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Figures shuffled around in the dark. Their bodies were hidden by robes and their faces by hoods. They formed several circles around a stone pillar, about five feet high. Once each was in
his place, all was still and silent. After a few more minutes, another robed figure entered; their leader.

He uttered, "Luciferos!" [Loo-see-ferr-oss]

The pillar began to glow like a neon lamp. It was all of clear crystal. Other smaller crystals, imbedded in the walls, reflected the light, furthering the illumination.

The leader announced, "The last of the sacrifices have been completed. Our Master is well pleased."

The robed figured chanted, "All praise be to our Master!"

"In two more days, we will witness his arising. All that he has promised will be fulfilled. Our Master has promised us power."

"All praise be to our Master!"

"Our Master has promised us dominion over mankind."

"All praise be to our Master!"

"Our Master has promised us eternal glory."

"All praise be to our Master!"

"It is near dawn. Go back to your miserable existences, knowing that itís only for one more day. No more will you slave for fools, Cretins, buffoons. They will be your slaves. You will
glory in the slaughter of those who resist! Our power will reach all the way around the earth! We will be kings forever!"

"All praise be to our Master!"

They departed in an orderly manner. Those in the outer circle left first, then the following circles in turn, until the leader stood there alone. He said, "Avapausasthe!"
[Ah-vah-pow-saws-the] The light dimmed and went out. He departed in total darkness.

A young man walked along the side of a road, surrounded by forest. It was part of his morning exercise. He was enjoying the brisk fresh air, the scent of the forest, and the sunshine
peeking through the trees. It took awhile to realize something was missing. He stopped and looked around.

"Orion! Orion! Here, boy! Where are you?"

He stepped off of the roadside and into the forest. With two fingers in his mouth, he whistled loudly, cupped his hands around his mouth, and called, "Orion!"

In a distance, he heard his dog bark and made his way in that direction. "Here, boy! Whatís the matter? Come here!"

He pushed his way through the brush and vines, calling and following the sound of barking. He couldnít understand why his dog wouldnít come to him. Finally he broke through into a
clearing. There he saw his golden retriever furiously digging into the ground. He went over to see what the dog found so interesting. The dog stuck its face down the hole and began
pulling something up in its mouth. The man saw, to his horror, a human hand.

Phoebe and Derek came in through the front door of the Halliwell Manor. Piper, who was just on her way upstairs, greeted them. "How did it go?"

"Nothing to it," Phoebe replied. "We just drove Brenda to the airport, helped her get around in her wheelchair, made sure she got on the right flight on time, then watched the plane take
off. So sheís on her way back to Chicago."

"I really admire her spirit; the way she gets around despite her injury."

"Thatís Brenda," Derek chimed. "She wonít sit still for long; not for anything."

Piper went on upstairs while Phoebe and Derek went into the livingroom.

Phoebe asked, "Do you have any business today?"

"No. You have any classes today?"

"No. It looks like we have a whole day to spend with each other."

"Lucky us. So, what would you like to do today?"

"I donít know. What would you like to do today?"

"Donít do this to me!"

Phoebe laughed. They heard a knock at the front door. Derek offered to get it and opened to Leo. "Howdy!"

"Howdy. Ainít it time to slop the hogs?"

"Leo!" Piper snapped from the top of the stairs.

However, Derek just played along. "No. First yuh milk the cows, then yuh feed the chickens, then yuh slop the hogs." Then he walked away, shaking his head and muttered, "City
people."

Piper came stomping down the stairs, went up to Leo, and struck him back-handed across the chest. "That was mean!"

"What! It was just a joke!"

Back in the livingroom, Derek asked Phoebe, "Would you like to do something adventurous?"

"Sure."

"I mean something really really adventurous!"

"Yeah! What is it?"

"Weíll take a ride down the coast...."

"Yeah?"

"...On my motorcycle."

"Wow! Youíve got a motorcycle?"

"A Harley. A real machine."

"Okay! Where are we going?"

"Down Highway One."

"Howís that adventurous?"

"Weíll be whipping down that narrow, winding road at 70 miles per hour, never knowing whatís coming at us around the next bend, and with a sheer drop into the ocean on one side."

"Great! Letís go!"

They turned to go, but Piper stood in the doorway, wide-eyed and arms out to bar their way. "Whoa! Whoa!... Wait!... Are you serious about this?"

Phoebe said, "Sure. Why not?"

Piper forced a laugh. "Why not? A narrow, winding road at 70 miles an hour? Never knowing whatís coming at you around the next bend? A sheer drop into the ocean on one side? And
on a motorcycle? What not?"

"Iím sure Derek knows what heís doing."

"How do you know that?"

"I trust him! I know he wonít deliberately put me in danger!"

"And what youíre about to do is not dangerous?"

"Piper, you want to stand there all day, fine! Weíll just go out the back door or out the window! You canít stop us!"

Piper knew she was right. With a sigh of resignation, she stepped aside.

Phoebe gave her a hug. "Well be fine! Donít worry!"

Then she and Derek rushed for the front door. Leo opened his mouth to say something but they shot right past him. Phoebe just gave him a cheerful "Bye!" and they were out the door.

Leo went to Piper in the livingroom. "I tried to...."

"Oooooooo! Why does she do this to me? When Prue finds out, sheís going to blame me for not stopping her!"

Leo saw that this was a precarious family matter and decided not to try saying anything more.

Derek drove Phoebe, in his red pick-up, to a storage bin. From his personal space, he pulled out his motorcycle.

"Itís beautiful!" Phoebe gushed. "How long have you had it?"

"Six years. And sheís been good to me all that time."

"I just thought of something. Am I properly dressed for a motorcycle ride?"

"No worry there. I got something you can put on."

He went to one of the crates and pulled out a black leather jumpsuit and a pair of matching boots. Phoebe went behind a tall stack of boxes and changed into them. Derek handed her a
helmet and they soon took off on the roaring machine. (Derek himself needed no special outfit. He kept on his khaki shirt, jeans, and vest, cowboy boots, Australian hat, and shoulderbag.
The only thing different he did was pulling the chin strap of his hat down under his jaw, to keep it from blowing off.)

