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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:53:08 GMT -5
Author: wiccangirl311
Power Problem
Chapter one
“And there he goes,” Piper said as she watched the young man get up from his seat and leave the table where he had sat with Zoey. Zoey sighed, got up and began to make her way across the crowded club.
“Again?” Paige said as she exclaimed as she brushed a curl of brown hair out of her face.
“Yup,” Piper replied as she wiped down the bar counter with a rag. “Did you expect it to be any different?”<br>
“No, I mean…ah hell, I won’t lie. That girl has gone through more dates than I had my entire senior year of high school. And that’s only this month.”<br>
“Yeah but didn’t you date Glenn- your best friend- for most of the time?”<br>
“And your point being?”<br>
Piper gave her sister a look.
“That was completely different; at least when I was with Glenn I wasn’t dating another guy.”<br>
“Zoey’s dating someone else too?” Piper asked shocked that she didn’t hear about this before.
“I’m not saying that, I’m just saying that she and Jake get really friendly sometimes if you know what I mean.”<br>
“Hey peoples,” Zoey greeted as she approached them.
“So I’m guessing he wasn’t a keeper?” Piper said and handed Zoey a water bottle.
“No, but there’s plenty of other fish in the sea.” She took a sip of the water.
“That would make you quite the determined fisherman,” Paige said.
Zoey gave her a look, “What are you implying?”<br>
“That you’ve obviously got some commitment issues.”<br>
“Ohh, dumped another guy huh?” Phoebe said as she sat down on one of the black bar stools.
“How many does that make now?” Chris teased as he handed a customer a margarita.
“I don’t have commitment issues,” Zoey stated defensively, ignoring Chris’ remark.
“Oh really?” Piper said. “What about Mark?”<br>
“Sweet but an utter wuss bag.”<br>
“Arthur?” Paige said.
“Too egotistical and needs to keep his hands to himself.”<br>
“What about Chad? You seemed to like him,” Phoebe said.
“Yeah,” Piper joined in. “I don’t recall you breaking up with him.”<br>
Chris laughed, “She didn’t have to.”<br>
Zoey glared at him, “How do you know?”<br>
“Jake told me.”<br>
“Note to self: turn Jake into a toad.”<br>
“Well?” Piper asked.
Zoey smiled nervously. “Funny story actually, see, he kind of had a P.O.”<br>
“He had a probation officer?!” Piper exclaimed.
“Ok so it’s not that funny of a story,” Zoey said.
“W-What were you thinking?”<br>
“Why did he have a probation officer?” Paige asked.
“He kind of had a dealing problem.”<br>
“That’s just great Zoey. A drug dealer for a boyfriend. Did you get into that stuff?”<br>
“No Piper, I don’t do that stuff.”<br>
“Please don’t tell me that Fabrizzio was the same,” Piper said.
“No; he was a drummer in a punk band.” Zoey sighed, “Unfortunately he attends UC Santa Cruz and you know long distance relationships don’t work out.
“You can’t keep making excuses,” Phoebe said suddenly.
Zoey looked at Phoebe curiously. “Pardon me?”<br>
“What you were saying about how none of the guys you’ve dated can ever compare to Damien and that you feel like he was the only guy for you that truly understood you.” Phoebe noticed that the others were looking at her oddly.
“I never said any of that,” Zoey said growing cold. “The next time you decide to use your powers against me, I’d prefer you’d not do it in front of everyone. My feelings aren’t anyone’s business.” Zoey turned and walked away.
“I didn’t mean…I didn’t realize that I was doing that,” Phoebe said guiltily. “Oh gosh, I feel awful. Maybe I should go talk to her.”
Phoebe began to get up but Paige stopped her. “Yeah…I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’ve done enough talking for now.”<br>“But she’s angry and it’s my fault. The least I can do is-”<br>
“Chris, go check up on her,” Piper said.
“Why me?”<br>
“Because for some odd reason she listens to you. I don’t know why she would though…”
“Hey, right here,” Chris reminded.
“Just go.”<br>
Piper turned to Phoebe, “As for you, maybe you should figure out what’s up with that power of yours. This isn’t the first time it’s happened.”<br>
*****
The night air was cold and refreshing to Zoey. Vapor came out of her mouth as she exhaled. As she looked around the lights of the city created a sort of glitzy image. Almost like a fantastic photograph. She was wondering how great this scene would look in a black and white picture. She then became annoyed that she didn’t have her camera on her. How would she ever make it as a photographer if she missed out on the art she never captured? She hugged herself to keep herself warm.
“Do you always storm out that fast?” Chris asked as he came to a jog to catch up to her.
“That depends, who am I pissed off at?”<br>
“Well if this was a hypothetical situation and you were pissed off at me, how long would it take you to run off?”<br>
“3.2 seconds,” Zoey replied in a beat.
Chris nodded, “That’s what I figured.”<br>
Zoey and he stood in silence for a while. “They sent you didn’t they?”<br>
“Yeah; they said something along the lines of checking up on you and being here for emotional support. Yet they see me as emotionally unstable so I don’t know how that works out. Oh wait, you’re also seen as neurotic so I guess that makes sense.”<br>
Zoey smiled, “How do you do that?”<br>
“Do what?”<br>
“Always find some way to cheer me up, no matter what’s bugging me?”<br>
Chris smiled, “I didn’t realize that I did that.”<br>
“Well now you know.”<br>
Chris took off his black jacket and handed it to her. “Here, you do realize that it’s like forty degrees out here and you’re in a tank top."
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:53:28 GMT -5
Zoey smiled, “Thanks.” She wrapped the jacket close to her.
“You know she didn’t mean that,” he said after a while.
“I know. It’s not that I’m mad at her…ok maybe a little. I was madder at the fact that she wasn’t wrong. I mean, everything was true but I’ve ignored that inner voice and to actually hear it was-”<br>
“A reality slap?”<br>
“For lack of a better term, yeah.” Zoey sighed, “Ugh! I’m sorry; I’ve been dumping my emotional baggage on you way too much. Feel free to do the same or send me on petty errands you hate doing. Think of it as me repaying you for all the crap you’ve had to listen to.”<br>
Chris smiled, “What are friends for, right?”<br>
Chapter two
It was another hectic day at the Bay View Mirror newspaper office. The Phones were ringing non-stop and staff writer rushed in and out of the office to cover stories and to get lunch. The office was always loud and distracting which was why Phoebe liked that she had her own office.
She was the paper’s advice columnist and in being so, her office was always filled with stacks of letters from the public. The letters were arranged in three piles. One was for fan mail, another for feedback/and thank-yous, and the last was of new questions. The last pile was always the biggest and most important.
The past week had been really stressful for Phoebe. Monday she had to do an interview with 411 magazine and also a photo shoot. Tuesday she was meeting with her husband and foreign correspondents to set up a time when they could do a live Ask Phoebe online in the coming months. With this came planning, and the scheduling of a date that was workable for both Phoebe and the foreign correspondents.
On Wednesday she was doing two interviews for two different radio stations. Her morning interview was the Morning Show with Ranell on 98.1 Kiss FM an R&B and classic soul radio station. In the evening she was down on Battery street in Downtown San Francisco to do an interview with the alternative rock station Live 105.3. Of course when she told the rest of the family this Zoey was excited and told Phoebe to let her know all about the Live 105.3 radio station. Also, according to Zoey the Strokes were going to be doing an interview with the D.J. so she told Phoebe to notify her if they were there at the same time she was.
