Disclaimer: I do not own "Charmed" or its characters or its demons, I make zero financial profit from this nor would I like to as it is merely for fun
Something Wicca This Way Comes
Part 2
Pan came outside drinking in the morning sunshine, in stark contrast to the thunderstorm and downpour from last night. He was mildly surprised to see Phoenix sitting on the stone steps sipping coffee, dropping down to sit beside him.
"You're up early."
"I never went to sleep," Phoenix pointed out.
"Don't tell me you put on a black conical hat and spent the night flying around the neighbourhood on a broomstick?" he questioned sarcastically, "or whatever male witches do."
"The only broom I've ever had was kept in a closet beside a mop… And I never actually used it."
"So what were you doing then?"
"Reading. Is Payt around?"
"He went to work early," Pan answered feeling nervous again, "reading aloud?"
"No," Phoenix laughed, "you know according to the Book of Shadows one of our ancestors was a witch, named Melinda Warren."
"And we have a cousin who's a drunk, an aunt who's manic and a father who's invisible," Pan pointed out standing up, not really wanting to know and needing to get to the interview.
"I'm serious," Phoenix insisted jumping up and following him to his car, "she practiced powers, three powers. She could move objects with her mind, see the future and stop time. Before Melinda was burned at the stake she vowed that each generation of Warren witches would become stronger and stronger, culminating in the arrival of three siblings, brothers. Now these brothers would be the most powerful witches the world has ever known. They're good witches and I think we're those brothers."
"Look," Pan sighed getting into the car, "I know what happened last night was weird and unexplainable but we're not witches and we do not have special powers. Besides Grams wasn't a witch and as far as know neither was Mom, or Dad for that matter. So take that."
"We're the protectors of the innocent," Phoenix continued as Pan started to drive off, "we're known as the Charmed Ones!"
[-]
"There's been a change of plan," Rebecca announced and Payt forced himself to face his ex-fiancée, strongly doubting it was good news by the delighted expression on her pretty face.
"Change of plan regarding the Beals expedition?"
"The extra that you helped raise through private donations has sparked significant corporate interest," she explained brightly, "the Beals artefacts will now become part of our permanent collection."
"Well… that's terrific."
"It is. Which is why the board wants someone a little more… qualified to handle the collection from now on," Rebecca explained curtly, "you look surprised."
"I don't know why. I'm furious," he snapped, "not only have I been on this project since its inception but I'm the curator who secured the entire exhibition! You're the person a little more qualified aren't you?"
"I could hardly say no to the board of directors now, could I?" Rebecca asked with a little smirk, "but I know you'll be happy for me, after all, what's good for me is definitely good for you."
"Did you sleep with them too?"
"Why? Are you jealous Mr Halliwell?"
"Mr Halliwell? Since when did we stop being on a first name basis? When we stopped sleeping together or when I took back my engagement ring, Rebecca?"
"I didn't realize the two were mutually exclusive. Although I certainly enjoyed one better than the other, want to guess which one that was?"
"Bitch!" Payt cursed turning on his heels.
"Payt, wait," Rebecca called and for a moment he paused, "I feel like I should say something if only to avoid a lawsuit."
Angrily he stalked away obliviously.
[-]
Pan scanned his mind frantically for anything he had left to do for his recipe, everything had gone according to plan this time, he just needed to add the port. Swallowing nervously he poured the port into a measuring cup, just as the French chef returned.
"Your time is up. Let's see," Chef Moore announced grandly studying the index card, "roast pork with gratin of fennel and penn with a port giblet sauce."
"Err… Cher Moore…"
"What?" the Chef demanded moodily.
"Uh, the port-"
"Yes without the sauce it is nothing more than a salty marinara. A recipe from a woman's maganize," he interrupted, "puh!"
"But I didn't have time for-"
"Ah-ah!" he interrupted once more silencing Pan who felt his heart racing in panic and the Chef put some on his fork and went to eat it.
"B-But, but…" Pan stuttered waving his hands frantically and the other man froze, "Chef Moore? Hello?"
He waved his hands in front of the chef's face but he remained in the same position, unmoving, unblinking, Pan wasn't even sure if he was breathing. It was unbelieveable but…
He bit his lip nervously and wondered if he was a bad person for taking advantage of the situation as he filled a baster with some port and dribbled it onto the Chef's forkful. Pan tried not to jump as the Chef sprang back to life and resumed putting the food in his mouth like nothing had happened.
"Mmmm… this is very good," Chef Moore muttered and Pan felt a smile creeping onto his fact, "c'est magnifique."
[-]
"It was my idea to spark corporate interest in private donations, not only have I been with this project since its inception but we both know who really secured the entire exhibit," Rebecca lied proudly into the receiver spinning around in her chair to notice Payt, "Payt…"
"I quit."
"I'm going to have to call you back," Rebecca said quickly on the phone, hanging up in panic to turn her attention to Payt, "think about this, Payt."
