by Nat Faul <pruesdoux@charmedmail.com>
DISCLAIMER: (August 2002) 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 Darryl Morris are property of Warner Brothers Television. Other characters were created by this author. Any similarities to real persons living or dead are purely coincidental. Lyrics to the song Violent Sense were composed by T. Story and recorded by Grumbletummy, for their album Nellie, released by Polyvinyl Records; copywritten by Puppy Puke Music, 1997. 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 college yet, Prue still lives, and there is no fourth sister.)
RATED G: Suitable for all ages
*****
The young man marched up the walkway, past a well-trimmed lawn, to the well-lit house. Before knocking on the door he looked at his reflection in a window, checking his hair and suit. Curly dark hair topped a smooth boyish face. The neon blue suit assured a fun night. Confident that he was ready for this, he knocked on the front door. It was opened by a young woman, whom he found plain, not really pretty, but looked all right all dressed up for an evening out.
"Good evening," he warmly greeted. "Are you Jenny?"
"Yes. Are you Rory?"
"Yes. I hope I’m not too early."
"Oh no! Not at all! I just need to get my coat."
Soon she was getting into his car and they took off into the night.
"This is my first time with a dating service," she commented.
"Really? Me too!"
"Really? I can’t imagine anyone, as handsome as you, having difficulties finding a date!"
He grinned sheepishly. "Well, it’s ... my work. I work mostly with computers so there’s not much contact with people."
"Oh! That’s too bad!"
"What about you? I can’t imagine how men can pass you up."
"My work too. All the men are married."
"All of them?"
"Yeah. Every one of them. What are the odds?"
They chatted pleasantly as they drove through a quiet, dark neighborhood. Soon he coasted to a stop as he eyed a building, empty, boarded-up, and covered with signs.
"What is it?" Jenny asked.
"They’re tearing down the place where I was born."
"Oh! I’m so sorry!"
"Thanks. This place holds so many memories for me."
"You want to stay awhile before we go on?"
"I’d like to go inside and pick up a souvenir before it’s too late."
"Won’t that be illegal?"
"Who’s gonna know? Look all around. All the buildings are empty. No one’s gonna see. Come on! I’ll show you around."
He got out of the car and quickly walked to the building. Jenny at first was uncertain about this venture but then feared giving the impression that she wasn’t a fun person. So she got out and ran to catch up with him.
Inside, they climbed a dark staircase. The hallways were barely lit by streetlights shining through some of the unboarded windows and the doorless doorways.
Jenny asked, "How did you open the front door?"
"It wasn’t locked; just crudely boarded up. One quick yank brought the whole thing undone."
"Let’s not stay long."
"Just one look around, pick up one memento, then we’ll go."
She looked around and wondered, "What sort of memento?"
"I dunno. A doorknob ... or something."
"Can you remember which apartment was yours?"
"Um ... Sure! ... This one." He led her into a bare room, better lit by a street lamp close to one of the windows. He pointed out several sites to her. "Our couch was here and the coffee table here. A portrait of my grandmother hung on that wall. Our TV was by that window. My brother’s room was that way...."
But Jenny was getting impatient. "Shouldn’t we be going?"
"In a minute. Maybe there’s something in the kitchen I can take with me."
The small kitchen had less light than the livingroom. The doors had been removed from the cabinets revealing empty shelves. Big gaps between them and the counters show where the stove and refrigerator use to be.
Rory stood in the dark and growled, "How fitting to be where hunger is satisfied."
"What?"
He seized her by the arm. "This is the rightful place for the feeding."
"Hey! Let me go!"
Now she realized it was a mistake to come to lonely place with a man she had just met. She desperately struggled to get away. He thrust her against a wall, where in the better light she saw his face transform. His eyes glowed red. Long furrows pocked his face, as it stretched to accommodate an ever-widening mouth, filled with many sharp teeth. In the empty neighborhood, her screams went unheard.
*****
Prue was drawn out of the kitchen and Piper from upstairs by a commotion in front of the house. Loud angry voices approached the front door, which they recognized as Phoebe and Derek. Phoebe came through the door and tried to slam it behind her. But Derek caught it and followed her in.
He was emphatically shouting, "I did not lie to you!"
"Then what do you call it?"
"That was the truth! I was working! Schmoozing with the big wigs is part of my business! You think I enjoy spending time in a room full of stuffed shirts?"
"Couldn’t you come right out and say what it was?"
Prue intervened. "All right! Let’s not bring it into this house!"
