"You don't understand! I need more!" He unsuccessfully grabs at thin air, his dealer was too quick though.
"I told you. What you want is no longer in this box!" He holds the box away. This better work. If Prue Halliwell isn't captured or killed, he was next. Hopefully she takes the bait.
Prue was walking down the street with Phoebe.
"So how's your essay going?" Its been weeks since Phoebe's nightmare. Everyone decided to take some much needed time off.
"I already submitted it." Phoebe was nervous emailing it, but after what she's been through, an essay was nothing.
"That's great!" Prue throws her arms around her. "I'm so proud!" She was. Her sisters were working so hard these days.
"Thanks." Phoebe was terrified sending it, but a few opinions from stuffy university officials didn't scare her anymore. She watched 'Legally Blonde' for inspiration. Elle never let anyone stand in her way.
"So what did you write about?"
"Well, it's a secret. But. I tell you what happened. I got a interview!" Phoebe almost screamed seeing that notification. She had one foot in Stanford.
"Oh. My. God. Does this mean..." Prue stopped to stare at Phoebe's excited face.
"If I pass this interview, you are looking at Stanford's newest med student!"
"Phoebe!" Both hug in the street, obviously not caring about the grumbling pedestrians that were forced to walk around them.
Phoebe was smiling big. She, like Paige was a chameleon, always trying new things. A student, a witch, a rebel, a advice columnist, a podcaster, and that was just scratching the surface. She found her true calling, she was going to be a psychiatrist. She loved helping people, but instead of hiding behind a computer or a newspaper, or even being a witch, she was going to assist others, through legitimate reasons.
Prue was so happy. But also sad. All three of her sisters were moving on. Piper was already gone, she was married to Sam. Paige was working hard at Sacred Meadows, she loved her position as Head Director. Especially when Phoebe told her she was there in her past life. Phoebe was going to med school. As for herself, Prue didn't know. She sighed. Maybe she should have signed that wrestling contract. She was still in shape. It would keep her busy.
"What's wrong Prue?" Phoebe heard Prue's sigh.
"You guys all have something. I don't have anything."
"Oh Prue. It's not a race."
"Save that psychology mumbo jumbo for Stanford." All month Phoebe has been trying to give advice. None of the sisters wanted to hear it.
"Sorry." Prue seemed sad about something. But Phoebe didn't push it. "So what are we doing around here?" Phoebe needed to change the subject.
"I was scrying, and if pointed to something supernatural around this neighbourhood." Prue had this feeling, plus she was bored stiff. The gym and Paige didn't need her today. So she figured to hunt. She took her sister along for company. Piper was visiting, but was out shopping for her husband, and Paige was working.
Phoebe sneaks a glance at Prue. Prue was always guarded about her feelings and emotions. She looked down an alley and spies a coffee maker box. "Ooh! Finder's keepers!" She hurries down the alley and picks up the box. "It's just the thing for my off campus apartment." That coffee maker is exactly what she needed.
"The box's empty." Prue knew Phoebe was flaky, but lately...
"I knew that. See, you just saved me from making a fool of myself. See, big sister is still watching over me." She did that to cheer Prue up. Sure enough, Prue smiled.
"It's a full time job." Prue joked.
The guy was staring hard at the box. What he needed. It was in there.
"There isn't any more. Greed sure has his hold on you, does he?" He heard about that Academy. The Seven Sins recruiting humans? The Headmaster is getting desperate.
Prue and Phoebe were talking about Stanford when they saw a fireball being thrown from another alley.
"Seek and you shall find." A demon fight. Something Prue was good at. They both run towards the alley.
The demon was getting tired of this game. This goody two shoes, why was he a candidate? What could his soul be worth? Since time was running out, he had to finish this. He went to throw another fireball.
Both Prue and Phoebe went running just before the demon could kill the innocent.
"Hey!" The demon turns around. Prue uses her powers to fling him towards some boxes. The demon was so startled, he drops his box.
"The box." Before the innocent could grab it, the demon dives towards it. His orders were clear. No way was he facing the Seven.
Prue uses her powers to slide the box across the street before either could grab it.
"Fuck! That box. You ladies have no idea what's inside." He was a demon, but even he knew better. Before he could get up, Phoebe kicks him in the face.
"Hah yah!"
The guy gets up. Seeing the box lying across the road, he pushes Prue away before she could help him.
"More. I have to have more!" He runs across the street.
"No!" Phoebe and Prue watch helplessly as he is turned into hamburger meat from a bus driving by.
The demon takes off. He doesn't notice a man watching the sisters.
"Wow." He was racking his brains for a story for his big break. Looks like he got it. Damn it! He just realizes he should have took out his cell. Oh well. Good thing he was a big wrestling fan. He knew he recognized her. "Prue Halliwell. The pleasure is all mine." He jogs away. He already was writing his beginning.
Oak Park Illinois
Walter Rosen sighs as he takes out his garbage. He was bored stiff. Everyday it was the same thing. He works, he comes home, he takes out the trash. At least his sister had a exciting life. She was somewhere in the east coast, celebrating her new marriage. Rod, his new brother in law seemed nice. He looks over at his neighbour's new car. Really? He looks at his own. What a junk beater. Swallowing his envy, he opens his garbage lid and throws his garbage inside.
He was about to turn around when he notices his garbage cans shaking. Huh? An earthquake? When he looks around, nothing else was moving. Then the streetlights flickers. What the hell? When he looked up, he sees a black cloud. When it came closer, he realizes that wasn't a storm cloud. Before he could run inside, he trips. The last thing he sees is the full moon as the cloud moves away.
"Walter" smiles as his black eyes open. Perfect. He already has his first assignment, a priest named Roger Tremble. His soul was pure enough for the Academy. He smiles. But first, a little fun. Envy was something every human suffered from.
Prue had tears in her eyes when she finished her statement. That innocent, Robert Pike, he was immediately killed the moment the bus hit him. No matter how many lives the sisters save, there was those that died anyways. All four sisters suffered from sadness for those that they couldn't save. Sam and Dean weren't any different, they hated losing their clients. Most hunters did.
"Are you sure it was no suicide?" Ian Jefferson asked. He was still SFPD's Chief of Police. Normally he would leave random suicides to the rookies, but when Prue called, he came here personally to check it out.
