64 posts tagged “charmed”
"CHARMED" - Things That Make Me Go . . . Hmmm?
The following is a list of questions regarding storylines that have been featured in past episodes of “CHARMED”. If you have an answer to any of my questions, please feel free to reply.
1. In Season 7’s “A Call to Arms”, how did Inspector Sheridan and nearly everyone else know about Chris’ death in the Season 6 finale, “It’s a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World II”, when just about everyone – except for Leo and the Halliwells - had lost their memories of that alternate dimension, following Gideon’s death?
2. Why did Vinceres tell Prue that her powers were no good, when she was using martial arts and not magic, against him in Season 3’s “Primrose Path”?
3. Why did Cole in S7’s “The Seven Year Witch” confess to deliberately impregnating Phoebe in late Season 4, when he was actually possessed by the Source at that time?
4. Why did warlocks in Season 1 morph into vampiric game faces? Aren’t they suppose to be witches (who are mortals) that had simply gone bad?
5. Speaking of warlocks, why were they portrayed as immortals? Was Constance Burge, Brad Kern and their writers trying to hint that when witches become warlocks, they become immortals?
6. Why do the Charmed Ones keep referring to their witch ancestors as the “Halliwell women” or the “Halliwell line” in their conversations and spells? According to family tree depicted in Season 2’s “Pardon My Past”, their mother, Patty, was the first in their family to be born as a Halliwell.
7. And why did Grams remind Prue and Piper in S3’s “Just Harried” that the women in their family kept their maiden names after marriage? She used the name of Halliwell, which belonged to her first husband. And her maiden name was Johnson.
8. And what was the first name of the Charmed One’s maternal grandfather – Jack (S2’s “Pardon My Past”) or Allen (S6’s “Witchstock”)?
9. Why did Leo claim in S3’s “Exit Strategy” that he was born in 1924? Does this mean that he was attending medical school at the age of 17, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941?
10. Why would the BAY-MIRROR’s editor-in-chief, Elise Rothman, leave Phoebe, an advice columnist, in charge of the newspaper for a whole day in order to teach the witch a lesson in S7’s “Scry Hard”? Is she crazy?
11. Why did Leo tell Victor that the sisters were NOT mortals, when nearly every demon on the show has referred to them and other witches as mortals?
12. Both Cole and Vinceres had discussed that mortals (witches included) who were not natural empaths, could not handle an overload of emotions in “Primrose Path”. Yet, Prue had claimed demons could not handle such a large amount of emotions, despite the fact that Vinceres had carried Father Thomas’ empathy power for at least two years. Did the writer(s) of “Primrose Path” create a contradiction?
13. Why was the Source so contemptuous of Phoebe’s psychic abilities in Season 4’s “Charmed and Dangerous”, when he had relied so heavily upon seers like the Oracle and the Seer?
14. Why did Darryl take orders from Inspector Sheridan, when as a police lieutenant, he ranked higher?
15. How did Cole get his job back at Jackman, Carter and Kline at the beginning of Season 5?
16. Why are other witches on the show portrayed as helpless or semi-helpless?
17. Why did Leo assumed that Cole was automatically “good”, when the latter had lost his powers in S4’s “Black As Cole” and S7’s “Sympathy For the Demon”? Had he forgotten the evil humans that the sisters had confronted in the past?
18. Why did Phoebe assume that she would die on the same date that her past self had died, back in 1924 in “Pardon My Past”? She made this assumption before acquiring any real proof.
19. And why did Phoebe say in the above episode that she was the same age in February 2000, as her past self – P. Russell - was in February 1924? Phoebe was 24 years and 3 months old at the time. Her past self was 29½ years old at the time of her death.
20. Why did the Charmed Ones and Leo had automatically assumed that using the Hollow made Cole the Source? He had the old Source’s powers when the sisters killed the latter. And possessing Piper and Paige’s powers did not make the Source two-thirds of the Charmed Ones.
21. Why didn’t the Source simply kill the Charmed Ones after he had failed to turn Paige in “Charmed Again II”?
22. Why did Cole have such difficulty fighting against the Halliwells in S3’s “Power Outage”, when had had managed to kill the more formidable Triad so easily?
23. Why are whitelighters (guardian angels) given authority over witches?
24. Why does the show feature witches engaged in demon hunting/slaying ONLY?
25. Once they had discovered that Cole was the Source in late S4, why didn’t the Charmed Ones bother to investigate on how he had become the Source in the first place?
26. How did Darryl explain Andy’s death inside the Halliwell manor in Season 1’s “Déjà vu All Over Again”?
27. Why didn’t Paige simply orb the gun out of Rick’s hand in S6’s “Hyde School Reunion”?
28. When Phoebe was taken over by the spirit (karma) of Mata Hari in S6’s “Used Karma”, why was she speaking with a French accent, when the former spy had been born in Java to Dutch parents?
29. Why did Phoebe become hostile toward Cole between the S4 finale, “Witch Way Is Now” and the S5 premiere, “A Witch’s Tail”?
30. Why would the supernatural world depend ONLY upon the Charmed Ones to fight demonic activity? What about other witches and demon hunters who were around long before the sisters had first retrieved their powers in the S1 premiere, “Something Wicca Comes This Way”?
31. Why is pyrokinesis (fire power) regarded by Leo and the Charmed Ones as evil in most of the episodes, and neutral in S4’s “Lost and Bound”?
32. Why did Cole have to become increasingly demonic in order to kill another half-demon in S4’s “Black As Cole”, when he didn’t have to do so in order to form an energy ball to kill the Source in “Brain Drain”?
33. Why would the Vampire Queen’s death enable Paige to avoid remaining a vampire in S4’s “Bite Me”? This doesn’t make sense. Surely she should have remained a vampire, once she had been bitten.
34. How can the Charmed Ones travel to or exist in the past and their powers cannot, especially since their powers are supposed to be a part of themselves?
35. How can the Charmed Ones be witches, when they have never taken oaths or taken part in an initiation ceremony to become one?
36. According to the show, a witch becomes a warlock in the first place when he/she breaks his/her oath as a witch. So, why are warlocks described as immortals on the show?
37. Why does the Halliwell Museum of Witchcraft in “Chris-Crossed” featured the outfit Phoebe wore as a mermaid and the outfits the sisters wore in "Witches in Tights" (shudder!) on display? All outfits should have no longer existed, since Phoebe reverted back to being a human and the superheroine outfits were figments of that kid's imagination.
"OBSSESSIONS"
Part 3
Inspector Darryl Morris sat opposite Captain McPherson, inside the latter's office. He stared in silent shock, as the older man revealed some news. "Uh, could you . . . could you repeat that again, Captain?" he mumbled. Had he heard right?
"I said," McPherson's deep voice rumbled, "that you have received a promotion." He tossed a badge over to Darryl. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Morris."
Numbly, Darryl nodded. "Thanks . . . Captain. Uh," his partner's face flashed in his mind, "what about Olivia? Will she . . .?"
"No, she wasn't in line for a promotion." McPherson leaned forward. "But she will continue working with you. If you want. You'll be heading your own task force. One that investigates the more . . . difficult cases."
Darryl had a pretty good idea what kind of difficult cases he would be handling. Those of the supernatural kind. The freaky cases. He sighed. And wondered if this meant he would end up spending the rest of his career as a lieutenant.
McPherson cut into Darryl's thoughts. "About your unit . . . McNeill will be part of it. As sergeant, she'll be your second-in-command. The others include Scott Yi, Marcus Anderson and Carmen Trujillo. The task force goes into effect at the beginning of next month."
Nodding, Darryl continued, "Got it. Anything else?"
"One last thing. Just received word from the DA's Office. There will be a new ADA assigned to the DiMatteo case. Someone named Paul Margolin from Buffalo. From what I hear, he's good. You and McNeill will be seeing a lot of him over the next month or so. Other than that," McPherson smiled, "congratulations."
Darryl returned the captain's smile. "Thanks." Then he rose from his chair and left McPherson's office, clutching his new badge. The first place he headed for was Olivia's desk. "I've got some news," he announced.
The red-haired woman glanced up, smiling. "Is it about your new promotion?" she asked, taking his breath away.
"How did you . . .?"
Olivia's smile widened. "A little tip I had received from Hugo." She referred to one of the precinct's clerks. Olivia stood up and enveloped Darryl into a bear hug. "Congratulations, partner!"
"Yeah, thanks," Darryl said, feeling a touch dazed.
"Since we don't have anything urgent at the moment,"Olivia continued, "why don't we celebrate with a lunch at Morgan's? Or better yet, dinner tonight at the Golden Horn? You, me, Sheila and . . ."
