I do not own Charmed or Twilight.
Hope you enjoy this chapter, please read and review xoxox
Enjoying the Game and Putting up with Steadwell
Prue walked calmly with DJ, only stopping when a good looking man appeared in front of her.
"Wow, you are more beautiful than I imagined." He breathed, not able to take his eyes off her.
So this is Bane. Prue smiled slightly. "So we finally meet."
"Did you like the roses?" Bane asked charmingly.
"I would have prefered orchids."
Bane laughed. "Beautiful and honest. Let's take a walk." He said before looking at DJ. "You know what to bring." DJ nodded while Bane and Prue headed upstairs. "What do I call you?"
"What you always call me."
"Ms Hellfire seems so cold in person. Unless your emails to me has been a tease."
"I think you know me better than that." Prue said as they sat down.
"Do I?" Bane asked quietly. "You did confirm the Halliwell's this morning."
"Uh...I didn't have a clear shot."
"That's disappointing. What about the last one on the list?"
"Steadwell?...It was a blast." Prue said, making Bane smirk.
"Like your style. Always have. The problem is you still got the Halliwell's but you've only got untill midnight to take them out."
DJ walks over to them with a bottle of champagne. "Uh...don't worry about the Halliwell's, I know their every move." Prue said.
"I'm getting a lot of pressure, you know."
"From who?" Prue tried, but it was no good.
"You know who."
"Of course." Prue said quietly as DJ poured their drinks and her phone started to ring.
"Aren't you going to answer that?" DJ asked when she made no move to answer it.
"Yeah." She muttered, putting her phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Hey, what happened to you this morning? You completely disappeared." Jack said on the other end and Prue sighed.
"I'm with a client." Prue told him simply.
"Well, they'd better be a rich client." Jack said.
"Champagne?" Bane offered her a glass and she smiled before taking it.
"Champagne? At this hour? Where are you?" Jack asked.
"Me?"
"To us." Bane said and they clinked their glasses.
"Hey, Prue, you know me. I'm all for having a good time but we're under some serious pressure here." Jack said and Prue frowned.
"Yeah, I know-" Prue was cut off as she astral projected back to Bucklands.
"Are you there?" she heard Jack asked and turned around to see him sitting a few feet away.
"Oh god."
"Prue?" Jack asked in confusion and he turned around to where Prue was standing. Luckily for her, she astral projected back.
"Are you alright? What happened?" Bane asked concerned while DJ was watching causiously.
"Prue, what the hell's going on?" Jack damanded.
"I'll call you back." Prue muttered to Jack, hanging up, before turning to Bane. "Sorry."
"Maybe you'd better hold off on this one." Bane said, taking the champagne out of her hand. "Atleast untill the job is done."
"Guess I better be going." Prue said standing up and Bane stood up with her.
"You're not going anywhere." Bane said and Prue tried not to panic, finally calming down when he smiled at her. "Not without my driving ya."
Prue smiled slightly before heading down the stair and Bane turned to DJ.
"Tell him I'm on it." He told him and DJ sighed.
"Hey, man, why me? I don't even know the guy!"
"You will. Just go to my office, he'll show. Okay."
...
"I can have my crew install some temporary window some time by tonight." Dan said, looking at the broken glass.
"Great, thanks." Piper muttered and Dan looked at her.
"You waiting for a call?" he asked, nodding at the phone in her hand.
"Yeah, I'm just worried about Prue."
"I would blame you after what happened. What makes you think it was a drive-by?" he asked and Piper shrugged.
"Um...I don't know. Wild guess, I guess."
"I want you to move in with me." Dan said suddenly and she looked up at him startled.
"Huh?"
"Atleast untill the permanent windows are installed. If it's your sisters you're worried about, they can move in too. Since Jenny moved back in with her folks there's plenty of room."
Piper laughed awkwardly. "Um...I don't know if that's such a good idea, some of us don't wear pyjamas."
"I'm serious. Because if things work out, maybe you could stay...permanently...if you want."
"Piper!" Piper let out a sigh of relief when she heard Bella shout through the house.
"In here." She called back before turning to Dan. "I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll think about it."
She opened her mouth to say something but M. Steadwell beat her too it. "Oh, is he a wi-" She started to say and Piper threw up her hands quickly, freezing back M. Steadwell and Dan.
"Who's she?" Piper asked.
"Would you believe M. Steadwell? How's Dan?" Phoebe asked.
"Just asked me to move in. Where's Morris?"
"He's at the morgue putting the hit women's body under Marcy's name. Where's Prue?"
"Way overdue. She's assuming the identity of the hit women." Piper said making Phoebe and Bella stare at her.
