Chapter 2

Peyton Halliwell pulled her little sisters close to her as her cousins hugged each other. The bells rung to welcome everyone into the church as the five girls stayed quiet. The priestess walked over to the alter as she looked at the family in sympathy.

"We are here together to mark the passing of Priya, Pamela and Prisca Halliwell…" The priestess spoke as the girls all began to cry for their mothers in sadness and anger. Their family had been torn apart. Their mothers murdered.

"….Now Priya Halliwell's eldest child, Peyton Halliwell would like to say something. Peyton?" The priestess asked as Peyton stood up and walked over to the pedestal. Taking a piece of paper out of her jacket pocket. She looked down on everyone.

"Most of you knew my mother. She was Priya Jane Halliwell oldest daughter of Psyche Halliwell and Ashley Brody. The big sister of Pamela Leigh and Prisca Anne Halliwell. The mother of me; Peyton Prudence, my little sisters, Persephone Paula and Phoebe Portia Halliwell." Peyton spoke as she looked down at her sisters and smiled sadly at them as Phoebe scolded at her. Peyton just smiled again as she turned to look at her cousins.

"Mom was an award winning journalist. She could write about anything. She helped anyone that needed her. She was an amazing mom. And the strength she showed after Jackson left was unbelievable. I remember the day that Mom had brought Phoebe back from the hospital. I was so angry at her cause I didn't want Phoebe. I told mom that she either got rid of Phoebe or I would run away. She didn't get rid of Phoebe so I ran away. I didn't get very far. Mom found me at the park. She sat beside me on the bench and just looked straight. I looked at her but she didn't say anything. I said that I was sorry. Mom then turned to me and said. "I know that you are angry about me keeping Phoebe, but she's your little sister Peyton. When your Aunt Prissy was born; I felt the same. I picked her up and gave her away." I laughed so much when I heard that. I said why would you want to get rid of Aunt Prissy she's great. Phoebe just sits there. Mom told me that that's what babies do. She told me that I had a job to look after Phoebe. And so we went home. Mom sat me down and passed Phoebe to me. Granted I nearly dropped her, but mom was right. Mom was always right. I guess she had to be with three girls and two little sisters." Peyton spoke with sincerity as she looked to the back to find her Uncle Jared. She smiled at him. She had always loved her Uncle Jared. He was more of a father to her and her sisters than Jackson ever was to them.

"And our Aunts. Aunt Pamela Leigh Halliwell was the wife of Jared Christopher Jones and the mother of Piper Lynn and Paige Marie Halliwell. Pamela was an amazing lawyer. Better than most. She was also one of the fairest women that I ever had the privilege of meeting. I remember a time when I was a teenager I had gotten into trouble with the law. Aunt Pam got me out of a jail cell without telling mom. She told me that it was my choice. And that if I wanted I either had to tell my mom the truth or live a lie. I ended up telling the truth because Pam wouldn't stop bugging me about right and wrong. It turned out she knew best. I told my mom and she said that although she was angry; she was happy that I had told the truth. Thank you for that Pam." Peyton continued as she smiled at her cousins before turning to smile at her Uncle. Jared smiled back at the young woman. Peyton was so much like her Aunt Pamela. He looked at Perry. She was definitely her mother's daughter. While Phoebe was her Aunt Prisca's double.

"And finally there was Aunt Prisca. Or Prissy as she liked to be called. She had no guy and no kids. She loved to have fun. And out of all the Halliwell family she was the fun one. I remember a day when she pulled me, Perry and Piper out of school. We went to the beach and just had fun. Mom and Aunt Pamela had a flip. She owned the P3 Nightclub as well as Charmed. The two things other than the Manor that has been in our family since around the year 2000. Not to mention a great award winning photographer for 415 Magazine. She was only thirty years old and she was great." Peyton spoke knowing that everyone would agree with her on that if nothing else. She smiled at her family before looking at the coffins.

"They were the best. And as my mother used to say they were Charmed." Peyton finished as she ran down from the stage. She cried as Jared walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. Before he went and pulled the twenty-two year old into a hug. Before he went and sat beside his two girls. While the priestess continued.

"….That which belongs to the fellowship and love. That which belongs to the circle remains with us. The wheel turns. As life is a day so our sisters have passed into night. Nothing is final and we who remain behind know that one day. We will once again share the bread and wine with sisters." The priestess continued as the five girls' cries deepened. Jared pulled his two girls closer to him as Peyton hugged her little sisters close.

"Oh blessed spirits, we bid you farewell. For you await a new destiny." The priestess spoke as she dropped the rope into the silver chalice. Before turning to blow the candles out. Phoebe let the tears drip down her face sadly as Peyton stood up finally in control of herself as she walked over to the priestess.