Through San Francisco and a few cities to the south, Phoebe wore the helmet. But once out in the country, she took it off to feel the wind through her hair. It wasnít too long until they
reached the wide open green spaces, where wind-twisted cypresses line the coast.

                                                 Here comes the sun in the form of a girl.

                                               Sheís the finest, sweetest thing in the world.

                                                     Take you to heaven tonight.

                                                   Look at the horses come galloping

                                              in the Summer rains. Take you to heaven tonight

                                                  ëCause I love you for what you are.

                                                         Iíll gallop to you.

                                                     Tonight, tonight weíll ride.

                                                         Iíll give it to you.

                                                     Weíll go to heaven tonight.

                                                           Tonight.

Piper heard Prueís car pull into the driveway. "Sheís early." She turned to Leo. "I need to tell Prue what Phoebeís doing. This may not be pleasant. So, could you...?"

"Sure. I understand." Leo orbed out.

Prue came in, slammed the door behind her, and came stomping through the livingroom. Piper saw that she was angry and doubted that she should tell her. Piper followed her into the
kitchen.

"Prue! Whatís wrong?"

"My boss didnít like my photo essay! ëUnimaginative and ordinaryí he says! I have to do it all over again! And itís due this evening! So that gives me nine hours to take a whole new
series of pictures, develop them, print them, and get them to the office!"

Piper was in a quandary. Should she tell her now and have her erupt because she didnít stop Phoebe? Or should she tell her later and have her erupt for not being told sooner? Piper felt that
the latter was the easiest.

Prue went down into her darkroom and threw together her photography bag. With everything she needed packed, she rushed for the front door. Just then, the telephone rang. With a sigh of
frustration, she snatched it up.

"Hello."

Morrisí voice came across. "Prue! Iím glad to find you at home."

"Does this have to be now, Darryl? Iím really busy."

"Iíll leave that up to you. Itís just that our colleagues, up north, have a real mystery on their hands. Iím wondering if itís in your field of expertise."

"All right. What is it?"

"Three bodies were discovered in a shallow grave at the Marin Highland State Park -- three females between the ages of 19 and 24. So far, cause of death is unknown. This is similar to an
earlier case, which still remains unsolved. Tracking dogs led them to a boulder, further in the woods, and the trail ends there. But the dogs refuse to go anywhere near it. Something there
has them really scared."

"Piper and I will take a look."

Further down highway one, Derek and Phoebe wound through a forest. Phoebe had put her helmet back on. At this speed, the wind in her face made breathing difficult. It didnít seem to
bother Derek. She guessed that heís been doing this for a long time and would be use to it. All he added to himself was a pair of sun goggles.

Trees and boulders blinded every curve but that didnít slow Derek down. This was a mistake. Around one bend, they were suddenly faced with two cars, side by side. One was trying to
pass another while making a turn. To avoid a head-on collision, Derek quickly turned onto the shoulder of the road. However, the curvature of the surface didnít provide enough traction, so
the motorcycle went flying off the road into the forest. Phoebe hung on tight and screamed, as they went crashing through three limbs and high brush. The machine slammed into the
ground head on, sinking the front wheel in mud. The force flipped Derek over, but he managed to hang onto the handlebars. However, Phoebe lost her hold and went flying into a thicket
of high grass.

Derek sprung to his feet and went running after her. He pushed his way through the high grass and found her lying still and silent. Anxious he knelt beside her and removed her helmet.
Suddenly she burst out laughing.

"You like that, donít you?" Derek asked. "The adrenaline rush, that is. It gets ya high."

"God! I feel drunk!"

He lay on top of her and kissed her tenderly. They staying in the high grass awhile, rolling in each otherís arms.

Prue and Piper went through the Marin Highlands Park until they came to a row of police and coroner vehicles. They parked across the road. Prue began to photograph the scene.

Piper asked her, "New theme for your photo essay?"

"Might as well mix business with business."

They followed a beaten path, through the woods, where police officers and other investigators came and went. In a wide, open clearing, an area was staked at four corners, with police tape
al around. Prue went up to a policeman standing nearby, filling out a form on his clipboard.

"Iím Prue Halliwell from 415 Magazine. What can you tell me?"

"Well, the bodies of three young adult females were discovered by a man walking his dog. Investigators have found no marks on the bodies to indicate a violent death, but foul play is
suspected. We employed tracking dogs to trace where they had been. This led us to a rock further west of here. But about ten feet from the rock, the dogs refused to go any closer.
Something there really had them spooked. So we took them all around the area but found no other trails. We went over that rock with a fine tooth comb, but came up empty. Itís as if
they just came down from the sky. I hope you wonít say anything about UFOs in your article. We donít need crackpots, clamoring around the place, or the public panicking over an alien
invasion."

"I only report the facts. Unless thereís solid evidence of UFOs, I wonít even mention it. Isnít this similar to an earlier case?"

"Come to think of it, yeah. Six months ago and not that far from here. Three young women found dead. Autopsies couldnít even find the cause of death. Three healthy women all of a
sudden just stopped living. You donít see a connection here, do you?"

"As I said, unless thereís solid evidence, I wonít even mention it."

She went around the scene, photographing the grounds, the bodies, and the investigators hard at work. Piper stood around at a distance. She didnít care to look at dead bodies. When the
investigators finally zipped up the bodies in bag and carried them away, Prue took a trail heading west. Piper followed.

They came to a rock surrounded by police tape. Prue walked around it, photographing it at every angle. Then she went up close and began looking it over carefully. It was just a large
piece of granite, typical of the West Coast.

Piper asked, "You think magic was involved?"

"Three healthy women all of a sudden stopped living. No marks on their bodies to suggest a violent death. Three of them every six months. What does that suggest to you?"

"Sacrifices."

"And the method used to kill them?"

"Some demon ... sucked the life force out of them."

"Very likely."

"And this rock?"

"I donít know. This is a new one on me."

