Make-Believe
Disclaimer: Everything you recognise is not mine!
Warning: I am not sure. Usually there is a bit of foul language, but within limits!
Make Believe- Part One (Experimental lol)
No one knew she was in the attic.
Her hands were trembling! She could sense them shake uncontrollably.
This is how upset she was. Upset. Uncertain about the future. But it didnÂ’t matter because all she thought was the past.
It has been several months now, but her mind was always going back to those grey-blue eyes, the raven hair, the smile.
If she was confident now, she knew it was because she had inspired that in her. How she missed her.
A mere beholder might think that their lives were back on track now, with their new sister and all, but that couldnÂ’t be further than the truth.
Inside, she needed her, she longed for her. For her soothing touch that took away all the pain and suffering, for her soft voice that had chased away all the nightmares she ever had.
Everything she was, it was because of her. She knew that now.
Perhaps she knew it from the start. Perhaps she had known that all along. But it didnÂ’t matter. All that mattered now was to find a way to do what she had in mind.
Her sisters shouldnÂ’t find out about it. At least not till she had figured out exactly what she would do.
She picked up the picture of her deceased sister in her hands and brought it close to her lips, so that she could kiss it.
This picture was her only consolation for months. But it was over. She wasnÂ’t satisfied with this lame substitute anymore.
She wanted to be able to hold her sister in her arms, to caress her, to tell her how much she missed her.
She just couldnÂ’t handle talking to a grave anymore. What good did the flowers do to her now that she was dead?
When she was alive, there was no need for flowers, for she was one. The fairest! And the dearest.
The thought had been in her mind for so long. Maybe since the moment she woke up to see that she was no longer there, beside her.
And him! She had asked him to do something about it. He told her, there was nothing she could do!
That was wrong and unfair! After everything they had done for the Elders, they owed them that much.
At least some respect!
There must be something we can do! She thought bitterly.
She took the precious piece of paper in her hands. It was the spell she would sell her soul to use. A powerful spell, to break the bonds of time, space and conventions.
Others might not understand. But she did. Better than anyone.
It didnÂ’t matter how much she had to sacrifice! Her sacrifice wpuld be well worth it. She knew that in her heart.
She started reciting the spell.
Awaken her from the eternal sleep
Bring her back from a place so deep,
Carry her spirit and her soul
Bring Prue back, now, as a whole!
She had recited it with such intense passion, trying so hard to find the strength inside of her.
She blinked and waited for a miracle. She didn't care about the consequences, as long as she was the only one to suffer them.
She held her breath and prayed that her wish, a wish that she had had for over two years now, would come true.
As she was about to give up hope, she saw a faint light in front of her. A light that became stronger by the minute.
Would this light bring Prue back?
Then a figure, thin and fair appeared, taking the place of the light.
A figure, Piper Halliwell knew very well.
A figure that no matter how many years would pass, would cherish in her heart forever.
“Prue?” She whispered.
Make believe! – Part Two
Piper stood still. She wasnÂ’t sure what to do.
Prue was there in front of her, like she had envisioned so many times.
But, was it really Prue? Or was her mind playing a trick on her.
Was it just wishful thinking? A figment of her imagination brought to life simply by the power of her prayer, hope, her insanity?
“Prue? Is it really you?” She gathered the strength to ask again. This time louder, as if wanting to awake herself.
Was she sleeping, was it just a dream? Was it worth it to wake up from this dream?
Piper did not know the answer to that.
She only knew that the sight of Prue was in front of her eyes and that was enough to sustain her for a lifetime. If she still had a lifetime to live.
She slowly approached the figure. She watched it closer. It was PrueÂ’s face.
It was PrueÂ’s body. But, was it her? She seemed puzzled.
“Piper? Piper, is that really you?” The figure asked, unsure, too.
“Yes, it is really me. And you…Prue! You are here. You are finally here!” Piper said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
No distance was too long now. Piper run to her sister. The sister that raised her and has given her nothing but love.
She hurried to embrace her. To feel her body. Her presence close to her again.
Was her body warm? Was her breath warm? Was she alive, really alive?
Prue had to be here in person. In flesh and blood.
Piper had to touch her. You canÂ’t touch a spirit. You can feel a spirit. You can only see it and perhaps hear it. That wasnÂ’t enough.
Piper sighed in relief when her fingers touched PrueÂ’s skin. It was warm like her own. She was there.
“How is this possible? Piper, how is this possible? I have prayed for this to happen, but I knew it couldn’t be done. So, I gave up trying!” Prue whispered in her ear.
“Not me! Not me, Prue! I would never give up! Never! Until you were here with me again!” Piper answered her among their kisses and tight hugs.
Prue had tears in her eyes, too, now. She made no effort to wipe them off. She could feel PiperÂ’s body trembling.
Piper was crying. She was crying so hard. Prue couldnÂ’t watch her cry.
“Please, Piper. Stop crying. I can’t see you crying”
“Oh, my god! You are really here. It was true! It worked! The spell worked. I never believed it would work, Prue. I never did!” Piper started saying.
“What worked? Piper tell me. How did you get me back?” She lifted her hand and tried to lift Piper’s chin.
”A spell I used to bring you back. No one believes it works. They think it’s a lie. But it did! Prue, don’t you see? It was my love that brought you back.
It was my love and Phoebe’s and Paige’s love! I can see it in their eyes. They had been praying for this just as much as I did!”
Piper was speaking so fast! She was overwhelmed.
“Phoebe? And Paige? They talk about me? They think about me?” Prue asked her shyly. Tears were treaking down Prue’s cheeks now, even harder.
Her sisters. Her sisters were thinking about her. And now they had a chance to be together again. All four of them. Even Paige. The sister she didnÂ’t had the opportunity of meeting.
“Oh, yes they do! They wanted this just as much as I did, they were just too afraid to try!” Piper emphasized.
Prue smiled. “Too afraid to do what? Piper, you still haven’t told me how you did it! Not that I am complaining, of course!”
Piper was once again shivering in her arms.
It was the excitement and all the intense emotion. The joy of having her back into her life!
But, now the shivering was more violent. PiperÂ’s body was shaking uncontrollably. It was almost as if she was in some kind of physical pain as well! Prue was startled.
Was she holding Piper too tight?
“Am I hurting you?” She asked her.
“No! You are not hurting me! You could never hurt me! God! It was worth it! I knew it would be! I don’t care what happens next! I don’t care what will happen to me! As long as you are here! It is such a small sacrifice!” Piper continued whispering as if in a trance.
“What are you talking about? What sacrifice? Piper?” Prue was worried now.
PiperÂ’s trembling now was so hard that Prue had to let go of her.
“No! No! It is too soon! You promised me! You promised me two days! No you can’t take me! It’s too soon!” Piper started yelling.
“What’s going on, Piper? Please! You are scaring me! What is going on?” Prue was desperate. Piper was escaping her grasp.
Her body was wrapped up in light now. A blinding light that didnÂ’t allow Prue to keep track of PiperÂ’s movements.
She saw her kneel and she hurried at her side. She got there just as Piper passed out and she held her head.
“Piper? What is happening? Can you hear me? What in heaven’s name, have you done? What did you sacrifice for me?” Prue yelled, as the blinding light engulfed her, too and she lost consciousness.
Make-believe – Part three
Phoebe was in the kitchen drinking coffee and drooling over the thought of PiperÂ’s pancakes, when Paige walked in.
“Morning, there, Pheebs” she said sleepily.
Phoebe looked at her, trying to hide her smile as she saw how PaigeÂ’s hair looked uncombed.
“Morning!”
“What? It’s my hair, isn’t it? I’ll comb it later, ok? I was too bored to do it now! Besides it’s Saturday! Give me a break!” Paige answered defensively.
“Anyway, where’s Piper? It’s not real breakfast without her pancakes!” she joked.
“Yeah! I know what you mean! My stomach aches for those things! It is strange that Piper is not here. I mean she said she wouldn’t be going to P3!” Phoebe asked.
Paige shrugged. “Maybe she decided to take a walk or something!” She suggested.
“Here” Phoebe gave her little sister a mug with coffee and sat at the table.
“You know, I had a dream today. I dreamed of Prue!” The words escaped Phoebe’s lips before she could stop them.
Paige grinned. “It’s ok, Pheebs! I think of her, too, sometimes. I wish I could have known her, but then again. I am lucky to have you!” Paige smiled at her.
Phoebe stood up and embraced her.
“We never compared you to her, Paige! You are two different persons! Besides you are a red-head now!” Phoebe joked.
Paige once again grinned and went on to finish her coffee.
“You know, I was thinking that perhaps we should go on vacation or something. Just the three of us! You, Piper and me!” Paige suggested.
“Yeah! That would be nice! We haven’t done it in a long while!
And I am hungry for some more sister moments!” Phoebe agreed.
“Yeah, well, when Piper comes back we will tell her!” Paige went on.
“Sure! But I don’t know if she will agree. I mean with Leo, P3 and everything!”
“Oh, come on! Leo can pop in and out anytime!” Paige laughed.
“Yeah! You are right!”
The two younger Halliwell would continue their discussion if a loud noise idnÂ’t come from upstairs.
“What was that?” Phoebe asked startled.
“Don’t know! You think it’s a demon?” Paige asked, scared herself.
“Could be! I think it came from the attic. Follow me!” Phoebe said as she made her way up the stairs with Paige behind her.
While they were ascending the stairs, no sound was audible and that was even more suspicious. They lingered a little behind the atticÂ’s door, they stood still and tried to hear if someone was in.
“Do you think someone got in?” Paige asked her sister.
“Ssssh!” Phoebe instructed her to stop talking and she went on to open the door.
There was a creaky noise and then nothing as the door opened revealing the attic with the dusty objects and the Book of
Shadows.
They tip-toed inside, taking a look around and then they saw them.
Two figures, dark-haired and familiar.
“Oh, my God!” Paige exclaimed. “Piper! It’s Piper! Do you think she fought with a demon? Is she hurt?” She asked as Phoebe approached the unconscious woman.
She touched the other figure with her foot and when she got no response she kneeled and tried to turn PiperÂ’s body around to take a look at it.
“Piper! Piper! Wake up! Piper!” She kept saying as she shook her older sister’s body.
She could hear her breathing and there was a heartbeat, but she wouldnÂ’t wake up.
Was she hurt? Phoebe searched PiperÂ’s body for any obvious signs of physical fight or wounds but found nothing.
Paige hurried at her side asking if she was alright.
“Yes! But she won’t wake up! I don’t understand! What happened? Take a look at the other one. Maybe we can find out what she is and help Piper!”
“Ok!” Paige said and turned the other woman’s body around to see who it was.
She was prepared to see anything vile, ugly or monstrous, but certainly not that.
That face! She might not have seen it ever before alive, but she knew exactly who it belonged to.
It was the face of her deceased sister. The face of the person, Paige would have given anything to bring back to life and have the chance to really meet her and decide for herself if what she had been told about Prue Halliwell was true.
Taking a closer look of PrueÂ’s face, she decided that it was.
Those calm, yet collected features were screaming her inner goodness and integrity.
Yes! Her older sister was everything she had been told she was. But how on earth could this be? How was she alive?
“Phoebe? Come take a look at this!” She whispered amazed with her discovery. Phoebe was occupied still with tending to Piper and she slowly lifted her head at the sound of Paige’s voice.
“What? What is it?”
“Take a look at this!” Paige insisted.
“Ok! Fine! And you see if you can heal Piper, though she does not seem wounded!” Phoebe finally gave in.
She watched her little sister come to her side and try to heal Piper and then she went on to see who this mysterious woman was.
She wasnÂ’t prepared for this either.
“Oh my God!” She exclaimed and glanced at Paige in shock.
“Prue? This is Prue! How can this be? And what does it have to do with Piper?”
“Why are they both unconscious?” Phoebe kept asking Paige.
“I don’t know!” Paige was at a loss for words herself. Only one person could know more about this. And they both called for him.
“Leo! Leo!” They yelled in unison.
The fair whit lighter orbed in abruptly and was quick to approach them.
“What is wrong?” he asked them. And then he himself saw both Piper and Prue lying on the floor.
He turned to look at Phoebe and Paige perplexed.
“Prue?” He uttered.
“You don’t know?” Paige asked him.
“No! I had no idea. If I knew something, you would be the first to know!” He emphasized.
“What the hell happened? Can you make them wake up?” It was Phoebe’s turn to ask questions.
Leo tried, but couldnÂ’t. He concentrated, put all his love in his touch, but nothing happened.
Instead, he sat up and joined the girls in the perplexed and ignorant looks.
“Leo if you know nothing, then it is huge! Let’s look around and see if we can find anything!” Phoebe suggested.
The three of them started wandering in the attic looking around for a single clue as to what took place in the Halliwell attic a few minutes ago.
Then Phoebe suddenly, spotted a little piece of paper, fairly close to where the bodies of Piper and Prue were.
“Hey! Hold on! I think I found something!” she shouted. She bent over to pick it up and when she id she straightened it to see what it wrote.
“What does it say?” She heard Paige’s impatient voice ask.
“I think it is a spell! A spell Piper used to bring Prue back!”
“That can’t be!” Leo insisted. “No spell alone can raise the dead! There must be something more to it!”
“I don’t know!” Phoebe kept saying and brought the piece of paper closer to her face to look at it better.
