

"You’re suppose to use tact!"

"I don’t know how! That’s why I’ve asked you for help!"

"I coached you on what to say!"

"They didn’t give me a chance to say it! They just said ‘No’ and asked all sorts of questions! It was very confusing!"

"All right! All right. We’ll try this again. You’re writing them another letter. You will start off by apologizing. Then arrange another meeting with them."

Leo heard them coming up the front porch and unlocking the door. Piper was saying, "Good thing we got our stories straight before got there. They asked such detailed questions."

Phoebe concurred. "I know! Picky picky picky! And over and over again!"

Prue tried to explain, "It’s their job. They have to have all the details.... Oh! Hi, Leo."

Piper rushed to his arms. "Hi, Darling! Are you here just to see me? Or to warn us about the fire witch?"

Leo gave her a puzzled look. "The what?"

"A witch who starts fires. She lured us into a secret meeting, then set the place on fire."

Phoebe added, "Just like Aviva, she wants to join us. We don’t let her, she starts fires."

Leo demanded, "Wait! Wait! Back up! How did all this get started?"

Piper related, "She came to the club last night and told me she knows I’m a Charmed One and wants to become one of us. Then she left me this envelope with directions on where and when to meet her."

Prue continued, "I told her we’re not some kind of club, taking on new recruits, so she set the place on fire. We just got back from filling out an arson report at the police station."

Phoebe added, "She has a Book of Shadows but not a whitelighter."

Leo asked, "Who is she? Did she tell you her name?

Piper said, "She goes by the cheesy alias of ‘Nova Kane’. Can you imagine that? What witch would go around with such a campy alias?"

Phoebe propounded, "A witch with a past to hide."

"Exactly! And maybe an elder or another whitelighter would know that past."

Leo nodded. "Right. I’ll look into this. Meanwhile, avoid any further contact with her."

"We’ve already decided that."

"Good. I’ll be back...." He kissed her. "...For you." They kissed and he orbed out.

Phoebe looked at her watch. "We better get ready for our lunch date now."

Prue looked at the clock in surprize. "Already? An entire morning’s gone so soon?"

Piper quipped, "Sure! Time flies when you’re filling out police report after police report after police report."

Several large crystal chandeliers shine on the room of chairs and round tables. The wall to wall carpet is deep burgundy. Elegant pillars, painted gold, line the marble walls. In between them hang velvet drapes, in rich colors with gold trimming and bright yellow tassels. Classical music softly murmurs from a concealed sound system. The three sisters sat at a table, looking over the menus, dumbfounded by the prices. With a sigh they closed the menus and put them down.

Piper observed, "The cheapest item on the menu is $50. I’m going to feel bad about Derek picking up the tab for all of us."

Phoebe assured, "Don’t. He can pick up the tab for a dozen people in this place and lonely make a dent in this budget."

"It must be absolute heaven to have no money worries."

"He’s not without worry. He knows he can lose it all in an instant. So he keeps working hard."

Prue wondered, "Is that what’s keeping him? Or has he forgotten?"

"He wouldn’t forget. This is important to him. He knows I can kick his butt across the Bay if he does."

"This morning, when he was ... without his shirt, I just noticed a tattoo on his upper chest on the left side -- A circle with lines and squiggles in it. Do you know what that is?"

"That’s the seal of Ziku [Tsee-koo], the Sumerian god of hidden treasure. He found it fitting for a treasure hunter."

"When did he get that?"

"About six years ago, when he was on an archeological dig in the Middle East."

"Does he think it brings him luck or something?"

"I don’t know. He says it does."

Piper mused, "What should I tell her if she shows up again?"

"Who?"

"Our mystery witch. If she comes back to the club, should I tell her to get lost, ignore her, or give her a piece of my mind for what she did this morning?"

Prue counseled, "Let me talk with her. I’ll be at the club again. So if she shows up, just let me know."

Phoebe suggested, "Find out why she wants to join us. She might have some misconception of a life of power, praise, and glory. Let her know what it’s really all about. Or maybe she just wants a friend, like Aviva."

Piper grumbled, "Can’t you forget about Aviva?"

"No, I can’t. And we shouldn’t. We should learn from our experiences. Here we are, facing a situation similar to what we went through before. We should use what we’ve learned."

Prue concurred, "You’re right. I’ll keep that in mind when I talk to her."

They fell silent for awhile and gazed at the scene around them.

Suddenly Piper asked, "Is that Dan?"

Prue and Phoebe looked to where she was facing and scanned the faces in the crowd. Dan sat at a table, across the room, with a woman. With her back to them, all they could see of her was her long brown hair.

Prue confirmed, "Yes. That’s him."

Phoebe asked, "Are you going over to say ‘Hello’?"

Piper decided, "No. He looks like he’s having a good time with his date. Why spoil it all by dredging up painful memories?"

"Looks like his new business venture paid off, if he can afford to come here."

"Yes. He’s hit the big time. He deserves it ... after what I put him through."

Prue consoled, "It’s not your fault. It was an affair of the heart, which is unpredictable and uncontrollable."

