Legacy 107: Soul Searching
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At night-time, an elderly woman in a green coat was walking her small dog in the park. After relieving itself against a small rose-bush, the dog suddenly raised it ears and looked around. A wallowing screech echoed through the park and the dog started barking in a panic. The elderly woman, oblivious to the high-pitched noise, pulled at the leash.
"What is wrong, Cinnamon?" the woman asked.
Another screech sounded, this time coming closer fast. A strong wind started blowing and leaves started to swirl around the old woman. The dog freaked out and tried to run, though it was held back by its leash. Above a couple of trees, a shadowy figure dressed in rags appeared with red glowing eyes. It flew closer to the unsuspecting woman as it raised its rotten claws. The dog peeped and shivered in terror, unable to move.
The woman looked around and saw the shadow. She screamed as her soul was forcefully ripped from her body in a stream of pale white energy. When the soul was extracted, the woman collapsed on the ground. Her little dog came up to the woman and barked, though she was nothing more but an empty shell. The shadowy figure screeched and flew off, causing the wind to die.
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A few miles away from the park, in a large and dark mansion, Julian Turner sat against the wall in a dark room. He looked exhausted and worn-down, as if he had not slept or showered in days. When a screech echoed through the mansion, he jumped up and flames appeared in his hand. The Wraith stormed in through the window and held out its claw. Julian quickly threw a stream of fire at it and the shadowy demon flew off again.
"Leave me alone!" Julian screamed frantically.
Julian sat on the floor and grabbed his knees, rocking back and forth. An entire week without sleep or even a moment of peace. The Wraith had not stopped its pursuit of his soul after it had been summoned by Elizabeth. Luckily, it was easily repelled by fire, though that would not last forever. He had tried everything he knew to destroy or banish it, but nothing worked. He started to realize he needed help, but he was not willing to admit it yet. After all, the only people who could possibly help, were about the last people he wanted to see.
Exhausted, Julian dragged himself up from the floor and flamed up to one of the bedrooms, dropping down on the bed. Just a few hours of sleep was all he asked for. He closed his eyes and drifted off.
Across the room, the surface of a mirror rippled and Elizabeth Turner appeared on the other side. From a modern hotel room, she observed her son with a content smile. Biologically speaking, he was her grandson, but she had been a surrogate and had raised him, so she considered him her own. He would break soon enough, his soul would be taken and he would be hers again, pure demon.
"It won't be long now." Elizabeth noted as she waved her hand over the mirror and the image faded.
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Across the country, in the beautiful city of Miami, Prue and Penny Halliwell left the airport and were greeted by a breeze of warm wind and a bright morning sun. Both were dressed accordingly, in beautiful light sundresses and with large sunglasses covering their eyes. The sisters were in town to visit their parents on the next stop of their mother's book tour. Prue was relieved she was able to get a few days off work, as she needed a break. Being a journalist was not as dreamy as she had imagined.
"Tell me again why we didn't just beam over?" Penny asked as she dropped her bags on the ground.
"Personal gain, remember." Prue replied. "Besides, I like flying."
"Well, I don't." Penny remarked. "But at least we're here, where is the beach?"
"We're supposed to meet mom and dad." Prue said. "They know we landed, so they should get here soon."
"I wanted to grab a couple of hours of sun first." Penny replied as she raised her sunglasses to stare at a couple of hot guys walking past them.
"Too bad. I am sure we'll get the chance later." Prue said. "It is a shame Payton couldn't come."
"It was her choice." Penny replied with a shrug. "I mean, you can miss a few days of school, right?"
"Says the girl about to flunk out of college." Prue remarked.
"I am not flunking out." Penny replied annoyed. "I am just doubting college is the right place for me. I mean, sure the parties are great, but…"
Their conversation was interrupted when someone called out from across the airport. The sisters turned around and saw their parents walking up to them. Their father was dressed in a white button shirt and khaki pants, while their mother was dressed in a flowery dress. They greeted each other and exchanged hugs. Coop grabbed their bags as they started walking to the car.