Prue reached part of the rock, which caught her attention. There was a look and a feeling she couldnít describe. She tilted her head side to side and found that the shape and texture altered
with each angle of view. Piper turned in time to see Prue walk right into the rock and vanish.

"Prue! Prue! Where are you?"

"Right here."

"Where?"

"Here! Canít you see me?"

"No."

"I can see you. Come on over here."

"Come on over where?"

"Just follow my footsteps."

Looking down, she saw Prueís footprints in the soil and stepped into them. Soon she passed through what appeared to be solid rock and stood inside a cave with Prue.

"Ew! Ew! A cave! Another cave! I hate caves! They always have demons trying to kill us!"

"You donít have to come with me. You can just wait outside."

"Oh sure! And leave you to face a demon alone? Not a chance!"

Prue packed her camera away into her photography bag and took out a penlight. Switching it on, they descended into the darkness.

Derek and Phoebe pulled the motorcycle free from the mire. Derek examined the front wheel. "No damage. We were lucky. Had we hit a tree, a rock, or hard ground, it could have been
totaled; not to mention our bodies."

"What were they thinking? -- Trying to pass another on a two-lane highway, while in a curve!"

"Well, when thereís no cop around, some people think they can get away with anything."

They wheeled the motorbike back to the highway. Phoebe looked back up the road. "They didnít even stop to see if we were hurt or anything."

"Some people just donít give a damn if theyíve killed someone."

As they paused for awhile, looking up and down the road, Derek pulled out a cigarillo and lit it up. Phoebe eyed him curiously as he puffed away on it. "How much do you smoke a day?"

"One or a half. Some days, none."

"How did you start smoking?"

"During my travels to the Middle East and North Africa. Most men smoke because itís against their religion to drink. So I started smoking to socialize with many of the people I do
business with. Itís like drinking to socialize."

"Ever think of quitting?"

"Oh sure. Sometime in the future ... when my treasure-hunting days are over."

"When will that be?"

"Dunno. Ten, ... twenty, ... thirty years...."

"Smells sweet. What kind of cigarette is that?"

"These are cigarillos. And the tobacco has been cured in rum. I have others in cherry, vanilla, and amaretto."

"Candy cigarettes! I mean ... cigarillos."

They laughed together. Phoebe was glad to be spending this day with Derek and learn more about him.

Prue and Piper searched a series of caverns, finding nothing out of the ordinary. It took awhile to stumble upon a cavern, studded with crystals, which housed a pillar of clear crystal. The
penlight on the crystal pillar reflected the light onto the surrounding crystals, increasing the lighting in the cavern.

"This is unusual," Prue commented. "Of all rooms in this underground system, only one is filled with crystals."

"And that canít happen naturally?"

"Highly unlikely. In fact, very rare if at all possible."

"Could it be demon-made then?"

"That is more likely."

"But what would a demon use all this for?"

"A focal point of energy. Crystals are used to create and boost energy waves, as in early radios. Look what itís doing to my flashlight. So this column could be an energy source or
conductor. And all these other crystals, set in the wall, augment that energy."

"What energy and used for what?"

"Could be a number of things."

"Sapping sacrificial victims of their life force?"

"With a demon operating it, anything could be possible."

From somewhere came a voice. "Luciferos."

The pillar began glowing, filling the cavern with bright light. From a passageway, several men in robes emerged and surrounded Prue and Piper.

A spokesman asked, "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Prue replied, "Weíre just hikers. We found this place by accident. We didnít know anyone was living here."

"How did you enter? The opening is well disguised."

"We fell through it by accident. What is this stone?"

"This is Luciferís Pillar. From this we hear the voice of our Master."

The other robed men chanted, "All praise be to our Master."

Piper asked, "Would this Master have the habit of sucking the life force out of woman; three at a time?"

The robed men were startled. The spokesman asked, "How did you know that?"

"Uh ... Wild guess?"

Those around the spokesman whispered to him. He announced, "Now you also must feed the Master."

"All praise be to our Master."

Prue asked, "What does your ëMasterí need with sacrifices? For what does he use all that energy he drains out of people?"

"You need not know that."

"If weíre going to die, Iíd like to know why! What harm can it do?"

He thought about it and obliged her. "Our Master needs more strength for his Arising." ("All praise be to our Master.") "The essence of young life provides that strength. In the Arising,
he will grant us powers above all men and we will rule the world beside him in eternal glory."

"When is this ëarisingí suppose to take place?"

"When Mars is in conjunction with Libra and the moon is in Virgo."

"Thatís all we need to know. Freeze them, Piper."

Piper threw out her hands and time stopped in the cavern. She and Prue just walked out.

Back at home, Piper went through The Book of Shadows while Prue set herself to developing and printing the pictures she had taken that day. Piper entered the darkroom (in the
careful manner so that outside light isnít aloud in) showing Prue a page of The Book of Shadows.

"You were right about those crystals, Prue. It has something on ëLuciferís Rockí right here. Itís used by demons, which havenít yet received a material body to enter our world, to
communicate and give or receive power. The way to cut off the demonís power is to destroy the crystal. It has the spell and the formula for the potion needed to do that."

"Good! Write down the recipe and will go get the ingredients as soon as Iím done with this. Now, what about Mars in Libra and moon in Virgo?"

"Iíll have to call someone about that or get onto the internet."

Down Highway One, Derek and Phoebe had reached chaparral country. To their left, brush-covered mountains towered over them. To the right, the land dropped straight down, in some
places as much as 300 feet, to the ocean. Phoebe again had her helmet off, so she could drink in the aroma of the wild herbs, released by the warm air. The surrounding beauty, the speed,
the fragrance, and squeezing the man she loves just make her head swim.

                                                Down on the winding road I couldnít wait.

                                              Oh Baby, I was afraid and if for heaven tonight,

                                                      Iíll go to heaven tonight.

                                                  I can hear the horses come galloping

                                               I will never grow old. Iíll go to heaven tonight

                                                  ëCause I love you for what you are.

                                                         Iíll gallop to you.

                                                     Tonight, tonight weíll ride.

