Hey Guys Chapter 6 time which means we are now over half way!

I am so sorry about the delay; I am usually very reliable with publishing on Monday evenings (AEST) however this week has just been incredibly busy. I can assure you that the next chapter will be up this Monday.

Hope you are all enjoying the story so far and thanks again for all of your comments.

The Power of Three – A Lover's Day/Night.

CHAPTER SIX – Time for dinner.

Previously on the power of three:

(Karlia): "Emerald Jewel!"

(Katya): "Noooooo!"

(Leo): "Selena's Matt?!"

(Selena): "Yes Leo! My date, my rules!"

(Leo): "I know this must be difficult for you."

(Selena): "Difficult?! This is their fault!"

(Katya): "So which witch are you? My guess the new Paige!"

(Karlia): "Bet she took good care of you."

(Katya): "What whit!"

(Matt): "Witch?"

(Philippe): "Yeah and neutral when it comes to wolves." "Oh my god, you've been compelled."

(Karlia): "What is this thing?"

(Katya): "It is a cage. Magic can get in, but no magic can get out." "Oh Constant! You'll find her escape impossible."

(Karlia): "Alec? What the hell are you doing?!"

Deep in the Power-Port basement Philippe struggled with what to tell Matt when he unfroze.

It was just like Leo to muck everything up. Aside from being their cosmic taxi per-se he had done nothing to assist their quest in finding Katya and if anything had only gotten in the way.

Looking around nervously Philippe spied the Wiccan sabbat calendar that his friend Nick had printed out for fun last year. It was amazing to think of how far he had come since that moment and he couldn't help but wonder what Nick would have to say now if he could reveal his secret to him.

As it was, Nick was already quite upset with Philippe for continuing to cancel on him at the last minute every time they planned to catch-up. It wasn't as though Philippe had wanted to do this, but every time he was moments away from leaving the house a 'power of three' emergency had risen. Naturally Philippe couldn't tell Nick the real reason he needed to cancel and so every excuse seemed to become more and more lame each time.

Recalling these moments Philippe made a mental note to not only consider Selena's objection to not having a normal life, but also to call Nick soon. After all who knew when the next demon would attack?

Just then Matt unfroze.

"I'm so so-" Matt began, continuing to finish what he had started before he had been frozen.

But noting the change of scenery stopped himself right away, glaring at Philippe.

"Neutral huh?" he spat. "If you're so neutral, what am I doing here?!"

This was all Philippe needed right now, but he knew Matt deserved an honest answer.

"Ok Matt," he began. "Honestly it wasn't my decision to bring you here, but I have to admit you are safer here then out there."

"Where am I?" Matt asked, still glaring.

"You're at my house," Philippe replied. "The Pow-…The basement of my home."

Philippe mentally praised himself for not saying 'power port' to Matt. Somehow he didn't think it would go down well if he used those words. Once again he crouched down talking quite calmly to the wolf.

"Matt, I truly am sorry for well…" he looked at Matt fully taking in the bound ropes, the jacket and the dark room. "…all of this. We just need to know what we can about Katya and then in my opinion, we can let you go."

"Don't you trust me?" Matt asked quizzically. "If you're neutral to my kind, my pack and everything else, why can't you untie me and let me get dressed?"

"Because I answer to a…higher power," Philippe finished lamely.

Surprisingly Matt actually nodded knowingly.

"I get it," he replied. "I'd do the same if my leader told me to."

"Matt please," Philippe pleaded. "Just tell me what I need to know."

"I told you…you…what's your name again?"

"Oh," Philippe replied, realizing he had never said. "I'm Philippe, Philippe Thompson."

He made to hold out his hand, but then drew it back a moment later realizing Matt wouldn't be able to shake it, being bound and all. But Matt who didn't seem to notice looked deep in thought, like he was trying to remember something.

"Philippe…Philippe," he pondered.

Then like a light bulb it hit him.

"Wait, Selena's friend?" he asked, recalling her mentioning him a few times.

"Best friend," Philippe corrected. "More like brother from another mother."

"Wait," Matt interjected. "If you're Selena's friend and she lives with you…where is she?"

"Oh good point," Philippe replied. "She's upstairs with Le-… another friend of ours trying to work out…about the Gem. Why don't you just tell me what Katya wants and then you can go see her?"

"I told you," Matt sighed. "I can't. I really, really want to. I feel like I can trust you but I've-"

"Been compelled I forgot," Philippe mumbled.

"What was that?" Matt asked, not hearing him at all.

"Ah nothing," Philippe replied. "Matt, considering you trust me, as you should, do you mind if I try a little magic? I've never tried it before but maybe I can find a way to allow you to talk."

