The initiation didn't take long. The leader, Onuon, brought Zan to an alleyway that was out of sight from the main road. The place was deserted, except for a lone woman walking along. It didn't take Zan long to figure out what he was to do.

"She's such an easy target." Onuon said. "I'm practically handing her to you."

Zan took a deep breath. The woman was a witch; he could sense her. He fely a deep pity for her, and sorrow for what he was about to do, but that didn't stop him. He didn't want to be a Whitelighter anymore, and if this was the way to gain power, he was content to grin and bear it.

Zan reached out his hands toward the woman. He could feel his power shifting, becoming evil. The usually white light that emitted from his healing power was now coming out black, and as he stretched his hands over the witch, she collapsed, unable to breathe. Minutes later, she died. Zan had made his first kill.

"Congratulations, brother." Onuon said, welcoming Zan with open arms.

Zan nodded. "Thanks. Now, you promised me an explanation."

Onuon laughed. "Impatient, aren't we? Hmm, I suppose that's why you left the other side. Ah, well. Don't worry, I'll tell you everything soon enough. For now, we'd better get out of here. One of your colleagues from Up There is coming."

x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x+x

Piper was giving Wyatt a bath when Leo orbed in. Instinctively, she knew something was wrong without even turning around to look at him. "Honey, what is it?"

Leo didn't answer at first. He came over and kissed his wife and son hello, then sighed and addressed Piper's question. "There's been a demonic attack. A witch was found on a side street. She died of asphyxiation. Her Whitelighter is Liem, a good friend of mine."

"Honey, I'm so sorry," Piper said symapthetically, knowing how hard it was when Whitelighters lost a charge. "Do they know who attacked her?"

Leo shook his head. "That's why I came home so early. They want you and your sisters to check it out."

Piper nodded. "Paige, Phoebe!" she called.

The other two-thirds of the Charmed Ones came running in the door, wwaring identical mischeivious expressions.

"Okay, what are you up to now?" Piper asked.

"Up to? What do you mean, sweetie?" Paige asked innocently.

"Yeah, okay." Piper snorted. "Allright, I'll find out later. Right now, we've got bigger problems." She repeated what Leo had told her about the witch.

"I'll check the Book." Paige volunteered.

"I'll go help her." Phoebe offered. The two sisters ran upstairs.

Piper raised her eyebrows, then looked at Leo. "Okay, what the hell is going on with them?"

A guiltly expression suddenly appeared on Leo's face. "Um, how would I know? I, uh, I have to go... Up There." He kissed Piper, then orbed out quickly.

She stared suspiciously at the spot where her husband had stood, then turned back to her son. "Does everybody know but me?" she asked him. He cooed, and Piper grinned. "I'll take that as a yes."

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A/N: I have a pretty good idea of where I'm going with this fic, but I've got a lot going on right now, so reviews would really help motivate me to work on this. Hint, hint.