Witch Trial Revisited (Part 4)

Witch Trial Revisited (Part 4)

It had finally happened… What they had dreaded for the last six years was at their door. All over town there had been talks of witch killings. Many people started pointing at the Bennett sisters as possible suspects when witnesses to the supposed killing had come forward. Many of them remembered Phoebe going in that room the night in question, but there were still many others that came forward to defend her. She, of course, denied any knowledge of the event. Eventually though, and when nothing of notice happened in the next few weeks, the townspeople chose to try and forget, as there was no actual proof that anything really happened that night. The man who had supposedly disappeared was a stranger to the town and most thought that he had simply left.

After a while, the girls finally thought that they could relax again, thankful that the town they lived in was relatively more progressive than the one before…

Meanwhile, Leopold had been coming at the manor on a regular basis and Piper was more and more attracted to him, but she didn't dare act upon this. What's more, he seemed to keep his distance, even though she caught him watching her many times.

Phoebe:

"Hey Piper, you got that dreamy look again, is he coming today?"

Piper feigned not to know whom she was talking about:

"Who?"

Phoebe:

"Come on Piper, I know you. Leopold, of course, who else?"

Piper:

"He will be here this afternoon" she said and couldn't help smiling at the thought.

Phoebe:

"How long will it take either one of you to make a move? This is becoming ridiculous."

Piper:

"What do you mean?"

Phoebe:

"It's pretty obvious to everyone else that you like each other, so what's the hang up?"

Piper avoided answering by asking a question of her own:

"And what about you? What is it with you not going out anymore and moping around the house? I've never seen you like this."

Phoebe:

"I don't know what you mean," she answered even if she knew perfectly well. Ever since that night, she had been in turmoil. The man that she had met had seemed nice and all, but her feelings were so strong about him that she tried her very best to stay away.

She never wanted to be attached to anyone, and somehow she knew that if she were to see him more, it would be the end of that. Even if they had not met since that night, she still thought about him much too often for her own good.

Piper interrupted her train of thoughts by insisting:

"Phoebe I know you, there is something you haven't told us about that night."

Phoebe:

"Isn't that enough that ever since this happened we have lived in fear of being discovered. I thought of packing our bags more than once in the last 3 weeks you know."

Piper:

"I know, but things are settling down now and yet you're still acting out of character."

Phoebe was annoyed at her insistence and she let her know:

"Can't I just have grown? You and Prue were always complaining about my tendency to be the party girl. Well now I'm not…"

Piper:

"I just want to be sure that you are ok."

Phoebe:

"Don't worry about me big sis, I'm telling you everything is fine. Just think of your own happiness…"

Piper:

"I really don't know for sure that there is anything at all there." That was as close as she had come to admit her attraction to the handyman, and Phoebe took advantage. She was delighted for her and even more anxious to change the subject:

"I saw the way he looks at you, I'm telling you, you should really go for it."

Piper hesitated still:

"Maybe…"

Phoebe gently smiled:

"You know that it is time for you to let love in again, you can't live in the past forever… Leopold would not have wanted that."

A cloud passed over Piper's face and Phoebe wondered for a moment if she had talked too soon. But Piper smiled again:

"You're probably right. I just need a little more time…"

Phoebe:

"Don't wait too long, I might want to snatch him up." She replied with a little giggle.

Piper made her a face but laughed too, as she knew her sister only meant to cheer her up.

She still added jokingly:

"Hands off, you have enough of the whole rest of the masculine population of this town…"

Phoebe briefly pinched her lips but pretended to be amused nevertheless. Right then, only one man held any interest for her.

Belthazor was unhappy at how little the situation had evolved. He had been convinced that the witches would surely be uncovered by now, but instead the population was cooling off. For a while, he had considered provoking another crisis directly, but wasn't ready to face his unknown enemy as of yet, although he had some suspicions as to whom the charmed ones might be. At first he had been almost convinced that the Bennett sisters could fit the profile that had been foreseen. And the witnesses had mentioned Phoebe Bennett going into that room even if it had been dismissed early on.