They watched as Dan paid the bill then he and his date got up to leave. They went to the cloakroom and received the woman’s jacket. As Dan helped her put it on, she turned towards them and the sisters were shocked to see how closely she resembles Piper.

Phoebe remarked, "Looks like he never got over you."

As Dan and his date went to the door, it opened and Derek walked in, nearly running into them. (He was in his good suit rather than his usual khakis.) He and Dan shook hands and cheerfully spoke for awhile. He patted the woman on her shoulder and said something to her. Then the happy couple left. Derek spoke to the maitre d’, who led him to the table. He took a chair between Phoebe and Piper.

"Hope I didn’t keep you waiting long."

Piper came right out and asked, "You know Dan?"

"Your old neighbor? Yeah. I know Dan."

"From where?"

"Met him at a bar a few months ago. It started as a casual conversation until he found out that I know you. Then he poured out his heart no end on how he was so in love with you and how you dumped him for Leo. I felt so sorry for the guy, I invited him to a party, which I threw together afterwards. I asked all my invitees to bring as many women, who look like you, that they could find. You shoulda seen it. It was a Piper convention."

"You gave all your guests my description?"

"I faxed them all your picture. Anyhoo, Dan had a good time. He settled on Pamela and they’ve been very happy together ever since."

"So her name is Pamela."

Phoebe asked, "Derek, you did all that for someone you had just met?"

"Well, like I said, I felt sorry for him. I just can’t stand to see anyone lovesick. Whatever else I may be, most of all I’m a champion of lovers. Being a lover, I love lovers and do all I can for the cause of love."

Phoebe leaned her head on his shoulder. "Oh, Derek! That’s so sweet! You’re such an angel!"

"Lady, you’ve heard about my police records. I definitely ain’t no angel."

Piper paraphrased, "So you go around matchmaking."

"Yup. That’s about the size of it."

"Could you match up someone with Prue?"

Phoebe burst out, "Yeah! Find someone for Prue!"

Prue loudly cleared her throat. "Excuse me! I believe Prue can find someone for Prue!"

Piper countered, "Well, Prue can use a little help, since Prue hasn’t been doing so well for the past few years."

"Years? It hasn’t been years! It’s only been ... a few ... months."

Derek said, "Sure, I can find someone for Prue. What was your last boyfriend like? Oh wait! Andy was your last boyfriend. Would you like someone like Andy?"

"No, I would not like someone like Andy!"

Piper suggested, "She wants someone like Bane."

Phoebe agreed, "Right! Get someone like Bane!"

Prue slumped over with resignation and hid her face behind her menu.

Derek asked, "Bain who?"

Piper said, "Tall-dark-and-handsome Bane, with big muscles, curly dark hair, and bedroom eyes."

"What became of him?"

"He’s in jail. He may be there for some time."

"I know a Bain in jail. Which Bain is he?"

Phoebe answered, "Bane Jessup. You know him?"

"Naw. I was thinking of Bain Herrman -- tall, muscular, with a handlebar mustache; a truck driver from Mississippi. He’s usually in jail for getting into fights in bars; like me. So, you have a picture of him?"

"No. You might want to look over some old wanted posters."

Finally Prue demanded, "Could we get on with the business of lunch? I only have 40 more minutes to get to work!"

During the meal, Phoebe noticed that Derek was unusually silent. "What are you thinking?"

"Hmmm?... Oh.... A phone call I gotta make after lunch."

"Business again?"

"Well, ... Yes! Our business, in fact. It has to do with the search for our lovenest."

"Oh! Right! How’s that coming?"

"I’ve got two appointments for this afternoon. And that call, I was thinking of, is for tomorrow."

"That was fast!"

"Just gotta know who to talk to."

Piper cut in, "What? A lovenest? What’s going on?"

Phoebe explained, "Because of the embarrassment we suffered this morning, Derek has been looking for a place where we can have more privacy."

"Are you moving out?"

"No. I’ll just spend some time there. Derek says it will be like having two homes."

Prue warned, "That means twice the responsibilities, doing your share of chores for two houses."

"I’m sure I can organize my time to do both just as well."

Derek offered, "You can let slide chores at my place. A bachelor’s pad is not known for its cleanliness."

"Oh no! I’m not living in a pig sty."

"I have. It’s really not that bad."

The sisters laughed, realizing he was talking about the farm where he grew up.

When they finished with lunch, Prue and Piper thanked Derek and went off to their jobs. Derek dropped Phoebe off at the university with the arrangement of returning for her after her class. At the American Psychic Society, he went up the uppermost room of the Southeast tower, which serves as his office. He went through an address book, found a telephone number, and dialed it.

"Casey! It’s Derek!"

"Well, howdy, Cowboy! Whatcha up to?"

"Just calling in a favor."

"Uh-oh! What’s this going to cost me?"

"Not a cent, old friend. Not a damn cent. In fact, this will save the taxpayers a lot of money so you’ll come away the hero."

"All right! I’m interested!"

He stands tall with massive chest and shoulders. His hair and beard are bushy, which would have made him a laughable figure if not for his tall stature and cold piercing eyes. No one laughs at Trindo Blinnyworm. He is one of the most powerful demons on the High Council. He stood red-robed between two other demons. Before him, a figure in a black robe and hood, cowered on his hands and knees.

