"What this is, he…whatever, how did it shimmer inside the manor while we covered this place with crystals and cloaked Seth!" Piper asked pointing at the huge beastie man, Leo didn't have an answer for her and continued to analyse the beastie man.
"He is mostly likely drawn to Seth's powers or other magic he was involved with. Did you see him use any of your powers, or the other sisters?"
"He blew up a small cupboard door and froze the man thing that's taking up most of my kitchen. Which by the way is an eyesore and difficult to explain to people who might visit."
"Who's visiting, I thought you were trying to stop Wyatt from exposing your secret."
"Besides that I have a lot on my plate and I don't need this thing in my way; and what if he unfreezes at random and tries to catch Seth again and break the furniture. Remember the lizard demon that raided the house, I had to clean up the mess he left behind when he trashed the sun room and I just had to upholster every piece of furniture in the living room after we vanquished him, the left over smoke clung to everything and stank like a rotten baked eggplant. And Seth froze the guy hence the problem."
"What are you talking about?" Leo asked, Piper looked at him with mixed exasperation and irritation.
"Seth's the one who froze this thing, not me. Keep up will you," She said indicating to the beastie man; "how did he do that, Paige said he orbed. Is Seth half whitelighter?"
"No, it's one of the Dream Weavers many gifts; they can replicate and permanently absorb any form of magic they are exposed to. Have you used your powers around him?"
"We were practicing magic in the kitchen that's when the thing appeared, at first we thought he would blow a cookie up, but instead he showed us that he could freeze and unfreeze time like me…"
"Wait, why did you think he had your aggressive power; did you vanquish a demon in front of him? Children shouldn't see that form of violence, it could disturb them…"
"I didn't blow anyone up, it was a small accident?"
"Were you trying to swat a fly and blew it up by accident?"
"Not exactly, like I said it was an accident, I didn't expect him I thought he was a demon about to burst into the room and the door was closed so I didn't see him."
"Did you try to blow him up?" Before Piper could answer, Seth orbed into the room with his broad smile and they had forgotten what they were talking about.
"Tada, the amazing Seth Houdini has done it again! I could only do it a little bit, but now I can do it whenever I want." Piper had recovered and looked at him more carefully, his clothes were shrinking, or he was getting bigger, Leo saw it as well and he gave Piper a knowing look.
"Is he down there, I swear I took my eyes off of him for less than a second and he orbed out of the room Paige said rushing down the stairs, Seth closed his eyes tight and orbed out of the kitchen.
"You just missed him," Piper said trying to supress a smile, "Another Wyatt except this one knows what he's doing."
"Careful what you say, you offered to look after him. I've got to go to the hospital to find his personal and medical details and see if the toy Seth is still doing its job. Oh; and Phoebe told me to tell you that she'll come to check up if you need any help before she leaves work".
"Why, where is she going?"
"She's going to help me get a feel of the hospital's staff; maybe we'll find someone who knows more about Seth.
"I should fill in the details with the Elders." Leo said apologetically, she turned her face away and smiled bitterly.
"Of course you do, I'll be fine with the boys." She told him, he stepped forward to give her a hug but Wyatt cried at that exact moment, Piper stepped back."
"Wyatt needs me now, you go and tell the Elders but what happened," when Leo hesitated she looked away from him.
"You have your responsibilities I have mine.
Circe threw a boulder across the room where it crash against the cave wall breaking into huge pieces sending dust flying in every direction.
"Idiots, fools, I'm surrounded by the incompetent! Miguel, this is the end for you and I will make you the example of my power and the wrath that fuels your demise!" Circe went back to her silver pond and took a pinch of herbs from the stone basin and threw it into the glimmering silver waters.
"Across the earth, the wind and tide, I cast these words both far and wide. Take my minion, Miguel the beast, undo his life to join the deceased!"
The beastie man had unfrozen and fell to the ground and didn't get up, but Piper prepared herself just in case he did. His skin began to radiate a red gold light that grew brighter and brighter and in seconds it ended in sparks, he was no longer a beast, but a human man. Motionless and soundless, Leo and Piper went up to him and turned him over; there he was as a handsome foreign young man; tan skin, full lips, slightly broad nose and a strong jawline framed with long and thick black hair. The most unlikely part of him was his brown eyes that were fading into a milky white. Piper put her two fingers on his neck and felt no pulse, he had stopped breathing, and he was dead. She closed his eyes and looked at Leo, he was still and focused.
"He's not the threat he's an innocent."
"For those who want the truth revealed, open their hearts and secrets unsealed. From now until it's now again from now which the memory ends, this spell is not of selfish gain, only to save those who face evils bane." Paige looked at her watch, it was twelve pm mid-afternoon.
"Okay we have a day to find everything we need, do you have your journalism card."
"I have it, so you found a way around the law of three rule; I am impressed." Phoebe said holding up her card for Paige to see.
