Shape of Things to Come Part 2:Times they are changing Chapter 16 Let me speak, sir, For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth. ..........(Henry VII Scene 5 William Shakespeare )

In the dark world of Evil, the minions of the source were constantly plotting and counter-plotting to gain more power, and to raise their place in the hierarchy of evil. Depending on the success of their plots some sects, and some individual demons, gained the Source’s favour and some lost it. Most of these plots involved complicated alliances with other evil sects and higher-level demons. It was the natural order of Evil and all minions understood the game. All lived in the hope, the dream of rising to the highest echelon of power, just as the once time lord Tempus had emerged as Source.

The demon-world survived and fell by the success of alliances between sects. It was customary, even expected, that alliances would be unequal, and that partners would exploit each other’s weaknesses to increase their own evil and power. Therefore, throughout the history of demondom, the great upper-level demons employed all manner of evil creatures both as allies and vanquish fodder. The Great Demons fought their battles exploiting mercenary sects such as razors, darklighters, trolls, firebreathers, goblins, gorgons, and hardcore brigands. These warrior clans in turn, made alliances with the most powerful upper-levels of demondom so that as the Furies and Slimes had done, they rose in the ranks of Evil. Even low-level clans such as imps, sludges, and spites were all abused and mostly discarded by upper-level demons in the hope that they could rise in the demon hierarchies.

Some sects gained status in the demon ranks by collecting evil souls that lost their mortality and fell into bondage to avoid the horror of the great demon pits. Other sects won power by making Faustian deals with mortals, then collecting these souls and selling their services as Grunts to the great demons until, no longer useful, these lost ones were vanquished into obliteration or stored in the Great Pits, waiting the source’s pleasure. Demon-masters often ordered the smartest of these grunts to infiltrate mortal communities, because they were clever and desperate enough to undertake the subtle work that Tempus so valued. These captives followed the dark and vile orders of the upper-level demon-masters hoping to find power and evil enough to escape their bondage, as their masters made alliances renting them to other sects. Despite the pain of serving demon masters, many of these lost souls held some hope of survival because trading souls and infiltrating grunts was a slow expensive business for demon masters. Therefore, they were highly valued by all levels of demondom. The wilful destruction that Briareos had imposed on the grunts of both the Renove and the Brotherhood had shocked the underworld.

The spectacular clash in the Earth realms between the Renove allies and the Brotherhood grunts in San Francisco, and the one in India, the so-called student riots, actually a battle between Briareos’ allies, the Agures and Renoves which completely and publicly gutted the Renoves, were a betrayal of all the order that demons understood. Those who plotted and planned for more power and more Evil, now had to react to the spectacular rise of a new demon, who not only changed the brokerage of power but ignored the most sacred of the new Source’s rules, by openly engaging the Charmed witches.

Demons at all levels were confused, and uncertain, especially those sects that had spent years following Tempus demands for subtlety and regarded their in-place grunts as one of their great paths to power and evil. Those demons which came to prominence under the previous source and whose sects were now in decline, were totally confused as to how to regain Tempus favour, which was exactly what the new Source wanted, had they known.

Some demons informed Tempus of the new demon Briareos’ transgressions. As they did so, using every nuance they could to discredit the new demon Briareos without in any way implying any criticism of the Source of all Evil, Tempus’ pale eyes narrowed and he occasionally nodded. For the sake of form, the Source of all Evil blasted a few of the informers into the pits. Tempus even had a few moments of satisfaction as scions of the old demon sects, watching brethren destroyed fell into orgies of fear and grovelled at his feet.

To increase his pleasure at their impotent anger, Tempus summoned Briareos to his presence, giving the minions hope for a few seconds that the Source would blast the upstart demon to the pits of hell again. The new demon materialised, unobstructed by demon rivals, in a burst of the quite deep crimson light of the upper-demon that was as many demons noted now heavily tinged with magenta confirming that Briareos had extracted the powers of the Renove allies that he destroyed.