As she did that, though, a premonition hit her and she felt as if a train hit her.
Her whole body was shaking uncontrollably and she kept her eyes tightly closed.
And just as she thought she couldnÂ’t take any more of this, it stopped.
These painful images stopped invading her mind.
"What was it, Pheebs?” Paige asked her.
“What did you see? Is Piper alright? Is Prue alright?”
“What is it, Phoebe! Out with it already!” Leo put in.
Phoebe opened her eyes and noticed their frightened and concerned faces.
They were waiting for an answer.
They were waiting her to explain her premonition.
The middle sister, gasped and swallowed nervously.
How on earth could she put this indescribable horror into words?
Make-Believe – Part Four
Piper gasped. She was feeling tired, exhausted. As if she had been digging or running for hours.
Her heart was beating so fast, that she thought it would jump right out of her chest.
She had an idea as to what had happened and it made her mad. She opened up her eyes only to realize that there wasnÂ’t much she could make out.
She was in some kind of room which seemed to have no beginning and no end, but most importantly no door.
It was like an endless corridor of darkness and mystery, right in the middle of nowhere.
Piper tried to look up, but there was no ceiling, just blackness.
Trying to look down, she saw her legs just hanging down from her torso. She tried to move them, but couldnÂ’t.
She wasnÂ’t tied to anything. Nothing was supporting her or holding her in place. She was just floating like a balloon.
Piper could almost laugh at this if she didnÂ’t so desperately want to be with her sisters right now!
Just be with them and share this unique moment! PrueÂ’s resurrection.
She had prayed for this to happen for months.
Secretly she had been reading everything she could find in the books or the internet on resurrection spells. She had even gone to the public library looking for this.
At first, people would look at her strangely, but she would explain it was for a paper on 16th centuryÂ’s witchcraft.
Of course they would ask themselves why on earth would anyone pick such a subject, but who cared?
Not Piper.
All her efforts were futile, though. She ahd tested every spell she had gotten her hands on, but none of them would work.
Each and everyone of them would be an utter failure. An utter waste of her time.
She had almost given up hope till that day.
That unforgettable day.
She was in P3, putting things in order when she thought she heard a noise. She immediately turned to the direction of the noise but no one was to be seen.
So, she called out.
“Is anybody there?” But no answer would come.
She walked through the club, trying to understand what could have made such a noise and then she saw it!
It was a blinding light, so bright that it hurt her eyes.
She couldnÂ’t look at it and that frightened her.
She called out” Who are you? What do you want?” And she was ready to use her powers if she had to.
But the light went down and it all went quiet for a while.
Then a figure appeared. A figure, which could not be recognized as a human.
A figure wrapped up in white light, without a fixed form. It seemed female, but it could be male or anything.
The features were exquisite. So exquisite that Piper got scared. Was she confronting a Goddess of some kind? Not that she believed in that sort of thing.
But then again, she didnÂ’t believe to witchcraft either a few years ago.
She backed away from the figure and the figure smiled.
“Don’t be afraid! I won’t harm you!” A deep voice reassured her.
“What do you want?” Piper uttered still frightened.
“I am here because you called for me!” The figure told her with a smile.
“No I didn’t!”
“Maybe not in words, but every inch of your being whispers that to me!”
“What do you mean? Who are you? What do you want from me?” Piper went on asking.
“I have no name in the world of the mortals. I am here to help you bring your sister back to life! But you’ll have to give me something in return!”
The figure informed her. And Piper had no choice but to listenÂ….
Make-believe – Part five
PiperÂ’s head was spinning. Were the hell was she? Or did she just answer her own question?
Did that creature take her? But, she couldnÂ’t! No, she couldnÂ’t!
She had promised her two days, before doing anything. And Piper was planning on spending these two days with her sisters. Oh, god! She had been longing for this! How could she take it away from her?
She had no right to do that! They had an agreement.
Piper once more tried to move even a little bit, but she couldnÂ’t. She was floating in the air as if she didnÂ’t have any weight. As if there was no gravity! But there was gravity. The gravity of this situation.
Piper could feel her body. She could feel the exhaustion and the hurt. Why was she kept like that. Even if the creature had taken her, there was no reason to keep her like that. The creature had kept her word and Piper would keep hers.
Her sister, Prue was alive. She would do anything to make this happen. So, yes, she would honour the agreement.
Piper was trying to rationalize the situation. She was good at that. She would analyze and analyze and thenÂ… analyze some more. She had a thing for pondering on things. Just pondering, not deciding. Decisions were never her strong point. Take Dan and Leo for example. She had a hard time choosing between them.
But she did. Just like she decided to do this, when the creature offered her this opportunity.
Piper shuddered as she continued remembering the incident.
[I]“I have to give you something in return? I don’t understand. And you say that you can raise Prue? Why should I believe you?” Piper had tried to win some time. The whole thing was very weird.
The figure smiled.
“Why? Well, because just by looking at me, Piper, you know that I can do it!”
Piper was startled. “You know my name? How do you know my name? I never told you!”
“You didn’t have to tell me! Just like you didn’t have to tell me how you wanted to have Prue in your arms again! I can sense these things!” The figure added.
Piper had to sit down. She just sat on a chair to her left, trying to take in the whole situation. Was she dreaming? She hadnÂ’t been sleeping well lately. All because everything, every single spell she had used to bring Prue back had failed. She didnÂ’t know what to do!
“I don’t understand. I have tried everything. Every single spell! I have done everything! How can you stand there and tell me that you can do it? Who are you? What are you?” Piper’s voice was a lament.
“Who or what I am is not important! All you need to know is that I can bring Prue back to life, with you and your sisters. Now, are you ready to accept this?”
Piper lifted her head and shyly looked up at the creature.
Strangely, she wasnÂ’t feeling any fear. Just curiosity and despair.
If that was the only way to bring her sister back, she was in! She would play this game, wherever it may lead her.
She nodded ‘yes’ and waited for the next move.
A move that didnÂ’t take long to come. The creature was pleased.
“Very well! I will tell you what you need to know. I will help you bring your sister back. All your attempts failed, because a spell alone is not enough to resurrect the dead. A different kind of power. A power you do not possess, Piper!” The figure stressed looking meaningfully at her.
“You said that you want something in return. Well, what is it? Is it something I can give you?” Piper asked her.
The figure laughed a hollow laugh.
“Straight to the point, huh? You mortals are a delight to do business with!”
“Fair enough! I will tell you! If I bring her back from the land of the dead, then you will give up your powers!”
Piper was surprised. But then again she should have seen it coming. Nothing comes cheap!
She quickly assessed the situation. Without her powers her sisters would be vulnerable. She would be vulnerable, but Piper didnÂ’t care as long as her sisters were safe. Phoebe and Paige would continue to be safe thanks to Prue! Their power of three would not be compromised.
Piper would be the only one with no powers but it didnÂ’t matter, because this time Prue would be there to protect her
“Ok! I accept the deal. If Prue lives again I will give you my powers! Will that be all?” Piper uttered in a steady voice. The price was not that high, after all!
“Do not be hasty! You didn’t let me finish! Your powers is not the only thing I want! That would be too easy. The truth is that I want you!”
“Me? Why do you want me? What do you mean?” Piper raised her eyebrows.
“I mean, that you also have to take a test and if you succeed, you will return to your family within 48 hours, but if you fail it, you will belong to me! You will be my servant and you will do whatever I tell you to do! Do you accept this as well?”
The figure concluded.
Piper was suddenly scared. This is something she hadnÂ’t foreseen. What the hell did she want from her? Was that all a joke? Was she walking into a trap?
It sounded really dangerous. Her mind raced to Prue and her sisters. She would have to be strong. She had to be strong for her sisters now! She alone could do this, if she managed to remain calm and focused. For the love of Prue, Phoebe and Paige, there was nothing she wouldnÂ’t do! She would go to any lengths to keep them safe and united! That had been her purpose in life for a while now, since Prue died.
But, being that womanÂ’s slave? Doing everything she told her? That didnÂ’t sound good! Would she have to hurt her sisters? And how would she ever live with her self if she failed the test, became the creatures servant and she had to hurt her sisters?
How would she do it? How would she live with the pain, their pain, the guilts and the memories? How would she be able to go on with her life knowing that she has failed her sisters? Most importantly, would it be a life? The life of a slave?
She was never good at decisions, but right now she had to make one! The most important in her life!
And she did!
“I accept! Under one condition!”
“Condition?” the creature sounded amused. “What would that be?”
“If I fail the test and become your slave, I want you to erase my memory! You can do that right? I don’t want to remember them!”
“Erase your memory? Yes, I can do that!” The figure said.
***********************
“What is the matter, Phoebe?” They continued asking her. Phoebe could see it in their eyes. They were anxious to know!
But how could she tell them? It was so unfair! Not now!~ this couldnÂ’t be happening! Not now that they were all together again! Prue was here to hold and love. To mend the broken hearts and heal. They were not half anymore! They were complete once more! The power of four! How good that sounded!
It had been the dream of all of them! No! it was so unfair! This couldnÂ’t be happening!
Tears started to streak down her cheeks and she couldnÂ’t stop them! She only cried and cried, not wanting to share the painful knowledge of the things to come! sometimes she though premonition was a gift! Now she though it was a curse!
She didnÂ’t want to be the one to hold this! She wasnÂ’t strong enough! She couldnÂ’t do it! And it was so unfair!
Slowly, she lifted her eyes to face them. They were very scared.
They had never seen her like that and with Prue and Piper
unconscious it was far more that they could bear!
“What is it? What did you see?” Leo asked her once more.
Phoebe could see how concerned and worried he was.
She gathered the strength to speak up.
“I saw us! All of us! And I saw Piper!” She started.
“Well, is she ok?” Paige vent her frustration.
“Yes! She is ok! “
“Then why are you crying? Why are you shivering?” she insisted.
“I saw Piper with a woman. She was torturing her. She was screaming out in pain. And then the pain stopped and Piper opened her eyes.”
“Is that all?” Leo didn’t know what to make of this.
Phoebe took in a deep breath, trying to calm down.
“Then I saw her in the manor. In our house. She was out of control. She blew up everything. She was destroying the house.
Destroying the house we grew up in. And then she saw us. And she used her powers on us. She was so mad. We called out her name. We yelled at her. We asked her what is wrong. What is happening, but she wouldn’t answer!”
“And then what happened?” Paige asked her. They had to know about this soon. Otherwise they were all in danger.
“And then we called out her name again. We told her how we loved her and how we will always love her. But she didn’t care.
Her eyes were so empty! As if she had no feelings. As if she didnÂ’t know who we were. Her sisters. As if she didnÂ’t care. As if she didnÂ’t give a damn! She was so mad at us. It was like she hated us for some reason. We begged her to stop, to tell us
what is wrong. And then….” A sob prevented Phoebe from continuing.
“And then what happened?” Paige asked her quietly.
“And then… Piper… killed us!”
Make-Believe part Six
Phoebe burst into tears once more, not being able to contain them any longer. She hid her face in her arms and collapsed on the floor, leaving Leo and Paige more scared and confused than ever.
They followed her with their eyes. Their mind was so hazy!
What did Phoebe just say? Piper killed them? That canÂ’t be! No! It canÂ’t be! Piper has always been there for them, to help them and support them. She has been sensitive, even vulnerable at times but she was always strong. And she loved them. She loved them deeply.
There is nothing in this world that could make her hate them or treat them bad!
It was Piper, for GodÂ’s sake!
But then, the premonition? Phoebe said she knew what she saw! And her premonitions were her gift. The thing she was good at!
She was never wrong! But now she had to be wrong.
Both Paige and Leo took a look at Piper who was still on the floor, unconscious.
Prue was right beside her. Prue and Piper always shared this special bond, not even death could break. If Piper was dead she would want it to be exactly like that. Die next to her loving sister.
That would have made her happy.
And all three of them were certain that Piper tried something to bring Prue back. And that something worked. It really worked, for Prue the oldest Halliwell was laying there on the attic floor. The cold attic floor, which by no means was worthy of their bodies.
Paige was the one who regained her composure first. She was the rational one. She knew that whatever lay ahead only by thinking rationally could they overcome it. But deep inside she knew she wasnÂ’t ready for this either.
Knowing that sometime in the future Piper would turn against them? What could they ever have done to make her hate them so much?
Was it that they didnÂ’t help her with the spell?
But had she told them they would have done anything. They had already tried everything and nothing worked. This whole thing was like a nightmare.
What good did it do that Prue was here with them again, if she and Piper were not conscious. If they couldnÂ’t speak and kiss back and hug and cry along with them for what they have lost and what they have regained?
“We have to move them to the bedroom. We can’t just leave them here, no matter what you saw! They are our sisters!” She uttered.
She glanced at Phoebe. She was still lying there, her face in her hands sobbing, her body shaking uncontrollably.
It was only then that Paige realized how weak her older sister really was. When she was first introduced to them, she had always believed that Phoebe was the strong one, the seductively confident one. A woman. Now, she was crying like a little girl.
Where was her confidence now? Where was her strength now that they needed her?
Paige suddenly felt so sorry for her. She walked over to where she was and put her hand around her. She whispered in her ear and asked her to sit up.
Phoebe only looked at her and said nothing. Her eyes were red and wet.
Leo was still standing where he was when Phoebe had the premonition. He hadnÂ’t moved an inch! It was like he was just as much surprised and shocked himself.