Phoebe protested, "He told me he was working! Then I could hear over the phone a woman asking him if he’s coming back to the party!"
Derek explained, "It was a business cocktail party. It’s part of my work to secure business alliances. It wasn’t like I was enjoying myself!"
"You could have just said it was a party instead of saying you’re at work!"
Prue again interjected. "All right, both of you! Go to your neutral corners!"
Flustered, Phoebe told Derek, "Just stay away from me!" Then she ran upstairs in tears.
Prue put a finger in Derek’s face. "Look! We’re tired of you making our sister cry! Ever since we’ve met you, you’ve done nothing but upset her, hurt her, ...!"
"But, ...."
"No! You listen! She just said she wants you to stay away from her and you best do so! You are no longer welcomed in this house! Now get out and stay away!"
Derek drew a breath to say something but changed his mind and stormed out. Piper watch this all, wide-eyed and wondering.
"Um ... Prue? ... I don’t think you should have gone that far."
"I never trusted him. This is our chance to finally get rid of him."
"You think he’s going to give up like that?"
"Maybe not. But I’ll do everything in my power to keep him away."
"What about Phoebe? What she said was in a fit of anger. She’ll cool off and change her mind."
"I’ll work on Phoebe. I think I can convince her she’s better off without him."
Piper still had her doubts but felt it pointless to argue further.
*****
Next morning, as Prue was leaving for work, she opened the front door to find Inspector Morris about to knock.
"Sorry, Darryl. I’m on my way to work. Don’t have the time."
"Then I’ll make this quick. We’ve got a case which has us stumped. I’m not sure if magic has anything to do with it but I don’t know what else to think."
"All right. What is it?"
He handed her a folder. "Four women just vanished without a trace in four weeks."
She briefly flipped through the papers. "All right. I’ll leave this for Piper to look over. Piper!"
*****
Phoebe found it hard to concentrate on her classes. In between she kept trying to call Derek but received no answer; whether on his home, office, or cell phone. She even called the American Psychic Society but no one there had seen him for several days. She got home, that afternoon, just as Piper was leaving to open the P3.
"Piper, I can’t find Derek anywhere! I’m afraid he’s gone to Dunwich again!"
Piper didn’t want to be the one to tell her what Prue had told Derek. She knew it would begin another row with her caught in the middle. "Well, I ... don’t think he’d ... go that far. Maybe he just went down the coast or somewhere else in California. Just give him time to think things over. I don’t think he’ll be gone long."
Phoebe flopped down on the sofa and fumed. "Why does he have to do this every time we have a disagreement? It’s so immature!"
"There’s no use upsetting yourself about it. I’m sure he’ll be back soon and things will be back to normal. Meantime there are things you can be doing. Darryl has another unusual case he needs help on."
Phoebe just sat there pouting, so Piper drew her next card. "Also Gail wants us to help her prepare for a date."
That perked her interest. "Gail?! Gail’s got a date?!"
"She finally went to a dating service and got a date for this weekend. She asked around for advice and I volunteered us."
"Now that’s a first I’d like to see!"
"You give her a call. I’ll be at the club."
Piper left and Phoebe picked up the phone. "Gail! I just heard about your date!"
"Oh, Phoebe! Good! I could really use your help!"
"What do you need?"
"Advice on everything! -- What to wear, how to behave, what to say, ...."
"Really? It’s true that you really never never been on a date before?"
"It’s true. You don’t know what it’s like to be so ugly."
"Now stop that! You are not ugly! Not one bit! And this weekend is going to prove that! You’ll see! You’re going to knock him off his feet!"
"Oh I hope so!"
"I know so! Now first, we got to see what you have in your wardrobe. Then we’ve got to make an appointment for you at the hairdresser. And then ...."
*****
Next day Phoebe tried losing herself in her studies but couldn’t shake that empty feeling. She even went to the American Psychic Society to load all her research into their database, which she had been promising to do for a long time. The few hours it took just seemed to fly by and Derek still weighed heavily on her mind.
On her way out, she passed the library and spotted Taylor and Jules reading together. "Hey, guys. Sorry I haven’t been around lately. Things have really been crazy. But we’ll do something together real soon. I promise. Love you. Bye."
When she left, they just looked at each other. Jules asked, "Who’s that?" Taylor merely shrugged and they went back to their reading.
*****
Phoebe stayed in her room that night, not wanting to go anywhere. She looked over her collection of photographs of her and Derek together. She wondered where he could be and why he wouldn’t stay around to talk things over.