Tempus gently reprimanded Briareos for exposing Evil, wagging a bony finger at the still new demon. However, Tempus was no more than a mildly disapproving father, admonishing an errant child for rash bravery that he wholeheartedly approved. All the assembled upper-level demons, who by now had frequently witnessed Tempus brutally sending minions to their doom at the smallest infringement or irritation knew that Briareos was a demon on the rise.

Not that Tempus would show weakness by overlooking the disobedience of his minions. There had after all been an open confrontation in the mortal realms, in the face of Tempus direct orders to refrain. In the world of demons, someone or something was always to blame which was why Briareos had made alliances with other demon sects.

Briareos, aware of the impotent anger of the demons that surrounded him stood to the side of Tempus throne, a benign smile on his face as Tempus summoned the remaining leaders of the Renove, blasted them into the pits and took anything left of their powers. As a mark of favour, Briareos received the long-lusted after shimmering power and the ability to throw fireballs, that represented the status of an upper-level demon. However, the powers of Sensing, the ability to locate and find persons or objects and the Summoning that Tempus well-knew Briareos also lusted after, the Source kept to himself. Tempus was amused to watch Briareos on his knees, making gestures of gratitude as the new demon barely held back his anger and lack of satisfaction. Tempus just avoided outright rebellion by granting the new demon all the Renoves remaining grunts with their added powers and network of infiltrations into the world of education but the loss of the Sensing and Summoning power made Briareos expression of gratitude barely coherent.

Nor to his dismay, did Tempus grant Briareos any extra protection. That he would have to find for himself, and he would need protection. As Tempus knew, not all the Renove upper-level demons answered his summons. Some had powers that protected them from answering such calls, and there were also those outside the demonic and earthen realms when the call came. These survivors would not have an easy time of it, sentenced to hide from Tempus’ power-seekers and bounty hunters but Tempus knew, as soon as the disgraced Renove found a semblance of safety, they would plot revenge on the new demon Briareos.

Tempus finally dismissed his court, with some momentary satisfaction because as Briareos shimmered away flashing the magenta light of his absorbed Renove powers in his shimmer the sycophants of the Source were left angry and resentful. Tempus himself shimmered away in the blinding deep dark crimson flash of the Source of all Evil. He materialised in his private lair, to contemplate and enjoy the despair of those sects whose allegiance to him was not wholehearted. For a short time, his satisfaction increased as he contemplated their pain and frustration, but soon, as by now Tempus knew it would, the satisfaction was replaced by the overwhelming demonic fear of loss if his plans failed.

As Tempus prowled his lair, alternating between satisfaction at the pain he had caused and fear of the cost, demons who witnessed Briareos triumph were left in the Great Hall to ponder the consequences of Briareos elevation. Brotherhood representatives, on the outer, since Tempus took his throne but too powerful to completely ignore, stood some distance from the Source as he rewarded their supposed ally Briareos for massacring many of their grunts, and destroying years of work to infiltrate the Halls of Mortal Learning. However, knowing their very status in Evil was at risk because of Tempus bitterness at their actions since he took power, they wisely did not complain of their losses. Instead, they bitterly applauded the new demon for his actions, even trying to take some credit from their ally, to his annoyance. As Tempus smirked on his throne, members of the Brotherhood knelt at his feet acknowledging their role in the massacre. Their success was limited however. Tempus had not been noticeably impressed by their actions, and other demons noted that the Brotherhood had received no rewards, when Tempus distributed the Renove powers, a sure sign of the source’s low regard for the sect.

