Chris and Joy finally got dressed and went downstairs. When the Charmed Ones saw them, they brought the shield down.
"If it's up too long, then the magical folk will really get suspicious," Phoebe explained, "You two were at it for three hours."
Joy smiled. Never underestimate the power of love.
Piper clapped her hands together. "So, you two better get working on those sheets."
Chris and Joy brought the sheets down to the laundry room, and threw them in the washer.
They looked at each other, and wanted to say something, but knew they couldn't because the shield was down.
Joy set the timer and closed the lid. They started to walk out of the room, when suddenly, three figures appeared in front of them, blocking the doorway.
Two of them grabbed Chris and shoved him against the wall.
"Chris!" Joy screamed, as the other figure grabbed her.
The Charmed Ones started running toward the laundry room, but by the time they got there, Joy and Chris were gone.
"Oh, God," Paige said, "Looks like the Mazging got them."
"How did they even find out?"
All three of them found the answer at the same time. "The kiss. Right before we put up the shield."
"What do we do?" Piper asked.
"We could scry for them." Phoebe suggested.
"Using what? The only thing we could've used were those sheets they just slept on, and those are in the washer now."
Defeated, Phoebe replied, "You have a point there."
"What did Joy say the Mazging would do if they found out about her and Chris?"
"They're going to kill Chris," Paige answered, "They're gonna make Joy watch as they kill him."
----------------
A Mazging leader chained Chris' hands to a wall of the stone cave they were all confined in. The Mazging looked like ordinary men, obviously bigger and larger than their normal fairy selves were.
The room was lit by hundreds of candles. A display of knives was set up on one of the walls behind the three Mazging leaders. Joy was chained to the wall directly opposite Chris, her hands tied behind her back. She was struggling with her bindings.
"Let us go, please," she begged, "Why are you doing this to us?"
All three of them replied, "You broke the law, Princess Joy. You fell in love with a human."
"Please don't hurt him," Joy pleaded, "Take me instead. Just don't hurt him."
"No!" Chris yelled. "Don't you dare touch her!"
The Mazging turned to Chris. "Or you'll what?" one of them asked, "We've put a bind on all of your powers." He turned back to Joy. "All you have to do, Princess, is sit back and watch the show."
"Please don't hurt him, Francis. Please leave him alone."
The one called Francis ignored her. He turned to the two others. "Carter, Michael. You know what to do. Get this party started."
Carter and Michael walked toward Chris. Carter punched Chris on the side of his head. Joy gasped as Chris' knees buckled and his body tried to fall on the floor. Only he couldn't because he was still chained to the wall.
Then Michael did the same thing Carter had done.
Over and over and over again. They wouldn't stop hitting Chris. Only when Francis snapped his fingers did they desist.
When they moved out of the way, Joy looked at Chris. Already he was bruising. A large gash that cut across his cheek was dripping blood down his face. He could barely stand.
Tears gathered in Joy's eyes. She knew that this was only Step One. There were two more steps to go until she lost Chris forever.
