Free Charmed: Let Gorgons Be Gorgons by Paul Ruditis

for now,” Prue said, more to Coop than anyone else. “We can stand to split up our resources. We’ll call you if we need you.”
    “I’m going to go see if the Book of Shadows has any suggestions,” Piper said, trying to move the conversation forward. “Maybe come up with some suspects of our own before someone else is turned to stone.”
    “I’ll check in with Henry,” Paige said. “See if any other mysterious statues have been reported to the police.”
    “And I’ll go back to work on my puzzle.” Prue leaned over the table. “I’ve almost got the entire sky complete.”
    Piper shot her sister a look. “Prue.”
    “Just kidding,” Prue said. “I’ll consult the library here. There’s got to be something in one of the books this place conjured up. Turning people to stone is pretty basic magic. It happens enough in mythology, fairy tales, and our own personal history that we probably have any number of possibilities to choose from. You focus on your thing. We’ve got this.”
    Phoebe looked up at her husband and squeezed his hand. “Sounds like everyone’s got their marching orders. To the
Bay Mirror
, if you please.”
    Coop shook his head, but beamed them out of Prue’s home without another word.
    “We’ll be back soon,” Piper said as she took Paige’s arm and they orbed back to the Manor.
    Piper went straight for the Book of Shadows as they arrived in the attic. By now she had the book pretty much memorized, but new entries still popped up occasionally, which made it worth browsing whenever a magical issue came up. She began with the Titans, just to see if there was anything they might have missed. Greek mythology was rife with people being turned to stone. It was as good a place as any to start.
    As she reached the page on the Titans, she realized that Paige was still in the attic, standing at the door that opened the portal to Magic School.
    “We can get Leo on research in the school library when he returns,” Piper said. “You should go see Henry.”
    “That’s not it,” Paige said. “I was thinking, I can’t just keep orbing everyone across the globe when they feel like visiting Prue. Maybe there’s a way to make a portal to the Nexus. She could use the company.”
    Piper joined her sister at the door. “That would be great. Do you think we can do it?”
    “Beats me,” Paige said. “I’m still not sure what that Nexus can or can’t control.”
    “None of us are,” Piper agreed with a shiver.
    “And that’s what I’m worried about,” Paige said.
    “You felt it too?” Piper tentatively asked. “Something is… off there?”
    “The whole place is off if you ask me,” Paige said. “But yeah. I felt something weird when Prue tried to boost our power with the Nexus. It wasn’t the first time I felt weird while we used our magic there.”
    “Glad to know it’s not just me,” Piper replied. “But maybe it’s just because we’re not used to it yet. If we can get some kind of portal going there, it might make us all more comfortable with the place.”
    “It’s worth a try,” Paige said. “Anything that will make life easier would be good. I’ll check in with Henry and then we can try some experiments.”
    “That should be fun,” Piper said dryly.
    Paige smiled. “I know. What could possibly go wrong?”

Chapter 8
    Coop and Phoebe beamed into her office at the newspaper, making sure that they stayed away from the windows when they appeared. It was as discreet an entrance as two people accompanied by a bright pink glow could make and one they got away with far more often than they should have. Most of the reporters in the bullpen were usually too busy to notice that Phoebe hadn’t passed through on her way to her desk. Who knew what they thought of the light that came through her windows? Or if they even noticed it at all.
    “I’ll go check in at work,” Coop said as he leaned in for a kiss. “See if they know anything.”
    Phoebe’s lips met his and