Hey guys hope you enjoyed your magical week, while I transistioned from a 20 something writer to a thirty year old (as Grace Adler would say- oi goyam!).

Wiccancharmedguy – Thank you for your continued reviews. Yes you will find out a little more about the woman at the end of this chapter. Is she innocent or is she someone else. All will be revealed soon.

AlintaG – I'm glad you remember Natalie, she was quite snooty wasn't she. In a way I wish she could have survived only so that she could have come back once more, just to see Piper's reaction lol.

MaureenB – Yes it is a little worrying that all these demons and even whitelighters are coming back isn't it? I guess because Selena, Philippe and Karlia are new to being members of the power of three they're not questioning it. But time will tell if it's happening for a bigger reason. Good pick-up by the way.

NathanMY- Yes I think I would freeze Natalie also Nathan. Yes Philippe's issues will be explained in this chapter. Thanks for your vote to put Philippe and Leo together. A few people seem open to it. Yes I did say early on that I would do 10 stories with 10 chapters each at this point I do plan to stick to that.

ReynoldR- Karlia might want to be turned you're right. Time will tell my friend.

Ok back to the story we go….

Previously on the power of three:

(Philippe): "What once was bound must now be broken. Sever the ties may the

truth be spoken."

(Matt): "She wanted to recruit wolves and vampires as we're the best protection

out there."

(Selena, reading): "This is it! The Emerald Gemstone."

(Leo): "Basically it's saying it's a stone that holds the power of the great ocean."

(Leo, in pain): "Argh! It's Karlia, she's in trouble."

(Alec): "How do you know about Chessie?"

(Karlia): "Chessie's a vampire?"

(Karlia to Selena): "I got bitten."

(Selena): "What?!"

(Philippe): "Did he drink from you?"

(Karlia): "No."

(Selena to Karlia): "I had a premonition you were kissing him at the power-port."

(Philippe): "Selena I told you-"

(Selena referring to Leo): "You know that despite his flaws –this- is your man."

(Natalie): "I'm-"

(Philippe): "Natalie, one of the –busiest- of the bunch."

(Natalie): "I've come down here for the jewel."

CHAPTER SEVEN – Let's talk about us.

Philippe unfroze Natalie and hands on hips, glared at her, daring her to go against the rules he had just made.

"Ok," Natalie agreed testily. "Well Philippe, I'm here for the jewel."

"What?" Karlia asked. "Why? I have the power so what does it matter?"

"Hoping to keep it as a memento?" Selena whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

"Was hoping to," Karlia whispered back.

Natalie, who by now was walking up and down reminding everyone of a drill-sergeant, continued not noticing the quick back and forth at all.

"Suffice it to say the elders believe that the Jewel will be safer with them and I agree."

"Of course you do," Philippe whispered to the others.

Sadly not quietly enough.

"What was that?" Natalie asked.

"Oh nothing," Philippe replied. "Continue."

"And here I thought you were the smart one," Natalie replied, though more to herself then Philippe.

Philippe's eyes widened, shocked at the insubordination.

"So Karlia, if you could just give me the Jewel and I'll be on my way." Natalie concluded, turning to face her fellow white lighter. "And honestly Leo click-"

Instantly Philippe froze her.

"Urgh!" he couldn't help but scream, before imitating the woman out of annoyance. "I mean honestly Leo, let's click!…Guys!"

He whirled around noticing Selena and Karlia not moving.

"Jewel, get, now."

"But-" Karlia started.

"K," Philippe replied. "She has to go! She has to go right now, before I ask you to summon a guillotine so I can chop her-"

"Some carrots and make a nice a nice platter?" Leo suggested helpfully.

"Not exactly," Philippe spat.

Selena rushed off up the stairs, supposedly to look for the Jewel. While Philippe and Karlia were followed by Leo back into the living room.

"I'm sorry Leo," Philippe started taking a seat. "I know she's your friend and all but-"

"It's ok," Leo replied. "I've been through it all with Piper before; I guess she's not everyone's drink of choice."

"You guess?" Karlia replied, surprised.

In her mind she couldn't think of one person that would like this woman. She was not only way too authoritative but also didn't seem to be able to take orders herself.

"I'm just sorry we didn't think of the guillotine earlier," she smiled nudging Philippe lightly.

He smiled.

