A/N: sorry for the unnecessary delay though suspense makes the sugar sweeter, yes? Same disclaimer of course. Live life for the moment!

Chapter Five Time Twister

"No, Paige, get the pillar candle. I don't want anymore fires in here." Paige retrieved the desired width candle and completed the circle. Piper eyed her sister's work. She sighed. "I don't know. Can we really risk everything for this long shot?"
"I think we have to," Paige said.
"Honey, I know you're scared but..." Phoebe paused. "But we need to protect everything we love right?"
"Yeah." Piper finally nodded. "Let's go." Phoebe finished off the spell while the other two lit the candles.
"Done," Phoebe exclaimed, "All we have to do is...oh no."
"Quick, hide the spell!" Phoebe shoved the paper into her jeans as Leo materialized in the corner of the attic.
"Girls, I have some bad news. What are you doing?"
"Unlike you," Piper began, "we are solving the problem. Phoebe, let's have that spell."
"Spell?" Leo looked all around him for the answer or a clue to their plans. "Why are you shutting me out? Piper?" He grabbed her arm. Her glare shot daggers into his heart.
"Back off," she whispered. The three women gathered in the center of the circle. Phoebe held out the spell for them to read. Leo's skin began to crawl under the strain of the heavy magic the girls were conducting.

The evil queen from times of old
Her retched reign, we end her hold
Prevent her from her bloody crime
Please take us back through ancient time

The air crackled and swirled. The ceiling above the circle of candles transformed into a vortex. All the lights in the room went out. Leo squinted his eyes. He could just make out the faint shadows of the girls. "Don't!" he screamed. Piper was the first to let go. She spun into the air. Her hair flew around her as she closed her eyes. In seconds she was gone. Leo gasped as one by one, Paige and Phoebe, disappeared. The lights revived themselves. Leo sank to the floor. "Please no." He closed his eyes...if he could only sense them. Nothing. He knew he had to think fast. With the amount they used, Ariella would be coming here. Leo cast his eyes back to the ceiling as the blue lights consumed him.