A voice interrupted. "Excuse me, are you Inspector Darryl Morris?"
Darryl turned around and faced a very attractive-looking man with chestnut hair and hazel green eyes. "Yeah. May I help . . .?"
"Paul?" Olivia's outburst took Darryl by surprise. She grabbed the stranger's hand and shook it. I wondered when we would see each other, again. You must be here about the DiMatteo case. Darryl, this is Paul Margolin, the new ADA. He's . . ."
"Yeah, I know," Darryl added. "He's the new prosecutor for the DiMatteo case. The captain had just told me. Nice to meet you." He held out his hand.
Margolin shook Darryl's hand. "Same here. By the way, congratulations on your promotion. I overheard."
Olivia continued, "Darryl here, is the only one who knows I'm a W-I-T-C-H. If you know what I mean."
Astounded by his partner's revelation, Darryl stared at her. "Wait a minute! He knows that you're a," he added in sotto voice, "a witch? Does that mean Mr. Margolin, here, is also one? How did you two . . .?"
Olivia grabbed her partner's arm. "I'll explain it during lunch, Darryl."
Before she and Darryl could leave, a fourth figure appeared before the trio. "Explain what?" Cole Turner asked.
* * * *
Thank goodness he had called in sick, today. This gave Nick the opportunity to not only summon the succubus, but also prepare some kind of protection for himself. Protection that called for some Angelica Root. Knowing that Barbara usually went to lunch around one o'clock, Nick headed for Ostera's around a half hour, before noon. He found the shop's two assistants helping customers with their purchases. Nick drifted toward one of the shelves and began his search for the root.
One minute later, Nick overheard Paige bid the last customer, good-bye. He continued his search, until a voice behind him asked, "What are you looking for?" It was Paige.
Nick hesitated before he answered, "Oh nothing in particular. Just some Angelica Root, if you have any."
"Hmmm." Paige searched the shelves for the herb in question. Nick followed closely behind. However, the search ended in failure. "Sorry Nick. Looks like I couldn't find any. Hey Maddy?" she called to the other assistant, "could you check the shelves again for some Angelica Root? I'll be in the stockroom."
While Paige headed for the stockroom, Nick and Madeline Oser, the shop's other assistant, continued the search for the Angelica Root. He asked Maddy if Barbara was in today. Before the young woman could answer, Paige returned, along with the person in question, beside her. "We found it!" Paige crowed in a triumphant voice. "Actually, Barbara found it." She handed the package to Nick. "Here you go - one jar of Angelica Root. What do you need it for? A protection potion?"
Caught off guard by Paige's question, Nick hesitated. Then he answered, "Uh, no . . . actually . . . yeah. Yeah, it's for a protection . . . potion."
"Protection from what?" Maddy asked. The youngest of Ostera's staff, she was a pretty, dark-haired twenty-three year-old who had recently graduated from college.
Nick stared at her. "Huh? Oh, uh . . . I'm trying to create this new potion." He paused, until an idea came to him. "A . . . a traveling potion. A strong one." Again he paused. With all eyes upon him, he felt like an idiot. Or that something was wrong with him. "And I need a protection spell . . . uh, potion . . . just in case something goes . . . wrong." Desperate to change the subject, he asked Barbara what she was doing in the storeroom.
"Checking the Internet on my plant," she answered. "You know, the one we told you about."
"The Soma plant that your friend gave you, last Friday? The one that warlock was after?"
Barbara nodded. "Yeah. Well, I finally learned something about it." According to the blond-haired witch, the Soma plant happened to be a shrub from Hindu mythology. Its leaves not only cured diseases of all kinds, but also granted immortality. "Which is probably why that warlock was after it."
"At least you won't have to worry about a demon coming after it," Paige added. "Especially since they're already immortal." Silence filled the shop. Everyone smiled at Paige. Even in his nervous state, Nick could not help but smile at the Charmed One's naivety. "What?" she demanded. "Did I say something wrong?"
Barbara patted her shoulder. "No, it's just that not all of us believe that daemons are completely immortal. I mean, yes they have very long life spans and cannot be killed by . . . say, a bullet. But even something ordinary like a knife or sword can kill them. In my book that does not make them immortal."
"Oh."
"Of course, it's only my opinion. And the opinions of others. We all have our different interpretations." Barbara sighed. "Also, the last thing anyone want is any magical being becoming immune to any kind of death . . . supernatural or otherwise. That's why I have the plant at Bruce's house. His family is strong enough to protect it."
While the others continued to discuss the Soma plant, Nick allowed his mind to wander. Or to be more accurate, contemplate upon what he had just heard. Soma plant. Immortality. Perhaps this plant might turn out to be the perfect bargaining unit to use with the succubus.
"Oh! Hey!" Paige cried out, interrupting Nick's thoughts. "Speaking of Bruce, did you hear the news? The BAY-MIRROR columnist, DeWolfe Mann, will be interviewing him and Mrs. McNeill for an article on the Golden Horn. You know, for its 25th anniversary. Phoebe told me."
Hip-hip-hooray, Nick thought sourly. The 'Golden Man' strikes again. He could not care less about Bruce McNeill or any other McNeill's stroke of good luck. Especially since the bastard will not be around long enough to enjoy it. Hopefully.
* * * *
Four people gathered inside a booth at Morgan's to celebrate one Inspector Darryl Morris' promotion to lieutenant. One person too many, as far as Cole was concerned.
After learning about Darryl's promotion from Olivia, Cole had volunteered to treat the two partners to a celebration lunch at Morgan's - the McNeill family's second restaurant. An unpleasant surprise awaited him upon arriving at the police station. A surprise in the form of a handsome, chestnut-haired man exchanging smiles with Olivia. One glance at the pair and an uncomfortable feeling struck Cole that this burgeoning friendship could easily develop into something more serious. He saw fascination in the ADA's eyes and interest in Olivia's.
Cole had to struggle to maintain his emotions, when Olivia introduced him Paul Margolin. Who turned out to be the newly hired Assistant District Attorney. New ADA, huh? Cole would have laughed at the irony, if he was not feeling on edge at the moment. He received a bigger shock when Olivia revealed that Margolin happened to be a witch. One of Leo's charges, whom she had just met last night. He finally understood why the whitelighter's dinner invitation had not been extended to him.
"Paul had just moved from Buffalo," Olivia explained with a smile. "He was a . . . a public prosecutor. Right?" She directed her last word to the New Yorker.
Margolin returned Olivia's smile. "Right."
Cole's lips formed an arch smile. "No kidding," he commented with a slight sardonic tone. "And now you're an ADA. So what made you decide to move here to San Francisco?"
"I heard about the new position of ADA," Margolin replied. "Through a friend."
"A friend, huh? Leo?"
Darryl frowned at Cole. "How would Leo know about job openings in the DA's Office?"
Cole responded with a shrug. "Well, since Leo happens to be the only person that Mar . . . uh, Paul knew here in Frisco, I simply made the connection."
Paul quickly added, "Actually, I heard about it through another friend."
Silence enveloped the booth. A waitress approached to take orders. After she left, Olivia said to Margolin, "Speaking of the DA's Office, did you know that Cole used to be a ADA? About two-and-a-half years ago?"
One of Margolin's brows lifted out of curiosity. "Really? Why did you leave?" he asked Cole. "Better job offer?"
Cole replied coolly, "Out of necessity. Actually, I had no choice. The Charmed Ones had discovered that I was a daemon sent by the old Triad to kill them."
More silence followed. Cole noted with pleasure that Margolin's eyes grew wide with shock. A sigh left Darryl's mouth and Olivia glared at the half-daemon. "Um," the new ADA began nervously, "did you just say . . .?"
". . . that I'm a daemon?" Cole finished. "Yeah. Actually, half-daemon. My father was a mortal. But the reason I really left was due to the fact that I had failed to kill Phoebe and her sisters, and killed the Triad, instead. So, I ended up on the run from the Source's zoltars." He paused, wearing an innocent expression - and relishing the witch's discomfort. "What? Didn't Leo and the others tell you about me?"
Margolin's mouth merely hung open in silence. Then he turned to Olivia and Darryl. "Um, did you two . . .? I mean, how long have you kn . . .?"
Olivia immediately replied, "Since I first met Cole, five months ago. He had saved me from a warlock. And Darryl has known him longer."
The new police lieutenant shot his partner a resentful look. "Yeah, I've known about Cole, ever since the Halliwells first found out that he was a de . . . a half-demon."
