The little boy screams as it was taken away. But he wasn't the target, the witch was. The driver has their orders, find her.
Prue was humming as she typed on her computer. Things were okay at the moment, Piper was away on a "work trip" with Dean and Jenna, they were at that legendary school they heard so much about. When Prue got a text, she had to stifle a giggle, Piper wrote back that Dean was still trying to get out of the doghouse. Jenna found out he was with a demon instead of helping her. Poor Dean was staying in his own rented room by himself since Jenna refused to listen to his weak apologies.
Prue dated a lot of men over the years. Even the so called "good" guys messed up from time to time. She saw her boss walking in and quickly put her phone away using her powers.
"Prue!"
"Yes Boss?" Prue was still in hot water. Not just at her job, but the police as well. Thank god she had a alibi, thanks to new evidence that deity Gabriel and his sister that just came in. They found out they had troves of rare treasures, all that was stolen. Including mummified remains of young men and women in one of their homes. The FBI was investigating. As for herself, she was cleared of suspicion, but was grilled for hours by the police, including that Inspector. Prue didn't trust her, especially when she got asked about her "dead twin." Luckily her bosses shut her down. Sheridan did give her her card, emphasizing that she call her anytime. Prue threw away the card. She was no way putting a mortal in danger. As for herself, she was on probation. Helena may have been a monster, but her boss wasn't happy about the events that followed soon after. He said Prue was on thin ice. He wasn't happy about the bad press. Especially after that article Eric Lohman wrote about her. How mystery and deaths kept following Prue and her sisters. Her sisters were pissed, but not as much as Prue. That guy kept following her around. He tried stalking the manor, till the police drove him away with threats of harassment and stalking. Prue was glad California had very strict anti stalking laws.
Her boss had to get a restraining order from him trying to spy on the gym Prue worked at, he had a membership, but used that to try to break in Prue's office. Her boss threw him out and immediately canceled his membership. He then filed a emergency restraining order against him, claiming he was harassing the employees and clients. Prue was glad, she was tempted to use her magic on him. Antarctica was lovely this time of year.
"There is a demonstration at the Park. I want you to cover it."
"Is it about those acrobats?" The annual circus was in town.
"Yep. I know this isn't about us, BUT, the Godiva Girls, they want to see you."
"ME? Why?" Prue didn't follow anything about sports, except pro wrestling.
"I don't know. Go there and see what they want. The Elysium Circus trains many of their stars. Maybe you can convince them to come to our gym as spokeswomen. Maybe entice a few to be our new clients."
"I see what I can do." Prue hated circuses. Her own life was one. But she didn't have a choice. She was in danger of losing another job.
Claire couldn't believe she was doing this. Driving a ice cream truck. This was Michael's assignment for her? Kidnapping demon kids? Ugh. She was childfree for a reason. She wasn't alone, her partner was with her.
"So you push this tune play the song. Then when a demon comes, you press this button. Claire? Claire!" Caleb was getting frustrated.
"Yeah. Press that button." Claire was bored. She was good hunter. She can catch and exorcise demons. She knew how to kill one, but never done it. Only Sam and Dean did. Plus the Charmed Sisters. As Caleb talked, she saw a circus demonstration. Wow. That girl was good. Very flexible. Claire couldn't help but fantasize about her in Claire's bedroom. Seeing fingers snapping, she quickly breaks out of her daydreaming.
"What? Oh pressing that button. Got it." Claire looked at that girl again. She was cute. Like a tall faerie. Claire wanted to go and introduce herself. Hopefully she played on Claire's team. Claire didn't have a preference, but hadn't had any luck with members of the opposite sex. Every one was intimidated by her no nonsense attitude and job. Not as a hunter, but her part time job at the place she worked as head security. Cowards. Caleb was cute, but it looked like he had no interest in women. Or men when Claire thought about it. He took this job way too seriously. He was due to retire, every 'Ice Cream Man' was mortal. He never aged, when Claire asked, he said the former leaders, the Elders needed him young and strong to fight against evil. Every twenty five years, a new driver needed to be hired. Claire was damned if she was spending her best years as a driver to capture demon brats for two decades. But until Michael finds a new sucker, this was it.
"Look, I know you hate this job. But it is important. I was a hunter too."
"You were?" Claire was shocked. He was so scrawny. Caleb chuckled.
"Yeah I know. But my great, great, great grandfather was a driver back in the day. Before ice cream, it was fresh lemonade sold out of a wagon during the end of the gold rush. He worked side by side with another hunter, Samuel Colt."
"Samuel Colt? That Samuel Colt?" Claire's eyebrows were raised high on her head. How far back were hunters? Caleb smiled at her expression.
"I'm sure you heard of him. Every hunter around the world heard of him. Anyways he found out about the demon children. Before you ask, yes children of Hell exist. They aren't really children, they are evil beings sent to Earth to cause death and destruction. They appear as innocent kids, what person would believe a innocent child could cause so much evil? Most hunters are hesitant to kill one, its very hard to tell if one is a true innocent. Heck even I had a hard time telling who was evil and who wasn't. Even human children can do bad things. Anyways, back in the day those kids were a massive migraine for hunters, they help spread deadly diseases and destroy crops. You heard of the Dust Bowls of the thirties?"
