CHARMED
"The Golden Grimoire"
By J. B. Tilton
With Teresa Thibeault
Email: K+
Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
(Authors' note: This story takes place between season 5 episodes "Happily Ever After" and "Siren Song".)
The Charmed Ones and Leo have to enlist Cole's aid to stop a demon from gaining an ancient tome that that will give it unlimited power and make it virtually unstoppable.
PRELUDE
The young man opened the door and walked into the office. Sitting behind a desk was an older gentleman sporting a beard and mustache. The younger man walked up to the desk holding what appeared to be an ancient manuscript.
"Professor Gant," said the young man.
"Ah, Chase," said the older man, looking up from the papers he was reading, "what brings you to my office this time of night?"
"It's the Voynich Manuscript," said Chase, indicating the manuscript he was holding. "You gave me permission to try my hand at translating it."
"Yes," said Gant. "Almost every doctorate student I've had has tried to translate that document. In fact, since it was discovered in 1912 by Wilfred Voynich many scholars have attempted to translate it. All without success I'm afraid. I'm sure you're aware that there is some speculation that it's not even genuine."
"Yes, sir, I'm aware of that," said Chase. "But I figured it wouldn't hurt to have a shot at it. I can't do any worse than anyone else has."
"Well, that's certainly true," said Gant. "Was there something you wanted to ask me about the manuscript?"
"Yes, sir," said Chase. "I was wondering if I might borrow it for a while. Not long. Just long enough to make a copy of it so I can work on it in my spare time at home."
"There are copies available in the library," said Gant.
"Yes, sir, I know that," said Chase. "But I thought maybe a fresh copy might make it easier to decipher. The copies we have are several years old. I was thinking of scanning it into my computer. I have some programs that might bring out something that a copy doesn't."
"Well," said Gant thoughtfully, "I don't suppose it could hurt. How long will you need to have it out?"
"Only a couple of days," said Chase. "I promise to take very good care of it. I can have it back as soon as I'm finished with it."
"That should be fine," said Gant. "Just remember. Even if it is a fake it still has a certain historical value to it if nothing else. I'm sure you'll take very good care of it."
"I will," said Chase.
Chase turned and left the office. Outside in the hallway another man waited for him. As he approached, the man turned to him apprehensively.
"Well?" the man asked. "What did he say?"
"He gave me permission to borrow the manuscript to scan it," said Chase.
"Excellent," said the other man. "That means you can take it anywhere you want."
"Precisely, Lorne," said Chase. "I told you it would be simple. Now I have to take it to San Francisco. We'll need help to use the manuscript."
"Do you want us to go with you?"
"No, it would be too risky. I'll have to go alone. You wait here until I've finished in San Francisco."
"Very well. If you need help all you have to do is call."
"I know," said Chase. "Now, I need to get home and pack. With any luck I should be in San Francisco in a couple of days."
The two men left the university building and headed for Chase's apartment.
ONE
Phoebe came into the manor and placed her car keys on the entryway table. She glanced in the living room and saw Paige sitting on the sofa reading a book.
"Hey, what's up?" Phoebe asked, walking into the living room.
"Not much," said Paige. "I figured after our little encounter with that wicked witch and the whole fairy tale thing I'd better bone up on fairy tales. If what Leo told us about them being based in fact is true I decided I needed to know as much about them as possible."
"Not a bad idea," said Phoebe, looking at the grandfather clock. "I guess Piper's at the club right now."
"Yeah, she left a little while ago. She said something about putting her bartender in charge for the night and coming home early. I guess being eaten by a wolf was kind of tiring for her."
"I guess so. At least we got to see Grams."
"Some times I'm sorry I didn't get to grow up with her like you and Piper did." said Paige putting the book aside.
"It wasn't all peaches and cream. But I know what you mean. I miss her a lot."
"Well, she's only a summons away," said Paige, putting the book down. "So, you want to go to the club later for a while?"
"Maybe. I need to take a shower first. We'll go over after I'm finished."
"Okay, great. I think I'm finished reading for the day anyway. You want to get something to eat before we go?"
"No, I'm not really that hungry. I'll get something to eat later after we get home."
Just then there was a knock at the front door.
"I'll get it," said Phoebe.
She turned and headed for the front door. Curious about who might be knocking on their door Paige got up and followed her into the entryway. Phoebe opened the door to see a man in his mid-twenties, holding a briefcase, standing on the front door.
"Yes?" Phoebe questioned.
"Hello," said the man. "My name is Chase Parker. I'm looking for a Prue Halliwell. I understand she lives here. Or at least she used to."
"Actually, she used to," said Phoebe. "I'm Phoebe Halliwell, her sister. I'm afraid you're won't be able to talk with her. My sister died just over a year ago."