"Belthazor," Cole added, barely containing a smirk. "I was known as Belthazor. You know, one of the Source's top assassins. To make a long story short, I ended up helping the Charmed Ones, lost my powers, got possessed by the Source's essence and ruled the Underworld for a few months. Then the Halliwells killed me, I acquired new powers to escape the Wasteland and now I'm back. With new powers. I'm sure that Leo could fill in the details."
Margolin responded with a numb nod. "So, uh . . . Leo and his family . . . they know about you? I mean, they . . . worked with you . . . even . . ."
"Well, yes," Cole answered. "I was also married to the middle sister. Phoebe. Didn't last very long."
This time, the ADA remained silent. He reached for his glass of water. Took a few gulps. "I don't . . ." Margolin took a deep breath. "This is . . . all so, um . . . interesting."
Cole's pleasure in Margolin's discomfort soured, as he watched Olivia regard the other man with concerned eyes. "Paul? Are you okay? Would you like me to explain everything?"
"I guess I better talk to Leo," Margolin said. Cole looked away in disgust. The man was an experienced witch, for crying out loud! Surely he had been taught to expect the unexpected? And now here he was, freaking out over meeting a half-daemon.
To avoid the sickening scene unfolding between Olivia and Margolin, Cole's gaze turned away and swept over the restaurant's dining room. He spotted a familiar pair weaving their way between tables. A knot formed in his stomach, as he recognized Phoebe and her newest paramour - Jason Dean. Oh shit!
END OF PART 3
"OBSSESSIONS"
Part 2
"How is dinner coming along?" Leo demanded after bursting into the kitchen. He shot his wife an anxious look.
Piper sighed. "Everything's fine, Leo! For the seventeenth time! And I've been counting, by the way."
"I'm sorry, honey, but I'm really anxious about tonight's dinner. I want everything to be perfect."
After checking the London Broil in the oven one last time, Piper sighed and left the kitchen. Leo followed her into the living room. "It's nice that you want to welcome this charge of yours, Leo, but . . . well, he's only a charge. What makes him so special?"
"That's what I'd like to know," a third voice added. It belonged to Paige, the youngest Charmed One. She and Phoebe descended the staircase. The Halliwells all wore semi-formal dresses for the dinner. Even Leo managed to scrounge up a suit and tie.
The whitelighter faced his wife and sisters-in-law. "Next to you guys, Paul is one of my best charges. He's a talented witch and we've worked well, together. And I thought that since he has moved here, it would be a great idea if you all get to know one another."
"Well, that's great, honey," Piper murmured. Her voice was tinged with its usual sarcasm. "Except how do the McNeills fit in? Do you consider them among your best charges?"
Ignoring his wife's barb, Leo replied, "Well, they are talented witches. And both Bruce and Olivia used to be my charges here in San Francisco. So, who knows? Maybe all of you can work together, every now and then."
Piper's voice became even more tart. "Us? Work with the McNeills?"
"Yes Piper," Paige responded in an acid tone. "We have done it before. In fact, they've managed to save our asses at least two times."
The doorbell rang before Piper could retort. Leo quickly dashed to the front door. He opened it and found his Buffalo-born charge standing on the stoop. "Paul!" he warmly greeted the other man. "Come on in!"
The new visitor entered the manor. He stood in the foyer, while Leo introduced him to the sisters. "Ladies, I would like you to meet Paul Margolin. Paul, this is my wife, Piper Halliwell; and my sisters-in-law, Phoebe and Paige."
"Paige Matthews," the youngest added.
A winning smile lit up Paul's face. "The Charmed Ones! I never thought I would live to meet such three lovely ladies." The sisters gaped at the handsome witch - obviously captivated. Leo found himself wondering how Olivia would react.
* * * *
". . . course miss Buffalo," the main guest was saying. He, along with the Halliwells and the McNeills, sat round the manor's spacious living room. "But I must admit that San Francisco is one beautiful-looking city. I only wish I had moved here a few months ago. You know, to avoid the winter storms."
Piper happily regarded the scene around her. Her family and guests had gathered in the manor's living room, following a well-cooked meal. Dinner had turned out to be better than she had expected. Paul Margolin proved to be a charming guest that all of the women found attractive. Including herself. With the exception of Leo, the men seemed to feel differently.
Both of the McNeill brothers - Bruce and Harry - did not seem impressed by the handsome witch. The red-haired Harry looked completely bored by Paul's conversation. Piper found his behavior slightly offensive. The oldest McNeill sibling regarded his fiancée's open admiration of the guest of honor with mild annoyance. Which led Piper to wonder how Barbara had ended up invited in the first place. Especially since she was not one of Leo's charges - past or present. Oh well. Piper realized that she should be grateful that Olivia had not brought along Cole.
Despite the McNeill brothers' less-than-positive attitude toward Paul, the dinner had proceeded without a hitch. Her London Broil proved to be perfect. At least everyone seemed to believe so - including Bruce, who happened to be one of San Francisco's top chefs. And they all loved the dessert - Chocolate Raspberry Cake. Upon finishing it, everyone had retired to the living-room for after dinner drinks. There, Piper's sisters, Olivia and Barbara bombarded Paul with personal questions.
"Where did you go to school?" Olivia asked.
Paul replied, "Columbia University." He regarded Olivia with as much interest as she regarded him. "What about you?"
"Stanford University," Olivia answered. "I also received my law degree from there."
"Law degree?" The Halliwells and Paul gaped at the redheaded woman with astonishment. "You're an attorney?" the latter asked. "I thought Leo told me that you were a cop."
To Piper's astonishment, Leo nodded. "She is. But Olivia does have a law degree. Heck, she even passed the State bar exam with high marks."
Piper glared at her husband. Who had the decency to squirm with discomfort. Leo had a lot to answer for not telling her this little tidbit. It still rankled Piper that the McNeills - especially Olivia - knew so much about her family, thanks to her blabbermouth husband. And yet, the Halliwells still did not know everything about the McNeills.
"So instead of practicing law, you decided to protect the innocent as a police officer?" Paul asked.
A cross between a snicker and a grunt escaped Harry's mouth. Olivia shot a quick glare at her younger brother. "If you want to put it that way," she said.
"Gee Livy," Harry added, his voice dripping with insincerity, "I thought you had decided to become a cop, because you were an action junkie? And that being a lawyer bored you?"
Olivia graced her brother with a too sweet smile. "Not really, Harry. I only said that to appeal to that adolescent mind of yours." Harry rolled his eyes. Piper suppressed a smile. It was not Olivia's retort that had amused her. A part of her wanted to hug Harry McNeill for his little remark. Piper did not buy Olivia's "protect the innocent" excuse any more than Harry did.
A mutual admiration society seemed to have sprung between Paul and Olivia. And it caused a little consternation within Piper's breasts. It also gave her the incentive to commence upon her own plans. "Paul," she said to her guest, "Leo has told me that you're an orphan. Is that true?"
The New Yorker nodded sadly. "Yeah. My parents were killed in a plane crash, when I was seven. I was staying with my grandparents at the time. They raised me."
Leo added, "I was whitelighter for Paul's dad."
"What a coincidence!" Piper continued brightly. "Paige had also lost her parents . . . well, her step-parents, several years ago."
Paul looked confused. "I don't understand. Aren't you all . . .?"
"I'm Piper and Phoebe's half-sister," Paige explained. "We all had the same mother. But my dad was her whitelighter. And I'm sure you know what that meant."
"Oh." Paul nodded. "I see."
Paige continued, "For some reason, my parents kept me a secret from the Elders, so I was put up for adoption. When I was seventeen, my step-parents . . . were killed in a car accident." She paused momentarily, as pain briefly flickered in her dark eyes. "My Uncle Dave and his family took me in until I went to college."
Shaking her head sympathetically, Piper gushed, "Isn't it odd how you two seemed to have a lot in common?" Her comment drew odd looks from the others. Except for Paul, who seemed oblivious of Piper's remark. And Olivia, who responded with a slight smirk.
Paige shot a quick glare at her older sister. "Yeah," she coolly added, "a lot."
A deep silence enveloped the living room. Feeling slightly humiliated, Piper wondered if she had went too far with her matchmaking plans. Paul seemed to be more interested in Olivia, who finally broke the silence with a question. "So Paul, have you received an assignment, yet?"
The ADA nodded. "The DiMatteo case. Someone named . . ."
"Michael DiMatteo," Olivia finished. "He's facing charges of first-degree murder of his mother and step-father. My partner and I were the ones who had arrested him."
"Really?" Paul's sherry-brown eyes sparkled, as he smiled. "Then I guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other."
Olivia smiled, as well. "I guess so."
