The Worse of Both Worlds
Chapter I
"Hey what are you thinking about?" Cole asked softly.
Phoebe, pulled out of her reveries, turned to him with a smile.
"Oh, just how lucky we are..."
"I'm the lucky one," Cole said, pulling her toward him.
"There's something I've been wondering about though… Why did you think I was more vulnerable than my sisters at first?"
Cole grimaced, not really enthusiastic about the subject.
"You don't really wanna talk about that, do you?"
"Yes I really do…"
Cole sighed.
"If you really, really have to know…"
"Hey, you're intriguing me now."
"Those people were not we; there's no point in rehashing this…"
"What? Come on; tell me."
Cole gave her a slightly annoyed glance before answering.
"You know you're very curious."
"Admit it, you love it about me."
"Now I'm not so sure," Cole teased.
"Come on, stop fussing and tell me."
"You won't like it…" Cole added more seriously.
"I'm a horror movie fan, remember?"
"Alright, but you asked for it…"
'He had been watching her for quite a while, the plan forming in his mind slowly, but intensely. He was wondering to himself why he chose such an approach. Was it really that he thought it to be a full proof plan, or was there something more to the direction he was taking? "No matter," Cole told himself again, "why shouldn't I enjoy the work?"
He had to admit that she was breathtaking. Evil had never produced such beauty, and then he pondered, "will she keep that freshness when I'm done with her? If not," he answered himself, "I'll have had some fun along the way." That was really all that mattered here too, wasn't it?
Today was the day he chose to put his plan into action. And even though what he had to do was clear to him, he couldn't help the excitement of just going to her. Cole berated himself. "Keep your eyes on the prize. Don't ever forget that."
At first, Phoebe remembered, she had taken this job to prepare and save some money for school, or so she told herself. However, as it often happens, the days and the months had gone by, and now the thought of going back to school was coming less and less. The money wasn't all that good, but she could live on it modestly. She had come to New York to find her father… at least that was the excuse she gave herself and her sisters… but in reality, she just couldn't stand their disapproval anymore. Prue in particular, with all her reproaches and her distrust had pushed her right out of the family house. Still, after all these months, she was starting to miss them. That thought always surprised her considering the reason why she was here in the first place. Piper called her the other day, and maybe that was the reason for her sudden longing. Phoebe reflected that Prue had broken up with that filthy liar of hers, the one who caused such a rift between them. And although in the back of her mind she still knew that it had only been part of the problem, she now was fantasizing that everything would be alright between them. Lost in thoughts, Phoebe almost bumped into a tall man, who had just entered the office.
"Oh I'm sorry," she said without looking up.
"Don't be; I'm the clumsy one."
The soft and yet virile voice caught her attention. He was smiling at her and his beautiful blue eyes locked with hers for an instant. Phoebe felt electric sensations coursing through her. She babbled, "No really… I wasn't looking where I was going. Really…"
His smile widened and she felt her legs turn to cotton. So much so that she retreated rapidly behind her counter, afraid that he would see the effect he had on her.
The man seemed to hesitate, then he came toward her and she smiled inwardly, at the same time trying to give him her most professional look.
"Miss?
"Did you need something?"
"Well actually I have an appointment with one of the lawyers of your firm."
Phoebe chuckled.
"It's hardly my firm," she said in a flirtatious voice.
He shifted his weight once or twice and made a cute little face at her and she knew that the appointment was the farthest thing from his mind at the moment.
Phoebe took advantage and continued in the same fashion, cocking her head the way she knew she looked her most innocent and adorable.
"So," she added after a beat, "whom exactly did you come to see?"
He laughed nervously, as if just remembering why he was there.
"Oh yes, I came to see Mr. Langford."
Phoebe was impressed. Mr. Langford was the very respected owner of the firm, and only big clients had any kind of meetings with him.
"Let me make a call," she said in a somewhat more respectful tone of voice.
However, he put his hand on hers, stopping her.
"Actually, I'll surprise him. He and I are really good friends, you see…"
Phoebe wasn't so sure about this, since her supervisor was very precise in her instructions. Never let anybody inside unannounced. Nevertheless, the smile he gave her again made her think that he really could not be one to cause any trouble, and she put the phone down. Albeit slowly…
Her hand still burned where he had touched it, and when he turned toward the elevator, she put it to her cheek dreamily.