"I’ve discovered ... a flaw in my plan. The witch, whom I chose to infiltrate the Charmed Ones, has no tact or sense of strategy. One rash action, on her part, has put them on their guard."

"So what is your alternative?"

"No alternative, Lord. I will continue the plan. She will meet with them tomorrow with a renewed approach."

"Will it work this time?"

"Yes, Lord. This time she can begin to dispel any doubts she has caused."

"Very well. Then today has only been a minor setback."

"Thank you, Lord! You are so gracious!"

"Don’t snivel at me, Nequitus! I can’t stand it! Now, how long will this take?"

"I’m not sure. It could take a month...."

"A month? I’m giving you a week!"

"But, Lord, that won’t be enough time to gain their trust enough to...!"

"Then change your plan! As new field Marshall in our war against the Charmed Ones, I will not let this drag on and on endlessly as have my predecessors! They have long been a problem to us! If you fail me after seven more days, you become a problem to me! And I needn’t tell you how I deal with my problems!"

"N-n-no, Lord! I won’t fail you! I promise! Within the week I will have their Book of Shadows."

"This is not your primary concern, Nequitus! Once they are dead, you may plunder all that is theirs. But their death is to be your main goal! YOUR PRIME DIRECTIVE IS TO KILL!!!"

At the P3, Piper and her employees were going through another day’s routine of preparing the club for another evening. There was a pounding at the front door and one of the workers went upstairs to answer it. Piper wondered who it could be, when the worker came back down.

"Delivery!" he announced.

She heard something heavy coming down the stairs. "Delivery? I’m not expecting anything today. Delivery of what?"

"Surprize delivery!" Derek called out as he came down. Phoebe was at his side. Behind them three burly men carefully lowered hand trucks piled high with crates.

Piper asked, "What have we here?"

Derek announced, "Gen-u-wine Southern moonshine, from Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi; four cases of each! Courtesy of Ends of the Earth."

"You mean you’re ... just ... giving them to me?"

"Call it an experiment. My business tests out the market on the West Coast and your business gets free booze. It’s a win-win situation."

"Right! I see. Thank you. You’ve given so much already. I still can’t get over lunch. One bottle of wine for $500! I never drank $500 worth wine in one meal before!"

"Think nothing of it. Mere pennies to me. Mere pennies."

"Oh, I wish I had your pennies!"

The deliverers unburdened their hand trucks and the P3 employees began moving the boxes to storage. Derek signed a few papers for the deliverymen.

While this was going on, Phoebe leaned over to Piper and muttered, "Have you heard from our fire witch yet?"

"No. But I thought that might be her, when you knock on the door a minute ago. I started rehearsing in mind what I was going to say to her."

The delivery men went back upstairs and Derek rejoined the sisters. Piper changed the subject. "So, how goes the hunt for your ‘love nest’?"

Phoebe said. "We’ve only seen one place so far."

"How was it?"

"It was all right but ... it just didn’t feel right to Derek."

Derek explained, "It just didn’t grab me."

Piper asked, "Well, what does ‘grab you’?"

"The place has got to have a special feeling. It’s got to have a life to it. It’s appearance and locale means nothing without a soul. Without a soul, it’s only stone and timber but not a home."

Phoebe commented to Piper, "Pretty poetic for a farm boy, huh?"

Derek asked, "Farmers can’t be poetic?"

"Sure. About how pretty their hogs are and how good their mothers’ apple pies taste. But about the soul of a house?"

Piper giggled.

Derek raised an eyebrow. "You’ve got a lot to learn about me."

Phoebe concurred, "I know. So start teaching."

"Come on. We’ve got another appointment."

Phoebe told Piper, "We have another place to see."

"Well, good luck! Will you be here tonight?"

"Yes. We still need to discuss more about ... uh ... our ‘new friend’."

"Right!"

In a large library, Nova walked over to the section on the occult. She cautiously looked around while pulling out a book and pretended to read it. In a little while, Nick’s voice came between the books, from the other side of the shelves.

"Did you send the letter?"

"No."

"When will you?"

"I don’t know. Probably never."

"Why? Are you giving up?"

"I already blew it. They’ll never listen to me again."

"They will listen to you! You just have to be persistent! That way they know that you’re really serious about this!"

"They won’t see it as persistence! They’ll see it as being a pest!"

"You came to me, asking for help in making friends; special friends. That’s what I’m doing. Maybe the reason you don’t have friends is that you give up too easily. You automatically think people don’t like you, without giving them a chance to know you. Show some ambition and they will know you as an ambitious person. Everyone admires that in a friend."

"I can’t help feeling that I’ve already ruined everything."

"Don’t let your feelings get in the way. Try, Nova. What’s the worst that can happen?"

"All right. I’ll do it tonight. I’ll arrange the meeting for tomorrow noon."

That evening, Leo entered the P3. Seeing it wasn’t very busy, he looked forward to spending more time with Piper. He went to her at the bar and they greeted each other with a smile and a kiss. Piper went right down to business.

"What did you find on our Miss ‘Nova Kane’?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Did you really look?"