On Thursday she didn’t have much to do except for a couple of meetings with the editors and a meeting turned make out session with her boss/ boyfriend of a year and a half Jason.
Today was Friday and she had been locked up in her office since she arrived at seven-thirty this morning. It was very important that she typed up her column because at five o’clock the paper was going to the printers. Right now she was behind in her work.
“Yes, alright Piper. I really have to go; bye.” Phoebe hung up the phone and sighed. She placed her elbows on the paper cluttered desk and massaged the temples of her forehead.
“Busy?” Jason asked as he entered her office.
Phoebe smiled brightly at him. “Kind of but for you, my schedule just cleared. I need some fresh air anyways and I am hungry now that you mention it.”<br>
Jason looked at his girlfriend curiously, his blue eyes locked onto hers. “I never asked you to attend lunch with me.”<br>
“Yes you did, you asked right after you said busy. You asked me to lunch by the piers.”<br>
Jason shook his head and closed the office door. “Phoebe, is there something you’re not telling me?”<br>
“NO, why?” she asked looking at him curiously.
“I was thinking about asking you to lunch by the piers. Is this part of you being and empath, you can read minds as well as emotions?”<br>
Phoebe laughed nervously, “I’m going to have to take a rein check on that lunch date.” She closed her laptop, shoved the letters she had picked out into her bag, grabbed her jacket and rushed out of the office.
As Phoebe rushed out of the office she bumped into her boss Elise. “Elise, I can’t now,” Phoebe said. “I’m working the rest of the day from home.”<br>
“But I didn’t even say anything. Are you alright?”<br>
Phoebe laughed nervously; she could have sworn she heard Elise ask her to attend the meeting that was going on right now in the editors’ room. “Don’t mind me, it’s the stress.”
With that she ran out of the newspaper office.
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:53:50 GMT -5
Zoey was studying with Jake at the library. The two were working on a project for their economics class. Mr. Leer thought that the students would get a good idea of what the real world was like by pairing them up, male and female, and assigning them a job each and stating that for the next two weeks they would be acting as if they were a married couple.
Zoey was assigned the job of a high school teacher, while Jake on the other hand was a lawyer. Each couple had to come up with a budget and had to be able to pay for rent if they were renting a house, pay their bills, buy enough groceries and afford gas for their cars. Besides that, each couple was given a child or children. Zoey and Jake thought they got lucky since they only ended up with a son.
Along the course of the project he had told them that they would draw a card every day for a real life situation that might happen to them. It was only the second day of the project and already Zoey and Jake’s rent went up and they had to pay off a doctor bill for the emergency check up that their son Riley needed.
“I think this is the correct amount,” Zoey said and handed her best friend the paper.
“Huh?” Jake said as he merely glanced at the yellow binder paper.
“The amount we have left in our joint account,” Zoey replied. “I’ve calculated up all of the bills, car insurance payment and the cost of groceries for the week and subtracted that total from our initial total in the account. It doesn’t seem right though.”<br>
“That’s because you forgot to subtract the cost of Riley’s daycare.”<br>
“Daycare?”<br>
“Yeah, remember we put him in that yesterday?”<br>
Zoey sighed, “I’m going to be a terrible mom. I’ll subtract that right now.”<br>
Jake smiled faintly.
“Are you feeling alright?” Zoey asked looking at her friend curiously. He had been acting really different the past month. She barely saw him after school except to work on the joint parts of the project. In school she barely hung out with him because she barely even saw him there.
“I’m fine,” he said and looked back at his book.
“Are you mad at me?” she asked.
“Why would I be mad at you?”<br>
“Well you haven’t returned any of my phone calls and I don’t really see you all that much now. You’re always with Kyle.”<br>
“Well not everyone has to schedule their day around you,” he said coldly.
“Jake, what’s that supposed to mean?”<br>
“It means that the world doesn’t revolve around you Zoey,” he snapped.
“Did I do something to get you upset?”<br>
“No of course not Zoey,” he replied sarcastically. “You’re perfect.” He slammed his book shut and shoved it into his gray back pack. “Are we done here?” he demanded.
“Yeah, just go,” Zoey said as she looked down at her lap.
Jake got up and quickly left the library.
Zoey ran her hands through her hair and let out a sigh. She packed up her things. What was wrong with him? Why was he treating her like that? He was acting like a total @#%$ and she didn’t know why. Had it been something she had said? She got up and made her way to the exit. She was halfway down the hall when someone called out to her.
Zoey turned to see who it was that was trying to get her attention and rolled her eyes.
“I believe you forgot this,” the young man said with a sly smile. He was around the age of 20 and had jet black hair and green piercing eyes. He held out a small book.
“Thanks you,” she said with a forced smile.
“Frankenstein, that’s a good one,” the young man commented.
“Yeah, bye.”<br>
The young man blocked her way. “What’s the hurry? Can’t wait to get away from me fast enough?”<br>
Zoey sighed, “Ding ding ding! We have a winner. Johnny, tell him what he’s won.”<br>
“A sense of humor, and this whole time I thought you were just a frigid @#%$.”<br>
Zoey glared at him, “Get out of my way.”<br>
He nodded and stepped aside. “Tell your boyfriend he should learn to treat you with more respect.”<br>
“He’s not my boyfriend and what would a sleaze ball like you know what respect is?”<br>
He laughed, “I admire your feistiness. It’s very sexy.”<br>
Zoey rolled her eyes and walked away. The young man ran to catch up with her. “When are we going to go on a first name basis?”<br>
“As soon as you get that brain transplant because obviously the one you have now isn’t working or you would’ve known that I’m not interested by now.”<br>
He nodded, “Ok then how about we end this two week verbal war?” He put his hands in the air to show that he was surrendering. “The name’s Alex.” He held out his hand.
Zoey looked at it then at him.
“I don’t bite,” he assured.
“Funny. I’m Zoey,” she shook his hand.
“Well Zoey, mind if I walk you home?”<br>
“Actually I do.”<br>
“Oh come on, I’m not some psychotic mass murderer. It’s dark and you shouldn’t be walking by yourself.”<br>
“I can take care of myself.”<br>
“You’re really stubborn,” Alex said. “Unfortunately for you, so am I. Now let’s go.”<br>
Zoey and Alex walked along the quiet streets in a heavy awkward silence for quite some time. “So…do you go to San Francisco State?” he asked trying to make conversation.
“No, I’m a senior at San Francisco High.”<br>
“Oh, I thought you went- never mind.”<br>
“What about you? Do you attend SF State?”<br>“Yeah, I’m a sophomore there.”<br>
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:54:03 GMT -5
“What’s your field of major?”<br>
“Law.”<br>
Zoey nodded, “Sounds interesting.”<br>
“Yeah. What about you? Is it photography?”<br>
Zoey looked at him. “How did you-”<br>
“The other day I saw you checking out a whole bunch of books on camera lenses and photography.” He laughed, “I’m not stalking you.”<br>
Zoey laughed, “Yeah, I want to be a photographer.”<br>
“Are you going to the Academy or out of state?”<br>
“The Academy if I can make it in. But the lady I live with wants me to get an A.S. degree before I go into a professional school like the Academy of Art.”<br>
Alex nodded, “Well that does make-” he pushed Zoey to the side. An energy ball had been thrown at them. The demon who had thrown it made another one and sent it at Alex. Alex orbed in black orbs escaping the path of the energy ball.
Zoey’s eyes widened. Another energy ball was sent at her but she deflected it with a violent gust of wind.