"Leo, you know I would never seriously-" he started.

"I know Philippe," Leo replied. "I know."

"Things just don't seem to work out," Karlia said. "I mean whenever something good seems to happen, crap comes up and even when we're down more crap happens."

"Every single time," Philippe replied. "I can't even begin to think of having a relationship with all this, let alone anything else I would like. I'm getting sick of it."

"Getting sick of what?" Selena asked now walking into the living room with the jewel.

"You're kidding right?" Karlia shot back, before pointing to Natalie.

"Oh Ms Bossy-boots-queen-of-mean-I-may-be-a-whitelighter-but-I-still-look-down-on-you?" Selena asked.

"That'd be the one," Karlia replied while Philippe burst out laughing.

"Well put Selena," he complimented.

"Ok here's the thing," she replied holding up the Jewel. "Philippe unfreeze, I'll give it to her and then we really need to divide and conquer."

"Agreed," Philippe replied. "Being awake for more than 24 hours makes for a very grouchy Philippe."

"And don't I know it," Selena replied, before forcibly smiling.

"Oh, because you've been a barrel of sunshine too missy," Philippe retorted forcibly smiling back.

"Exactly," Selena replied.

The pair had a quick laugh between them before Selena pointed to Natalie and Philippe unfroze her. Natalie continued clicking and Selena ran up to her noting the look of anger that could have killed anyone if Philippe had power in his eyes.

"Ok here's the jewel, happy orbing, goodbye now!" Selena said in a rush.

"Yes, thank you Selena, I should get this back." Natalie replied crisply.

She pulled on her suit coat straightening it and then orbed out.

"*"

Moments later after a quick discussion on what to do next all four were headed to the attic, Selena and Karlia in the lead. Leo had advised that they grab some holy water as it would serve as good protection against the vampires.

"Leo, I don't think I've ever made holy water," Philippe confided in him as they followed the others who were also heavily conversing.

"No, but your grams has," Leo replied smiling.

"What, sh-…" Philippe started, this point raising several questions that for now needed to be shelved. "It'd be quite old then wouldn't it?"

"The older the better," Leo replied. "It gets stronger, the longer it stands."

Meanwhile ahead of them Selena and Karlia were again sticking their noses into Philippe and Leo's future.

"So, like, not at all?" Selena asked.

"Well that's the thing," Karlia replied. "Leo said he thinks he's not into him and Philippe just said he can't even think about it with all this power of three stuff."

"He so needs a day off," Selena replied. "Seriously next time it's a power-o-two job, we have to let him go do something…normal."

"Agreed," Karlia replied.

The pair walked into the attic and looked around.

"Ah Leo," Selena called as the others were walking in. "A little supernatural mumbo jumbo locator if you please."

Leo laughed.

"It's in the chest over there," Leo replied, pointing to a chest that Philippe had never been able to open. "You'll find the key under it."

Philippe glared at Leo. How many secrets had his grams actually kept from him?

It turned out Leo was right. Karlia and Selena lifted the chest and there lying under it was indeed a brass old-fashioned key.

Philippe raced over and picked it up then after the girls put the chest back down, put it into the lock and opened it.

A violent wind came rushing out of it creating a feeling as though the attic was under attack by a vicious tornado, before the voice of his grams boomed out throughout the room.

"What is the secret to Hantuchova's success?" her voice boomed.

"What the?" Selena asked.

"Who?!" Karlia replied.

Philippe looked into the chest bravely and yelled out through the wind storm.

"Her ability to serve out-wide and drill down the line or as they call it, the old one-two."

"That answer is…correct." Came grams reply.

Instantly the wind storm flew back into the box and everything in the attic became still. As Selena looked around she noticed that so many of the attics objects had fallen to the floor and the book of shadows itself was precariously close to doing so. She walked over on pure instinct and started to pick things up and put them back. Meanwhile Karlia stared at Philippe.

"Ok what or who in the world is Hanta-Hunter-Handa-" she started.

"Hantuchova?" Philippe asked smiling back at her.

"Yeah, that…thing," Karlia replied weakly.

"She was my favourite tennis player growing up," Philippe admitted. "Grams must have known I'd come across this one day."

"She did," Leo replied. "Remember that day she asked you who your favourite was?"

"Kind of," Philippe answered. "I remember we watched her all the time from then on."

