Name: A New Beginning (3/5)
Title: Shades of the Past; Light of the Future
Rating: PG
Disclaimer in Part 1 the gist: I own nada but the characters you don't know.
Dedication: To all those who support me; I love you always.
A New Beginning: Shades of the Past; Light of the Future
It seemed as though it were a distant time away, but it had only been a month for the three young cousins, a month since the tragedy of their slain mothers. Pike shifted uncomfortably in his black suit next to Prue and Patrick; the snake with the legal papers in front of them didn't help in the matter either.
"Can you tell us what this is about?"
"No," the lawyer said flatly narrowing his eyes at the site of Pike nodding slowly. "Ok."
"When can we find out?" Patrick replied bitingly.
"You'll find out in due time, wait for your grandfather to arrive."
"Grandfather," Patrick and Pike shouted out in unison; Prue stared at the two curiously. From behind them came a booming voice, "Did someone just say grandfather?" Patrick and Pike stood up taking the defensive as Victor Halliwell stood before them as he nodded toward the lawyer.
"Thank you for finally joining us."
"Sorry, the traffic was terrible."
"What's going on here," Patrick said as he inched closer toward his would-be grandfather, who gave him an amused stare, "Definitely a Halliwell." He cleared his throat, "All of you cannot stay out on your own, your fathers…aren't exactly forth coming, and since I am your only next of kin, I am your legal guardian." Paige slowly raised your hand, "No offense, but you're not even my grandfather." Victor smiled, "I know this dear, but I was married to your grandmother, that still makes you my grandchild."
"Why now?"
He gave them a pained smile, "Because its time I took responsibility for loved ones; I lost Prue, and then your parents—I've barely known you, and I owe it to them…and to you, to make things right." He looked to the ground, "I know it is going to take a lot for you to trust me, but…give me a chance?"
The cousins stared at each other as Pike quickly said, "Where are we going to stay?" Victor gave him a smile, "Well here of course. Its where your mothers would've wanted you to."
Patrick and Paige stared at him, "What about our homes."
He nodded slowly, "The estates are left to you; however you want to deal with them, I'll take care of it." They nodded slowly. He cleared his throat again, "I know it's going to take some getting used to, take all the time you need." He turned to the lawyer, "And you?"
The lawyer glared, "Well, now that your familial issues are done with, there's a letter here addressed to you," he explained, "they wish that you open it alone, and later. They said you would know what they mean; when you're ready." Victor nodded, "Thank you, is that all?" The lawyer nodded. "Good, then get the hell out of our house."
* * * * *
Pike ran down the stairs grabbing the last load of Patrick's things. "Patrick! Not all of this can fit in our room!" He grabbed the last two remaining boxes as he jogged up the stairs in the manor, "Can you say packrat?"
Patrick glared, "Can you say, bite me?" Pike smirked and shook his head. He sat on his side of the room; this was definitely going to be new. He'd never shared a room with a person before, and with Prue and Patrick, as well as their grandfather moving into the manor, it seemed like fate had brought Patrick and Pike in the same room—he couldn't very well have roomed with Prue, now could he? Damn it, I lobbied so hard for the basement.
Patrick tossed the box over to the rest of the empty boxes and sat on his bed, Hey it may not be the apartment, but it's nice. At that same moment, Prue walked in, knocking first, "Hey."
Pike waved her in, "Hey."
"Its really nice of your grandpa to adopt me, I know I'm not exactly…"
"You're family," Pike said quickly, giving her a smile. Patrick nodded, "You're stuck with us for another 3 years sweetie, so love it." She smiled and nodded slowly.
Family, thought Pike. The shot of pain filled his face, as Patrick said, "Still no word about your father?"
Pike slowly shook his head, "No." He took a deep breath, and looked at them, "I just don't get it; why our mothers? My…father?"
"I'm so sorry," Prue, said, "I really do hope they find him."
He shook his head, "I seriously doubt they will. If my father wasn't with my mother—he's gone." His eyes glassed, "And I'm never going to know what happened to him." Prue swiftly moved toward him as she gave him a tight hug, and Patrick sat on his bed, the floor becoming incredibly interesting. But the truth was, he knew exactly how Pike was feeling; he remembered the pain of losing his father when he was ten—with his mother gone, it was like the entire world caved in on him. However, as he stared at the two before him, he knew that at least he wasn't alone.