Standing at the back of the Brotherhood ranks and observing, the machinations of the demon court, was the demon Elisheeva, whose mortal form was known as Elizabeth Turner. Of all the Brotherhood, with her connections to the Charmed witches and the myths of her legendary son Belthezor, she should have been the least welcome near Tempus. However, over the past few years, she had wheedled her way into the Source’s good graces, a little, by providing a supporting voice when the source had put the fear of hell into some of the others in her sect. And, Tempus had noted, as had many before him, Elisheeva was a very beautiful and charming demon. Elisheeva had managed to become close enough to Tempus inner circle, to suggest that an attack on her could be interpreted as an attack on Tempus, so now she lived a half-life between the great power that was just out of her reach and the memories of her once vast influence on the Brotherhood.

These days she openly denied her connection to the legendary demon Belthezor, scorning the legend of the Great Betrayer as a mere myth, her denials unchallenged because there was no longer any record of him in the demonic Books of Deeds. However, there were breathing members of the Brotherhood who knew too well that whatever had caused Belthezor to be struck from the records of demondom, he truly had existed. There were those still who remembered him well. Some even knew that at least for part of his life Belthezor had betrayed Evil in the worst possible way. He had been Good. They also remembered that Elisheeva had not only claimed to be the half-mortal’s mother, she was, and they still angrily blamed her connections to the legend and the Charmed Ones for their fall from grace with Tempus.

After Tempus dismissed his court, senior members of the Brotherhood of the Thorn met in their ancient stronghold, in the depths of the underworld, to contemplate the recent events that had led to Briareos spectacular rise in demondom. Despite their words to Tempus, the Brotherhood did not believe that the events at the San Francisco university were of any real gain to them because they were not a sect that benefited from exposure. Long before Tempus had embarked on his campaign of subtilty and infiltration, the Brotherhood had built their power on it. Afterall, they had fast-tracked the demon Belthezor into a law degree and used it to place him into the San Francisco district attorney’s office, in what at the time seemed a brilliant move to take down the Charmed Ones. One that had spectacularly failed as the Great Betrayer lived up to his reputation.

Now their alliance with Briareos left the Brotherhood facing failure they had not seen since the days of Belthezor. Their evil was exposed, they had every reason to believe that Good would learn that they were part of the conspiracy, and target them. As well, thanks to the paranoia of the Renoves over the Charmed Ones, many of their carefully nurtured infiltrators were exposed and vanquished. These minions were not even sent to the depths of hell where there was a possibility they could be retrieved, but disappeared into the land of the beasts, their powers lost to Evil and more importantly the Brotherhood. Worse in the view of demons to whom status and respect born of fear was their whole existence, Briareos exposed the Brotherhood to scorn and derision because he had so easily provoked them into openly attacking the Renoves.

Still there was some hope. Given the resources of the new demon compared to the ancient sect, it was highly doubtful that Briareos could obliterate the Brotherhood. However, the new demon’s manipulation had severely reduced their legend, and combined with Tempus open hostility, the sect leaders, like all demons, quick to recognise any reduction to their status, were terrified.

Adding further to the brotherhood’s humiliation, they realised that Briareos open warfare plans endangered more of their carefully placed infiltrators, risking a huge resource because San Francisco, indeed California, indeed the United States, were very profitable territory for the Brotherhood. Simply breaking the alliance with Briareos was not an option because with Tempus only mildly reproofing him but at the same time making his support clear, the Brotherhood knew to openly break with the Source’s favourite was to risk overtly breaking with the Source. Tempus power gains over the past years meant open confrontation with him was very unhealthy. If Tempus publicly turned his wrath on the sect, it would not be just their carefully planted and expensive grunts that were lost. It would be the sect leaders and Tempus would take their considerable power to himself. Witness the fate of the Renove leaders, they told each other.

Gathered in their lair after witnessing just how far Briareos had risen, the Brotherhood leaders, relatively confident that they were hidden from any manner of prying magic, but not, unbeknown to them that of a powerful ex-demon Guardian watcher, reviewed the horror of their mistakes and just how unwise this alliance with the new demon was. They also realised how cursedly lucky they were that the Renoves had started the fight.