"If it works and allows me to see Selena," Matt replied. "Of course. I feel so embarrassed and she must have so many-"

"Ye-ah," Philippe remarked freezing him instantly.

"No offence bud," he said to the frozen man. "But I don't need the whole story K?"

Then standing in front of Matt, Philippe raised his arms out in front of himself once more.

What once was bound, must now be broken

Sever the ties may the truth be spoken.

Immediately Matt unfroze.

"Questions to…ask…me," Matt finished as white orbs floated around him and then flew directly into his eyes forcing him to gasp and blink several times.

"I'm sure she does," Philippe replied smiling as the orbs disappeared. "So let's try just this once shall we…for Selena…why does Katya want wolves and vampires?"

"She..." Matt started, but then stopped momentarily surprised he could talk freely. "Wow, good spell."

"I know," Philippe replied. "Got to love magic, continue."

"She told us that she wanted to recruit wolves and vampires to protect her as we're the best protection out there."

Ok Philippe thought to himself. Surely there is much better protection then those two creatures.

"But why did your pack decide to help her?" Philippe pushed.

"She offered us a chance to come back into the fold of evil, to work with her and no longer be alone. Her plan was to unite us with the source once all of this was over."

"*"

Back upstairs in the living room the sun was slowly rising and Leo was showing Selena the files he had procured from Bloodworth mansion.

"This is amazing!" Selena cried out, looking up from what she was reading. "Listen to this: Radwick Bloodworth aged 79 who died last spring was gifted with many talents including the gift to see into the future. Many respected his gift including yours truly who was quite boldly advised of my career in the media. He had the gift of sight? Was he a-?"

"Witch?" Leo interjected. "No. But he was a psychic. As the article said he was well respected for it."

Selena smiled, placing the article into her well-organized 'read' pile and picked up a bit of parchment from the 'unread' pile that looked quite old. The edges were worn and the writing was clearly done with a quill and ink.

"Bloodworth family oath," Selena read intrigued. "No one will betray our secret lest they die a painfully excruciating death! Um ok…" she sounded-off shocked at the penalty.

"Things were more dramatic back then," Leo replied laughing slightly.

"Clearly," Selena acknowledged.

"For example," Leo continued. "A woman who spoke back to a man was tried before the court and potentially beheaded."

Selena's eyes widened at this bit of news.

"Boy am I glad to be a woman in this century," she replied.

"Yep," Leo agreed. "Despite what people say, equality has evolved greatly over the years."

"Ok," Selena chimed-in. "No need for the sister-suffragette speech; I get enough from Philippe thank you."

"Selena," Leo replied slightly offended. "As a woman you should actually appreciate what it is these women have done!"

"Have," Selena replied dismissively. "Have and moved on. Ok next…."

Placing the offending family-oath into the 'read' pile, Selena picked up another bit of old parchment from the 'unread' pile and nearly dropped it at once. Feeling excitement rise in her she turned to Leo.

"Oh my god," she said." This is it…look!"

She stood up and walked over to Leo allowing him to look at the parchment as she read.

"The Emerald Gemstone," she read before scrunching up her nose trying to make out the rest. "Skizhock…kwa-owed…est…la piece?... Leo!"

Leo chuckled slightly and took the parchment from Selena.

"Scis hoc, quod est lapis, sed in virtue magna," he read fluently.

"Yeah, easy when you've been around a million years," Selena retorted.

"It's Latin Selena," Leo smiled. "Basically it's saying 'Though it's a stone it holds the power of the great ocean. R-"

"Great Ocean?" Selena freaked. "Oh my god don't tell me Ursala from the little mermaid is going to come after us!"

"What and preach about how you're all 'poor unfortunate souls'?" Leo quipped.

"Stupid question, stupid answer," Selena mumbled. "Go on."

"Actually," Leo replied. "I think we should get Philippe, it'd be good for both of you to hear this."

Selena agreed and peeling herself up from the couch followed Leo in-toe to the basement.

"Which makes sense," Philippe could be heard saying to Matt.

"What makes sense?" Selena smiled warmly.

"Selena!" Matt cried out, before realizing once again that he was barely covered-up. "Oh…um…Philippe, could you…?"

He looked down at himself making an obvious indication.

"Oh," Philippe replied. "Of course, Selena turn around, a little decorum yeah?"

Selena turned and noting an old bed sheet nearby picked it up and thrust it out behind her. Philippe took the sheet and covered Matt up as best he could.

"Thanks," the wolf replied kindly.

"Can I turn around now?" Selena asked coyly, almost saddened that he felt the need to cover-up.