Alex re-appeared and a fire ball formed in his hand. He sent it at the demon’s head. It screamed and combusted. Alex smiled to himself with satisfaction. He turned to Zoey, “I-”<br>
“You’re a dark lighter,” she said backing away from him.
“And you’re a witch with a power I’ve never seen before. So what?” he asked stepping closer to her.
Zoey backed away again.
“Zoey I’m not going to hurt you,” Alex said.
“I have to go.” She shimmered.
end of chapter two
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:54:20 GMT -5
Chapter three
“No, not that one,” Chris said and with a flick of his wrist he caused the pages in the Book of Shadows to continue to turn on their own. “Wait,” he said holding up his hand. He walked over to the book and read the page. “Shadows, that could be how the council has been able to get at the sisters,” he said to himself. He began to write the information down on the small note pad that he had with him. He was in the middle of writing when Zoey shimmered into the attic.
“Oh Chris, I-I didn’t know that you were in here,” she said with a nervous smile.
“Hello to you too,” he replied not taking his eyes off of the book. He glanced at the watch he wore on his left wrist. “Zoey, its eleven-thirty at night, what are you doing here?”<br>
“I live here, what are you doing here?”<br>
“Research,” he replied shortly wiping his eyes which were now heavy with sleep.
“What a coincidence,” Zoey said. “I was just doing research. Are you done with the book?”<br>
“No, not really. Why?”<br>
“Because I think you two need to start seeing other people,” she teased.
“Funny; I guess you’d be the expert at that.”<br>
“I’m going to pretend that I didn’t hear that. Now scoot over I need to look up something really quick.” She nudged him aside with her hip and began to flip through the pages. She sighed after turning over only two pages. She waved her hand over the book and the pages began to turn rapidly. “Stop.”<br>
Chris looked at her impressed, “I see someone’s been experimenting with their power.”<br>
“It can come in handy,” Zoey said and read the page.
Chris glanced down at it and saw that she had stopped the book at the dark lighter’s section. “Dark lighters?” he said growing concerned.
“Yeah, I sort of ran into one on the way home.”<br>
“Are you alright? Were you hurt?”<br>
“No…I’m fine. I saw him kill from afar and before he saw me and got the same idea I shimmered out,” she lied. “I’m just curious because I have never seen one besides the one that was sent by my ex and so I thought-”<br>
“That it might be the council?”<br>
“No actually, I thought I should do some reading because I thought that dark lighters only killed white lighters. The one I saw killed a demon.”<br>
“A demon, are you sure?”<br>
“Horns, pointy teeth, I’m positive.”<br>
“That’s odd, but then again it could have been a demon that crossed the dark lighter.” Chris studied Zoey for a moment.
“Chris, I’m fine really,” she replied to the way he looked at her.
“Well I can help you find out anything else you want to know about dark lighters.”<br>
“Groovy. I just want to know about them incase I ever do bump into one on my own.”<br>
Chris smiled, “It’s good to be prepared.”<br>
“Yeah, um is now ok for you cause since I have nothing else to do and I’m not tired.”<br>
Chris nodded, “Yeah, now is fine.”<br>
“Good, come on.” She picked up the book and sat down on one of the blue bean bags that were placed in the corner.
Chris sat down on another next to her.
*****
Phoebe could not sleep at all last night. She couldn’t help but think of what Jason had said to her yesterday. Could it be possible that her powers have expanded and now she can read peoples’ minds? Cool, she thought to herself when she got up that morning. Then again, all the movies she had seen when one person could read minds, they eventually went crazy. Besides, her empath power was intrusive enough as it was but now if she could in fact read minds, no one around her would have any privacy. Plus, she couldn’t keep a secret and if she heard something she didn’t think she would be able to keep it secret for long.
Phoebe decided that there was only one way to figure out the answer to this. She would go up into the attic and consult her family tree, see if any of her ancestors had the ability read minds. Also she would check the Book of Shadows to see if there was a mind reading blocking potion kind of like the one Chris gave to her and her sisters so that she couldn’t sense their emotions.
When Phoebe entered the attic she nearly gasped when she saw that the book was not where it belonged. A demon could not have taken it out because only a Halliwell could move the book outside of the manor. As she entered the attic further, she noticed Zoey and Chris fast asleep on the bean bags. The book lay open on the floor near their feet.
Phoebe smiled and hesitated before moving forward. She tried to be as quiet as possible as she walked over to retrieve the book. She didn’t want to wake them. They looked so cute together. Zoey’s forehead rested against Chris’ shoulder. His head rested against hers which Phoebe thought would cause his neck to be really sore when he woke.
“Phoebe have you seen my pink Nine West high heels?” Paige asked as she entered the attic.
Phoebe put her finger to her lips and nodded her head towards where Chris and Zoey were.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
Leo orbed in, “Good, you’re here. I was wondering if you found any more information on the council.”<br>
“Shhh!” Paige said.
“Don’t bother, we’re up,” Chris said wiping his eyes.
Zoey patted down her hair and checked her watch, “Oh wow, it’s eleven already?”<br>
“What were you two doing?” Leo asked.
“Well you know Leo, I can’t seem to keep my hands off of Chris,” Zoey replied.
Leo looked shocked at the both of them.
“She’s just messing with you Leo,” Chris said while smiling at the sight of Leo’s face. “We were just reading and must have fallen asleep.”<br>
“Well I have got to get ready,” Zoey said getting up. “I’m playing basket ball today with the guys. Chris, you’re more than welcome to join. Bryan’s team can use all the help they can get.”<br>
“Yeah sounds -”<br>
“Actually Chris, I kind of need your help with something,” Phoebe said.
“Yeah sure,” Chris replied. “Rein check?”<br>
“Of course,” Zoey replied. “Thanks.”<br>
“Reading huh?” Paige teased.
“Don’t you have a temp job to go to?” Chris said.
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:54:35 GMT -5
“So you think you read his mind?” Paige said trying to make sense of what her sister had just said.
Phoebe shrugged. “That or Jason really, really, really wanted to take me out to lunch and Elise really, really, really, wanted me to attend the editors’ meeting.”<br>
“Well if they felt that strongly about it then, seeing as you are an empath you somehow were able to channel their feelings more strongly,” Chris guessed.
“I don’t know, perhaps that’s possible,” Phoebe said not entirely believing it herself.
“Well we didn’t find any other possible way. We checked the family tree three times.”<br>
“It has to be, doesn’t it?” Paige said. “I mean, our powers are supposed to advance off our old ones, right?”<br>
“True but since I am an empath it could be possible that my power has advanced. Only now instead of reading emotions, I can read minds.”<br>
“If you want, I can go check with the elders on this,” Chris said wanting to get away from Phoebe in case she could really read minds. That’s all he needed, for her to find out why he was really here.
“Check with them on what?” Leo asked as he came into the conservatory with Wyatt in his arms.
“About my power,” Phoebe replied.
“She thinks that she can read minds,” Paige explained.
“Well I’ll check; I was just on my way up anyways.”<br>
“Actually, I already offered to-”<br>
“Yeah well I’d find out more quickly if I went.” He handed Wyatt to Chris and orbed out.
Chris sighed.
“Don’t let him get to you,” Paige said. “Well I’m off to the mall.”<br>
“Paige, do you really think that shopping is the way to grieve? It’s been hard on you now that you and Richard broke up but really, going to the mall doesn’t help. You know that.”<br>
Paige looked at Phoebe.
“Oh, did I just do what I did to Zoey?”<br>
“Yeah; I’m out of here.”<br>
“Oh Paige, I’m sorry.”<br>
“No you’re right it’s just- do me a favor and don’t talk about my thoughts out loud.”<br>
Just as Paige walked out, Bryan, with Zoey on his back and Jake entered the conservatory.