Claire nodded. She did a report on that in the fifth grade. Her dad, Jimmy Novak helped her with research. She never dreamed that demons were behind it.
"They captured Mother Nature. Without her, the weather wouldn't bring rain. Many people starved and died, including animals, bugs, fish and plants. No one knew where she went, not even deities."
"What does that have to do with Samuel Colt and your grandfather?"
"Great, great, great grandfather." He corrected.
"Whatever." Caleb was usually quiet, Claire always had a hard time trying to carry on a conversation. He said only a few sentences.
"Anyways before that, those demons were trouble. Samuel was a good hunter, but even he couldn't successfully exorcise them. They are different from ordinary demons. He and Jedediah, my grandfather thrice removed, racked up ideas how to kill them. Or capture and remove them and return them to Hell. They worked for months. Until a singer came to town."
"What singer?"
"Elizabeth Cady."
"Elizabeth Cady? Where did I hear that before?" That name sounded so familiar. "You mean Elizabeth Stanton? She was a hunter?" She was best friends with Susan B Anthony. Both of them changed women's rights forever.
"That's the one. Before you ask, Susan wasn't a hunter. Not that she wasn't capable, she was too busy with her cause. She did help Elizabeth with any research that she needed whenever she needed it on her hunts. Anyways long story short, she was performing at a saloon near the Mexican/California border. There was a nest of changelings that were killing the parents of the miners of the gold rush by posing as their children. She managed to kill the host, but the monsters didn't explode and die as she expected. She suspected that those demons were working with them. She knew she needed to work quickly, the real children were missing for three days. In that heat, no water or food, they'll die quickly. She had to work fast. So she did her research. She managed to ask a witch, a woman named Isabel for assistance. Isabel simply gave her a poem. She called it the 'Devil's Chord.' When Elizabeth asked, Isabel just said to sing this in a catchy tune. It will be harmless to humans, but if evil hears it, they become docile and obedient to the tune. I don't know the lyrics, it was lost over the years. Anyways, Elizabeth turned that poem into a song. She didn't sing, rather she hummed it. It wasn't a hit. But she noticed vampires entranced by that song coming towards her in a trance. After she slaughtered those vampires, she hummed that song to find the changelings. Once she killed those creatures and saved the children, that is when she met Samuel Colt. She told Samuel about her findings, and Samuel and Jedediah created a music machine to capture evil."
"Really?" They weren't kidding about Samuel's reputation. He was a inventor. He invented the legendary Colt, the gun that could kill demons, plus many other things. That music player was probably a breeze compared to the railroad surrounding Devil's Gate. No hunter, or historian was able to figure it out how or when he made or finished it. "So did it work?"
"Not at first. Even the best inventor had kinks to stamp out. After many failures they got the tune exactly right. Small monster children and those demons were drawn to it. It wasn't just Samuel and Jedediah that did it. That same woman that gave Elizabeth that poem, she had a spell to summon a powerful entity to capture them. She called it The Nothingness."
"Wait a minute. She summoned the Empty?" Castiel and Hannah told her and Jack about It. It's a place the supernatural go to sleep for eternity. It was feared by every creature on Earth, Heaven and Hell. It was rumored God Himself was afraid of It. Whatever the Empty was, It preferred to sleep. "How?"
"I don't know. It takes the children away. Plus anything that gets sucked in Its dimension. Good, evil. It doesn't care. Humans cannot enter that place. They'll be taken. My predecessor the last driver, he was killed by the Nothing. That's why I drive. It's invisible to mortals, but not witches or evil. Since my time is up, it's all up to you."
"Whoa! Whoa! Uh uh. This is just temporary. Michael had to find a new sucker." She couldn't believe Caleb's expression. He looked incredulous.
"Its a great honor! Plus its easy. You get paid to drive around. No sleeping in cheap motels or in your car. No hunting for your next meal, no evil. Just drive this sucker for a few years, and you are out of the life forever. I been hunting since I was a kid. Knox, they are strict with their students. Once I retire, I plan to open my own ice cream shop."
"Seriously? Ice cream? I can't believe it. Wait a minute. You get paid? Since when?" Claire remembered her early days as a hunter. It was rough.
"By Heaven. I don't know. But I have enough money to last me for the rest of my life. An ice cream shop is perfect. I love kids. This is California, it gets hot. I want what I never had, a family. I was an orphan. I know nothing about my relatives. Before Knox, I was living in the orphanage. It was a woman named Anne Whipple that took me to Knox as a young child. There I trained as a hunter."
"But why stay? You graduated with a degree in business. You could have walked away." Hunters and magical beings are free to live their own lives. Even with their training.
"There is too much evil in the world. Even with my degree, I wanted to hunt. I did have a regular 9 to 5 job, but I hated it. No freedom, always being a yes man to people above me who made more money due to my hard work. So I quit. I went back to hunting. Sleazy motels, dull weapons, I was back home. That's when I was approached by a whitelighter. Long story short, I found Piper Halliwell and her sisters, and their friend Leo Wyatt gave me the keys."
