The fall air was quiet and tranquil on Prescott Street with the crispness
of late October and a kiss of the smell of the summer green grass still
remaining. Flowers still bloomed in the garden though their lives were
swiftly drawing to a close.
Sharp low irregular sounds came from a great distance growing stronger through the afternoon stillness. Skidding around the corner was a white SUV weaving from side to side creaking with the short sharp sounds of braking and of the rubber sliding across the last curve with the unsteadiness of a drunken driver. Swerving to the left and then the right, missing a parked yellow car on one side only to run up on the curve and back to the far side of the road swerving the other way.
Watching the car and the driver, the motion of the car was not as random as a drunk driver, but as one who had very poor control of the vehicle. Swerving one direction, over-correcting and braking seemed to br the pattern. With the final sharp turn of the wheel the car ran on to the sidewalk in front of Halliwell Manor impacting the right front fender into the stone wall holding back the terrace of 1635 Prescott Street. The car door swung open and a hand reached to the roof helping the driver to be pulled from the car.
Standing hunched over and clutching her right shoulder tightly to her chest was Prudence Halliwell. Her hair was soaked with sweat and matted against her bloodied silk blouse and torn leather pants. Her breathing was deep and irregular and her dirty face was alternating between pain and anguish. Leaving the car door open she limped up the steps to the front porch holding tightly to the porch railing. Disgusted that she couldn't reach for the doorknob with her disabled arm, she squinted slightly and the door flew open banging against the wall behind it breaking several pains of the multi- colored glass. Prue walked into the front door breathing erratically. Blood dripped on the steps as she walked up two flights of stairs into the attic that marked the center of their witchy activities.
Hearing something Prue scanned the attic though nothing seemed amiss. The remains of their last potion still emitted smells of herbs and chemicals. The candles still stood vigil over the cauldron, unlit and unused. Walking over to the ancient Book of Shadows Prue seethed, her eyes blazing.
With one flick of her hand the Book flew off the stand twisting through the air and crashed through the window landing on the lawn below.
A small smirk of satisfaction appeared on her face.
"This is for PIPER!" she called out motioning toward the cabinet of herbs and potions as it slide across the floor breaking into a dozen pieces with glass bottles flying everywhere.
"And THIS IS FOR LEO!" she shouted as the furniture on the far side of the attic flew against the wall breaking and splintering.
"And this is for PHOEBE!" she again shouted as their cauldron, candles and table flew against the ceiling nearest her. Wind whistled thought the new ventilation hole in the attic.
Prue's breathing became easier as she plopped down on the old attic settee. Rubbing her sore and swollen shoulder she moaned and then leaned down on the arm of the chair crying uncontrollably.
"Piper! Leo! Phoebe! What possible purpose could it all mean? Why would it happen? Why? Why?"
White orbs filled the air round Prue and a young blonde women in her twenties appeared behind holding a package.
"Prue. This will pass too. Hush," she said soothingly.
Prue embarrassed by her actions immediately sat up, pushed back her hair and unconsciously wiped some of the dirt form her face. "Who the hell are you?" she said coarsely.
"Jenny. I'm a whiter lighter who worked with Leo. I thought you could still use this," she said opening the package and revealing the Book of Shadows.
"Burn it. I won't be needing it any longer!" Prue said sitting up stiffly. She had never sounded so determined. "I'm out of that business for good. Now get the hell our of MY house!" Prue concentrated on the blonde white lighter as she flew across the attic landing in the remains of the potion cabinet.
"Ufff! Prue! I realize the pain you are in right now.." said Jenny slowly as she picked herself up from the gooey mess of glass bottles and splintered wood.
"PAIN? You don't know what pain is!" sneered Prue her eyes red with the renewing of her tears. "Thanks to your all-knowing all-seeing bastards we went to rescue some cursed innocent and found ourselves in an ambush!" Prue wiped her eyes. "Now my beautiful sister Piper, her husband and my free- spirited sister Phoebe are now lying on the cold concrete floor of an abandoned warehouse dead. DEAD and gone! That's why I QUIT and that's why YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE!"
"If you'll just settle down. Let's work out your anger in some constructive manner," Jenny said cautiously. She knew the power of Prudence Halliwell when her emotions were at their peak and did not want to feel her wrath again.