"What?" Bella exclaimed. "You couldn't have taken me with you? I would love to pretend to be a hit women for a day!"
Piper laughed at her. "And guess what? She's got a new power, astral projection."
"Are you kidding?" Phoebe moaned.
"Nope."
"I hate her." Phoebe pouted before frowning at Bella. "Why are you smiling?"
Bella just smiled even wider. "I'll be getting that power soon."
"I hate you too."
"Alright, I'm gonna send Dan home, you keep Marcy in the house untill this is over." Piper said.
"Yeah, alright." Bella said.
"Then we'll talk."
...
"Well, thanks for the-" Prue cut off when she and Bane walked into Ms Hellfire's apartment to find thousands of orchids. "-ride."
"You say you prefer orchids." Bane said and Prue smiled.
"I'm impressed."
"I'm glad. Now close your eyes. Trust me." Bane said, pulling her to face him fully and she paused before closing her eyes. "Go ahead, open them." When she opened her eyes Bane was holding a jewellery case. "And open this when I leave, okay? Now remember, three Halliwell's by midnight. On second though, make it by ten. It gives me more time to take care of it myself, in case you fail." Bane then kissed Prue andleft quickly.
Prue was frozen to the spot after he left, looking down at the case in her hand. She opened it slowly to find an expensive diamond necklace.
...
"Oh, my stars!" Marcy said loudly in horror and the sisters rushed to her to find her standing by the kitchen cupboard.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Phoebe asked quickly, looking around the room but she couldn't see any demons.
"You can't keep wolfsbane and holy thistle on the same shelf. Their harmonics are in complete opposition." Marcy said firmly and the sisters stared at her in disblief. "I mean, I don't want to second-guess a sister witch, but this is all wrong. I don't see how you can cast a spell that's worth a darn!"
Bella frowned. "Right...and, how many spells have you done that's made you an expert?"
"Play nice." Piper muttered but before anyone else could say anything, a car door slammed from outside.
"Prue's home...I think..."
"That's Prue alright."
The three sisters left Marcy in the kitchen-much to Piper's dismay-to greet their sister in the hall way.
"Wow!" Phoebe said, her eyes wide when she saw what Prue was wearing.
"You have no idea how much that suit's you." Bella told her older sister who blushed slightly.
"I don't want to risk anyone seeing me out of my uniform." Prue explained when she saw Piper's questioning gaze.
Piper clenched her teeth. "We've been worried sick about you."
"I'm sorry, I just didn't want to jeopardise my cover."
"Nice cover." Phoebe muttered, eyeing the leather and fur.
"I'll say." Bella muttered back.
"And nice porsche." Piper said stiffly, still annoyed at Prue. "A gift from Bane?"
Prue sighed. "No, Bane prefers...never mind. Look, I need to get back before they get suspicious. Tell me what you know."
"We know M. Steadwell is safe." Phoebe told her.
"Same can't be said for our kitchen." Piper said, sending a small glance behind them.
"Any idea why she was on the list?" Prue asked curiously.
"Could be because she's a witch. I mean, not a magical witch but a witch practitioner." Phoebe explained and Bella scoffed.
"An annoying witch practitioner."
"I wonder if all the names were witches." Prue whispered before looking at Bella, suddenly getting an idea. "How many were on the list?"
"Nine. Except 'P. Halliwell' was only down once, so if you count us all, thirteen." Piper said.
"Thirteen dead witches by midnight on Friday the 13th. Ring any bells?" Prue said, her eyes staying on Bella who closed her eyes with a heavy sigh.
"Barbas." She whispered, flinching at the memory.
"Gotta be." Prue said grimly.
"But we vnaquished him." Phoebe said confused.
"He must have found some kind of loop hole." Prue shrugged. "I gotta get back to Bane, try and flush out Barbas."
Piper's heart sank. "Prue, you can't go back there."
"Piper, it's almost eight. I have got to get to Barbas fast otherwise Bane's gonna want to see three bodies, our bodies."
"Have fun." Bella said with a small smirk.
Prue rolled her eyes. "Bells, I'm working."
Now it was Piper's time to roll her eyes. "More like working it. Come on Prue, we can see the signs."
"Okay, so it's a little bit different." Prue admitted.
"And dangerous." Phoebe reminded her.
"I can handle it."
"Prue, Barbas can turn your worst fears against you. Atleast take one of us with you." Bella pleaded, horrible memories of the last time she'd seen Barbas.
Phoebe looked just as worried as Bella. "You can't defeat him alone Prue."
Prue sighed at her little sister's expressions. "I know that. But I'll be okay. I'll call you guys and check in in an hour."