“What happened?” Phoebe asked as Zoey sat down on the couch.
“Basketball accident,” Jake replied airily.
Zoey glanced at her friend quickly. “I was fouled,” Zoey explained as she looked at her bloody knee.
“I’m really sorry ZoZo,” Bryan said.
“Stop apologizing, I’m fine, really.”<br>
“Do you have any first aid supplies?” Bryan asked.
“Yeah, they’re in the kitchen,” Phoebe said. “I’ll go get them.”<br>
“Bryan we’re late for rehearsal,” Jake said impatiently.
“Jake we’ll get there, chill,” Bryan said. “How’s the knee? Can you bend it?” He put his hands on her leg and made her bend the knee.
“Ow!”<br>
“Sorry,” Bryan said.
“Bryan, she’s not going to die, Chris can take care of her. Let’s go,” Jake said becoming annoyed.
“Man, what the hell is your problem? You’ve been acting-”<br>
Zoey grabbed Bryan’s arm to stop him. “Just go, I’m so not in the mood for his s---.”<br>
“Are you sure?”<br>
Zoey nodded, “Yeah, positive.”<br>
Bryan nodded and left with Jake.
“Where’d they go?” Phoebe asked when she came in with the first aid kit.
“They had to leave,” Zoey said.
“Oh sweetie what’s wrong with you and Jake?”<br>
“Ok that empath power of yours is getting really annoying,” Zoey said.
“Actually, she might be able to read minds,” Chris said.
“Oh,” Zoey said.
Wyatt began to get fussy in Chris’ arms. “I’ll take care of him,” Phoebe said and took her nephew from the white lighter’s arms and headed upstairs.
“Zoey, do you mind if I practice on you?”<br>
Zoey looked at him. “Practice what on me?”<br>
“Healing,” Chris said quickly. “Leo’s been trying to help me learn how to heal.”<br>
“Can Lit witches do that?”<br>
“Lit witches?”<br>
“White Lighter/ Witches.”<br>
“Oh, clever. Leo said that with lots of practice I might be able to pull it off.”<br>
“Well get practicing,” Zoey said.
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:54:57 GMT -5
Chris sat down beside her and placed his hands above her knee. After a while Chris withdrew his hands and sighed. “Screw it, hand me the first aid kit.”<br>
Zoey smiled sympathetically and handed him the first aid kit. “You’ll get it.”<br>
Chris nodded and lifted her leg and placed it on the coffee table. He knelt down on his knees. “Is everything alright between you and Jake?” he asked as he poured some blue liquid onto a cotton swab.
“I have no idea, he’s acting…he’s not the same. He’s different; cold and extremely moody. What’s that?”<br>
“It’s an anti-septic, it’ll clean out the wound but it might sting.”<br>
He dabbed her knee with the antiseptic.
Zoey grabbed a pillow and screamed in it. “Oh my gosh! My knee is on fire.”<br>
“Oh you’re such a baby,” Chris said.
“A baby who’s knee is on fire.”<br>
Chris blew gently on her knee. “Better?”<br>
Zoey nodded with a soft smile, “Much better.”<br>
Chris smiled and began to wrap her knee in a bandage.
“Why thank you doctor,” Zoey said.
“Wait, I didn’t know we were playing doctor,” Chris said.
“How dirty.”<br>
She and Chris laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Phoebe asked when she entered the conservatory.
“Ah nothing; If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an essay to write.” Zoey shimmered.
“Maybe you should tell her,” Phoebe said.
“What are you talking about?” Chris asked as he put away the antiseptic.
“You know what I’m talking about. If you keep quiet too long, you’ll miss your chance.”<br>
End of chapter three
“Well the elders say they don’t know why you’re reading minds,” Leo said. Something tells me there’s more to this than her just being able to read minds. She won’t be able to control it. Usually this is a power that upper level beings have since they won’t get hurt by it.
“I can control it and what do you mean that I can get hurt by it?” Phoebe asked.
“I’m only concerned about your well being,” Leo said. “We all are, right?”<br>
“Yeah,” Piper and Paige said in unison. I don’t want anything to happen to Phoebe.
Are my biscuits burning?
‘She looks really pretty tonight’ Chris thought. ‘No, think of something else. Zippers, who invented the zipper? Look at her, the way her hair’s highlights catch the light.’<br>
Phoebe turned form Chris and looked at Zoey. This was getting very interesting. She was enjoying it. It was like the real world only she was the only audience member.
‘I hope that Alex isn’t at the party tonight; what do I do if I see him? No you’re not going to see him because you’re going to avoid him. He’s so cute- no wait, you can’t think that. Oh damn it! I marked c when the answer is really e, 1929. One point off of the exam. I hope Jake is there, I need to talk to him…are Piper’s biscuits burning?’<br>
“Piper I think you and Zoey are right. The biscuits are burning,” Phoebe said.
“Ah crap!” Piper rushed into the kitchen.
Phoebe turned to Zoey, “Who’s Alex?”<br>
“Phoebe, that’s my mind. Get out, I can barely stand myself inside my head I don’t need more confusion from you.”<br>
“Sorry but your thoughts were loud.”<br>
Kind of like your mouth.
“Hey,” Phoebe said.
“I meant that thought to be loud.”<br>
“Who is Alex?” Leo asked now curious.
“See what you’ve started?” Zoey said. She sighed, “He’s just some guy I met at the library.”<br>
“Is he taking you to the party?” Leo asked.
“No, Leo, hardly anyone goes to a party with their date. You meet your date there now. Anyways it’s not like that with me and him. I barely even know the guy.”<br>
“Sounded like you like him,” Phoebe said.
“Phoebe, what do I have to do, lock you in a closet?”<br>
“Hey.”<br>
“I’m coming close to it.” A car horn honked. “That’s Bryan, I’ve got to go.”<br>
“Chris, are you going with her?” Phoebe asked giving him a look.
“No, Leo and I are going to check up on some charges.”<br>
“Home by ten,” Leo said.
“Cute, make it 12:30 a.m.”<br>
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:55:16 GMT -5
“Fine go.”<br>
I miss Richard, but if he thinks I’m tempting him with the craft then I can’t blame him.
I remember when I used to party, especially in the sixties…<br>
I should have gone with her. What am I saying? There’s no point, she’s not interested.
My biscuits burned.
“Enough with the thinking so loudly people!” Phoebe said with her hands on her head and walked out of the dining room.
****
The rock music was blasting and knocked over red and blue plastic cups lay here and there. Some still had beer in them and others were empty. Couples made out on the couch and the floor or against the wall. Others talked and smoked.
Zoey was seated on the couch alone. Bryan was off flirting with other women and Jake hadn’t talked to her. He didn’t even say hello when she said hi. All she got from him was a slight nod and an uninterested hey.
She grabbed another Jell-O shot and gulped it down. Why was he treating her this way? He was acting different from the Jake she knew and loved.
“Jake,” she said getting up suddenly at the sight of her friend.
“Hey,” he said distracted by the older young women who were waving at him.