"I have a way with words; I thought you were going to the manor to see if everything's okay."
"I thought I'd go a later, I thought you would need me more, we can make more progress if we work together as soon as possible. Maybe we'll make some…" Phoebe bumped into someone tall and firm and they both stepped back.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going, and I was checking my pages and…" Their eyes met and Phoebe felt the rest of the world slip away, he was dazzlingly handsome. They were lost in each other's eyes.
"Phoebe, Phoebe!" Paige's voice broke the moment and Phoebe came back to earth and she smiled at the handsome stranger.
"This is Doctor Collin Ardeas from the disability unit, he specializes with minors, Doctor Collin this is my sister Phoebe Halliwell."
"Pleased to meet you Miss Halliwell." He said holding out his hand, Phoebe took it to shake his hand and gasped. She saw herself kissing him passionately; and then the premonition ended.
"Likewise, I'm doing a story on the hopes and outlooks of disabled people and children… Is it me or is it getting hot in here?" But by the cool air, there was obviously an air-conditioner.
"You look like you have a fever let me just check, if you don't mind?" She shook her head, he put the back of his hand on her forehead, then her cheeks and she didn't want him to lift his hand. He pulled away and smiled at her, she smiled back hoping that she wasn't blushing.
"So doctor, would it be okay with the interviews?" Paige asked, trying to direct the other two's attention to the plan.
"I won't mind, we'll just have to ask the patients if they don't mind as well." He said with a broad smile on his face, Phoebe couldn't help but smile as well.
"You guys go ahead I have some paperwork that I need to finish, I'll catch up with you. Maybe Phoebe can get the feel of the hospital and the patients." This was code for Phoebe to use her empathy.
"Okay, if you'd follow me Miss Halliwell."
"Please, call me Phoebe."
"That's one problem solved, but what to do about the eldest sister and her husband?" She threw the herbs into the silver pond and the pond lit up in an explosion of fire.
"By the power of wind and tide, I send these words both far and wide. Be he far, or be he near let me see him bright and clear." The fire turned into pure white smoke that billowed across the pond, Seth appeared in the reflection of the silver waters, he was playing with many puzzles and jigsaws each one more complicated than the one before it. The white smoke gathered as the silvery waters poured Seth's reflection into it and the smoke took Seth's form; she tried to stroke his cheek, but the smoke parted and when she pulled back the smoke returned to Seth's form.
"He might be protected from me, but he isn't protected by her." She waved her hand and the smoke turned into Piper who was in the kitchen making lunch for the boys.
"By the powers of wind and tide, I send these words both far and wide. Change me into the form of another the one who is Piper Halliwell's lover." A red gold light engulfed her and in less than a minute the light faded. She raised her hand slowly and the smoke faded away while the silver water began to move, rise and dip until it finally shot up straight and turned into a huge mirror. She stepped forward and looked at her new reflection.
"What is your name and what are you to the sisters?"
"My name is Greg Vaughn and I am Piper Halliwell's boyfriend."
Piper didn't know what to make for Seth besides chocolate chip cookies, so she decided to make as much as she could. The dining room table was decked with all types of food and she hoped that Seth would like something. Truth be told, she was looking for something to do in the kitchen other than brewing potions and Seth was that opportunity.
"Seth, Lunch is ready!" Piper called upstairs and Seth Orbed downstairs next to her, she had gotten used to it by now and bent down at eye level and spoke to him.
"Seth, no orbing in the house, I made lunch so go ahead in the dining room." He nodded and ran off, the doorbell rang and she walked towards the door to open it and Seth orbed next to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Don't open the door, a bad person is there and you don't want him here."
"Who's he Seth?" The doorbell rang again so she walked into the living room and looked out the front window and saw Greg.
"It's okay Seth, that Greg, he's my boyfriend." Seth let go reluctantly and she went back to the front door and opened it, there he was with his cute smile and bright eyes, a fire man wasn't an angel but he was close enough.
"Hi Piper, you miss me?" Greg said smiling and she smiled back; the problem was she couldn't let him smile inside with a wrecked kitchen and a parlour that was still a mess after the vanquishing yesterday.
"I'm good and yourself?"
"No complaints, who's this little tyke" Greg said bending over and smiling at Seth, Seth stoke his tongue out and ran into the house.
"That was Seth; he's…my next door neighbour's nephew."
"Oh, but isn't that them driving past your house?" He pointed towards the car driving past them at a snail's pace.
"They are going somewhere…but they didn't want to leave him at the house by himself so I offered to keep him here."
"That's good of you, but why should I be surprised." She smiled and leaned in for a kiss but he pulled away.
"So I guess I'll just leave…"
"No wait, I'll be with you just now, just stay there and don't move." He smiled and leaned against the wall outside. She quickly turned around and called to Seth.