"Yes! I’ve asked as many as I could ... up there. No one knows anyone by that name."

"Well, did you let them know that it’s an alias? Didn’t they look into any witches or warlocks, by that description, who have disappeared and may be resurfacing with a new identity? Or a warlock or demon, who moves around under different names?"

"All that was considered. Still no one knows."

"Doesn’t that concern them that there’s a witch running around that none of them know?"

"It does. So they’re leaving it to you."

"What?!"

"She came to you, wanting to attach herself to your family. So you’re in a better position to investigate what she is."

"I ask for a bit of information and you come back with a mission for us? Thank you very much!"

"Piper! Remember! Everything happens for a reason. The reason this person approached you is so that you can learn something new. Something about her, something about yourselves, something important."

"All right. The troops are all here. Let’s have a briefing."

She led him to a corner where Prue and Phoebe sat. Leo was disappointed that instead of some time with him, Piper spent the rest of the evening discussing strategy with her sisters.

At closing time, when the last of the customers left, a worker came back down after locking the front door. He presented Piper with an envelope.

"Someone asked me to give this to ‘the owners’."

"Thank you." She turned to her sisters and Leo, holding it up. "She’s at it again."

She put it down on the bar and Phoebe picked it up. On touching it, a vision suddenly flashed into her head. She saw Nova struggling with a man, who drew back a knife and thrust it into her. The others saw her reaction and waited for an explanation.

"She’s going to be killed by a warlock!"

"Are you sure?" asked Piper.

"I saw him use an athame. Only a warlock would do that, to steal a witch’s powers." She tore open the envelope and read the letter. "She wants us to meet her tomorrow noon at the Civic Center Plaza. She says she knows we won’t trust her again in a secret place, so we can meet in the open, where she won’t make a scene in front of so many people."

Prue said, "Mr Corso is not going to give me another morning off, so forget it."

"Then I’ll go alone."

"No, you won’t!"

"Just to warn her! I won’t make any deals or compromise our position in any way. We just can’t let another witch be killed. We’ve lost so many already. And the warlock will steal her fire-starting powers and come after us next."

Piper offered, "I’ll go too and look after her."

Leo suggested, "Why not deliver your terms for a meeting while you’re at it?"

Prue acquiesced. "All right. Meeting out in the open is a good idea, but not during my work hours. I’ve endangered my job at Bucklands too many time, by taking so much time off. I’m not doing that with this job."

The plaza is lined with large square stones and surrounded by a low white adobe wall. Along the west side, trees loom over the walls, providing shade. It was noon so many city employees were out, having lunch there. All benches were full so many sat on the walls. Phoebe and Piper had arrived early to get good positions for their meeting. Phoebe spread out a blanket in a corner and sat on the ground. At a short distance, Piper sat on the wall, wearing a wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and a pastel lavender jacket, and hiding her face behind a fashion magazine.

Nova arrived on time. She also hid behind sunglasses and under a wide hat. (But she was not in her usual red. She wore a white sleeveless blouse, off-white cotton pants, ivory sandals, and a sky-blue scarf around her neck, and she carried a white drawstring purse with gold trimming.) Phoebe stood up to let her see her. Nova did and came over to her blanket. Phoebe made room for both to sit. They sat together, looking around in awkward silence for awhile.

Finally Nova asked, "Where are your sisters?"

"Not here. And I’m here only to warn you."

"Warn me of what?"

"I had a vision of you being killed by a warlock."

Nova looked at her and thought it over. "You expect me to believe that?"

"You know that I’m one of the Charmed Ones and I have the power of prediction."

"So now what am I suppose to do?"

"You’re suppose to change your plans for today. Avoid the places where a warlock knows you’ll be. Go somewhere where others can protect you. Do you have any family of friends nearby?"

"No.... I’m new in the area and it’s not easy finding other witches for friends."

"I know where you can go for that. I’ll even take you there and introduce you around."

"Why would you do this for me after what I just did yesterday?"

"None of us believe you deserve to die for it."

A young man, who had been eyeing Piper, came over and sat next to her. "I haven’t seen you around here before. Are you new here?"

She looked at him through her sunglasses and faked her best foreign accent. "Yezz, dahling. I am toureest. I am only veeseeting."

"Are you traveling alone?"

"No. I am weeth beeg strong boyfriend, who can ... how you say eet ... ‘clean your clock’ eef he find you bothering me."

He laughed. "Oh, that’s a good one! But I’ve heard it before."

He went on talking to her, as she pretended to be preoccupied with her magazine while keeping an eye on Phoebe and Nova.

Nova was asking, "Why aren’t your sisters here?"

"This is not a good time for them. They are willing to meet with you but on their terms. Right now our concern is to keep you from meeting that warlock?"

"What warlock? Now explain to me this vision of yours."

"After you left your latest message at our club, I touched the envelope and saw you being stabbed by a man. He was using an athame; a kind of knife we use for rituals and warlocks use for stealing witches’ powers. So if he kills you, he’ll take over your power to start fires."

"And that’s what concerns you?"

"What concerns us is loosing a fellow witch."

"So, you will let me join you?"