Piper struggled to keep her irritation in check. Damn! So much for her attempt at matchmaking. She glanced at Leo and noticed the satisfied gleam in his eyes, as he observed Olivia and Paul. It finally dawned upon Piper that she had not been the only one with matchmaking plans, this evening. Another thought occurred to her. No one had bothered to mention that Paul was not the first Assistant District Attorney they had met.
* * * *
"That's it!" Barbara firmly stated, as Bruce's Jaguar drove her, Bruce, Olivia and Harry away from the Halliwell manor. "We're issuing those invitations to Piper, Leo and Phoebe. Especially after tonight."
Bruce sighed. "All right! I don't see what's the big fuss is about. All I did was misplace their invitations."
"Oh please!" Barbara rolled her eyes. "You deliberately failed to mail them. Didn't you?"
From the corner of her eyes, Olivia saw Harry's mouth curve into a knowing smile. "I still see that you haven't forgiven Leo for not inviting us to his wedding, have you Bruce?"
"Is that why you did it?" Barbara challenged her fiancé. "Because Leo didn't invite you to his wedding? How petty, Bruce!"
Bruce shot back, "Petty or not, I don't see why we have to invite them. Aside from Paige, neither of us can't stand the rest of the family."
"I'll tell you why! Because I don't want to explain to Paige why we didn't bother to invite her sisters. I don't want to look like a complete shit in her eyes!"
While Barbara and Bruce continued to argue over the Halliwells, Olivia found herself thinking about the Halliwells' guest. Paul Margolis. A very attractive man. He had a smile that seemed to light up his entire face. And Olivia had to admit that she found his interest in her very flattering.
Flashes of a dark-haired, blue-eyed half-daemon mingled with Olivia's thoughts of the new Assistant District Attorney. Cole. For the past three months, she and Cole had managed to repair the rift in their friendship, following the disastrous New Year's Eve kiss. But something else had happened. The kiss also awakened Olivia's desire for the half-daemon. Part of her wanted to see that desire come to fruition. Another part of her feared it would happen - not because of what Cole was - a daemon. Olivia harbored another fear. Namely one in the form of Phoebe Halliwell. She recalled Paige's mention of how Phoebe had discovered that Cole was her "true love", during a trip to the past. How does one deal with a "true love"? If Phoebe and Cole were each other's true love, why should she waste her time mooning over the half-daemon?
". . . can I look Paige in the face, knowing that we deliberately cut out her family from the guest list?" Barbara was saying. "And let's not forget Leo's dinner invitation. How can we not invite him, after tonight?"
Bruce shot back, "I think we all know the reason behind Leo's little dinner party. He's got this idea of forming some kind of Wiccan crime fighting unit. Especially now that he has four charges and two former ones all living in one city."
"That's not all he has in mind," Harry added. The others, aside from Bruce, stared at him.
Olivia demanded, "What do you mean?"
The two redheads stared at each other. Then Harry glanced away. "Nothing," he murmured. "It's just . . . I don't know. Maybe he's trying to reconcile both families, again. Just like Gran and Aunt Penny tried to make us all become friends, years ago." Olivia had the strangest sensation that her younger brother was lying. Unfortunately, he was the one who possessed telepathy and not her.
Barbara added, "There's nothing wrong with that. I mean, the Halliwells can be a bit too self-righteous at times, but they're pretty nice people."
"Pretty nice people, whose whitelighter didn't bother to invite us to a certain wedding," Bruce growled.
Barbara let out a huff. "Bruce!"
"Okay, okay! I'll find the damn invitations and mail them." Bruce was saying. "But don't be surprise, when you find yourself wishing that we had ever invited them in the first place!"
The Jaguar sped on through San Francisco's dark streets.
* * * *
Nick closed the demonology book and rubbed his eyes. He had been pouring over the book for the past three or four hours . . . and has been unable to find a damn thing to help him. Of course, he had only reached the "G" section. However, not even that could disguise the fact that he was beginning to feel discouraged.
Perhaps he should simply forget this little scheme to get rid of Bruce McNeill. After all, he had no guarantee that Barbara would turn to him, if Bruce died. She had never given him any hints that she felt anything other than friendship. Nick glanced at the photograph of the blond witch. New determination surged within his chest. He had to have her. Take care of her. Ensure that they spend the rest of their lives together. He had to save Barbara from a future with a rich, over-privileged and self-absorbed nobody. Despite all that Bruce had, Nick felt certain that Barbara needed more to make her happy. And that only he truly understood her.
Picking up the book, Nick continued his research. He skipped certain parts and found himself in the section marked, "I". The word jumped at him, from the book. Incubus. Hmm, interesting. According to the book, an incubus was a male spirit or daemon that sought sexual intercourse with mortals - especially women. All to draw the soul or spirit of their victim, leaving a residue of nightmares.
Nick considered summoning an incubus and placing him in Bruce's path. Only, he suspected that it would be difficult for an incubus to attract a heterosexual male like Bruce. There was another possibility . . . He leafed through the pages, until he came upon the "S" section. Ah yes. Succubus. The female version of an incubus.
Now, all he had to do was summon the right succubus for Bruce. And all of his trouble would soon be over.
END OF PART 2
"OBSSESSIONS"
PART 1
Ignoring the stares of a few co-workers, Phoebe Halliwell left her office and strode across the main newsroom of the SAN FRANCISCO BAY-MIRROR. Her destination? The elevator, and eventually the office of the BAY-MIRROR's new owner and her new boyfriend, Jason Dean. Her purpose? To learn about his alleged past with one Olivia McNeill.
Phoebe still recalled that night when Jason had appeared at the manor to take her to the Lowe-Choiset party. Everything seemed perfect. Until Olivia and Cole dropped by. The redheaded witch wanted to retrieve a package she had left at Ostera's - the herbal shop where Paige worked. It had been bad enough seeing Cole looking handsome as ever, in Olivia's company. But when the latter and Jason expressed shock at seeing each other, Phoebe immediately knew they were old acquaintances. Even worse, Cole came the same conclusion and seemed rather upset. Phoebe eventually demanded an explanation, which Jason only responded with reluctant silence. In the end, it was Paige who informed her that Jason and Olivia used to date.
But she needed to learn more. She needed to hear from Jason's lips, everything about his past relationship with Olivia. The elevator reached the fourteenth floor. Once she reached the reception area outside Jason's office, Phoebe strode past his secretary, ignoring the other woman's protests. And strode inside Jason's private office.
Jason Dean was a tall man. Like her ex-husband. Only Cole stood at least an inch or two taller and possessed broader shoulders. Yet, Jason still possessed a commanding presence with his handsome features, dark-blue eyes and shock of dirty-blond hair. He also had a boyish enthusiasm, mingled with moral righteousness that Phoebe found refreshing after Cole's own moral turpitude. Jason seemed like the epitome of light, in compare to Cole's darkness. Upright. Honest. Forthright. At least until three days ago.
Phoebe slammed the door shut and faced her boyfriend, hands on hips. Jason glanced up with wary eyes. "Phoebe, uh what are you . . .? Is there a problem?"
"Yes, there is," she stated quietly. "Olivia McNeill."
Jason heaved a long suffering sigh. "Oh God! Are you going to bombard me with questions again? Because I'm getting tired of this."
"Too bad!" Phoebe shot back. Hands on hips, she marched around Jason's desk, until she stood next to him. "You know, you could have at least told me that you and Olivia had dated a few years ago. Would that have been so hard? Why the silence, Jason? Something more happened between you two?"
The young newspaper publisher dropped his head in defeat. "All right! Yes, we dated three years ago. We dated for a month or two and then broke up. End of story."
End of story? The memory of Jason's reaction to Olivia flashed in Phoebe's mind. Not likely. Instinct told her that Jason had been strongly affected by his romance with Olivia. "End of story, huh?" Phoebe said. "So, why do I feel that . . .?"
"Why am I getting the third degree, here?" Jason protested. His eyes flashed with anger. "So, Olivia and I once dated. So what? She's only an ex-girlfriend. Cole Turner was a hell of a lot more to you!"
Phoebe's eyes widened from Jason's outburst. He rose from his chair and brushed past her. "Why is it that you've never talked about your marriage?" he demanded. "Was it that traumatic? Did you have problems seeing him with Olivia that ni . . .?"
The intercom on his desk buzzed. "Mr. Dean," his secretary's voice announced, "DeWolfe Mann is demanding to see you. He has an urgent matter to discuss."