"But your not close to twenty five years." He was working as a Ice Cream man for a quarter of that.
"New assignment. I been hired to teach at Magic School. They are opening a hunter's class for mortals. I guess they found the funding. I'll teach the next generation before my retirement in a few years. Today is my last day driving the truck. Who knows, maybe I'll see you there when I'm ready to open my shop."
Claire snorted.
"Angels run that place now." Working for Douchebag after this job. Claire rather starve.
"Well whatever you decide. Good luck." He takes off his jacket. "Here you go." He also hands Claire the keys.
"Aren't you staying to finish your shift?" The job sounded easy, but Claire wasn't sure what to do.
"You'll be fine. Just say the line I gave you. Or not." Caleb saw Claire's expression. 'Want some ice cream?' The line sounded easy, but the way it was said, it sounded dirty.
Claire just stared at the keys. She looked up at Caleb before he left.
"Do I have to work everyday? I have a job." She never thought she'll miss Sacred Meadows.
"As much as you want. You're a independent contractor. Just drive around at least once a week. You don't have to leave the city. There are thousands like us spread all over the world. Anyways. This is goodbye. Claire, I'm very glad I met you. You don't treat me like a weirdo like most women." He remembered meeting Piper Halliwell. That was awkward. He looked towards the performers. "I hadn't been on a date, since forever. Not since Knox. Ahem. Claire..."
"I don't have time." She liked Caleb. He was like Jack, he wouldn't judge her. But she had too much on her plate. Like finding Jack.
"What?! Oh. No. Claire, you're a nice girl, but I'm gay." There was a cute guy playing a flute. He smiled at Claire's blushing.
"Oh. Yeah I date the person, not the body." Claire only dated women, plus had a brief fling with Kevin for a few weeks. Still, she wanted to crawl in a hole. Thank god he didn't laugh at her, she was embarrassed.
"Well I don't judge. There are a bunch of people here. If you visit Magic School, come have a cup of coffee. Gotta go." He leaves the truck as soon as Claire did.
"See you. Good luck with your new job!" She waves goodbye just as he walks away to talk to the cute flute player. Claire looks around. It was a hot day. Hopefully, no one knows what she really drove. But no way was she wearing that ugly thing. That cheap polyester jacket was itchy. As a compromise, Claire was wearing a striped tennis hat with her white pants and light blue shirt. She looked the part of the Ice Cream Woman. Since she didn't see any demon children, she went to watch the performers.
Prue pulled up to the park. Wow. This place was packed. It was almost the end of summer. Since Phoebe and Paige were busy at Phoebe's new condo, and Piper out of the country, Prue was here to do her job. Her boss told her to find those dancers or acrobats. Interview them, try to entice them to promote the gym, with free memberships for a year. Plus a discount for their fellow performers if they agree to it.
Caleb was talking to the flute player when he saw his Boss. He swallowed. Excusing himself he went to over to Michael.
"My King." He wanted to bow, but he had to lay low. He did nod to his wife as a sign of respect. Her and her husband were holding hands. A human wife. Michael was a odd angel. He knew the Elders were strict on their whitelighters dating mortals. Guess the jury was out on archangels.
"Did you find the witch." It was a command, not a question.
"Not yet. I did capture some demons." He swallowed at Michael's cold stare.
"I don't care." He kisses Val on the cheek. "Go get something to eat. I'll be right there." Val nods and walks away, but not before Michael grabs her ass with her yelping. Michael smirks. He saw the envious looks the park goers were giving her. Looks aren't everything, but Dean Winchester was a catch. Even in Heaven, the other angels were divided between him and Lucifer. Lucifer and him were considered the most breathtaking of Heaven.
"I'll find her. Promise." Caleb was terrified. This new Michael was ten times more scary then Lucifer.
"You have forty eight hours. Or you are taking her place." He walks away to join his wife at the nearby picnic table. Caleb stares at his back. He fought on the side of good, but things today were murky. He hated this. Prue Halliwell was a good woman. Why Michael wants her dead was a mystery. He goes to the Ice Cream Truck. Michael gave him a new song, custom made for Prue.
It wasn't hard to find the Godiva Girls, they were dancing to the music the guitar player was playing. When he started playing a fast tune, the three women started doing their gymnastic routines. Prue was impressed. They were good, really good. It was almost like their feet or hands never touched the ground. When they finished with a impressive dance routine, Prue applauded with everyone else. She had to wait for them to finish signing their autographs before Prue approached them. But before she could move, a familiar, but soothing song started playing.
Claire was nervous to introduce herself. There was a lot of good looking people, but the woman in the white outfit, Claire and her kept glancing at one another. She was beautiful. Perfect smooth skin, permed long hair, with the most perfect eyes she ever saw. She looked like a angel, no a faerie. Claire was tongue tied. Her reverie was broken out of when she saw a dark eyed kid running by. Dammit. She goes to chase him, when she got tapped.
"Hi. I'm Gilda." When Claire turned around it was the hot faerie. She was smiling at Claire. For a second, Claire couldn't speak. Thank goodness a man bumped into her, breaking her spell.