Paige had to shout at him to get him moving.
“Leo! Help me out here! Orb Piper to her bedroom and we will see what we will do!”
As if in a trance Leo only shook his head a little bit and kneeled to embrace PiperÂ’s body.
*********************
Piper started shivering. The repercussions of her actions were
heavier than she had thought. And now she was here in this supernatural dungeon with no one to talk to. No one to cry with.
No one to share this grief with.
In the beginning she had thought that she could handle anything. Anything to be with her sister. Anything to keep this family together.
They had been through a lot. And now she was the one to give them grief and trouble. A tear made its way down her cheek as she started realizing that her sisters would be so worried about her.
She never told them what she was up to. She didnÂ’t confide in them and that was unfair. She knew that now, but at that time it seemed like the right thing to do. Why should she make them suffer when there was no need to?
That creature only wanted her. And she made that proposition to her. Not them! That meant that it was Piper that she wanted.
Even if Paige or Phoebe had tried to do it, most probably the creature only needed PiperÂ’s powers for whatever it was that she had in mind.
She was given the chance to get Prue back and she took it! What was wrong with that?
Her mind gave her the answer as she thought her sisters once more. They would be scared to death. Prue would be there in their attic unconscious and her, Piper would be nowhere.
They would call out her name, ask her to come and see this, but they wouldnÂ’t be able to see her, for she was here, floating in the air, entirely helpless and powerless.
How could she have done this to them? How could she make them suffer that much? CouldnÂ’t she just leave a note or something? Something to let them know that she had chosen this? That she had chosen to take this test?
She made one more attempt to move. One more attempt to move her hands use her powers, blow up something. Do anything to get that creatureÂ’s attention so that she wouldnÂ’t have to feel so helpless and abandoned?
It was probably part of the game. Part of the game the creature was playing and as Piper heard noises and saw a blinding light approaching her, she knew that the time has come to play this game, tooÂ….
Make-Believe – Part Seven
Piper continued to stare in astonishment at the light source slowly approaching her, trying her best to conceal her fear. She had to masque her terror if she wished to maintain her dignity.
She already knew that somehow she had ended up in the creatureÂ’s lair, an easy prey. And it made her so mad. She continued to stare at the blinding light, refusing to look away, though her eyes were aching.
Then the light subsided and its place was occupied but the familiar creepy figure. A smile rested on her face.
“Hello, Piper” she heard the figure say.
“You!” She managed to utter, barely able to hide her anger. “What have you done to me?”
The figure smirked.
“I made you happy! Or at least that is what I thought!”
“Made me happy? Oh! You’ve got to be kidding me!” piper started.
“I helped bring your sister, Prue back, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did! But you are forgetting that you then went on by doing something that ruined everything!”
Piper said frustrated, instantaneously forgetting the fact that she was weak in front of this being. She was completely defenseless.
“Oh! And what might that be?” The figure said in an ironic tone.
“You took me away from her, from my family before I had the chance to share this happiness with them!”
The figure took a few steps, approaching Piper more.
“I thought we had an agreement, mortal!”
”Yeah! I thought so too, till you broke it by taking me away before the lapse of 48 hours!” Piper quipped.
The creature once more, laughed the hollow laugh Piper knew all too well by now.
“You have it all mixed up inside your head mortal! It is called wishful thinking! I said you would return to your family within 48 hours, if and I repeat If you pass the test! You should have listened more carefully!” The eyes of the creature were a piercing red now, as she stared into Piper’s eyes.
Piper felt her strength leaving her.
“You… tricked me!” she whispered.
“I did not trick you! Tricking means I let things untold and I didn’t! It is you who has left things unheard!” she started making circles around Piper, who still was floating in the air.
Piper felt like her power was failing her. It was as if standing like this was draining her off her vitality, her life source. Like she had been placed on top of a cosmic drain. And her life was dripping off her.
Did that creature think she was going to give up? Did she think that she would give up without a fight now that she knew that her beloved sister, Prue, was waiting for her at the other side, of wherever she was now?
If that is what she thought, she was wrong! The physical pain, she didnÂ’t mind! She could take it! Anyone who had experienced so much loss and so much emotional and psychological pain as her was not afraid of any other kind of pain.
Because the psychological wounds were the ones more difficult to heal. And of those she had many, waiting to be healed upon her return among her sisters.
“So, it is time for my test, huh?” she challenged the creature.
“I am afraid so! Are you ready, mortal?”
Piper looked straight in front of her, refusing to let the creatures piercing eyes to intimidate her.
“I am! No matter how much physical pain you inflict on me, I will never give up! Do you hear me? Never! I am not afraid of the tortures you have in mind! I can take them!”
“So, you think this is all about the physical pain?” The figure chuckled.
“You mortals are so predictable! So incredibly and amusingly attached to your flesh because you have one! It is kind of touching actually to see how much importance you place on your physical body! If only you knew how insignificant it really is! How unimportant it is compared to your ethereal bodies. Your souls!”
“Spare me the lecture! I just want to get this over with and go to my sisters! Like I said I can take the pain!” Piper grew impatient and scared.
Every minute spent in there caused her immense nervousness.
She had to go through this before she lost her courage!
The creature eyed her for a while and laughed some more.
“You continue to talk about physical pain! Whereas, I am referring to psychological and emotional pain. Your sanity!”
She said as she too floated in the air and placed her hand on PiperÂ’s forehead as soon as she reached her level.
In an instant Piper felt too feeble to keep her eyes open and was suddenly pulled into darkness.
A darkness she had never thought existedÂ…Â…
Make-Believe- Part Eight
Leo was standing in front of the double bed and was just staring at her. If you watched him close enough, which Paige did, you could see that his eyes were wet. PaigeÂ’s eyes were wet as well but no one was there to notice. Both Phoebe and Leo were so helpless and feeble! It hurt PaigeÂ’s heart to see them like that.
But what hurt her heart the most was the sight of Piper and Prue lying there still unconscious! After everything they had been through, it seemed like Phoebe and Leo were giving up. How could they?
Paige could not bring herself to understand that. Was she the only one thinking straight right now? When she had first come to meet them, her newfound sisters, they had striked her as two women full of grief, yes, but also full of vivid energy and honesty and emotional strength.
After PrueÂ’s death they hadnÂ’t given up on saving the innocent.
On saving Paige herself. And she wouldnÂ’t give up on them now that they needed her. It was her turn to show how strong and decisive and protective she could be, though the youngest of the three.
They had decided to put both of them, Piper and Prue on the double bed Piper shared with Leo. Paige blinked and then fixed her stare on them. Prue was so peaceful. Her features were so fine. So familiar. But Piper.
Piper wasnÂ’t so peaceful. Her face and body had stiffened a bit since Leo had carefully placed her on the bed.
Phoebe stirred from the trance she was in and turned to look at
Piper herself, sensing that something was wrong. She immediately turned to glance at Paige. Phoebe always did that.
She always looked at you as if she could see right through you and she usually could.
Still, never as deep as Paige would have wanted her to, for her older sister had never really grasped the extent of the loneliness and sadness that plagued Paige continuously.
Leo had caught on too, and he was eyeing Piper. For a moment it was as if Prue was invisible in her stillness. Her immobility. And all the eyes were fixed on the once middle sister.
Leo stood up and approached the lying figure of Piper. He touched her forehead gently, whispering: ”Piper? Can you hear me sweetheart?”
But Piper didnÂ’t wake up, she only continued to stir and move slowly on the bed.
Then suddenly Leo removed his hand from her forehead, as if lightning had striked him. The two other sisters were startled.
“What is it Leo? Did she say something?” They asked him in unison, worried, the one approaching the other, Paige taking Phoebe’s shaking hands in hers.
“No! She didn’t say anything! This isn’t Piper! Not anymore!” He hissed.
The two youngest Halliwells gasped. “What do you mean it is not Piper? We can see her as clearly as you can!”
“No! I am telling you this isn’t Piper! It is just an inanimate vessel now!” He insisted.
Paige and Phoebe looked at each other shocked. “What do you mean an inanimate vessel? We can see her! It is Piper!”
“I am telling you it is not. This might be her body, but her spirit and soul have exited her body. They have gone somewhere I cannot determine!” He uttered bitterly.
“What are you saying? That Piper might never wake up? That she might stay like this forever?” Phoebe asked him, tears beginning to form in her eyes again.
“No! Don’t think that! Phoebe, you saw her with that woman. And you saw her at the manor and she…” Paige started, then suddenly remembered what Phoebe saw happening in the manor.
“Who can this woman be? And what does she want with Piper? She can’t be from this world! No! She can’t! If she did we would know who she is! And the strangest thing of all, is that it has nothing to do with the underworld!” Leo put in, skeptically.
“Oh my God! What is happening? Leo, what is happening to Piper?” Phoebe cried as she saw Piper’s body convulse in a fit of tremor.
Paige could only suck in a breath as she saw her older sister shiver, shake uncontrollably and then levitate as if she were possessed...
Make- Believe – Part Nine
Prue opened her eyes. She blinked instinctively as rays of light attacked her eyes. She must have been unconscious for a long time she concluded, because light was hurting her eyes. Side effects of remaining in the dark for too long.
She made an effort to move and realized her body was feeling numb.
She stirred a bit more, trying to get used to her surroundings.
She felt so disoriented and tried to remember what had happened. She closed her eyes and attempted to focus on that part of her mind which held the answer.
She gasped and everything came back to her. She was there among them once more. She was in the house she grew up in. In the house she loved and learned how to love and be loved by her parents and her sisters. Piper and Phoebe. Leo and Paige!
How much she had missed the former and wanted to know the latter!
The first time she opened her eyes she couldnÂ’t see anything!
Her eyes were aching.
If she opened them now would she see them? Would she feel them?
Would she inhale their familiar perfume, signing that is is indeed real?
PrueÂ’s heart filled with love and longing. Yearning to touch them and hug them and kiss them and hear their heartbeat, as clearly as she could hear hers now!
The oldest sister could feel gratitude taking over her as she remembered that Piper was responsible for this miracle. It was her patience, her persistence and her faith that had made it possible.
One minute she was there, in that unchanging, immobile place, filled with light and nothing else and the next one she felt a certain intense but pleasant pull dragging her out.
She had no idea what was happening. The only thing she knew was that it felt good, it felt right and she wasnÂ’t afraid.
She found herself in a room she knew very well. The attic and the figure in front of her was the figure of her younger sister, Piper.
The one who has supported her throughout all her life and the one who without realizing it had been her rock!
Prue wasnÂ’t as strong as they thought. She was just as vulnerable but having Piper by her side always gave her strength to do anything.
It was for her and for her other sister Phoebe that Prue would have died willingly! All those thoughts were just rushing through her head, not letting her think straight or focus on what was happening.
She tried to focus on Piper and not on the confusion she felt inside.
She could see the joy and the tears mixed with doubt and hesitation in her eyes. Her wonderful, brown eyes. She had moved forward to touch her and hug her. Make sure it was real and not an illusion.
Her time after her death was filled with those. When she came to terms with the fact that she was dead and had to stay away, she comforted herself with illusions of being among them.
Supporting them in their daily battles with evil, as she was always used to doing! Just being there, by their side like an invisible supporter. An invisible friend coming at their time of need.
Oh, yes! Her heart ached all this time, not being able to do something for them. But she never regretted her decision. Not once! She wouldnÂ’t have it any other way!
It was her time to go and she accepted it without complaining. It had to happen. It was her destiny. It was funny that she had finally come to grasp the importance of decisions and accepting your destiny. When she had first come to contact with the Angel of Death her illusions were shattered.
She was accustomed to believe that people shape their own destiny. That they have some kind of control over it. It was easier that way. Or rather it made sense that way. Because in that way, people could have hopes for better things. They would have an incentive to work harder. Try harder!
But after the angel of Death took her with him and showed her what he did, she did grasp the importance of life. She comprehended that sometimes things are out of our control but it wasnÂ’t necessarily an evil. It was just meant to be.
It hurt to think that her motherÂ’s death was just meant to happen. But it made sense after what she had seen. It was the truth. The undeniable truth.
What she was living now, though was not an illusion. It was real and she was so anxious to hold her other sisters in her arms too.
And then something terrifying had happened. A blinding light engulfed them both, rendering them unconscious and helpless.
Prue opened her eyes widely. She realized that she was surrounded by people. Their soft, whispering voices were hardly audible. She was feeling so tired. So disoriented.
She tried to focus on their voices trying to make sense. But she couldnÂ’t. They were voices she used to know. They caressed her ears but couldnÂ’t wake her up. She was exhausted.
Her little sisterÂ’s voice was heard. She was shocked or afraid. She couldnÂ’t make out what she was saying. She tried to move. She opened her eyes again but couldnÂ’t make out their features.
But this time she did realize that all three persons in the room had their eyes fixed on something other than her. She did not want to feel disappointed. She wondered what could have happened. They should be by her side, crying or even laughing but they werenÂ’t. In a way she felt so close but still so far away from them.
Not being able to attract their attention, make them notice her, made her mad.
Suddenly she felt a move. The bed was moving. It was shaking and she didnÂ’t know why. Then it stopped as abruptly as it had started. She dared to look beside her on the bed. There she was! Her sister. Her saviour! Piper!
