Charmed 'Stone Cold' FINISHED

by deviant655

Season 5 - The Charmed Ones face a Gorgon

2. Stone Cold Part 2

CHARMED "STONE COLD - PART TWO' (5th Season)

Piper paced nervously in the dining room, one hand on her hip and the other at

her chin. Phoebe sit at the table with the Book of Shadows opened before her. Paige

and Leo stood quietly in the corner, anxious and fidgeting.

"Here," said Phoebe. She found her fingers shaking as she held onto the edge

of the page and let go. She had never been more worried about Cole, and she had

never wished so strongly that she didn't care about someone. "The Gorgon Demon,"

she read aloud. "Rarely seen in its true hideous form, the Gorgon uses the forms of

victims she has turned into stone. Each of the three Gorgon sisters had a special

charm." Phoebe looked up at her sisters and their white lighter. "Sound familiar?"

Dropping her hands to her sides, Piper moved around the table and stood next

to Phoebe. She read, "Medusa, the most hideous of the three, has hundreds of hissing

snakes for hair, eyes fierce and bloodshot no matter what form she is in - -"

"Then that's not her," said Paige.

Piper looked further down the page. "Here we go, this one sounds like our

Gorgon. . . Sthenno, the middle sister, is the most powerful of the three." Her

eyebrows rose. "Sthenno used her powers against her sisters, Medusa and Euryale and

destroyed them, thereby gaining their powers."

"Oh goody, warlock-style and everything," said Phoebe.

"Apparently they don't work for the Source, nor do they work against him - at

least not traditionally. Sthenno is definitely a power slut, though," Piper looked to Paige,

then Phoebe. "We're going to need a piece of her flesh to vanquish her and do this

upper-level demon style now that she has Cole's powers."

Phoebe frowned. "What if that doesn't work?"

"Then we're screwed," Piper said simply and looked to Leo. "Unless the Elders

can give us any more help?"

He shook his head. "I've already told you everything they know."

Phoebe turned, hearing her cell phone. She stood from the table and walked to

her purse. "Phoebe Halliwell." She frowned. "Donna, I can't. I have a family emergency

right now." She rolled her eyes. "Yes I know that happens a lot. My. . . husband is in

the hospital." Phoebe sighed. "Yes, Cole. I know. . . Yes, Donna."

Paige looked to Piper. "Should I scrie for Sthenno?"

The oldest of the sisters nodded. "You probably won't be able to find her

without her blood. She's too powerful."

"Especially if she's in the underworld," Leo spoke at last.

Frowning as she hung up her phone, Phoebe looked to the angel. "What? Why

would she go there?"

Piper frowned as well. "What better place to go to with Cole's Source powers

than the Underworld? Everyone wants to rule the underworld these days, right?"

Phoebe shook her head. "Oh that's not good."

"For once I hope you're wrong," said Paige.

"Me too," Piper looked to Leo.

Leo felt a pull and his eyes looked up at the ceiling, then to Piper. "I'm being

summoned."

"What? Now? We need you here."

"I have to go, maybe they know something about Sthenno." He orbed before

she could protest.

Phoebe watched him go, then looked back to Piper. "What about the spell to

summon Belthazor? If I re-word it maybe I can bring Cole here."

"Or you could bring Sthenno here and she could destroy us all," Piper said.

Paige shook her head. "Nothing we've ever done to destroy Cole has worked. If

the Gorgon really is as powerful as Cole, then there's nothing we can do. I know you'd

like to save the day, but maybe we should just run for the hills."

Piper and Phoebe looked to their younger sister.

"Paige, listen to yourself," said Phoebe. "When Piper suggested this in the past

you were the one that said we should stay and fight."

The youngest sister swallowed. She looked down. "I don't want you two to go

through losing another sister, and I don't want to know what it feels like either."

Phoebe looked to Piper.

"Oh, honey," Piper felt a burning in her eyes at the thought of Prue once again.

"We can get through this." She stepped forward and put her arms around Paige. "We'll

figure something out."

Phoebe lowered her head and turned away. We'll figure something out, Cole.

She noticed something on the table in the corner, a clipboard. "Paige, is that yours?"

She turned back to her sisters.

Piper and Paige turned to Phoebe.

"Isn't that. . ," Piper began

"Oh, I forgot all about that," said Paige. "Victoria - - I mean, Sthenno, was

carrying it around in Victoria Olsen's form."

