Greed is a terrible thing…

By Alyssa Warren.

Disclaimer: I don't own charmed or any of its characters. However the characters: Doctor Frankland, Marion Frankland, Natasha, Emma, and Natasha's husband are all of my own imagination.

Authors note: This is my first fan fiction, so please read it and tell me what you think, but be kind! ( This story is set at the end of season three, or the beginning of season five. )

PROLOGUE


"So let me get this straight." Piper Halliwell said shakily.

"Me, Phoebe and Paige, are the 'Charmed ones.'?"

Leo Wyatt nodded.

"Three of the most powerful witches in existence. Together you're almost invincible, and for the last five years, you've been ridding the world of unspeakable evil."

"With my, um, magical powers?" she squeaked.

"Yeah."

Piper looked terrified; she wore the same untrusting expression as a child, who had just discovered that Santa Clause didn't exist.

"Are you okay?" he asked gently.

He gazed worriedly into her eyes, and tried to see past the usual mascara encased lashes.

Her hazel irises met his, and he watched as the fear whirled into them solidified into complete confusion.

Piper frowned at him.

"Sorry, who are you again?"

Leo could almost hear the air whooshing around between her ears.

He sighed visibly deflating.

"I'm your husband."

It was no use. She didn't remember.

With a decisive glare, he turned to Paige.

"What possessed you?" he asked weakly.

"Why the hell would you cast a memory loss spell on your own sister?"

For a second Paige didn't answer. Her translucent, pale face flushed pink, before she nervously shoved her liquorice black hair out of her eyes to look to him.

"It was an accident!" she protested.

"Piper was only supposed to forget the fact that I lost her earrings."

Hidden in the corner of the attic, Phoebe voiced her opinion.

"I think its safe to say that it backfired. Badly." She muttered.

Paige's pleas of innocence were drowned out, as Phoebe threw open the huge leather bound green book; resting on a lectern in the centre of the room. The book of shadows.

Halliwell manors cluttered, shadowy attic, easily distinguished by the discarded furniture and dusty cardboard boxes, was filled with the angry sound of Phoebe flipping frantically through the thick ageing pages.

"There's nothing here." she confirmed, carelessly letting the book drop shut.

"I told you," Paige said.

"I made the spell up."

"Then make up a reversal." Leo suggested, eyeing his completely oblivious wife, cautiously.

"I don't remember the spell." Paige pouted.

Piper looked up, ignorance glinting in her eyes.

"I know how to spell 'reversal'." She offered brightly.

Phoebe ignored her. She closed her dark eyes tightly, and concentrated hard on rhyming, She took a deep breath.

"Erm…In this night, and in this hour,

I call upon the ancient power.

Give back what was … taken,

with Paige's spell.

… Return Piper's memory,

and … let all be well."

Almost immediately, a delicate cloud of intricate golden swirls appeared and swam into Piper's eyes. They glowed for a second, before she collapsed, gasping for air, into Leos waiting arms.

"Nicely done." Paige commented, grinning at phoebe admirably.

"Yeah." Leo agreed, his worried expression relaxing slightly. But only slightly.

Concern remained etched across his face, as he carefully helped Piper stand up.

"Are you okay?"

"Am I okay?" she spluttered, clumsily detangling her soft sheet of long brown hair.

"Am I okay! …You…I… I mean yes I am okay, I-"

She dragged her furious gaze over to Paige.

"You lost my earrings!"


CHAPTER ONE
The clouded moon shone a weak, silvery glaze across the desolate car park. Distorted shadows stretched across the tarmac, and mutated leafless leaves into skeletal monsters, which towered menacingly over my lone car.

I sat watching those skeletal branches wavering in the gentle breeze for what seemed like hours. Restlessly drumming an impatient hand across the smooth leather steering wheel, I subconsciously started to sing…

"Ring o' ring of roses…"

The passenger seat door swung open, startling me. The car shook as a man climbed in. He slammed the door, and… Kissed me on the cheek.

"Hi honey." He greeted, smiling.

Ah…- I thought. –My husband?-

"A pocket full of posies…"

He was about fifty-five. A distinguished, happy looking man, who removed his glasses, and ran a hand over his greying, gracefully receding hairline.

"A tissue, a tissue…"

"What?"

He was still smiling the same idiotic smile, when I revealed the gold, emerald encrusted athame, and held it up to his throat.

Stupid man.-

"Marion? W-what are you doing?… Sweetheart?… Ma-Marion!"

Now he was starting to panic. But he didn't have the time, or the wit to move, before I forced the blade up; embedding it in his throat.

Warm blood trickled out freely, cascading down his starched white shirt; as his terrified face fixed into a distorted expression of pure horror…

"We all fall down."