Phoebe's POV
I sighed as the taxi driver drove slowly towards the manor. Can't he drive any faster; I mean I could walk home faster in my heels than this moron could drive. How could Prue just attack Paige like that? How the hell could she think that Dad was raising a Warlock! He was married to Mom, how could he not know about magic? Andy really needs to talk some sense into that older sister of mine, and her anger issues. I can understand she is mad about Dad coming back into our lives, but she used her power against another human being!
Finally reaching the manor, I paid the taxi driver and started to storm into the manor, but tried to calm down seeing that Dad and Paige were here too. I unlocked the door, and closed it behind me, making sure to lock it to not piss off the all-powerful Prue. I walked into the kitchen to find Prue and Piper on one side of the room and Dad and Paige on the other, not saying anything to each other. I walked over to Dad and Paige and pulled Paige into a hug. "Thank God you are doing ok," I whispered and I pulled away, and sent an angry glare at Prue, I am not going to let her harm my baby sister.
ACROSS THE STREET
"They are all inside. Finally." Fritz said as he turned from where he had camped at the window since the Halliwell sisters had left to go God knows where earlier that evening. But when he saw the sisters come home with a strange young woman and a very familiar older gentlemen; he knew that it was finally time to get into the manor and steal the Book of Shadows from the Halliwell family; and finally vanquish those stupid Charmed Ones..
"Who is else is in the manor?" Marshall demanded as he saw the young woman enter the manor. "Hey isn't that Mr. Bennett that went into the manor also?" His face lit up happily. He had fond memories of Victor Bennett; especially the times when Victor had left his family because of the magic.
"Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Andy, Victor and some strange young woman; whom I have never set eyes on before." Fritz said with a firm nod. "We have plenty of people to morph into. We are sure to gain access to the Book of Shadows, now."
"So how are we going to get into the manor?" Cindy asked with a sharp bite with her sharp crooked teeth, "We all ready tried morphing into a bull dog and a mail man. Both times that stupid know it all Prue Halliwell has stopped us." She glared at Fritz; whom was the only one of the siblings who had tried and failed to gain accesses to the Book of Shadows.
"We are going to morph into flies and just fly on in. We are going to listen to the conversion; and find out who that unknown woman is." With that Fritz morphed into a fly and led the way to his fly brother and sister out of their manor, across the street and into the Halliwell manor from a crack in a window that the sisters hadn't realized.
Piper's POV
I stormed into the kitchen when I finally walked into the manor; I felt Prue behind me and I knew that dad and Paige would be right behind them. I walked over and stood with my back against the sink and I wrapped my arms tightly around my chest. I felt Prue stand firmly next to me.
I watched as dad and Paige stood at the wall that was closets to the door that lead out of the kitchen, I saw that Andy made his way to stand in the middle. Before anyone could say one word; Phoebe walked into the room and instead of coming to stand with Prue and I; as she very well should have; she moved quickly and pulled Paige into a tight hug.
Phoebe turned and stood on the other side of Paige and just glared at Prue and me. As if we were the damn enemy. I felt a fly on my ear and I swished it haughty by.
Prue's POVAndy wrapped an arm around me, as he saw Phoebe glaring at us like we were…evil…. No…. not we, just me. I feel terrible about attacking Paige like I did and I wish Phoebe could see that, but all she saw was her older sister attacking an innocent girl. "Phoebe…please don't look at me like that…" I whispered guiltily.
"No…how could you hurt Paige like that? I can't even…" I was in shock. Phoebe had never been this angry before, not even when I had accused her of sleeping with Roger was she ever that mad that she couldn't even speak out. Andy gave my shoulder a squeeze, and Phoebe saw me being comforted. "And you are being just as bad Andy…how can you be comforting her? She attacked an innocent person; she is no better than a bloody convict!" Phoebe shouted, and I felt tears stinging at my eyes.
How can she say that…I was just trying to protect my family….
Paige's POV
"Phoebe, it's all right." I said placing my hand on Phoebe's arm to stop her from attacking Prue. I didn't want Phoebe doing something she would regret. "Prue honesty thought I was a warlock. I understand that."
"I'm sorry Paige." Prue said looking at me.
"There's nothing to be sorry about." I said with a slight smile at my oldest half sister. "You were just protecting your sisters was all. It was what I expected of you." I laughed gently. "Glad you didn't disappoint me.
