Phoebe was in the mall shopping. It was December 26, and the malls were packed with shoppers. After communicating with Piper in her dream, she was eager to see her sisters again. She couldn't afford much, but bought presents for everyone, including Sam and Dean.
She was currently looking at discounted Christmas wrapping when she saw Jenna, Dean's girlfriend with another man.
'Huh? Did her and Dean break up?' She wondered.
Jenna was wearing a blue winter jacket, suitable for the California December weather wearing a hat. The guy Jenna was with, he looked really familiar. Phoebe swore she seen him before. Was he a former classmate, a former boyfriend, or a customer at the now defunct P3. The club her sister owned a few years ago.
FLASHBACK
A young Phoebe was in the kitchen eating a snack when Piper walked in.
"You're home early. How was the interview?" Piper spent all week pacing back and forth about her interview with a producer from the Food Network.
"I quit. Seeing Joanne Hertz again made me realize that it isn't too late to achieve my dreams of owning my own restaurant and being a chef." She looked around. "How's Prue?" Poor Prue was still dealing with the death of her on/off boyfriend Andy who was killed by a demon a few weeks ago.
"She's doing a lot better." Prue walks in the kitchen wearing a fitted blue dress. Her hair was done in a fancy do and was carrying a manila envelope. She blushed when her sisters whistled.
"Hot mama!" Phoebe says to a pink faced Prue.
"You have a date?" Piper asked. "I thought you weren't ready yet." Poor Prue spent her days locked in her room crying or moping around since Andy's funeral.
"Andy wouldn't want me sulking." She remembered taking to Andy in the Afterplane, he sacrificed himself for the sisters knowing it was the only way of saving them. "Besides I have a appointment." She looked at Piper. "How was the interview?" She knew how important this was to Piper's career.
"I quit." She told Prue about her decision.
"Your own restaurant. But isn't that risky?" She knew second hand how risky running a restaurant was. Most fail after a few years. "How will you raise the money?"
"I have some, plus Gram's life insurance." When Penny Halliwell died, she left some money to her living granddaughters including the Manor. "Plus I made a appointment with a loan officer at my bank.''
"How much do you need?"
Piper looked down in slight embarrassment.
"Sixty thousand."
''Wow." Phoebe didn't have sixty bucks.
"I would lend you the money, but the mortgage alone..."
"I know Prue." Piper was disappointed, out of all of them, Prue was the most successful. "But my credit is excellent, plus I have some savings. Besides running a restaurant is risky. I was thinking about opening up something else. Maybe a coffee shop." It wasn't Piper's dream, but it was profitable.
"Whatever you decide, we'll support you."
Piper was walking home with some groceries when she saw a empty building.
"The Industrial Zone." Piper used to come here during her college days with her friends. It was the hottest nightclub in town; until the owners lost the club due to unpaid taxes, then before the club before that one went into bankruptcy. Hmm. Quickly looking around, she uses her powers to sneak in.
The former nightclub was dirty and covered in dust and broken furniture. It was risky being here alone, Piper wasn't sure if it was structurally sound. But as she looked around she saw how sturdy the building looked. Hmm.
"That will be five dollars! Cha ching!" She chuckled pretending to hand over a beer from behind a bar. She jumped hearing a voice behind her.
"I only have a ten." Poor Leo was frozen before Piper unfroze him.
"Dammit Leo. Don't do that." She unfreezes him. "What are you doing here?'' She demanded. "I didn't summon you. There's no demons here."
Leo was looking around the club.
"I remember this place. Back in the eighties this was the hottest club in town. Your mom used to be a regular here." He kisses his girlfriend. "You thinking about opening up your own club?"
"I'm not sure yet." She already checked out a building in Sunset, they were asking for a lot of money Piper didn't have. "Checked out several businesses, none have that spark I'm looking for." She picks up her groceries. "Guess I have to wait a few more years." She sighed. "Leo?" She was heading back upstairs to leave, she saw Leo looking around. "If you want to orb me home instead, it'll save me a trip." Her bags were heavy. "Leo!"
"I could fix the holes. Plus put a couch over there once I knock down that wall." He jumped slightly when Piper tapped him.
"Honey?"
"You ever think about running a bar?"
"A bar? You mean this place?" Piper was looking around. "It's riskier than a restaurant." Nightclubs were a dice game. It can either be a money maker or a money pit. Most only last a few years if they are lucky.
"Why not? The first owner was successful. He made a fortune. Till his business partner ran off with the funds."
"Then the club got seized by the IRS for unpaid taxes for the second." Piper looked around. "You think I could do this?" She had her business degree plus experience running a restaurant.
"Why not? You don't have to do much. Just a few upgrades, some paint, plus some furniture." Leo smiles at Piper. "Whatever you decide, you don't need to look to far for a experienced handyman."
"What should I call this place?" She was brainstorming ideas with her sisters. She wasn't qualified for a loan, even with Prue helping, the Manor needed a new foundation and all of Prue's savings went to pay for it. However, she had enough, all three borrowed from a different lender, using a home equity loan.
"The Spot." Phoebe suggested.
"Too lame."
"Excuse me?" Phoebe was insulted.
"She's right. Sorry Pheebs." She ignored her hurt expression. "It has to represent us. The Spot is too generic." She writes down names. "Salem?" She gave a sour face when both her sisters gave her thumbs down. "Fine. Prue?"
"We are all co-owners. Plus sisters." Piper knew she didn't qualify to take out a loan alone, but with her sisters, it was the only way they could get the club; but only if Prue and Phoebe would be on the paperwork as well.