"You know I wouldn't call you without a reason." Prue was determined to keep him out of magical things, but she thought she saw a man running away from the scene. She wanted to give him a heads up just in case anyone comes and asks questions.
"You remember our deal? Keep me out of your adventures." Ian wanted nothing to do with magic.
"I hadn't forgotten. But if anything out of the ordinary pops up, we have to explore it." Prue had a feeling this wouldn't be over.
"Fine. Anyways. I recognize this guy. Robert Pike, late 30s, married, two kids and a successful stock broker."
"Okay. So?"
"He wasn't just an ordinary stockbroker, he was a philanthropist."
Prue thinks. A philanthropist? The way that guy was acting.
"Was he greedy? Had any enemies?" Prue was familiar with hexes. There were some dark witches out there. Unlike warlocks, those witches didn't steal good magic from good witches. They instead go after personal gain.
"Not that I can think of. He raised tons of money for various charities. Just last night, he held a charity ball for cancer research." Ian and his wife attended the party last night. Most of San Francisco's big wigs did. Including the mayor, as well as a priest from a local church.
"Well something must have changed for the worst. All he cared about was this box." Prue opened the bag. What was in it, she felt the dark power. Prue was tempted to open it, but she had to wait till she talked to her sisters.
Ian looks inside. The box was glowing, but he didn't see any batteries.
"What is it?"
"I don't know. All I know, it was worth dying for." Prue felt grim when she said that. That guy, he was only the first victim. Prue knew there would be more.
Phoebe was getting interviewed by another cop.
"I mean. It happened so fast. One minute he was there, then he ran straight into that bus." Yuck. Phoebe hated seeing gruesome deaths.
The officer nodded. He was writing things down. He saw his boss talking to another witness, possibly this woman's sister.
"Alright. In your opinion, do you think there was any way to stop him?" He was writing things down.
"No. It happened so fast. Like I said, he was there, then he wasn't." Phoebe felt sick seeing the mess. His body was covered up, but pieces of him were splattered all over the road. Was that his intestines? Ew.
"Okay. Can I have your phone number?"
Phoebe giggles in nervousness.
"It's the same as my sister's." All three had cells, but all shared a spoof phone number just for police. They fought evil, but took Sam's and Dean's advice to have several cells for different cases. FBI, Police, CDC, US Marshalls, Health Department, plus many others. They were so paranoid those days. Especially with Agent Murphy. He went completely silent. "She comes over a lot."
"Okay. One last question. Are you available for dinner? Let's say tonight?" Officer Leslie asked. She smiled at her blushing.
"Ooh. Phew. You sure caught me off guard with that one." As cute as the cop was, Phoebe wasn't sure if she was ready to date. Plus her interview at Stanford. Med school will keep her busy.
"It's my job to ask questions." She was beautiful though. "I don't see a ring. Are you available?"
"To be honest, I'm really busy. I have a interview at Stanford. Med school. I don't think I'll have any time to date." Phoebe was tempted. But she wanted to take things more seriously these days. Plus her dreams. She knew she had to get herself ready for war. She just hoped her education helped the fighters. It wasn't just surgeons that needed to heal and stitch, they would need psychological help as well.
"Stanford? Good for you." Seeing his boss, he excuses himself.
Prue walks up to Phoebe.
"I couldn't save that guy. I have all this power. I could have moved him." She wished she had Piper's powers. She could have froze time and moved him out of the way.
"It happened so fast. Neither of us had a chance to stop him. C'mon. We have to figure out who that demon was."
"Or who he was working for." Prue was determined to figure it out.
Paige yawns as she finishes typing. She smiled at Castiel walking in.
"I assume those are my orders." She held out her arms to the boxes he was wheeling in.
"Yes they are." He looked down. Hopefully this was the right coffee. Paige scolded him for buying the wrong coffee. How was he supposed to know those coffee beans weren't ethical? He was human now. He cannot read minds.
Paige opens up one box. She squeals.
"Ah!"
"Is something wrong?" Castiel didn't want to lose this job. Claire, she was still on her case with Jo. As for Jack, Anna was still looking for him.
"Oh! Your fine. You can take your lunch." Paige was admiring her new name plate.
Paige Matthews. Director.
"This will look great outside my office." 14k gold plated, with her name in sharp, crisp letters. She never thought she love being the boss.
Castiel was about to grab Hannah and take her to the cafeteria for lunch, when he saw Anna walking in.
"Hello Anna. Are you here to check out things?" Anna wasn't here back then, if she was, Cas couldn't remember.
"Kind of. Castiel. Where is Hannah?" Anna's expression. It worried Castiel.
"I assume at lunch."
"Not here. We need to talk in private."
Once all three were in Castiel's and Hannah's apartment, Anna told the former angels about Michael and his plans.
"He's doing what?!" Castiel was in shock.
"He's making our siblings into Super Soldiers? What does that mean?" Hannah was confused.
"I don't know. I assume it has to do with the future." Heaven was well aware of it. They had to assume Hell was too. They heard rumors about a Academy. Anna saw the angel's wings and grace. They were more stronger and brighter. It was like they were archangels. Anna was afraid. It wasn't just archangel grace Michael was using, it was human souls mixed in as well. The whitelighters were the only ones Michael can use with his experiments. Their grace as well as their souls mixed together, they made them powerful. Angels can slip in and out without alerting anyone. Even Anna won't see their forms anymore.
"Why didn't you get the treatment? Anna, you are a respected lieutenant."
Anna shook her head at Hannah's words.
"You know I lived as a human before. Angels are supposed to protect humans. What Michael is doing. I'm afraid God will find out." Anna was scared stiff of their Father.
"Yeah, your right." All three were aware of Michael's hatred of God. If Michael succeeds, then what happens. He becomes God? All three shudder.
"Then why come to us?" Castiel asks.
"You are former angels. He may ask you to return."
"You heard that any fallen cannot come back." Hannah heard of the executions of the angels that tried to come Home.
"That isn't the only reason. That half breed Paige Matthews? She cannot use her whitelighter powers anymore. Especially orbing." Anna knew Michael's thirst for power.