"How can you forgive so quickly? Prue almost killed you." Phoebe said still very angry at Prue. She tried to move away from me; but I tightened my hold on her arm.
Andy moved away from Prue and moved back over to stand in the middle of the room. "Look, let's talk this all out. Calmly."
"Shut it, Andrew." Piper snarled.
"Don't talk to Andy like that, Piper." Prue angrily said.
Victor's POV
"Girls." I said breaking in before the fight could break out. I remember Prue and Piper's little spats when they were children; they broke out into full scale fights before you could say "Book of Shadows".
Prue nodded her head and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Piper. I just don't like the tone you took with Andy. He is trying to help is all."
Piper turned to Andy. "I'm sorry Andy. I'm not angry at you." She swung her eyes and looked fully at me. "I'm mad at him. One for abandoning us when we were children; after mom died; and two for adopting that …." She pointed her finger firmly at Paige. I'm relieved that I didn't freeze. " ….. that. Uggggh." Piper let out a death scream.
Andy's POV
Never in my life had I ever seen Piper so…hating towards another person, but before I talk with her about that, I better find out what has been going on…
"What has happened after Piper froze me?" I asked looking first at Prue and Piper and than over at where Phoebe, Victor and Paige were standing.
"Nothing." Paige said quickly. Way too quickly for my taste. I see that I would have to play police officer here to get the answers that I needed.
"I see." I said. "Than why were you in Victor's arms shaken and wide eyed when I unfroze?" I questioned looking directly at Paige.
"I fell and daddy was tending to me." Paige replied looking straight into my eyes. "It was nothing Mr. Trudeau,"
"Andy." I said. "And it wasn't nothing, Paige. I'm a police officer and I see a lot of crime and abusive situations."
"Abusive situations. Prue wasn't abusive towards Paige. She honestly thought Paige was a warlock and she used her powers against Paige." Piper stormed.
"The hell she was Piper!" Phoebe shouted back at her. "Prue wasn't trying to protect us from demons, she was just jealous that Paige got raised by Dad, and that we didn't,"
"Phoebe…how can you say that?" Prue asked in a wounded voice.
"Don't you be defending that scum Victor decided to raise and not us?" Piper shouted.
"Piper…you need to calm-," I started
"Calm this down!" The last thing I saw was Piper flicking her wrists at me.
Paige's POV
Scum. Piper just called me scum. She honestly hates me. Piper won't calm down and accept me any time soon. No matter how many times Phoebe will tell me that Piper is just upset and she just needs time. I blinked several times as I stared wide eyed at Piper. I couldn't tear my eyes off my half sister as she turned away from Andy and glared right back at me.
"Get out." Piper seethed through her teeth.
I was numb. I couldn't move.
"GET OUT!" Piper screamed as she rushed towards me and slapped me across the face. Hard. I bumped into Phoebe in shock as I brought my hand up to my check. I stared wide eyed into Piper's angry eyes. I saw sheer hatred in them. I moved away from Phoebe in fear. I couldn't allow Piper to get a hold of me again. I don't think I would live if Piper got a hold of me.
Piper's POV
"Piper!" Phoebe shouted in my ear as she grabbed my arm and yanked me backwards hard. "How dare you strike Paige. Our sister."
"Not by blood." I saw Paige start to cry than, "If you can't take a bloodily slap to the face; than how do you think you will take it when demons attack you."
"They do attack me." Paige whispered as she finally stopped back away. But the only reason why she had to stop moving backwards; was because her back hit the closed basement door.
"Yea but how do you think you can take demons attacking you when dad isn't around to protect you?" I snared as I tried to break Phoebe's hold on my arm. Damn Phoebe was strong.
Phoebe's POVI yanked Piper forcefully away from Paige and turned her around. "What the fuck is the matter with you?" I shouted shaking her.
"Get your fucking hands off me Phoebe," Piper snarled darkly. I just stared at her, anger clearly entering into my face.
