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A/N: OK, i know the last two chapters were really short. Exams and all, I haven't had time to write much. Don't worry, the next ones will be longer. Of course, the more reviews I get, the more motivated I am to write more. *g*
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When Prue reappeared, she was dressed in white and standing on what looked like a giant cloud. Around her, figures dressed in white robes identical to her own were milling about.
Prue walked into a large room, with a long, rectangular table. Around the table were nine people: the Elders.
One Elder, Romolis, motioned for Prue to sit down. She did, looking at him curiously.
"Prudence, we called you to discuss your charge, Regina Warren." Romolis began.
A female Elder, Aesa, continued. "We know Regina will find the Book of Shadows tomorrow night, on her sixteenth birthday. We trust that you're aware of the rules?"
Prue nodded, not bothering to speak. She'd always despised their rules, and this was no exception.
Myriah, another Elder, listed them. "You can't help her tomorrow, Prudence. This is something she has to do alone, like you did."
"But at least I had my sisters!" Prue exclaimed. "Gina doesn't have anyone-"
"Exactly!" Castor, a fourth Elder, cut her off. "She is the last Warren witch alive. She's the most powerful witch in existence, without her, we'd be immensely weakened. The balance between good and evil would shift in their favour, maybe irreversibly."
"Which is why she needs me there." Prue argued. "She needs someone to guide her, isn't that what whitelighters are for?"
"Prudence," Romolis said warningly. Prue wrinkled her nose. She hated being called by her full name. Romolis ignored her. "Prudence," he said again, this time in a more gentle tone, "you can be there for Regina the day after, when she's had a few hours to let it sink in. But you can not be anywhere near the attic tomorrow. Do you understand me?"
Prue sighed. She hated it, but she knew she didn't have a choice. "Allright. Yes, I understand."
"Good." Romolis said, smiling her. Elders technically weren't supposed to play favourites, but he'd always had a soft spot for Prue. He knew the last few centuries had been difficult for her, and he'd never seen her as happy as she had been the past twelve years, raising Regina. He smiled to himself, thinking of the way her striking blue eyes lit up whenever they discussed her charge.
The Elders dismissed her, and Prue orbed back into the manor just in time to hear the click of the front door closing. Regina was home from school.
"Prue?" she called.
"I'll be down in a second, sweetie."
Regina put her backpack down under the table in the foyer, then went into the living room and collapsed onto the couch. In a minute, Prue was sitting next to her.
"How was school?" she asked.
"It was... okay." she replied slowly. She started to say more, but stopped. How could she explain that weird feeling she'd been having all day? The one that said something was going to happen, something that would change her more than she could possibly imagine?
Prue didn't need her whitelighter powers to sense what her young charge was feeling. She'd gone through the same thing, right before her life had turned upside-down.
Prue, pretending not to notice that anything was wrong, asked Gina the usual obligatory parental questions: did you get any homework, any tests to study for, any reports due, etc. Then Gina went to do her homework while Prue cooked supper. Half an hour later, they ate dinner and talked about various things, mainly what Gina wanted for her birthday. By the time they went to bed, Gina had almost completely forgotten the strange feelings she'd been having.
A/N: OK, i know the last two chapters were really short. Exams and all, I haven't had time to write much. Don't worry, the next ones will be longer. Of course, the more reviews I get, the more motivated I am to write more. *g*
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When Prue reappeared, she was dressed in white and standing on what looked like a giant cloud. Around her, figures dressed in white robes identical to her own were milling about.
Prue walked into a large room, with a long, rectangular table. Around the table were nine people: the Elders.
One Elder, Romolis, motioned for Prue to sit down. She did, looking at him curiously.
"Prudence, we called you to discuss your charge, Regina Warren." Romolis began.
A female Elder, Aesa, continued. "We know Regina will find the Book of Shadows tomorrow night, on her sixteenth birthday. We trust that you're aware of the rules?"
Prue nodded, not bothering to speak. She'd always despised their rules, and this was no exception.
Myriah, another Elder, listed them. "You can't help her tomorrow, Prudence. This is something she has to do alone, like you did."
"But at least I had my sisters!" Prue exclaimed. "Gina doesn't have anyone-"
"Exactly!" Castor, a fourth Elder, cut her off. "She is the last Warren witch alive. She's the most powerful witch in existence, without her, we'd be immensely weakened. The balance between good and evil would shift in their favour, maybe irreversibly."
"Which is why she needs me there." Prue argued. "She needs someone to guide her, isn't that what whitelighters are for?"
"Prudence," Romolis said warningly. Prue wrinkled her nose. She hated being called by her full name. Romolis ignored her. "Prudence," he said again, this time in a more gentle tone, "you can be there for Regina the day after, when she's had a few hours to let it sink in. But you can not be anywhere near the attic tomorrow. Do you understand me?"
Prue sighed. She hated it, but she knew she didn't have a choice. "Allright. Yes, I understand."
"Good." Romolis said, smiling her. Elders technically weren't supposed to play favourites, but he'd always had a soft spot for Prue. He knew the last few centuries had been difficult for her, and he'd never seen her as happy as she had been the past twelve years, raising Regina. He smiled to himself, thinking of the way her striking blue eyes lit up whenever they discussed her charge.
The Elders dismissed her, and Prue orbed back into the manor just in time to hear the click of the front door closing. Regina was home from school.
"Prue?" she called.
"I'll be down in a second, sweetie."
Regina put her backpack down under the table in the foyer, then went into the living room and collapsed onto the couch. In a minute, Prue was sitting next to her.
"How was school?" she asked.
"It was... okay." she replied slowly. She started to say more, but stopped. How could she explain that weird feeling she'd been having all day? The one that said something was going to happen, something that would change her more than she could possibly imagine?
Prue didn't need her whitelighter powers to sense what her young charge was feeling. She'd gone through the same thing, right before her life had turned upside-down.
Prue, pretending not to notice that anything was wrong, asked Gina the usual obligatory parental questions: did you get any homework, any tests to study for, any reports due, etc. Then Gina went to do her homework while Prue cooked supper. Half an hour later, they ate dinner and talked about various things, mainly what Gina wanted for her birthday. By the time they went to bed, Gina had almost completely forgotten the strange feelings she'd been having.