"That's why," Leo replied. "She knew you would be destined for something magical one day and so she created a magical password so-to-speak."

"Sweet!" Philippe replied without thinking. "Go Grams!"

"Yes…well…go Grams indeed," Selena chimed in continuing to put books away where they belonged. "I don't know about you guys, but I have a wolf downstairs and Karlia has a vampire running loose, so um…holy water?"

Philippe admired that Selena was picking everything up and impressed that she hadn't stopped what she was doing while talking to them.

"Oh yeah, right," Philippe replied quickly rummaging through the chest. "Um Leo, I have no idea what I am looking for."

He stood up and Karlia whispered to him.

"Are you sure? He's right there," she said referring to Leo, who fortunately was now rummaging through the chest too busy to notice.

"Nice ass don't you think?" she teased.

"Karlia," Philippe whispered back.

"Well…?" she pushed.

"Ok, well, yes," Philippe said quickly. "Now hush."

Just as they finished the back and forth banter Leo stood with five vials of the holy water.

"Here we go," he said. "You guys take two each; Selena can stay here and look after Matt."

"Selena agrees," Selena said, now stepping away from the book shelf and heading straight back down stairs.

"Ok let's…" Leo started, this time fully ready for Philippe to crush his middle which of course he did.

Karlia smiled, she knew they were getting closer to being together.

"…go," Leo finished.

Karlia touched his shoulder and the three orbed back to the mansion once more.

"*"

"I love you but you're a werewolf…I love you, but I don't exactly want to give birth to wolf cubs…I love you but…" Selena muttered thinking of Matt as she made her way back down towards the attic.

She passed through the kitchen and looked around wondering what she could give him to eat. She knew he loved crisps and so took a packet out of the cupboard.

But maybe he wants something more fresh like rare steak, did you think of that? Her cynical side asked.

Deciding it wasn't such a bad idea, she went to the fridge and took some out that she had only defrosted the day before and made her way down to the basement with both options.

"Ok so I have crisps and rare…" she began, but stopped as she noticed the sheet that was covering Matt had slipped off.

"Oh," she cried startled. "Ummm Matt, what should I do?"

The man struggled but finally said

"Could you possibly untie my hands? At least that way I can hold the damn thing."

Many would have hated the way he'd snapped, but Selena was not like others and admired that he was as sure of himself as she was.

"Yeah I think that would be best," she replied and raced to do just that.

"Thanks Selena," Matt said. "I'm so sorry you have to see me like this."

Selena finished untying his hands and Matt rubbed his wrists as they were now in a lot of pain. Selena trying very hard not to look directly at him passed the sheet to her date and he covered himself.

"Honestly I just wish we'd gotten to know each other well enough so that you could tell me," she replied. "I mean now I don't know if your intentions to date me were genuine or not."

"Selena," Matt replied, now covered once more. "I never knew what you were until Philippe told me. It was my human half that met you the wolf wasn't even present."

"Wait," Selena pondered. "So they're two separate entities?"

"Well yeah," Matt replied. "Once I've changed I have no control until I change back. Most of the time I can't even remember anything that's happened while I'm a wolf."

"So that's why you charged at us," Selena wondered out loud.

"Charged?" Matt asked. "At you?"

"Yeah you came at Philippe and me in the forest, that's why we threw a potion at you changing you back." Selena replied, not really thinking much of it.

"Oh my god Selena," Matt cried. "I'm so sorry. I would never hurt you if I could stop it."

"I'm beginning to realize that," Selena replied, not being able to help the smile that spread across her face.

She leant in and gave him a quick kiss.

"What was that for?" a pleased Matt asked.

"Knowing I can trust you," Selena replied without thinking. "It's been a while since I could trust a guy."

"Aside from Philippe?" Matt asked.

Selena walked back over to pick up the food.

"Philippe's more like the girlfriend you never had," she replied cheekily raising the food options.

"So ah, crisps or fresh meat?" she asked as though a waiter in a restaurant.

"Oh," Matt said. "Um Selena, as a human I don't eat rare meat."

"Oh," Selena replied embarrassed. "Sorry."

"No, no," Matt corrected. "I'm glad you thought of it, shows how considerate you are."

Selena flung the bag of crisps at him.

"I don't know how considerate I'll be by the time you've told me everything," she replied. "But let's start shall we? How were you turned?"