"It's part of what she is." Castiel wasn't looking forward to that conversation.
"She is a witch though. She could channel that instead." Hannah suggested.
They were interrupted by Castiel's pager.
"My lunch is over. I have to get back." Castiel hated to tell his boss the bad news.
"Stay safe. Anna. Wait. What about you?" Hannah was curious.
"No more flying. I have to lay low. Michael, I don't want to know what he'll do to me." She was about to fly, but realized the danger she would put herself in. She needed a new strategy. She walked out. Good thing she kept her car. Yeesh. She detested having her wings squished.
"You lost the BOX! Idiot!" The demon known as Lucas was holding up his demonic assistant by the neck using his powers. "You have any idea what you done!" Lucas was pissed.
"I thought you were controlling your anger!" The demon only worked with Lucas for a short time, but knew Lucas wasn't Hell's typical demon.
"I am!"
The demon was gasping when he was let go. He always was jealous of the demon hybrids. Instead of going to Hell, they stayed on Earth. Plus retained their human souls. Lucas was one of earliest students of the Academy, however he was expelled for opening the Box. He was cursed with Wrath. The curse doomed Lucas for a living death, forever tormenting innocents.
"I managed to obtain the businessman's soul at least." The soul of Robert Pike was glowing in a crystal.
"One. I need seven." Lucas was given a deal. Deliver seven souls, he can die. After waiting for centuries, he gladly took the deal.
"Can't you find the Box?" Since Lucas was the only one that could open it, he was the only one to track it easily.
"Yes, but I have the witches, plus the Queen watching over it." Lucas was glad the Queen of Hell was asleep. Prue Halliwell was awake, but her dark nature was deep inside, in rest. He didn't want to be around when she woke up. Especially when she gives birth. He looks at his hands. "I was supposed to be dead. Free from my personal Hell, instead I spend my days babysitting a stupid box." He hated it. He missed the old days being a ordinary errand boy during the Persian Empire. If he known what it cost to sign that contract, he would have stuck to cleaning the King's bedpans.
"You know humans are curious creatures. The Box will be easy to track down."
"Hmm. Your right. Humans have desires. The witches, they are human." He laughs. Hell had a bounty on Prue. He couldn't care less about the bitch, all he wanted was things to end. He looks at his assistant. "Why do I need you?"
"Please, Lucas. I..." The demon pleads. He screams as he is vanquished.
"Phew. I needed that." He felt better, but not much.
Phoebe was begging Prue to listen. Like the businessman, Prue was being stubborn. She wanted to open the box.
"Why can't I open it?" Prue was dying of curiosity.
"Maybe because I don't want you to die. Things like that come with a price. I'm calling Piper and Paige. Don't. Phoebe warned when Prue lifted it to look inside.
Piper appeared a few minutes later. She was carrying shopping bags.
"Neiman Marcus? Whatha' buying?" Phoebe asked. Piper was always frugal, unlike her sisters, she rarely shopped at department stores, choosing mostly Target or its bargain counterparts for her shopping needs.
''Picking up gifts for Sam. You know de-flannel him a bit." She holds up a sports coat. "What do you think?"
"Is that designer? Phew. That will set you back." Prue was impressed.
"Yeah, but I want to introduce myself to our neighbours. I lived in Lawrence for a year and don't even know any of their names."
"What kind of party are you holding?" Phoebe asked, forgetting about the box.
"I was thinking of a dinner party." Piper said absentmindedly. Hmm. Maybe she should return it. Use the extra money to buy proper dinner plates. Sam wouldn't care about designer labels.
When Phoebe saw Prue holding the box, her mind immediately snaps back to the present. She looks around.
"Where's Paige?"
"She's stuck in traffic." Paige texted Prue, saying she couldn't use her powers at the moment.
"Why doesn't she orb?" Phoebe asked. Paige knew their spell of teleportation, but rarely used it.
"I have no idea." The hell with it. Three of her sisters were here, what harm is just looking inside. Prue starts to open it, till it was yanked away. "Hey!" She glared at Phoebe.
"We lost a innocent because of this box." Phoebe was holding it away from Prue.
Piper was looking back and forth between her glaring sisters.
"Can someone explain to me what's going on?"
Once Paige got there, Prue was asking why she couldn't look.
"Ah. maybe because that could be some kind of abomination." Phoebe was very familiar with demons and their treasures. None that were good.
"I'm sure we can handle it. I mean we been witches for years." Prue hated not knowing things. Which is why she chosen to work at a auction house to find out many secrets. Same with photography. Pictures showed more than any video out there.
"Let me call Sam. He knows more lore than anyone I know." She dials home.
"I'll check the Book." Paige runs upstairs.
Prue raises her eyebrow at Phoebe.
"Don't you trust me?" She asked annoyed.
"Then you don't mind me sitting here."
Prue wanted to roll her eyes. Sisters.
"Oh? Okay. Call me back. Say hi to Bobby for me. Thanks." Piper hangs up.
"Well?" Prue asked.
"He said to check out the Book."
Just then Paige calls from the attic.
"Guys! Come upstairs!"
Before Phoebe goes upstairs with her sisters, Prue notices the time.
"Phoebe? Your meeting with Stanford is at two." It was already after twelve thirty. Phoebe was driving to Stanford instead of teleporting. She didn't want to use her magic for personal gain even though it was allowed. Prue knew how important this meeting was to Phoebe.
"There's no way I could go. This is more important." Phoebe knew if she blew off her interview, she can say bye bye to Stanford.
"We have three witches here. We can handle it. Go. Besides, this is your future we're talking about." So far Prue was the only one that knew about Phoebe's interview. "Maybe you should change." Prue looked at Phoebe's choice of clothes. "Dress professionally." Phoebe's shirt was pretty see through.
Once Phoebe changed, she modeled for her sisters.
"How's this?" Phoebe was wearing Piper's new business suit.
"Hey! I just bought that!" Piper protested. "That cost me three months mortgage!"
"It's a emergency. Go! Don't forget to charm the pants off your interviewer."
"Interview? What interview?" Piper was curious.
"Is she looking for a job? I'm looking for help." Paige was having a hard time finding suitable candidates. Most applicants were immediately rejected, due to them not knowing any magical knowledge. She needed someone to take over Jo's and Dex's positions.