* * * * *
Victor sighed as he placed the picture of his three daughters, and Paige on a dresser, his precious girls. He damned himself everyday for not being a part of their lives, and he knew that with their children, he'd try to make up for it—although he knew very well that it would probably never happen, but he'd do his best to try.
He walked back around, toward the door, when he tripped, catching himself on time. He looked down, and grinned slightly, Spirits at play, he thought. He picked up the Ouija board, the old thing, and held it in his hand. He walked over to the dresser, about to place the game in the dresser when his cell phone began to ring. "Jesus," he said to himself, as he moved toward it, "Hello?"
"Vic, it's Daryl, we've got a problem. You need to meet with the Director of Brigham & Saunters soon, they need to speak with you to clench the deal."
"Daryl, I'm kind of in the middle of something here, I can't just up and leave anymore, the kids need me."
"Since when did you become a family man," Daryl said snidely.
Victor glared, "Hey, look I am going to try my best to do right by these kids. Why don't you…"
Victor turned suddenly turned around when he heard Pike's voice, "Just go gramps, its all right."
"Daryl, just hold on for a minute will you?"
Prue and Patrick followed in behind him, "Yeah Gramps," Patrick said, still unsure about using that word—gramps, or even grandpa—toward the old man before them.
Victor stared at them, "Are you kids sure about that? I'd feel...strange just leaving you guys…"
Prue nodded, "We'll be fine Mr. Halliwell, we're old enough to take care of each other." Victor sighed, "You absolutely sure?"
"Damn it, they said they were," came an angry tiny voice from the receiver of Victor's cellular phone. The three nodded and he sighed as he nodded his head, "I'll be there as soon as I can, book me a flight." Daryl nodded on the other end, "Consider it done."
Victor cut off the connection and gave his kids a small smile, "You know I love you don't you?" They reluctantly nodded, he moved toward them, giving them a hug, and pulled away, "I know that this is new, it's going to be for everyone, but we'll get through this."
"Yes Mr. Halliwell." Victor smirked, and he touched Prue's face lightly, "Its ok to call me grandpa young lady." She gave him a warm smile, "Grandpa."
"Well I'll be off, I know you are good kids. I'll be back as soon as I can. I wish I could say that it won't always be like this, but sometimes I'll have to leave," he sighed, "will you all be ok with it? If not, I'll make sure to stay home at all times unless absolutely necessary."
Patrick flagged him off, "No problem at all. What teenager wouldn't love the parental unit gone, it just means more parties!" Victor smirked. Patrick sighed, "Don't worry, we'll be ok. Promise. We're not glass." Victor nodded, "I know. " So much like your mothers.
Victor backed up and moved toward his closet, "And I just unpacked." He shook his head.
Prue turned around and stared at the Ouija board, it looked so familiar, "What's that?" The three younger Halliwells moved toward the board, and Victor straightened up, "Oh." Damn, he thought and quietly said, "That's…a family heirloom. Been in the family for generations."
Prue smirked, "Nifty."
Pike nodded in agreement, "Shibbiness."
"Let's test it out," Patrick said menacingly.
"Ok kids, you go have your fun. I'll finish packing." They waved goodbye to him, and moved back toward Patrick and Pike's room, closing the door behind him.
Victor sighed, "Damn fate." He held four letters in his hand, one addressed to him, and one for each of his grandchildren. He looked up toward the attic, "That soon huh?" He grabbed his bag, and quickly moved toward the attic, once the door was open, placed the letters over the Book of Shadows, quickly jotting down a note of his own. "Please God, let them be alright while I'm gone."
* * * * *
Pike chuckled as he set the board up, "Do you guys remember the last time we played this? I mean not on this board, but the game?"
"When we were little wasn't it?" Patrick replied as they gathered around the board, the alphabet in gothic lettering, the moon, the sun in the corners, with the words 'yes' and 'no' written over them. "Yeah," Pike replied as he smirked, "Prue kept pushing the pointer."
