by Nat Faul <pruesdoux@charmedmail.com>
DISCLAIMER: (October 2001) This is not posted for any profit but to share creative ideas with other Charmed fans on this and other websites. The characters of Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell, Leo Wyatt, and Bane Jessup are property of Warner Brothers Television. Other characters were created by this author. Any similarities to real persons living or dead are purely coincidental. The following account is fiction. Its sole purpose is to entertain. Being conceived during the second season of the Charmed series, this series of stories is not parallel with those of the current season. (So Phoebe doesn’t meet Cole, Piper and Phoebe don’t have new powers, Piper and Leo aren’t married yet, Phoebe hasn’t graduated from the university yet, and Prue still lives.)
RATED G: Suitable for all ages
*****
He looked at the clock on the wall and got up from his desk. The middle-aged man proceeded past sculptures, paintings, and other works of art. He went to the front door and opened it, to find a well-dressed young man coming up the walkway.
"Ah! Just in time, Sir! We have been expecting you."
The young man simply went past him, walked up a hallway and turned right. He walked down a long corridor lined with paintings. His pace was so quick the older man had to scurry to keep up with him.
"Is there anything in particular you are seeking, Sir?"
"I’ll know it when I see it."
"Very good, Sir."
He didn’t even bother looking at the paintings on the wall, but at one point, he stopped and turned to his left, to look at one in particular. In the painting, a young woman stands in the foreground to the left, with long blonde hair and a red robe. Her face is turned to the left edge of the picture and head bowed, so that her hair covers half her face. In the background, off to the right, is a tunnel with a Romanesque arch. The young man took out a magnifying glass and closely examined this part of the painting. Inside the blackness of the tunnel, he could see brush strokes which form semi-human faces. As he scrutinized them, they appeared to move. Mouths moved as if speaking, eyes shifted side to side, faces turned one way or another. For awhile, he stood in deep thought, tapping the magnifying glass on his chin.
"How much is this?"
"Oh, that is not for sale!"
"Tell the artist I am prepared to pay whatever price he names."
"But the artist is no longer with us."
"Then take my offer to the current legal owner."
"And whom shall I say is making this offer?"
He handed him his business card. "Derek Brian McPhillips -- millionaire."
The older man leaned back in astonishment, almost falling over.
*****
In Derek’s office, the upper floor of the southeastern tower of the American Psychic Society, Piper and Phoebe were going over some of his things. Still wanting to know what Derek is, they took this opportunity, while he was out, to continue investigating him. Piper looked through his accumulation of handwritten notes. Phoebe pulled out his shoulderbag from under the desk and placed it on top. "I’ve always wanted to know what he carries in this thing." She pulled open the flap, which covers it, and was surprized to find four pistols strapped to the its inside. "Look at this! Four guns!"
Piper came over and looked in amazement. "Why four?"
"I don’t know! But they all look different. Maybe they shoot different kinds of bullets. You think?"
"I don’t know what to think about this."
"Here’s his paramedic bag. I’ve seen that plenty of times."
"What are these books and papers?"
Phoebe pulled some out and looked them over. "Oh! His archeology stuff."
"He carries all this around with him everywhere?"
"Well, maybe it’s so he can read when he has spare time, you know, like waiting in line at a bank or something."
"Oh my God! Is this real?" She reached in and pulled out a long bar of yellow metal. "It is! It’s gold! Oh my God! It’s real gold!"
"Are you sure?"
"I’m positive! This is gold -- real gold!"
Phoebe noticed a wild look in Piper’s eyes and how tightly she gripped the bar. "All right, Piper! You better put that back! Come on! He could walk through the door any second now!"
"Oooo! Just a little longer! I just want to ... savor this moment!"
"Come on, Piper! Back in! Back in!"
She reluctantly put it back but then went rummaging through the bag. "He might also have some samples of emeralds. You think?"
Phoebe laughed and shook her head. She found a thick notebook and started scanning it but couldn’t read it. "Here’s something in a foreign language. What could this be?"
"Could be his diary. In which case, you wouldn’t want him to see you with that."