Hoping for a premonition, Phoebe reached out and picked up the clipboard.

Almost immediately a chill came to her and she jumped, sucking in her breath. Her eyes

were closed but the vision played in her mind in shades of gray: The manor's foyer;

Cole snapping Paige's neck and tossing her aside, throwing an energy ball at Piper, an

athame at Phoebe.

Phoebe dropped the clipboard and took a step back.

"What did you see?," Piper moved toward her.

"The three of us being killed by Sthenno in Cole's form." Phoebe swallowed. "In

just a matter of seconds."

"Well then we need to make the first move."

Leo orbed in, Phoebe squinted at the brightness of the blue and white lights

around him. He looked at Paige and Phoebe, then to Piper. "Their sources say that

something's happening in the Underworld, I doubt its coincidence."

Paige frowned at Leo. The Elders had sources? Why didn't their 'sources' ever

let them in on Cole's little secret when he was going to marry Phoebe. She shook her

head and looked to Piper, remaining silent.

Piper let out a long sigh. "Okay," she said after a brief pause. "This is what we'll

do: Phoebe will reword the summoning spell for Belthazor to summon Cole, hopefully it

will also bring Sthenno. Once she's here I will keep her distracted while Paige cuts a piece

of flesh from her." She looked to the three of them. "How does that sound?"

Phoebe was already back at the Book of Shadows looking for the folded piece of

paper within the Belthazor page.

"Do you think she'll just go away and give us time to make the vanquishing

potion after I cut her?," Paige asked. "Its not like you can freeze her, you can't freeze

Cole. . . can you?"

"Not with his Source powers," Leo butted in.

"At least not for long," Piper added. "Once I have Sthenno's flesh I can add it to

the potion I'll already be brewing. You and Phoebe will just have to keep her distracted

long enough for me to bottle it."

Leo looked from Paige to Piper. "Just remember not to make eye contact with

her."

"Thanks, honey." She smiled and passed him, heading into the kitchen.

Paige closed her eyes and focused on the dagger in the attic she had used

several times for rituals in the past. "Knife," she called. The dagger orbed into her hand

and she opened her eyes, looking to Leo. He had already begun walking toward the

kitchen. Paige looked to Phoebe.

Phoebe stared down at the drawing of Belthazor, frowning. She shook her head

and unfolded the piece of paper containing the summoning and vanquishing spells for

the demon. "Okay, this shouldn't be too difficult."

Leo watched as Piper began tossing various vegetables and herbs into the boiling

water in front of her. His arms were folded across his chest and he wore a worried look

upon his face.

"What are you thinking?," Piper asked, without looking up. She picked up a large

knife and began chopping up a root of some kind.

"I love you," he said softly.

She looked up now, pausing with the knife still in hand. "I love you, too." She

smiled while taking in a deep breath and in a not-so-sturdy voice assured him, "We'll be

fine. We'll be fine." Looking back down at the cutting board next to the stove top, she

resumed chopping.





The Underworld was a cold and dark place filled with evil energy. It reminded her

of home, the place she had been born centuries ago.

Sthenno looked to the warlock Rhianon and smiled. "You warlocks have potential.

Problem is, you don't know how to use it. All braun, no brains. However, you will

become the greatest of your kind if you are as loyal as you claim to be." She moved

toward him, still in Cole's form.

"Yes, great one," Rhianon whispered, his head lowered.

"My first gift to you," the Gorgon said, waving her hand. "Telekinesis." And

Rhianon's body flashed green.

The warlock lifted his head, but looked to his hands and not Cole (whose form

the Gorgon still held). "I feel it within me." He looked to her. "Tell me what you want

me to do with this new power."

The Gorgon lifted the chin of Cole and smiled. A charm of some kind appeared

out of flames around his neck. "You will go witch hunting in San Francisco. The charm

will guide you to them and protect you fromt heir magic." She held out her hand, a

small black cloud came from her palm, then quickly turned into an Athame. "Once you

have the power of five witches return to me."

He frowned, but nodded and took the dagger. "What if the Charmed Ones

come after me?"

"I will be watching you."

"Yes, great one." The warlock blinked away.