"Claire." She squeaked. She never thought she'll be so tongue tied. Gilda, she was smiling charmingly at her.
"Listen, I hate to be so bold, but would you like to join me for a drink?" Gilda points to a vendor.
"Sure." She was getting asked out? Wouldn't be the first time, but Gilda was someone way out of her league. She follows Gilda.
Prue was entranced by the music. It was so soothing. Reminded her of her childhood. Her mom singing to Prue before she died. "Over the Rainbow" was her mom's favorite song. Just as Prue was about to approach the truck, she was tapped on the shoulder.
"Prue Halliwell? Hi. Name's Eric Lohman. May I ask for a interview?"
The spell broken, Prue blinks. Huh? Where was she? Seeing hands, she looked over at the reporter was pointing his cell on her.
"Excuse me, who are you?" He looked familiar.
"Daydreaming there? Eric Lohman reporter to BayWeekly dot com."
The name suddenly comes back to Prue. He wrote a scathing article about her.
"I have nothing to say." She turns to walk away, till he stops in front of her.
"Just one question."
"Ask." Prue had no patience for this.
"Other than the mystery surrounding Helena Slater and her brother Gabriel, what else are you hiding? Angels?"
"This interview is over. I'm working. Besides, you have a restraining order from my place of employment. I'm on the clock. Unless you want to have a free pair of steel bracelets, I suggest you leave me alone."
Eric smirks.
"I checked your schedule, you are off at seven. So I can wait."
"I'll be working overtime." Prue walks away.
No way was Eric losing this story. It was too big. But until Prue was off the clock, he was stuck. Hmm. He needed a new story. Too bad Piper was away, she was married to Sam Winchester. A ex-criminal. Even though he and his brother were cleared, there was something about those two. But there already was countless articles written about them by various supernatural and true crime websites. As for Prue, she was a enigma. Ever since he saw her in that alley with her sister using her power, he was determined to find out the truth. That's why he wrote that article online. What was Prue hiding?
"So you're a faerie? A actual faerie?" Claire couldn't believe it. "But you're so tall!" She blurted out. Then flushing at what she said. Gilda just laughs, her laugh like twinkle bells.
"Yes we can appear tiny. Or short." Thinking of the leprechauns. "But fairies can come in all shapes and sizes. Just like the wood nymphs over there." Pointing to the Godiva Girls.
"Whoa. Those acrobats? They are nymphs? How? Why?" As much as she knew about supernatural lore, she didn't know much about fairies.
"Things in our realm are, messy. Our Queen, Mother Nature, she is away. Ever since magic disappeared."
"Wait. Hold it. I thought she was back?" Dean said she came back to Earth to help vegetation grow while magic was absent.
"Briefly. But that's not why we're here. We need to see the Charmed Ones."
The demon was walking around the park. He and his brother were here to find those nymphs. But he had to be careful. He saw that angel. Both him and his brother had their charms, but both knew neither will work with Michael's presence. Xavier was following the nymphs, for some reason they joined the circus. When he spots one, he goes to entice her, then when he sees the Queen he stops dead in his tracks. He hasn't been back in Hell for decades, but all demons were on high alert. He had no choice but to back away. Ducking his head, he leaves.
The wood nymphs dance and laugh among the crowds. They were having so much fun.
"Isn't it a beautiful day?" Daisy loved her new job. Making kids smile. She made a necklace of flowers and put it on a little girl on a wheelchair, making her smile.
"It is truly lovely." Not wanting to be undone, she made a rose corsage and hands it to Romeo who blushes. His wife Juliet slaps him on the arm.
"Working for a circus. Times sure have changed since Mother left." Lily missed Nature, but she said she needed to be somewhere else. Only Michael knew where she was, he was the one that took her away. She didn't bother making a gift, instead she performs a dance, a dance of pure happiness. Already the ones that were unhappy were smiling big. Lily didn't perform this dance much, only during the first day of Spring.
The three nymphs were looking for their satyr, he was not only a flute player, but was also the ringmaster for their circus.
"Have you seen Tobias? He said he was getting a drink." Miranda never one to show emotions was getting worried. Tobias will never abandon the nymphs.
Tobias was looking for the witch. He saw her here. Mother Nature, she told Tobias to find the Charmed Ones. They needed to guard the spring, it was about to get infected with evil. He had to hurry, he saw the demon. After pushing away some people that stood too close he spies the witch. Just as he was about to approach her, he yelps when he feels white hot pain in his lower back. All he saw before his vision getting dark was his murderer walking away.
"Prue...Guard Eden..." The last thing he saw was people screaming to call for help.
Claire was flirting with Gilda when they were interrupted by Daisy.
"Sister! Our satyr, he is dead.'' Wood nymphs, they rarely show emotions, except happy ones, but two tears were streaming down her face. Miranda, and Lily, they were crying as well. Gilda immediately stands up.
"Then we're too late." Nature, they warned them to hurry.
Claire immediately stands up.
"Look. Sorry to interrupt." She and Gilda only talked for a hour, but she already wanted to help her.
"You are so pretty!" Miranda, she walks behind Claire and touches her hair. "You have faerie hair."