"Could be spells. Could be his plans or goals; what he wants to do with his powers."
"Like take over the world, or something like that?"
"You never know."
"I thought you were convinced he isn’t evil."
"I am. It’s just that so many nasty surprises about his past have been coming up lately. And I’d like to find out things like these rather than just falling over them by accident then blowing it up into a big argument. We nearly split up after the last one."
Suddenly the door opened and Derek walked in, wearing a good suit and carrying a large wrapped package. "Hey! Whatchyupto?"
Phoebe held up the notebook. "Just wondering what language this is."
"It’s Gaelic, the language of my ancestors. What are you ...?"
Phoebe staved off his questions by a barrage of her own. "Why are you dressed like that? You only wear a suit when taking me out to an expensive restaurant or the opera."
"I had to play the part of an art connoisseur to pick up a painting."
"You bought a new painting? Oh, let me see! Let me see! Let me see!"
"Not now! Our love nest is nearly finished. And I don’t want to have to unwrap this then rewrap it to move it into our new place. So wait till we get it there." He set it upright on the floor and leaned it against the wall. "I’m gettin’ outta this monkey suit. Meanwhile, don’t you touch this!" He left the room. Phoebe non-chalently wandered over to it.
Piper warned, "Phoebe, he said not to ...!"
When Phoebe touched it, a vision burst into her head. She saw the painting hanging on a wall, in a dark marble corridor with Greek-like pillars. From out of the painting a snake was emerging. It wasn’t like any snake she had seen before. It was grey, long, and thick. Its eyes were close together in the front of its head and its mouth looked nearly human.
Piper noticed her shocked reaction. "What is it? What did you see?"
"It’s evil! It can kill him!"
"What do you mean?"
"I saw it, probably in its original place. It looked Classical, like the style of many 19th century buildings. And there was this freaky looking snake coming out of the picture."
"So what do we do? We can’t tell him we’re witches and know his new painting holds some dark magic."
"But he thinks I’m a psychic and knows I get visions."
"But has he ever listened to your warnings about your visions?"
"I’ve got to do something!"
"Did you get a good look at the painting itself?"
"Yes. I could see it clearly."
"Then let’s do some research on it before you go off half cocked. We have to make sure of what we’re dealing with before we can save anyone from it."
"But what if it ... does something in the meanwhile?"
"Can it do anything while wrapped up and in storage?"
"Good point!"
"So we have some time before he moves into his new place and unwraps it."
"All right. Let’s hit the books."
*****
They sat at a long table, in the library, covered with stacks of books and several open in front of each of them. Between them was a sheet of paper, on which Phoebe sketched what she remembered of the painting.
After some time, Piper moaned with frustration. "I must have looked at over a hundred paintings of tunnels, but none with a woman in red at one side."
Phoebe slumped over with fatigue. "Me too. I can’t stand to look at another book on art."
"You could have just asked Derek, the title and artist of the painting."
"He likes to hide things to surprise me and gets suspicious if I ask too many questions."
"You could ask an art dealer. Some around here might know."
"I don’t know any."
"I do. I can take your sketch to them and ask if it’s familiar to any of them."
"And I’ll go on the Internet and look for any work of art with ‘Tunnel’, ‘Woman in Red’, or ‘Red Robe’ in its title. But if the real title doesn’t include any of that, I’m stymied."
"I can also ask Leo while at it; see what magic is involved in it."
"Good! I’ll meet you at the club tonight and see what we’ve found."
*****
Prue pulled up to the Portrero Cannery. Its old sign is back up in place, looking shiny and new. Its adobe facade is clean and painted foam green. In this area, the building looked like a gem in a garbage heap. She parked her car and went to the front door. A new set of adobe steps went up to the door, which was metal and painted black. She knocked and waited awhile. She then noticed a doorbell and pressed that. After receiving no response, she opened the door and stepped in. The scene within astonished her. No longer was there a large area, filled with machinery, to greet the visitor. Before her stretched a corridor filled with doors. A line of gold runs along the walls, midway between the floor and ceiling. Below it, everything is colored a blood red, including the carpet. Above is all pure black. Each of the doors is snow white, in a gold doorway, and each has a gold "13" on it. The way is dimly lit by little electric lights, made to resemble flickering flames, on cast iron replicas of torches, affixed to the walls, between each door, just above the gold border. The black ceiling gives the illusion of a vast night sky above. The redness of the lower walls, floor, and carpet reminds Prue of the underworld, into where she and her sisters have been frequently lured by demons. She stood dumbfounded at this scene until Bane came out of the doors down the hall.
