TWENTY

As Stuart opened the Dark Grimoire and looked down to find the page with the spell he needed, the book suddenly burst into flames. Stuart screamed in pain and dropped the book as the flames engulfed his hands, setting them afire as well.

Jessica instinctively turned to see what Stuart was screaming at. She saw him screaming in agony trying desperately but vainly to put out the conflagration that was steadily spreading up his arms. She turned back toward the sisters intent on destroying them with the energy ball she held.

Prue reacted almost instantly. She reached out with her telekinetic power and took hold of the athame sitting on the table. Then she cast the dagger at Jessica. The weapon flew across the room embedding itself in Jessica's chest all the way to the hilt. Jessica now began to scream in pain as flames erupted around her. Within moments the flames flashed and Jessica disappeared, the dagger falling to the floor.

Once again Prue used her telekinetic power on the athame sending it into Stuarts' chest. He, too, died in the same conflagration that had vanquished Jessica. Piper quickly moved over and stamped out the flames that burned on the Grimoire. Then everyone turned looking at each other, confusion on their faces.

"What happened?" questioned Phoebe. "The book didn't burst into flames when I looked through it."

"I never thought I'd use what I learned in chemistry in college," said Prue, picking up the athame.

"Chemistry?" questioned George.

"Yep," said Prue. "I never cared for that class. But it was part of the required curriculum. So I did my best in the class and then forgot about afterwards. I never thought I'd have any use for it. Jessica wasn't the only one who can set booby traps."

"Wait a minute," said Leo. "I don't understand. What does chemistry have to do with this?"

"Did you know," asked Prue, "that there are certain elements that, when you mix them together and expose them to the air, they become extremely volatile? I nearly set fire to the entire chemistry lab during one class. Boy, my professor was really pissed about that, too."

"Is that what happened?" Piper questioned, picking up the still smoldering book.

"I just coated two opposing pages with each substance," said Prue. "Then I closed the book. I knew the next time the book was opened they'd react like they did. And I used enough of both compounds to make sure the fire was a big one."

"Pretty smart, sis," said Phoebe. "I thought we were finished for sure. That's why you just stood there when Palmer opened the Grimoire. I thought you might try to take it from him or something. Or that Piper would freeze him."

"I couldn't risk that Jessica might use that energy ball," said Piper. "She said she was protected against our magic and I thought if I tried to do anything she'd just kill us."

"At least this is all over now," said Leo. "With Jessica and Stuart vanquished their plans died with them. George and I can make sure that all these items are destroyed so they will never fall into the wrong hands again."

"I want to look through this," said Piper, holding the Grimoire. "There might be something useful in it."

"Only if you're evil," said George, taking the charred book. "Trust me, Piper, the only magic in this book is evil magic. Just looking through it might contaminate you. That's why a high priestess destroys it if they get their hands on it. Leo's right. All this needs to be destroyed. We have to make sure that nothing of it remains to tempt anyone else."

"What about these?" Phoebe asked, looking over at the orbs in the cabinet. "You said they contained the souls of the victims. We can't just leave them here like this."

"Those orbs are actually very fragile," said George. "We just need to release the souls so they can move on."

"Everyone watch out," said Prue.

Prue tapped into her telekinetic power once more and the doors to the cabinet flew open. Then the orbs inside the cabinet suddenly flew across the room, shattering on the far wall. The broken glass fell to the floor as the souls inside seemed to hover in midair for a moment. Then the souls simply faded from sight as if they had never existed.

"That should do it," said Leo. "They'll be at peace now."

"Good," said Prue. "Let's get back to the manor. With Jessica and Stuart dead you should be able to orb out of the room. I'm going to build a nice big fire in the fireplace. And we have lots of stuff at the manor right now to feed it with."

"I'll join you in a bit," said George. "I want to make sure we have everything." He handed the Grimoire to Leo. "Make sure this is destroyed completely. When it is, take the ashes and scatter them somewhere where no one will ever be able to find them again."

"Sure thing," said Leo, taking the book.

"Come on, Leo," said Prue. "Let's get this done. The sooner everything is destroyed the better I'm going to feel."

The girls all linked arms as Leo orbed them out of the basement. George began to systematically search the room, and then the entire house, to make sure nothing of the warlocks' power remained.