“Listen, could we talk?”<br>
“There’s nothing to talk about.”<br>
“Yes there is. You’ve been acting really strange lately. You don’t hang out with us and when you do you blow up at me or Bryan.”<br>
“Oh I’m sorry, did I hurt your feelings?” he teased. The scent of vodka filled Zoey’s nostrils. “Are you going to cry?”<br>
“You know what, never mind, you’re smashed.”<br>
“So now you don’t situate yourself with those who drink? What are you, some reformed partier?”<br>
“Jake what’s gotten into you?”<br>
“What’s gotten into me? I feel great.”<br>
“You’ve been cutting class and you don’t show up to rehearsal. It’s not like you to skip rehearsal.”<br>
“It’s not like me? Babe you don’t even know me anymore. You’re too busy with your potions and wiccan ways.”<br>
Zoey looked around, “Shut up, you promised you wouldn’t-”<br>
“Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone. Besides it’s not something you go bragging about.”<br>
“Jake I’ll just call you in the morning.”<br>
“Don’t bother. In fact don’t call me at all.”<br>
“Fine I’ll get in touch with you sometime in the week.”<br>
“No, I meant don’t call me ever. I’ve been thinking, we’ve been friends since kindergarten and it was fun. Now let’s move on. Besides, every time we’re out together it makes it look like we’re a couple, and then there are the whole pointless conversations about nothing. Anyways you seem to be real chummy with Chris lately so why don’t you go hang out and bother him? As for me, well like you’d care seeing as you’ve always got something else to do, I’m going to go try and enjoy this party. Bye.”<br>
Zoey just stood there shocked. The words seemed to have trouble sinking into her. She grabbed another Jell-O shot and gulped it down. Then she grabbed another and went outside into the back yard. She sat down on the picnic table.
Screw Jake, she didn’t need him. She didn’t need someone who would treat her that way.
“Hey, are you alright?” Alex asked and took a seat down next to her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked not looking up at him.
“I’m wondering what you’re plans are for that Jell-O shot in your hand.”<br>
“You can have it,” she handed it to him and he gulped it down.
“No really, I saw you and your friend are you two ok?”<br>
“I’d rather not talk about it if you don’t mind.”<br>
“That’s cool. I get it,” he got up to leave.
“I didn’t say you had to leave,” Zoey said now looking at him.
Alex smiled, “Are you saying you want me to stay?”<br>
“Unless you have a date that you need to get back to.”<br>
“No date, but I do have this,” He removed a bottle of red wine out from under his coat. “I’d like you to meet Chardonay.”<br>
“Where’d you get this?” Zoey asked looking at the bottle in her hands.
“Ah the jerk that’s throwing the party gave it to me as a courtesy gift.”<br>
Zoey smiled at him, “You klepto.”<br>
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:55:31 GMT -5
“It’s not like he’ll notice, there’s about 100 more down in the basement.” With a wave of his hand he conjured two wine glasses. “Shall we?”<br>
“I don’t know,” Zoey said.
“Zoey look, I don’t kill witches. I barely even kill white lighters.”<br>
Zoey thought about this for a moment, “Fill the glass.”<br>
****
The sunlight streamed gently through the cracks in the blinds on the windows. Clothes lay scattered about the beige colored carpet. Zoey rolled onto her side and opened her eyes. Her sleepiness disappeared quickly as she saw Alex fast asleep next to her. Zoey rolled back onto her back and lifted the black sheets and found that she was naked.
“Oh, I remember now,” she said to herself. She sat up with as less movement as was possible and wrapped the sheets around her.
Alex woke and sat up revealing his well built upper body. “Good morning,” he said and scooted closer to her. He began to kiss her neck, shoulders and back.
Zoey sighed, “It’s late.”<br>
“Don’t you mean early?” Alex kissed her neck again.
Zoey smiled, “Late, I was supposed to be home like seven hours ago.” She turned to face him and kissed his lips.
“Do you always look this beautiful in the morning?”<br>
“Apparently only when I’m hungover, speaking of which, I have a massive headache.”<br>
“I can fix that,” he said and tickled her stomach.
Zoey giggled, “I have to leave.”<br>
“No stay, you’re already late so being a little bit later won’t make a difference.” He kissed her lips.
******
Zoey closed the door gently and as silently as possible. She had tried to shimmer but it made her feel incredibly nauseous so Alex drove her home after cooking her breakfast at his apartment.
“Where the hell have you been young lady?” Piper demanded marching up to her with a very stern look on her face.
“We were scared to death about you,” Paige added. “We even called Jake and he didn’t know where you were.”<br>
“I’m sorry, I lost track of time,” Zoey said as she made her way to the stairs.
“How in the world do you lose track of eight hours?” Piper asked increduously.
Chris orbed in, “Good, you’re all here. There’s this-”<br>
“Not now Chris,” Piper said angrily.
“Ok, this would be so much better if you’d all kept your voices down,” Zoey stated rubbing her temples.
“Are you drunk?” Paige asked.
“No, just hung over.”<br>
“I don’t believe this,” Piper said. “Where were you all night?”<br>
“At the party.”<br>
“That’s not what Jake said,” Phoebe stated as she entered the living room.
“Screw what that jerk said,” Zoey snapped.
“Zoey, he was acting as a friend would do,” Paige said.
“No, he was acting like an ass,” Zoey said angrily. “He’s not my friend anymore. Last night he made it pretty clear to me that he doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore. And you know what, I could really care less. He can be that way all he wants, I don’t care anymore. A friend and someone you love doesn’t say those types of things to you.”<br>
“Look, we’re sorry to hear about you and Jake but that doesn’t excuse you for worrying us half to death. Now where were you last night?” Piper asked.
Phoebe’s eyes widened. “Oh my gosh Zoey, you didn’t!”<br>
“Didn’t what?” Paige asked looking at Zoey curiously.
“Phoebe I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Zoey said firmly locking eyes with her.
“Nothing,” Phoebe said.
“Oh no you don’t Zoey,” Piper said. She turned to her sister, “Spill. No secrets allowed.”<br>
Phoebe looked at Zoey then at Piper then back at Zoey again.
“Phoebe,” Piper said impatiently.
“She slept with a dark lighter; twice. There I said it.”<br>
Zoey glared daggers at Phoebe.
Piper, Paige and Chris turned to her both shocked and angry.
“What the hell did you think you were doing? Do you know how much danger you just put this whole family in? How on earth could you do this?” Piper asked shaking a bit with all the anger that was flowing through her.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Paige demanded.
“I-I don’t know what I was thinking. All I know is that Alex was-”<br>
“Wait a minute, Alex as in the Alex you met at the library?” Piper asked.
“Yes.”<br>
“Just exactly how long did you know that he was a dark lighter?” Paige asked.
“Two days not counting yesterday.”<br>
“I can’t believe you would do something so stupid like this,” Piper said.
“He’s not evil, he’s good. In fact he told me-”<br>
“He’s a dark lighter,” Paige reminded. “He was born evil and he’ll stay evil.”<br>
“I’m sorry,” Zoey said.
“Go clean up and don’t leave your room until I figure out what I’m going to do with you,” Piper said.
After Zoey went upstairs, Piper let out a frustrated sigh and left the living room. Paige did the same.
Phoebe noticed Chris. She had completely forgotten that he was there the whole time. “Oh Chris, I’m so sorry.”<br>
“Yeah well don’t be. Guess I missed my chance, huh?” With that he walked away.
End of chapter four
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:55:50 GMT -5
chapter five
Zoey was rubbing the temples of her forehead when Phoebe came down the basement stairs. “Hey there,” Phoebe said and took a seat on the bed beside Zoey. “Here drink this.”
She handed Zoey a glass filled with a thick green drink.
“What is this?” Zoey asked looking at it as if it might come alive and jump her.
