CHAPTER SEVEN
I didn't know where he shimmered us to, but he must've thrown the bottle down on top of something or another, then I could hear the sounds of books and papers being tossed aside, Richard obviously desperately searching for something. Since he was ignoring me and my bottle, I tried using a trick I'd seen Jeannie use on that old TV show. I desperately ran back and forth, throwing myself against one wall of the bottle, then the other, trying to tip the bottle over, hoping I could escape. Finally the bottle fell to its side, popping the cork and, sure enough, I escaped.
"Why didn't you let me out?" I demanded as soon as I felt myself a full-sized Genie Phoebe.
"I'm not ready for you yet," and I didn't like the tone of his voice.
"Where are we?" I asked, looking around.
"My vault," and he turned back and started going through the bookcase again.
Now I was scared. Paige had told me about this. "You mean the black-magic vault that's supposed to be under lock and key? Uh…you got a phone? I'm just gonna check in with Paige."
"No, you're not," he told me, a dangerous tone to his voice. "I know I've got a book on wishing around here somewhere."
"Wishing?" I asked, getting even more scared.
He nodded. "Gotta make sure the wording is just right."
Suddenly I realized what he was up to. I tried to talk him out of it, by appealing to his vanity. "But, Master, a dream is a wish your heart makes. Maybe you should wish for sleep. I'm very good at making people fall asleep."
He shook his head. "I just want Paige to accept me the way I am--with magic. It's the only way we're gonna make it."
I shook my head. "I don't think magic is the answer to your problems--it is your problem."
He growled. "I see she's got you brainwashed, too. Guess I'll have to wish for the whole family to accept me." Suddenly he grabbed a book. "Ah, I knew it was here somewhere."
As he opened the book, Paige orbed in. Looking up, he grabbed the bottle and fought back his temper. "Paige…how many times do I have to ask you not to orb in and surprise me like that?"
"Careful, honey," I warned her. "He's not himself."
She glared at me. "Don't you 'honey' me! How could you not tell me that Chris was our nephew?"
I rolled my eyes. "Could we talk about that later? Your boyfriend's ticking like a time bomb over there."
He shook his head. "I'm perfectly fine. I just need some time to read. I'll call you when I'm ready for you, Paige."
"I'm sorry," she told him. "This is for your own good," and she pulled out a vial and threw it at him, but he quickly gestured with a "NO!" and telekinetically hurled the potion vial away. But suddenly Paige went flying and slammed into the wall hard, knocking her out cold! His powers must've hit her, too!
The vial rolled away and I rushed over to Paige, kneeling down next to my sister, then looked up to glare at the man who was supposed to love her, not hurt her and cried out, "Look what you did!"
Richard, shocked by what just happened, backed away in anguish.
Much, much later, I found out what happened back at the Manor while all this was going on at Richard's mansion. Chris had moved his still-sleeping parents to the sofa, then tenderly covered them with a blanket. That made me smile—maybe he did really care for them—or at least for Piper--after all, because you sure could've fooled me up til then! Then the doorbell rang and he moved to answer it, only to find Greg standing there.
He glared at the man who could've become his father thanks to his own actions. "I thought you were working."
He shrugged. "I'm on a break. I came to surprise Piper."
"Little booty call, huh?" Chris asked sarcastically.
Greg ignored what he must've considered the impudent brat—I sure would've! "Is she here?"
And again Chris lied because again he felt he had to. "Uh--no."
He started to shut the door, but Greg stopped him. "I don't believe you."
Chris considered the situation, then smirked. "Okay, see for yourself."
Greg pushed passed Chris and walked into the living room only to see Piper and Leo asleep together on the couch. With a flip of his wrist, Chris TKed his true father's arm around his mother, which caused her head to roll over onto his chest. It must've looked just like they were snuggling, and Greg must've been heartbroken.
Chris smiled with a shrug. "Tried to warn ya. Want me to say you stopped by?"
He shook his head in anguish. "No, that won't be necessary," and he walked back to the door, followed by Chris, who smugly watched his chance at becoming half-firefighter rather than half-whitelighter go out the door.
But while Chris was busy getting rid of his father's rival, the flying carpet slid under the door, sneaking in. It flew over to Jinny and crashed into the force field, shorting it out. The carpet itself was incinerated, but Jinny smugly stepped out of the now-dormant crystal circle.
Meanwhile Chris was closing the door behind Greg and somewhat regretfully admitted, "Sorry, Mom—it's for the best."
He turned to return to his parents find Jinny standing over them, fireball in hand. "Take me to the bottle." she demanded. "Or else."
Meanwhile, back in Richard's vault, Paige was opening her eyes, slowly regaining consciousness and looked up to see Richard and me. "What happened?" she managed.
Richard was truly apologetic. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean—didn't try to—I'd never—."
"It's okay," Paige gently told him. "I know."
"I'm going to make this up to you," he insisted and turned to me, locking eyes with her.
"No, no!" I cried. "Not that way."
"Don't!" Paige begged. "No more wishes!"
He turned back to smile at her. "It's okay; it's not for me," and he turned back to me: "Phoebe, I wish you free."
A whirl of smoke from the bottle enveloped us both, and when the smoke cleared, I had returned to normal (whew!), but Richard was now dressed like an Arabian sultan. He looked at his clothes, confused, "What's this?"
"I tried to warn you," Paige told him with a sad smile. "If you free anyone from that bottle, you take their place."
He shrugged. "I guess I was trapped either way."
"Don't worry," I told him. "We'll fix this."
Paige nodded. "Yeah, we got Jinny locked up at the Manor. I just gotta call your dad to possess her and--"
And Chris orbed in with Jinny, who had a fireball already formed.
I turned in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Jinny hurled the fireball at Paige and me, and we dove out of the way, along with Genie Richard. Chris tried to gesture, but Jinny caught his arm and lifted him with supernatural strength, throwing him across the room. In three strides, she crossed over and reached for the bottle. Paige struggled to her feet and called out, "Bottle!" Now why didn't she do that earlier??
But Jinny had it and although it started to orb out, suddenly the orbs dissipated and Jinny still stood there, holding the bottle. She smiled victoriously. "I've waited a long time to hold this."
Then the smile turned vicious, and turning to Richard, she commanded, "I wish the Charmed Ones dead!"