After he had disappeared, the Gorgon let out a cry and fell to her knees and

closing the eyes of Cole tightly. "The witches' power was greater than I had imagined,"

she hissed, speaking to herself. "I can't fight it much longer, even with this form."





Rhianon appeared in China Town, San Francisco. The object around his neck

glowed brightly and he could feel it pulling at his mind, guiding him to a witch. To keep

from drawing attention to himself, the warlock tucked the charm into his shirt and placed

the Athame into his jacket.

Hurrying across the street, he made his way down an alley and then cut through

a closed market place area. He was being pulled to a park nearby. Moving along the

chain-link fence surrounding the park, Rhianon scanned the people in the area. It was

still daylight and many 'innocents' were walking about.

With the charm's assistance, he was quickly able to identify a young man and

woman sitting by a fountain enjoying asian cuisine for a late lunch. He grinned and

headed toward them, brushing shoulders with people in his way, pushing others out of

his path.

Tarren and Joseph Keller looked up at the man approaching and frowned,

somehow they both knew what he was immediatelly. They stood and turned their backs

to him, whispering, then quickly headed out of the park, away from the innocents - for

their car in the nearby parking garage.

"Is he following us?," she whispered.

Joseph glanced back over his shoulder as they entered the garage. He looked

back ahread of him. "He's close. We're not going to be able to run from him."

Tarren took her husband's hand tightly in her own and spun around. She was

grateful the garage was empty. "Stay away from us."

Laughing as he approached, Rhianon held his hands out in front of him and

shook them. "Oooh, I'm so scared." He narrows his eyes, focusing on Joseph and

swung his hand, using his telekinesis to send Joseph flying backwards, crashing up

against a door to the garage's elevators.

"No!," shouted Tarren. She swallowed, looking from Joseph to Rhianon and then

suddenly disappeared - turning invisible.

"I know you're still here, witch," the warlock growled. "I can feel you."

Tarren moved to come behind him and send out a fist at the back of his head,

but Rhianon felt her coming and spun around, grabbing her hand. With his free hand,

he took the Athame from his coat and send it forward, blood seeming to spill from air

for a moment until she came back into view.

"Your power unto me," he whispered. Her body glowed blue for an instant, then

his own. He twisted the Athame and then pulled it free, turning to face Joseph who still

lie on the ground near the door.

"Tarren!," Joseph gasped. He stared at the body of his wife, lying still on the

ground, then looked up to the warlock. Throwing out his hands, he shouted: "Sleep!"

When nothing happened, he only grew more panicked and stood, running for the other

man.

Rhianon ducked down and sent the dagger up with his clenched fist, sending the

running Joseph with Athame in his stomach up and over. The witch landed behind the

warlock, and his body glowed blue.

"Interesting powers," Rhianon looked back to them. "Too bad they couldn't save

you." He turned and walked away, blinking out.





Piper and Leo came back to the dining room, looking to Phoebe.

"The potion is ready," Piper said. "All we need now is a piece of her flesh to

complete it. How's the spell coming along?"

Phoebe stood with the small writing pad in her hand. "I've got it. We should set

up the crystals for when we summon. It won't kill her, but it will slow her down."

"Good idea." Piper looked to the youngest sister.

Paige nodded. "I'll get them." After placing the dagger she held on the table,

she orbed away, returning a few moments later with both hands full of five large quartz

stones. Looking to the floor in the foyer, she called, "Crystals." The stones orbed from

her hands and arranged themselves east to west in a large circle.

"The foyer," frowned Phoebe. "My premonition."

Leo looked up. "I'm being summoned."

The sisters looked to him all asking, "Again?"

"Maybe they found something out," Phoebe looked to Piper with hopeful eyes.

"Hurry back, honey." Piper's voice was less than sweet as he orbed away. The

Elders always seemed to summon Leo when she wanted him around the most. So was

their deal, they could only get married if their relationship did not interfere with his

responsibilities as a white lighter. She shook her head and looked to Paige. "Are you sure

you're up for this?"

"Hell yeah," Paige was trying to convince herself more than her sister. "I

promise I won't be squeamish this time."

"Just make sure you do it fast and get the hell away from her."

"It'll be just like fighting Cole," Phoebe said softly. "I mean, she'll look like him

and have all of his powers. What if only one of them shows up. If its the real Cole, we

might vanquish him."

Piper shook her head. "We'll just have to trust our powers to bring the one we

want. And we want both."