He greeted her and came over to her. "So, what do you think?"
"Did your time with working for demons inspire this?"
"No. All I’ve done was materialize Derek’s ideas."
Prue was surprised. "All this is Derek’s idea?"
"Every bit of it. I’m just the handyman who put it together."
"Did he tell you what he was thinking when he came up with this?"
"He was thinking of the haunted reputation of this place. He made it to give guests a lasting impression and burglars a lasting shake-up."
"Well, it’s shaking me up a bit."
"You here to steal anything?"
"Just you."
"That’s not stealing. I’m rightfully yours."
"Really? You’re all mine?"
They held each other and kissed for awhile. Then he asked, "Would you like a tour of the new place?"
"No thank you! Let’s get out of here and go to lunch. I feel like I’m in a dungeon."
*****
That evening Phoebe entered the P3. She went over to Piper, working behind the bar. "I found the painting on the net. It was under the title ‘Tunnel to Oblivion’."
"Ew! Creepy! I found a few curators who recognize the artist. His name was Garrick Radbourne. He lived in the early 19th century. No one could tell much about him though. I’ve got to serve a few tables now. I’ll join you when I’m finished."
Phoebe then went over to join Prue and Bane. As she greeted them, Bane chimed out, "Good news! Derek’s new place is almost finished. He’ll be moving in very soon."
Phoebe’s stomach went cold and sank. "Oh! ... Uh ... Really? How soon?"
"Just two more days. Tomorrow evening at the earliest."
Prue noticed her worried look and wondered, "What’s the matter? I thought you’d be glad."
"I am ... but ... but ...." She sighed, dropping her arms limp at her side.
Now Prue started to worry. "Phoebe, what is it? What’s happening?"
"Derek bought a new painting. When I touched it, I had a vision of something evil; something deadly. Right now it’s wrapped up and in storage. But when he moves into his new place, he’ll unwrap it and it’ll kill him."
"Are you sure of this?"
"Very sure. We’ve got to stall him while we figure out the origin of the painting and a spell to remove the evil. Bane, do you know when he’s moving in his things; such as his artworks?"
He shook his head. "No. He hasn’t told me."
"Could you ask him when he’s moving in which of his things? Just tell him you need to know when to prepare what spaces for his move."
"I can do that."
"Thanks. I need to know soon as possible."
Piper came over and joined them. "Did you fill Prue in?"
"Yes. Now you fill us in."
"All right. Here’s what I’ve heard so far. Garrick Radbourne was a little-known painter in western Virginia, near Washington, DC. But he was very successful in selling his works. All of them were sold in his lifetime for a very lucrative profit. But in 1848, he just vanished without a trace or explanation. Leo said that his studio, where he did all of his paintings, was built on a portal to the underworld. Demons moved back and forth through this area and may be inhabiting all of his paintings. That studio burned down during the Civil War and its ground is now a cemetery."
"I read that the painting, which Derek bought, was painted in 1848. So that might be the very last one he painted. Could this make it the most deadly one of them all?"
"We don’t know. Leo is looking for more information on the paintings, the artist, and the area where his studio stood."
Prue asked, "Was the artist doing this for the demons or was he unaware of what they were doing with his paintings?"
"We don’t know that either. What I’d like to know is why did Derek buy it."
*****
The following evening, Phoebe paced nervously near the telephone. Prue and Piper stood by to give support or the Power of Three if need be. When the phone rang Phoebe jumped on it.