"Seth I don't know if you can do this, but do you think you could orb the mess away, it would really help me out." He nodded and turned towards the rest of the house and all he did was click his fingers and a wave of unseen energy rippled across the room. Everything it touched reverted to the way it was before the attack it travelled everywhere and everything seemed as if it were completely brand new.
"Did you know you could do this all the time?"
"Only in my dreams, I could make things look the way I wanted, but now that I'm here my magic has become better, bigger."
"We can talk about it later, but just for now we should keep it our secret, in the mean time I would like it if you tried to give Greg a chance, he's a really good guy and I know you'll like him if you get to know him, can you try to do this for me?" She asked, he nodded again and she held out her hand, he took it and they walked back to the door. When she opened the door Greg was still standing there waiting patiently; his face lit up at the sight of her and a Seth.
"May I come in?" He asked her, she opened the door wide for him and he stepped into the house. The floor seemed to creek with every footstep until the noise ended; as if he had lost a ton in weight.
"I made something for you, well I cooked it." He said holding up a picnic basket in his hand that Piper swore she hadn't seen a minute ago. She looked slightly surprised at the offering of food he brought for her.
"So you're a fireman and a cook, a man of all trades?" She said taking the basket from him and walking into the kitchen.
"What can I say, I have my moments; and many guys can cook just not as well as I can."
"I'll hold you to it, okay so what do we have here." She said putting the basket on the kitchen table and opening it, he rushed towards her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Let me, I made my speciality; cream cheese, honey and raspberry pot pie." He said proudly, opening up the plastic Tupperware. A rich and creamy scent laced with the sweet taste of honey and the raspberry filled the room, Piper took three plates and spoons from the cupboard and put it on the table to dish the cream cheese pie but Greg shook his head.
"I made it for you and I have more at home, but I'm sure Seth will enjoy it." Greg smiled at Seth and held out his hand, but he was stung just by touching the boy. Piper didn't notice and once she gave Seth his plate she stood there with her spoon poised over the slice of pie.
"Wait let me, it will taste better if it comes from me. How about at the count of three both of you take a bite" She smiled and handed him the spoon and he gave her a generous scoop of the pie. He counted to three and at the exact same time both Seth and Piper had eaten a piece of the pie. It was only in a matter of seconds that they fell to the ground unconscious. Piper slowly transformed into Circe and Seth remained the same. Circe took her true form and bent low over Piper; she put her hand on Piper's cheek and every single one of Piper's memories were replicated and absorbed into Circe's mind all she had to do was change herself into the "real Piper". Circe took out a white candle, an atheme and a small pouch out of a compartment in the picnic basket, and then she took one of the bowls in the kitchen cupboard and Piper's grocery list on the fridge. She cut the tip of Piper/Circe's index finger with the atheme and let a few drops of blood fall onto the list and then she did the same with her finger. She cut three strands of Piper/Circe's hair and put it in the bowl, sprinkling herbs she had taken from her pouch. She pulled a quill and parchment from thin air and quickly wrote the spell she had in mind before she forgot it; and then she lit up the candle by snapping her fingers. She held up the blood stained grocery list and read the spell out loud.
"Powers of the witches rise, course unseen across the skies. Where there was one let there be two, you are me and I am you." She lit the blood stained page with the flame from the candle and dropped it in to the bowl, the contents of the bowl and page blew up into white smoke that split in two opposite directions, Circe and the transformed Piper. The smoke forced its way into their mouths and nostrils and the more it filled Circe the faster she transformed into the real Piper. She stood up and looked at her arms and legs, then she felt her face and chest which she was very satisfied with; to test whether the transformation was complete she walked back into the kitchen and aimed for the container with her enchanted pie, with nothing but two hand gestures the bowl blew up which meant the first step of her new plan was working. She took out a large book that she had hidden under the pie with a cloth; the book was empty, but not for long. She quickly picked up everything and packed them away and the moment she was done she raced upstairs to the attic with her empty book and slowly walked towards the Book of Shadows. She put her empty book down at the potion brewing alter and dared to touch the Halliwell book and when she laid her hands on it without it trying to leave her she opened it and it did nothing to escape her touch, her spell had worked. She went back to the table and took her book holding it in front of the open Book of Shadows, casting one more spell that would complete the second step of her plan.
"What's mine is yours, what's your is mine, may these pages cross the line. I offer up these books to share, switch the contents through the air." The pages of both books began to flip rapidly of their own accord, words, pictures and symbols pulled away from the Halliwell Book of Shadows and filled Circe's empty Book of Shadows. And in less than two minutes the spell was complete; generations of Halliwell magic belonged to Circe.
"Now you can't keep my son away from me Paige Matthews; and to show how fickle I can be, I'm going to use the one's you love as collateral...let's start with your sisters." She began to walk away and as a parting statement, she aimed for the Book of Shadows and blew it up.