"Can we move that fast?"

"You mean: Can I freeze Sthenno long enough for you to orb in, cut a piece of

her flesh off, orb out, activate the stones to keep her contained for a while while I slip

the flesh into the potion?," Piper took a breath.

"Then you'll need to do some more orbing," said Phoebe. "To get the statue of

Cole out of here."

"If that even shows up," said Paige.

"Why can't anything just be simple?," growled Piper.

White and blue lights filled the corner of the dining room as Leo orbed back in.

He had a very upsetting look on his face.

Piper narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't even say we have more to worry aout."

He winced.

"What now!?" She wasn't shouting at him, she hoped he knew that.

"Two witches were just killed not fifteen minutes ago in China Town. Athame-

style."

Phoebe's eyes widened. "What? We can't deal with that now!"

Piper threw her arms into the air. "They have white lighters don't they? Are you

the only responsible one? Sheesh!"

"Piper, you have to check it out," said Leo.

"We are kind of in the middle of something, Leo!"

"This can't be happening. How can all of this be happening at once!?." Phoebe

began pacing, shaking her head. "Its like all hell just broke loose."

Pulling a chair away from the table, Piper sat down and buried her face in her

hands again. "I don't know what to do." She looked up at Paige and Phoebe, Leo was

standing behind her. She wished Prue was there with them, she would have ideas. Right

now, Piper was drawing a complete blank.

"I say we take care of Sthenno first, she's more of a threat," said Paige.

Phoebe frowned. "Meanwhile some demon is out there killing off witches."

"We can't be in two places at once."

"There may be innocents in danger. Sthenno is after us, not innocents." Phoebe

looked to Piper. "Sthenno can wait."

Paige folded her arms. "And what if Sthenno shows up while we're taking care of

this witch-hunter?"

"Then. . ."

"Exactly. We're dead then."

Piper jumped up from the chair. "You know what, I'm going to choose to be

selfish, Phoebe because I'm tired and I hurt and that thing will kill us if we deter from

our plans now."

Phoebe jumped.

"Is the damned spell ready or not?"

Without another word, Phoebe reached down and tore the piece of paper from

the pad, handing it to Piper.

Paige frowned, looking from one to the other, then to Leo.

He lowered his head.

"Good, then let's do this," said Piper.

The sisters gathered around the spell Piper held and began to read, facing the

crystals in the foyer:

"Magic forces black and white," said Paige.

"Reaching out through space and light," said Phoebe.

"Be he far or be he near," said Piper.

They together said, "Bring us the one we seek here."

Wind came through the manor and the old house shook, electricity swirling within

the foyer, followed by smoke and flashes of nearly every color imaginable. The sisters

all swallowed and their white lighter took a step back, watching as a figure began to

form in the midst of it all. . .

Rhianon.

Piper frowned. "Who the hell are you?"

The warlock stared at them for a moment, the charm around his neck glowing

brightly. "The Charmed Ones?"

"Oh no," said Phoebe.

Piper and Paige turned to her.

"I was thinking of the person who murdered those witches when we cast the

spell."

Paige looked back to Rhianon admitting, "So was I."

"Me too," said Piper, looking to the warlock.

Rhianon smirked. "I do believe two plus three equals five." He shrugged and

turned invisible.

Piper jumped. "Where did he go?"

"Sleep," whispered a voice.

"Ungh. . ," Paige collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

"Paige!." Phoebe moved to her sister, but an invisible force sent her flying out

through the foyer and into the den, crashing through the coffee table. She let out a

groan as the room spun and the sofa danced.

Piper watched Phoebe go, then spun around ot look at Leo.

"Psst," Rhianon appeared behind her and send his boot into the middle of her

back.

Crying out, Piper was thrown forward and landed on the dining room table on her

stomach.

"Piper!" Leo orbed out, reappearing in between the warlock and his wife. He

threw a punch, catching the other man, but it didn't seem to do much. He threw

another.

The warlock ducked down and gestured upward with his chin. Leo was thrown

up, crashing into the ceiling. He orbed away, reappearing behind Rhianon, grabbing his

shoulder to turn him around.

Piper rolled onto her back and sat up, still on the table. She saw her husband in

a fist-fight (at least on his end) with the warlock. Holding out her hands, she froze them

both. "Phoebe! Paige!"