Bane’s voice came across. "He’s begun to move his things in. I asked him when he’s moving what in so I can know what to get ready, as you asked. But he just said to leave the front rooms open and he’ll just pile everything in there for the time being. So far he’s brought in several boxes with books and papers, but nothing which looks like a painting."
"All right, Bane. Thanks a lot. Let me know when he does bring it in."
"Would you like me to hide the painting or something when he’s not looking?"
"That’s an idea. We’ll discuss it when the time comes." She turned to her sisters. "Bane doesn’t know when he’s bringing the painting in. I better go over there and intercept him."
Prue asked, "And tell him what?"
"I don’t have to tell him anything. I just need to be near him in case anything happens. Maybe Bane and I can hide the painting from him while he’s occupied with other things."
As she went to grab her coat, Leo orbed in. "I found something very interesting about the painting." The sisters gathered around him to listen. "All of Radbourne’s paintings have passed through many hands, killing all who have owned them. So all of them wound up in museums or other institutions, where no one person is considered their owners. The one Derek bought had been with the Bay Area Historical Society for most of the 20th century, after its 20 previous owners died from snakebites."
"Oh my God!" Phoebe burst out. "I’ve got to warn him! Even if it means telling him the truth!" She quickly dialed Derek’s cell phone. He was driving his Bentley when he received her call.
"Derek, where are you now?"
"Howdy, Babe! I’m on my way to our new place."
"About that painting you bought; there’s a curse on it! It’s killed all its past owners!"
"I already knew that. That’s why I bought it. How did you know about it?"
"What?! You already knew and you still bought it? Are you crazy?"
"I’m a collector. Cursed and haunted objects are just some of the things I collect."
"You are insane! That has already killed 20 people! All of them died from snakebites! You’ve got to distance yourself from that thing as soon as possible!"
"Look, Lady! I believe you. There are two beady little eyes staring at me from the passenger seat."
"What?!"
"Someone planted this weird looking snake in my car. I’ve got to put the phone down now. I’ll call you back."
"Derek, wait!" Suddenly a vision flashed into her head. She saw the snake, in the passenger seat of Derek’s car, strike at him. She began screaming, "It got him! It got him!" She fell to the floor hysterically wailing. Her sisters rushed to her. Leo orbed out.
*****
Derek coasted his car to a careful stop, without taking his eyes off of the peculiar serpent. On the sidewalk, next to him, Leo orbed in. He tried his best to talk to Derek without startling him.
"Um ... Derek? ... Can I help you with something?"
"Hold that thought, Friend. I need to concentrate."
He held up his left hand over the steering wheel, wiggling his fingers. Slowly he moved his hand towards it. Suddenly the snake struck at him, but Derek swiftly shot forth his right hand, seizing it by the neck. He opened the door and got both hands on the reptile.
"Now I can use some help. I need a container for this; something it can’t bite through, like a basket, wooden box, whatever. You look through the dumpster over there. I’ll look in my trunk."
"How did you do that?"
"Something I learned from rattlesnake catchers in Arizona and cobra handlers in India."
*****
Prue and Piper laid out Phoebe on the sofa. She lay shuddering with sobs. Her sisters felt so hurt seeing her like this so they retreated to another room.
Piper remarked, "This is really getting serious. I’ve never seen her go ballistic over any man."
Prue moaned, "I don’t know what to do anymore. I keep feeling that Derek is so wrong for her. But she’s so happy when he’s around and so miserable when he’s isn’t. Whenever I tell her to forget about him, she fights me more stubbornly than with any other disagreement we’ve ever had. I suppose I should be supportive and help make this relationship work, rather than fight it."
"That sentiment is moot if Derek is dead."
"Well, ... You know how we suspect him of having powers. We could be right. He could have powers and save himself. We could try ...." She pressed the redial key on the cell phone and waited. "Hello? ... Leo?" Piper gave a curious frown then looked around, realizing he wasn’t with them. "Is Derek there? ... How is he? ... He is? ... He did? ... He does? ... Could you get him to the phone? Phoebe’s very upset. She thinks he’s dead. ... All right. Thanks." She rushed back into the livingroom with Piper close behind. "Phoebe! Derek’s on the phone!"