"Prue, Piper, Phoebe." Piper taps her pencil. "That's it! P3! Whatdaya think?" She looks at her sisters.
"P3." Phoebe looked thoughtful. ''It's cute."
"Let's just hope it doesn't get mistaken for a parking garage." Prue teased. "I'm kidding!"
"Leo!" Once she told Leo about her plans, he orbed away for his tools while Piper ordered some building materials.
"Wow. This place." Phoebe was looking around. "Uh, where's the customers?" It was the grand opening, and other than a few customers, P3 was empty.
"Piper spent a lot of money advertising. The full page ad in The Bay Mirror was eye-catching." Prue forced herself to stiffen her yawn.
"If this place is even deader we'll need a embalming." Phoebe took a glance at Piper's books. "We'll lose our shirt."
"Or the house."
"The house? We're going to lose the house? Ow!" When Prue hit her. Piper was walking towards them.
"Shh."
"Having fun?" Piper was smiling. Her dream was coming true. "Drinks are free, at least for today. After this you'll have to pay." She saw their faces. "What. What's wrong."
"Nothing. Um, it's a bit quiet tonight." Prue read the books herself. Twenty four grand in the red, and it was only the first week.
"It's only the first night. Start off slow, then bam! This place will be packed." Piper was smiling. "Excuse me, I have customers to see."
"We won't lose the house next month. Won't we?"
This was so risky, but she'll make sure Piper won't lose her club. She smiles at Chris Barker when he walked in the restaurant.
"Miss Halliwell. It is a pleasure seeing you again." The investor was smiling charmingly at the beautiful brunette. They met at the annual anniversary party at Bucklands a few months ago. A silent investor, he bought many rare and expensive artifacts. He shook Prue's hand. "I'm surprised you asked me to meet you here." He asked Prue to dinner, but she declined, saying she wasn't interested.
"This isn't just an ordinary lunch. I asked you to meet me for a reason." She was dressed in the same outfit as the party, she wanted him to remember her. However, she made sure they met in the afternoon, she didn't want to lead him on by taking him out for dinner.
"Any reason to meet you is always a pleasure." They sit down. Once they ordered, Prue tells him about Piper's club, and how she needs a temporary loan.
"Done." He sips his cognac.
"Done? Just like that? Don't you need collateral?" Prue had her tax receipts in her purse. She was willing to sell her shares in the stock market to prove she could pay him back.
"Your bosses did nothing but sing your phrases. Besides, you always gave me excellent services."
He was her number one buyer? Prue didn't know if having him around was a good thing. But thinking around Piper, she didn't have a choice.
"I can only pay you so much interest."
"Don't worry about it. I made so many investments, I'm not hurting for money. Just tell me how much you need, and I'll write the check right now."
If the phrase, "If its too good to be true..." was gospel, Prue would've rip up the check.
Piper was admittedly pissed. Her sisters made a deal with the devil, once he heard Dishwalla was playing in P3, he demanded to be equal partners, or even co-owner with him owning eighty percent.
"Excuse me. Eighty? I don't think so." This was their club.
"The bank is getting nervous. Once I said I'll buy out our loan with interest, they gave me the papers to sign. I didn't sign it yet, I wanted to discuss business with you." Chris's charming demeanour melted away, his snake-like smile leering at Prue.
"If you excuse me." Piper pulled her sisters away. "Prue?"
"Later. Kill the demon first." Prue was never scared of her sisters, but Piper looked like she wanted to rip out Prue's head. The demon Masselin was kidnapping young women for their souls, Leo made arrangements for Dishwalla to play here so the sisters would vanquish him.
"Fine. But don't think you're off the hook."
Once they vanquished the demon, Chris Barker was accidentally caught in the crossfire when the demon blew up. Green slime was all over him. Quickly, Piper made up an excuse that she was experimenting with a Halloween stunt.
Chris immediately wipes off his face. Disgusted, he told all three that they merely got lucky with Dishwalla.
"I made my fortune with smart investments, not luck. Good luck keeping the club." He takes out his papers and rips it up. "Miss Halliwell, tell your bosses that I rather work with another broker."
"Done." Prue knew she'll lose her commission, but it was worth it. She apologized for hiding the truth from Piper, with Piper accepting. She knew first hand how protective Prue was of her sisters.
Ironically it was thanks to that demon that brought in Piper's business. Once Dishwalla played, many other up and coming bands played at well, making P3 THE SPOT to party.
But all good things eventually had to come to an end.
When the recession hit, many businesses suffered greatly, including most nightclubs. Piper knew her time was coming, and was forced to downsize. Gone was the live shows, DJs were cheaper. Even with her getting rid of premium drinks and having theme nights, the crowds stopped coming. Eventually Piper and her sisters had no choice but to close P3's doors.
Phoebe remembered the last week they were opened. Poor Piper was having a drink, a no no for a bartender. But with no customers she didn't care.
"Give me one." Phoebe usually didn't drink, but she was just as depressed as Piper. "Woo. Strong." She didn't drink hard drinks, but she didn't blame her sister.
"Where did I go wrong? Just two years ago, we were turning people away." Piper was looking at the sign 'P3.'
"Nothing. We did everything we could. The timing is just awful.'' Poor Prue was getting affected as well, her work was talking about reducing her hours. If it wasn't for Paige helping with bills, they would have lost the manor as well. "Give me another." She and Piper downed their shots. "Phew."
