Piper's POV
I finally opened my eyes and I was able to sit up on my elbows and I simply watched as mommy added what looked like a third coat of lotion on my red and puss filed legs. "Thanks mommy."
"Anytime sweetheart." Mommy said looking up at me and smiling softly.
"That's not true." I whispered with tears falling down my checks. "You are dead, so you can't stay here with me forever. You have to go back to where you spend your ummmm after life."
"But I'm here now." Mommy said as she stood up and than sat down next my waist. "I can always come back whenever you need me."
"That's not true either." I softly said. "I have needed you since you died. You never came back until now."
"I came back." Mommy said reaching up and gently the end of my nose. "You never saw me, Piper, but I came back. I have been watching you three girls and your grams. I was always close at hand when I was needed."
"By Grams." I snorted and I turned away from mommy and I flipped my body so I could lie on my side with my back towards my mother.
"Sweetheart …" Mommy said laying her hand on my back.
I stiffened and I just shook her off. I finally felt the bed lift as she lifted herself off the bed; I felt her leaned down and kiss the back of my head and than I very soon heard the bedroom door open and close softly. I finally allowed my body to shake and my head lowered onto the pillow and I wept.
Prue's POV
I heard Phoebe's and unfortunately Victor's footsteps come in as I continued to look at the painting. God, we can't even look into our own mother's past without Victor plaguing at our lives. I felt my hands clench in anger, as I tried to calm myself down. "Prue," Phoebe whispered, and I turned around. These freaking Elders can't even allow the answers to come easy. No it has to be some lame ass quest, with a deadbeat father. This is just great. How the hell are we going to vanquish the Water Demon without the Power of Three?
"I'm fine," I managed to ground out. "Lets just get this over with," I grumbled, looking around this lame shack for anything that could lead us to find out who freaking' Sam Wilder is.
Victor's POV
I looked at the painting and saw that Sam had chosen wisely for his first clue for Prue and Phoebe's quest. The image in the painting was quite beautiful and very detailed. The sky was the bluest sky I have even seen which could only be painted. But the blue of the sky was fading slightly; but you could tell that the painter had perhaps used a little much blue while painting. On purpose or accident? I didn't know that much about painting so I myself couldn't guess. My eyes took in the birds painted among the fluffy white clouds and the sky. The birds were your topical painted birds. I smiled as I thought back to painting black birds when I was in school. This artist actually did a much better job at it than I have ever done. My eyes took in the village that was underneath the sky. I noticed that the artist had taken painstaking time on every line of the village. Not one line was out of place. I looked more closely and I noticed that the people were wearing clothing for the time period of late 1800's. I noticed that in the far reaches of one of the buildings was the ocean and I saw a grand ship. Looking more carefully I saw that the artist had once again painstaking painted each line of the ship perfectly.
My head drew back and I stood straight once more and I turned to look at the side of Prue's face which was still glued onto the painting. "Well what is your expect thoughts?" I couldn't help but put a little knowledgeable lit in my voice. I truly wanted Prue to pick up on the fact that I knew more than I was saying.
Leo's POV
I opened my eyes as I felt someone appear in front of me. I looked up into Patty's concern face. "Piper?" I didn't even have to finish that sentence and I just saw Patty's nod. "Give her time, Patty, she'll come around." I said knowing what was brothering Piper right now. I should know – I after all had been the Halliwell sisters' whitelighter since each of them were born.
I stood to my feet and wrapped my arms across my chest as Patty began to pace and speak.
"She is so hurt that I hadn't allowed myself to be seen by her when I have come back for visits. That only mother had the right to see me." Patty sighed deeply as she shook her head and she stopped pacing and turned full face at me. "If we don't get Piper out of this blue mood than she will never find the letters, Leo, and she must find those letters today."
"Piper will come around. Let her alone for a little while, Patty, and than once she is done moping, than she'll realize that there is a reason why the Elders want her to remain at the manor today." I said with sureness. "Piper will tackle the search full fledge."