"To hell with your white lighter psuedo-pyscho-babble. Guides? Ha! It was the guidance of your type that ended the Charmed Ones. We were supposed to be the ones that ended evil? Well it didn't last long and now you're not going to get any help from the last of the Halliwell's," said Prue breathing hard still holding her painful broken arm.
"Let me help you with your arm. Prue. I can heal your pain," said Jenny smiling a bit.
Prue sneered looking deep into the white lighter's eyes. "Get away from me you cursed being. Don't come near me with your blood stained hands. Neither you nor any of your kind. To hell with you and your precious elders. I want nothing to do with you. TO HELL WITH ALL OF YOUR KIND!!"
"Prue I must warn you. If you cross the line, then you'll become a warlock. We cannot help you then," Jenny said with a slightly ominous tone. In her present state, Prue could become one powerful demonic personage.
"Is that what you think? I'm not stupid. I've seen enough demons to know I don't want eternal damnation. I want my sisters back. That's all! And no more of this hocus pocus mumbo jumbo magic either. In fact, if I had my way, we wouldn't even ever have started, Jenny. Yes, that's my wish right now. That's what I wish!" Prue yelled to the ceiling with every last breath she had. It was her family that mattered to her than any demon or consequence that might come up against her now.
"Prudence. Careful with your words. Magic is here and now and you never know what direction your words might take," Jenny warned.
"No. I will take my fate in my own hands. Destinies can be changed. I've seen it myself dozens of times. Yes, I will make my own destiny!" said Prue who felt a new surge of power through her body and her emotions again reached a peak. Instead of the loss of her sisters, now she was filled with a purpose and goal that would hopefully undo the damage done that very day.
"Prue. What are you thinking of doing?" asked Jenny. The look on the woman's face had almost an evil smile as Prue lowered her head and concentrated. A brief shine emulated from her body and then she was silent. "Where have you gone. Prue?" Jenny asked as she waited in the attic.
*
Prue opened her eyes and found herself in the parlor downstairs. Feeling her body everything seemed to be in order. She knew she was in her astral body since she could still sense a displaced presence from where her real body still stood. The room looked about the same as always except for the small calendar on the fireplace that read October 1998.
Good, she thought to herself. Shimmering with old Cole has taught me something about crossing time, space and astral planes.
Calmer now, it being before the tragedy had taken place, she looked around the parlor, lovingly fingering the pictures and precious figurines. Walking into the dining room, Prue found flowers, a basket of fruit several get well cards for Penny Halliwell.
"Oh, Grams," she sighed with a tear. Grams had only a few weeks left to live having been in the hospital for quite sometime. But this is the perfect time to do this, thought Prue as she swung around when she heard a noise behind her.
"Whoa, whoa! Prue! You scared the stuffing out of me. What are you doing here?" said her sister Piper who had dropped the bag she as carrying and now clutching herself tightly.
"PIPER!" Prue first screamed and then calmed down.
"And what have you been up to?" Piper asked "You look like you've been in a catfight and the cat won," she said lovingly. Piper calmly picked up the bag. "I'm here on laundry duty. Grams insists we recycle her three favorite nightgowns everyday. I'll sure be glad when she gets home. Between school and the hospital and taking care of my apartment... How did you get here? Jeremy gave me a ride."
"Jeremy? Oh right. Well, I was had an accident. I couldn't drive so I took a cab here that was closer. An.."
"All right. Let me get the emergency kit and I'll take care of you. Thinking you can do it yourself? Prue you'll never change. You know the emergency room is where you belong. Where did you hurt your arm?" asked Piper coming back from the kitchen with the kit.
"Um, some boxes fell on me," lied Prue.
"Poor Prue. Kinda brings you down on the humble meter a bit. And when did you start this leather look? Kinda kinky to your normal suits. But, Prue always knows best," sighed Piper starting to work on her sister.
"I sure wish I did," said Prue wincing a bit at her sister's medical attention.
"Oh, my poor dear. Little Piper's not going to hurt you," she teased.
Not wanting to run into another sister Prue asked, "Where's Phoebe?" who did still live at home.