He takes her by the hand but feels her slipping away
Well disguised in a violent sense.
And who’ll realize what the violence meant?
Who? Love Love Love.
*****
Next morning, she headed out the door just as Morris was coming up the porch stairs.
"So, what have you made of it so far?"
She then remembered the case Piper talked about a few times before. But she didn’t want to tell him that she never touched it. "Oh, Darryl! I’m so sorry! I - I ... I’m just off to school now!"
"When do you get out?"
"At 3:30. I’ll come to your office first thing. And I need a few possessions of each of the missing women; something possibly each touched last."
"Way ahead of you there. I’ve been collecting ‘evidence’ from each woman’s home. But not in my office. People at the station talk whenever I work with you and your sisters. Couldn’t I meet you at your school?"
That afternoon they met in a conference room at the university library. Morris had various objects lined up on the long table and waited patiently as Phoebe carefully examined each. She made sure her fingers touched every square millimeter of the hairbrushes, combs, perfumes, shampoos, soap dishes, chair cushions, coat hangers, and other such closely personal objects.
At the conclusion she informed, "All I’m getting is each of them preparing to go out; ... something special, ... like a date. None of them seem to be living with families or roommates. Did any of them tell anyone where they were going?"
"No. No one. And each of them does live alone. Only a neighbor of one of them saw her leaving with a man. But it was at night, so she didn’t get a good look at the man or his car."
"I didn’t see any man in any of my visions. All I saw was each woman rushing around, getting ready for something really important, ... like a first date."
Her thoughts drifted until Morris called her back. "Phoebe?"
She laughed. "Sorry. Just thinking about a friend who’ll soon be going on her first date. She met someone through a dating service."
"Now there’s an idea! I can call up the dating services in the area and ask if any of these women had business with them."
"There! Now you’re getting somewhere!"
"Thanks to you. Just make sure your friend doesn’t become another missing person."
"Don’t worry! I’ll be there to personally meet him and shake his hand. If I get any visions of him ... making people disappear, I’ll call you. ... Well, Piper and I will kick his butt first, then we’ll call you."
"I’m sure you will."
*****
Finally the night arrived. Gail nervously flitted about her room as Piper and Phoebe sat on her bed, giving instructions.
"Which earrings?" Gail asked.
"White!" Piper and Phoebe answered together.
"Perfume?"
"Enough!"
"You sure?"
"Yes!"
"What do I say?"
"Start with ‘Hello’," Piper quipped.
"End with ‘Good night’," Phoebe added.
"Come on! You know what I mean!" Gail ranted. "What do I talk about?"
"Talk about yourself," Piper recommended. "That’s what a date is for."
"He’ll be talking about himself," Phoebe added. "And along the way, you’ll find something in common and never run out of things to say."
"I’m just so worried about those awkward moments of silence."
"Oh come on! You’re a very interesting person! You have so much to tell about yourself!"
"Do I tell him I’m a witch?"
Piper recommended, "You better save that for a much later date."
Phoebe offered, "You could tell him you’re a member of the American Psychic Society."
"I don’t know. That might make him nervous. He might think I’m reading his mind or something."
"Just tell him you’re not that kind of psychic. What you do is direct social activities."
Piper mused, "And those moments of silence are for gazing longingly into each other’s eyes."
"Right! Each moment, in conversation or silence, is used for checking each other out."
Gail sighed. "Thanks so much, you guys! I really need all this!"
She scampered off into the bathroom. Piper and Phoebe lied back on her bed.
"Think she’ll be all right?" Piper wondered.
"She’ll be fine," Phoebe assured. "She’s just nervous."
"Right."
"Well, thanks for getting me into this project. It always feels good to help others."
"Good. Anything to get your mind off of Prue banning Derek from the house."
Phoebe shot up. "What?!"
"Oops!" Piper realized what she had said and awkwardly got up. "Now -- now, Phoebe...!"
"Prue banned Derek from the house?!"
"She just told him to respect your wishes! Remember? You told him to stay away from you!"
"Prue banned Derek from the house?!"
"Look! I’m sure everyone will forget about it in a few days and he’ll be back!"
"Oooooo!!! How could she?! How dare she?!" She stormed out.
Piper ran after her. "Phoebe, don’t leave! Gail still needs your help! You can’t just abandon her right now!" Phoebe went out the front door. Piper called after her, "Oh, please, don’t get into a fight! You know how I always get stuck in the middle of these things!"