Phoebe came stumbling into the dining room and dropped down by Paige's side,

checking for a pulse. "Piper, I think she's in a coma or something." She looked up to her

sister, but saw the warlock shifting back into normal time. "Oh no you don't."

Rhianon smiled at Phoebe and threw out his hand.

Letting out a scream as she was flung out into the foyer again, Phoebe focused

and used her levitation to bring her up instead of crashing back into the den. Setting

down, she ran into the dining room and levitated herself again, throwing a kick at the

warlock.

Rhianon ducked and jumped to the side. When Phoebe touched down, he pulled

his Athame and send it at her chest.

Jumping back, Phoebe avoided the blade and threw up her leg, kicking the knife

from the warlock's hand. She then stepped in, palm shooting up, catching him across

the jaw. Then she spun and caught him with her foot in his stomach, watching him fall

backwards.

Piper watched as Phoebe kicked the warlock away and she threw out her hands,

but the warlock had blinked away and only a small table in the corner exploded. "Damn

it!" She looked to Leo and waved her hands, unfreezing him. "Sorry, honey."





Sthenno backhanded Rhianon and send her foot into his side after he fell to the

floor of the Source's chambers in the underworld. "You fool! The Charmed Ones are

mine, how dare you try and take that away from me?"

The warlock did not move from his place on the ground. He now spoke, clearly

frightened: "Great one, please! I only wanted to please you. It was a foolish idea;

forgive me. I've already killed two witches, let me continue my search for three more. I

will prove myself to you."

"Why should I? You are just as stupid as the rest of your kind," she hissed.

"The charm you gave me, it did not block their magic."

"The Charmed Ones are more powerful than any normal witch."

Footsteps.

The Gorgon turned, seeing a demon and several other figures entering the

room. Still in the form of Cole, Sthenno stepped toward them. "I did not summon you,

why have you come here?'

One by one the demons took a place around her, remaining silent. Their leader,

a tall muscular man in a gray sweater and black trousers stepped toward who he

thought was Cole.

"You have no right to reclaim your throne," the man said. "Not as you have.

There are others who believe themselves more worthy of the position. One of those

people would be me."

Sthenno narrowed her eyes and threw her hands out to her sides, an energy

ball shooting in each direction, taking out two of the man's minions. "Leave now before

you share their fate."

"You don't scare me. The more you use your powers in such a reckless and

irresponsible way, the less support you have - or do you have any at all? Standing here

in this room alone does not make you the Source."

Rhianon looked on from behind Sthenno.

The man continued, "I, Venehr, challenge you to a duel."

Sthenno wondered if this was how things usually worked in the Underworld. She

looked the man over, sensing great power from him. Inside of her she still felt great

pain and knew she was not one hundred percent. If she fought now, and won, she

would be even weaker.

She, in the form of Cole, laughed at the demon. "You are so eager to die."

"We shall see. Does that mean you accept my challenge?" He smirked. "I never

feared you as Belthazor, I will not fear you now."

Her eyes flashed green, as did the body of Venehr, and the man was turned to

stone. The Gorgon took on the form of Venehr and suddenly felt healthier, stronger - it

was the form of Cole itself, perhaps, and not the witches' power

"Leave me," she said to Venehr's minions. They glanced at eachother before

flaming away.

Rhianon smirked. "Back to our conversation. . ."

The Gorgon looked back to him. "Your attitude changes so quickly." She

narrowed her eyes. "Keep in mind whom you are speaking to. You seem to forget the

more you talk."

He lowered his head again. "Forgive me, I am only anxious to please you."

"Does this form suit me?"

"Any would, Great One."

Holding out the hand of Venehr, Sthenno watched a mirror form out of a black

cloud suddenly appearing from her palm. She looked into the glass, at her own eyes.

How beautiful this new form was, even more attractive than Cole in some ways. She

felt stronger and healthier, for some reason Cole's form was toxic to her. So much

power, so many things she didn't understand about him or the Charmed Ones. More

tests, perhaps. The warlock had to keep distracting them while she continued to heal.

Sthenno looked back to Rhianon. "Wait until nightfall, then go back to your witch

hunting. What powers have you now?"

He lifted his head. "Invisibility and the power to put people into a deep sleep,

also the telekinesis you gifted me with. . . my blinking ability, also." He frowned. "May I

ask a question?"