"DO we have head injuries too? Phoebes is up in the mountains with Frank or Francis or Fred, whoever her current crush is. I can't keep track of them. She does need someone to steady that girl. At least you have Roger and I have Jeremy. You'll be married soon and if this works out with me. Who know?" said Piper smiling to herself.
"Yea, who knows!" sighed Prue though see knew the answer to the question.
"Here you go! Some of those nurse thingies are rubbing off on me. I must be spending too much time there. You'll be with Grams when you get off from work?" asked Piper snapping the lid shut on the kit.
"Thanks, but I just need the clean ones. I'll run by before school tomorrow and finish it. Jeremy has to get me back He is in he middle of an assignment right now. Bye, Prue. See ya tonight!" said Piper happily.
"Yea. Tonight," said Prue as Piper ran through the door. Meeting the earlier version of her sister threw Prue a bit. Ascending the stairs Prue approached the attic door. Taking one quick breath and she pushed on it, but it would not give. The attic had been magically sealed from magic deprived granddaughters. Prue concentrated for a moment and then tried to force the door open. She waved both hands at the door and it still refused to budge.
"You were good, Grams," Prue said softly to herself. "But I have more tricks than you can imagine." Prue lowered her head and vanished reappearing inside the attic. "Never seems to change," commented Prue as she reached for the trunk that the book was hidden in. A faint glow appeared from inside in. A thin layer of dust lay on it. Prue pulled it out of the truck and tossed it onto the table.
"Phoebe why did you ever look in that damned trunk! It was the end of all of you." Prue grabbed the caldron, some newspaper, broke up some wood and some old charcoal she found in a corner. Mixing them in the cauldron she soon had a blazing fire going. An evil smile came to Prue's lips as she lowered the Book of Shadows over the red flames.
"Prue, what are you doing!" called out a voice from the dark corner.
Prue swung around squinting into the darkness. "Who is that? I am doing what I have to do!"
"No, wait. Lose that book and it will mean your destruction!" came another warning.
Prue shook her head. "It has already destroyed us. WHO ARE YOU?"
A shadowy figure came from the darkness. The spirit of Patty Halliwell. "Mom?" asked Prue dropping every possible bit of anger.
"Why are you doing this, Prue? Do you know what it is? How did you even get in here?" asked her mother who shimmered in the half-light of the attic.
"I know who I am. And Piper and Phoebe. I came from a time after this. A time..A time in which my beloved sister Piper and my wonderful sister Phoebe are dead. Killed while trying defend someone, Mother," Prue said without a shred of emotion.
"But you're the Charmed Ones. Your the most powerful witches who ever lived," said Patty.
"Powerful, yes. But still mortal and still subject to error. We made a mistake. One that I intend to correct now. If we were never witches, then we would at last be alive and happy. It was too high a cost, Mother. You should know more than anyone what can happen while you try to help the innocent," said Prue. "That afternoon by the lake. I remember and have nightmares still about it."
"Oh my darling," said Patty putting a hand to her mouth. "Both my younger daughters? Oh Prue, I wish I could hold you for just a second. You've discovered both the blessing and the curse of the Warren women. I died doing what I had to do. I had so wished you'd be strong enough to survive. But you can't change what was meant to be and you can't change the past."
"Just watch me mother!" called out Prue as she picked up the Book of Shadows and tossed it into the glowing fire. The book spit and sputtered and glowed but did not blacken or burn.
"As I said you can not change what was meant to be. The book represents powerful magic for good and it can't be destroyed or taken form the house. Put it back in the box. Let history be restored. Time must resume its course my dear. If you are the only one left, then you must help others from now on," explained Patty looking lovingly at her daughter.
"No, mother. I can't not on, not ever again. The practice killed my sisters, her husband and your first grandchild. I don't have the strength to go on," said Prue as she collapsed on the old settee.
"Prue, you don't have the strength? I do not believe that of you. You were stronger than us of all, except maybe Grams. If there is a way to save your sisters, then you must find it. You cannot give up the magic any more than you can give up thinking or doing what YOU think is right. That trait is deeper in you than any of your sisters. Have faith my darling," Patty told Prue
"I'm doing what I THINK is right, Mother!" said Prue crossly.
"Only because you hurt now; the hurt will lessen with time. Though it won't go away like the love for your sisters won't ever die. And if you honor their memory, then you will accept that they died for what they believe in, in what you truly believe in, Prue. So return. Leave this place to those who live here. Be yourself, be happy and be true to yourself, Prudence," said her mother who smiled as she did when they were very young.
