To Be Charmed
Chapter Four
The First
Disclaimer: Charmed isn't mine.
Paige had set a fork down on the table. She looked to her sisters, who were standing beside each other on the other side.
"Okay, now what?" she asked Phoebe, who had come up with the brilliant plan.
"Now we try to do what we did. Prue will move the fork, you will move the fork, Piper will freeze it, and I'll try to see who is going to use the fork next." Prue rolled her eyes.
"Phoebe, this is ridiculous." Phoebe turned to look at her.
"Weren't you the one who came over? Having second thoughts, Prue?" Prue stared down her little sister. She hated it when she recalled the things she had done and said1
"Alrighty, then. Let's get started. Prue, you first," Phoebe said. She gave Prue a nudge to make her go forward.
Prue gave a slight snarl at her sister before focusing on the fork. She tried to remember what she did when the collision happened. I was angry…and I squinted my eyes. Yeah! That's what I did. So, get angry. Umm, at what? Prue tried and tried to think of some things that upset her. It was hard, even though a lot of things upset her. Being late for work? Aha! The fork moved a little to the left! Okay, got it! Um, Piper interrupting my phone call with Roger. The fork flew to the right this time. Piper screamed. Phoebe and Paige stared in awe. Prue smiled.
"It worked! I just have to get angry!"
"So, it shouldn't be too hard, good," Phoebe teased, "Piper, you're up."
"How am I supposed to do it? How are we supposed to know if the fork is frozen or not?" Phoebe bit her lip.
"When you say frozen, do you mean covered-in-ice frozen or more like time-frozen?"
"I mean frozen in time frozen."
"Okie-dokie then. Paige, throw the fork at Piper."
"What?! Wait a minute! Don't-Paige, if you throw that-" It was too late. Paige picked up the fork and threw it towards Piper. Panicking, Piper lifted her hands and placed them in front of her face.
"Cool!" Paige shouted. Piper let down her hands. The fork was stationed in mid air, the spines pointing at her face.
"Panic, Piper. Panic is the trigger," Paige said.
"I know that now!" said Piper, objectively. Phoebe gingerly placed the fork back on the table.
"My turn!" She closed her eyes as she handled the fork, willing for images to pop up.
It is dark. A figure is standing in the kitchen. Prue throws a fork at it. The fork impales itself on the figure's chest.
"Whoa." Phoebe shook her head.
"What did you see?" Prue put her hand on Phoebe's shoulder.
"I saw the fork being thrown and a dark figure. It happened so fast," said Phoebe. Prue squeezed her shoulder.
"Do you know when?" Phoebe shook her head sideways.
"No." Prue sighed.
"Well, we'll find out sooner or later," she said, "Paige, you next." Paige went around the table to the three girls and concentrated on the fork. She was much faster than her older sisters.
"Fork!" Paige spoke while moving her head. The fork slid across the table in the exact direction Paige twisted her head!
"Oh, my God!" Paige excitedly said. She pointed to where the fork stopped. "Did you guys see that?"
"Yeah. So, basically, you have my…power!" Prue said, slightly jealous.
"I do not! You squinted and I just twisted my head! Plus, I don't have to get angry for it to work! I just have to call for a name!" Piper and Phoebe looked from their oldest sister to the youngest sister, entranced. Either Prue and Paige were going to be exactly like Prue and Phoebe, or they were going to be another Prue and Piper!
Penny could hear the sisterly bickering from inside her bedroom. She smiled. It was only a matter of time before they would bond even more and grow as sisters and witches! Speaking of, Penny thought it would be a good time to lead them to the attic and the Book of Shadows. Luckily, the storm would take of that! The lights went out just as Penny laid her head on her pillow and four shrieks of panic echoed throughout the Manor.
Prue grabbed a flashlight from the kitchen utility drawer as Piper cowered behind her. Phoebe and Paige decided to frolic around the house without a flashlight, which was okay by Prue.
"Piper, hold the flashlight while I fiddle with the circuit breaker?" Prue asked nicely. Piper shook her head.
"Phoebe will go with you."
"No, Paige and I are going upstairs." Piper groaned and resigned herself to being the flashlight holder as Paige and Phoebe made their way (blindly) upstairs.
"Ow! Watch where you're going! You stepped on my ankle!" Phoebe angrily whispered to Paige.
"Sorry!"
The two made it to the end of the hallway on the second floor. There was a small flight of stairs leading to the attic.
"Let's go in the attic!" Phoebe said. Paige rolled her eyes.
"Why?"
"Grams never allowed us in the attic. I just wanna see what it looks like!"
"What if it's locked?"
"Then we use your new power to knock it down!"
"Grams is going to notice…"
"Not if it's not locked…"
Done with the verbal spat, Phoebe took charge and headed to the attic door. Paige stayed behind as Phoebe rattled the ornate door handle.
"Locked. Rats."
She headed down the stairs to Paige when she noticed Paige open her mouth wide.
"What?"
"The- the door! It opened!"
