TWO

"What do you mean he flew?" Leo asked. "People can't fly."

"I know that," said Prue. "But Phoebe and Cole saw the footage, too. The man just rose off the ground and flew away. He has to be some kind of magical being only he's not even trying to hide his magic."

"You said the police said it was probably just a stunt for a new movie," said Leo.

"That's what the newscaster reported," said Phoebe.

"That was probably it then," said Leo. "Just a stunt to promote an upcoming movie, that's all."

"I don't know, Leo," said Cole. "I've known some people who could fly. It looked genuine to me. There weren't any wires or cables that I could see. Besides, no production company has taken credit for it. If it was a stunt why haven't they come forward to say something?"

"To build up suspense," said Piper. "You know, they pull a few stunts like this until the public is talking about it everywhere. Then they announce the release of the movie and get all that free publicity."

"What if you're wrong?" Prue asked. "Leo, you can find out if this is a stunt or if someone is using magic in public. You can check and see if the Elders know anything."

"About a stunt?" Leo asked. "I think you're overreacting."

"They're right, Leo, and you know it," said Cole. "This might just be a stunt like the police say. But what if it isn't? What if it is someone, or something, using their magic in public? They could expose magic to the mortal world. That would be disastrous for all of us."

"Well, I don't suppose it could hurt to ask," said Leo.

"Good," said Phoebe. "I'm going to call Darryl and see if he knows anything."

"I can check a few places, too," said Cole. "Even if the Elders don't know anything it might be something demonically related. I'd have a better chance of finding out about it than Leo would."

"Just be careful," said Phoebe. "Those bounty hunters are still after you."

"I will," said Cole.

"Well, I can't really go hunting someone down until I learn to control this new power," said Piper. "I'll check the Book of Shadows to see if this guy is in there. What did he look like?"

"Can't say," said Phoebe. "He was wearing a mask."

"A mask?" Leo questioned.

"Yes, a mask," said Prue. "Just like in those silly cartoons Phoebe used to watch when we were kids. He had a blue and white costume complete with a cape. And a mask that covered his face."

"That's not much to go on," said Leo.

"It's all we have," said Prue. "If it is someone using their magic in public we have to find them and stop them. There's no telling what might happen if he exposes magic to the mortal world."

"I'll let you know what I find out as soon as I can," said Leo.

"And I'll be back as soon as I can," said Cole.

Leo orbed out of the kitchen as Cole shimmered away. Phoebe headed for the phone in the living room and Piper headed for the Book of Shadows in the attic. Prue sat in the kitchen considering what might happen if magic were suddenly exposed to humans. The ramifications of that were not pleasant.

When Cole shimmered back into the manor Leo had all ready returned. They were sitting in the kitchen talking as Cole entered the kitchen. Cole sat down next to Phoebe.

"Well," said Cole, "there doesn't seem to be any demonic activity behind this little stunt. None of the demons I spoke with knew anything about this."

"Same here," said Leo. "The Elders haven't noticed any unusual magical activity lately."

"As I told them all ready," said Phoebe, "Darryl had some information on him. The police have been getting reports on him for the past two weeks. At first they thought they were a bunch of crank reports. But after that footage aired today they're starting to take the reports seriously."

"So it's not a stunt for a movie?" Cole asked.

"Not as far as the police can determine," said Phoebe. "Apparently this guy appears out of nowhere. He's been thwarting mostly petty crimes so far. Purse snatchings, muggings, that sort of thing. And witnesses say he calls himself the Blue Avenger."

"The Blue Avenger?" Cole questioned. "This guy actually thinks he's a superhero?"

"Apparently," said Piper. "And Phoebe said the guy seems to be escalating. That footage on television was shot just after the guy foiled an attempted kidnapping."

"He's getting bolder," said Cole. "Not unlike a serial killer. The better he gets and the more comfortable he becomes with his craft the bolder he gets."

"You're comparing this guy to a serial killer?" Prue asked.

"No," said Cole. "I'm comparing his method with a serial killer. Apparently this guy is trying to help people so I seriously doubt if he's a serial killer."

"Well," said Piper, "he apparently has some kind of supernatural abilities. We all saw him fly on that videotape on the news. And according to Darryl, he's exhibited other abilities as well."

"Like what?" Cole asked.

"Like appearing out of nowhere," said Phoebe. "Then disappearing just as mysteriously as he appeared. And a couple of the witnesses said he had some kind of telekinetic ability."

"So," said Leo, "we have someone with apparent magical abilities who's going around trying to help people. And no indication who he really is from either the Elders or the underworld. Where does that leave us?"

"Well, I can't see there's really a problem," said Phoebe. "Like you said, he's helping people. There can't be any harm in that."

"Except that he's exposing magic to the mortal world," said Leo. "And that could be dangerous for everyone."

"Especially him," said Cole.

"What do you mean?" Piper asked.

"You said that Darryl told you the guy was escalating," said Cole.

"Yeah, so?" questioned Phoebe.

"So," said Cole, "even if this guy does have some kind of magical abilities, I doubt if he's invulnerable. One of these times he's going to come up against someone with a knife or gun. And when that happens the consequences could be tragic."

"He could get killed," said Phoebe.

"Or get someone else killed," said Cole. "Maybe the very person he's trying to protect. Or even an innocent bystander. Which means we have to find him as soon as possible. Before something terrible happens."