"You are right, Leo." Patty said with a nod. "Once she finds the letters than I have my hands full with her hurt and anger. But she can't dwell on it for long today; because she has to get to the lake to her sisters." She looked at the grandfather clock and than softly said. "We only have four hours …."
"Enough time with time left over." I said with positive nod of my head.
Prue's POV
Finally tearing my intensive gaze on the painting I turned to Victor. God I hate when he tries to reconnect with me. "Why do you care Victor?" I snapped at him. "You'll just say something that will just leave you in the spotlight," I said, turning my gaze back to the painting.
"Prue...maybe that painting is a clue of some sort," Phoebe suggested, as she took a look at it again. Do the Elders think we are four or something? I rolled my eyes, and pulled out my spare set of reading glasses I took with me. Putting them on, I took a better look at the painting.
"Well...I am guessing that this was painted circa 1822 - 1864," I murmured aloud. I couldn't really get much more, and I felt Victor's gaze on me still. I turned to meet his proud gaze with a glare of hatred coming from my own eyes. "Stop looking at me like that," I demanded.
"Like what?" he asked softly.
"Like you are proud of me. Save it for the daughters who actually want you here," I spat, before looking at the painting once again.
Victor's POV
I stepped away from the painting and stood behind Prue so Prue wouldn't be able to look at me and lose her temper. I didn't want her to lose her attention to the matter at hand. I looked down at my watch and saw that time wise Piper only had four hours left to find Patty's letters to Sam; before she is due here with the information for Prue and Phoebe. I looked back up and saw Phoebe and Prue bricking a little.
Piper's POV
I finally lifted my head from my pillow and I started to cough as I tried to regain my breath from my crying feast. I looked over at the table and saw the tall glass of water that mommy must have brought in with her when she came in with the lotion. I sat up weakly and I picked the glass up with a shaky hand and managed to put the glass to my lips without spilling. I carefully took a few sips until my throat felt the moisture once again. I sat back against my head board and I looked at my wall with a far off look in my eyes.
I racked my brain at why the Elders would do this too me … giving me a full body of poison ivy and allowing it to break out in this fashion. I came to the conclusion that they didn't for some reason wanted me back at the lake with my sisters. My question is why the hell not?
Phoebe's POV
"Prudence Halliwell, can you please stop saying those kind of things to our dad?" I growled lowly.
"He isn't a father Phoebe. Anything he does, or seems nice is just benefits him, and you and Piper are too naïve to know that!" Prue whispered back sharply. I felt Daddy a hand on my shoulder and he brought me away from Prue.
"Come on Phoebe, let your older sister examine the painting," Daddy whispered soothingly.
"Why are you wanting me to examine this painting so freaking bad Victor?" Prue growled at me.
Victor's POV
"No reason." I said with a smile. "I just find it a very interesting painting and it looks to be very old …. Like perhaps an original. But seeing how I don't have the education to know myself …. I thought you may know." I looked at my daughter's eyes. "You seemed to be engrossed in it since we arrived."
"It's actually a very nice painting, daddy. Even I'm interested in it as much as Prue." Phoebe said quickly before Prue could say anything else again.
"But you took the time to come and find me." I softly said in Phoebe's ear; this wasn't for Prue's ear.
"Ok Prue, is the painting actually a clue in our quest?" Phoebe asked in an annoyed voice as she looked at the painting with a nod of her head. She wrapped her arms across her chest and she moved closer to me.
Prue rolled her eyes and turned her back firmly on me and stepped up too the painting and she reached up and took it off the wall. She walked over to the table where she took a minute look at the painting. I looked down at my watch and saw an hour went bye and I looked up once more as Prue finally spoke once more.
"Original …. 1824 ….. the artists name is worn off …. hmmmmm… interesting …. yes very interesting." Prue was murmuring to herself.
"What's interesting?" Phoebe asked stepping up to the table herself and she gazed wide eyed down at the painting.
Prue looked up into Phoebe's eyes and than she looked over at me and it seemed like something clicked inside her and she came to a decision. But than an second later she turned back into the angry Prue that I had known since I returned to town last year. She put up her wall once more.
