Chapter Three
"We can't let her do this alone," Piper said, breaking the silence. She, Phoebe, Paige, and Leo were all sitting down in the living room. "She needs our support."
"Well, I can't help her," Paige said. "I really need to get going. I need to help Henry out with one of his parolees."
"I can't help either," Piper said. "I need to get to the club tonight."
"That leaves me," Phoebe said, staring at the carpet. "And Leo."
"What?" he asked. "Don't drag me into this."
"Leo, you're an ex-whitelighter/Elder, you can be of some use."
"I need to watch Wyatt and Chris," Leo said, trying to find an escape hatch.
"Bring them to the attic with us," Phoebe said, getting up and grabbing Wyatt. "We'll see you two later."
"I want my husband back in one piece," Piper said as she grabbed her jacket and car keys. Paige orbed back to Henry's office.
"Paige!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing? You can't just orb in here like that. What if someone sees you?"
"Don't worry, Henry, I've been orbing for ages. I haven't been seen once."
"I thought you said you've only had your powers for four years?"
"Let's not get technical with it," she said. "Have you had any luck finding Josh?" Josh was Henry's parolee and had recently gone missing.
"No, I haven't," Henry said. "I think he's gone back to Texas to his girlfriend's house. He was pretty steamed last time he left here."
"Why would he go to his girlfriend's?" Paige asked.
"She's the one that put him away three years ago. He had beat her up pretty bad. I think he's been pushed over the edge and this is his attempt at revenge."
"Well, we need to stop him," Paige said. "Hurry!"
"Paige, I haven't been able to contact him since yesterday morning," Henry said. "If that's where he's going, he's probably almost there, if not already there."
"Then we'll orb," she said, grabbing him and orbing away.
"What the hell?" Prue asked, sitting up. She was on the floor of some large room with a lot of books around her. "Where am I?"
"Ah, you're awake," a demon said, walking over to her.
"Who are you?" she asked. "Where am I?"
"I'm Sauran," he said, smiling. "And you're in magic school."
"Magic school?"
"Where young witches come to learn how to control and use their powers." He paused for a moment. "At least it used to be. It's demon-central now. Good magic doesn't dare step a foot here."
"Where are my sisters?" Prue asked, still confused.
"You'll be meeting up with one of them very shortly," Sauran said, chuckling. He nodded his head and a female demon emerged from the shadows behind Prue. She waved her hand and Prue fell back.
"Why don't we try scrying for Prue?" Phoebe asked.
"I've already tried," Billie said. "It didn't work, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. I think dark magic is just blocking things out."
"What about the demon?" Leo asked. "Have you tried summoning him?"
"Yes, and it also didn't work. I think there's something really powerful, besides him, that's blocking out good magic. I mean, what normal demon can reject a summoning like that?"
"I don't know," Phoebe said. "This might actually be something to look into."
"How can we check into it if we can't find the demon?" Billie asked.
"Maybe the demon will come to you," a voice said behind them. They turned around and found Sauran, another demon, and Prue standing there.
"Prue," Phoebe said softly. "You're…alive."
"You won't be when I'm through with you," Prue said, waving her arm, sending Phoebe flying into a wall. Leo, who until this point was immobilized by shock, got up and ran over to Phoebe. She waved him off and stood up.
"What's going on?" Phoebe asked. "Billie, go call Piper. Tell her to get her ass home immediately." Billie ran off to do so. "Leo, get to the boys."
"I can't leave you here alone," he said.
"You can't do anything anyways," she told him. "You're mortal now." He reluctantly left the attic, leaving Phoebe alone with two demons and one angry witch. "Prue, what are you doing?"
"Don't talk," Prue said coldly. "Fight back." Prue prepared to wave her hand, but Phoebe quickly ran out the door.
"What are you waiting for?" Sauran asked. "Go get her!"
"I-I don't want to," Prue said, rubbing her head. Sauran glared at Cjinx.
"I've been crystallized for over a century," she said. "My powers aren't fully restored yet. Plus, this is a strong witch." She concentrated all her power on Prue. Prue regained the cold look in her eye and went after her sister.
"This isn't right," Piper said. She was talking with one of her bartenders. "I had a band booked for tonight. What happened?"
"They called and cancelled," he told her. She groaned.
"I can't believe this is happening. Just make tonight karaoke night. Go set up the stuff." He left to do so, and she plopped down on a barstool. She jumped at the sound of the phone ringing. She picked it up. "P3," she said.
"Piper!" Billie yelled. "You need to get home right away! It's your sister!"
"Phoebe?" Piper asked. "Paige?"
"Prue!" Billie yelled. Piper almost dropped the phone.
"Billie, what are you talking about?"
"Prue and two other demons shimmered in here and started to attack Phoebe. You need to get back here right away."
"That's ridiculous, why would Prue attack her sister?"
"I don't know, but she did," Billie said.
"Let me talk to Phoebe," Piper demanded.
"Run, Prue's coming!" Phoebe yelled in the background.
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Prue, don't do this," Phoebe begged. Prue was cornering Billie and her in. "I'm your sister. And this…this is Billie."
"I don't think she gets it," Billie said. "I'm fighting back." Billie raised her arm, but Phoebe quickly grabbed it.
"No, I don't want to hurt her!"
"Phoebe, are you insane?" Billie asked. "She obviously wants to hurt you." Before either of them could say anything, Prue waved her arm and sent Billie flying into a wall, knocking her unconscious.
"Billie!" Phoebe yelled. She didn't know what to do. She really didn't want to attack her sister, but she had no choice. "Fine, Prue, if this is what you want." She punched Prue in the face, stunning her for a moment. Phoebe took this moment to trip her. Suddenly, another Prue appeared behind Phoebe. She waved her arm and flung Phoebe into the dining room table. The real Prue stood up next to her. "What? You could never use your powers in astral mode. In fact, you couldn't move yourself in astral mode."
"My powers have grown," Prue said. "Unlike yours'. Premonition seeing? It's almost unfair for me to kill you."
"You know, you're right," Sauran said. "Which is why I've made this serum for Phoebe to drink. It'll restore her powers of levitation and empathy." He held up a red vial. "Hardly an adversary against telekinesis and astral projection, but it's better than being totally defenseless."
"What is this?" Phoebe asked. "Some kind of game? Witch vs. witch? Charmed One vs. Charmed One? Sister vs. Sister?"
"You could call it that," Sauran said. "Let's just say I got bored and needed some entertainment. Plus, it'd kill three of you at the same time."
"You're sick!" Phoebe said. "We'll never agree to this."
"Ah, but you don't have to agree to this," Sauran said, looking at the female demon next to him. "Are you strong enough yet, Cjinx?"
"She's strong-willed," Cjinx said, "but I'm sure I can do it." She waved her hand over Phoebe's face, causing her to fall over, unconscious.