"Lousy job, lousy pay, lousy boss… What's to think about?"
"Your future! Because, believe me, if you walk out with no notice you can kiss any references-"
"Don't threaten me, Rebecca," Payt interrupted in a dangerously calm tone.
"You know me. Had to try," Rebecca said with a nervous laugh, "you're hurt, you're angry, your pride is wounded. I understand all that. That's why you can't see that I'm doing you a favor."
"Excuse me?"
"I had to take the exhibit away from you. If I hadn't the board would of come and put a total stranger in my place," she explained, "think about it, Payt. I'm here for you, not some stranger. You should be thanking me, not leaving me."
"Well, I'm not worried," Payt said sounded like he meant it, "I'm certain that your intellect will make quick work of the seventy-five computer discs and thousands of pages of research I left in my office."
"You're gonna regret this," Rebecca spat threateningly.
"Oh I don't think so," Payt offered cheerfully, "I thought breaking up with you was the best thing I'd ever done but this definitely tops that. Goodbye Rebecca."
With that he turned and walked away from her, she was speechless, struggling to think of something to say.
"I hope there are no office supplies in your briefcase!" she called after him awkwardly,
She saw him pause momentarily and squeeze his hands before carrying on. She felt her necklace tightening around her neck, cutting off her airway, panicked she scrambled for some scissors and was forced to cut the thing off.
"What the hell was that?" she asked of no one in particular rubbing her neck and then gasped in horror, "that necklace cost $5,000!"
[-]
Pan hopped nervously from one foot to the other, silently willing his brother to be home. Just because he had got the job didn't make how he had gotten it any less surreal and terrifying.
"Phoenix, answer the phone, come on pick up, pick up," he begged just before it cut to answer phone. Irritably he hung it up and shuffled out of the booth, nearly jumping as he noticed his girlfriend standing their, "oh God Jerri, you scared me."
"I'm sorry, are you okay?" Jerri apologized innocently, tilting her head to one side and giving him a smile.
"Yeah, now I am," he stated encircling his arms around her and giving her a peck on the cheek, "what are you doing here though?"
"Well… I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on the new job."
"You always surprise me," Pan pointed out with a curious laugh, "how did you know?"
"You prepared your specialty, and anyone who's ever sampled your work can truly see how talented you are."
"I get so turned on when you talk about food."
"Hamburgers, pizza… cookies," Jerri invented grinning as she wrapped her arms around him as he kissed her passionately.
[-]
Phoenix rubbed his eyes and closed the Book, finally allowing himself to yawn. It was really was fascinating but at the same time he was wanted some action, he wanted to see what power he had.
Curiously he glanced at the TV remote, willing it to move but it remained motionless on the bedside table. Nothing. He turned to face it and crossed his legs, taking in a deep breath and letting it out, focusing on nothing but moving the remote. Still nothing.
"Move," he commanded waving his hands at the useless thing in frustration to no avail, sighing he snatched it up and flicked on the TV to some game show, "let's try see the future, the answer will be…?"
He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate, trying to see into the future to know the answers beforehand. After ten futile minutes he realized he glanced at the clock and tried to will time to a halt which again did nothing, he sighed frustratedly and lie back on the bed.
"This is hopeless, I don't know what I'm doing," Phoenix said aloud and frowned, "and now I'm talking to myself. Great. I need some fresh air."
On that thought he pulled on his shoes, grabbed his jacket and went to grab his bike. It felt weird to be cycling through San Francisco once more, sunlight streaming down from the golden orb in the brilliant blue sky, it felt odd to be back but still weirdly comfortable. New York had never really felt like home.
He rounded the bend and came out onto a straight bit of road, without warning he was suddenly seeing something else. He could see teenagers on rollerblades, skating right into the path of a car, crashing into them. Then it was over.
He tried to blink away the wooziness clogging his mind and steady the bike, considering himself lucky to not have fallen off. Breathing quickly he barely had time to digest what had happened before he noticed the two boys he'd just seen, rollerblading along unscathed and the car was approaching.
"NO! Wait!" he cried out riding in front of the boys, skidding and falling off his bike but it stopped them, the car honked and drove on without hitting anyone, "whoa."
[-]
Payt sighed worriedly, hoping Phoenix hadn't got himself too badly hurt, he may not be on the best terms with his youngest brother at that point but it didn't mean he wanted anything bad to happen to him. He walked over to the reception desk, not paying much attention to the woman beside him.
"Hi," he said to the receptionist, "um… I'm looking for my brother, Phoenix Halliwell?"
"One second please," the receptionist offered holding up a hand and turning to the other person, "what's the name again?"
"Inspector Angela Trudeau. Homicide," the woman informed her bluntly and Payt had to do a double take, "Dr Gordon's expecting me."
"Angie?" he wondered hardly daring to believe his luck at running into his high school sweetheart after all this time while the nurse began checking her computer.
"Payt?" the Inspector asked turning to him with a smile creeping onto her face, "I don't believe it. How are you?"