"Yep," Philippe replied. "He's good now."

As Selena turned around Leo let out a painful howl.

"Argh!" he cried almost doubling-over in pain.

"Leo!" Philippe cried, racing to his side. "What is it? Darklighter?"

"Better not be!" Selena demanded. "One evil at a time!"

"It's not," Leo cried out through the pain. "It's Karlia, she's in trouble."

Philippe made to grab his coat from Matt, but then realizing just how much more exposed he would be decided to leave it where it was and turned back to Leo.

"Ok let's get going."

"What about Matt?" Leo cried out.

"I've got him," Selena replied.

Philippe looked at her as if to say I bet you do!

"What?" she asked. "He's covered and all."

But Philippe didn't look convinced.

"Seriously Philippe, Karlia's in trouble go!"

At that Philippe realized she was right and raced directly to Leo.

"Got enough energy to orb us there?" he asked.

"Always," Leo replied clutching his stomach.

Philippe grabbed onto Leo's shoulder not wanting to worsen the pain he was clearly in.

"Any issues-" he motioned towards Selena.

"I'll holler," she replied. "Now go!"

And with that Leo orbed the two of them back to the mansion.

"*"

Back at the mansion Karlia was trying to talk sense into her date.

"Alec! Alec it's me Karlia!" she screamed as he raced towards her.

"I don't care who you are witch," he replied. "I'm thirsty and I got to say mmmm you're blood seems to hold the cure."

"Alec!" Karlia yelled out once more frantically trying to get him to realize who she was.

"Remember Luminare? Chessie? She called me 'a gorgeous girl' and-"

"Chessie?" Alec questioned. "How do you know about her? She's my cousin and even more powerful than me!"

"Chessie's a vampire?" Karlia questioned. "Wow, wouldn't have guessed that."

By now Alec was threatening close to Karlia. His fingers snaked around two of the bars and he looked into the cage. Karlia on instinct had backed right up to the back of the cage. Not that it would make too much of a difference as the cage was in the middle of this vast room and so Alec could get to her no matter where she was.

"Enough witch!" Alec cried out. "Time for dinner!"

With that Alec ripped the cage door off of its hinges as easily as though he were opening a small wooden gate and tossed it aside. It made a huge crash, but Alec unperturbed leaped up and into the cage in one swoop.

"Goodbye witch, nice knowing you!" Alec cried as he lunged at her grabbing her by the shoulders.

"Alec no!" Karlia yelled out. "I know you're good. I know you're good!"

"Hasn't anyone told you witch," Alec started. "There is no good or evil. That's just what everyone wants you to believe. There are only mortals and immortals and as you are a mortal…"

His eyes narrowed as his smile widened and Karlia knew it was all over. She hadn't even been a member of the power of three for a month yet and already she was about to die.

Alec whirled her around so that her back faced him and he quickly tossed her blonde hair aside tilting her head so that her neck lay bare and ready for him to drink and then…it happened.

Karlia felt the searing pain as Alec bit into her neck.

"Any last words?" he whispered.

"Only that," Karlia whimpered. "I wish I knew and that no matter what…I will always love you."

Just as Alec was about to drink, white and blue lights surrounded Karlia and he took a jump back being stunned by the brightness.

"Ph-Ph-Philippe?" Karlia questioned dazed by everything that had happened.

"Hey sunshine!" Philippe replied smiling as though he had just met up with her at work. "Sorry to intrude, but play time with the nice vampire is over K?"

He looked at Leo and nodded, so the white lighter held on to them both and orbed them out of the mansion and back to the power-port.

"Noooooooooooo!" Alec cried out frustrated as he saw his meal orb away.

"*"

"Selena! We're home!" Philippe called out to his friend.

He glanced up at the clock and noted that it was now 10am. They had all been awake for more than 26 hours.

Carefully he helped guide Karlia to a seat in the living room while awaiting Selena.

"What happened?" Selena asked, noticing a quite disheveled Karlia.

"I-I got bitten!" Karlia replied.

"You what?!" Selena asked. "Philippe! I thought you were going in to save her."

"I thought we did!" Philippe yelled back. "Karlia, did he drink from you?"

"Drink?" Selena asked. "She's not filled with merlot Philippe."

"It's the term vampire's use when they suck blood from humans," Leo advised now taking a seat opposite Karlia.

"No," Karlia replied. "I mean, I don't think so. I think he just-"

"Bit you," Philippe confirmed looking at her neck. "Ok well that's good. There are a few steps towards transformation and he only succeeded in one of them."

"Thanks to you guys," Karlia replied smiling at both Philippe and Leo in turn.