"Don't I know it." Piper refused to cry, she swore she filled up the ocean with her tears. "Leo is coming by, he's going to start cleaning out the back rooms." Piper already sold most of the furniture, as for her cases of alcohol, she sold most of it to Quake.
"We have our farewell party this weekend. Most of our bills should be paid off."
"To P3. May we forever remember her."
"Cheers." They click glasses.
P3 was a hit for the first few years. They had customers lined up down the block to get in, due to the A+ bands Piper booked. But when the stock markets took a nosedive, customers stopped coming. They could no longer afford to pay the bands, and were forced to lay off their employees.
Phoebe remembered Piper sobbing over the books. When Phoebe saw her, Piper wiped off her eyes and denied crying. She said that she was just had allergies.
"Piper? We need more vodka for the drinks! Piper?" When Phoebe opened the door, she saw her sister sobbing over her desk. "Are you alright?" Phoebe already saw the books, Piper was deeply in debt.
Piper immediately wipes away her tears.
"I'm fine. Just a little dusty in here." She gets up and opens a box. "Here's two bottles, should be enough for the shots."
"Thanks." When Leo walked in, she takes her bottles and walked out, saying she was staying after hours to clean up. The last thing she saw was Leo comforting his girlfriend. Once the door closed, Phoebe couldn't help but listen their conversation.
"I don't know what to do. The landlord raised the rent, which means I won't have any money left to pay off my suppliers." Piper pointed to her screen. "Who would have thought that red straws could cost so much?" Piper sighed. "If this keeps up, we may lose the house."
Phoebe walked quietly away. Lose the house? Their grandmother was dead, and all three agreed to maintain and protect the house. She loved P3, but no way were they giving up the memories. She had savings, not much, but she knew Prue would say yes; and Paige had money from her parents life insurance. She went to talk to her sisters.
Piper cried when she saw the check, and tried to return it, but all three refused to, saying sisterhood sticks together, no matter what.
"I don't know what to say." There was enough to pay back everything, including the mortgage for the Manor.
"How 'bout thank you?" Paige smiles.
"Remember we're partners, remember?" Prue reminded her. She and Phoebe took out loans for Piper, and when Paige moved in, she made a deposit on the club and Manor as well.
''Family sticks together. No matter what. Richer or poorer, we're sisters for life."
"Thank you. Thank you." Piper hugged all three. Piper cried and thanked them profusely. Piper had enough to pay the bills for the month, and for the club's suppliers, but had no money to sustain the rest of the bills. She sadly had no choice but to shut down the club.
The very last night they opened, Piper had charged no cover charge and booked a local band to perform. She paid them for their chance to obtain some exposure and provided free drinks. The club was packed that night, and after the last customer left, all of them, including their friends, partied all night long. The band Piper hired, had stayed late to play for their friends.
"This place is packed." Paige was sitting on 'their' couch, she was going to miss this place.
"Reminds me of New Years '99." Prue was wasted that night, she wasn't worried about Y2K, the Wiccan Calendar said it was a change, not the end. But she drank to celebrate her promotion with her friends.
Piper wasn't with them, she and Leo were tending the bar, she was taking cash, with Leo serving drinks.
"You okay?" Leo asked. Poor Piper was depressed all week.
"I'll be fine." Usually the sounds of the cash register was music to her ears, but at the moment didn't care. "Keep serving those drinks!" She ordered. She kisses Leo, apologizing for bossing him around.
"Having fun?" Phoebe was pulling double duty as the MC and DJ. When the crowd whooped and cheered, Phoebe waves to her sisters who were now at the bar. "This will be the final song of the night, but before our band plays the next set, I would like to invite my sister to the stage. Come up Piper!"
Piper blushed at the polite applause. She never was shy around her customers, but this wasn't a typical night.
"Hey." Piper blushed harder when the mic squealed. "Sorry. I, I mean when we opened this place, we took a gamble. But thanks to all of you, our gambled played off." She paused looking at her sisters and boyfriend who were smiling with encouragement. "We just want to say thank you. Thank you for being there for us." Piper waved to the band. "Now give it up to The Zone!" Once the crowd started partying again, she walked up to her sisters who were still applauding when Piper walked off the stage.
"That was a great speech." Phoebe was crying, she knew this was the end.
"We didn't fail, we were a success." Prue was trying to be cheerful, but it was hard. She was just as depressed as Piper was.
Leo just hugged his girlfriend, he didn't want to say anything about what the Elders said. That they were happy that the Sisters could concentrate on fighting evil instead.
"I know we are." She was trying to not show tears, she was sure they made a small profit tonight.
"Let's drink!" Paige pulled out her wallet. "What? The Bay Social Services gave me my bonus. It's only fair. Leo! Four beers!"
After the band left, and after Piper paid them with cash, all of them turned on the DJ booth and drank and danced all night. They took tons of pictures and videos for the memories. Piper was trying not to cry, they all were. After the sun rose, all of them packed up and said goodbye to the club.
"This is it." Phoebe was looking around with everyone. She and Prue were holding each other, they were going to miss this place.
"We had some good times." Leo was cradling Piper under his chin, she was shaking with emotions.
"Piper, you okay?" Paige asked. She saw tears running down her face.
"We did good." Piper sniffed. This was it. "We are not failures, we did more than anyone else." She cried when all three of her sisters held her. "I'll be okay." She was crushed her beloved club was gone, but at least they kept the Manor.
"You ever heard the term things happen for a reason? You always said you wanted to open your own restaurant. Maybe this was proof it was meant to be."
"Yeah right." Piper scoffed. But she pondered Paige's words.