"She'll let us know afterwards. Anyways," Prue needed to change the subject. Phoebe wanted to keep Stanford a surprise. "What did you find out?"
"Seven Deadly Sins." Paige pointed at the picture.
"Wonderful. Here I thought they were demons." Prue looked at the picture.
"Bottled by the Source himself." Hmm. "Excuse me Paige." Prue looks at the picture. "The Seven Balls carry the Seven's Essences. Pride, Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, Envy, Sloth. All designed to corrupt the paragon of good." Oh oh. "Also mentions, if the soul transforms, it becomes a Soldier of Evil. Shit."
"Transforms the soul to evil? Doesn't that sound familiar?"
"I heard rumors about a Academy. I overheard Castiel talking about it with his angelic friends. Great." Paige was shaking her head.
"We are paragons of good. That means we're safe. How much good have we done over the years." Piper started counting.
"No kidding." Prue thought about the countless sacrifices they made over the years.
"Except, no one is immune to Sin. We're witches, but also human. Hell, I seen angels get corrupted. I mean look at the angels. The Bible mentions fallen angels. Gods, anyone can be predisposed to any of the seven." Paige looks over at the Book.
"So if any of us gets corrupted, we can get attacked by any of our desires? Great." Prue was glad she didn't open the box. "Matthew Pike, he was corrupted by Greed." Prue never forget his expression. His hunger for more. "I wonder if it was a coincidence I was walking by that alley."
"Magnify his greed by a thousand." Piper grimaced hearing the story. She seen people die, but she never got used to it.
"Could be his good nature that was corrupted by sin. That's probably what you picked up." Paige tells her sisters.
"Okay. So the demon you fought. No way he was in charge. No lower level demon has that amount of power." Piper knew the hierarchy of demon classes thanks to Bobby's schooling. She still remembered reading his books that one weekend. For a former drunk, he was pretty wise.
"Find the one he was working for, the sins lose their power." Paige adds.
"The Essence of Sin. What about how it was created." Piper had a feeling that box was just a small preview of what's to come. "Even if we destroy that demon, he could just be another grunt."
"Any ideas Mrs. Winchester?" Prue teased. She knew Piper picked up Sam's thirst for knowledge. She always wanted to know more. So far she was unsatisfied being a witch, a Charmed One, or a hunter. Heck, even being a wife wasn't satisfactory enough.
"I can ask my husband. His uncle had a huge library in our basement. We go down there for research if we can't find anything online." Piper never thought she'll enjoy reading. Dean was happy, he hated research. "Besides, if anyone gets infected, we can easily use magic to overcome it."
"You can't use magic against sin. We all carry it." Prue corrected.
Piper and Paige exchange glances. Prue, always Miss Know It All.
Lucas seen the anti angel symbols. He also seen the remnants of the anti demon symbols. The evil sleeping underneath, it immediately erased the anti demon magic from outside. Now where is that box? Ah! Here it is.
Phoebe appears back inside.
"I used magic to teleport! Don't be mad! I just forgot my briefcase with my resumes. Just in case." She walks in and sees the demon. "Hey!"
Lucas smiled. The Charmed Ones? Perfect. If he captures Prue, or Prue dies, he'll finally be freed. He opens the box.
"I think you'll like this." He shoots a ball at Phoebe. Phoebe gasps and stumbled backwards. She glowed with a pink light.
Hearing Phoebe's scream, Prue, Piper and Paige come running down. Lucas shoots three more balls before he disappears.
Prue, Piper and Paige glow with gold, orange and blue lights.
"What just happened?" Phoebe asked. She felt strange.
"I think we just got infected. Dammit!" Piper swore.
"What do you mean, got infected? Prue?" Phoebe was staring hard.
"Don't panic. Does anyone feel different?" Prue felt strange, but she brushed it off.
"Nope." Paige felt tired, but she blamed her job. She has been working hard since she got back.
"Uh uh." Phoebe felt hot. Like she wanted to be with a man. How long has it been?
"No." Piper looked around. A demon attacked, and she had no weapons. She mentally put together a list.
"Okay. Maybe we're immune because we're magical. Piper, Paige, can you ask Sam and Castiel about what's happening? And you Missy, get your ass to your interview. Go! Go! Go! Shoo!'' Phoebe disappears, leaving her briefcase behind.
"What about you?" Paige yawned. God she needed a nap. She looked at the clock, she was due back to work. Fuck it, she'll leave Castiel in charge for awhile. He was knowledgeable about the place. She was the boss.
"I'm checking out the Book. Just in case I missed something." Prue walks upstairs.
Stanford University Admissions
Phoebe was silently undressing the admission officer. He was old, but was very attractive. She unbuttoned a few buttons off her blouse when he wasn't looking.
"Hmm. Your grades and extracurriculars are impressive. Let's see. A 3.8? Not bad. Your high school transcripts are okay, as for college hmm. It says you attended NYU for your freshman year, then dropped out."
"My grandmother passed away. Then family emergencies kept happening." Who cares? Damn, he was married. "I waited a year before I went back to college. I doubled down on my credits and graduated two years early." Phoebe watched as he got out of his chair. Damn. If he has what Phoebe was thinking, phew.
"So I see. You volunteered at the local soup kitchen. Plus joined the university swim team." He looks over at her files. "Yet you managed to keep up your grades high. Very good. I was very impressed by your essay. Tell me, Miss Halliwell. Why is it you want to attend Stanford?" He sits in front of her.
Phoebe looked up.
"You find me attractive?"
"EXCUSE ME?" He was taken aback.
"Stanford means everything to me. I will do anything to attend." She looks up as she opens Piper's jacket.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"I'm not wearing any underwear. You see, I find them...constricting." She lunges towards him and they roll to the floor.
Piper was deep in Prue's laptop, looking for any lore. Plus shopping for anything she can use for hunting and witchcraft. What's this? A gorgon's heart? She put in a bid. Pretty pricey, but turning demons and monsters into stone? That can save her time. No one will suspect a statue. She scrolled down. Hmm. There was also the Haxon Ring? Wow. Sam could use that. That will cost her big, but who cares. She also looked at a hardware store. She was on the Dark Web, but that's where most of the magical goods were bought online. Her weapons were getting rusty, maybe she should buy a few spares. That way, wherever Sam was, he can have any locker he needed.