Phoebe spun around. Sure enough, the door was open. She cautiously took a step inside, pulling Paige by the hand. The two walked further inside, taking note of all the antiques and boxes. Paige noticed a chest lying in front of the big window. Opening it, she saw a big and heavy looking book.
"Phoebe! Help me get this out!"
"What is it?"
"It's a book."
Phoebe and Paige lifted the book and placed it on the conveniently placed stand next to them.
"Let's read it!" Phoebe said. Paige opened the book to the first page and ran her finger down it.
'Where are they?" Piper asked as she and Prue ascended from the basement. There was nothing wrong with the circuit breaker, the storm had caused the power outage.
"Didn't Phoebe say they were going upstairs?" Prue asked, taking the lead and walking towards the staircase. Piper stayed silent. Prue continued walking until she stopped in the dining room. A thump was heard in the kitchen. Piper spun around, reaching for Prue's hand.
"What was that?" she asked.
"I don't know," Prue replied. She walked back into the kitchen with Piper still holding her hand.
A figure was standing behind the island. It was a man, he was bald and wore dark leather and sack-like clothing. He had his back towards the sisters.
"Who are you?" Prue demanded. The man spun around and held up his hand. In his hand, he conjured an energy ball. Prue's eyes widened as Piper squeezed her hand tighter.
"Prue…" Piper whined. She didn't like what the man was holding, it looked dangerous.
Prue remembered Phoebe's vision, or whatever it was, from before. The fork…. The fork had been tossed in the sink! Prue looked at the sink and focused. Squinting, she saw the shine of the metal and jerked her head toward the intruder, who still had the ball of energy in his hand. The fork flew out from the sink and impaled the man. Surprised, the man crushed the energy ball in his fist and dissipated into a mound of dust, which then disappeared with a flash of light. Prue and Piper stared, awestruck.
"Phoebe."
"Paige."
The two sisters ran up the stairs as though they were being chased by an axe murderer. They slowed their pace around Penny's door, but hurried after.
"Oh, no," Prue said.
"Oh, no? Prue, what…?"
Prue pointed to the open attic door. Inside, she could hear voices. She grabbed Piper's hand and slowly entered. There, sitting on a truck and reading aloud from a heavy book, sat Phoebe and Paige. Prue cleared her throat.
"Phoebe? Paige? What are you doing?"
"Reading an incantation."
"From the Book of Shadows."
From the what? Prue strode up to them and snatched the heavy book.
"An incantation?"
"Don't get mad, Prue."
'Mad? Mad? This is probably what cause that psycho to appear!'
"Phoebe, do you even know what this 'incantation' means?"
"No, but…"
"Let me see that." Prue reached for the book. As it was heavy, she almost lost her grip on it. She scanned the page Phoebe had it opened to and read silently.
Hear now the words of the witches, the secrets we hid in the night. The oldest of gods are invoked here, a great work of magic is sought. In this night and in this hour, we call upon the Ancient Power. Bring your powers to we sisters three. We want the power. Give us the power.
'What is going on? First the weird happenings and now this?'
"Did you read aloud?" Phoebe looked confused.
"Aloud? No."
"Good."
"Good? Prue, what's good?"
It's good, Piper, that they didn't read this aloud. Who knows what could have happened!"
Prue closed the book and set it down on a pedestal. She led Piper out of the attic, leaving Paige and Phoebe to stare at their backs.
"What just happened?" Paige asked.
"I don't know, but I think our lives just became a little bit more fun!" Phoebe said.
~TBC Chapter Four~
"Hello, Penny. Mind if I come in?"
"Well, if it isn't Victor Bennett, my daughter's ex and long-lost father of my granddaughters."
"That's cute. Thought it up on the spot all by yourself?"
Penny let Victor slide past and shut the door. She gave him a couple of minutes to look around before attacking.
"What are you doing here?"
"A father can't visit his girls?"
"It's Tuesday. Phoebe is at school and Prue and Piper are at work."
"All right, look, I just came because something told me to, a feeling, if you will."
"What feeling?"
"The feeling that my girls are in danger. Now, answer truthfully. Did you do anything?"
"Penny Halliwell has unbound the Charmed Ones' powers."
The seriousness of this statement sent half the Elder council into a frenzy. Head Elders attempted to calm the storm, but the damage was done. The trials to see who would become Whitelighter to the Charmed Ones had begun!
Sam was a rogue Whitelighter. He refused charges and didn't take orders. After his daughter's birth, he remained a faithful Whitelighter until Patty's death. He clipped his wings in resentment. The Elders later made his a Whitelighter after they had found him. He had used this to check up on Paige. Now that she had her powers, Sam full-out stalked his daughter. He became the assistant principal of Riverrun High.
"You what?!" Victor exploded.
"Do calm down1 I just did it so they would be closer."
"Closer? So, you think being a witch and fighting demons brings people closer?"
"They are the Charmed Ones, Victor! Their powers are only as strong as their bond as sisters!"
"There is something else you're not telling me. What else brought you to unbind theirs powers?"