"Thank you so much. The service was nice." Peyton spoke to the woman as she nodded, gave her condolences and then left them to grief. The other Halliwell girls stood up to meet the elder girl. Peyton looked around her as people walked down to give their own condolences to the family. DJ walked over to Piper Halliwell.

"Piper, I am truly sorry about what happened to your mother and Aunts. I know that I wasn't as close to them as I was with some of the other Halliwells but in my entire life. I am sorry. When Psyche died your mother and Aunts understood but this…. It's to much." DJ spoke to the young witch in sadness. He would be lying if he said that Priya, Pamela and Prissy were his favourite sisters. But he did not want them dead. Not when they had such a young like family.

"You don't need to apologize DJ. I know you. You may not have liked them as much but they were the daughters of the first Charmed Ones. And I know how hard that must be. I can understand." Piper spoke as she pulled the elder man into a hug. DJ smiled at the girl. She reminded him so much of Mel Halliwell. Not to mention Paige Matthews. She was great.

"Thanks Piper. And listen, you've got to be careful. Ryan is looking for someone to burn for this and knowing you Halliwell women. Just be careful." DJ warned the young witch in concern. He really needs to make sure that the girls were okay. He might not be there whitelighter but he was their Great Aunts and Grandmother's whitelighter.

"Daryl Morris Jr, I am one of the most careful women in the world. Not to mention I have a real magical touch. We'll be fine. The Charmed Ones are not going to die young anymore." Piper promised the elder man with truth and determination. DJ nodded to the young witch. He knew that Piper and Paige would make sure that the Charmed Ones were protected. It was actually their job. Ever since the death of Portia Halliwell, from the third Generation cast a protection spell on the Charmed Ones for protection.

"I know you will Piper. But make sure you take care of yourself and Paige as well. You might have the power of Protectors but your still just kids. And you know just to shout me if you need me." DJ finished as Piper nodded her head in confirmation. She knew that since DJ had died he had made it his job to protect the Halliwell family. No matter what the cost. DJ pulled Piper into another hug before walking away from the younger teenager.

"Just so that you all know. The wake is going to be at Charmed instead of the Manor. So if you want to make your way to Charmed that would be great." Peyton announced to the room with some of her lasting strength. She couldn't break down now. Not when her sisters and cousins needed her as much as they did. DJ walked over to Peyton. He needed to talk to her.

"Peyton, can I talk to you for a moment?" DJ asked the girl in concern and hope that Peyton would listen to him. He knew that he needed to do this. More importantly for Priya. He needed to do this for her. Hopefully she would understand. DJ was just like his father and Peyton was just like Prudence Halliwell. So hopefully she would listen.

"Fine, but listen we don't know each other. So I'll call you Inspector Morris and you can call me Ms Halliwell." Peyton told the Inspector in a serious tone. She wanted to like this man cause he knew her mother but right now her mother and Aunts had been murdered and she needed to protect her family. Especially her sisters. DJ nodded his head at what she had said in understanding.

"Ms Halliwell, I know what your thinking. You don't want to trust me because you feel a need to protect your cousins and sisters, but I need to warn you. Ryan won't stop until he gets something." DJ told the young woman in slight desperation for her. Peyton shook her head as she looked at him. She knew that he was right. Ryan had already verbally attacked her. But it was her job to protect her family as the oldest.

"I'll handle it." Peyton told him with a serious bad sad tone. She wished that it wasn't all up to her as the oldest to fix things. She wanted to be a kid again when she had her mother and Aunts to protect her. The worst part of that was that her youngest Aunt was only ten years older than herself.

"Peyton, I don't think that you understand. Ryan has been dedicated to his job since he started and the kid might be young but he wants to make captain. And he will stop at nothing to get it." DJ told the twenty-two year old in a serious way as he tried to get her to understand how bad things could get with Ryan on the job. Peyton shook her head.

"I said that I'll handle it. I might not be my mother or Aunts. But I can still take care of my family. No matter what the consequences are for me." Peyton told him with an edge of sadness that nearly destroyed DJ. He couldn't believe that Peyton could be so strong. But then again so was Prudence. She was strong all her life. And she took care of Piper and Phoebe for thirty years. And they survived the years till they were at least in their forties.

"Peyton, come on, your twenty-two years old you shouldn't have to look after your sisters and cousins. And I'm really sorry for that." DJ told the girl with a worried and sincere tone. He was worried about her. She was still just a kid. And he knew that she was the same age as the other Chris when he arrived in the past but he was still worried for her. He had to be for Priya.

"Yeah well I have to deal with it. It's my responsibility. The oldest sister always supposed to be able to figure things out. It's my job to protect those girls." Peyton told DJ with anguish over the situation. It still scared her how she was now responsible for four girls when she was only twenty-two years old. Piper and Perry were barely adults and Paige and Phoebe were only on their second year of high school. And she…. She was only on her last year of college.