"I'm… good. How are you?"
"Fine. Just can't believe I'm running into you," Angela told him with a slight laugh.
"Yeah, I'm picking up Phoenix. He had some kind of accident."
"Is he gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, she'll be fine," Payt brushed it off, "um… what are you doing here?"
"Murder investigation," Angela stated bluntly and he nodded awkwardly, struggling to think of something that didn't make him sound stupid.
"Your brother's still in x-ray so it'll be a few minutes," the nurse informed him breaking the uncomfortable silence before turning to Angela, "Dr Gordon's office is to the left and down the hall. He's with a patient right now but you're free to wait outside his office."
"Thank you," the two said almost in unison turning away from the desk.
"Well… it's good seeing you, Payt," Angela announced offering her hand for him to take.
"Yeah… you too, Angie. Take care," he said in agreement shaking her hand before she smiled once more, that smile that always seemed to make his heart stop and slowly turned and walked away, not again, "you know Phoenix's busy, Dr Gordon's busy… Can I buy you a black cup of coffee while we wait?"
"Sure," Angela agreed turning back to him brightly and heading towards the coffee machine.
"So you're an Inspector now?" Payt commented taking out his wallet to buy the coffee.
"What can I say?" she sighed, "in any other city I'd be called detective."
"Inspector's classier."
"Liking it better already," she laughed as he handed her coffee.
"Your dad must be so proud," Payt pointed out sipping his own rather distasteful cup of coffee.
"Third generation. You bet he's happy," she told him proudly, "how about you? Taking the world by storm?"
"Well… I'm living back at Grams' house and as of an hour ago looking for work," he informed her realizing how pathetic that had to sound.
"Oh."
"I heard you moved to Portland?" he asked to change the subject.
"I'm back," she said as if it were obvious, stupid question, "you uh… still seeing Rebecca?"
"How did you know about her?" he wondered suspiciously and the detective seemed to pause to think of an answer.
"I… know people."
"You were checking up on me?"
"I wouldn't call it that."
"What would you call it?"
"Inquiring minds want to know. What can I say? I'm a detective," she pointed out and he just smiled and drank his bad coffee.
[-]
"The Chosen Ones? The Charmed Ones?" Payt repeated dubiously, "Phoenix this is insane. This is a whole new level of insane."
"Are you telling me that nothing strange happened to you today?" Phoenix asked and Payt had to suppress the desire to roll his eyes, "you didn't freeze time or move anything?"
"Rebecca took an exhibit away from me. All right look, Phoenix, I know that you think you can see the future, which is pretty ironic-"
"Since you don't think I have one? That my vision of life is cloudy compared to your perfect hell?" Phoenix ranted angrily to which Payt sighed, "even if you don't want to believe me, just once can't you trust me? Brother?"
"Phoenix, I do not have special powers. Now, where is the cream?"
No sooner had he spoken then the cream moved across the table to him, he tilted his head in surprise and watched as the cream filled up his cup of coffee. He blinked a few times but the cream was still there, scarcely believing he had done that, he had done that with his mind alone.
"Really?" Phoenix added sounding triumphant, "that looked pretty special to me."
"Oh my god. So… um… I can move things with my mind?"
"With how much you hold inside, Payt, you should be a lethal weapon by now."
"I don't believe it."
"This must mean that Pan can freeze time," Phoenix mused but Payt wasn't really listening, he reached for the nearest shot of tequila and downed it, "hey are you okay?"
"No, I'm not okay!" Payt snapped, "you turned me into witch."
"You were born one! We all were, and I think we better start to deal with it."
Payt shot his brother a dark look before standing and stalking purposely out of the building; he needed to breathe. He made into the fresh afternoon air and took a deep breath to try clear his head, he could already feel a headache coming on. He headed down the sidewalk and Phoenix finally rushed to keep up with him.
"Payt?"
"Is there anything else I should know?" Payt questioned bitterly.
"When I was looking through the Book of Shadows I saw these wood carvings," Phoenix began, "they looked like something out of a Bosch painting, all these terrifying images of three people battle different incarnations of evil."
"Evil fight evil, that's a twist."
"Actually a witch can be either good or evil," Phoenix continued excitedly and Payt did find himself somewhat relieved by this not that he'd admit it, "a good witch follows the Wiccan rede, 'an it harm none, do what ye will.' A bad witch, or a warlock, has but one goal: to kill good witches and retain their powers… Unfortunately they look regular people, they could be anyone, anywhere."
"And this has what to do with us?"
"Well in the first wood carving they were in the slumber. But in the second one, they were battling some kind of warlock. I think as long as we were in the dark about our powers we were safe. Not anymore."
"Great."
Note: Thank you to TaylorpRatliff93 and CharmedManic for reviewing, glad you're liking this so far! And message me about the RPG thing. Also added scene breaks because I realized they were vanishing on the posted chapter, hope this makes it easier to read!