She opened her eyes widely one more time taking in the delightful sight of her long brown hair and tender features.
It felt like nothing had changed but she had lost two years.
Were those two years enough for them to forget her? They werenÂ’t for Piper so they canÂ’t have been enough for her other two sisters, either.
Her vision was gradually becoming better. She tried to look at her family again. She turned around and she saw them. They were so lost.
So frightened. She could see Phoebe just motionless and curled up like a little girl. She looked so defenceless and certainly as happy as she should look for having her big sister back into her life.
She tried to talk but words wouldnÂ’t come out of her mind.
The shaking on the bed got worse and Prue realized that Piper was the one shaking. What was happening to her? First the light, now this?
Prue gasped as she watched PiperÂ’s body rise up in the air and levitate. Last time she had seen her she couldnÂ’t levitate. That was PhoebeÂ’s territory, but Phoebe looked so destroyed. So hiding in her own self.
She saw them all stare in horror as her younger sister stayed up in the air and the started rotating in high speed.
What was happening?what was this? This shouldnÂ’t be happening. They should be in each otherÂ’s arms by now, having lunch or dinner. Prue realized she didnÂ’t know if it was night or day.
Nor did she care. All she cared about was to make Piper stop doing that to herself. Why was she levitating?
Prue was the big sister. She should be the one to find the solution to this. To make it stop.
She tried to gather whatever strength she had in her. She slowly lifted her hand and flicked it forcefully. She saw that her telekinetic power was working! She moved Piper back onto the bed, leaving the three persons in the room, staring in awe and amazement.
That use of her power had cost her her strength though. She felt herlsef slowly drifting into sleep once more.
“Prue!” Phoebe yelled as she dashed forwards to talk to her”Prue?Can you hear me? Wake up Prue! Please, Prue! I need you!” the now middle sister started , sobs escaping her mouth and throat.
She put her arms around PrueÂ’s head and tried to wake her up again.
“Please, Prue! Wake up! Do you what happened? Do you what that was? Please Prue! Don’t leave us again! We need you! I need you! I can’t lose two sisters! Please!” Phoebe shouted hysterically, not able to keep herself from crying!
Leo appeared by her side too! He put his hands over PrueÂ’s body and concentrated. His healing was not working now either! What was going on? Why wouldnÂ’t she wake up?
He cleared his throat as he felt a lump pushing its way up his neck. It was his turn to be calm. His turn to be strong.
“Shhh! Phoebe! She is ok! Since she woke up once, she will wake up again and she will tell us what is happening! Prue is back! She is back!” He suggested, not really certain of himself but trying to convince them that everything was going o be ok.
“Prue is back! She is back!” Leo’s words resounded in Paige’s ears and happy though she was for her big sister’s return, she wondered about the repercussions of her return.
Nothing happens without a priceÂ…
Make-Believe – Part Ten
Phoebe was still holding PrueÂ’s head in her arms. She never really got the chance to be there when she died. Piper had been there next to her when Shax had attacked.
They were there standing side by side like sisters should stand to each other.
But Phoebe was not there. So, she wasnÂ’t the first to cry for her, call out her name, grieve for her.
And it hurt that she wasnÂ’t even the first to welcome her when she came back.
She felt like she had fallen into a pond so deep that nothing was audible. When she found her two older sisters, Prue and Piper, lying necxt to each other on the attic floor she was so shocked.
“Oh my God!” She thought! “This can’t be happening! This can’t be happening! Not again!”
Seeing their bodies just lying there. Thinking they were unconscious or even dead! Such a sight awakened the memory of that day.
That hideous day which was imprinted in PhoebeÂ’s memory for ever. She would never forget that day. The day Prue died, for that day had changed their life for ever.
She felt so lost, so defenceless. It wasnÂ’t only about her powers.
It was about her strength to go on! Five years ago she had
returned to them to stay. She was responsible for receiving their powers. She was the moving force behind their Charmed destiny.
Therefore, indirectly it was her fault that Prue had died. Though she didnÂ’t say it and though deep inside she had always known that Prue loved her, even when she was strict, Phoebe wasnÂ’t really sure whether Prue was blaming her for the incident.
Yes Prue loved her. So did she, but that didnÂ’t stop her from being bitter from time to time.
Would she accept Phoebe now? Would she still love her despite the terrible mistakes she had made or would she turn her away and accept Paige in her place?
Leo, PaigeÂ… They thought she was crying because she was overjoyed for PrueÂ’s return. And they were right! That was partly the reason for which she was crying.
But she also was crying because seeing Prue like this reminded
her of the simple truth that she wasnÂ’t good enough.
She wasnÂ’t worthy of this miracle. She had done nothing to deserve it. And good things happen for a reason. Alternate with harm perhaps?
Was this another gift which would be taken away from them, the moment they would least expect it?
Was it just another test to try their strength, their courage, their patience? Their sanity? PhoebeÂ’s thoughts were interrupted by a familiar, soothing touch. PaigeÂ’s soft hand on her shoulder.
“An angel on my shoulder!” She thought. “Tow angels on my shoulder!” she added as she looked up to see Leo as well.
That is when she realized that they were indeed two angels. Both literally and metaphorically and whatever the cost, they would be there for her. They would be there to sort this out and keep the family together.
“It’s ok, Phoebe! Let go of her! She ill wake up soon! If she wok e up once she will wake up again! Don’t cry!” Paige comforted her.
She took a look at PhoebeÂ’s eyes and was startled to notice just how transparent they seemed to be.
They were like pools of liquid emotion on her face. Those dark brown eyes so filled with tears of guilt. Yes! It was guilt, Paige concluded. And that very moment she understood Phoebe more than she had been able to in two years.
Yes! Guilt and sorrow and Paige understood that. She could see how afraid of rejection Phoebe was. She could sense it because that was the exact way she was feeling too.
She was afraid of rejection, too. She never got to know Prue. Her oldest sister. She wasnÂ’t there when she was protecting and guiding and comforting Piper and Phoebe. She wasnÂ’t there. She had lost those valuable moments which can never come back.
Those moments which are cherished in the hearts of sisters were beyond her reach. Out of her reach.
And yes! She felt left out. Like an intruder stepping on their
privacy and imposing on them. Ruining their personal moments and bond.
She could feel that now. PhoebeÂ’s eyes were transparent. She knew that they had grown to love her, but would it ever be enough to make her feel wanted? Equal? Deserving?
She pulled Phoebe into a needed embrace and sighed. It was consoling to have her sister in her arms.
Having the feeling that what they had built would not be destroyed to build something new with Prue.
Paige prayed that there was enough room in her sisters hears for the both of them. Prue and her.
She looked at Prue. Her eyes were closed and her expression calm again but though she seemed unconscious as before, Paige realized that there was nothing Prue wouldnÂ’t do for her sisters.
She was always watching over them. It was her power that had brought Piper back to normal.
They didnÂ’t know what had caused it to happen but with Prue on their side once more it didnÂ’t matter!
Prue was there to fix it in a way that Paige never would be able to.
And suddenly the young woman with the copper hair felt useless.
Unneeded.
Make- Believe – Part Eleven
Piper opened her eyes. It was with difficulty that she made out her surroundings. She blinked weakly and took a deep breath.
She felt like it was hard for her to breathe. She realized her heart was beating fast and that she was sweaty.
She was in a room. She was standing. She was surprised to feel gravity again. She lifted her foot and then let it down on the floor again. Beneath her toe, the floor was hard. Piper smiled despite herself.
She tried to remember where she was. Yes she was in that awful place where the creature had taken her to. And she remembered the test.
That ridiculous test she had to go through in order to return to them. Her sisters. Prue! How she had missed her. Piper fidgeted nervously and waited till her eyesight got back to normal. She blinked again and was amazed.
She knew this place better than any other place in the world. This plce spoke volumes about her past and the person she was. The sight in front of her had the same impact on her as art. For it was the manor! The place she called home. The place she had shared with her sisters including Prue, tow years earlier.
She couldnÂ’t help but smile again as tears of joy dripped down her cheeks.
This could only meanÂ… Yes! The test was over. And she had passed it! Otherwise she wouldnÂ’t be standing there. She wouldnÂ’t be in her house. Yes! She was there.
All she had to do was walk a few feet and she would see them. All three of them and Leo! That was so good. Too good to be true, but it was real. She had passed the test. It was funny that she didnÂ’t remember it but who cared?
“I always knew I could do it!” She whispered as if her sisters were there in front of her already. It would only take a few steps to see them and so she did.
She walked towards the kitchen. Her heart jumped in her chest as she heard voices. Their sweet voices. She was on the threshold of the doorway now and she paused to take a deep breath.
To contain his excitement. She wasnÂ’t prepared for what she heard.
“Oh my God, Prue! I missed you so much! I can’t believe it! I can’t believe you are here and that I am touching you!” Phoebe said and embraced her older sister.
“I missed you too sweetie! I missed you so much!” She heard Prue’s voice. She sounded the same.
“I feel so overwhelmed, Prue! Like my dream came true! I can’t even begin to describe you how I feel right now! You were always there on my mind. I would do anything to meet you.
All those times I wondered how it would be like to have you here with us! I guess I don’t have to wonder anymore now!” Paige laughed.
“No, you don’t!” Prues’ decisive voice was heard. “I am here to to stay now! I am here to take charge! I have my powers and I am not going anywhere!
I will stay here among my two little sisters and protect them no matter what!”
“Yay for the power of three!” Paige shouted in joy!
“Yay!We have the power, our powers and we make a great team! Just the three of us!” They all yelled in unison.
Piper closed her eyes. Their words had pierced her heart. The power of thee? Three? Only three? Only Prue Phoebe and Paige?
She wasnÂ’t even counted in? Why not the power of four? Prue came to take charge?
How could they leave her out? How could they not even appreciate everything she had done for them?
After all she had sacrificed for them?
Yes! She didnÂ’t have her powers anymore, but that didnÂ’t make her any less of a sister to them. They had the same blood, just no the sameÂ…
Just not the same purpose or usefulness anymore, Piper realized. So, is that what she was now? A burden? A nuisance? Just because she didnÂ’t have her magical powers she was left out?
Just because she wasnÂ’t a witch she wasnÂ’t worth mentioning?
All these minutes, the conversation revolved around them. Her name wasnÂ’t mentioned once.
Instead, they were all welcoming Prue, ignoring her existence or absence. Ignoring her feelings. She decided to let herself be seen.
This couldnÂ’t be happening. This was so wrong! She kept telling herself. She crossed the door but the three of them kept on talking never setting their eyes on her.
“Prue?” She whispered trying to keep her still wet with tears eyes open. The raven-haired sister looked up gracefully and smiled.
“Oh! Piper! Everything ok?” Then she fixed her stare on the other two sisters again.
Rage was burning inside her. How could they?
“No! It’s not ok! How can you talk about our destiny and leave me out of it? I missed you Prue! This is why I did what I did! This is why I sacrificed my powers!
To get you back, to have you here with me, us and this is how you thank me? The power of three?”
Prue smirked. “Well, Piper! It’s not like you are a witch anymore!”
Phoebe seemed amused. “Yeah, Pipe! It’s not like you have any powers now! You can’t do anything to help us! You are one fo the innocents now!” she giggled.
“That's not true! I can do many things!” She protested.
She frantically tried to think of something but her mind was failing her. The pain inside her was too intense. So intense that she couldnÂ’t think straight.
“Oh, really?” she heard the youngest Charmed one say. “Like what, Piper? Check the book of shadows for us?” Paige laughed.
“Oh! I got it! You can be our familiar! Huh, Pipe? What do you think?”
PiperÂ’s eyes filled with tears. How could they be so cruel? How could they be so cruel?
Her mind just couldnÂ’t take it in. This canÂ’t be happening! This canÂ’t be happening!. This is what she kept telling herself.
To keep away from the darkness, the wrath that was threatening to engulf her. Anger and sorrow! Pain and injustice! This canÂ’t be happening! I is not real! Not real!
Think Piper! Think! The creature spoke of physical and psychological torture. What if this is the test?
Piper tried to clear her mind and fixed her stare at Prue, waiting for a response.
“I did this for her! She should be defending me! She should be supporting me!” She thought!
But instead Prue started laughing and Phoebe and Paige laughed along woth her.
The sound of their laughter was the most hideous sound she had heard in her life. It was piercing her ears and her heart so abruptly, so fiercely she couldnÂ’t breathe.
“No!” she yelled! “No! No!”
************************
The creature stood beside her as she was till floating in the air in the same position with her eyes closed. Her body was convulsing in constant fits and she kept yelling “No!”
The creature sensed that she was getting weaker and smiled!
“Soon Piper! We are almost done!
Oh, yes! Very soon!”
Make-Believe - Part Twelve
Phoebe placed her hand on Piper'se forehead. It was burning. Piper was so hot that Phoebe was afraid that she would be set up in flames. She took the cloth it on top of Piper's forehead, hoping that it would help drop the temperature.
She then turned to Prue and caressed her cheek. Prue was calm and serene now. Her color was much better so she would be up soon., she hoped.
She stayed there sat on the bed on Piper's side and looked at them in silence as thoughts were crossing her mind.
********************
Paige tried to pour some coffe in her mug but her hands were shaking. She spilt dark brown liquid all over the counter and quickly grabbeda kitchen towel to wipe it off. Piper would be very upset if she saw this being the c
Warning: I am not sure. Usually there is a bit of foul language, but within limits!