Not wanting to just leave Gail all of a sudden, she went back into her room. Gail was just coming out of her bathroom. "What happened? Where’s Phoebe?"
"She just ... um ... remembered that she has something important to do elsewhere."
"Oh no! I still need her help on a few more things -- like ... what shoes do I where?"
"White pumps. But that’s nothing to worry about. Men never really notice things like that anyway."
"What about my purse? Should that be white too?"
"Right! See? You’ve got it down!"
"What should I have in my purse? What about a hat? Should I ...?"
Piper grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "Look! You’re fine! You’re fine! Phoebe says you’re ready! You’re just nervous and that’s normal!"
"Really?"
"Really. Here." She lead her to her mirror and made her face it. "Now, do you see anything wrong with that? I certainly don’t. The hair is chic, the dress is fabulous, the earrings, shoes, and purse go well with it all. What could possibly be wrong?"
"What about my glasses? What if he’s turned off by girls with glasses?"
"He’ll be more turned off by girls who bump into everything."
"Good point."
There was a knock at the front door and Gail panicked. "THAT’S HIM! WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DO?"
"You open the door and meet him."
"But ... But ... I ...."
"You’re fine! You’re ready for this! Do it!"
She nervously made her way for the door, leaning on Piper’s arm. Halfway there, she turned to her. "One more thing. If he sees you here with me, he might think I still live at home, or I have roommates, or I can’t do this by myself, and ...."
"I’ll wait out of sight until you leave, then go out the backdoor. I know how to lock it from the outside."
Gail hugged her. "You’re such a good friend!"
"You just have a good time. Now go!"
She quickly went to the kitchen and listened from there. Gail opened the door.
"Hi! Are your Gail? Gail Holland?"
"Yes! And your Rory Remick? From the Love Links Dating Service?"
"Yes."
"Of course you are. That was silly of me to ask."
"Oh no! Not at all! It’s ... um ... good to be sure. ... Am I too early?"
"No! I’m ready right now!"
"Good! My car is ... uh ... right here ... this way."
When Piper heard the door close and Gail lock it, she came out and peeked out the front window. She watched as they walked down the walkway to a car parked out front. He opened the door for her and she got in. As he went around to the driver’s side, Gail turned and gave the "thumbs up" signal to Piper. She returned the gesture and watched them drive out of sight.
Then she relaxed, feeling satisfied at another good deed done. But then she came to a realization. "Oh great! Phoebe took my car!" She went to the phone to call a taxi.
*****
When she got home, she quietly entered and carefully listened. All was quiet. There was no sound of shouting and throwing things as she had expected. Curious, she went upstairs and knocked on Phoebe’s bedroom door. After awhile of hearing no response, she opened the door. It was dark so she turned on the light. There Phoebe sat on her bed, hugging her pillow. Her eyes were reddened and with that far-away, glazed-over look.
"It’s all right. All the screaming and shouting is over. You’re not caught in the middle of anything."
Piper went over to her and held her. "Oh, Honey! I didn’t mean to sound so selfish. What I really meant was I don’t like to see you two hurting each other."
"I can’t hurt her. No one can. She has a heart of stone."
"That’s not true! You know that! She’s just looking out for you and feels that Derek could be a threat because he’s so secretive."
"Look! I don’t want to hear it! I just ... don’t want to hear anything more tonight."
"All right. You get some rest. You’ll feel better in the morning."
She doubted that but just had to say something positive. She felt that everyone expected that of her. She turned out the light and left the room. Back downstairs in the livingroom, she dropped herself on the sofa, feeling so dejected.
*****
Rory slowed down his car in a street of empty houses and stared longingly out of the window.
Gail asked, "What are you looking at?"
"The house where I was born. They’re tearing it down soon."
"Oh! That’s too bad!"
"This place holds so many memories for me."
"So you want to linger awhile?"
"I’d like to go inside and pick up a souvenir before it’s too late."
"Now?"
"I won’t take long."
"All right. I hope nobody sees us."
"Who’s gonna see? All the other houses are empty. Come on! I’ll show you around."
*****
When the telephone rang, Piper was the only one available to answer. "Hello?"
Morris’ voice came from the other end. "Piper, we’ve made a big headway on that missing persons case."
"Yes?"
"All of them were registered with a dating service. Have you ever heard of Love Links?"
Piper’s blood ran cold. "Yes!"
