Chapter 2
As they pulled up in front of a nice Victorian style house, the tension in the car seemed to thicken. They slowly stepped out and looked around at the quiet neighborhood.
Piper: Well, here goes...
They gradually made their way up the walkway and hesitated in front of the door. The sisters looked at each other as if to say, "Who wants to be the lucky person to ring the bell?"
Cole: Oh for heaven's sake! It won't be that bad.
He reached in front of them and pushed the buzzer. As they waited, Leo orbed in beside Piper.
Piper: Leo!!! Someone could have seen you.
Leo: I was careful. Listen I have some news that...
Just then the door opened and a tall, elderly man stood there in a fitted black suit with his hair neatly combed and looking every bit the distinguished butler.
Simon: Yes? May I help you?
Phoebe: Yes. We are here to speak with Ms. Haliwell, please.
Simon: Do you have an appointment?
Piper: No, we don't, but it has to do with Patrick Haliwell.
Simon: I see. Do come in. I will go and ask if she will see you.
Piper: Thank you.
The five of them stepped into the foyer and looked around in disbelief.
Cole: Well, it would seem this side of the family has done well for themselves. Ouch!!
Cole gingerly rubbed his rib cage where Leo had elbowed him and shot him a dirty look.
Piper: Now, what were you saying, Leo?
Before he could respond, they heard arguing from the other room and a sharp woman's voice rang out.
Send them away!!!
Simon: But they said they were here about Patrick.
Oh, very well. Show them in.
Simon reappeared and motioned for them to follow him. As they did, they entered a very large, welcoming room with designer furniture and the faint smell of furniture polish still remained in the air. The group looked around at each other in amazement and shock, as Simon quietly left the room.
Paige: It would seem very few demons attack here.
Suddenly, Piper gasped, and everyone turned to see what she was looking at. Above the fireplace a large portrait of a very handsome man in his early 30's hung there. The man looked almost identical to Patricia, the girls' mother.
A wonderful likeness, don't you agree?
Everyone turned to see the source of the voice and they received yet another shock. A young woman in her late twenties stood at the far end of the room dressed in khaki slacks and a white cashmere sweater. Her dark hair was loose around her shoulders and she stood with an air of apparent disgust.
If you are here to sell me something, ask for more money in his name, or to ask for a stupid autograph for one of your boring museums then you are just wasting your time. I am not interested nor would my father be if he were still alive.
Piper: Your father?
Yes, my father. You did ask to speak to me about Patrick Halliwell, didn't you?
Piper: Yes, we did. We were just under the impression that we would be meeting his wife, not daughter.
My mother died many years ago when I was a young child. She is not mentioned in this house.
Piper: I'm sorry.
Now, please state your business here, or leave.
Paige: Obviously, Uncle Patrick didn't teach you any manners.
Phoebe: Paige!!!
What did you say to me?
The woman slowly walked toward Paige.
Paige: Listen, lady, I don't know who the hell you think you are but you are certainly not the Queen of England. We came here for answers and apparently we aren't going to find them here. I think we will be taking the option of leaving.
Phoebe: Paige, that's enough!
What did you mean, Uncle Patrick?
Phoebe: Listen, why don't we start over, shall we? I'm Phoebe and these are my sisters, Piper and Paige Halliwell. This is Piper's husband, Leo Wyatt and my boyfriend, Cole Turner.
The woman had stopped dead in her tracks. She looked like she couldn't figure out if she should run or faint.
Paige: This is the part where you tell us your name.
Suddenly, the woman shook herself and stared directly at Paige for a long moment.
I am Psyche Halliwell and I am really starting to dislike you.
She then turned and took in the other four strangers in her living room.
Psyche: Well, it would seem that the Charmed Ones have finally decided to grace me with their presence.
Just then, Simon came in carrying a silver tray with a single glass goblet on it filled with a steaming, red liquid.
Simon: Here, Psyche, it's time for your anecdote.
Psyche: Not now, Simon. Can't you see I'm busy?
Simon: Precisely why I insist that you drink it this instant, Psyche.
Psyche glared at Simon but nonetheless took the glass and drank the contents in one quick gulp.
Psyche: There. Are you happy now?
Simon: Are you?
To everyone's astonishment, she seemed to transform before their very eyes. Suddenly the scowl on her face turned into a bright smile and the lines of stress around her eyes eased.
Psyche: Actually, yes. Thank you, Simon. I had missed my dose, hadn't I?
Simon: Yes, you had.
He turned suddenly and looked at the stunned group.
Simon: That should make this visit a little bit more enjoyable. May I get you anything to drink?
Piper: How about some coffee?
Cole: Make mine a scotch.
Phoebe: Cole!?! You do have to work today.
Cole: I have a feeling that I may be calling in.
Psyche: Please, sit down.
Simon had left to get the drinks and so Cole and Phoebe sat in the love seat while Paige, Piper, and Leo settled into the couch across from them. Psyche made herself comfortable in the recliner close to the fireplace.
Psyche: I'm sorry about my earlier rudeness. You have no idea how many people come here hounding me for something "in the name of my father". I had also forgotten to take my anec...medicine earlier. I tend to get a little, uh, testy when I do that.
Paige: Well, it happens to the best of us.
The room was suddenly filled with an awkward silence.