She saw him turn back to her just in time, or so she hoped, as he walked back to her, this time purposefully.
"You know what? I didn't even get your name…"
Phoebe was astonished that an important man like him would even care, and it took her a second before she found her voice to reply.
"Phoebe," she said, "Phoebe Halliwell," she added a bit nervously.
He saw her hesitation and gazed at her indulgently. She felt stupid all of a sudden but he caught himself quickly and said.
"I'm Cole Turner. And I know it will sound a little forward but I'd really like to see you again…"
Phoebe felt her heart jump and tried her best not to show how excited she was.
"Really," she said with her best poker face. That wasn't much of one, she knew. She had never been a very good liar.
Cole smiled anew and she sensed that he had not been fooled even for a moment by her attempt at dissimulation.
"So? Is it ok if I ask you for a drink? After work, of course…"
Phoebe swallowed hard, and then she answered.
"Yes of course, that would be lovely."
Cole nodded in her direction and then promised to pick her up after work. Then, he walked resolutely toward the elevator without looking back.
Phoebe stood there until she was certain that he was not coming back, and then she threw herself in the chair, breathing deeply.
"Oh my god," she told herself "what's the matter with me?"
Although Phoebe had always been free spirited, she usually went out with men that she had known through friends of hers, but a perfect stranger, now that was a first.
Still, she mused, he was an important man; obviously sophisticated. Something didn't exactly fit here. Usually a man like that wouldn't even have given her a second look. Yet he had, and she was really flattered. Therefore, Phoebe put all the doubts out of her mind and began fantasizing about the evening instead.
Inside the elevator, Cole marveled at how easy it had been. The girl had taken to him from the start… this he had felt right away. Only a little part of him was wondering at his own reaction to her, but he set it aside resolutely.
Cole also congratulated himself on his subterfuge. He knew that she would never call to verify if he had showed up for the appointment. Not if it meant telling them that she allowed him to go up on his own. Still smiling contentedly, Cole shimmered out long before the elevator reached the top floor…
Phoebe kept busy to avoid thinking too much about him for the last hour, so that when he came back down from his meeting, she was startled. Again she told herself, how could such a man pay attention to me? She was somehow unaware of her own beauty, no matter what other men had told her. Phoebe always thought of herself as some kind of a tomboy. Cole came to her and made sure that she hadn't changed her mind about their date. She had not, and he went away after gracing her with his most charming smile.
The rest of the afternoon, Phoebe spent trying to figure out if she should be excited or afraid at the prospect of her date. However, even the little fear that she felt added to the thrill of going out with him. When he came back that afternoon, she was waiting for him already, barely masking her impatience even though he had arrived right on time.
Cole seemed very pleased at her obvious enthusiasm, and he told her how happy he was that she had accepted his invitation. It was not so much what he said, but rather the intensity of his gaze when he kissed her hand gallantly, that told her how truly interested he was. She blushed at the sensation it awoke in her.
That night Cole was a perfect gentleman, and after a few hours where he had her talking about herself almost non-stop, Phoebe felt like a princess in his presence. It had been so magical that after he left her at her door that night, she barely realized that he had not told her anything about himself. However, he had not lost time asking her for another date. For the next month, they saw each other two or three times a week. On all those occasions, she felt that he wanted more from her, but he never pushed her. The only thing that bothered her was the fact that after all this time, she knew next to nothing about him, and on their latest date she decided that it was time.
They were just at the end of a wonderful French meal that dazzled her. Phoebe had almost forgotten her resolutions but eventually she brought up the subject.
"Cole?"
He turned to her, smiling softly.
"Yes?"
"I was just wondering…" She stopped, unsure of how to ask him.
"What is it?"
"Well I've been telling you so much about myself in the last month, but I know next to nothing about you."
Cole grimaced a little and she was suddenly afraid that she might have offended him in some way. "I don't want you to take it the wrong way…I really enjoy our time together. As a matter of fact, I can't remember a time where I enjoyed myself so much."
Cole seemed to think about it, not looking directly at her, and her unease deepened. But then he looked back and smiled anew.