Prue smacked his shoulder, "I did not!" Pike stuck his tongue out at her and Patrick shook his head, "Oh yeah, totally mature." The two younger cousins mildly glared at him. Pike shook his head, "Ok, enough of that, on with the playing." Each of them touched the pointer with one hand, "Anyone there?"
The three waited a bit, and nothing happened, "This is stupid," Patrick said as he withdrew, moving toward his bed, staring down at Prue and Pike. The two shook their head, "Giving up already?"
Prue cleared her throat and gave a glance at Pike who gave her the go-ahead to continue, "Hello? Are you there?"
The two waited a beat, when suddenly, slowly but surely, the pointer began moving, "Quit pushing it!"
"I'm not! I swear!"
The pointer flashed at "Yes" and then moved back toward the middle of the board. Pike, Prue, and Patrick stared at each other. "Freaky," Prue whispered. Patrick shook his head, "You moved it." Pike shook his head, "Do you have a message for us?" The pointer slowly moved to yes once again.
Prue and Pike let go, "Ok, maybe we should stop." Suddenly the pointer moved of its own accord, "A", "T", "T", "I", "C". "W-what the hell just happened?" Patrick jumped up. Pike's eyes widened, "I…I…"
"Now that's freaky!" She grabbed a notepad, writing the letters down. "I think it's tell us something," she said lightly.
"What gave it away Sherlock," Pike replied.
"The attic? What's in the attic?"
Patrick stared at the two, "Come on guys, this is crazy…"
"It moved by itself."
"That doesn't make it any less crazy," Patrick replied matter-of-factly.
Pike sighed, "The attic is locked! It has been for years, the only person who could ever get in there was mom." He sighed, "And…she's not exactly here to open it for us."
Prue gave him an understanding nod, but then said, "What can it hurt to try?" She quickly turned out and started running up stairs. Patrick shook his head, "That's not cool."
"We had better go and get her." Pike turned away and with Patrick following.
* * * * *
A shadowy figure watched from outside the house as the three teenagers ran up toward the attic. She glared as her blond hair covered her eyes. She quickly brushed the hair away, and her eyes glowed an eerie red. She levitated herself up, and stared at the two boys walking up the stairs, and heading toward the raven-haired girl. She could feel the power within them; she could sense the power of the house—the power emanating from the book that lay on its stand.
It would only be a matter of time before the powers manifested, and only a matter of time before she possessed them; she would make sure their deaths were painfully harsh. Quickly she waited as the three argued, and the girl fell back through the door, and the book lit with a holy glow. She smiled; tonight was the night, and she blinked out, going home to her lair—she'd get them soon.
* * * * *
"Damn it Prue, we told you no!" Patrick shouted as he and Pike entered the darkened attic. Suddenly thunder cackled, and the power in the house went out. "Fuck," Pike muttered to himself.
Prue stood up, wiping herself off, and turned around toward the window of the attic, and gasped, taking a step back. "You guys." The two boys joined her, each staring at the brilliantly lit book and slowly they crept toward it, once there slowly touching it.
The lights mysteriously turned on.
"Anybody else wigging right about now?" Prue and Patrick swiftly lifted up their hands. "Letters," Patrick replied quietly as he picked them up.
He opened the first one and read it aloud, "My grandchildren; my innocent ones. There are things in this world that you haven't even begun to imagine, so much of it evil, and I hoped to protect you from them…especially the shades of the past, but it seems that it is inevitable for you to face them.
"I wish there were another way for you to find out the truth, but in all honesty, its something that should've been done a long time ago. You will find three letters attached, one addressed to each of you from your mothers; I wish I could be there for you, had I known tonight would be the night fate chose for you, I would've lobbied harder to stay, help explain—but it seems fate has something in store for you, the light of the future.
"Heed these words, and the information you're about to receive, and take comfort in the fact that I love you no matter what.
"We'll speak more when I come home (because yes I am coming home; contrary to popular belief, I do not always run away). I love you all dearly, my Charmed Ones.
"Love, Grandfather."
The three turned to each other and gave dubious looks. "You think he could've gotten any more dire?"
Prue shrugged, "Don't know Pike, but what about those letters?"
Patrick placed their grandfather's letter by the scarily thick book before them, and passed out the letters, to each their own letter, all three feeling something inside near fear, and anxiety.
They each moved away to read their letters privately.
