THREE

"I wish I knew what was going on here," Piper said, looking out the window of their hotel room. "None of our powers work and we can't even call Leo. There is obviously some kind of magic at work here. I just don't know what it is."

"Maybe it's like the kind Cole used when he held Phoebe hostage," offered Paige. "When he tried to get control of the Nexus at the manor. Leo couldn't sense Phoebe then."

"Yeah, but I still had my powers," Phoebe said. "And it was only the penthouse where Cole lived. It would take some powerful magic to cover an entire town like this and to strip us of our powers. What I want to know is why someone would do it in the first place?"

"That's a good question," Piper said. "I'm tired of sitting around here. Let's go get some answers to our questions. Something is going on and someone must know what it is. I intend to find out."

The three went downstairs and found the elderly woman who had checked them in behind the counter. She stood up and smiled at them as they walked up to the counter.

"Can I help you with something?" the woman asked.

"Yeah," Piper said. "You can tell us what's going on around here?"

The smile faded from the woman's face.

"I don't know what you mean, dear," she said nervously.

"Drop the innocent act," Piper said. "We know about your little force field at the edge of town. Now you'd better start talking or there's going to be hell to pay. What's kind of scam is going on in this town?"

"I....I....I don't know what you're talking about," stammered the woman. "We get so few guests here. Perhaps you're just tired is all."

"If you get so few guests here," Paige said, "then why is this place still open? I wouldn't think the locals would need a hotel. That would be for people passing through. But apparently people don't pass through this town. Once they get here, they're stuck."

"Not all of them," said a voice from the doorway to the hotel, "just special ones. Like yourselves."

The girls looked over and saw a man standing in the doorway. The man was about thirty-five years old. He was dressed in an expensive suit and tie and his black hair was neatly trimmed over his ears. They noticed a large signet ring on one of his fingers bearing the letter "L". He stood smiling at the sisters.

"Allow me to introduce myself," said the man. "Robert Logan IV. Local pillar of the community and just about the sole provider of employment around here. And you three must be the 'guests' Stanley told me about. He said you got gas at his station earlier today."

"What's going on here?" demanded Piper. "We just stopped for gas and something to eat and now we can't leave. We'd better start getting some answers or...."

"Or what?" Logan asked. "You'll use your powers against me? I'm sure you know by now that's impossible. The enchantment over the town prevents your powers from working. And since you can't leave that means you're just the ones I've been looking for. Only the local denizens are prevented from passing through the shield. Them, and select others. You would be the others."

"What are you talking about?" Phoebe asked.

"Witches," Logan said, smiling. "If you were mortals, you wouldn't have noticed anything. But since you can't leave, it means you must be witches. They're the only ones who are prevented from leaving the town. Other than those who live here."

"What do you mean we're the ones you've been looking for?" asked Piper. "Just who are you?"

"I told you," said Logan, "I'm Robert Logan IV. Constance, be a dear and fill them in on the local gossip. When she's finished, come to my home. It's at the edge of town. You can't miss it. We have some business to conduct. When we're finished, you'll be free to go on your way."

Logan didn't say another word. He simply turned and left the hotel. Piper, Phoebe, and Paige turned and looked at Constance.