Phoebe smiled, “It’ll a help with the hangover. Something I found very useful in my party days.”<br>
Zoey took a sip of it and made a disgusted face. “Oh gross!”<br>Phoebe laughed a bit. “So you want to talk about it?”<br>
Zoey sighed and placed the concoction on the side night stand. “I promised myself I wouldn’t mess up. When Piper asked me to come live here I promised myself that I wasn’t going to screw it up this time.”<br>
“What do you mean?”<br>
“I mean I always screw up. When I was four I colored on legal documents, when I was six I cried too much, something that army sergeants aren’t keen on; when I was eight I got into playground fights; when I was twelve I didn’t do good in school, I didn’t attend school that much and that didn’t fly well with the people I lived with at the time.”<br>
“But you had Summer and Ronnie.”<br>
“I treated them the worst. I don’t know why they kept me as long as they did. I was in my I hate the world and everybody in it phase. I blew up at them for no reason at all and I cut myself; I did all kinds of things. I experimented a lot too.”<br>
“Like the illegal kind?” Phoebe asked.
Zoey nodded, “Now I screwed things up again. Piper’s pissed off at me. I didn’t mean to put anyone in danger.”<br>
“I know,” Phoebe said understandingly. “You’re not the first one to fall for a person on the other side.”<br>
“I’m not?”<br>
Phoebe shook her head, “No. I fell in love and married a feared demon and then he turned into the Source of all evil. It happens to the best of us. Piper and Prue, my other sister, and Paige all hated Cole, but I didn’t care because I believed he was good and I loved him.”<br>
“So what happened to him?”<br>
“Oh he became invincible, tried to kill us then we vanquished him in another time period.”<br>
“Yeah you could have left that part out if this was a pep talk.”<br>
Phoebe smiled, “You really like this guy huh?”<br>
“I don’t know, I mean maybe. We talked for hours last night before we…you know. He’s really sweet and he’s good. He wouldn’t hurt me. I didn’t even tell him about any of you.”<br>
A knock came at the stairs where Chris and Piper were. Zoey quickly wiped away the silent tears she let fall.
Piper walked over to them her face cold and expressionless.
She folded her arms around her chest. “I’ve come to let you know about your punishment. You are grounded until further notice. In fact you’re not allowed to leave this room unless it is to use the bathroom or get your food, to go to work or to go to school. I will be driving you to and from school each day. After school you are to wait for me to come pick you up from the school library, do I make myself clear?”<br>
“Yes ma’am.”<br>
“There will be no stereo or portable music devices of any kind; there will be no computer. If you need to type up a paper there is a type writer in the attic; as for research it will be done the old fashioned way through books. Also there will be no phone or cell phone; no cameras of any kind, no sewing machine and no television. There will be no seeing friends or talking to them on the phone. Chris will help you pack up these things. Got that?”<br>
“Yes ma’am.”<br>
“Oh yeah,” Piper threw a small brown paper bag at Zoey then turned and walked out of the basement and Phoebe was quick to follow.
Zoey opened the bag and shook her head, “Emergency contraception,” she said to herself then set aside the bag.
Zoey sighed and got up and walked over to where there were some boxes and picked a couple up.
Chris said nothing but simply began unhooking her television.
Zoey was wrapping the cords of her speakers up when she glanced at Chris. The air was cold and tense around him. “Your jacket is on the chair next to the sewing machine,” she said.
“Keep the damn jacket,” he coldly.
“Are you mad at me too?”<br>
“Why would I be mad at you?” Chris asked facing her now. He sighed, “You really screwed up you know that? I mean a dark lighter?! What the hell were you thinking? You could have gotten yourself hurt or worse. But you don’t seem to care about that now do you? I thought you were different, I thought I knew you.”<br>
“Well you don’t know me,” Zoey snapped. “You have no idea who I am.”<br>
“Obviously you’re someone who doesn’t give a damn about the people that care for you or yourself for that matter. You just sleep with whomever you want don’t you?”<br>
“You’re such an @#%$ Christopher,” Zoey said loudly. “But then again that’s who I am right? Hoey-Zoey-Free-Marie Aguilar.”<br>
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:56:13 GMT -5
“You’re so stupid.”<br>
“OH so now instead of just being a @#%$ I now am a stupid @#%$?”<br>
“Yes,” Chris blurted. “You don’t think before you take someone into bed with you. If you did you wouldn’t have as many failed relationships as you have had.”<br>
“I can’t believe you think that. You are the most ignorant person that I have ever known. I’ve only slept with one other man in my life and that was Damien, just so you know. And if I wish to sleep with him I will. It’s my life.”<br>
Chris shook his head at her. “You know, you must have really been trashed last night. I mean listen to you. You probably only slept with Alex because you were angry with Jake. That’s really healthy Zoey. That or you just love sleeping with the enemy, as history shows.”<br>
“How dare you say that about me!” she hissed. “I don’t sleep with men because of whatever pissed me off that day. I’m not that kind of girl. And as for the end to that remark I would never have slept with Alex if I knew he was going to treat me like Damien. I gave Damien my everything: my heart, soul and body. I loved him more than anything else in my life and I was good to him and then he takes away everything from me. He took away the only family I knew; he nearly killed my now ex best friend. If I for a second thought that Alex would do that I would have killed him already.” She paused to the let the words sink in. “Get out; I can take care of this on my own. Get out.”<br>
chapter five
Chapter six
Phoebe tossed and turned in her bed. She couldn’t sleep; the voices wouldn’t let her sleep. That night at dinner, things began to get worse.
“Pass the rolls please Paige,” Piper asked flatly, never allowing her eyes to fall on Zoey. Zoey quickly piled on pasta onto her plate and grabbed a roll but didn’t butter it. “Thank you,” she said.
Piper did not reply and Zoey walked out of the dining room with her dinner. As part of her punishment she wasn’t allowed to eat at the dining room table, instead she had to bring her meals to her bedroom.
Serves her right; she has to realize that what she did was not ok. Not at all.
I can’t believe she did something like this; she needs to be punished because this is not acceptable, not in the least. I mean, we’re only doing this for her own good.
I can’t believe that I called her a @#%$. Well I guess she did….
“Enough already!” Phoebe exclaimed suddenly breaking the heavy silence that consumed the dining room. “Paige, she knows that what she did isn’t ok, she knows that she doesn’t have to be reminded about it every time you see her. And you Piper, it isn’t all that different from what we went through with Cole, remember?” she turned then to Chris, “You don’t even get me started on you.” With that she left the room.
Now she couldn’t sleep because all she heard was them.
I swear if he comes home drunk off his ass again I’m going to-
What’s one more drink going to do?
The wheels on the bus go round and round…<br>Why can’t he love me like I love him?
…round and round, round and round….
Maybe I should just end this pain
An F how am I going to explain an F to my parents?
She’s getting on my last nerves
I wish he would call
The wheels on the bus go round and round, all day long.
Phoebe jumped out of bed. She shut the windows and the curtains and the voices were muffled but only a little.
“Phoebe?” Piper said as she entered the room. Oh she doesn’t look so good. “Are you alright?”<br>
“Hey is everything alright?” Paige asked. I wonder what is making her read minds.Oh poor Phoebe, she’s completely pale.I bet this is all the council’s fault. Bastards.
If this escalates any further, it might-
She looks like she needs-
“What I need is for you two to get out of here!” Phoebe yelled, tears of pain flooding her cheeks.
I don’t like this
Something’s hurting her.
Phoebe fell to the ground. Her head was pounding with pain. “Get away from me!” she screamed.