Both Lily and Daisy go up to Claire and look at her with awe. Claire didn't know if she was flattered or weirded out. When they start dancing around her, she quickly shuts it down. Especially when people were staring.
"Ahem! Ladies. If you need help..." Gilda nods and cuts Claire off.
"Sisters! We need to go somewhere private." Gilda, she had her orders. "Claire, we need assistance."
"Say no more." Claire was a hunter. Saving people, that's what she did. Even fairies.
"So you four came here to prevent Eden from getting corrupted? I thought Eden was a myth?" She heard the park was where it once stood. She thought it was rubbish, it didn't look like much. Especially with so many shady people that hung around.
"All faerie folk have access to it. Of course it's not the true Eden, God hid it away." Miranda heard of it, her home in Avalon was magnificent, Oberon said it was a exact copy. He seen it when he was young. Adam and Lilith, they lived there before Lilith disappeared. When he married Eve, that's when the first fairies appeared, to assist the humans with gardening. Mother Nature, she was the only faerie to meet God face to face.
"It is real. Our home, it is in danger." Miranda never thought she'll lose their home. It was meant to keep evil out.
"Please. We need to find the Charmed Ones. They are the only ones to save us." Daisy said fearfully. Their home, they will lose it forever.
Claire didn't say a word. She knew what God was doing, destroying realities. Avalon must be His next target.
"Gilda. I'm afraid this is too big for the Charmed Ones."
"What do you mean?"
Wayne was just staring at the sky. He knew. Their time was up. Most of the faerie folk evacuated to other worlds, only a few stayed. King Oberon and Queen Tatiana refused to leave, they didn't want to leave their home, not even with everyone begging.
"At least I won't see Hell." Wayne said lightly. But he knew what was coming was worse. Eternal sleep, it was better than nothing. His girlfriend, the demon Laira, she was holding hands with him.
"The Mother is safe." Tatiana prayed hard to Michael. To keep her safe. Their reign was over. The fairies, their world was finished.
"Our brothers and sisters, they are safe. That's all that matters." He held his wife before the rock fell. "Goodbye my love."
Tatiana felt the tears. Her home, it will be destroyed, but magic will still exist. She held her husband closer.
Wayne and Laira just hold hands.
"Its been a wild ride. I will miss you." Wayne didn't care she was a demon, Liara, her red eyes was teary.
"At least we had our fun." Their sex life was mind blowing. Laira didn't regret running away.
Billie just stared blankly as their world turned to ash. Another world gone, He showed no mercy. Not even to magical creatures.
Claire didn't know what to say. The fairies were everywhere. The wood nymphs, leprechauns, small tiny fluttering fairies, plus many others were in mourning. Once Claire told Gilda what was going on, Gilda was horrified.
"So our Creator, He is evil?" Gilda she grew up hearing the stories. How kind God was. How loving He is. Mother Nature gushed about Him everyday. There was no church in Avalon, but many of the locals gave gifts and sang to the Creator.
"Sorry." Claire left several messages to Jody, Dean, and Paige. All three couldn't believe it. They just told Claire to act normal. Fairies were unpredictable.
"But why would He do this? We loved and adored Him. We sang and celebrated in His Honour!" Lily started crying.
"The King and Queen, they refused to leave."
"Everyone! Stop crying!" Gilda ordered. Everyone looked up. "Remember Mother's saying! There is no death, only rebirth! Just because Avalon is gone, doesn't mean we can't go on!"
"She's right!" Father Christmas said. Claire couldn't believe he was real. His wife, Mrs Claus, and their daughter were comforting their elves who were depressed. The fairies, they brought their mystical creatures with them, a unicorn was eating grass, while Rudolph was getting brushed by a ogre. "The air, the rain, the flowers, they need us."
Everyone started nodding.
"Yes, most of us escaped. The prince and princess, they are alive. Queen Tatiana and King Oberon made sure of it." Hades and his sister were sent to another world, their parents wanted them safe.
Claire couldn't believe their demeanor, the once depressed fairies were chattering excitedly. All of them were making plans. Humans can learn from the fairies, they always looked on the side of good. Gilda pulls Claire away.
"My apologies. Everyone will be busy." Only Gilda knew what was coming, that's why she was sent here. She didn't expect to lose her home, but once the War ended, the fairies needed to stand by to heal everything. She brushed back Claire's head. "Is our date still on?" Gilda asked out Claire, when she saw how shy she was around her.
"Dinner at seven?"
"I need to go shopping." Gilda can create her wardrobe, but if she was going to live on Earth, she needed to fit in. "Can you help me find a job?"
Prue was humming. That song, it kept playing in her head. She looked up to see a ambulance and police cars rushing in. Huh? Curious, she went to check it out. She managed to push away the gawking onlookers to see a sheet being put over a man's face. Oh no. She recognized that man, he was the ringmaster to the circus. She had to leave, especially when she saw the reporter smirking at her.
Eric was already writing his next piece. He was writing his speech for his Pulitzer as well as figuring out how to sell the movie or television rights. Good thing he had his cell footage, he was planning on using that on his website. He was so glad he followed Prue here.