The Brotherhood Powers that Be were anxious to find a scapegoat. As once again their fall was at the hands of the Charmed Ones, they tried to blame Elisheeva. However, the demon Elisheeva was not a fool and as her son had once noted when cornered by her enemies she was at her most dangerous. Without acknowledging the links to her, now, not so well-beloved in-laws, she suggested that it was not the alliance that was at fault but the management of it, smirking at the Brotherhood leaders who had endorsed it. She agreed the alliance made sense because Briareos was an up-and-coming demon, but insisted if the game was well-played it would be Briareos who was lost not the Brotherhood.

“Tell that to the Renove” said one of the leaders who had been closest to Briareos and saw itself in great danger.

“Plenty more sects that Tempus wants gone. Plenty more allies” Elisheeva told them “Let the accursed pope make as many allies as he likes. Let him to try and take their powers. What the Renoves failed to do was make themselves necessary to his plans. The fools made themselves expendable.”

“That accursed bastard dweller of the pits encouraged it” said one of the demons who had been in the forefront of the alliance.

“So he was clever” Elisheeva shrugged airily, appearing in her mortal form because the demonic form would have been understood as a sign of aggression. “We are more clever. We ensure Tempus needs the Brotherhood more than Briareos but we take advantage of the bastard pit dweller’s successes and when he goes and he will, we take what he leaves behind.”

“Tempus may not agree to that” said the demon who led the alliance. “He does not want us now, why would he want us in the future.”

“Tempus would have to know” Elisheeva snarked. “We have kept our…secrets from Sources before. And he will want us because he will need us to manage the new evil. We just ensure our leadership stands firm in the face of the bastard pit dweller’s insolence.”

A certain noise of agreement came from her brethren.

One of the demons who had led the alliance, a wily creature who had lived through several sources was fighting for its life. “Perhaps we need a change of …leadership in the alliance” it suggested “After all this chaos came from suggestions of our connection to the demon Elisheeva’s accursed relatives. Rather than fight the connection and its consequences we should take advantage of it. Those accursed witches can tempt the damned bastard as others before him. Let him work with someone who understands them.”

The eyes of her brotherhood brethren turned to Elisheeva. The demon Elisheeva, known as Elizabeth Turner was always at her best when cornered. “I welcome the opportunity” she smirked, tossing her peekaboo hairstyle from her eyes.

……………………………………

Late on Saturday afternoon, the four youngest Halliwells were all at home after spending the day absorbed in their particular interests. Melinda had gone to the zoo with her friends. She had been extremely disappointed when Aunt Phoebe just said have a nice day, and Uncle Cole had put his hand on Piper’s shoulder to stop her objecting, whilst Dad just appeared worried. Melinda guessed that had all had a ‘discussion’ about dealing with her tantrums and to her annoyance must have decided that not provoking her was the best option.

Both boys had been off on their bicycles, taking photographs. Wyatt had a project where he took photos of people and then just judging by what he saw he assigned fanciful biographies to them, which the people photographed may not have appreciated. Patsy’s present interest was taking pictures of ships in the harbour and doing unusual things with the details and angles.

Mandy had spent most of the day riding with her friends. Although she not appreciate it, Cole gave her more time with the horses by shimmering her to the stables. She had told him precisely what her friends would think if they saw her caught up in ‘icky’ magic.

Cole found himself trying to remember how to not be in insulted when in the past her aunts had made less than flattering remarks about his efforts to help them. He swallowed down any hurt and calmly asked her quietly whether she wanted to go or not.

“Just don’t get seen by my friends” Mandy ordered him before clutching her riding helmet tightly she reluctantly let him take her free hand.

Cole managed to slip into the stables where the owner Blanche was far too busy with horses and clients to worry how Mandy had arrived. Mandy clutching her riding helmet immediately let go Cole’s hand. Cole as a good father made sure Blanche did know Mandy was present which he knew Mandy resented because she turned her back on him.

