FIVE

"Cole, you're being very mysterious," said Phoebe as she drove past row

after row of homes. "What are we doing way out here in Oakland? There's

nothing out here except homes. Do you know someone who lives out here?"

"You might say that," said Cole. "Trust me, Phoebe. This surprise is

going to blow you away. Just have a little faith in me."

"You know I do," said Phoebe. "I just don't know why you can't tell me

what this is all about."

"Because it's a secret," said Cole. "There, that house up on the right.

Pull in the driveway. We're almost there. Pretty soon you'll know what this is

all about."

Phoebe pulled in the driveway of the house Cole had indicated. She had an

uneasy feeling about this. But she was with Cole. He would never do anything

to hurt her. Plus she was a witch. That afforded her more protection than most

people.

They got out of the car and walked up to the front door. Cole rang the

doorbell and they waited for several seconds. Suddenly the door opened and

Corlin stood inside the house.

"Corlin," said Cole, "this is Phoebe. She's been looking forward to

meeting you."

"My pleasure," said Corlin nervously. "Come in, come in. We've been

waiting for you. Everything is ready. Just come in and make yourself

comfortable."

"We?" questioned Phoebe as she and Cole entered the house. "Just who are

we?"

"Corlin and myself, of course," said Craggen, walking out of the next

room. "I've so been looking forward to meeting you, my dear. I have heard a

great deal about you."

"Okay," said Phoebe, getting a very bad feeling. "Cole, who is this?"

"His name is Sebastian Craggen," said Cole, "and he has something I need."

"What's that?" asked Phoebe.

"You, for one thing," said Corlin, grabbing Phoebe and pinning her arms

behind her back.

Phoebe struggles with him but Craggen formed an energy ball.

"Just relax, my dear," said Craggen. "This won't take too long. I must

thank Cole for bringing you here. He's made things so much easier."

"Cole?" questioned Phoebe.

"Phoebe, please," said Cole. "Everything is going to be okay. This isn't

going to take long and you're in no danger."

Phoebe couldn't answer Cole. Corlin had taken a piece of tape and placed

it over her mouth. He had also bound her hands behind her with ropes. She

struggled against the ropes but she was bound too tightly. She looked at Cole

with total confusion in her eyes. As she did, Corlin took a picture of her and

handed it to Cole.

"Now," said Craggen, "Cole, you need to return to their manor. I

shouldn't think it would be very hard to get the older sister here. Take this."

He handed Cole what looked like a rock. "I have enchanted it. Simply

concentrate on this place and it will bring both you and the witch here. Take

care, however. It can only be used a single time. Once you bring the sister

here we shall finish our business."

Cole took the rock and looked at Phoebe. There was fear in her eyes.

There was also confusion. She couldn't understand why Cole was doing this.

After everything she and her sisters had done for him and now he was doing this.

She knew that Craggen was a warlock. That didn't take any stretch of the

imagination. And Corlin was probably a warlock as well. But she couldn't

understand why Cole was doing this.

"Go now," said Craggen. "We must waste no time. We must finish this

quickly."

Cole took one more look at Phoebe. He knew what she must be thinking and

feeling. He could only hope that when this was finished, she would understand.

Craggen waved his hand again and Cole vanished from the house. Corlin led

Phoebe to the basement.