Make Believe- Part One (Experimental lol)
No one knew she was in the attic.
Her hands were trembling! She could sense them shake uncontrollably.
This is how upset she was. Upset. Uncertain about the future. But it didnÂ’t matter because all she thought was the past.
It has been several months now, but her mind was always going back to those grey-blue eyes, the raven hair, the smile.
If she was confident now, she knew it was because she had inspired that in her. How she missed her.
A mere beholder might think that their lives were back on track now, with their new sister and all, but that couldnÂ’t be further than the truth.
Inside, she needed her, she longed for her. For her soothing touch that took away all the pain and suffering, for her soft voice that had chased away all the nightmares she ever had.
Everything she was, it was because of her. She knew that now.
Perhaps she knew it from the start. Perhaps she had known that all along. But it didnÂ’t matter. All that mattered now was to find a way to do what she had in mind.
Her sisters shouldnÂ’t find out about it. At least not till she had figured out exactly what she would do.
She picked up the picture of her deceased sister in her hands and brought it close to her lips, so that she could kiss it.
This picture was her only consolation for months. But it was over. She wasnÂ’t satisfied with this lame substitute anymore.
She wanted to be able to hold her sister in her arms, to caress her, to tell her how much she missed her.
She just couldnÂ’t handle talking to a grave anymore. What good did the flowers do to her now that she was dead?
When she was alive, there was no need for flowers, for she was one. The fairest! And the dearest.
The thought had been in her mind for so long. Maybe since the moment she woke up to see that she was no longer there, beside her.
And him! She had asked him to do something about it. He told her, there was nothing she could do!
That was wrong and unfair! After everything they had done for the Elders, they owed them that much.
At least some respect!
There must be something we can do! She thought bitterly.
She took the precious piece of paper in her hands. It was the spell she would sell her soul to use. A powerful spell, to break the bonds of time, space and conventions.
Others might not understand. But she did. Better than anyone.
It didnÂ’t matter how much she had to sacrifice! Her sacrifice wpuld be well worth it. She knew that in her heart.
She started reciting the spell.
Awaken her from the eternal sleep
Bring her back from a place so deep,
Carry her spirit and her soul
Bring Prue back, now, as a whole!
She had recited it with such intense passion, trying so hard to find the strength inside of her.
She blinked and waited for a miracle. She didn't care about the consequences, as long as she was the only one to suffer them.
She held her breath and prayed that her wish, a wish that she had had for over two years now, would come true.
As she was about to give up hope, she saw a faint light in front of her. A light that became stronger by the minute.
Would this light bring Prue back?
Then a figure, thin and fair appeared, taking the place of the light.
A figure, Piper Halliwell knew very well.
A figure that no matter how many years would pass, would cherish in her heart forever.
“Prue?” She whispered.
Make believe! – Part Two
Piper stood still. She wasnÂ’t sure what to do.
Prue was there in front of her, like she had envisioned so many times.
But, was it really Prue? Or was her mind playing a trick on her.
Was it just wishful thinking? A figment of her imagination brought to life simply by the power of her prayer, hope, her insanity?
“Prue? Is it really you?” She gathered the strength to ask again. This time louder, as if wanting to awake herself.
Was she sleeping, was it just a dream? Was it worth it to wake up from this dream?
Piper did not know the answer to that.
She only knew that the sight of Prue was in front of her eyes and that was enough to sustain her for a lifetime. If she still had a lifetime to live.
She slowly approached the figure. She watched it closer. It was PrueÂ’s face.
It was PrueÂ’s body. But, was it her? She seemed puzzled.
“Piper? Piper, is that really you?” The figure asked, unsure, too.
“Yes, it is really me. And you…Prue! You are here. You are finally here!” Piper said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
No distance was too long now. Piper run to her sister. The sister that raised her and has given her nothing but love.
She hurried to embrace her. To feel her body. Her presence close to her again.
Was her body warm? Was her breath warm? Was she alive, really alive?
Prue had to be here in person. In flesh and blood.
Piper had to touch her. You canÂ’t touch a spirit. You can feel a spirit. You can only see it and perhaps hear it. That wasnÂ’t enough.
Piper sighed in relief when her fingers touched PrueÂ’s skin. It was warm like her own. She was there.
“How is this possible? Piper, how is this possible? I have prayed for this to happen, but I knew it couldn’t be done. So, I gave up trying!” Prue whispered in her ear.
“Not me! Not me, Prue! I would never give up! Never! Until you were here with me again!” Piper answered her among their kisses and tight hugs.
Prue had tears in her eyes, too, now. She made no effort to wipe them off. She could feel PiperÂ’s body trembling.
Piper was crying. She was crying so hard. Prue couldnÂ’t watch her cry.
“Please, Piper. Stop crying. I can’t see you crying”
“Oh, my god! You are really here. It was true! It worked! The spell worked. I never believed it would work, Prue. I never did!” Piper started saying.
“What worked? Piper tell me. How did you get me back?” She lifted her hand and tried to lift Piper’s chin.
”A spell I used to bring you back. No one believes it works. They think it’s a lie. But it did! Prue, don’t you see? It was my love that brought you back.
It was my love and Phoebe’s and Paige’s love! I can see it in their eyes. They had been praying for this just as much as I did!”
Piper was speaking so fast! She was overwhelmed.
“Phoebe? And Paige? They talk about me? They think about me?” Prue asked her shyly. Tears were treaking down Prue’s cheeks now, even harder.
Her sisters. Her sisters were thinking about her. And now they had a chance to be together again. All four of them. Even Paige. The sister she didnÂ’t had the opportunity of meeting.
“Oh, yes they do! They wanted this just as much as I did, they were just too afraid to try!” Piper emphasized.
Prue smiled. “Too afraid to do what? Piper, you still haven’t told me how you did it! Not that I am complaining, of course!”
Piper was once again shivering in her arms.
It was the excitement and all the intense emotion. The joy of having her back into her life!
But, now the shivering was more violent. PiperÂ’s body was shaking uncontrollably. It was almost as if she was in some kind of physical pain as well! Prue was startled.
Was she holding Piper too tight?
“Am I hurting you?” She asked her.
“No! You are not hurting me! You could never hurt me! God! It was worth it! I knew it would be! I don’t care what happens next! I don’t care what will happen to me! As long as you are here! It is such a small sacrifice!” Piper continued whispering as if in a trance.
“What are you talking about? What sacrifice? Piper?” Prue was worried now.
PiperÂ’s trembling now was so hard that Prue had to let go of her.
“No! No! It is too soon! You promised me! You promised me two days! No you can’t take me! It’s too soon!” Piper started yelling.
“What’s going on, Piper? Please! You are scaring me! What is going on?” Prue was desperate. Piper was escaping her grasp.
Her body was wrapped up in light now. A blinding light that didnÂ’t allow Prue to keep track of PiperÂ’s movements.
She saw her kneel and she hurried at her side. She got there just as Piper passed out and she held her head.
“Piper? What is happening? Can you hear me? What in heaven’s name, have you done? What did you sacrifice for me?” Prue yelled, as the blinding light engulfed her, too and she lost consciousness.
Make-believe – Part three
Phoebe was in the kitchen drinking coffee and drooling over the thought of PiperÂ’s pancakes, when Paige walked in.
“Morning, there, Pheebs” she said sleepily.
Phoebe looked at her, trying to hide her smile as she saw how PaigeÂ’s hair looked uncombed.
“Morning!”
“What? It’s my hair, isn’t it? I’ll comb it later, ok? I was too bored to do it now! Besides it’s Saturday! Give me a break!” Paige answered defensively.
“Anyway, where’s Piper? It’s not real breakfast without her pancakes!” she joked.
“Yeah! I know what you mean! My stomach aches for those things! It is strange that Piper is not here. I mean she said she wouldn’t be going to P3!” Phoebe asked.
Paige shrugged. “Maybe she decided to take a walk or something!” She suggested.
“Here” Phoebe gave her little sister a mug with coffee and sat at the table.
“You know, I had a dream today. I dreamed of Prue!” The words escaped Phoebe’s lips before she could stop them.
Paige grinned. “It’s ok, Pheebs! I think of her, too, sometimes. I wish I could have known her, but then again. I am lucky to have you!” Paige smiled at her.
Phoebe stood up and embraced her.
“We never compared you to her, Paige! You are two different persons! Besides you are a red-head now!” Phoebe joked.
Paige once again grinned and went on to finish her coffee.
“You know, I was thinking that perhaps we should go on vacation or something. Just the three of us! You, Piper and me!” Paige suggested.
“Yeah! That would be nice! We haven’t done it in a long while!
And I am hungry for some more sister moments!” Phoebe agreed.
“Yeah, well, when Piper comes back we will tell her!” Paige went on.
“Sure! But I don’t know if she will agree. I mean with Leo, P3 and everything!”
“Oh, come on! Leo can pop in and out anytime!” Paige laughed.
“Yeah! You are right!”
The two younger Halliwell would continue their discussion if a loud noise idnÂ’t come from upstairs.
“What was that?” Phoebe asked startled.
“Don’t know! You think it’s a demon?” Paige asked, scared herself.
“Could be! I think it came from the attic. Follow me!” Phoebe said as she made her way up the stairs with Paige behind her.
While they were ascending the stairs, no sound was audible and that was even more suspicious. They lingered a little behind the atticÂ’s door, they stood still and tried to hear if someone was in.
“Do you think someone got in?” Paige asked her sister.
“Ssssh!” Phoebe instructed her to stop talking and she went on to open the door.
There was a creaky noise and then nothing as the door opened revealing the attic with the dusty objects and the Book of
Shadows.
They tip-toed inside, taking a look around and then they saw them.
Two figures, dark-haired and familiar.
“Oh, my God!” Paige exclaimed. “Piper! It’s Piper! Do you think she fought with a demon? Is she hurt?” She asked as Phoebe approached the unconscious woman.
She touched the other figure with her foot and when she got no response she kneeled and tried to turn PiperÂ’s body around to take a look at it.
“Piper! Piper! Wake up! Piper!” She kept saying as she shook her older sister’s body.
She could hear her breathing and there was a heartbeat, but she wouldnÂ’t wake up.
Was she hurt? Phoebe searched PiperÂ’s body for any obvious signs of physical fight or wounds but found nothing.
Paige hurried at her side asking if she was alright.
“Yes! But she won’t wake up! I don’t understand! What happened? Take a look at the other one. Maybe we can find out what she is and help Piper!”
“Ok!” Paige said and turned the other woman’s body around to see who it was.
She was prepared to see anything vile, ugly or monstrous, but certainly not that.
That face! She might not have seen it ever before alive, but she knew exactly who it belonged to.
It was the face of her deceased sister. The face of the person, Paige would have given anything to bring back to life and have the chance to really meet her and decide for herself if what she had been told about Prue Halliwell was true.
Taking a closer look of PrueÂ’s face, she decided that it was.
Those calm, yet collected features were screaming her inner goodness and integrity.
Yes! Her older sister was everything she had been told she was. But how on earth could this be? How was she alive?
“Phoebe? Come take a look at this!” She whispered amazed with her discovery. Phoebe was occupied still with tending to Piper and she slowly lifted her head at the sound of Paige’s voice.
“What? What is it?”
“Take a look at this!” Paige insisted.
“Ok! Fine! And you see if you can heal Piper, though she does not seem wounded!” Phoebe finally gave in.
She watched her little sister come to her side and try to heal Piper and then she went on to see who this mysterious woman was.
She wasnÂ’t prepared for this either.
“Oh my God!” She exclaimed and glanced at Paige in shock.
“Prue? This is Prue! How can this be? And what does it have to do with Piper?”
“Why are they both unconscious?” Phoebe kept asking Paige.
“I don’t know!” Paige was at a loss for words herself. Only one person could know more about this. And they both called for him.
“Leo! Leo!” They yelled in unison.
The fair whit lighter orbed in abruptly and was quick to approach them.
“What is wrong?” he asked them. And then he himself saw both Piper and Prue lying on the floor.
He turned to look at Phoebe and Paige perplexed.
“Prue?” He uttered.
“You don’t know?” Paige asked him.
“No! I had no idea. If I knew something, you would be the first to know!” He emphasized.
“What the hell happened? Can you make them wake up?” It was Phoebe’s turn to ask questions.
Leo tried, but couldnÂ’t. He concentrated, put all his love in his touch, but nothing happened.
Instead, he sat up and joined the girls in the perplexed and ignorant looks.
“Leo if you know nothing, then it is huge! Let’s look around and see if we can find anything!” Phoebe suggested.
The three of them started wandering in the attic looking around for a single clue as to what took place in the Halliwell attic a few minutes ago.
Then Phoebe suddenly, spotted a little piece of paper, fairly close to where the bodies of Piper and Prue were.
“Hey! Hold on! I think I found something!” she shouted. She bent over to pick it up and when she id she straightened it to see what it wrote.
“What does it say?” She heard Paige’s impatient voice ask.
“I think it is a spell! A spell Piper used to bring Prue back!”
“That can’t be!” Leo insisted. “No spell alone can raise the dead! There must be something more to it!”
“I don’t know!” Phoebe kept saying and brought the piece of paper closer to her face to look at it better.
As she did that, though, a premonition hit her and she felt as if a train hit her.