The family did trust Blanche with Mandy, partly through observation, partly through her reputation and partly because Cole had checked if she had any magic connections. However, one of the reasons he was Mandy’s ride was that he still kept watch on Blanch just in case some demons came close. Blanche was a middle-aged woman who loved horses and people who loved horses and was only passably liked people who were not horsey because they sometimes had children who did love horses. Phoebe strongly suspected Mandy not being thrilled about parental supervision near her beloved horses reflected how Blanche felt about parents. Blanche did not ban parents, but she made a very strong point of ordering them away from what she called influencing.

“Your child is participating in one of the most dangerous sports there is. If you can’t accept the risks don’t start them with horses” she told parents. “And don’t distract them when they’re around horses. Worst falls and injuries I’ve seen is when mommy and daddy start yelling orders and the kids get distracted.”

In the face of Mandy’s passion, Phoebe decided that it was likely that Mandy would have to take magic risks in the future, so it was important her daughter learned to manage risk, although Piper always worried about Mandy getting hurt, every time she went to the stables. There had been a few injuries which Paige fixed twice and Mark once, so Piper would not find out.

That day Mandy was having a riding lesson then planning to spend a happy day under Blanche’s supervision washing and grooming all the horses. She most emphatically did not want her father ‘interfering’ by staying to watch. After reporting to Blanche, Cole said goodbye to Mandy who was engrossed in an animated discussion with her friends, about whether mares or geldings were better to ride. Mandy muttered goodbye and turned away.

“Geldings” Cole thought, “My eleven-year-old little girl is talking about geldings.”

He told her what time he would return, and Mandy half nodded. Cole walked away knowing that when he did return, it would no longer be his best girl running to tell daddy of the wonderful day she had had, but a resentful Mandy blaming him for removing her from her friends and horses.

Cole found a safe place to shimmer away. He tried to recall when Melinda had turned from a cute, loving little girl, who only wanted cuddles and being the centre of adult attention, to a prickly, annoying semi-teenager who resented any form of supervision, and therefore any form of adult presence and adult restriction in her life and was not afraid to say so. He regretfully decided that it was when Melinda was eleven or twelve, Mandy’s age. He remembered how Phoebe told the family it was normal, and indeed a necessary part of growing up when Melinda tested and expanded her boundaries, and she would say the same thing about Mandy. He thought that Phoebe was right, but he still hated the reality that his little girl was growing up.

When he collected Mandy in the late afternoon, Cole was correct that she was not pleased to see him. She was wet, grubby, and happy after washing and grooming horses all day, and very cross the day was over. Cole shimmered Mandy into the Manor kitchen, where Leo was sitting having a quiet moment with a beer. Two of the dogs were lying beside him. He watched Mandy clutching her riding hat hard drop Cole’s hand and rush to her room to change her wet clothes and presumably collect her computer so she could jump online and talk to her friends about horses.

Cole went to the kitchen door. “Bring that computer downstairs” he yelled after her.

No answer.

Without a word Leo stood up and went to the refrigerator where he removed a full-strength beer and handed it to Cole who sighed as he accepted it.

Leo understood. It was only three years or so ago when he had reluctantly accepted that it would be some time before he saw his daddy’s best girl again. As he was in theory babysitting, because Piper was resting, preparing for a long night at P3 and Phoebe was working on her manuscript, after a few minutes companiable silence with Cole, Leo went into the parlour to check on the youngsters. Part of the deal to make Piper rest, was that he could say he had kept an eye on them.

Patsy and Wyatt were both working away at their computers at the dining room table. A surreptitious walk past, allowed Leo to see that it was not homework. Both boys were absorbed by the photos they had taken that afternoon, some Leo noted proudly quite good. Mandy was curled up on a chair in the conservatory, locked onto her computer. At least she was still doing as she was told, even if it annoyed her. Unlike Melinda. Melinda sat on the sofa, two cats on her lap. She glared at her father, making sure Dad knew just how angry she was with him over the ruckus every time the word zoo came up, and it had come up a considerable number of times that week.