"No…you need to calm down," I stated pushing her back farther away from Paige and back towards Prue. I turned towards Paige and saw a scared look on her face. Piper managed to break my hold on her and was about to attack Paige again, but I shot my arm out and yanked her away from Paige once again, and I saw her hand flying towards my face. Instantly my self-defense training shot in and instantly I grabbed her wrist and landed a backslap across her cheek. Piper gaped at me in shock, and I raised my eyebrow, "You can dish it, but you can't take it?" I asked, and suddenly Prue's hands were on Piper's shoulders, and pulled her away from Paige. I softened my face a little and gave Prue a grateful look before heading back over to Paige, and she jumped when I reached out for her. She actually thought I was going to strike her…I pulled my hand away, and whispered, "I'm sorry…"
Prue's POV"Piper calm down…" I whispered softly.
"You are defending that little bitch?" Piper snapped, pulling away from me. "You are being no better than Victor walking out on us," Piper growled. I shook my head at Piper…I am already used to both of my sisters saying horrible things at me.
"Piper…do not make me use my power on you again," I threatened. Piper still fought my grip, and instantly she was stuck to the floor.
"Prue let go of me now!" Piper screeched.
Paige's POV
I couldn't help it, but I was scared stiff. I never witnessed siblings' fights. Yes I had seen cat fights in my time; but I never dreamed that my three half sisters would get into one. It's all my fault. I should have prepared them better for the truth about me, I should have allowed mom to go to them when they first received their powers and tell them about her affair with Sam and that I was the cause and effort of it.
When Phoebe came over to me and tried to touch me I pulled away from her with deep fear in my eyes. I knew that my sisters thought me totally weak. But I'm still in shock that Prue had attacked me at the restaurant. I hadn't let on to daddy that Prue's reaction to me scared me to death; I didn't want to worry him any more than he all ready was. So I lied and put on a brave face. I told myself when we arrived at the manor that I would keep calm no matter what my sisters threw at me. That I would take it calmly and try to reason with them to forgive daddy for adopting and raising me with my powers; to help get daddy back in good with his daughters.
But when Piper had called me scum all bets were off. I tried to move away from Piper's hand knowing that it would connect with me; but I was frozen in fear. When I felt Piper's slap I went back to when I was abused before daddy found me and loved me. I had to get away from Piper before she hurt me or worse killed me. So I felt myself move; I know that I bumped into Phoebe but I couldn't say I was sorry because I wanted to get as far away from Piper as I could. I knew that daddy couldn't protect me this time because he was still frozen; so it was up to me to get to safety till daddy can come and get me.
I felt my back hit something hard and I knew it was a door when I felt the knob on my back. But I was relieved when Phoebe had yanked Piper away from me. But when Piper was rushing towards me once I can I shut completely down and just waited for the beating that I knew was coming.
I came too when Prue used her powers against Piper. "Prue, let go of me now!" Piper screeched.
I couldn't take it anymore. "STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!" I screamed with my hands over my ears as I felt the wild tears fall from my checks.
Piper's POV
I was about to try to lift my hands up and try to freeze Prue, even though Prue couldn't freeze because she was good witch, but I didn't give a damn at this point. I just wanted to use my powers against Prue; because she was using hers against me.
I was all fired up and ready to go on an attack on all my sisters. Scratch that. My sisters and that piece of scum that daddy's trying to pass off as a sister. I felt my blood rise as I desperately tried to release Prue's hold on me so I could get on my feet and rush at Paige once more. I was going to teach that little bitch a little lesson on why she shouldn't even think of stealing my daddy from me; and if I had to kill her to do it; than that's just what I will do.
"STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!" Paige's scream vibrated off the walls.
With Prue distracted I managed to jump to my feet. I saw Prue jump as she turned around towards Paige with her body tight. I knew she was prepared to do battle with the demon that was hurting Paige.
I didn't give a rat's ass about the demon. I was just relieved that Prue had forgotten me. I turned with an eye roll towards Paige. "It's not our job to protect Paige from demons." I sneered as I wrapped my arms tightly across my chest. I wasn't going to help save Paige. Prue and Phoebe can if they wanted too; but I was completely out of it.
Phoebe's POVWorry flooded into me as Paige let out a terrified scream, and once again I reached out to my little sister, but she backed away from me and acted like I was…a Warlock or something. "Paige…it's me Phoebe," I said soothingly, but she just collapsed onto the floor holding herself away from me. Sadness entered to me, knowing I couldn't help Paige confront whatever she was facing…only Dad knew what is happening to Paige, and he needed to be unfrozen. I walked towards him, to shake his shoulder and instantly Piper rushed towards Paige, a murderous rage in her eyes. She was about to reach Paige when I just calmly stepped out in front of her, stopping her dead in her tracks.