Phoebe recognized the name. DeWolfe Mann happened to be one of the BAY-MIRROR's featured food columnists and one of San Francisco's top restaurant critics. Phoebe saw this interruption from her fellow columnist as an opportunity to beat a hasty retreat, following Jason's outburst. "I better go," she said quietly, before starting for the door.
Before she could leave, Jason stopped her. "Wait! This shouldn't take long." Then he ordered his secretary to usher in the new visitor.
Seconds later, a portly man of medium height walked into the office. With thick dark hair that reached slightly past the nape of his neck, a mustache and goatee, he was not someone a person would easily forget. His dark eyes spotted Phoebe, before he greeted her with a nod. Most of Phoebe's colleagues viewed her office romance with a tolerant eye. DeWolfe, miraculously, happened to be among that group - considering his virulent dislike of Jason.
"Mr. Mann," Jason coolly greeted. "How may I help you?"
Again, DeWolfe glanced at Phoebe. Who immediately resumed her intention to leave. "You don't have to go, Phoebe," the food columnist assured her. "I won't take long." He turned his attention to Jason. "I just spoke to my editor, Milo O'Keefe. He tells me that you've scotched the Golden Horn restaurant story that I had suggested. And Milo had approved." Phoebe nearly winced at the mention of Gweneth McNeill's restaurant. "Why?"
"The Golden Horn has been around for nearly twenty-five years," Jason shot back. "In other words, it's old news. I'm sure that other local papers and news organizations will be doing a story about it, since it will be celebrating its Silver anniversary. I don't think that the BAY-MIRROR should join the crowd."
DeWolfe retorted, "First of all, no other paper is writing a story about it. I've checked. Second of all, this Silver anniversary is the perfect time to write about it and . . ."
"I'm not interested." Jason sounded adamant.
Without thinking, Phoebe spoke up. "Why? I think Wolfie's idea is great."
Jason's dark blue eyes coolly pinpointed hers. "I feel otherwise. And since when were you ever interested in the paper's Food section?"
"Well pardon me, but I can't help but wonder why you're not interested in Wolfie's idea," Phoebe retorted. "Especially since he's just confirmed that no other paper will be doing a story on the restaurant's anniversary. Or is there another reason why you don't want to do this story? Like the fact that the restaurant is owned by a certain family?"
Strained silence filled the office. Jason glared at Phoebe. She glared back. DeWolfe Mann merely observed the pair, obviously trying to appear inconspicuous. To Phoebe's relief, defeat glimmered in Jason's eyes. "All right," he said with a sigh. "You win." He faced the food critic. "I'll tell O'Keefe that you can go ahead with the story."
DeWolfe flashed a grateful smile and left. Phoebe started for the door. Jason called out her name. She stopped in her tracks and faced him. "Yeah?"
The newspaper publisher gave her a grave stare. "I have very strong feelings for you, Phoebe. I care for you very much. But that doesn't give you the right to tell me how to do my job. As your boss, I have that right, not you. Understand?"
Resentment flashed through Phoebe's mind. "Yeah, Jason. I understand. But at least I know how to separate my feelings from my job," she retorted. "I think that's a lesson you need to learn. I know why you didn't want Wolfie to do that story. It's just a shame that you can't admit out loud." She seared him with a hard look, before turning away. "See you later."
* * * *
Blue lights appeared in the middle of a half-furnished living room of a large apartment. Seconds later, Leo Wyatt materialized. He glanced around, expecting to find a familiar figure. "Hello?" he cried out. "Paul? Are you here?"
A good-looking man of medium height, chestnut hair and mesmerizing brown eyes strode into the living room. "Hey Leo!" The man broke into a smile. "My first visitor!"
The whitelighter shook hands with his host. "Just wanted to welcome you to San Francisco. And that it's a relief I don't have to orb all the way, across country just to see one of my most reliable charges."
"That's right," Paul added with a shrewd look. "Most of your charges are here in Frisco. This was your hometown, right?"
Leo nodded. "It's also my wife's hometown. And her sisters'. And we call it San Francisco, not Frisco."
"Ah yes! The famous Charmed Ones! Lucky you!" Paul Margolin's smile broadened into a grin. A native of Buffalo, New York, he had moved to San Francisco after obtaining a position as Assistant District Attorney, at the city's D.A. Office. Not only was Paul a talented witch, but also a promising prosecutor with a ruthless reputation for pursuing justice.
Smiling, Leo added, "Yeah, lucky me, all right. Especially now that Piper and I have a son. Wyatt will be two months old, soon."
"I'd like to meet him," Paul said."
"That's why I'm here. To invite you over for dinner, tonight. Piper and I thought it would be a great chance for all of my other charges here in the city, to meet you."
One of Paul's eyebrows formed an arch. "All? How many charges are we talking about?"
"Well, there's you and the girls. That makes four. And there are the McNeills . . ." Leo hesitated. "Actually, Bruce and Olivia used to be my charges. As for Harry, well he had never accepted me as his whitelighter. But they do work with Piper and her sisters, every now and then."
Paul let out a low whistle. "I didn't realize you had so many of them in this city, alone. And what do you mean that they used to be your charges? What happened?"
Leo sighed. "About thirteen years ago, Olivia and Bruce had ended our whitelighter/witch relationship. You know, all charges have the right to do so. But I'm still a close friend of theirs." He continued, "And I also had a charge named Amelia Theissen. But she was killed by a warlock, two years ago. Three months after Amelia's death, Prue - my wife's older sister - was killed by a demonic hit man named Shax."
"Oh yeah," a sombered Paul added, "I remember hearing about that. It's too bad that I've never met Prue and Amelia. Now about these McNeills, their name sounds familiar. Who are they?"
Jack and Gwen McNeill's offspring flashed through Leo's mind. "Two brothers and a sister. They're also very talented witches . . . although a little unorthodox. Actually, they're probably more unorthodox than the Charmed Ones. Hopefully, you'll get to meet them as well. The sister is a cop."
Again, Paul smiled. "Hmmm, she sounds very interesting."
"You have no idea how much."
* * * *
The man and the woman stood side by side, inside Ostera's stockroom, examining the merchandise on the shelves. The woman, who also happened to be the shop's owner, sighed. "This is going to take forever," she moaned.
Nick glanced at Barbara and felt a rush of love. She was so beautiful! The most beautiful creature on the face of this earth. When he had stopped by Ostera's during his lunch break, he had no idea that he would be spending such precious moments with Barbara - alone.
"Maybe we should just forget . . ." Nick began, hoping that Barbara would dismiss his words. Sure enough . . .
Blonde hair fluttered like a flag, as Barbara shook her head. "No! No, I'm sure that I have a bottle of Shepherd's Purse somewhere. All we have to do is look . . . ah! I found it!" Barbara reached for the desired bottle.
Nick felt a surge of disappointment. He had hoped it would have taken Barbara a little longer to find the Shepherd's Purse. But alas . . .
The returned to the store's showroom, where more disappointment awaited Nick. He and Barbara found Paige Matthews, Barbara's assistant, in deep conversation with Bruce McNeill. ". . . excited to finally get my wedding invitation," Paige was saying. A frown appeared on her face. "But the others didn't get theirs. What happened?"
Barbara replied, "Perhaps their invitations haven't arrived in the mail, yet." She threw her fiancé a suspicious look. "Bruce mailed 'all' of them, last Saturday." Then she lightly kissed his cheek, causing Nick's heart to lurch.
Nodding, Bruce added, "Don't worry. They'll get them. And if they don't . . . they're still invited." He rolled his eyes, while Paige became distracted by a new customer. Then he spotted Nick. "Hey, look who's here! Again!" Giving Nick a curious stare, he added, "If I didn't know any better, Nick, I'd swear that you're practically becoming a daily visitor here. Soon, you'll be camping out in front of the store."
Nick nervously said, "I'm . . . I'm uh, working. On a project to create a new spell."
"Oh." Bruce turned away and focused his attention on Barbara. Who ignored Nick, all together. His heart sank. Anger and despair threatened to flare within the Streghone. But he kept his emotions in check and bid the distracted couple good-bye.
* * * *
"Inspector McNeill, San Francisco PD. May I help you?"
The voice on the other end of the phone line replied, "Olivia? It's me, Leo."
"Leo?" A call from her whitelighter took Olivia by surprise. "What can I do for you?"
The whitelighter continued, "Um, Piper and I are having a dinner, tonight. For one of my charges. He's just moved here from Buffalo and I would like him to meet my other charges . . . and friends in the area. Are you available tonight?"
Olivia hesitated. "Just me?"
"Uh . . . well, yes. Bruce has already said yes, and I'll be calling Harry, next."
