NINE

"Are you saying your father hired Kumak to replace us?" Piper asked.

"Well, I don't know for sure," said Brendan. "But from what you said it sounds like him. Just after I took my vows as a priest he paid me a visit. He was furious when he discovered Greg and Paul were dead. He said he blamed you for it. And he swore he'd get back what had been lost."

"Why would he blame them?" Paige asked. "From what they said the only way to vanquish them was you stabbing them with an athame."

"That's right," said Brendan. "But he said my brothers could have brought me back to the coven. He said if it wasn't for their interference they would have."

"But you had all ready decided to leave," said Phoebe. "That's why you were becoming a priest."

"He felt that my brothers could change my mind," said Brendan. "In fact, they actually told him I had changed my mind. Then I met you and you stopped me from going back. He said I couldn't help myself. That I was just following the weak nature of my human half. He said that without your interference my warlock half would have won out."

"But Kumak was very specific," said Piper. "He said that Brendan Rowe hired him."

"He must have started going by that name after my brothers died," said Brendan.

"Why would he do that?" Phoebe asked.

"Because that's his name," said Brendan. "Charles Brendan Rowe. Senior. I was named after him. I've just always gone by Brendan to distinguish me from my father."

"So your father hired Kumak to steal our powers and replace the evil Power of Three," said Piper.

"It sounds like it," said Brendan. "And I know my father did know Kumak. They had some dealings before I was born. As far as I know he never had any dealings with Kumak after I was born. At least not until now."

"Well, it looks like he hired Kumak to replace us," said Phoebe. "Unfortunately for him we vanquished the doppelgangers. Which means he'll probably try again. So we need to find him."

"So you can vanquish him," said Brendan.

"Brendan, we don't want to," said Phoebe. "But he's a warlock. You of all people know what that means. If we don't stop him he'll probably just go on killing witches. Not to mention how many innocents he may have killed and will go on killing."

"I know," said Brendan. "I've resigned myself to the fact that it will eventually happen. I may no longer be a warlock but I know he revels in it. He always had."

"There's something I don't understand," said Paige. "How does becoming a priest keep you from being a warlock? I mean, I didn't think your job made any difference in whether you were a warlock. No offense, but being a priest is just like any other job. I don't understand how it protects you?"

"Well, from one point of view it is simply a job," said Brendan. "But it's much more than that. I learned when I was young that the only way to suppress my evil nature was to devote myself totally to good. In that respect the priesthood is much more than just a job. I had to devote myself totally to good and I couldn't be distracted by anything. Not even a family. As a priest I don't have to worry about being married or having children. I can devote myself totally to God and not have to worry about anything distracting me from that."

"So by being a priest you can suppress your evil half?" Paige asked.

"Oh, it's much more than that," said Brendan. "The moment I took my vows it bound my evil side. Much like you would bind someone's powers with a potion. My vows were the outwardly manifestation of my devotion to the church. As long as I keep those vows my warlock half is bound and can never affect me again."

"So just devote yourself to good and your warlock nature is bound, is that it?" Piper asked.

"Yes," said Brendan. "But it must be a total devotion. Much more total than most people ever devote to anything. In a manner of speaking I literally will my evil nature to be bound. If I ever willingly violate even one of my priestly vows it proves my devotion is not complete and my warlock half will be released. For the past seven years I've been able to keep my vows. I plan to for the rest of my life."

"So I guess that only leaves one question," said Piper. "Will you help us find your father?"

"I've taken many specific vows," said Brendan. "A vow of poverty, celibacy, obedience. And the tenants of my faith dictate that I cannot deliberately cause harm to another human being. Almost every day I hear the confessions of my parishioners. And I give them absolution for their sins.

"If I tell you where my father can be found I know what you're going to do. You'll go there and you'll vanquish him. You'll kill him. I don't believe there is any malice in you. You're just doing what you were destined to do. Protect the innocent."

"So will you help us?" Phoebe asked.

"If I tell you where to find him," said Brendan, "I will have to accept at least part of the responsibility for his death. I'll tell you where to find my father."

"We don't want to get you into any trouble," said Paige. "Especially considering you're a priest."

"Father Austin will give me absolution for my sin," said Brendan. "It's not like it's murder. I know my father. When you go to see him he won't hesitate to attack you. You'll have no choice but to defend yourself."

"How will you explain it to Father Austin?" Phoebe asked. "You can't very well tell him your father's a warlock and we're witches."

"I don't have to," said Brendan. "He all ready knows."

"You told him about us?" Piper asked.

"He's a priest," said Brendan. "Whatever I tell him is confidential. He takes his vows and the sacrament of confession as seriously as I do. In fact, it's because of him that I take the sacraments so seriously. Whatever I've told him he'll take to his grave."

"That's odd," said Phoebe. "He never mentioned anything about this when we spoke to him earlier."

"Of course not," said Brendan. "It would violate the confessional. He's been a very big help to me. I can tell him anything and I don't have to worry about it getting out."

"Sounds like you have a lot of respect for him," said Phoebe.

"He's the father I never had," said Brendan. "And the best friend. Come on inside. I can show you where to find my biological father."

The girls followed Brendan into his office in the church.