SIX
Piper and Phoebe stepped into the building at the address the
warlock had given them. It was another warehouse, similar to the one
where this whole incident had started. It appeared to be completely
deserted.
Phoebe carried a large bag with her. A bag large enough to hold
the Book of Shadows. As they cautiously moved into the building, she
clutched the bag close. There was less than one hour before the time
limit ran out.
"Welcome back contestants," said the warlock, stepping out of
the shadows. "I expected you earlier."
With him was a woman. She fit the description Prue had given of
the woman she had "saved" from the fire. The two sisters stopped.
"You're cutting it a bit close, aren't you?" asked the warlock.
"Wee had to make sure we had tried everything before giving into
your demands," said Piper.
"Of course," said the warlock. "Now, are you ready to play our
game? Did you bring the book with you?"
Phoebe reached into the bag and pulled out the Book of Shadows.
She held it up so the warlock could see it.
"Excellent," said the warlock. "I'm surprised you didn't bring
your sister with you. Considering how little time she has left."
"She's too ill to come," said Piper.
"You have what you wanted," said Phoebe. "Now, give us what we
want."
"Not so fast," said the warlock. "I want the book destroyed.
Once that's done, I'll give you your sisters' body back."
He looked over in one corner. Piper and Phoebe looked in the
same corner and saw a gasoline can and a box of matches. Obviously,
this was to be the method for destroying the book.
"That could be dangerous," said Piper. "It could set the whole
place on fire."
"Congratulations," said the warlock, "you've just won the bonus
round. That's the whole idea. I figured I'd just kill two birds with
one stone, to coin a phrase. We all have to make a living. II do
quite well helping certain individuals dispose of unwanted property."
"You're a professional arsonist?" asked Phoebe.
"Correct for one hundred points," said the warlock. "And with
my powers, no one ever suspects. Once the three of you are no longer
a threat, I can move up to bigger and better endeavors."
"So, destroy the book and give us our sister," said Piper.
"Oh, I've heard the stories about that book," said the warlock.
"How it protects itself from evil. That's why you're going to destroy
it. I doubt it would protect itself from you."
"Prue first," said Phoebe.
"Do I look stupid to you?" asked the warlock. "I hold all the
cards. Time is on my side. A few more minutes and she'll be dead.
All I have to do is wait. So you'd better make up your minds fast."
Piper and Phoebe looked at each other. The warlock was right.
They didn't have time to argue. They moved over to the corner where
the gasoline and matches set. Phoebe laid the Book of Shadows on the
floor.
Piper picked up the can and looked over at the warlock. He
stood watching them, a smile on his face. Piper looked at Phoebe,
then poured gasoline over the Book of Shadows. When she was finished,
she sat the can several feet from the soaked book.
Phoebe pulled a match out of the box. She struck it on the side
of the box and it flamed to live. She hesitated for a moment, and
then dropped the burning match onto the book. Everyone watched as the
book burst into flames. Piper and Phoebe stared down at the book as
they watched the source of their powers begin turning to ash.
Piper and Phoebe stepped into the building at the address the
warlock had given them. It was another warehouse, similar to the one
where this whole incident had started. It appeared to be completely
deserted.
Phoebe carried a large bag with her. A bag large enough to hold
the Book of Shadows. As they cautiously moved into the building, she
clutched the bag close. There was less than one hour before the time
limit ran out.
"Welcome back contestants," said the warlock, stepping out of
the shadows. "I expected you earlier."
With him was a woman. She fit the description Prue had given of
the woman she had "saved" from the fire. The two sisters stopped.
"You're cutting it a bit close, aren't you?" asked the warlock.
"Wee had to make sure we had tried everything before giving into
your demands," said Piper.
"Of course," said the warlock. "Now, are you ready to play our
game? Did you bring the book with you?"
Phoebe reached into the bag and pulled out the Book of Shadows.
She held it up so the warlock could see it.
"Excellent," said the warlock. "I'm surprised you didn't bring
your sister with you. Considering how little time she has left."
"She's too ill to come," said Piper.
"You have what you wanted," said Phoebe. "Now, give us what we
want."
"Not so fast," said the warlock. "I want the book destroyed.
Once that's done, I'll give you your sisters' body back."
He looked over in one corner. Piper and Phoebe looked in the
same corner and saw a gasoline can and a box of matches. Obviously,
this was to be the method for destroying the book.
"That could be dangerous," said Piper. "It could set the whole
place on fire."
"Congratulations," said the warlock, "you've just won the bonus
round. That's the whole idea. I figured I'd just kill two birds with
one stone, to coin a phrase. We all have to make a living. II do
quite well helping certain individuals dispose of unwanted property."
"You're a professional arsonist?" asked Phoebe.
"Correct for one hundred points," said the warlock. "And with
my powers, no one ever suspects. Once the three of you are no longer
a threat, I can move up to bigger and better endeavors."
"So, destroy the book and give us our sister," said Piper.
"Oh, I've heard the stories about that book," said the warlock.
"How it protects itself from evil. That's why you're going to destroy
it. I doubt it would protect itself from you."
"Prue first," said Phoebe.
"Do I look stupid to you?" asked the warlock. "I hold all the
cards. Time is on my side. A few more minutes and she'll be dead.
All I have to do is wait. So you'd better make up your minds fast."
Piper and Phoebe looked at each other. The warlock was right.
They didn't have time to argue. They moved over to the corner where
the gasoline and matches set. Phoebe laid the Book of Shadows on the
floor.
Piper picked up the can and looked over at the warlock. He
stood watching them, a smile on his face. Piper looked at Phoebe,
then poured gasoline over the Book of Shadows. When she was finished,
she sat the can several feet from the soaked book.
Phoebe pulled a match out of the box. She struck it on the side
of the box and it flamed to live. She hesitated for a moment, and
then dropped the burning match onto the book. Everyone watched as the
book burst into flames. Piper and Phoebe stared down at the book as
they watched the source of their powers begin turning to ash.