Her whole body was shaking uncontrollably and she kept her eyes tightly closed.
And just as she thought she couldnÂ’t take any more of this, it stopped.
These painful images stopped invading her mind.
"What was it, Pheebs?” Paige asked her.
“What did you see? Is Piper alright? Is Prue alright?”
“What is it, Phoebe! Out with it already!” Leo put in.
Phoebe opened her eyes and noticed their frightened and concerned faces.
They were waiting for an answer.
They were waiting her to explain her premonition.
The middle sister, gasped and swallowed nervously.
How on earth could she put this indescribable horror into words?
Make-Believe – Part Four
Piper gasped. She was feeling tired, exhausted. As if she had been digging or running for hours.
Her heart was beating so fast, that she thought it would jump right out of her chest.
She had an idea as to what had happened and it made her mad. She opened up her eyes only to realize that there wasnÂ’t much she could make out.
She was in some kind of room which seemed to have no beginning and no end, but most importantly no door.
It was like an endless corridor of darkness and mystery, right in the middle of nowhere.
Piper tried to look up, but there was no ceiling, just blackness.
Trying to look down, she saw her legs just hanging down from her torso. She tried to move them, but couldnÂ’t.
She wasnÂ’t tied to anything. Nothing was supporting her or holding her in place. She was just floating like a balloon.
Piper could almost laugh at this if she didnÂ’t so desperately want to be with her sisters right now!
Just be with them and share this unique moment! PrueÂ’s resurrection.
She had prayed for this to happen for months.
Secretly she had been reading everything she could find in the books or the internet on resurrection spells. She had even gone to the public library looking for this.
At first, people would look at her strangely, but she would explain it was for a paper on 16th centuryÂ’s witchcraft.
Of course they would ask themselves why on earth would anyone pick such a subject, but who cared?
Not Piper.
All her efforts were futile, though. She ahd tested every spell she had gotten her hands on, but none of them would work.
Each and everyone of them would be an utter failure. An utter waste of her time.
She had almost given up hope till that day.
That unforgettable day.
She was in P3, putting things in order when she thought she heard a noise. She immediately turned to the direction of the noise but no one was to be seen.
So, she called out.
“Is anybody there?” But no answer would come.
She walked through the club, trying to understand what could have made such a noise and then she saw it!
It was a blinding light, so bright that it hurt her eyes.
She couldnÂ’t look at it and that frightened her.
She called out” Who are you? What do you want?” And she was ready to use her powers if she had to.
But the light went down and it all went quiet for a while.
Then a figure appeared. A figure, which could not be recognized as a human.
A figure wrapped up in white light, without a fixed form. It seemed female, but it could be male or anything.
The features were exquisite. So exquisite that Piper got scared. Was she confronting a Goddess of some kind? Not that she believed in that sort of thing.
But then again, she didnÂ’t believe to witchcraft either a few years ago.
She backed away from the figure and the figure smiled.
“Don’t be afraid! I won’t harm you!” A deep voice reassured her.
“What do you want?” Piper uttered still frightened.
“I am here because you called for me!” The figure told her with a smile.
“No I didn’t!”
“Maybe not in words, but every inch of your being whispers that to me!”
“What do you mean? Who are you? What do you want from me?” Piper went on asking.
“I have no name in the world of the mortals. I am here to help you bring your sister back to life! But you’ll have to give me something in return!”
The figure informed her. And Piper had no choice but to listenÂ….
Make-believe – Part five
PiperÂ’s head was spinning. Were the hell was she? Or did she just answer her own question?
Did that creature take her? But, she couldnÂ’t! No, she couldnÂ’t!
She had promised her two days, before doing anything. And Piper was planning on spending these two days with her sisters. Oh, god! She had been longing for this! How could she take it away from her?
She had no right to do that! They had an agreement.
Piper once more tried to move even a little bit, but she couldnÂ’t. She was floating in the air as if she didnÂ’t have any weight. As if there was no gravity! But there was gravity. The gravity of this situation.
Piper could feel her body. She could feel the exhaustion and the hurt. Why was she kept like that. Even if the creature had taken her, there was no reason to keep her like that. The creature had kept her word and Piper would keep hers.
Her sister, Prue was alive. She would do anything to make this happen. So, yes, she would honour the agreement.
Piper was trying to rationalize the situation. She was good at that. She would analyze and analyze and thenÂ… analyze some more. She had a thing for pondering on things. Just pondering, not deciding. Decisions were never her strong point. Take Dan and Leo for example. She had a hard time choosing between them.
But she did. Just like she decided to do this, when the creature offered her this opportunity.
Piper shuddered as she continued remembering the incident.
[I]“I have to give you something in return? I don’t understand. And you say that you can raise Prue? Why should I believe you?” Piper had tried to win some time. The whole thing was very weird.
The figure smiled.
“Why? Well, because just by looking at me, Piper, you know that I can do it!”
Piper was startled. “You know my name? How do you know my name? I never told you!”
“You didn’t have to tell me! Just like you didn’t have to tell me how you wanted to have Prue in your arms again! I can sense these things!” The figure added.
Piper had to sit down. She just sat on a chair to her left, trying to take in the whole situation. Was she dreaming? She hadnÂ’t been sleeping well lately. All because everything, every single spell she had used to bring Prue back had failed. She didnÂ’t know what to do!
“I don’t understand. I have tried everything. Every single spell! I have done everything! How can you stand there and tell me that you can do it? Who are you? What are you?” Piper’s voice was a lament.
“Who or what I am is not important! All you need to know is that I can bring Prue back to life, with you and your sisters. Now, are you ready to accept this?”
Piper lifted her head and shyly looked up at the creature.
Strangely, she wasnÂ’t feeling any fear. Just curiosity and despair.
If that was the only way to bring her sister back, she was in! She would play this game, wherever it may lead her.
She nodded ‘yes’ and waited for the next move.
A move that didnÂ’t take long to come. The creature was pleased.
“Very well! I will tell you what you need to know. I will help you bring your sister back. All your attempts failed, because a spell alone is not enough to resurrect the dead. A different kind of power. A power you do not possess, Piper!” The figure stressed looking meaningfully at her.
“You said that you want something in return. Well, what is it? Is it something I can give you?” Piper asked her.
The figure laughed a hollow laugh.
“Straight to the point, huh? You mortals are a delight to do business with!”
“Fair enough! I will tell you! If I bring her back from the land of the dead, then you will give up your powers!”
Piper was surprised. But then again she should have seen it coming. Nothing comes cheap!
She quickly assessed the situation. Without her powers her sisters would be vulnerable. She would be vulnerable, but Piper didnÂ’t care as long as her sisters were safe. Phoebe and Paige would continue to be safe thanks to Prue! Their power of three would not be compromised.
Piper would be the only one with no powers but it didnÂ’t matter, because this time Prue would be there to protect her
“Ok! I accept the deal. If Prue lives again I will give you my powers! Will that be all?” Piper uttered in a steady voice. The price was not that high, after all!
“Do not be hasty! You didn’t let me finish! Your powers is not the only thing I want! That would be too easy. The truth is that I want you!”
“Me? Why do you want me? What do you mean?” Piper raised her eyebrows.
“I mean, that you also have to take a test and if you succeed, you will return to your family within 48 hours, but if you fail it, you will belong to me! You will be my servant and you will do whatever I tell you to do! Do you accept this as well?”
The figure concluded.
Piper was suddenly scared. This is something she hadnÂ’t foreseen. What the hell did she want from her? Was that all a joke? Was she walking into a trap?
It sounded really dangerous. Her mind raced to Prue and her sisters. She would have to be strong. She had to be strong for her sisters now! She alone could do this, if she managed to remain calm and focused. For the love of Prue, Phoebe and Paige, there was nothing she wouldnÂ’t do! She would go to any lengths to keep them safe and united! That had been her purpose in life for a while now, since Prue died.
But, being that womanÂ’s slave? Doing everything she told her? That didnÂ’t sound good! Would she have to hurt her sisters? And how would she ever live with her self if she failed the test, became the creatures servant and she had to hurt her sisters?
How would she do it? How would she live with the pain, their pain, the guilts and the memories? How would she be able to go on with her life knowing that she has failed her sisters? Most importantly, would it be a life? The life of a slave?
She was never good at decisions, but right now she had to make one! The most important in her life!
And she did!
“I accept! Under one condition!”
“Condition?” the creature sounded amused. “What would that be?”
“If I fail the test and become your slave, I want you to erase my memory! You can do that right? I don’t want to remember them!”
“Erase your memory? Yes, I can do that!” The figure said.
***********************
“What is the matter, Phoebe?” They continued asking her. Phoebe could see it in their eyes. They were anxious to know!
But how could she tell them? It was so unfair! Not now!~ this couldnÂ’t be happening! Not now that they were all together again! Prue was here to hold and love. To mend the broken hearts and heal. They were not half anymore! They were complete once more! The power of four! How good that sounded!
It had been the dream of all of them! No! it was so unfair! This couldnÂ’t be happening!
Tears started to streak down her cheeks and she couldnÂ’t stop them! She only cried and cried, not wanting to share the painful knowledge of the things to come! sometimes she though premonition was a gift! Now she though it was a curse!
She didnÂ’t want to be the one to hold this! She wasnÂ’t strong enough! She couldnÂ’t do it! And it was so unfair!
Slowly, she lifted her eyes to face them. They were very scared.
They had never seen her like that and with Prue and Piper
unconscious it was far more that they could bear!
“What is it? What did you see?” Leo asked her once more.
Phoebe could see how concerned and worried he was.
She gathered the strength to speak up.
“I saw us! All of us! And I saw Piper!” She started.
“Well, is she ok?” Paige vent her frustration.
“Yes! She is ok! “
“Then why are you crying? Why are you shivering?” she insisted.
“I saw Piper with a woman. She was torturing her. She was screaming out in pain. And then the pain stopped and Piper opened her eyes.”
“Is that all?” Leo didn’t know what to make of this.
Phoebe took in a deep breath, trying to calm down.
“Then I saw her in the manor. In our house. She was out of control. She blew up everything. She was destroying the house.
Destroying the house we grew up in. And then she saw us. And she used her powers on us. She was so mad. We called out her name. We yelled at her. We asked her what is wrong. What is happening, but she wouldn’t answer!”
“And then what happened?” Paige asked her. They had to know about this soon. Otherwise they were all in danger.
“And then we called out her name again. We told her how we loved her and how we will always love her. But she didn’t care.
Her eyes were so empty! As if she had no feelings. As if she didnÂ’t know who we were. Her sisters. As if she didnÂ’t care. As if she didnÂ’t give a damn! She was so mad at us. It was like she hated us for some reason. We begged her to stop, to tell us
what is wrong. And then….” A sob prevented Phoebe from continuing.
“And then what happened?” Paige asked her quietly.
“And then… Piper… killed us!”
Make-Believe part Six
Phoebe burst into tears once more, not being able to contain them any longer. She hid her face in her arms and collapsed on the floor, leaving Leo and Paige more scared and confused than ever.
They followed her with their eyes. Their mind was so hazy!
What did Phoebe just say? Piper killed them? That canÂ’t be! No! It canÂ’t be! Piper has always been there for them, to help them and support them. She has been sensitive, even vulnerable at times but she was always strong. And she loved them. She loved them deeply.
There is nothing in this world that could make her hate them or treat them bad!
It was Piper, for GodÂ’s sake!
But then, the premonition? Phoebe said she knew what she saw! And her premonitions were her gift. The thing she was good at!
She was never wrong! But now she had to be wrong.
Both Paige and Leo took a look at Piper who was still on the floor, unconscious.
Prue was right beside her. Prue and Piper always shared this special bond, not even death could break. If Piper was dead she would want it to be exactly like that. Die next to her loving sister.
That would have made her happy.
And all three of them were certain that Piper tried something to bring Prue back. And that something worked. It really worked, for Prue the oldest Halliwell was laying there on the attic floor. The cold attic floor, which by no means was worthy of their bodies.
Paige was the one who regained her composure first. She was the rational one. She knew that whatever lay ahead only by thinking rationally could they overcome it. But deep inside she knew she wasnÂ’t ready for this either.
Knowing that sometime in the future Piper would turn against them? What could they ever have done to make her hate them so much?
Was it that they didnÂ’t help her with the spell?
But had she told them they would have done anything. They had already tried everything and nothing worked. This whole thing was like a nightmare.
What good did it do that Prue was here with them again, if she and Piper were not conscious. If they couldnÂ’t speak and kiss back and hug and cry along with them for what they have lost and what they have regained?
“We have to move them to the bedroom. We can’t just leave them here, no matter what you saw! They are our sisters!” She uttered.
She glanced at Phoebe. She was still lying there, her face in her hands sobbing, her body shaking uncontrollably.
It was only then that Paige realized how weak her older sister really was. When she was first introduced to them, she had always believed that Phoebe was the strong one, the seductively confident one. A woman. Now, she was crying like a little girl.
Where was her confidence now? Where was her strength now that they needed her?
Paige suddenly felt so sorry for her. She walked over to where she was and put her hand around her. She whispered in her ear and asked her to sit up.
Phoebe only looked at her and said nothing. Her eyes were red and wet.
Leo was still standing where he was when Phoebe had the premonition. He hadnÂ’t moved an inch! It was like he was just as much surprised and shocked himself.
Paige had to shout at him to get him moving.