"Yeah. He was stabbed. Right through his lower back in a crowd. Whoever did this was a professional, no one saw a thing. A demon? Probably. He had no enemies, didn't know anyone, and he was a possibility a faerie. Okay. See you soon." Prue hangs up the phone. Paige called her and told her what Claire said. Even the magical realm was destroyed. The magical creatures were all lost and scared. Paige took them all to Sacred Meadows to hide them, but it was only temporary. They all needed time to adjust. Plus needed a new home to live. Most of them can live on Earth no problem, but the other creatures, such as the unicorns, they had to hide them, somewhere. Great more work.
Prue paces around the manor. She had a apartment, but with Lohman hanging around, no way did she want him knowing where she lived. She refused to go visit her sisters, if he found out where Paige worked, all hell will break loose. She broke out of her reverie when the doorbell rang.
"Now what?" She said in irritation. Too bad Billie wasn't around, she was at her university choosing her college courses. "You gotta be kidding me. You?" Lohman was smiling at Prue. His smile, it reminded Prue of a snake.
"Mind if I use your bathroom?" As he shoves his way inside.
Prue immediately stands in front of him.
"Leave. Or..."
"Or what? You send your friends after me? Use your magic? Yeah I saw you at that alley. Using your powers. Smart. Too bad you lost, poor guy didn't see that bus. Care to comment?" He was holding a micro-player this time around.
Prue takes out her phone.
"911."
"Hi, I like to report a break and enter." She gives Lohman a dirty look.
"OK, OK. I'm leaving. But, don't think I am finished with you." He leaves just as soon as Prue slams the door in his face.
"Yes, he has a restraining order at my place of work. Yes, please, a police car at my house. Thank you." Prue hangs up. She knew she had to lay low. Looks like she was stuck. Good thing she had a distant cousin.
Rene Smith walks out of the manor. She saw the man sitting in his car and smiles and waves. As expected, he ignores her. Hmph. Just because she was a bigger girl, and wasn't blessed with perfect skin and hair, doesn't mean she wasn't human. She casually walks down the street and waits for the bus. She saw the police car pull up to the manor and saw Prue opening the door just as the reporter drove off.
Prue was so glad she tried this disguise before. It was a alternative to "Manny," her old glamoured self. But Manny was legally dead. Rene Smith was one of many of her backups. Unlike her sisters, she wasn't picky about her looks. A plain Jane was easier to hide, compared to a supermodel. Like Paige's idea to hide as a Janice Dickerson lookalike. Good thing her sisters shut that down. Once she saw the bus, she pulls out the correct change and climbs in. She needed to see someone, plus she still had her assignment. She pulls out her alternative "dummy" phone and texts her location to her contact.
"Whoa." Claire walks in to her shift at work. It was so crowded in here. She had a date with Glinda, but not until seven. Paige called and begged her to come in for a few hours. "Watch it!" She snapped. A leprechaun waddles by her chasing a small faerie that stole one of his coins.
"Sorry!" Shemus tells the hunter. "That coin is meant for luck! Not to create a house!" As he ran after the faerie.
Claire knew it was gonna be a long day.
"I'm sorry dinner is late." Both Claire and Gilda were eating a pizza. "Plus having all those extra people." Most of the faerie folk were staying on the grounds. Paige ordered a bunch of pizzas for everyone. She did say this was only temporary, everyone had to find their own place to live. Luckily, everyone was one with nature, but it was gonna be very crowded with the fairies that lived here full time. "What happens now?"
"With the King and Queen dead, plus the Mother missing, we are lost. Some of my siblings went to other worlds, we hope they are okay." Gilda was depressed. She never thought she'll be homeless. She's been to Earth a few times, but never stayed for long. Her home was in Avalon. She sighed.
Claire sympathized with Gilda. When her parents died, she was lost as well. She got lucky, her foster parents took her in. But even though her adopted family loved and cared about her as their own, Claire had this deep hole in her heart. She packed up and left home the day she turned eighteen, not to become a hunter, but to find herself. Now as a grown woman, she was still looking. Not just for herself, but for Jack as well. He was still gone.
But now, Claire doubted she'll ever get her answer. The end of the world was coming, Gilda's world was gone, which means their turn will come eventually. She wished Charlie was here. No matter how dark things were, she always found humor in everything. When she saw Gilda looking at her, she held Gilda's hand, soon they found themselves kissing.
They were making out when the door opened. When Claire looked up, she was embarrassed. Gilda frowned when she saw Shemus holding the doorknob.
"Uh excuse me. This is a private moment." She gave Claire a apologetic smile. "Sorry, the leprechauns are usually more polite."
"My apologies my lady. The wood nymphs, they are gone."
Miranda, Daisy and Lily were dancing and playing in the fountain. It wasn't home, but it was better than nothing. Daisy giggled as she was splashed.
"It's a full moon, it's the time of rebirth!"
"May the King and Queen become one with the stars!"
"Plus us, may we dance forever with our new brethren!"
Xavier spots the three nymphs. They were so unpredictable. But they were the key. With Eden's Spring, he and his brother will become invisible. No more training, no more following orders, no more groveling. He walks up to the nymphs who were oblivious to the danger they were in.