                                                       Iíll bow down to you.

                                                     Weíll go to heaven tonight.

                                                           Tonight.

While zipping around a curve, the front wheel hit a pothole. This caused the motorcycle to skid sideways, flip over, and slide on its side for several feet. Derek quickly got up and lifted the
fallen machine off of Phoebe. "Are you all right?"

"I think so. My leg hurts just a bit."

He picked her up and quickly carried her to the roadside, setting her on a tuft of low shrubs. Then he dragged his bike off the road. Kneeling beside Phoebe, he unzipped the leg of her
jumpsuit. The outer side of her shin was bruised and bleeding. He opened his shoulderbag and took out a white case, marked with a red cross. With its contents, he began cleaning and
dressing her wound.

Phoebe asked, "You carry a first aid kit around in that bag? The way you drive a motorcycle, you need it."

Derek chuckled. "Itís my paramedic bag. And these accidents werenít my fault. I didnít put the pothole there in the road and the cars passing each other around the curve wasnít my
decision."

"Howíd you get a paramedic kit?"

"By earning a paramedicís license from Cook County, Illinois."

Phoebe was surprized. "Youíre a paramedic?"

He began bandaging her leg as he explained. "As a treasure-hunter, I may be, at times, far from any doctor; far up the Amazon River, deep in the Congo, high in the Himalayas.... And if
I, or anyone with me, gets sick or injured, I canít just call a doctor to get out there. So I have to be prepared to treat myself and those in my hunting party. Itís also a good bargaining
chip. In many remote villages of third world countries, there is no doctor. So if I need help from the locals, I offer medical aid for their sick and injured."

"What if they donít help?"

"They do. I offer aid first, then later, mention, in passing, what I would like. And I always get it."

"What kind of help do you ask from them?"

"Mostly information leading to the treasure Iím hunting. Of course, I donít mention treasure. I ask for directions to a specific landmark or information on ancient legends. And that
information leads to treasure. Anyhoo, I anticipated all that while at the university, so I took paramedical courses until I earned a license. This gave me the confidence to treat people on
my own."

He finished bandaging her leg, zipped her jumpsuit leg back up and replaced her boot. "Try to walk."

She took a few steps. Putting all her weight on her left leg caused a burning pain. But it wasnít unbearable and she didnít want to alarm Derek. "Itís all right. Just a little stiff."

"Want to go home now?"

"Oh no! Iím fine! Iím good to go on."

"You sure?"

"Very sure. Itís still early in the day and Iíd like to see more."

"Good. A few more miles down is a restaurant, with a beautiful view of mountains, cliffs, and the ocean."

"Great! I was wondering when weíd have lunch." It would also be a good opportunity to ask Derek more questions.

He went to his motorcycle to check its damage.

Prue noticed Piper frowning as she looked over the list of ingredients, they needed for the potion. "Whatís wrong?"

"Weíre going to have a lot of trouble finding one of the ingredients to the potion."

"Which one?"

"Petals of one black rose."

"No trouble at all."

"You know where to find a black rose?"

"Lots of them. Remember when Phoebe talked us into volunteering at that psychic society? I was assigned to help with the gardening -- planting roses. And guess what color they are."

"Black? Are you sure? They could be just navy blue."

"I worked with them. I saw them up close. I was even told by the person in charge that they are black."

"Where did they get black roses?"

"Derek brought them up from Peru."

"So, we just walk in and ask for a rose? You think theyíll just let us take one?"

"Most likely not. If they let us, theyíd have to let everyone, and soon thereíd be none left. Iíve got a plan. Iíll tell you on the way."

In the rose garden, behind the American Psychic Society, Prue casually strolled among the rose bushes. The few other people were there and looked at her for awhile. She politely
exchanged smile with them but felt uncomfortable. She kept wondering why people stare at her whenever she comes there. She feared that perhaps they could read her mind and could see
what she was planning. But after awhile, they returned to what they had been doing (reading, meditating, tending the garden) before she arrived.

She non-chalantly ambled over to the roses by the back fence. Looking around, she made sure no one was watching her. From her coat pocket she took out a pair of clippers. After another
look around, she quickly snipped a rose, then, with her powers, sent it flying over the fence. (She used her powers instead of just throwing it over the fence, because a quick arm
movement could draw attention. Whereas a black rose, flying on its own, can easily be mistaken for a blackbird.) She looked around one more time, clipped another rose, sent it over the
fence, then pocketed the clippers.

On the other side of the fence, Piper picked up the two freshly cut roses and carefully wrapped them in a sheet of newspaper. She took them back to the car and waited. Prue soon rejoined
her and they were off.

Piper wondered, "Why two?"

"In case something goes wrong, we donít have to come back here for another one."

"What can go wrong?"

"Something is always going wrong with our potions: Phoebe spills it, a warlock steals it, or a demon contaminates it. So itís always good to have a back-up."

"You seem to think of everything."

"Itís part of my job as the oldest sister."

"Now for the other flowers. Where to?"

Prue drove up a narrow, quiet street in Chinatown and parked in front of "The Florist Through the Trees." She and Piper entered, where a middle-aged Asian woman greeted them.

"Hello, Plue. I have not see you for some time."

"Hi, Ying! So good to see you again! I just need some flowers and plants for a floral arrangement and thought of you. This is my sister Piper."

"How you do, Piper. Pleased to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too. You have such a beautiful shop."

"Thank you."

Prue handed her the list. "Hereís what we need. Itís all right if you donít have all of them. Whatever you have will be a big help."

She looked it over, looking very puzzled. "This vely unusual allangement, Plue. But I see what I have."

She went into the backroom, while Prue and Piper waited at the counter. Piper snickered. Prue gave her a suspicious look. "What!"

"She calls you ëPlueí."

"Thatís her accent! Donít you make fun of her!"

"Iím not making fun of her. Iím making fun of ... Plue."

"Now donít you start...!"

Ying returned and the two sisters straightened up. "Oh Plue! I have Solomon seal and white hellbore. I donít think I have black poppy but Iíll look again."