But for that second I saw my baby girl when I last saw her. I knew within that second that she trusted me completely and she knew that I would be there to protect her and her sisters'. But now she was back to distrusting me. And it showed in her next sentence directed to me.
"What do you know about this Victor?" She seethed through clenched teeth as she tapped the painting with a pointed finger.
"Careful; you don't want to destroy this one and only painting." I said quickly leaning forward reaching down at the painting. Prue made a noise like a satisfied noise out of her mouth and I realized quickly what I had just said. I stood straight once more and sighed deeply.
"What do you know?" Prue asked in a fake pleasant voice.
"I can't tell you." I whispered.
"If I couldn't use this on Sam, than I'm going to use it on you." With that Prue quickly did the truth spell on me. But I very quickly begged Patty to protect me from the spell.
"Now what do you know Victor." Prue asked folding her arms.
"You are sent on a quest. You two are the only ones who can discover the truth about Sam Wilder. You two must stay here inside the shack until you learn the truth. Once you learn the truth about Sam Wilder; than you are that much closer on vanquishing the water demon." I said in a mono toneless voice.
Piper's POV
I opened my bedroom door and saw in relief that the hallway was quite empty. No dead mother and no white lighter. I was alone. At last. I walked to the stair case that led to the attic and I walked up careful not to hit any of the squeaky floor boards. I didn't want anyone to know that I was out of my room right now. Not until I found out what I wanted from the Book of Shadows.
"Ok Grams enough is enough. Now open this bloody book to the information on the water demon. All the information." I said in a harsh tone as I put my hands on the BOS. I opened the book and backed away as the pages started to flip wildly. I just waited for Grams to settle on the page that I was seeking. The book finally settled down and laid still. I stepped up and looked down at the page and began to read.
"The Water demon is a high level demon and needs the most powerful of all witches to vanquish it. It is most dangerous to those witches with the power of ….." I looked up at the roof. "Power of what Grams." I shouted. I looked back down fully expecting the words to come to the page. But blank. "Grams." I said in a harsh tone.
"She won't answer you." Mommy said. I looked up quickly and found my mother standing next to me on the other side of the pedal stool. "Why not?" I seethed.
"Because I told mother not to write the power in the book." Mommy said stepping backwards.
"It's our power isn't it?" I asked all ready knowing what she was saying.
"Yes." Mommy simply said.
"Than why didn't you just allow that to be put in the BOS." I almost shouted in my frustration.
"I didn't want you girls to know." Mommy gently said.
"Were we or were we not opposed to find out about the water demon and how you truly died." I seethed.
"I never wanted you to come up against the water demon." Mommy said.
"Why not? Didn't you know that we would want to vanquish the demon that had killed you?" I felt tears fall from my checks.
"You girls are not opposed to vanquish demons out of revenge, Piper, I knew that once your powers were unbounded and once you girls read the Book of Shadows – than you three would rush out and try to vanquish the water demon. Without the proper information. All three of you would be killed. Either that or one of you would be killed." Mommy explained gently.
"You just didn't trust us is all." I snorted as I stormed from the attic and stumbled down the stairs and than stumbled quickly down the stairs and put my foot on the floor of the first floor. I glared at Leo who was staring at me from the living room. Before I could say anything the door bell rang.
Leo's POV
I wanted to sit back down and wait for Piper to come back from answering the door. But I heard the Elders order me to orb to stand behind the door and have my back against the wall as Piper was talking too …. I couldn't believe my ears. Dan Gordon was on the other side of the door. He was trying to talk Piper into letting him into the manor so he could properly take care of her during her poison ivy time. I simply rolled my eyes and stopped just in time my groan from leaving my lips. I made my face look impassively as Piper quickly glared around the door at me. But before she turned back to Dan I did see the fear and how truly heart broken she was. My heart dropped as I realized that I had caused this fear and heart brokenness to Piper when I went and healed Dan after she and Phoebe had left his manor.
Piper's POV
"Dan how many times do I have to tell you, I have poison ivy all over my freaking body. It's highly contagious." I sighed as I stared at my boyfriend who was staring right back at me. He yet again reached out a hand to touch me. I had enough and I raised my hands and I flicked it at him and he froze with his mouth open and his hand about to reach me.