"You're right; I haven't been too forthcoming I know. It's just that I don't like to talk about myself. To be honest, there isn't that much to say."
"It's just well…I don't even know what you really do. I mean you told me you were an attorney, but that's about it."
"Well there you go," Cole answered mocking himself somewhat, "attorneys don't have lives. We're the boring kind."
Phoebe immediately protested.
"You could never be boring…"
Cole's smile widened but he said nothing for a long moment.
"Well," he began at last, "as I said, there isn't much to tell. My family, I lost a long time ago. I worked my way through college and received an inheritance afterward, which allowed me to basically choose where I was gonna make a career, and I've been working hard at it ever since."
Phoebe waited for more but when she understood he wouldn't say more, she asked, "Do you… Well… were you ever?"
"Married, you mean?"
Phoebe answered yes in a little voice, slightly embarrassed at her own boldness. However, Cole didn't seem annoyed and replied casually, "No, actually I never really had time to think about it…" Then he added, "Until now."
Phoebe felt the warmth of his stare go through her. She could barely utter, "Really?"
"Really," Cole replied warmly. "I've got to tell you that I've also enjoyed myself tremendously these last few weeks… and I'd really like our relationship to become more serious."
"I feel the same way," Phoebe replied with a relieved smile.
Cole bent toward her almost timidly, searching for her lips, and at first, she thought that he would only brush them. She couldn't help herself from wanting more. She moved imperceptibly closer and for an instant, it looked to her like as if he hesitated, and then when he kissed her again, this time she had no more doubts about his desire for her. That night, when he brought her home, he lingered at her door. She expected him to come in, but he seemed uncertain, almost afraid to go further and he just kissed her good night, leaving her panting and wanting so much that she barely slept that night.
All the way back to the apartment he had rented the last few months for just this assignment, Cole was questioning his motivations. He had her, he knew it and yet he turned back, afraid. "What was I afraid of?" However the answer to this question was too dangerous and he knew it. He was almost home when he decided that a little refreshing of his instincts was in order. And he knew of just the way to do this…
The next morning, Phoebe woke up with a slight headache that she knew was caused by the mostly sleepless night. Even now, she couldn't understand why Cole left. She couldn't believe that she had read the signals so wrong. She could feel how much he wanted her through his kisses and the way he had touched her. The more she thought about last night, the more puzzled she became about his attitude, and at some point, with the headache worsening, she decided to stop thinking about it and turned on her TV set.
The news didn't make her feel any better. The anchorman was describing the most gruesome of murder. A woman had been found that morning in her apartment. She was stabbed repeatedly with what the man described as incredible rage. The police didn't find any indication on the person who had perpetrated this horrible act. There had been no sign of forced entry or any prints left at the scene. The anchorman continued by saying that this crime was the last one in a series of 5 similar murders who occurred in the last two months.
Phoebe turned off the set, disgusted and a little scared. At work that day, she got distracted more than once, even attracting the attention of her supervisor, who told her at some point to get her act together or else.
Phoebe knew right then that she would have to clear things up with Cole. This uncertainty was eating up at her. She was becoming aware that her feelings for him ran much deeper than she even expected and she couldn't stand the idea of losing him.
That night, when he called, she immediately asked him to come to her apartment instead of going out. When Cole arrived, she felt something different about him and asked him if he had changed his mind about their relationship.
"I haven't. I'm sorry about last night. I was afraid that you'd be offended. I want us to be together, but not just for one night."
Phoebe came to him and looked up with a sweet smile.
"That's what I want too."
Again he kissed her lightly at first, teasing, she thought, and then she pushed herself to him and he reacted almost violently. She'd never felt such passion, never felt so wanted by anyone and she gave herself to him completely.
All that night, they explored each other hungrily, every wave of pleasure only followed by a renewed desire. Afterward, she could only describe that night as magical and unforgettable. In the morning, she woke up after a short sleep to see him looking at her with a puzzled expression, even as he smiled at her.
"What is it?" Phoebe asked, somewhat anxiously.
Cole pushed away a lock of her hair and kissed her again before answering.
"I don't know about you but for me it was the most wonderful night of my life. I didn't know one could be so completely happy."
She smiled, caressing his chest lovingly.
"I feel the same."
"Promise me you'll never leave me."
