TEN

"It sounds like Brendan was having a real test of faith," said Leo when the girls returned to the manor.

"Can you blame him?" Phoebe asked. "Not only are we asking him to help us find someone so we can kill them but it's his own father. I can't imagine the turmoil he must be going through."

"Well, like he said," said Paige, "it's not like we're committing murder. His father is a warlock. There's no telling how many people he's murdered. Or how many more he may murder. We're just protecting the innocent, just like Brendan said."

"No one's disputing that," said Piper. "And no matter what he may be or he may have done, he's still Brendan's father. And I think children love their father's no matter what. Even when they know their father is evil. Even though Prue held a lot of hard feelings against dad she still loved him. I can only imagine that Brendan must still love his father, too, despite the fact that he's a warlock."

"At least he's helping us now," said Phoebe. "Which means we won't have to worry about his father trying to duplicate us again. Not to mention we can get rid of a warlock in the process."

"We'd better get going," said Piper. "Brendan told us where his father is right now but there's no guarantee he'll stay there for long. And if his father learns that Brendan is helping us he may decide that his son is more trouble than he's worth."

"Don't wait up, brother-in-law," said Phoebe. "We're not sure just how long this is going to take."

"I always wait up," said Leo. "Nothing is ever going to change that."

The girls linked arms and Paige orbed them out of the manor.

"This could almost be the manor," said Phoebe as they orbed into the house where Brendan's father was staying. "The layout is a little different but it's obviously nearly as old as the manor."

"A lot of houses were built around the same time," said Piper. "Or at least rebuilt after the great quake. I imagine that a lot of the constructions companies worked on a lot of the houses. Not to mention the architects and whatever. While each on is different I imagine a lot of them have a lot of things in common as well."

"Well, Brendan said this house had been in his family almost as long as the manor has been in our family," said Paige. "I just wonder where his father is right now."

"How about right behind you"

The girls turned to see a man standing several feet behind them. He appeared to be about their father's age and he was dressed in all black, like most warlocks. His salt and pepper hair was neatly trimmed over his ears.

"Looks like I have some uninvited guests," he said. "And the Charmed Ones, no less. I guess this means you've discovered what I've been up to."

"You didn't think you could get away with it for long did you, Rowe?" Piper asked. "Your little duplicates weren't really up to the task. Copies are rarely as good as the originals."

"I suspected they might not be a match for you," said Rowe. "But then, I always had hope. And they cost me plenty. But they served their purposes."

"Look, Rowe," said Piper.

"No amenities?" questioned Rowe. "Young people are so impatient these days."

"Yeah, well we have a tendency to get that way when someone tries to kill us," said Paige.

"Oh, I didn't want to just kill you," said Rowe. "I wanted to make you suffer. To make you pay for what you did to my family. You murdered two of my sons. And caused the other one to become estranged from me. That is not something I'm likely to forget or forgive any time soon."

"Brendan was all ready estranged from you," said Phoebe. "He didn't want anything to do with your evil Power of Three. That's why he was going into the priesthood. As for murdering your other two sons, we didn't do that. Brendan did that all on his own."

"Which he wouldn't have done if not for the three of you," said Rowe.

"Hey, I wasn't even there," said Paige. "I wasn't even a Charmed One then."

"A mere technicality, my dear," said Rowe. "You're their sister. I was very displeased when I learned of the oldest sisters death. But fortunately I was able to acquire another doppelganger for you. And while my plan may not have worked out exactly as I have planned, I have the three of you here now. It saves me the trouble of having to come looking for you."

"I don't think so," said Piper, bringing up her hands and using her freezing power on Rowe.

But instead of freezing, Rowe brought up his hand and a shield appeared deflecting her power. He just smiled at the girls.

"You really didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you?" Rowe asked. "The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, as the saying goes. And just where do you think my sons powers came from?"

He raised his hand again and Piper was cast back across the room, striking the wall on the far side. She slumped to the floor slightly dazed. Phoebe and Paige rushed to her side to make sure she was okay.

"This isn't good," said Piper as her sisters helped her to her feet.

"I say we rush him," suggested Paige. "He can't stop all of us at the same time."

"That's where you're wrong my dear," said Rowe. "I've been around a long time. I'm not just a warlock. I'm a warlock priest. Oh, not as powerful as a dark priest, but powerful enough. Powerful enough to contend with the three of you, the Power of Three not withstanding."

"You're as deluded as the rest of the demons who have come up against us," said Piper. "A lot of them have thought that and we've vanquished them just like we're going to vanquish you."

""Technically warlocks are not demons," said Rowe. "We're as human as you are. And like you our powers grow as we get older. Not to mention all the powers I've been able to relieve witches of over the past few decades." He raised his hand and an energy ball suddenly flew across the room striking the wall next to the girls. Instinctively they all raised their arms to protect themselves. "Not to mention those of a demon or two. You have no idea just how powerful I am. And when you're dead and I have you powers added to mine, I'll be invincible."

"Lamp," said Paige, calling for a lamp sitting on a table next to the window.

The lamp began to orb to her and she immediately redirected the lamp toward Rowe. But the lamp never reached its target. Without even looking around Rowe raised his hand and scattered the orb, dissipating it in midair.

"Such a pathetic attempt," said Rowe. "I've studied you for the past seven years. I know what you're going to do before you do. And while my substitute Power of Three may no longer be available but do you honestly believe I would simply settle for giving such power to underlings? Kumak did much more than imbue some low level doppelgangers with your powers. Did you really think that was all an alchemist with his abilities was capable of?"

"What are you talking about?" Phoebe asked.

"Kumak was able to do something that no one was capable of doing," said Rowe. "He was able to slightly alter your blood. Oh, not much. But enough to allow it to be fused with certain other individuals to duplicate your powers. But then you all ready know that.

"But it wasn't just the doppelgangers he was able to infuse your power with. Oh, it was difficult to find just the right ones for my purpose. But I was able to locate them, of course. But the reason it was so difficult was because it wasn't just your blood the doppelgangers had to be compatible with."

Rowe raised his hand and a vase in the entryway suddenly exploded.

"It also had to be compatible with my blood," continued Rowe. "You see, the doppelgangers were the second creatures that Kumak infused your altered blood with, giving them your powers. Before that, he infused me with your blood. An act that has effectively given me your powers as well. Oh, not to the degree you have, of course. But combined with my own power it's more than enough to finish the three of you. Something I've dreamed of for the past seven years."

The girls all just stared at him. They knew from experience that Kumak had learned how to transfer their power to someone else. And apparently Rowe had acquired their powers the same way the doppelgangers had. And while it had never been tested before, they were each sure of one thing. Not even the famous Charmed Ones were capable of standing against the Power of Three. Especially in the hands of an experienced warlock such as Rowe.