"Okay Peyton you can handle this but if you ever need help then you can call me on my cell." DJ told the woman as he pulled out a card and passed it to the young woman. Peyton was about to say something sarcastic but she stopped herself. She smiled at DJ before she took the card from him.

"Thank you DJ. If I ever need your help I will call you. And I'm sorry about how I've acted. I just want to make sure that the girls are alright. They're all I have left." Peyton told him as a tear went down her face. DJ brought out a tissue and passed it to Peyton. Peyton took it with a slight laugh as she wiped her eyes. Peyton smiled at him and put her hand on his shoulder before moving away to her sisters and cousins.

"Hey guys we better get going. We need to be there for everyone when they get there." Peyton told the group with a slight sadness and a bit pushy. In truth Peyton just wanted this day to end. So, far this day had ruined her life. She hoped to god it would end soon.

"Yeah, well I want to go home." Phoebe told her sister in her sulky like teenaged voice. Peyton turned to her sister with a glare and an 'Are you serious' kind of look. Peyton didn't understand how her sister could be so stupid.

"Phoebe, mom and the Aunts were murdered in that house the other week. You are not going home by yourself. And we need to be here." Peyton told her sister as she pulled her sisters outside towards their waiting car as Phoebe sulked and staggered to the car with her sister. The other girls followed silently in fear of Phoebe's anger.

Phoebe opened the door to the Manor after she had snuck out of Charmed and grabbed the car keys from her sister's bag. She just wanted to go home. All the time people had been coming up to her and apologizing for her loss. And it was getting on her last nerves. . It was nearly midnight and she just wanted to be left alone. Phoebe walked into the sunroom to find a board lying on the table. She walked up to it and lifted it into her hands. She remembered playing with it with her sisters and cousins when they were kids.

"To my three beautiful girls. May this give you the light to find the shadows. The Power of three should set you free. Love Mom." Phoebe read aloud in thought. They had never known what the inscription on the back meant. All they knew was that it was a family heirloom. Phoebe sat down and put it on the table as she put her fingers on the pointer. She was about to move it when it suddenly moved on it's own. Phoebe stepped back.

"Oh my god." She screeched as she looked to see the pointer, pointing to A. She sat back down and touched the pointer again, not believing that it had actually moved on its own. She waited but nothing happened she was about to give up when it moved again to the letter T. she screeched and before she could move it moved again before landing back on the letter T. Phoebe moved out of her chair as it moved for a fourth time onto the letter I.

"A. T. T. I. C." Phoebe spoke out loud as if moved for a fifth time towards the letter C. she froze. The word was Attic. Phoebe went into the kitchen and grabbed a flashlight before she treaded up the stairs towards the attic. She slowly crept up the stairs as the front door opened to reveal two of the four other girls. Phoebe walked up to the attic and tried to open the door. But it was locked. She went to walk away when suddenly it opened. Phoebe against her better judgement walked into the room. She flashed the light across the room before she noticed a glow coming from a chest at the window of the room. She walked closer and opened it. She found a big book and pulled it out. She sat down as she looked at the front of the book. Her fingers traced the symbol before she opened it.

"The book of Shadows." Phoebe read to herself as she looked at the front page. She moved to the next page and looked to see an incantation.

"Here now the words of the witches.

The secrets we hid in the night.

The oldest of gods are invoked here.

The great work of magic is sought.

In this night and in this hour.

I call upon the ancient power.

Bring your power to we sisters three.

We want the power.

Give us the power."

Phoebe read with hesitation as a bright light spread throughout the entire house.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked causing Phoebe to jump into the air. She turned around to find her big sisters. She looked back at the incantation before looking up at her sisters.

"Eh reading an incantation. It was in this Book Of Shadows. I found it in that trunk." Phoebe told the two older girls as she lifted the book and walked over to the two of them. Peyton took the book from her little sister and looked at it.

"How did you get in here?" Perry asked in slight fear and confusion as she looked at the door. She knew that Phoebe should not have been able to get into the attic since the door had been practically sealed shut since they were kids. They had never been aloud to go up to the attic not that they could get in to it anyway.

"The door opened." Phoebe told her sister in frustration as she looked at the older girls. She knew what Perry must be thinking. Hell she thought it too but it didn't change the facts. Perry looked at her in confusion as Peyton read on.

"The door opened? Wait a minute an incantation. What kind of incantation?" Perry asked in more confusion and fear as she thought about how bad this whole thing was. She didn't understand what this all meant. Phoebe looked at her.

"It said something about there being three essentials of magic; eh timing, feeling and the phases of the moon. If we were ever gonna do this. Now at night on a full moon is the most powerful time." Phoebe recited as she remembered everything that she has read. Personally she didn't really know what it all meant but she knew it seemed cool. Perry looked back at her in confusion.