* * * * *
Prue shrunk into a little ball by the window pane as she read, "Hey Sweetie, I know that you must be shocked. It's as if I'm contacting you from beyond the grave! Come on baby cakes, smile for me," Prue involuntarily complied, "I know it's hard. I can only imagine the pain you must be going through, but I already know because I feel it too—I've spent so many years yearning for real family; luckily I found Piper and Phoebe. You, my precious, are the one thing I am proud of." Prue's eyes welled up, "But I have to tell you something, and it has everything to do with my life, as well as yours.
"This is so hard, I never dreamed I'd have to do this in a letter, but it was for your own protection. Your aunts and I, we are witches. I know it may be hard to understand, but it is the truth. We are the Charmed Ones, powerful witches who fight the forces of evil, and save innocents. Witches aren't bad sweetie, they can be good (and boys can be witches too), but there are also some very bad witches out there; some that are going to want to kill you for your powers because sweetie you and your cousins are witches too.
"I know this is all going so fast, and I wish I didn't do this in a letter, but there are dark forces at work; one is called the Source. If you're reading this letter, its because he's defeated us in battle—or some other demon has. Piper, Phoebe, and I have chosen you three to be the next Power of Three. This is not a dumping of destiny, by far anything but; we see in you the makings of wonderful beings, with heart, with soul, and we know, I know, that you are powerful and strong. You're blood of our blood, flesh of our flesh. You three will be the Charmed Ones.
"Please understand, it may seem like something from a bad television show, but believe me sweetie, it's the truth. I know. I lived it. We hid our powers from you, and your powers? We suppressed them from yourselves to keep you out of danger.
"Now that we're gone, they'll start to manifest once you read the incantation. These letters are a choice; everyone should have a choice. The Charmed Ones stand for truth, hope, and compassion—they help those who are in danger, innocents, and protect the world from evil. We'll understand if you don't take it up, but if you don't, then the evil will run rampant. Please, sweetie, don't turn your back on this. This is who you are. It was, and is, who I am. I'll always watch over you, and always remember, 'The Power of Three, will set you free.'
"—Love, mom."
Prue looked up with tears in her eyes, and confusion written all over her face as she stared up at the dusty book on the stand.
* * * * *
"Dear Pike," he read aloud at first, slowly fading into silence, "I can only imagine the things that you're feeling; I was only a child when I lost my mother—but I know what the end of the world feels like, I felt it twice, and now I feel it again for the last. Losing you my dear Pike is the worse thing that's ever happened to me, but I'm going to a place where I'll always be able to look out for you. Trust that I will always be with you, in a place you can always find me; your heart.
"There are forces at work in this world Pike that will corrupt you, tempt you, and try and kill you. I should know I lived in it, and fought against these forces to save innocents. This is a world of demons, of witches, and warlocks, of magic both dark and light. I know this isn't making much sense, I sincerely doubt any of you are ready to comprehend what we're revealing to you; something we should've done when you were younger, but we decided against it. The less you knew the better off and safer, you would be, at least that was the thought.
"I'm a witch Pike; no, not the kind with the warty nose, or the pointed black hat. Not all witches are evil my boy, some are good and that is what we are, your aunts and I, and the family members before you (except your grandfather—he's just a man), and just as you three are. We made a spell to suppress your powers, if anyone knew who you were, a witch, and the son of a Charmed One, you'd be in endless danger. Your aunts and I are the Charmed Ones (obviously), very powerful witches that protect the world from evil, but as you have guessed (if you're reading this) we can't exactly continue our destiny, the fate, dealt to our family. That is why we've chosen you three to become the Charmed Ones, and the Powers that Be see it fit to allow it.
"I know that your mind is going at a hundred miles an hour, but I'm still not done. Your father was a wonderful man, and I'm positive that he's not been found, or anywhere near the manor, or been seen. The truth is he's probably back upstairs; you see your father is a whitelighter, an angel if you will. He was our guide, comes to us when we're hurt, and he's supposed to work in secret, but…we fell in love. With you three coming to age, and becoming the charmed ones, there's no way they'd let him near you. Go figure, they probably see it best to keep him out of the way; he'd only make things difficult.
"One thing you'll learn about the job is that the rules are tricky, and sometimes don't make sense. Have faith that it will all work out in the end.