"Yes, mother," Prue, said quietly.
"Be true to yourself, Prue," said Patty as she vanished.
Prue sighed put down the book and vanished returning to 2001.
*
Jenny had watched Prue carefully as she stood in the middle of the attic silent, solemn and tall. Only when Piper applied the bandages and the alter ego yelled in pain did the real Prue wince slightly in her trance. It was not unlike seeing someone react to something in a dream.
Prue opened her eyes. Eyes which had had a great sadness and loss behind them. She sighed and went over to the Book of Shadows running her hand over the rough leather cover.
"So you couldn't do it?" asked Jenny sympathetically.
Prue shook her head. "No, it wouldn't let me. The magic, the tradition, the legacy was too strong. I cannot stop being what I am. I realize that from something that my Mother said," she replied reflectively.
"If you aren't who you are, then you're not true to yourself, Prue, " said Jenny. "Even white lighters have the same vision and responsibility."
"I won't deny who I am, but I can also control it and IGNORE IT!" said Prue angrily. She picked up the Book of Shadows and placed it back in the ancient trunk. Covering with some old clothes, Prue slapped down the creaking lid and snapped the latch shut. "I'm still through with this hocus- pocus, Jenny. I'm going to do this cold turkey. No more magic!"
"But Prue, evil will still find you," pleaded Jenny.
"Maybe, maybe not. The Charmed Ones were major targets in the evil shooting galley. I think I can hide behind one of the ducks. And if someone should come my way, they need to watch out. I'm pretty powerful when I'm pissed! And speaking of that, I'd like to be alone. JENNY!" said Prue flashing her eyes at the white lighter. J
enny felt that she had done all she could for the time being. "Of course Prue. I've been assigned to help you out so if something does come up I'll let you know. Evil is there whether you acknowledge it or not. Peace with you," said Jenny as she disappeared in those funny white sparkles.
"It better be a long time," snorted Prue. She picked up the phone to report the death of her family and then call Darryl.
***
Prue in her best black dress, black hat and veil stood in front of her friends, Grams' friends, her father, Darryl and her sister's friends and colleagues. Only a select few new the secret, knew about their otherworldly encounters. Prue approached the podium. With all the other arrangements she had not even considered what to say so without a thought Prue stood up in front of everyone naked and raw. No front, no self-imposed facade, nothing to hide behind. Up there was the true Prue.
"Piper, Phoebe, Leo. They were my sisters, they were my friends. All full of life, but now gone. All gone. We four felt compassion, a drive to help people. And we did. We felt we should give our all for it. And we did. We gave Piper, Phoebe and Leo. Was that our all? Was that everything we could give? No, because you kind people are here. Because you respected them for what they did and what they stood for they will not be forgotten. And I thank you for that. I love these three people more than my own life. But here am I still living without them. But I too will remember. I must remember.
"Piper. Always in between us and always ready to spout off when she thought things weren't just right. I was a lot like that, but I would never show it. I think of the three of us she could express her emotions most honestly. She had a great deal of love that held us together but had no resting place for it until she found her husband, Leo.
" Leo. All he ever wanted to do was to help people. He was the personification of kindness, warmth and good humor. And we even though sometimes we would tug and tug at him, he was always there for us. Especially for the one he loved even after death. So full of life -
" Phoebe, dear Phoebe. She had more life and love in her than all of us combined. She seemed at times remote, distant and hard to understand, but she was the complete opposite of me and it was very difficult for me to know her. I wish that I could have tapped fully into that free spirit of hers. She did help me break out of my shell and made me a better person for it. Thank you Phoebe."
Now in an unaccustomed display of public emotion by the most controlled of the Halliwell's, Prue just stopped entirely, crying. Her father tried to approach her, but she held up her hand to stop him. She dabbed her eyes, straightened her dress and veil and then continued.
"And now we all say good-bye. I can never forget their impact upon my life. They may be gone, but the love I have for them will always be there. Piper Phoebe. Good-bye until we meet again my darling sisters." Prue stepped down very stiffly with her father helping her. Sitting down she broke down again in his arms while the minister waited. After a while, Prue thanked her father, sat up and nodded to the pastor to go ahead.