"Leo," Philippe called though not looking away from his friend. "A little healing, a little healing."

Leo rushed over and Philippe moved to sit next to Selena.

"And how are you missy?" he asked. "Any luck with wolf-cub?"

"Is that what you're calling him now?" she asked not knowing whether to be offended by the nickname or not.

"Thanks Leo," Karlia smiled as she rubbed her neck realizing the bite marks were now gone.

"Feeling better?" Selena asked skeptically.

"Physically yeah," Karlia replied. "But mentally no, if anything I feel worse. Who knew that our dates would just so happen to be supernatural beings?"

"Tell me about it," Selena replied. "So much for a normal life."

"And it explains why Alec could only see me at night," Karlia connected.

"And Matt during the day," Selena agreed.

Philippe walked over to Karlia and wrapped his arms around her giving her a hug.

"What are you going to do about it?" he asked cautiously.

"Well there's nothing we can do," Selena replied. "Wolves and Vampire's don't mix with witches."

"Ah, who says?" Philippe asked.

"The elders," Leo replied solemnly.

Once again Philippe felt the flame of anger against Leo's little 'con's' raging up inside of him.

"The elders?!" he raged now standing and walking right up to Leo. "Why the hell would they care if their dates are wolves or vampires?"

Karlia took this moment to scurry over to Selena. She had never seen Philippe react this way especially to Leo and she definitely didn't want to get caught in the cross-fire.

"Because Philippe," Leo replied calmly. "They're not good-"

"Not good enough?!" Philippe spat. "They're neutral Leo, it's not like they're going to try to kill us…again."

"Yes Philippe they're neutral-" Leo tried to explain again.

But Philippe was having none of it.

"Exactly," he replied turning to Selena and Karlia. "So ladies it's your choice. If you can live with it, I say keep going."

"Philippe!" Leo yelled right back at him. "Neutral is different to being good!"

"How?" Philippe demanded, now getting really pissed-off with his white-lighter.

"It's completely different!" Leo barked back. "Team Neutral are only loyal to their own kind."

Leo started flailing his arms around wildly; clearly he was passionate about this.

"Alec's not going to care if someone turns Karlia, in fact he'd be thrilled! And you know Matt won't ever betray his alpha, so one word and Selena's dead! God Philippe I thought you knew more th-"

But Philippe had, had quite enough and froze the man.

"That's more than enough out of you Mr.!" he yelled at the man.

But even looking over at Selena and Karlia, he could tell that Leo's words had certainly had an impact.

"Maybe…Maybe he's right Philippe," Selena pondered out loud.

"No Selena," Philippe replied. "The only right he is experiencing is being out of his right mind!"

He walked over to the girls.

"Matt loves you Selena," he said comfortingly, taking a seat on the coffee table and holding her hands. "I know this for a fact."

He then turned to Karlia.

"And I'm sure Alec is crazy about you," he said to Karlia hoping this was the case.

"It's true," Selena replied.

"Wait what?" Karlia asked. "How do you know, you've never talked to him about me."

"No," Selena replied standing and walking over to Leo. "But I had a premonition last night at the mansion about you two, you were kissing him right here at the power-port and you were…happy."

"Really?" Karlia couldn't help but beam.

"Really," Selena replied. "So Philippe, I know you have demons with the man you should be dating-"

"Selena I told you-" Philippe interrupted, but Selena cut him off.

"Yeah, yeah, yadda-yadda," she replied. "Hate is the opposite of love, but you're coming from the place of love Philippe."

"But-"

"No but's," Selena cut him off again. "You know that despite all his flaws this is your man. Now unfreeze him so that Karlia and I can work out how to save ours. I finally had a nice premonition and damn-it, it's going to come true."

Philippe couldn't help but smile at Selena's new found determination and in this moment, with him being frozen and all, staring up at Leo, Philippe knew she was right.

Unfreezing Leo, Philippe jumped right in.

"Ok Leo, I'm sorry. Let's agree to disagree," he said. "I hate arguing with you."

Leo laughed timidly and then turned to Selena.

"Frozen?" he asked out of the corner of his mouth.

"Little bit yeah," she replied.

But before anyone could say another word the sound of chimes could be heard followed by white and blue orbs that once disappeared were replaced with a plump well-dressed woman with shoulder-length ginger hair.

Selena's eyes widened as Karlia scratched her head trying to recall who she was.

Philippe meanwhile had daggers for this woman and froze her at once.

"Oooh I love this power!" he cried still glaring at the woman.

"Philippe!" Leo replied. "Unfreeze her right now!"

