FIVE
"A White Lighter?" Leo questioned after Cole and Phoebe had told the others what had happened. "Are you sure?"
"Leo, his wounds healed almost instantly," said Cole. "Exactly like a White Lighter."
"And he orbed out of the alley," said Phoebe. "Unless there's another creature that can orb, it has to be a White Lighter."
"No, White Lighters are the only ones who can orb," said Leo. "But it doesn't make any sense. No White Lighter would risk exposing magic like that. And they certainly wouldn't take on the personae of a superhero. It goes against everything the White Lighters and Elders stand for."
"Is there any other explanation?" Prue asked.
"I wish there were," said Cole. "It would explain a few things. Like how he can fly and the telekinetic ability other witnesses have described. But with the healing and the orbing there's no doubt about it. It has to be a White Lighter."
"Okay, so which one?" Piper asked.
"I'll have to check with the Elders," said Leo. "I don't know all the White Lighters. There are too many of them. But the Elders may know who this might be. But it still doesn't make any sense. Why would a White Lighter be doing this?"
"Maybe it's a White Lighter with emotional problems," suggested Phoebe.
"That's not possible," said Leo. "White Lighters don't suffer the same ailments as humans. They're immune to all diseases. And they can't suffer from mental or emotional problems."
"You think this might be some elaborate plan by the Elders?" Prue asked.
"I don't think so," said Cole. "It's not the way the Elders work. Besides, like Leo said, it risks exposing magic. The Elders wouldn't take a chance like that."
"Cole's right," said Leo. "The Elders prefer that we work quietly in the background. Remember, you three weren't even supposed to know about us. It was only my carelessness that Phoebe found out."
"And a Dark Lighter that forced you to reveal your secret to Prue and me," said Prue. "Okay, you check with the Elders, Leo. Phoebe can call Darryl again and fill him in on what's happened. Maybe with this new information he might be able to find out something new."
Leo orbed out of the kitchen immediately.
"At the very least he'll know it's not a demon," said Piper. "I get the feeling he's really nervous when demons are involved."
"Can you blame him?" Cole asked. "He's a mortal without any powers. I can imagine what he must feel knowing that demons actually exist."
"You know," said Phoebe, "the Blue Avenger kept using the word mortal."
"It would make sense," said Cole. "White Lighters' are immortal. And as you all ready know, not even that pistol can harm him permanently. That requires the poison of a Dark Lighter."
"Well, now we know why he calls himself the Blue Avenger," said Prue. "The White Lighter orbing has a blue affect. And by his own admission he's avenging the weak and innocent. The question is why?"
"Well, I still think it might be an unbalanced White Lighter," said Phoebe, "regardless of what Leo says."
"No, Leo's right," said Cole. "White Lighters' don't suffer from ailments like that. When they become White Lighters they become immune to all that."
"How do you know so much about them?" Piper asked.
"Know your enemy," said Cole. "As a demonic bounty hunter I would encounter White Lighters on occasion. It's always a good idea to know as much about your adversaries as you can."
"That makes sense," said Phoebe. "So, what is our next move?"
"We wait for Leo to get back," said Prue. "Maybe the Elders know who this rogue White Lighter is and has all ready put a stop to his antics."
"Not likely," said Piper.
Ten minutes later Leo orbed back into the manor.
"Well," he said, "the Elders don't know any more than we do. They're going to check into it, though. If it is a White Lighter masquerading as this Blue Avenger they should be able to discover who it is."
"Am I interrupting?" asked a young boy from the entryway door.
He appeared to be about eighteen years old. He was dressed casually and the look on his face indicated he was more than a little nervous. As he spoke, the sisters were instantly on their feet.
"Easy," said Leo. "This is Timothy Spears. He's a White Lighter. Timothy, what are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry to just pop in like this," said Timothy. "But I really need to talk to you, Leo. It's really important."
"Can it wait a bit?" Leo asked. "We kind of have a situation we're dealing with right now."
"It's important," said Timothy.
"Timothy has only been a White Lighter for a month," Leo explained to the others. "He was one of my charges before he became a White Lighter. And I helped train him after he became a White Lighter."
"Go on, honey," said Piper. "We still have to decide what to do next anyway. I know what it's like to be new at a job, especially one like being a White Lighter. At least he has a good mentor."
"Thank you," said Timothy. "I really am sorry for the interruption. I wouldn't have done it but this is very important and I don't know what to do."
"Don't worry about it," said Prue. "When we became witches we didn't have anyone to help us. At least you have Leo. And I know he'll do everything he can for you."
"Thank you," said Timothy.
Leo and Timothy left the kitchen and headed for the living room.
"He seems kind of timid for a White Lighter," said Prue.
"Being a White Lighter can be pretty overwhelming when you're new," said Cole. "It's not like he grew up as one. They have a lot to learn once they become a White Lighter."
"I can imagine," said Phoebe. "Leo really hasn't told us that much about it but he has intimated there was a lot to take in. And I guess they have to learn to use their powers just like we had to."
"That's true," said Cole. "And like anyone else some take to it quicker than others. In the end it all works out. They wouldn't have put him in the field unless they were sure he was ready for it. But like any new job there's a lot of on-the-job training."
"Well, back to our problem," said Prue. "Now that we know what we're dealing with we have to decide what to do about it."
"It's simple," said Cole. "We just need to identify which White Lighter it is. Then Leo can let the Elders know and they can handle it."
"That's sounds like a good idea," said Piper. "So, how do we identify which White Lighter it is?"
"We might be able to help there," said Leo as he and Timothy came back into the kitchen.
"You know which White Lighter is doing this?" Prue asked.
"Yes," said Leo. "Only if what Timothy says it's true it's not a White Lighter."
"But the healing?" Cole questioned. "He orbed. Only White Lighters can orb. It has to be a White Lighter."
"Not necessarily," said Leo. "Timothy, you need to tell them what you just told me."
"Leo," Timothy began.
"It's okay," said Leo. "They won't judge you. You can tell them."
Timothy looked at Leo then at the sisters. He sighed slightly then took a seat at the table.