He began to pray.
Sharp low irregular sounds came from a great distance growing stronger through the afternoon stillness. Skidding around the corner was a white SUV weaving from side to side creaking with the short sharp sounds of braking and of the rubber sliding across the last curve with the unsteadiness of a drunken driver. Swerving to the left and then the right, missing a parked yellow car on one side only to run up on the curve and back to the far side of the road swerving the other way.
Watching the car and the driver, the motion of the car was not as random as a drunk driver, but as one who had very poor control of the vehicle. Swerving one direction, over-correcting and braking seemed to br the pattern. With the final sharp turn of the wheel the car ran on to the sidewalk in front of Halliwell Manor impacting the right front fender into the stone wall holding back the terrace of 1635 Prescott Street. The car door swung open and a hand reached to the roof helping the driver to be pulled from the car.
Standing hunched over and clutching her right shoulder tightly to her chest was Prudence Halliwell. Her hair was soaked with sweat and matted against her bloodied silk blouse and torn leather pants. Her breathing was deep and irregular and her dirty face was alternating between pain and anguish. Leaving the car door open she limped up the steps to the front porch holding tightly to the porch railing. Disgusted that she couldn't reach for the doorknob with her disabled arm, she squinted slightly and the door flew open banging against the wall behind it breaking several pains of the multi- colored glass. Prue walked into the front door breathing erratically. Blood dripped on the steps as she walked up two flights of stairs into the attic that marked the center of their witchy activities.
Hearing something Prue scanned the attic though nothing seemed amiss. The remains of their last potion still emitted smells of herbs and chemicals. The candles still stood vigil over the cauldron, unlit and unused. Walking over to the ancient Book of Shadows Prue seethed, her eyes blazing.
With one flick of her hand the Book flew off the stand twisting through the air and crashed through the window landing on the lawn below.
A small smirk of satisfaction appeared on her face.
"This is for PIPER!" she called out motioning toward the cabinet of herbs and potions as it slide across the floor breaking into a dozen pieces with glass bottles flying everywhere.
"And THIS IS FOR LEO!" she shouted as the furniture on the far side of the attic flew against the wall breaking and splintering.
"And this is for PHOEBE!" she again shouted as their cauldron, candles and table flew against the ceiling nearest her. Wind whistled thought the new ventilation hole in the attic.
Prue's breathing became easier as she plopped down on the old attic settee. Rubbing her sore and swollen shoulder she moaned and then leaned down on the arm of the chair crying uncontrollably.
"Piper! Leo! Phoebe! What possible purpose could it all mean? Why would it happen? Why? Why?"
White orbs filled the air round Prue and a young blonde women in her twenties appeared behind holding a package.
"Prue. This will pass too. Hush," she said soothingly.
Prue embarrassed by her actions immediately sat up, pushed back her hair and unconsciously wiped some of the dirt form her face. "Who the hell are you?" she said coarsely.
"Jenny. I'm a whiter lighter who worked with Leo. I thought you could still use this," she said opening the package and revealing the Book of Shadows.
"Burn it. I won't be needing it any longer!" Prue said sitting up stiffly. She had never sounded so determined. "I'm out of that business for good. Now get the hell our of MY house!" Prue concentrated on the blonde white lighter as she flew across the attic landing in the remains of the potion cabinet.
"Ufff! Prue! I realize the pain you are in right now.." said Jenny slowly as she picked herself up from the gooey mess of glass bottles and splintered wood.
"PAIN? You don't know what pain is!" sneered Prue her eyes red with the renewing of her tears. "Thanks to your all-knowing all-seeing bastards we went to rescue some cursed innocent and found ourselves in an ambush!" Prue wiped her eyes. "Now my beautiful sister Piper, her husband and my free- spirited sister Phoebe are now lying on the cold concrete floor of an abandoned warehouse dead. DEAD and gone! That's why I QUIT and that's why YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE!"
"If you'll just settle down. Let's work out your anger in some constructive manner," Jenny said cautiously. She knew the power of Prudence Halliwell when her emotions were at their peak and did not want to feel her wrath again.