"We have helped many witches without them ‘joining’ us. Prue will talk to you about that when we make an arrangement. Meanwhile, the sooner we get out of here the better. That warlock could be right here, watching us. Did you come in your car?"

"No, I took the bus."

"Then you’ll ride with us."

"Us?"

They got up and folded up the blanket. Seeing this, Piper looked at her watch. "I must go now." She shifted around on the wall, got off on the other side, and headed through the trees.

The man, who had been sitting with her, called after her, "Wait! Will you at least let me know your name? I’m Warren Mercer."

Piper turned and, still using her fake accent, called back, "I am Catalina de Tocqelaine."

She went through the trees to the other side of the block, where her car was parked. She took off her hat, sunglasses, and jacket and stuffed them under the front seat. Then she sat behind the steering wheel and again pretended to read her magazine. Phoebe led Nova to the car and they got into the back seat.

Nova recognized Piper and turned to Phoebe. "I thought you...!"

Phoebe cut in, "We just came to warn you of danger. Only one of us was needed for that. All three of us will be together to address your requests."

Piper asked, "Where to?"

"The American Psychic Society."

"Why there?"

"Nova is new in town and wants to meet new witch friends."

Piper muttered under her breath, "Funny way of going about it." She started the engine and headed out in that direction. Then she asked (out loud), "By the way, what is your real name? I mean, what parents would name their kid ‘Nova Kane’?"

Nova explained, "I don’t like my real name. A friend suggested the change in starting a new life in San Francisco."

Phoebe asked, "And what’s her name?"

"Him. It’s Nick -- Nick O Teen."

Piper muttered, "Oh great! Another one!"

"He’s helped a lot in getting settled and trying to make new friends; especially with you."

Phoebe asked, "Is he also a witch?"

"No. But he is very knowledgeable in the supernatural. He’s the one who told me about you."

"I thought you said you read about us in The Book of Shadows."

"Uh ... Oh!... Yes.... I did. But ... uh ... he told me first, then I read the details in the book."

"So what’s your real name?"

"I really don’t like me real name! It’s so dippy!"

"Everyone goes through a period in their lives, in which they hate their names. It’s usually due to self-esteem issues or insecurities. But these things pass. Don’t throw away your birth name over a temporary problem. I’d like to introduce you to my friends by your real name. Good friendships begin with honesty."

She reluctantly gave in. "All right.... It’s ... Cherry -- Cherry Domingo."

"That’s such a cool name! What’s wrong with it?"

"You haven’t heard it all your life."

"I’m sure you’re new friends will love it. It’s sound much better than ‘Nova Kane’. Don’t you think so, Piper?"

Piper concurred. "Yes! I do!" Then she muttered under breath, "Anything would be much better."

The telephone was ringing when Prue got home from work. She quickly put everything down and snatched it up. She heard Phoebe’s voice saying, "I thought you’d be home by now."

"How did it go?"

"She listened and we brought her to the American Psychic Society."

"Why there?"

"As I figured, she was just lonely. She’s new in town and has a hard time making friends."

"And how’s she doing now?"

"Great! A lot of people have taken to her and she’s enjoying being the center of attention. You know? I’m thinking that this whole thing is a self-esteem issue. She probably thinks that joining the Charmed Ones will make her someone special. But maybe making new friends here can teach her that she’s special enough as she is."

"Let’s hope so. Meanwhile, what do we do about this meeting she wants with us?"

"We can have it here. There are conference rooms where we can have privacy. Come on over."

"No! You know how I hate coming over to that place!"

"You don’t have to go under the Medusa mask!"

"It’s not just that! I don’t like everyone staring at me whenever I enter a room."

"Now you’re just being paranoid."

"I am not! I swear! Whenever I go into a room full of people, everyone stops what they’re doing and turns around to look at me! I feel as if they can see our secrets in my head! It creeps me out! Is Piper there?"

"No. She went to the club to get it ready for tonight."

"Then that’s where we’ll meet. Bring her to our private room at the club."

It was another busy night at the P3. Piper raced around with her employees, trying to keep her customers from waiting long. Phoebe gave a hand, leaving Derek waiting on the side for some time with her. In a private niche, behind red curtains, Prue and Cherry sat on comfortable sofas.

Cherry was relating, "My parents died when I was very young. I was shuttled from one foster home to another; labeled as a ‘problem child’. It was my friend, Nick, who helped me discover that I’m a witch. He told me about the Charmed Ones and told me I would be safer joining you."

Prue explained, "As you have seen, we’re willing to protect you when you’re in danger. But once the danger passes, you have got to get out on your own and live your own life. As I said before, we are not some kind of club; we just happen to be family. We let other witches ‘join’ us in certain situations; when we need their help or they need ours. But, in most cases, we can handle things ourselves; or even just one of us. Phoebe is at that Psychic Society nearly every day. So she can tell you whenever we need your help or when you need ours. You know by now what a sincere person she is."

"Yes. I know now. It wasn’t my idea to join you in the first place. Nick kept pushing me. He’s so concerned about me not having any witches for friends."

"Now tell me about this Nick. When we first met, you told us you know about us from The Book of Shadows. Now you’re saying he told you about us."