"Move out of the way Phoebe," Piper said darkly.
"No," I stated simply folding my hands over my chest. "You are going to have to attack me, if you are going to hurt Paige, and believe me it would be an attack in vain," I said darkly. "Back off," I seethed.
Piper's POV
I didn't care that I was about to hurt my baby sister. I had to get to Paige. I had to make her pay for taking daddy away from me. I had to make her sorry for taking my rightful in daddy's heart. I had to make her sorry for turning daddy's love and attention off of me and unto her.
"No." I spat out.
Phoebe rolled back her shoulders and prepared to do battle with me.
Before I could move forward to get Phoebe out of my way so I could finish my attack on Paige; I felt strong arms around my body. "Get your fucking hands off me, Prue." I hissed.
Prue's POV"No Piper," I said calmly. "Enough is enough," I said yanking her back farther by will alone.
"Let me go!" Piper screamed yet again.
"Piper…you cannot attack Phoebe…not after what you did earlier…do you want to lose your baby sister over rage for Paige?" I asked her, turning her to face me. "Don't be mad at Phoebe…you have no right to be mad at Phoebe, she is being the most cool headed of all of us. Now you are going to cool it with the attitude,"
"No," Piper raged still trying to get Paige. "You aren't my mother Prue,"
"I will stop acting like one when you stop acting like a child," I snapped back at her. "If you want to be mad at anyone, be mad at Victor. He deserves our anger…he ditched us Piper, because of who we are!" I said shaking her a little bit.
"Prue," Phoebe started.
"No Phoebe…Victor is the one to blame for this," I said. I turned back to Piper, "Paige is not the enemy, he is," I said pointing at Victor.
Piper's POV
"Daddy isn't the enemy, Prue." I said as I stopped to struggle. I turned my face to look at Prue and saw that her face was just a few inches away from me. "Daddy would have come back to us. If it wasn't for that piece of scum over there." I said with tears running down my checks.
Prue just snorted. "Victor never extended to return to us, Piper. He couldn't handle three daughters who were stronger than he was."
"That's not true." I sobbed as I felt my heart break at her words.
Prue just held onto me tighter than before as she felt my anger start up again. I knew I had to calm down so Prue would let me go. In order to get to Paige I had to distract my two sisters so I could do a trick rush move. I only have one shot here. I have to do it quickly because my freeze will wear off any moment now.
"Daddy loves us, Prue; he would have come home and stayed with us and Grams. We were his precious little girls and he …." I sobbed as I felt my heartbreak over come me.
Prue sighed. Before she could speak once more Phoebe's words came through the air.
"It's all right Paigey, you are safe little darling. We are going to get daddy and he's going to take care of you sweetheart, I promise." Phoebe said as she had turned back and knelt down in front of Paige. She tried to touch Paige again but Paige just shrank back against that damn basement door.
Paige's POV
I was trying to make myself as small as possible so she wouldn't come after me again; I knew that my small weak body wouldn't be able to handle another beating. But I knew that no matter how I tried to make myself look like I wasn't there; she would find me. She always found me.
She reached out for me and I tried to back away from her; but I was jammed against something that wouldn't move. I tried to be brave and not cry; knowing that she hated it when I cried. She just hit that much harder when I cried. She wanted me to a brave big girl; but how can I be a big girl when I'm just two years old. How can I be strong when I'm still a little baby?
I closed my eyes waiting for the first of many punches. But it didn't come. But I knew that it would; it always did. She just liked to play with me before she beat me close to death. She wouldn't beat me to death; no she wants to keep me alive so she could have the pleasure of the continuing beatings.
Phoebe's POV"Paige…" I soothed, but she just looked at me, fear plastered into her eyes. I turned to Prue. "Prue…Dad is the only one who can snap Paige out of it…" I said tears stinging at my eyes. Why did Piper have to do that to Paige? "Piper…how could you do that to Paige? Do you hate her so much you wanted to her to have a mental breakdown?"