She tilted her head. "What is it?"

Rhianon looked to the statue of Venehr. "Which Gorgon did you kill for that

power?" He looked back to her.

Smiling, she shook Venehr's head. "Questions only get people into trouble,

Rhianon."

He only nodded.





Paige hit the 'end' button on her cell phone and sighed. She had just called the

Social Services office to inform them she would be out the rest of the day due to a very

urgent family emergency. Mr. Cohen was not pleased, especially since she hadn't come

in at all, and the 'family emergency' excuse was getting old. However, he liked Paige

and he often cursed himself to being so lenient. She could only be grateful she was a

hard worker who actually cared, unlike some people.

Smiling, Phoebe stabbed the center of a page in the Book of Shadows with her

finger. "Aha!"

Paige looked across the dining room to her sister.

"Rhianon," Phoebe read the title of the entry next to the picture of the warlock

they had all fought twenty minutes go. She looked up at Piper and Leo. "Glad he's

someone we can look up easily."

Piper walked over to Phoebe's side and looked down into the Book, reading: "A

warlock known for his abilities to mimick."

"Mimick what?," asked Paige.

"The powers of those he fights," Piper looked up at Leo as she read. "How does

a warlock have the ability to do that?"

Leo's brow raised. "It must be a power he aquired from a witch he killed."

"That means he has my freezing ability."

"Okay guys, we have to think about Sthenno here, too. Remember my

premonition?"

"Gram's clock," said Paige.

Phoebe looked to her younger sister, confused.

"Well, you said the premonition was in the foyer. Wasn't Gram's clock in it? You

would know when Sthenno is going to attack."

"You know, I wasn't even paying attention to that." She bit her lip. "I don't

remember." She shook her head and repeated, "I don't remember."

Silence came to the room until Piper spoke.

"Okay so we have a Gorgon with the ability to freeze people and make illusions,

who may be trying to take control of the Underworld and will come here to kill us

sometime soon. Then we have a warlock who decided to show up who has killed two

witches and has the power to knock us out until he decides to leave, the power to turn

invisible, telekinesis and. . . a mimicking ability."

"So what's your next move?," asked Leo.

"No friggen clue." She looked to her sisters for ideas once again.

"You guys," Paige frowned. "Look." She walked over to the entrance of the

dining room, facing the den at the opposite side of the foyer. "Blood. Were any of you

bleeding from the fight?" She looked back to them, they shook their heads.

Piper's brow raised and she came to Paige's side. "We have the warlock's

blood?"

"We can scry for him," said Phoebe.



Paige tied the thin gold chain, scrying crystal dangling at the end, around a leaf

with Rhianon's blood from one of Piper's carnations they had used to wipe it up from the

floor. She sat in a chair in front of a map of San Francisco and brought the crystal over

it, letting it just barely touch the paper. Focusing, she felt the crystal begin to pull and

circle the map. . .

Piper, Phoebe and Leo watched Paige in the sitting room from the den.

"So we'll orb to where Rhianon is, kick his ass, then come back here ASAP and

re-prepare for Sthenno," said Phoebe.

"With hopes that she is not back here waiting for us, ready to hit us with energy

balls as soon as we orb in," said Piper.

"I'd tell you to relax, but. . ," Leo began.

"We can't afford to relax. We need to be alert. Ready."

"Ready to kick ass."

"Kick some serious ass."

"We can do it."

"Yes we can."

Leo looked from one to the other as they spoke words of confidence for their

own benefit. He forced a smile, "Right on. . ."

Paige smiled, watching as the crystal was pulled toward downtown San Francisco

like a magnet. "Got it. He's downtown, Jameson and Bethany." She stood, looking to

the other three.

"Okay then," said Piper. "Leo?"

The angel looked to them all. "Are you sure you don't want me to come?"

"No," said Piper. "If you get one pain in your stomach - even if you think its just

gas - you orb to us and tell us, got me?"

"Angels get gas?," frowned Paige.

"Shh!"

Leo nodded. "All right. Be careful."

Phoebe smiled. "We will be. No big deal." She and Piper walked from Leo's side

to Paige's. "Okay, let's do this."

Leo watched the three sisters orb away and took in a deep breath.





"NO!," screamed Julie Turano as the dumpster she was huddled behind was

thrown away by the attacking warlock's telekinesis. She turned to run, but Rhianon

threw out his hands and she froze in place.