Prue walks in just as Piper was on the phone.
"Uh huh. How much?" Piper grimaced. "Fine. I have two credit cards. Put five grand on one, and ten on another. Yes I know it's expensive. I can dip into my savings, plus take out two mortgages on my home, plus the family Manor." Prue stomps over and rips out Piper's phone from her hand. "Hey!"
"Sorry. That's a little out of my price range. Thanks." Prue hangs up.
"Are you insane! That guy will block my calls now! You know how hard it is to find Apollo's Sword! Plus his Chariot! Sam and Dean can use it to travel freely, without anyone knowing!" Piper protested.
"I thought Apollo carried golden arrows."
"In lore. He was a hunter. He and his sister both were. He carried his arrows for show, but in reality, he used a sword." Damn. Sam needed it.
"Never mind. Look. I doubled checked. Those balls, they work fast. We only have a few hours." Prue made a few calls.
"The Book never mentioned how long."
"I called my contacts. Witches, or anyone with magic go quicker. Matthew Pike, he was infected three days ago. We only have twelve hours."
"I thought we were immune." Piper looked down when she heard a beep. Ohhh! Piper's eyes widened. She immediately put in a bid.
"That's it." Prue slams the laptop shut. "Are you listening! Twelve...hours! That's all we have!" They were interrupted by Phoebe rushing in.
"Prue! I failed my interview." Phoebe looked panicked.
"How? You were so prepared." Phoebe worked on that essay for weeks.
"Plus wearing my suit. You owe me a few grand." Piper saw a stain on her lapel.
Phoebe's face was bright red.
"There I was, talking about how I wanted to, you know." Looking at Prue. "Then..." Oh god. Phoebe was never going to forget this. "I, was, uh, unzipping his pants off with my teeth." She was ashamed. She was deeply embarrassed when Piper looked away in disgust, and Prue burying her head in her hands.
"Ohhh.'' God it sucked being the oldest. Prue felt nothing but second hand embarrassment. "You know 'charming his pants off' was just a expression!'' She never thought Phoebe could take that advice literally.
"I know. I was just glad, I didn't before...Eww!" Phoebe remembered. She ripped off Piper's jacket. "Sorry, sis. I'll get that dry-cleaned. Although, I recommend you burn it instead."
Piper gets up to eat a pie. She suddenly felt hungry.
"Sounds like you were infected by lust." Prue concluded.
"I thought we were immune?" Piper was chewing on pie.
"Weren't you paying attention? Gluttony?" Prue takes Piper's fork away. Piper was going to protest till she remembered.
"Paige." All three hurry to the living room just to see Paige watching television. She was laying on the couch, lazily flipping through channels.
"Didn't we cancel cable?" Piper remarked.
"I called the cable company. You and Prue don't live here anymore. I need entertainment." She was watching a old cowboy movie.
"Something is wrong here. You need chips. Be right back." Piper walks to the kitchen.
"You didn't happen to order some adult channels did you?" Phoebe takes the remote to check.
"Paige? I thought you were going to see Castiel. Ask for his input about the sins. Plus, I thought you were taking work more seriously? You still have two hours left on your shift."
"I couldn't remember how to use the teleporting power." Paige yawned. "Besides, I was in a coma not that long ago. I'm still recovering."
"You can orb." Prue argued.
"Not anymore. Anna bounded my whitelighter powers." Paige thanks Piper as her chips were handed to her.
"Wait minute. Whatta you mean, bounded?" Prue looked at her sisters. Paige looked like she was about to fall asleep, Piper was munching on chips, and Phoebe was staring hungrily at the male cowboy on screen.
"You know what? Forget it. I'll kill him myself. Who cares about demons?" They were interrupted by the doorbell. "What is that?" Prue looked up.
"It's for me." Piper goes and answers it. "Are those for me?" She asked the guy in black.
"Jane Earen?" He knew it was a fake name, most hunters never gave their real names.
"Over there." Piper points towards the hallway.
Phoebe walks in the foyer.
"I never seen a man wearing black leather for a delivery before. Mmm." She gives the guy a lustful look. The man in black smirks at Phoebe.
"This is too much." Piper never realized she ordered so many centaur's bones.
"You're too much." Phoebe puts her hand on the guy's chest. The guy smiles. He was going to suggest they head to his truck for his 'break,' till Prue pushes him out.
"Thanks." She pulls out a few twenties. She knew this guy, he worked as a courier for delivering rare goods to hunters and witches. Once he left, after he thanked her for his tip, she turns to her sisters. "Yo! Lust, Gluttony, Sloth! Get a grip! You must fight your urges! The more you indulge, the more you are poisoned! Snap out of it!" Prue ordered.
"Why do I get gluttony?" Piper was insulted. "I been dieting for months." Sure she had some pie, a few sandwiches, and some chips, but she was just hungry.
"Piper, you been obsessed with Sam's lifestyle lately. I know you are a hunter, but don't forget your Charmed duties as well. You don't always have to get your hands dirty. Use your magic. Blow up some monsters, freeze things." Prue never realized how much she missed Piper using magic.
"What about you? I seen you get hit." Phoebe was getting tired of Prue's attitude.
"I did not get hit." Prue was sure she didn't.
"Bull. I seen it too. You glowed gold." Piper wasn't blind.
"Well, I must be immune. One of us has to be." Prue insisted.
Piper and Phoebe rolled their eyes. When Prue walked in the living room, they made a bet.
"Fifty bucks it's Pride." Phoebe said.
"Then we cancel each other out." Piper was thinking the same thing.
"If Prue can't beat it, I win." Phoebe knew human psychology well, heck, she had her bachelors in it.
"Deal." Prue was strong, she'll win. They shake hands.
"Turn that up lazy." Prue taps Paige who was falling asleep.
"We are reporting live at Bay City Motor Cars. As you can see, the SWAT team just arrived to deal with a hostage situation. Pastor Roger Tremble is threatening to shoot his hostage if his demands are not met." The reporter, Eric Lohman says looking at the camera.
