EIGHT

The girls walked into the Catholic Church the next morning. Being a weekday the church was all but deserted. They found only a single woman in the church who seemed to be cleaning.

"I remember just after we got our powers," said Piper. "I saw this program on TV telling how witches were evil and was convinced that if I entered one I'd be struck down with lightning."

"How far we've come since then," said Phoebe. "It doesn't seem to have changed much since we were here last."

"Churches don't really change all that much," said Paige. "People like familiarity in the places where they worship. It's comfortable for them."

"Well, we came here to ask Father Austin if he knew where Brendan was," said Piper. "Maybe the cleaning woman knows where he is."

They walked up to the woman who was busy wiping down the altar. As the girls walked up to her she turned and smiled at them.

"Hello," said the woman.

"Hi," said Phoebe. "We were looking for Father Austin. Can you tell us if he's around right now?"

"Yes, he's in his office," said the woman. "I think he's working on his sermon for Sunday right now."

"Do you think he'd mind if we stopped in?" Piper asked. "We haven't seen him in a few years and we'd like to say hello."

"Oh, I'm sure it will be okay," said the woman. "Father Austin never turns people away. It's right down the hall, the first door on the right."

"Thank you," said Phoebe. "We appreciate it."

They walked down the hall and found the door the woman had indicated. A sign on the door indicated it was the office. Piper reached up and knocked on the door. From inside the room a man said, "come in". She opened the door and the girls walked into the office.

"Father Austin?" questioned Piper of the man behind the desk. "The woman out front said it would be okay if we came in."

"Certainly," said the priest, rising from the desk. "I'm always available to parishioners. What can I do for you?"

"Actually," said Piper, "we were looking for Brendan Rowe. We're friends of his and we were hoping you might be able to tell us where he was."

"He's out back at the moment," said Father Austin. "He likes to spend a lot of time in the garden. He says it helps relax him."

"You mean he's at this church?" Phoebe asked.

"Yes, of course," said Father Austin. "He was assigned here right after his ordination. In fact, he made a special request to be assigned here. You look familiar. Have we met before?"

"Oh, well, we were here seven years ago when he was ordained," said Piper.

"Of course, the Halliwell sisters," said Father Austin. "I should have recognized you. He has spoken of you often. He's quite fond of you."

"Really?" questioned Phoebe. "We didn't' know that."

"Oh yes," said Father Austin. "He was very appreciative of the help you gave him with his brothers. Dreadful business. He's often said that if it wasn't for you he wouldn't have been able to resist the evil that was his birthright."

"He said that?" said Piper nervously. "I don't think we really did that much."

"Not from the way he talks," said Father Austin. "He has said on many occasions that you saved his life."

"We just wanted to stop by and see how he was doing," said Phoebe. "You said he was in the garden?"

"Yes," said Father Austin. "Just continue on down the hallway to the door at the end. Turn to your right. You can't miss him."

"Thank you, Father," said Piper.

They followed Father Austin's directions and found Brendan on his hands and knees in the garden. He was busy planting some flowers and was humming a song to himself. As the girls walked up to him he turned and saw them.

"Well, what a surprise," he said, wiping the dirt from his hands and standing up. The girls immediately noticed the priest's collar he was wearing. "It's been a very long time. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"Hello, Brendan," said Phoebe. "How are you doing?"

"Couldn't be better," he replied. "Since you were last here I've really been at peace. Where's Prue? I would have thought she would have come with you."

"Prue died about four years ago," said Piper. "She died fighting the Source."

"I'm sorry," said Brendan crossing himself. "I'll be sure to say a prayer and light a candle for her. She helped save my life."

"Brendan, this is Paige Matthews, our half sister," said Phoebe. "She's half White Lighter."

"A pleasure to meet you," said Brendan, shaking Paige's hand. "Half White Lighter? I never knew there were any of those."

"I think I'm about the only one," said Paige. "They tell me you used to be a warlock."

"Used to be being the operative term," said Brendan. "And if it weren't for them I probably would still be. Or I'd be dead. I owe them more than I could ever repay."

"Then maybe you could clear up something for us," said Piper.

"Anything," said Brendan. "Whatever I can do to help you."

"Why did you hire an alchemist to duplicate our powers?" Piper asked.

"What are you talking about?" Brendan asked. "I've never had any dealings with an alchemist. I couldn't risk it. You know how badly I wanted out of that life. I did everything I could to get out of it. It's why I became a priest. So I'd never have to worry about it again."

"That's not what our information is," said Phoebe. "Recently we had three doppelgangers come after us. Doppelgangers who were able to use our powers, including the Power of Three. After we vanquished them we backtracked them to an alchemist name Kumak. He had used our blood to give them our powers. He told us that you had hired him almost eight years ago to duplicate our powers."

"That ridiculous," said Brendan. "I've heard of Kumak but I've never met him. And I would never have hired him. Not for anything, let alone to duplicate your powers. In fact, that was about the time I left my family to get away from their evil influence."

"Kumak sounded very convincing," said Paige. "And I don't think he would lie to us."

"Well, I don't know what to tell you," said Brendan. "I don't know Kumak. And I certainly wouldn't hire anyone to hurt you."

"Well, looks like Kumak must have lied to us," said Piper. "I think we need to pay Mr. Kumak another visit and this time get the truth out of him. Let's find out who hired him to replace what was lost."

"What did you say?" Brendan questioned.

"Kumak said that the person who hired him wanted the full Power of Three," said Phoebe. "To replace what had been lost."

"Oh my," said Brendan. "I think know who did this."

"You do?" Paige asked. "Who did it?"

"My father," said Brendan. "Charles Rowe."