"The same man was matched up with all of them. We’ve got an APB out for him right now."
"WHO?!"
"His name is Rory Remick. Have you ...?"
"OH MY GOD!!!"
"What is it?"
"No time! We’re getting on it!"
She hung up and ran around the house. "PRUE!!! PRUE!!!"
Prue came out of her darkroom, in the basement, and rushed out of the kitchen to see what was causing Piper to panic. "What happened?"
"Prue! We sent Gail out on a date with a killer!"
"What?!"
"That killer! Or ... or ... the one who made those people disappear! Remember Darryl’s case?"
"All right! Calm down! Are you saying Gail’s date has something to do with Darryl’s case?"
"Yes! Each of them had a date with this guy, named Rory Remick! And they were all matched up through the Love Links Dating Service. We’ve got to find them! Scry for them! Stop him before he kills Gail!"
"How can we find them by scrying?"
"She’s a witch and he’s a demon!"
"Gail is not a witch in the same way we are. And what makes you think her date is a demon?"
"We’ve got to try something! If you won’t I will!"
"All right! You won’t be able do anything while panicking! You get Phoebe and prepare to leave! I’ll scry!"
Soon Piper was in her coat and dragging Phoebe downstairs to the front door.
Phoebe was groaning, "All right! All right! I’m coming!"
"We’re in emergency mode! Get it in gear!"
Prue got her coat on and led them out the door. "I located them! They’re not far from her house."
They got into Prue’s car and she sped off. On the street of darkened housed, she kept referring to the map on which she marked the scried spot.
"They’re here somewhere."
Piper asked, "How can you be sure which one?"
"In a block full of empty houses, marked for demolition, that one has a light on. Let’s go!"
Prue and Piper dashed for the house as Phoebe just drearily trudged behind. Prue kicked in the front door, then she and Piper charged into the livingroom, which was lit by several candles. On the couch, Gail was laid out, covered by a blanket. Beside her, in a wooden chair, sat a lanky man with white hair and beard and dressed in a three-pieced brown tweed suit.
"She is alive. She merely fainted."
Prue looked her over and saw that she was still breathing. Turning to the man, she asked, "And you are ...?"
"I am Anthony."
"What happened?"
"She was attacked by a demon and fainted. I fought him off."
Piper snapped at Prue, "I told you he was a demon!"
Prue looked at this man. He was elderly, thin, and bore a warm countenance with sparkling eyes. He looked like someone’s dear old grandpa. "You? You fought off a demon?"
"I am a demon hunter. That is my duty."
"Well, we’re witches and that’s out duty too."
"I know. And this demon is still at large. So there is still plenty of work to do."
Phoebe caught up and ran to Gail’s side when she saw her. "What happened? Is she all right?"
Piper explained, "She just fainted. This is Anthony, a demon hunter. He fought off Rory."
Phoebe was also surprised by this. "You? You can fight off a demon?"
Anthony explained, "Actually he fled when he recognized me. He knows that I bear with me the prayers of the saints, which can send him back to the realm from whence he was summoned."
"He recognized you? You and Rory know each other?"
"The one whom you know as ‘Rory Remick’ has been called Funestus for the past six centuries."
Prue asked him, "What is he?"
"He is a Vorax, a demon specialized in swallowing humans whole, as would a serpent. Some are specialized in devouring helpless children or mighty warriors ... or even witches. Funestus specializes in swallowing women."
"Why? Where does he come from?"
"He was called forth by a warlock, who called himself Eriditus. He was a graduate from the Dark School, a school for all practicers of dark magic. It was well heard of throughout Medieval Europe but its exact location has been, and still is, a well kept secret. Most scholars say that it was somewhere in Spain.
"Eriditus mastered The Book of Might, a book of spells widely used by warlocks at the time. By this he could call forth any demon to do his bidding. And there are a variety of demons to call forth for different tasks. He would call upon Funestus to take revenge on women who spurned his advances. This was finally uncovered by the people of Modena, in northern Italy. They mobbed his house and killed him, as three priests chanted the prayers of saints to hold back his powers. They burned his body and scattered his ashes in several different rivers, for fear he would re-assemble."
Piper wondered, "Could he do that?"
"He was such a powerful warlock, I would not be surprised at all if he did."
Prue asked, "Then what happened to the demon after that."
"Eriditus was killed after he had summoned Funestus again so could not send him back to his prison. Thus he has been freely roaming the earth ever since."
"How has he gone unmentioned by history?"