...
"You look like you're ready to celebrate." Bane smiled when she walked over to him in the club. "Are the Halliwell's dead?"
"The night is young." Prue said with a smile of her own as she took off her coat. "We have a little bit of business to discuss."
"What, all work and no play?"
"Oh, we'll play. Right after I get my money."
"Oh, you'll get paid when they're dead."
"You know, the boss has a nasty habit of disappearing in the middle of the night. I'd hate for my money to disappear with him. Can I trust you? And Barbas?"
"I'm disappointed you doubt either one of us."
"I wanna talk to him." Prue insisted and Bane paused.
"Well, like you said, the night is young." Bane smirked as he lead her onto the dance floor, pulling her close to him. She looked up at him, her heart rising as he bent his head down and kissed her.
Unfortunately, the kiss was cut short by DJ who was glaring at Prue. "DJ, what's your problem?" Bane asked shortly.
"I need to talk to you." DJ said simply.
"Better be life and death." Bane sighed before smiling down at Prue. "Excuse me." He kissed the top of Prue's hand before heading to the bar with DJ.
"I'll just amuse myself." Prue muttered before smiling at a hot guy who was looking at her. "Hi."
"Hey." The guy said before they started to dance. If Prue had been looking at Bane she would've noticed the look of betrayal and anger on his face.
...
"Marcy, please!" Phoebe pleaded as Marcy skipped around the manor waving a lit cigar-shaped object.
"Favour us, sister moon with your protective beams." Marcy singed, waving the smoke in Bella's face.
"Marcy, I need to study while I can. Please stop." Bella snapped before she looked back down at her history book.
Marcy ignored her. "Give all who dwell within this spell, safe days and sweet dreams."
Piper had finally had enough. "Okay, that's all folks." She said before freezing Marcy.
"I'm all for perky but that's just annoying." Bella sighed.
"How long do you think I can keep her like this?" Piper asked.
Phoebe shrugged. "Your power, your call. Hey, did you reach Prue?"
"No, she's still not answering her cell. She really should've checked in by now." Piper sighed nervously.
The sisters froze when the door bell rang.
"Maybe it's Prue." Bella suggested hopefully.
"Ringing the bell?"
"Well...maybe she lost her keys?"
Piper walked to the door, not sure whether to open it or not. She stared at the door for a second before taking a deep breath and opening it, she let out the breath she was holding when she saw who it was.
"Dan." She said with a smile.
"Hey, Piper." Dan said, holding a piece of board as he walked into the manor.
"Uh, Dan, wait."
"I wanted to bring this over and leave it for my crew. They're having trouble finding enough plywood." Dan said as Phoebe and Bella walked into the hallway. "Hey you two."
Bella smiled at him warmly. "Hi Dan."
"Piper, don't forget about the..." Phoebe trailed off, nodding into the livingroom where frozen Marcy was.
Dan looked between them. "Is this not a good time?"
"Never. I mean, always. Why don't you come in? Come on back. Here, let me help." Piper said, grabbing the board and heading into the conservetory, blocking Marcy from view.
Phoebe and Bella went back into the livingroom. Phoebe quickly stood by Marcy while Bella sat down next to her book, both waiting for Marcy to un-freeze.
"For those who dwell underneath this roof." Marcy finished as if nothing had happened.
"OKay, Marcy, there's lots of rooms that needs protecting upstairs." Bella said quickly. "Just not my room. It's fine how it is."
"Wait, where did Piper go?" Marcy asked confused.
"Oh, she just cast a spell of her own." Phoebe said and Marcy's eyes widened in understanding and wonder. "Okay, upstairs. Quietly."
...
"So, how are you doing?" Dan asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Fine. It wasn't that heavy." Piper said with a smile.
"No, I'm talking about everything."
Piper blushed. "Oh, I'm fine with that too. I'm just a little stressed but everything's gonna be okay."
"So, have you thought anymore about my offer?" Dan asked, his heart sinking a little when she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there at that moment. "Hey, you know what? I don't wanna push you."
"I know. It's just every time I think I have things figures out, things tend to shift."
"Let me know when you're ready."
...
"You know, it's not midnight yet, we still have time. Lots of time." Prue said as she and Bane walked into Ms Hellfire's appartment. She was startled when Bane grabbed her arm and spun her round to face him.
"Do you think you could fool me? Get away with it? You killed the women I loved!" Bane yelled furiously and Prue's eyes widened.
"W-what are you talking about?" she asked, trying to keep calm.
"You killed Hellfire!"
"I am Hellfire."