"What if something else is on the horizon. Something bigger?" Phoebe suggested.
"I don't think I could open another bar."
"Not a bar, but a place, that everyone needs." Leo said mysteriously.
"Whatever your next project is, we'll be there for you too." Prue tells her as they walk out the doors to the bright morning sunshine.
"This isn't the end, but a beginning of a new chapter." As much as she loved P3, they were getting too old for a nightclub. A restaurant on the other hand, she could see her sister running her own restaurant with customers lined up down the block wanting to try out her food. The line even longer than P3.
"You think?"
"I know." She slings her arm around her older sister.
Piper returned to Quake, but this time around was the head manager and executive chef. Quake was happy to have her back, customers missed Piper's cooking. Business was picking up, most new customers were P3's former customers. It was bittersweet. But Phoebe had hope for her sister. Maybe Paige would be right, Piper could own her own restaurant someday.
After seeing Jenna, Phoebe decided to talk to her.
"Jenna! Hey Jenna!" Phoebe shouted trying to get her attention.
Jenna turned around. She looked shocked, then happy to see Phoebe.
"Oh my god. Is that really you? Oh, Phoebe!" She hugs her. "You're okay?" She remembered how fragile Phoebe's mind was.
"One hundred percent."
"How?"
"Long story. Jenna. How's things. With Dean."
Hearing Dean's name, Jenna grimaced.
"It's over, Phoebe."
"Huh? Why? You were so in love."
"Dean stood me up. He was supposed to see me a few weeks ago. He promised. No explanation, just ghosted me. No phone call, no letter, not even a fucking text. Jerk." Jenna said bitterly.
Phoebe knowing Dean, knew he'll never ghost Jenna for any good reason. She heard the stories about those other women, but Jenna was different.
"Jenna. Don't give up hope. Dean will come see you soon. I promise." She knew Piper and Sam were on their way, but she didn't know when they'll arrive.
"It's too late. I don't care what excuse he has, he flaked out on me too many times. It's over."
"Jenna..."
"Please Phoebe. Let it go. Please." Jenna tells her sadly.
Phoebe nods. But knew Jenna was making a huge mistake. Her and Dean were meant to be together. She touched Jenna's shoulder to comfort her when she got a premonition.
She saw Dean. He was a prisoner in a facility, he was fighting with guns. He wasn't alone, Sam was with him. Both of them were in danger.
Phoebe gasped. Jenna, knowing about Phoebe's gift, asked her a question.
"What did you see."
"Sam and Dean. Jenna. Dean is in trouble." He looked dishevelled, he was fighting for his life.
"Really. Is he in jail again? Figures." She bailed Dean out one time for fighting, and for drunk driving. Good thing Dean used fake IDs.
"No." She shook her head. "Dean is in deep trouble. Deep, deep, trouble. Jenna. His life is in danger."
"Sure he is. What is it now. A vampire, a werewolf, or demons."
"I don't know. Dean was fighting for his life. Sam too."
"He is a hunter. It's his job. If you see Dean, tell him I don't want to see him ever again. I'm moving to Paris. My company wants me to launch a new series in France. I'm leaving in two weeks. Tell your sisters I said hi. Take care of yourself. See ya."
"Bye." She watched as Jenna walked away with the guy looking back at Phoebe. Where did she see him before? The question was heavy on her mind. After finishing her shopping, she went back to the place she was vacationing with Elise. After telling Elise about seeing Piper in a dream, Elise, knowing about Phoebe's powers, agreed to head back to Los Angeles.
"I'm glad your sister is safe, but how would she find you?" She knew Phoebe was psychic, Phoebe told her the day Elise got out of her coma after her attack by Cal Greene. Elsie wasn't surprised, she always wondered how she solved her reader's issues in her column with perfect advice.
"We have a bond. Plus I told her where you lived. Hope you don't mind."
"I have a brother. I would do the same thing."
They were home a day later. They were supposed to stay with Elise's family for a few more days, but Phoebe didn't want to miss Piper and Sam. Elise and her family understood. They said goodbye and hit the road the next day.
Once they got back, Elise went to her room to unpack while Phoebe went to take a shower and change into new clothes. After drying herself off and styling her new pixie haircut, Phoebe got dressed and waited by the phone. An hour later, was still waiting by the phone.
"Phoebe, honey? If you wait by the phone, it won't ring." Elsie felt sorry for her friend.
"I know, but this is my sister. She'll call." She had to, Phoebe gave her Elise's number.
At that moment the phone rang. Both Elise and Phoebe jumped. Phoebe grabs the phone out of the hook.
"Piper?"
The voice on the other end of the line never said a word. Just heavy breathing.
"Hello? Who is this?"
The caller hangs up.
"Who was that?" Elsie was sitting on a couch reading a magazine.
"Wrong number." Phoebe was disappointed. She was hoping it was her sister.
A few hours later, Phoebe was taking a nap. Elise wasn't home, she got a call from the publishing house. There was a printing issue and called Elise to help them fix it. It was after six and Elise wasn't home yet. Phoebe woke up when she heard a noise.
"Elise?" She heard breathing. "Did you just get back?" Phoebe was looking around, she swore she wasn't alone.
Huh? What is going on? She didn't have a chance to think when she felt a wet cloth go over her face. She was unconscious a minute later.
When she came to, she found herself blindfolded and had a rag in her mouth. Drowsily, she came to her senses. As she woke up, she found herself tied up.
Uhhhh. What is going on? Her hands were bounded. Her hands were tied to a chair and so were her feet. Where was she? Her answer was answered a minute later when she heard Elise's voice.