Phoebe shot up on the sofa and snatched the phone. "Derek? ... Oh Thank God! ... What happened to the snake? ... You did? ... You are? ... You do? ... Oh, Derek! I’m going to die before I grow old because of you! ... Don’t you ‘Honey Lamb’ me! Just get over here so I can kick your butt! ... You what? ... Why? ... What? ... You’re crazy! ... You’re out of your mind! ... But, Derek, ...! ... I’m going to be dying bit by bit every minute you’re away! ... All right. ... All right. ... Just be careful. ... I love you." She flopped back down on the sofa sighing with frustration.
Prue asked, "Now what?"
"He’s on his way to Arkham."
"Why?"
"He has a museum there ... for which he collects things that are cursed or haunted -- ‘The Museum of the Devil’s Delights’ ... with nearly 200 different exhibits. Now he’s personally flying five more over there."
"What?!" Piper exploded. "After what he just went through?"
"Yep! Just him alone, several thousands of feet off the ground, for two days, with five works of art which have killed all of their previous owners. ... And one freaky snake."
"He’s got to be a warlock! There’s no other way he can do all that and live!"
*****
The following morning Phoebe dragged herself to the kitchen, where her sisters were already sitting at breakfast and watching the news on television. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat with them.
Piper commented, "You look terrible! Didn’t you get any sleep?"
Phoebe shook her head. "I’m so worried about Derek."
Prue consoled, "Oh Honey! Don’t do this to yourself! I’m sure if he can gather 200 of these dangerous things in one place, he knows what he’s doing by now."
Piper advised, "Don’t bother going to school today. You’re not going to learn anything in this condition."
Again she shook her head. "I’ve got to keep myself busy. I’ll just die if I ...." Then she noticed Derek’s picture on the TV screen. "Turn that up! Turn that up!"
Piper grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. The reporter was saying, "...On his way to Massachusetts, when he disappeared from the radar screens over central Nevada. Search and Rescue is combing the area but have not yet found any wreckage or any sign of a crash. None of the desert communities or local tribes have reported any sighting of his plane, the Red Scorpion, or the crash of any aircraft. Authorities are baffled but the search continues." Piper shut it off.
Phoebe sat stunned. She shuddered and tears began to flow. Her sisters held her tightly.
Prue was quick to assure, "They said they found no wreckage and all around there no one saw any crash! It could have been a radar glitch."
Piper added, "Derek is a very skilled flier. Remember when we flew with him? He showed he has an ejection seat with a parachute. And he said he knows how to survive in the desert, on the sea, and in the mountains. I’m sure he’s all right. He’s a survivor."
Phoebe calmed down a bit. Then she murmured, "We’ve got to hold a séance."
Prue said, "You can’t be sure Derek is dead!"
"No. Not for Derek. For Garrick Radbourne. We’ve got to find out what evil is in those paintings and what spell can remove them."
Piper warned, "But we don’t know what happened to him or what involvement he had in the curses on his paintings. We should wait until Leo finds out more. It could be dangerous to try such a thing without knowing more about him."
*****
As Piper warned, Phoebe didn’t learn anything in school that day. But she tried her best to keep her mind occupied. After classes, she returned home and carefully watched the news for any further mention of Derek’s disappearance. Fatigue finally proved too much and she went to bed early.
Sleep did not come easy. She dreamed of looking up into a pink sky, listening to the sound of a distant jet engine. She was surrounded by mammoth pillars of black rock on pink sand. The roar of the engine grew closer and she waited in eager anticipation. Soon the tiny form of a red jet, which Derek named the Red Scorpion, broke through the clouds. Her eyes followed it across the sky until it vanished into the pink clouds and the sound gradually faded out. Disappointed, she hung her head. In doing so, she looked down at her own body. It wasn’t human. She shot up in bed with a gasp, terrified and confused.