"He told me to say that. He said that anyone can come up to you and say ‘I’m a witch’. But if I mention The Book of Shadows, that would convince you."

"Well you certainly convinced us with that demonstration of your power."

"I’m really sorry about that. Nick always warns me about my temper. He’s been trying to teach me protocol and tact, but with no luck."

"What is Nick exactly? Where did you meet him?"

"He’s an expert in the occult. I met him at a metaphysical bookstore. He said I had the power. I didn’t believe him at first, but he had me read a spell out loud which awakened my powers and my realization of who I am. Then he warned me that I’m in danger from demons and warlocks, so convinced me to change my name and join you."

"I’d like to meet him. Could you let him know that?"

"Sure. But it’ll have to be in secret. He’s so afraid that if demons or warlocks find out he’s helping witches, they’ll kill him."

"Let him know he has our full protection."

Coming to an agreement, they left the hidden room and joined the rest of humanity.

Piper continued rushing around the packed club, seeing to everyone’s needs. At one point, she nearly collided with Warren. She was shocked to come face to face with him and turned around, rushing off in another direction. But he followed close behind.

"Catalina!"

"No!"

"Catalina! Remember me? We met this afternoon by City Hall!"

"No! I’m not her!"

"Sure you are. I recognize you even without the sunglasses and phony accent."

"I’m busy! Go away!"

"What’s the matter? Afraid your big strong boyfriend is going to hurt me?"

Piper stopped and turned around, fuming. "Look, Mister! I own this establishment! I could have you thrown out!"

"I just want to know why you lied to me."

"I was doing undercover work!"

"You a cop?"

"No! I’m a citizen volunteer!"

Warren then found himself flanked by Prue and Phoebe.

Prue warned, "Look, Buster! We don’t like clowns coming in off the street and harassing our sister! Our advice to you is knock it off!"

Phoebe added, "Or we’ll introduce you to the sidewalk outside -- face first!"

He looked at them then to Piper. "Wow! Love your bouncers!"

Prue asked Piper, "Do you want us to just toss him out?"

Piper shook her finger at him. "If you just order a drink, sit quietly, and not bother me for the rest of the evening, you can stay! Otherwise...!"

Warren threw his hands up. "All right! All right. I’ll order a light beer, sit down, and leave you alone. Promise!"

"All right. You can pick up your drink at the bar." She walked off.

Warren looked back and forth between Prue and Phoebe, rubbing his hands together. "Well. Since your sister is so busy, perhaps one of you could...."

Phoebe pointed at Prue. "Hit on her. She hasn’t had a date in a long time."

Prue forced a laugh. "Someone else is about to meet the sidewalk face first." And she walked off.

Then Warren said to Phoebe, "So that leaves you."

Phoebe threw her hands up. "Spoken for! Here with a date! However...." She turned and called, "Hey, Cherry! Can you come over here for a minute?"

Warren watched as she made her way through the crowd. He saw soft white skin, long charcoal-black hair, deep dark eyes, and lips as red as the dress that flowed around her curves. He saw how her body turned and swayed as she walked. He liked what he saw coming his way.

Phoebe whispered to him, "Quick! What’s your name?"

"Warren Mercer."

When Cherry reached them, Phoebe told her, "This is Warren Mercer; a ... an acquaintance of Piper. She and I are too busy right now to entertain him. So could you please keep him company for awhile?"

"Sure."

"Warren, this is Cherry Domingo. She’ll be ... keeping you from getting lonely."

They walked together to the bar as Phoebe returned to Derek. Prue joined them.

"Why did you do that?"

"She wants new friends. He wants a date."

"But are they right for each other?"

"That’s for them to decide. You can’t always tell by first impressions."

"Are you trying to be a ‘champion of lovers’ like Derek?"

"It is a nice feeling to bring people together for love."

Derek gave her an exuberant hug. "My little girl doin’ me proud!"

After the P3 was closed and cleaned up, the sisters took Cherry to their home. They conferred over arrangements.

Prue asked, "So what do we do with her? Does she sleep in a guest room or should one of us share a room to watch over her?"

Phoebe explained, "In my premonition, she was fully dressed. So once we get her into a set of pajamas or a nightie, she’ll be safe."

Piper brought up, "But might our intervention change things? So she still could be in danger no matter what she is wearing."

As they discussed this among themselves, Cherry quietly stole away. She carefully climbed the stairs and made her way to the attic. Finding the door unlocked, she turned on the light and went in. She went straight to the bookstand and gazed with wonder at the venerable tome resting upon it. Pulling open the front cover, she looked with awe at the title page -- "THE BOOK OF SHADOWS". She ran her fingers over the lettering, taking in the thrill of touching such a source of power. She began turning the pages, running her fingers over the letters as she read them.

A voice came from behind. "At last!"

She whirled around. "Nick! How did you get in here?"

"Your new friends let me in. I told them I know you, so they allowed me to come in. I knew you’d be here, since I instructed you to come here as soon as you got into their house."

"But what are they doing now? Why aren’t they here with you?"

"They have other things to attend to. Go on! Keep turning the pages. I want to see how different this one is from the others I’ve seen. Each one is different, you know. I just love seeing the differences. They’re so fascinating!"

