"This isn't going to happen," Hobart protested for the hundredth time. "If you think I'm just going to stand by and let you murder me, you're all crazy."
"We aren't going to let that happen," said Prue. "We'll find a way to fix this."
"How?" Hobart demanded. "It's been more than twenty-four hours since your friend checked with these Elders. You've checked your book a dozen times. You've talked to other witches and those white light guys. And you still haven't found anything."
"Whitelighters," said Piper, slamming a book down on the table, "they're called Whitelighters. And as Prue said, we'll find something. This isn't the first time we've had to research something. I suggest you calm down and let us work. This isn't helping."
"There may be no other choice," whispered Leo as Piper walked into the kitchen. "If you can't find some way to stop this, there may be no other alternative."
"I won't accept that," snapped Piper. "We're the Charmed Ones. We're the most powerful forces for good in history. I have to believe there has to be something we can do."
"I agree with you," said Leo. "And I don't like it any more than you do. But you aren't all-powerful. There are things you have no control over. This may be one of those instances."
"It's just so frustrating," said Piper. "All this power, everything we can do, and so far we've drawn a total blank on this. The answer is so simple. Just bind his powers. But we can't do that until he gets them, and by then we won't be able to do it."
"More correctly," said Leo, "he won't let you. He won't drink the potion to bind his powers. And since we don't know exactly when he'll get his powers a power-stripping potion won't work. By the time we realize he has his powers he'll already be insane and will probably just shimmer away."
"We could tie him up," said Piper hopefully.
"Which would be as useless as tying me up," said Leo. "If he can shimmer, the usual method of travel for demons, he'd just shimmer away. By the time he resurfaces, the potion probably won't do any good."
"I'm not going to just let someone murder him," said Piper. "I don't care what they say. We aren't murderers."
"Just keep searching," said Leo. "There are still some people I can check with. We still have almost twenty-four hours to find an answer. I have faith in you."
Piper smiled weakly as Leo orbed out. He sounded more confident than she felt. If they didn't find something soon, they may not be able to save Mr. Hobart.
Prue watched as the sun dropped lower in the sky. It was 6:47 pm. Sunset was only a few minutes away. In the past two days, they had found nothing that was of any help to them. There was nothing they could do until Hobart's powers manifested themselves. And then it would be too late to do anything.
Hobart sat in the living room fidgeting nervously. He knew he might have only a few minutes left to live. Everyone seemed to think he had to die to protect everyone else everyone. Except these three women. But he didn't see how they could protect him from all those who wanted him dead. Suddenly flames erupted in the entryway. Piper and Phoebe moved into a protective position as Mal Nosh appeared and the flames subsided.
"It is time," announced the demon.
"Down big fell," said Prue, stepping up next to her sisters. "If you think we're going to just stand by while you murder an innocent, you've got another thing coming."
"He is no innocent," said Mal Nosh. "And you are not strong enough to stand against me yet. Step aside. There is no reason for you to die this day."
The three sisters took up defensive postures, ready for the imminent attack.