"Before I answer that," Matt retorted. "Do you trust me?"

"I do," Selena replied. "I don't know how, but I really do."

"Well…could you, maybe…untie me?" he asked and then quickly continued. "Only so we can both be more comfortable. I won't run away, you know that already."

"I don't see why not," Selena replied. "Sure."

And she raced over to free the man she was helplessly falling for.

"*"

Back at the mansion Philippe was waking up from what had been a terrible nightmare. He had dreamt that the three of them had orbed back in, only to literally bump into Katya who had then blown some sort of power into their faces. It had been awful and Philippe was glad it was simply a nightmare.

However upon picking himself up, he realized he had been lying on a stone floor. Something that he would never do. As he looked straight ahead he saw Leo already awake and leaning against a stone wall. They were in a very small room, so small it seemed like it would only accommodate one more person before being filled to capacity.

Everywhere was stoned. Stone floors, stone walls and even a high-raised stone roof. Fire-lit torches were strategically placed onto each wall creating some sort of light source but that was all that this room had. In truth it was very dull.

"It wasn't a dream was it?" Philippe asked Leo.

"Katya using sleep dust and putting us in here?" Leo asked. "Sadly, no."

"Can't we just orb out?" Philippe asked, wondering why in the world Leo hadn't already.

"No, I tried that already," he replied. "This room must be protected from magic. Mr Bloodworth used to use this place as a prison for those who betrayed him. But it was never magic proof."

"How do you know?" Philippe asked.

"Well…" Leo started. "Let's just say I riled up his son once and he threw me in here."

"And you orbed out?" Philippe asked impressed.

"Beats sitting around doing nothing all day," Leo replied. "Of course I never came back to this place before now."

"So Leo," Philippe asked "Since we can't orb, what exactly do you propose that we do? Because I don't see anything t-"

"Well I guess we can at least talk," Leo interrupted.

"About what?" Philippe asked.

No amount of talking was going to help Karlia with Alec, destroy Katya or even help Matt.

"Us," Leo replied simply. "You seem to keep scape-goating the topic."

"Oh, yeah….um, sorry about that," Philippe stammered hating that he was forced into this physical and proverbial corner. "Good idea."

"Alright," Leo started rubbing his hands together as though having prepared for this day his whole life. "Let's start with – you have a problem with me, what is it?"

Philippe was startled to say the least. He was hoping to keep pussy-footing around the idea until they could find a way out, but Leo had stopped any chance of that happening.

"I…" Philippe started. "I don't exactly have a problem with you. It's more little things that you do."

"Ok good good," Leo replied sounding annoyingly like a psychologist to Philippe. "So what do I do that bugs you?"

"Well for one thing," Philippe snapped. "Talking like a counselor right now. Don't forget Leo, Selena and I only just dropped out of school."

Leo chuckled slightly embarrassed.

"You're right," he admitted. "But I actually do want to know Philippe. I mean one minute we're having coffee in Paris and chatting warmly in your room and the next moment you're treating me like scum. What gives?"

"I…I'm" Philippe started unable to help a tear that rolled down his cheek. "I'm sorry Leo, it's just so…complicated."

"What is?" Leo asked softly.

"This!" Philippe replied as more tears leaked out. "You and I! I mean ok, I'll admit it, I want to be with you so badly it hurts. I want the picket fence, the roaring fire, the intimacy but…"

"But what?" Leo asked getting frustrated wondering what could possibly have stopped him.

"But it's so complicated!" Philippe repeated. "I mean the little things like you interrupting me-"

"Like you do with me," Leo couldn't help but barge in.

"Yeah…that," Philippe replied. "And you being so damned anti-love with S-"

"When am I anti-love?!" Leo demanded.

"I don't know, Selena & Matt, Karlia & Alec?" Philippe replied.

"It's mixed-breeding!" Leo replied.

"And?!" Philippe asked. "Who gives a crap! As long as they're happy who bloody cares?!"

"Well…it's just…" Leo started.

"Them?" Philippe asked pointing upwards. "Isn't it? From what I can recall about you, a lot of the things that don't make sense about you are driven by people like Ms Boosy boots queen of mean and others up there!"

"Well…" Leo started. "Yeah. I mean they're my bosses."

"While you're a white lighter!" Philippe corrected.

"Do you want me to clip my wings?" Leo asked. "Because I would if you wanted me too."