"My God man, you do not need poison ivy right now. Not only is it major pain in the ass and hurts like hell when the puss starts to ooze out, but you aren't alone. You have Jenny living with you and you have to take care of her. If you can not take care of her than where can she go? Jenny can not stay at the Halliwell manor after all." I almost shouted the last part but I had to still keep a close eye out at the street to make sure no one came in view. I mean I only froze Dan and I knew that Leo was frozen behind the door also.
"Piper?" Mommy's voice said from behind me.
I turned my head and I snorted. "I'm lecturing my boyfriend about how stupid it would before him to touch me."
"Why did you freeze him?" Mommy tilted her head.
"He wasn't going to listen to me otherwise." I seethed. "You get out of sight now, before the freeze wears off, otherwise I won't be able to explain to Dan how come my dead mother is in my home. Especially with the picture of you and me on the wall by the bottom of the stair case. Which Dan could clearly see from where he is standing right now." I watched as my mother slowly walked into the living room out of site. I turned my head around just as Dan unfroze.
Dan quickly dropped his hand and blushed. "Gee I'm sorry Piper. I know that poison ivy is contagious and I can't afford to have it on me. Not only for my shake but Jenny's. What if I touched her without washing my hands with the poison ivy soap and she broke out." He backed away and put his hands in his jeans pockets. "Call me when you are healed."
"Of course Dan." I said softly as I looked him in the eye and I saw the love and caring shining through them. I felt guilt tear at me as what I did to him two days previous came back too me full fledge. "I-I have to go. I need more lotion." I quickly shut the door before Dan could speak again and I leaned against it and than forward as I tried to catch my breath.
I felt arms wrap themselves around me and pull me tightly to them. I quickly wrapped my arms around the waist and pulled myself closer to the board chest as I tried to allow the tears that were begging to be released to come. But after several minutes of dry weeping I suddenly realized what scent I was breathing in.
I quickly pulled away but the hands wouldn't leave my body. I stared wide eyed up into the understanding eyes of Leo Wyatt. "Let me go, Leo, just let me go." I whispered.
He shook his head. "Don't be afraid to deal with this, Piper, its ok. Everything will be ok."
I didn't want his words to reach my soul. I pulled quickly back and finally broke his hold on me. I back peddled until I hit the table that was just underneath the stair case. "Get the hell out of my house, Leo. Get the hell out of my life." I cried with tears at the peak of my eyes. But I forced these tears back because I would not cry in front of Leo.
"I can't Piper. I'm your white lighter." Leo said softly.
"Than you are fired!" I shouted red face. I felt sweat tinkle down my face and I felt the pain of my skin once more. I was in so much pain … but not because of the poison ivy. No it was pain because my heart was breaking and there was nothing I could do about it.
I was able to let go of the table and I rushed towards the stair case and I rushed up stairs and slammed into my bedroom and managed to slam the door before I fell onto my floor in a heap. The last thing I remember was finding dust mice underneath my bed.
Prue's POV
"Get out," I commanded, pointing at the door.
"Prue," Phoebe started. No I was not going to have this. The Elders or whoever was interfering will be done interfering now.
"No. Whoever is protecting you Victor, it is going to stop. I don't care if our own mother is protecting you from my powers, but I want you out. Now, go," I commanded.
Victor's POV
"I can not leave." I said still mono tonelessly seeing how the truth spells was still working on me. "I love you Prue. I have always loved you. I wish I didn't leave you when I did. I wish I never left your mother when I learned she was a witch and that you would be a witch also. I wish I never left you after your mother death because I couldn't deal with the demons and warlocks coming for you all the time. I wish that I returned straight home after I found Paige so you girls could be raised together. As sisters should." Suddenly the truth spell wore off and I realized what I had just said.