"Thatís fine, Ying. Thank you."

She returned to the backroom. Prue shot a reproachful look to Piper, who turned away and tightened her lips.

Phoebe and Derek sat at a table by a large picture window. From there, they could see hill slopes with their shrubbery, birds, and other denizens. They also had a view of ocean waves
crashing into towering rocks. It was a beautiful day on the California coast and Phoebe was so glad she came, despite the bumps and bruises.

She still had so many questions to ask Derek but didnít want to appear intrusive. So she started with small talk about the scenery and the wildlife. By the time the waiter brought their
order, she felt comfortable enough to get into heavier matters. So, over steamed clams and abalone steaks, she began her inquiry.

"Inspector Morris told me youíre a vigilante. Is that true?"

"Donít care much for that word, but I do fit the description."

"How did that get started?"

"After graduating from the University of Chicago, I made Chicago my home base. I got to know my neighbors and made many friends. When theyíd become victims of crime, Iíd help out
any way I could. But after several years of seeing many criminals let off, I lost faith in the justice system. I saw criminals getting patted on the head, while their victims were swept under
the rug. All Iíd hear was that their rights needed to be protected. So, since criminals have all the rights and victims have none, I decided to be a criminal. Since vigilantism is a crime, I
have rights too, and the courts have to let me walk, just like the other criminals. And I can afford an army of lawyers to make sure they do."

Phoebe felt a bit unsettled by this revelation and tried thinking that, what she and her sisters do, isnít much different. "Have you killed anyone?"

"Never! I donít believe in that. It wouldnít make me any better than they are. In many cases, I just steal their car or some other valuable property, sell it, and give the money to their
victims. Sometimes I fire bomb their house, apartment, or car, to shake them up; teach them that there are consequences to their actions. In confrontations, I break something on them; an
arm, leg, jaw, ribs... If theyíre armed and we shoot it out, I blast ëem in the shoulder joint of knee cap, to disable them for some time."

"Ouch!"

"In extreme cases, I cut off their noses, ears, and thumbs."

"Ew!"

"The ultimate is banishment. I have them snatched off the street, crated, and dumped in another part of the world; like the jungles of Borneo or the mountains of Afghanistan."

"You do this all by yourself?"

"No. Iíve got a secret army I command."

Phoebeís head spun. It all sounded so unreal. Was he putting her on? She decided to go onto another subject. "I also heard youíre a private detective as well."

"Investigator. I donít detect; I investigate. Itís something to keep the income coming in between treasure hunts."

"Youíre a P-I and a vigilante?"

"Yeah. Ainít that a kick-in-the-head?"

Phoebe snickered. "Do you find that talking like that, with your Midwestern accent, makes it hard for people to take you seriously, in that line of work?"

"I use that to my advantage. So many people think that country people are stupid. I let them. I even play it up, adding what I picked up in the South. When they think Iím stupid, they let
their guard down. They donít think they have to work as hard to hide something from me. That way, sooner or later, they let something slip, and I got ëem."

"So itís those, who think country people are stupid, who are really stupid."

"Exactly."

"So youíve been down South."

"Yup. Use to run moonshine from Olí Dixie to Chicago."

"What? My God! Is there anything you havenít done?"

"I like to get my fingers into as many pies as possible. I want to explore my full potential."

"But you donít run moonshine anymore."

"No. When the big money started rolling in, I went around to my former suppliers, offering to make their operations legit and go into a partnership. Three accepted: in Mississippi,
Tennessee, and Arkansas. I built the factories and got their permits and licenses. This was specifically for my nightclub in Chicago, but weíve been selling all over the Great Lakes area.
In fact, I was thinking of bringing a few cases to the P3, so Piper can test the market on the West Coast."

"Would you? Sheíd like that. Them me about your club -- the Scorpionís Den."

Derek reached into his shoulderbag and pulled out an envelope and, from that, produced several photographs. Phoebe looked them over and saw a vast area of round tables and chairs, upper
tiers with booths, a stage with musicians and dancers from India behind a smoking cauldron, a long bar, and a very large kitchen. "This place is huge!"

"I converted it, from an old warehouse, into a hang-out for those seeking the exotic and adventure. Iíve got travel posters all over the walls. I set up booths for privacy, where secret lovers
and underhand dealers can rendezvous. Iíve got a stage for performers from parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. And in front of it is a giant incense burner. Sailors, freebooters, and
other travelers come by and swap yarns."

"How did you get a warehouse?"

"It was given as a gift by a Mafia don. He hired my services to get back his daughter, who was kidnapped by another mob boss. I brought her back alive and unscathed. He was so
grateful, he added the warehouse to my pay. I think he just wanted to get rid of it because business wasnít doing well and he didnít want to pay anymore property taxes on it. Anyway,
when one of his torpedoes heard that I was turning it into a club, he went in partners with me and retired from the mob. He runs the place when Iím gone, which is most of the time."

"Your partner is a Mafia man?" Phoebe started having doubts about what he had been telling her.

"And I converted all the upstairs into an office area. It now serves as the world headquarters of my empire."

"What is your business called?"

"Ends of the Earth."

"Appropriate."

This went on a while longer. Even after they finished eating, Phoebe still had so much more to ask. But, in many cases, she couldnít tell if he was telling the truth or "spinning a yarn."

Prue and Piper returned home with their floral accumulation, and, in the kitchen, set about to potion making. Pots and bowls were taken out of the cabinets. Water was set to boil. Each
plant was laid out in a sequence. Other needed herbs were collected from the pantry. Prue began preparing the plants for processing.

"The only ingredient missing is buttercup. But we have plenty growing in our backyard. Could you go out and pick four good ones?"

"Sure thing, ... Plue."

Piper walked away laughing while Prue slowly burned. Then with a quick flick of a finger, Prue sent a cutting board across the room, which smacked into Piperís bottom. Piper jumped
with a yelp and went running out of the kitchen. Prue blew on her finger as a gunslinger would on his smoking gun.

