"My name is Itzal Sunil, and I think I can help you with your problem," he said offering Layla a deep red rose. She smiled and offered Itzal a seat. After he took a seat, she took a seat across from him.

"So Itzal why don't you tell me a little about yourself?" asked Layla.

"I have been a Warlock for many years, and have had the best training under Maurus. I was also helpful to many incarnates of the Source." He said impressively.

"My, that is such an impressive history. I think we will get along just fine, Mr. Itzal," said Layla with a smile.

"Please call me Itzal, Miss….."

"Layla, Layla Dunstan. But you can call me Layla," she replied as she sat next to Iztal.

"So what sort of deal are you proposing, Iztal?"

"I take care of your problem and you take care of mine," he said elegantly.

"Leo is there anything you can tell us about, Mercedes?" asked Piper as she gestured to the woman sitting on the sofa.

"Only that she was adapted by the Sullivan family and raised as a Witch. There is absolutely nothing about her until that time. It's like she didn't exist……"

"Or that there's something more to her," said Phoebe.

"My friend is not some evil person! I played with her for Pete's sakes!" said Paige.

"It's just that we've had some experiences with people who claim to be Witches but aren't." replied Phoebe.

"Then why don't you freeze her? You can't freeze a Witch." Paige challenged confidently.

Piper, Paige, Phoebe and Leo walked into the living room and sat down around the woman.

"So, I take it you don't believe that I'm a Witch?" she asked tentatively.

Piper tried to freeze the woman but she kept talking.

"It's not that hard to hear that you don't believe me, with your minds shouting your disbelief loudly."

"She didn't freeze," Piper whispered fiercely to Leo.

"Of course I didn't silly, what you expected….oh I see now; I guess there haven't been some pleasant experiences," she finished. She opened her mouth as if to say something but closed it and frowned. Before anyone knew what was going on, Mercedes doubled up on the sofa.

"Mercedes," said Paige as she knelt by her friend "what's wrong?"

"A Witch is in trouble. She needs your help. You need to move quickly or she'll die. Go, go or she'll die. Her name is Gwen and she's at the newspaper parking lot."

There were several cries issuing from the baby monitor and Piper turned to walk out of the room.

"I can take care of your children, go! Your sisters will need your help," said Mercedes as she stood up slowly.

Piper paused and turned around and said "How can I trust you? We don't know anything about you."

"You'll just have to trust me. Now will you please go! Gwen is really calling out for help!" she replied waving her hand.

"So what is your problem, exactly?" asked Layla.

"I have a problem with some Witches. They have some power that I need."

"That will be easy to do, as long they are not the Charmed Ones," replied Layla.

Itzal laughed and said "I have no need for their powers. The Witches who I seek are new to the Craft and shall be easy to take."

Layla looked at Itzal questioningly.

"I am an old Warlock, and I think a few of your youngsters would love to prove themselves."

Suddenly standing in front of the fireplace were several people dressed in black.

"May I present the best of my Warlock contractors, Ablem, Har, Mata, Devlin, Ara, Kindra, Zee and Nee."

Each of them bowed as their name was said. Itzal looked at each of the Warlocks standing in front of him.

"I have four new Witches that have powers I need. What I require from you is to kill the Witch and then capture the power using this athame," he said showing a platinum handled athame.

"Each of you will be divided into teams of two to go after each of the Witches. The Witches must stabbed in the abdomen in order for the athames to work properly. If you even think of stealing the powers for yourself, don't because you will be killed the instant the athame tip touches you. The athames will guide you to the Witch you need to kill. Now, any questions?"

No one said a thing which prompted Itzal to smile and say "Very, well. When I call your names please take the athame and get to work. Ablem and Mata, Har and Devlin, Ara and Kindra, and Zee and Nee."

The Warlocks took the athames and blinked to the Witches.

The sisters arrived in time to see a man and woman dressed in black chasing after a young Asian woman. In the woman's hand was a silver athame. The Asian woman let out a piercing scream which distracted the man and woman from the sisters' presence. Piper tried to blow up the man but only wounded him. Paige called for the athame and threw it at the woman causing her to disappear. The man blinked and left the athame on the ground. The young Asian woman looked at the sisters and smiled.

"I guess she heard my cries after all. I was very afraid that she hadn't heard me. I'm Gwen by the way. I really must get back to work. I hope to see you around in less stressing circumstances."

Gwen smiled again and walked into the crowded streets disappearing among the people. Paige picked up the athame and looked at it closely. She noticed a very strange design on its handle.

"Hey look at this," she said as she showed Piper and Phoebe the athame.

"We better take a look at the Book of Shadows," said Phoebe.

Paige orbed everyone back to the manor quickly. Piper headed toward the stairs but stopped when she saw Mercedes cradling Chris gently in her arms in the living room. She peeked in further and saw Leo reading Wyatt a story.

"Welcome back, I take it everything is fine," said Mercedes as she walked over to the sisters.

"Uhh...yeah, I guess so. We saved her and found this," said Paige as she showed Mercedes the athame.

"Oh dear, that's not good. Not good at all," she said as she bit her lip.