"I am so happy you're here." Phoebe said with a smile.
"Yeah, we miss you girls a lot." Coop added.
"We miss you too." Prue replied. "So how is Miami?"
"It is beautiful, though it is very, very hot." Phoebe said as she waved a flyer in her face, causing her daughters to smile and exchange meaningful looks.
"What?" Phoebe asked skeptically.
"Nothing." Prue and Penny replied in unison. "So where is the hotel?"
"It's just by the beach. It is beautiful." Coop replied.
"So how is the book tour going?" Prue asked.
"It is amazing, though quite hectic. We barely got to enjoy being here, since all we do is promote the book." Phoebe informed them. "It's interview after interview, signing after signing."
"She even gives advice on the spot." Coop added.
"Well, I started out as an advice columnist." Phoebe said. "People still need advice, and I am happy to give it whenever I can. Now let's get to the hotel and have a brunch, I am starving."
A little while later, after checking into the hotel and checking out the nice suite, the Halliwell family gathered in the hotel restaurant and sat down at a table near the windows, overlooking the pearly white beach. The publicist was sparing no expenses, as the hotel was one of the most expensive and luxurious ones in the entire city.
"We should plan a spa day. The massages here are supposed to be amazing." Phoebe said after they ordered. "It would be some great mother-daughter time. Plus, the masseurs here are really cute and muscular. They can lift you right off the table."
"Luckily, I am not a jealous man." Coop remarked.
"Oh honey, you know I only love you." Phoebe replied with a smile. "Still, sometimes a girl just needs to be pampered. Speaking about pampering and cute guys, what is going on with the two of you?"
"Oh, nothing much." Prue quickly said as she grabbed her drink.
"Somehow I get the sense that there is a little more than nothing." Phoebe said. "And I don't even need to be an empath for that."
"Like I said, it is nothing." Prue repeated a little flustered.
"Prue has the hots for our very cute, but secretive Whitelighter." Penny said, at which Prue kicked her under the table. "Ouch, that hurt."
"Your Whitelighter?" Phoebe asked confused.
"Yeah, you know the one the Elders sent to get themselves back in our good graces?" Penny said. "He and Prue have this thing going on."
"There is nothing going on, nothing has happened…yet." Prue added. "Even though he promised to be open and honest from now on, there is still something he is not telling me."
"What is his name?" Phoebe asked.
"Noah." Prue replied.
"Noah? That can't be right." Phoebe said with a frown.
"What do you mean? Do you know him?" Prue asked.
"The only Noah I know is an Elder, not a Whitelighter." Phoebe replied.
"Wait, what?" Prue asked confused. "That is impossible, right? It must have been a different one."
"I am not so sure." Phoebe replied. "Cute, brown hair, brown eyes, British accent?"
"Don't forget cute butt." Penny remarked, causing her father to frown. "Sorry dad."
"I'll just pretend I did not hear that." Coop remarked.
"Well, he did mention he did something wrong. Perhaps he was demoted or something." Prue reasoned. "He said becoming our Whitelighter was his chance at redemption, but does that even make sense?"
"Sounds like you have something to talk about." Phoebe said.
"We sure do." Prue replied thoughtfully.
"Okay, let's change the subject." Coop said. "Penny, how is school?"
"Oh, it is fine." Penny replied evasively as she took a sip of her drink.
Luckily for Penny, the waitress arrived with their food, giving her a chance to change the subject again. At the same time, Prue was preoccupied with Noah as she ate her salad. She had known all along that he was hiding something. Obviously, there was a lot more going on than she thought. The Elders were not exactly the most open-minded people, though his crime had to be pretty severe for something like this. They definitely needed to talk.
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In his mansion, Julian was abruptly awakened from his sleep when a demonic screech sounded through the halls. He barely had time to get up from his bed when the doors swung open and the Wraith flew in. Julian raised his hand and threw a stream of fire, though it was weak. He was too tired to use his powers at their full potential. Still, the Wraith seemed hesitant and flew back to avoid the flames.
"Get out. You're not getting my soul." Julian said.
