"Who are you?" demanded Piper as Paige and Phoebe stood up and took positions next to her.
"I don't think he's a ghost," Phoebe said. "He's not transparent. And he isn't glowing."
"Oh, I'm no ghost, rest assured of that," said the man.
He appeared to be about middle age. He was wearing a dark suit and tie and appeared to be like any other man the sisters might see on the streets of San Francisco. They all noticed, however, that he was exceptionally good looking. Which didn't distract them from the fact that he had simply walked through the wall of their home.
"This is a very nice house you have here," he said, smiling. "I've never been here personally but I've heard so much about it. I can see what I heard weren't exaggerations."
"Who are you and what do you want?" demanded Piper.
"You'll learn who I am in due course," said the man. "As for what I want, I would think that would be apparent. I want the three of you, of course."
"Well, you got us," Paige said. "But you're about to be sorry you did."
"I don't think so," said the man. "I wouldn't have thought that three sisters who fight between themselves as much as you do would have lasted as long as you have. Now, when Prue was alive, I could understand it. She was the strong one. A natural born leader, that one."
"Don't mention my sisters name," Piper said. "She died protecting us. I don't know who or what you are but you don't seem to be the type to be up to any good. Now, for the last time, what do you want with us?"
"I want you dead, of course," said the man. "You've been a thorn in my side for much too long. At first I didn't think you'd last. But you seem to overcome the odds no matter how badly they are stacked against you. You're much more inventive than I would have thought."
Piper raised her hands and used her freezing power on the man. Then she turned to Phoebe.
"Phoebe," she said, "hurry and check the Book of Shadows. See if you can figure out who or what this guy is. I'll keep him frozen until you do then we can vanquish his sorry butt."
"Except that I'm not frozen," said the man. "That doesn't work on me."
"I've had enough of this," Piper said.
She raised her hands and used her explosive power on the man. But instead of exploding, the magic just passed around him harmlessly.
"I'm afraid that one doesn't work either," said the man. "I suppose Paige could try to orb me away to somewhere. Maybe a volcano or something. But she doesn't have that kind of control over her power, does she? And it wouldn't work any better than your powers do."
"Not good," Phoebe said, pulling Piper back to her. "We'd better think of something quick."
"Oh, don't worry," said the man. "I'm not quite ready to finish you just yet. First there's the matter of the baby asleep upstairs. So young and innocent. And so powerful at the same time. A young mind for me to mold after my image, so to speak. When you die, I want you to know that he shall one day be a great force for evil, his White Lighter half notwithstanding."
"You leave my baby alone you son-of-a-bitch," Piper said, clenching her teeth.
"Oh, I can't do that," said the man. "What better legacy for the Charmed Ones than to have their powerful offspring fighting on the other side. Seems a bit ironic to me. Or is that poetic? I never can seem to decide which is which."
Suddenly the man vanished from the kitchen. None of the sisters said a word. They didn't have to. They knew where the man had gone. He would be in the nursery going after Pipers' baby. As Piper and Phoebe ran for the stairs, Paige orbed immediately to Wyatt.