WyaRose- hey there. Thank you so much for the kind words! you really really inspire me to continue writing! Im so happy that you're loving this fic. thank you so much! Here is chapter 18 for you!
Afw- hehe, a few surprises just to build up the suspense!
Danielle- here's an update, as requested!
Everyone, thank you for reviewing my work. Here is chapter 18 for all of you! J
Chapter 18"Excuse me?" Piper said, her guards rising as well. The Book of Shadows was the most sacred of all the Halliwells' belongings. No one was allowed to touch it- absolutely no one. Not a mortal, not even a fellow witch. And most especially, not a being with three eyes who spoke in an alien language.
"I need your Book of Shadows," the Watcher simply said, without acknowledging Piper and Phoebe's alarm. "For the fulfillment of your payment for the service I have rendered."
"Uh…" Phoebe said, clearly at a loss for words. "Couldn't we settle for anything else? I thought that the payment was magic?"
"Yes," the Watcher agreed, "The required payment is indeed magic, and in this case, the magic of your Book, which is interconnected with yours. And the payment I need is in another form that you did not expect. In exchange for the information I have shared, I need magical information from the Book." She was silent, and her eyes met the gaze of the Charmed Ones. "An agreement has been made. Will you dishonor it?"
"No," Piper finally said, giving in to the Watcher's request. "To the attic then," she said quickly, before Phoebe could protest further. Leading the way to the attic, Piper turned to the Watcher and asked, "What exactly are you looking for? I thought you guys knew everything."
"We do. But I have been contacted by my sisters with a warning. There is an imminent threat," the Watcher said, tone serious and stern, "one that we believe is recognized by only one of your ancestors- a Warren witch; thus, inscribed in your Tome. A threat that will soon spread like wildfire through the magical community and will decimate us all if you do not act fast to stop it. A threat that threatens to smother the very core of good magic."
A chill ran through Phoebe's spine. "Demon?"
"We could only hope," the Watcher said solemnly.
Reaching the top of the stairway, Piper pushed the door of the attic and stepped aside to let the Watcher in. "There," she pointed at the podium where the Book of Shadows rested.
In three quick strides, the Watcher was soon standing before the Book. Almost immediately, the pages of the Book of Shadows fluttered open, as if controlled by an invisible hand. The Watcher simply looked, scanning the yellowed pages as fast as they turned.
"The Book recognizes her," Phoebe whispered to Piper.
"Mmm-hmmm," Piper said, her gaze never leaving the Watcher.
"Here," the Watcher beckoned them to come closer as the pages of the Book stopped turning. Piper and Phoebe walked closer to the Watcher, flanking her. A hand-painted portrait of three hooded and robed figures forming a circle around a cauldron greeted them. Piper gaped as she saw horns sprouting at the top of each of the figure's head. All three of them were wearing black robes, their heads bowed over the cauldron. The word TRIUMVIRATE was etched in silver ink in an intricate calligraphy on the top of the page.
"The Triumvirate," Piper read aloud, stifling the urge to shiver, "The Triumvirate is akin to the Triad only they are more powerful and more ancient, their evil and power dating back to prehistoric humans. Some covens believe that they have been lying in dormant sleep, waiting to wreak havoc upon the world. One or two members have been reported to resurface once every century or so, give or take a decade, causing massive damage and destruction. It is best to take caution when dealing with these foul creatures, for their evil magic is supremely powerful. They are experienced shapeshifters, capable of changing their forms to adapt the time and era they awaken in. Each member has his own magic, but together, they can call upon darkness that can swallow the earth."
Piper looked at the Watcher, who had suddenly gone quiet. Unbridled anger was carved into the Watcher's once peaceful face.
Inhaling deeply, the Watcher shook her head and removed her gaze from the Book, turning to the sisters. "My sisters believe that they have resurfaced once more, called upon the urge to bring upon chaos once more into this world."
"Well, then. Why don't we just put that on the to-do list? Let's see, buy orange juice, get some herbs, and what's the next in the list? Oh yeah, save the world," Phoebe said sarcastically, eyes drawn to the picture of the Triumvirate. Phoebe noticed that something red was painted on their horns. Thinking that their ancestor had used the wrong color of ink to draw the portrait, she leaned in for a closer look. Upon closer inspection, she realized, with a start, that it wasn't a mistake at all. It was blood- and in the center of the cauldron, laid a woman's head, swimming in the same red ink. "Oh my God!" she screamed, and pointed at the cauldron.
Piper followed her gaze and gasped. She shivered despite the heat, and cold sweat broke on her forehead. "When exactly are they going to resurface?"
"It is not clear to us," the Watcher said, her voice weak. "The very fabric of magic- its core and essence- has fogged and trembled, and we cannot see through the haze. Something is blocking our power, and we suspect that it is their doing. All we know is that they are going to strike. Soon."
"Oh," Phoebe simply said, still shocked from the image that she saw in the Book of Shadows. Facing the Triumvirate sent tremors of fear, and Phoebe tried her best to maintain a façade of courage and strength; but deep inside, she shook.
"It is best that you save your sister now," the Watcher advised, "and unite with her and her magic. The Power of Three is our only hope against this ev…" Before the Watcher could finish her sentence, she clutched her chest, her eyes bulging. She screamed, an ear-splitting scream. "Sister! No!" Then suddenly, the Watcher was gone, vanishing in a swirl of purple light.
Piper sprang forward, "What the? Where did she go? What happened?"
Steeling herself, Phoebe closed her eyes and blocked the image from her consciousness. However, when she opened them, her eyes turned completely white, similar to what happened to the Watcher's eyes earlier. "The Triumvirate has struck and drawn first blood, Charmed Ones," Phoebe said in a different voice, a voice loud as thunder. "Prepare yourself. A war is coming."
Piper realized that it wasn't Phoebe talking to her- it was a Watcher speaking through her sister, using her body as a messenger.
However, before Piper could press for more questions, Phoebe's body grew very still, as if frozen by Piper's powers. Almost immediately, a shadow crossed her face, and she jumped with a start, seemingly waking up from a nightmare. "Piper!" She shivered, "What happened? One minute the Watcher was warning us, then she was gone, and then I must have blacked-out or something."
"You didn't remember what happened in the last two seconds?" She looked at her sister. "The Watcher," she paused, looking for a word that defined what happened, "she jumped into your body for a couple of seconds, and you acted as a conduit for her, like a medium."
"Huh? So you mean I acted like a human crystal ball for her?"
Piper grinned, "Yeah, something like that. I think your powers are growing, Phoebes. I mean, you were able to have a premonition without even touching anything, right? And now you can channel the thoughts and energies of another magical being. Your psychic skills are growing."
"You think so?" Phoebe asked excitedly.
"Yeah, I know so," Piper nodded, "And we're going to need those powers of yours to save our sister and my husband. Let's go start with your vision, and then from there, we figure out how we get to Paige and Leo and kick the ass of whoever kidnapped them. No one messes with the Halliwells."