“Leo! Help me out here! Orb Piper to her bedroom and we will see what we will do!”
As if in a trance Leo only shook his head a little bit and kneeled to embrace PiperÂ’s body.
*********************
Piper started shivering. The repercussions of her actions were
heavier than she had thought. And now she was here in this supernatural dungeon with no one to talk to. No one to cry with.
No one to share this grief with.
In the beginning she had thought that she could handle anything. Anything to be with her sister. Anything to keep this family together.
They had been through a lot. And now she was the one to give them grief and trouble. A tear made its way down her cheek as she started realizing that her sisters would be so worried about her.
She never told them what she was up to. She didnÂ’t confide in them and that was unfair. She knew that now, but at that time it seemed like the right thing to do. Why should she make them suffer when there was no need to?
That creature only wanted her. And she made that proposition to her. Not them! That meant that it was Piper that she wanted.
Even if Paige or Phoebe had tried to do it, most probably the creature only needed PiperÂ’s powers for whatever it was that she had in mind.
She was given the chance to get Prue back and she took it! What was wrong with that?
Her mind gave her the answer as she thought her sisters once more. They would be scared to death. Prue would be there in their attic unconscious and her, Piper would be nowhere.
They would call out her name, ask her to come and see this, but they wouldnÂ’t be able to see her, for she was here, floating in the air, entirely helpless and powerless.
How could she have done this to them? How could she make them suffer that much? CouldnÂ’t she just leave a note or something? Something to let them know that she had chosen this? That she had chosen to take this test?
She made one more attempt to move. One more attempt to move her hands use her powers, blow up something. Do anything to get that creatureÂ’s attention so that she wouldnÂ’t have to feel so helpless and abandoned?
It was probably part of the game. Part of the game the creature was playing and as Piper heard noises and saw a blinding light approaching her, she knew that the time has come to play this game, tooÂ….
Make-Believe – Part Seven
Piper continued to stare in astonishment at the light source slowly approaching her, trying her best to conceal her fear. She had to masque her terror if she wished to maintain her dignity.
She already knew that somehow she had ended up in the creatureÂ’s lair, an easy prey. And it made her so mad. She continued to stare at the blinding light, refusing to look away, though her eyes were aching.
Then the light subsided and its place was occupied but the familiar creepy figure. A smile rested on her face.
“Hello, Piper” she heard the figure say.
“You!” She managed to utter, barely able to hide her anger. “What have you done to me?”
The figure smirked.
“I made you happy! Or at least that is what I thought!”
“Made me happy? Oh! You’ve got to be kidding me!” piper started.
“I helped bring your sister, Prue back, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did! But you are forgetting that you then went on by doing something that ruined everything!”
Piper said frustrated, instantaneously forgetting the fact that she was weak in front of this being. She was completely defenseless.
“Oh! And what might that be?” The figure said in an ironic tone.
“You took me away from her, from my family before I had the chance to share this happiness with them!”
The figure took a few steps, approaching Piper more.
“I thought we had an agreement, mortal!”
”Yeah! I thought so too, till you broke it by taking me away before the lapse of 48 hours!” Piper quipped.
The creature once more, laughed the hollow laugh Piper knew all too well by now.
“You have it all mixed up inside your head mortal! It is called wishful thinking! I said you would return to your family within 48 hours, if and I repeat If you pass the test! You should have listened more carefully!” The eyes of the creature were a piercing red now, as she stared into Piper’s eyes.
Piper felt her strength leaving her.
“You… tricked me!” she whispered.
“I did not trick you! Tricking means I let things untold and I didn’t! It is you who has left things unheard!” she started making circles around Piper, who still was floating in the air.
Piper felt like her power was failing her. It was as if standing like this was draining her off her vitality, her life source. Like she had been placed on top of a cosmic drain. And her life was dripping off her.
Did that creature think she was going to give up? Did she think that she would give up without a fight now that she knew that her beloved sister, Prue, was waiting for her at the other side, of wherever she was now?
If that is what she thought, she was wrong! The physical pain, she didnÂ’t mind! She could take it! Anyone who had experienced so much loss and so much emotional and psychological pain as her was not afraid of any other kind of pain.
Because the psychological wounds were the ones more difficult to heal. And of those she had many, waiting to be healed upon her return among her sisters.
“So, it is time for my test, huh?” she challenged the creature.
“I am afraid so! Are you ready, mortal?”
Piper looked straight in front of her, refusing to let the creatures piercing eyes to intimidate her.
“I am! No matter how much physical pain you inflict on me, I will never give up! Do you hear me? Never! I am not afraid of the tortures you have in mind! I can take them!”
“So, you think this is all about the physical pain?” The figure chuckled.
“You mortals are so predictable! So incredibly and amusingly attached to your flesh because you have one! It is kind of touching actually to see how much importance you place on your physical body! If only you knew how insignificant it really is! How unimportant it is compared to your ethereal bodies. Your souls!”
“Spare me the lecture! I just want to get this over with and go to my sisters! Like I said I can take the pain!” Piper grew impatient and scared.
Every minute spent in there caused her immense nervousness.
She had to go through this before she lost her courage!
The creature eyed her for a while and laughed some more.
“You continue to talk about physical pain! Whereas, I am referring to psychological and emotional pain. Your sanity!”
She said as she too floated in the air and placed her hand on PiperÂ’s forehead as soon as she reached her level.
In an instant Piper felt too feeble to keep her eyes open and was suddenly pulled into darkness.
A darkness she had never thought existedÂ…Â…
Make-Believe- Part Eight
Leo was standing in front of the double bed and was just staring at her. If you watched him close enough, which Paige did, you could see that his eyes were wet. PaigeÂ’s eyes were wet as well but no one was there to notice. Both Phoebe and Leo were so helpless and feeble! It hurt PaigeÂ’s heart to see them like that.
But what hurt her heart the most was the sight of Piper and Prue lying there still unconscious! After everything they had been through, it seemed like Phoebe and Leo were giving up. How could they?
Paige could not bring herself to understand that. Was she the only one thinking straight right now? When she had first come to meet them, her newfound sisters, they had striked her as two women full of grief, yes, but also full of vivid energy and honesty and emotional strength.
After PrueÂ’s death they hadnÂ’t given up on saving the innocent.
On saving Paige herself. And she wouldnÂ’t give up on them now that they needed her. It was her turn to show how strong and decisive and protective she could be, though the youngest of the three.
They had decided to put both of them, Piper and Prue on the double bed Piper shared with Leo. Paige blinked and then fixed her stare on them. Prue was so peaceful. Her features were so fine. So familiar. But Piper.
Piper wasnÂ’t so peaceful. Her face and body had stiffened a bit since Leo had carefully placed her on the bed.
Phoebe stirred from the trance she was in and turned to look at
Piper herself, sensing that something was wrong. She immediately turned to glance at Paige. Phoebe always did that.
She always looked at you as if she could see right through you and she usually could.
Still, never as deep as Paige would have wanted her to, for her older sister had never really grasped the extent of the loneliness and sadness that plagued Paige continuously.
Leo had caught on too, and he was eyeing Piper. For a moment it was as if Prue was invisible in her stillness. Her immobility. And all the eyes were fixed on the once middle sister.
Leo stood up and approached the lying figure of Piper. He touched her forehead gently, whispering: ”Piper? Can you hear me sweetheart?”
But Piper didnÂ’t wake up, she only continued to stir and move slowly on the bed.
Then suddenly Leo removed his hand from her forehead, as if lightning had striked him. The two other sisters were startled.
“What is it Leo? Did she say something?” They asked him in unison, worried, the one approaching the other, Paige taking Phoebe’s shaking hands in hers.
“No! She didn’t say anything! This isn’t Piper! Not anymore!” He hissed.
The two youngest Halliwells gasped. “What do you mean it is not Piper? We can see her as clearly as you can!”
“No! I am telling you this isn’t Piper! It is just an inanimate vessel now!” He insisted.
Paige and Phoebe looked at each other shocked. “What do you mean an inanimate vessel? We can see her! It is Piper!”
“I am telling you it is not. This might be her body, but her spirit and soul have exited her body. They have gone somewhere I cannot determine!” He uttered bitterly.
“What are you saying? That Piper might never wake up? That she might stay like this forever?” Phoebe asked him, tears beginning to form in her eyes again.
“No! Don’t think that! Phoebe, you saw her with that woman. And you saw her at the manor and she…” Paige started, then suddenly remembered what Phoebe saw happening in the manor.
“Who can this woman be? And what does she want with Piper? She can’t be from this world! No! She can’t! If she did we would know who she is! And the strangest thing of all, is that it has nothing to do with the underworld!” Leo put in, skeptically.
“Oh my God! What is happening? Leo, what is happening to Piper?” Phoebe cried as she saw Piper’s body convulse in a fit of tremor.
Paige could only suck in a breath as she saw her older sister shiver, shake uncontrollably and then levitate as if she were possessed...
Make- Believe – Part Nine
Prue opened her eyes. She blinked instinctively as rays of light attacked her eyes. She must have been unconscious for a long time she concluded, because light was hurting her eyes. Side effects of remaining in the dark for too long.
She made an effort to move and realized her body was feeling numb.
She stirred a bit more, trying to get used to her surroundings.
She felt so disoriented and tried to remember what had happened. She closed her eyes and attempted to focus on that part of her mind which held the answer.
She gasped and everything came back to her. She was there among them once more. She was in the house she grew up in. In the house she loved and learned how to love and be loved by her parents and her sisters. Piper and Phoebe. Leo and Paige!
How much she had missed the former and wanted to know the latter!
The first time she opened her eyes she couldnÂ’t see anything!
Her eyes were aching.
If she opened them now would she see them? Would she feel them?
Would she inhale their familiar perfume, signing that is is indeed real?
PrueÂ’s heart filled with love and longing. Yearning to touch them and hug them and kiss them and hear their heartbeat, as clearly as she could hear hers now!
The oldest sister could feel gratitude taking over her as she remembered that Piper was responsible for this miracle. It was her patience, her persistence and her faith that had made it possible.
One minute she was there, in that unchanging, immobile place, filled with light and nothing else and the next one she felt a certain intense but pleasant pull dragging her out.
She had no idea what was happening. The only thing she knew was that it felt good, it felt right and she wasnÂ’t afraid.
She found herself in a room she knew very well. The attic and the figure in front of her was the figure of her younger sister, Piper.
The one who has supported her throughout all her life and the one who without realizing it had been her rock!
Prue wasnÂ’t as strong as they thought. She was just as vulnerable but having Piper by her side always gave her strength to do anything.
It was for her and for her other sister Phoebe that Prue would have died willingly! All those thoughts were just rushing through her head, not letting her think straight or focus on what was happening.
She tried to focus on Piper and not on the confusion she felt inside.
She could see the joy and the tears mixed with doubt and hesitation in her eyes. Her wonderful, brown eyes. She had moved forward to touch her and hug her. Make sure it was real and not an illusion.
Her time after her death was filled with those. When she came to terms with the fact that she was dead and had to stay away, she comforted herself with illusions of being among them.
Supporting them in their daily battles with evil, as she was always used to doing! Just being there, by their side like an invisible supporter. An invisible friend coming at their time of need.
Oh, yes! Her heart ached all this time, not being able to do something for them. But she never regretted her decision. Not once! She wouldnÂ’t have it any other way!
It was her time to go and she accepted it without complaining. It had to happen. It was her destiny. It was funny that she had finally come to grasp the importance of decisions and accepting your destiny. When she had first come to contact with the Angel of Death her illusions were shattered.
She was accustomed to believe that people shape their own destiny. That they have some kind of control over it. It was easier that way. Or rather it made sense that way. Because in that way, people could have hopes for better things. They would have an incentive to work harder. Try harder!
But after the angel of Death took her with him and showed her what he did, she did grasp the importance of life. She comprehended that sometimes things are out of our control but it wasnÂ’t necessarily an evil. It was just meant to be.
It hurt to think that her motherÂ’s death was just meant to happen. But it made sense after what she had seen. It was the truth. The undeniable truth.
What she was living now, though was not an illusion. It was real and she was so anxious to hold her other sisters in her arms too.
And then something terrifying had happened. A blinding light engulfed them both, rendering them unconscious and helpless.
Prue opened her eyes widely. She realized that she was surrounded by people. Their soft, whispering voices were hardly audible. She was feeling so tired. So disoriented.
She tried to focus on their voices trying to make sense. But she couldnÂ’t. They were voices she used to know. They caressed her ears but couldnÂ’t wake her up. She was exhausted.
Her little sisterÂ’s voice was heard. She was shocked or afraid. She couldnÂ’t make out what she was saying. She tried to move. She opened her eyes again but couldnÂ’t make out their features.
But this time she did realize that all three persons in the room had their eyes fixed on something other than her. She did not want to feel disappointed. She wondered what could have happened. They should be by her side, crying or even laughing but they werenÂ’t. In a way she felt so close but still so far away from them.
Not being able to attract their attention, make them notice her, made her mad.
Suddenly she felt a move. The bed was moving. It was shaking and she didnÂ’t know why. Then it stopped as abruptly as it had started. She dared to look beside her on the bed. There she was! Her sister. Her saviour! Piper!
She opened her eyes widely one more time taking in the delightful sight of her long brown hair and tender features.
It felt like nothing had changed but she had lost two years.
