I AM SOOOOO SORRY THAT IT TOOK SO LONG FOR ME TO FINISH THIS CHAPTER! I have been soooooo busy. And I have sort of a writers block thing going on with this chapter. Hopefully, I will be able to bounce back. It looks that way, since my story is beginning to wind down. I know, I know, I know, you're all disappointed. But cheer up! You will soon be able to find out what happens, and more importantly since, most of you probably know what this story is already, how it happens. Anyway, I've kept you long enough. Read on. And thanks for reviewing.
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In the land of all good stories, time passed quickly. Before she knew it, Piper had passed through thirteen years. To much surprise, she and her sisters discovered that magic- true magic was as real as the hair on their heads. Adjusting to the feeling that someone, or something was always trying to kill them took too much time. Then in a tragic day, Prue was killed. But the era of the Charmed Ones wasn't over. With the death of one Halliwell, came the discovery of Paige, their younger half sister. The story picks up, after such events had become part of their daily routine.
Piper threw her jacket onto a coat hanger and ran up to the attic. She began to madly flipped through the pages of the ancient Book of Shadows. "LEO!" She called. "LEO!!!!" She quickly became so involved in the pages that she didn't see the familiar orbs of her husband.
"What is it?" Leo said.
"I was attacked by a shadow today."
"A shadow?"
"Yes, a shadow."
"Honey, shadow's don't attack."
"See, that's where you're wrong. This shadow attacked me. He tried to like engulf me, and then I blew him up."
"Are you sure it was a shadow?"
"Am I sure that it was a shadow? Is the sky blue?"
"Today it's grey." Leo joked. Piper looked up from the book, not amused. Leo didn't know what to do, so he stood there.
"HA! I found it!" Piper turned the pedestal around, to show her husband. "The Shadow does exist."
"Yeah, but what does he want with you?"
"I don't know. Maybe, wait, just maybe, it's the fact that I'm one of the Charmed Ones, and someone is trying to kill us."
"I'll go check with the elders, see what they know."
"Thanks."
Piper picked up the cordless phone that sat on the couch, and dialed her sisters home from work. Piper looked up from the book, and a blinding light from the sun, coming through the window. She picked up the Book of Shadows, and carried it downstairs where the light wouldn't be hitting her eyes. There was barely time to put the book in the sun room when the doorbell rang.
Piper opened the door, and was surprised to see a rather attractive young man standing there.
"Hello?" She quietly said.
"Been a long time witch." He said, ushering himself in.
Piper threw her hands up in defense. "What do you want?" She demanded, shutting the door with her foot. If there was going to be a battle, the whole neighborhood did not need to see it.
"You don't remember me? See, I remember you. You were a scared, ignored, unpopular, ugly girl before you met me." He said, advancing on Piper. He looked up at the walls, where some old pictures of each of the girl's graduations stood. All three girls were surrounded by their friends. "But I see that changed." He snarled. "And you never got to thank me."
"Why should I thank you?"
"Because I made it all possible."
"N-n-n-no. I just have always been this way."
"Liar!" He hissed.
"I pulled myself out of the hole on my own."
"Again. Lies!"
"How do you know?"
"I made you who you are."
"No. The guy that did this to me was this tall." Piper held her hand apart, about six inches.
"I told you that I would become normal height. I was very young. You were my first success. See, I would have come for your powers earlier, but well, ahem. I had a little run in with the source, preventing me to return until now."
"You want my powers?"
"It was part of our agreement."
"What agreement?"
"What agreement?!?! Very funny witch! I was going to make you beautiful, popular, and attention worthy, in exchange for your powers." He grabbed her by her hair. "NOW DO YOU REMEMBER?!?!?!"
"LEO!" Piper cried.
"Leo? Who is Leo? Huh? Crying for your husband? No mortal can help you now." The white orbs of Leo caused Piper to breathe a sigh of relief. "Your whitelighter? Well. Very clever. No whitelighter can help you now. You are bound."
"Piper!"
"Leo, help me!" Piper said, her hair still in his hands. He pulled harder.
Leo got a running start, and tackled him. Leo got up. "Blow him up Piper."
"I tired, he won't blow."
"You, or your sisters can't hurt me. You are bound to give me your powers."
"What is he talking about Piper?" Leo asked.
"She signed a contract." With a wave of his hand a piece of parchment appeared. Piper cautiously walked up to him, and snatched the contract from his hands.
"I don't remember signing that."
"Well you did."
"Piper, did you really make this deal?" Leo asked, after looking at the contract.
"I was in high school. I didn't know that I would ever have powers. He told me that I would be beautiful and popular. I wanted to be like Prue. And when it did happen, you know, I just thought that it was because of something I did."
"You did do something. You signed this! Now give me my powers!"
"Your name isn't on here."
"It's a demonic contract. My name doesn't need to be on there."
"But you signed it with a witch."
"Not at the time. Powers."
"No."
He began to get impatient. "Fine. I'll make a deal with you. I will come back tomorrow. And for three days after that. If you can guess my name by the end of then, you can keep everything. If you can't, I will take your powers, and take back your beauty, popularity and attention."
"I will meet you at my club all three nights."
"Do you want to keep your powers? I suggest meeting me here."
"Do you want the chance of loosing my powers. We meet at the club."
He scowled but agreed. "I will be back tomorrow." He said, storming out of the house.
Piper turned to Leo. "What am I going to do?"
"Don't look at me." He answered. "I'm still mad that you made a deal with a demon, and never told me."
"It was thirteen years ago. I didn't believe in magic at the time. Demons were like the most illogical thing I knew." Piper looked up at Leo. "I will fix this. We Charmed Ones have been through too much to just give up like this. What did you find out about the shadow."
"Only a minor threat. Right now, your big threat is that demon."
"I'm going to check the book. Could you go to the store and get a baby names book?"
"A name book? Why?" Piper glared at her husband. "Oh right."
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Name ideas anyone? None will be turned down! All will be used!