She stepped back. "Well, go ahead. You can ...."

"Oh no! I am not fit to touch such a magnificent piece of work! But you are a witch. You are destined to hold it."

She continued turning the pages as he eagerly looked on. At one point, he called, "Stop! Right there!"

She looked and wondered, "Why this one?"

"Well, ... This is could be used against you.... So you need to learn it ... to protect yourself."

Downstairs, as the sister were still in discussion, Piper asked, "Where did she go?"

They looked around and noticed she was not in the room. They went out in the main hall and saw her purse on the stairs. Phoebe went to pick it up. On touching it, she received the vision again. This time, she recognized the background.

"She’s in the attic! He’s there too!"

They all rushed upstairs. Bursting through the door, they found Cherry and Nick standing before the opened book.

Piper ventured, "Let me guess! Mr Nick O Teen!"

"Just seeing that my friend is safe."

Cherry looked around in surprize. "But I thought ...! You said that ...!"

Phoebe demanded, "And what is your real name?"

He declared, "I am Nequitus! I am the warlock who is going to kill you."

Prue raised a hand to use her power, but Nequitus was quicker. Throwing out a hand, his power paralyzed them. Rooted to the spot they couldn’t move or speak.

From the open book, he began to chant:

Your time has passed.

I know you not.

Here you are lost.

Go from me now.

Cherry seized the book. "What are you doing? You said you’d help me get them as friends!"

He pushed her away and they began to struggle. He pulled out an athame and stabbed her. She fell to the floor, gasping and wheezing, and clutching her wound. The sisters despaired at hopelessly watching another witch die for them. Nequitus returned to the book and the spell.

Find your new place.

There, look upon a loved one’s face.

Rewind the threads of a life now passed.

Cherry pulled together all her strength and threw out her hands. The warlock burst into flames. He writhed and screamed in the fire. Before disintegrating completely, he shouted out his defiance. "I am not the last! He will send more until one of us destroys you all!"

When he was completely ashes, his power over the sisters vanished. They rushed to Cherry’s side.

Piper cried out, "Leo! Leo!"

Phoebe desperately urged, "Hang on, Cherry! Hang on! Help is on the way!"

Soon Leo orbed in. Piper begged him, "Hurry! Heal her!"

Leo rushed to her side and held his hands over her wound. A warm glow shone from his hands and slowly the wound began to disappear.

Back downstairs, Cherry was explaining to them, "He told me to go straight to the attic, when I got into your house. He said he just wanted to see it because of his interest in the occult. I really didn’t know what he really was. I just don’t understand how he got into the attic."

Phoebe explained, "Warlocks can ‘blink’; moving instantly from one place to another. He probably scout out our house that way and found where we keep our Book of Shadows. Then once he saw you turn on the attic light, he blinked himself up there."

"But why did he make me go through all that? Couldn’t he have just done it himself?"

Leo explained to all of them, "Since evil can’t touch it, he needed a witch to handle it for him. Once he used a spell from it to kill the Charmed Ones, he could handle it all he wanted and wouldn’t need anyone to do if for him anymore. Then he could have gone on to use it against all witches, even warlock and demons. He could have been the most powerful warlock ever."

"And I almost made it happen."

Phoebe consoled, "It’s not your fault! You’re a new witch and he tricked you."

Piper added, "If we could tell you all the times we were fooled by a warlock, it would take days; even weeks."

Prue asked, "Do you know what he meant by ‘He will send more’? Did he mention to you anyone he worked with?"

Cherry shook her head. "All he talked about was me. It was suppose to be all about me. And I was so full of myself, I fell right into it."

Phoebe confessed, "I went through a period like that and it also trapped me many times."

Then Prue asked, "Cherry, do you have anything your parents handed down to you?"

"There are some things in storage in Santa Barbara, to be released to me on my 21st birthday. That was six months ago, but I’ve was never really interested in that."

Phoebe urged, "You should go get it! If you’re a witch, then your mother was a witch and would have passed onto you all you need to carry on for her. She may even have left you your own

Book of Shadows."

Leo informed, "You will be getting your own whitelighter tomorrow morning. Actually this morning ... in a few hours. So go home, get some sleep, and when you awake, your whitelighter will meet you. First thing, go with her to Santa Barbara and pick up your parents’ things. She’ll go over them with you and explain what they are and how to use them."

"Her?"

"Her name is Carlotta. You’ll love her."

Phoebe assured, "And wherever you decide to settle, in Santa Barbara or here, we can always stay in touch."

"Oh, I’m coming back here. Warren is taking me out this weekend."

Phoebe felt so thrilled for her. "Now you see that? You can make friends! You just have to believe in yourself!"

Piper cut in, "I hate to rain on anyone’s parade, but aren’t we forgetting something?" They looked at her in puzzlement. "We reported her to the police! Remember?"

Phoebe countered, "But we reported her as ‘Nova Kane’. She doesn’t go by that name anymore."

"And we also gave a full description. We even had a composite sketch made out."

