Piper held the ice pack to Leo's head as Prue paced back and forth. She had tried to scry for Phoebe the same way they had for Piper, but nothing worked.
"He's got her protected using dark magic." Leo offered his concern for the youngest Halliwell first in his mind.
"Ok then what?" Piper looked to him for guidance.
"I'll go see if they know anything." He quickly kissed Piper on the cheek and orbed out.
Piper sat on the couch and looked around at the mess that had been made. "Prue. What are we gonna do?"
Prue looked over at her sister and sat beside her on the couch, as she wrapped her arm over her shoulder.
"The last thing I said to her was in anger." Piper felt her tears start down her face as the guilt of the way she treated her sister and never getting to apologize to her took control of her emotions.
"We'll find her Piper. If he hurts her he will pay with his sorry life. He doesn't know who he is messing with." Prue comment as she held to Piper.
"Ah but I do."
Prue and Piper quickly jumped to their feet and faced the man before them.
"Where is our sister?" Prue hissed at him as she waved her hand sending him crashing into the far wall.
He stood back up though not approaching them, "If you kill me now you will never see her again."
"Where is she?" Prue asked again.
"Oh she is safe. For now. But not for long if you do not do as I tell you."
"Safe? Then whose blood is that all over our walls?" Prue shot back.
"What can I tell you? Your little sister is quite the fighter. But all I want is your powers. All of them."
"Wow, now that's original." Piper shot back at him.
He glared at her, "Come out to the desert where Piper was. We can settle this without a crowd. And don't even think about bringing your whitelighter. If I sense him even remotely around, I will kill her." He left in an orange shimmer leaving them to their thoughts.
Leo appeared soon after he left.
"What did you find out?" Prue questioned him the second her materialized.
"This guy is very powerful. And very old."
"Old like what. Like Cole old or older?" Piper asked.
"From what I understand. Older. Like King Arthur old."
"So who is it?" Prue was getting impatient. She wanted her sister back and she wanted be able to vanquish this guy when they saw him.
"Mortimer, the Kings most powerful enemy. Everyone thought that he was killed but apparently he found a loophole that let him travel to a different plane until he could get his revenge. But by the time he could King Arthur was long since dead. So he focused on a different target. He wanted revenge on witches, for it was them that helped cast him out for the King. Killing them and collecting their powers."
"And now he wants ours." Prue finished.
The three of them past a look between themselves. They all knew the story of the evil witch that King Arthur fought and defeated. Or so they thought he defeated. The fight around Excalibur was as much a myth as it was a legend to most people.
"Leo can you get the book. I have a feeling we are going to need it." Piper suggested though forgetting one thing.
"Piper, you know I can't take the book from the Manor." He looked at her sympathetically.
Prue looked out the window seeing the lights up and down the strip, "Then take us to the book and then bring us back." She said, "I want my sister back." She spoke quietly still holding her eyes to the bright lights along the street outside. Hearing the innocent people enjoying their lives as hers was turning upside down.
The pages flipped faster then any of them had seen before. And it started the second they orbed into the attic.
"I get the feeling that Grams is in a hurry." Piper said as they all stepped to the BOS seeing where the pages would stop turning.
They looked over at the spell and needed potion and quickly went to work on getting their sister back.
He watched from his throne as his fighters faced her one by one. She was good he would give her that. But he knew she could not keep that pace for long.
"You are weakening witch. Why don't you just face the truth? You are no match for my soldiers."
"Never." She gritted through her teeth as she held the sword up above her head, holding off another attack.
He stood up and waved his men away from her. "Maybe I should try you out. I mean the witch that killed Belthazor must be pretty powerful indeed." He circled around her with his hand on the hilt of his sword. Thought not yet drawing it from its sheath.
She watched him as he rounded behind her but she did not move. She just used her eyes to follow him around. She held the sword tight in her hands with the tip of it just above the ground. She was getting tired and the sword was heavier now then when she first started. But somehow she knew he would not kill her just yet.
"Your sisters don't need you, you know. You don't even have an active power. And the one you do have gets them into more trouble then I know they want or need. Prue didn't want to be a witch in the first place and now Piper is having doubts. You have brought them nothing but grief." He came along beside her, quickly and smoothly pulled his sword from its sheath. It was so smooth she almost didn't even hear it.
He moved quicker then she thought anyone could, as she moved out of the way of the slicing sword. She raised hers in her defense but he was to fast as the jagged edge tore at the flesh on her arm.
She cried out in pain and nearly dropped the sword. But she held fast as he came at her again. Though this time she was able to stop his blow.
"You learn quickly witch." he taunted, almost impressed with her skill.
She didn't buy into his act as she just watched him again.
It wasn't long before he struck again. Sending his sword across her lower leg. Cutting at the muscles and tendons that were there.
He circled her again as she kneeled on the ground clutching her leg.
"Or not. I can do this all night Phoebe. Can you? They aren't coming and until they do we are going to play cat and mouse. And right now you are very much the mouse." He moved towards her but once again she blocked his sword with hers as he brought his down to her.
She held her sword in place as he pressed harder and harder. He knew she would break eventually. If not sooner. But he was surprised when he felt the hard kick to his abdomen. One that sent him staggering backwards.
He glared at her from across the desert sands. "Well done witch." He stood his ground as they faced each other. One waiting for him to strike again and the other waiting for her to let her guard down.
He moved with precision and speed as he swung his sword at her. She raised hers to block his and spun around, away from him. He advanced again forcing her to the ground with the sword above her head and his pushing her further down as she tried to hold him back
"Nice move. You are a quick study." He sliced the air with his sword and once again making contact with her other arm.
She dropped the sword and clutched at her arm. Feeling the warmth of her blood running over her fingers. She was beat and she knew it. He stood above her and her sword was to far to reach. She looked up at him defiantly.
"I could kill you right now witch. One slice and it would all be over. You wouldn't even fell it." He moved his sword and placed it at her neck. Pressing just enough to make a small cut in her flesh.
"Hurry up Prue."
"I'm driving as fast as I can Piper."
"I know, I'm sorry. I just want to get this over with."
Prue reached over and took Pipers hand in her and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Well get her back Piper."
--- ----
He watched as the lights approached and got closer. He knew his time was near. With their powers nothing could stop him.
--- ----
"There. Stop the car." Piper was out of the car before Prue even had it at a full stop. Running through the desert she just wanted to get to Phoebe before to was to late.
Prue ran after Piper prepared for anything, but wanting the same things. Phoebe.
He watched as they got closer, "Say good night to your sisters witch." his evil laugh echoed across the sands as he brought the sword down on her.
Piper watched in horror as he raised his sword and brought it down on Phoebe. "NOOOOOOO!!!"