"Why? So you can speak goobly-gook and she can click away before uttering my name and clicking again?!"

"Goobly wha?" Karlia asked.

"Its-" Leo started but Philippe put his hand in front of Leo's mouth.

"Their freaked-up language!" he replied in anger. "And this one is the worst B-"

"Beautiful lady?" Leo suggested.

"Ha!" Philippe replied. "Not exactly what I was going to say."

"Philippe just unfreeze her," Karlia replied. "She'll never leave if we don't."

"Ok," Philippe sighed now slowly walking around the woman and taking in every detail.

The grey suit jacket she wore was admittedly well-fitted to her and the skirt also, but the whole outfit was quite blah. Especially when you considered the royal-god like appearance the elder's robes gave off and the ever-changing yet perfectly fitting clothes Leo chose to wear.

"But I'm warning you, one click and she freezes again, understood?"

Leo nodded tentatively and Philippe now standing behind her unfroze the woman.

"You must be the p-" she started then stopped looking at Karlia and Selena. "I thought there were meant to be three of you?"

Philippe tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hi," he replied quickly waving a hand in her face forcing her to take a step back.

"Oh hi," she replied started.

But as shocked as she seemed to be it was quickly replaced by the business like tone Philippe knew she always adopted.

"So you must be Selena," she asked Karlia.

"Ah no," Karlia replied a tad annoyed that this woman didn't know who she was. "I'm Karlia, you know, the blonde one."

"Yes," Selena chimed in. "I'm Selena, the dark-one…and you would be?"

"Why I'm-"

"Natalie," Philippe replied for her. "One of the ah-hem busiest of the bunch."

A forced smile was spread across his face and he talked through his teeth not at all hiding the disdain he had for this woman.

Back when Piper, Phoebe and Prue ruled the charmed world this woman, who had known Leo for a long time, came down to talk to the charmed ones about a darklighter she needed help with. Sadly she was very quick to scold Leo when he had simply taken a bite of a slice of toast as he was hungry. It didn't stop there however as she clicked away about all the things she despised about him pausing only to say one word in English which just so happen to be Piper's name.

Philippe had never liked her and in fact was quite thrilled when she was killed by the darklighter she was after. Now having her back, for whatever reason, was more than enough to set Philippe off. As far as he was concerned, she could take her rules and shove them up her…

"Yes," Natalie replied just as stiffly. "I am. And I have come down here for the emerald jewel. After all Leo…"

Philippe extended his arms and froze her at once.

"What?" Leo questioned.

"Really Leo?" Philippe asked. "Really?"

"What Philippe?" Karlia asked.

"FYI S and K," Philippe started. "I'm going to unfreeze this…woman…and believe me you'll hear nothing but clikety-clacking sounds…watch."

As he unfroze her they realized he was right. Natalie began to click her tongue in frequent succession while looking at Leo intimidatingly. Meanwhile Philippe was even more annoyed to see Leo click right back.

"Click, click, click," Natalie continued. "Click-click-click-click, Philippe! Click-click-"

"Stop it!" Philippe cried out over the two. "We're not together so get off your high horse Natalie!"

Natalie stopped, but looked at Philippe questioningly.

"Yes, I know all about you and your…ways…" Philippe continued. "So let's move to the one part of you I can stand, which is where you focus on the task at hand and not your billions of rules Leo doesn't follow."

Natalie made to object, but Philippe stopped her from even starting.

"And one more little click and I swear to god, out you'll go!"

He froze her quickly and turned to the others.

"Any objections?" he asked simply.

"Nope," Karlia replied.

"None here," Selena echoed.

"Good," Philippe replied unfreezing her once more.

"*"

Wow Philippe seems to be having more and more issues every moment doesn't he?

So do you think he was justified in how he reacted around her? What about Leo and Philippe, do you think they should end up together? And what will happen to Alec and Matt?

Please review and let me know, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Next time on The Power of Three: When things are crazy and everything's running amuck how can anyone expect the power of three to think straight?

(Philippe): "Every single time! I'm getting sick of it!"

(Selena): "Sick of what?"

(Katya): "You're kidding right?"

But what mistake will Selena make that could land everyone in trouble.

(Matt): "Do you trust me?"

(Selena): "I do."

And what may be harmful to others, may just be exactly what Philippe and Leo need.

(Leo): "Well I guess we can at least talk."

(Philippe): "About what?"

(Leo): "Us."

(Philippe): "Oh, yeah, good idea."

But which character is about to turn a no-win situation into one that is full of hope.

(Woman): "Hi there. I'm-…"

BEAT-BEAT-BEAT…..WHO-IS-SHE?

All new Power of Three next week.