Prue was walking around aimlessly around town. She knew that reporter was around, and wasn't taking any chances for anymore exposure. Seeing the fountain with three women playing, she was wondering why they were inside the fountain this time of night. When she saw the fireball, she unglamours herself and runs up to the demon, and flings him across the parking lot. She gestures to the young women.
"Follow me!" Miranda and Daisy run after Prue. Unfortunately, Lily was dead, she was killed by the fireball. Her lifeless body was floating in the fountain, Prue had to run, they had only a minute before they were spotted.
Claire was shaking her head. There was news reports of a dead body. A young woman was found dead, and the police was looking for a person of interest. Good thing it was dark for the camera to pick out any faces, Claire knew without a doubt who the women were. She just hoped Prue was laying low, she was seen in the video.
Prue groaned as she saw the footage. Great. She just hoped that no one recognized her. The two other nymphs were trying to escape, they wanted to run and be free with nature. Prue had no choice but to stay up all night and use her powers to keep them indoors.
"It's so lovely outside! Let us run and play!" Daisy begged.
"Its raining." Prue deadpanned. She never thought two nymphs would be so annoying.
"Then it means Oberon and Tatiana have moved on! It's a sign of celebration! Our sister must be there as well!" Miranda explained to Prue when it rains, the Earth was getting cleansed. She also explained when a magical creature dies, a rainbow appears in the sky, letting everyone know that they have become one with everything. "Let us out, so we may dance!"
Prue shook her head.
"Look. As much as I love for you ladies to be outdoors, there is danger present. I'm sure your family and friends understand. Until that demon is found, you have to stay indoors." When the doorbell rang, Prue sighed. "Better not be that reporter. Stay." She ordered the nymphs. "Dad!" She hugs Victor.
"Hey sweetheart." Victor was back from his trip. After what happened with 'Doris' aka, Ruby, he took some time off and headed east on a much needed break. "Where's your sisters?"
Before Prue could answer, the nymphs run up to Victor and started giggling.
"Oooh! Who is this?" Miranda said flirtatiously.
"He is so muscular! He reminds me of Prince Hades!" Daisy giggles as she puts a chain of daisies around his neck. Prue had to stifle a laugh at Victor's blushing.
"Prue?"
"Wood nymphs." Prue explained.
"Oh." Nothing surprised Victor anymore. "Hi." He wasn't interested in dating, but he couldn't help but feel flattered that two fairies were flirting hard with Victor.
"Dad? Can I ask you for a favor?"
"Sure honey." He didn't protest when Daisy was rubbing his bicep. Not wanting to be undone, Miranda was pulling Victor onto a chair and giving him a neck rub.
"Watch them for a few hours. I'll be back." Prue knew that reporter would be tracking her car, so she borrowed her dad's car keys. Sure enough she saw him following her. "Come on, follow me." Prue knew exactly where to take him, she already prepaid for the services.
'Smart girl.' Lohman had no idea how she slipped past him, but he saw those tapes. He bribed the security guard for the footage from the fountain. That woman that walked out of the manor, she she must have been her friend or relative. He had his story ready to go, he just needed a exclusive with Prue. As for the two living acrobats, he'll get around to them. But for now, follow Prue.
Prue gets out and walks down a shady alley. Lohman gets out and follows her. Wherever she was going, he wasn't losing her again. He had some cash left. He walks up to the door and knocks.
"Name?" The bored guy asks.
"Eric Lohman."
"Come in. The Chief's waiting for you."
The Chief? Looks like another late night of writing. Already traffic was coming to his website.
"Stay here, and don't touch anything." The guy orders.
When the door at the end of the doorway opens, Eric wondered what was going on. He got his answer a minute later.
The Chief walks out of the noisy room. He smirks at Lohman.
"You are in a world of trouble Big Boy." He was holding a whip. "Looks like you need a good whipping."
"I think I been had." Lohman was impressed by Prue. He wanted to take her out for dinner, he was very interested in her now.
Prue was laughing as she drove away. Lohman, he'll be busy for awhile. She needed to see Paige, she had to figure out what was going on. She got her answer as soon as she got there.
"What the..." What was with all the fairies? They were everywhere. She gets out of the car. "Paige!" Spotting the new security guard, she asks where her sister was at.
"She had to run into town. I don't know what's going on. You should ask Claire, she's at the observatory."
"Thank you." It took Prue a few minutes to get there. The observatory was opened up, but was restricted to management. After what they saw inside, Prue understood. She knew Claire wasn't supposed to be inside, she was a friend, but that place was restricted till the sisters figure out what to do with that place. When she walked in, she saw Claire standing next to a woman. "Ahem!" Prue cleared her throat. They weren't alone, Jo and Dex were looking through the telescope. The couple looked away guiltily.
"Prue! I have news!" Claire couldn't wait to tell her.
"I'm sorry." No wonder the nymphs were acting odd. The faerie world was gone. "And everyone else?"
"Most escaped. Even the humans that lived there. Dorothy, she and her friends returned to Kansas." Gilda explained.