"Please do what you want with me, but leave her alone. She is just a young woman."
"Quiet."
That voice. No. It couldn't be.
"Prue?" But with the rag on her mouth it sounded like "Plew?"
The light was bright when the rag was ripped away from her eyes. Phoebe blinked. She was still in Elise's apartment, Elise was tied on a chair across from her. Her mouth wasn't gagged, but her hands were. But when she saw her sister Prue she was filled with joy. But Prue wasn't alone, she was with the man at the mall that was walking with Jenna back in San Diego. When Phoebe looked closely at him, she recognized him. Chris Barker. The investment banker that tried to take over P3 at its infancy. What is he doing here?
"Well hello, Miss Phoebe? How is things?" He asked in a snooty tone. "My, you look even more beautiful than the last time I saw you. Almost as much as your older sister, Prue."
She stared at him in disbelief. Seeing Prue and him working together. She remembered how Prue was unimpressed at Chris Barker and his attempts to woo her with his money. Thankfully, he dropped out of being P3's silent partner after the demon attack. Why did he tie up Phoebe and Elise? Plus, why did Prue look so...empty? Her eyes were blank. Her stance was stiff as well. Being a empath, she felt Prue's emotion. There was nothing but a void. Phoebe felt scared. Who was this woman in Prue's body?
"Sam, where are we?" Piper asked. She just woke up from her nap. They been on the road for the last three days and took turns driving. They tried not to stay in a place too long and only stayed at the cheapest place they can find; and since they were on a budget, ate nothing but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and bottled water, filling up their water jugs as often as they can to save money.
"We are about an hour away from Los Angeles Piper." Sam's fingers were clenched, to stay hidden, they avoided the main highways and drove in less dense roads. Sam prayed everyday that Dean was safe.
"Do you want me to drive, Sam? I know this part of California." She been to LA several times.
"I'm fine. Dean and I lived here a few years ago."
"Really? You never mentioned it."
"You never asked."
"How long ago was that?"
"You mean when I was going to school in Stanford? Or when Dean and I were living here a few years ago living with a hunter trying to solve a case."
"Right. That is when Dean picked you up the first time. What about the second time?"
"There was a case here that stumped the local hunters, this was a few years ago before the Lucifer era. The hunter here, Pete Jackson, asked us if we can help us solve a mysterious case. At the time we never heard of this - kids that disappeared from their beds, and end up across the country with their youth missing."
"What! Their youth? How? Why did they end up on the other side of the country?"
"At the time we didn't know. The parents and kids were terrified. The children that were found was aging fast and were dying of old age. Every hunter in the area were looking for answers but found none. When Dean and I came here, we stayed for a few months. It took us a while to figure it out, but when we found out what it was, it wasn't a monster, demon or a supernatural creature. It was a human woman."
"Witch or warlock?"
"We had no idea. You heard of the Legend of the Blood Countess?"
"You mean Countess Elizabeth? The one that slaughtered virgins and bathed in their blood?" It was a historic legend. History says after her conviction, she said was sealed forever in her tower, never seeing daylight again. After her death, records say she was buried in a unmarked grave, but there was stories that she escaped after her conviction, bribing officials to leave the country. As for the woman in the tower, rumours were she was nothing but a poor beggar woman who agreed to be locked up, living in luxury for the rest of her life.
"That's the one. Her crimes attracted a demon. The demon offered her beauty and immortality if she brought young children to the Underworld."
"Was she a witch?" She sighed when Sam nodded.
"Elizabeth studied blood magic. I don't know if she really bathed in blood, but she did sacrifice innocents for her spells. Her specialty was young women, but as she got older, moved on to innocents."
"Children."
"Yep. History doesn't mention it. Even for them, the thought of sacrificing young kids for witchcraft was too much. Instead she was convicted of murder for those young women."
"But she got away." The love of money was the root of all evil. Even with her crimes, she escaped unscathed.
"For now. But even as she laid low, she would've been caught eventually." Both Sam and Dean didn't hesitate, they went to LA as soon as possible. Dean wanted to know what they were hunting, while Sam came along to support his brother. Their father John wasn't around, but they suspected he was the one that told that hunter about that case. "She went inside children's dreams and took them to a portal in their bedroom doorways. Once the demon had them, she drained the children of their youth and dumped them on the surface world. Not giving a shit where they landed."
"Holy crap! Why didn't we hear about this?" She read the Book of Shadows several times, and never once read about anything about a youth stealing demon, or blood witch.
"Maybe because Elizabeth was technically still alive and was human. Anyways, we needed bait."
"You didn't."
"Don't worry, Dean and I never used a child. We were the baits. We found a witch that agreed to de-age us to small children. When we went to sleep, we hid holy water and Ruby's knife on ourselves. We had no angel blades at the time and waited for the enchantress. We took a dream root so we can be fully awake but dreaming at the same time. The woman came to our dreams and took us away to her master, the demon Crypto, Demon of Youth and Vanity." Sam was driving, but lost in the memories. "The demon when she saw us was enraged, she recognized us even as kids. It was a very difficult fight, since we were in the realm of being aware and dreaming. But Dean was clever. While the demon was focused on me since I was smaller, Dean taunted the demon calling it ugly and nasty."
"That's hard to believe." Sam's head was touching the roof of the car, while his legs were squished underneath the dashboard.
