NINETEEN
"Prue," cried Piper, tears coming to her eyes.
She began to move toward her older sister, almost involuntarily. Cole reached out and took her by the arm keeping her from moving to the figure in front of them.
"Piper, that's not Prue," said Cole. "I can't explain it but I know that's not your sister."
"You demon friend if correct," said Prue. "I have taken this form because you are familiar with it. You are comfortable with it. It holds meaning for you. It is my hope that by taking this form it will help to alleviate some of your apprehension."
"It's just that you look so much like her," said Piper. "And she's been gone a long time."
"I may take whatever form I choose," said Prue. "Taking the form of a loved one often puts those who come to me at ease."
"So, you can read our minds?" Paige asked. "That's the only way you'd know what Prue looked like."
"Not exactly," said Prue. "I can sense things in other beings. My power allows them to see me in whatever form is most appealing. You sister thinks of this form quite often. It holds a special place for her."
"She was my sister," said Piper. "She helped hold our family together."
"And now she is gone," said Prue. "As is the natural order. The old must give way to the new."
"Piper," said Leo, "Phoebe. We came here to find Phoebe, remember?"
"Yes," said Piper. "We were told that you know everything that goes on in this realm."
"That is one of my functions," said Prue.
"Then you must know about Gastion," said Cole. "You know I'm a demon so you must also be aware that he is, too."
"Yes," said Prue. "The one you call Gastion calls himself Lemteck in this realm."
"Then you must also know he has our sister," said Piper. "He kidnapped her from our house and brought her here. We want her back."
"And you have sought me out to aid you in this matter," said Prue.
"Yes," said Paige. "We were told you'd know where she is. And how to get back to our own realm."
"Then you must choose," said Prue, glancing slightly at Margaret. "You came to this place together. You are allowed one question. If I answer your question I may ask one favor in return."
"What?" Leo questioned. "Only one question. That hardly seems fair."
"All who come seeking my aid have many questions," said Prue. "All receive the same assistance. I will answer one question. But only one."
"Well," said Piper, "I guess the most important thing is that we find Phoebe. Once we do we can find out own way home."
"What if we can't?" Paige asked. "It might be easier to find Phoebe than finding a portal back to our own realm."
"Gastion will know how to get back," said Cole. "Besides, we can locate the portal that brought Margaret here and use it to get back."
"You labor under a false impression," said Prue.
"What do you mean?" Leo asked.
"The one you call Gastion is demon," said Prue. "His power allows him to move between realms. But it will be of no use to you. He may move only himself; no one else. And the portals to this realm work in only one direction. You may enter through one or leave through one. You may not do both."
"You mean we can't use the portal that brought Margaret here to get back?" Piper asked.
"That is correct," said Prue.
"Which means," said Cole, "that we have no way of knowing how to get back. And it could take years to find one of these portals. Or never. And we'd be trapped here forever."
"So that means we have a choice to make," said Piper. "Get a way out of this place and risk never finding Phoebe."
"Or find Phoebe and be stuck here forever," said Paige. "And probably end up the property of some demonis. And eventually the guest of honor at one of their donlos."
"Prue," cried Piper, tears coming to her eyes.
She began to move toward her older sister, almost involuntarily. Cole reached out and took her by the arm keeping her from moving to the figure in front of them.
"Piper, that's not Prue," said Cole. "I can't explain it but I know that's not your sister."
"You demon friend if correct," said Prue. "I have taken this form because you are familiar with it. You are comfortable with it. It holds meaning for you. It is my hope that by taking this form it will help to alleviate some of your apprehension."
"It's just that you look so much like her," said Piper. "And she's been gone a long time."
"I may take whatever form I choose," said Prue. "Taking the form of a loved one often puts those who come to me at ease."
"So, you can read our minds?" Paige asked. "That's the only way you'd know what Prue looked like."
"Not exactly," said Prue. "I can sense things in other beings. My power allows them to see me in whatever form is most appealing. You sister thinks of this form quite often. It holds a special place for her."
"She was my sister," said Piper. "She helped hold our family together."
"And now she is gone," said Prue. "As is the natural order. The old must give way to the new."
"Piper," said Leo, "Phoebe. We came here to find Phoebe, remember?"
"Yes," said Piper. "We were told that you know everything that goes on in this realm."
"That is one of my functions," said Prue.
"Then you must know about Gastion," said Cole. "You know I'm a demon so you must also be aware that he is, too."
"Yes," said Prue. "The one you call Gastion calls himself Lemteck in this realm."
"Then you must also know he has our sister," said Piper. "He kidnapped her from our house and brought her here. We want her back."
"And you have sought me out to aid you in this matter," said Prue.
"Yes," said Paige. "We were told you'd know where she is. And how to get back to our own realm."
"Then you must choose," said Prue, glancing slightly at Margaret. "You came to this place together. You are allowed one question. If I answer your question I may ask one favor in return."
"What?" Leo questioned. "Only one question. That hardly seems fair."
"All who come seeking my aid have many questions," said Prue. "All receive the same assistance. I will answer one question. But only one."
"Well," said Piper, "I guess the most important thing is that we find Phoebe. Once we do we can find out own way home."
"What if we can't?" Paige asked. "It might be easier to find Phoebe than finding a portal back to our own realm."
"Gastion will know how to get back," said Cole. "Besides, we can locate the portal that brought Margaret here and use it to get back."
"You labor under a false impression," said Prue.
"What do you mean?" Leo asked.
"The one you call Gastion is demon," said Prue. "His power allows him to move between realms. But it will be of no use to you. He may move only himself; no one else. And the portals to this realm work in only one direction. You may enter through one or leave through one. You may not do both."
"You mean we can't use the portal that brought Margaret here to get back?" Piper asked.
"That is correct," said Prue.
"Which means," said Cole, "that we have no way of knowing how to get back. And it could take years to find one of these portals. Or never. And we'd be trapped here forever."
"So that means we have a choice to make," said Piper. "Get a way out of this place and risk never finding Phoebe."
"Or find Phoebe and be stuck here forever," said Paige. "And probably end up the property of some demonis. And eventually the guest of honor at one of their donlos."