Derek and Phoebe rode the motorcycle down a dirt path between a meadow and a barbed-wire fence. A forest lined the other side of the meadow. On the other side of the fence was the
highway.

Phoebe leaned around Derek and shouted over the roar of the engine, "I think weíre on someoneís private property!"

"I didnít see any sign or anything back there! Did you?"

"All the same, I think we should get back on the highway!"

"All right! Iíll take the first turn I find!"

Before them was a row of hedges, with a break for the path. But when they shot through it, they found themselves in mid-air, falling towards an irrigation canal. Phoebe barely had time
to scream. They went plunging into the water but came back up and swam to the nearest bank, minus the motorcycle. Phoebe couldnít help laughing at the situation.

"I canít believe it! You are just so bad at this! How did you manage to survive all these years?"

"Itís not my fault someone put a damn river in the middle of the damn road!"

Derek took off his shoulderbag, vest, boots, and hat, then dove back in to retrieve his motorbike.

Prue and Piper headed back for the cave. Prue warned, "They may be waiting for us this time. So no flashlights. Iíll sense our way through with my power. Just hang onto me and no
talking until we get to the crystal."

They re-entered the cave through its illusional barrier and descended into the darkness. Prue fanned out her power before her as an extended sense of touch. This gave her more details than
sight. By memory, she retraced her steps to the cavern of crystals. Piper kept a hand or her shoulder to follow. At the cavern, Prue opened the potion jar and poured it over the crystal
column.

"All right. Iíve poured out the potion. Get ready with the spell."

"Ready. All I need is a light to read it."

"No problem. Luciferos."

The crystal pillar began glowing, filling the whole cavern with light. Piper was shocked.

"Prue! What are you doing?"

"Just start the spell!"

Together they began chanting:

                                                     "Spirits of Earth and stone,

                                                     Guardians of dark and light,

                                                     Powers hidden and known,

                                                     Powers of sound and sight,

                                                      Cut the line, link by link,

                                                      Of the light from the dark.

                                                     Cause his powers to shrink;

                                                       His evil to disembark.

                                                   Break the glass. Break the light.

                                                    Leave the fiend without sight.

Columns of cult members moved in from two directions as the sisters waited for results.

Piper became apprehensive. "Uh ... Shouldnít something be happening right now?"

Prue was perplexed. "Yes. It should."

"Why isnít it?"

"I donít know."

"Shouldnít we ... um ... get out here?"

"Yes, we should."

They turned and faced those barring their exit. Piper threw out her power and froze them in their tracks. But it lasted on a few seconds and they continued their advance.

"Whatís happening?"

"The crystal! Itís draining our power!"

"And our life force?"

"Correct!" came a voice from behind them. They turned to see a face in the glowing crystal. It was long, twisted, and full of gnarly thorns. "You think you can fool us twice? Soon I will
have your powers as well as your life force, adding much more to my Arising."

Prue quickly whirled around and threw out all her power at the robed men. Instead of flying across the room, they simply leaned back a little. But this split-second distraction was all she
needed to jump between them. When Piper tried, she was seized and held tight by several arms. Desperately she concentrated on her power as hard as she could and sent out another burst of
it. The few seconds it held them gave Prue the opportunity to pull her free.

This time they ran from the cavern. When they reached the areas beyond the range of the crystalís light, Prue again led Piper through the darkness. However, their pursuers had to stop and
fumble for light sources to see their way. This gave the sisters a long lead.

Derek mopped his wet motorcycle with his shirt. With no dry towels, the best he and Phoebe could do, was wring out their clothes. He got on and kicked and gunned the engine until it
turned over. Then he got dressed. "Itíll be dark soon. I gotta get you home."

"Let me drive this time."

"You think you can handle this?"

"At least I wonít wreck it three times."

"You think you can do better than me?"

"Bet you I can."

"Youíre on!"

Heading north under a dimming sky, Phoebe sat in the driverís seat with Derek holding on the back. She wore goggles but no helmet, to let her hair dry in the wind. She felt an
exhilaration in seizing the handlebars of a powerful machine and taking control. On one stretch of the highway, they had a view of the setting sun. The ocean had turned a neon pink under
the giant orange orb. Despite her cuts, bruises, and being soaked and chilled to the skin, she was having a great day. Derek was right. This was really really adventurous.

                                                  I canít believe that I could be happy.

                                                Summer will come again. I will be happy.

                                                 Oh stop your crying. You can be happy.

                                               Weíll go to heaven where you can be happy.

                                                  Here comes a kiss that I never had.

                                               Nothing feels like this and for heaven tonight,

                                                           I love you.

                                                 Here comes a storm in the form of a girl.

                                               Sheís the finest, sweetest thing in the world.

                                                      Iíll go to heaven tonight.

Back at home, Piper scrutinized the page, in The Book of Shadows, on Luciferís Rock, while Prue paced and ranted. "We said that spell correctly, word for word! We made that
potion correctly, flower by flower! Why didnít it work?"

"I donít know. It says nothing more than what weíve already done. Maybe itís because the demon was ready for us and began draining our powers before we could finish the spell. That
was a big risk you took, turning on that crystal as a light yourself."

"Because I thought weíd have enough time to finish the spell! Which we did! Only the spell didnít work!"

"Iím now wondering how much of powers weíve lost."

Prue concentrated on a large table, easily causing it to rise up towards the ceiling then gently touch down. "The loss was temporary. Away from the crystal our powers can renew."

Piper sighed with relief and leaned back against a wall. Just then, Leo orbed in.

"Leo! Thank goodness youíre here! Weíve got a major major problem!"

Piper explained everything as Leo looked over the relevant page in The Book of Shadows. His assessment was, "You didnít have the Power of Three."

"What? Where does it say that?"

"It shouldnít have to say that. You should know by now that all major adversaries can only be overcome by the three of you united. So going by the letter of the spell but not its spirit
will never work."

Just then, Prue thought to ask, "By the way, where is Phoebe?"

Leo asked Piper, "You havenít told her yet?"

Piper gritted her teeth and shook her head.

Prue looked at them both suspiciously. "Tell me what?"