"I didn't hit the growth spurt till after I was eleven. Anyways the demon got angry." Sam flinched seeing the demon's true form, no wonder it was after kids. "As the description of vanity, Crypto was vain. While she was distracted, I splashed her with holy water, then while it was screaming, Dean stabbed her with Ruby's knife, which killed her. When Dean and I woke up, we found ourselves back home in our beds. Dean and I wrapped up tight in our small pyjamas." Both were regretting not sleeping nude, it would have been more comfortable. They had no choice but to cut of their pyjamas, it was cutting off their circulation. "The one time we had no scissors, good thing Dean had that knife."
"Elizabeth, what happened to her?" Piper was curious, she was impressed but annoyed with Sam and his brother for being reckless and dumb.
"According to Pete, a wrinkled old lady was found dead in the tub with her wrists slashed. We concluded Elizabeth committed suicide when she started aging. Even in death her body continued to age. We salted and burned the bones."
"You guys are so stupid. Brave, but stupid. That demon could have killed you."
"Better us taking that risk, then another innocent child dying." Sam smiled.
"Well, you know that I need to write about this in the Book of Shadows just in case." Piper was mad at Sam but madder at herself. She should have been watching out for this demon. The Power of Three would have vanquished her.
They drove in silence till Sam pulled up to a sign saying that they were in the outskirts of Los Angeles.
'Phoebe, it won't be long now. I'm coming.' Piper hoped she was alright.
Back in Elise's apartment, Phoebe was trying to communicate with Prue.
'Prue, wake up. This isn't you. Please.' She begged, praying her empath powers worked.
"It's too late Prue is loyal to us now. A obedient perfect soldier with no emotion. Plus the bonus of being a powerful witch." The guy says smugly.
Phoebe looked up at Prue and then to the now unconscious Elise who passed out when Prue touched her head with sleeping magic.
'You may have brainwashed Prue, but her heart is still hers. You can never take away the love in her heart.' Phoebe tells him silently.
"Prue, kill the old bag." Chris/Ketch says coldly. "Make it look like an accident. I'll take Miss Phoebe away for reprogramming."
"ELISE!" Phoebe screamed with the rag over her mouth.
The sounds of glass breaking made all three jump. Prue was standing in the hallway with a makeshift noose, only leaving the living room to grab some sheets to make the noose.
"What the hell? Prue, check it out." Ketch ordered.
Before Prue could react the door was kicked down. A guy wearing a tactical uniform similar to swat team uniforms police wore, charged in. He ran up to Prue and tackled her. Ketch started firing his gun. A short gun fight occurred and before Prue could do anything, the guy hit her over the head, knocking Prue unconscious. Ketch then grabbed Phoebe's head and held a gun to her head.
"Stop. Or the girl dies." Ketch clicked the gun. Phoebe was shaking, but forced herself to calm down, she had two people to save, Elise and Prue.
The guy holding the gun put the gun down and held up his hands.
"Take off that mask. Show me your face."
Before the guy could take the mask off, Ketch's gun was taken away.
"What the..."
Prue when she woke up a minute later saw her sister Phoebe in danger. Despite being a loyal soldier to the Men of Letters, seeing her sister in trouble woke up a stir in her heart. She then flung Ketch across the room. Ketch broke the china cabinet behind him and was knocked out cold.
"Phoebe?"
"Prue? Are you back?" Phoebe mumbled with the rag over her mouth.
Prue just looked at her. She then walked out of the apartment.
"Prue!"
The mysterious guy that saved Phoebe and Elise then took Ketch and cuffed him with his handcuffs. He then hurried out of the apartment following Prue. Phoebe was in disbelief. Before she could do anything, Piper and Sam ran in.
"Phoebe!" Piper called out. When she saw Phoebe and Elise tied up both Sam and Piper hurried to untie them.
"What happened in here?" Sam asked Phoebe as he untied Elise's hands. He was checking on Elise to see if she was alright.
"Ahhh, ugh. Thanks for that." Phoebe was glad when that smelly rag was taken out of her mouth. "That guy, Sam, Piper, make sure he is tied up."
"What guy?" Piper asked after untying Phoebe's bounds.
"Right by the china cab...No! He's gone!" That British guy, 'Chris Barker' was no longer on the floor. The handcuffs that were used to bound him was on the floor, unlocked.
'Prue. Be careful.' A small part of Prue was okay, but her mind was still brainwashed.
After Phoebe was untied and circulation returned to her limbs, she stood up and gave Piper a long hug. Both of just stood there and held each other for a minute, not letting each other go. After they finished hugging Phoebe went up to Sam and gave him a huge hug, with Sam giving her a big bear hug back.
"Ummppphh. Good to see you too Sam. What happened while I was away?"
A few hours later, all of them were driving back to San Francisco. They told Elise to call her brother and tell him to take his family and leave town for a few days, just in case he would be a target. Owen agreed and him and his family went to Mexico for an extended vacation. Then after Elise hung up, she called the police to report a break-in.
"I need a drink." After Elise hung up.
"Maybe later. I could really use a coffee. Think we have time to get one before the cops get here?"
"I know a coffee shop close by. But be quick." Elise warned. She needed to stay behind to wait for the cops, declining to come along. She knew Phoebe's sister and friend were looking for Prue.
"Will you be okay?" Sam asked.
"I have a neighbour who is a former marine. I can ask him for a coffee myself."
In the car Phoebe was in disbelief at what she heard.
"Is that who brainwashed Prue?'' After what Sam and Piper told her why they ran, she told them how she woke up from her mental state.
"So a reaper pulled you out?" She wondered if it was the Angel of Death.
"I guess. All I remember is waking up in Magic School, and then home. When I got there I heard voices, pressuring those Men of Letters guys based on the accents."
