Chapter 13: Prophecies and Secrets
Victor Bennett sat quietly in his apartment, watching over his three grandchildren—Adrianna, Andrea, and Andrew. They had endured so much in such a short time, their faces showing the strain of battles they could not understand. He could see the exhaustion in their eyes, the confusion from the forces that were silently shaping their lives. His promise to Prue echoed in his mind: *Keep the truth hidden, no matter the cost. *
Patricia Halliwell sat beside him; her gaze fixed on the sleeping children. She missed her daughter, Prue. The thought that she might never return gnawed at her heart. But as much as she longed for the truth, it was too dangerous to reveal it—not yet. Not to Piper or Phoebe.
"We'll figure this out," Patricia murmured, her voice low, more to herself than to Victor. "We have to."
Victor nodded, his thoughts far away. The weight of the situation felt unbearable. Revealing the truth now could destroy everything.
Meanwhile, the Upper Plane: Chaos Unleashed
The Upper Plane, once a realm of peace and wisdom, had become a battleground. Gideon's surprise attack, part of Inara's larger plan to sow chaos, had thrown the Elders into turmoil. Whitelighters, stripped of their powers, were scattered and vulnerable. What was once a sanctuary now bore the scars of battle.
In the midst of the chaos stood Galen, one of the oldest Elders, his eyes sharp with resolve. His past was just as turbulent as the present, but he had no time to reflect on it now.
"This ends now," he muttered, his voice calm despite the destruction around him.
With a swift motion, Galen teleported Gideon away from the epicenter of the chaos. He struggled momentarily from the effort, but his resolve remained firm.
Turning toward the shimmering gates of the Upper Plane, he sealed them shut with a wave of his hand. The connection between the Upper Plane and the mortal world was severed.
"They're on their own now," Galen whispered to himself, his face hardening. "But it's for the greater good. They need to find their own way." But now upper plane is my priority to save.
At Halliwell Manor: Phoebe's Vision
At Halliwell Manor, the silence was suffocating. Victor and Patricia were unreachable, and the Elders had cut themselves off. The sisters were left to face an unknown future. Piper was at Magic School, trying to protect the children. Paige was grappling with the return of the Triad and the mysteries surrounding it.
But Phoebe? She was consumed by the scroll she held in her hands. The ancient parchment hummed with energy, a sense of purpose lingering in the air.
"What does 'Power Beyond Three' mean?" Phoebe muttered to herself, pacing the living room. The words from the scroll felt like a puzzle she couldn't solve.
Suddenly, a wave of energy coursed through her, familiar yet different from any premonition she'd had before. She closed her eyes, and everything shifted.
A Vision of the Past
Phoebe found herself standing in a dimly lit room, watching a young woman bent over the Book of Shadows. The woman's long hair framed her face as her fingers traced the pages of the book.
"Melinda Warren," Phoebe whispered, realizing who she was seeing. The legendary witch who had founded the Warren legacy.
Melinda's voice echoed softly in Phoebe's mind, as though the vision was meant for her alone:
"To my children and beyond. The Warren line will grow powerful, generation by generation, until the arrival of three sisters who will become the strongest witches for the greater good."*
The scene shifted, and Phoebe's breath caught as Prudence Warren, Melinda's daughter, appeared in front of her. Prudence traced the triquetra emblem with reverence.
Her voice was clear and foreboding as she spoke:
"When the three sisters arrive, the Power of Three will protect the innocent and defeat evil. But when another child is born—a fourth sister, both witch and Whitelighter—it will give rise to new possibilities of power."*
Phoebe's heart raced as the vision continued:
"But for this to happen, the firstborn must be gone. And one of the sisters will betray her family for evil. This betrayal will crack the Power of Three."*
Phoebe gasped as the words *"Power Beyond Three"* appeared, written by Prudence herself. The vision ended abruptly, leaving Phoebe gasping for breath, her body trembling.
Before she could make sense of it, darkness overtook her.
A Family's Burden
When Phoebe regained consciousness, her sisters were by her side. Piper's worried expression and Paige's concerned questions grounded her, but the weight of the vision still pressed on her chest.
"I had a premonition," Phoebe said, her voice hoarse but urgent. "It's a prophecy. It explains everything. What Prudence Warren said about the Power Beyond Three. I understand it now."
She shared the vision, each word careful but rushed. The prophecy was bigger than they had imagined.
"The firstborn... that's Prue," Paige whispered, her voice pale with realization.
Phoebe nodded. "Yes. Prue's death wasn't just a tragedy—it was part of the prophecy. It allowed the Power Beyond Three to emerge."
Piper's voice shook. "And the betrayal?"
Phoebe's gaze fell to the floor. "It was me. When I married Cole, when I became the Source's queen… I betrayed the family. That's what cracked the Power of Three."
The room fell silent, the weight of the revelation settling heavily around them.
"So, the prophecy says it could happen again?" Paige asked, barely above a whisper.
Phoebe nodded. "No. It already happened. The crack in the Power of Three began years ago, when Prue died. But we know that's not true—we know Prue might still be alive. And now, with Paige in the picture, if we find her, we'll understand what 'Power Beyond Three' truly means."
Hope flickered in Phoebe's eyes. "We have to find her. If we don't, the consequences will be unimaginable."
As the sisters stood united, the enormity of the prophecy loomed over them—a shadow of the battles yet to come. Yet, in the face of uncertainty, their bond remained their greatest strength.
End of Chapter 13