"Do you know exactly what's the Pastor's demands are?" Anchorwoman Sara Roberts asked.
"It's pretty unusual. He is demanding a Jag, perferably a XL convertible in British Racing Green."
"That's a new one." Hmm. Maybe Piper should buy a new car. Sam can't ride with Dean forever. Maybe a classic. A Mustang maybe? Perhaps in red.
"The reporter's kinda cute." Phoebe was staring at him lustily.
"What do you say, Envy? He fits the profile. Paragon of good." The question nagged at Prue. Why is that demon targeting innocents, particularly certain people. There were others that did more good. "Piper? Paige? Hello? We have a job?" Both women were watching television. "You know what? Fine. Stay here, rot. See if I care. C'mon Phoebe." She drags Phoebe out of the house.
"You think she's mad?" Piper asked a sleepy Paige.
"Probably." Paige flips through the channels.
"Wait! Turn it back!" Piper saw something for her home. Paige groans in laziness. She picks up her cell.
"Hello, I like to order that stained glass Tiffany peacock." Sam would love it.
Ian was arguing with Prue.
"Look. I can't just send a civilian. Even I don't have that much pull over SWAT." Prue was arguing she can calm the Pastor down.
"Do you rather have a dead guy? He's a innocent. Let me in, or I'll astral project myself inside." Prue saw the snipers, many with their finger pressing the trigger halfway down. She knew she had less then five minutes before they shot the guy.
Phoebe was smiling at a cop who tipped his hat at her.
"You're being unreasonable." Ian felt stuck. He knew Prue can do it, but the danger of getting exposed. If the world found out about witches, then they find out about mermaids. His cousin will be dissected. He can lose everything. Daryl Morris, Andy Trudeau. No wonder.
"Prue! There's Officer Leslie!" She was squeezing Prue's shoulder. She started making lustful gestures with her facial features, making him blush.
"Ian. Do you have cold water? So I can dump it on my baby sister!" Prue was getting irritated. "Phoebe!"
"Just let the professionals handle it. We have hostage negotiators standing nearby."
"In normal cases. This is supernatural." Prue shoves him out of the way.
"Dammit! Phoebe, can you calm your sister down? Phoebe?" Phoebe was gone. Ian needed a vacation. Seeing Prue walking underneath the police tape, he pulls out his badge. "Hold your fire! Hold it!" He hears the gasps and screams of the audience. 'God, watch over Prue.'
Pastor Tremble eyes were wild. He was holding the car salesman by the neck, and pointing a gun to his temple.
"You have ten minutes. Hope you have insurance. Your family can benefit from your death." The salesman told him the car was taking a while to get here from Beverly Hills.
Prue ignored the guns on her back. She was confident she can save the Pastor.
Ian was staring helplessly at the doors. When he heard gunshots, he ordered everyone to hold their fire.
When he heard applause, he looked up. Prue was leading the car's salesman out. He was bleeding with a sprained wrist, but otherwise okay. She smiled at the applause. Ian didn't know whether to thank her, or arrest her. When he saw her talking to reporters, he rushed over. He then thanked the press and led her away.
"She's a good Samaritan. Excuse us."
"This is Eric Lohman reporting live at Bay City Motor Cars. Back to you Sara." Looks like he had a exclusive with Miss Halliwell tonight. Where should he go? CNN, NBC, The London Sun? He needed more proof. That magic exists. Maybe a movie deal with Steven Spielberg or James Cameron.
"Are you trying to get me fired?" Ian was scolding her for talking to the press. Great. He knew he had to make a statement.
"I had it under control!" How dare he. Prue saved innocents everyday. Might as well get praise for it.
"They are nothing but sharks! Remember what happened a few years ago?" Half of SFPD were angelic vessels. God that was a nightmare. Those angels didn't know squat about police work. Everyone of those cops quit after their angels left. They couldn't handle being normal again. Plus couldn't remember jack shit. He looks at Prue. "Your bleeding." Her arm was red.
"The bullet must have grazed me. Oh well. Danger is part of my job." Oh oh. "Would you say I been acting reckless, impulsive?" When Ian nodded, Prue looked at herself. "I need stitches. I been infected. Damn."
"There's a ambulance right over there." Ian starts leading her towards it.
"Save it for Pastor Tremble. Send him to Sacred Meadows. Just don't tell anyone."
"Fine." He knew it was disguised as a psychiatric hospital. Security was ultra tight. "What do I say if anyone asks."
"He had a psychotic break. Listen. There is a demon after him. Make sure you keep his location a secret."
"For how long?"
"Just a few hours. Paige will send you his papers. Notify his parish or any family members for his insurance. He may be there for a while." She looks around. "Where's my sister?"
Phoebe was kissing Leslie. Both were in a state of undress. Phoebe ripped off his shirt. She pulls out a line of condoms.
"Good thing I came prepared." The back of a SWAT truck wasn't her idea for a first date, but it'll do. She rips off one condom with her teeth. "Ready for me?"
"Oh yeah." When the door opened, he knew he was fucked.
"OFFICER ST CLAIRE!" Ian's voice boomed.
"Hi Chief. Uh. I can explain." He was so dead.
Prue yanks Phoebe out of there.
"You need a cold shower."
"Your arm." Phoebe noticed the blood.
"Pride. Let's go. Before we get killed for real."
When she looked back she saw Leslie getting yelled at by his boss. Oops. Maybe she should have waited till his shift ended.
An hour later, Leslie was walking angrily towards his car. Stupid bitch. No woman was worth losing his career. Suspended indefinitely. Great. He just fucked up his life. If he comes back, he'll be ticketing cars again. Possibly forever. If he was that lucky. He walked right into a guy.
"Out of my way." Usually he was polite, but he was too angry.
"You want to channel that anger, here you go." Lucas hit him with wrath. "Kill the bitch. Don't just stop there, kill her sisters as well."
Phoebe was arguing with Prue on the way up the steps leading to the Manor's front doors.
"Five minutes at the fire station. Would it had killed you?" Phoebe whined
"Poor choice of words." Prue scolded. Her arm was bandaged, god she missed Leo. "You need to get your sin under control." Lust. It wasn't as fun as it seemed. No wonder sex addicts get counseling. When they walked in, they saw mountains of junk. "What the..."