"You were incredibly lucky." Sam remarked. After Phoebe told them about Prue, Sam was so glad Phoebe wasn't taken as well.
"Yep. Is Dad okay?"
"He's fine. Phoebe, what exactly happened here?"
Before they left town, and before the police got there, Phoebe told Sam and Piper about "Chris" and Prue, plus that masked man that saved Elise and Phoebe. After Phoebe and Elise were freed, and double checking both were alright, both Sam and Piper went outside to look for Prue and her attacker and rescuer. Unfortunately, all three were gone, even with Piper freezing time to double check everything. They had no choice but to return to Elise's apartment.
"What are you gonna tell the cops?" Phoebe whispered. Elise wanted nothing more to leave, she was understandably spooked on the circumstances.
"The truth." Piper deadpans.
All three gave their statements, Piper and Sam told the police, that they walked in on the aftermath. Piper said she and Sam were here for a visit, and arrived in town to say hello to her sister before going to their motel for the night.
"We were about to buzz in, luckily a tenant was just leaving and let us in."
"Did you see who that was?" The cop who was interviewing them asked.
"Not really. I been to LA several times, everyone looks the same after awhile." Piper saw Sam and Phoebe giving their own statements. "When we got upstairs, we saw a broken door. Then we saw my sister and her friend.''
"Did you recognize your attackers?"
Elise shook her head.
"No. I just came home from work and was immediately grabbed. I assume the robbers weren't expecting Phoebe to be home, and tied her up." Everyone decided to use a robbery gone bad story to make it believable.
"It was so sudden. One minute I was sleeping, then when I woke up, I was tied up."
"You didn't hear anything? A footstep, a window breaking? Anything?"
"I took a sleep aid. I have trouble sleeping these days and took a nap. Elise warned me that those pills were strong, I won't wake up for anything." Phoebe lied. "Except when the drugs wore off. I had my eyes covered and didn't see anything." She refused to say who the attackers were, fearing news about Prue and and the two unknown men would put Dean's and Paige's lives in danger.
"What about the bullet holes?" A break and enter was one thing, but anything with guns, the police were combing through the apartment with a fine tooth comb. Thankfully both Phoebe and Piper got rid of anything about Prue.
"Maybe to scare us?" Elise told them that she had some jewellery and money lying around. "I told them to take anything they want, guess they thought I had a safe somewhere." She pointed at her china cabinet. "Assholes broke my grandma's good china!"
"I don't know. Both the window and door were broken when we came in. Maybe there was another robber, and hearing us coming probably scared them off." Sam lied. God he hoped Dean was okay.
"Okay. Here is my card. I'll be in touch." Once he and the other cops left, Elise tells everyone she wanted to leave.
"You sure you don't want me to come?" Phoebe offered.
"I'll be okay. No offence, but I don't want a target on my back." She and Phoebe hug. "Be careful dear."
"I will." Once she left, after making sure Elise would be okay, including her car, all three discuss their next steps.
"Now what?" Phoebe looked around. She felt terrible. Good thing Elise had insurance.
"About Prue? Phoebe, did she say anything about Paige? Or Dean?"
"She didn't say a word. I tried channelling her mind, but their hold on Prue is too strong." She told Piper.
"Then where would she go?" God if only she and Sam were here sooner.
"Maybe home? That's where it all started." That was the only place Prue would go. Phoebe saw her eyes, she looked homesick.
"And the other guy? Is he after Prue too?" No one knew who he was. "Is he dangerous?"
"Wish I knew." He went out of his way to save Prue, but why? The masked man, who was he? Why was he following Prue? None of them could figure it out. Plus that agent the Men of Letters sent was most likely dangerous. They knew they were now on a ticking clock. Every second they wasted, Dean and Paige's lives were at stake.
"We better hit the road." Sam declined to rest, he wanted to head to San Francisco immediately.
"You sure you don't want me to drive?" Phoebe was in the back, Sam insisted on driving, with Piper riding in the front with him.
"I'll be fine." Sam said stubbornly. He wished he knew where Dean was, but they had no clue where to start. Finding Prue may be the key.
They drove all night, with Piper forcing Sam to switch places with her, fearing they would crash with Sam almost falling asleep behind the wheel.
"Pull over." Piper demanded. Sam was nodding off. Once they switched places, Sam immediately falls in a deep sleep. Piper looked at her sister from the rearview mirror, Phoebe was snoring quietly. "Night Pheebs." Poor girl went through a lot.
It took hours but were now back in the Manor. But before they went inside, all three took a look around, making sure it was completely empty. Once Sam confirmed it was safe, they unpack their car.
"I don't see anyone, or find any spying devices." Sam let out a big yawn.
"How long has it's been since those guys left?" All three knew there was unsavoury people inside.
"A few days?" Phoebe was here and heard them leave. "I don't sense anyone here."
Phoebe then ordered Sam and Piper to get some rest, threatening Piper that Phoebe wouldn't hesitate to call Grams to force them to go to bed. The thought of Penny Halliwell scolding her and Sam like small children, made her nervous. All three decided to sleep in shifts, with Phoebe keeping an eye on any unusual noises.
Since Phoebe slept in the car, she took the first shift. Both Piper and Sam were fast asleep in Piper's bedroom and wouldn't be up for a few hours. After Phoebe made herself a cup of coffee and a light breakfast, she decided to watch TV and relax for a few hours.
"Good morrrrninng San Francisco! It's another beautiful day in the city, let's hope it doesn't rain with dark clouds coming from the east!"