Were those two years enough for them to forget her? They werenÂ’t for Piper so they canÂ’t have been enough for her other two sisters, either.
Her vision was gradually becoming better. She tried to look at her family again. She turned around and she saw them. They were so lost.
So frightened. She could see Phoebe just motionless and curled up like a little girl. She looked so defenceless and certainly as happy as she should look for having her big sister back into her life.
She tried to talk but words wouldnÂ’t come out of her mind.
The shaking on the bed got worse and Prue realized that Piper was the one shaking. What was happening to her? First the light, now this?
Prue gasped as she watched PiperÂ’s body rise up in the air and levitate. Last time she had seen her she couldnÂ’t levitate. That was PhoebeÂ’s territory, but Phoebe looked so destroyed. So hiding in her own self.
She saw them all stare in horror as her younger sister stayed up in the air and the started rotating in high speed.
What was happening?what was this? This shouldnÂ’t be happening. They should be in each otherÂ’s arms by now, having lunch or dinner. Prue realized she didnÂ’t know if it was night or day.
Nor did she care. All she cared about was to make Piper stop doing that to herself. Why was she levitating?
Prue was the big sister. She should be the one to find the solution to this. To make it stop.
She tried to gather whatever strength she had in her. She slowly lifted her hand and flicked it forcefully. She saw that her telekinetic power was working! She moved Piper back onto the bed, leaving the three persons in the room, staring in awe and amazement.
That use of her power had cost her her strength though. She felt herlsef slowly drifting into sleep once more.
“Prue!” Phoebe yelled as she dashed forwards to talk to her”Prue?Can you hear me? Wake up Prue! Please, Prue! I need you!” the now middle sister started , sobs escaping her mouth and throat.
She put her arms around PrueÂ’s head and tried to wake her up again.
“Please, Prue! Wake up! Do you what happened? Do you what that was? Please Prue! Don’t leave us again! We need you! I need you! I can’t lose two sisters! Please!” Phoebe shouted hysterically, not able to keep herself from crying!
Leo appeared by her side too! He put his hands over PrueÂ’s body and concentrated. His healing was not working now either! What was going on? Why wouldnÂ’t she wake up?
He cleared his throat as he felt a lump pushing its way up his neck. It was his turn to be calm. His turn to be strong.
“Shhh! Phoebe! She is ok! Since she woke up once, she will wake up again and she will tell us what is happening! Prue is back! She is back!” He suggested, not really certain of himself but trying to convince them that everything was going o be ok.
“Prue is back! She is back!” Leo’s words resounded in Paige’s ears and happy though she was for her big sister’s return, she wondered about the repercussions of her return.
Nothing happens without a priceÂ…
Make-Believe – Part Ten
Phoebe was still holding PrueÂ’s head in her arms. She never really got the chance to be there when she died. Piper had been there next to her when Shax had attacked.
They were there standing side by side like sisters should stand to each other.
But Phoebe was not there. So, she wasnÂ’t the first to cry for her, call out her name, grieve for her.
And it hurt that she wasnÂ’t even the first to welcome her when she came back.
She felt like she had fallen into a pond so deep that nothing was audible. When she found her two older sisters, Prue and Piper, lying necxt to each other on the attic floor she was so shocked.
“Oh my God!” She thought! “This can’t be happening! This can’t be happening! Not again!”
Seeing their bodies just lying there. Thinking they were unconscious or even dead! Such a sight awakened the memory of that day.
That hideous day which was imprinted in PhoebeÂ’s memory for ever. She would never forget that day. The day Prue died, for that day had changed their life for ever.
She felt so lost, so defenceless. It wasnÂ’t only about her powers.
It was about her strength to go on! Five years ago she had
returned to them to stay. She was responsible for receiving their powers. She was the moving force behind their Charmed destiny.
Therefore, indirectly it was her fault that Prue had died. Though she didnÂ’t say it and though deep inside she had always known that Prue loved her, even when she was strict, Phoebe wasnÂ’t really sure whether Prue was blaming her for the incident.
Yes Prue loved her. So did she, but that didnÂ’t stop her from being bitter from time to time.
Would she accept Phoebe now? Would she still love her despite the terrible mistakes she had made or would she turn her away and accept Paige in her place?
Leo, PaigeÂ… They thought she was crying because she was overjoyed for PrueÂ’s return. And they were right! That was partly the reason for which she was crying.
But she also was crying because seeing Prue like this reminded
her of the simple truth that she wasnÂ’t good enough.
She wasnÂ’t worthy of this miracle. She had done nothing to deserve it. And good things happen for a reason. Alternate with harm perhaps?
Was this another gift which would be taken away from them, the moment they would least expect it?
Was it just another test to try their strength, their courage, their patience? Their sanity? PhoebeÂ’s thoughts were interrupted by a familiar, soothing touch. PaigeÂ’s soft hand on her shoulder.
“An angel on my shoulder!” She thought. “Tow angels on my shoulder!” she added as she looked up to see Leo as well.
That is when she realized that they were indeed two angels. Both literally and metaphorically and whatever the cost, they would be there for her. They would be there to sort this out and keep the family together.
“It’s ok, Phoebe! Let go of her! She ill wake up soon! If she wok e up once she will wake up again! Don’t cry!” Paige comforted her.
She took a look at PhoebeÂ’s eyes and was startled to notice just how transparent they seemed to be.
They were like pools of liquid emotion on her face. Those dark brown eyes so filled with tears of guilt. Yes! It was guilt, Paige concluded. And that very moment she understood Phoebe more than she had been able to in two years.
Yes! Guilt and sorrow and Paige understood that. She could see how afraid of rejection Phoebe was. She could sense it because that was the exact way she was feeling too.
She was afraid of rejection, too. She never got to know Prue. Her oldest sister. She wasnÂ’t there when she was protecting and guiding and comforting Piper and Phoebe. She wasnÂ’t there. She had lost those valuable moments which can never come back.
Those moments which are cherished in the hearts of sisters were beyond her reach. Out of her reach.
And yes! She felt left out. Like an intruder stepping on their
privacy and imposing on them. Ruining their personal moments and bond.
She could feel that now. PhoebeÂ’s eyes were transparent. She knew that they had grown to love her, but would it ever be enough to make her feel wanted? Equal? Deserving?
She pulled Phoebe into a needed embrace and sighed. It was consoling to have her sister in her arms.
Having the feeling that what they had built would not be destroyed to build something new with Prue.
Paige prayed that there was enough room in her sisters hears for the both of them. Prue and her.
She looked at Prue. Her eyes were closed and her expression calm again but though she seemed unconscious as before, Paige realized that there was nothing Prue wouldnÂ’t do for her sisters.
She was always watching over them. It was her power that had brought Piper back to normal.
They didnÂ’t know what had caused it to happen but with Prue on their side once more it didnÂ’t matter!
Prue was there to fix it in a way that Paige never would be able to.
And suddenly the young woman with the copper hair felt useless.
Unneeded.
Make- Believe – Part Eleven
Piper opened her eyes. It was with difficulty that she made out her surroundings. She blinked weakly and took a deep breath.
She felt like it was hard for her to breathe. She realized her heart was beating fast and that she was sweaty.
She was in a room. She was standing. She was surprised to feel gravity again. She lifted her foot and then let it down on the floor again. Beneath her toe, the floor was hard. Piper smiled despite herself.
She tried to remember where she was. Yes she was in that awful place where the creature had taken her to. And she remembered the test.
That ridiculous test she had to go through in order to return to them. Her sisters. Prue! How she had missed her. Piper fidgeted nervously and waited till her eyesight got back to normal. She blinked again and was amazed.
She knew this place better than any other place in the world. This plce spoke volumes about her past and the person she was. The sight in front of her had the same impact on her as art. For it was the manor! The place she called home. The place she had shared with her sisters including Prue, tow years earlier.
She couldnÂ’t help but smile again as tears of joy dripped down her cheeks.
This could only meanÂ… Yes! The test was over. And she had passed it! Otherwise she wouldnÂ’t be standing there. She wouldnÂ’t be in her house. Yes! She was there.
All she had to do was walk a few feet and she would see them. All three of them and Leo! That was so good. Too good to be true, but it was real. She had passed the test. It was funny that she didnÂ’t remember it but who cared?
“I always knew I could do it!” She whispered as if her sisters were there in front of her already. It would only take a few steps to see them and so she did.
She walked towards the kitchen. Her heart jumped in her chest as she heard voices. Their sweet voices. She was on the threshold of the doorway now and she paused to take a deep breath.
To contain his excitement. She wasnÂ’t prepared for what she heard.
“Oh my God, Prue! I missed you so much! I can’t believe it! I can’t believe you are here and that I am touching you!” Phoebe said and embraced her older sister.
“I missed you too sweetie! I missed you so much!” She heard Prue’s voice. She sounded the same.
“I feel so overwhelmed, Prue! Like my dream came true! I can’t even begin to describe you how I feel right now! You were always there on my mind. I would do anything to meet you.
All those times I wondered how it would be like to have you here with us! I guess I don’t have to wonder anymore now!” Paige laughed.
“No, you don’t!” Prues’ decisive voice was heard. “I am here to to stay now! I am here to take charge! I have my powers and I am not going anywhere!
I will stay here among my two little sisters and protect them no matter what!”
“Yay for the power of three!” Paige shouted in joy!
“Yay!We have the power, our powers and we make a great team! Just the three of us!” They all yelled in unison.
Piper closed her eyes. Their words had pierced her heart. The power of thee? Three? Only three? Only Prue Phoebe and Paige?
She wasnÂ’t even counted in? Why not the power of four? Prue came to take charge?
How could they leave her out? How could they not even appreciate everything she had done for them?
After all she had sacrificed for them?
Yes! She didnÂ’t have her powers anymore, but that didnÂ’t make her any less of a sister to them. They had the same blood, just no the sameÂ…
Just not the same purpose or usefulness anymore, Piper realized. So, is that what she was now? A burden? A nuisance? Just because she didnÂ’t have her magical powers she was left out?
Just because she wasnÂ’t a witch she wasnÂ’t worth mentioning?
All these minutes, the conversation revolved around them. Her name wasnÂ’t mentioned once.
Instead, they were all welcoming Prue, ignoring her existence or absence. Ignoring her feelings. She decided to let herself be seen.
This couldnÂ’t be happening. This was so wrong! She kept telling herself. She crossed the door but the three of them kept on talking never setting their eyes on her.
“Prue?” She whispered trying to keep her still wet with tears eyes open. The raven-haired sister looked up gracefully and smiled.
“Oh! Piper! Everything ok?” Then she fixed her stare on the other two sisters again.
Rage was burning inside her. How could they?
“No! It’s not ok! How can you talk about our destiny and leave me out of it? I missed you Prue! This is why I did what I did! This is why I sacrificed my powers!
To get you back, to have you here with me, us and this is how you thank me? The power of three?”
Prue smirked. “Well, Piper! It’s not like you are a witch anymore!”
Phoebe seemed amused. “Yeah, Pipe! It’s not like you have any powers now! You can’t do anything to help us! You are one fo the innocents now!” she giggled.
“That's not true! I can do many things!” She protested.
She frantically tried to think of something but her mind was failing her. The pain inside her was too intense. So intense that she couldnÂ’t think straight.
“Oh, really?” she heard the youngest Charmed one say. “Like what, Piper? Check the book of shadows for us?” Paige laughed.
“Oh! I got it! You can be our familiar! Huh, Pipe? What do you think?”
PiperÂ’s eyes filled with tears. How could they be so cruel? How could they be so cruel?
Her mind just couldnÂ’t take it in. This canÂ’t be happening! This canÂ’t be happening!. This is what she kept telling herself.
To keep away from the darkness, the wrath that was threatening to engulf her. Anger and sorrow! Pain and injustice! This canÂ’t be happening! I is not real! Not real!
Think Piper! Think! The creature spoke of physical and psychological torture. What if this is the test?
Piper tried to clear her mind and fixed her stare at Prue, waiting for a response.
“I did this for her! She should be defending me! She should be supporting me!” She thought!
But instead Prue started laughing and Phoebe and Paige laughed along woth her.
The sound of their laughter was the most hideous sound she had heard in her life. It was piercing her ears and her heart so abruptly, so fiercely she couldnÂ’t breathe.
“No!” she yelled! “No! No!”
************************
The creature stood beside her as she was till floating in the air in the same position with her eyes closed. Her body was convulsing in constant fits and she kept yelling “No!”
The creature sensed that she was getting weaker and smiled!
“Soon Piper! We are almost done!
Oh, yes! Very soon!”
Make-Believe - Part Twelve
Phoebe placed her hand on Piper'se forehead. It was burning. Piper was so hot that Phoebe was afraid that she would be set up in flames. She took the cloth it on top of Piper's forehead, hoping that it would help drop the temperature.
She then turned to Prue and caressed her cheek. Prue was calm and serene now. Her color was much better so she would be up soon., she hoped.
She stayed there sat on the bed on Piper's side and looked at them in silence as thoughts were crossing her mind.
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Paige tried to pour some coffe in her mug but her hands were shaking. She spilt dark brown liquid all over the counter and quickly grabbeda kitchen towel to wipe it off. Piper would be very upset if she saw this being the c
Page created: November 16th 2004 11:16 PM
Page updated: February 8th 2005 06:11 PM