He smiled. "Ah, Piper's powers are quite useful, aren't they?" Walking up to the

witch he reached into his jacket and pulled out an Athame. "Now, yours is even more

valuable to me. Regeneration - rapid, no less."

The Charmed Ones orbed in behind Rhianon.

"Not so fast, Rhino," shouted Piper.

"Rhianon," corrected Phoebe, whispering.

"Oh, whatever."

Rhianon turned, looking at the three sisters. Fear hit him only for an instant.

"You again." He threw out his hand, an invisible force knocking them all off their feet.

He turned back to Julie, ready to strike with the Athame.

"Athame!," shouted Paige. The knife vanished into blue and white lights, orbing

to Paige's hand.

Piper moved to throw out her hands at Rhianon, but Phoebe threw them down.

"Piper, no!," Phoebe whispered. "If you blow him up and it doesn't work he'll

have your exploding power.

Growling, the oldest Halliwell shook her head. "Well freezing him can't do

anymore harm than its already done."

Rhianon smirked and threw out his hands at the same time as Piper - Phoebe

and Paige froze, Rhianon and Piper did not. The warlock frowned. "What happened?"

"You didn't freeze," blinked Piper. She looked to her sisters, then back to the

warlock. "Immunity. . ."

He smirked and turned back to Julie, standing behind her, reaching his arms

around her head.

"No you don't, buster!" Piper ran at him and leapt onto his back, falling

backwards with him. She held a choke hold on him as long as she could, wondering what

she planned to do from there, but the warlock blinked away out of her grip.

Rhianon reappeared next to Paige and grabbed the Athame from her hand.

"Enough of this." He blinked out again and appeared in front of Julie, sending out the

Athame into her stomach. The witch's eyes went wide as she shifted back into normal

time and unfroze.

Piper sat up, staring for a moment before calling: "Leo!"

Leo appeared immediately, having been back at the manor waiting for a call

from the Charmed Ones, should they need his healing power. He saw Phoebe and

Paige were frozen, then looked to Rhianon and Julie.

The warlock closed his eyes for a moment as blue light shot from Julie Turano

into his own body. He smiled at Piper and Leo. "A white lighter can only be killed by a

dark lighter, they say. But I'm sure this is going to hurt you. A lot." He threw out his

hand and watched as Leo was thrown back, up against the brick wall of a nearby

building. Rhianon clenched his fist and Leo cried out before orbing away.

"Forget about me?," asked Piper, sending a fist into the warlock's face.

Rhianon fell backward and blinked away, reappearing invisible in the alley. He

chuckled and watched Phoebe and Paige shift back into normal time. "The all powerful

Charmed Ones so easily defeated."

Phoebe looked to Piper. "What do we do?"

"Join hands. Quick, quick, quick. Old-school power of three spell."

"What?," asked Paige. She hurried to Piper's side.

"Just repeat after us," said Phoebe, taking hold of Piper's hand.

Leo, meanwhile, orbed in next to Julie Turano, holding his hands over her, letting

the warm glow flow throughout her body. He wasn't too late. He smiled slightly as her

eyes opened and he whispered, "You'll be fine."

"The power of three will set us free," said Piper.

Paige frowned. "That's it?" Piper squeezed her hand tightly, as if trying to crush

it and Paige shouted: "The power of three will set us free. The power of three will set us

- - Ow! All right already!"

Flames burst out from thin-air, followed by Rhianon's screams. "No!," he

shrieked as he became visible again.

"The power of three will set us free," the girls continued.

Leo and Julie looked on as the Charmed Ones continued their chant and the

warlock Rhianon exploded into a ball of flame.

Piper let go of her sister's hands.

"We have to get back to the manor." Phoebe looked to Piper.

She nodded. "Warlocks are always such a pain in the ass. Leo?"

Leo and Julie rose from the ground, looking to Piper. "I'm here," he said.

The three sisters walked to Leo and the witch, Julie. Phoebe offered the other

woman a comforting smile. She reached out and touched a charm hanging down from

Julie's neck. "You belong to a coven?"

Julie nodded, she was still shaking a little.

"I'll bring you back," said Leo. "Just tell me where."

Piper nodded and looked to Paige. "Let's get back to the manor."



TO BE CONTINUED. . .