She got up and went to the attic. After consulting The Book of Shadows, she set up a circle of candles around a copper bowl of water. In front, she set a small brazier with a little fire in it. She dropped in a pinch of three different kinds of incense. She carried it around the circle of candles, spreading the smoke all around. Then she sat before the bowl and chanted:
Here me, spirits beyond our sphere.
Show me the one whose name I call.
Turn back the clock or bring down the wall.
Let Garrick Radbourne before me appear.
In the bowl of water, a man’s face began to come into view. He looked around confused. "What is happening? Who are you?"
"Mr Radbourne, my name is Phoebe. I’m a witch. I want to ask you about your paintings. A friend of mine bought one of your paintings and disappeared. I need your help to get him back."
The man kept looking around bewildered for a while longer, then covered his face and hung his head. "Oh God! It’s happening again!"
"Mr Radbourne! I need to know what is happening! Can you tell me what caused the curse on your artworks?"
He spoke on the verge of tears. "I was a very very foolish man! I wanted to be a great artist. But it had neither the talent nor the esteem of the art community. I would have given anything to become a famous artist. So I sold my soul to the Devil. Soon my works of art were in demand. I sold everything I painted for a high price. My works were put on exhibit. Some even went on tours in Europe. I was famous! Then I found out that my works were killing innocent people. I didn’t mean for this to happen! I swear! I didn’t want this!"
"All right! I believe you! It’s not your fault! What did you do about it?"
"I told the demons I wanted nothing more to do with this. I wanted to call off the bargain. They refused. So I refused to create anymore paintings. Then they cast me into this realm of emptiness; this Limbo, where I can neither life nor die."
"How despicable! Look! Do you know how I can help my friend?"
"Yes! You must let me out! It’s the only way I can undo all the damage I’ve done!"
"What can you do?"
"I know some books left in my studio."
"That burned down about twenty years after your ... departure."
"Oh." He thought hard awhile. "Ah! ... New York! Is that still there?"
"Yes."
"There is a place underground, where the demons had a library. They allowed me to see that. It may still be there. I can recognize it by sight if only I can get out of here."
"One more thing. ... My friend bought the painting Tunnel to Oblivion; your last painting. Would the curse on that be more powerful than all the others?"
He thought then adamantly nodded. "Yes! ... Yes! That is the most powerful; the most deadly! You must get me out of here now to save your friend! We don’t have much time!"
Phoebe went back to The Book of Shadows and rummaged through the pages. She found what she sought and committed it to memory. Then she thoughtfully turned back a few pages and left it open to another place. Back at the circle, she dropped pinches of two kinds of incense and three kinds of herbs into the brazier. She carried it around, spreading the smoke, as she chanted:
I beseech thee, spirits of the gates.
Open the door outside our sphere.
Unleash this prisoner from the fates
And give him safe passage to here.
There was a sound of rushing wind and gurgling water. A tornado of light swirled around the middle of the room, then the form of Garrick Radbourne appeared. As his form solidified, the funnel of light faded. He looked around with great joy.
"At last! After nearly two centuries! FREEDOM!"
"Yes!" agreed Phoebe. "Welcome to the 21st century. Now I hate to cut short your celebration but we need to get down to business soon as possible."
"Quite." He picked up an athame and went towards Phoebe with an evil grin. "My business."
"A warlock! And I felt sorry for you!"
"Of course you did, you stupid witch. You and your compassion and your pity! That’s what makes you blind and weak. That’s why we are always triumphant."
*****
Piper had gotten off work and closed the P3. As she got home, Leo orbed in.
She asked him, "Did you find out anything more?"
"I found out a lot more. This Radbourne was a warlock. From that portal to the underworld, under his studio, he created more portals in the form of paintings. So each painting is a personal doorway for a demon."
"My God! Then that’s what Derek has! He’s got a demon portal right with him!"
"Right! And that snake he caught ... the demon who owns that portal."
"What?! He caught a demon?"
"Exactly! How does an ordinary man hold a demon under his control with his bare hands?"
Piper’s head spun. This was getting more and more puzzling. "Well, ... uh ... uh ... What happened to this artist? How did he disappear?"