"He had no problem taking his fill during the Black Death. Afterwards, he had to keep moving to evade suspicion. He needs a week to digest each victim so he takes six victims in six weeks. Then he hibernates for six months and begins again. After six years he relocates, changes his identity, and begins again."
Phoebe mused, "So six six six, the number of the demons."
"Exactly."
"So where do you come in?"
"I have been pursuing him for the past 50 years. I know the spells which can send him back to his dimension and he has come to realize that. That’s why he fled when I tracked him to this house. But I was more concerned for the health and safety of the young lady, so remained with her rather than continue the chase."
"And we appreciate that very much. She’s a dear friend of ours."
Prue asked, "How do you track him?"
"I have added senses which can recognize his presence at a distance."
"Is that how you could tell we are witches?"
"Yes. I can see within you the light of white magic, just as I can see within demons their darkness."
Gail stirred and sat up. "What happened? What are you doing here?"
Phoebe assured, "You’re all right now! Don’t worry! What’s the last thing you remember?"
Gail thought awhile and covered her face. "Oh God! My date was some kind of monster!"
"Come on. Let’s go to our house. I’ll fill you in on the way."
*****
When they arrived at Halliwell Manor, Morris was waiting out front for them.
"So, how are you handling it?"
Piper explained, "This is our friend Gail. She was on a date with Rory Remick. He attacked her but ran away when this concerned citizen showed up. Gail, go with this police officer and give a report."
Gail protested, "But I can’t talk to the police about demons and stuff like that!"
"Leave out the demons. Just say he attacked you, ran when he saw Anthony, you called us on a cell phone, and we came to get you."
Morris asked, "And what about this ‘concerned citizen’?"
Prue interjected, "We need him to find Rory. He knows how to track him. Just make sure Gail gets home safe."
"All right. After she gives her statement, I’ll have someone watch the house. If I hear anything I’ll call you."
"Thanks, Darryl."
Morris left with Gail and the others went into the house. In the livingroom Leo was waiting for Piper. "Another day’s work done?"
Piper held and kissed him. "Half done. The innocent was saved but the demon got away. The man with us is Anthony, a demon hunter. What do you know about demon hunters?"
"Demon hunters? ... Well, there are several types of demon hunters. Some are magical, appointed to the duty by some high power, and some are just mortals who appoint themselves due to a personal experience with demons."
"Check this one out. See if he’s someone we can trust."
"All right."
She led him to Anthony. "Anthony, this is our friend Leo."
As they shook hands, he remarked, "Ah yes. Your whitelighter."
Piper was surprised. "How do you know that?"
"I have the skills to distinguish friend from foe. I would not want to mistake an innocent soul for a demon and do him harm. Now would I?"
Leo looked at him curiously. "You look familiar. Have we met before?"
"Perhaps. I have worked with whitelighters before. After all we do share a common purpose."
Piper then caught sight of Phoebe going upstairs and went after her. "Phoebe! We still have a demon to find! Where are you going?"
"You’ve got a demon hunter to help you. What do you need me for?"
She just watched as she dragged herself up the stairs. She turned to see Prue at the doorway.
Piper explained, "No use in arguing with her when she’s in that kind of mood."
"How long will she keep that up?"
"Until Derek comes back."
"Well, I’m not going to let that happen! So she’s got to get over him!"
"You tell her that!"
*****
Meanwhile, Leo was questioning Anthony. "How did you start your demon hunting career?"
"I was a simple monk only going about my godly duties. One day I was attacked by demons and have been fighting them ever since."
"You were a monk? Where?"
"Egypt."
"Egypt? How long ago?"
"A little over 16 centuries years ago." He saw this puzzled Leo, so he confided, "I was born Antonius in the year of our Lord 251. I died in the year 356. I had fought demons all my life and continue to do so to this day."
When Prue and Piper came back into the livingroom, Leo drew them aside and told them, "I’m going up there to ask around about him. Just keep an eye on him." And he orbed out.
Prue asked Anthony, "Can you start tracking this demon now."
"I had planned to do so as soon as we part company."
"I was thinking of going with you to help. I have the power of telekinesis and Piper can freeze time. We can help get this over with soon."
"And your other sister?"
Piper stepped in. "She’s ... not feeling well. She’s retired for the evening."
"Oh? Nothing serious I hope."
"No." said Prue. "She’ll be over in the morning."
"Or maybe not", Piper added.
Prue flashed a frown. Piper just looked back at her with that wide-eyed innocent look.
