The next morning, the rain had FINALLY let up. The sun was shining and birds were chirping as people started to get themselves ready for the day ahead. The Halliwell Manor had returned to what was normalcy for it, the lights coming back on shortly after they found some creepy discoveries in the attic of the house.
Phoebe sits on the porch of the manor, a mug of coffee in her hands as she watches people get in their cars heading for work, the school buses driving down the road, full of children.
She could barely sleep last night. Her adrenaline wouldn't allow her. After finding what was called 'The Book of Shadows', she made it her business to at least read the first few pages of it. And it gave her way more insight to her family history than she ever would've thought she would've learned.
Apparently, according to 'The Book of Shadows', her, her sisters, her cousin, grandmother, mother, and aunt were all a part of a long line of witches that started from a woman named Melinda Warren. Not only that, but the four of them were part of a great power, known only as the 'Power of Four'. It sounds like something straight out of a storybook, Phoebe thought to herself, taking another sip of coffee.
Piper steps out, purse and chef uniform in her hands. She immediately spots Phoebe, who turns and smiles at her upon hearing her clomp out on the porch. "You're up early," Piper greeted with a warm smile.
"I never went to sleep," Phoebe replied, taking another sip from her mug.
"Don't tell me you put on a black, conical hat and spent the night flying around the neighborhood on a broomstick?" Piper cracked, taking a seat next to her sister. Despite Piper's cynicism, Phoebe couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, "The only broom I've ever had was kept in a closet beside a mop."
"So what were you doing?"
"Reading," Phoebe answered.
Before Piper could respond, they see a sleek, nearly brand new Chevrolet Malibu pull up next to the mailbox on the street. Phoebe raised a curious eyebrow, trying to get a good look at the driver. "Who's that?"
Smiling, Piper waved merrily to the Malibu, "That's Vanessa.
Phoebe perked up immediately upon hearing the name, "Vanessa?! Vanessa Wilcox?"
"Only Vanessa Wilcox I know," Piper said with a smile, standing up to her feet.
Excitedly, Phoebe hopped up, carefully balancing her mug in her hands as she glided up to the Malibu. The person inside the car, Vanessa Wilcox, was young, pretty, and perky. She just also happened to be Paige's best friend since the two of them were in the fifth grade.
When she saw Phoebe approaching her car, Vanessa squealed excitedly, unbuckling her seatbelt and practically jumping out of the driver's seat.
Vanessa nearly tackled Phoebe, who balanced her cup while giving the young teenage girl a hug at the same time. Vanessa had always had a presence in the Halliwell household as Paige's best friend. Their grandmother, Penny, had always allowed Vanessa to come over to the house, sometimes even spending the night. She had become somewhat as another younger baby cousin/sister. And like Paige, Phoebe was Vanessa's favorite out of the three older women.
"Phoebe!" Vanessa shouted excitedly. "When did you get here?!"
Laughing, Phoebe replied, "I just got back last night. Nice car!"
Taking a quick glance back at the Malibu, Vanessa nonchalantly shrugged. "Thanks. My Dad bought it for me for my Sweet Sixteen last year."
"Your Dad! How is that big, tub of lard?"
It was Vanessa's turn to crack up laughing. "He's awesome! Getting old, though."
"I'm surprised he let you keep it after yesterday. Prue told me about your and Paige's… escapades yesterday."
Vanessa sighed, her eyes going to the top of her immediately. Phoebe giggled at her reaction to her statement. Piper walked up to the two of them, shooting Vanessa a warm smile before hugging her, saying, "Hey, Vanessa. How are you?"
"I'm good. Where's Paige? We're gonna be late. And after yesterday, I cannot afford to be late," Vanessa said, taking a nervous glance towards the large Halliwell Manor.
"She should be down in a second. You guys better stay at school ALL DAY today," Piper said, emphasizing the last part. Vanessa's eyes floated to the top of her head again, sighing loudly.
"You guys sound like my Mom," Vanessa griped.
Phoebe couldn't help but laugh as Paige walked out of the front door of the Manor, backpack bouncing behind her. Her normally wild black hair was tied back into a ponytail, her green camouflage jacket clearly too big for her as she hurried down the driveway towards Piper, Phoebe, and Vanessa.
"Finally!" Vanessa shouted out to Paige, raising her hands dramatically.
"Oh, whatever. You weren't even waiting for that long," Paige shot back as she reached them. She shot an awkward look Phoebe and Piper's way. "Where's Prue?"
"She went to work early. Vanessa can I borrow these two for a sec?" Piper asked, giving Vanessa a motherly smile.
"Uh, sure," Vanessa replied. Paige, however, smacked her teeth with attitude before saying, "Really, Piper? We're gonna be late-"
"It'll only take a minute. I need to talk to you two. Over here," Piper gave Vanessa another smile, leading Phoebe and Paige over to her car. Once they were sure Vanessa was out of earshot, Piper said, "Okay, Paige. No skipping school today. I mean it."
Paige gave her a look, furrowing her eyebrows. "THAT'S what you wanted to say?!"
Ignoring her baby cousin, Piper turned to Phoebe, "And, you. No more of this witch talk."
"But, the Book of Shadows says we are the ancestors of the witch Melinda Warren, who resided in Salem, Massachusetts," Phoebe reeled off the information as fast as she could remember it. Piper and Paige gave her blank, unbelieving stares. Scoffing, Paige replied, "Right. We're related to witches. As if I wasn't weird enough. I'm gonna be late for school."
"Why is it so hard for you guys to believe me?" Phoebe argued.
"C'mon, Phoebe. So we're ancestors of a witch? We also have an aunt who was manic, a grandfather who was a drunk, and a father who's invisible," Piper retorted, but unfortunately, most of that was true. The Halliwell family was dysfunctional, indeed.
Paige merely walks away, quickly saying, "Bye," before heading back over to Vanessa, who was now sitting inside of her Malibu.
"I mean it, Paige! In school! All day!" Piper yelled after Paige, who waved her hand at her dismissively without even looking back at her. She got in the Malibu. shutting the door. Piper turned back towards Phoebe, who was still looking like she wasn't about to let this whole witch argument up.
"I'm serious, Piper. Melinda practiced powers. Four powers. She could move objects with her mind, become invisible, see the future, and stop time. Before Melinda was burned at the stake, she vowed that each generation of Warren witches would become stronger and stronger, and we are the next generation of those witches. The Power of Four. Four of the most powerful witches the world has ever known. Good witches…. I think we're those witches."
Piper gave her sister the dryest stare she could. She chuckled, before saying, "Look. I know what happened last night was weird and unexplainable, but we're not witches and we do not have special powers. Besides, Grams wasn't a witch. And as far as we know, Auntie Pam wasn't one and neither was Mom."
She gives her sister a kiss on the cheek, "So take that, Nancy Drew." Piper gives Phoebe the same motherly smile she gave to Vanessa. Behind them, Vanessa's Malibu had already pulled off from the driveway. Piper opened her car door, hopping in the driver's seat.
Phoebe smiled at her, waving in a dispirited manner. She didn't give a farewell one would've thought. In her sing-song-like voice, she continued waving, saying, "We're the protectors of the innocent. We're known as the Charmed Ones!"
Laughing, shooting her sister a snide smile, Piper pulls off and out of the driveway.