"Morning!" Alyssa called out as the two Prue's were enjoying a cup of coffee in the kitchen. "Somehow I always pictured Piper down early in the kitchen cooking up breakfast."
"After our adventure, I didn't think that Piper would be up early," said Prue. "Pheebs sleeping in is not uncommon."
"Shall I see what I can come up with?" said Alyssa.
"Please!" said Prue.
Phoebe came running in. "Guys! Leo and Piper are gone! I snuck in to see why they weren't up and I found their sheets a mess and no sign of them."
"Maybe they just took off together, though it would have been nice if they left a note." said Prue.
"I think it's real cute," said Shannen.
"Not when I found this!" said Phoebe who handed Prue a small clear crystal with strange almost Arabic writing on it.
"Ah, this is wild. Have you ever seen anything like that before, Pheebs?" asked Prue.
"Oh, it's lovely though it's obviously from something up to no good," replied Shannen.
"Book of Shadows?" asked Pheebs.
"Book of Shadows!" replied Prue.
As they were heading to the attic, Holly came out. "Good morning. You'll never know how good a day without an early call feels. Hey, where's the parade going?" asked Holly.
"To the attic. Piper and Leo are missing." said Prue.
"And without Piper, we still can't get home!" said Shannen.
"Oh God! I'm coming with you!" said Holly running after them.
Phoebe starts pouring over the Book of Shadows while the others are looking on.
"That's how to use the book! She plays it like a piano," thought Alyssa.
"Ha! It's an ancient Phoenicians wizardry transport device. It appears next to something that requires transport and is used as a conduit to send the whatever there. So Piper and Leo have been kidnapped for some reason," explained Pheebs.
"By the ancient Phoenicians?" asked Shannen confused.
"No, probably some current warlock sect or demons are using the magic of these ancient wizards. Magic lasts long after the magical beings or civilization exist. That's what makes its so dangerous if it the wrong people find it," said Pheebs.
"So we need to follow them and bring them back! Shannen, Holly and Alyssa. You better stay here. We don't know what is on the far side of that transport conduit," said Prue.
Alyssa objects, "Oh, no. We're not going to be trapped here at Halliwell Manor without ever knowing what happened to you. I can take care of myself," she said as the Book of Shadows flew up and turned around.
Prue stammered. "How..?"
"Magic medallion courtesy of Leo! Besides, you could always use an extra hand or some duplicates to help with distractions!" grinned Alyssa.
"I'm in!" said Holly.
"That make's three," exclaimed Shannen.
"It's just so dangerous. We have NO idea what we're dealing with. Not a clue!" warned Prue.
"And none of us may come back!" said Pheebs sadly.
"Then CHARMED lives or dies with ALL of us!" said Alyssa.
"All right. Everyone stand in a circle, concentrateon the crystal and ooopppsss.." said Phoebe as they all turned into rainbows and were absorbed into the crystal. The crystal twinkled with white light and then became silent. Not a sound could be heard in the attic of Halliwell Manor.
Alyssa first felt cold as they materialized in a dark forbidding place. It appeared that they were in some form of a catacomb or underground in a tunnel. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and the walls were lined with coffin size outcoves dug from the wall and felled again centuries before. Alyssa started down the path pushing the cobwebs from in front of her telepathically.
"So which way is best, Phoebe?" asked Prue.
"I don't sense a better direction so follow," said Phoebe.
The five of them huddle close together while Alyssa lead the way. They walked for several hundred feet, turned a corner and continued for another several hundred feet.
"Creepier and creepier slowly winds the path!" quoted Holly.
"Poe?" asked Prue.
"Nope, me. Eight grade English. This is exactly what I was thinking of then," said Holly nervously.
The path finally opened up into a large chamber lined with marble or stone tables. On the tables lit by smelly torches were bodies that looked like death. On the far wall they found Leo and Piper also lying there. No motion, no sound.
"Are they...?" asked Shannen.
"I don't think so. They must be in suspended animation. They almost feel alive, but the skin doesn't feel like it died," said Phoebe.
"Is that you professional opinion, Doctor Pheebs?" asked Prue.
"Their skin is still smooth, limbs are still moveable. Just no sign of life. Like the very moment after death," said Pheebs. "And we've seen enough of that."
"Let's pick them up and get them to a hospital." said Shannen.
"If they are bewitched, we first have to know what it is to remove it," said Phoebe looking around for clues.
"You're the expert," said Alyssa.
"Thanks," said Phoebe smiling when they suddenly found their arms and legs bound. They couldn't move.
"What has got us?" asked Prue.
"Just a little trick I stole from a Tibetan monk. Welcome to my home. I see you have come to admire my collection. I am Stefan of Marinitina. Here I have collected magical powers from throughout the ages," announced Stefan.
He was dressed in a red robe and underneath the robe was a clean white tunic. He approached Holly and raised his hand to her head. "Nothing!"
Then Alyssa, "Nothing!"
Then Shannen. "Nothing."
Then Prue, "Telekinesis! Astral projection!"
Then Phoebe, "Premonition!"
"Not bad. Witches do not nearly have the amount of powers you find in warlocks. But you two will make an interesting addition. The powers do not last if separated from the host, so I keep the host intact until I need the power. As long as they remain in this chamber, then they have the eternal sleep," Stephan chuckled.
"And what of us?" asked Holly.
"You are of no use to me. Your death will be welcomed to you after a few hundred years of servicing my collection," he replied.
"Not if I can help it," said Prue as she concentrated on him. Nothing happened.
"All of the supernatural powers are quite asleep in here. Except for mine of course." A light appeared above two stone tables. Stephan remarked, "Please lie down on these tables. If you resist, then your bondage will get VERY painful."
Prue and Phoebe looked at each other. They struggled a bit and then went to lie down on the stone table.
"We will get out of this!" Phoebe whispered to Prue.
"I hope you're right!" said Prue as the cold got numbing and she lost consciousness and stopped breathing.
"They're dead?" asked Holly.
"No. They just don't have life. There is a distinguish that usually eludes the living. Now, are you prepared to remain and help me?" asked Stefan looking deep into their eyes.
"Yes!" replied Alyssa.
"Alyssa!" cried Shannen and Holly.