The Wraith screeched and a violet wind started to blow across the room, causing the curtains to wave up and several picture frames to be torn from the wall. Julian struggled to stay standing and held on to the bed. A sudden gust of wind threw him back against the wall. The Wraith flew closer and extended its claw, though Julian disappeared in flames in a desperate move.
Xxx
While Penny headed off to the beach to catch some sun and her parents had to run to another interview to promote the book, Penny headed to a small park near the hotel. She stopped at a beautiful and secluded fountain.
"Noah?" Prue called out. "I know you can hear me. We need to talk."
A column of orbs appeared next to her and Noah appeared with his charming smile. However, when he noticed her serious frown, it quickly faded.
"Prue, why did you call me?" Noah asked.
"I need answers, Noah. About you, about your past." Prue said.
"I thought you did not need to know." Noah said. "You told me I did not have to tell you if I did not want to."
"That was before I found out you used to be an Elder." Prue replied.
"I see, you must have heard that from your mother." Noah reasoned. "I should have known you would find out eventually."
"Why did you even have to hide it?" Prue asked confused.
"I figured that you would probably not trust me if I admitted I was an Elder, considering your family's relationship with us." Noah replied.
"So you just decided to keep hiding it from me, even though we promised no more lies and secrets?" Prue said accusingly.
"I didn't think it mattered." Noah admitted. "Whatever I was in the past, I am not anymore. I am just a Whitelighter now."
"I thought we were getting to know each other better, but clearly I still don't know anything about you." Prue said.
Prue attempted to walk away, but Noah grabbed her arm. Suddenly she felt his emotions rushing through her. His regret and guilt over his past, but also the feelings he felt toward her. They were strong, just like she ones she felt for him. She turned around and kissed him passionately. However, she quickly snapped to her senses and pushed him away.
"What was that all about?" Noah asked.
"Don't pretend you don't know." Prue replied. "We both know there is something between us. It's why you remained our Whitelighter, and why you reacted the way you did with Matt."
"You're right." Noah said. "I do have feelings for you. But you feel the same way."
"That doesn't change the facts." Prue said. "I can't be with someone who is afraid to show me who he really is."
Before Noah could reply, Prue turned around and walked away. The emotions she had felt from him were a little overwhelming and she needed to keep a clear head. Besides, she was here to spend time with her family, not to obsess over him. She needed to put Noah out of her mind.
Xxx
At a local studio, Phoebe sat in a chair reading a magazine while a girl was applying her make-up. Initially, she liked traveling all over the country and promoting her book, but it had been months already and she was getting tired. The interviews were all starting to become the same, like she went through them on the automated pilot. And being this far away from home also meant she had to miss her daughters all the time. She was happy that Prue and Penny had come out to visit her, though it only made her realize how much she actually missed them.
"We're almost ready to get started." The make-up girl said. "Can I get you anything?"
"Some water would be great." Phoebe replied.
As the girl nodded and walked away, leaving her alone in the dressing room. Phoebe closed the magazine and looked at herself in the mirror. For a woman in her fifties, she was looking good, but she noticed she was becoming old. There was a certain sadness in her eyes, one that she tried to cover up. The book tour was at least good for one thing. It helped her get her mind off her son.
Julian had made it perfectly clear that he wanted nothing to do with her. He was right to blame her, but Phoebe could not help but wonder. She felt like she had nobody to talk. Coop did his best to be supportive, but she could sense he struggled with accepting it. She could not burden her daughters, as they had just recently come to terms and she did not want to start another fight. Paige was a million miles away and Piper… At times like this she missed her sister the most.
Suddenly flames rose up from the floor in the mirror behind her and Phoebe spun around. Julian appeared out of nowhere and collapsed on the floor. She quickly ran over to him.
"Julian!" Phoebe called out in a panic. "What is going on? Are you hurt?"
"I need your help." Julian said weakly before he passed out.
Phoebe sat on the floor holding her long lost son for the first time. Even though she could still sense his anger toward her, she also sensed that he needed her help. He needed a mother.
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