"Liar!" He yelled, pushing her and she stumbled into someone else. She turned quickly, her panic starting to build when she saw Barbas.
"So very nice to meet you Miss Halliwell." Barbas said slowly. "Though you weren't the Halliwell I was expecting."
Bane watched closely. "Halliwell? From the list?"
Barbas moved his hand in front of Prue's face. "Well, well, well. I can't say I'm surprised. You're greatest fear is that someone will kill your sisters."
Prue's heart dropped. "No."
"Oh yes. The demons are after them. Even as we speak. They have assumed your sisters identities in order to kill them. But you must kill the imposters first, by midnight."
"Kill the imposters." Prue said dryly.
Barbas smirked. "Yes."
"Then I get to deal with her." Bane glared at Prue.
...
"Hey Darryl." Phoebe said once she saw it was him at the door. "Come in. Thanks for coming so fast. We need you to baby-sit."
"Is this one breathing?"
"Yes, this one is breathing."
"Is it Bella?"
"OI! I don't need to be baby-sat!" Bella yelled from the livingroom, making Phoebe smirk.
"No, it's no Bella."
"Good."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Where you headed?" Darryl asked, ignoring Bella.
"To find Prue. She's impersonating the hit women."
Darryl stared at Phoebe blankly, trying to work out whether she was joking or not. "What?"
"It's a long story and you wouldn't like it but she was supposed to check in by now."
"I'm going with you."
"Darryl, you can't." Bella said, walking into the hallway.
"You don't have to hide anything from me anymore." Darryl reminded them and Bella sighed.
"You don't want to be anywhere near us right now. Something bad could happen to you."
"I won't wind up like Andy or Joey."
"We won't let that happen."
"Which cleanses the aura of the house and makes it strong." Marcy explained to Piper as they came downstairs, Marcy spraying a potion around the house.
"Give me the strength." Piper muttered before she saw Darryl. "Hi, Darryl."
"Hi, Piper. You're gonna have to come with me Miss Steadwell." Darryl said politely.
"Okay, thanks for everything Marcy. Bye." Piper said quickly.
"Oh, is this about the explosion at my shop?" Marcy asked.
"Yes. Untill we close the case, you'll be safer with me."
"Oh, I think you have this backwards, Inspector. You see, the protection spell I cast has been doing such a bang-up job for these girls. Just think what it could do for you." Marcy said happily and Darryl frowned at her, stunned.
"Okay, well, thank you for the protection spell." Phoebe said, wanting to get rid off her as much as Piper and Bella.
"Darryl might need your help now." Bella told her.
Marcy considered this before nodding. "Come Inspector, my work here is done." She said, spraying the potion once more.
"Why don't we leave that there." Darryl said, handing Phoebe the potion before leaving with Marcy.
...
"Are you sure that was the porsche parked out front?" Phoebe asked.
Bella shrugged. "I have no idea about cars."
"Prue's here somewhere." Piper said as they walked further into Ms Hellfire's appartment.
"Let's just hope she's alone." Phoebe muttered as Prue walked into view, a deteminded expression on her face. "Prue."
"We've been worried about you." Bella said before Prue sent her flying backwards with a flick of her wrist.
"Prue!" Piper said in shock before she and Phoebe were sent backwards aswell.
"Are you alright?" Phoebe asked Bella as they sat up.
"What's going on?" Bella asked confused, and slightly hurt.
"I think you need to freeze her, fast." Phoebe said quickly as Prue walked towards them.
"Good witches don't freeze." Piper reminded her as a plate was flying in their direction. The sisters ducked before the plate could hit them and it smashed when it hit the wall.
"Well, she doesn't look so good right now." Bella said, watching Prue nervously.
"I won't let you kill my sisters." Prue said in a deadly quiet voice.
"She's flipped out." Piper said, agreeing with Bella.
"The patio, fast!" Phoebe said and they ran outside, Prue following.
They hid behind lattice just as Prue came out. They sat silently for a while as Prue looked around.
"Oh no, oh no." Phoebe whispered, about to sneeze.
"Pheebs, don't!" Bella hissed but Phoebe sneezed and Prue turned in there direction.
"She doesn't know we're her sisters."
"Okay, we gotta make her choose. We've gotta try and convince astral Prue. Make her wanna be in two places at once. You two ready?" Piper asked, taking control while Prue was insane.
"Yep."
"Nope." Phoebe and Piper turned to Bella who sighed and nodded.
Piper and Bella ran in one direction while Phoebe ran in another, Prue frowned.
"Hi!" Phoebe said happily.
"Come on Prue, come and get us." Bella called over to her.
"It's me you want, over here!" Phoebe yelled.