They was no getting out of it now. She had to tell. "I didnít want to tell you when you first came home because you were so upset about having to do your photo essay again!"

"What? Piper! If somethingís happened to Phoebe, I should know about it, no matter what mood Iím in at the moment! You know that family comes first with me!"

"All right. Derek took Phoebe out ... on his motorcycle."

Prue just looked at her, awaiting more information. "And...?"

"Well, ... You donít think thatís dangerous?"

"Not particularly. Why? Is something wrong with the motorcycle?"

This was hardly the reaction Piper had been expecting from her. "No! Itís just that...! Derek talked about zipping down the highway at 70 miles per hour, never knowing whatís around the
next turn, and a drop into the ocean on one side."

"And you took him seriously."

"Well, ... Yes."

"Phoebe was warned by his cousin that Derek is a bit of a comedian. You canít take everything he says seriously."

"So, youíre not mad that Phoebeís out riding on a motorcycle?"

"No. Iím mad that she hasnít called to tell us where she is, how long sheíll be out, or anything. We canít just wait all evening for her. I have those pictures to turn in at the office and
you have the club to open."

"Well, while weíre waiting, we should be working on another potion."

"Not necessary," said Leo. "The potion you used is already working its way into the crystal. All you need is the three of you reciting the spell around it."

"I hope sheís on time. We only have until ... Mars is in Libra and the moon is in Virgo."

"Tomorrow at 1:30 in the afternoon?"

Prue and Piper looked at him, shocked. "Really?"

"Well, ... Yes. You didnít know that?"

Prue turned to Piper. "You said youíd look it up!"

"I didnít have time!"

Now Leo decided to play peacemaker. "All right! What you should be working on, in the meantime, is creating a defense from the draining of your powers when youíre near the crystal
again."

Later that evening, as they prepared to go their jobs, Prue and Piper heard the front door unlock and open. Piper could see Prue seething with ire and felt anxious. "Wait, Prue! Please,
donít get mad! Fighting wonít solve anything."

But Prueís visage didnít change, so Piper stood by to buffer the battle.

Phoebe entered all smiles but looking a fright. Her hair was a ratís nest. Scratches lined her face, some still oozing fresh blood. Bruises dotted her chest and arms. Her left leg was wrapped
in a blood-soaked bandage. Her sisters were horrified.

Prue bellowed, "What the hell happened to you?"

"We just had a few tumbles on the motorcycle."

"A few tumbles? On a motorcycle? How did you manage to do that?"

"Why do you assume that everything that goes wrong is my fault?"

Piper jumped in. "Wait! Phoebe. She didnít...."

But Prue cut through. "Your record of irresponsibility is very well-known around here!"

"No, Prue! You shouldnít ...."

"Speaking of which, we just had a mission fail because you werenít here to complete the Power of Three!"

"Prue, donít..."

Phoebe asked, "How was I suppose to know that?"

"It would help if you would call us and let us know when youíre going to be out all day!"

"Oh, now Iím suppose to report in to you, like my commanding officer, whenever I decide to go out and live my life!"

Piper cautioned, "Phoebe, you donít have to..."

But Prue shot back, "Youíre the one so glad to be a witch, but you donít want the responsibilities!"

Piper again attempted, "Prue, you shouldnít...."

But Phoebe burst out, "Iíve come through plenty of time for you! When I know thereís trouble, I know what my responsibilities are!"

Prue countered, "Do you? Just look how you take care of yourself! How can you be of any help to others like this?" She took up a tissue and began mopping Phoebeís face.

Phoebe backed away. "Please, Prue! Iím not a baby anymore!" She stomped off to her room.

"Phoebe, donít you walk away from me when Iím talking to you! Phoebe? Get back here! Phoebe!"

Piper flopped back onto the sofa and buried her face in her hands.

Leo entered the P3 along with other patrons. He walked around, looking for Piper and found her alone on a sofa in a corner. She sat slumped down, looking extremely sullen. Leo sat next
to her and took her into his arms. "Piper, is something wrong?"

"Prue and Phoebe got into a fight and, as usual, I got caught in the middle."

"I know youíll settle it. You always have."

"Iím tired of this curse of being the middle child."

"Curse? Piper! No! You are blessed!"

Piper laughed. "You have a funny idea about blessings."

"I know itís not easy. But with tact, persistence, and most importantly, love, youíll see it through. Youíre blessing is not only keeping the Charmed Ones together, but also what
remains of your family."

Piper couldnít argue with that. "Youíre a blessing too. You know that?"

"I know Iím blessed with you."

The following morning, the sisters prepared to go out to the cave of crystals again. Piper noticed how cold Prue and Phoebe were toward each other. They avoided speaking to each other;
even eye contact. Finally they headed for the front door. Phoebe sighed. "All right. Letís get this over with."

Piper didnít move. She just sat on the sofa with her arms crossed. "Weíre not going anywhere!" They looked back at her, puzzled. "We need the Power of Three to destroy the crystal. As
long as you two are still fighting, we are not three and all the potions and spells will be of no use. So Iím not leaving here until this is settled between you two. I donít care how you do
it, but it must be settled. Otherwise, weíll just be wasting our time out there."

Prue and Phoebe each took a chair, facing each other. For awhile, they sat quietly, scowling at each other.

Finally Prue spoke. "You are so inconsiderate! You think life is one big party and the whole world is your playground, consequences be damned! I gave you more credit for maturity than
that!"

"Itís called living life! I donít exist just to stay around the house to be at everyoneís beckoned call!"

"No one is asking that of you! I expect you to, at least, take care of yourself; not come home looking like a wreck!"

"That wasnít my fault! That was from an accident! I didnít ask for that! Besides, these are my cuts and bruises; not yours!"

"You deliberately put yourself in a situation where that is very likely to happen! And donít you think it hurts me when youíre hurt?"

Piper stayed out of it this time. As long as they were talking to each other, it was progress.

Prue went on, "I practically raised you and grew to hurt along with you."