"I never will. I love you."
No matter how much effort he made to deny it, Cole knew even in his demon heart that he had to have her forever. But his heart wasn't human. The human half of him was his weakness and what he wanted was for her to be with him the way he had lived all his life.
From that day on, he applied himself to show Phoebe his way. At first, he just hinted at little things that she found naughty at best and tolerated. Then, as the weeks and months went by, she felt a change in herself, a hardening in her heart that she didn't think could ever be, not even when as a young adult, she had rebelled against her grand-mother and her sisters. The only constant in all of this was her need for him that never diminished. Phoebe needed Cole so much that at one point she found that he could do no wrong that would make her turn away from him. And in spite of himself, as he was teaching her evil, he felt the same about her.
When he thought that she was finally ready to hear the truth about him, he commenced the conversation cautiously.
"Phoebe, do you know that you're very special?"
She smiled gently, thinking that he meant in general, but then he insisted.
"You have something that most people would envy and you don't even know about it."
Phoebe was puzzled.
"You mean besides you," she still said with a gleeful expression.
Cole smiled slyly, and then continued.
"Yes, besides that. It's something your family hid from you. They stole it from you when you were a child."
Phoebe curiosity was peaked even more.
"How would you know this?"
"I know more than you think about you. And about what you could become. If you chose to be…" Cole added intently.
"What is it?" Phoebe questioned with a little shiver.
"You do want to be with me, don't you?"
"More than anything else..."
"Then I need you to see all that I am. Don't be afraid, you're everything to me."
Cole stood up, transforming into a red giant and Phoebe screamed of fright. But then he talked to her and even in the deep and very different voice, she could feel who he was, still. She calmed down as he was saying, "I want you to know everything about me, and to share everything with me. Then I'll show you how powerful you also can be."
"What are you?"
"I am power, just as you can be," Belthazor said to appease her. Then, knowing that too much all at once could scare her away, he returned to his human form. Not letting her time to think, he took her in his arms and kissed her if possible more passionately than he ever had. All of her doubts again vanished in the torrent of desire that she felt for him and he knew then that he had won.
For the next few weeks, Cole finished initiating her to his world, and convinced Phoebe that her family had rejected her and didn't deserve her. She had long ago stopped longing for home, as the only longing she ever had anymore was to please Cole. Because of this, it wasn't too difficult for him to convince her to betray her sisters in the most terrible way.
"It's time for you to become what you were meant to be. You'll have to play a role, the role of your life, and then the powers will be all yours."
"How?"
"First you have to do something for me. You've got to prove your devotion to me, and then I'll reveal all to you."
"You know that I'd do anything for you."
Cole said then with a serious expression.
"Would you kill my enemy for me?"
Phoebe hesitated, unsure that she heard him right.
"Kill?"
"Yes. They're my enemy, and if you are with me, then they're also yours. They want to destroy us."
"They want to hurt you?" She asked anxiously.
Cole relaxed visibly.
"Yes, they do."
"But how can I do that?"
"I'll be with you, and you'll do this to save me."
"But how can they hurt you? You're so powerful."
"They are too. And it's a war to the death. You don't want me to die do you?" Cole pressed on.
Phoebe was horrified at the thought.
"NO!"
"Then will you do it?"
Phoebe whispered, "Yes…"
"It can't be, that can't have happened. Phoebe turned an incredulous stare toward Cole.
"What kind of a person was she?"
"Contrary to you, she didn't make up with her sisters, and all she had was that other me who was never gonna change."
"But I could never do these things."
"Of course not… You're not her… and I'm not him. Remember, you asked me to tell you these things. I said you wouldn't like it."
"I know but it's just so incredible; so unlikely! So, you thought I could turn when you came to me?"
"Imagine my surprise when I was the one changing for you." Cole said this while caressing her back lovingly.
Phoebe asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"Did you ever regret?"
"Never! I only feel pity for that very sad version of me. And frankly, I'm not sure I should finish telling you this."
"You started it and now I need to hear it all. Remember what you said about my curiosity?"
"I could think of a much better thing to do with our time," Cole said suggestively.
"No, no, no," Phoebe teased, "story first, fun later."
Cole laughed but soon became more serious as he continued the tale.