A/N: So I'm sorry that I didn't update sooner. I really wanted to add more to this chapter but it seemed determined to be short and sweet. I'm thinking this story arc is going to come to an end soon before the story escalates toward the main plot...killing the source, blooming romance, etc. etc. The good thing is that this story arc was actually a diversion and I had originally wrote about ten chapters and went back in and added the last nine chapters as the story unfolded in my mind, so there're a good four chapters already done. Once I finish up with this subplot I should be able to throw you those chapters really quickly.

"The only problem with that," Prue said, "is that the ancestors who would be of the most help –Phoebe, Pearl and Priscilla—have all been reincarnated into our present selves. We could use some firsthand experience on the matter but all we're going to get are second hand accounts. I mean, Phoebe and Priscilla didn't even mention the prophecy to Grams or Mom so clearly they wanted to keep it a secret. Lord only knows what they might have done to actually keep it."

"If you weren't here in the astral plane you could cast the past life spell I wrote," Phoebe suggested. "You would have to modify it for yourself but you could find out more about the prophecy from being Phoebe again. We need to work on finding out how to get you back to your body."

"Well," Grams said, "thank the powers that be that the preservation spell we cast is working to keep your body safe until you get back. We still don't know if there's a being out there trying to make its way into your body and now that we know that you're a prophet we have a motive for why this has happened to you. Finding whoever did this to you should be easier; it must be someone with something to gain from all of your divine knowledge as a prophet. Someone who is looking to tap into that power," she expanded on her reasoning.

"So basically anyone," Phoebe said giving her grandmother some lip. "That doesn't exactly narrow down the list of potentials."

"No," Patty agreed, "but it does have to be someone with the ability to hide future knowledge of events because the man Paige saw managed to make her forget about ever seeing him. That takes a lot of psychic ability," she reminded her daughters.

"So the list of things we need to figure out includes," Prue reiterated, "a male with psychic ability, the ability to mask or hide things, and possibly the desire to possess my body to gain access to future knowledge. Who in the Book of Shadows matches that list," she murmured, flipping the pages as she once again forgot about the others in the room.

"And that there are two aspects to the prophecy," Patty reminded everyone. "Not only about your status as a prophet, but also about this ritual that will be performed next month when the sabbat occurs."

"To evoke the Goddess," Grams elaborated, pacing the floor as she tapped a fingertip to her lips. "Could that be why you're stuck here on the astral plane? Someone doesn't want you to figure it out or performing the ritual," she theorized. "But what would evoking the Goddess do to cause such a commotion?"

"Well, if Prue is a prophet," Phoebe began, "and this ritual evokes the Goddess, couldn't we assume that Prue would have more access to divine knowledge during the sabbat? Maybe whoever did this to her doesn't want her to figure out what the Goddess would tell her."

"Bravo," he clapped coming forward and the four women changed stances. Patty immediately moved in front of her daughters, holding them at bay while Penny motioned to throw him into a wall. "Sorry my Dear, but the puny little witch powers you possess are of no consequence to me. I knew you were bright, Prudence, but I didn't think you or your family could put it together so easily. Then again, it was much simpler to keep my presence hidden from you when the lesser psychic was still living and I didn't have to worry about Phoebe tuning in to my energy."

"Hey," Phoebe protested, not liking the idea of being less than Paige.

"You're the shadow being I saw earlier," Prue accused. "You've been here longer than just sticking me in the astral plane."

"That's right," the tall, dark haired man said, moving to sit down before addressing the women again. "I've been watching you ever since Phoebe said the spell to unleash all your powers."

"Because you want to stop the ritual," Phoebe said and moved to her sister's side, taking her hand. "But that's not going to happen."

"On the contrary; I would love nothing more than to see this ritual take place. It's the others you have to worry about," he said rubbing his nails on his shirt before bothering to gaze back in their direction. "Did you really think I would be the only one to know about Prudence's destiny?"

"If you're not here to stop the ritual than why separate Prue from her body," Patricia asked, still wary of this man.

"And while we're on the subject," Grams interjected, "of these beings who don't want the ritual to happen and your unappreciated intervening on Prue's behalf, would you mind introducing yourself? I'd like to know who we're doing business with," she said through suspicious eyes.

Laughing, he rose before heading to the ornate podium that held that Halliwell Book of Shadows. "I guess that's not too much to ask." He held out a hand to Prue and looked her in the eye. "You can call me Ace."

Piper held Prue's hand. With every minute that passed she became more aware of the possibility that she was going to lose another sister and this time there would be no hidden siblings coming out of the woodwork.

It was the early hours of the morning and Leo was still up with the Elders trying to figure out who could have possibly done this. Paige was napping on the couch and the manor was silent.

Silence. That was all she had to look forward to it seemed. Piper stifled a cry. She had always known that she and her sisters couldn't live together forever, but the idea of losing two sisters and the very real possibility of losing her husband and the ability to have children were infusing her with fear.

She didn't want to be left alone.

Paige had been so tired that she hadn't even felt her eyes close or her body lean over the arm of the couch. Now, opening her eyes, she yawned and scanned for Piper.

"Piper," she called in a melodic voice, her fingers trailing along the furniture. There was no answer.

No one in the foyer or kitchen, the young novice climbed the staircase making her way to the attic. Something was different. Something just wasn't quite right here. Paige stopped to glance back over her shoulder.

It was like the air was different, as if there were none; no reason to fill lungs, pump blood. Her body seemed lighter and a golden stream of sunlight suddenly brightened the entire house. Paige had only ever felt like this once before, when she had actually been successful at following Leo's directions on meditation. It felt like inner peace; enlightenment.

"Paige," the air crackled with newly released energy. Beckoned, Paige followed the voice to her bedroom; to Phoebe's bedroom. Carefully, she pushed the door open and peered through so as not to be surprised.

Ben sat behind his desk writing checks for various bills. This was not the life he thought he was going to have. Granted, he enjoyed the work and felt a sense of purpose again. He got to use his own business savvy as well as his law degree to make sure everything ran smoothly. It was just a little bit lonely.

Not that he expected any different with Phoebe's death. Her love had awakened his humanity and with her passing he didn't know if he could manage on his own. Prue and Piper had been amazingly accepting and for the first time in his life he knew what it meant to have family.

He didn't want to put them in jeopardy. Ben had thought that once Inspector Lopez had ceased investigating him that he would have room to move around. Eventually a time would come when he would have to stop relying on the sisters, but the visit he received yesterday had set back his plans. Cole Turner was officially the murder suspect in Phoebe's case.

It changed things. Phoebe's case was now high profile since the investigation had grown cold and it seemed federal agents were taking over. The newspaper and local television stations were publicizing the tragic story and new theories were being spread about what really happened that day at 1329 Prescott Street. And now he would have to stick close to the Halliwell family either to protect them, or for his own protection.

He just wondered how long it would be before this investigation destroyed all of them. Ben hoped Prue would find a way back soon. She always knew how to handle things.

"So why separate me from my body," Prue demanded. "If you want so badly for the ritual to occur then what do you hope to gain from this?"

Ace's eyes burned with desire; desire to see his will done; to gain power over his enemies. "I want an alliance."