Coven
"What do you want?" Piper asked. Her voice didn't betray fear. She wasn't going to let
them see any weakness in her.
The man who was pointing a gun at her chest stared at her. "Are you a witch?" he
demanded.
"Who's asking?"
she challenged.
"David Wilkes, of the Free
House of God," he answered, startled by her bluntness into
replying honestly.
"Well, David Wilkes, if you're trying to convince me you're really Christian, threatening
me and my
husband--and our baby-- isn't the best way."
"Are you pregnant?"
Piper nodded.
She was close enough to freeze them, but--what if it didn't work this time, either? She
could blow him up.....but he wouldn't survive any better than most demons. Please, don't
make me do that, she begged silently.
A strange mix of fear and hope
crossed Wilkes' face. He glanced at the
other men. "Stand down,"
he said.
"She's
playing you!" one of them argued.
"Even if she is knocked up, so what? Two for the--"
Wilkes shot him.
The bullet went through the man's shoulder, spinning him around with the force of impact. He
fell. Blood sprayed over his clothing, hands, everywhere. Piper's stomach lurched.
"Don't. Question. My. Orders. "
The two uninjured men averted their eyes, submissively.
"Go on.
Take him back to the conclave, get him patched up. "
They dragged their injured
comrade to a nearby car. Wilkes watched them go. Seeing the
puzzlement in Piper's and Leo's eyes, he chuckled mirthlessly.
"I won't ask again if
you're a witch. You have no reason to give me the truth anyway. And
despite what
you may hear about us, we don't hurt children. "
"But witches?"
"We came because one of us who is....sensitive to such things, felt magic being
used here, destructively. " He looked toward the storefront. Piper controlled her
emotions despite sudden apprehension.
"I believe these practices are wrong. Yes. God did not intend us to wield the sort of
power true witches use. To call on Powers outside ourselves is hubris. Greed of the
worst sort. And far worse, when the witch turns to evil for yet more power. What
shall it profit a man to gain the world, and lose his soul?"
Piper took a deep breath. " Please....I can't....argue with you now. My sister and
Stevie are both hurt. They need a doctor. Will you --please, just go? We haven't done
anything to hurt you, no matter what you think of us, or believe."
"True enough. " Wilkes left, disappearing into the growing shadows as if he were
one himself.
"Are you all right?" Leo asked.
"Yes. Let's just take them to the hospital. I know, it's risky to move them, but
I don't
think we should hang around."
Leo carried Paige to the
SUV. Piper helped Stevie into the back
seat.
Wilkes stared after them. "It has to be her," he whispered. "I only have ten
days
left....this has to work. It has to."
* *
*
The ER staff set Stevie's arm, placing a cast on it. Paige had a concussion and
had sprained her ankle. Leo called Stevie's boyfriend to pick her up, at the
woman's request.
"Did you know those guys?" Piper asked Stevie.
"Their leader has been in before. He gave me a list of books he was looking for....
after I read it, I simply asked him not to come back. None of them were ones
I would ever be selling."
"Was
that the man we talked to? Wilkes?"
"Is that his name--
the one who was in charge tonight? Yes.
He didn't want to
tell me. "
"Did he hurt you?"
"No. Nor threatened me openly......though he made it clear he's not big on
tolerance
where witches are concerned."
Piper rolled her
eyes. "Why couldn't I stop you
from falling? I--tried a spell, one
that's
worked before, but nothing happened. "
"You are a natural
witch, then? You have active powers," Stevie clarified.
"Yes. I can freeze time."
Stevie looked embarrassed.
"It's my own fault, I'm afraid." She reached under her
blouse, drawing out a chain on which a clear blue stone hung. "This talisman was
a gift from my grandmother. It has warding spells on it, to fend off any magic that
I'm not performing myself., or a participant in. I'm not as strong as she is-- my
best talent is farsight. Seeing things happen at a distance. Speaking of which-- is your
coven going to be 'all ages', or the younger set, like you and your sisters?"
"No, we'd much rather have it be a mix," Piper said. "My Grams was....extraordinary,
she gets
more powerful as time goes by, I think..."
"Oh? I thought she'd
passed on?"
Leo coughed. "Um. Yes. I meant, while she was alive. I still tend to include her when
I'm thinking about the family," Piper was flustered.
"I understand. Then, if you don't mind, can I give my gran'mere your home number? She
would very much like to talk to you."
"You
told her....?"
"No, Piper. I don't
discuss other people's business even with her. I didn't have to. She said to
tell you that your sister isn't the only one who can see the future sometimes...and not the only
witch who
hasn't always kept demons at a 'safe distance'. Whatever that means."
"All right." Piper
scribbled down her home phone number.
"I'll look forward to hearing from
her.
"
Stevie smirked a
little. "Good luck," was all she said.
Phoebe was waiting at the front door when they finally got home. Paige was awake, though
bruised, and had a fierce headache. She went up to bed. Piper and Leo told Phoebe about
Wilkes.
"Free House of God...no, I haven't heard of them. I'll see what I can find out. Maybe Darryl
knows something."
"About what?" someone asked from behind them.
"Bane?"
"The one and only," he replied.
"I...told you four days because I wasn't sure I'd be able to
get here sooner. I.....had to take care of something and I...wanted to visit Prue first. " His
shoulders slumped. "I'd hoped....she'd be here when I was released, but--hells." He looked
a t Piper. "Thank you for writing me to tell me. And for the invitation. I swear I won't let
you down."
Piper let out a sigh. "I believe you. Come on in, and we'll bring you up to
speed. It's been
an eventful day."
"The best kind," Bane said with a straight face.