Subj: Charmed:New Neighbors Pt.1
Date: 10/11/98 3:40:55 PM Central Daylight Time
From: marcos1

The year 1698

***

Melinda Warren was tied to the stake. The executioner was preparing the fire. She was surrounded by a sea of faces, men, women, and children, faces that were nothing less than family to her. She had tried so hard to love them, to use her powers for their sake. When she was very young, she had thought her powers a blessing. She could move objects with a mere thought, cause the very fabric of time to come to a sudden halt, and her eyes were a window to the future. With that last gift, she had been able to see this day, and predict her own doom.

1998

***

Piper prepared a special meal in the kitchen. It was going to be curry and chicken, topped with peanuts and raisins. She hummed a tune by Tori Amos. She was trying to be happy tonight, this was to be the first meal that she had with her two sisters, since defeating the evil warlock, Jeremy. Jeremy, just thinking that name caused her pain. She had been so proud of her newsreporter boyfriend. But he had been the one---the one that had killed all those witches---killed them for their powers. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She walked down the hallway to answer it, almost tripping over the blue point Siamese cat. That cat---it had appeared almost a week ago wearing a witches symbol around it's neck. She was very fond of it. It was usually so sweet but tonight it seemed angry and afraid---hissing and growling---standing in front of the entrance door. "What is the matter with you? Are you hungry? I will feed you after I see who this is."

Standing in the doorway was a man and woman. The man had dark hair. He was dapper looking and his teeth seemed to shine with a luminescence. The woman was beautiful with long black hair, wearing a short black skirt, long golden earrings hanging from her delicate ears. "Good evening, Miss Halliwell," the man said. "We are your new neighbors. My name is Nicholas Blair and this is my sister Cassandra."

***

Inspector Andy Trudeau kept checking his computer screen. He just couldn't believe what he saw. He had received word about two suspected murderers coming to San Francisco. They were a brother and sister named Nicholas and Cassandra Blair wanted for questioning about the disappearance of a rich Maine businessman named Barnabas Collins. Andy looked up as his boss---Morris entered the room. "You know those two suspects that you told me about."

Morris smiled, "what is it...have you found more witchcraft---please don't tell me that unless you want to go back to handing out parking tickets..." The handsome black Captain was very skeptical about anything involving the supernatural and the recent problem with the murder of witches had put him on edge. Things were getting just too weird around
here.

Andy looked up and grinned. "Well, I guess I won't tell you then." He pushed a button on the computer, a picture of a young looking man and woman appeared on the screen. "Here is Nicholas and Cassandra Blair in 1968." He pushed another button and an almost identical picture appeared next to it. "And here is a picture taken two months ago---of Nicholas and Cassandra Blair." He looked at Morris.

"That is impossible," Morris said, shaking his head. "There is no change---those two people didn't age in thirty years."

"Witchcraft," Andy said, softly. "Witchcraft."

"Look, I don't care about what it is," Morris said. "We have to find them." He cleared his throat. "I just got off the phone with David Collins this morning. He is very upset about the disappearance of his cousin."

"David Collins of Collins Cannery and Collins computers," Andy said. "He is one of the richest men in the world. His virtual reality computer is taking the market by storm."

"Yes, he is definitely a big cheese with very important friends in high places," Morris said. "Now, find those siblings from hell and find them soon."

***

Prue walked through the museum exhibit. She was very proud of it. It was a showcase of Persian artifacts dating from the time of Alexander The Great. It felt good to be here. She wasn't sure if she liked being a witch, but since Phoebe had opened that book---she really didn't have much choice. She could move objects with her mind, Piper could stop time, and Phoebe could see the future. Now, they were bonded together---like never before. The book had said---the power of three can set you free---she hoped that was true. She still had problems with Phoebe. It wasn't that she didn't love her---they were just so different---and felt so very different about their dad. Phoebe could forgive him for leaving them---she just couldn't.

"Alexander conquered most of the known world. He was an amazing man---a man of great passion and fire. He fell in love with a young slave. I really think he would have given up the world to save the boy's life---but even he couldn't save him from sickness. To the people of his world, Alexander was a god," a man standing next to her said softly. He had dark hair and was holding a wolfhead cane.

"Yes, we are very proud of this exhibit," Prue said smiling. "My name is Prue Halliwell. I'm in charge of this exhibit...if you have any questions please ask." She shook her head. "But I don't imagine you will...are you a student of history?"

"The past is very real to me---perhaps too real," he replied with a half smile. "Sometimes, I tend to live in the past." He bowed and kissed her hand. "Please forgive me---my name is Barnabas Collins."

"Welcome to the museum," Prue said. "Like I said, if I can help you with anything..."

"There is something," Barnabas said. "I hope that I'm not being too bold...but would you consider having dinner with me? I'm a stranger in this city...and it seems so big. I'm afraid...I might get hopelessly lost."

Prue thought for a moment. She looked over and saw Roger coming out of his office. He was her ex-fiance. The other day, he had spoken of how much fun he had sleeping with her. He was such a bore---always saying the wrong thing---never speaking of feelings. She looked at Barnabas. He was a handsome man in a certain kind of way. She nodded her head. "Sure, Mr.Collins. My sister Piper is preparing a special meal tonight---she is a chef---would you consider having dinner at my home---with my two sisters and me?"

Barnabas smiled. "That would be perfect and please call me Barnabas. I would really like that."

***

Nicholas and Cassandra sat on the divan. Nicholas looked very upset and worried. "His name is Barnabas Collins. He is a very dangerous creature---known as a vampire," he said.

"So vampires are real?" Piper asked. "But I guess that's a silly question---after all we are witches and very real. I guess anything really is possible..."

"You must be very careful of him," Cassandra added. "He is very handsome and polite. He has broken many a woman's heart." She crossed her legs as her short skirt seemed to raise up her thighs.

"To feed on mortals is his only goal," Nicholas said. "He is motivated by lust and is a killer, that is his nature." He smiled. "If we could have you and your sisters help against him---I think he could be defeated."

Piper looked at the couple. There was just something about those two that made her feel uneasy. "I'm curious---how did you hear about us---being witches---it just happened so recently?"

"There is quite a grapevine among creatures of the supernatural," Nicholas replied. "The news of the three sisters---the most powerful witches of all time---that news spread like wildfire. We guardians of goodness and the white light are quite excited. Now, perhaps we can defeat Barnabas and others of his kind---the evil ones."

Piper smiled politely. She wondered---could these people be trusted?

***

Phoebe sat in her room. She was watching *Sunset Beach*, her favorite soap. Ben had finally seen Maria. She was happy about that---but she felt so sorry for Meg. It must be so hard to be close to finding love and then possibly losing it. She thought about her own life, losing her mother at an early age. Her oldest sister Prue had almost been a mother to Piper and her, but she was such a bitch sometimes. The smell of curry and chicken seemed to filter through the air from the kitchen. She was hungry. She turned off her VCR and started towards the kitchen. She noticed that Piper was talking to two people in the sitting room. She looked at them and her head started to spin---she had a vision of the future....

***

Piper was laying naked on a table, her hands and legs were bound by ropes. There was a trail of blood marking between her breasts. The dark haired man held a double edged knife above her chest, while the dark haired woman was laughing. They were going to kill Piper.

***

"Oh, my, Goddess," Phoebe gasped. "Those people are warlocks." She looked at Piper's smiling face. "But how do I warn her? They are evil---very evil."

To be continued---