Phoebe thought about this awhile. "I can handle this." She took a card out of her purse, went to the telephone, and dialed the number on the card. "Hello? ... Yes.... This is Phoebe Halliwell. My sisters and I gave an arson report to Lieutenant Shasko two days ago. He said that if we remember any other detail to report them in. Well, we just remember more details.... Yes.... Sure... She had a scar, running down from under her right eye to just beside her mouth.... She walked with a slight limp.... On her left leg.... And she spoke with an accent.... Russian, I think.... Or Polish.... Slavic! Right! That’s it!... No, that’s it.... Yes, I know those are very important details.... But it all happened so fast and we were so scared.... Right!... Right!... Exactly!.... Okay!... Oh, You’re welcome! No problem at all!" She hung up the phone and turned to the others in triumph. "That takes care of that!"

The following afternoon, Phoebe was just getting home from school. As she came through the front door, Piper held out the telephone to her. "It’s Derek."

Phoebe snatched it up and gave a cheery "Hi!"

"Hi, Sugar Plum! Got me a place!"

"Great! Where is it?"

"Portrero Cannery."

"What?!"

"I’m having the cannery renovated into a business off ice with residential quarters."

"You’re crazy!"

"It’ll be divided into three levels. The lower, which is the haunted area, will be business offices. The middle will be living quarters; including sections for guests. The upper will be storage; including a library and menagerie."

"You’re crazy!"

"Oh come on, Lady! I’ve got great plans for this place! I can make it work!"

"But isn’t it dangerous with that time fissure there?"

"It’s only in one area. I’ll have that sectioned off to keep people out."

"And that’s such a shabby area! I’d hate to come over there very often."

"I’ve been talking around to other entrepreneurs, convincing them to also buy abandoned property and renovate them into businesses and residences. All those buildings are still structurally sound and can be made into something useful. I’m going to get all of Steamer Street revitalized."

Phoebe could tell that Derek was very excited about all this and there was no talking him out of it. "I still think you’re crazy."

"I’m crazy for you, Babe. And I’ll build us a nest we’ll both love. I promise you. Now could you put Prue on the phone?"

"Why Prue?"

"I’d like to offer her the opportunity to photograph the place before I rip its guts out."

"Ew! Do you have to put it that way?"

She took the phone downstairs to the basement, where Prue was working in her darkroom.

"Derek? To me?" Prue wondered.

"He’s gone insane. Be careful."

"Hello?"

"Howdy, Prue. I’m having that cannery on Steamer Street revitalized and would like to offer you first shot at photographing it before it’s changed forever. It’s not exactly a historical monument, but it will make an interesting article for your magazine or at least a great addition to your portfolio. Besides, I would like a few pictures of it for myself and will pay for them."

"Uh ... Right!... Thanks.... But ... isn’t it ... dangerous there?"

"Only at night. There’s still plenty of daylight left and my designer and I will be here. So if you’re not too busy right now, ...."

"No. Not too busy. I’ll be over in a few minutes."

"The door is open. Come right on in."

Prue parked across the street from Portrero Cannery, right behind Derek’s red Bentley. She got out and slung her photography bag onto her shoulder. Standing in the middle of the street, she scrutinized the structure’s facade. Looking up and down the street, she noticed, even under the sunshine and blue sky, it’s deathly silence and dreariness. All the buildings were white like bleached bones. It was like looking at the remains of a long dead giant.

Prue took out one of her cameras and examined the building through its viewfinder. She took out her light meter and took readings. Moving up and down the street, she took several shots of the subject at different angles. When she felt she had enough of the outside, she went through the open door.

"Hello! Derek?"

It took a while for her eyes to adjust to the dimness. She soon noticed someone standing by the wall. He held up what looked like blueprints, so she couldn’t see his face. But she could tell by the pressed slacks and good shoes that this was not Derek.

She went up to him. "Excuse me, sir. Do you know ...?"

He lowered the papers, revealing his face. Prue nearly went into shock. "Bane!"

"Hello, Prue."

Then Derek entered the area. "Ah! I see you’ve met my designer. Good! Now I’ve got more business elsewhere, so I’ll leave you two to your jobs. Make sure you lock up when you leave."

Prue didn’t hear a word he said. She was so lost into gawking dumbfoundedly at this big beautiful man in front of her.

Derek went to the door and called back, "And watch out for that guy! He’s a very dangerous criminal!" And he left.

Bane tried again. "Hello, Prue."

"Uh ... Uh ... Bane! It’s ... you! It’s really you! You’re really here!"

"It’s really me. I’m really here."

"But how?"

"Derek pulled some strings with friends in high places and got me out on a work release program."

"For how long?"

"As long as I stay out of trouble."

Prue jumped into his waiting arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and they locked their lips together. She felt his large strong arms wrap around her torso and tenderly caress her. His large warm hands strayed all around. Tingling shot up and down her spine, so that she bent her knees, lifting her feet completely off the floor. She felt hot sparks swirl around inside her chest and belly.

"I’ve waited so long for this -- so long!"

"So have I. I never stopped thinking of you since I went back in."

"And I’ve never forgotten you since you left."

"Listen.... There’s a room nearby ... with a bed. It doesn’t have any sheets; just a blanket and...."

"Let’s go!"

[Next Episode: The Fear of Blood]

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