Oz, it was all real. Prue didn't know what to think.
"That doesn't explain why you are here. You need permission to come inside." None have been able to figure out all of the secrets. Castiel and Hannah told them the answers will come to them when the time came. As for the mirrors, nobody had been able to activate them.
"That's just it. Gilda, show them." Claire couldn't believe it.
The mirrors glowed. Images came on the mirrors.
"How?" Even with their magic, no one was able to reactivate them.
"Magic. It's very old school. I just figured out what magic to use."
"And?" Prue was staring at Piper who was reading a old text. Dean was holding a old rifle. That must be Knox.
"It's a mix of old magic, older than faerie magic. My magic will only work for a few minutes." Sure enough the mirrors went back to normal.
"Aw. I was watching the giant!" Magic School was holding a concert, a literal giant was singing a song. He was good, but most of the audience was wearing protective ear muffs to protect their ears. Jo was fascinated at the show. She almost regretted quitting, but her and Dex were leaving next week.
"And I was watching myself. Did you know I'm an actor?" He was in Sex and the City. He was jealous that his counterpart was kissing Samantha Jones. Kim Cattrall was his crush, although he kept that a secret from his wife.
"Yeah you had your fun. Claire?" She nods at everyone to leave. Once they were alone, they fill each other in.
"Sorry about that reporter." That would be annoying. Claire knew if he was watching Prue, then she had to be extra careful. Her own life will be in ruins if anyone found out what her day job was. Hunting was supposed to be a well guarded secret.
"Yeah, I'll deal with him. What are we going to do with everyone?"
"They are heading to Scotland. They need people. Especially the dwarves." The dwarves were called to work to make new weapons and amour. "Gilda said everyone will be gone by tonight."
"Good." Prue looked at the mirrors. She needed to figure out what magic to make them open on a permanent basis. Once she left, Claire got a text.
"Great." Her first shift started today. It was poring outside. What demons would want ice cream on a day like this?
Prue managed to get home just to see Victor getting fed grapes. Prue was glad to see her dad happy, but the nymphs needed to go.
"So we can go?" Miranda squeals. She kisses Victor on the cheek. "Our apologies, but we are outdoor creatures."
Daisy hands Victor the last grape.
"It was great meeting you, but we need to go. Nature, it needs us to blossom the flowers." She too kisses Victor on the other cheek. Victor looked dazed.
Prue waved goodbye to the nymphs. She tried not to smile at Victor's expression. He was blushing.
"Dad?"
"What? Oh! Ahem." He came here for a reason. But with the nymphs, he forgot. "It's about Sam."
"What about him?" There was no luck tracking him down. When Victor handed her a envelope, Prue stared at it. It was dated in 1930 right here in San Francisco. "Dad? Where did you get this?" It was dated to Victor Bennett addressed to Sacred Meadows.
"Paige called me. She said a postmaster showed up and gave her this letter. He and his friends made a bet to see if I existed." He hands her his letter.
Dear Victor.
If you managed to get this, I'm stuck in 1930. I'm here as a patient at Sacred Forrest. I'm not sure if I'm stuck here, but I'm sure Cas will bring me home. I prayed to him, and he answered. Kinda. I didn't see Cas, instead I heard his voice. How I didn't lose my hearing, I have no idea. Could be my witchy powers. He said he was getting someone to come get me to bring me home to my own time. Tell Piper and Dean I'll see them soon.
Sam
"Piper is gonna freak. Did you talk to Castiel?" Castiel worked there as a maintenance man.
"Paige and I did. He said Piper and Dean will find Sam no problem."
"What does that mean?" Prue was confused. "Does that mean Sam is alive?" God she hoped so. It will kill Piper if Sam was dead.
"I don't know. I thought whitelighters were hard to understand." Angels. Victor didn't understand them any better. "But, Prue, be careful." He knew Prue would charge in, trying to save her sister. Sure enough, she was putting on her jacket.
"I'm going to find answers." She didn't care about Lohman anymore. Sure enough he was there, holding his phone. She did flatten his tires, just in case. She smiled as she drove away.
Lohman just smiles. Good thing he had another vehicle, he follows his story.
Prue drove down the road. She didn't know where she was going, but she heard a call.
This was her calling? There was nothing but an ice cream truck. She realized she was hungry. Maybe a small snack. She gets out.
Lohman was looking around. Where was Prue? This was a dead end. There was a ice cream truck, but when he peeked in the window, there was nothing. He looked in the driver's seat, Prue's car, nothing. He turned around to sit inside his car. When he turned around he saw Prue's friend. He lit up. This would be a great opener. He takes out his mic.
"HI. Eric Lohman of BayWeekly dot com. I want to ask you what your relationship with Prue Halliwell." He didn't have time to finish his sentence. A sharp blade slashed across his throat. Eric Lohman got his headline, too bad he was the subject. He died holding his neck.
The assassin walks away, but not before grabbing his phone and laptop. Can't have that article about Prue going around. He deleted the article Eric was writing, but not before replacing it with theories about urban legends and hoaxes, as well as a article about feminism. He did put a worm in that website, it will be automatically deleted in twenty four hours.