In other words, Olivia surmised, Cole was not invited. Her first instinct was to say no. But curiosity overcame her. "Okay," she said. "What time should I be there?"
* * * *
It had been the last straw for Nick. Seeing Barbara with Bruce, this afternoon. When he had made the private vow to win Barbara's affections, he had imagined using friendship and love. But seeing them discuss the upcoming wedding, together had made him realize that he would have to go ahead with his plans to use drastic measures.
Four hours later, Nick left work and made his way to the city library's central branch. After nearly searching the Theology Department for nearly a half-hour, he found an old book on Demonology, dated back in 1932. The book listed nearly every daemon known in the world's religions. Not only did it provide information and statistics on each daemon, but methods on how to vanquish them. Even more important, the book also provided spells to summon each daemon.
Ignoring the librarian's curious stare, Nick checked out the book. He decided that the only way to win Barbara Bowen was to get rid of the competition. Namely Bruce McNeill. And since he had no desire to end up in prison for murder, he would resort to summoning a daemon to get rid of the man.
* * * *
Olivia eased her dark-green BMW convertible into her assigned parking space and stopped. The red-haired witch switched off the car's engine and glanced at her watch. Five forty-three. Goddess! She had less than two hours to get ready for Leo's little dinner party.
Grabbing her suitcase, Olivia climbed out of the convertible. As she made her way across the underground parking lot, a familiar black Porshe entered. Cole. Olivia continued striding toward the elevator. There she waited for her neighbor to join her. When he did, the pair greeted each other with quiet hellos.
"So, how was your day?" Cole Turner asked, as they entered the elevator.
A sigh left Olivia's mouth. "Not bad. Darryl and I must have spent the better part of the day preparing our report for the DiMatteo case. Hell, we've been working on that damn case since last November."
Smiling, Cole gave her arm a reassuring pat. "Well, at least the end is near."
"Until the trial." Olivia paused. "Mike Velo from the DA's Office was suppose to prosecute, but we've heard that he has resigned to join some law firm in L.A."
Cole nodded. "I remember Mike. Well, barely. Who's been given the case?"
"We don't know yet."
The elevator continued its climb up. Two more passengers boarded and deposited them on the eighth floor. Then Cole turned to Olivia, "Say, why don't you join me for dinner, tonight? I can prepare one of my best dishes - Broiled Lemon Chicken."
"Oh." Leo's invitation came to Olivia's mind.
Cole frowned. "What? Not feeling well?"
"No, it's just . . ." Olivia hesitated. "Uh, I had received a dinner invitation, today."
Jealousy briefly flicked in Cole's blue eyes. "Oh? From whom?"
"Leo." Now Cole looked surprised. Olivia continued, "One of his charges had just moved out here, recently. And Leo . . . has invited us to meet him. Bruce, Harry and me. Along with the Halliwells, of course."
"Of course." Silence enveloped the pair, as the elevator reached Olivia's floor. Both stepped out, as Cole added, "I guess that invitation didn't extend to me, huh?"
Oh God! Olivia thought despairingly. "He didn't . . . Leo didn't mention you."
A wan smile touched Cole's lips. "Hmmm, not surprised. "Oh well." He tried to broaden his smile. And failed. "Hope you enjoy yourself." He turned away and pushed the elevator button.
"Oh, hey!" Olivia cried. "Can I take a rain check on that Lemon Chicken?"
Cole nodded. "Yeah. Sure." He flashed another wan smile and disappeared into the elevator's closing doors.
Olivia sighed. Heavily. This damn dinner party better be worth the disappointment, she thought.
END OF PART 1
"OBSSESSIONS"
PROLOGUE
The dark-haired man clumsily eased his blue Toyota Corolla into the small parking space. And sighed. He really needed to move - find an apartment building that offered a parking space. He was getting sick and tired of the daily struggle to find adequate space near his building.
After sighing once more, Nick Marcano grabbed his tote bag, climbed out of the Toyota and made his way to the Spanish Colonial-style apartment complex, several yards away. He hated his life. No, that was not true. Nick did not really hate his life. He simply found it boring. How could any man feel satisfied, living alone in a cramped apartment or driving a car that had seen better days, half a decade ago? How could a man find satisfaction in a tedious job as a low-level accountant at an investment firm? Or in a non-existent love life?
Nick entered the complex's courtyard and headed straight for the rows of mailboxes. He inserted a key into his mailbox and opened it. The sight of envelopes stuffed inside did nothing for his mood. He knew what they were. Bills and more bills that will drain most of his hard-earned wages. Dammit! What was the point in earning a living, when he could not use the cash to enjoy life? Instead of enjoying a fine meal at an expensive restaurant or a long vacation to an exotic locale, he had to resort to local fast-food joints, cheap restaurants and "exciting" locales like Santa Cruz, Monterey and the Yosimite National Park. Not exactly the sense of adventure he desired.
If Nick did not know any better, he would swear that he was drifting into a depression. His life may not be worth shit, but he certainly lacked the urge to commit suicide. Right? After all, there were certain elements in his life one could consider worthwhile.
For one, he was a witch. A witch that practiced the pagan religion of Stregheria. A Streghone. Granted, he did not possess the gift of a practical power. His body lacked the ability to channel magic. Yet, no one in his boschetto (coven) could deny that he was a talented Streghone, with a knack for spells and an extensive knowledge of magic. Unfortunately for Nick, he suspected that his fellow witches saw his talents as a tool to be used for their purposes . . . and nothing more.
There seemed to be one person who felt differently. Nick's gaze focused upon a photograph sitting on the whatnot's second shelf. It was a photo of a vibrant blonde woman, around thirty. Judging from her stance and gaze, she obviously had no knowledge of the photographer's lens. Barbara Bowen. Nick heaved a forlorn sigh, as he continued to gaze at the photograph. Unlike him, Barbara did not practice Stegheria. She practiced a Celtic form of Paganism, known as Wicca. But like Nick, she did not possess a particular psi power. Like him, she only possessed a talent for spells and potions that exceeded his own. Even better, she managed to appreciate Nick's own talent.
Nick's aunt, Carla Bianchi, happened to be close friends of another Wicca witch named Gweneth McNeill. Nick had known Gweneth's three children since childhood. And it was through the two older McNeill siblings, Bruce and Olivia, that he first met Barbara. God, she was beautiful! Beautiful, strong, funny and full of life. And unlike the red-haired Olivia, the blonde witch did not come off as intimidating.
Feeling hungry, Nick went into the kitchen and opened his small refrigerator. Disappointment greeted his eyes. Aside from a carton half filled with milk, two celery sticks and some leftovers, he did not have a goddamn thing to eat. Frustrated, he slammed the refrigerator shut.
It sometimes seemed to Nick that his life was filled with nothing but disappointments. Even with Barbara. Despite their close friendship, she ended up engaged to Bruce McNeill. Of course he was handsome, a successful chef and rich. What woman in her right mind would resist him? Barbara and Bruce had first become engaged, last October. Six months ago. Nick could only surmise that they had not bothered to set a wedding date. Or maybe one or the other was simply reluctant to march down the aisle. Whatever the reason, Nick saw the long engagement as an opportunity to get even closer to his lady love, and hopefully prevent this potentially matrimonial travesty.
Meanwhile, he had to eat. And since Nick had no desire to lose his hard won parking space, he decided that a meal at the IHOP restaurant down the street would have to do. He could shop for groceries, tomorrow.
Nick sat down on his sofa and began to sort through his mail. Just as he had suspected - bills and junk mail. Then he came across a large, thick envelope. Dread gripped him. Could it be . . .? With nervous fingers, Nick opened the envelope and pulled out an engraved card. The inside read:
"Barbara Helen Bowen and Bruce James McNeill request the honors
of your presence at their wedding on Saturday, the 26th of April,
two thousand and three, at two o'clock in the afternoon, the McNeill
House, 353 California Street, San Francisco, California."
April 26. Nick glanced at the calendar on the wall. In less than three weeks, Barbara will be beyond his reach. Devastation struck Nick. But it did not last. He still had time to prevent Barbara's marriage to that overprivledged pissant, Bruce McNeill. And he was not a talented witch for nothing. If using magic could salvage his happiness, then so be it. He planned to do so - by any means necessary.
END OF PROLOGUE
Here is a story about one day in the life of Paige Matthews, set during my Alternate Universe version of Season Five:
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PAIGE MATTHEWS
RATING: [PG]
SUMMARY: Paige's POV on her job, a new family member, romantic complications, and new dangers - all in one day. Over two months following "Second Power".
FEEDBACK: cancerjones1941@yahoo.com - Be my guest. But please, be kind.