"For which I am forever grateful. But that shouldnít mean that I should stop living life. Why did you raise me? To be a household pet? So I can just sit around, do nothing, go nowhere?"

"Iím not asking you to do that! I just like you take some common sense precautions and let us know when youíre going to be out for a long time. Since our new responsibility, we have
to keep track of each other. I donít know if youíre injured in an accident, captured by a demon, or killed by a warlock. Just one call to say youíre all right is all we need. Iím sure youíd
want that of me."

Phoebe hung her head in silence for awhile. "All right.... Iím sorry.... I should have called.... But I was so caught up in the moment, I forgot everything else. I was having such a good
time, which I havenít had in God knows how long."

"Iím glad youíve found someone just as wild as you are, with whom you can really have a good time. All I ask is that you donít crowd out other important things."

"All right. From here on, Iíll remember what I owe you and Piper, wherever I am."

"I appreciated that. And Iíll try to ... be less fussy over you ... and respect your decisions in what you do with your own life."

"I appreciate that."

They stood and held each other. Piper smiled. Mission accomplished. "Now we can go."

They once more prepared to leave, when they heard a knock at the door. Phoebe went to get it. It was Derek. "Morniní, Sugar Cake! Just here to see how youíre recovering from
yesterday."

"Iím recovering very well. Thank you."

He noticed Prue peeking out from the livingroom. "Good morning! Sorry to bring her home in that condition yesterday."

Prue came out and joined them. "Oh, thatís all right. It was her decision, so she must bear the consequences."

"Oh no! The fault was entirely mine."

Phoebe countered, "No, it wasnít! They were accidents! You couldnít help it! Donít say things like that!"

Still talking to Prue, he said, "This little lady drove my motorcycle all the way back, without one mishap."

This surprized Prue. "You drove the motorcycle?"

"Yes. I bet him I could do it better and I did," Phoebe told her. Then she turned to Derek. "Hey, yeah! I won the bet! What did I win?"

"You won ... dinner at a very elegant and expensive restaurant. Candlelight. Soft music. Slow dancing. And you will receive a brand new dress for the occasion, which will arrive this
afternoon."

"Are you kidding?"

"No. Be ready by 6:30. We got to get there early."

Phoebe laughed. "Weíre going to look a bit out of place, driving up in your pick-up with a little house on the back."

"Thatís why we wonít be taking the pick-up." He stepped aside and gestured towards a candy apple red car, parked in front of the house. "Behold! Thy chariot!"

Phoebe curiously scrutinized it. She didnít recognize the make. The four doors gave it a conservative look, but it did have a sporty air to it. Derek could see the question on their minds so
volunteered the answer.

"A Bentley Arnage. English made. Saw it in Europe a few years ago and had to have it. It just arrived from Chicago last night."

Phoebe jumped into his arms with glee. "Oh! This is so perfect!"

"Youíre the one who makes it all perfect." They held each other and kissed.

Prue stood by smiling. Derek said to her, "Again, sorry for yesterday. Iíll try not to let that happen again."

"Donít worry about it. Iíve come to accept her wildness."

"Really! Then you donít mind the tattoo of the bleeding heart on her butt?"

"What?!"

Piper, who had been eavesdropping in the livingroom, came running out to the front door. "What?!"

Derek then noticed Phoebe viciously glaring at him. "Oh... You didnít ... uh ... tell her that yet."

She hissed between clenched teeth, "No, I did not!"

He then looked at his watch. "Oh my goodness! Look at the time! I gotta be someplace!" Then he beat a hasty retreat.

"Derek! You get back here!" She stepped forward to go after him.

"Hold it!" Prue commanded and grabbed her by the pantywaist, stretching it as far back as she could. She and Piper looked with astonishment at the tattoo down inside. Prue then released
it suddenly and the elastic snapped Phoebe in the back.

"Ow!" she cried, more out of anger than pain. She turned and faced Prue and they resumed their scowling.

Piper leaned back against the wall and groaned. "Weíre going to be here all day."

But they werenít. Soon they were back at Marin Highlands Park. Even with the police vehicles gone, Prue remembered where to park and start hiking in. First Piper passed out the
amulets.

She explained to Phoebe, "These will protect us from having our powers and life force drained by the demon. Theyíre made up of eight crystals pointing in the eight directions. But these
are small so they wonít hold up for very long. Weíll have to do the spell very quickly."

Prue added more warnings. "The ëarisingí is in just a few more hours. So all the demonís disciples will be there. And, very likely, theyíll be on the lookout for us. So, Piper, you take the
lead. Just freeze everyone in sight, all the way to the crystal. Donít stop for anything. Itís important that we get to the , say the spell, and get out of there, all as quickly as possible."

They made their way through the trail heading west. Soon they were at the clearing, where the stakes and police tape remained. They silently moved passed this macabre scene onto the
cave.

On reaching the boulder, Prue suddenly gestured the others to duck and be quiet. Kneeling in the high grass, they could see four robed men standing guard around the rock. In between was
a wide open space. This would expose their approach, giving too much warning.

Prue made a gesture to the left. Piper and Phoebe followed her through high brush and trees. She led them to a point where the forest comes closest to the rock, giving their approach
more cover. At the closest point of concealment, Prue gave Piper the signal. She quickly stood up and sent out her power. Soon the four sentinels were frozen in time. The sisters then
ran to the rock. Prue pointed out the entrance and Piper led the way in.

As expected, the entire underground system was filled with men in robes, scurrying back and forth with torches. And, as planned, Piper froze time in every cavern and passage through
which they passed. In the cavern of the crystals, they raced between frozen figures to the Lucifer Rock, which was illuminating the area. Around it, they linked hands and began the spell.

                                                     "Spirits of Earth and stone,

                                                    Guardians of dark and light,..."

Piperís power was short-lived. The disciples were soon moving about. The long, twisted face appeared in the crystal. "We are prepared for you this time. Your powers will soon be mine."

                                                     "Powers hidden and known,

                                                    Powers of sound and sight,..."

Suddenly Leo orbed in and, with both fist flying, began knocking back those trying to seize the sisters.

              &nbs