"Come on Prudence. Come on, us." Piper called and Prue astral projected right next to Bella and Piper.
"Prue, Barbas is brainwashing you." Bella told her quickly.
"You're going to hurt my sisters!" Prue spat.
"Prue, we're your sisters. Listen to me. You gave me the chicken pox." Piper tried and Prue paused.
"Remember, I taught you how to french kiss." Phoebe added.
"I accidently broke your knecklace when I was three, you locked me in a cupboard and forgot you'd left me there. Grams found me three hours later." Bella said.
"What?" Piper almost shouted but Bella just shook her head.
"How do you know all this?" Prue asked.
"Because we're your sisters Prue." Phoebe said softly and Prue stared at her for a second before smiling, astral projecting back to her body.
"Prue, are you with us?" Piper asked causiously.
"I want Barbas." Prue muttered.
"All we have to do is lay low untill midnight and then he'll disappear and go back to wherever the hell he came from." Piper said but Prue shook her head.
"No, he's back early. He knows what rules apply or don't. I don't wanna take any chances. Let's go and show him what his greatest fear is."
...
"Are they dead?" Barbas asked Prue when she walked in.
"They're right where they belong." Prue said dryly as Piper, Phoebe and Bella walked into the room and stood beside her.
"Kill them." Barbas ordered Bane who raised a gun but before he could shoot Piper froze them.
"And now I see why you were enjoying youself so much." Bella said with a small smirk as she stared at Bane.
"Do you think you can just unfreeze him?" Prue asked Piper.
"I don't know, I've never tried." Piper said quietly as Phoebe took the gun out of Bane's hand just before Piper unfroze him, leaving Barbas the only one frozen.
Bane looked at his hand confused. "Looking for this?" Phoebe asked sweetly, holding up his gun.
"What's going on?" he asked puzzled.
"Witchraft at it's best." Prue said before sending him flying.
Barbas unfroze just as the clock chimed.
"No!" He yelled as he went up in flames before disappearing completely.
"I never get tired of kicking his butt." Phoebe said happily.
"I am. Hopefully this was the last time." Bella muttered, getting the feeling that she was wrong.
"Just a little something to think about it jail." Prue said to Bane who was still lying on the floor.
"It won't be the only thing I think about, I promise."
"Is that a threat?"
"No, it's a compiment." Bane said, flashing her a charming smile and she hoped she wasn't blushing like an idiot.
"Dan did a really good job with these windows." Phoebe said the next day as she and Piper were cleaning them.
"Hey, hands of those hands." Piper said laughing.
"So, did you decide whether or not you're gonna move in with him?"
"I have to admit, it's very tempting."
"Yeah, well, you gotta do what you've gottan do. And you deserve to be happy. And don't worry about us, we'll be fine. Especially if I get your room." Phoebe said and Piper rolled her eyes.
"Yes, you can have my room. That is if I am moving out."
"Oh, you're not moving out? That's good because you need to be with your sister just a little while longer." Bella said as she walked into the room.
"I adore Dan but it's just way too soon for me to move in with him. There's just a few things I need to figure out first."
Prue walked in, talking on the phone. "Well, just tell Marcy that she can sell the ring and use the money to rebuild the bookstore. Tell her it's a thank you for protecting us. No Darryl, the ring is not hot. I'll talk to you later."
"So, what else did Hellfire get from Bane?" Bella asked curiously.
"Diamond necklaces, bracelets, a Hockney, a Salvador Dali." Prue said slowly as her sisters eyes widened.
"You can't really keep all that stuff, can you?" Piper asked but Prue shook her head.
"No. It wouldn't really be right but maybe I can figure out a way to use it for some good and save my job. And if not, I can always astral project and job-hunt twice as fast."
"I can't wait untill I get that power." Bella said, smiling widely.
"Oh, just rub it in why don't ya!" Phoebe said with a huff.
Prue smiled at her sisters as the doorbell rang and she went to answer it.
"Jack, hi." She said, letting him in.
"You know, Prue, it is bad enough that you don't answer your phone, come into the office or otherwise appear to be doing your job but now you're gonna take me down with you. What have you got to say for yourself?" Jack asked and Prue smirked.
"$275, 000."
Jack froze and stared at her blankly. "What?"
"It's the market value of the anonymous estate donation I've been out acquiring. The one request is that all proceeds go to Stop the Violence Foundation. Not bad for a day's worth of work, now, is it?"
A smile fell onto Jack's face. "No, it certainly isn't. And you know, I never doubted you for a moment, partner."
Prue laughed. "Liar. Let's go and celebrate, partner."
R&R