As they pulled up in front of a nice Victorian style house, the tension in the car seemed to thicken. They slowly stepped out and looked around at the quiet neighborhood.
Piper: Well, here goes...
They gradually made their way up the walkway and hesitated in front of the door. The sisters looked at each other as if to say, "Who wants to be the lucky person to ring the bell?"
Cole: Oh for heaven's sake! It won't be that bad.
He reached in front of them and pushed the buzzer. As they waited, Leo orbed in beside Piper.
Piper: Leo!!! Someone could have seen you.
Leo: I was careful. Listen I have some news that...
Just then the door opened and a tall, elderly man stood there in a fitted black suit with his hair neatly combed and looking every bit the distinguished butler.
Simon: Yes? May I help you?
Phoebe: Yes. We are here to speak with Ms. Haliwell, please.
Simon: Do you have an appointment?
Piper: No, we don't, but it has to do with Patrick Haliwell.
Simon: I see. Do come in. I will go and ask if she will see you.
Piper: Thank you.
The five of them stepped into the foyer and looked around in disbelief.
Cole: Well, it would seem this side of the family has done well for themselves. Ouch!!
Cole gingerly rubbed his rib cage where Leo had elbowed him and shot him a dirty look.
Piper: Now, what were you saying, Leo?
Before he could respond, they heard arguing from the other room and a sharp woman's voice rang out.
Send them away!!!
Simon: But they said they were here about Patrick.
Oh, very well. Show them in.
Simon reappeared and motioned for them to follow him. As they did, they entered a very large, welcoming room with designer furniture and the faint smell of furniture polish still remained in the air. The group looked around at each other in amazement and shock, as Simon quietly left the room.
Paige: It would seem very few demons attack here.
Suddenly, Piper gasped, and everyone turned to see what she was looking at. Above the fireplace a large portrait of a very handsome man in his early 30's hung there. The man looked almost identical to Patricia, the girls' mother.
A wonderful likeness, don't you agree?
Everyone turned to see the source of the voice and they received yet another shock. A young woman in her late twenties stood at the far end of the room dressed in khaki slacks and a white cashmere sweater. Her dark hair was loose around her shoulders and she stood with an air of apparent disgust.
If you are here to sell me something, ask for more money in his name, or to ask for a stupid autograph for one of your boring museums then you are just wasting your time. I am not interested nor would my father be if he were still alive.
Piper: Your father?
Yes, my father. You did ask to speak to me about Patrick Halliwell, didn't you?
Piper: Yes, we did. We were just under the impression that we would be meeting his wife, not daughter.
My mother died many years ago when I was a young child. She is not mentioned in this house.
Piper: I'm sorry.
Now, please state your business here, or leave.
Paige: Obviously, Uncle Patrick didn't teach you any manners.
Phoebe: Paige!!!
What did you say to me?
The woman slowly walked toward Paige.
Paige: Listen, lady, I don't know who the hell you think you are but you are certainly not the Queen of England. We came here for answers and apparently we aren't going to find them here. I think we will be taking the option of leaving.
Phoebe: Paige, that's enough!
What did you mean, Uncle Patrick?
Phoebe: Listen, why don't we start over, shall we? I'm Phoebe and these are my sisters, Piper and Paige Halliwell. This is Piper's husband, Leo Wyatt and my boyfriend, Cole Turner.
The woman had stopped dead in her tracks. She looked like she couldn't figure out if she should run or faint.
Paige: This is the part where you tell us your name.
Suddenly, the woman shook herself and stared directly at Paige for a long moment.
I am Psyche Halliwell and I am really starting to dislike you.
She then turned and took in the other four strangers in her living room.
Psyche: Well, it would seem that the Charmed Ones have finally decided to grace me with their presence.
Just then, Simon came in carrying a silver tray with a single glass goblet on it filled with a steaming, red liquid.
Simon: Here, Psyche, it's time for your anecdote.
Psyche: Not now, Simon. Can't you see I'm busy?
Simon: Precisely why I insist that you drink it this instant, Psyche.
Psyche glared at Simon but nonetheless took the glass and drank the contents in one quick gulp.
Psyche: There. Are you happy now?
Simon: Are you?
To everyone's astonishment, she seemed to transform before their very eyes. Suddenly the scowl on her face turned into a bright smile and the lines of stress around her eyes eased.
Psyche: Actually, yes. Thank you, Simon. I had missed my dose, hadn't I?
Simon: Yes, you had.
He turned suddenly and looked at the stunned group.
Simon: That should make this visit a little bit more enjoyable. May I get you anything to drink?
Piper: How about some coffee?
Cole: Make mine a scotch.
Phoebe: Cole!?! You do have to work today.
Cole: I have a feeling that I may be calling in.
Psyche: Please, sit down.
Simon had left to get the drinks and so Cole and Phoebe sat in the love seat while Paige, Piper, and Leo settled into the couch across from them. Psyche made herself comfortable in the recliner close to the fireplace.
Psyche: I'm sorry about my earlier rudeness. You have no idea how many people come here hounding me for something "in the name of my father". I had also forgotten to take my anec...medicine earlier. I tend to get a little, uh, testy when I do that.
Paige: Well, it happens to the best of us.
The room was suddenly filled with an awkward silence.