Phoebe tunes out the cheery host. She sips her cup, thinking about their next steps. She was happy Piper was okay, whoever that Charlie woman was, she saved their lives. But what about Prue? And Paige? They were still missing. She looked up absently and seeing a news interview about a soup kitchen, she got a vision.
She saw a couple. A young man was pleading his girlfriend's life to a demon that was holding her hostage. The demon didn't care and broke her neck.
When Phoebe woke up, she was shaken. The sound of the woman's neck breaking made her heart skip. Her, Piper, and Sam agreed to never go anywhere alone, but Phoebe knew she had to save this woman and the young man from dying. Quickly writing a note for Piper and Sam, she left for soup kitchen the news story talked about.
When she arrived at the soup kitchen, Phoebe looked around for the young man and woman. Frustrated she couldn't see either. She was just standing in the entrance when she was approached by a priest.
"Hello, my child. Are you lost?"
Phoebe turned around, embarrassed to be seen just standing around looking at the various people eating and talking.
"Um, I'm looking for someone."
"May I ask who?"
"I don't see him or his friend... I should go."
"No need to be embarrassed. I seen my share of people down on their luck for the first time. We have a array of services including food, shelter, counselling for mental health, and job searching. Would you like to have something to eat?"
Phoebe, looking at the kind man standing before her humbled and saddened her. The world was ending, and no one knew.
"Actually, I would like to volunteer for the day if you don't mind."
Two hours later, Phoebe was serving up hot scoops of food and bread to the various people that walked in. She had no idea how many hungry children came inside. The people that came in, so many homeless. Phoebe wanted to cry. She vowed after saving her friends that she'll come here every weekend to volunteer. Her life seemed meaningless. When a young man walked in, she gasped. It was the young man in her vision. She looked around for the girl. Seeing her a few rows away, tempted Phoebe to walk away to save them both. See decided to wait. The demon didn't attack here.
An hour later, Phoebe was cleaning up the dining area. She volunteered to bus the tables and to sweep the floors, so she can keep an eye on both. As she was picking up the dirty dishes, she seen a man walking in. As Phoebe looked at his face, he was the demon she saw in her vision. Phoebe immediately goes to the back and called their house phone, and hearing no answer left a quick message.
"Piper. I had a vision. Family emergency." Leaving the address on the machine, she quickly goes back out.
She was looking around for the couple. Seeing both going out the back door, she saw the demon walking out following them. Phoebe knew she had no holy water or athemes, but she was a witch; as well as schooled in expelling demons from a human host. She hurried out after them.
As she went outside to the alley, she heard screams. Once Phoebe arrived at the direction where the screams came from, she saw the demon holding the woman's neck.
"Stop! Don't come any closer. One wrong move, and the bitch dies."
The young man looked helplessly at both the demon and the young woman. Seeing Phoebe, he silently asked for help.
"Hey! You don't want her, take me instead. She is just a mere woman, I am a witch."
The demon stares at Phoebe. He smiles once he recognized her.
"So you are. A Charmed one no less." he chuckled. "My bosses will be pleased. Come here then."
"No. Put the girl down and let them go. I won't fight."
"Yeah, right. And then your sisters will come around and kill me. I don't think so."
"I'm alone. My sisters aren't available right now. Take me." She insisted.
The demon looked closely at her and nodded.
"Fine. You are not Prue or Piper. I know that Paige is no longer on this Earth, I cannot sense her. Okay. Get the hell out of here." He shoves the girl away. He gestured to Phoebe to come closer. As Phoebe walked forward, the young man suddenly pulled out a weapon, and stabbed the demon as soon as he looked away. Unfortunately the priest that ran the soup kitchen walked around the corner at that exact moment. Seeing the demon flash and die, he immediately crossed his chest and kissed the cross around his neck.
"Forgive the man that committed this awful crime Father. He had no clue on the sin that was just committed. Bless it be."
A few minutes later the alleyway was surrounded by police officers and crime scene officers.
"It happened so fast. I came out here to get air when I heard screams. Then I saw a girl getting held hostage with a knife."
"Do your recognize him?"
Phoebe shook her head.
"And the couple?"
"I don't know. I assume they were homeless, they were eating here." Who were they? She saved several innocents since becoming a witch, but something about them.
"I don't know what I seen. But all I know is the man was just trying to defend his friend. Murder is a sin, but I hope the Good Lord forgives him." The priest wondered if moving to San Francisco was a mistake. But he goes where the Lord sends him to.
After Phoebe gave her general statement, she looked around for the young man and who she presumed as his girlfriend or wife. They were gone. The poor priest was talking to the detective telling him what he saw and what he did after the stabbing. He gave the demon's human vessel his last rites, and prayed for his soul.
Phoebe was about to go back to the church when she saw Piper and Sam. She knew her sister would be pissed she took off, but she didn't have a choice. She goes over to them to explain why she had to go. But she did want to come here more often, the soup kitchen needed all the help they can get.
Unknown to them, the same couple Phoebe saved were watching from a rooftop across the street.
"Well, we managed to save Father Camilleri from that demon. Good thing Aunt Phoebe was there."
"Yeah, but time travel is sticky. We can't change the past too much, Bianca. I see Sam and Piper. Looks like they are on their way to save Dean and Paige."
"Good. Hopefully they win."
"Of course they will. Otherwise, you won't exist."
"Whatever you say Christopher Wyatt. C'mon, lets go. We have one more mission. We got to stop Claire from changing the future. If she succeeds, the world will end a lot sooner."