DISCLAIMER: The Charmed Ones, Darryl Morris, Cole Turner and other characters related to Charmed to Spelling Productions, Brad Kern and Constance Burge. The McNeills and Barbara Bowen are my own creation.
--------------------------
6:45 A.M. - Oh God! What time is it? Jeez! It's not even seven in the morning and that damn kid is already crying! Sigh! I know! I know. He's not a damn kid. He's my nephew. My beloved, nearly two month-old nephew, Wyatt. Still, does the little runt have to wake us up every three to four hours? I haven't had a decent night's sleep, since he was born.
7:32 A.M. - Ah! Breakfast at the Halliwell manor. I see that Piper has already prepared one of her UBER meals. Scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, fruit . . . and OATMEAL? Well, at least Leo is trying to devour half of it. I wonder if he realizes that whitelighters do gain weight. Phoebe has finally arrived. Oh Lord! My fashion sense may be questionable, but I would never wear low-slung jeans and a blouse that reveals both cleavage and stomach to the office. Phoebe, Phoebe! What are you doing? Well, it's obvious. She wants to attract the new boss - yummy Jason Dean, who is the new owner of the SAN FRANCISCO BAY-MIRROR and millionaire extraordinaire. Hmmm, I see that she's only eating toast and coffee. Well, I'm a little hungry, right now. I guess I'll settle for eggs, toast and juice. Unlike Phoebe, I have no desire to attract the attention of my boss. I mean, Barbara may be good-looking, but I'm just not into lesbianism.
Sigh! Now if only Piper wouldn't . . . oh, oh! She's left the kitchen. I know what that means. She'll be bringing Wyatt back with her . . . to feed him. Ugh! I suppose having a child is supposed to be beautiful, but does she really have to breast feed him, in front of the rest of us? While we're eating?
9:05 A.M. - Made it to work, just in time. Five minutes early, to be exact. A world's record for me. Sometimes, it's hard to believe that I've went from being a social service clerk, to counselor, to unemployed witch, and finally to shop's assistant. How the mighty has fallen! Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating. I like working at Ostera, which is the word for the Spring Equinox. It's great! Fun! And working for Barbara is also fun. She's a lot of laughs.
On the surface, she looks like one of those blond, blue-eyed cheerleader types. You know what I mean, Miss All American - California style. Only Barbara has brains. And boy, does she know her potions and herbs. Even better, she has a wicked, wicked sense of humor. She reminds me of Olivia, to be honest. But without the latter's ruthless streak. Oooh! First customer! Mr. DiSilvo. He usually comes around every Friday morning, five minutes after the shop opens. Time to go to work.
10:39 A.M. - A friend of Barbara has paid a visit to the shop. He seemed like a nice person, for a geeky-looking fellow. Neither Madeline - Madeline Oser, the newest (and junior) shop assistant - or I really got to meet him. Barbara and her friend headed straight for the back, while we dealt with more customers. I did see him give Barbara some kind of plant, before they went into the back.
11:03 A.M. - Maddy and I finally met Barbara's friend. It turns out that he's a fellow witch she had first met in college. His name is Osborne. Osborne Pierce. Huh. Interesting name. Well, his appearance certainly lived up to the name. Medium height, rather thin, pale skin and unmemorable features. But, he did have a pair of very nice brown eyes.
11:58 A.M. - Lunch time! Nate came by to pick me up! He is sooo cool! And gorgeous! In a scruffy kind of way. He promised to take me to Caffe Freddy's on Columbus, one of my favorite restaurants. Yay! Oh look, he here! Gotta go!
1:03 P.M. - Lunch with Nate at Caffe Freddy's turned out to be great. The pizza was good, but Nate's company was even better. I haven't told the others about him. I guess I want to keep him as my secret . . . at least for now. Barbara has already left for lunch and now, I'm in charge of the store. Piper dropped by for a few purchases - rosemary and ajowan. She even brought along little Wyatt. I think Maddy is in love with him. I wonder why Piper didn't go to the grocery store. She could have paid less for the rosemary and ajowan, there. Well, at least for the rosemary. I guess she simply wanted to help her little sister maintain a job.
1:21 P.M. - A new customer had arrived, just as Piper and Wyatt were leaving. Weird-looking woman. With that dark hair and eyes, and pale skin, she looked like a cross between Morticia Addams and Drusilla the vampire from BUFFY. The moment I had laid eyes upon her, the old alarm clock inside me, went off. Demon? Warlock? Who knows? Piper took one look at her and decided to hang around, a little longer.
1:23 P.M. - Apparently, our new customer (a.k.a. Morticia) wasn't looking for herbs to buy. She wanted to know if the shop sold plants. I told her that we only sold herbs and spices, not plants. I recommended a plant nursery, nearby. She stared at all of us for a moment, with those dark and creepy eyes, smiled and left. Thank goodness Piper had decided to remain behind for a few minutes longer.
2:09 P.M. - Barbara finally returned from lunch. With Bruce McNeill, her fiancé, in tow. Oh-oh. I know what that meant. A little hanky-panky in the back room. Okay, I shouldn't begrudge a woman for wanting a little nookie time with her fiancé - especially since he is the sous chef of one of the city's hottest restaurants. But jeez! Does Bruce always have to come by, every other day?
2:17 P.M. - Another regular customer stopped by. Nick Marcano. He's a witch, but like Barbara, he doesn't have a practical power. And unlike the rest of us, he doesn't practice Wicca. He practices Stregheria, a pagan religion from Italy. Nick also happens to be the aunt of Carla Bianchi, an old friend of Bruce's mom. Nick is such a sweetie, and very nice. Although he tends to be a little obsessive about his interests. It's odd. He's known Bruce, Olivia and the youngest McNeill sibling, Harry, since they were all kids. Yet, he ended up becoming close to Barbara, of all people. I guess it's due to the fact that both have no special power and both love plants.
2:26 P.M. - Barbara and Bruce finally returned from the store's stockroom. Maddy, Nick and I took one look at their messy hair and clothes and guessed what they had been up to. Maddy smirked as usual. Okay, so did I. As for Nick . . . Huh, that's strange. Nick seemed . . . I don't know, upset? I knew that he and Barbara were close friends, but why would he be upset over her and Bruce fooling around in the stockroom? Weird! Never known for him to react like that, before. Then again, I may have been imagining things.
3:01 P.M. - One minute, I'm helping a customer and the next, all hell breaks loose. Hell came in the form of an alarm going off, and it seemed to be coming from the bank, across the street. Oh God! I think the bank is being robbed!
3:11 P.M. - There's nothing like gunshots to make a woman feel extremely vulnerable. Get this. Here I am, one of the three most powerful witches . . . okay, four. I forgot about Olivia and her fire staff. To get back to what I was saying - here I am, one of the most powerful witches of all time, and I'm down on the floor, trying to avoid flying bullets, while staring at a dead body. Powerful witch or not, I'm not invincible. Damn!
The moment we heard gunshots, some uniformed cop rushed inside the store and screamed at us to get down. Seconds after we hit the floor, a bullet shot through the window, killing the cop. Oh God! More gunfire was exchanged. Some guy in a business suit and black-knitted hood, burst into the shop, pointed a shotgun at us, screaming hostages. One of our customers wanted to crawl toward the stockroom, but none of us dared, not with that gun trained on us.
Finally, we heard Darryl's voice, screaming at the bank robber to put down the gun and free us. It wasn't long before both were in the middle of a screaming match. It was almost like a scene out of NYPD BLUE or that movie, HEAT. The robber aimed his shotgun at Barbara. I closed my eyes and heard a gunshot. I opened them and the next thing I saw was the robber on the floor. Dead. I wish I could mourn him, but I was too busy feeling relieved. Oh God! I think I have to pee.
3:27 P.M. - The bodies are gone, thank God! Both Darryl and Olivia took statements from all of us. Would you believe it? They were in the area, when they heard the call about a bank robbery in progress. After all of the statements were taken, the police excused everyone. Looking back on it, I can't help but wish I had used my teleorbing power to take that gun from the robber. But that would have meant exposing myself as a witch to the customers. And speaking of the customers, they got out of there like bats out of hell, after being excused. Barbara, Maddy and I remained behind to clean up. I only hope this day doesn't get any weirder.
3:51 P.M. - The police are still outside, dealing with the aftermath of the bank robbery, and the two deaths that happened inside the store. Darryl popped in real fast to check on us and then, disappeared. Barbara decided to close the shop early, after all of the excitement. We've already turned away three customers. However, two more customers decided to pay us a visit. One of them was our old friend, Morticia Addams, Part Deux. And with her was some hairy creature who could have easily passed as Cousin It.