"Do what? This? Phoebe what in the hell is this?" Perry asked her sister with a high pitched tone. She needed to know the truth on the situation. She didn't understand. Phoebe looked at her with her eyes squinted. She knew that Perry was going to have a major blow.

"Receive our powers." Phoebe quickly stated to the elder girl as she took a few steps away from Perry. She knew her too well. Perry was more likely to blow a fuse when she heard something like this. Perry turned to Phoebe in shock.

"What powers? Wait our powers? You included me in this." Perry yelled at the younger girl as Phoebe prepared herself for the worse of Perry's behaviour. Perry threw a glare at Phoebe as she hit her on the arm. Phoebe yelped as she turned and glared at her big sister.

"No she included all of us. "Bring your powers to we sisters three" it's a book of witchcraft." Peyton recited as she looked at her two sisters. She had read the book and could tell that it was a big book of crap. She groaned as she looked at the look on both of her sisters' faces.

"Let me see that." Perry asked her big sister as she looked at what it said she read but she didn't really understand any of it. Peyton turned to glare at her baby sister.

"What were you thinking Phoebe? Oh wait I'll tell you. You weren't thinking at all were you Phoebe?" Peyton yelled at the teenager in anger that the kid had disobeyed what she had said. It wasn't such a bad thing to want to protect her little sister. She just wanted to keep Phoebe safe. They had just lost their mother and Aunts and Phoebe goes off gallivanting. Was she really that stupid? Phoebe's glare deepened as she got even angrier at her big sister.

"I don't really need to care what you said Peyton. You usually always talk crap." Phoebe yelled at her big sister in anger. It was always about Peyton and her rules. Not even her mother was that bad and that was saying something considering this was her twenty-two year old sister.

"Phoebe, you are my responsibility. I am responsible for you and Perry. Hell I'm also responsible for Piper and Paige too. I'm the oldest Phoebe. And I need to know where you are?" Peyton told her little sister with not as much of an angry tone. She was more relaxed and worried. She was worried about her sisters and her cousins. Phoebe glared at her.

"Are you kidding me? I am my own person, Peyton. Me and you have nothing to do with each other. We are just sisters. Mom was responsible for me. Not you. And you hate me so there." Phoebe yelled back at Peyton in anger and hatred as she thought about what Peyton had said at the funeral. About her hating her. Peyton growled at her. How could she think that she hated her? She was about to retort as Perry closed the book and looked at the two. They needed to calm down. They were always fighting it seemed.

"Guys, can we stop fighting for one second. Nothing bad has happened. Lets just go down stairs." Perry asked her sisters as Phoebe nodded and stormed out of the room. Perry passed the book to Peyton as she put the book back in the chest. She knew that all this crap would happen when they were around Phoebe.

"Sprit boards, witchcraft. Figures all this freaky stuff started when we get back." Peyton spoke to her sister in anger as she followed Phoebe and Perry down the stairs. Perry threw a look to her big sister in frustration. Peyton and Phoebe just would not stop.

"Hey I didn't find the spirit board." Phoebe yelled at her big sister in anger as she glared at her. To be honest she didn't know who had found the spirit board. But she thought that it was probably Peyton that had found it. She usually was the one to find it. Peyton glared at her sister.

"Wasn't my finger sliding on the pointer?" Peyton called out to her younger sister in barley contained anger. Phoebe just couldn't stop being in pain in the ass self. Phoebe was about to say something to her sister but Perry cut in.

"It doesn't matter cause nothing happened right Phoebe? When you did that incantation?" Perry asked her younger sister hoping to god that this was truth. She really did not want to go through all the crap of more fighting. And she really didn't want anything bad to happen. Especially from were the incantation was concerned.

"Well my head spun around and I vomited split pea soup. Then again that could be normal. How the hell should I know?" Phoebe asked her sister with a high pitched voice. She had had enough with people accusing her of this and that and thinking that she knew something when she was just as in the dark as the other two. It was annoying.

"Well everything looks the same." Peyton spoke as she looked around the house to see everything was exactly the same as it was this morning. And like it had the day before. The house never seemed to change.

"Your right. The house still needs work." Phoebe spoke as she looked around herself. She has always wanted her mother to change the house a bit. She had seen pictures and it looked the exact same as it had a century ago. Just with different furniture.

"And everything feels the same so nothings changed. Right?" Perry spoke as she followed her sisters around the house. They all walked into the kitchen and looked at one another. Everything was the same as always. The girls were unaware that it had started to rain outside. And they were unaware of the man dressed in black standing outside of their home. The man stood and waited. He smiled a dark smile before he walked away from the Halliwell Manor. Things had changed.