"To hell with your white lighter psuedo-pyscho-babble. Guides? Ha! It was the guidance of your type that ended the Charmed Ones. We were supposed to be the ones that ended evil? Well it didn't last long and now you're not going to get any help from the last of the Halliwell's," said Prue breathing hard still holding her painful broken arm.
"Let me help you with your arm. Prue. I can heal your pain," said Jenny smiling a bit.
Prue sneered looking deep into the white lighter's eyes. "Get away from me you cursed being. Don't come near me with your blood stained hands. Neither you nor any of your kind. To hell with you and your precious elders. I want nothing to do with you. TO HELL WITH ALL OF YOUR KIND!!"
"Prue I must warn you. If you cross the line, then you'll become a warlock. We cannot help you then," Jenny said with a slightly ominous tone. In her present state, Prue could become one powerful demonic personage.
"Is that what you think? I'm not stupid. I've seen enough demons to know I don't want eternal damnation. I want my sisters back. That's all! And no more of this hocus pocus mumbo jumbo magic either. In fact, if I had my way, we wouldn't even ever have started, Jenny. Yes, that's my wish right now. That's what I wish!" Prue yelled to the ceiling with every last breath she had. It was her family that mattered to her than any demon or consequence that might come up against her now.
"Prudence. Careful with your words. Magic is here and now and you never know what direction your words might take," Jenny warned.
"No. I will take my fate in my own hands. Destinies can be changed. I've seen it myself dozens of times. Yes, I will make my own destiny!" said Prue who felt a new surge of power through her body and her emotions again reached a peak. Instead of the loss of her sisters, now she was filled with a purpose and goal that would hopefully undo the damage done that very day.
"Prue. What are you thinking of doing?" asked Jenny. The look on the woman's face had almost an evil smile as Prue lowered her head and concentrated. A brief shine emulated from her body and then she was silent. "Where have you gone. Prue?" Jenny asked as she waited in the attic.
*
Prue opened her eyes and found herself in the parlor downstairs. Feeling her body everything seemed to be in order. She knew she was in her astral body since she could still sense a displaced presence from where her real body still stood. The room looked about the same as always except for the small calendar on the fireplace that read October 1998.
Good, she thought to herself. Shimmering with old Cole has taught me something about crossing time, space and astral planes.
Calmer now, it being before the tragedy had taken place, she looked around the parlor, lovingly fingering the pictures and precious figurines. Walking into the dining room, Prue found flowers, a basket of fruit several get well cards for Penny Halliwell.
"Oh, Grams," she sighed with a tear. Grams had only a few weeks left to live having been in the hospital for quite sometime. But this is the perfect time to do this, thought Prue as she swung around when she heard a noise behind her.
"Whoa, whoa! Prue! You scared the stuffing out of me. What are you doing here?" said her sister Piper who had dropped the bag she as carrying and now clutching herself tightly.
"PIPER!" Prue first screamed and then calmed down.
"And what have you been up to?" Piper asked "You look like you've been in a catfight and the cat won," she said lovingly. Piper calmly picked up the bag. "I'm here on laundry duty. Grams insists we recycle her three favorite nightgowns everyday. I'll sure be glad when she gets home. Between school and the hospital and taking care of my apartment... How did you get here? Jeremy gave me a ride."
"Jeremy? Oh right. Well, I was had an accident. I couldn't drive so I took a cab here that was closer. An.."
"All right. Let me get the emergency kit and I'll take care of you. Thinking you can do it yourself? Prue you'll never change. You know the emergency room is where you belong. Where did you hurt your arm?" asked Piper coming back from the kitchen with the kit.
"Um, some boxes fell on me," lied Prue.
"Poor Prue. Kinda brings you down on the humble meter a bit. And when did you start this leather look? Kinda kinky to your normal suits. But, Prue always knows best," sighed Piper starting to work on her sister.
"I sure wish I did," said Prue wincing a bit at her sister's medical attention.
"Oh, my poor dear. Little Piper's not going to hurt you," she teased.
Not wanting to run into another sister Prue asked, "Where's Phoebe?" who did still live at home.
"DO we have head injuries too? Phoebes is up in the mountains with Frank or Francis or Fred, whoever her current crush is. I can't keep track of them. She does need someone to steady that girl. At least you have Roger and I have Jeremy. You'll be married soon and if this works out with me. Who know?" said Piper smiling to herself.