Piper's POV
I wanted to reply that 'yes indeed I did want to Paige to have a mental breakdown.' But I knew that I allowed that spiteful angry sentence out of my mouth than Prue would be holding me hostage until the cows came home. Which in Latin terms means Prue Halliwell would be my semi twin; because there was no way she would let me go in my current state of anger.
So to get Prue to finally get off my back, literally, I had to play act and act like I'm calming down and all very sorry for hurting Paige the way I did. Well I can play that game; at least for a while. I have had a whole life time of being able to hide my rage; I know how to surpass my emotions. I quickly lost my anger look; well to a major degree; I knew that I had to still show some anger, not a lot but enough to convince my baby sister who was back to glaring at me. I had to convince Phoebe; so she could convince Prue to let me go. I allowed my body to go slack in Prue's arms as I felt myself relax as I realized what the situation was truly all about around me, I felt relieved when I felt Prue's arms slacken from my body. They were still tight; tight so I knew I couldn't break free. I didn't want to break free; because than I knew that I couldn't get to Paige. I had to get my body to get back to its passive self as when I was a child and I was hiding how truly angry I was against the world. My sisters brought the act every time; but Grams never did. But Grams always waited till we were alone before she dealt with my anger. I miss Grams.
"N-no I didn't want Paige to have a mental breakdown." I made sure to stutter the first word that came out of my mouth. I just had to fool Phoebe into thinking that I was finally calming down enough to be shocked at what I had done.
"Prue, we need dad to be unfrozen. Only he can help Paige without freaking her completely out. S-she won't let me touch her." Phoebe said tearing her eyes off of me and looked down at Paige. I knew that concern for Paige would be Phoebe's final decision on making Prue let me go. Seeing on how I'm truly the only one who can unfreeze dad; all I had to do was touch his arm.
"I don't know, Phoebe." Prue said doubt in her voice as her arms tighten around me again.
Phoebe stood to her feet and walked over to Prue and me. She didn't look at me she just stared deeply into Prue's eyes. "Dad's the only one who can help Paige, and Piper is the only one of us who can unfreeze him. We don't have any choice, Prue. We don't have much time." Phoebe moaned. "You don't want to be responsible on another human beings' suffering, do you?" She pleaded.
Prue sighed and let me go, "No I don …."
I didn't wait for Prue to finish that sentence. I started on my way to daddy, where I had to get away from my sisters arms, but when I was a mere inch from touching him, I turned and with hate in my face rushed over to where Paige was still crowding against the door, being a total wuss, by the way; I finally was able to kick her in the side. I watched as Paige slammed into the basement door. I didn't wait for Paige to say anything or quite frankly at this point screaming anything; I threw my body on top of her and started beating the crap out of her.
"HOW FUCKING DARE YOU BITCH STEAL MY DADDY FROM ME. YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A FUCKING WHORE. "I kept screaming as I used all my strength on my attack of the still Paige.
"PIPER! NO! GODDAMN IT PIPER STOP!" Phoebe was screaming in my ear as she tried to pull me off of Paige.
"PIPER HALLIWELL YOU STOP THIS IN THIS INSTANCES!" Prue screamed in my free ear as I felt her try to help Phoebe who was trying to yank me away from Paige.
I continued to use whatever body part I had, hands, feet, knees, teeth. I was a mad woman; I wasn't Piper Halliwell any longer; I didn't know what the hell I was, but I was finally at peace with myself as I beat the whore who has stolen my father from me to death.
Suddenly I felt myself free fall down the basement steps with Prue and Phoebe right on top of me. I fell down the steps and landed hard on the basement door. I knew no more.
Victor's POV
What I saw as I slowly became unfrozen stopped my heart completely in my chest. My three daughters were killing their half sister. I had to put a stop to it and save Paige. But before I could rush over to yank my daughters away from Paige; the basement door burst opened and I watched horror stricken as first Paige went down the flight of basement doors; I watched my precious daughter hitting her head and her back on the steps; and I knew that if the beating hadn't killed her than the fall had. But I didn't have time to scream out my heartbreak over the lost of Paige, because I watched as Piper with Prue and Phoebe on top of her went down the flight of basement stairs. I couldn't help but listen to the snap that Piper made when she hit the basement floor; I didn't know if I lost two of my daughters or not; but I was relieved when Prue and Phoebe moved off of Piper whom they had landed on.
END CHAPTER NINE