Adam Verde looked around. He noted that the Elders were not looking his way and swiftly orbed out. A charge, his first ever, was calling him. Intentionally or not, Adam was trained to never ignore a call. He landed in a public bathroom. Upon exiting, he noted, with disappointment, that he was in a high school. Great. My first charge is a literal Sabrina. He tuned out everything except his charge's call. His charge seemed to be in the courtyard.
With five minutes until the bell, Paige thought it would be a great idea to soak up some sun. Her friends had decided to skip that day, so it was just her at the center table. She was reading from her favorite book series when she heard movement behind her. She spun around to see a man with a black trench coat and sunglasses on. Her schoolmates didn't seem to notice.
"Hello, witch." Paige's eyes widened in fear. She backed up slowly to the door. The warlock/demon threw an energy ball her way. She jutted her chin forward.
"Lightning thingy." The 'lightning thingy' switched paths, going for the brick wall to the far left of the warlock. He looked at Paige with an evil smirk.
"Looks like your aim needs work."
"Looks like you need to leave."
Paige turned around to see another man walk calmly up to her.
"You can see him?"
"Unfortunately." The warlock launched another weapon. Paige, with more confidence, redirected the ball to its conjurer, vanquishing him into a mound of dust.
"Yeah! I did it!" Paige raised her hand for a high five. The mysterious man obliged.
"So, who are you?"
"I'm your Whitelighter."
"My what?"
"Whitelighter. Patty's Whitelighter."
Victor looked at Penny in disbelief.
"You mean to tell me that this Paige is Patty's daughter with Sam? So, what does that make her?"
"It makes her a Whitelighter-witch, but Sam asked me to strip her Whitelighter powers."
Victor stared dumbfounded at his ex mother-in-law. He knew about Patty's affair with a Whitelighter, but he never knew how serious it had gotten!
"So, where is Paige? Living with Sam?" Penny shook her head.
"Mr. Wilder? Paige Matthews is here."
Sam looked up from his desk. He had called Paige in to talk with her about grades…and to tell her who he truly is.
"Paige, take a seat, please." Paige slowly sat on one of the two leather chairs.
"What is this about?"
"Your grades. I know you've had a rough month, Paige, and I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but if you can't get your grades up, I'm going to have to call Mrs. Halliwell and tell her." Paige narrowed her eyes.
"You can't do that! Look, I'm doing just fine! My grades will be up in no time!"
"I truly hope so."
I wish Adam hadn't left! He would have talked Mr. Wilder out of it!
"One more thing before you go. I trust Mrs. Halliwell told you of your birth?"
"My birth?"
"Yes. How your mother and father had to give you up?"
Paige desperately hoped Mr. Wilder wasn't another creature out to kill her.
"Paige, I'm Sam, your birth father."
"Joseph! Joseph!" A novice Whitelighter interrupted. Elders stood up and clicked in outrage.
"Silence!" the Elder named Joseph yelled.
"Sam! He-he has a daughter! Patty Halliwell gave birth to his daughter!"
Victor left in a mix of emotions. Penny couldn't blame him. Victor and Penny had disagreements on a great many of things, such as raising the girls as witches. When Victor found out about his wife, daughters, and mother in law being witches, he hightailed it to the nearest hotel. After coming to terms, he came back. It was during that time, however, that Patty and Sam had started seeing each other. Once Victor knew about their relationship, which was after Phoebe's birth, he and Patty divorced. He never knew how far the affair had gotten. Until now.
Paige was gone at the first note of the last bell. She had left Mr. Wilder's office confused and hurt. Stunned, even. She needed time. She had been keeping it all bottled inside, ever since her parents' deaths. Paint. She needed to paint. Thankfully, she had kept her art supplies.
When Phoebe arrived home, Penny was cooking something foul in the kitchen and Paige was nowhere to be seen.
"Urgh, Grams. What is that?" Phoebe wrinkled her nose in protest.
"This? It's a…home remedy. Mrs. Barker, you know, from down the street, has the flu."
Phoebe shrugged her shoulders and went to her room. She dropped off her bag and entered the hall. Paige's door was shut.
"Paige? Are you in there?" Phoebe knocked.
"I'm fine. I'm just painting," Paige's voice said.
"Okay, just checking. Hey, you wanna go for a walk after dinner?"
"Not really. Look, I need some alone time, okay?"
"Paige, what's wrong? Do you wanna talk about it?"
"I'll talk about it later."
And that was the end of that conversation.
~TBC Chapter Four~
Regina crossed her arms and started to bounce her leg. She couldn't stand, or else she would lose her seat to another relative. Her tiny condo was being host to her many relatives.
"Regina, how are you and the young ones?"
"Just fine, Gran. And you, Aunt Rosie?"
"Doing wonderful. Hey, do you have a copy of the dispossession potion? My neighbor's been acting peculiar lately."
"Yes, I do. It's in my room in the closet."
"Regina! Mom says powdered dragon's scale in a binding potion will not bind, but completely change the power, what do you say?"
Regina laughed. Despite this family gathering to be rather somber, it was good to smile. They were discussing the disappearance of one of their own. Regina's cousin Christy had been missing since '91. Her mother, Renee, had tried just about everything to find her, to no avail.