Prue's POV
I put my hands to my ears, as I heard Victor talking to me like that. No...its not true. He doesn't love any of us. Squinting my eyes as I held my head in my hands, I sent Victor flying out of the shack. "Prue!" Phoebe shouted at me, instantly running after Victor. Thanks a lot Phoebe. How dare he...he just wants to ruin what's left of my life. Victor was cradling his arm, and Phoebe glared at me. "Thanks a lot Prue," she growled at me, helping Victor up. He winced in pain as his wrist left the ground. Maybe it was sprained.
"Whatever," I said shaking my head in disgust at the pig that was my father. I walked back into the shack, determined to get this fucking game of scavenger hunting over. I have no time dealing with Baby Victor and Baby Phoebe.
Victor's POV
"Well that went well." I shook my head as I looked at the shack and at Prue who went back to looking at the painting. "She won't be able to leave that painting alone, not until she discovers what the truth is." I said with a sigh. "Looks like we have a little time on our hands."
"You shouldn't have come, daddy. Even with mommy's spirit protecting you. Prue is angry enough to kill you despite mommy's spirit. She can obviously get around mommy's spirit." Phoebe gently said as she touched my waist.
I winched my pain. "Oh daddy." Phoebe sighed. "I'm going to call Leo," She opened her mouth but I quickly broke in.
"I'm sorry Phoebe, but Leo can't come here. Look wait here and I'll be back." I said as I walked away from my youngest daughter towards the trees. Once out of sight of my daughter I called gently out. "Natalie."
Natalie orbed in front of me and quickly put her hands over my waist and warm glowing lights hit me and my waist started to feel better.
"You know Victor if you keep this line of attack on Prue, than you may not live to see another birthday." She said in a tired voice.
"Don't tell me how to deal with my daughter." I growled softly as I could hear Phoebe starting to walk toward where I was standing.
"Fine than, continue to get hurt. I need more healing time any way." Natalie said as she stepped back and orbed out just as Phoebe walked through the trees.
"Daddy how did you get healed so fast?" Phoebe looked curiously at me.
"I'm a fast healer." I said with a shrug. I held out my arm for Phoebe to take. "Shall we go and see if Prue had figured out the truth of the painting yet lady bug?"
Phoebe's POV
"Why are you lying to me Daddy?" I asked him as headed towards Sam's shack.
"I'm not lying to you Phoebe," he murmured gently after a moment. Fine, he has secrets I haven't told him any of mine, so he isn't obligated to tell me everything. Pulling slightly away from Dad, I looked towards the shack.
"Dad...I think you should just call Leo, and get him to orb you back to your condo. Prue isn't going to be able to control her anger much longer. Normally she has a break, but she has been dealing with you being at the manor..."
"Phoebe...I want to be here," Dad said to me softly.
"Daddy, you need to be honest with us. We are one short of the Power of Three, and you being here isn't making Prue in a better mood. So if you know something, just tell us...please," I whispered, tears entering my eyes.
Victor's POV
I sighed as I stopped short of just before the shacks front steps. I looked up and saw Prue was still looking at the painting and not paying any attention to us. I nodded and turned to Phoebe and quietly told her the truth.
"You are right Lady bug, I am hiding things from you girls. Some things I can't tell you, not for a long while. And some things I'm obligated to keep quiet especially when it comes to the water demon. But I can tell you this." I looked over at the shack and saw that Prue still wasn't paying attention.
"What is it daddy?" Phoebe asked as she quickly looked over at the shack and than back at me.
I looked my baby girl deep in the eyes. "I'm opposed to be giving Prue a hard time right now. I'm opposed to push Prue too the limit until she does lose her temper. The Elders want Prue's temper to go off the deep end, because little darling when it comes time to face the water demon, Prue can't have this much anger that she is carrying around on her shoulders." I shrugged my shoulders. "You are ready Phoebe to meet the water demon; but Prue right now isn't."
"What about Piper?" Phoebe asked.
"Bye the time Piper comes to the lake - again, she'll emotionally be ready to face the water demon. With Leo and your mother's help; Piper is dealing with some of her issues back at the manor." I smiled sadly. "The Elders couldn't have two very angry and hurt Charmed Ones as loose canons at the lake."
