Piper, Phoebe, Paige, and Victor orbed into what appeared to be an abandoned apartment. The place was a complete disaster. Most of the windows were broken out and the wallpaper had long ago begun to peel away from the walls. Debris littered the floor and what little furniture there was lay in rubbled heaps.
They were standing in back of what looked like the living room. Across the room, near the front door, stood the warlock. He turned and smiled at them as they orbed in. The little girl was nowhere to be seen.
"I was beginning to think you weren't coming," the warlock said.
"You know better than that," Victor said dispassionately. "Where's the girl?"
"She's safe," said the warlock. "For the moment. I assume you brought them for moral support."
"We're here to get the girl," Paige said. "Give her to us and maybe we won't vanquish you."
"Such brave words," said the warlock. "I'm sure Victor has told you the whole sordid story. And how your magic is useless against me. Besides, even if your magic could affect me, you can't risk the girl being hurt. She's an innocent. I believe your job is to protect the innocent."
"We just want the girl," Paige said.
"First things first," said the warlock. "First, I take Victor back with me. Once he's safely secured then I'll give you the girl."
"No deal," Piper said. "Once the girl is safe, then you can have Victor."
"What and loose the only leverage I have?" the warlock questioned. "The only reason he's here is because I have the girl. Once I let her go he has no reason to cooperate. I'm sure he's told you that. You have my word that once he's secured I'll give you the girl."
"We don't trust you," Phoebe said. "You're a warlock. Warlock's can't be trusted."
"Oh, you can trust me this time," the warlock said. "If I hurt the girl then Victor won't cooperate. It's in my best interest to make sure she's returned safe and sound."
"At least tell us where she is?" questioned Paige. "So we know she's safe."
"What?" the warlock questioned. "And have you orb out and save her? No deal. By the way, how did you accomplish that little feat? Orbing is a White Lighter ability. You're a witch."
"I'm half Whitelighter," Paige said.
"I see," said the warlock. "Handy little ability that orbing. Much better than simply blinking. I'll be glad to add it to my repertoire once I come for you. But for now we have other matters to attend to. Give me Victor and you get the girl."
"We said no deal," said Piper. "We have to make sure she's okay first."
"I'll make a deal with you," Paige said. "You tell us where she is and I won't orb out. I'll stay right here. That way you can be sure I won't save her before you have Victor."
"How do I know I can trust you?" the warlock asked.
"Come on," Paige said. "We're the good guys. If you can't trust us who can you trust?"
"No one, that's my point," said the warlock.
"She won't orb out," Victor said. "You have my word on it. Just tell them where the girl is. They're right. Unless I know the girl is safe I won't cooperate."
The warlock looked at Victor thoughtfully.
"Well, I suppose your word is good," the warlock finally said to Victor. "I'll tell you where she is. But if you orb I'll just blink away. Then I'll take another girl hostage. And next time I won't be so accommodating."
"I promised I wouldn't orb," Paige said. "I keep my word."
"Fair enough," said the warlock. "She's in the basement. She tied and gagged, of course. Couldn't have her escaping or someone hearing her cries for help. But other than that she's perfectly fine. Not even a hair out of place."
"Great," said Phoebe. "I should have her in a second."
Without warning Phoebe suddenly orbed out of the room.
"I thought Victor said this guy was intelligent," the warlock heard someone say behind him. "Seems kind of thick to me."
The warlock spun to see Piper and Phoebe standing in the open doorway behind him. He looked at the Piper and Phoebe in the doorway and then at the Piper standing in the room next to Paige. He looked again at Piper and Phoebe standing in the doorway.
"But," the warlock began to stammer.
Suddenly an object struck the warlock in the back. Flames erupted around him covering him for several moments. But the flames didn't consume him. Suddenly they flamed out leaving him apparently unharmed.
"I promised I wouldn't orb out," Paige said. "No one said anything about someone else not orbing out."
"What do you think you've accomplished?" the warlock demanded.
"Oh, just a little power stripping potion I worked up," the Piper in the hallway said. "As of now you're as powerless as any human."
"It's only temporary," the warlock gloated. "As long as I have my serum no magic can harm me permanently. In a moment I'll have my powers back and then you'll pay for your betrayal. Victor, I'm surprised at you. You know the price of betraying me. You have no one to blame but yourself."
Suddenly Chris and the little girl orbed into the room. As they orbed in the Piper in the room next to Paige suddenly changed shape. Leo stood next to Paige. The warlock looked around the room confused.
"Oh, about getting your powers back?" Piper questioned. "I wouldn't be counting too heavily on that. They won't be coming back. Now or ever. You might say I tweaked the potion a bit so that it will work even on you."
"I guess that's my cue to go get Darryl," said Leo as he orbed out of the room.
"Impossible," said the warlock. "With Victors' blood in my veins I'm immune to magic. Any magic. No matter how you tweaked your potion it won't work on me."
Victor reached out and grabbed the warlock by the collar. He lifted the warlock off the floor with one hand and stood staring into the warlock's face.
"It will if she tweaked it with my blood," Victor snarled.
"What?" the warlock gasped.
"Yeah, I figured the only way to counter the serum you use is to use the same thing against you," Piper said. "I just added some of Victors' blood to the potion. That should make it just as effective against you as it would anyone else."
"No," screamed the warlock. "This isn't possible."
"All these years," Victor snarled as Leo orbed in with Darryl. "All the pain and suffering you've caused. All with my help. And endangering an innocent girl's life for your petty schemes. I could crush you with less effort than it takes to step on a cockroach."
"Victor, don't," cried Paige.
"Don't worry," Victor said, dropping the warlock to the floor roughly. "He'll get what's coming to him. I have no intentions of hurting him." He looked down at the warlock. "But just remember. I don't age like humans do. Some day you'll get out of prison. And when you do don't forget that I'll still be here. One day you'll turn around and I'll be behind you. Inspector, he's all yours. For the time being, anyway."
"Book 'em, Danno," said Phoebe smiling.
Slightly confused Darryl pulled out a pair of handcuffs and cuffed the warlock's hands behind his back.
"Someone want to tell me what's going on?" Darryl asked. "And just what am I supposed to tell my captain about all this?"
"Come on, Darryl," Leo said, smiling. "I'll fill you in on everything you need for your report. I'm sure we can come up with a reasonable explanation that will satisfy your captain."
As Leo and Darryl took the warlock out the front door, Chris and Paige orbed everyone back to the manor.