*****
Soon they were back in Prue’s car and out on the streets. Prue asked, "So how does this work? We just go in circles until you get a vision or a feeling or something?"
"Something in such manner. Yes. I am receiving a ‘feeling’. He is more to the west."
Prue turned the car in that direction.
*****
Meanwhile, at home, Phoebe came back downstairs. She was thirsty and headed for the kitchen. On her way through the livingroom, she noticed Prue’s jacket on the floor. On picking it up a vision flashed in her head. She saw Prue in a dark stone room. A dark shriveled demon hurled a fire ball, which struck and killed her.
"Oh my God! What have I done?"
She rummaged through the basket on the hallway dresser until she found the keys to Piper’s car, then ran out of the front door.
*****
Prue turned her car down a dark street. Few street lamps were working and most buildings and houses were empty. She remarked, "He seems to spend a lot of time in abandoned places."
"Of course," said Anthony. "He would risk discovery of his activities in a populated area."
"Do you sense him any closer now?"
"Yes. You are on the correct course."
Suddenly Piper called out, "Aha! There’s his car! I recognize it!"
"I believe you may be right. I sense him inside that edifice next to it."
Prue pulled her car up in front of a large gray stone building. It stood large and menacing against the nighttime sky. Its dark broken windows seemed to malevolently leer at them.
She observed, "It looks like the old seminary that closed down about ten years ago."
Anthony explained, "He chooses to take sanctuary in what was the house of God to make a mockery of our Lord."
They got out of the car and went up to the front gate. It was locked by a padlock and chains wrapped around the inner bars. Prue used her powers to ram the gate and smash the chains. They went up to the front door and Prue did the same to that. In the darkness within, Prue handed out flashlights to Piper and Anthony. They switched them on and looked around themselves. They stood in a hallway that ran the width of the building. Another corridor ran perpendicular to that hall.
Anthony noted, "Three ways; three of us."
Piper asked, "Can’t you sense which way to go?"
"No. The holy place masks his traces. We have to find him face to face. I believe each of you have the power to hold him until I arrive to say the spell."
"What do you think, Prue?"
Prue thought about it. "Could you hear us in such a large place if we call for you?"
Anthony replied, "I can sense if you are in danger. That much I can do."
"All right. Let’s do this."
"Do you not also need a light?"
"My powers can let me feel my way through the dark."
"That’s very handy!"
Anthony took the hall straight ahead. Piper took the north wing, which left Prue to the south. Pressing her telekinesis all around her, she could feel her way through the pitch blackness. She carefully pushed each door open with her powers, then filled the room with her senses to feel everything inside. This made her task easy and quick. It wasn’t long until she was at the last door at the end of the hall. This room had some light from the glare of the city lights off of the low hanging clouds. She felt around and sensed something out of place in an empty stone room.
"All right, Vorax! I know you’re in here! It’s the end of the line for you!"
She could see some movement and then a figure stepped out into the light. Funestus had given up his guise as Rory Remick and took on his true form. He was long and lean. His skin was dark and furrowed like a prune. His hands and feet were elongated and tipped with claws. Four horns protruded from the four corners of his head, pointing straight up.
He held up a hand, formed a fireball, and hurled it at Prue. With her powers she pushed it right back at him but he leapt in time to evade it. The two began maneuvering against each other. Prue had to keep him from jumping out the window or dashing out the door until Anthony could reach the room. She also had to fend off fireballs. He tried to bounce fireballs off the walls and floor to hit her at different angles. But she was quick to fend them off. He tried several fireballs in rapid succession but she managed to deflect all of them. He tried leaping straight at her but she hurled him back against the wall.
Then he began slowly moving sideways towards the door. She moved to intercept but stumbled on something in the dark. A small stone; a piece of debris, caught her foot. It was this momentary distraction for which he had hoped. He shot a fireball straight at her.
"Prue! Look out!" Phoebe suddenly jumped out of nowhere and pushed Prue out the way. The fireball caught her and took her down. Prue grabbed ahold of her and found that she wasn’t breathing and had no heartbeat.
As Prue roared with grief and rage, her powers suddenly burst out in all directions. Funestus was swept off of his feet. All the windows exploded, the walls cracked, the floor buckled, and the ceiling caved in.
Piper came running down her end of the hall at the thundering sound. She found the entire south wing in ruins. She began scrambling over the fallen stones and calling for Prue. Soon she saw Prue coming her way with tears streaming down her face and carrying the limp form of Phoebe. She ran to them, held them both, and cried.