But after three weeks, he started to wonder if he had not been wrong. He had been watching the house and all the comings and goings without finding anything suspicious. But it wasn't what bothered him the most. Creeping from inside of him, his other half, the weak human part of him, appeared to crave seeing her… Belthazor could feel him try to break out and knew that he even succeeded a few times. Like last night, Cole had almost gone to her as she was sitting on the porch. She had just sat there, lost in thoughts. And instead of the hatred that he had always had for humans, he had felt an almost overpowering desire. He had wondered if she remembered their encounter as much as he did, then berated himself for even having the thought. At some point, she had looked in his direction and he had been certain that she had seen him. He should have gone right then, but instead he had stood there, transfixed, half hoping that she would come to him. When he had realized that she was still unaware of his presence, instead of relief he had felt disappointment.

He had fought the desire with great difficulties. Every day the demon sensed that his human half was strengthening but he wasn't going to let that happened…

Now sitting at his desk, he was considering, at last, taking drastic measures to draw them out…

Piper greeted Leopold with her most charming smile that afternoon even if she was upset that he was late. He confounded himself in excuses, telling her that his other duties had taken longer than he had thought, but all along she just looked at him, wondering if she should not just come out with it and ask him about the two of them.

When he had stopped talking, she had been a little surprised and he saw that she had not been listening:

"Miss Bennett, is everything ok?"

Piper:

"Yes why?"

Leopold:

"You seemed distracted."

Piper was a little embarrassed that he had noticed but tried to cover it:

"No really that's ok, come on in."

Leopold looked at her a few more seconds at once to know if something was really wrong and also simply because he couldn't help himself. She was still so beautiful. And yet, he knew that he could never be with her…

He had been very busy lately, trying his best to cover any proof of their witchcraft. He had also been convinced that someone was watching the house. But the girls had been very careful, this he knew for a fact.

He had noticed the little secret passage that they were using to go out unseen.

They even had some disguises to make sure that no one would connect any out of the ordinary event with them. And those had been happening a lot lately. Leopold was certain, as he was sure the girls were too, that somehow a challenge had been sent to the evil side. Warlocks and lower demons were coming in mass and if it had not been for Piper's premonitions, the results could have been disastrous. But as things stood, they had managed to vanquish all of them without anyone noticing. Not even, he was certain, the one watching the house. He wished that he could warn them of that one, but he didn't really know who it was and besides, his secret had to be maintained. The Elders were actually looking into this but until now they had had no luck. He had made up his mind to get a good look at the man or demon that very night. All of this, he was thinking about, as he repaired the latest disaster, this one in their attic. The girls had not told him anything about this of course, but he had watched as they had fought the succubus. They had found out that she was coming and used a summoning spell to get her directly into the house. Fortunately, he had been able to mask her demonic presence to anyone lurking around.

The wall had a large dent where Prue had tked her just as she had materialized, and after a few seconds of fighting they had destroyed her easily enough. Leopold was still surprised that no upper demon had showed up, and he knew that the girls were too confident. They had no idea of the kind of evil that was coming their way.

Piper was coming back to the attic again and all his thoughts now went to her. He couldn't help watching her coming in and feel the intense desire that he had pain keeping from her.

He sensed that this time though, she wanted something from him.

Piper:

"Leopold," she emboldened herself, "may I call you Leopold?"

Leopold breathed deeply before answering as her calling his name had troubled him more than he wanted to admit:

"Yes of course Miss Bennett."

Piper:

"Why don't you call me Piper, we have known each other for long enough now."

Leopold tried to protest:

"Maybe it wouldn't be appropriate…"

Piper:

"Nonsense, I consider you more like a friend than a handyman now."

Leopold smiled:

"Well if you really mean it?"

Piper:

"Of course I do."

Leopold:

"Then I will," he said, feeling his heart melting. No matter the repeated warning from the Elders, he couldn't help the feelings he had. He loved that woman so much; he had never stopped. But at the same time, it made him somewhat uncomfortable that she was interested in the stranger that he now was. In a totally irrational way, he was jealous of himself.

Piper continued:

"Well Leopold, it's just that you have been coming to this house often in the last three weeks but only for work…"

Leopold didn't dare answer this and when she saw this, she took it as an encouragement:

"So I was thinking that you might come for dinner this weekend…"

His heart jumped, and his first reaction was to accept immediately but he stopped himself, trying to find a reasonable way to refuse the invitation without hurting her feelings.

Seeing that he was still not answering, Piper started to wonder if he had not found her too bold.

"If it is a problem feel free to say no," she added quickly.

Leopold couldn't believe what he answered:

"Not at all, I would love to have dinner with you."

He wanted to slap himself but at the same time, he had not been able to resist. And the smile on her face was enough to make him forget about the rules altogether…

After he had left that afternoon, Piper felt that all of her doubts had been for naught as he obviously was interested, and she decided to do the shopping for a very special dinner indeed.