Phoebe's POV
"Daddy...Prue works on her anger, that is how she vanquishes every demon. She either sees Rodriguez every time she vanquishes someone, or...she probably thinks she is vanquishing you," I murmured gently. "Since when are you all for the Elders plan anyways?" I asked in an exasperated voice.
"Phoebe...can't you just trust me on this?" he asked in a soft voice.
"Daddy...I am not going to let you push my big sister over the edge," I said to him. "You cannot do that to her...she will hate you for the rest of your life..."
Victor's POV
"So be it." I sadly said. I looked deep down into Phoebe's eyes. "You don't have any choice in the matter Phoebe. The Elders won't let you interfere and try to protect either Prue or I. "
Phoebe fought tears back as she shook her head in denier.
"I owe the Elders more than you know, Phoebe. Sides I quite agree with the Elders on this vanquish." I took a shaky breath. "If it means losing all chances with Prue in the future for this one vanquish than it's all worth it. The Greater Good is worth to protect than my own feelings."
Phoebe's POV
"No...don't do this," I whispered. "Daddy, whatever you owe the Elders is not worth ruining whatever chances you have making up with Prue," I murmured, blocking the doorway.
"Phoebe..." Dad said to me.
"Do not make me call Prue," I said, my tone going deadly. "I am not going to let this happen, I am a Charmed One damn it," I hissed. "I don't care if you get mad at me, but I am not letting you push Prue over the edge,"
Victor's POV
I sighed softly. Patty I need your help.
I'm here Victor. Leave Phoebe to me. Go ahead and do what you need to do.
With that I moved to the right of Phoebe and she very stiffly removed her arm and I passed her into the shack where Prue was standing. "So Prue, have you learned the truth of the painting yet?" I asked folding my arms across my chest.
"No daddy, please don't do this." Phoebe cried as she finally managed to move from her mother's magic. I looked over my shoulders. "I'm sorry Phoebe but I am only doing what I have to do to protect my family." I turned back and faced Prue who had deep anger in her face. "In order to learn the next clue in this quest you must figure out the truth of the painting."
Prue's POV
"How about we stop playing how much a deadbeat can push his daughters' buttons and leave us the hell alone," I snapped at him. He just stayed in place, and I reached out and slapped him hard across the face. Phoebe grabbed my hand, and yanked me away from him.
"Prue...he's just-,"
"He's just a pawn for those Elders," I snapped at Phoebe. "And he is going to be a dead one if he doesn't stop meddling where he doesn't belong,"
"I am right where I am supposed to be Prue,"
"Says who?" I growled. "All I got out of that damn painting was it was from New York," I snapped at him angrily. "Now that you have gotten that information, get the hell out of here,"
"Not until we vanquish-," Victor started.
"There is no 'we," I snapped at him. "It is just me and Phoebe. Now get the hell out of here, before I force you out of here,"
Victor's POV
I pulled out my cell phone and put on the painting. "The painting is from New York; hmmm Sam Wilder has a painting from New York. And Original." I raised my eye brows.
Prue ignored my phone and she put her arms tightly around her as she glared at me. "What are you getting at Victor?" She growled.
"If I were you and I was a witch stuck out some where remote and I wasn't allowed to leave. If I had a mortal or should I say mortals who knew the truth about me out there who could do some research for me; than I would call those mortals and ask them to gather information for me." I said in a knowing voice.
Phoebe tried to break in, but she was suddenly stuck speechless.
Prue didn't notice her sister's distress because her eyes were glued into mine and I saw the anger boiling to its boiling point. But I knew that Prue would fight for control over herself and she wouldn't lay a hand on me. Which made me happy because I needed to make sure that she would work on the next clue after she got some much needed information?
Prue unwrapped her hands and grabbed my cell phone and tossed it at me which I caught before it could fall to the ground and break. She yanked her cell phone out of her jacket and dialed quickly. "I'm not doing this because you brought this up." She steely said as she pulled the phone up to talk.
"Of course not dear." I said with a knowing smile; as it killed me to see Phoebe suffer behind Prue.
END CHAPTER THIRTEEN.