"Because you're half whitelighter, that means you'll the power to orb, and the power to heal (at least slightly). Whatever power you have next, whether it be to freeze time, of telekinesis, or the power of premonitions remains to be seen. Your powers will manifest when you say the spell, and they will grow stronger.
"We are giving you a choice. However, realize if you do not do this, the world will succumb to darkness. You three are all that stand in the way of innocents being hurt, I know you Pike. I've known from the beginning that you're wise beyond your years, and that you are strong, stronger than you think. I believe in you, and your cousins. Treat each other kindly, you're more than just cousins; you're the Charmed Ones, at least I hope. Please don't feel as if we're throwing this on you because we're not, you have the choice—but at a great cost.
"Protect your cousins, love them. You're the love that keeps them together. I love you always never forget that. And remember, 'the power of 3 will set you free.'
"—Love, Mom."
* * * * *
Patrick held the letter tight in his hand for an eternity before opening the seal. He took a deep breath before finally pulling the paper out of the envelop, "Hey baby, how you doing?" He gave himself a half smile; he could even hear her say those words, exact tone, exact expression—it tore him up inside. "I know what you're thinking, 'Why?' Right? Well sometimes, you just don't know; things happen, you can't help that. Death is inevitable, and sometimes there's no reason, no higher purpose for it, it just is. Remember that. However, in our case, it's very different—I don't know about reasons, but there's something in the world you're going to face that you're not ready for. At least that's my fear, but you three are capable, you, my darling, are capable. You have the potential to be the best.
"But I'm going in circles on a subject you don't even know about, huh?
"I'm a witch. The pointy hats, the green skin, the mole on the nose, all if it is hype, wrong information. A witch is a person (guy or girl) who protects innocents from evil; we're good. However, some aren't as good. There are warlocks who want to steal our powers and keep them for themselves, and the only way they can do that is kill us.
"I know this is much to take in, trust me I know, but it's the truth. And that means you're a witch too, you and your cousins. One of you will have the power to freeze time, one will have the power to move objects with your mind, and the other will be able to see into the future—not at will mind you—through premonitions. We have those powers, mine was premonition, Paige with the object moving power, and Piper had the freezing time power. Together we're the Charmed Ones, the Power of Three. Our ancestor, Melinda Warren, was the first witch in our family, and she swore on the day she was about to be burned at the stake, that her kin would not go unprotected—she could use all three powers—but each of her children, and the children after her would inherit some power. So, that's your history. But not all of it, there was a prophecy, that the generations would lead to a culmination of three sisters, powerful sisters who would rid the world of evil (or at least try) and they would be the Charmed Ones. That was us. Now it is you.
"Patrick there is real evil in the world, and there may be a monster that goes bump in the night and you stand in its way, you are a protector of the innocent. Its obvious that the evil we are facing, the Source, has defeated us, but not totally—we've left our legacy unto you three, our beloved children. We knew going into battle that it would be, possibly, our last, but we couldn't take any chances of the Source to totally win. We cast a spell, to unbind the powers you have, and ask the Powers that Be to allow you three to take our stead, to be the Charmed Ones. I know it's a lot to deal with right now, and honestly I know you must be freaking out, I know we did too.
"But there is always a choice…a choice we never got. You can go to the book, where we've rewritten the spell for the "activation" of the Charmed Ones, you three together read it aloud and fulfill the prophecy—to save the world. Or, because I know this is dangerous, deeply dangerous, you can stay safe. For how long, who knows, but you'll be safe for a while—but innocents will die.
"I love you more than words, and I know it is a difficult choice. You may not believe in yourselves, but we do, that's why we chose you—because we see in you the ability to love, to care, to be unstoppable. Please think about this carefully; I love you always. If you hate me for this, if you hate us, I completely understand, but realize that no matter what you choose, no matter what you feel, I will always love you, through thick and thin. I'll always watch over you; and be with you.
"Do me a favor, watch over your younger cousins, protect them—you're the 'big brother' now, and remember, 'The Power of Three will set you free.'
"Love you always, Mom."
Patrick couldn't believe his eyes, this…this wasn't happening. He stared up at the alter, and looked at his cousins, "This…this is insane."
