Chapter 2: Climate Change
"So what can you tell me about this piece Ms. Halliwell? My late husband was a very...picky collector and I know he would be just as picky as to who appraised his work." Ms. Workman said and Prue smiled, one her aunts had told her countless times she inherited from her mom.
"I am sure he was; by looking at these pieces...I'd say these date back to the late 1800's." Prue got up and grabbed a magnified glass before leaning down to inspect the portrait. Her Black Tank top riding up just a tad to show her midriff. Her long black skirt flowed to her ankles where her feet were covered by black ankle boots. "Its a original Van Gogh...You can see the brush strokes that the oil based paints created. From this and the painting itself, a self portrait, I'd say it was painted around 1884 or 85'." She stood up and walked to her chair, sat down and used the momentum to roll over to the book shelf. She grabbed a thick book and flipped through it, and nodded a smile on her face. "It is defiantly his work, the flawless shape its in will get a great audience at auction and assuming the brush strokes have never been tampered with it was defiantly painted in 1884, or at least began in 1884 and finished in 1885."
"Well..I'm sold. You are just as good as Susan said you were, and just as knowledgeable as you mother if not more so. When can I expect the money from the auction?" Mrs. Workman asked and Prue smiled and pulled out a form and sat it in front of her. "Within the week, the auction is in two days and you should get the cheek the next day if not sooner. Just sign here giving us the rights to appraise the pieces and to put it into the gallery." Prue said and Mrs. Workman nodded.
Prue's Pov::
I smiled happily as Mrs. Workman signed the form and as she left I turned back to the five self portraits of Vincent Van Gogh. I turned back to my desk and opened my laptop as I started looking up the background of the pieces. I heard someone knock at the door and told them to come in, I looked up only to see a man with graying hair and a businesse suit on. "Yes can I help you?" He smiled and sat down.
"Oh...this brings back memories. You don't recognize me do you Prue?" He asked and I furred my brow only to turn it into a glare with my Hazel eyes, the eyes I received from my mother. "Victor." I hissed. He laughed and nodded. "Your mother reacted the same way when I showed up in this very office some 13 years ago. I just wish to meet my granddaughter." He said and I gritted my teeth and stood up my black with red undertone hair falling just past my shoulders. "How dare you...its been Eight years since I found my family and not once did you want to see me! Get out of my office." I said and gestured sharply to the door in my anger. He smiled his hazel/blue eyes sparkling.
"You just like your mother Prudence, I'm sorry I wasn't there, I was scared. I was so sure you'd look like Pru, I just never realized how much so. Me and your mother had a rocky relationship and I never really knew if she ever forgave me, I was afraid seeing you would bring back old ghost." Victor said. I looked at him with anger but part of me understood his side of the story. I had never once met the man, not since I was born and when I could use him the most he wasn't there. I look down and nod before speaking.
"I can understand that, Victor. I can live with that, I know how hard it must be to look at me, call me by my name and try not to think of my mom. I know because I struggle not to cry everyday because she was taken from me before I could ever know her. I wish everything was different but its not and this is what god and whoever controls the outcome of our lives wanted. The truth is Victor I don't trust you at this moment, maybe in time we could get to that granddaughter - grandfather bonding thing."
"You Mother and father would be proud." He said and nodded. He moved in a bit, his arms spread and I moved to return it. We stood awkwardly like that for a minute before my cell rang. I pulled back and picked it up, smiling as I saw the home phone. "Its Piper." I said holding up a finger.
"Hello? Hey Piper.... No is something wrong?" I asked as I looked at where Victor was to see him gone, I frowned and sighed as I held the phone away from my ear. "Piper, calm down. I'm sure your just over reacting. I'm on my way home...I'll see you when I do. Bye, me too." I said and closed the phone. I hit my office phone income. "Kate, can you tell Susan I had a family emergency and had to leave...I would also like for you to get Kyle to come put the portraits in the vault."
"Sure Ms. Halliwell." I sighed and got my keys and purse before leaving my office and heading to my car, a BMW X-5, a blue one. I arrived home just as Phoebe pulled in with Payton and Pandora. As soon as Payton and Pandora saw me they ran towards me. "Aunt Prue, Aunt Prue!" I smiled, they where the only ones who called me Aunt Prue, the other kids just called me Prue. I had tried to tell them I wasn't really their aunt but they refused to call me anything other. "Hey Payt, Pan...how are my favorite little girls today?" I asked as I picked them up. Phoebe smiled and coughed causing the girls to look at Phoebe who was four months pregnant.