"A coven of witches caught up with him. They fought it out but he was too strong for them to vanquish. However, they were able to banish him to another plain."
"Wow! Good thing I warned Phoebe not to contact him."
"What?!"
"She wanted to contact him by séance to ask for help for Derek. I warned her not to."
Suddenly they heard a loud thud and some crashing noises from upstairs.
Leo reminded Piper, "But does she always listen to your warnings?"
"Oh my God! Phoebe!"
They dashed upstairs and burst through the attic door to find Phoebe in her martial arts stance and a man flat on the floor. "You want to rephrase the part about ‘always triumphant’?"
"Phoebe!" Piper barked. "What have you done?"
"I’ve got it under control!"
"Didn’t I tell you to wait for more information?"
"I said I’ve got it under control!"
As the sisters argued, Radbourne got up off the floor laughing. When they turned their attention to him, he vanished before their eyes. He reappeared in a corner. "No one gets me under control." He suddenly vanished and reappeared in another corner. "An entire coven couldn’t get me under control. What makes you think you can?" He vanished again. Piper, Leo, and Phoebe looked around waiting for him to appear again.
Piper punched Phoebe in the shoulder. "Look what you’ve done! You’ve set a warlock loose! If he kills someone, it’ll be all your fault!"
Suddenly he reappeared behind Piper and, with knife raised, lunged at her. Then he went flying across the room, crashing into the opposite wall. Prue came charging in.
"What happened? Who is that?"
As Radbourne stirred to get back up, Piper threw out her hands, stopping time around him and freezing him in place. "That’s Garrick Radbourne; the painter of Derek’s demonic painting. He’s a warlock and Phoebe brought him back into our world by a séance which we told her not to do!"
"All right! All right!" Phoebe protested. "I’ve got a spell on standby, just in case anything went wrong! For him, we better all say it together."
The three sisters went to The Book of Shadows and read aloud the page left open.
"Send this ogre to the flame.
Break to dust his mighty frame.
Take this evil. Take this blight.
Remove this fiend from our sight."
Radbourne’s outline began to shimmer, then his whole being exploded into a cloud and faded away. At first the sisters sighed with relieve, then Prue turned her anger on Phoebe.
"What part of ‘Don’t do it’ did you not understand? How many times are you going to nearly get yourself killed, before you start to think that maybe what we tell you could make some sense?"
Phoebe sniffled. "I just want him back. I just ..." She burst into tears and threw herself across the book. "I love him! I don’t want to lose him! I want him to come back! I want him to stay with me! I want ... I ... I ....!"
Seeing her like this, Prue and Piper couldn’t stay angry with her. Prue took her into her arms and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Phoebe. ... Listen. ... This afternoon I cast a protection spell for Derek."
Piper and Phoebe looked at her with surprise. "You?!"
"As much as I mistrust him, ... and as much as I question your taste in boyfriends, ... like you’ve disapproved of many of my boyfriends, ... I just can’t stand to see you so miserable."
"But do you think the spell worked?"
"Well, ... after casting the spell, I did feel the power go out ... somewhere. So if Derek were dead, it wouldn’t have gone anywhere. So I’m sure it got to him in time."
"Oh Prue! I don’t deserve you!"
They held each other and Prue kissed her on the forehead. "Now! Get some sleep."
*****
Next morning, they again had breakfast in front of the TV, carefully watching the news. Then Derek’s picture appeared on the screen and they froze in anticipation. The anchor announced, "Millionaire adventurer Derek McPhillips landed safely in Boston this morning ...."
The sisters hugged each other squealing with excitement. When they calmed down, they listened to the rest of the newscast. "McPhillips has business in nearby Arkham, after which he’ll return to California. When asked what happened when he disappeared from the radar screens, he says he doesn’t know either. He claims to have gotten lost and couldn’t recognize the landscape. All the time, between Nevada and Massachusetts, all he saw was black rocks and red sand."
Phoebe was shocked at the similarities with her dream.
*****
Prue pulled up in front of Portrero Cannery. She got out with Piper, Phoebe, and Leo. Bane opened the front door and welcomed them in. Leading them down the hall of black, gold, and red, he explained the layout.
