Piper paced back and forth in the attic as Phoebe flipped from one page to the next. She had been at it non-stop since they had returned from the docks. Piper had lost track of how many times her sister had stopped and read a page and then continued through the BOS. She had even lost track the number of times Phoebe had gotten to the end and started over again. All that she heard was the turning of the pages as Phoebe flipped again. She was drawn from her thoughts as Prue interrupted them both.

"I got it. I think." She added at the end as she made her way across the attic.

Prue set down the old book that she had brought with her and placed her finger on the part she wanted her sisters to read. "Here read this." She said as she herself re-read the piece she had found.

Piper and Phoebe both started to read aloud as they followed what Prue was showing them.

"The year is 1692 and I fear that my vision has come true and that my friend has gotten herself into trouble. The kind of trouble that it is now too late to turn back from. But we must all be careful to what we say or do to help her if we can. For the people here are not used to change. I had just given birth to my darling little girl Prudence, almost a year ago, yet I still fear for her life. Even at a young age she could be found out as a witch and therefore brought to death. I will teach her the ways of the Wicca and she will then lead her natural born destiny. For I for saw a great future for my family, but it depends on her life continuing."

Winter 1690-91:

"Melinda we must defend ourselves of these accusations."

"What can we do? None of us can go and start telling every one in town what we believe. We must be cautious."

"Why? What are we all afraid of?"

"It is not what we are afraid, it is what they do not know. We all know that they are afraid of things they do not understand, and our way is strange to them."

"Then we can always change that. We are witches after all. What can't we do?"

"First we must be very careful. I heard the women in the village the other day talking about strange happenings around their farm."

"They have no reason to fear us."

"We know that, but his is a New World and new people. Some react different then others, and from what we have heard there is no acceptance to change or things they do not understand."

"But together we are strong."

"Yes we are. But we are weak when we are dead, which is what we will be if we show force. We must learn to blend in with our neighbours. Not draw suspicion to each other." She explained. "We are here to protect the innocents from evil. Not become evil ourselves by hurting or scaring them."

They all listened to what she said. For most she had made sense, but to a few she was wrong. They had powers and they were powers that some of them were not afraid to use.

--- ----

"Martha what are we to do?"

"Well I will not let this be. Melinda thinks we should blend in, be normal. It was not what I was meant to do. She tells of her future children and what they will accomplish. But it is I that is meant for those."

"Martha we can not harm one of our own."

"No? Why not?"

Martha's husband looked at her and saw the gleam in her eye. They had both walked a dangerous line between good and evil. How far to what side would they travel neither knew. What they did now was that their destiny was not the same as the rest in their coven.

--- ----

Melinda sat and listened to her friends speak. Could what they said be true? Could one of them be stepping through a door that could change all of their lives?

"We must stop her Melinda. She will get us all killed."

"Even now the towns folks are getting suspicious of all women."

"What can we do to stop her? We can not harm her. And we are not strong enough to strip her of her powers."

"You could be."

Melinda looked over at Rachel and closed her eyes.

"I can not do it Rachel. Even I am not that strong. Though one day my line will be the strongest, but it is not that time yet. All we can do is watch her and be warned when she does anything that leads her to the side of evil. For only then can we stop her actions."

"What of her husband?"

"The same to him. But I feel in him a change already. He is already lost."

"Are you saying he is a warlock?"

Melinda looked up from the spot on the table she was starring at. "Yes. Though not very strong yet."

"But he has shown no signs."

"Even he does not know. He is at the start of his change,"

"You had a vision did you not?"

"Yes I did. And I fear that you are all right. Eventually Martha and her husband will betray us. And when they do we will all fear for our lives and those we are meant to protect." She finished as she placed her hand lightly on her stomach doing what she could then to protect her unborn child.

--- ----

"Martha we must..."

"Not yet. I want to see the child and the joy in her face before we do anything. Then I can take what she holds most dear."

"But if the child is born the prophecy will start and he will not be happy."

"The prophecy will not start because I will kill the child before it finishes it first day. And then there will be no prophecy."

They had managed to keep their new following from the others. But he feared that soon they would be found out.

--- ----

The scream of pain could be heard throughout the small part of town. Though it was the sound that many knew.

"Ok Melinda, one more push."

"I ca not." Melinda pleaded as she felt the damp cloth on her forehead as her friend, Rachel, wiped away her perspiration.

The pain had gone on for what seemed like hours. Many had come to make the delivery as painless as possible, but the child inside had other plans.

"Yes you can. Come on now one more and it's over. I can see the head already." Martha exclaimed as she coached on Melinda.

--- ----

The months had gone by and they had all carried on their duties as normal. But that summer the rumours started again about the devil in their small town. Some young women and girls had spoken of horrors that they had seen or felt. Some women would feel the looks that other would give them as they walked down the street. Some had just left town fearing what would happen.

--- ----

The friendships that had been formed were once again as strong as ever. She had beside her her two dearest friends, while outside her husband paced with his friends, laughing at his anxiousness.

Though the next sound was one he was waiting for. The sounds of a crying baby. He smiled at his friends as he waited for word on girl or boy.

"Oh Melinda. She's beautiful." Martha cradled the small child in her arms. A child that could destroy them all if she lived. "Look what you have given us. Your destiny."

Melinda looked up at the child in Martha's arms. There was a tone in her friends voice that she wasn't sure of. It sounded almost evil. "Martha please. Can I see her."

"Why certainly dear." She held the baby, now wrapped in a blanket, so that Melinda could just see her. "Look, but you can not have. For she is the start of the prophecy. One that we can not let go on."

"Martha what are you talking about? Give the child to Melinda." Rachel said as she too got worried for the safety of them all.

"No. I do not think that is a good idea. I have a powerful friend who does not want to see this prophecy come true. For it is one that will eventually destroy him and all he has done." She stated with a now evil smile, as she reached for the knife that sat on the counter of the small kitchen.

"Martha NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Melinda cried out.

Rachel sprang up and went to do something to save the child as Melinda's husband came crashing in. Reaching forward quickly he grabbed the child from Martha's arms and placed himself between his newborn child and the knife that was coming down.