Leo looked quite vulnerable for the first time during this discussion. Philippe could tell just how serious Leo was being and knew in that moment all he needed to do was say the word and he appreciated it fully.

"No Leo, that's not what I want," Philippe replied. "I want you to stay as our white lighter, I do. But I also want you to be able to think for yourself. Them aside name one issue you have with say Matt & Selena."

"I…" Leo started.

"Yes?" Philippe asked.

"Ok, you're right," Leo confirmed. "I, myself have no issue with either relationship."

"And that's what I need," Philippe said. "To know that your opinion is just that, yours and not some dude's who's floating on a cloud."

"I can give you that," Leo smiled, though a single tear fell down his cheek and his eyes were quite puffy.

"But it's not just that!" Philippe replied hastily, as he knew the moment he gave in he would never be able to say what he truly needed to.

"What will they think about us?" he asked.

"Nothing Philippe, it's none of their business," Leo replied.

"Psh-yeah!" Philippe replied. "Tell that to Piper. Oh yeah, wait, you did. Many times and they still interfered."

"Yes, but that was a different time Philippe," Leo replied.

"Uh-huh," Philippe replied skeptically. "Even if it was and I hate to say this but…"

He took a huge breath; it was so hard to say after all.

"Piper was a woman! Holy matrimony and relationships and yadda-yadda are usually only recognized between men and women. If they-"

Philippe stopped as Leo started laughing.

"Oh yeah, so funny. So funny Leo, clap-clap." Philippe replied annoyed at Leo's response.

But Leo picked himself up and walked over to sit by Philippe.

"I'm only laughing because they don't look at love like that," he replied. "Love to them is between humans and not men and women. They're open to anything. I thought you knew that already. Wiccan law makes it quite clear."

"It…it does?" Philippe asked, surprisingly Leo that there was finally something he didn't know.

"Yes Philippe," Leo replied. "Unlike other religions in this one anyone can be w-"

But before Leo could get any further Philippe's lips crashed into his.

For Philippe it was a perfect moment. So perfect the music to A Whole New World started up in his head. His heart beat profusely and his blood warmed.

Could this actually be happening? He thought to himself. Could we really be doing this?

As the kissing continued it seemed nothing would pull them apart, but just then the door to the room opened and Leo and Philippe jumped.

A woman peeked her head in around the door and then confidently stepped inside the room. Not that it was easy with the limited amount of space, but she did it with so much grace and sophistication that Philippe wondered if she was royalty. Certainly the outfit she had on screamed as such. It was a gorgeous one piece dark green dress with sparkling silver embroidery patterned around the edges. A cape of sorts matching the colour of the dress had been fastened around her neck and flowed nicely down to the ground.

"Hi there," the lady said, not at all perturbed by the men being on the floor nor the fact that she had walked in on them kissing. "I'm Allyria."

"Hi," Philippe started, picking himself up from the floor and dusting himself off. "Thanks for opening that, but ah, friend or foe?"

"Philippe!" Leo cried nudging him in the ribs.

"What Leo?" Philippe asked. "We need to know."

"I do," Leo answered.

"Excuse me," Philippe said putting up a finger towards Allyria before turning back to Leo. "What do you mean you do?"

"Philippe, this is Allyria Demorè, queen of the vampires."

"*"

And that's the end of the chapter!

So what did you think of Philippe and Leo's discussion and first kiss? What about Selena trusting Matt enough to untie him? And where is Karlia?

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

Next time on The Power of Three: With only three chapters left until the finale…

(Alec): "I knew you'd come back."

(Karlia): "Don't you remember your name?"

(Alec): "My name is Constant!" "My vampuric side took over."

And no one knowing exactly what they want.

(Matt): "Werewolves heal quickly. I have friends…loyalty…it's a good life."

(Selena): "Turn me."

What information could stop everyone in their tracks?

(Allyria): "I have a plan to destroy Katya once and for all."

(Philippe): "And we're all ears."

(Allyria): "To make the transition back into the living comes with a price."

(Leo): "And the only way to vanquish Katya for good is…"

BEAT-BEAT-BEAT…WHAT-IS-IT?

(Allyria): "Precisely."

(Philippe): "I'm sure there's another way!"

(Allyria): "Alas Philippe there is not."

All new Power of Three next week.