But she also figured that she might kill too bird with one stone and convinced Phoebe to come to town with her. It had proven to be very difficult indeed and Piper was still wondering why as they were walking down the street:

"Phoebe," she turned to her, " why do you look so nervous?"

Phoebe didn't answer right away. In spite of herself, the moment that they came closer to the courthouse, she began to look around half expecting to see him. On the one hand, she told herself that she should avoid him at all cost, but on the other hand, she couldn't help wanting to see him again. Only her sister insistent tone of voice caught her attention after a moment:

"Yes what were you saying?"

Piper:

"You're making my point for me. You were not even listening to me."

Phoebe:

"I was just a little distracted that's all." She answered in a voice that said don't ask anymore.

Piper was put off by her attitude and redirected her attention to the task at hand. She headed for the general store, intent on making a few special orders for the weekend and Phoebe followed her somewhat reluctantly. When inside, Piper started to talk to the clerk but as she was touching the counter, she had a terrible vision and caught her breath:

"It was nightfall and the clerk was walking down a deserted street when a giant red beast came behind her and caught her by the neck, silencing her. He then disappeared in the demon way, like shimmer. Her vision continued in a clearing that looked familiar as the demon now took an athame and cut her throat. Around them she could see strange objects that she assumed must have been for some sort of evil ritual."

When the vision stopped, she had trouble hiding her worry from the clerk and she turned to Phoebe, indicating that she had something urgent to discuss with her. Phoebe knew by now that it must have been another vision. Lately the appearances of demon and warlocks had been numerous. And Piper confirmed her suspicions as soon as they were out of the store.

"We have to go get Prue, I fear that the clerk from this store might be victim of a demon attack tonight."

Phoebe:

"Let's go then." She was about to ad something else when her eyes caught sight of the very one she had feared and wished to see. He was walking down the street toward them and she noticed that he also seemed a little anxious at seeing her…

She thought of turning around and going right away to get Prue, since that would have been a good excuse, but her feet wouldn't move.

Cole:

"Miss Bennett!" he said with a little smile. His eyes were fixed on hers as if nothing else mattered around them and she knew that all the denial in the world wouldn't change the fact that she was falling for this man. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, almost painfully and she felt dizzy. It took her a moment before answering and that caught Piper's attention.

Phoebe:

"Mr. Turner," she replied, trying to sound casual.

Cole:

"What a pleasure to meet you again, I was beginning to think that you had been an illusion at the ball…"

Cole knew that he should have stayed away, but the temptation had been too strong. Now that she was there, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was so beautiful, so much so that she had invaded even his dreams. The demon in him was trying to stop this madness but the human side of him was already completely taken by her.

Phoebe smiled in a coquettish manner:

"No I am made of flesh and blood as you can see. I have simply not been in town so much lately."

Piper immediately understood that the man must have been the little thing Phoebe had been hiding from them. Her sister was obviously enamoured of him, much more than she had ever known her to be.

She watched as they exchanged polite phrases and saw the tension between them. She finally decided to do something about it as her new found joy begged to be shared:

"Mr. Turner, you say?"

Cole turned to her almost reluctantly:

"Yes and who do I have the pleasure?"

Phoebe:

"Oh forgive my rudeness, this is my older sister Piper Bennett…"

Piper:

"I was just thinking that since you and Phoebe seem to be acquainted, it would be our pleasure to have you for dinner this weekend as I am expecting some company already."

Cole hesitated, but then he rationalized that this might be the occasion or never to confirm or infirm his suspicions.

"I would be delighted," he finally answered but then turned to Phoebe:

"But only if it is agreeable to you."

Phoebe thought that her sister should have consulted her first, but she hid her annoyance and gave him a charming smile before answering:

"Of course, I would be pleased as well."

Piper now remembered the problem that they were facing and she tried to cut the conversation short:

"Then it's a plan, come Saturday at say 7 PM?"

Cole:

"That sounds perfect."

Piper:

"I hope you will forgive us but we are in somewhat of a hurry right now. I do look forward to see you then."

Cole nodded to the both of them before they turned back toward the house.

Phoebe's heart had not completely returned to its normal rhythm but now she thought of something else:

"He won't even know where to go, we forgot to tell him…"

Piper smiled devilishly:

"I'm quiet convinced that he can find out before then. Actually I have a feeling that he might already know."