"All these rooms will later become offices for the West Coast branch of his business. Meanwhile, they’re just false rooms to confuse anyone breaking in. Same thing with the ‘13' on each door."
Leo muttered to the sisters, "They’re also protection from spirits."
This only added more questions about what Derek is.
Bane continued, "At the end of the hall is the party room, which no millionaire should be without. To the left is the banquet hall. To the right is the dance hall, complete with stage for live bands. The way to the upper floors is through Derek’s office. Just count 13 doors on the right and...."
He opened the door and led them through another hallway. In this one the color is sky blue and is lit by fluorescent lamps on the ceiling, so much easier on the eyes. Midway, he turned another right and opened the door. Inside is a square room, a desk in one corner and couches against the opposite walls. The walls are lined with framed photographs, which Prue took of the cannery before this renovation. "This is just the reception and waiting room. A secretary will sit here."
Bane led them on through the door across the room. The room there is longer. A huge desk, backed into the opposite wall, commands attention. Behind it, the entire wall is covered with shelves, holding hundreds of books. A small sofa faces the desk. Huge maps and business charts line the walls. "Here’s where the big boss sits."
To the immediate left and right of the door are two tall cabinets of highly polished red wood. Bane led them to the one on the left and opened it. He stepped in and pushed open the false wall in the back, revealing another room. He waved them all in then closed the wall behind them. He pressed a button and the room began moving upward. "This is the elevator to the upper floors. In the other cabinet in a hidden staircase, so you have a choice. The second floor is Derek’s residence and adjoining guestrooms. The third floor is a storage of his collections; including a library of rare books, rare works of art, a conservatory of plants, a menagerie of animals, a video games gallery, and his jewelry workshop."
The elevator stopped and the door slid open. They stepped out into a large room. Works of art deck the walls and the furniture is ultra-modern. A large coffee table, in the middle of the room, was covered with plates and bowls of food. There was a line of champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice. Derek stepped out, wearing an elegant smoking jacket. He held out his arms to Phoebe. "Welcome to our love nest!"
Phoebe ran to him and held him tight. "Oh Derek! I went through hell waiting for you!"
"Aw, Sugar Doll! I keep telling you I can take care of myself. When will you believe me?"
"Never!"
"By the way, how did you know about the curse on my painting?"
Phoebe was caught off guard. "Uh ... Well, ... Um ... I ... Leo told me!"
Derek turned to Leo, who was then caught off guard. "I ... uh ... read about it somewhere."
"You do much reading on the supernatural?"
"Um ... Yes! ... In my spare time that is!"
"Phoebe tells me her grandmother was into that too."
"Right! I ... well ... They told me that too."
"How would you like to work for me?"
"Work for you? How?"
"I’m always receiving works of art from different parts of the world. Many are articles of magic from ancient civilizations. I need someone to receive them from the delivery person, while I’m not around, then classify them and separate those that are haunted or accursed."
"Well, ... I’m pretty busy with my own job, which I’m happy with."
"You won’t have to give that up. I just need you part time; ... say ... two or three afternoons a week or only weekends."
Leo thought about it then nodded. "Sure!"
"Great! You can start next week." Then to the others, "Now, if you’ll follow me, I will give the grand tour of the rest of my new abode, then we’ll celebrate with good food and champagne."
As they moved on, Piper remained behind and pulled Leo back. "Are you crazy?"
"What!"
"Now you and Bane are working for him and we still don’t know what he is!"
"Exactly! This way I have access to all of his things, including plans on what he’ll do next. I can be an inside man and watch him closely; watch everything that comes and goes around here. I can even get Bane in on it. With both of us watching everything he does, we can learn what he is."
Piper couldn’t argue with that. "All right. But be careful. We don’t know what he’s fully capable of doing or what his plans are."
"Right. But as a wise man once said, ‘Keep you friends close, but keep your enemies closer’. That way we know what he plans to do next."
Piper wondered. What does he plan to do next? And is he an enemy?
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