"Come on girls, Melinda, Wyatt and Chris are waiting for you inside." Phoebe said and I let them down as they ran inside. I walked over to her and put my hand her stomach. "And how is little Phaedra today?" I asked as I rubbed her bulging tummy. Phoebe laughed and slapped my hand away lightly. Unlike Piper who couldn't stand her belly being touched Phoebe actually didn't mind but that didn't mean she wanted people to linger. "Phaedra is fine, by the way how was your date last night?" She asked and I pursed my lips and scrunching up my nose I 'blehed', and broke out into fits. "Oh..It was..Ok..." Phoebe looked at me with a raised eyebrow and I sighed. "Ok it was horrible.." I answered as we entered the manor.
"What was Horrible?" Piper asked as she held tray of plates with sandwiches in it. I skipped over and went to take one but she slapped my hand I glared and flexed my finger causing it to fly into my hand, I stuck it into my mouth before she could say anything and she pointed her finger at me accusingly. "Personal gain!" She grumbled and Phoebe shook her head.
"Prue's date last night." She said and I swallow before nodding. "Yeah with Dick..." I said my lips forming a pout and Piper snorted in laughter.
"Dick? Oh honey you don't need Dick.." She said and Phoebe laughed as well and I smiled at Pipers unknown innuendo. "Deja Vu." Phoebe said and Piper rolled her eyes while I ate my half sandwich was really good as I hadn't eaten today. "Anyway, What was the big emergency and where is Paige?" I asked looking around for my youngest aunt. She was usually here first.
"She's on her way..she had to get the kids from school. She then has to take them to Henry at the station." Piper said as she walked into the sun room and gave the tray of sandwiches to the kids who were gathered around the little kiddie table. Chris was 10, and as such was in a bigger chair with his bother at a table made for two. Mel, Pan, and Payt were gathered around the blue kid table.
"Hey Prue!" Wyatt said as he smiled at me. He was oldest besides myself. He was 12 and had curly blond hair and blue eyes.
"Hey Wy...how you liking magic school?" I asked and he smiled and took a bite of his sandwich giving me a thumbs up.
"OK, What demon are we going.....Phoebe what are you doing here?" Paige asked as she orbed in.
"Umm...helping." She said and Piper finally noticed she was still here and had not just dropped off the kids.
"No your not. You have a baby to think about, besides this is why I called Prue." Piper said and I nodded, fully agreeing. Phoebe sighed and rolled her eyes before we ascended the stairs to the attic. We entered together and Piper walked over to the book while Phoebe went over to the couch from aunt pearl and sat down. I smiled at her and shrugged my shoulders, I knew what it was like to be sat on the side lines...When I had thought I was pregnant before Sam died, Piper wouldn't let me near the simplest potion.
"So what are we looking for?" I asked and went over to look over Pipers shoulder.
"Climate changing demons." She answered and I furred my brow and looked at her.
"Umm Piper not to be snippy or anything..but..Have you lost your marbles? Climate changing demons?" I asked and she sighed and looked at me.
"There has to be a demonic reason why suddenly the weather people are telling us we wont be having any sun in San Fransisco for up to two years. Its not normal." Piper said and I sighed. "Pipe...Did you think it was just what the weather people said. The atmosphere had shifted slightly making some other weather our weather. I mean Forks has been Sunny since last January, and Phoenix, Has been snowing none stop for a week now. It isn't anything to do with demons." I said as I closed the book for her.
"Your wright..I just over reacted..." Piper said and then we heard my phone ring. I picked it up and closed my eyes at the id. "Hello, Prue Halliwell." I answered only to pull back at Susan's screaming.
"Yes, I'm sorry Susan, My aunt had a emergency with her...I see, Ok I'll be there. Bye." I closed the phone and made a chocking motion with my hand at a invisible person. Piper and Phoebe and of course Paige all chuckled and Piper looked at me waiting for answers.
"Sorry, that was Susan, she says I have to attend a dinner tonight to talk about a huge appraisal. I ether be there or be Squared. Otherwise If I want to keep my job I'll show up." I said and put the phone away. I smiled at them before going to the attic door to leave.
"I love you!" Piper called and I nodded and called back, "Me too!"
(Normal Pov)
Piper looked at her sisters and said, "Does she know she does that?" Phoebe shrugged and Paige looked confused. "What?" She asked.
"Say 'Me Too.' I haven't heard her tell us I love you since...before Sam died." Piper said and Phoebe sighed and Paige frowned.
"MOMMY! HELP!" Melinda screamed and the sisters looked at each other and ran downstairs intime to see a demon take Melinda.