Phoebe:

"And what makes you say that?"

Piper:

"The fact that he couldn't take his eyes off you all the while that we were there and the reverse was true for you too."

Phoebe shrugged but didn't answer.

Piper:

"So," she added still smiling, "now we know what the big mystery is…"

Phoebe:

"What mystery?"

Piper:

"Come on, I have eyes to see, you have a big crush on that man. Is that why you didn't want to go out lately? Afraid of truly falling for a man?"

Phoebe protested:

"Don't be ridiculous, no man will keep me from doing anything…"

Piper:

"That is not the way it looked to me. But no matter, I'm happy that you finally found a man who really interests you."

Phoebe wanted to protest more but she knew that it would not do any good, so she kept quiet for the rest of the walk home. And besides, in spite of herself, she was thrilled to get to see him again…

That night, the girls prepared to go after the demon as he himself was debating what he really wanted to do…

Belthazor was still unsure if he was ready to risk exposure, but somehow he knew that his reluctance came more from his pesky human half than the fear of discovery. He had not felt this conflicted in over a hundred years. But the demon was still the strongest in him and he decided to act, all the more so since if he succeeded then he could leave this place and retake full control of himself. He waited for the cover of darkness and searched the town for an easy prey. It didn't take him long to find her. He remembered her from the general store and cursed when he felt a hint of remorse at what he was going to do.

After a moment of hesitation, he went for it and shimmering behind her, he grabbed her forcefully. It only took a little twist of her neck to keep her quiet and he shimmered rapidly away.

But when he got to the site that he had prepared for his plan, he was very surprised to find people already there and obviously waiting for him. The first thing that he knew a short person, all clothed in black, and of an undistinguishable gender, materialized right beside him, kicking him hard. In the back of his mind, he understood this had to be the astral projection of a witch. But her or his face was covered and he couldn't recognize who it was. The surprise and the pain made him let go of his prey just long enough for the witch to grab her and push her away from him. He reacted quickly by throwing an energy ball in the witch's direction but she dematerialized before it hit her. The clerk was already out of sight, now running for her life and he really didn't have time to get her back as a fireball came toward him, hurled by another of the faceless witches. The projectile hit his arm and he screamed in pain and rage. Then he shimmered behind the farthest one, trying to get a hold of her neck. Before he could catch her, she had turned his way as if she had sensed him and then she levitated at least ten feet up in the air. Seeing that he was outnumbered and probably overpowered, he shimmered before one of them could freeze him.

He shimmered in his little townhouse, short of breath and in pain. Where the fireball had hit him, he still could see the clothing smoke. He patted it quickly and changed back to his human form. The burn wasn't that bad but it compounded his defeat.

In the clearing, the sisters were relived but also much more scared than they had been in the whole time since they had discovered their destiny.

Prue:

"I hit him and he came right back…"

Phoebe:

"You? That fireball hit him too but it didn't even slow him down. What kind of a demon was he?"

Piper:

"I don't know but I have the feeling it's not the last time that we see him. We have to find the way to vanquish him."

Phoebe:

"At least we saved the innocent. But now she will talk around town and it's going to start all over again…"

Prue:

"I don't know, maybe she will be afraid to be accused too. Red giant monsters are not very common and maybe she'll hesitate before talking about it?"

Piper:

"I hope so, I really don't want to have to move again…"

Phoebe smiled at her sister:

"Of course not, you wouldn't want to lose the chance to see Leopold again."

Piper grimaced but didn't deny it, since she was indeed thinking that if it were to happen, her chances at loving another man would grow really thin. She wouldn't put herself through this pain again.

Prue:

"Well let's not talk of running just yet. The disguises are pretty good and I really don't think that either one of them recognized us…"

Phoebe:

"Let's go home. I will research the book about this one. At least now we know what he looks like…"

Then her eyes caught sight of the strange objects scattered in a circle. She breathed deeply before talking again:

"Oh oh!"

Prue:

"What is it?"

Phoebe:

"Those are not demonic objects… They look like symbols used in a magic ritual…"

Piper:

"What do you mean?"

Phoebe:

"I'm afraid that there was more to this than a simple killing. What if he wanted the population to believe witches had killed her?"

Prue and Piper were speechless at this dreadful prospect.

The girls decided to pick up the objects just in case, and started toward their secret entrance to the house, all of them lost in very unpleasant thoughts about demons planning their demise.