End of chapter six
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:56:35 GMT -5
Chapter seven
“Whatever it is, this mind reading thing, it’s hurting her,” Paige said. Piper, Paige, Chris, Leo and Zoey were all gathered at P3. They had decided to leave the manor in hopes of relieving Phoebe some of the pain.
“We need to figure out how to stop this and quickly,” Piper pointed. “When Prue was an empath all the emotions nearly killed her; Phoebe’s now both an empath and a mind reader, the combination is deadly.”<br>
“I know but how are we going to help her if we can’t even get close to her with out hurting her ourselves? Plus, we haven’t got a clue on how this came to be,” Paige.
“I don’t know, but all I know is that stripping her powers isn’t an option. That’s all we need, is for the underworld to suddenly attack us when we’re weak,” Piper said.
“Maybe if we isolated her,” Leo suggested.
“But for how long? A long time in isolation could cause her to go crazy,” Paige pointed out.
“We can have Chris orb her someplace desolate,” Piper suggested.
“No that would be too much for her; listening to that many people’s thoughts on the way. We can’t risk it,” Chris said. “There might be a way to help her; a spell.”<br>
“What kind of spell?” Leo asked looking the young white lighter curiously.
“The power swapping spell,” Chris replied. “It’s not a cure but it’d give her a break.”<br>
“No, I don’t think so, we can’t put this on one of the other sisters,” Leo stated.
“Then why don’t you use me?” Zoey volunteered, speaking for the first time since they had arrived at the club.
“I don’t think so,” Chris said.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Zoey said coldly. “Look just use me for this power swapping spell. It just makes sense, I mean the power of three is weak right now and we need to get Phoebe back. Leo we can’t use cause you know, he’s an elder and all and can heal; Chris, well, he came back to protect Wyatt so we can’t risk anything happening to him and me, well my power is almost like hers. I can feel every single shift in the air and even can sense a bit of emotion.”<br>
“I’m not sure about this,” Leo said.
“People what choice do we have? Phoebe’s gonna die if we don’t do this.”<br>
*******
“Are you sure about this?” Chris said as he finished writing the spell on a piece of paper. The two were now in Piper’s office at the back of the club.
Zoey nodded, “As sure as I’m going to be.”<br>
Chris studied her for a moment.
“I’ll be fine,” she replied acknowledging the concerned look on his face.
He handed her the paper, “This is the spell; just say this and the switch will be made. I’ll be right out side in case anything happens. Let me know when the switch is made.”<br>
“So this will give me her powers and her mine?”<br>
Chris nodded, “That’s what it’s supposed to do.” He sighed, “Zoey look, about what I said the other night, I-”<br>
“Chris, it doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about that ok? It’s in the past. What was said was said.”<br>
“Listen,” he said as firmly as she always got with him. “I didn’t mean to call you a @#%$. I don’t think you are and I didn’t mean to judge you. I’m sorry.”<br>
Zoey bit her lower lip, “It’s fine, really.”<br>
“Zoey, I’m serious.”<br>
She smiled faintly, “Apology accepted. Now let’s get this show on the road.” She slipped her hand into his and gave him a gentle squeeze.
“Let me make the switch,” he said suddenly.
“NO, let’s go. We’re wasting time.”<br>
With that he orbed them out of there.
End of chapter seven
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:56:53 GMT -5
Chapter eight
Phoebe was crouched in the corner of the basement. She had moved all over the house trying to find a place that would block out the voices. She thought the basement would be the best place but soon learned that it was just like any other place in the house.
Please God I don’t want her to die.
He could have just told me about this; why didn’t he just tell me?
Phoebe placed her fists to her temples and began applying pressure to them to relieve the pain but it wasn’t helping.
Ok, all I have to do is go to the grocery store-
I love him more than anything and if my parents don’t understand that well….
It’s over. He’s nothing but a lousy, sorry ass little--
Zoey shimmered into the basement.
“Stay away from me!!!” Phoebe screamed trying to shrink farther into the corner.
“Phoebe I’m going to help you,” Zoey said and grabbed her hand as if to ensure the spell would work.
What’s mine is yours
What’s yours is mine; let our powers cross the line
I offer up my gift to share,
Switch our powers through the air
A loud crack could be heard and Zoey flew across the basement and landed hard against her bookshelf.
Phoebe looked around and sniffed. “What just happened?” she rubbed her head. All the tension and pain was gone.
“We swapped powers, I think,” Zoey said rubbing the back of her neck which took a hard hit from the book shelf. “Chris!”<br>Chris orbed in, “Did it work?”<br>
Oww that hurt so much. Why am I always the one who gets hurt?
“I guess not,” Phoebe said. “I can still read minds.”<br>
Leo and the others orbed.
“Whoa Piper, you’re worrying way too much; I’m fine,” Zoey said. She looked around, “Wait a minute….this is weird. I feel too many things.” She winced in pain, “Oh man, its bad enough I have cramps now I’m feeling someone else’s too.”<br>
“Sorry,” Paige replied.
Zoey looked around again, “Someone’s hiding something.”<br>
“I’m going to check with the elders and see why her mind reading ability didn’t go to Zoey during the swap,” Chris said quickly and orbed out.
“Looks like Zoey got your power,” Paige said.
Phoebe nodded and ended up shimmering then appeared in the air and fell to the ground. “Ok, oww!” Paige went over to her fallen sister and helped her to her feet. “How do you work this shimmer thing? OH you think about where you want to go.” She shimmered again and appeared beside Piper. “Cool and I can control the whole mind reading now.”<br>
“Really because I could have sworn that you answered your own question by reading my mind,” Zoey said.
“Sorry,” Phoebe apologized.
Zoey placed a hand to her head.
“Are you alright?” Piper asked.
“I’m not sure. I mean, I feel relieved, worried, scared and carefree all at once.” She suddenly floated into the air, “Whoa ok, what’s going on? I feel like I’m suddenly in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” She began to swim through the air. “How do you get down from here?”<br>
Chris orbed in, “The elders think that whatever Phoebe has is like a virus. It must have been planted in her because if she did in fact acquire a new power it would have been given to Zoey in the switch.”<br>
Zoey screamed as she fell out of the air and onto of Chris. “Oh oww, oww! Chris I am so sorry,” she said and got up off of him. “Are you…?”
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:57:08 GMT -5
She looked at him curiously. A wave of secrecy flooded through her.
“I’m fine,” Chris said dusting himself off then caught sight of the look she was giving to him. He put a finger quickly – and unnoticed by the others – to his lips. Zoey gave him a slight nod.
“Hold on a minute,” Piper said. Chris braced himself if she had seen that. “Does this mean that the council is behind this?”<br>
“They have no idea but it could be. I mean with all that they’ve been doing the past two months, there’s a good chance that it is them.”<br>
“But why would they take time to plant a power into one of the sisters?” Zoey asked.
“Because in order to achieve dominion over both good and evil they are starting with what is keeping them from getting to what they want,” Leo explained.
“The death of the charmed Ones. Killing one makes the power of three weak,” Chris finished.
Phoebe fell to her knees just then. “I’m fine; just dizzy is all.”<br>“Maybe you should have something to drink,” Paige suggested.
As soon as they brought Phoebe into the kitchen the demon alarm system went off. Two dark lighters orbed in. One threw and energy ball at Zoey. She lifted her hand to deflect it but nothing happened. With a slight flick of his wrist, Chris deflected the energy ball, sending it back to the dark lighter who had thrown it and the dark lighter exploded.
Another dark lighter appeared.
Phoebe screamed; her head felt like it was going to burst.