Seeing all children settled down with regrettably sugary drinks and relatively healthy Piper approved snacks designed to not ruin meals, Leo went back to the kitchen.

“All quiet” he told Cole “No junk food. Piper will be happy.”

“They’ll get enough tonight” Cole sighed. “Then she won’t be happy.”

Courtesy of an insurance company he had sued for damages that had, without argument, paid up, Cole had given himself a bonus and was once again taking the family to dinner, to make up for the lousy week they all had. Despite, or because of Piper being a fabulous chef, going out to dinner for the kids meant the junkiest junk food on the menu.

“Piper resting?” Cole asked.

Leo nodded. “Have another beer. Phoebe’s writing” he added.

Cole got the beers. Interrupting Phoebe when she was writing was a recipe for disaster.

Back in the parlour, it was relatively quiet except for the girl’s murmured voices as they chatted with friends. As orbs sounded all four looked up suspiciously because over the years some unpleasant family scenes had occurred when not so friendly whitelighters and Elders had orbed. The family were uncertain that inheriting the distrust of whitelighters was a good thing, except for Phoebe who was adamant it was healthy, but the damage was done. Whitelighters were generally not popular with the Halliwell family.

All four then relaxed a little as they realised it was it was Mark. The younger family members had mixed feelings about Mark. The Simpsons were happy he made Paige happy, but they also saw her loneliness when he was not around, so they were inclined to feel Paige could have done better. For his part Mark kept the familiar but distant association any whitelighter would make between witches and family. He was friendly enough, came to some family celebrations and certainly was never anything but supportive of their magic but he made it clear, they were not his charges and they needed to rely on Caleb.

For the Halliwell children he had been around all their lives, but as with the Simpson family, he refused to take on anything like the role of Uncle Mark. He was a friend of the family, someone their parents liked and respected but there was always a little distance in his individual relations with the youngsters. Accordingly, they accepted his presence as normal, part of the furniture almost.

The boys nodded to him, and Mandy went back to her computer, whitelighters knew nothing about horses.

Melinda stared up at him disdainfully “Mom is upstairs resting” she informed Mark “Aunt Phoebe is writing. Dad and Uncle Cole are having a beer in the kitchen. Dad had a beer in his hand when he checked on me…us,” she snapped.

“Okay” Mark answered neutrally “Thanks.”

“Aunt Paige is next door” Patsy told him suspiciously.

“No, she’s not” Mark answered casually. “She’s in Prague. Talking things over with some young witches who saw their first upper-level demon today.”

“Oh” scowled Melinda resentfully “You hear to lecture…Mom and Aunt Phoebe...them all… about” she swallowed “all the problems this week.”

“No” Mark responded, ignoring the resentment in her voice “Just visiting Paige.”

Melinda took a deep breath “That whitelighter Caleb, was yelling…at Charlie and Fern a couple of days ago” she told him belligerently.

“I’m sure they yelled back” Mark replied smiling quietly.

“They did” Patsy answered while Melinda glared at Mark’s calmness as he walked toward the kitchen.

Melinda stood up “You here to yell at me of about the zoo? For being stupid about magic? Mom call you?” she demanded, getting to the cause of her resentment.

“No” Mark countered as he turned back “Were you stupid about magic?” he asked mildly, disinterested.

“No” insisted Melinda defiantly, then her angry face crumpled a little. “But…” she hesitated “Mom thinks I’m going to be.” She planted her feet ready to fight him.

Mark leaned against the hallway door jam. Very carefully, he casually spoke. “Piper doesn’t think you’re going to do something stupid about magic.”

Melinda, hands on her hips, glared at him in disbelief. “Huh” she snarled.

Mark ignored it. Very slowly and softly he explained “Piper is frightened you’ll do something stupid. There’s a difference. One is being a mom, the other is a problem. If there is no problem” he continued even more quietly, “the best thing you can do for her is give her some room to be a worrying mom because you can’t stop her worrying.”