"Died?" questioned Chase. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Roger said she lived here but hadn't been in contact with her in a number of years."
"Roger?" Phoebe questioned.
"Roger Granger," said Chase. "He became the curator of the Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, Connecticut where I work. He moved to New Haven about four years ago and he's mentioned her several times."
"Roger?" Phoebe questioned again. "I always wondered what happened to him after Prue broke up with him. Won't you come in, Mr. Parker?"
"Thank you," said Chase as they headed into the living room, "and please, call me Chase. Mr. Parker was my father. You said that your sister broke up with him? Did they date for a while?"
"Actually, they were engaged," said Phoebe. "But it seems he wasn't happy with just one woman. When Prue found out she was furious. She broke off the engagement and quit the Museum of Natural History here in San Francisco. He was her boss and she just felt it was too awkward working there after they split up."
"I see," said Chase. "And this would be Piper, you other sister? Roger has mentioned all of you several times."
"Actually, I'm Paige Matthews," said Paige. "I'm their half sister."
"Funny, Roger never mentioned you."
"Oh, he wouldn't have known about Paige," said Phoebe. "We didn't even know about her until after Prue died."
"Well, as I said, I'm sorry to hear about your sister's pasting," said Chase. "I guess they didn't keep in touch after they broke up and Roger probably never knew she had passed."
"What did you want to talk to Prue about anyway?" Phoebe asked.
"I have something I wanted her to look at," said Chase, opening his briefcase and removing the manuscript. "It's an old manuscript that we have on file at Yale University."
"You teach at Yale?" Paige asked.
"No," said Chase. "Actually, I'm a doctoral student there. My field of specialty is ancient civilizations with a minor in linguistics. I only work at Peabody part-time to support myself. I sort and catalogue the new acquisitions the museum gets."
"I helped Prue with that for a while," said Phoebe. "After she left the museum she went to work at Buckland's Auction House. It was fascinating seeing all the antiques that came in every day."
"I couldn't agree with you more," said Chase. "You'd be surprised just what can find tucked away in an old chest or between the pages of some forgotten book."
"Sounds boring to me," said Paige.
"Well, it's certainly not for everyone," said Chase. "Anyway, I was hoping that Prue might be able to help with the Voynich Manuscript. It was acquired by Wilfred M. Voynich in 1912. It was named after him. It was donated to Yale in 1969 by Hans P. Kraus, an antique book dealer who wasn't able to sell it."
"It looks very old," said Phoebe.
"It's estimated to be about four hundred years old," said Chase. "No one knows who wrote it. There are 240 pages here but it is known that it originally held 272 pages. They're separated into 17 quires of 16 pages each."
"Quires?" questioned Paige.
"Yes," said Chase. "A quire is a set number of pages that are stitched together. It's a term most often used in book binding."
"Oh, okay," said Paige.
"Anyway," continued Chase, "as I said, Roger mentioned your sister on several occasions. He also said that her field of experience was exactly what I was looking for."
"And just what are you looking for, Chase?" Phoebe asked.
"I was hoping she might be able to authenticate the manuscript for me," said Chase. "As you can see, it's written in some sort of ancient dialect. A great many people have attempted to decipher and translate it and to date no one has ever been able to do that. Some of the best linguists in the world have attempted to translate it and all have failed. There are some who claim that it's actually a fake and the script it's written in doesn't mean anything."
"Maybe they're right," said Paige. "If professional linguists can't decipher it maybe it's not a real language."
"That's what I was hoping your sister might be able to help me discover," said Chase. "If nothing else she might have been able to authenticate its origins."
"Well, as I said, Prue passed away about a year ago. I'm sure she would have been happy to help you if she could."
"It was a long shot," said Chase. "I thought as long as I was in San Francisco I'd stop in and see if she could help."
"Are you staying in San Francisco long?" Paige asked.
"A few days," said Chase. "I'm doing some research at some of the local museums. I'll be staying at the Hilton while I'm here. Well, I suppose since your sister can't help me I've taken up enough of your time. I suppose I should be going."
"Well, thanks for stopping by," said Phoebe. "I'm sorry it was a wasted trip. Maybe you'll find someone else who can help you."
"That's always a possibility," said Chase. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"Our pleasure," said Paige.
"He seemed nice," said Paige after Chase had left.
"Yeah, he did. But he has to work with Roger. I don't envy him that."
"You never told me that Prue had been engaged before."
"It was before we became the Charmed Ones. He was a real snake. Created a lot of trouble between Prue and me. Even though he was engaged to her he would keep hitting on me. When Prue found out about it he claimed I was the one hitting on him."
"Sounds like a real sleaze."
"I'll tell you all about it on the way to P3," said Phoebe. "Just let me shower and get changed and then we can go."