"Oh! Your back! See the Spring of Healing? Drink up. You'll be cured in a instant." Piper was pleased when it came in.
"Wow. You sure put the glut in gluttony." There was so much junk. Most of it magical. Phoebe didn't think Piper ordered so much.
"You never know. We have enough stuff to last us for the rest of our lives." Piper opens a box. "But I did treat myself. Do you think Sam would like this?" She pulls out a purple negligee. Prue whistled.
"How did you get this stuff so fast?" Magical trinkets were quick for delivery, but not that quick. Prue drinks out of the spring, her arm immediately healed. She was planning on using the Holy Grail, but remembering Dean's warning, was glad she didn't. None of them wanted to deal with Michael.
"I used the Book." Piper was surprised to see a acceleration spell in it. So she used it. "Don't worry, all of this will be paid for in seventy six months." Piper knew her credit was fucked, but who cares.
"That is so personal gain. You know what. Forget it. Forget everything. No one listens to me." Prue threw up her hands.
Phoebe takes away Piper's nightie. Hmm. Sam was in Lawrence. He wouldn't know if she used a glamouring spell on herself. Or even Dean. Jenna just has to disappear for a few hours. Piper sees Phoebe and takes the nightie away.
"Keep your hands off. Jenna would kill you. But not as much as me." She warned.
"Spoilsport." Damn. Just as well. Phoebe didn't want to hurt her friends.
"Will you guys be quiet? I'm trying to watch my show." Paige complained.
Prue saw her sisters arguing. She walks towards them.
"Guys? We have work. An innocent. A demon." Phoebe, glad for the distraction nodded. She forgot how jealous Piper got. Especially around Sam. She remembered how she was with Leo.
"Where's Pastor Jim?"
"Sacred Meadows. Paige. Paige!" Prue shakes her sister.
"What?" She whined. She was so lazy.
"You have a new patient. Paige!" Prue scolded. "Check him in. Then after he's admitted, you can take a nap."
"Fine." Paige yawned. "Uh. I can't orb."
"We'll be back. Hold down the fort." She and Paige teleport away.
An hour later, Prue dumped Paige on her bed upstairs.
"I can't believe you fell asleep. Good thing I know how to do your job." She leaves the room. She had to warn her sisters. There was one more innocent out there. Wrath.
Leslie was holding his chest. Was he having a heart attack?
"All that anger. It is killing you." Lucas taunted. "If you want it to end, tell me. Where is the Pastor?"
"Like I told you, I don't know!" He pleaded. The rage. It was overwhelming. He felt like his heart was about to explode.
"Here." He hands him a gun. "Channel the anger on who wronged you. A target will make you feel better." Lucas knew the rage will kill him. Once the Charmed Ones are dead, plus the cop, then he'll have his quota. Then blissful nothingness once he finds the Pastor.
Piper was resting getting her foot massaged by her new foot spa. Phoebe was smiling blissfully into space, and Prue was flipping through the Book. Paige was sleeping soundly in her bedroom.
"There is nothing in here. Argh. Why is the previous witches so lame." Prue complained in a snooty tone.
"Because nobody is good as you." Phoebe was sick of Prue's attitude. Piper agreed.
"At least I'm trying! Seriously? Are you both gonna sit there?"
"Yep. We know you want to be the hero. Save the innocent, vanquish the demon, have all the glory." Piper messaged Sam, he said he was helping Bobby with research. She couldn't wait to go home, but not before renting various storage lockers across the country for all of her shit.
"Uh huh. Let me be." Phoebe was smiling blissfully at thin air. "If you see what I'm seeing, phew." She was holding Officer Leslie's button. "The movie previews alone. Imagine the debut!" Phoebe couldn't wait.
Prue rolled her eyes. She was about to lecture Phoebe about personal gain, but there was no more Elders. It was free will now. But still.
Piper yawned and accidentally knocked a lamp into her water when she stretched.
"Ahh!" She was knocked backwards. "I feel strange. What just happened?" She was looking around.
"Piper! You alright!" Prue rushes to her side.
"Yeah." What happened? Piper could barely remember anything.
"You almost got deep fried. Good thing only one foot was in the water." Prue got worried seeing Piper. "Now what?" When the doorbell rang.
Phoebe gets up to see who rang the doorbell. She squeals when she looked out.
"Its Officer Cutie! Hey!" She nearly falls out waving. Prue and Piper pull her back in.
"Are you insane!" Phoebe was so careless. Prue wanted to slap her.
"I'm heading downstairs." Phoebe runs out of the attic.
"Am I the only one that's sane?"
"We just have different priorities that's all. Prue, would you like some new shoes? Perhaps a pair of Prada pumps?" Piper suggested.
Phoebe opens the door.
"Hi! Come in. I been waiting." Her bedroom was ready.
"This isn't a social call." Officer Leslie knew he only had a short time before he dies. He grabs Phoebe.
"Ohhh. Are we playing a game? I hope you brought handcuffs." Phoebe says in a breathless voice. When he pulled out his gun, Phoebe's blood went cold.
"Where is the Pastor?" He demanded.
"I don't know." She lied.
"Bullshit!" He screamed. He throws Phoebe towards some boxes. "You know you ruined my life! My career! You stupid slut!" Phoebe threw herself out of the way when he threw some boxes at her. "Fucking bitch! Now you will pay!" He pulls out his gun and points it at Phoebe.
"No!" Phoebe threw up her hands.
Piper screams.
"My stuff!" She ducked when he points his gun at her. When he shot at her, Piper freezes him. Or tried to. He unfroze almost immediately. Luckily the bullet misses at her when Phoebe threw herself at Leslie.
"Where is the Pastor!" He demanded.
"Fuck you." He ruined her nightie. That cost her her electricity bill money. Piper threw herself at the cop. If she gets shot, so be it. Just as long as Sam had everything he needed for his hunts.
The last thing Phoebe heard was a gunshot before she passes out when a heavy bookshelf lands of top of her.
Piper woke up feeling sore.