"Yea, who knows!" sighed Prue though see knew the answer to the question.
"Here you go! Some of those nurse thingies are rubbing off on me. I must be spending too much time there. You'll be with Grams when you get off from work?" asked Piper snapping the lid shut on the kit.
"Thanks, but I just need the clean ones. I'll run by before school tomorrow and finish it. Jeremy has to get me back He is in he middle of an assignment right now. Bye, Prue. See ya tonight!" said Piper happily.
"Yea. Tonight," said Prue as Piper ran through the door. Meeting the earlier version of her sister threw Prue a bit. Ascending the stairs Prue approached the attic door. Taking one quick breath and she pushed on it, but it would not give. The attic had been magically sealed from magic deprived granddaughters. Prue concentrated for a moment and then tried to force the door open. She waved both hands at the door and it still refused to budge.
"You were good, Grams," Prue said softly to herself. "But I have more tricks than you can imagine." Prue lowered her head and vanished reappearing inside the attic. "Never seems to change," commented Prue as she reached for the trunk that the book was hidden in. A faint glow appeared from inside in. A thin layer of dust lay on it. Prue pulled it out of the truck and tossed it onto the table.
"Phoebe why did you ever look in that damned trunk! It was the end of all of you." Prue grabbed the caldron, some newspaper, broke up some wood and some old charcoal she found in a corner. Mixing them in the cauldron she soon had a blazing fire going. An evil smile came to Prue's lips as she lowered the Book of Shadows over the red flames.
"Prue, what are you doing!" called out a voice from the dark corner.
Prue swung around squinting into the darkness. "Who is that? I am doing what I have to do!"
"No, wait. Lose that book and it will mean your destruction!" came another warning.
Prue shook her head. "It has already destroyed us. WHO ARE YOU?"
A shadowy figure came from the darkness. The spirit of Patty Halliwell. "Mom?" asked Prue dropping every possible bit of anger.
"Why are you doing this, Prue? Do you know what it is? How did you even get in here?" asked her mother who shimmered in the half-light of the attic.
"I know who I am. And Piper and Phoebe. I came from a time after this. A time..A time in which my beloved sister Piper and my wonderful sister Phoebe are dead. Killed while trying defend someone, Mother," Prue said without a shred of emotion.
"But you're the Charmed Ones. Your the most powerful witches who ever lived," said Patty.
"Powerful, yes. But still mortal and still subject to error. We made a mistake. One that I intend to correct now. If we were never witches, then we would at last be alive and happy. It was too high a cost, Mother. You should know more than anyone what can happen while you try to help the innocent," said Prue. "That afternoon by the lake. I remember and have nightmares still about it."
"Oh my darling," said Patty putting a hand to her mouth. "Both my younger daughters? Oh Prue, I wish I could hold you for just a second. You've discovered both the blessing and the curse of the Warren women. I died doing what I had to do. I had so wished you'd be strong enough to survive. But you can't change what was meant to be and you can't change the past."
"Just watch me mother!" called out Prue as she picked up the Book of Shadows and tossed it into the glowing fire. The book spit and sputtered and glowed but did not blacken or burn.
"As I said you can not change what was meant to be. The book represents powerful magic for good and it can't be destroyed or taken form the house. Put it back in the box. Let history be restored. Time must resume its course my dear. If you are the only one left, then you must help others from now on," explained Patty looking lovingly at her daughter.
"No, mother. I can't not on, not ever again. The practice killed my sisters, her husband and your first grandchild. I don't have the strength to go on," said Prue as she collapsed on the old settee.
"Prue, you don't have the strength? I do not believe that of you. You were stronger than us of all, except maybe Grams. If there is a way to save your sisters, then you must find it. You cannot give up the magic any more than you can give up thinking or doing what YOU think is right. That trait is deeper in you than any of your sisters. Have faith my darling," Patty told Prue
"I'm doing what I THINK is right, Mother!" said Prue crossly.
"Only because you hurt now; the hurt will lessen with time. Though it won't go away like the love for your sisters won't ever die. And if you honor their memory, then you will accept that they died for what they believe in, in what you truly believe in, Prue. So return. Leave this place to those who live here. Be yourself, be happy and be true to yourself, Prudence," said her mother who smiled as she did when they were very young.