Melinda eyed him partly suspicious, partly understanding. Finally, she swallowed hard and all but whispered “Mom wouldn’t be mom if she didn’t worry about everything.”

“Tell me about it” grinned Mark. He went to move past the dining room table when Patsy stopped him “You here about things this week?” he asked carefully.

“Nope” Mark answered easily. “Just going to grab a beer with your fathers, until Paige gets here.”

“The FBI were here” Patsy told him while Wyatt looked up watching carefully. “They took mom to their headquarters.”

Mark noted both boys and Melinda watching his reaction carefully. “You dad/uncle will take care of that” he told them.

“So, it’s not a problem?” asked Patsy doubtfully.

Mark thought about it. “It’s a problem” he answered truthfully “But Cole will fix it. Probably enjoy screwing them over.”

“Uncle Cole likes doing that” conceded Wyatt. He glanced toward Mandy chatting away in the conservatory “Don’t want to worry the kid” he whispered.

“Good for you” Mark answered carelessly. After a slight touch on Patsy and then Wyatt’s shoulder he went into the kitchen.

Cole and Leo were still drinking their beers. Mark went over to the refrigerator and took one.

“Paige is next door” Cole informed him.

“She’s in Prague” said Mark “I need a beer. The elder blocks are on, aren’t they?” Both Cole and Leo nodded. “It’s been a bitch of a week” he said glugging the beer down.

“Tell me about it” Cole agreed.

“Not going to get better this week,” Leo added.

“Tell me about it” replied Mark sitting at the kitchen table.

“So” snickered Cole because he enjoyed baiting Mark on his whitelighter work. “How come you had to orb into the parlour? Sneaking up on people or couldn’t find the kitchen?”

“Better landing” Mark explained softly as both Cole and Leo snorted.

The rest of the weekend passed relatively quietly. Cole ended up paying about three times more than he planned for the junk food dinner, because Donald and his girlfriend arrived, and Robbie as well, not saying but apparently concerned for their sisters. The three girls were going clubbing again. Fern wanted to catch up with some man she had met the previous week, and Leslie wanted Charlie doing something non-witchy. They all decided to join the meal before going off, and Paige when she discovered all the Simpson’s were there, went too.

It did turn out that Donald had an extra reason for joining the group. He wanted to tell his sisters that their father visited him complaining bitterly about them and magic because their coven had warned him of some demonic activity.

“Dad thinks it was threat not a warning” Donald explained.

Paige glanced at Phoebe who sighed “Probably was” she answered.

Sunday was relatively uneventful. Phoebe was in a writing frenzy and locked herself away. Piper and Leo went back to P3 to discuss some more renovations when no-one was around, and Paige and Mark visited New York just to be together. Robbie agreed to take the boys on a long bike ride and talked Leslie into dropping them all off a considerable distance away. Phoebe ordered Piper not to worry.

Mandy, still knowing the effectiveness little girl hugs on fathers, talked Cole into returning her to the stables, and Melinda decided fighting her mother was one thing, worrying her was another joined her, so Cole had to pay up for both to go riding. He also had to drive them because Piper insisted shimmering was a bad example for Melinda. He left the girls alone and apparently Melinda refrained from any cracks about making slaves of animals and both were happy when he collected them.

In fact, it would have been a calm end to the week, if Caleb had not visited the Simpson witches on Sunday night, to deliberately impress on them the dangers of magic at the present time. He meticulously listed all the riots and conflicts that had been happening around the worlds in the last week, assuring them pompously that the Elders were convinced they were mostly demon inspired. Then he methodically explained the great dangers to magic and impressed on the young witches that they must not act without due and careful consultation with him and the Elders.

On hearing of the visit, Paige immediately spoke to her sisters. Piper rather angrily called Mark, her arms crossed and foot tapping demanding why he had not told them the same information.

Mark shrugged. “I thought you didn’t want me telling you what you already know” he replied softly.