Soon they felt another hand on their shoulders. There Anthony stood looking very concerned.
"Do not weep any longer. For the child is not dead but merely sleeping."
He put his hands on Phoebe, looked upward, and muttered something in a foreign language. Then he bowed his head and closed his eyes. Soon Phoebe coughed and started breathing. Prue and Piper put her on her feet, hugging her ecstatically.
Phoebe opened her eyes. "I’m sorry, Prue."
"For what?!"
"I almost killed you by not coming with you."
"Oh no, Honey! It’s not your fault! I’m sorry for what I’ve done. You tell Derek he’s always welcome at our house."
Leo orbed in. "Is Phoebe all right?"
"Yes, I am." she answered for herself. "Thanks to Anthony."
Leo vigorously shook his hand. "I am so grateful to you for this, Your Holiness!"
"Your what?" Piper blurted.
Prue asked, "Leo, who is he?"
Leo was hesitant, feeling they might not believe him. "This is ... Saint Anthony."
The sisters looked at Anthony in shock. He still stood there, with that warm smile and twinkling eyes, looking like someone’s dear old grandpa. "No need to stand on formalities. I never did. I am simply Anthony. But I must move on now. I can sense that Funestus has escaped, so my mission continues."
Phoebe said, "We’re so sorry we ruined it for you. You almost had him."
"Oh no! It wasn’t your fault. It is simply one of those chances incidental to my course, just as it is to yours."
"Do you have to go so soon?" Piper protested. "There’s so much we would like to learn from you."
"Such as?"
Prue offered, "What’s the strongest thing we can develop against demons?"
"I believe you already know that. It is love. As long as you love, give, show understanding, kindness, mercy, and forgiveness, then no demon can ever conquer you. May you always have love and I will always be with you." With that, he crossed his hands over his chest and orbed out.
The sisters were amazed over the whole experience.
"I can’t believe it!" Piper exclaimed. "We were with a real saint!"
"That’s why he was so familiar to me," said Leo. "I did catch a glimpse of him up there with the Elders, some time ago, although I didn’t personally meet him at the time."
"Do you think we’ll meet him again."
"I wouldn’t be surprised."
*****
Later that night, Phoebe went to Derek’s place. Still there was no sign that he had been there since she last saw him. She went to the bedroom and stared down on the empty bed. She laid on it face down and cried herself to sleep.
He takes her by the hand but feels her slipping away
Well disguised in a violent sense.
And who’ll realize what the violence meant?
Will we come to deny what we do isn’t real
And lying down in it tonight?
Will we hold each other
In a violent sense?
Who? Love Love Love.
Who? Love Love Love.
Later in the night, she awoke to find herself holding onto to something warm and tender. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she saw she was in Derek’s arms.
"Phoebe, I’m so sorry for being such a big, dumb ...."
She put a hand over his mouth. She didn’t want apologies. She just wanted him. They held and kissed and rolled around over each other under the sheets.
*****
Next morning Prue came downstairs to catch up on her photography work. When passing through the livingroom, she notice a table set up in a corner. On it sits a little statue in a wreath of flowers. On taking a closer look, she recognized the statue of Saint Anthony, which she remembered from among her grandmother’s things. She figured Piper must have set this up earlier in the morning. It strangely resembles the Anthony they had met yesterday. She thought that, later on, she should look into who carved the statue and why Gramms had it.
Down in the basement, she set to work on her latest photographs, when she found a small gift-wrapped package with a card, addressed to her. Opening the card, she read, "Dear Prue, It isn’t you who needs to apologize, but me. So I do apologize for upsetting you and your family with my inconsiderate behavior. You were within your rights to order me away from your house, so I greatly appreciate you inviting me back. Sincerely, Derek."
Feeling she was being watched, she looked around and saw Phoebe standing on the stairs, all smiles.
"So he’s back," Prue concluded. Phoebe simply nodded.
Prue opened the little box to find a shiny metal on a chain, in the shape of a human eye which one finds in the ancient Egyptian tombs. She put it around her neck and looked at it in a mirror.
Phoebe explained, "It’s real gold and lapis lazuli. And the center of the eye is a real sapphire."
"Tell me, are we to expect expensive gifts every time Derek apologizes?"
"Yes. I’m afraid it’s just something we’ll have to get use to."
Prue admired the jewel on herself in the mirror. "Well, I guess I could manage that."
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