"Yes, mother," Prue, said quietly.
"Be true to yourself, Prue," said Patty as she vanished.
Prue sighed put down the book and vanished returning to 2001.
*
Jenny had watched Prue carefully as she stood in the middle of the attic silent, solemn and tall. Only when Piper applied the bandages and the alter ego yelled in pain did the real Prue wince slightly in her trance. It was not unlike seeing someone react to something in a dream.
Prue opened her eyes. Eyes which had had a great sadness and loss behind them. She sighed and went over to the Book of Shadows running her hand over the rough leather cover.
"So you couldn't do it?" asked Jenny sympathetically.
Prue shook her head. "No, it wouldn't let me. The magic, the tradition, the legacy was too strong. I cannot stop being what I am. I realize that from something that my Mother said," she replied reflectively.
"If you aren't who you are, then you're not true to yourself, Prue, " said Jenny. "Even white lighters have the same vision and responsibility."
"I won't deny who I am, but I can also control it and IGNORE IT!" said Prue angrily. She picked up the Book of Shadows and placed it back in the ancient trunk. Covering with some old clothes, Prue slapped down the creaking lid and snapped the latch shut. "I'm still through with this hocus- pocus, Jenny. I'm going to do this cold turkey. No more magic!"
"But Prue, evil will still find you," pleaded Jenny.
"Maybe, maybe not. The Charmed Ones were major targets in the evil shooting galley. I think I can hide behind one of the ducks. And if someone should come my way, they need to watch out. I'm pretty powerful when I'm pissed! And speaking of that, I'd like to be alone. JENNY!" said Prue flashing her eyes at the white lighter. J
enny felt that she had done all she could for the time being. "Of course Prue. I've been assigned to help you out so if something does come up I'll let you know. Evil is there whether you acknowledge it or not. Peace with you," said Jenny as she disappeared in those funny white sparkles.
"It better be a long time," snorted Prue. She picked up the phone to report the death of her family and then call Darryl.
***
Prue in her best black dress, black hat and veil stood in front of her friends, Grams' friends, her father, Darryl and her sister's friends and colleagues. Only a select few new the secret, knew about their otherworldly encounters. Prue approached the podium. With all the other arrangements she had not even considered what to say so without a thought Prue stood up in front of everyone naked and raw. No front, no self-imposed facade, nothing to hide behind. Up there was the true Prue.
"Piper, Phoebe, Leo. They were my sisters, they were my friends. All full of life, but now gone. All gone. We four felt compassion, a drive to help people. And we did. We felt we should give our all for it. And we did. We gave Piper, Phoebe and Leo. Was that our all? Was that everything we could give? No, because you kind people are here. Because you respected them for what they did and what they stood for they will not be forgotten. And I thank you for that. I love these three people more than my own life. But here am I still living without them. But I too will remember. I must remember.
"Piper. Always in between us and always ready to spout off when she thought things weren't just right. I was a lot like that, but I would never show it. I think of the three of us she could express her emotions most honestly. She had a great deal of love that held us together but had no resting place for it until she found her husband, Leo.
" Leo. All he ever wanted to do was to help people. He was the personification of kindness, warmth and good humor. And we even though sometimes we would tug and tug at him, he was always there for us. Especially for the one he loved even after death. So full of life -
" Phoebe, dear Phoebe. She had more life and love in her than all of us combined. She seemed at times remote, distant and hard to understand, but she was the complete opposite of me and it was very difficult for me to know her. I wish that I could have tapped fully into that free spirit of hers. She did help me break out of my shell and made me a better person for it. Thank you Phoebe."
Now in an unaccustomed display of public emotion by the most controlled of the Halliwell's, Prue just stopped entirely, crying. Her father tried to approach her, but she held up her hand to stop him. She dabbed her eyes, straightened her dress and veil and then continued.
"And now we all say good-bye. I can never forget their impact upon my life. They may be gone, but the love I have for them will always be there. Piper Phoebe. Good-bye until we meet again my darling sisters." Prue stepped down very stiffly with her father helping her. Sitting down she broke down again in his arms while the minister waited. After a while, Prue thanked her father, sat up and nodded to the pastor to go ahead.
He began to pray.