The dark lighter turned and shot the other one with an arrow and her burst. He turned back around to face the others. Leo lit an energy ball.
“Wait,” Zoey said. “Alex, what are you doing here?”<br>
“I heard a team was coming for your white lighters,” he explained.
“How did you know who my white lighter was?” Zoey asked looking at him suspiciously.
“That’s not the point; the point is we’re surrounded as we speak.”<br>
Zoey felt the presence of the others. “Seven,” she said.
“Try ten,” Alex corrected. In a cloud of black orbs a cross bow appeared in his hands. He handed it to Zoey, “Here, just aim and shoot you got that?”<br>
Zoey nodded.
Suddenly four dark lighters appeared with their cross bows out. One shot and arrow and it was head straight for Leo but Piper raised her hands and caused it to explode. Suddenly the kitchen appeared to be a war scene. Energy balls and fire balls lit up the kitchen as they were tossed from each side.
“Energy balls!” Paige yelled and the energy balls turned into blue orbs and she sent them back at the two dark lighters and they exploded.
Zoey shot an arrow at one dark lighter and he screamed then combusted into tiny pieces.
Two more dark lighters appeared and one conjured the crossbow out of Zoey’s hand and shot it at Paige but again Piper blew it up.
An energy ball whizzed by Leo and he ducked.
Phoebe screamed out in pain. All the hate and the intent to kill was becoming too much for her.
“Get her out of here!” Piper yelled to Leo.
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:57:25 GMT -5
Leo grabbed hold of the screaming Phoebe and was about to orb out when a fire ball came right at them. He deflected it with a flick of his wrist and was soon sending high voltage energy balls at the dark lighters. Two more exploded.
Three fire balls came flying in Zoey’s direction but she channeled into the dark lighters emotions and caused the fireballs to fly back and kill two dark lighters.
Paige rushed over to Phoebe who was kicking and screaming on the ground. Her head felt as if it was being crushed by heavy stones. “She doesn’t look so well.”<br>
“Leo do something,” Piper said.
“I don’t know what to do,” Leo said feeling more useless every second.
Suddenly a feeling of strange luck came over Zoey. She turned and saw that Alex was aiming his cross bow. He shot it and before she could yell out the arrow struck Chris in the stomach.
“Move out of the way witch,” Alex growled. He laughed, “Aww, did you think that you meant something to me? You were only a way to get to what I wanted.”<br>
“Knife!” Paige said beneath her breath. The knife on the counter turned to blue orbs and appeared in Zoey’s hand.
“You meant nothing to me you pathetic witch,” Alex said with a smile. “I don’t know how Alastor ever put up with you.”<br>
Quick as light Zoey stabbed the knife into Alex’s heart and smiled. “You can thank my ex for that one,” she said and grabbed the cross bow out of his hand. She aimed and pulled the trigger, the arrow striking him in the neck. Alex screamed and burst into bright, vibrant orange flames, then burst. Zoey felt dizzy and felt as if her head was being crushed by heavy stones. She fell to her knees.
Leo quickly healed Chris.
“What the hell is going on?” Piper asked kneeling beside Zoey who was crying out in pain with her hands on her head. “She’s….hurting so much. It won’t stop.”<br>
Piper turned to Phoebe. “Phoebe?”<br>
Zoey screamed, “It hurts so much. The pain, just make it stop. All I want is for it to stop. Just end it all.”<br>
“No Phoebe,” Piper said moving towards her baby sister. “You have to hold on. Do you hear me?”<br>
“It’s too much. The voices they won’t stop- they’ll never stop,” Zoey said. “I can’t.”<br>
“Phoebe you listen to me, you have to hold on,” Paige said firmly. She and Piper were now holding their sister’s hands. Tears in each of their eyes.
“You’re hurting me! Just kill me! End it, please!” Zoey screamed a painful scream and began hitting her head into the cabinet.
Chris rushed over to her and tried to restrain her but she was fighting his grasps. “Make it stop Leo! It’s killing them both.”<br>
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:57:49 GMT -5
“I won’t let you leave me,” Piper said.
“You can’t leave,” Paige said through her tears.
Zoey and Phoebe screamed horrible screams.
Suddenly there was a flash of white light that blinded everyone in the room.
“What the hell just happened?” Paige asked.
Phoebe sat up slowly and rubbed her head, “The voices….they’re gone.”<br>
“What? How?” Piper asked.
A jingle came from above, “I guess you have your answer.”<br>“Leo!” Chris said holding Zoey who was now unconscious.
End of chapter eight
Chapter nine
Zoey was writing in a black journal when Chris came down the stairs. In his hand he carried a brown paper bag. “Hey,” he said.
Zoey smiled and closed her journal, “Hey.”<br>
“Mind if I…?”<br>
“Oh no, go ahead,” she scooted over and made room for him on her bed.
“I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you and Alex.”<br>
She smiled faintly, “No you’re not. You’re just like Jake. Anyways, he’s just another addition to my failed relationships. He’s right under Damien in the psycho boyfriend’s category.”<br>
Chris smiled, “So, how are things between you and Jake now?”<br>
Zoey looked down at her hands and bit her lower lip trying to keep from becoming emotional. “Not so good,” she said quietly, her voice cracking as she fought to hold back tears. “He doesn’t want to talk to me at all. I tried at school and he doesn’t want anything to do with me and I don’t know what happened.” She wiped some tears away, “I don’t know why he’s being like this but I want him back. I hate not talking to him. But he’s made it clear he doesn’t feel the same way.”<br>
Chris put an arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder and cried a little bit. “I’m sure things will work out,” he whispered. “He loves you, you’re his best friend. Things will work out. Give it time.”<br>
Zoey looked up at him and smiled, “You should start charging for all the time spent listening to me.” She hugged him. “Thank you.”<br>
He smiled, “No problem. I might have something that might cheer you up.” He reached into the bag and pulled out a box of fried rice and one of chow mein.
“Oh my gosh, fast food. A taste of the outside world.”<br>
Chris laughed, “Just don’t tell Piper.”<br>
“Promise.” Zoey smiled then fiddled with her chop sticks. “I know you’re not telling us the whole truth, why you are here.”<br>
“You didn’t tell the others did you?”<br>
Zoey shook her head. “No; what’s going on?”<br>
Chris put down his chop sticks, “I can’t tell you because it could change the -”<br>
“Future in ways we don’t want,” she finished for him. “You’re jackets on the sewing chair, so don’t forget it when you leave.”<br>
“You keep it,” he said with a soft smile.
*****
“Knock, knock,” Piper said as she and Paige entered Phoebe’s old room.
“How are you feeling?” Paige asked.
“Like there’s only me inside my head,” Phoebe replied with a tired smile.
“That’s a relief,” Paige said.
Phoebe looked at her, “What?”<br>
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Post by mcharmed21 on Jan 5, 2005 1:58:09 GMT -5
“Yeah, I mean, being close as sisters is good but being that close,” Piper said, “that’s just an entirely different thing.”<br>
“Yeah,” Paige chimed in. “It’s bad enough that we have our own problems, but to have them verbalized…see where I’m going with this?”<br>
The three sisters laughed.
the end
thanks for reading my fan fic. i appreciated the comments.
Coming Soon: In Dreams
It seems like the perfect start to the weekend for the Charmed Ones. With their white lighter gone along with Zoey, the sisters are looking foward to a nice relaxing weekend. Then as they drift off to sleep their nightmares prove more deadly than they could have ever imagined. As each of the charmed one's lives is put at risk, can they be saved before it is too late?
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