"Argh. My head." She looks around. "Oh my god. Phoebe?" Blood. The gunshot. Piper quickly heals herself by using the fountain spring. Phew. She feels her sister's pulse. It was steady, but weak. She checked out Officer Leslie. "Oh my god." He wasn't breathing. "Prue! Paige! Help!" She couldn't wait. She performed CPR.
"One, two, three. C'mon!"
Paige walks sleepily down the stairs.
"What's with all the racket? Holy shit! What happened?" Paige was instantly awake.
"Call 911! Grab the Grail! This guy will die! Hurry!" Fuck Michael.
The ambulance pulls in just as Paige pours water from the Spring, and from the Holy Grail. Just in time, Leslie wasn't able to wake up. Phoebe was already awake, she woke up when Paige splashed her with water.
Once the ambulance pulls away, all three jumped when they felt themselves glow.
Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, they all flew out of their bodies.
"Did you guys feel that?" Piper's head cleared.
"We must be back to normal." Phoebe looked down at herself. The bullet shot into the book she was holding. She was incredibly lucky.
"Our sins. Saving a innocent. Even if it cost you your lives." The cop. Piper didn't care about what he did. She saved his life. Phoebe threw herself at the cop to save Piper from getting shot. As for Paige, she held the Grail. The Grail allowed her to purge her sin when she called 911.
"Where's Prue?" Phoebe noticed she was gone.
"Prue?" Piper saw her in the attic.
Prue woke up to see Lucas. She smirked at him
"Oh look. A demon. I'm so scared." Prue taunted.
Lucas smirked.
"Pride. The deadliest of all the sins. You have a few minutes left. Tell me where the Pastor is, and you will be freed."
"Nah. My powers."
"See. My point exactly. You think you're invisible. Sorry. No one ever escapes Pride. Tell me what I want to hear, and I'll spare you."
"Go to Hell."
"This is my Hell. Every rotten day. Believe me. You don't want this." Lucas warned.
"A demon warning me? What did it cost you?" Prue heard his humanity, although very faint.
"Everything. Those dreams your sister has? You? Only a taste." He uses his wand to open a portal. "You see this? It's the never ending bottomless Pit of Despair. Tell me where the Pastor is, and I'll free you from Pride."
"Let me go first."
"Nope. If I lose, you lose."
"Then you'll never be freed."
Dammit! Pride was a unbeatable opponent.
"Fine." He unties Prue.
"Ha ha! I win! You lose! Sucker!" Prue jumps in willingly.
"NOOO!" Lucas screams.
Paige, Phoebe, and Paige run in.
"Shit!" Piper screams.
"Phoebe! Tether me!" Paige orders. She uses her new power to teleport inside the hole.
"Pride cannot be defeated!" Lucas moaned.
Piper helped Phoebe pull her sister out. But not before freezing him.
Once Prue was out, Prue picks up the box. Four of the sins fly in. She was tempted, but she hands it to Phoebe instead.
"Now what." Prue was irritated for her sisters jumping in.
"I think we should hand these back to the original owner don't you think?" She throws the box's contents to Lucas. Lucas unfreezes.
"What the...Argh! What did you do?" Just then, two more lights appear.
"I believe those are yours. Envy, Wrath." She points towards him. Unable to handle the emotions, Lucas trips and falls into the hole. Pride leaps out of Prue and follows Lucas.
Once the door was closed, Prue destroys the wand.
"Can't chance the sins coming back."
Later that week, the sisters were in a random nightclub somewhere. It was one of the surviving few. Not many clubs existed anymore. Piper felt sad knowing P3's golden days were long gone. But she figured things happen for a reason. She didn't live in San Francisco anymore. She was happily married to Sam, and loved the simple life. Demons never came to her home in Lawrence. But she did visit a lot.
"So how's the Pastor and Officer Leslie?" Prue asked. Both were under psychiatric care at Sacred Meadows.
"They are doing fine. Neither remember being in the sins influence. They have a while to go before they go home. I been raising money for their care. Luckily, their insurance paid for most of it." Paige put up a Selfless Page for medical costs for aftercare. Many people donated, especially when they found out how stressed out the Pastor and the cop were these days.
"Can you raise one for me?" Piper saw her credit card and bank account statements. Sam was going to kill her.
"Poor Piper." Phoebe pats her back. "We'll help you sell everything. The annual magic garage sale is happening soon. You won't likely get all your money back, but you can get most of it." Phoebe was embarrassed about Officer Leslie, but she wasn't worried about him for the moment.
"Okay. I have one question." Prue was racking her brains about Pride.
"You guys seen balls fly out of you. Plus Envy and Wrath came back on their own accord. Why didn't Pride leave?"
"You can't defeat Pride." Phoebe explained to Prue, it was impossible. Everyone fights it. Even God.
"But I threw myself in the pit." Prue remembered the torment. The screams.
"You did that to show off." Piper scolded.
"But."
"There is no such thing as selfless Pride. Sorry sis." Paige was looking at her phone. She had a few more resumes. Some promising looking applicants.
"I have a long way to go don't I?" Prue felt humbled.
"Yep." Phoebe was dying to hear back from Stanford. The admissions officer heard about Phoebe's temporary psychiatric break, thanks to a doctor's note from a Dr. Castiel Novak, that they scheduled a second interview. But this time she had to face the admissions community of eight. Phoebe was scared shitless, but she decided to use this as a learning experience. Maybe someday she'll have another lost student that needed her help. Only Prue knew, but she insisted on coming along for support. Phoebe was glad. She already bought the sweater.
"So what happened to the businessman's soul?" Paige found a crystal with a soul inside. Even with her whitelighter powers bounded, she could tell.
"I called for a reaper. He took his trip upstairs." Piper called Sam, he said Dean asked Tessa to take him Home.
"What's this band called?" Prue was tapping her feet.
"Orgy." Piper deadpanned.
Michael was staring up at the Halliwell Manor. He felt the Grail's Presence, but he couldn't enter the house. Even with the Crown, the sigils were too strong. As long as the Grail was safe, he didn't care. Too bad that Matthews girl had her powers bounded, he could use her bloodline.
Anna had to make a choice. All these things that were happening. Maybe she can stop it. She knew how to time travel, but needed help. Luckily her old friend was on speed dial.