Before we could even blink, Morticia zapped poor Madeline unconscious with a bolt of electricity. At least I hope she's unconscious. Her boon companion, Cousin It, lifted me off my feet . . . by grabbing my throat. Hell, I could barely breath. Morticia demanded that Barbara hand over something called the Soma plant. Apparently, this was the plant that Osborne Pierce had given Barbara. Who merely stared at Morticia with confused eyes. Oh, oh! This doesn't look good. Sure enough, Cousin It squeezed my throat a little harder. I finally had the good sense to orb out of his grip. While I tried to breathe again, Cousin It made another attempt to grab me. And once again, I orbed out of his way.
Meanwhile, Morticia continued to zap at Barbara with little energy bolts, while demanding the Soma plant. Barbara deflected her attacks. How, I have no idea. Cousin It started toward me and I knocked him off balance with a roundhouse kick. Thank God for Phoebe and Livy! Speaking of Olivia, she finally returned to the store, just as Cousin It produced a knife in his hand. I tele-orbed it into my hand and threw it at him. Unfortunately, he caught it and threw it back at me. Using her telekinesis, Olivia intervened and sent the knife into Cousin It's forehead, turning him into a pile of ashes.
We returned our attention to Barbara, who seemed in danger of being electrocuted to death. Somehow, she managed to produce some kind of wand and sent Morticia flying across the store. A large energy ball formed in the demon's (or whatever) hands to deliver the deathblow. Before she could, Morticia disintegrated into a ball of fire, thanks to Olivia. Boy! I see that Livy has finally learned to control that firepower of hers.
4:12 P.M. - Both Olivia and Darryl hung around a bit to see if we were okay. I guess we're all still a bit shaken by today's attacks. Bank robbery, nearly held hostage and a visit by demons or whatever who were bent upon getting their hands on some plant. Speaking of the plant, Barbara had no idea of what a Soma plant was. Apparently, her old buddy, Osborne, had failed to tell her. I could tell that she would dearly love to get her hands around his throat and choke the living daylights out of him. She was that pissed.
Madeline had, fortunately, survived Morticia's attack. I managed to heal her, before Barbara allowed her to leave for the day. Barbara also decided to close the shop about an hour early. I volunteered to clean up, before closing the shop. I'm glad the shop is closing, because I don't think I can take any more surprises. And my throat is feeling a bit sore.
4:27 P.M. - Barbara and Maddy have already left and I've finally finished cleaning the shop. I bet everyone at home will be surprised to see me. Huh. What's this? Looks like a small shopping bag. What's it doing on one of the shelves? I wonder who left it. Well, I'm certainly not going to leave it behind. Might as well take it home, with me.
5:09 P.M. - Everything seemed to be in a state of chaos when I got home. Wyatt was crying (no surprise there). Piper and Leo seemed to be searching for something. One of Wyatt's toys? A bottle perhaps? And I found Phoebe upstairs, nervously getting ready for a date with her boss. Hmmm, I guess that diet was working, after all.
5:26 P.M. - I finally opened the bag I had found at Ostera's. Inside was a red velvet box that held a dragon-shaped gold pin. Oooo! There was even a small ruby that served as the dragon's eye. In other words, it was probably worth a couple of thousand dollars. I wonder who left it? Mrs. McMasters with her silly terrier? Olivia? Or the Morticia/Drusilla look-alike? They were the only three I knew who could afford such a pin.
5:28 P.M. - Just as I was about to put the pin back into the velvet box, Phoebe popped into my room. She took one look at the pin and wanted to know how I got it. So I told her. Then . . . would you believe this? She asked if she could wear it tonight, for her date. You know, there are times when I don't understand Phoebe. Sometimes, I think she must be one of the most morally mixed-up women I have ever met. She had pushed Cole away . . . on moral grounds - something I still regret for encouraging her to do. She tends to act like Miss Goody Two-Shoes around her new boss (I've seen her in action, by the way). And yet, she sometimes dresses like a soft-porn actress. And then she does something like this - asks me to lend her the pin. Something she knows that I don't own. I wonder if Jason is aware of the kind of woman he's involved with. Phoebe is my sister and I love her, but sometimes . . . I have to be honest. Sometimes, she can be pretty flaky. Cole must have loved Phoebe very much to put up with her for so long. As for the pin, I told Phoebe that she couldn't wear it. For the obvious reason, of course - it didn't belong to me.
6:58 P.M. - With the mysterious pin, Phoebe getting ready for her date, the crisis over Wyatt, and dinner, I forgot about the two demons (or warlocks) at Ostera's, today. When I finally told the others, they freaked out. I asked Leo if he knew anything about a plant called Soma. Apparently, he didn't. Piper got very upset over the fact that Morticia had returned to the shop and caused more trouble. I guess she's feeling guilty that she had not stayed any longer. And I didn't help by reminding her that Olivia ended up saving our lives.
7:15 P.M. - Jason Dean arrived to pick up Phoebe. I must say that he looked delicious. Tall, dirty blond hair and somewhat slender. Very handsome, by the way. There's something about his eyes that almost reminded me of Cole's, but they were not as intense. I still found it hard to believe that he and Phoebe began dating because of some computer chat forum.
Phoebe made her entrance on the staircase. She looked great in her long red satin gown with spaghetti straps. Instead of jewelry, she wore a crushed dark red velvet choker. But there was one problem - the slit at the side of the dress. It just didn't work. I know she's my sister, but like I've said before, Phoebe usually has no fashion sense, whatsoever. Sometimes, her outfits seemed to clash in colors or in styles. Hell, she's worse than me and my tastes tend to slip every now and then. But I must admit that she looked great, tonight. But that damn slit had to go. Sorry, but Pheebs simply lacked the height to carry a slit. Jason didn't seem to mind. His expression clearly stated that he approved. And Piper and Leo obviously approved of Jason. I guess a mortal, who happened to be a millionaire seems a whole lot better than a powerful half-demon, who also happened to be a lawyer.
7:26 P.M. - While Leo was showing off Wyatt to Jason, the doorbell rang again. Surprise, surprise! It was Olivia and Cole! Oh boy! I never saw so many intense reactions in my life. I almost felt as if I was in the middle of some daytime soap opera. Leo became tense; Piper, hostile. I couldn't tell whether Phoebe was nervous, angry or jealous. Maybe all three. Cole seemed wary, but cool. And I was simply staring at everyone else, like an idiot. But the biggest surprise turned out to be Olivia and Jason. They simply stared at each other with shocked expressions on their faces. Then Olivia called out Jason's name - as if she had not seen him in a long time. Whoa! Olivia and Jason knew each other? Jason began to have the shakes. And Phoebe and Cole stared at their significant others, surprised by this little development.
7:31 P.M. - Apparently, the dragon-shaped pin I had found, belonged to Olivia. She had just bought it, this afternoon and wanted to wear it at this charity dinner that she and Cole planned to attend, tonight. Phoebe and Jason were also going to the same charity dinner. And damn, did they look fabulous! Olivia and Cole, I mean. Olivia wore this aquamarine gown with a halter-top that displayed a tasteful amount of cleavage. And like Phoebe's gown, it had a slit. Only Livy had the height to do justice to it. I hate to say it, but she made the rest of us women look like girls. As for Cole - dare I say more? Six feet-two, broad shoulders, dark hair, vivid blue eyes and a handsome mug. In that tuxedo, he made Leo and Jason look like background chorus boys. Looking at him, I could not help but wonder how Phoebe could let him get away. Until I remembered, rather guiltily, that Piper and I were partly responsible for encouraging her to dump him.
7:33 P.M. - While Olivia and I were upstairs, getting her pin, she spilled the beans about her and Jason. They had dated some three years ago. Just before she had met Richard. Whoa! Phoebe is dating Olivia's ex-boyfriend? And Olivia is dating - well, is just friends with - Phoebe's ex-husband? This is too much! Boy, I can't wait to tell Piper and Leo!
7:38 P.M. - Olivia and returned downstairs. Phoebe and Jason had already left. Damn! I wanted to see more fireworks. After Olivia and Cole left, I told Leo and Piper everything. Piper made some nasty little comment about how Olivia's taste in men had deteriorated. Sigh! Some people never change - including older sisters.
9:22 P.M. - Barbara called. She had just received a call from Darryl. Apparently, the police has discovered Osborne Pierce's body in an alley, off Montgomery Street. Electrocuted. By Morticia, no doubt. The police believe that someone had deliberately killed and tortured Osborne with a taser. Thank God that Morticia and Cousin It ar